Death--Passion Week

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." 37 And again another Scripture says,"They shall look on Him whom they pierced." 38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the John 19:31-38 (NKJV)

Death...not a subject that people want to talk about or contemplate. Jesus' death was especially gruesome and wholly unfair. To be punished as a criminal and sentenced to death by crucifixion must have been the ultimate humiliation to the one who lived a sinless life. And yet we commemorate--"Yes," commemorate His death by wearing crosses. Outside of Jesus, most of us have never been connected or known a person who was crucified, which makes the whole idea of crucifixion somewhat surreal.

It must be the disconnect from the reality of what happened to Jesus that makes the modern fad of wearing a cross so widespread. Mind you--I'm not bothered by people who want to clearly declare that they have put their faith in Jesus, but I am often confused by the mixed message sent by some celebrities who proudly display the cross as a fashion statement, but desecrate the memory of our Savior's sacrifice by the way they chose to live. I have a cross--occasionally I wear it--generally under my shirt; but, when I wear it I do it in remembrance of Christ's atoning work. If anyone ever sees it, I hope that the profession of my faith is confirmed by the way I live my life!

Make no mistake about it--a cross is a sign of death. It is a symbol of Christ's death, but it also speaks to the crucifixion of my own flesh. My less than noble attitudes--the times when I lack personal integrity--the instances when I fall into temptation--the pull of my flesh that battles with the call of God on my life...all of these things need to die within my life. I need to identify myself with Christ in the daily crucifixion of my desires. According to Jesus--if I want to be one of His disciples, I need to "Deny myself, pick up my cross and follow Him."

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You spoke to us so long ago through the voice of the prophet Isaiah, who said, 'Come let us reason together says the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow.' This was accomplished through the atoning work of Your Son, Jesus. I reflect upon that great work with mixed emotions: I rejoice that my sins are forgiven--I stand in awe of Christ's courage--I weep at memory of Christ's suffering, and I grateful for the sacrifice of death that brought me life. Amen"

The Cross--Passion Week

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:17-19; 25-30 (NKJV)

It is hard for me to imagine the pain Mary, the mother of Jesus, must have felt while watching the crucifixion of her son unfold. I know that if I was watching the destruction of one of my children happening before my eyes, my grief would be off the chart. Why was all of "this" necessary? (The pain, the humiliation, the sorrow, the betrayal, the hatred, the violence, the tragedy) Perhaps it was necessary in order for God to have the full experience and understanding of what it means to be a human. The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted in "all ways" as we are. The ultimate temptation was to walk away from the work and the pain of the cross; but, Jesus submitted to the Father, experienced the very worst of what humanity offered, and took on the sins of the world.

If you have ever doubted that the Creator understands you, you can put those doubts to rest. God watched His only begotten Son suffer. He personally felt the impact of each nail that was driven into the hands and feet--He heard every insult and shared in the humiliation and shame--He suffered with each stripe from the whips--He felt the grief that only a parent could feel. Make no mistake about it--God understands you and He understands us.

As the crowds that had gathered for the "Main Event" grew weary of the slow progression, they wandered away--back to their homes--back to their businesses--and back to their mundane lives. As the end of Jesus' life drew to a conclusion, there were only a few soldiers, four women that were close to Jesus, and John, His disciple waiting for the inevitable. Finally, Jesus uttered the words, "It is finished." In that moment of death, as the sins of all mankind came crashing down on Jesus--God the Son experienced and understood everything about sin and its twisting effect upon the human soul. The price for our sin was paid and the human experience of God in the flesh was completed.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, Your word states, 'For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.' Thank you for sending Jesus to rescue us. Thank you for paying such a heavy price. Thank you for loving us while we were yet sinners. I shall forever be grateful! Amen"

The Trial--Passion Week

Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" 22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" 23 Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!" 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." 25 And all the people answered and said, "His blood beon us and on our children." 26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. Matt 27:17-26 (NKJV)

Pilate needed to answer his own question. "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" This is the same question that every woman, man and child will need to answer at some point in time. The way we answer this question will be the most important decision we ever make. It has eternal implications. When this chapter of our existence comes to an end and the next chapter begins, we will hear the voice of Jesus say one of two things: "Enter, thou good and faithful servant," or, "Depart from me, I never knew you." It all boils down to this pivotal decision: "What will you do with Jesus?"

When Jesus was brought before Pilate to be examined and tried, it became abundantly clear to Pilate that Jesus was an innocent man. A political problem--for sure--but not a criminal. He declared to the angry mob, that had been organized and incited to anger by the religious leaders of the Jews, "I find this man innocent!" He made this same declaration two more times, but he could not mollify the crowd before him. Then, in spite of his wife's warning, and in spite of knowing that Jesus was an innocent man, Pilate decided to do what was politically expedient and delivered Jesus to be crucified.

