Incentive for Missions

"Worthy are You to take the book, and to break its seals; for You were slain, and did purchase for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Rev.5:9). Christ shed His blood to "purchase for God" people from every tribe, tongue, nation. Glorious good news that we have the privilege of sharing with every people, tribe, tongue, and nation. Incentive enough for us to take the message of salvation to the ends of the earth, because Christ shed His blood that people from everywhere might be rescued from eternal condemnation. The price has been paid for people from all over the earth to be delivered from the kingdom of darkness and to be translated into the Kingdom of light, to be saved from sin and receive eternal salvation. Christ purchased them with His blood so why can't we proclaim that truth with our mouth? Revelation 5 certainly gives every child of God reason to rejoice--Christ is worthy to open the "Book" to identify those who have turned from sin to trust in Him for salvation. But that good news we share in is something we should also share "out"...share with a lost and dying world since there are people from every part of the globe who are covered by the blood. The thought of sending out short term mission teams to Omaha, Oklahoma, Haiti, Hungary, Ukraine seems all the more worth it when we cling to the promise that Christ has purchased dear souls from every corner of the earth.

Worthy Of Worship

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You did create all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created" (Rev.4:11). One grand reason God is worthy of our praise is that we exist because He desired to create us. Lord, help me remember today that my existence and that of everything on earth is because You willed it.

Where is my Help?

Isaiah spoke words of chastisement against God's people for turning to Egypt for help..."Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help...But they do not look to the Holy one of Israel, nor seek the Lord" (Isaiah 31:1). It was so tempting to look to Egypt because they had tangible evidence of ability to help God's struggling people--horses,chariots, horsemen who were very strong (see 31:1). Their perspective was completely worldly. They found the strongest nation that they could make an ally and sought to turn to them. Yet they forgot that God had delivered them from Egypt, that God had promised to give them their own land, that HE was their God who would protect and provide for them. But they had turned away from Him rather than trusted Him. AS I read these words it caused me to pause and ask, "Lord, where is it that I'm looking for help other than in You?" Am I looking to other people with better skills than myself, to my spouse, to my children, to a certain financial decision, to a 401K, a new job opportunity, a break in the weather, commodity price increases, accumulation of certain resources, investment in a different country, a shift in political power, or something else to protect, provide for, and satisfy me??? Father, turn our hearts to you as the source of our strength and hope. For indeed, "the Lord is good and ready to forgive, abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Him" (Ps.86:5).

The Lord Longs to be Gracious to us.

"Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him" (Is.30:18). In spite of our rebellion, God longs to graciously forgive and give to us if only we will repent and turn to Him (30:15). That's why those who long for Him are blessed. But should we persist in our rebellion we will experience His justice.

Son or No Son?

"He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life." Which is true for you?

The Father's Love

I'm struck in a fresh way with how great the Father's love is for us. That it's possible for fallen sinful, rebellious people like me to be restored into relationship with a Holy and righteous God because of His love expressed. This love expressed is experienced personally through personal faith in the reality of Jesus' death and resurrection as the payment for my sins and the victory over sin and death. "By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1Jn.4:9-10). "How Great the Father's love for us; How vast beyond all measure; that He would send His only Son to make a wretch His treasure." For those of us who are wretches that He has made His treasures there is so much to be grateful for since we are saved by grace. For any who are not yet trusting in Christ's death as the payment you deserve, I can only invite you to experience personally the love the Father has expressed through the sacrifice of Christ.

Faltering but Forgiven

"the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked" (1Jn.2:6). John makes it clear that those who profess Christ don't practice sin (1Jn.1:6) but that doesn't mean they are sinless (see 1Jn.1:8). This morning things didn't exactly go my way and I found myself failing to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked. Saddened by my lapse into sin, but so grateful for the forgiveness I have in Him (1Jn.1:9).

