Happy Father's Day!

We come again to another turn in the yearly cycle where we have celebrated a New Year, Valentine's Day, the entrance of Spring, Motherhood, Veterans, and soon, Fathers.

As I am a father it is a bit more personal for me. As well, we welcomed our 4th boy into the world just three weeks ago. This is a very special Father's Day indeed.

The greatest challenge we have as dads is to realize that a very high standard has been set up for us. The God of this universe is referred to as, "Father." His place in our existence is such as Creator and originator. James tells us plainly that from Him comes all that is good in our lives.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17

We have the classic passages where Christ describes the generosity and fairness of God. Where God is seen as a loving Father who would not withhold any good thing from His child.

"Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:9-11

I also take note of what Christ had said just prior to that passage.

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Mark Twain is credited as once saying that when he was 13 he realized how stupid his father was, but by the time he reached his 20's he couldn't believe how smart his father had become.

Our job as fathers is not to seek the approval of our children. We are to seek the approval of God, our Father. We are not here to emulate man's philosophy of raising children, but we are to emulate the philosophy of God in how He seeks to raise us into the image of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. Our ministry is such as the Father has for us.

May we as fathers look to stop being selfish, self-centered, and more enamored with the reflection of our faces in the mirror of God's Word. May it reveal our faults, but may we then seek from that same book to rectify our lives according to the truth of God. Let's live each day as fathers. Let's live each day in such a way that our heavenly father is seen in us for our children's sake and for the rest of the world to see.

Minors and Major - A Request for Prayer

This next week I go to be with my father who is having major open heart surgery. I am grateful that God has protected my father and I know that God is in absolute control of all that will transpire.

I have only had "minor surgery." Of course I have come to believe that the label "minor" is only given to the surgery that is done to someone else. But this is a "major" deal. No matter what kind of circumstance of life, major or minor, we need to always remember that God is still God. Nothing has taken Him by surprise and that His will is best.

I am most certainly not a fatalist, nor am I one to believe that life is only what I make of it. God has a plan, a purpose, a design for life. I fit into that framework and in my existence I affect and am effected by others.

My father has affected many lives in over 50 years of ministry. This is a surgery that will be prayed for in many different time zones and in different countries. I am sure of that. However, I am grateful that people are praying for it is to the One and only One God that we turn to in these "major" points of life with absolute confidence that He is the only one who can make the "no-matter-what-happens" of life work out for His glory and our good.

I hope we can also learn this in the "minors" of life as well. God is still the only one who can seam together the monotonous of our daily routine into a tapestry of effective and purposeful living.

Thanks for praying and may we remember that God is just as concerned with our minors and we are about our majors.

In that day!

In our Wednesday evening Bible studies we are just starting a series on the Names of God. A study of this type is not meant to become a series of etymological digressions or a broad excuse of rabbit trails, but it is a powerful study into the character and the vast attributes of our God.

As I was studying for tonight's thought one of the key verses is found in Isaiah 12. The whole chapter is only six verses long and is such a wonderful declaration of God's remembrance and restoration. Of course it is following fast upon the thoughts found in Isaiah 11 where we read.....

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. (Isaiah 11:1-5)

The chapter then goes on to describe a regathering of the people of Israel. Then chapter 12 comes in with a certain optimism. In that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee. (Isaiah 12:1b)

Then again in verse four,

And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

Now I do understand a distinction must be made between Israel of the Old Testament and the church of the New Testament. But there is the matter of Isaiah's prophecy of this "rod" and "Branch" in 11:1. This is Christ. In many ways we see a prophetic glimpse into the coming Savior who would not only offer redemption to Israel, but also to me, a Gentile!

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:2-3)

For us as New Testament believers, that day has already come. I will praise Him! I now say, "Praise the Lord!" For today I can call upon His name and can declare to the world His doings among His people. I am ready and willing to make mention that His name is exalted.

