Revealing the Reality of Christ

Romans 1 says:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

We are called to proclaim the reality of the presence of Christ - He is the One who is mighty to save, who has made known and released His presence in our lives, who has loved us and brought us into fellowship with Himself.   And, we are called to make Him known through the words of our mouths and the demonstration through our lives.

In Acts 17, we see that Paul testifies to the reality of Christ:
Beginning in verse 22, he declares, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you... 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'


The Freedom from Religion Foundation is continuing its assault on our deeply held Judeo-Christian values - the latest Alabama instance involved the city of Sylvania, which added a Scriptural quote, Ephesians 4:5, which says, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" to the signs that mark the entrance to its town limits.   After receiving a letter from the FFRF and because the city doesn't have the funding to defend a lawsuit, the verse has been painted over...talk about bullying!

Well, you would think the FFRF is like the ACLU or Americans United for the Separation of Church and State in providing for what they see is a "neutrality" toward religion.   But, I think a recent incident from Spring Hill, Tennessee shows that their agenda is a bit more, shall we say, aggressive.

At Summit High School, they have a "Fictional Character Day", and one sophomore, Jeff Shott decided he would dress up as Jesus - well, that's a problem...there are few that doubt the historical existence of Jesus; plenty who don't acknowledge Him as God, but as a historical figure, the evidence is overwhelming - so already, Jeff has violated the rules of the day.    And, according to the Foundation, Shott was approached by the principal, assistant principal, and a school resource officer about his costume, and he was warned that it could create a distraction.  The student then contacted the FFRF, who sent a letter to Director of Schools Mike Looney calling the costuming incident a violation of the student's constitutional rights protected under the First Amendment.  Looney backed the principal, and said, according to USA Today, "We're not trying to tell him what to believe or not believe. What we are saying is he's not allowed to create a distraction."  Even the President and CEO of the First Amendment Center in Nashville said that the school behaved properly.

Well, Jeff has been awarded a scholarship by the FFRF of $1000, which said that the student showed "spunk and a light touch with his actions."   So, the FFRF is now endorsing an atheist act - and if one regards atheism as a religion in and of itself, which some do, then is the Foundation endorsing religion?

The application for us is that there are a few people that do regard Jesus as a fictional character, but there are many more that treat Him like one - behaving as if there is no God.    If we truly believe that Jesus is Lord, then our lives will demonstrate to the world His glory and His character.   So, the question for us is whether or not our behavior is testifying to the world that we believe in the reality of the living God.    The apostle Paul in Romans 1 said that he was not ashamed of the gospel - if we are living in an unashamed manner, then our lives will reflect the reality of God's presence.

God's Story in the Storms

On this first anniversary of a day of destruction in Alabama and states across the South, we can take comfort in Romans chapter 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   The temporal losses that so many suffer have become opportunities for people to experience the eternal presence of Christ.    Even in the midst of despair and destruction, God brings hope, which can provide an anchor for soul and the strength to carry on.   As the love of Jesus Christ has been spread across the state of Alabama, we can be confident that God has been glorified, and He has written an amazing story of grace and restoration over the past 12 months.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus illustrates that the storms come, and He encourages us to build our lives on the firm foundation of His Word and His presence - here's what Matthew 7 says:24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."


It's not hard to remember the events of April 27, 2011 - I was here doing the Meeting House program, watching weather developments online...due to modern technology, I was able to see camera shots of that huge F4 tornado bearing down on Tuscaloosa, coming within blocks of the Univ. of Alabama campus with majestic Bryant-Denny Stadium clearly in view; then later that afternoon, the shots from the Red Mountain Expressway in Birmingham of that funnel cloud taking out north Birmingham neighborhoods.   That night, I watched the news reports of a horrific F4 that blew through Elmore County and the Lake Martin area - it was certainly a dramatic and really depressing day.

Then, the damage stories began to unfold, and the story of God's hand in the midst of tragedy began to be written, as well.   Churches and ministry organizations immediately swung into action - trained volunteers and people wanting to lend a hand were motivated to help out the victims.   The mantra of "how can I help?" was heard throughout the state and beyond.    Truly, a disaster gives the body of Christ a chance to shine His light.

There are plenty of principles that we can reflect on during this season of commemoration:
1 - We don't always know why bad things happen.  But, we can rest assured that crisis becomes an opportunity for the glory of God - we live in a fallen world, and adversity will come - the storms will blow through, as Jesus illustrated in the Sermon on the Mount.   The question is: how will we handle them?   If we respond in faith, then He will do amazing things either inside our hearts or around or lives - and if we don't respond properly, still God can show us by His Spirit how we can be ready the next time.

2 - We can always be better prepared.  During this past year, people have evaluated their personal emergency plans.   Organizations that provide relief are looking at ways they can respond even better.    We can look for definite areas of improvement.

3 - Working together brings more effective results.   There are great benefits when we as believers can lay down our differences - of doctrine, culture, ethnicity, or geography - and seek after the common goal of bringing relief to those who have been affected and glory to God.    Partnerships have been key in the restoration effort.

4 - Our God is a God of restoration.  Even where lives have been devastated and livelihood destroyed, we can know that the Lord is a builder...He always brings hope, and His people are often called to be communicators of that hope - with our mouths, our hands, and our hearts.   The display of the love of Christ is a powerful force in letting other people know that He is interested in them, He loves them deeply, and He desires to repair what is broken.  

These are just a few of many lessons that have emerged from the "teachable moments" of April 27th - in their despair, some blame God, but we all have to look beyond the temporal damage and seek the eternal work that He wants to do.

