Door-to-Door

In Galatians chapter 5, we see how our love relationship with Christ affects the way we relate to others:
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

I think this tell us that we are not to keep our faith to ourselves, but instead to allow the light of Christ to shine through us.   And, on this night, where children are flooding neighborhoods, going door-to-door asking for stuff, we can be challenged as believers that perhaps we can be motivated to go to people around us giving the love of Jesus.   The Lord loves people, Jesus gave His life for people, and we have numerous opportunities to reflect His light into dark places.

2nd Corinthians 4, verses 5 and 6, can help shape our perspective on radiating the light of Christ, especially on this particular day that has a dark history:
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Tonight, across America, according to the website, DailyInfographic.com, 69% of U.S. households - some 78 million people will celebrate Halloween.   Over $11 billion dollars will be spent on Halloween.   And, here's an interesting stat: 74% of those surveyed said they would open their door and give something.   Now, I don't know what that means for the other 26%, but I suspect that means they either won't be home or won't answer the door.

Imagine that - children going into their neighborhoods and calling on their neighbors to give them candy.   And, generally, they don't think a whole lot about it - not particularly intimidated, probably.   But, if we were to consider going into our neighborhoods and calling on our neighbors to go to church, that could be a rather daunting task for some.  

And, the success rate is higher - according to Dr. Thom Rainer of LifeWay, in his book, The Unchurched Next Door, 82% of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited.   He also says that "Only 2 percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church. 98% of church-goers never extend an invitation in a given year."

And he writes that “A study including more than 15,000 adults revealed that about two-thirds are willing to receive information about a local church from a family member, and 56 percent from a friend or neighbor. The message is clear that the unchurched are open to conversations about church.”

So, the trick-or-treaters have it right - going door-to-door, in neighborhoods can be highly effective in gathering candy.   And, I think in the same way, neighborhood evangelism can be very effective - building relationships with those that live around us, considering that perhaps half of them, or more, do not attend church regularly.    As we pray for our neighbors, and ask the Holy Spirit to provide power and wisdom in how we approach them about church attendance and their walk with Christ, we can see many come to a saving knowledge of the Lord.  And, pray for those involved in ministry throughout the Northeast, including the churches in New York City, who are reportedly checking in to make sure their congregation members are OK.   In fact, during time of crisis, a broad "door-to-door" approach can really demonstrate the love of Christ.

All is Not As It Seems

In 2nd Corinthians chapter 11, the apostle Paul issues a stern warning to the people of God:
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it! Verses 14 and 15 highlight the father of lies, the deceiver, who wants to lead us astray from the truth of God:(14)...Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.    Discernment is a critical component of the Christian life, because all is not as it seems.   The enemy will disguise himself - he will adjust something that is destructive and make it seem good.   He will lure us to selfishly satisfy our fleshly nature, our sin nature, when these things contradict the law and principles of God.   We have to be sensitive to recognize temptation and take the necessary steps to resist it - and even run if necessary.

1st John 2 warns us against loving the world and allowing the enemy to deceive us into thinking that temporary things can truly satisfy us:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

We are continuing to keep in our prayers the residents of numerous Northeastern states who are facing flooding, loss of power, and other effects of Hurricane Sandy, which continues to barrel through Pennsylvania.

And, through social media outlets, pictures of the storm are being posted in significant numbers, really giving us a real-time view of the destruction that is occurring.  

There are a few photos, however, that may not be giving a true picture.   The website, Mashable.com, which is devoted to covering social media, highlights 7 fake Hurricane Sandy photos that are commonly being shared.   One of these photos has become especially notable - it was shot back in September in a driving rainstorm and features 3 soldiers standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, DC.    And, while the photo is a reminder of these guards who stand watch over the tomb 24/7, and have done so since 1948, the picture itself was not taken during the hurricane, as it has been billed.

There are a few pictures of New York City that have made the rounds - I almost got taken in by the picture of the Statue of Liberty being besieged by waves...that is actually a screen shot from the movie, "The Day After Tomorrow".   There are other pictures of ominous clouds over New York City, which were taken in other weather events.   Also, apparently shark pictures in water are making the rounds - again.   And, the flooded McDonald's photo is out there, another screenshot from a movie, depicting one of those life-sized Ronald McDonalds being displaced by the water that has trashed the restaurant.

The advent of software such as Photoshop and Instagram reminds us that things are not as they appear.   And, while these may be basically innocent forms of deception, we can think about the one who is known as the deceiver, who attempts to lure us to turn away from God by his false promises.  And, on this day before Halloween, we do want to call attention to the presence of the evil one, who has tantalized people to follow him in a religious sense, or to participate in ungratifying works of darkness that also bring glory to him.

The enemy will tempt us in a number of ways:  He will deceive us into thinking that we can run our own lives better than God can.   He will also deceive us into thinking that pursuing sin or a sinful lifestyle is a better path for us.   He will attempt to satisfy us with worldly possessions, which will take our eyes of the Lord.    He will dangle before us something that seems good, but that leads to destruction.   Because, ultimately, following in the ways of the devil will not lead to abundant life, but bring misery and death.   Beware of the deceiver - he wants to either keep you from accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, or to render you unproductive in your Christian life.

October Surprise?

2nd Corinthians 4 encourages us to follow the light of God's truth and His presence when we encounter the trials of life, when surprises come that could knock us off course in our spiritual walk:
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 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.

God will be exalted in our trials - we can know His grace and power in the midst of suffering.   If our lives are built on the firm foundation of His truth, we can stand strong in Christ, trusting Him, even when we may not understand what is going on, when trouble seemingly gathers around us.   He is the One who offers peace to us, our companion who will make Himself known, even in the midst of our trials.