Pilate washed his hands before the mob and said, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person." But, he was not innocent of Jesus' blood. The Jewish leaders correctly accessed the situation when they said to Pilate, "Only you have the authority to execute a criminal."  Pilate caved under the political pressure and did the wrong thing. Living in a day of political correctness, the Church is coming under more and more pressure from an angry, belligerent culture that is demanding our compliance. The culture is offended that we would dare call sin..."sin." We are faced with a crucial decision: Will we cave in to the pressure or will we stand by our convictions?

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I am concerned that the secular culture that surrounds the church is beginning to change the way Your people think. At the very least they are stilling our voice with the threat of persecution. I pray that You would give the Church a new burst of courage. Courage to speak the truth in love--courage to stand by the clear truths of Your Word--courage to stand by their convictions. May we not cave in to the pressure of political correctness, but may we stand true until we hear Your voice saying, 'welcome, thou good and faithful servant.' Amen"

Gethsemane--Passion Week

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." Matt 26:36-46 (NKJV)

Submission...in sports it means that you are "tapping out." Which is an acknowledgment that you lost, you are giving up, you are throwing in the towel and you are surrendering. Generally speaking of sports, a team or a player does not submit, but continues to "fight" until the end of the game regardless of the score. Submission is not respected. Submission also happens to be one of those "things" that goes against the grain of our human nature. We like to be in control--we like to have things our way--we like to be right--and we prefer others submitting to us rather than the other way around.

It has been said that, "True submission is birthed at the point of disagreement." In other words, as long as we are flowing and going the same direction, we are simply in agreement. When we disagree as how to proceed forward, that is when true submission has the opportunity to be exercised; because, if no-one is willing to submit, we can no longer walk together in unity or progress. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus demonstrated true submission. He knew what was going to happen to Him--He had already told His disciples about it. He knew that the ordeal was going to be heartbreaking, difficult, painful, humiliating and tragic.

He prayed: "Father, if possible let this cup pass from me, never-the-less, Your will be done." God's plan of salvation for mankind came down to this pivotal moment. All the forces in the universe, both for good and evil, was focused on this event. The weight of it all crushed Jesus to the ground and He sweat, as it were, great drops of blood. He even told His disciples: "My soul is heavy to the point of death." There, in a garden of darkness and great despair Jesus submitted to the Father. This is the reason Jesus has been given a name above all other names, and that at the name of Jesus, "Every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!" 

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, there is a part of me that states, 'I want to be like Jesus." But, when I consider His suffering and sacrifice, I realize that the price is steep. Too often I find myself wanting the character of Christ without a willingness to pay the price to attain it. Change my heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me. I know that I'm hanging on to me--but, I need to be more like You. Please continue to work in my life and with Your help may I submit myself to the process. Amen"

Servant King--Passion Week

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." 8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean." 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13:3-17 (NKJV)

When I entered the room my nose was assaulted by an overpowering odor. I was getting ready to teach a room crammed full of about 50 youth and it seemed as if someone needed a bath. I sat on my stool, looked around the room--everyone looked fairly clean--and opened in prayer. When I was through, I looked up and one of the girls was raising her hand. She was a refreshingly truthful person who often spoke the truth before she thought about the effect of her words. She went after the elephant in the room. She said, "Something or someone really stinks in this room--it is really bad!" Everyone burst out laughing and then they began to smell one another. (This is not the recommended way to start a youth service at church) One of the guys yelled, "I found the source! It's Mark's shoes...they are really bad!" Mark's sister then spoke up, "I told him that his shoes smelled bad--if fact, they have made our home smell bad." Mark just laughed... And we promptly threw his shoes out of the room!

Shoes...socks...feet, not generally the body part that we spend much time lavishing care upon. Over time, warts, bunions, fungus, calluses make our feet fairly undesirable. Before Jesus shared the last supper with his disciples, he made sure that there were no underlying smells coming from His disciple's feet. He took the towel, the bowl of water and knelt before His disciples and began to wash their feet. PLEASE UNDERSTAND--this is God knelling before men tending to a very lowly task. Jesus washed the feet of Judas who would betray Him--the feet of Peter who would deny that he knew Jesus--and the feet of the rest of the disciples who would scatter and hide.

What lessons can we learn from our Servant King? That we should serve the needs of others even if they haven't earned the right. That there is no ministry beneath us. That God's grace is greater than our sins. That it is better to eat with clean feet! Jesus set a high standard for leadership in His Kingdom. "If you want to be great in God's Kingdom, learn to be the servant of all!"

