Sleep in Heavenly Peas?

Have you ever wondered what would be so heavenly about sleeping in peas, or just who John Virgin was, and what made him so round? One kid had drawn the manger scene, and off to the side was what looked like a snow man. His mom "ooo-ed and ah-ed" over his artistry, but said, "I don't think Frosty belongs here".
"Oh, that's not Frosty. That's the guy we always sing about in "Silent Night". You know, Round John Virgin."
Close! Funny how 'almost the right word' can be so, well, funny. Like the teller at the burger joint we stopped at. After she took our order, she asked my name to put on the receipt. I told her, she typed it in and handed me my copy. I glanced at it and snorted cola out my nose. "Wreck".
Ok, it was noisy, and I tend to save my outside voice for outside (or the pulpit), but "Wreck"? Who uses a name like that? Well, it was worth a chuckle, and then we forgot it. Until a couple of weeks later at a different restaurant in a different town, when the woman thought I said "Fred". Maybe I should start wearing a name tag. Or working on my enunciation. But I'll probably just blame them for not paying attention.
For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war? 1 Corinthians 14:8
Back in the days before walkie-talkies, military movements were directed by bugle calls. You had calls for Charge, for Retreat, for Left and Right and more. There were a sufficient number that some sounded alike, and a commander had to be sure he had heard correctly. Otherwise, he might be zigging when he should have been zagging and be out of place or in the way. The bugler was given no leeway for winging it or improvisation - jazz musicians need not apply! He had to be both clear and precise in sounding out orders, or chaos was going to disrupt everything.
As a preacher, I'm very concerned that I be heard AND understood. If it's important that messages not be garbled in mundane matters, how much more important is it that they be clear in heavenly ones? So let me be clear: Eternal life, salvation, "getting right with God" is NOT about your denomination or baptismal status. It's not about your bank account or the kind of car you drive or the good things you're going to get around to doing "one of these days". What must you do to be saved? Here's what the Bible says:
...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10
Want more?
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:17
Hope that clears it up for you!

In The Black

Did you find any great Black Friday deals? Retailers certainly hope you did! For many of them, this is the "make or break" day in their fiscal year. It accounts for up to 30 percent of sales and 50 percent of profits. It actually pays for the rest of the year for them. I guess that's why you see items for sale that you usually don't associate with Christ. Liquor and lingerie. Jerky and Jacuzzis. Armoires and ammunition. To be fair, you can't really blame the retailers. They are just selling what they sell and trying to take advantage of the seasonal shopping frenzy.
Black is actually not one of the colors I usually associate with Christmas. Biblically and historically, it is generally more associated with famine, disease, and death. Red, green, and white are more likely to put me in a holiday mood, but for those making their living during this season - getting "in the black" financially - they may be ready to remake Bing Crosby's greatest hit to fit THEIR "dreams". Great cash-flow, empty shelves, debts paid. Which brings us to our point.
As a pastor, I often encourage people to "Put Christ Back in Christmas", and I don't really mean putting a baby doll in manger scene. I mean getting a grip on why we celebrate His birth. No doubt there were millions of babies born that night, but only one we really remember, and not mainly for the circumstances of His birth. We remember Him because of a very black Friday, the blackest in all history:
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30
"It is finished." Three English words, one Greek word: "Tetelestai". It's root carries the meanings "ended, completed, perfected", but it had a commercial application. Suppose you made a deal in the marketplace. "Give me 20 jars of oil today, and next month I'll pay you for 25." The dealer writes down the particulars, you sign it, and take your oil home. Next month comes around and you show up with the cash, the dealer pulls out the bill, you pay up, and he writes one word across the bill: "Tetelestai". We need three English words here, too: "Paid in Full".
On that Blackest Friday, out debt was fully paid. He who knew no sin became sin for us, took on Himself our just punishment, and wrote "Paid In Full" across our ledger of sin-debt. For all who call on Him, He puts "In The Black" forever. As for me? This year I'll be "dreaming" of a NEW Christmas color.

