The Danger of Playing Mini-God

King Manasseh became King of Israel when he was 12 years old. He was a wicked king; he was a mass murderer, he sacrificed two of his sons to the non-existent god Molech and he worshipped everything but the True God. Manasseh led his people, the nation of Israel, astray. It says in II Chronicles 33:10-13: "The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God."

In verse 11, it says “So the Lord…” So the Lord set a plan in motion to bring Manasseh back to Him. Having an army come against you, getting a hook put in your nose, being led off captive to a Babylonian jail doesn’t seem like a positive experience. God never intended it to be a positive experience. He intended it to be the beginning of a process to bring Manasseh back to the Lord.

I spoke on this recently. A woman spoke to me after the service and told me this, “I have been angry with God for things He brought into my life, but now I realize these things were the very things that drove me to my knees and brought me to the Lord.”

We need to be careful when we call certain things in our lives a blessing or a curse. What is often called a blessing can be a curse. We need to be careful for what we ask.

The trial you and I are in right now may be painful and unpleasant. We can’t see the future but a loving God will do what He must to bring us back to Him. Remember, God disciplines, those He loves.

Be careful when we have the desire to play mini-god. When we do, we attempt to assume God’s role in our life and the life of others. It is dangerous ground; stay away from doing it. Offer advice with wisdom. Encourage, forgive and love our fellowman but forget about being a mini-god making pronouncements we were never intended to make.

Manasseh finds himself in prison. It says in verse 12 “In his distress.” In his distress he seeks out the Lord, humbles himself, and prays to God and guess what? God was moved! Yes, the mass murderer, two-time baby killer, star worshipping heathen finds that the Lord’s heart was moved. Manasseh finds mercy. So will we if we but seek God, humble ourselves, and pray. The Lord is merciful and good…There is no need for us to play mini-god.

Is your church a museum to the past or are you a relic of the past?

In a recent email we received from Bill Keller at http://www.liveprayer.com/, he made a reference to Wayne Dyer and it got me thinking. Wayne Dyer was on PBS this past weekend which I watched briefly. His programs are popular; his advice is straight forward and uplifting. The message is this…you can have a happy life if you apply self-help principles (find joy from within yourselves) which, when the veneer is peeled off, is just positive thinking claptrap. This advice soothes for awhile but it doesn’t last. The advice is God-less and will fail you in the end. But…I must give him credit; he knows how to reach the masses. He knows how to tap into a spiritual vacuum and, in the process, makes a lot of money.

In the meantime, we the church, sit huddled in our individual stained glass windowed museums. We are comfortable here, slapping each other on the back, glad we’re saved, but lacking any serious motivation to take the message of Christ to our hurting, searching world.

The reality is, we’re saved (happy for me) but not glad enough to get off our duffs and go to the streets, country lanes, bars, schools, and offices. No, we sit and enjoy our good fortunes (our million-dollar church bank accounts) while around us, our neighbors go to hell…and we sit unmoved.

Do you want a test to measure the impact of your church upon your community? Ask the sheriff, the police chief, the school superintendent and county welfare office administrator this question: If (fill in the blank) Church were to close it’s doors, would that have any impact upon our community or would our church’s ministry be missed in the community? How will they answer?

In Ezekiel 33:2-6 it says, "Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.' The church is to be the watchman on the wall.

The church in American knows the truth and we sit and give the Wayne Dyers of the world a free ride. We fail to mount any effective effort to share the message of Jesus Christ. While we sit around a belch like a bunch of over-fed cows, generations are going to hell; some of them our own flesh and blood. Yes, and concerning blood, we have their blood upon our hands and God knows it. We don’t want to see the sword coming. (Ezekiel 33:6)

God help us! May the Lord speak to our hearts. May the Lord stir us to life. May the Lord give us the courage to share the message with the hurting, searching masses of the world.

Dr. Dyer exists because the masses are searching for the truth. Dyer is effective in filling this spiritual vacuum in our culture. We have a spiritual vacuum because we sit cloistered in our sissy-fied, safe churches while the world goes to Hell.

Some people may ask why I seem so pessimistic. If I am pessimistic, it is because every day I live and work in a society that is living out the results of a Christ-less value system. The problems which I deal with on the streets of Minneapolis can become disheartening. In rural Minnesota we have time to make a difference but I must be honest, I see little, if any, effective ministry occurring. We keep looking back to the past wishing what might have been rather than having the courage to minister to the culture we have.

We must mount up and ride. We must invade the culture of the masses. The questions to ask are these:
Is my church an invading army or it is a museum to the past?
Are you a soldier of the cross or are you comfortable, admiring the stain-glass artifacts of the past?
Who am I?
Why am I here?
And where am I going?

Dear Lord, give us the courage to obey you. Amen.

Sleep Well, Christian

It says in Psalm 121:3 & 4: “He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” If you are wondering who He is, He is the Triune God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He never sleeps, He never slumbers, no, He is not an insomniac, He is always alert, alive and watching, ruling, and loving His people. God knows all things (Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.), sees all things, controls all things (Matt. 10:29-31: Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.), and sustains all things (Acts 17:25-27: And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.)