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, Your Son, Jesus, set the bar high for all who say that they want to be like Jesus. He washed the feet of His disciples with the full knowledge that they were not going to stand up for Him. Even in the circumstances leading up to His death, He was putting the needs of others before His own needs. Lord, create a servant's heart in me--that I would unilaterally serve the needs of others--even those that do not like me. May I bring glory to Your name by following the example of Your Son. Thank you for Your love. Amen"

Stones

They threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: "'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." Luke 19:35-40 (NKJV)

Which crowd would I have been a part of if I had been alive and living in Jerusalem on the day that Jesus came riding into town? Would I have been like the Pharisees who were jealous and critical, or would I have joined the crowds that ran into the streets with shouts of praise? I think I have an answer: "I would have been a part of the crazy worshipers!" Here is my reasoning: Jesus still has His critics--those that despise Him and all of those that worship Him. He also has a world-wide group of crazy worshipers, called "The Church," and we are still extolling His name with passion!!

What a day of rejoicing that must have been for the city of Jerusalem. They had suffered long under the thumb of the Roman Empire and the "King of the Jews" had just arrived. After witnessing Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead--they were fully convinced that Jesus could handle the Romans. So, when Jesus came riding into the city, they turned it into a celebration. It started with a parade and ended with a worship service!

The Pharisees did not like it...not even a little bit. Not only did they want to kill Jesus, they even talked about killing Lazarus, the walking miracle. They were fearful that Jesus was going to replace them, or that maybe Jesus would lead a rebellion against the Romans and then they would all die. They expressed their disdain of the parade and party to Jesus. "Tell them to stop," they argued. Jesus said, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." We have no recorded answer from the Pharisees. Perhaps they were afraid of earth quakes as well.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, may my lips never be stilled from praising You. As long as I have breath I plan to praise Your Holy and Great Name. I'm not going to wait for the rocks to cry out--and why should I? You have been good to me. You have given me life and that more abundant. You have paid the price for my sin and my heart is whiter than snow. Hosanna! Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Amen"

Blessed Hope

Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." John 11:21-27 (NKJV)

Paul refers to the resurrection of Believers as the "Blessed Hope." It is hope that causes us to believe that there is a life (a better life) waiting for us on the other side of death. A well-known actress (Valerie Harper) was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. She has an aggressive tumor in her brain and has been given three months to live. When a reporter asked her about her prognosis, she had a couple of great insights. She said, "I plan to live until the moment that I die; and as far as my terminal prognosis is concerned, everyone is terminal."

She is right, everyone is going to die sooner or later. With such a gloomy prognosis for all of us, we need a "Blessed Hope!" It would be shear nonsense to have hope in the face of death's inevitability without any evidence to the contrary. We have such evidence. Just shortly before Jesus was Himself, crucified and raised from the dead, He demonstrated His power over death by calling forth His friend Lazarus who had been dead for days.

Earlier, Jesus had asked Martha an important question: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live...Do you believe this?" It would be hard for just about anyone to believe such a thing unless the person posing the question was Jesus. My hope for a future beyond this life--my hope for my family (both those that have gone on before me and those that are following)--my hope for my friends (who are dear to me)--my hope for Believers around the world...it all comes down to Jesus. Let me answer the question as did Martha, "Yes, Jesus, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God; and when I leave this body behind, I will be with You."

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I do morn over the loss of many friends and family members who have died. But for the Blessed Hope I would be in despair. You are the author and the finisher of my faith and I have come to trust in You. You do not disappoint, but exceed all that I could ask or hope for in a Savior. Thank you for being closer than a brother. Thank you for life beyond the door of death. Thank you for life! Amen"

Shine Love

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp-stand  and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt 5:14-16

Let's start with the big picture. We are living on a beautiful planet that is under the curse of sin. That means that planet earth is hostile, dangerous, unforgiving, cruel, scary and deadly. The Bible calls this "darkness." In the midst of this darkness came a force that was the complete opposite of the darkness and in fact, diametrically opposed to the darkness. Jesus was that light! For about 3 1/2 years Jesus took on the darkness; He saved the lost, He set the prisoners free, He mended the broken-hearted, He healed the sick, He inspired the hopeless... John described His tenure on earth in the following short sentence: "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." John 1:4 (NKJV)

I totally get this--Jesus is the light of the world; but, that is not the entire picture. One day Jesus was teaching His disciples and He said something that caught them by surprise. He said, "You are the light of the world." It is statements like this that account for the reason that Jesus makes me nervous. "I am the light of the world?" What would happen to America if we were to make this coming Monday "Light of the World Day" and every Christian in America would let their light shine for one whole day?