A $1 Felony

Jesus gave Himself for us, and Titus 2:14 reminds us that He did it so...
that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 

We live in a sinful world, born apart from God, needing a Savior to not only save us, but to give us the power to live a holy life, a life that pleases the Holy One.   Recognizing that sins - all sins, no matter how big or small - separate us from God, we fall on our knees before Almighty God in repentance so that the blood of Jesus might be applied and that forgiveness can flow, and we can be free.

Ephesians 4 says:
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

An East Naples, Florida man faces felony charges because he refused to pay $1 for a soft drink at a local fast food restaurant.   52-year-old Mark Abaire allegedly walked out of the establishment after he filled a water courtesy cup with soda from the fountain machine without paying for the drink.

Abaire then sat outside the restuarant and was confronted by the manager, who asked for payment - but he said no, apparently cursed at him and refused to leave the area.   Seems as if the allure of the soft drinks was too much, and instead of filling his cup with water, Mr. Abaire opted for a soda.   He was charged with petty theft, but then it was discovered he had other convictions, and under Florida's "3 strikes" law, his charge was upgraded to a third-degree felony, which could bring a sentence of 5 years in prison and a $5000 fine. 

And, misdemeanor counts of trespassing and disorderly intoxication were also filed against him.

All this for $1 soda?   This reminded me of our approach to sin - we are called to be holy, and even the smallest sins carry the maximum penalty.   So often, we tend to rank sins - you know, murder, theft, adultery, homosexuality, abortion - those are some of the "big ones".   But Jesus equated murder with anger and adultery with lust, realizing that we possess a heart condition that gives us a propensity toward sin - and we need a Savior in order to deliver us and forgive us - a Savior who paid the maximum penalty for our sins. 

And, the Bible is clear, I believe - all sin is rebellion against God.   So, when we are tempted to think about how bad that armed robbery or a home invasion might be, perhaps we can reflect on filing an incorrect expense report or embellishing a story, or being less than honest when we are called to give an account.    And, when we speak ill of someone else or share information about someone that doesn't need to be shared - well, gossip and slander are counted among the "deeds of the flesh" in Galatians chapter 5.   The point is - we are all sinners, and we need a Savior, who will purify our hearts and who will forgive our sins as we confess them, and place within our hearts a desire to please Him, to truly walk in holiness as He, the Holy One, is holy.    The $1 sins we tolerate carry a high price.

Think Like a (Godly) Man

The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 4:
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;  Each of us has a specific calling, a role to play, in God's kingdom plan - we are actors on a stage, and He is the incredibly skilled director, and we perform for Him, our audience of One.   He has wired us in a certain way, creating us in His image, with a specific gender, ethnicity, and personality - a DNA that is uniquely ours, and He intends for us to live our lives for His glory!
Genesis 1 defines the creation and the call of God:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

This past weekend at the movie box office, there was a surprise #1 movie - for the first time in almost a month, "The Hunger Games" did not win the weekend, nor did the latest Nicholas Sparks' novel to come to the big screen, "The Lucky One".   No, it was Steve Harvey's movie, "Think Like a Man".   Now, I haven't seen it, don't really know what it's about, and certainly can't endorse it, but the implication is clear when you add the word "godly" to the title phrase - what does it mean to think like a "godly" man.

In our culture, people are struggling with what it means to be a man or what it means to be a woman, and the impressions we get from media leads to confusion.   So-called gay "marriage" is blurring the lines, recently a transgendered man gave birth to a child, and those that embrace a different sort of gender identity unfortunately begin to stand out.   And, even within the traditional roles of "male" and "female", it can be confusing as to what those terms actually mean.

But, I believe the Bible is quite clear - God created us men and women, and has given us some specific roles and assignments.   According to Dr. Tony Evans, men are called to be "kingdom men":

What is a “Kingdom Man”? A Kingdom Man is the kind of man that when his feet hit the floor each morning the devil says, “Oh no, he’s up!” When a Kingdom Man steps out his door each day, heaven, earth, and hell take notice.
When he cherishes, leads, and honors the woman under his care, she can do little to resist him. His children look to him with confidence. His church calls on him for leadership. He’s a preserver of culture and a champion of society to keep out evil and usher in good. A Kingdom Man understands that God never said life would be easy, He just said it would be worth it. A Kingdom Man doesn’t just make an impact on his home and his church, but also on his community and his world.

So, if we are to "think like a man", specifically a godly man, it's important that we take that role seriously and step up and step out, realizing who we are called to be in Christ.   And, women have specific roles, as well, as we are called, in our God-ordained gender identity, to accomplish great things for Him.

Prison with a Purpose

2nd Corinthians 4:
8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. The familiar Scripture says that God is working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose - that means that even though we may face adverse circumstances, that God has a purpose.   Even in a place that may be regarded as uncomfortable or uninspiring, we can know that God is still at work - in us, through us, and all around us!2nd Corinthians 6 says:4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God,
As we continue to remember Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship and "Breakpoint" speaker, I thought about how there are other great men of God who had prison in their life stories.

The apostle Paul was placed in prison - and, while he did nothing wrong, the Lord ordained for him to be there to essentially protect him from those who would want to take his life...he understood what it meant to be an "ambassador in chains".

John the Baptist was in prison for a time - and there was most certainly a purpose in that, even though it was not readily apparent.

Daniel was imprisoned - in a den of lions - and God was glorified as he was protected, winning the approval of the king!

And, Chuck Colson went to prison - do you know why?
Colson also became involved in the Committee to Re-elect the President (CRP or CREEP). At a CRP meeting on March 21, 1971, it was agreed to spend $250,000 on "intelligence gathering" on the Democratic Party. Colson and John Ehrlichman appointed E. Howard Hunt to the White House Special Operations Unit (the so-called "Plumbers") which had been organized to stop leaks in the Nixon administration. Hunt headed up the Plumbers' burglary of Pentagon Papers-leaker Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office in September 1971. The Pentagon Papers were military documents about the Vietnam War which helped increase opposition to the war. Colson hoped that revelations about Ellsberg could be used to discredit the anti-Vietnam War cause. Colson admitted to leaking information from Ellsberg's confidential FBI file to the press, but denied organizing Hunt's burglary of Ellsberg's office. He expressed regret for attempting to cover up this incident in his 2005 book, The Good Life.