Tragic Twisters

As most people in the States know the State of Oklahoma and particularly the town of Moore, Oklahoma have suffered the tragic and devastating impact of a serious tornado. As I write this 24 people have been confirmed killed by this twister. The powerful storm stayed on the ground for an amazing 40 minutes inflicting terrible damage for the entire time. Went to bed last night praying for the folks in Moore, Oklahoma and I am continuing to pray for them. Asking God to comfort them in their loss--some lost only material possessions, others lost loved ones in the tragic twister. Praying they will know the peace of God that passes all understanding. I am also praying for those who are heading up disaster relief efforts, for safety, for God to lead them to any survivors, for the Love of Christ to be evident through relief efforts. I think Philippians 4:6-7 are particularly applicable as a basis for our prayers for the people there. Lots of good organizations available and working hard to help with relief efforts. I'll just put a plug in for Global Compassion Network Disaster Relief. Folks I know who will truly be helping those in need. You can check them out on the internet at globalcompassionnet.org

God is In Control

I occasionally find myself in the same place as the Psalmist in Psalm 73, looking around at all of the people with an "anti-God" self-indulgent lifestyle who prosper. I'm tempted to think, "what's the point of trying to please the Lord, of seeking to live a righteous life?" (See Ps. 73:12-14). For all who have ever joined the Psalmist in saying, "surely in vain I have kept my heart pure" (Ps.73:13) keep reading. The Psalmist despaired over the injustice... "Until I came into the sanctuary of God (spent time with the Lord), then I perceived their end (the final end for the wicked)...You cast them down to destruction (73:17-18). This O.T. truth is repeated in 2Pet.2:9 "...the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment." Though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

The End Seems Near

I returned Thursday afternoon from a wonderful week of vacation with our family and began to immediately be struck by the sorry state our country and the world is in. For almost a week I had been disconnected from the news and I must say "ignorance is bliss." Upon returning I heard more about the tragedy in Benghazi, the dereliction of duty by the current administration who knew about the attacks and yet decided to adopt a "wait and see" attitude and continue prioritizing campaign stops. I was reminded that this tragic foreign policy failure is also a matter of deception of the highest order as the administration perpetrated a pack of lies that were fed to the American people about a "spontaneous riot that occurred as a result of an offensive video." I am so deeply distraught over the irresponsibility and incompetence of our President, then Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, and the entire administration. This was a failure of monumental proportions that resulted in the loss of 4 people's lives. Not only was nothing done to come to the aid and defense of our people on the ground, but actual orders were given that denied the deployment of people to come to the aid of those under attack. Then the cover-up began that consisted of blatant, bold, and repeated lies to the American public about what happened. Any honest thinking person must recognize that if we have been lied to about the matter of Benghazi then how can we trust anything that we are being told. Then I began to hear about the IRS scandal of targeting "Conservative Groups" for harassment. Facts reveal that politically conservative and evangelical Christian groups were specifically targeted by the IRS in a discriminatory way. The resigning IRS commissioner Steven Miller has admitted to the failure of the IRS to remain impartial and has himself been found to have withheld knowledge of such targeting from Congress when he did in fact know it was taking place. The IRS is viewed with disdain and distrust already and these violations and prejudices do nothing to remove these stereotypes. Again we have scandal,distrust, dishonesty, injustice, inequity, and cover-up swirling. All evidence of the erosion of moral excellence in our society. And there is the issue of Herbert Gosnell and the mass murder mill that he operated in Pennsylvania performing late term abortions and the barbaric taking of the lives of innocent children who survived them. While a jury ruled that he was guilty of murder it remains to be seen whether this case will serve as a platform for reversing the collective conscience regarding the horrors of abortion in the U.S. I could continue to list events, injustices, prejudices, world events that reveal a troubling trend. It truly appears that we are much closer to the time that Peter mentions in 1Peter 1:7 when he stated, "The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer." As I read this yesterday it struck me that in light of the difficulties, increased hostilities towards Christians, eroding moral values, and decadence of society that we are living in the last days and must be alert to the realities-- "be of sound judgment and sober spirit." We are to see things for what they are. There is a moral vacuum in this country and the response of believers ought to be PRAYER. So join me in praying for repentance,revival, for redeeming of lost people, for readiness to suffer for the Gospel.

