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God's New Thing
2008-01-01 12:59:00
On the first day of a new year we tend to look back at the events that were outstanding in the previous year. Newspapers and broadcasters have features that focus on the year in review. God did the same thing with Israel in Isaiah 43. He begins with their creation and continues with the accounting of his work in bringing them out of Egypt. In them He emphasizes his power and authority.After reminding Israel of the past God makes an interesting statement. He says, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing." God promises them that He will make a "road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Basically, God was telling Israel and us that whatever may have been in the past will be surpassed by his blessings in the future. Whenever the wilderness and desert-like conditions seem to overwhelm us we need to remember this promise of God.We also need to keep in mind God's purpose. He continues in the text to share the outcome of his...
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What Will the New Year Hold?
2007-12-31 13:29:00
Most people think of a new year as a fresh opportunity to get a better job, make more money, or improve personal relationships within the family or workplace. Sometimes the focus is on personal development, weight loss, or attitude changes. All of these have one thing in common. They focus on self.Jesus challenged his disciples and us to have a different focus. In John 4:31-35 the disciples displayed the same inward focus that is common in man today. They spoke among themselves asking, "hath any man brought him anything to eat?" Jesus was speaking of spiritual nourishment and they were thinking of physical food. We are reminded of Jesus instruction in Matthew 6:25, "Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than food and the body than raiment?" These are the things we tend to think about rather than the spiritual dimension.Jesus helped his disciples to get the new focus as he painted the...
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Facing the Future
2007-12-28 12:21:00
In these times of terrorism and seemingly unleashed moral wickedness there are many who fear the future. As a grandfather I find myself wondering what the world will be like as my grandchildren grow up and have families of their own. As a new year approaches there are uncertainties and obstacles that seem to prevent us from a joyful and positive outlook.In 2 Kings 6:15-17 the servant of Elisha was confronted with a scene that brought fear and panic regarding the future. The scripture says, "when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, 'Alas, my master! What shall we do?'" The servant saw only the unbearable obstacles of the enemy. According to Sunshine magazine "obstacles are those frightening things you see when you take your eyes off the goal." The servant of Elisha had forgotten the goal and promise of God. When we only see the obstacles we need a reminder of our resour...
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Looking Back and Ahead
2007-12-27 12:46:00
In just a few days we will enter January which gets its name from a god of doorways. Depictions of that god usually show a two-headed figure with one head facing back and the other facing forward. Usually at this time people begin to look back at the year being completed to evaluate their lives and attempt to make changes as they look ahead to the new year. We call the process making new year's resolutions.In Jeremiah 6:16 we find the Lord encouraging a spiritual evaluation. He says, "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you shall find rest for your souls. Over time Israel had departed from the ways God had set before them. We have the same problem both as a nation and as individuals. However, our evaluation should take place daily not just at the year's end or at a time of crisis.We need to understand what the "old paths" and the "good way" is. May I suggest that these terms may refer to the daily dependence Israel had ...
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You've Got Mail
2007-12-26 11:30:00
One of the great parts of any day is the arrival of the mail. This has been especially true during the Christmas season. Family and friends often send a card or letter updating everyone on the events of the year and the life progress of people we love. Often pictures are included that cause us to marvel at the changes that are taking place as our acquaintances grow up and get older. As the days go by further contact comes in the form of an occasional letter, postcard and by e-mail.Another means of communication that we all enjoy is the phone. In an instant we can hear the voices of friends and family anywhere in the world. Most every home has a phone and many individuals carry a cell phone with them all the time. When the nature of our activities prevent an actual phone call the text message comes through. We just must stay up to date. We are certainly people who love communication.We've got mail of another kind as well. God has communicated to us through his word, the Bible. He de...
