"I Love The Church"

I love the church! Do you? The reason is because Jesus loves His church. To be in fellowship with Jesus is to love what He loves and commit to what He commits to. One major part of the commitment to Jesus is His commitment to His church because it is His body. No one ever hates his/her own flesh, do they? Take a close look at Eph. 5:28-29 (it is speaking of the relationship between Christ/church). Do you find disdain and hate for your children? Jesus our Lord does not hate His own flesh, His body either! He loves us, nourishes us and cherishes us because we are members of His body.

The church is not some place you go! We need to change our thinking and the way we speak about spiritual things. We assemble as the church to worship our Lord and God! It is the church, the body of Jesus whom He loves, coming together and letting our Father know we love Him. The church is a relationship with Christ. Did we get that?

I hear it all the time. Someone gets upset in the church with another. I am not speaking about teaching/preaching that is false and ungodly. I am speaking to those who get offended for some reason, or they point their finger because a leader in the church practices immorality, or someone steals something and the list goes on, only to proclaim the whole is guilty! I wonder what Jesus thinks? There are those in our midst who are involved with Satan! There are those who could care less about the righteousness of God. There are selfish members, weak members and those that criticize every little thing decided. There are elders who have no business being elders. Deacons who are not faithful in their service. Preachers who speak one thing and act another way. Yes, there are hypocrites in the church. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE CHURCH HAS GONE BAD! The church is the body of Jesus. He loves His body, just like we love our body. When things go awry, He does something about those individuals. You might not see it with your visible eyes, but something has/is being done. He has to keep the gangrene out, the decaying parts separated so the whole is not affected. There are still plenty of faithful, loving, caring brothers and sisters dedicated to the Lord!

Don't separate yourself from the church. If you do, you have to separate yourself from Christ first! You leave Christ, you will leave His body. You leave His body, you leave Christ. It's that simple. You love the Lord, you will love His body, the church. The one who loves the Father will love the children of the Father (I John 5:1). And that love is expressed when we respond to one another the way Christ does. He nourishes and cherishes. Do you? I love the church...

"Grace Working"

"Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16) Have you ever been in deep need? Have you ever felt the stress and strains of life, wondering how you would continue from day to day? Are you in Jesus? If you are in Christ, that should make a difference in your life! Many times we are weak, struggle and find ourselves just drifting along. The anguish of our struggles, the difficulties of a marriage or the burden of physical illnesses weigh on us. What do we do? We forget where Christ has brought us! Through the redeeming blood of Christ, we stand in the presence of God and in the middle of His grace (Rom. 5:2). That puts us before the throne of God's grace! Jesus gave us that right, that privilege to be there. What do we find? Mercy! We need mercy for our wrongs and faults in our lives. Mercy is ours in abundance. Mercy is for those, who with humble and repentant hearts, come to the throne of grace knowing their failures and finding forgiveness.

There is something else for us at the throne of grace: Grace to help in time of need! Grace, the unmerited, undeserving favor of God, is extended to us to help us move forward in the midst of our struggles and weakness. It's His grace to us, not our abilities or power. The grace of God is powerful and extended to those in need.

Read carefully II Cor. 12:1-10. Paul reveals he had heard "inexpressible words which a man is not permitted to speak." Can you imagine hearing something from the Lord and not allowed to speak about it? Where could this lead a person? Into pride and God knew it! God responded to help Paul by giving him a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to keep him from exalting himself. God knows man's pride is what takes him/her down. This "thorn" hurt badly and Paul appealed three times for God to take it away. God responded, "NO! NO! NO!". The words came from the throne of grace, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Paul needed the undeserving favor of God and he found it. Paul needed strength from God for his weaknesses and he received it. Paul found the power from God to continue to move forward despite the hurt and weakness. Paul found power from God by drawing near to His throne of grace.

What about us? The power of God and Christ are extended to us in our weaknesses! It is when we are weak we find strength in abundance. We walk around gloomy because we are so weak or see our failures. For many in Christ, they focus so much on this, they never draw near to the throne of grace to find His grace to help. That leaves us weaker and working on our own. It will eventually wear one to a frazzle! God didn't let Paul down and we are no Paul!!! If God would give power in Paul's weaknesses, what about us? Stop looking at how you fail, your miseries, how you are mistreated at times and start drawing near with some confidence to the throne of grace! There you will find power and strength that comes from Him and will stand in awe, knowing it is not you but Him. The great, powerful and Almighty God is waiting for us to respond by faith by drawing near. He is thrilled to help us in our weaknesses and our weaknesses does not disgust Him! That should make us trust and love Him. "Power is perfected through weakness." Yep...it is still there and that's what it says. "So that the power of Christ may dwell in me." What are you waiting for?

"Strange & Bizarre 2"

In a previous blog, I had asked if any had strange or unusual events in their lives over the years and would be willing to share with us. I shared a really bizarre event last time. Here is another...

I had started a Bible study with a lady who was longing for the Lord. She had even gone to the point in her search that she wrote a letter to God! We might find that a little strange, but that revealed her earnest longing to find God. I began going to her house with her husband there each week. He was very cutting at her and putting her down. As we would sit and study at their kitchen table, he would come in and join us, only to tell me things about her life and habits. He told me things I didn't need to hear, embarrassing to her and me both.

