So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. John 11:6
We set our clocks and watches and mark our calendars so that we can know what time it is and what appointments we have scheduled. Knowing the correct time and day is very important in our daily routines.
Alarms are set so that we will get up for church, school, and work to arrive on time. Our calendars list upcoming birthdays, weddings, and holidays so that we can prepare for these important days.
Time dictates most of the events of our lives.
Time is a man-made measurement. It was established in order for civilization to function. Time zones were formulated so that the entire world would be in sync.
As much as we rely on time, it is irrelevant to the Lord. By that, I mean that the Lord is not dictated by clocks and calendars as we are, for He does as He pleases and when He wants to. The Lord is sovereign.
If we were to complain to the Lord that He is taking a long time to answer a prayer of ours, he would reply, “No, I'm not. I have everything under control.”
The above scripture reveals that even as Jesus ministered on earth he was not always dictated by time. He had a plan and purpose for everything.
His good friend Lazarus was sick, and instead of immediately going to minister to him, he deliberately stayed in Judea two more days. (Can you imagine if a pastor was called to the hospital and decided to go visit an ailing parishioner two days later?) And the reason being for His delay was--“This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it...Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” verses 4, 14-15
In God's eternal plan, in his great wisdom, he delayed going to heal him, so he could raise him from the dead, thereby giving God the glory.
As we wait on the Lord, it seems at times that the Lord isn't going to answer us, that He has forgotten us. The psalmist felt that he had been abandoned by the Lord. Psalm 13:1 How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3 Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
But as we continue to read, the psalmist closes by saying--5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.
When something comes to pass that we have been waiting a long time for, we sometimes say, “It was worth the wait.” It wasn't much fun waiting, but now that it has been fulfilled, we see that waiting was a good thing.
When we turn to the Word, we see several events where God's people had to wait until God intervened and His holy will was accomplished.
Abraham and Sarah had to wait years before the Lord's promise of a child came to pass. (We see what happened when they tried to “help” the Lord out instead of waiting.)
The children of Israel had to wait 400 years before the Lord raised up Moses to be their deliverer from bondage in Egypt.
David was a teenager when Samuel anointed him to be the next king of Israel, but it wasn't until he was an adult that he came unto power.
Job waited months for his healing and restoration.
God's people waited centuries for the coming of the Messiah. See Galatians 4:4.
And James tells us to be patient as we wait for the coming of the Lord.
Waiting can be hard, but we must continue to seek the Lord and trust Him, for in His “time” He will answer our prayers and pour out His blessings! Amen!
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
“Most of us would prefer...to spend our time doing something that will get immediate results. We don't want to wait for God to resolve matters in His good time because His idea of 'good time' is seldom in sync with ours.”
― Oswald Chambers
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Monday, October 10, 2011
WHEN GOD INTERRUPTS: SOME THOUGHTS ON INTERRUPTIONS AND CHANGE
When God Interrupts:
Finding New Life Through Unwanted Change
M. Craig Barnes
Downers, Grove, IL:InterVarsity Press, 1996.
160 pp.
“But pastor, we have always done it this way.”
“We don't want to change the order of the worship service.”
“Nobody wants hardwood floors; we prefer carpeting.”
Many pastors can relate to these objections by church members when new ideas are presented. Most people get annoyed or angry when there is any interruption to the normal flow of life. We are creatures of habit and routine. We dislike, and even dread, changes that disrupt our lives.
Something as minor as an interruption in a conversation annoys us. The TV program that we are watching is interrupted by a commercial. Our sleep gets disturbed by a baby's cry or the dog barking next door. As annoying as they are, we deal with these interruptions as a part of life.
Recently, a friend and co-worker told me that his wife wants to move to another city, but he refuses to even consider it. He loves where they live now. He's comfortable, and he doesn't want his life to be interrupted by such a huge change. (I told him that if his wife wants to move, he'll be moving. And he is.)
When God interrupts, it can sometimes bring fear into our hearts, because we don't know what He wants and what is going to happen next, and that is frightening. We can become too happy and comfortable and then when God shows up, we sometimes fear the worst. “I hope that he doesn't want me to leave this church, I'm comfortable here.” “I don't want to move from this city, I love living here.” We don't want to be interrupted, especially by God.
People do not like change, especially when things are going well. As Christians, we are quite comfortable within the stained glass windows of the church. It's our comfort zone and we don't want to be disturbed.
We don't want to go to Nineveh. We would rather not leave the familiarity of the desert to go back to Egypt to rescue God's people. We don't want to sell all that we have and give the money to the poor. And we certainly don't want to go to the cross to die to sin and self.
I like what Christian author and apologist C.S. Lewis said about the Lord bringing change to our lives. "We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."
