A promise worth banking on!

There are many passages of Scripture which stand out in the minds of many believers. Many people have adopted a verse as their "life verse", that is, a verse they hold to as a particular guide for their lives. One such verse for me is Micah 6:8, "What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." A couple of other verses which are particularly meaningful to me are 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Nehemiah 8:10.

One passage which many Christians refer to often as a life verse or favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5-6 . . .
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths."

This passage is a classic example of the promises God has made to His people. Examine it a little more closely and you'll see that this is a "covenant promise" or a promise that is contractual in nature. Throughout the Scriptures we find passages that are what I call "If . . . then" promises. God says, "If you do this and that, then I will do such and such in return." A great example of this is 2 Chronicles 7:14 . . .
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Obviously, Proverbs 3:5-6 doesn't contain the words "If" and "Then", but they are implied by the way the statement is written -- If you trust . . . and if you lean not . . . and if in all your ways . . . then He shall direct your paths. Well, enough of the linguistics. I think you get the idea. Let's focus a moment on the message of this passage.

These are pearls of wisdom from the father (Solomon) to his son (Rehoboam) about knowing the will of God. Solomon instructs his son to do three things which will allow Him to be open to and receive God's direction for his life. First, he exhorts his son to put his complete trust in God. Just like in our day, Rehoboam would be bombarded from all angles with advice about what He should do to live the "good life." Solomon had listened to a lot of those "voices" himself, and as we can read in Eccelsiastes, all that he gained for his efforts was a lot of confusion and a final conclusion that all of that extra-curricular stuff was "vanity." His advice to Rehoboam, "Son, do yourself a favor and don't go down the path I traveled. Trust completely in God and you will be much better off."

The second thing Solomon advises was to recognize that you don't know it all. In fact, realize that to try to figure it all out on your own is folly. That is tough for a young man to hear, and harder for him to accept. Usually it isn't until we have experienced some of life's bruises do we start to understand that maybe there is a lot more to life than we thought. Actually, it can provide a great deal of relief when we understand that we don't have to know it all - we simply need to get to know the One who does know it all.

The third thing Solomon says is necessary for knowing the will of God is to recognize that life isn't about me, it is about Him. This goes back to some of my first posts when I drew from Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. When we give recognize the true nature of life and give control of it to God, then we are ready to live in obedience which is the key to receiving God's blessings including His direction.

An important thing for us to understand about God's direction is that He isn't like the person who stands on the side of the road and points us in the way to go. No, He takes us by the hand and walks with us so that we don't face anything without knowing He is right there. God desires to be active in our lives. He wants to enjoy our company. And He deeply wants to fill our lives with the most amazing blessings.

So trust God, look to Him for understanding, and let your life be all about Him. You'll know great peace because God is at the controls and He is taking you to abundant life.

Love and wisdom: a real treasure!

"Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man."
Proverbs 3:3

Solomon, King of Israel, addresses his son again on the way to live a truly meaningful life by extolling the virtues of mercy and truth. Several times in the past few posts I have defined truth, as it is used in Proverbs, as being wisdom or an understanding of life through God's perspective. Mercy might be defined in a variety of terms, but I like to think of it as referring to an abounding, unrestricted love. This kind of love isn't limited to just loving those who are lovable, but includes a real and active love for those who are the "unlovable." We all probably know of someone who fits that category . . . you know, that man or woman who has such a sour disposition, or that malodorous child who makes a real nuisance of himself in the Sunday School class, or the homeless man on the street corner that you avoid making eye-contact with.

The father tells his son, "Don't let that kind of love and God's perspective on life leave you." It is so easy to become busy with our own important pursuits until we become blinded or even hardened to the people who are all around us crying out silently for someone to love them. Solomon pleads with his son to not fall into that trap which robs us of that part of our humanity which is most important and valuable -- compassion for people! Solomon says, "Bind these things (mercy and truth) around your neck . . . write it on the tablet of your heart!" A person in those days would carry their money in a pouch which often hung from their neck on a leather string. Solomon is comparing love and wisdom to a person's treasure which was kept close to him. To write these things on the tablet of your heart simply means to make it central to your life, kind of like when you refer to something as being "the heart of a matter."

The benefit of doing this is stated in verse four: "Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of people" (The Message). I have often told my boys through the years, "You can lose your money and that can be a sad thing, but you don't ever want to lose your reputation. It's the only thing you take to the grave with you!" Another of Solomon's proverbs reinforces this truth, "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold" (22:1). A life lived in wisdom and love earns the respect of those around us, but more importantly, it earns the respect of God. I can't imagine anything more desirable than that!