So, here is the challenge: You are the light of the world, and in order for the world that is enshrouded in darkness to have a chance, your light needs to be put on display so that everyone can see it. How can you make your light more visible? How can you make our own personal light more viable? Start with a demonstration of love...and when you feel like you have squeezed out as much love as you possible can...start all over with a demonstration of love. Love is the one sign that tells the world that we belong to Jesus!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You are awesome and I look at myself and I'm not all that awesome. How can I possibly represent You with all my quarks and weaknesses? I need You--in this moment, I recognize just how much I need You. Be my strength--be my teacher--be the miracle that I need in order to transform. Lord, I want to be a light; so, remind me to plug my life into the power source that makes light possible. You are my source! Amen"

Holy Ground

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bushwas not consumed. Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." Ex 3:1-5 (NKJV)

"Holy Ground" was a popular worship chorus that we sang back in the 80's. As a worship leader, "Holy Ground" was one in a group of choruses that we strung together in the Key of F. (Holy Ground--Hail King Jesus--He is Lord--I Love You Lord) With some very simple lyrics and melody, "Holy Ground" expresses a truth that Moses discovered when he crossed paths with a burning bush.

Holy ground, we're standing on holy ground,
For the Lord is present and where He is--is holy.
This is holy ground, we're standing on holy ground,
For the Lord is present and where He is--is holy.

I think that too often, we as Believers, forget that the Lord is present and in the midst of our "gathering together" times. He doesn't appear to us as a burning bush--which would be really cool! (Sorry for the 70's retro moment) However, He is with us. I am sure that we would have some sort of reaction if confronted by a burning bush, but if the Lord is with us (and He is), we should respond to His presence.

Owning this truth is what makes a personal difference in the way we approach a worship service. For those of us, who recognize that the Lord is with us, our time of worship is not merely a song service--it is a time when the very ground we are standing on is transformed into holy ground--and we worship in awestruck wonder of the "One who paid it all." You might be thinking that I'm over-stating my case...not true! Jesus plainly stated: "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Matt 18:20 (NKJV) Next time you are attending a worship service, try remembering that Jesus is in the house and you are standing on Holy Ground!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You should not have to appear to me in a burning bush in order to get my attention. In those moments where I get preoccupied with my own life and my own concerns, gently remind me that You are with me. You are great and greatly to be praised--so, may worship explode from my lips and may love flow out of my heart as I lift my voice to shout Your praises and to sing songs that glorify Your name! Amen"

Soldiers

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Tim 2:1-4 (NKJV)

I had the opportunity to hang out with the original Bible Answer Man, the late Dr. Walter Martin. He spoke a couple of times in my hometown and took a liking to me. He would call me up and say, "Ron, let's go to lunch." We would sit and have lunch, and I would eat while the good doctor talked. Talk about insight, Bible knowledge and a great heart for building the Kingdom of God. At the end of one of our lunches, Walter looked me in the eye and said, "As a young pastor, someone needs to tell you some things that you may never have heard before. Ron, I believe in you and God has called you to work for Him exclusively; therefore, as you work in God's Kingdom, be so busy with serving God that you don't take the time to throw rocks at the barking dogs."

What did he mean? He went on to explain: As a servant, a soldier of the Lord, work to please God and don't spend a lot of time worrying about what your critics think or say. Good advice! A good soldier of Christ does not get entangled in vain arguments with those who like to criticize,  but works passionately to please the Lord. This was good advice for a young pastor, because I needed to be prepared with the knowledge that whatever decisions I made--there would always be those that would second-guess, criticize and oppose my effort to follow the Lord.

This does not give spiritual leaders a license to make bad decisions or to ignore the advice of others; on-the-other-hand, we can not afford to ever forget who we are working for. Who is our ultimate Commander and Chief? A soldier cannot allow themselves to compromise the instruction of the Lord to please man. A soldier cannot allow themselves to be compromised by falling into the very sin that they war against. A soldier cannot allow themselves to be distracted by fame or notoriety. Like good soldiers, followers of Christ need to put the instruction and leading of the Lord before all else. We must remain His to command.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You know how much I liked to be liked by others. I really like avoiding confrontation or creating waves, but peace at any cost is not the calling of a soldier. As one of Your soldiers, help me to stand strong in the face of the enemy. May I be courageous when defending the weak or opposing that which is evil. May I be more concerned about serving Your purposes that pleasing man. Amen"

Double Portion

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." So he said, You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven and Elisha saw it. 2 Kings 2:9-12 (NKJV)

If I have a weakness..."OK, I'll admit it--I love ice-cream!" Now it is out in the open to my everlasting shame. As a kid, I never settled for one dip of ice-cream if my parents allowed me to get two. (A double portion) I figured if one dip tasted great, I could not go wrong with two dips. That was before age caught up with me and I had to start counting calories. It is hard to settle for less when you know that more has the possibility of being significantly more significant.