I first read When God Interrupts when it came out in 1996. I've read it closely and have underlined and made notes on the pages. When I browsed through it as I was writing this blog, I was blessed even more than when I read it the first time. The words on the pages leaped out at me, as they sometimes do when reading the Bible.
During the first reading of this book, the Lord had already interrupted my life and brought about changes, many unwanted. But I learned that as I follow the Lord, not knowing where I'm going, it's best to trust and obey. You come to realize that He knows where He is taking you and it's to a better place than where you are now. As C.S. Lewis wrote, "There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind."
Yes, there is uncertainty along the way. The doubts do creep in. Fear rears its ugly head. There is more darkness then there is light. But, you keep going. It can be compared to a wilderness experience or in the words of St. John of the Cross, it's the dark night of the soul, where things are obscure. We may even feel that the journey is taking us through hell itself. But, as Sir Winston Churchill said, “If you are going through hell, keep going.”
With the interruptions and changes that the Lord brings we have three choices: we can turn back (and miss God), stand still (not progressing in our walk),or go forward in faith.
The Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes is pastor and head of staff of Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA, and is a professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
He is the author of several popular books, including Searching for Home: Spirituality for Restless Souls (Brazos Press, 2006), Sacred Thirst: Finding God in the Desert of our Longings (Zondervan 2001) and Hustling God: Why We Work So Hard for What God Wants to Give (Zondervan 1999).
Here are some excepts from his book When God Interrupts that I have found especially encouraging.
...grace often comes in severe ways. We really don't have to seek abandonment. It finds us easily enough. Usually it comes as God's uninvited angel with the announcement of “good news” that we are about to lose our lives. (p.18)
To follow Jesus is to enter the lifelong process of discovering more about God than we know, discovering that “my ways are not your ways,” discovering that we have been worshiping not God but an expectation of God. Nothing makes it harder to see God than our expectations of him. (p.30)
It is impossible to follow Jesus and not be led away from something. (p.21)
Life as they knew it was over. In its place they were given not just a new life, but a new purpose to life. (p.22)
...he takes them to a place they would rather not go and gives them a vocation that changes everything. (p. 27-28)
...conversion is the lifelong process of turning away from our plans and turning toward God's maddening, disruptive creativity. (p.28)
I believe that this book will be a blessing and an encouragement to you as you “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) Amen!
Finding New Life Through Unwanted Change
M. Craig Barnes
Downers, Grove, IL:InterVarsity Press, 1996.
160 pp.
“But pastor, we have always done it this way.”
“We don't want to change the order of the worship service.”
“Nobody wants hardwood floors; we prefer carpeting.”
Many pastors can relate to these objections by church members when new ideas are presented. Most people get annoyed or angry when there is any interruption to the normal flow of life. We are creatures of habit and routine. We dislike, and even dread, changes that disrupt our lives.
Something as minor as an interruption in a conversation annoys us. The TV program that we are watching is interrupted by a commercial. Our sleep gets disturbed by a baby's cry or the dog barking next door. As annoying as they are, we deal with these interruptions as a part of life.
Recently, a friend and co-worker told me that his wife wants to move to another city, but he refuses to even consider it. He loves where they live now. He's comfortable, and he doesn't want his life to be interrupted by such a huge change. (I told him that if his wife wants to move, he'll be moving. And he is.)
When God interrupts, it can sometimes bring fear into our hearts, because we don't know what He wants and what is going to happen next, and that is frightening. We can become too happy and comfortable and then when God shows up, we sometimes fear the worst. “I hope that he doesn't want me to leave this church, I'm comfortable here.” “I don't want to move from this city, I love living here.” We don't want to be interrupted, especially by God.
People do not like change, especially when things are going well. As Christians, we are quite comfortable within the stained glass windows of the church. It's our comfort zone and we don't want to be disturbed.
We don't want to go to Nineveh. We would rather not leave the familiarity of the desert to go back to Egypt to rescue God's people. We don't want to sell all that we have and give the money to the poor. And we certainly don't want to go to the cross to die to sin and self.
I like what Christian author and apologist C.S. Lewis said about the Lord bringing change to our lives. "We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."
I first read When God Interrupts when it came out in 1996. I've read it closely and have underlined and made notes on the pages. When I browsed through it as I was writing this blog, I was blessed even more than when I read it the first time. The words on the pages leaped out at me, as they sometimes do when reading the Bible.
During the first reading of this book, the Lord had already interrupted my life and brought about changes, many unwanted. But I learned that as I follow the Lord, not knowing where I'm going, it's best to trust and obey. You come to realize that He knows where He is taking you and it's to a better place than where you are now. As C.S. Lewis wrote, "There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind."