This took place before he accepted Christ in 1973, and he plead guilty to leaking the information and spent a few months in Montgomery in the Maxwell Federal Prison...it was there that the plight of prisoners touched his heart - God used that prison experience in a powerful way that is flourishing today.   The Prison Fellowship website says that:

But Colson never really left prison. Haunted by the desperation and hopelessness he saw behind bars, Colson knew he had to do something to help the men he left behind. In fact, he had a promise to keep.

So, here we have a litany of great men who were placed in prison - sometimes God's purpose was not clear in the midst of it, other times, in hindsight, His hand could be plainly seen.   So, today, you may be in a circumstance that you regard as a prison - a place of misery, or perhaps just a place of being stationery or stuck - well, even in that apparent "prison", God is capable of bring glory - He set Chuck Colson free, but in his heart, he never left.   Paul spent productive years in captivity.   But, even though outwardly our lives may seem to be held captive, God can set us free in our hearts - free to serve Him no matter where we are.   And, if we don't understand the road to nowhere we're travelling on, we can can still hold to God's hand and know His peace and comfort.

Doves and Recognition

Unity is a powerful force - even though we all have our diverse charactertistics and background...if we belong to Christ, then we find great power as we seek to work together for the sake of the gospel:

From Galatians 3:
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

1st Corinthians chapter 12 says:
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

Last night, I had a chance to observe the unity of the spirit of Christ in the midst of diversity.   There are varieties of musical styles represented in Christian music, and the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards recognized quality and acheivement in a wide range of categories - from Pop/Contemporary to Inspiration, Rap & Hip-Hop to Traditional Gospel, Southern Gospel to Bluegrass.   And, the way that the overall program came together - which will be broadcast on the Gospel Music Channel this Tuesday night at 7:00 and 9:00 - really demonstrated how, no matter what our musical preferences are, God can use all of them, and sometimes can bring a glorious result as we mix them together.   Consider the opening number by Crystal Lewis, Yolanda Adams, and Angie Stone, who sang a song about God's help being on the way, which segued into Dottie Rambo's classic "I Go to the Rock", led by Karen Peck.

Or maybe the tribute to Russ Taff, with Jason Crabb delivering the gospel classic, "Ain't No Grave", Donnie McClurkin with "Praise the Lord" and Wes Morgan's climactic "We Will Stand".

The Isaacs received a very enthusiastic reception with their bluegrass-oriented performance, but so did LeCrae's exuberant rap and hip-hop performance.   And, the piece of the show devoted to music inspired by "The Story" featuring Michael Tait of DCTalk and the Newsboys, Todd Smith of Selah, Blanca of Group1Crew, and hip-hop artist Eddy Puyol, also known as "Rawsrvnt"  was a spectacular demonstration of how a variety of musical styles and influences can be used of God to bring glory to Him.

I think that recognition can be powerful and encouraging - and awards shows, such as the Doves, can showcase some high-profile talent, but I think it's important to be mindful to recognize those with whom we personally come in contact.   Perhaps it can be for someone who waits on you at a restaurant or who helps you at a department store, maybe those who are in public service, such as law enforcement or the military.  Maybe it's those with whom you serve in a local volunteer organization or at your church.   We can be challenged to show appreciation to people - and as we do it, we demonstrate the love and character of Christ, as we seek to build others up.

The Living Among the Dead

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shows that His ways truly lead to life:
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.   In John 14, Jesus said that He is the way, the truth and the life - the true way to the Father, the route to peace with God.   As we apply ourselves to seeking God, we minimize the distractions that would get us off track in our pursuit of righteousness, a life of internal peace, and fellowship with God.   If we place a priority on thoughts and activities that don't contribute to our relationship with Christ, the way that leads to life, then we will miss God's best for us.
In Luke 24, we read the account of post-resurrection events, as the women came to the tomb that morning and found the stone rolled away and the body of Jesus missing:4...it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen!  I was reminded of that statement as I read the account of a living baby found in a morgue in Argentina.   The infant was originally declared stillborn, but 12 hours after her birth, when the parents pried open the wooden coffin inside the refrigerated morgue to see her one more time, they found that the child was breathing and yawning and stretching her arms.
The couple named her Luz Milagros - her middle name meaning miracles in Spanish - because of her unlikely start to life. She is still clinging to life, and was reported in critical condition late last week - she was extremely premature and recently had some lung issues.   Apparently, at birth, doctors were unable to detect vital signs, so they made the declaration that the little girl was not alive.

I thought of what those women were asked at the tomb of Jesus - "why do you seek the living among the dead?"   In application to our lives, we realize that there is one way that leads to true life - and it's a life of surrender to Christ and allowing Him to live through us.   We live in a fallen world, full of temptations and distractions, which would get us off course in our walk with God.  The Scriptures encourage us to put aside the "dead works" of the flesh that pull us away from God and focus on His life, which we encounter through prayer, careful study and meditation of the Word of God, and maintaining a sense of abiding in Him daily - seeking to walk in the Spirit so that we may fellowship with Him.   We cannot find "the living" - the life of Christ - if our attention is turned toward things that do not glorify Him.