That is certainly true when it comes to spiritual matters. Jesus said, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled!" This almost sounds like Jesus is understating the case, because without an appetite for spiritual food a Believer will become weakened and begin to develop an appetite for other "things." People do not lose their faith in a moment of weakness, because God covers us with His grace. It generally takes years for the spiritual life to be eroded, and in the process, the void is filled with new values, new ideas, new habits, a new perspective of life, and a new self-made religion of sorts. No wonder the Apostle Paul warned us to take "captive every thought."

On a more pro-active note: I really do not need to worry about my spiritual life eroding if I am seeking God with my whole heart. As long as Jesus remains my first love--the driving force--the great passion--my dearest friend--my Lord, God and King, I know that everything in life is working out for my good as God directs my steps. Please note the following: I am not interested in seeing how close to the fire I can dance without getting burned--I am interested in receiving a double portion of God's blessing and walking hand in hand with Jesus until I hear His voice say, "Welcome, thou good and faithful servant."

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I know that You remember the prayers of my childhood, where I prayed that You would never let me slip away from You. In the intervening years I have heard the voice of the enemy calling to me--I have felt the pull of things that appeal to my flesh--I have experienced what it is like to swim against the current of the pop culture that surrounds me. It has all served to prove that I need You in my life. You are the Rock on which I stand! Amen"

Dependency

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:7-10 (NKJV)

I was raised to be tough. My parents taught me by a code that declared: "If you are suffering--suffer in silence." No-one was trying to be cruel, but rather, my parents were preparing me for the real world--where there is real suffering--where there are real challenges--and where the weak are too often victimized by the strong. This has served me well in that, as a pastor, people do not come to me to hear about my problems, they come to me so that I might encourage them in the midst of their own.

I entered the ministry woefully ignorant and unprepared for the life problems that other people struggled with. I had good health--few stresses--great parents--wonderful wife--faithful friends and Jesus in my heart. For me life was wonderful in my neighborhood. My worldview was rocked when I started bumping up against the real issues that other people were facing. (Death, divorce, financial reversals, rebellious teens, health issues, emotional issues, spiritual issues...) I was overwhelmed by the shear numbers of people, that I cared about, facing enormous problems that were too big for me to solve.

As I have grown older and experienced more life...I discovered that I have problems of my own. I cannot even solve my own problems much less the problems of everyone around me. Yet, I know someone who knows--really knows everyone that I know. He knows the number of hairs that cover their heads; He knows what they have need of before they ask; and get this: He loves them with a love that will never fail. The ultimate answer for all of us is the same: "We all need Jesus!" I have found great comfort knowing that His grace is sufficient for every man, woman and child on planet earth. I have also discovered that when I am at my weakest, that is when I lean on Christ the most. It is in those moments of complete dependency on Christ that I am strong.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I depend on You--in fact, I have no other place to turn to or answers that can be found. I need You...to guide me, to help me, to encourage me, to lift me up when I fall, to stand with me, to go before me, to correct me, to heal me, to instruct me, to forgive me, to change me and ultimately, to save me. You are the answer to the problems that I face. Thank you Father! In my weakness You are strong! Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"

Consequences

I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:19-23 (NKJV)

There will be consequences. I received a new CD in the mail. "Original Demos" by Tom Snow, featuring one of the best unknown voices of my generation, Warren Wiebe. I took the CD out of the packaging and it almost slipped out of my hand, whereupon my 5 year old grandson, Ayden, remarked: "If you drop the CD and it hits the floor and breaks the police will come and take my cats." (What???) I don't think that this qualifies, but Newton's Third Law of Physics does state: "For every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction." Seems to be a truth that applies in both the physical and spiritual realm--at least that has been my experience. To this day I remember sticking a screwdriver into the electrical outlet...I experienced the equal and opposite reaction!

The Apostle Paul tells us: "For the wages of win is death." Oh my...seriously, Oh my! You see it's like this, I have sinned...more than a little bit. If anyone is worthy of death, I'm afraid that it is me standing in the pathway of judgment. The Bible further states: "There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end is destruction." I cannot even trust my wits, intellect or will power to dig out of this mess. If there is spiritual equal and opposite reaction to my sin I'm doomed!