Abounding love and wisdom - treasure incomparable!

A treasure unlike any other!

Being a dad, one of my greatest desires for my sons is for them to seek after God and to desire to know Him more and more. I'm 51 years old, so I've been around the block a time or two. When a man gets to be my age he often looks back on his life and question how things might have been "if". Obviously, I can't go back and change my past, and I can't erase the many mistakes I've made. I can make some crucial decisions now that will affect the rest of my life. And, I can try to teach my boys some things which will hopefully allow them to avoid mistakes I've made.

One of the things I would love for them to understand now, early in their lives, is that there are really few things which this world offers that are worth pursuing. Riches are not really important - money is more of a distraction than anything. Physical pleasure, outside of what God intended for it to be, proves to be destructive. Soaring careers often leave a person wondering why they still aren't satisfied with life. What is worth the effort of pursuit? Wisdom, or an understanding of life from God's perspective!

Solomon shared this insight with his own son. From chapter 2 we read:
"My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.
10 When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
11 Discretion will preserve you;
Understanding will keep you,
12 To deliver you from the way of evil . . ."

These words from father to son indicate that God's wisdom doesn't "just appear" in front of you magically. No, it comes as we diligently seek it as the great treasure it truly is. The pursuit results in God's revealing Himself and His truth in measured proportions. If He dumped the whole load all at one time we would never be able to comprehend it. Instead, He gives it to us over a lifetime so that our understanding of Him and our own lives progresses as we are ready. Therefore, the person who begins this pursuit early in life is at a distinct advantage than if he or she waited until some point later in life. Thus, the urgency in the voice of the father as he shares these hard-earned lessons with the son.

How do we pursue wisdom? By continually going to the source of all knowledge and understanding, our Heavenly Father. He has given us the written Word, the Bible . . . and He gave us the Living Word, Jesus, to instruct us in all wisdom. And after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit of God indwelled the hearts of believers, then and now, to be our internal guide and interpreter of truth. Study of the Bible, guided by the Holy Spirit, is our primary means of gaining understanding, but God often speaks to the believer as he prays, and He will also use the words of others to reveal a truth to the prospector of wisdom. God, a loving and gracious Father, desires to give each of His children all they need to be able to live victorious, significant, and fulfilling lives. Are you wise enough to pursue what He offers?

It's not worth it!

The Bible is a book about love . . . the love that the Heavenly Father has for all people. It tells of how God lovingly created mankind, and it reveals to us the lengths to which He has gone in order to restore us to a right relationship with Him. What a loving Father He truly is!

The Bible also reveals to us that God is Holy and Just. He is unable to just turn His head from the mocking nature of sin. You see, when we choose to sin - to act and think in opposition to the way He has directed - we are basically telling the Lord, "Even though you are God, I am determined to control my own destiny." That simply doesn't sit well with Him! The Scriptures are filled with the stories of people, even nations, who chose not to honor God through obedience to His Word. These are not pleasant stories to tell or refer to, but the truth, no matter how painful it may be, must be told.

The latter part of Proverbs 1 provides a warning to not reject the wisdom of God. In verse 22 Solomon tells his son, "fools hate wisdom." Indeed, from experience I know that it is foolish to turn one's back on God's wisdom and way. The sad thing is that some people never catch on that their foolish choices only lead to heartache and destruction. God tells us in verses 28-31 that there will come a time at which it is too late to change their ways:
"They they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord,
They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies."

Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, was interviewed on one of the national morning news programs. She was asked about why God allowed tragedies such as the events of 9/11. Her reply was simple, and yet, so profound. She told the reporter that America has time and again determined that God no longer has a place in the American public arena, and being the gentleman that He is, He stepped aside. Galatians 6:7-8 tells us clearly, "for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." Some folks look at those Christians who seek to live daily for Christ and call them "fools" when in reality it is they who are being foolish.

God wants so much to bless us in ways we cannot begin to imagine. But, He doesn't hand out His blessings to just anyone. His blessings are poured out upon those who love Him and live in obedience. This has always been the case, and it continues to be true today. So let's love the Lord with all our being and gladly serve Him. It's the wise thing to do!

Who are you running with?

My last post dealt with Proverbs 1:10 which is Solomon's advice to his son to say no to those who encouraged him to engage in sinful activity. Skipping down to verse 15 of this same chapter, Solomon says: "My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path." In the modern vernacular he might have said, "Boy, watch out what kind of crowd you hang out with!" We have all heard that admonition, but have you ever thought about the fact that if you are running with the wrong crowd you are the wrong crowd?