I'm dreaming of a Black Christmas
Because my sins are washed away
And the debt that I owed, Christ paid so I'd go
To live with Him in Heaven some day! (to the tune of "White Christmas")

And if you're not In The Black spiritually, it's time to get your debt paid!
For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Foreign Gods

And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7:3 “Oh, come on! This can’t be for today.” “Why not?” “Foreign gods. Ashta-whatevers. Give me a break!” “Ashtaroth, the goddess of the moon and fertility, in many ancient places the epitome of sex. You don’t think we live in a sexualized society where people focus on it to an unhealthy degree, where manipulation and exploitation are rampant? Don’t you own a TV?”. “I see where you’re going with this. You’re gonna start beating me up with your Moral Majority club, aren’t you?" “Not exactly. It’s more about idolatry than morality. I know you’re a church member, you’re there most Sundays, and most people would call you a good Christian, right?" “Of course I am. I joined the church with my whole family back when Brother Buck Ripsnorter was the preacher. Best thing I’ve ever done." “So, you’re a part of God’s Kingdom, then, and He has made your heart His home." “Absolutely!" “So, anything you love or let your mind dwell on has a place in your heart, His home. And since wherever He is, His heavenly kingdom is, and anything that’s not of Heaven is by definition, ‘Foreign’. If you’ve ever harbored ungodly thoughts you’ve been harboring foreign gods and Ashtaroth." “uh...um...like what kind of thoughts?" Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 “So, uh, hypothetically, if I’ve been giving a place to ‘foreign gods’, what should I do?” “Just what Samuel said. Put them away. Clear them out. Give your heart completely over to the God of your salvation, then watch Him whip all those temptations and foreign influences and make you free.” Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28 -30

Treasures

I have stored up your word in my heart, ​​​​​​​that I might not sin against you. ​​​Psalm 119:11 ​​​​​​​​ My kinfolks accuse me of reading the dictionary for fun, which admittedly isn't far from the truth. Back in the "olden days", if you asked a teacher what a word meant (or how to spell it), she would point to the big classroom dictionary and say the magic words: "Look It Up Yourself." So, up you'd get and proceed to the 50 pound dictionary-on-a-stand and begin turning pages. Talk about "Old School"! Of course, if you kept turning too long, there was a series of throat clearings (ahem - Ahem - AHEM!) followed by "Stop Dawdling", and finally the command to "Take your seat!" To be fair, I learned a lot along the way to looking up something else. Makes it annoying to watch "Jeopardy" with me (so I've been told), but it didn't always help my grades. If you're supposed to be doing a report on elephants, but spend 2 hours rabbit-trailing from "archipelago" to "zygote"...well, there's not a lot of overlap. All you teachers out there who want to scold me for my lack of concentration and self-control, let me just say, "THPBBBTTT!" One of the MANY things I love about the Bible: There's ALWAYS overlap! ​​​​​​​​Your word is a lamp to my feet ​​​​​​​and a light to my path. ​​​Psalm 119:105 Transforming truth glows on every page. Connections are discovered between Ruth and Romans, Ecclesiastes and Ephesians, ancient heroes (and sinners) and modern Me. Many, many times I've faced a conundrum ("L.I.U.Y."), looked up to Heaven with a "Lord show me what to do", opened at random (Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous), and found the Answer I needed. We used to call that "Inspiration by Gravity", but I'm always finding treasure in God's Word and I don't think it's random chance. I "faith" (believe, trust, and expect) instead that He is guiding my eye. Of course, when you've got it in your heart you can find that Answer by listening for that "still small voice" who can call to your memory the right word at the right time. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 Find the Key to the Wisdom of the Ages, the Treasure of the Word of God, and enjoy the Blessing of eternal riches!