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Sharing Our Christmas Gifts
2007-12-25 12:24:00
What did you get for Christmas ? Would you share it with me? Probably, we really wouldn't expect to share our material Christmas gifts, but we must be prepared to share the gifts God has given us.After hearing a lesson on the significance of giving gifts a young native boy came to the missionary teacher a few days later and said, "I want you to have this." He pulled from a straw basket the most beautiful shell the missionary had ever seen. She recognized it as a special shell only found on the far side of the island, a half day's walk from the village. When she asked the boy about this, he smiled and said, "Long walk part of gift!"Jesus "travelled" from his heavenly home all the way to this planet to present himself as God's gift to us. Having done so, He continues to give of himself to us daily. I can't imagine the missionary throwing aside the shell brought to her with apathy or rejection. However, many will do just that with God's gift of Jesus. It is up to each of us to reco...
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Responding to Christmas
2007-12-24 11:46:00
Christmas brings forth a variety of responses in today's world. Faithful believers celebrate and rejoice. The world focuses on lights, decorations and gifts with little understanding of what is being celebrated. The atheist and agnostic labors feverishly to turn Christmas into xmas. Sometimes we catch ourselves wishing the response to Christmas could be the way it used to be. Actually, it is! The responses today are no different then they were at that first Christmas.In Matthew 2:3 we read, "And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." The mention of the birth of a king troubled some of those in the world to which Christ came. They were afraid of change, particularly in their lives. They did not want someone to whom they would be responsible. The efforts of Herod to destroy Jesus are based on the same denial as the efforts to remove Christ and Christmas from view today. People just do not want to submit to God.In verse 4 of the same chapter we rea...
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No Limit Living
2007-12-21 11:26:00
My grandson expressed his wishes for Christmas. He told us he prefers to get the "green stuff" (cash) even more than a gift card. He said he wants to be able to spend it wherever he chooses rather than at a particular store. I'm sure we have all received a gift card or gift certificate for some place or service that we really would never choose. We would have preferred a gift that had no limits.God has given a gift that is unlimited. In chapter one of Paul's letter to the Corinthians he indicates that believers do not lack any spiritual gift. I have found that God always provides the ability to accomplish anything He asks us to do. We have the unlimited resources of God at our disposal for living and serving. Paul also shared that we have unlimited strength. He says, "God will keep you strong to the end." Most of us can identify with having run out of steam especially during the busy season of the year from Thanksgiving to New Years. Spiritually there is no end to the strength ava...
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Words of Wisdom
2007-12-20 11:31:00
Wisdom seems to be a little possessed but much sought after quality. People pursue it in various places. Some turn to "professionals" on TV and elsewhere for advice. Others read "how to" books. Many earn degree after degree at colleges. While all of these sources may provide information the desired wisdom may still be elusive. Wisdom is the use of knowledge in a right way.The wise men of Christmas give us examples of wisdom. They had information about the coming of Jesus. Unlike many around them who carried on life as usual, the lives of the wise men were changed by this knowledge as it revealed itself in wisdom. First they became seekers of this One they had heard about. They watched for and then followed his star until they found him. Then they recognized his nature as King and Redeemer as evidenced by their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Finally, they demonstrated their dependence on his word as they followed his warning and returned home avoiding a report to Herod.If we ...
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The Last Shall Be First
2007-12-19 11:08:00
Often I like to cheer for the underdog. It is exciting when a person or team that doesn't stand a chance and is totally unknown begins to be noticed. When my wife and I were houseparents at a children's home there was an in-care boy who was unmannerly, disobedient and unproductive. His family had discarded him and he seemed to have no promise. Then something happened in his life to change everything. He settled down, studied hard, went on to college and after graduating became the regional director for a very well known Christian ministry.That boy experienced the same thing the unknown shepherds of Christmas experienced. The voice of the Lord came to them. The shepherds were the underdogs of society. They had a life that was looked down on by those around them. But God seeks the lowly to use in his work. When the angel appeared to them they listened. Immediately they focused their priorities on seeing and worshipping Jesus. After visiting him they shared the good news they had hea...
