Tell me the old, old story!

Most people enjoy telling others good news.  And if that news has anything to do with their grandchildren, well, they are sure to let others hear.  Usually, whatever we spend the most time talking about is what we are most interested in or have been most affected by.  Sometimes we tell stories of events that are important to us.  Long before written records, novels, or articles, oral tradition was all there was for passing along the history of a family or a nation.

The third chapter of the Old Testament book of Joshua tells of how the nation of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry land.  Some folks would say, "Big deal, the Jordan River is hardly more than a brook."  Granted, some times of the year it can be like that in places.  Without referencing several passages, let me just say that the Scriptures indicate that the river was very high, at flood levels.  We'll save any further discussion of this matter for another time.  Late in this chapter Joshua instructed the priests to gather 12 large stones (on for each of the tribes) and build a monument to the Lord for His provision.  Joshua also directed that when their descendants asked why the stones were piled to form a monument that parents and elders were to use that time to teach each generation about God's promises, and how He was always faithful to fulfill them.

The lesson to be gained from this passage is that it is important that we pass along to each generation our testimonies of God's provision and His acts of greatness which when tol will serve to bring glory to Him.  If you have children and/or grandchildren they would benefit by hearing the stories of God's people.

The old hymn says:

I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love;
I love to tell the story
Because I know 'tis true;
It satisfies my longings
as nothing else can do.
          (I Love to Tell the Story by Hankey & Fischer)

Story telling has been an effective tool for teaching and inspiring for thousands of years, and it is still needed today.  Look for opportunities to tell how God has impacted your life.  It can make a big difference in the life of a loved one, a friend, co-worker, or family member.

How can I possibly do that?

OK, let me get my corny joke out of the way.  Do you know which person in the Bible had no mother or father?  It was Joshua, son of Nun.  (I pause as the hysterical laughter fades away)

Joshua is one of my favorite Biblical heroes.  What a man!  Joshua was one of  the 12 spies sent into Canaan to bring back intelligence reports on the people there prior to the invasion which God planned for the people of Israel to commence.  When the 12 returned to Moses with their reports, ten of the spies were filled with terror after seeing the "giants" living there who made them feel like mere grasshoppers.  But Joshua and Caleb both spoke of a land filled with milk and honey and proclaimed their faith that God would assure their victory as He promised.  Of course, the majority report swayed the people and they angered God with their disbelief.  Their punishment was to wander for 40 years in the wilderness until all the adult population at that time died.  Only Joshua and Caleb was allowed to live and enter into the Promised Land.

Moses was told by God that he would not be permitted to cross over the Jordan into Canaan because he had struck the rock in anger (Numbers 20:11).  Therefore, when it came time for the people of Israel to make that historic crossing into the land of promise it was Joshua who was chosen to lead them.  Can you imagine the burden placed upon him?  Not only did he have several hundred thousand people to care for, he had to lead them into an extensive campaign to conquer hundreds of cities.  Whoa!   

But Joshua trusted God!  As Joshua assumed command God came to him and said, "Moses my servant is dead.  Now then, you and all these people get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them . . . I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses . . . No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.  As I was with Moses, so I will be with you, I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:2-3, 5) 

Then the Lord encouraged Joshua with these words, "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (1:9).

This was the promise which sustained Joshua his entire life.  He believed what God told him, and He knew that if God made a promise, He would keep it!  God has made that same promise to all of us who are surrendered to do His will.  Obedience is the key to receiving what God promises.  Had Joshua failed to follow God's commands he would not have enjoyed the fulfillment of the promises.  God is faithful!  The question is, will we be strong and obey? 

A favorite hymn of mine is Be Strong in the Lord by Linda Johnson and Tom Fettke:

Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;

Your mighty defender is always the same.

Mount up with wings, as the eagle ascending;

Victory is sure when you call on His name.

So put on the armour the Lord has provided;

And place your defense in His unfailing care.

Trust Him, for He will be with you in battle,

Lighting your path to avoid every snare.

Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;

Your mighty Commander will vanquish the foe.

Fear not the battle, for the victory is always His;

He will protect you wherever you go.

Chorus:

Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;

And be of good courage, for He is your guide.

Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;

And rejoice, for the vict'ry is yours.

Are Christians being too harsh over the "Ground Zero" Mosque Issue?