As Peter tells us in his first epistle,

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: (1 Peter 2:9)

As Paul declares in Ephesians,

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both [Jew and Gentile] have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:16-18)

We as believers in the promised One of God, the Messiah, the anointed and holy One sent down from the Father should respond with enthusiasm as Isaiah put it in verse five:

Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

Let it be in this day we praise our great God for such a great plan that demonstrated His awesome power and delivered unto us His very presence all granted in the Person of Jesus Christ, the rod, the Branch, the Savior. In this day!

This thing called "Ministry" (Part 8)

We come to the eighth installment of this series. We have been looking through the emotional book of 1 Corinthians. As we have skipped through this book like a rock skipping on a quiet lake, it has been my intention to see the ways Paul did this thing called ministry. Last week's thought was a bit tough. The more I have thought about it the more I realize that ministry is seeing our humanity in light of Christ's passion.

We are not above temptation and thus we are not above failure. The point I wanted to make last week was to help us as ministers to keep our head out of the clouds or out of the sand. We need to own up to sin in our lives and confess them. We need to avoid the situations that could lead to sin, thus avoid temptation's lure. We need to realize the burden of protecting the name of Christ but at the same time honoring the power of God to grant us an escape from sin's lure as well as the forgiveness when sin gets a foothold in our lives.

Now this week we turn just slightly in another direction that still comes out of 1 Corinthians 10.

Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. (1 Corinthians 10:24)

Ministry is seeking the good of others. By this Scripture does not mean that we only look to find good in others, but that our actions and our responses to people is for their benefit and for their good.

There are many responses to this. Some argue that what is good for them is what I think is good for me. My way is right and that is what is best for these poor people. But Paul has helped us a bit by stating what he did in the verse just prior.

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. (1 Corinthians 10:23)

Paul is very clear that this has nothing to do with my liberty, but everything to do with the certainty that all I do is not causing my fellow believer to stumble or be hurt in their faith. Also, in relationships with unbelievers we are not hindering their ability to have faith in Christ.

This is a hard line to follow. There are times when offense is so hard to detect. Other times it seems so petty and trivial. Then there are the times when individuals are creating points of contention based upon their own ideology and interpretations of Scripture that truly do not have credence.

How does this apply to us today? So many times we wish to live in utter liberty. We have the opportunity to do so. We are not going to miss out on heaven because we failed to read from the right translation or wear the right clothing. We will not be lost for going to a movie theater or driving a Cadillac instead of a Ford (some may think they are the same thing, sorry to burst your bubble). Other believers will sometimes place stipulations upon true Christianity and we are failing to accomplish the greater good due to these distractions.

The same is true with the unsaved. We want to blend in and be accepted. Yet Paul here in 1 Corinthians 10 is equating the opportunity to live in liberty not with living an undercover lifestyle, but finding ways to enter the homes and lives of all people and being able to interact with them so that they will be more easily confronted with the Gospel.

Ministry is Seeking the Good of others. Ministry is not necessarily seeking what I want or find convenient. It is not sticking my finger in people's eyes or trampling on their beliefs simply to make a point. Ministry is me not creating walls, but looking for ways to open doors.

Again Paul adds another guide in this passage. Note what he says in the verses farther down in the passage.

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)

We are not to simply allow our desires to "create" some opportunities when our restraint may open more doors. However, we should not dwell on things that are not valid either.

For example, I still believe that drinking alcohol is a dangerous road to follow. But in many Christian circles the prohibition is being less and less emphasized to the point where pastors are now openly stating it to be fine. We know that Scripture does not forbid it but certainly does warn against it, and the end result of being drunk is strongly spoken of as a sin. I have the ability, the law does not forbid it, but it is not expedient. It is not profitable nor does it keep me from opening a door that could lead to certain destruction. It has the power to control. Of course, I will admit, so do many other vices like television, internet, and other recreational tools. But I think we understand the power of the chemicals that are involved when we introduce such things as alcohol to the body.

On the other side of this I think we as God-fearing Christians have created closed doors because we are not willing to rub shoulders with people who do things, say things, and act ways that are due to their being lost. I don't know exactly what would parallel this image that Paul is creating, but if someone wanted to offer us something that stands in violation of a clear testimony to Christ and the forgiveness of sin He offered, and would create a breach in their mind or our separation from the things of this world, then I would say we must cease and desist. We must look to create an opportunity to establish Christ as the foundation or our hearts and lives and not the things of this world.