Potted Meat Won't Fly

Heard this story at the cafe recently. A couple of locals on vacation were trying to catch their flight when one of them was tagged by airport security. There was a problem with some of his carry-on baggage. They brought out the supervisor. They brought out the manual. After much scratching of heads and furious debate, they decided: "You can take the sardines on the flight, but not the potted meat." This begs the question, "Huh??" Now I know that outside the South, not a lot of people are aware of the joys of "lips and tips" (my dad's description of "redneck pate"), and maybe they thought that it was a fake product disguising a bomb, but it's really hard to understand how - and why! - they made this decision. Did they think the potted meat can would make a better missile? "Nobody move, or I'll thunk you in the head!" Were they moon-lighting as cholesterol cops? "Do you know why we stopped you, Sir? Do you have any idea what this stuff will do to your arteries?" Maybe they were afraid he was planning to eat it on the plane: "We're concerned that the stench might create a panic by making the oxygen masks fall down."As bureaucratic intelligence goes, I would have to say that this was not their finest hour. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! Matthew 23:24 Of course, security trolls aren't the only ones capable of making such, well, goofy decisions. Jesus ran into a group of religious professionals called Pharisees that boggled even His mind. For example, to avoid accidentally swallowing tiny unclean insects, they would always pour their wine from the jug through a piece of cloth into a cup. This actually makes pretty good sense to those of us who have lived in a bug-intensive environment, but in the image Jesus is painting, it's as if they were getting their wine out of a vat that had a dead camel floating in it. No puny little cloth was going to filter that taste out! In the world of airline security, it really REALLY shouldn't be about deciding between sardines and potted meat, but about intercepting real threats to the lives and safety of everyone involved - and since we haven't had any more planes flying into buildings, maybe they are doing a better job than we give them credit for. And maybe, just maybe, we should be more concerned about deeper issues than having our religious sensibilities irritated by the trivial. The Pharisees could put on a good show of "religion" even while despising their neighbor. They were great at nit-picking, not so good at getting to the heart of God and the things that please Him. Let's not make the same mistakes, but put into practice those things that are near and dear to His heart! He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 ​​​​​​​​

Got Worms?

The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die, for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 Heard a friend of mine quoting "an anonymous source" (couldn't remember who said it): All the Devil's apples got worms! We all laughed (and wrote it down. Good, clear, pithy statements are rare enough that we should share them when we find them.) I immediately began to think about apple polishing. No matter how carefully the outside of the apple is buffed, no matter how artistically displayed, if it's got a worm, the inside is being corrupted. Nobody wants to be the butt of the "Worst Kind of Worm To Find in an Apple" joke. (A half of one. Rimshot.) No, the flavor and value of any fruit is compromised by the presence of the vermiform, and the devil always makes it first priority to insert a corrupting influence. But then it occurred to me. These weren't the Devil's apples, but God's! (And yes, I know the Bible doesn't say "apples", but "fruit". Go pick your nits on your own time.) In The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis notes that the Devil doesn't create anything but misery. In this case, he doesn't even possess anything. He only suggests. He suggests that God (!) is deceptive and is actually withholding something, and implies that Eve would be better off by choosing rebellion. We all know how well THAT worked out, don't we? No, this worm wasn't even in the "apple", it was in the Trust/Faith of Eve. She was tempted by the peculiar idea that somehow God wasn't good - enough. This particular weapon in the Devil's arsenal was so effective, he still uses it, and hardly ever has to use another one. Every time we face temptation, at it's heart it's the same old same old. "This moment of pleasure and self-indulgence will be far better than the result of resisting. If God didn't want us to do it, He shouldn't have made it so enjoyable." It's that kind of bogus thinking that keeps us destroying our lives with the deeds of the flesh instead of enriching them with the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:19-23 Keep up, people.) But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 Everything the Devil tempts us with has the Worm of Rebellion in it. You're probably thinking, "But I don't feel rebellious!" Despite what Obi Wan and Yoda preach, your feelings are never the best guide to truth. If you are doing something God said "NO!" about, that Worm is already corrupting the most precious thing in life - your relationship with the Lord. Break out the only effective spiritual pesticide: Devotion to Christ by Faith. And no matter how strong that temptation is, remember: All the Devil's apples got worms!

Which Church?