One day, as he realized her commitment to study and her desire for the truth, I came over as usual. They had a post attached from the ceiling to the floor between the kitchen and living room. On that post, he had hanging in a holster, a 44 magnum gun. As I walked in and sat down, he pulled that gun out of the holster and put it on the kitchen table. His wife came over as usual and we were getting ready to start our study. He sat down across from me without saying a word and proceeded to put bullets into the gun. Suddenly he shared with me how early in his life he had shot a fellow. I shrugged it off and we began. Slowly he reached out for the gun, turned the barrel toward me, laying the gun down on the table. We continued our study. He then reaches out, taking the gun in his hand and cocking the hammer, laying it back down pointed directly at me. Needless to say, I was feeling a bit uncomfortable at this time. He never touched that gun that evening but he did tap it with his fingers from time to time during our study. As I would look at him, he had a hard scowl on his face.

His wife was lead to Christ. It was a few weeks after this that he called me to come out to their house again. They lived about 30 miles from us. Resa had asked me not to go but for some reason I felt I needed to. All the way I prayed. Upon arriving, not knowing what I would face, I walked in. There he was sitting at the table sobbing. He wanted to know what we (his wife and I) had that he didn't. It opened the door to a Bible study and eventually leading him to Christ. It is something I will never forget.

"And God Gives Us Children/Grandchildren"

It was a tough day. One of those days when nothing seems to go right. Every thing you do, touch ends up having to be done over. People come by or call and complain about this or that, and sometimes about you! At the end of the day, you find yourself worn and realize nothing has been accomplished. It seems like a wasted day and the pounding you take, well...You just want to go home and sit, uninterrupted to get away from all the difficulties encountered. Then the craziest thing happens: we turn on the TV to watch more difficulties! Sometimes I wonder about us (me)! At least we can watch and not have to think about the day.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, you hear it. At first you might find yourself not wanting to deal with it. You listen more closely and your eyes brighten up and then it begins. The laughter is a giggling, bubbling laughter. Something has really turned upside down their world and the laughter seems endless. We get lost in it for a moment. It becomes an infectious kind of laughter. Our child/grandchild comes strolling into the room still silly with laughter. It makes us smile. They jump up on you wanting to play or tickle. If we pause we would see, even with the rough day behind, there is something to laugh about. Your mind forgets everything that has happened and suddenly, like a ray of sunshine through a storm cloud, the day fades into the background. You are caught up in the laughter and fun of a child/grandchild. You're tired but for some reason, you want them around and find their laughter contagious.

There you sit while God has given you a giggling, squawking, stomach-holding laughing child! Maybe the Lord has given them to us just to get our attention to stop focusing on all the gloom of the day and "consider it all joy" instead. We should have fled to God to begin with! The lesson speaks: change your attitude and learn to work through difficulties with a proper mind set toward the Lord. You will realize there is something to laugh about. I just wish we could bottle it!!!

"A Lesson From the God of the Burning Bush"

Many times we are too familiar with Bible stories we read. We just quickly go over something with the attitude we already know it. What a tragedy! What a blessing we miss to move forward. Sometimes people have so little spiritual drive to see the unfathomable riches and ways of God, they are content with the surface things they already know.

Read carefully the meeting between God and Moses at the burning bush Exodus 3. Was it a natural event, like a volcanic eruption that could be observed for hundreds of miles? No! Moses was accustomed to the wilderness and had seen about all natural events there was to offer. Moses draws near and the Creator, the God of his father, of Abraham, Issac and Jacob not only spoke but called him by name. Unaware of the awesome presence of God, Mose moves in while God observes and knows his every thought! Moses was standing on holy ground being the presence of God.

What do we learn just from this? First, the fire on this bush did not need to draw off the fuel of the bush to burn! God is self sustaining!! Here we see the God who calls does not depend on any person or substance for His existence. God does not need any of us to do anything for Him!!! We sometimes think He does! He can (and will) accomplish His will if we cooperate or if we do not cooperate! We need Him to be close to us, to depend on Him completely for our existence and needs in life each and every day. We cannot sustain ourselves.

The God of the burning bush is our God! The bush God used was not burned up. This shows us the power and might of God. We are taught and instructed by God, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." (I Cor. 10:13) We find ourselves tempted, desiring to sin, to be drawn back into the world of death, yet we find a faithful God, a self sustaining, all powerful God giving us a way out of the situation if we would only look and draw near. We can be tempted but God will not allow us to be "burned up" if we will look to Him for the way. He alone can sustain us, not ourselves or our professional lives, our smarts and skills! It's not a "nobody understands what I am going through" attitude! It's a life lived for and in the presence of God.