Verse 16 says, "For their feet run to evil." Remember that Solomon was a man of faith, and he was addressing his son who was raised to be a man of faith, so these proverbs were addressing one who professed his allegiance to God. Therefore, for the young "believer" to run around with these evil-doers was totally out of character with what God expected of him.

I am reminded of Psalm 97:10 which commands, "You who love the Lord, hate evil!" Does this mean we are to hate evil people? No! A follower of Christ is to love all men and women because God loves them. But, we are to hate the evil that is done! I think this thought can be well expressed in these three statements about our response to evil:

• REJECT IT!
• DESPISE IT!
• AVOID IT!

Each day we make choices . . . to join in or to reject the temptation to sin. Our old nature is lured by the opportunity, but if our nature is renewed by the Spirit of God we will despise the sin because He despises it. And the best way to reject the temptation is to flee from it. That was the word Paul gave Timothy in his second letter to the young Christian leader -- "Flee youthful lusts . . ." (2:22). A good word of advice to give to anyone is to not put yourself in a position where you might compromise your values, and if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, get out of there! Oh how many of our fallen brothers and sisters would have benefited if they had followed that advice.

"Hate the sin, but love the sinner!" That's God's attitude, and it should be ours as well.

Just say no!

What is the most effictive way to avoid falling to temptation? Simple, the two letters n...o! We are faced with a variety of temptations each and every day. Satan makes sure of that. He is there throwing all kinds of banana peels in our way hoping that we will slip and fall. Fact is, though, Satan cannot make us do anything. Therefore, it all comes down to our making choices.

Solomon advised his son, "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent" (Proverbs 1:10). Perhaps the most important lesson about sinful behavior that we need to learn is that we don't have to cooperate! Is it just me, or does it strike you as kind of silly that we (youth or adult) are so concerned about what others will think of us if we don't join in with their irresponsible and wrong behavior? Let's see, God says "Don't do it!" and my so called friends say, "Let's do it!" and I'm not sure what to do?

Now, believe me, I understand about peer pressure and how hard it can be to stand up for what you know is right. Taking a stand for righteous living usually isn't a popular thing to do. In fact, in some places it will get you killed. I also know that fulfillment and a deep sense of satisfaction never comes along with sinful actions. That's because God has "wired us" to find satisfaction and fulfillment within a real and vibrant relationship with Him.

Another truth we must grasp is that we need God's help in making the right decisions. His promise is that He will grant us the strength we need to do the right thing. Our problem is that we fail to maintain our relationship with Him through study of His Word, prayer, and heartfelt worship, and end up walking around without the protective armor He provides. A strong relationship with Christ makes it so much easier to say no to the temptations that lie like landmines all along our path. Take Solomon's advice and do yourself a favor . . . just say no!

Why, Dad?

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Solomon wrote and accumulated the proverbs primarily to share wisdom with his son, Rehoboam. Verses 2 and 3 of the first chapter provide for us Solomon's explanation of his purpose in these writings:
"To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity." (NKJV)

To know, to perceive, and to receive . . . a progression in the training of his son. A brief interpretation of these words are as follows:
To know = to be taught
To perceive = to gain understanding
To receive = to accept it and apply the lesson

Wisely, dear old Dad (Solomon) was beginning the training of his son with a lesson on how to learn. He differentiated between knowing, perceiving and receiving to tell Rehoboam that real knowledge isn't complete until the information stored in our brains is thought through, and translated into a change of attitude which results in a desired action. Straight out of my Educational Philosophy class in seminary!

And look at the attitudes Solomon wished for his son to adopt and set as standards for his personal activity --
1. Wisdom - to be able to see life from a godly perspective (we call it a Biblical Worldview)
2. Justice - a basic sense of fairness in all his dealings
3. Judgment - an ability to discern what is right and what is wrong, and to act accordingly
4. Equity - to treat all people alike regardless of their position in the community

In verse 7 of this first chapter Solomon sums up for his boy all that he is about to share with him: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." What does it mean "the fear of the Lord?" Are we supposed to cower down in terror at the very name of God? Of course not!

The Bible offers to us a picture of God as the great and loving Father who demands the respect of his children. When I was growing up I had no doubt that my Dad loved me. His actions proved that. This included the times when he disciplined me, sometimes rather harshly, because of my disobedience. I also loved my Dad, but I had a healthy respect for him and also feared disappointing or disobeying him. I didn't fear that my Dad would permanently injure me or ruin my life, but I still feared his wrath, and I feared failing him.