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The Best Gifts
2007-12-18 11:21:00
As the time for shopping slips by and Christmas draws nearer there is an ever increasing flurry to select those last minute gifts. However, in our hectic activity to secure that special item to wrap and place under the tree, we often overlook some of the best gifts. Many have increased the meaningfulness of giving by making gifts. Such gifts give more of oneself than the hastily purchased store items. Even better than the home-made gifts are those that cannot be wrapped or handled. These gifts are discovered more quickly by those who cannot afford the traditional shopping spree or have chosen to eliminate the emphasis on materialism. These best gifts were given by God and can be passed on to others at any time of the year.Faith is a gift that produces a fruitful life and a full life. It empowers the individual as scripture says, "this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith" and "if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed...nothing shall be impossible unto you."The...
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Like Father, Like Son
2007-12-17 11:20:00
We are all influenced and shaped by those around us. Probably the strongest influence on a young boy is his father. Even though I lost my father when I was sixteen I still remember things 45 years later that he said. When I was a houseparent at a children's home I learned that no matter what a father had done the kids always defended and admired him, at least publicly.When God selected the earthly father who would be involved in the life of his Son it was important that the right man be chosen. What God saw in Joseph is what needs to be seen in each of us fathers. The Bible tells us in Matthew 1 that Joseph was a just or righteous man. That is an essential characteristic for a good father. But that alone isn't enough. We read on that Joseph was a compassionate man not wanting to make Mary a public example. He also was a man who thought through the decisions he made. While he was thinking about the situation an angel appeared and explained the miracle being performed through Mary. ...
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Choosing A Mother
2007-12-14 12:13:00
When I chose the woman who would someday be the mother of my children there were three factors I sought. Most important was that she was a Christian. I wanted my children to have a mom who loved the Lord and wanted to serve him. Then I also wanted my childrens mom to be a loving, tender person. Finally, I fancied cute, shorter girls with long hair. The woman I married met all three requirements and is now the mother of our four children and grandmother of eight grandchildren (the eighth is on the way).When God was looking for a mother for his Son Jesus there were some important things that He sought as well. In Luke 1 we discover that Mary was a pure virgin who was highly favored (filled with grace). She was a person who was set apart. In her response to the announcement of her coming conception of Jesus she fully surrendered herself and said, "Let it be according to your word." She displayed a servant's heart as she declared, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord!" Mary was just the...
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Don't Be At the Airport When Your Ship Comes In
2007-12-13 12:00:00
Most of us dream of unexpected blessing. As a child we used to watch the TV program "Millionaire." In each episode some unsuspecting individual was given a check for a million dollars. Every now and then I still comment to my wife, "I wonder if the millionaire has left a check in my mail box?" Sometimes such an event is referred to as our "ship coming in." My dad used to say that he'd probably be at the airport when his ship came in.While most of us probably will never have that million dollar blessing, there is a blessing that will be ours if we are in the right place. In Luke 1 Zacharias and Elizabeth were blessed by God because of their walk. As we read the text we find them righteous, obedient and blameless before God. Zacharias was faithfully doing his service in the temple when God informed him that their prayer had been heard and they would be blessed with a son. That son would be the one who introduced Jesus as "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." God ch...
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An Old Testament Christmas
2007-12-12 11:35:00
How should we celebrate Christmas ? With all the focus on materialism and secularism the joy of Christmas tends to get buried. Even Christians can get so caught up in the cultural aspects of Christmas that its significance and application are lost. Christmas is the celebration of God's activity on our behalf. He invaded time to free us from captivity and establish his kingdom within each of us.In the Old Testament book of Nehemiah God did a similar thing for Israel. They had been taken captive by oppressors. God sent Nehemiah to lead in the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem. Upon completion of the task there was a day of celebration. The activity of that day could serve as a guide for us as we celebrate God's work in our restoration. Nehemiah encouraged the people in Nehemiah 8:10 to "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord." The three-pronged focus of the day was on gladness, giving and godline...