The Bible directs us to rejoice in hope, even in the midst of trials that may surprise us.   Here's what 1st Peter says:
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,


I guess it happens every 4 years about this time - there are media speculations about what sort of "October Surprise" might take place.  That concept involves some revelation that could affect the Presidential campaign.  Wikipedia says that term was first coined back in the 1972 campaign when Henry Kissinger announced that "we believe peace is at hand" regarding Vietnam.   There was concern during the 1980 campaign that President Carter would announce the release of the hostages in Iran.  The 1992 campaign between Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush featured revelations the weekend before the election about a Reagan Cabinet member's alleged involvement in Iran-Contra.   And, there was a revelation about George W. Bush's past behavior brought to light in the 2000 campaign.  A 2004 tape by Osama bin Laden was thought by some to damage John Kerry. 

And, now the speculation has swirled about what this year's "October Surprise" might be.   Last week, there was Donald Trump's offer to donate $5 million to charity in exchange for Mr. Obama releasing his college transcripts and other material.   High-profile attorney Gloria Allred was touting Mr. Romney's testimony in a divorce case of a former associate.   There are some that say that the mounting information in the Benghazi attack could prove damaging to the President.  

But, this year's "October Surprise" might well be a super-storm, the potential combination of a hurricane combining with a winter storm to create what has been described as a "Frankenstorm".   And, I do encourage you to pray for those across a large section of the East Coast, who could experience high winds and storm surge as the result of Hurricane Sandy.    New York City, Washington, DC, and other large metropolitan areas are taking the necessary precautions, and extensive power outages and widespread damage are expected with this "life-threatening" storm.   Those are the important, human implications.

And, there are the political implications, too.   The Presidential candidates have already adjusted their travel plans.   Proponents of early voting are concerned that this may affect this element of the election.    And, with Mr. Obama returning to the nation's capital to monitor storm developments, it gives him an opportunity to demonstrate Presidential actions.  

Surprises come into our lives - physical storms can come with some advance notice, and the population along the Eastern Seaboard is being warned, and many are taking the necessary precautions.   It's important that we take action when threats come.

But, some threats come without notice, and it is in those times that we are prepared, too - as we live our lives, growing in the Lord, we must have our lives built on a firm foundation, on strong spiritual principles, so that when the surprises come - and they will - we will be anchored in the rock of ages and be able to access and activate godly wisdom.   If we are spiritually prepared, whether or not we know if the storm is coming, then we can experience the hand of God when the tough times occur, and give Him praise throughout.

It Ain't Over...

Romans 5 reminds us that God works on a different timetable than our own:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  There is a human tendency to give up hope and to become disappointed when circumstances don't turn out the way we think they should.   It's helpful to think that even when we don't see evidence of it, the hand of God may be at work, bringing the perfect answer, performing His plan, which may not necessarily line up with our plans.   But, His ways are higher than our own, and we can stand in faith, believing that He is working, and giving Him the glory for how He is bringing His will to pass.

Let's go back to the first chapter of James and explore verses 2-4:
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

News out of Brazil - a 41-year-old car washer shocked his family when he interrupted a funeral being held for him at his mother's home, according to MercuryNews.com.

Police inspector Roberto Lima said by telephone that on Sunday Jose Marcos Araujo identified a body at the city morgue as being that of his brother, Gilberto.

Lima said that Jose Marcos took the body to his mother's home where a wake was held.

The confusion came as the result of news circulating that a car washer was dead, but it wasn't Gilberto.   The police inspector said that the two men did resemble one another and they both were car washers.

But, a few hours before the Monday burial "a friend of Gilberto's saw him walking down the street and told him that his family was mourning him," he said.

"So he went to his mother's home to let everyone know he was very much alive."

When Araujo showed up at his wake "some people fainted and others were so scared they ran away. It was a big shock," family friend Maria Menezes told the G1 online news site.

Gilberto's mother Marina Santana told reporters..."I am overjoyed. What mother wouldn't be after being told that her son is dead and then sees him alive."

Doesn't this remind you that sometimes we declare something to be dead when the end of the story has not been written?   Now Gilberto was not resurrected, but he had been thought to be dead.   And, I can help but think about Jesus, as he approached the tomb of Lazarus and declared, "I am the resurrection and the life."   The end of the story of Lazarus had not been written - he was raised from the dead.  

Jesus Himself taught that he would rise after 3 days, but his followers didn't really grasp it, and they became despondent.   There was disbelief in his camp, but He showed up and revealed the truth of His resurrection.  

Sometimes we become full of doubt and disappointment ourselves, because things don't turn out the way we think they should.   Perhaps you've prayed and lost hope in a particular situation, thinking God does not want to answer your prayer.   But, it could be that He is working, even when we don't perceive Him.   His complete work is sometimes done in the time of waiting for Him to move.   We lose hope because we don't sense His hand, but we have to think that perhaps He is just patiently working His plan.    So, the word for us is - don't give up, continue to trust the Lord, continue to allow His hope to rise in your heart.   The dream may not be dead, but God's perfect work may be in progress.

The Masks We Wear

The prophet Samuel had the enormous task of selecting a king for Israel - he was led to the family of Jesse, and began to inspect the sons.  1st Samuel 16 drives home a great point as the prophet looked at David's brother, Eliab and thought that surely he was the chosen one.7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."   We know the rest of the story, that Samuel chose David to be king of Israel.   There's a great application for us - so often we are concerned with outward appearance, and we don a variety of masks that hide who we truly are.   We shun authenticity in order to please people, or to make them think of us as something other than who Christ has made us.   Our true identity, who we really are, is in Christ, and we may act pious or prestigious in order to gain favor with other people, but the masks can ultimately bring misery to us.   A changed life, set free from the inside, pleases God and brings peace to our hearts.
James 1 encourages us to ask God for wisdom - in faith, and to not be double-minded:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.   The point here is that we are called to a faith walk, and if we are not trusting Christ and walking in His ways, we live a double life and are called double-minded and unstable.

According to a report in CNN Money, a record number of 170 million people plan to celebrate Halloween this year, according to the National Retail Federation's 2012 consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight. The average person will spend nearly $80 on costumes, candy and decoration, $8 more than last year.   And, even though many Christians are choosing not to celebrate Halloween, many kids and families will be participating in fall festivals and the like, so that costume budget will apply to you.  And, you're going to have children coming to your door - perhaps you can add to the candy you hand out a ministry tract or even, as one of our listeners is planning to do, a Faith Radio program schedule.  I think it's recommended that you don't answer the door and tell the wanting children that you don't celebrate Halloween; just go away.