Tax Day Thankfulness

1 Thessalonians 5:
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.    This even includes giving thanks to God on the tax deadline day - so often we complain over situations over which we have no control; and the Lord gives us His word on that subject:  pray without ceasing AND in everything give thanks.   Gratitude will alter the state of our hearts...where there is gratitude, we can experience joy and peace, because we are accepting an attitude from the Father - not become disheartened about things that we humanly cannot change, and looking to Him to change circumstances, or change us in the midst of them.

On this Tax Day, let's focus on Mark chapter 12, where the Pharisees attempted to lay a trap for Jesus:
14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. 17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.   This was a blatant attempt to paint Jesus as some sort of anti-government rebel, and it didn't work.   In fact, we see in Romans 13 that government is an institution ordained by God - for specific purposes: to keep order and punish evil.  1st Timothy chapter 2 exhorts us to pray for our leaders - those who are in a authority in us.   So, just because we may not like some aspects of the tax code or the functions of our government doesn't give us an "out" on paying our taxes.   In following the principle of Scripture found in Colossians 3:17, I want to offer some things to be thankful for on Tax Day:- for me, I'm thankful that it's over; maybe tonight by midnight, we'll have significantly more thankful people;- I am thankful for tax preparation and electronic filing, keeping my OCD from kicking in nearly as much;- I like the thought that restaurants and other retailers are giving out free stuff and discounts today; - I appreciate those who serve in our government, whose salaries are paid by our taxes; the people who staff the various Federal and State agencies, who provide a variety of services and oversight to make our lives run smoother;- and, our troops who serve our country, who defend us and promote the cause of freedom around the world, deserve our appreciation;- as government is charged in Scripture to keep order and punish evil, I think about those who serve in law enforcement, who are also in harm's way, keeping us safe and enforcing the rule of law...
And while there is a significant debate about the size and scope of government and the enormous amount of spending that is taking place, especially on the Federal level, and while state government is attempting to meet the constitutional requirements of a balanced budget, we need to continue to be in pray for those who serve in governmental leadership, that they may exercise wisdom in dealing with the enormous moral and economic challenges our country faces.    We can easily begin to complain about the state of affairs, but I believe that we can be thankful, be prayerful, and maintain joy and contentment - some circumstances may change, and others we have to endure, and in those times, we can rely on the Lord to change us and to change our attitude.  And, perhaps God will use us as a catalyst for change, as we pray and be willing to be part of meaningful solutions for our tremendous challenges.

Sacrificing for What is Important

Jesus said in Luke 9:
(23b) "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self ?  I believe that God calls us to lay down certain things in order to preserve what is important.   If our relationship with the Lord is a priority, then we take steps minimize distractions to our spiritual growth and seek to maximize our time with Him and the disciplines that can help us improve in our walk.   The use of the word "cross" is significant - Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us, and He calls us to give of ourselves so that we might walk in His ways.

In Ephesians 5, we read:
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

There is a new phenomenon that is being reported - the result of the decline in available jobs and the housing, as well as technological advantages.   It is the rise of the so-called "super-commuter".   A report out of New York University finds that significant numbers of people work within the boundaries of a metropolitan area, but live outside those boundaries, meaning that they may travel a 100 miles or more once or twice a week.

A quarter-of-a-million workers, or just over 13 percent of the workforce in Houston and Harris County, Texas, are in this category.   This represents a 98 percent increase from 2002 to 2009.    The percentage of the small workforce in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is the same as for Houston.   Phoenix, Atlanta, and Philadelphia round out the top 5 in percentage of the workforce who are super-commuters.   You are finding significant numbers of people commuting from Dallas to Houston and San Antonio to Houston, even Boston to Manhattan.   There are people that commute to Atlanta from cities such as Chattanooga, Macon, Augusta, Columbus, and even Savannah.   I wouldn't be surprised to find a few people from the Faith Radio broadcast area who commute to the ATL or to Birmingham or Mobile. 

People are doing this to hold on to jobs, or because they cannot sell their house in one locale, due to the less-than-optimal housing market.   Technology enables people to live in one city and only have to report into the office once or twice a week, if that much.    People are willing to make a sacrifice, because having a good job is important to them, and they will put up with the inconvenience to hold on to it.

Jesus spoke of making sacrifices, as well.   He challenged us to lay down our lives so that we might know Him and experience eternal life.   We can ask ourselves - what am I willing to sacrifice in order to preserve what is important?  This can apply to our own spiritual growth...what would it take for us to experience a deeper walk with Christ?   Or what do we need to sacrifice in order to have a more vibrant marriage or a better relationship with our children?    And, too much time on the job may be a factor, or a long commute may actually be a distraction, and we need to ask the Lord to order our steps and help us to preserve those meaningful relationships.    What we give up for the sake of Christ and doing His will can provide greater joy and satisfaction in our lives.  

Remember the words of the late Jim Eliot: 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

Truths from the Titanic

We can look to God as our rescuer - the One who is with us, even in our times of deepest challenges or sorrows, even in difficult circumstances - we can run to Him and know His peace and presence.   Psalm 69 says:
13 But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. 14 Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. 15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. 16 Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.

Sometimes we will experience deliverance from physical circumstances that bring trouble, but sometimes the internal work of the Lord will come in the midst of affliction, and we can experience the gift of a greater measure of God's Spirit and character.   We acknowledge that God's ways are best, and that He has provided the ultimate rescue in Christ!

2nd Corinthians 5 tells us:
20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Needless to say, there are many Americans who are fascinated with the Titanic story - and the 100th Anniversary is coming up this weekend.   The movie is #2 in all-time box office and has been re-released in 3D; ABC has a 4-hour miniseries coming up this weekend, and there are a number of books in the genre of Christian fiction that have been released.   John & Mindy Clark co-wrote, "Echoes of Titanic", and Tricia Goyer has "By the Light of the Silvery Moon".