We know that Christianity is a faith which leads the follower to seek new and deeper levels of love for our fellow man.  Why, even the Bible declares that "God is love."  Then, why are so many people of the Christian faith concerned, even dismayed by the plan to build a massive Islamic Center which will include a large Mosque (place of Islamic worship) within a couple of blocks of the site where the Twin Towers once stood?  And don't the Muslims have the right to use their property in that way if they wish.

The simple answer might be to say, "Yes, the Muslims have the right, by law, to build the Mosque.  President Obama declared that to be the case just last week, setting off a fire-storm of controvery over his remarks.  It is legal -- but, is it right?  Should it matter whether it is right or wrong?

Obviously, the Imam wanting to build the Islamic Center is seeking to make a point, and not the one he is claiming to be making.  He says that the intent is to provide a place for creating harmony and healing.  Either the Imam is ridiculously stupid, or he is yanking our collective chain.  The insensitivity of building a Muslim training facility so close to the place where Islamic terrorists brought horrific pain and suffering , to me, appears to be a "thumbing of the nose" by the Imam at the people of the United States.  Imagine if the Japanese had wanted to come to Hawaii in 1950 and build a Shrine right next to the U.S.S. Arizona memorial.  The American people would have been outraged by the audacity of such an act!  Likewise, we are justified to be greatly offended by this unethical, unfeeling, uncaring, act of deception and lies.

You ask, "well, aren't you afraid of destroying good will between major religions?  Afterall, aren't we all going to the same place?"  There has been been ill-will between those who are descendents of Ishmael (Abraham's son by Hagar, Sarai's handmaiden) and the descendents of Isaac (Abraham's beloved son by Sarai) for several thousands of years.  Don't think that things are going to suddenly improve because a Muslim born President tries to placate the Islamic nations.  They declared Jihad' against the Great Satan many years ago and they aern't ones who are given to forgiving and forgetting none too soon.  They are undoubtedly laughing among themselves at the utter futility and foolishness of our trying to buy friends.  That never works!

To be honest, I am much more concerned with the disrespectful way in which the people of our country have responded to the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus, and how His Sovereign Holiness demands justice for our sins.  As long as we remain unrepentant as a nation we invite the wrath of God upon us, and that will be far more destructive than all the Al-Queda terrorists ever to exist, or will exist in the future. 

Allah is not another name for God, but in reality is a name created by Satan, the Prince of this Earth who specializes in counterfeiting true religion and drawing people into a trap of false promises and deceitful hope.  There is no other name under heaven or earth by which all men must come unto God but Jesus!  He alone is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  It is His truth that will set the sinner free, and His sacrificial death that atoned for the sins of all mankind.   Mohammed's creation of diety is full of flaw, and short of sense.  The Quran is not a holy book that supercedes the Bible (Old and New Testaments) but instead is one man's frail attempt to make sense of what he did not understand.

I realize that it sounds like I am slamming Islam, and I guess in a way I am.  It isn't done with joy or with animosity, but rather out of a  attempt to persuade the reader to recognize that the Bible is second to no other book, and the God of Israel who came to this earth as a baby to provide the chance for eternal life, is the one and only way of salvation.  In order to demonstrate the truth and strength of the Gospel, there has to be a a piece by piece dismantling of false stories, logic, and beliefs.  This is done as an act of love for those who need to hear the truth . . . simliar to how a parent sometimes has to show a child the falicy of their thinking about certain matters.  May God use this feeble attempt to proclaim the truth of God's Word.

Sometimes it doesn't make sense (at least to some)!

Romans 12:17-21:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.  On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

OK, I can almost hear the snickering, and even hysterical laughter, from many of  those who might read this passage of Scripture.  It is one of those unnatural commands from our Lord which can be difficult to swallow.  Give aid to an enemy!  Why isn't that un-American?  Is it?  I don't think so . . . at least not when America is at its best. 

Consider the Second World War and its aftermath.  The United States stayed at peace as long as it could, but eventually we were drawn into a war that had to be fought in order to prevent world domination by the evil Axis.  But after the war, how did we respond to our enemies?  Did we seek to grind them under a boot of hatred and spite?  Obviously not!  The U.S. led the way in helping the vanquished nations to recover, rebuild, and live peacefully with the rest of the world.  It was a case of overcoming evil with good. 