Yes, there is uncertainty along the way. The doubts do creep in. Fear rears its ugly head. There is more darkness then there is light. But, you keep going. It can be compared to a wilderness experience or in the words of St. John of the Cross, it's the dark night of the soul, where things are obscure. We may even feel that the journey is taking us through hell itself. But, as Sir Winston Churchill said, “If you are going through hell, keep going.”
With the interruptions and changes that the Lord brings we have three choices: we can turn back (and miss God), stand still (not progressing in our walk),or go forward in faith.
The Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes is pastor and head of staff of Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA, and is a professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
He is the author of several popular books, including Searching for Home: Spirituality for Restless Souls (Brazos Press, 2006), Sacred Thirst: Finding God in the Desert of our Longings (Zondervan 2001) and Hustling God: Why We Work So Hard for What God Wants to Give (Zondervan 1999).
Here are some excepts from his book When God Interrupts that I have found especially encouraging.
...grace often comes in severe ways. We really don't have to seek abandonment. It finds us easily enough. Usually it comes as God's uninvited angel with the announcement of “good news” that we are about to lose our lives. (p.18)
To follow Jesus is to enter the lifelong process of discovering more about God than we know, discovering that “my ways are not your ways,” discovering that we have been worshiping not God but an expectation of God. Nothing makes it harder to see God than our expectations of him. (p.30)
It is impossible to follow Jesus and not be led away from something. (p.21)
Life as they knew it was over. In its place they were given not just a new life, but a new purpose to life. (p.22)
...he takes them to a place they would rather not go and gives them a vocation that changes everything. (p. 27-28)
...conversion is the lifelong process of turning away from our plans and turning toward God's maddening, disruptive creativity. (p.28)
I believe that this book will be a blessing and an encouragement to you as you “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) Amen!
Monday, August 8, 2011
“THE WOUNDED HEALER” A Book Review
“THE WOUNDED HEALER”
The Wounded Healer
Henri J.M. Nouwen
New York:Image, 1972.
100 pp.
The Wounded Healer, by the Dutch priest Henri Nouwen (1932-1996), has been a great source of inspiration for me in the ministry of Restoration and Encouragement.
This slim book is for all believers who desire to minister to the body of Christ, “but who find the familiar ways crumbling and themselves stripped of their traditional protections.” (from the introduction)
The front cover reads “In our own woundedness, we can become a source of life for others.” This almost appears to be a contradiction in terms. Woundedness and life don't seem to fit in the same sentence in a positive way. But Nouwen shows otherwise throughout the book.
...the minister is called to recognize the sufferings of his time in his own heart and make that recognition the starting point of his service...his service will not be perceived as authentic unless it comes from a heart wounded by the suffering about which he speaks...nothing can be written about ministry without a deeper understanding of the ways in which the minister can make his own wounds available as a source of healing.(p.xvi)
The body of Christ has had so many wounds inflicted on them in one way or another, and through these wounds we can be a source of strength to our brothers and sisters in the faith. Our suffering and wounds have a purpose in them. As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:
Just as we have a share in Christ's many sufferings, so also through Christ we share in God's great help. If we suffer, it is for your help and salvation; if we are helped, then you too are helped and given the strength to endure with patience the same sufferings that we also endure. So our hope in you is never shaken; we know that just as you share in our sufferings, you also share in the help we receive.
2 Corinthians 1:5-7
Nouwen writes:
But what are our wounds? They may have been spoken about in many ways by many voices. Words such as "alienation," "separation," "isolation," and "loneliness" have been used as the names of are wounded condition. Maybe the word loneliness best expresses our immediate experience and therefore most fittingly enables us to understand our brokenness.(p.83)
Walking with Lord for so many years, I have come to see that you can't take someone somewhere unless you have been there yourself. It would be of no help to you if I tried to soothe your wounds if I have no wounds of my own. Nouwen makes this very clear, “Who can take away suffering without entering it? The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there...we have forgotten that no God can save us except a suffering God, and that no man can lead his people except the man who is crushed by its sins.”(p.72-73)
As a pastor of restoration and encouragement, I like what Nouwen says about the one who desires to show compassion to the wounded (Compassion a title of one of his many books), that person must "not be'up there' far away or secretly hidden from people, but in the midst of his people, with the utmost visibility."(p.40) (Which is where the Lord ministered). This brought to mind the saying that shepherds need to smell like sheep. Mingling with them, rejoicing with those that rejoice, laughing with those filled with joy, and crying with those who are grieving.
Compassion is something that all who desire to restore, encourage, and minister must possess if we truly want to help people. Compassion is a virtue that, for the most part, is missing in the body of Christ. To have compassion is to be Christ-like.