OK, back to costumes - that same story highlights the scientific method of predicting the result of a Presidential race by the sales of a particular mask.   A seasonal, one-thousand store retail chain has
accurately predicted the election winner by charting national mask sales since it started keeping track in 1996.  This year, the sales of Obama masks outpace Romney 60-40% - looking at the story, it might help if the masks pictured actually looked like the candidates. 


Obama beat out Sen. John McCain in mask sales in 2008 with the same split as this year. The retailer also predicted a President George W. Bush win over Sen. John Kerry in 2004, a 2000 Bush victory over former Vice President Al Gore, and a Sen. Bob Dole defeat by President Bill Clinton in 1996.

"A lot of people are going out and supporting their candidate by wearing their masks," said Lisa Barr, senior director of marketing for Spirit Halloween.

I was thinking about the masks we wear - you know, there are results, or consequences of our own personal masks, which could create a narrative far different than what's going on inside our hearts.   Perhaps that's why God told Samuel that He did not look at outward appearance, but at the heart.   What masks do we wear?   I think of prestige - we attempt to convey a certain image by the stuff we own, the society class we belong to, or the sophistication we might try to exude.   But, inside we feel deficient and empty.    Another "mask" is position - we become one with our occupations, and the uniform we wear tells a different story than who we really are.   And, again, the masks we wear can determine the results of our lives - we, in fact, live a dual life and become, as the Bible says, double-minded.

Another "mask" is philanthropy - we give in order to hide our true intentions or we can attempt to feel better about ourselves because we have done something selfless - but the outward display can really mask the selfishness or thirst for attention we actually have - our motives are wrong.   And, perhaps the most dangerous of all - piety.   We "go through the motions" and attempt to act holy, but inside we harbor sinful desires, not realizing that our status with God doesn't depend on our outward actions, but the inner work that He has done.

So, the masks we wear can be predictors of the misery that could result from living a double life, and of the rude awakening we may encounter when we stand before God and recognize that we were acting one way but in God's eyes we were someone different.   And, in many cases, we might face exposure in this life.   Allow God to strip offf the mask and change you from the inside out.

Knowledge Will Increase

Ecclesiastes 8 points to the transformational nature of Godly wisdom, which is available to every believer in Christ, if we will set our hearts and minds to seek for it:
1 Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed.

Wisdom comes as we take knowledge that we have acquired and apply it to the situations and decisions we face - true wisdom, Godly wisdom is informed by the Scriptures, by Biblical discernment.   We can gain information and purpose to know a lot of facts and even principles, but knowledge that is not enlightened by the presence of God, we are told, puffs up, and is really not useful as we face challenges in our lives.   Information alone cannot save or direct, and mere acquisition of information and memorization of facts leaves us short of God's best - it's only as we recognize that God's Word is alive and active, and applicable to our lives everyday that we can accurately process information and become wise in the Lord.

Daniel 12 shows us the importance of wisdom and the predicted increase of knowledge in the last days:
3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. 4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."  This passage reminds us of the importance of gaining wisdom - godly wisdom - wisdom that is based on a knowledge of the Scriptures, and the ability to apply Scriptural truth to the issues we face - individually and collectively.
Verse 4 seems to point to an increase of knowledge in the "time of the end" - what does that mean?  I don't know exactly, but it can cause us to ponder the explosion in information during these times.
Paul Laudicina in the Wall Street Journal, discusses this wealth of potential knowledge that is available. He writes:

With the relentless 24/7 information smog of always-on news, e-mail, and social media, most of us are not feeling smarter or wiser these days. Just consider: from the beginning of time until 2003 we generated 5 billion gigabytes of data...By next year we will generate that much data every ten minutes. Is it any wonder our ability to think and act with the future in mind has diminished with the daily assault on our over-stimulated brains?

The temptation is to tune out what you can’t control (which is pretty much everything), and focus entirely on the few things you can—from the comfort of your private cocoon. But unlike some, I think going on a media diet or fast is neither realistic nor productive. In today’s complex world, you need to be a talent scout and an information omnivore, and ideally a discerning omnivore.

He concludes by saying:

The future belongs not to those who turn down the volume, cancel their subscriptions, or unplug. Instead it will go to those who vary their information diets, listen for important but subtle “weak signals,” and go out into the world to discover remarkable people, ideas, places, products, and services for themselves. Take it all in, as the discerning omnivore you ought to be.

Just because we digest or download information, that doesn't mean we have acquired knowledge, and it certainly doesn't mean we have applied the discernment skills to apply that knowledge.  With the announcement of the new iPad, we find that there is just one more outlet through which we can access this information - and there are all sorts of information portals.   But, we have to take the information we receive, process it in the light of Scripture, and then take what has become knowledge to us and integrate it into the way we live our lives.

Knowledge is increasing, and I believe that could be a sign of the end.   And, it gives us an opportunity to walk in the knowledge of God, so that we become wise, and our wisdom becomes a light to a world that is desperately looking for answers.

Let The Music Play

In Isaiah 42, we see a picture of the greatness and glory of God, and we are called to respond in worship:
8 "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you."10 Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.

We are called to sing a new song to the Lord - why?   Well, a new song implies that something active is taking place, we are called to respond to a fresh touch of the Lord.   As we recognize the presence of the Lord, we can respond in praise and adoration, calling attention to how God is working in and around our lives.   The song in our hearts, the joy of the Lord, can serve to aid us as we seek to abide in the Lord daily.

Psalm 95 lays it out well for us regarding the importance of music - and worship - to our lives:
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.

In Garland, Texas the other night, there was an unfortunate incident that can help us to reflect on the importance of music in our lives and the song in our hearts.   Hudson Middle School's football team had the ball, set to hopefully drive down the field.   In the stands, the band began to play.