In fact, in her blog today, Tricia offers some discussion questions based on the Titanic story, which are designed to be used by homeschool families, but can be applicable to each of our lives:

1. Many people assumed the Titanic couldn't sink. An assumption means “something taken for granted.” Why do you think they believed that assumption? Also, what have you taken for granted in your life? Your parents? Your faith?

2. Key people didn't heed warnings about the danger in the waters ahead of the Titanic. Wireless operators from other ships tried to get through to Captain Smith with warnings about the ice fields, but the operators on the Titanic were too busy with commercial transmissions. Why do you think the radio operators ignored the warnings? Are there warnings in your life that you're not heeding?

3. A steward on the Titanic is quoted at saying, “Madam, God himself could not sink this ship.” A familiar saying goes, “Pride goes before the fall.” How did pride in this man-made ship lead many to loose their lives? Can you share a time when you witnesses pride bringing a person down.

4. History states that Captain Smith went down with the ship. Traditionally the Captain was the ultimate servant to the passengers on his ship. Also the crew members were expected to continued to serve passengers in the event of the ship sinking. Their job was to put the passengers needs before their own. How do you think this is similar to Jesus' servant attitude?

There are plenty of lessons that we can take away from this tragedy, including the concept of rescue that Ron Hutchcraft brings out:

In those graves are some of the 327 people the Nova Scotia funeral ships found floating in the water, frozen to death. Lost because the people who were already saved did nothing about the dying people who were within their reach.

And, there's the lesson for us: we have been saved by Christ and we can reach out to those who are dying - living in sin, apart from God.   Ron relates the story of one man who was a light to those around him even before the ship was going down, the story of John Harper:

John was seen often, talking about Jesus with fellow passengers. He gently inquired, "Are you saved?" He cared deeply about whether folks had ever asked Jesus, God's Rescuer from heaven, to save them from the penalty of their sin. None of those passengers had any idea how close they were to eternity...John Harper quickly realized that Titanic was going down. He made sure his precious daughter was in her aunt's arms as he put her in Lifeboat 11 - and told her, "I will see you again someday." And then he turned to "rescuing."...

As the great ship went under, he ended up in the 28-degree water in a lifejacket. Witnesses reported that John swam feverishly from person to person, asking about their relationship with Christ. When one man told him he was not "saved," this man of God gave him his lifejacket -and swam to tell another man about Jesus.

At a Titanic survivors meeting a few years later, a young man stood up and said:

"I am a survivor of the Titanic. When I was drifting alone on a spar that awful night, the tide brought Mr. John Harper of Glasgow, also on a piece of wreck near me. He asked, 'Man are you saved?' I replied, 'No, I am not.' 'Then believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,' he said."

The story didn't end there. "The waves bore him away; but strange to say brought him back a little later, and he said, 'Are you saved now?' I said, 'No, I cannot honestly say I am.' Once more, John said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.' Shortly after, he went down. And there, alone in the night, and with two miles of water under me, I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am John Harper's last convert."

As Ron points out, John Harper understood his assignment as a rescuer, an ambassador for Christ who was passionate about making sure those with whom he came in contact knew where they would spend eternity.

Ron Hutchcraft Ministries is offering a free e-book called, "Your Personal Titanic" - go to www.hutchcraft.com to learn more.

The Bible That Stopped a Bullet

God is our refuge and strength; He is near to us in trouble - here are the words of Psalm 31:
1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.  We can rely on the Lord to protect us and sustain us - He has given us His Word as a tool so that we might not be led astray by Satan, and as we hide our lives in Him, we can know Him as our mighty fortress...we are in a spiritual battle, but we can be equipped with God's resources, so that we can experience His victory, regardless of the circumstances around us.

Ephesians 6 outlines the armor of God:
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions
I really like the imagery here...there's an exhibit in Columbia, South Carolina called "Through Fiery Trials: Religion in the Civil War" at the Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum, featuring a variety of artifacts from the Civil War period

"The more we read firsthand accounts, the more we learned how important religion was in sustaining people and reconciling them afterwards," said Museum Curator of Education Joe Long.

The exhibit includes Bibles belonging to Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, a Bible that is the first English translation of the Hebrew Bible, and one belonging to Walter Counts of the 13th South Carolina Infantry.  It has a bullet embedded in it.

Long tells WMBF News that "...this poor Lutheran fellow from Lexington (SC), was killed and we don't know if that bible saved his life on one occasion, or merely stopped one bullet from the volley that killed him,"


Well, we do know that literally one bullet was stopped by God's Word, and figuratively, we recognize the protect that the Word of God can give us.  In the list of the components of the armor of God in Ephesians 6, we think of the Sword of the Spirit as an offensive weapon against the schemes of the enemy, but the Word also plays a part in the construction of the defensive components of the army - the belt of truth, for instance:   His Word tells us what is truth and helps us to separate His truth from the fiction that the world would attempt to put in play.   The helmet of salvation represents the renewing of our minds, which is done by planting the Scriptures in our consciousness through study and meditation.   The breastplate of righteousness reminds us to guard our hearts and depend on God's Word to protect our hearts from the deception of the devil, who would seek to distract and destroy us.  And, the shield of faith will extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one - faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Walter Counts' Bible took a bullet for him during the Civil War; our Bible can take bullet after bullet shot by an unrelenting enemy and provide valuable protection as we seek to effectively live the Christian life.

We Can Rest Now - Bigfoot Found!

Psalm 139 reminds us of the God who brings peace in the midst of anxiety, who shines the light of truth into the lies that cause us to fear:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

If we inject God's truth into a situation, even something that we construct in our minds, based on anxiety, the presence of His Word brings peace and hope - so often we think on the wrong things, and it causes us to be fearful and we get off track in our walk with Christ - as His truth, His light exposes our incorrect thinking, we can be better equipped to reflect His nature and walk closer to Him.