One cannot help but be moved by Nouwen's writings. They will have an effect on you that will inspire you to be more like Jesus, ministering in love and compassion, not ashamed of your wounds, but using them as instruments of healing.
For more about Henri Nouwen and his ministry and books visit http://www.henrinouwen.org
The Wounded Healer
Henri J.M. Nouwen
New York:Image, 1972.
100 pp.
The Wounded Healer, by the Dutch priest Henri Nouwen (1932-1996), has been a great source of inspiration for me in the ministry of Restoration and Encouragement.
This slim book is for all believers who desire to minister to the body of Christ, “but who find the familiar ways crumbling and themselves stripped of their traditional protections.” (from the introduction)
The front cover reads “In our own woundedness, we can become a source of life for others.” This almost appears to be a contradiction in terms. Woundedness and life don't seem to fit in the same sentence in a positive way. But Nouwen shows otherwise throughout the book.
...the minister is called to recognize the sufferings of his time in his own heart and make that recognition the starting point of his service...his service will not be perceived as authentic unless it comes from a heart wounded by the suffering about which he speaks...nothing can be written about ministry without a deeper understanding of the ways in which the minister can make his own wounds available as a source of healing.(p.xvi)
The body of Christ has had so many wounds inflicted on them in one way or another, and through these wounds we can be a source of strength to our brothers and sisters in the faith. Our suffering and wounds have a purpose in them. As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:
Just as we have a share in Christ's many sufferings, so also through Christ we share in God's great help. If we suffer, it is for your help and salvation; if we are helped, then you too are helped and given the strength to endure with patience the same sufferings that we also endure. So our hope in you is never shaken; we know that just as you share in our sufferings, you also share in the help we receive.
2 Corinthians 1:5-7
Nouwen writes:
But what are our wounds? They may have been spoken about in many ways by many voices. Words such as "alienation," "separation," "isolation," and "loneliness" have been used as the names of are wounded condition. Maybe the word loneliness best expresses our immediate experience and therefore most fittingly enables us to understand our brokenness.(p.83)
Walking with Lord for so many years, I have come to see that you can't take someone somewhere unless you have been there yourself. It would be of no help to you if I tried to soothe your wounds if I have no wounds of my own. Nouwen makes this very clear, “Who can take away suffering without entering it? The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there...we have forgotten that no God can save us except a suffering God, and that no man can lead his people except the man who is crushed by its sins.”(p.72-73)
As a pastor of restoration and encouragement, I like what Nouwen says about the one who desires to show compassion to the wounded (Compassion a title of one of his many books), that person must "not be'up there' far away or secretly hidden from people, but in the midst of his people, with the utmost visibility."(p.40) (Which is where the Lord ministered). This brought to mind the saying that shepherds need to smell like sheep. Mingling with them, rejoicing with those that rejoice, laughing with those filled with joy, and crying with those who are grieving.
Compassion is something that all who desire to restore, encourage, and minister must possess if we truly want to help people. Compassion is a virtue that, for the most part, is missing in the body of Christ. To have compassion is to be Christ-like.
One cannot help but be moved by Nouwen's writings. They will have an effect on you that will inspire you to be more like Jesus, ministering in love and compassion, not ashamed of your wounds, but using them as instruments of healing.
For more about Henri Nouwen and his ministry and books visit http://www.henrinouwen.org
TRAVELING ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW ROAD
City streets, country roads, and highways are lined with many signs telling us to stop, yield, and slow down. Signs warn us that we are approaching railroad tracks, dangerous curves, and hidden driveways. Others are demanding: “Keep Out!” “No Trespassing!” Some convey a message with a warning: “Police Take Notice!” “Proceed at your own risk!”
A sign outside the controversial military base known as Area 51 reads, “Use of Deadly Force is Authorized.”
Some signs are ignored by people. We drive down one-way streets, pretend that we didn't see that stop sign, and risk our lives driving above the speed limit.
In our travels, we need to obey the local and state police, and in some cases the U.S. Military. They have the power and authority to ticket, arrest, and even, as noted above, shoot at us. The authorities tell us and enforce what we can or cannot do as we drive on the streets and highways of America.
Many of these signs, of course, are for our safety and well-being. They can save lives and prevent injuries, if we obey them. Ignoring them can bring harm to us and others.
The Lord, however, levies no restrictions as far as entering into a certain place. A place far greater than any place on earth, or the universe, for that matter. The Holy of Holies! Where the Lord is high and lifted up! The Lord God invites us to come to the throne of grace! There we will find grace, mercy, and help in our time our need.