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Light At The End Of The Tunnel
2007-12-11 11:48:00
Most of us have gone through time when it seemed as if we were in a dark tunnel. Perhaps we were having a financial or physical crisis. Circumstances may have just depressed us. But then we suddenly saw the end of the problem in the distance and exclaimed that there was light at the end of the tunnel.Israel is described as being in that situation in Isaiah 9. They were people who walked in darkness and who had no joy. They were under the yoke of a burden and rod of an oppressor. Then came the announcement: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given." Their tunnel was illuminated by the hope of Jesus' coming. And He did come offering light and hope to Israel and all others who would accept him.Today our tunnel is just as dark. Our oppressor and the enemy of God attempts to keep us from the light and hold us under his yoke. Many cannot see beyond the circumstances that make life miserable. Relief may be found in the same promise Isaiah made to Israel. However, our Light has...
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What's In The Package?
2007-12-10 11:11:00
While shopping for Christmas is far from over in most cases, there are presents either under the tree or hidden away in secret spots in most homes. When I was a child my parents had to find a new hiding place every year as we children couldn't keep from pinching and examining the gifts. We just had to find out if our wishes were going to come true or not. Mom never knew that I actually opened and resealed some of my gifts long before Christmas. Then I had to guard that I didn't give away the secrets I had discovered.When God planned his gift of Christmas there was no attempt to conceal it. As a matter of fact He gave us previews well ahead of time. The first glimpse of Christmas if found in Genesis 3:15 when God said to the Serpent, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." The Seed of the woman is none other than Jesus who is the Person of Christmas.God's gift of Christmas was not ...
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Wars Past And Present
2007-12-07 11:52:00
Sixty-six years ago today the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in a World War II action. Twenty-four years earlier the United States had declared war against enemies in a World War I action. Of course, both of these wars cost thousands of lives. Other wars have come and gone. Current wars rage on in various parts of the world.There is another war that began six thousand years ago and still rages on today. In the Garden of Eden a war was declared against God and any who would choose to follow him. It is a war waged by the forces of Satan. While some persons attempt to remain neutral in this war, it is not possible. We are either in God's army or Satan's. In the Old Testament Joshua challenged his people to "choose this day whom you will serve." In the New Testament we are warned that "today is the day of salvation."The bright side of this war is that its end is known and certain. God sent his Son to secure the victory on the cross. Satan was defeated and victory a...
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From Ducks to Eagles
2007-12-06 11:09:00
I received an email advertisement today for a new book. The title was "You Can't Send a Duck to Eagle School." I think the idea was a modern version of the old saying "You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks." The concept is the same in both: it is impossible to change. Most of us are locked into that belief. We dream of a better job or taking on some new challenge, but are hindered by a lingering voice that declares that dream out of our reach.The Apostle Paul must have had those thoughts when he declared "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Of course, his statement has reference to the things that God has called us to do. Often God places upon our heart tasks that He wants us to do and we hear that voice that says, "You can't do that!" Paul revealed the means of successfully serving God which is to claim the strength that Christ offers.It is true that when it comes to spiritual matters we are incapable of doing anything. But God begins a work in us that overco...
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Give The Gift That Never Stops Giving
2007-12-05 11:41:00
Yesterday we began our annual secret Santa activity at school. Each year we draw names from among the faculty and staff and then surprise our secret person with little gifts every day or two until the faculty Christmas party at which time we reveal who we are. The little gifts we give each other are not expensive but give each of us an opportunity to give and enjoy the response of those to whom we give.While the idea of Santa is just tradition, the secret Santa activity does cultivate in us a principle that is stressed in scripture. Throughout the Bible we are encouraged to be servants. The G olden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" stresses the same concept. By nature we are takers rather than givers. We would rather be served than to serve others. The practice of giving should not be experienced just at Christmas time. We should look for ways we can give to the needs of others on a year round basis.The greatest example of the servant life is seen in Jesus. He...