There is a religious word that comes to mind. "Hallelujah!!!" Roughly translated as "Praise the Lord!" Paul speaks of a remedy for what ails me. "The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This gift of grace is not a cause to continue a life filled with the foolishness of sin, but it is the light that gives hope to the "all" in the "fall short of the glory of God."  Finally, when it comes to my eternal destiny, Newton's Third Law has been made nil and void by the greater law of God's grace. The price of my sin has already been paid for in full...thank you Lord Jesus!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the unmerited favor--the undeserved love--and the unexpected gift of forgiveness. I am grateful more than words can express. I will forever be thankful for the gift of Jesus. As I think of the future...forevermore, I will have opportunity to praise and worship You. I will gather with the millions who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and we will sing a new and glorious 'Hallelujah Chorus.' Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"

Awesome

Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." Neh 4:13-14 (NKJV)

Awesome is a word that became a very popular lyric in contemporary Christian worship in the late 80's through the 90's. It all started with Rich Mullins in 1988 who wrote and then recorded the instant classic, "Awesome God." His view point of God comes shining through the power of the lyrics:

     When He rolls up His sleeves He ain't just putting on the ritz, 

     (Our God is an awesome God)
     There's thunder in His footsteps and lightning in His fists, 

     (Our God is an awesome God)
     And the Lord wasn't joking when He kicked 'em out of Eden,
     It wasn't for no reason that He she'd His blood,
     His return is very close and so you better be believing that Our God is an awesome God.
     Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above,
     With wisdom, power, and love, Our God is an awesome God!

God is awesome, but the original Hebrew word that is translated as "awesome" is actually a stronger word--more like "Terrifying Presence of Unlimited Power!" Now singing the song "Awesome God" does not flow as well if you replace the word "awesome" with "terrifying presence of unlimited power"--but, it does help one capture the scope of God's grandeur, power and might. God is the sovereign creator and sustainer of the universe and is literally beyond human comprehension in terms of His greatness!

When Nehemiah was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and facing very real and aggressive enemies, he reminded those who were committed to the task of helping him with two essential truths. They are the two essential truths that "we" the Church must grasp in the spiritual warfare that is ongoing in our time. Firstly, God is a terrifying presence of unlimited power...and He is on our side. ("OK, in reality--the Church belongs to Him, so we are on His side") Anyway you cut it--we have the power edge, the moral edge, the purpose edge, the truth edge, and the high ground in a fight against an inferior enemy. (A foolishly inferior enemy when compared to the terrifying presence of unlimited power!) Secondly, we are fighting for our brethren, sons, daughters, wives and the House of God. We have no possible higher calling than this!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You are truly awesome! So good to know that You make all things possible. So good to know that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. So good to know that if You are going before me that nothing can stand against me. So good to know that You and You alone are the top power in the universe. Help me to grasp these truths as I walk forward and fight the good fight. Make my heart courageous and true and may I never forget that when the powers of darkness rise up they tremble as they consider the Terrifying Presence of Unlimited Power! Amen!"

Righteousness

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalms 24:3-5 (NKJV)

In this beautiful Psalm, David asks two questions. They do not qualify as rhetorical questions, because David gives us the answer to both. In this case, David's answer seems to be inadequate or incomplete. As I examine my own life--my hands seem less than clean and my heart less than pure.  Whether David was looking forward to the coming of Jesus, (the one who would make our scarlet sins as white as snow) or not; he clearly understood this truth: The source of our righteousness is God.

The Apostle Paul simply stated the obvious truth: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  On our own merit, not one of us can ascend the hill of the Lord or stand in His holy place, because we are all tainted by the scourge of sin. Our hearts are in need of a spiritual bath--our minds are in need of a transformation--our destiny needs a miraculous adjustment--and we need a Savior to come and rescue us from us. The man in the mirror cannot overcome the challenge of sin alone.

No truth is as obvious as the fact that mankind is seriously messed up! A few minutes of honest observation will confirm it. We all (even those that will not admit it) need a savior. Jesus is that Savior. Jesus is the reason that I can come into the presence of God with clean hands and a pure heart. He covers me with His love, forgiveness and clothes me in a robe of His righteousness. Simply put--Jesus is my righteousness!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I feel inadequate in and of myself. If anyone has ever needed a Savior I should be at the top of the list. Please breath Your life into my soul and bring on the rivers of cleansing, healing and renewal. I hear you knocking at the door of my heart. Please come in and make Your home in me. Thank you for Your patience--Your grace--Your favor--Your mercy--Your forgiveness, and Your love. Amen"

Dominion

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:8-11 (NKJV)

From the time of Christ's ascension into heaven until the time of His return, Believers have lived in a cosmic tension created by an ongoing conflict between the Church and forces of spiritual wickedness. In this "real life" battle we take heart from some encouraging words spoken by our Lord. When it comes to the Church He stated: "The gates of Hell will not prevail against it!" Above all else "we" need to believe Jesus and take His words to heart.