We have seen TV programs or movies where someone will post a sign that reads “Detour:Road Work Up Ahead” even though there is no work taking place. It was done to trick and deceive someone to travel where their enemy can do them harm.
The enemy of our souls is like that. The deceiver posts signs so that we can take a detour off the road heading to the throne of God. “Turn Back, God is Angry With You!” “Road To God Is Closed Up Ahead!” “Danger:Bridge That Leads To Jesus Is Out!”
These signs posted by the devil are to be ignored and we must continue ahead on the straight and narrow road that leads to life in Jesus Christ our Lord!
There are no warning or threatening signs to scare us away as we proceed to the throne of grace. There are no signs that say “Do Not Enter, This Means You Sinner” or “Proceed At Your Own Risk, Loser” or “Keep Out, Archangels Take Notice.”
Under the old covenant, a person could not personally come into God's presence.
If a person had sinned, he or she could not go before the Lord and confess and be forgiven. The guilty one needed to go to the High Priest.
However, under the New Covenant, which is established on better promises (Hebrews 8), even though guilty of sin, a child of God can humbly and boldly (with confidence) enter into His presence. There is no need for an intercessor, for Jesus now intercedes on our behalf.
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV) Hebrews 7:25 tells us that Jesus, our High Priest, is always interceding for his people.
Unlike the High Priests, who entered the Most Holy Place year after year with blood that is not their own (Hebrews 9:25), Jesus, our High Priest, entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood thus obtaining eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12).
Hebrews 9:9 also tells us that these gifts and offerings by the High Priests were not able to clear the consciences of the worshipers. So matter how hard we try and what good works we perform, they will not take away our sins. It's only through Jesus' shed blood—nothing else.
I want to encourage you that in your time of need go boldly and directly to the throne of grace. There the Lord waits to receive us and embrace us because we belong to Him, and nobody and nothing can separate us from His eternal love!
Hallelujah!
A sign outside the controversial military base known as Area 51 reads, “Use of Deadly Force is Authorized.”
Some signs are ignored by people. We drive down one-way streets, pretend that we didn't see that stop sign, and risk our lives driving above the speed limit.
In our travels, we need to obey the local and state police, and in some cases the U.S. Military. They have the power and authority to ticket, arrest, and even, as noted above, shoot at us. The authorities tell us and enforce what we can or cannot do as we drive on the streets and highways of America.
Many of these signs, of course, are for our safety and well-being. They can save lives and prevent injuries, if we obey them. Ignoring them can bring harm to us and others.
The Lord, however, levies no restrictions as far as entering into a certain place. A place far greater than any place on earth, or the universe, for that matter. The Holy of Holies! Where the Lord is high and lifted up! The Lord God invites us to come to the throne of grace! There we will find grace, mercy, and help in our time our need.
We have seen TV programs or movies where someone will post a sign that reads “Detour:Road Work Up Ahead” even though there is no work taking place. It was done to trick and deceive someone to travel where their enemy can do them harm.
The enemy of our souls is like that. The deceiver posts signs so that we can take a detour off the road heading to the throne of God. “Turn Back, God is Angry With You!” “Road To God Is Closed Up Ahead!” “Danger:Bridge That Leads To Jesus Is Out!”
These signs posted by the devil are to be ignored and we must continue ahead on the straight and narrow road that leads to life in Jesus Christ our Lord!
There are no warning or threatening signs to scare us away as we proceed to the throne of grace. There are no signs that say “Do Not Enter, This Means You Sinner” or “Proceed At Your Own Risk, Loser” or “Keep Out, Archangels Take Notice.”
Under the old covenant, a person could not personally come into God's presence.
If a person had sinned, he or she could not go before the Lord and confess and be forgiven. The guilty one needed to go to the High Priest.
However, under the New Covenant, which is established on better promises (Hebrews 8), even though guilty of sin, a child of God can humbly and boldly (with confidence) enter into His presence. There is no need for an intercessor, for Jesus now intercedes on our behalf.
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV) Hebrews 7:25 tells us that Jesus, our High Priest, is always interceding for his people.
Unlike the High Priests, who entered the Most Holy Place year after year with blood that is not their own (Hebrews 9:25), Jesus, our High Priest, entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood thus obtaining eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12).
Hebrews 9:9 also tells us that these gifts and offerings by the High Priests were not able to clear the consciences of the worshipers. So matter how hard we try and what good works we perform, they will not take away our sins. It's only through Jesus' shed blood—nothing else.
I want to encourage you that in your time of need go boldly and directly to the throne of grace. There the Lord waits to receive us and embrace us because we belong to Him, and nobody and nothing can separate us from His eternal love!