Listen, Learn, Live.

"But let everyone be quick to hear....in humility receive the word implanted...But prove yourselves doers of he Word, and not merely hearers" James 1:19-22. I often find myself like the apostle Peter in that I seem to open my mouth too freely. James reminds me here to be quick to hear and "slow to speak." In context it seems he has in mind, at least partly, that we listen to God's Word--received in humility--and then obey it (be doers of the word). Hearing and doing rather than speaking and ignoring is the key to blessing. See James 1:25--"look intently at the law of God and abide by it." Lord help me to listen and then do what you are telling me through your word.

He is Holy

In Isaiah's vision of the Lord the angelic beings sang back and forth, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory" (Is.6:3). For His part Isaiah declared, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips" (vs.5). In the presence of God Isaiah was acutely aware of his own sin and the sinfulness of the nation. It strikes me that I have such a small view of God. If I knew Him as Isaiah did I would be dumbstruck by my wickedness and see my need to repent. I know that for me personally and for our society the reality of God's holiness has been eclipsed. Lord help us.

Don't Give Up.

"For Consider Him who endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart" (Heb.12:3). Motivation to keep pressing ahead in ministry, to not grow weary in doing good or lose heart in the face of hostility, opposition, and discouragement is the example of Jesus. What price am I paying in my service for the Lord that compares to Christ's sacrifice for me? His sacrifice freed me from sin-no greater gift could ever be received. His sacrifice serves as an example to follow--I have not suffered anywhere near what He has. Mondays are a good day for me to be reminded of why I should not give up. This encouragement is especially true in light of some of the very discouraging things that I see developing in America. Yesterday we began to hear some of what will inevitably become the uncovering of the Benghazi debacle and the intentional cover up by the current administration for political expediency. At least two issues are extremely disturbing. First of all, a thorough review of policy and procedure in handling the protection of foreign diplomats overseas and especially in political "hot spots" is needed. Something went terribly wrong the night of September 11, 2012. The families of those lost in the tragic attack, Congress and the American people all deserve an answers. The State Department, Military, and all coordinating agencies need to learn from mistakes. This tragedy speaks of incompetence and/or inability, on a grand scale. Secondly, the Administration's integrity, propriety, legality, and morality are all in question. If what happened was not the result of incompetence, ignorance, or inability for which some need to be held responsible, then we must be willing to entertain the idea that the deaths of the four Americans was the result of political expediency. The "emphatic and determined" talking points of the Administration from the President, Secretary of State Clinton, Presidential press secretary Jay Carney, and U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice were all the same. Two months before the Presidential election they all INSISTED that four U.S. citizens including an Ambassador were killed due to a "spontaneous demonstration" triggered by an "Anti-Islamist" amateur movie. It is becoming increasingly clear to anyone willing to take the evidence for what it is that this Administration narrative was a lie perpetrated to maintain the fiction that Al Qaeda was on the run, being dispersed, and of no consequence in the Middle East and that Islamic fueled terrorism against the U.S. was declining. These were "politically beneficial" talking points that were completely fallacious and grossly denied the facts.What appears to be unfolding before us is a seriously disturbing scenario in which political agendas took precedence over the safety of Americans and then the facts deliberately hidden from the people. If it is confirmed (which from the preliminary testimony seems to be certain) that the President and his people lied to the American people then we have a serious breach of trust that cries out for justice. Then there are the recent "gut-wrenching" exposures of the grizzly, gruesome, and grotesque business of late term abortions in the U.S. This has been brought to light (begrudgingly I might add) by the exposure to the Gosnell trial in Pennsylvania. The atrocities committed in his clinic and certainly repeated in clinics all over the country are nothing less than barbaric, neanderthal, and inhumane in ways rivaling if not exceeding what took place in the holocaust. The callousness, hard-heartedness, and ease with which innocent young life is destroyed, mangled, and murdered highlights the depth to which the depravity of the fall infects the human soul. As I reflect on these two issues in our society I find myself thinking of Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness." What is taking place in America today parallels in degree if not action the sins of Israel that brought them into serious judgment. I find myself humbly driven to pray for repentance for the sins of our country, to beg God for mercy, for clemency (a.k.a. Lincoln), for God to turn us collectively from our entrenched wickedness and towards our need for His holiness. With these vivid examples of the depth of our collective depravity it should move us to seek God for His mercy. 2Chronicles 7:14-- It is God's true followers who are instructed here "humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways..." I'm praying for forgiveness, for collective repentance, for God to bring the wicked to justice if they do not repent. Oh, Lord here our prayers, turn each of us from our personal sins, embolden us to speak out against our collective sins, and convict those who are engaged in wickedness to see their error, turn and trust you. God please heal our land.