Nothing slips by, nothing surprises or perplexes the Godhead. There is never any need for an Emergency Meeting or Emergency Session of the Godhead to figure out what is going on, the Godhead never ponders what they should do. The Godhead was, is and always will be.

Jesus told us that we shouldn’t lose our heads. In Matt. 24:6 He said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” Today I find some Christians losing sleep trying to figure out what’s going on. What’s going on is this—the end of all things is drawing near. Don’t be alarmed “little flock” God is still on the throne. Luke 12: 32: "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."

Be encouraged. Look at Romans 8:31. “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (No one can be successful against us) 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (God will supply even when all seems lost) 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. (No one can make a charge stick against us in the court of heaven—no one.) 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (No one can condemn us) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (Not one thing, no one can separate us from the love of Christ).

It is good to be a son or daughter of the Most High God. Sleep well, Christian, sleep well.

Prayer: Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen

Why not worship the angel maker?

Mark Lougheridge is a pastor in Ireland. A few years ago I found his blog on the internet when I was researching a sermon on the book of Zephaniah. Lougheridge writes very infrequently, three or four times a year. I checked recently and he recounted an experience he had concerning angels.

Lougheridge was waiting in a shop when he heard a talk radio program in the background. The topic was angels. People told of their experiences with angels; how they talk to them and pray to them. Lougheridge wondered why do people talk and pray to angels when they can pray and talk to the angel maker. Yes, the angel maker--God Himself.

The first chapter of Hebrews shows the superiority of Jesus Christ. God’s one and only son, who went to the cross for your sin and mine, rose victorious from the dead and sits at the right hand of God the Father, waiting to come again. Because of what Christ has done, we can bring our requests directly to the angel maker, God Himself.

Angels are created beings meant for two purposes; the first, to worship God. Hebrews 1:5-6: “For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father'? Or again, 'I will be his Father, and he will be my Son'? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God's angels worship him.'”

Philippians 2:5-11: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The second purpose is to be a ministering spirit to us. Hebrews 1:14 says: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

Do we appreciate angels? Yes, God created them to minister to us and to worship Him. Their purpose is to help bring believers home to heaven; they are to do the King’s bidding. This is good news. Remember, they are angels not God.

As John Piper would say, “Remember, Jesus is sitting as the KING; angels are sent as servants.”

There is only one King; there are many servant angels. Angels are servants of God serving Christians, those who by faith are inheriting salvation. In Hebrews 6:12 it says: “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”

Remember this—worship the King—worship the angel maker, not His angels.

Hiding out in the fishbowl

I’m reading a book by Alan Hirsch, an Australian, entitled “The Forgotten Ways.” It’s a book looking at the first and second century church. The church in this period grew at a rapid rate even in the face of tremendous persecution. The early church so influenced their culture that a Roman historian wrote “who are these people (speaking of the early church) who have turned the world upside down?” Before the advent of the moveable press, radio and the internet, they “turned their world upside down.”

In his book, Hirsch speaks of an obscure law entitled the Law of Requisite Variety. “This law states that ‘the survival of any organism depends on its capacity to cultivate (not just tolerate) variety in its internal structure. Failure to do so results in an inability to cope successfully with ‘variety’ when it is introduced from an external source.’ The authors give us a great example as to how this law works in reality. They note that

Fish in a bowl can swim, breed, get food with minimal effort, and remain safe from predators. But as aquarium owners know, such fish are excruciatingly sensitive to even the slightest disturbances in the fishbowl. On the other hand, fish in the sea have to work much harder to sustain themselves and they are subjected to many threats. But because they cope with more variation, they are more robust when faced with a challenge.”

In my opinion, the American church is a comfortable fishbowl and the Lord is tapping on the outside of the bowl to get our attention. We are swimming around inside the fish bowl, banging into one another and becoming more and more irritable with each other. The Lord is moving but He is not moving inside the church (AKA the fishbowl). Revival is taking place in other parts of the world. One place it is not happening is the North American Church.

When Jesus left, He told us to “Go and make.” We have sat on our butts and said “come”. To "go and make" takes courage and hard work. We would rather stay in the fishbowl and “be safe”; be predictable. We may be safe and we may be predictable but as Jeremiah said Jeremiah 8:20 "The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved." We may look good but we are lost. We must leave the fishbowl and move to the ocean and be led by Christ to grab hold of life which is truly life. Which kind of fish are you, an ocean fish or a fishbowl fish?

Lord, give us the courage to obey. Give us the courage to "go and make." Take us to the back roads, to the alleys, the gutters, to the cornfields, the bars, and the schools and offices. And you Lord alone will call them unto you. May we be your humble and willing, obedient servants. Come Lord Jesus. Amen

When the bear rumbles…

Note: Names, places and relationships have been changed.

“The Bear” is a friend of mine in another state. He is in his 40’s, a former college football line backer and heavyweight wrestler. He carries 310+ pounds on a 6’3” frame. His name is a given.