Hallelujah!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
“THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD”
My uncle Joe was an accomplished painter. His specialty was portraits and his work was so lifelike, so much so that a woman in one of his paintings used to frighten me as a child. (That same painting now hangs in our living room. Here is the painting).
When he passed several years ago, I was blessed by my aunt who gave me most of his paintings. Because most of his work was from the 1940s and 50s, some of the original frames needed to be replaced and some minor work needed to be done.
I took them to a local frame shop, and on one occasion the owner of the store happened to be there to view the paintings. He commented that my uncle's work was museum quality, but because he was unknown and probably lacked sufficient funds, a museum would have rejected his work.
Out of all the paintings that I have (mostly my uncle's) if it came down to keeping only one, I would choose the one depicting Annisquam(Massachusetts) Lighthouse that my wife Judy painted for me at the time we got engaged. (Here's Judy's painting).
There are two reasons for this. One, of course, is that my wife painted it for me, and two, because it portrays a lighthouse. Living in New England (God's country, :) ), just north of Boston on the coast is so much of a blessing. There are approximately 50 lighthouses in all of the 6 New England states. There is great beauty in these structures that jut up from the water with elegance and grace.
In addition to their sheer beauty, there is also a deeper significance to the lighthouse.
Lighthouses guided ships into the harbor during the night, and were particularly important when the weather was stormy or foggy. Many ships have gone down in the North Atlantic, but many were saved thanks to the light that shined in the darkness.
In the natural order of things, darkness turns into light, but in our world the darkness seems to be getting darker everyday. It seems that everyday, something takes place in our nation and the world which is an abomination in the eyes of a holy God. The words of the prophet Isaiah ring true, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” (5:20)
John 3:19 This is how the judgment works: the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil.20 Those who do evil things hate the light and will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds to be shown up. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light in order that the light may show that what they did was in obedience to God.
The only way for the darkness to turn into light is acknowledging our sins, repenting of them, and allow the light of the world—Jesus—to shine brightly. “Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. I am the light of the world he said. Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.” (John 8:12)
Before our Lord ascended into heaven, he commissioned his people to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. This is a great privilege and responsibility; one that we should not take lightly.
When we view the moon we are seeing light that is reflected from the sun. The moon has no light of its own. If the sun were to stop shining the moon would not be visible (even as it's not visible during a new moon and during a total solar eclipse).
In the same way we have no light of our own to shine into a dark world, but we reflect the light of Jesus. The light that we reflect is so bright, that Jesus also said that we are the light of the world. Imagine the darkness there would be if we refused to obey Jesus' command to evangelize and did not reflect His light. We are not to hide our light, but let it shine just as a city on a hill cannot be hid. (See Matthew 5:14-16). May Jesus' light, reflected by the church, bring Him all the glory and honor. And as this light shines, may many souls that He died for be delivered from darkness into the Kingdom of God.
Romans 13:12 “The night is nearly over, day is almost here. Let us stop doing the things that belong to the dark, and let us take up weapons for fighting in the light.”
I took them to a local frame shop, and on one occasion the owner of the store happened to be there to view the paintings. He commented that my uncle's work was museum quality, but because he was unknown and probably lacked sufficient funds, a museum would have rejected his work.
Out of all the paintings that I have (mostly my uncle's) if it came down to keeping only one, I would choose the one depicting Annisquam(Massachusetts) Lighthouse that my wife Judy painted for me at the time we got engaged. (Here's Judy's painting).
In addition to their sheer beauty, there is also a deeper significance to the lighthouse.
Lighthouses guided ships into the harbor during the night, and were particularly important when the weather was stormy or foggy. Many ships have gone down in the North Atlantic, but many were saved thanks to the light that shined in the darkness.
In the natural order of things, darkness turns into light, but in our world the darkness seems to be getting darker everyday. It seems that everyday, something takes place in our nation and the world which is an abomination in the eyes of a holy God. The words of the prophet Isaiah ring true, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” (5:20)
John 3:19 This is how the judgment works: the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil.20 Those who do evil things hate the light and will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds to be shown up. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light in order that the light may show that what they did was in obedience to God.
The only way for the darkness to turn into light is acknowledging our sins, repenting of them, and allow the light of the world—Jesus—to shine brightly. “Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. I am the light of the world he said. Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.” (John 8:12)
Before our Lord ascended into heaven, he commissioned his people to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. This is a great privilege and responsibility; one that we should not take lightly.
When we view the moon we are seeing light that is reflected from the sun. The moon has no light of its own. If the sun were to stop shining the moon would not be visible (even as it's not visible during a new moon and during a total solar eclipse).