I have no doubt that my Heavenly Father truly loves me. His actions have proven that. The cross of Calvary proved it. Yet, I know that despite having that great heart of love, our God also will not be mocked, nor will he allow his children to be disobedient with impunity. Spoiling and ignoring unacceptable behavior is not love. Every child needs to learn the boundaries within which he or she must live their life. This is for their own good, and for the good of our society as a whole. God uses discipline and correction to help His children learn the boundaries within which a child of His must live, for their own good, and for the good of the Church, the body of Christ. Therefore, I have a healthy fear of God - not one which causes me to cower, but one which helps me to develop into one who is "more than a conqueror" (Romans 8:37).

Solomon tells his son, "To look to God to set your boundaries through His perfect discipline gets you off on the right foot in your quest to understand this life He has given you. But to ignore what you are taught is a very foolish thing to do." I can just imagine Solomon adding, "I'm counting on you Son to learn these things because your people will be looking to you for the right kind of leadership."

The unfortunate truth is that late in his life Solomon rejected his own advice and fell from God's favor. This affected Rehoboam greatly. His reign over Israel started off badly and soon became much worse. Jeroboam (son of Hadad a descendent of a king of Edom who had fled to Egypt when David destroyed the Edomites) challenged Rehoboam which resulted in the split of Israel into two nations with Jeroboam ruling the 10 tribes of the north, and Rehoboam ruling Judah and Benjamin in the south. (This story is found in 1 Kings 11-13).

May it be our hearts to choose godly wisdom over anything this world has to offer.

Don't be a fool!

One of my favorite books of the Bible is Proverbs. Solomon, son of David, and in many ways the greatest King of Israel, authored this book in order to pass along to his son the wisdom he had attained. Such is the wish of any good Dad. We examine our lives, see the mistakes we have made, and try to teach our children to avoid the painful experiences we have lived through.

I am no different. How I wish my sons would listen and take to heart the words I share. Sometimes they do, but all too often these young men think of Dad as being a little old fashioned and out of touch. Unfortunately, they have made many of the mistakes I warned them about and learned a little too late that Dad understands things better than they thought . . . right up to the next time they decide to ignore my advice. It's not that I think I have all the answers -- the Lord (and my wife) knows I certainly don't. However, 51+ years of life experiences have left their bruises on my life, and I have learned some valuable lessons. I have also been a student of human life and learned much from observing the mistakes and wise moves of others.

No doubt my sons will experience many difficulties during the relatively short time they traverse this planet. So many of the hard times are simply beyond our control. We cannot dictate all of our circumstances. Go allows us to encounter those things in order to produce a character in us that is more like Christ's and to allow us to give evidence of our faith to a world which doubts the sincerity of our relationship with Him. However, God tries to give us what we need to avoid bringing things on ourselves that are so unnecessary. His Word, the Bible, is one of those things (and the most important) He gives us as a source of wisdom. Another is the advice of godly parents.

It is my intention to "camp out" in the book of Proverbs for a while and seek to remind us all of some of the sage advice Solomon had to share. Solomon, declared as being the wisest man of all time, came about this wisdom because it was the deepest desire of his heart.
"That night, there in Gibeon, God appeared to Solomon in a dream: God said, 'What can I give you? Ask' . . . (Solomon responds) And now here I am: God, my God, you have made me, your servant, ruler of the kingdom in place of my father. I'm too young for this, a mere child! I don't know the ropes, hardly know the 'ins' and 'ours' of this job. And here I am, set down in the middle of the people you've chosen, a great people -- far too many to ever count.
Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?
God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon's response. And God said to him, 'Because you have asked for this and haven't grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I'll give you what you've asked for -- I'm giving you a wise and mature heart! There's never been one like you before; and there'll be no one after. As a bonus, I'm giving you both the glory and wealth you didn't ask for -- there's not a king anywhere who will come up to your mark. And if you stay on course, keeping your eye on the life-map and the God-signs as your father David did, I'll also give you a long life!" (1 Kings 3:5, 7-14)

This would seem to indicate that God loves to give wisdom to those who ask. In fact, it so pleases Him that He is willing to throw in all kinds of blessings we don't seek. Tune in to my future blogs as we dig into the treasure chest of God's wisdom!

You are special!

It is a busy Sunday and this will be brief. Yesterday, I wrote of God's work of creation and the fact that he spoke everything into being . . . well, almost everything. Genesis 2:7 tells us how God went about creating man: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."

In chapter one God created multiple galaxies just by a spoken word, but in the verse above we see God take a handful of dust, shape it into a person (Adam) and breath life into him. Ever wonder if you are special in any way? Have you questioned whether God cares about you? This ought to answer those questions.