And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 2 Corinthians 11:28-29 Any idea how many "churches" meet in your building each Sunday? There can be quite a collection of groups with different expectations and needs, and rare is the preacher who doesn't at least occasionally feel the pressure of trying to feed all of them with the same fodder. Happily, HSS is a great sauce for both milk and meat. HSS? Holy Spirit Sauce, of course! Don't get your sermon without your HSS, or it will be dry and tasteless and it'll spoil before you know it! It's a good thing you can bring it with you anywhere, because you don't always find it when you get there, do you? Anyway, there are always at least three groups in every meeting I can recall. There are shades and variations, and some folks belong to more than one, but I think you'll find yourself in one of these on any given Sunday. If I missed you, let me know, because I also care for "all the churches", especially those meeting with me! First off, there's the First Church of the Devoted. They come early and stay late. They notice who's missing, they encourage their pastor and one another. They are intensely interested in the success of the ministry, so they bring their all to the altar. They are the heirs of the Twelve, always in on the action, and though they are Leaders in the congregation, they are also the most fully Led. And they are generally outnumbered by our second group, the Distracted: "What's that she's wearing? Can you stand that cologne? Wonder what's for lunch? What's going on now?" Teens and toddlers. Moms and Dads. Grands and their treasures. Widows and the never-wed. Honestly, most of us can fit in this group from time to time, thinking about any- and every-thing except what we should be, but a good many people never leave it. Like the multitudes around Jesus, they are mostly there to see and be seen and usually missing or misunderstanding what's going on, the Fussing and the Fussed At. But the ones that break our hearts, that are the main focus of most of our prayers and preparations are the members of the Last Chance Church of the Desperate - the sick, the lonely, the broken, the needy, the Dying and the Dead, hoping for relief even against their expectations. Will they find it? Can they be led to it? It IS God's will, and our hope! And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17 Devoted, Distracted, or Desperate, the Saviour is calling us all. Come take your place in His church, and meet with the One who makes the difference for me.

Caught Dead...Again?

...Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required... Luke 12:48b Remember the tale I told about my mother's husband? He's got a nice outfit ready, chosen by my sisters, if my mom "goes" before he does, so that she won't be buried in "something she wouldn't be caught dead in." While she's not in any particular danger of "going" for a while yet, he's all set. Until she decides to revise it. Good luck with that, Papa John! There are quite a few things I don't want to be caught dead in, and I think you'll find some of them in your own list. Don't have a list? Might be a good time to make one so you aren't caught...by surprise. Let's put Selfishness on the top of that list. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. Luke 16:22-23 Personally, I've never been in much danger of being "rich", at least by American standards, so for a long time I just kind of assumed that the rich man was getting what he deserved. If you follow up that little train of logic, it wrecks on the premise that poor folks are somehow better or more godly than rich ones. For most of us, it isn't a character issue, just lack of opportunity. You could make the case that Jesus doesn't really say why the rich man ended up where he did, but I think He gave us a pretty big hint. I suspect that maybe letting a man - a fellow countryman, maybe even a kinsman - starve to death on his front porch while he was feasting inside might have just a little bit to do with it. Trust me, you don't want to be caught dead like that! If he had even deigned to think about the beggar in the yard, it was probably along the lines of "If I help him, it will just encourage other deadbeats to show up, and I don't have the resources to feed ALL the poor." Thing is, the promises of God's blessings were directly tied to generosity (Deuteronomy15). There always have been, and I suppose always will be until the Lord establishes the new Heaven and earth, folks who try to take advantage. We have learned to not give cash, but a sack of groceries to a soul in need will never go amiss. God has been overwhelmingly generous to us, and as His representatives He expects us to be the same to others. Risky, sure, but He's got us covered. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Luke 6:35

Caught Dead

The other night my mother's husband told me he had asked my sisters to be ready in case she 'went' before he did. "Ready for what?" "To pick out her clothes for the casket." "Why?" "Because I'm afraid I'd choose something she wouldn't want to be caught dead in." When I got my breath back and dried my face of the Tears of Mirth, it occurred to me that there might be some things I would rather not be "caught dead in". Like neck ties. If you come to my funeral, bring a sharp knife or a pair of scissors. If they have knotted a tie around the neck of my corpse, cut it off!! Don't ask permission or forgiveness! I'll thank you in Heaven! But seriously, there's some other things - more vital than wardrobe - that I think all of us should be thinking about. Like Forgiveness. Because if you forgive people their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive people their offenses, your Father will not forgive your offenses.” Matthew 6:14-15 I believe that Jesus meant what He said And said what He meant For the Savior is Truthful One Hundred Per Cent. If clean we've been washed by the Lord's Sacrifice Then His judgment for us is to be "More than Nice". "Forgiveness" and "Mercy" aren't just words in a song But the very lifeblood of the souls in His throng! As we have received, so freely must give And the best of His blessing will flow where we live. (Grateful acknowledgment to Dr. Seuss) Before God Almighty, we will be ashamed of our hard hearts and stubborn minds, like a thief caught red-handed. No excuse will suffice. No "mitigating circumstance" will compare. Receiving God's forgiveness carries with it the understanding that we will pass it on to other people who don't deserve it any more than we did. And that's where the rubber hits the road. People don't deserve forgiveness. Neither did we. To experience God's best requires that we do what He does. Then indeed, ...you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45 So, don't be "caught dead" missing God's best for you!