As followers of Christ we should seek to live peacefully with all we encounter, but it is not always possible.  Some people (or nations) have to be "put in their place" when their actions threaten the innocent.  That is why, as a Christian, I believe that war is sometimes justified.  Our world is full of evil-doers who will push the rest of us until we have no choice but to push back, or be forced to give up the liberty which was bought by the blood of many and even our lives.  The war on terror, in particular Islamic extremists, is a modern day example.  I would be among the first to say to Osama bin Laden (or any other terrorist) that I wish for his heart to be changed by Jesus Christ and for us to be able to live in peace.  But, until that time at which we saw clear evidence of a changed heart, I would say that our nation (and our allies) would be justified in ridding the world of an evil man who shows no hesitation in seeking our destruction.  This is not a case of revenge but of preserving the peace by taking away an enemy's ability to work their evil. 

I know that there are those who would say that my reasoning makes no sense to them.  That's OK because I'm not threatened by other opinions.  I am even willing to listen honestly to the arguments of others.  But, I believe that in this case my thoughts are consistent with Scripture, and that is the only affirmation I really need. 

Just who do you think you are?

For the past couple weeks we have been examining the 12th chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans.  What a magnificent address concerning how the "righteous" should live.  By righteous, I mean those who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and have been made "right" with God through His atoning death.  We have been looking specifically at the passage beginning with verse 9, and now are ready to see what the latter portion of verse 16 has to say to us.  It reads: Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.

Rick Warren's book The Purpose Driven Life has been a phenomenal best seller with over 30 million copies in circulation.  Warren begins with a simple, but profound sentence, "It's not about you!"  He then leads the reader through a 40-day adventure of discovering what the Bible says is our very purpose for existing.  Bottom line . . . we have been created for God's pleasure, and to truly please God we need to humble ourselves to become true servants of His.  That humble servanthood is made manifest in our actions and attitudes toward others. 

In the Apostle Paul's day, as in our own, most people are treated by others according to their social standing.  Rich people tend to be treated with greater respect than are poor folk.  Those on the top rungs of the social ladder receive preferential treatment over those on the lower rungs.  But Paul tells the Church that we aren't to follow this pattern.  We are to be radical in our approach to life and treat everyone equally.  And we aren't to think too highly of ourselves while we're at it. 

You know, when you honestly look at yourself in light of who God is and who we are, it changes our perspective about a lot of things.  In particular it will change how you see other people.  I recognize that some of God's choicest servants are those who have never had a thing materially.  I have also found that many of my most loyal friends through the years have been those who possessed no great social standing.  A number of years ago I served on staff of the Parkway Baptist Church in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.  Beth Whitman and her family were members of that church.  Beth, and her husband Kevin, were just plain country folks who struggled tremendously to make ends meet.  They certainly lacked the "polish" which characterized most of our church members.  But I have to say that I probably miss them as much as anybody else we left there when we went to our next church.  Beth worked in our church nursery when our sons were preschoolers and she loved them as much as anyone could possibly love another couple's children.  She was a genuine Christian - one that could easily be called "the salt of the earth."  Beth was killed by a drunk driver one afternoon.  I mourned her death as much as anyone I have had the privilege of serving as their Minister.  Beth had taught me the wisdom of Romans 12:16.

Can't we all just get along?

A videotape of the March 3, 1991, arrest and beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles was on every news broadcast and television talk show in America.  The debate carried on for months.  Then in 1992 the trial of the police officers involved resulted in each officer being acquitted of the charges.  This set off the horrendous Los Angeles riots which were reminiscent of the civil rights riots of the 1960's.  In the midst of the news reports about the riots Rodney King was interviewed and his plea to all involved was, "Can't we all just get along?"

Isn't it a shame that people just don't seem to know how to get along with one another?  Unfortunately, the church is not immune to fighting and fussing.  The number of church splits, angry business meetings, members leaving in a huff . . . all these give evidence of the spirit that is found in many congregations.  The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans, the 12th chapter and 16th verse says, Live in harmony with one another.

Shouldn't the church be a place of tranquility and harmony?  Why wouldn't everyone get along?  The primary reason for disharmony in the church is that many members do not have a right relationship with God, and until we are right with Him we cannot be right with other people! 

Some church members have never had a true life-changing experience with Christ.  Just because you were baptized and became a church member does not mean that you had a genuine conversion experience.  I cannot begin to tell of the many people I have known through the years who came to realize that they were "lost" after decades of possessing a church membership.  Some had been caught up in an emotional moment, others "walked the aisle" because a friend was doing so, and still others had joined because they thought it was expected of them.  Whatever the reason, they had not accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, and thus, they were not in a right relationship with God.