He made you special and he gave you a special nature that is above all other creation. You were made in His image (I'll address what this means at a later time). Don't ever count yourself out . . . don't think of yourself, or any other human being, as being worthless. You are of great worth, because you are the crowning achievement of God's creation. The stars are magnificent, the animal world something to behold, the Earth a sphere adorned in great beauty and wonder . . . but all this pales in comparison to you and me. We are truly special!

The power of a word!

In Genesis, the first chapter, we are told that God spoke everything into existence. All He had to do was to say, "Let there be light," and there was light. In succession He spoke and day and night, the sky, the waters, dry land, plants, the sun, moon and stars, birds, sea life, animals, and people all to be. What incredible power!

For the person who believes that God is indeed the grand Creator, how can we have any doubt that God has done and continues to do miraculous things? And yet, so many who call themselves believers have demonstrated a large propensity toward unbelief. "I see no way out of my problems!" "I would tithe, but I just don't see how I can make it financially if I do." "I'm scared to talk with my friend about Jesus."

Paul reminds us of the reality of this truth when he says, "God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us" (Ephesians 3:20, The Message). What a wonderful promise! Don't let your doubts keep you from experiencing the power and glory of the One who can do far more than you could ever imagine. Surely, if He can create this Universe and much more, He ca meet every need of your life!

Start with the beginning!

"In the beginning God . . ." (Genesis 1:1). It would seem that any other opening statement to the Bible just wouldn't make sense. Everything finds its beginning with Him. Someone has said that God is the subject of life. Eugene Peterson, producer of the modern paraphrase of the Scriptures, "The Message", says this in his introduction to the book of Genesis: "If we don't have a sense of the primacy of God, we will never get it right, get life right, get our lives right. Not God at the margins; not God as an option; not God on the weekends. God at center and circumference; God first and last; God, God, God."

Truly, life just doesn't make sense without starting with, staying with, and ending with God. No wonder there are so many self-help and spiritually-oriented books at the bookstore. No surprise that millions are lost in their addictions to drugs, booze, porn, work, chat rooms, shopping, and more. No shock that news reports are filled with stories of mass murders, suicides, gang violence, and millions of abortions. Without the understanding of life as God explains it in His Word there is nothing solid for the unbelieving to grasp ahold to.

What can we as Christians do to help these who are struggling to find out what life is supposed to be about? Let me suggest a few important actions:
1. First, pursue an evergrowing relationship with God. You cannot lead others to a place you've never been. Also, once you seek to be the salt and light Scriptures exhort us to be, Satan will throw everything he has at you. Your only protection is your realtionship with God through Christ.
2. Love the hurting and seeking people you encounter. Sincere, unselfish love is the key which will open their hearts and minds to the message you wish to share . . . that God loves them and wants to give them new life -- life that has meaning and makes sense; life which never ends.
3. Live in purity. Your life will either show proof of the truth of God's Word or it will become a stumbling block. I hate the thought that I might be the one who serves as a barrier to someone's knowing Christ as their Savior and Lord. My life will never be perfect this side of heaven, but it can be a strong and positive influence. I pray it is!

There is no need to wander aimlessly through life. Go to the One who has all the answers (no, not Oprah!). Discover the wonderful adventure which is life lived God's way. You'll never regret it.

Sand and Rock

The old children's song still has a great lesson for us:
The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
the foolish man built his house upon the sand,
the foolish man built his house upon the sand,
and the foolish man's house went splat!

The wise man built his house upon the rock,
the wise man built his house upon the rock,
the wise man built his house upon the rock,
and the wise man's house stood firm!

So build your house upon the Lord Jesus Christ,
build your house upon the Lord Jesus Christ,
build your house upon the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the blessings will come tumbling down!

Oh the blessings come down as the prayers go up,
the blessings come down as the prayers go up,
the blessings come down as the prayers go up,
so build your house upon the Lord Jesus Christ!

If only more adults listened to what the children sing! Jesus taught those who would listen this truth. His words are recorded in Matthew 7:24-27 . . .
"Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mind and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!"

Of course the rock which Jesus was referring to is Himself and the truth His Word teaches. Life is filled with storms, earth shaking events, and all manner of challenges. Some people weather these storms and end up stronger than they were because of their faith in "The Rock." Others who have rejected Jesus lack the foundation necessary for overcoming the deep troubles of life. Their foolish decision eventually leads to their destruction.