And, according to WFAA television, a game official reportedly told Hudson's band director that the middle school football team would keep being penalized if the band kept playing. He said they were just too loud.  The band left before halftime.

After the band left, the official was ordered to leave, too.

Garland ISD spokesman Chris Moore says that the district told the officiating organization to never assign that referee to any athletic events within the district.

Garland ISD does not have a policy regarding bands playing at football games. Moore said it appears the official was enforcing an NCAA policy that never should have never been... and never will be... enforced in the Garland ISD.

On Wednesday, the district's athletic director went to Hudson Middle School and apologized to the band.

That's correct, the official tried to stop the music!   As a former band guy and definitely a music guy, I see the importance of music relative to an athletic event.   A rousing tune can get the fans fired up, which can in turn motivate the football team.   I saw this firsthand when I was in high school - the football team was mediocre, at best, but hopefully, the band playing in the bleachers or at halftime could get the crowd going.

I think in the Christian life, music plays a motivational role for us.   And, here at Faith Radio, we devote a sizable part of the broadcast day to music that lifts up the Lord.   Now, you may not be singer or want to be caught singing along to the radio or humming a tune at work - but a song can capture a moment, it can elicit an emotion, it can remind us of a truth that perhaps a sermon never would - and it sets an atmosphere in which we can be aware of the presence of God.   And, the use of music illustrates a principle - God wants us to be connected to Him throughout the day - our worship in song, or just a joyful attitude of heart, can be a tool that can be used to enhance of walk with Him.  So, don't stop the music - let the music play in your heart and mind, allow the presence of Christ to permeate your soul.

Big Tex and Temporal Treasures

2nd Corinthians 5 can give us a fresh sense of eternity, and recognize that our lives here on earth are just a minute part of eternity:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,  8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.  Our lives here on earth are positioned against the backdrop of eternity.  The world in which we live now is not all there is, and the decisions we make here on earth will affect how we spend eternity.  If we know Christ, if He is our Lord and Savior, we have the bright promise that we will be with Him forever, and with that eternal perspective in mind, we live our lives to reflect His glory.


1st Corinthians 3 reminds us that the way we live our lives here matters in light of eternity:
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.  
For 60 years, visitors to the legendary Texas State Fair were greeted by a 52-foot-tall talking statue of a cowboy, known as "Big Tex".   By noon this past Friday, all that was left of the fiberglass icon was a skeleton and the remnant of some clothing.   A fire raged through the giant statue, and there is speculation that the fire was possibly due to a mechanical malfunction. 

"Big Tex" had a mouth that moved, and an engineer provided a voice to greet fair visitors, and was a landmark for parents - if their kids got lost, reportedly they were told to meet them at "Big Tex".  

There is a strange sense of loss when a historic structure is destroyed.   To see a memorable piece of history go up in smoke does remind us of how temporal things of this world really are.

And, sometimes, we can get so caught up in the here and now that we miss the messages of eternity.   We can reflect on how here and now is not all there is.   If we are believers in Christ, we know that this earth is just a stop on the journey to heaven, where we will be with Jesus forever.   If we do not know Christ, we face eternity, too, only it is a place of punishment and separation from God - and it's our choice whether or not we will spend the rest of eternity with our without Christ. 

We can also reflect on how our works will be judged.  We are called to eternal, lasting pursuits, and the Bible promises not only a judgment based on whether or not we have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, but also based on the quality of our works - and it's important that we understand the distinction.   Our works do not save us, but our works will be evaluated by Him.   We are called to pursue living, life-giving works, not dead works that do not contribute to the cause of the Kingdom of God - and those dead works will be destroyed.

So, are you seeking eternal things or are your actions determined by what you can receive in this world?   Is the nature of your deeds lasting or temporary?   

Holding Fast to the Truth

Jesus prayed in John 17 that we would walk in the truth:
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

I think of the question that Jesus asked Pilate, "what is truth?"   And, I think that is a good question to ask those in authority today.   When leaders attempt to lead or governors attempt to govern without a firm foundation in God's Word, they will often miss the mark.  If you deny that the Bible is a source for morality and wisdom in leadership, then decisions will be made that counter the principles of God's Word.  That's why we need to pray for our leaders, and why we need to be speaking truth, consistent with the Scriptures, into the culture.

3rd John paints a picture of how truth should permeate and prevail over our lives.
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.  
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.


It was debate night in America, round 2 last night, and the analogies abound describing the event as a "fight" - and, yes, there was passion, plenty of information, some of it can be called into question, and punches and counterpunches.   There were even a few moments where the candidates got just a bit too close to each other on the stage.   Bottom line:  CNN polling showing a 46-39% advantage to Obama, a Luntz focus group showing that Romney persuaded some independent voters, pundits all over the map on who won.   Even conservatives like Krauthammer and Will declared Obama the winner.

But, in my opinion to use another sports analogy, it appears that Romney may have held serve, doing just enough perhaps to win a point or two, but Obama did enough to maintain the status quo in the electorate.   Obama was much more animated last night than the Denver debacle, but I'm not seeing the word, "comeback" in the coverage.  Perhaps that's because Romney was effective at tying the President to his record.   They have a differing view and style of governing - and if you listen closely, you will hear the broad differences.

Listen closely - that's a mark of an informed voter, and especially of an informed Christian.   The Wall Street Journal has a feature called the "Vote Compass", which asks you 30 questions about policy and then will identify you at some point on the political spectrum.    And, I think it's helpful to identify your position and philosophy on various issues - your personal belief system. 

You know, so many issues do have a moral component.   And, if our personal morality is governed by the Bible, then we can view these issues accurately from a Christian worldview perspective - not judging candidates by what we think independently of the Bible's direction, but evaluating them by what the Word of God has to say.   And, that's important - we should know what we believe, why we believe it, based on the Scriptures, and be equipped to share our personal beliefs - based on God's absolute truth.   That includes our views on how to be saved, for sure, but also on applying His truth to a variety of areas of life.