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Christmas Decorations
2007-12-04 11:25:00
Every year we and our neighbors display Christmas lights and scenes both outside and inside. This year I put up the front porch display during my Thanksgiving break from school while it was still warm. Then in accord with our tradition the day after Thanksgiving I got out all of the interior decorations and began with the Christmas tree. My wife usually does this job but cannot this year because she is still recovering from surgery. Our tree is one of those four foot trees that you just pull out of the box, plug in and presto it is already lit up. I was glad we had one of those easy to set up trees. But as it turned out I couldn't figure out the sequence of plugging in the connections. No matter what I did there was always part of the tree's lights that were not lit up. I finally gave up and my daughter is coming to tackle the job.Our lives are much like that Christmas tree. Our purpose is to be a year round Christmas decoration. The Bible indicates many kinds of ornaments that ar...
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Help Wanted: Surgical Assistants
2007-12-03 11:43:00
An exciting aspect of our modern society is the medical technology we have developed. Yesterday at church the prayer requests included a man who had successfully had double knee replacement, another who had experienced a stem cell transplant operation, several who had successful back surgeries and even a little boy who had come through successful heart surgery.Forty years ago today South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard performed the first heart transplant operation. The patient, Louis Washkansky, survived for 18 days. Now it is common to hear of people getting a heart transplant as well as many other types of organ transplants with complete success. Medical science has been granted the gift of life-prolonging techniques beyond what we could have imagined when I was a child.However, life still comes to an end at our appointed time. The surgery that will prepare us to move successfully from this life into eternity is heart surgery of another kind. Our spiritual heart needs replacin...
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Peace And Good Will?
2007-11-30 11:08:00
We are entering the season of the year when phrases like "peace on earth" and "good will toward men" are frequently heard. Our hearts yearn for the experience of those thoughts. Daily we are faced with the opposite. We live in houses with security systems and fences because we fear that our peace will be disturbed and we know that there are many who have no good will toward anyone. We listen to news reports each evening that are filled with stories of violence and crime.Recently, natural events have brought havoc and destruction again and again. It seems that there is no place of peace and goodwill. I noticed that on this day in 1954 the peace and safety of a citizen's own home in Alabama was shattered when a meteorite crashed through the roof of a house into the living room and struck her. In this week's news there was a story about a vehicle that ran off the road and crashed right into someones home. Almost daily we are alerted to children who have been kidnapped, abused or negl...
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Who Do You Think You Are?
2007-11-29 10:52:00
I have always enjoyed science fiction. I read Tom Swift books as a boy and watched just about every Star Trek episode on TV. One of my favorite Star Trek shows featured the shape shifters. They were a species that could change themselves from one thing to another at will. I always thought how neat that ability would be.We actually do have that ability. According to Walter Anderson in his Confidence Course "You and I are not what we eat; we are what we think." More important than his opinion is the teaching of scripture. There we read "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he!" and "According to your faith, so be it unto thee." Obviously it is extremely important for our thinking to be right so that we can be right.The path to right thinking begins with a heart change. Scripture tells us that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. By our nature we don't think right. So our nature must be changed. We must become a new creation in Christ Jesus. Then we are told are told to let...

The Thrill of Victory
2007-11-28 11:20:00
The first American (gasoline-powered) automobile race took place in Chicago 112 years ago on this date. While I am not a fan of auto racing many avidly participate in the sport and many more tune in to watch on TV. The powerful racing machines, the thrill of competition and the prize of victory all combine to draw racing enthusiasts.Actually, we are all in competition for a victor's prize. The apostle Paul speaks of this race. In Philippians 3:14 he says he is "pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Eventually God will call every person from this life. Those who registered for the race by accepting God's payment of the entry fee will automatically receive a winner's trophy - admission to heaven for all eternity. Those who tried to run the race on their own terms without accepting the paid entry fee of Christ's sacrifice will be denied the victory now matter how well they performed.Running the spiritual race like auto racing takes coura...