In the cultural darkness of our time we often act as if the Church is losing ground. Many point to current trends backed up by statistical data and conclude that our fortress is under siege and about to be overrun. I am not of a mind to hang with the "We'll hold the fort until Jesus comes" crowd, because I believe the words of our God and King. Perhaps the Church is losing ground--but maybe--just maybe things need to get bad enough, long enough, for the Church to wake up and get serious.

I am reminded of a Psalm of David: "The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein." Let me remind you that this is God's dominion. This turf does not belong to our enemy. The usurper walks around like a roaring lion--which is rather intimidating; but, more often than not, Satan lulls the Church to sleep while seducing the world with hollow promises. Let us not act as if the Church has already lost and throw in the towel. Time to wake up--get up--be courageous--put on the full armor of God and fight passionately knowing that our effort will make a difference. In the words of James: "Resist the Devil and he will flee from you."  God will ultimately win in this struggle and His dominion will endure forever!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, teach us how to effectively wage a Holy war against our unholy enemy. Give us the gift of discernment, so that we can see the schemes and traps of the enemy before they make an unexpected impact. Grant us the courage to fight the good fight, making the most of every opportunity to expand Your Kingdom. May we not grow weary while doing Your work, and may the Church be diligent until the day of Your return. Amen"

Humility

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5-7 (NKJV)

I fear the Lord too much to pray for humility--but, I still need a large dose of Godly humility in order to live right. Humility is a difficult virtue to "grab-a-hold-of." Perhaps it is one of those Godly traits better obtained by resting in the grace of God rather than grasped through the effort of the will. What does the effort of the will gain you? Odds favor a massive injection of false humility as Godly humility remains elusive, and yet the call remains: "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time."

How elusive is this much needed virtue? Years ago, Dr. Linfield Crowder talked about the pathology of pride associated with the prayer movement. Here's the kicker: Intercessory prayer groups are often incubators for religious pride. Individuals start feeling spiritually superior, because they are dedicated to prayer, which happens to be a much revered spiritual discipline within the rank and file of the Church. The pride kicks in when the prayer warriors compare their dedication to the seeming lack of dedication in others and they pass judgment--blinded by pride--not really knowing the prayer life of others--but, feeling superior by comparison.

No wonder Jesus told us to pray sequestered away in a prayer closet...to fast without letting others know. Only in the complicated psyche of a human would you find a spiritual discipline leading to the sin of pride. Maybe--just maybe, it is the realization that we are susceptible to such a compromise that leads us down the path of true humility. Can you be a prayer warrior and consider others as better than yourself? It is a challenge, but might be the beginning of true contrition and a step towards humility. May we all learn how to wear the clothes of humility as we extend grace to others.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, may I not be led into temptation, even in my pursuit of spiritual treasure. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. I desire to grow in you--not for the purpose of being more spiritual than others, but that I might keep You at the center of my desires. May You increase so that I am forced to become less of a distraction to myself. Continue to save me from me and mold this son into the image of Your only begotten. Amen"

How Much More

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 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 good things to those who ask Him!" Matt 7:7-11 (NKJV)

Jesus' logic breaks it down like this: If you had a good father who loved you and looked out for your best interests while raising you, how much more can you expect from the God who is love personified? While not claiming to be either the perfect parent or the best father in the world, I do claim to have significant love for my children. Which means, that I put the needs of my children before my own on a number of occasions. Come to think of it--while they were still at home my world pretty much revolved around theirs.

Back in the day when I attended high school, I discovered my Dad's University of Texas ring. Out of the blue my Dad asked me if I wanted to wear it. (He never wore any jewelry except his wedding ring) So, I proudly wore that ring as a part of my Texas birthright. I went on a school trip that took me from Idaho Falls to Boise, where a regional drill team contest was taking place. The Skyline High School Teddy-Bears were competing and the Pep Band was playing. (We had a great time!) On the way home we stopped at the Red Lion Hotel to eat. I washed my hands...and I took the ring off...and never put it back on. I realized, 100 miles later on the bus ride home, that I did not have the ring on. When I arrived home, at about 5:00 in the morning--I called the Red Lion, but they could not locate the ring.