In the same way we have no light of our own to shine into a dark world, but we reflect the light of Jesus. The light that we reflect is so bright, that Jesus also said that we are the light of the world. Imagine the darkness there would be if we refused to obey Jesus' command to evangelize and did not reflect His light. We are not to hide our light, but let it shine just as a city on a hill cannot be hid. (See Matthew 5:14-16). May Jesus' light, reflected by the church, bring Him all the glory and honor. And as this light shines, may many souls that He died for be delivered from darkness into the Kingdom of God.
Romans 13:12 “The night is nearly over, day is almost here. Let us stop doing the things that belong to the dark, and let us take up weapons for fighting in the light.”
Thursday, June 30, 2011
WHY ARE PEOPLE SO INFATUATED WITH SIN?
“Foolish people don't care if they sin.” Proverbs 14:9, GNB
“Sin and shame go together.” Proverbs 18:3, GNB
With its tolerance for adult entertainment, Las Vegas proudly bills itself as Sin City.
We are invited to come to Las Vegas to gamble, visit strip clubs, sleep around, spend money, and nobody has to know about it. It's OK because, as they say, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”
Outlaw motorcycle gangs boast that they are “Hell's Angels” and “The Devil's Diciples” (Their web page states that the founders intentionally misspelled disciple so as to distance themselves from religious affiliation).
In a city near my hometown, there is a motorcycle shop called “Sinful Threads,” which is an authorized retailer of “Sin City Cycles.”
Various kinds of candy and ice cream are called “sinful” delights.
The government raises revenue with the creation of a “sin” tax.
http://uslegal.com defines sin tax as follows:
“To raise revenue for tight government budgets, legislators sometimes attempt to raise revenue by imposing unusually high excise taxes on cigarettes, liquor, gambling, and so on. This type of charge, often called a "sin tax," appeals to voters who view it as a way of discouraging consumption of certain objectionable products.” (Kind of amusing, commit sin and you get taxed for it).
The cover of a magazine that I purchased last year, shows an apple with a bite taken out of it engraved with the seven deadly sins. The cover read “Born to Sin—Science explains why it's good to be bad.”
The story begins by quoting Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.” It continues with a question,“But what if Paul and his contemporaries got it wrong? What if the wages of sin is actually life? What if humans need to be led into temptation to survive? In universities around the world, scientists are beginning to realize that the seven deadly sins could well be necessary evils for evolution and human development.”
Hmm, I think that they are called “deadly” sins for a reason. And didn't Jesus teach us to pray “and lead us not into temptation?”
People have this idea that when sin, Satan, the devil or hell are mentioned it is supposed to be more fun and attractive. Men feel like men; rugged individuals. It's shocking to me that some women find a sinful lifestyle appealing!
Why the infatuation? I believe that it's because we are sinners by nature, and sinners are rebels. That might be the allure to do things that deep down we know we aren't suppose to do. It's forbidden. It's exotic.
Sin, which is pleasurable for a season, appeals to our sinful nature, and the flesh gets aroused. The lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life excite us, and we have to have these things or partake in them or else we won't be satisfied. They fill a void in our lives that only the Lord can fill.
As we continue to rebel against the Lord and His commands and desire to go our own way, He gives us up to a reprobate mind. See Romans 1:18-32.
Sin is a serious matter. Sin is deadly. The wages of sin is death, not life! James writes,”...we are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires. Then our evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (1:14,15, Good News Bible, emphasis added).
Spiritual death. Eternally separated from God.
We should never take sin lightly. Because he loves us so much, Jesus died for our sins. The Word says that God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21. We should never sin willfully or deliberately because we know that the Lord will forgive us (He will of course, but that is abusing grace). Once we realize that we have sinned, we need to ask the Lord to wash and cleanse us with His precious blood. For without His shed blood, there is no forgiveness for our sins.
There is nothing glamorous about sin. We should never envy those who are living in sin as though we are missing out on something.
When faced with a temptation to sin we must immediately look to the Lord so that we won't fall into sin. (Remember that temptation is not a sin. If we yield to temptation then we have sinned).
When tempted be encouraged by what the Word of God says.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (NIV)
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV)
“Sin and shame go together.” Proverbs 18:3, GNB
With its tolerance for adult entertainment, Las Vegas proudly bills itself as Sin City.
We are invited to come to Las Vegas to gamble, visit strip clubs, sleep around, spend money, and nobody has to know about it. It's OK because, as they say, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”
Outlaw motorcycle gangs boast that they are “Hell's Angels” and “The Devil's Diciples” (Their web page states that the founders intentionally misspelled disciple so as to distance themselves from religious affiliation).
In a city near my hometown, there is a motorcycle shop called “Sinful Threads,” which is an authorized retailer of “Sin City Cycles.”
Various kinds of candy and ice cream are called “sinful” delights.
