Monday's cartoon

A special visit

I had a rare honor today. I got to visit the home of a man dying of cancer. He has a very short time left. He's only 45.

In the discovery of his disease he also discovered God.

In facing death he also chose to face his spiritual dilemma.

His name is Tom. In the last week he called his friends who were Christians and asked, "what must I do to be saved?" His friends met with him, shared the gospel message, and Tom put his trust in Christ for forgiveness of sin and salvation.

His family and friends gathered at his home today. They were there to witness Tom's baptism. We all gathered around Tom's bed. Tom shared with us his faith in Christ, and his assurance of knowing that his sins were forgiven. Tom almost glowed through the pain as I listened to him talk. Tears were plentiful.

I took a few minutes to share, with those attending, the gospel message and the choice Tom had made.

We talked about man's dilemma- the fact that we are all sinners in need of a savior.

We talked about God's solution- Christ's death on the cross.

We talked about our need to trust Christ for salvation and forgiveness of sin.

We talked about Tom's choice.

Then I took a glass of water, and baptised Tom while he lay in his bed. It was a heavenly moment. It was a holy event. In that moment I could sense God's love for Tom.

I invited those there with us to share their hearts with Tom. It was a worship service like none you have ever seen. It was a holy event like few I have ever been part of. It was a wake with the guest of honor in attendance. It was as close to heaven as I have been in a long time. It was a moment in time that changed lives...Tom's included.

Tom literally beamed, wet face and all.

He's ready to go.

His only regret is waiting until the very end to know and experience the love of God.

As I sit here and think about those few moments in time I realize that people driving by had no idea what was happening in Tom's life and the lives of those attending. So many miss the love of God because they are too busy...too busy with life here. Too busy with work, with soccer, with living. Too busy to take care of the really important things, things of eternal value. Death has a funny way of making us focus on what's really important.

I'm so glad I got to be part of Tom's life and see the wonderful work of God in him. I know I will see him in heaven....welcome to the family, Tom!

Act 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

Trials, tests and temptations

Jas 1:2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.
Jas 1:3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.
Jas 1:4 So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
Jas 1:5 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. (THE MESSAGE)

Problems.....trials.....tests.....temptations....they are part of life. It's the fire we need to refine us. Don't resent problems, understand their purpose and thrive through them.

But, most of the time, I consider tests a real bother in my life. I constantly have to remember these verses, and realize that these tests are meant to help me, not hurt me.

Lord, help me to see my problems and struggles through your eyes.

Trying to be something I'm not

Rom 12:1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
Rom 12:2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Christians are funny...we don't realize that we aren't like the world. And yet we try to fit in. We try to look like those around us. We try to wear the "world costumes." We don't do it well. The world notices that we are different. They aren't fooled so why do we try to be like those around us? Why do we try to look like the world? God invites us to be like him. He invites us to stand out...to be God's men and women in a world without hope.

Our "world costumes" look silly on us, and yet we try to fit in....let me encourage you to be what God made you to be.....transformed into the image of Christ.

I've been thinking...

I've been thinking...

-why does it take old age to make us less concerned about what people think of us?

-why are we so hard on each other? Is it an attempt to elevate ourselves?

-why do we worry so much? Is God really in charge or not?

-why don't we spend time in the word and prayer? what does that say about our desire to hear from God or talk to him?

-why do we wait until retirement to "enjoy life"?

-why are we so fearful?

-why do we have such a battle with accepting ourselves as God made us?

-why are people so angry? It's almost the posture of the day, why is this happening?

-why are TV shows so bad? We are down to about 1 hour of TV per week now...there's nothing good on TV. (I guess that's good...I get a lot more reading done.)

-why don't we have more good aromatics to cook with? (onions and garlic) There has to be more than these two!

.....just a few things I've been thinking about...

Lunar eclipse

We had a lunar eclipse this weekend. It was dramatic. Reminded me of a passage in Revelation about the moon turning red. I know this is not what that passage is talking about, but it was so dramatic it drew my mind to those verses. Here are a few amazing pictures of the eclipse.

Monday update

Monday morning, a day off for me, and a little time to simply rest. Last night we had a congregational meeting to update our church family on all that is going on. We have a lot of changes happening, and I am excited about the direction we are moving, but change, even good change, is hard sometimes.

It will be exciting to see how God works in our church in the days ahead. I really do see good things ahead. The last few months have been very difficult for our church, but I think these days have actually made our church family even stronger. I can't wait to see what God is going to do next.

Monday's cartoon

Welcome to our world!

The Secret

Have you heard about The Secret ?

It's a new book written by an austrailan author that was recently featured on the Oprah show.