Philippians 4 addresses the antidote to anxiety:
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


The legendary beast known as "Bigfoot" has been found in some woods near Elliston, Montana - or so it seems, or...well, it was called a "Bigfoot" hunt, and someone dressed in a Bigfoot costume was discovered.   OK, it was good fun for hundreds of people in pursuit of a $150 bounty.

327 "hunters" trudged through snow in a 10-acre patch of woods for an hour and 20 minutes, the longest search in the history of the event, before someone finally blew their whistle announcing that Bigfoot had been found.   Cathleen Dobson, a member of the National Guard in nearby Helena, was this year's victor. She found Bigfoot — that is, John Peskey, a 6-foot-2 high school orchestra teacher dressed in a costume - nestled in a willow thicket near the back of the property, according to Fox News, which said that "No actual mythical beasts were harmed during the annual Elliston's Bigfoot Hunt."


So over 300 people shining their flashlights through a 10-acre wood for a costumed character - a bizarre way to spend an evening, no doubt.   For years, the sasquatch has been the stuff of legend, but while sightings of such characters appear from time to time, the creature has not really been corralled.

So it is with some mythical entities in our own lives.   We are often held captive by fears of events that will never come to pass.   We are haunted by numerous thoughts that make their way into our consciousness, and we even act on those false presuppositions.   Jesus asked why do we worry, Paul told us to "Be anxious for nothing", but yet worries about things that will never come to pass keep us in bondage.    The Lord desires for us to shine the light of truth into the false realities that we manufacture for ourselves, as we dwell on those fears that the enemy would want to use to render us unproductive for the kingdom.   As we follow the Biblical instruction to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, we replace the fearful lies of the enemy with the peace-bringing truth found in God's Word.

It All Adds Up

From Psalm 89, we read:
5 The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. 6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? 7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. 8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you. 

The wonder and beauty of creation point to our Creator God, who is worthy to be praised.   The precision and patterns found in creation indicate to us that the earth nor its inhabitants were the result of random chance occurrences - we do not serve a random God, but One who is intimately and intricately involved in the foundation of our word and the formation of our lives.

The incredible question is posed to Job in the 38th chapter of the book of Job:
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-- 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

Kiefer Sutherland is back on the small-screen, in the new series called, "Touch", about an autistic boy who doesn't speak, but has some sort of uncanny ability to relate numerical sequences to human relationships.   Now, this is not an endorsement of the show - we watched a very few minutes after "American Idol" one night - but it is a fictionalized account that is based on something called the "Fibonacci sequence".

In this sequence, discovered around A.D. 1200 by Leonardo Pisa (historically known as Fibonacci), each succeeding number is hte sum of the two preceding numbers - the sequence is 1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144,233, and so forth. This numbering pattern reveals itself in various ways throughout all of nature.  

According to Fred Willson, writing for the Institute for Creation Research, there is a pattern called the "golden spiral", such as is seen in shells:

By taking a careful look at that spiral (the chambered nautilus is probably the clearest example) you will observe that as it gets larger, it retains its identical form. Since the body of the organism grows in the path of a spiral that is equiangular and logarithmic, its form never changes. The beauty of this form is commonly called the "golden spiral."

This spiral is visible in things as diverse as: hurricanes, spiral seeds, the cochlea of the human ear, ram's horn, sea-horse tail, growing fern leaves, DNA molecule, waves breaking on the beach, tornados, galaxies, the tail of a comet as it winds around the sun, whirlpools, seed patterns of sunflowers, daisies, dandelions, and in the construction of the ears of most mammals.

This spiral follows a precise mathematical pattern.

That pattern is the "Fibonacci sequence"...there's also a "golden rectangle", found to be pleasing to the eye, incorporated into art by da Vinci, Van Gogh, Monet, and others.  If the short side of the rectangle is 1, the long side will be 1.618, which is the same ratio as found in that numerical sequence.  Willson says that the    "rectangular shape was close to the pattern used in the designing of the Parthenon of Greece and for many of their numerous pictures, vases, doorways, windowns, statues, etc., and even for certain features of the Great Pyramid of Egypt.  The United Nations building is a golden rectangle. Many of the things you use are (approximately) patterned after the golden rectangle—credit cards, playing cards, postcards, light switch plates, writing pads, 3-by-5 and 5-by-8 cards, etc."

Willson states that:

These shapes, numbers, spirals, and the divine proportion are ubiquitous in their presence throughout all of creation. They are found in living and nonliving phenomena. Their symmetry, beauty, and mathematical preciseness are evident in every aspect of nature. Although absolute perfection is not found in all of these (due to the effects of Adam' sin), their very presence virtually everywhere and in everything argues against their having occurred by blind chance or evolutionary processes. The only rational conclusion is that the Creator of the universe is a personal, intelligent Being, who created these things as a visible fingerprint of His invisible, yet personal existence. 

And, when we recognize that we serve a God of order, the designer of the world in which we live and the entire universe, we can also acknowledge that He has the ability to order our lives, and is far more capable of order our steps that we are in our own human wisdom.   We can point to design as evidence of a powerful and wise Creator God, and we can surrender to this designer, who has a precise plan for our lives.

Seeing Through New Eyes

The Lord desires for us to see with spiritual eyes, and He has given us His word to clarify and enhance our vision.   Here's what 2 Corinthians 4 says:
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

God gives us the ability, by His Word and through His Holy Spirit, to see with spiritual eyes - to view our lives, our relationships, the daily challenges and decisions we face, and the world around us - from His perspective.   If we are looking at things through His eyes, through the redeemed perspective from a resurrected life, it changes the way we approach life.

Jesus talked about seeing with spiritual eyes in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 6:
22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!