So, allow the Bible to define your personal beliefs and actions.   Be a prayerful voter.   Make sure you're registered to vote on November 6th - the deadline in Alabama is next Friday, the 26th.   And, show up - be there - and invite others.   Millions of evangelical Christians stayed home in 2008.   Don't let that happen this year.

Resources At Hand

In 1st Corinthians 1, we see that an aspect of the nature of God is to take what seems insignificant or useless and uses it for His glory.
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

I believe that shows the transformational nature of God - He is the One who gives beauty for ashes, strength out of weakness, and brings glory even out of dishonor.   He takes our trials and turns them to pure gold as we trust Him.   He takes the weak, foolish, and insignificant things of this world and turns them into tools for His glory - He doesn't waste anything...our challenge is to allow Him to move in our midst, even through what we might discard or ignore, looking for evidence of His presence, in the everyday, the mundane...and the insignificant.

In Exodus chapter 4, we see an example of how God can use something seemingly insignificant to demonstrate something highly significant...2 ...the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." 3 And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), 5 "that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."

Here's some news I came across on Mashable.com: 

Georgia Tech has received a $900,000 grant from the Office of Naval Research to develop a robot that can complete missions in dangerous situations by utilizing the remaining debris found around the area. Professor Mike Stilman, team leader of the project, refers the robot as “MacGyver bot.”

“Our goal is to develop a robot that behaves like MacGyver, the television character from the 1980s who solved complex problems and escaped dangerous situations by using everyday objects and materials he found at hand,” Stilman says.

The MacGyver bot can be placed in disaster and war zones to help find people and rebuild the areas. The robot will have the basic cognitive processes to take advantage of arbitrary objects around the environment and use them as tools. There’s still a long way to go, even on developing the prototype, but it's an example of a potentially useful invention that can take seemingly useless items and use them for good.

I think about the Israeli inventor who has developed a "cardboard bicycle", which he says has the potential to offer inexpensive transportation for areas around the world, including impoverished nations and congested cities.  

And, I came across a ministry that's featured in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution, called Plywood People.  Their slogan is, "We will be known by the problems we solve".  They describe themselves as "an innovative community addressing social needs. We are always searching for social problems with the hope to match them with entrepreneurial creativity to organize, innovate, and manage ideas that produce change."

A great example of this is taking discarded billboard materials, using refugee labor, and crafting those resources into tote bags and billfolds.   These items are then sold to help others in need. They also collect unused or partially used gift cards, and give them to people and organizations in need.  Again, this is an example of taking what is insignificant at face value and bring significance and assistance to others.

So, there may be resources that are available at your fingertips - perhaps physical resources that can be used to help those in need.   Or, the valuable resource of time, to use a God-given skill to minister to someone else.   Perhaps you've been praying for an answer to prayer and you're not quite getting it - there may be evidence of God's hand right in front of your eyes, if you could only spiritually see it.   For instance, you may be praying for a job, but God is meeting that need in another way, maybe in some sort of entrepreneurial endeavor.   Or, you may be experiencing anxiety in a situation, but the Lord has placed tools before you to enable you to walk in perfect peace - you just have to embrace it.   What might seem insignificant might be very significant as you see it from a spiritual perspective. 

Preparing for Freefall

As Moses prepared to hand the baton of leadership over to Joshua, he spoke these words to the children of Israel, he spoke these words in Deuteronomy 31:
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them (referring to the nations on the other side of the Jordan River); for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." 7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."

God was calling his people to be bold, and Joshua, as their leader, was challenged to be especially strong and courageous.   Standing still was not an option - God had called His people to possess the land, and He had given them the tools to do so.  

This reminds us that God will call us periodically to step out and take bold action, to confront our challenges head-on rather than wait on difficulties to overtake us, and to eliminate fear that will hold us back.  Courage to complete God's mission originates with Him, and as we go forward in the Christian life, it's important that we rely on Him for the strength we need.

It was a stormy night on the sea with the disciples of Jesus, and we see in Matthew chapter 14 that Jesus came to them, walking on the water - the disciples saw this, thought it was a ghost, and cried out in fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"   Peter attempted something amazing - at the invitation of Jesus.   He did pretty well until he took his eyes off the Lord, saw the winds were strong, and started to sink.


By now, you've probably heard of the incredible feat performed yesterday by Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner, who broke the sound barrier, freefalling some 24 miles from a specially designed capsule hoisted into space from a helium balloon.   I did a little research on Wikipedia and found that his records included the highest altitude for a manned balloon flight, the highest altitude for a parachute jump, and the greatest velocity for a free fall.

By the way, it was on Oct. 14, 1947 when pilot Chuck Yaeger broke the sound barrier for the first time in an aircraft.   And, this by no means was Baumgartner's first daredevil stunt:  In 1999, he claimed the world record for the highest parachute jump from a building when he jumped from the Petronas Towers in Malaysia.  He became the first person to skydive across the English Channel in 2003 - he used a specially made carbon fiber wing. He also set the world record  when he jumped 95 feet from the hand of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. 

He didn't just wake up one morning and say, "I'm going to go up in a capsule tied to a balloon and break the sound barrier".  He had practiced, he underwent intense training, and even had to overcome panic attacks, as a result of  freefalling while confined by a helmet and cumbersome suit.  He overcame his fears with the help of a sports psychologist.

I don't know if Felix has any spiritual motivations, but his feat can certainly bring us some principles we can integrate into our lives:
1 - The Christian life is an adventure, and sometimes calls for boldness.
I think that there will be occasions when God wants us to trust Him for a task that, when it is complete, we can say it was only accomplished by the hand of God.   It may be a bold step in a relationship, perhaps even to share Christ with a family member.   It may be a seemingly impossible step to start a ministry or do something out of the ordinary - if we have accurately heard from God, we can know that He can produce a God-sized result.