The government raises revenue with the creation of a “sin” tax.
http://uslegal.com defines sin tax as follows:
“To raise revenue for tight government budgets, legislators sometimes attempt to raise revenue by imposing unusually high excise taxes on cigarettes, liquor, gambling, and so on. This type of charge, often called a "sin tax," appeals to voters who view it as a way of discouraging consumption of certain objectionable products.” (Kind of amusing, commit sin and you get taxed for it).
The cover of a magazine that I purchased last year, shows an apple with a bite taken out of it engraved with the seven deadly sins. The cover read “Born to Sin—Science explains why it's good to be bad.”
The story begins by quoting Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.” It continues with a question,“But what if Paul and his contemporaries got it wrong? What if the wages of sin is actually life? What if humans need to be led into temptation to survive? In universities around the world, scientists are beginning to realize that the seven deadly sins could well be necessary evils for evolution and human development.”
Hmm, I think that they are called “deadly” sins for a reason. And didn't Jesus teach us to pray “and lead us not into temptation?”
People have this idea that when sin, Satan, the devil or hell are mentioned it is supposed to be more fun and attractive. Men feel like men; rugged individuals. It's shocking to me that some women find a sinful lifestyle appealing!
Why the infatuation? I believe that it's because we are sinners by nature, and sinners are rebels. That might be the allure to do things that deep down we know we aren't suppose to do. It's forbidden. It's exotic.
Sin, which is pleasurable for a season, appeals to our sinful nature, and the flesh gets aroused. The lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life excite us, and we have to have these things or partake in them or else we won't be satisfied. They fill a void in our lives that only the Lord can fill.
As we continue to rebel against the Lord and His commands and desire to go our own way, He gives us up to a reprobate mind. See Romans 1:18-32.
Sin is a serious matter. Sin is deadly. The wages of sin is death, not life! James writes,”...we are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires. Then our evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (1:14,15, Good News Bible, emphasis added).
Spiritual death. Eternally separated from God.
We should never take sin lightly. Because he loves us so much, Jesus died for our sins. The Word says that God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21. We should never sin willfully or deliberately because we know that the Lord will forgive us (He will of course, but that is abusing grace). Once we realize that we have sinned, we need to ask the Lord to wash and cleanse us with His precious blood. For without His shed blood, there is no forgiveness for our sins.
There is nothing glamorous about sin. We should never envy those who are living in sin as though we are missing out on something.
When faced with a temptation to sin we must immediately look to the Lord so that we won't fall into sin. (Remember that temptation is not a sin. If we yield to temptation then we have sinned).
When tempted be encouraged by what the Word of God says.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (NIV)
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV)
Sunday, June 19, 2011
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE A PHONY
Have you ever sat in church and thought, “What a phony I am?”
The person next to you may have their hands raised and are fervently worshiping the Lord. The person on the other side of you may have their head down and are crying tears of joy. And you're thinking “What a phony I am!”
First, don't look at other people. You have your own walk to walk. You need to lay aside all discouragement and frustration. We should instead focus our thoughts on the Lord and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
If anything let the life of a believer be a challenge to you to go on with the Lord and grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18.
Second, look to the Lord. The Lord does not think that you are a phony. As His child, your worship is received just as the one who is praying fervently and the one who is crying before the Lord.
It doesn't matter to the Lord if your arms are outstretched, or if you are jumping up and down, or if you are prostrate on the floor in complete silence.
You might be feeling like a phony when worshiping because you are grieved by your sins. Grieving over our sins should bring us to the cross so that we can be forgiven and continue walking with the Lord.
You are not a phony! That word should have no place in the vocabulary of a believer. You are not a phony—you are a child of the living God and nothing and nobody can change that eternal truth!
The person next to you may have their hands raised and are fervently worshiping the Lord. The person on the other side of you may have their head down and are crying tears of joy. And you're thinking “What a phony I am!”
First, don't look at other people. You have your own walk to walk. You need to lay aside all discouragement and frustration. We should instead focus our thoughts on the Lord and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
If anything let the life of a believer be a challenge to you to go on with the Lord and grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18.
Second, look to the Lord. The Lord does not think that you are a phony. As His child, your worship is received just as the one who is praying fervently and the one who is crying before the Lord.
It doesn't matter to the Lord if your arms are outstretched, or if you are jumping up and down, or if you are prostrate on the floor in complete silence.
You might be feeling like a phony when worshiping because you are grieved by your sins. Grieving over our sins should bring us to the cross so that we can be forgiven and continue walking with the Lord.
You are not a phony! That word should have no place in the vocabulary of a believer. You are not a phony—you are a child of the living God and nothing and nobody can change that eternal truth!
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