Last week, the techie world was captivated by the release of a video by Google unveiling its new "augmented reality glasses", which could be released by the end of the year.   According to PC World, in the "Project Glass" video, a man only using his voice and other inputs does things commonly handled by smartphones, such as scheduling meetings, taking pictures, checking the weather, getting directions, and placing a video call. The difference is instead of having to hold a device in your hand, the data you need hovers in your field of view.

An actual prototype of these Google glasses was worn by Google co-founder Sergey Brin in San Francisco at an event the next day.

So, if I'm understanding the concept here, your field of vision is enhanced because of these glasses - for instance, if you're trying to go somewhere, you will actually see a map of your route and the geography right there in your glasses.   You will have access to certain information sources and presumably a broader range of tools that can be helpful to you - not at your fingertips, but before your very eyes.

Sometimes we need a fresh perspective, a new set of eyes - and the Word of God can enhance our spiritual vision.   And, that is integrated into the story of the resurrection:   the angel appeared to the women as the went to the tomb that day and saw the stone rolled away - their vision was shifted, enhanced really, and they remembered that Jesus had said that He would die AND rise from the dead.   Peter and John came running to the tomb, and their vision was shifted.   The two men to whom Jesus appeared on the road to Emmaus had a  dramatic experience - Jesus walked with them, they discussed the story of the things that had happened, and when they arrived at the destination, they saw who Jesus was.

The resurrection, the new life we have in Christ, enables us to see with that new set of eyes.  With a new heart, transformed because we have been saved, comes a new perspective, and we can see life and the world around us through spiritual eyes.   Where there was disappointment and disillusionment, there is now hope.   Where we were relying on ourselves, we now are able to see how dependence on God can change our lives.   As we search for truth, we can clearly see God's truth, illumined by the Holy Spirit.   Through Christ, our vision and how we see the world is shifted.

Learning from the Master

In Mark 8:31, Jesus laid out for His disciples some of the dynamics of the plan for His life:
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Jesus had a clear sense of His purpose - true, He lived a sinless life, and taught us various principles of life as His disciple, a redeemed life, a renewed life.   He left us an example, but the only way we can really follow in His steps is to surrender to Him, to embrace the cross, to die to self and live to Him, to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.   He died and rose again, and He calls us to identity with Him in His crucifixion, so we can experience His abundant life.

We fix our eyes on Jesus, according to Hebrews 12.   Verse 2 describes Him as the...
...author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The sporting world shifts this week from March Madness to Masters-mania - plenty of speculation from the world of golf regarding arguably its most dynamic event, with questions such as "will Tiger Woods recover from his personal struggles to wear the green jacket?" or "will Phil Mickelson be able to hold on for another victory?"   Perhaps a little-known golfer will take the crown, like last year's winner Charl Schwartzel.   Or maybe Rory McIlrory will discover that it takes 72 holes of competition to win the Masters.

Sports psychologist and Christian David Cook learns that discipline in golf parallels discipline in life, and has attempted to relate principles consistent with Biblical truth in his book, "Golf's Sacred Journey" and the movie based on it, "Seven Days in Utopia", which I highly recommend.   The premise is that a golfer who has suffered a major meltdown arrives in Utopia, Texas and spends 7 days there presumably to improve his golf game, but learns a series of life's lessons.   These lessons are summarized by the letters, SFT, which stands for "See it. Feel it. Trust it."   But we learn that these letters are more than just about golf - the broader application for these letters is:  See His face.  Feel His presence.  Trust His love.

And, on this Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday, we can focus on Jesus as He endured pain and suffering, and ultimately death, for you and me, and for the sins of the world.   His face of agony ultimately became transformed to a face of compassion.   And, because Jesus has risen to new life and sent His Holy Spirit, we can experience His presence every day.   We trust in His love because He paid the ultimate price for us - His focus was on the redemption of His people, and therefore He endured the cross.   SFT - that's the message that the golfer in "Seven Days in Utopia" learned, but it was less about golf and more about life, a life surrendered to the Savior.

A Rich Spiritual History

We serve a God who has given us a rich history, and we praise Him for how He has sustained His people and made redemption possible through Christ...here are the words of Psalm 78:
2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old--
3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children,
6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.

God's Word tells us an amazing story - about 2 people placed in a garden, who departed from God's ways, a people chosen by Him, special people who had a covenant relationship with Him, and a Redeemer who came to bring salvation to those who accept Him.   As we reflect on our spiritual history, during this Holy Week, we can rejoice in God's faithfulness!!

Hebrews 12 tells us:
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We are talking about some aspects of history today - on this day in 1984, 28 years ago, a radio station signed on the air in Montgomery, AL, and WLBF-FM brought listener-supported, all-Christian programming to the Montgomery metro area, and in subsequent years has expanded to encompass 3 full-power stations, 4 translators, and a dynamic Internet outreach at faithradio.org.

On The Meeting House today, we'll consider how the sinking of the Titanic provides a backdrop for a work of Christian fiction and the lessons we can learn from that occasion, that took place almost 100 years ago.

There is a fascination this week with the release of the U.S. Census data from 1940.   This is the first time that census data has been made available on the Internet.   Susan Cooper, a spokeswoman for the National Archives was quoted by the Los Angeles Times, as saying: "In the first three hours, we had 22.5 million hits...We're a victim of our own success."   The Times also quoted Michael Snow, a Census Bureau historian, who said the newly released information helps to fill in a portrait of the nation as it dug its way out of the Great Depression and stood at the brink of World War II. The records offer details on the period's great westward migration, prompted by Depression-era job losses and the Dust Bowl conditions that hit the Great Plains about the same time.   By the way, you can't search by name - you have to know the so-called "enumeration zone" where the person for whom you are searching resided in 1940.