A true conversion experience, however, is the first step in being "transformed" (see Romans 12:2) into a person who can live harmoniously with others.  The process can actually take years as it takes time to grow as a Christian to the point of surrendering our emotions as well as our wills to God.  Maintaining harmony, or being a "peacemaker" as described in Matthew 5:9, requires a person who has grown beyond having to have things their own way.  This person, by living humbly and lovingly, gains the trust and respect of others who will generally follow his lead simply because of who he is (a man of solid reputation).  Therefore, being a peacemaker doesn't mean that you are to be a milquetoast who is overrun by others, it simply means that you wisely lead by example and maintain a caring attitude toward everyone . . . including those who can be classified as "difficult."

Bottom line -- if we love others more than we love ourselves we will live in harmony with others.

Have a Heart!

Are you touched by events which affect other people?  Do their feelings mean much to you?  Romans 12:15 gives a simple command . . . Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  What does this mean for the believer who reads these words?  In the simplest of terms it is an exhortation to avoid becoming cold-hearted. 

The Christian life is to marked by a love which seeks the best for others.  However, the person who becomes too wrapped up in their own needs and desires can become pretty unfeeling, essentially unaffected by emotions.  Though our relationship with the Lord, and ultimately with others, is not to be based upon feelings or emotions, it should include the ability to sense the feelings of others and respond accordingly.

It may seem a little funny that Paul would need to encourage his readers to rejoice with those who rejoice, but perhaps it is harder to rejoice with others than it is to feel their pain.  Too often the first response to the good fortune of others is to think, "Why couldn't that have been me?" or "I never get a break like that!"  Envy and jealousy can be real problems, even for the believer.  We tend to buy into the entitlement mentality of this world which leads us to expect, even demand that we get our "fair share."  A true Christian spirit, on the other hand, sees the blessings others receive and thanks God for His favor upon them.  Such a person is content because he/she recognizes and appreciates God's blessings for their own life.

The Christian is also to mourn with those who mourn.  Heartbreak and anguish is an all too common experience among human beings.  Life is filled with disappointments, loss, frustrations, letdowns, physical injury and illness . . . all manner of reasons to mourn.  Think for just a moment about all the songs which have been written in the midst of pain and sorrow.  Those songs usually gain popularity, at least in part, because almost everyone can share to some degree in what the songwriter has experienced.

How should we respond when we encounter the mourning (pain and suffering) of others?  One thing is to allow ourselves to be touched by their distress.  It can become pretty easy to "tune out" the cries of others and just look the other way.  Oh, there are a thousand reasons why we can't become involved, can't afford to let ourselves drop our guard.  But, Paul is saying to us, "See their pain and get involved.  Sometimes that simply means to let ourselves cry with them, or to listen quietly while they pour out their feelings.  Then, there are the times when we can, and should, meet some practical need. 

There is another thing we should also do -- pray for them!  I can just hear someone scoffing, "Oh sure, when you can't think of something better to do just pray."  Fact is, the most significant thing we can do for anyone, mourning or not, is to humble ourselves before a gracious Heavenly Father and ask that He pour out His blessing on the one who is experiencing troubling times.  Often, it is the midst of our praying for someone that the Lord reveals how He wants us to be His instrument for ministry to the one we are praying for. 

A final thought.  Your own experiences in life may qualify you as just the right person to minister to the hurting person you encounter.  Why does God allow His children to experience pain?  Ultimately to strengthen us (ever known a flower to grow without a little rain?), and  to prepare us for the chance to influence (minister to) others. 

In 2005 I suffered a spinal cord injury while undergoing neck surgery.  I woke to find that nothing on my left side worked at all.  I was paralyzed.  After a month of hospitalization and in-house rehab, and another couple of months of out-patient rehab I was able to walk again and function pretty well, though with pain and lingering nerve damage.  I would never wish to experience such an event, but my how it has opened the door to minister in ways I might never have been able to do otherwise.  Therefore, I can say that I don't regret what happened because I know that ultimately it was part of God's plan for my life.  

What have you experienced that you could use to minister to someone else?  You may not know right now, but try to be sensitive to the needs of others and God will let you know!