Be honest with yourself and before God . . . what is the foundation of your life? If you cannot honestly point to Jesus as the base upon which your life stands you have a decision to make. Will you choose to make Jesus your solid rock, or will you reject Him? You may consider yourself a Christian and still not be building your life upon Christ. I won't pretend to be able to judge the validity of your "salvation experience" but even more pitiful is the life of one who knows the truth and fails to act upon it. Be wise. Build your life on the One who will never let your "house" be destroyed.

Are you alive?

"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen!" On this Easter Sunday we celebrate the reality of the announcement of the angels who met the women who had come to prepare Jesus' body for a proper burial. The late hour of his death three days before did not allow the Jews time to perform this task before the beginning of Sabbath (sundown on Friday).

Just a brief thought for today . . . how alive are you? You may be thinking, "I'm as alive as I can be. My heart is beating and my lungs are pumping oxygen." Sure, you may be physically fine, but what about your spirit? Are you filled with the life that only Jesus can provide? Most people today simply go through the motions of life, but don't experience the abundant life our Lord promises to those who allow Him to live in and through them. On this very special day would you ask the Lord to open your eyes to the life He has ready for you? Would you pursue a stronger relationship with Him so that you can follow His direction for your life?

I hope that your Easter has been a wonderful day of worship of the risen Lord, and enjoyment with your family. Andy and Alan were both here today which is a real treat these days. Worship at Central Park was so special, not only because it is Easter, but because it was the first day for our new Pastor, Jackie Kay, to be in the pulpit. The worship center was filled with 417 in attendance. It is my prayer that we will see that number regularly very soon!

Let's live out each and every day as though it is the day on which we will meet Jesus in our heavenly home!

What the resurrection means for us.

Easter . . . the resurrection of Christ . . . what does this mean for you and me. Let me share several verses from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. I'm taking this from "The Message," a very readable modern paraphrase:
"We know that when these bodis of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven -- God made, not handmade -- and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move -- so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.
That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming" (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).

For those who believe, the resurrection of Christ proves His power over death and sin. It gives to us the sure hope of our own resurrection, and an understanding that this world is no longer our home. It is merely a foreign land in which we must traverse until that time when the Lord comes to take us home. No wonder there lies within me a restlessness and great desire to see my heavenly home. At the same time, I understand that while I am here there is work to be done.

Paul continues in his writings to the church at Corinth:
"But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, good or bad" (vss. 9-10).

"Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing"! Friend, if you are saved and know you are a child of the King, the resurrection of our Lord gives to you the freedom to live in a God pleasing manner regardless of your circumstances. Truth is, many believers will suffer persecution of various kinds, and this world will feel less and less like home. But our faith tells us that it is really just a little while before we experience the grand homecoming into our eternal reward. Like Paul, we need to be more concerned with storing our treasures in heaven than worrying about giving ourselves the pleasures this world has to offer. If you lack this conviction, perhaps this Easter will be the turning point in your attitude about life on this earth.

Don't deny it!

"Even if I have to die with you, I would never deny you" (Matthew 26:35). These were the words of Peter just hours before the Jewish leaders seized Jesus and set into motion the events which we commemorate as "Good Friday." Peter didn't wait very long before eating those brave sounding words he blurted out in response to the Lord who told him that he would deny Jesus not once, but three times before the first rooster crowed at dawn.

Many self-confident Christians would also say, "Not me Lord. I would never do that!" And yet, time and again we see believers, great and small, crash and burn on a regular basis. This phenomena, as well as Peter's story, brings to mind two important lessons.

First, we should never consider ourselves above temptation. The stories we often hear of Christians who fall remind us that it is easy to let down our guard and head down the wrong path almost before we realize what we are doing. Satan is crafty, and he knows our weakest points. He won't waste his time tempting us with those things we aren't really vulnerable to.

The second lesson is this . . . only with God's help can we overcome the temptations we face. We simply are not strong enough to withstand all that Satan can and will throw our way. This is why it is so important to spend time daily with the Lord to stay attuned to His way of thinking, and to seek the power and protection we need.

Peter had spent three years in a close relationship with Jesus, and yet, at the first sign of big trouble he bailed out on the Lord. So don't be too cocky when you hear about the failure of a brother or sister in Christ. Instead, look at it as a sign to stick even closer to Jesus. And when the time comes when it is tough to admit you are a believer (and that time comes for us all) don't deny it! Call on the Lord to give you the courage you need and make it evident your faith is real.

Out of the mouths of babes!

Debbie, our Minister to Preschoolers and Children, shared with me today what one of daycare teachers had told her. The story reminds us in a simple, yet profound way, of a truth we all need to remember.

Brylynn is in a four year old class, and that class has been talking about Easter and what it means. The subject of Jesus' crucifixion came up. Too deep for a four year old to comprehend, right? Hear what Bylynn had to say and you decide.