2 - We can take an active or passive approach to challenges.  
On Felix's blog site, he is asked a question:
If you achieve your goal on Sunday, instead of another day, how do you feel about doing it on the same day that Chuck Yeager broke the speed of sound with a vehicle?
He replied:  In 65 years, it goes to show there are still challenges to overcome and you should never lose sight of trying to achieve them. I would be proud to be a part of that group of explorers.
If we are grounded in the Word and seeking to glorify Christ, we can learn to anticipate challenges and seek to overcome them, applying His principles and power.   Challenges will come, and sometimes we'll just wait for them to come, without taking either preventive action or being prepared when we face difficulty.   We have to be prepared, trained in godliness and in the use of the Scriptures to pass the tests that will come our way.

3 - Fear has to be eliminated or controlled. 
The Christian has tremendous resources available in order to overcome fear.   It's been estimated that the Bible has some 365 references telling us not to be afraid.   As we apply His truth and recognize that it is possible to control or eliminate fear, then we can experience a greater measure of faith in our lives.

Preparation and training are necessary - God will call us to bold undertakings; not necessarily high-profile or large undertakings, but I believe that from time to time, we'll be challenged to go outside our comfort zone and see the Lord work in an extraordinary way.

Christianity by the Numbers

The apostle Paul stood in the synagogue in Acts chapter 13 and proclaimed the history of the Jewish people and the relationship to the gospel of Christ:
16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. 18 Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness.  He went on to trace the lineage of King David to the Savior Jesus.  So, what's your story?   The apostle Paul was able to clearly, firmly, and knowledgeably make a defense of the gospel, using the history of the Jewish people - it was a clear presentation, and resulted in people coming to know Christ.  In verse 43, we read: Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.   So, through the power of story, Paul won people to Christ.  You know, you have a winning story, too - as you passionately and confidently share what God has done in your life, in a compassionate and non-confrontational way, the Holy Spirit will use your words to penetrate the hearts of those to whom you speak.

Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4 reminds us that there is One God, and we recognize also that there is One Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ:
4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!  5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.


Yesterday was one of those rare sequential dates on the calendar - 10/11/12 - and for people who skew toward the superstitious, perhaps there was some significance of that being a lucky day of some sort.
But, the Bible doesn't support superstition or the concept of luck, rather trust in God.

But, there are people that, for whatever reason, attach some symbolic meaning to a sequential date or a special day - David's Bridal released a survey this week that estimates that approximately 4,000 brides got married yesteday - a 392% increase over the prior year!   Additionally, the date falls on a Thursday and reflects a growing weekday wedding trend as couples seek budget-friendly options and greater venue flexibility.

In fact, 43% of brides would consider planning their wedding on a special date, such as 10-11-12 or 12-12-12.   Also, David's estimates that more than 5,000 brides will marry on December 12 of this year - 12/12/12 - compared to 485 on the same day last year - that's a 939% increase.

Dates do have significance - obviously, birthdays and anniversaries are paramount in importance.  There are other anniversaries that can have special meaning.   Do you remember your spiritual birthday - the day you were born again by accepting Christ as your Savior?   If you haven't experienced that, today can be a special day for you - if you accept what He has done for you through His death and resurrection, believe in your heart that He is risen from the dead, and confess that He is Lord of your life.   Invite Christ into your heart, and this can be a most special day for you - the day you moved from death to life, from darkness to light.   If you would like to know more about a relationship with Christ, visit faithradio.org.

So, dates and numbers can have special meaning.   I don't really want to get into Biblical numerology, but there are some significant numbers in the word of God, and they can tell a story for us.

1 - the reminder that there is One God, and One way to salvation - through Christ.

3 - the reminder of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Spirit.  

7 - the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry offers plenty of analysis about 7, which can remind us of certain attributes and activities of God:

Seven days in a week. Seven colors in the spectrum. Seven of the 10 commandments begin with the word "not." There are 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 parables in Matthew, and 7 promises to the churches. There are 7 "eternals" in Hebrews which are: A priest for ever (1:6); Eternal salvation (1:9); Eternal judgment (6:2); eternal redemption (9:12); eternal spirit (9:14); eternal inheritance (9:15); and everlasting covenant (13:20). Jesus said 7 things on the cross...

10 - there are 10 Commandments, the tithe is 10%, and according to CARM, there were 10 "I AM"'s spoken by Jesus in the book of John

40 - 40 does seem to have some significance, too...Jesus fasted 40 days and nights in the wilderness, and the Israelites wandered for 40 years - many Christians are currently in a 40-day time of prayer leading up to the election on November 6th.

And, don't forget the number of the Antichrist - 666.

So, while numbers don't possess any magical qualities, still they can tell stories, and serve to remind us about certain aspects of our God.

The Harshest Sound in the World

In Matthew 13, after Jesus related the parable of the sower, encouraging the people He taught to truly hear and understand the Word of God, He spoke firmly about the people who would not accept His teaching:
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'  16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear...

Jesus used the phrase, "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."  Are we paying attention to what God has to say to us?   Or are we allowing the world to determine what we hear and heed?   What are we allowing into our consciousness - God is speaking to us through His word and the promise of the Scripture is that the Holy Spirit will illumine that word.   I believe Jesus has taught us to be active listeners - not only reading or listening to the teachings of Scripture, but thinking carefully about them and seeking ways we can apply the word of God to our lives.   The word is living and active, but by how we receive it, we determine the level to which His word will grow in us.

James chapter 1 offers some relevant keys to hearing and speaking:
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.   The short version: Listen carefully; think before you speak; and don't speak in anger.

ABC News reports that scientists studying the brain's reaction to sound have determined the piercing screech of a knife against a glass bottle to be the human ear’s worst nightmare.

A research team at the University of Newcastle examined brain activity in a group of volunteers, who listened to 74 recorded sounds under an MRI machine and ranked each experience.

The 13 subjects found the sound of a fork against glass to be the second most repulsive, while sounds like flowing water were much easier for the brain to bear.

The scans revealed that the unpleasant noises not only increase blood flow in the brain’s auditory cortex, where sound is processed, but also trigger the amygdala, which is a region of the brain that processes emotions.   Study co-author Tim Griffiths said that, “We were able to define a network within the brain that constitutes sound unpleasantness.”