Here is a very good review of the book and the teaching- The Secret

(Let me say that I am NOT endorsing this book in any way, I am sharing this link so you will know what all the buzz is about when you hear it. In fact, I would encourage you to NOT read this book, in case you are unclear about my position, but do read the review above.)

Proverbs

I have a habit....it's part of my life now. I have been doing it so long that it's now the first thing I do in the morning. I get my bible out, get out my journal, check the date and turn to that chapter in Proverbs. This has been great for me. I literally read through Proverbs once each month. Over the years having the wisdom of Solomon in my head and life has been a tremendous blessing. It has helped me "see" things more clearly. Today I am in chapter 2 (today is the second of the month), and I read these words,

Pro 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Pro 2:7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
Pro 2:8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
Pro 2:9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course.
Pro 2:10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
Pro 2:11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you,

When I come to this passage each month I stop and slow down. I "crawl" through these words. There is more to the chapter, but if you just read these words and believed them you would be a committed bible student for life! Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you... what an amazing statement! These are the results of hearing God's word and allowing it to change your mind and heart....and as a result it seems there are some other things working for us too. It's just a fascinating passage....I just wanted to share a portion of it with you. If you aren't in the word daily, try reading the chapter in Proverbs that matches the day of the month. Read through it for one month, and let me know what you find.

Things that don't make sense

A world without grace

I have been watching, reading and listening to the changes coming in our world. The winds of change are brewing, and they whisper about a world ahead without grace. It's evident in the muslim faith- if you convert to Islam, great. But if you convert to another faith you must die! It is a faith completely lacking grace. The contrast between Islam and Christianity is dramatic, and it's very evident in this one area- grace. The God of the bible demonstrated his grace and love for man by becoming one of us, revealing himself to us, dying for us, and offering us forgiveness of all our sins...simply because we ask in faith!

There is no other faith like it. A faith based on the grace and love of God, full of promise and hope. All the work is done by God, not by us.

But we are in a time, in many parts of the world, where the grace of God is denied, ridiculed and suppressed...it's no longer the iron curtain we deal with, it's the graceless curtain of Islam. But God is amazing. He is penetrating that curtain with his grace and love. Man's best attempts at keeping him out look like children trying to dam a mighty river....their efforts are hopeless, the river will win and sweep them away. And in this battle between the world and the grace of God...God will win....he always does.

I have continued to read and think about the rise of Islam and its appeal...what is it that draws people to it? It's not grace, but the rules, the idea that I can work to please my god! How amazing that, in a world where God's riches and grace are free, so many want to work for them to please and worship a god who isn't really there! This is spiritual warfare at the highest levels. It's our opportunity to shine the light on God's wonderful grace in a world where many are without God's grace, and have no idea of how much he loves them.

Deep thoughts, part 4

Ok, now for some deep thoughts from a shallow mind. Realize that profound is just a word to me, and I live in the world of application (so what do I do with that?) So my thoughts will not stir you to great heights, but I do hope they will encourage you.

A few days ago I was working through some thoughts and came up with a new way to describe those who really enjoy the adventure of living- life adventurers. That concept has stuck with me and continued to make me think. Now these special people are few in our world, because so few realize who they are and what they have been given. It's a small club, membership is required. Membership is faith in Christ as savior. Only then do we have real life in the first place, only then do we even begin to begin the adventure, only then do we begin to see all that God has given us, only then are our eyes open to what an adventure this life with God can be. And yet there are so few of us...so few of those who have life who are enjoying the adventure. Most are still trying to act like the world. Most are still trying to fit in. Most are too afraid of God to trust him....yes, we will trust him for salvation, but thank you very much, we will handle the rest....and so we miss the adventure.

The model for life adventurers is Peter. Here's where his adventure really began-

Mat 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.
Mat 14:26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear.
Mat 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
Mat 14:28 Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
Mat 14:29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Mat 14:31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

For the rest of his life Peter had this night to think about, this adventure that changed his life....he had walked on water! It's funny that he still struggled so, yet he chose the adventure rather than the safety of the boat. I wonder how many of the 11 in the boat thought, "I wish I would have tried that. I wonder what it was like."

Life adventurers.....willing to step out of the safety of what we know, and choosing to trust God.

It be will exciting to see what God will do in the lives of those who choose the adventure.

Monday's cartoon

A great message

It's Sunday. I'm home sick. But still I wanted to take some time for the word....other than my personal reading, so I put on a message by Rob Bell that I got from my friend, Iggy. I have had the link for a few weeks, but haven't had time to watch it yet. Today I did...in my chair, under my blanket, shivering....and I want to share it with you as well. Take some time and watch this. It will be a great encouragement to you. Well done, Rob, well done....

Rob Bell at Willowcreek