In the midst of this discussion about Jesus' crucifixion, Brylynn told her teacher and the other children, "I had a splinter in my finger one time and my PawPaw took it out. It hurt so much. Jesus must have really hurt when they put that crown of thorns on His head." And then she said sadly, "I'm so sorry Jesus had to die for our sins."

It must have hurt Jesus so much! Have you ever paused to consider just what Jesus was put through on your behalf and on my behalf? That crown, composed of long, razor sharp thorns pierced His head in dozens of places. He was whipped with a cat-o-nine tails, which was composed of nine strands of leather which had glass and rocks embedded so that the flesh was literally torn away from the body with each lashing. Thirty-nine times they savagely ripped Jesus' back with that horrible device of torture. He was beaten and punched by the Roman guard, spat on by the crowds as he drug that cross through the streets of Jerusalem, and unmercifully jeered and cursed.

As bad as the physical cruelty was, I believe the worst part of his suffering came as a result of having the sin of all mankind placed upon Him as He hung on the cross. Isaiah prophesied concerning the Suffering Servant:
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:5-6).

Can you imagine the pain of experiencing the guilt of all mankind? No we cannot! I know how much I have hurt in the past when I was weighed down by the guilt of something I had done wrong. But I cannot even begin to understand how Jesus felt when all the guilt of every person who ever has lived or ever will live was on Him. The physical pain of crucifixion must have paled in comparison! And yet He willingly bore our guilt.

Perhaps Easter will be a little more meaningful . . . maybe Good Friday a bit more solemn for us if we would slow down from our hectic, crazy lives and considered the great depth of Christ's love. If Jesus died such a horrible death for us, couldn't we live more fully for Him?

The debt is paid!

On the radio today I heard a news report stating that Americans had reduced their personal debt on credit cards by 3 1/2 % from last year (don't you wish our government could say that)! Reducing our debt is a good thing. However, most Americans still have way too much debt to repay. That's the bad news. The good news? There is one debt which we all owed that has been paid on our behalf.

While hanging on the cross at Calvary, Jesus' last statement before dying was, "It is finished!" The Greek word He cried out was "tetelestai." This word is indeed translated "it is finished" in the Bible and it refers to the mission Jesus came to this earth to fulfill, that is, to be the "Lamb of God" or the final sacrifice needed for our sins. The Old Testament (testament = covenant) required the people of God to make sacrifices before Him as an atonement for their sins. Jesus came as the new covenant between God and man, and His sacrificial death was the last act of atonement necessary to satisfy the judicial nature of God.

Most of the time we emphasize the loving nature of God, and rightly so, for as the Bible tells us "God is love." However, we must not forget that God is also just. His just nature demands that the guilty must pay for their offenses toward Him (sin). The problem we face is that we have no way in which to pay the debt we owe without suffering eternal death. So, in order to satisfy His demand for justice and His love for those He created, God became a man (Jesus) and took upon Himself the penalty our sins called for . . . death!

It has been said, "We owed a debt we could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe." That leads me to a second meaning of the word "tetelestai." It was a word used in the business world of that day. When someone paid for something they purchased the person would receive a receipt with the word "tetelestai" printed on it, which literally meant "paid in full." With His last gasping breaths Jesus managed to cry out loudly "PAID IN FULL!" He was declaring to all eternity that the Lamb of God had paid the price necessary for redeeming His most beloved possession -- You. There is nothing else that can ever be done to buy your pardon, nothing else that could possibly redeem you for all eternity. As the old hymn says, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!"

Never consider yourself to be worthless. That couldn't be further from the truth. Easter is the proof that you are very important to God . . . so much so that He gave His Son to die in your place. Now, how's that for letting you know you're loved?

Will this be your "passion week"?

I've missed writing the past couple of days due to going to Mobile, Alabama where my son, Alan, attends the University of Mobile. UM is a wonderful little Baptist school that has been so very impressive in the short couple of years that I've really been aware of its existence. If you are considering a school to attend (or have a family member or friend looking for a school) give UM a close look. It is fine academically, but perhaps where it stands out in a crowd is the emphasis which is placed upon preparing each student to be able to make a difference in the lives of people. I know that Alan has benefited so much from his first two years there.

The purpose for our trip to Mobile was to attend the University Choir's presentation of "The Savior", a modern oratorio (a choral work based upon Scripture, usually without accompanying drama). Alan is a member of the choir. My, what an outstanding performance by a very talented group of young people. It was such a moving experience.