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Jesus asked His disciples, "But who do you say that I am" (Mt.16:15)? There is not a more important question that each of us needs to answer than this very question. "Who do you say Jesus is?" Napoleon said, "I know men and Jesus was no mere man." Correct in so far as it went, but not complete. Jesus was no mere man, not just a prophet, wise teacher, or holy man, but as Peter declared Jesus is, "The Christ, the Son of the Living God." Who do you say Jesus is?

Persecution on the Rise

Some of you may have heard about the recent tide of religious persecution directed at Evangelical Christians in the military. It seems that a fellow by the name of Michael Weinstein was used as a consultant by the Obama Administration in drafting policy regarding religious expression in the Military. To give you a portrait of the man who lead the attack on Christianity in the military I'm including a link to an article he wrote so you can understand his hostility towards Christianity. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-l-weinstein/fundamentalist-christian-_b_3072651.html The result of the "consultation" was to render any personal mention of one's Christian beliefs a "high crime" punishable by court marshal. It is beyond interesting that in these days after the Boston Bombings when we are freshly reminded of the legitimate threat to our way of life in America posed by some religious groups, the attention given to vilifying Christianity is stunning. Does the Department of Defense truly believe that enacting policies that undermine our Country's founding principles, and reverse decades of amicable and effective interaction of service men and women with each other and those in the Chaplain corps is sensible, equitable, reasonable, and/or justifiable? But believers must not lose our focus that we are "citizens of heaven" (Phil.3:20) and that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2Tim.3:12). When we read the Bible we know that difficult days lie ahead of us, but in my life time we have never seen such frontal assaults on religious liberty and threats to the open and free practice of Christianity that we have always enjoyed in America. So on the one hand we are shocked by the egregious and bold assault on our precious faith, on the other hand we are warned in the Bible to expect it. As Christians we are increasingly under attack and need to seriously evaluate our willingness and readiness to stand up for our faith in our schools, work places, communities, and now in the military. At one time I had considered becoming a Military Chaplain and I often wonder how I would have responded to the regulations that would curtail the normal practice of my faith. This latest attempt to silence Christians should have each of us asking if we will stand with Peter and John who in Acts 4 were told to "not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus" (4:18) to which they boldly responded, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard"(Acts 4:19-20). I am saddened to say that I believe in my lifetime every believer may be put in that very same position and I want to prepare myself spiritually, mentally, and emotionally so that by God's grace I will respond boldly.

Sharing your faith is now a Crime in the Military?

Yesterday the news broke that "proselytizing" as a Christian is now a criminal offense in the military. Seems that a very wide and nebulous definition of "proselytize" is used so that on a "case by case" basis military personnel INCLUDING CHAPLAINS can be court marshaled for sharing their Christian faith. This is one of the most egregious violations of constitutional rights and religious freedoms we have witnessed in years. And like most of the recent usurpations of government authority it has nothing to do with legislation, but is enacted fully by bureaucrats appointed by the current administration. Of particular interest is the specificity of the punitive nature against Christianity and Judaism. After all, the majority of people in the U.S. would identify themselves with Christianity or Judaism so these religious systems now become the target of the secularist agenda of the Administration. These regulations conflict with the constitution, with our founding principles, with our centuries old values, morals, and plain common sense. This is ludicrous, incredulous, and evil. From the inception of the military the need for spiritual guidance, direction, and encouragement has been realized and now the "All Knowing and All Wise" government regulators deem the spiritual influence of Christianity damaging and detrimental. This ruling is simply a harbinger of things to come unless the people stand up and say enough to this nonsense.