Whatever...

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 I don't know about you, but I find myself overwhelmed sometimes. The World of Media is relentless in its invasion attempts of our hearts and minds. I find myself needing some sort of filter to keep out the cr... "garbage", but one that lets in the good stuff. There is good stuff out there. Isn't there? So, I've decided on a question: Does it pass the "Whatever" test? Not the teen angst "whatever" - "Did you take out the garbage? Make your bed? Do your homework? Have a good time? Break your leg?" "Whatever." Makes me want to go armed with a rubber-band gun, reward the offender with a sharp and painful shot, then when they whine about it say, "Awwww. Whatever!" No, I'm thinking more along the lines of what we give ourselves to think about, imagine, fill our time, the "content of our lives." TV, the Web, movies, music, books. Do they pass the Test? Are they on the list? ...whatever is true... So much for TV - especially the "news" media. Better keep looking: ...worthy of respect... Well that thins out the candidates - especially in national journalism and politics. What else? ...just...Is there anybody out there standing up for true righteousness and justice? Anybody?...pure...Yeah, right, through today's media sewer storm! ..lovely...Only after application of heavy duty cosmetics and photo shop. And I'm pretty sure he wasn't talking about faces and figures anyway. ...commendable...Hmmm. Got to get me some better channels!! Actually, no. Just have to focus on a better Source. While many of these qualities are found in isolation, scattered here and there in the world, there is one Person where they ALL find fulfillment: Christ Jesus. Now when the anxieties of this life attempt to invade, I've got a Shield, a Defender, a Peace-keeper extraordinaire! And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

I Was Blind

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. C. S. Lewis I was born near-sighted. Not the "coke-bottle bottom glasses" kind of near-sighted. I didn't have any trouble seeing small things like buildings or trees. I was pretty functional, and knew no better until my second grade teacher saw me squinting. She decided to send a note home to my parents, suggesting they take me to the eye doctor. I was not particularly happy about this, as I thought there was nothing wrong with my sight and I'd heard plenty of insults thrown at "four-eyes" - one of the most moronic insults in the history of bad insults. But my 8 year old protests were to no avail, and off to the doctor we went. In the due course of time, my new Cross to Bear came, the doctor fitted them to my face, and I walked miserably outside. ...Weeping may stay for the night, but shouts of joy will come in the morning. Psalm 30:5 The pure, unbridled joy that burst from my heart is still fresh, nearly 50 years later. Suddenly, things that had been blurry and gray burst into my sight in ways I had never even imagined. I burst out in wonder and joy at a world made brand new, thrilled at the most mundane things that I had never seen clearly before. Trees, blades of grass, billboards, smudges on windows - they all burst into my joyful attention. (That's a lot of bursting, I know, but that's how I remember it.) We were all born sightless, never seeing the gorgeousness of God until - and unless - He opens our eyes. Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 Let me be like my teacher of long ago, and point you to the Great Physician, because, "Once I was blind, now I see." Don't miss the Glory of brand new eyes because of what people might say, or how you think it'll look. Trust me, a shout of joy is just waiting to BURST out of you!