To me, this is yet another piece of evidence of design - just think about the intracacies of the human brain.   God has designed our brains to be the control center of not only our thoughts and emotions, but our physical activity as well.   How we process information and stimuli is all governed by our brains - it's an incredible gift.

Well, how about our response as we process this new information?   I want to offer a couple of points here.   Number one, I think we can be reminded of and cautioned against making harsh sounds - speaking harsh words.   I really do think that perhaps one of the harshest sounds on earth would be hurtful words, spoken in anger, and perhaps related by a close friend or family member.   The Bible teaches us to be quick to listen and slow to speak - and slow to become angry.   We have to guard against harshness in the words that we say.

This study talks about how we process sound.  This can cause us to think about the importance of listening.   I believe that not only what we listen to, but how we listen to what we listen to can be instructive to us.  We can hear a lot of things in our lives - there is plenty of information out there, but the Lord taught us to really listen, to be discerning, to think carefully, to consider, and, as we listen to His Word, to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us and to bring to light, to our understanding, what God would show us moment by moment. 

Take care how you speak, and take heed of what you hear.

Who Are the "Nones"?

In Acts chapter 17, the apostle Paul eloquently and confidently made the case for the existence of God:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "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: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.    The apostle Paul walked into what might be termed a hostile environment, a setting full of religious people, who worshipped all sorts of things, or nothing at all - the "unknown god".   But, he was intent to indicate the truth of God's Word.   He proclaimed that there was a God, who provided a way of salvation.   When we encounter people who have a misguided religion or no religion at all, we have the incredible opportunity to display the love of Christ personally to them, to enter into conversations, and to point them to a knowledge of the One True God!  Romans chapter 1 outlines some of the characteristics of a society that has increasingly turned its back on God: 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness...  There's a new survey out that I believe will have quite a few people talking, including leaders in the Christian church - it's from the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life and the PBS television program Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. 
It shows that the number of Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a rapid pacIn the last five years alone - the unaffiliated have increased from just over 15% to just under 20% of all U.S. adults.  Their ranks now include more than 13 million self-described atheists and agnostics, which is nearly 6% of the U.S. public, as well as nearly 33 million people who say they have no particular religious affiliation (14%)

But the survey also finds that many of the country’s 46 million unaffiliated adults consider themselves to be religious or spiritual in some way.   Two-thirds of them say they believe in God (68%). More than half say they often feel a deep connection with nature and the earth (58%), while more than a third classify themselves as “spiritual” but not “religious” (37%), and one-in-five (21%) say they pray every day.  In addition, most religiously unaffiliated Americans think that churches and other religious institutions benefit society by strengthening community bonds and aiding the poor.

So, how do we as believers deal with this personally and collectively?   First of all, it indicates that there are various opportunities to share the gospel.  Even though there are many who reject religion or reject God outright, we still find millions that have a spiritual sensitivity - they just need to be guided into the truth of a relationship with Christ.

We can also see that there is a growing trend in society for self-stylized religion.   A little Jesus here because He was a good teacher, maybe throw in some New Age or nature worship, and a little positive mental attitude for our self-esteem's sake.   And, whal-la, we have our own concept of God and religious practice that differs from the Biblical model.

Moral relativism is quite prevalent when it comes to religion.  As one gentleman interviewed by the Washington Post's "On Faith" blog said, “I’m undecided as far as religion is concerned."   He said about five or six years ago, “it came to me that when you look around you got Muslims, Christians, people over in China and people who say that their way of life is built around a certain belief and people who don’t belief that are wrong.  “But who am I say something is right or wrong or whose religion or right or wrong."   And, that's the prevailing attitude in many circles - in the name of tolerance, we accept belief systems that do not line up with the teachings of the Bible.  

As Christians, we have accepted salvation through Christ - and therefore, we accept all of its words as absolute truth - we cannot pick and choose what we want to believe or what we think is right.   And, in our pursuit of Christ, we may encounter some hard truths - but, we hold to the confidence that His way is best, and display that confidence in a compassionate mannter to those who don't know Him.

Going in a New Direction

1st Timothy chapter 2 points us in the right direction in our lives:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

If we recognize that Christ is our mediator, our advocate, then we can be confident that when we approach His throne, with our hearts right, seeking to be cleansed and forgiven for our sins, then we can experience God's presence to help us change course and get on track with His plan for us.   If we are eager to encounter the wisdom of God to set our course, then we can experience the power that it takes in order to make that course correction - maybe you're experiencing stagnation in your walk with Christ...He may be calling you to go in a different direction.

The apostle Paul testified before King Agrippa about the transformation that Jesus had brought about in his life.   Here's what Acts 26 relates to us, as Paul recounted the words of the Lord to him:
16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'  Paul's life was changed by Christ, and he was appointed to preach the gospel, so that the lives of others would experience a holy course correction.

Today we celebrate the discovery of the New World, the landing in the West Indies by Christopher Columbus, a seafaring man who was driven by a number of factors, including his passion for doing the will of God.  He wrote:

“With a hand that could be felt, the Lord opened my mind to the fact that it would be possible ... And he opened my will to the desire to accomplish that project ... The Lord purposed that there should be something miraculous in this matter of the voyage to the Indies.” 

Of course by the "Indies", Columbus was referring to the area of and surrounding what we know as India, a  land full of gold and other riches - but the way for traders had been blocked by the growth of the Ottoman Empire, which made the land routes to the east inaccessible and made the sea route, toward the Red Sea, quite hard to access.   So, Columbus had a different plan - sail west!   He convinced the Spanish monrachy that this was a viable plan, and so he organized a voyage and set sail.    He did believe, as an increasing number did in that day, that the earth was round; he just didn't know what was standing between Spain and India if he sailed west.

I think there is a lesson here, beside the fact that Columbus did have a religious, even an evangelistic motivation in undertaking his journey.    The way had been blocked to European merchants as the Ottoman Empire grew - instead of initiating a conflict with the Turks, Columbus said basically, let's go in a different direction.