Being Palm Sunday, the choir's presentation was a great beginning to what is usually refered to as the Passion Week. It is so named because of the passionate way Jesus approached His appointment with the cross of Calvary . . . the very reason He left heaven and came to this Earth. You can read the Gospel accounts of this week in Matthew chapters 21-27, Mark 11-15, Luke 19-23, and John chapters 12-19. You may want to read one of these Gospel accounts each night this week as a part of your own observance of Passion Week.

Most importantly, every person needs to address the question as to what you are truly passionate about. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ's offer to forgive your sins and give you the free gift of eternal life, your life's passion will be about anything except your relationship with God through Jesus. However, if you are a believer, your passion must be Jesus, or you are not attuned to God's purpose for your life. Unfortunately, few Christians possess a real passion for the Lord and are sidetracked by the many things this world seeks to get us to focus upon. I encourage all of us to spend time this week doing some honest evaluation, confessing our sins to the Lord, and lifting our hearts in passionate worship for the One who was passionate in His love for mankind.

What channel are you watching?

Life is like a television! You are probably thinking, "this should be interesting." Well, it's more simple than you might think.

Our televisions today have a much larger number of stations from which to choose than we did when I was young. Growing up in Nashville, I remember having the three main networks (CBS, NBC, and ABC) and the local education channel. That was all the choices we had. Therefore, we didn't do much "channel surfing" back in the day.

At our house now we have satellite television with approximately 250 channels - a channel surfers paradise, a regular tsunami of programing. It is really easy to switch back and forth between a large number of channels. Problem is, you can switch the channel so many times that you end up not being able to keep up with any of the programs you are trying to watch. In a sense you are experiencing media A.D.D. - a lack of focus.

In our lives, and in particular our spiritual lives, we can experience a type of A.D.D. because of the many things which battle for our attention. We keep cramming more and more into our already busy lives and eventually we find ourselves not being able to do anything well. Our busy lives often lead us to ignore the most important part of our lives - our relationship with the Lord. It's not that we really mean to let this happen, but that seems to be the easiest thing to let go of.

The first part of Hebrews 12:2 tells us, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus . . ." Maintaining our focus upon the most important part of our lives is really the secret to keeping the other parts of our lives in perspective. When our walk with Jesus is given the priority it deserves we gain an understanding of what needs to stay in our lives and what needs to go. So let's put down the remote and quit bouncing around so much with our lives. I believe we'll find life to be more rewarding and fulfilling which is exactly what we were looking for in the first place.

You + Jesus = Change

President Obama's campaign last fall had the theme "Change You Can Believe In." Only time will tell whether or not the change he is pushing will have favorable results or not. I suspect some will and some won't.

There is one source of change that you can always count on being good -- that which comes when a person encounters Jesus Christ in a life changing way. One of my Biblical heroes is the Apostle Paul. He encountered Jesus while traveling down a dirt road heading for Damascus and it definitely was a life changing event.

Paul, of course, was a Jew, but more than that, he was a Jew among Jews . . . a Pharisee. He had studied under one of the foremost Jewish teachers, Gamaliel. His position among the Pharisees was renown as he had advanced far beyond the other young men in this spiritual/political leadership body. He was even placed in charge of the attempt to silence the new religious sect known as Christians. And take to his responsibilities he did, his zeal leading him to preside over the torture and deaths of many who stood accused of being a part of what was known as "the Way."

Hardly a likely candidate for conversion to faith in Jesus Christ! And yet, God had a different path laid out for Paul. There on that remote roadway Paul was blinded by the brightness of the ascended Lord, and the archenemy of Christianity was born again . . . given a new life through the One he had sought to silence. Now his mission wasn't the destruction of "the Way" but to spread the message of "the Way" to the non-Jews of the world.

Paul wasn't rushed into his ministry among the Gentiles, but was led by God's Spirit to spend a period of three years preparing his heart and mind for the task that lay ahead. He withdrew to Arabia in order to think through his experience with Jesus on the Damascus road, to rethink his understanding of the Scriptures he had at that time (the Old Testament), and to receive from God a revelation of what the Gospel meant to him and to the entire world. When Paul returned from Arabia he knew the will of God for his life and he had a message to preach.

Not every one's experience with Jesus Christ will be as dramatic as Paul's, but each person who encounters the Lord Jesus will not go away unchanged. There is only one salvation experience, but each day can be a fresh and new encounter with the Lord which results in change. Perhaps it is a small and subtle change, but there is change -- a change in attitude, a change in perception, a change in understanding, a change in direction.

The jury is still out concerning President Obama's change, but 2000+ years of experience points to the fact that Jesus Christ truly is change you can believe in.