I think a knowledge of our personal and genealogical history does help to give us insight about and appreciation of our own identity.   And, a knowledge of our spiritual history is important, too.  

We find a wonderful historical narrative laid out for us in Hebrews chapter 11, also called the "hall of faith".  Even a reading of the "begats", as they're called, in Matthew and Luke, can show us the rich history of how God dealt with humanity.   You read about people such as Abraham, with whom God made an agreement, a covenant, to set aside a special people.   You see David's name there, too, a man after God's own heart, upon whose throne the Messiah would sit.  

And, we're part of that rich history, because Jesus came to make you and me part of the amazing story of God's redemption plan - executed perfectly.   We consider what Jesus did for us on the cross and why He had to do it, because we could not pay the penalty for our own sin or even come to God without Him.   And, we find examples throughout the Scriptures of individuals who could relate the incredible story of God's faithfulness to His people!    So, as we consider our rich spiritual history, our hearts can be full of praise, and our mouths can be full of a testimony of mercy and grace.

Opportunity Knocks

Ephesians chapter 5 gives us this word of encouragement:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Into this dangerous age in which I believe there is a declining knowledge of God, He has placed His church, His people, and He calls us to walk according to the leadership of His Holy Spirit, who will open doors, who will provide opportunities for us to share His love and truth.

We remember the cross and radiate His compassion.

In Colossians 4, the apostle Paul writes that we should be in prayer - watchful and thankful:
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
 
Opportunities come to us, and it's important that we are sensitive to God's Spirit - watchful, and thankful for these opportunities, divine appointments that will come our way.
 
They were a band consisting of worship leaders from the Denver area, some of which attended the same Christian school.   They've won some awards and acquired some fans - And, last night, they had a rare opportunity on a national stage.    And, as a took a break from my tax preparation "opportunity", I began to read some tweets about last night NCAA Championship in New Orleans - but not about Kentucky & Kansas, but about The Fray.  I like The Fray, and appreciate their music and what they see as their mission, but apparently, people thought their performance of the National Anthem was less than stellar - it was even said that Roseanne Barr should step aside - there is a new "worst" rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

Now, I watched the video, and yes, it was unique, to say the least, and the guitar player seemed to be adding in some 9ths or 11ths, or a 10-1/2 to the basic chord structure.   And the Revolutionary War-style snare drum was a nice touch.   But, worst ever?   I don't know.
 
But, the point is that this band, The Fray, that I like - a lot - had an opportunity, and for whatever reason, it didn't work for them.   And, how many times do we have opportunities - open doors - for us, and we look back and wish we had taken full advantage?  
 
That's why sensitivity to the leadership of the Spirit is so important - this week, as Easter will be celebrated around the world, there are people who will go to church that never do, people who might consider the claims of Christ, who never have, and God may desire to use us to radiate His love and to even share the reason for the hope of this season, and the hope that we reflect.   I'm glad that Jesus took the opportunity to die so that we might be redeemed, I'm thankful that He was obedient to the Father all the way to the cross.

Mega-Millions: Not Nearly a Sure Thing

Our God is the One Who can truly satisfy the longings of our hearts...here is what Psalm 145 has to say:
16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
 
We live in an age of instant gratification, and people are longing for what will truly satisfy our hearts - some believe that riches, material possessions will satisfy; others believe that a relationship will satisfy those desires; many look for lasting satisfaction in their work and service.   But, the Bible teaches us that only through abiding in Christ can we experience God's best for us - the satisfaction and joy that He wants us to have.

Isaiah 55 reminds us that God is our source of satisfaction:
1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
 
The frenzy over Mega Millions has basically past, as 3 winners will be splitting the $640 million dollar jackpot - before taxes, that is.   And, the millions who bought tickets are experiencing quite a bit of disappointment in their search for instant gratification.
 
It has been said that a lottery is a tax on the poor, and that a disproportionate number of people with low-incomes play the lottery - in fact, people in the higher income brackets only play when there's a large jackpot, apparently.  And, a report surfaced late last week that said that people who make $13,000 a year and under spend 9% of their income on the lottery - that is according to the Journal of Risk and Uncertainty. 
 
PBS says that the real chances of winning are one in 176 million.   Some more reasonable odds, by comparison, getting hit by falling airplane parts, 17 times more likely. Or being hit by lightning, that's 50 times more likely to happen than winning the Mega Millions take. 
Ron Hutchcraft of A Word With You commented on how we pursue so many things that do not satisfy:

Of course, it's human nature to attach our dreams to getting "more." And the cash lottery isn't the only one we bet on. Some of us bet on the love lottery, thinking that finding the right someone to love us will make our dreams come true. But, as so many have discovered, winning at love doesn't guarantee happiness. And too often, the dream turns out to be a nightmare.


Life has lots of lotteries you can spend on, hoping your dreams will come true. The success lottery...the "be the best" lottery...the perfection lottery - perfect home, perfect kids, perfect image...the "affair" lottery. Buy lots of tickets...dream your "better life" dream. If you lose, you think that's why you're unhappy. If you win, you're more baffled than ever about why you're not happy.

He goes on to say that:

And no matter how deep we dig, we'll never come up with enough to win forgiveness or peace or eternal life. But the price has been paid.


On Good Friday. By Jesus. On a cross. That's where, "though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty He could make you rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9 ).

My spiritual bankruptcy traded for His eternal treasure. Because He gave it all. It was an offer I could not resist.

A relationship with Jesus will satisfy that deep desires of our hearts - He has paid the price to eliminate the sin-barrier that keeps us from enjoying life and walking in His peace...we can take our chances on winning some sort of lottery, but only knowing Him can produce the sure way to eternal life - and abundant life here on earth.