But there is more. Look around you at other brothers and sisters. You will never know the depth one goes through to keep food on the table, to endure ill health or endless abuse at the hand of a mate, yet they continue with a steadfast spirit, encouraging our hearts while we wonder where they get the strength to endure such difficulties. How can they keep such good attitudes? We see them and wonder just how they survive their difficulties. We see it in little children with deadly diseases and ill health, but their bright eyes, their cheerful hearts and no notion of fear touches us deeply. Take note: They are standing on holy ground, in the presence of an all sustaining God, drawing from His resources. When we are around such people, we too are standing in the presence of God! Maybe we need to reflect on such things and "remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

"Revelation" V

Let me see if I can give some help in understand Revelation 21. So many make this apply to heaven and I can see where they get their thinking. However, it is so important to let the book explain itself to us without putting our hands on it. That is difficult for many to do because we read so many different things. Once again, as a reminder, you need to know how the Old Testament prophets preached and spoke to help grasp this book.

The chapter begins with a "new heaven and new earth" statement because the "first heaven and first earth passed away and there is no longer any sea." John sees something coming down out of heaven and it is the holy city, a new Jerusalem made ready like a bride for her husband. Let it stand on its own merit. Heaven does not come down out of heaven. This city was coming down out of heaven. This is almost an exact wording of Isaiah 65:17-25. Isaiah is describing a new environment where their oppressor has been destroyed and no longer exists. The "first heaven and earth" were dominated by the Roman Empire, killing the saints and trying to destroy anything that has to do with God. Remember, the devil was behind the destruction and used Roman leadership for his purpose (ch.12-13). Here the evil empire has been destroyed and what is left? "A new heaven and a new earth" and no longer any sea. Remember what came up out of the sea (13:1)? Always get the facts. John describes in detail what this "new heaven and new earth" is about (21:10-21). It's not literal but trying to convey a picture for the encouragement and help for the saints to overcome. The over-comers will be part of this (21:7). But notice who is still here (21:8). The ungodly have not been done away with. They are told what their part will be in the future. The point that is being made is this book is written to the bond-servants and they have to make choices to either overcome or be overcome. Jesus lets them see the end result if they overcome and if they do not. There are still nations, kings and the like (21:24) that exist. They will benefit from this new environment that will exist among men. This new city, this new environment will be the ruling power instead of the world ruling God's people! Just take a quick look at chapter 5:10 where Jesus promises the saints on earth will be a kingdom and priest to God and will reign on the earth. The Lord will lead in this new city and illumine the way. That's why the nations will benefit.

How much fear and hurt did saints have to contend with under the Roman dictatorship? Would it be a day of rejoicing if their ruling power was taken away? Would it be a day of freedom, no more tears and no fear of death (being killed)? No mourning over family members that were taken away? This is a chapter of victory during their time! This new, holy city was only for the saints on earth. We live in that today and outsiders have no part in it. Think about it. Let it stand on its own. Some will have great difficulty letting go of their ideas but when you sit back, let it describe itself, you will find more insight. Just tie chapter 22:14-15 and see if this makes sense. I am always open for your input.

"Revelation" IV

People like to use big words. I am amazed how eloquent some people can put things. Myself, well, I am very simple minded must have things broken down into simple language and I realize I lack in my writings/speaking! Let's take the word "apocalyptic". A big word used a lot by people, thrown here to there but really is simple in meaning. The book of Revelation is "apocalyptic" language. It means nothing more than word pictures to drive home a spiritual truth. For instance, the woman in chapter 17 is described as clothed in purple, scarlet and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. Across her forehead she was known as the mother of harlots. This kind of language shows the her beauty and ugliness and using this to describe her charm on the rest of the world. She is Rome (17:18) and took in all the nations with her beauty and sinfulness. She has corrupted others. She is shown as drunk with the blood of the saints and the eyewitnesses of Jesus. She loved killing the people of God!

"Apocalyptic" language is also prophetic. It reveals future events and how God was in control of it all. This kind of writing always reveals the sovereign power of God and God is in control even in the face of evil! The one thing we can do is just be patient, take in the vivid picture being described and allow it to explain itself. Daniel is another book that is written in "apocalyptic" language. Daniel 7 begins with the vision and dream Daniel saw. The "apocalyptic" language (pictures to describe a spiritual truth) about 4 great beasts coming up from the sea, each one different. As each is described, the reader is to get the image. After these images, the meaning is given to describe kingdoms and kings. If one starts making up their mind before getting to this point, they will miss the real purpose. Daniel 2 is written the same way.

Do not let the book of Revelation intimidate you or be fearful of it. Read it with an open heart and listen to the descriptions. It will explain itself. The name "Revelation" literally means "to uncover". It is Jesus' revelation, which God gave Him to show to the bond-servants, the things which must soon take place. It was communicated to John by an angel of Jesus. It was meant to be read, heard and heeded. Stop letting people put notions in your mind. Let Jesus "uncover" it! I once sat in a class on Revelation in which the teacher brought 3 commentaries in to help with the class. The teacher would read a few verses, go to one commentary, then another and the third and they all three said something different. The teacher left it up to the class to determine which one to believe. It was difficult to sit in. That can be very confusing. I have had people that disagree with me yet the only thing they seem to offer is what some commentary has to say. I never mean to for anyone to think I know it all. But I will hold to what I read and if I can be directed in the word to something I have misapplied, please help me. I will simply hold to the verses, let them explain themselves and try not read anything into it. Things become simple that way and by all means, I need it simple!