Jesus is ABLE to save forever.

Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant...He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him..." (Heb.7:22b,25a). If I were perfect I would not need to be saved from the penalty and power of sin, but like every other human being I am NOT perfect so I do need rescued. I rejoice that in Christ I am forgiven and draw near to God. Christ is ABLE to save forever, but that salvation comes only to those who believe.

Usurping Parental Rights/Trampling Human Rights

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it has approved selling a version of the morning-after contraceptive pill without a prescription to girls 15 years of age or older — down from the current 17-year-old age limit. Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/apr/30/fda-approves-sale-morning-after-pill-without-presc/#ixzz2S5q8bzLv Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter In 2011 Kathleen Sabelius--director of HHS said that providing the "morning after pill" without a prescription to young ladies under 17 was not a good idea. This was before the 2012 election. Now months later a panel of bureaucrats at the FDA sent down an "edict from on high" that is an egregious usurpation of parental rights and continues an assault on the rights of the unborn. This ruling now permits a 15 year old girl--a minor who cannot even take ibuprofen at school without parental permission and it must be administered by the school nurse--to walk in to any pharmacy and buy an abortifacient without a prescription, without parental knowledge. She can't take a pain pill but she can take a pill that will take the life of an unborn child within her womb. So she can be sexually active, take an abortion inducing pill, have an abortion all without the knowledge of her parents. This is an outrageous over-reach of government stripping parents of their rights and responsibilities. A society that decides a person cannot drive until age 16, vote or smoke until age 18, and drink alcohol legally until age 21 has now encouraged 15 year olds to engage in illicit sexually activity and awarded them the right to take the life of an unborn child all without the knowledge of their parents. Ludicrous, irresponsible, reprehensible are the words that come to my mind. Aside from the extreme violation of parental rights this new ruling continues what has become a tidal wave of trampling on the rights of the unborn. Evidently nobody is watching or listening to the Gosnell abortion doctor trial out of Pennsylvania. The same voices screaming to ban assault weapons in a vain and wrong-headed approach to prevent the tragic loss of innocent life such as took place at Newtown and Sandyhook elementary are the same people guilty of assaulting (using their own assault weapons) the most innocent of lives--those still inside the womb. Proverbs 24:11-12 says, "Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to slaughter. If you say, 'behold, we did not know this,' does not He who weighs the heart perceive it?" Does He who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?" Sounds like a clarion call for standing up for the innocent who are lead to slaughter at a rate of about 3,000 a day here in the U.S. Will we be like the citizens of Germany and Poland who looked the other way as the Nazi's destroyed millions in the death camps during WWII? Indeed, we should pray...pray that God would humble us as a nation, forgive us for our practice of murder and the silent permission we grant by saying nothing. Then we should get involved in practical ways seeking to overturn administrative rulings and oust politicians who support legislation and appoint bureaucrats who implement such horrendous and unjust policies.

Secure in His Hands Even When Life is Hard.

In Psalm 44 the writer expressed a strong allegiance to God, a strong confidence and trust in God in the face of strong enemies-- "In God we have boasted all day long, and we will give thanks to Your name forever" (Ps.44:8). But the amazing thing is that despite the people's devotion and dependence upon God they were suffering at the hands of their adversaries. Yet they still stayed true to the Lord-- "All this has come upon us, but we have not forgotten You...Our heart has not turned back, and our steps have not deviated from Your way" (vss.17-18). It is this context of suffering while staying faithful that Paul draws his quote in Romans 8:36 from-- "For Your sake we are being put to death all day long. We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered" and yet he echoes the same resilience to trust in God in such difficult circumstances saying that nothing will separate believers from God's Love and that in all of our struggles we are more than conquerors. In spite of the difficulty Lord, help us keep perspective that we are secure in your hands.