Do you feel stuck in your life?   Do you pray and pray but sometimes feel your prayers don't get above the ceiling?   It may just very well be that God is calling you to go in a different direction.   Sometimes we get frustrated because we try and try to see improvement in a particular area, or we attempt to implement a particular strategy, but we just keep failing.   Maybe a change is in order - perhaps we sail in a different direction; where conventional wisdom would say go east, maybe the Holy Spirit is directing us to go west.   Perhaps our own sin is keeping us in bondage, unproductive in our spiritual life - repentance means to make a change, to correct our course, to turn away from the sinful patterns of our past, seek and accept God's forgiveness, and take a different direction.   If we need wisdom on how to make a course correction, we have the assurance that we can ask for it.

My Soul to Keep

1st John chapter 5, verses 14 & 15 are quite instructive for our prayer lives:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.   If we ask anything according to His will - that's a statement that is assuring, but challenging.   How do we know the will of God so that we can pray in accordance with it?   I would offer a couple of elements to consider:  1 - the Word of God reveals to us the will of God.   So when we pray, can we say that we are praying in alignment with God's Word?   Another is - are the desires of our heart submitted to the Lordship of Christ - if we are praying selfishly, then I believe that we are not praying Biblically - our desire should be to release the work of God's Kingdom through us, so that He and He alone may receive glory.  As we pray Biblically, from the heart, we experience His power and presence, and we can anticipate seeing the answer to those prayers.

James 5 reminds us that our prayers can be powerful and effective, if we are praying with our hearts in alignment with God:
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

I came across a post on the Chicago Tribune website offering some background on the familiar prayer:
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my Soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my Soul to take.

This apparently was taken from a prayer called, "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John", once the best known prayer in England, used more often than the Lord's Prayer. It was called the "White Paternoster."  The lines that preceded the "now I lay me down to sleep" lines were:

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
Bless the bed that I lie on.
There are four corners to my bed,
Four angels round my head,

One to watch, and one to pray,
And two to bear my soul away.

Some excerpts of other versions have more Biblical content than praying to the gospel writers:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
When in the morning light I wake,
Teach me the path of love to take.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
Guard me Jesus through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the lord my soul to keep,
thy angels watch me through the night,
And keep me safe till morning's light.

A couple of points come to mind:  Number 1, the lines:
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my Soul to take.

These suggest that you are praying that you'll go to heaven if you die in your sleep.   Well, that is conditional on whether or not you have prayed another prayer before that - the Sinner's Prayer, confessing that Jesus is Lord and believing in your heart that He is risen.   If you have prayed that prayer, you can know that you will be with Jesus in eternity, that you have the promise that you will be with Him when you leave this earth.   We can trust in that promise and have the assurance that we are saved.

Another point is that rote prayers can help focus our attention on God, if we are saying them from the heart.   For example, it can effective to quote the Lord's Prayer, but even more effective if we use the Lord's Prayer as a model or an outline for our prayers - Jesus taught this is the type of prayer that pleases God.    In the Lord's Prayer, we see that Jesus taught to come before God, acknowledging Him as our Father - in heaven.  We come before Him humbly, in worship, with contrite hearts (Hallowed be Thy name...).   We align our hearts and lives with God's Kingdom purposes (Thy Kingdom come...) and His will (Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven).   We pray for our daily needs and for forgiveness.    We pray that we would triumph over temptation and experience God's deliverance from evil.   And we close - for Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory - forever. Amen. - by giving God the glory for hearing our prayer and trusting Him for the answer.   As you pray, pray Biblically, aligning your desires with God's.

Pursuit of a Platform

Our activity - what we do - is an expression of who we are, and how we act can provide us with a platform to testify to the greatness of God within us.   Here is what 1st Peter 3 says:
10 For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."    And verse 15 shows us how we validate God's presence within us by the way we act:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;   We are called, I believe, to share Christ, in large part through the way that we act toward other people.   And, when there are achievements in our lives, no matter how large or small, they can provide us with an audience to whom we can relate the message of Christ.    Your everyday encounters, whether it's your work, your business, being respectful in a carpool line or a shopping line, your volunteer involvement or service at church - how we handle ourselves can cause people to pay attention to us, and as people are listening or watching, we can point to the God within us. 
Ephesians 5 is very instructive regarding using the opportunities God has given us, and the activity that He inspires and expresses through us to testify to His glory:
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

A letter written in German by famed scientist Albert Einstein will be auctioned off later this month - not in a high-profile, high-end auction house, but on eBay.   It's expected to garner millions of dollars.

In it, the physicist stated some of his views on God, the Bible, and the Jewish People.   Here are some excerpts, reported by The Christian Post:

"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this..."

Einstein sent the letter, which is written on Princeton University letterhead, to Eric B. Gutkind on January 3, 1954 concerning Gutkind's book, Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt.

He also had some choice words for the Jewish people: 

"For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions...As far as my experience goes, they are also no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."

We all know that this letter will attract some hefty bids because of who wrote it.  Einstein apparently held some views that were negative toward religion.   And, there are scores of people that hold the same views, but you'll never see their writings go for millions on eBay!  

So, it is the identity of the person who validates the views.   This reminds me about the importance of a platform.   Perhaps our achievements can provide an opportunity for our views - on the nature of God, salvation through Christ, the sufficiency of Christ.   And, no matter how insignificant our acts are, even a small token of kindness shown to someone with a need - it can give us the chance to enunciate what God has done for us.  

I think of the concept of a platform when reflecting on the work of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, who held the Fields of Faith event last night.   Here are young people that are using their platform - their accomplishments on the field, or just the way they behave in school - to testify to the greatness of God within  them.   Thousands are beginning to gather in Atlanta today for the annual Catalyst conference, where leaders are being encouraged to become agents of change in their community, testifying by the way they live their lives to the glory and greatness of God.   You may not be an Einstein, but who you are and what you accomplish as an expression of your identity can give you a platform through which you can share the truth about God.