Do it all to the glory and honor of God. Ministry is seeking what is best for that other person in such a way that brings honor and glory to God. Ministry is others minded while being Godly motivated.

"That's My King!"

A friend of mine put me onto this. I had heard this some time ago, but this was just too good not to put into my collection of "hold onto your hat" segments. This is a portion of a message from Dr. S. M. Lockridge. Sit back and just listen to how this man does his best to describe the awesomeness of our Great Big God!

Held

There is a song I have come to really appreciate. Loss, pain, suffering are all part of the Christian's life. Yes, but the hand of God and His tenderness is ever present. To be Held! God is ever present; He is there! May we never forget that this is but a shadow, a fleeting moment, and heaven, eternity holds the joy of all that God has waiting.

Merry Christmas!

It is with great joy that I come to say to you and yours, Merry Christmas! This is a time of celebration as we think and ponder upon the greatness of our God's design and plan. A child, a son, an innocent participant in an eternal plan was granted to us as God's demonstration of love, compassion, and desired restoration. He, Who did not sin, was willing to send One, His Son, the spotless and perfect One, to become sin for us.

Christmas is such a beautiful time of the year. We behold the ornaments, the lights, the sounds, and the smells of this season. For those of us in the north country (and for some even in our southern states) snow falls and conditions become cold, but the beauty of the pristine brightness and the even the crispness of the cold air stimulates us to look up and behold the grand design of our God.

As carols play, cantatas are sung, and the nativity scenes come alive all around us, let us not forget the beauty of God's perfect plan to redeem us and make us His prized possession. May our hearts be warmed and our lives be stirred to reflect the beauty of the Christ that came in such humility. May our lives be challenged to grow into His image even as He grew to become a sacrifice of willing obedience, even to face the death that we deserved.

God bless each and every one of you! Merry Christmas and may the year to come be one of hope and joy as we anticipate the next major event on our God's calendar, the coming or our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ!

Peace in Future Uncertainty

I did watch a bit of the debate last night between the two candidates for this year's election. Again we come to the time where fingers point and yet everyone speaks of unity and harmony. Everyone wants to prove themselves to be more trustworthy, more aggressive, more in tune with the "common folk" and more aware of the problems and their solutions than the other camp. It amazes me how politically incorrect we are becoming.

I still hold that this election is, in my humble opinion, the most important one that we have had in recent history. We face economic crisis, foreign crisis, social crisis, and religious crisis. On every front we find that our nation is being torn apart by greed, corruption, and immorality. From same sex marriages, to CEO embezzlement, we find our lives and the lives of our children hanging by fragile threads of sanity.

Now, the good news. (1 Timothy 1:17) Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. I note here that He is King, He is going to be given His glory and HE is eternally existent.

Again, Paul later goes on to say, "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen."
(1 Timothy 6:12-16)

I have no reason to fear. I may grow weary of the debauchery and the lust that fills the hearts and lives of people all around me. I may grow angry that sin and sinners seem to gain more ground while the truth of God and His righteousness seems to be suppressed and buried, but I know my Redeemer lives, that He is coming for me and one day the Just God of all ages will stand ready to establish not only His heavenly dominion, but His earthly one as well.

Let the next president come. Let the next assault on truth be waged. May we continue to "fight that good fight." May we be ready soldiers. Not with weapons of earthly warfare, but as individuals enduring the hardness, praying steadfastly, encouraging the beloved, and standing for what is Right, what is Righteous.

Creation and Science to Collide

The Large Hadron Collider, located in Geneva, Switzerland, will be switched on this Wednesday (tomorrow)! I have given this YouTube clip that attempts to explain what it is that scientists are looking for and will be hoping to recreate. Check it out. Interesting the mindset going into it and the "assumed" results they will look to find. I'll be interacting with this at least once more at a later date.