I needed to tell my Dad. Would he be angry? Would he think less of me for my failure and lack of responsibility? After breakfast I pulled my Dad aside to confess. "Dad, you know the University of Texas ring...I...I lost it." I continued to pour out my heart and when I was done Dad looked me in the eye and said, "Son, I am really sorry that you lost the ring--I know how much you liked it." Talk about being on the receiving end of grace! When I think of the love and the grace that my earthly father measured out to me so generously, I get a picture of my Heavenly Father. How much more can I expect from the architect of all that is good?

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, keeper of my soul and the lifter of my head, thank you for Your love. As high as the heavens above, so great is the measure of Your love. I place my life in Your hands knowing that You love me more than I love myself. When I fall, You pick up the pieces. When I fail, You encourage me to try again. When I am slow to learn, You teach me with patience. Everyday I experience the "How much more" of Your Agape. Blessed be Your name! Amen"

The Lord Reigns!

Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; And let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns." 1 Chron 16:29-31 (NKJV)

"The Lord Reigns," declares a Psalm from the book of 1 Chronicles. Even those who do not believe in God have reason to rejoice, because whether they believe it or not, like it or not, the Lord reigns and that is a good thing for Mother Earth. Recently, the earth had a few close calls as a couple of asteroids played "Chicken" with our planet. (Many scientists now believe that it was such a collision that put an end to the dinosaurs) It seems as if our planet's ability to remain as a viable home for mankind is somewhat tenuous. I would be concerned, but for the fact that it is the Lord that has established the world, and it shall remain viable as long as the Lord wills.

In recent years Hollywood has been cranking out movies that portray a number of different global events that threaten the life of the planet. In the movies, our planet has been all but destroyed by space aliens, asteroids, disease, volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, the sun, ecological disasters, or human weapons of mass destruction. Most of the movies are laughable, but there are a few that make a logical case for concern. This is where I join the celebration as the heavens rejoice and the earth is glad, for "The Lord Reigns!"

Whatever the future holds for our tiny enterprise called earth, it is in the Lord's hands. We can pitch in by being good stewards of the planet, but when push comes to shove it will be the hand of the Lord that sustains the earth. Leaving the idea that our planet is the center of the universe, I am also thankful that God is also in control when it comes to the stray asteroids, the sun, the solar system, the galaxies, the stars and the universe in general. When it comes to the reign of the Lord--it applies to all that is! God is in control!

Prayer: "Dear Father, Lord of heaven and earth, creator of the universe, designer of life and all matter... To You be all glory, praise and honor! As I behold the wonders of Your hand, the beauty of Your creation, I stand in awe. Thank you for such a beautiful planet to serve as our temporary home and thank you for the home that You are preparing for us in the next life. I will indeed join with the heavens and earth and declare that the Lord Reigns! Amen"

Gray Days

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:10-13 (NKJV)

Gray days--everywhere you live you will experience gray days. As the Bible points out, "It rains on the just and the unjust." As much as the rain is a blessing for the parched earth and needed for the seeds of Spring to burst from their winter slumber, we still have the gray days that come with the rain. I remember the gray days when I attended Northwest University. Coming from a cold, but sunny climate, the seemingly...never-ending...gray days were somewhat depressing. As I felt the weight of the gray days pressing me down I made a decision; I decided to embrace them as I would a dear friend.

I would not go so far as to say that gray days put me in a state of abasement. I was not truly suffering, but I did miss the blue skies of home. It seemed to me that by allowing gray days to be a reason for personal depression I was missing something...perhaps perspective. I had plenty of food to eat--I had a secure, warm place to sleep--I was surrounded by plenty of friends--I was engaged to a beautiful young woman...so many things to be thankful for. The gray days persisted, but so did the provision of God.

When did I finally turn the corner? I'm not really sure...but, before I graduated and moved from the Great Northwest I found that I love the gray days. I love the feel of the mist on my face, the green of the lush plant life bathing my eyes, walking through the mystery of the morning fog, emerging from the surreal into the brief appearance of a bright sunny day and towering snow-capped mountains... I learned to love the beauty that is the Northwest. I also took the first step in learning a valuable spiritual lesson--to be content in "whatever state I am in." Embracing the gray days was just the beginning of learning to be content with God's provision--of keeping my focus on His blessings rather than on my self-made discontentment. Gray days will come in many different forms, but the challenges of life do not determine who I am--where I am going--or the person I trust and serve!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the gray days that turn my attention to you. When I take the time to count the many blessings that flow from Your grace, I am somewhat ashamed that I ever complain about the happenings of life. I am often not mindful of the eternal picture and the ultimate destiny that You have designed for me. Help me to keep my eyes on You--rejoicing in beauty of Your creation--embracing the amazing events of life--serving with my whole-heart in the work of Your Kingdom! Amen"