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No Pass, No Play
2007-11-27 11:08:00
Today is the first basketball game on our Christian school team's roster. The guys are pumped about playing. Because we are a small school some of them are playing in organized sports for the first time. However, there is a barrier for some of them. It's called "No pass, no play." In order to be eligible to play each student must have no failing grades and at least a 2.0 (C) average.Yesterday two students from the team who have very poor grades came rushing to my room requesting their grade averages. Even though they knew they had failed to complete homework and done poorly on tests they somehow expected that everything would work out. When they learned that their grades disqualified them they begged for "extra credit" work to bring them up to passing. In each case I outlined a bonus assignment that could be done to enable them to play ball.In the spiritual realm God's goal is to include all of us on His team. He has outlined the qualifications. However, some people are just like...
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Over the River and through the Woods
2007-11-26 11:19:00
As part of Thanksgiving many have travelled to spend time with family. Many years ago that travel was just a short trip across town or maybe into the country or the next city. However, today families have spread out and many of those trips to grandma's house involve hundreds of miles. Usually that trip is made by car over long stretches of highway.On one such trip to our daughter's home 250 miles away we got lost on our way back. I failed to take the exit from one major highway to another. I kept telling myself that things looked unfamiliar but wasn't convinced that I had missed my exit. Only after seeing signs announcing an approaching major city that was about 100 miles out of my way was I willing to admit that I was on the wrong road. I took an exit and made the correction in direction and arrived home several hours later than anticipated.In daily life correcting such mistakes costs extra time and inconvenience. However, in our spiritual lives being on the wrong road can lead ...
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Thanksgiving Every Day
2007-11-21 10:26:00
The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in spite of circumstances. Setbacks and losses were pushed to the background and God's goodness to the living was the focus. No matter what disappointments and discouragements may be facing us there is still cause for thankfulness. One of my favorite scripture passages is filled with reason for giving thanks.Psalm 100:3 says, " Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. There are three reasons for thankfulness that never change. God is in control of all things. In the end He will prevail. Because He made us we have a special relationship to Him - we are family. Just like a shepherd God takes care of us. He leads us, he provides for us, he soothes our wounds and even carries us when we cannot continue on our own.There is no promise that we will never have difficult times or that we will never suffer. But there is a promise that He will always be there for us because we are his famil...
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Born To Be Free
2007-11-20 11:54:00
There are four births in the world every second. Some of these new babies are born in squalor. Some are born in countries where they are prisoners of their own political system. Of the worlds 6.6 billion people just over 300 million live in the United States where freedom is valued and defended by its people even to the point of death in war.People from all over the world seek to become part of the United States to enjoy its freedoms and opportunities. The first to be born here was Peregrine White who was born aboard the Mayflower, anchored near the tip of Cape Cod in Massachusetts on this day in 1620. She was the first child ever born of English parents in New England. Her family and their fellow travelers came seeking freedom. How thankful we should be for them and their willingness to risk everything to live in a place where they could be free.Not everyone can possibly live in the United States. And there are other countries where there is freedom as well. However, there is one p...
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Extreme Makeover: Heart Edition
2007-11-19 11:18:00
As we officially enter into the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas the need for a heart makeover becomes more evident around us. Many people even refuse to say "Merry Christmas" and substitute the word holiday for Christmas. The denial of the true reason for Christmas is seen in the focus on materialism and the elimination of religious oriented references in schools, public displays and advertising.With Jesus left out no wonder the season becomes so depressing for many. Mike Hardcastle of About.com says, "The holiday season is traditionally one filled with joy and togetherness but it also has a darker side. For many people the family and friends focus of the holidays can exasperate existing feelings of loneliness and alienation. It's a sad fact that incidents of suicide increase during the holiday season." We humans have a relationship oriented makeup and when that need isn't being met the sense of aloneness and helplessness is increased.Jesus provides a solution for our...
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