I Was Blind

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C. S. Lewis I was born near-sighted. Not the "coke-bottle bottom glasses" kind of near-sighted. I didn't have any trouble seeing small things like buildings or trees. I was pretty functional, and knew no better until my second grade teacher saw me squinting. She decided to send a note home to my parents, suggesting they take me to the eye doctor. I was not particularly happy about this, as I thought there was nothing wrong with my sight and I'd heard plenty of insults thrown at "four-eyes" - one of the most moronic insults in the history of bad insults. But my 8 year old protests were to no avail, and off to the doctor we went. In the due course of time, my new Cross to Bear came, the doctor fitted them to my face, and I walked miserably outside. ...Weeping may stay for the night, but shouts of joy will come in the morning. Psalm 30:5 The pure, unbridled joy that burst from my heart is still fresh, nearly 50 years later. Suddenly, things that had been blurry and gray burst into my sight in ways I had never even imagined. I burst out in wonder and joy at a world made brand new, thrilled at the most mundane things that I had never seen clearly before. Trees, blades of grass, billboards, smudges on windows - they all burst into my joyful attention. (That's a lot of bursting,I know, but that's how I remember it.) We were all born sightless, never seeing the gorgeousness of God until - and unless - He opens our eyes. Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 Let me be like my teacher of long ago, and point you to the Great Physician, because, "Once I was blind, now I see." Don't miss the Glory of brand new eyes because of what people might say, or what you think might happen! Believing is SEEING!

April Fool!

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32


Did you get anybody "good" for April Fools? This year, I was too busy, with it being Sunday and all, but I have a great triumph which occurred some time back. A few weeks before this particular April 1, we had had a rat get in the house. Not a mouse - a RAT, roughly the size of a wildebeest. I tried to swat it with a broom, might as well have been with spaghetti. Options were discussed - burning down the house with everything in it seemed extreme. Slightly.
So traps and poison were dutifully placed, and soon peace was restored.
Then came the fateful day. My son, then about 6 or 7, wanted to "get" his mother by telling her he saw another "wildebeest", but I thought a more active approach was called for. He and I were in the kitchen, and she was at the other end of the house, but could see and hear us. I squawked, jumped across the room, grabbed the broom and started swatting the floor. I heard a most satisfying squeal, and saw my bride - as genteel and ladylike person as you could ever want to meet - scrambling as high up on the furniture as humanly possible. If she had had any heart defects, I'm certain I would have been a widower that day. And if she had been naturally vengeful, she would have shortly been on trial for her life, although I'm not sure a jury would have convicted her. Isn't there a "Justifiable Homicide" option?
Actually, I'm pretty sure she's forgiven me, but to be on the safe side, I don't talk about it a lot. When I do, I wisely point out the Forgiveness Clause in our faith, since I'm thinking Divine Intervention is a key factor in my continued safety.
Exaggeration? Yeah, a little bit. But there is a Forgiveness Clause, and a pretty important one at that.
“For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins. Matthew 6:14-15, NET Bible

With God, mercy is a two way street. Our "heartedness", whether hard or tender, has a direct correlation to His attitude toward us. That's something definitely worth thinking about this Easter season, no "fooling". See you in church!

Three Sixteen

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

There were a lot of people who got chills down their back when the numbers for Tebow's Game (Broncos vs. Steelers) came out. 316 yards passing, 31.6 average yards per pass, television rating for the last quarter 31.6. How many of them had been mockingly "Tebowing", joking or complaining about the sincere faith of a young sports hero? They will throw around words like "coincidental" and "unbelievable" to quiet their fears that God might really have helped him win a football game - and maybe He did. Albert Einstein - yes, THAT Albert Einstein - once wrote, "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous". In this case, I think that "coincidence" was God's way of stripping off the mask and stepping out of the shadows for untold numbers of people.
You may well ask, why would the God of Galaxies be concerned with the outcome of a fleeting sporting event or the success of one player on that Saturday night?
Because there's another statistic that bears mentioning. The day after the Game, the top search item on the internet (some say in the millions) was John 3:16. Millions of people looking for a Bible verse, a particular verse that some of us know as "The Gospel in a Nutshell", a verse that spells out the heart of God for all humanity.
What did they find, those millions? Not religious wordiness. Not theological treatises. Not Commandments or Regulations. They found a Man, telling us about His mission AND the motivation for it.
Why did He come? Because of love. What was His purpose? To give life. Who was it for? Whosoever.
And I just know that when those millions saw that sentence, God's Holy Spirit went to work, giving revelation, drawing with hope, moving toward decision. Will there be people in Heaven because of all this? I will be very surprised if there aren't! The Word of God is powerful, transformational, attractional. Read it at your own risk, because God still speaks, still calls out to the lost, still changes lives.
But what about Tim? Why him of all people? He's not the only - or even the first - religious or Christian player. He's not the most high profile or greatest quarterback. It's simple, really. God put him in the right place at the right time because he was the right man, and God says ...for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:30
Good job, Tim. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Who Was That Masked Man?

Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Matthew 16:13
Ever wonder what people are really thinking about you? Yeah, me too, but I'm not sure I really want to know. I'm afraid it might be a little ... humbling. Or even worse, accurate.
Of course, Jesus didn't have the problem you and I have: ...and [Jesus] needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. John 2:25 But He did ask, probably because He knew it was weighing upon the hearts of these, His closest companions. So they proceeded with the scuttlebutt.
Remember the classroom game called "Gossip"? Teacher would write down a short message, then whisper it in the first kid's ear, who would then whisper it to the next, who would do the same until everyone in the group had passed it on. The last kid would say aloud what he had been told and they would compare it with the original, revealing their serious lack of communication skills - or maybe their fitness for a career in TV journalism! That's kind of what it looks like happened in the public forum. Zombie John the Baptist. Reincarnated Elijah/Jeremiah. Recycled Prophets. And those were probably just the most popular theories! No telling what else was making the rounds.
But then He asked them about their opinion.
The ones who spend the most time with you know you best. They say that if you really want to get to know someone, take a trip with them. After three days in a car, you'll know more than you ever wanted to! And His disciples had been walking, talking watching, and working with Him, 24/7 for months! If there were any peccadilloes or shortcomings, this would have been a great time to bring them up, but no...
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16
I wonder if Pete had ever put it into words before. I have no doubt he'd been thinking it. No hemming. No hawing. Just blunt Truth, straight from the Father's heart to Pete's mouth. Revelation, pure and simple.
Christ - the Anointed One, specially chosen and equipped to perfectly fulfill the eternal plan of God the Father and to fill up the measure of God's prophetic word throughout the ages.
Son - in the Hebrew/Aramaic (probably the vernacular Pete was speaking in) it meant "Builder", so a Son was "building" the future for his Father.
living God - not of stone, metal, or memory, but Alive, Active, and Personal.
And Revelation like we all must come to. True Christianity is not rote religion or dusty philosophy. It's Relationship. The living God of Pete's confession is still around, still looking for worshipers in Spirit and Truth, and still revealing Himself in real and personal ways. When you get right down to it, until and unless you know Him, you're part of the speculating crowd, ignorant of the REAL Jesus. Good news, though: You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Seek Him today, He really wants you to find Him!

STAR in a Bible Study

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Kim Kardashian: "I Want to Start a Bible Study" http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/
I wasn't looking for Kim when I saw this, but it certainly caught my eye. These weren't words I ever expected to see together, and my first response was less than charitable: "Oh, she wants to STAR in a Bible Study, like she STARRED in a wedding, and STARRED in the TV show about her family, etc." But I quickly had to make use of that "second think" that I had coming. You know, "If you think that, you've got a "second think" coming!"
Truth is, if she and her friends come to the Word of God, I know it would have tremendous impact on them - and on their spheres of influence, and may be the very reason she has become so prominent in the entertainment industry, without demonstrating any talent beyond her appearance and her fame:
...And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)
After all, Esther - a name that means "Star" - reached a high position based pretty much on her looks, and from there God used her mightily. So, second thought now thunk!
Of course, I have known people who wanted to be the "star" of a home Bible study/cell group/church. They couldn't wait to be noticed for their erudition, education, elocution or whatever. They can't seem to hear -or heed - the warning from Jesus Himself: "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (Matthew 6:5)
Then again, maybe more of us should be alert to this kind of pseudo-religion in our own lives! The all-too-common hypocrisy of wanting to appear pious while doing nothing about a filthy heart and mind is a pretense we can never afford. Father, guard me from selfish ambitions and fake religious activity!
But back to Kim. Go for it, girl! For when you search for God with all your heart, He will surely find you! We're praying for you now, and I for one hope you will shine like Esther and find success with eternal implications.