Bear has a 13 year old daughter by his first marriage. The “cub” lives in a town 40 miles away from the Bear’s permanent den.

The family rule is no one dates until they are 16 years old. Through a series of events, the “cub” decides to test the system. After babysitting one night, she is picked up by a 16 year old boy. Her Mom finds out and calls the Bear to find out what to do. Even though he lives 40 miles away and it was 11:00 p.m., the Bear rumbles into action.

He gets out of bed, dresses and moves toward his 4-wheel drive Dodge pickup with a singleness of purpose. The “cub” and boyfriend need to be taught a lesson. What is the lesson? There is a price to pay for disobedience.

The moon is full as he races toward this small prairie town; the roads are quiet, the radio is off and the Bear plots his strategy. The only thing he hears is the whine of the engine and air flowing through his hair.

The Bear arrives and parks one block from his daughter’s home and waits. About twenty minutes later the 16 year old “boyfriend’s” jacked up, slightly beat up 4-wheel drive pickup pulls up in front of “the cub’s” house and parks. Now the Bear begins to rumble. He walks purposely down the street, pounding his size 12 feet into the pavement.

You’d think they would hear but they don’t. The first sound was the driver’s side door being ripped open by the faithful bear-sized dad on a mission. To say the least, the surprise in his “cub’s” eyes is astonishment. (The Bear said her eyes were the size of a saucer!) Bear looks at her and says in a booming voice “GET IN THE HOUSE!” Talk about moving like a rifle shot—she is gone! Bear’s 6’3” frame and the jacked up nature of the boyfriend’s pick up put Bear’s mouth at ear and face level of the vehicle’s occupant (AKA “the boyfriend”). Bear leans in, puts his face ½ inch from Bubba’s face. In no uncertain terms, he makes Bubba aware of the gravity of the situation and clearly states his purpose and intention. Bear states if he even sees this pickup within 10 blocks of this house, there will be problems. Bubba is shaking after the unexpected midnight encounter with the rumbling bear.

Bear’s “cub” (13 year old daughter) sees her dad as meddling in her life; he should be meddling. I praise God that Bear meddles in his cub’s life. You see, Bear understands God will hold him accountable for the type of dad he has been or will be. He takes his role seriously. More of us need to follow his example, taking seriously our role as parents. Rumble on, Bear; rumble on!

Completely Exposed

Isaiah 6:1-8: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty: the whole earth is full of his glory.' At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
"Woe to me!' I cried. 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and I lie among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen he King, the Lord Almighty.'
Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, 'See, this has touched your lips: your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.'
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!"

When the prophet Isaiah comes before the one and only Holy God, he is exposed; exposed as a sinful man. In verse 5 he says: "Woe is me, I am a man of unclean lips." He is exposed for who He really is, a man of unclean lips. Encounters with a Holy God will flatten us, expose us for what we really are--sinners. Encounters with the Holy God strip us of any "spin doctored" image we have; it's a true picture and it humbles us.

Secondly, his culture is exposed. He lives in a nation of people with unclean lips. Lying in America is a way of life; let's be honest, we all do it in some form. As a culture, we lie and in many ways we could care less.

The third thing that happens in this encounter, he is transformed. This sinner exposed liar, slanderer or maybe even cursing prophet is transformed by the Holy Spirit. His guilt is taken away and his sin is atoned for. (Atoned is the process of how God and man can once again become "at one".) When we beat ourselves up with our guilt and sin, we feel we are not worthy to take Christ's message to a hurting world.

But...the Lord has other plans for us. He uses sin-forgiven, former liars, slanderers, and God cursers for His glory. And all the initiative comes from the Lord. We don't accept His guilt freeing, sin forgiving grace. He calls us. He transforms s to do what? Sit and slap each other on he back marveling at our good fortune? No, we are sent by God to share the Good News with a hurting world. The Lord asked and Isaiah answered--"send me."

Are you an "exposed" man or woman with unclean lips, living in an unclean culture who has been atoned for? If you're a believer, get ready--God is going to use you!

God’s Grace is Greater than all our sins

Let’s imagine we were on a jury for King Manasseh of Israel. He was made king when he was 12 years old. He led his nation away from the true God; he was into mediums, spiritists, witchcraft, starry hosts and more. He worshipped everything but the true God. Besides all of this, he was a two time baby killer who sacrificed his two sons in a fiery furnace. His leadership led into punishment and captivity of not only himself but the nation of Israel. I bet the jury verdict would be “throw away the key.”

Manasseh finds himself in a Babylonian prison humbled when he comes to his senses. In 2 Chronicles 33:10:13 it says: “The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” The Lord forgives him and restores him to a position of leadership. The Lord forgives and restores and we want to throw away the key. We sing “God’s grace is greater than all our sins;” it’s true, just learn from Manasseh’s example.

This week I met people who struggle with past sin. They sit in the pews of our churches and suffer alone. They see more of our “throw away the key” mentality than “God’s Great Grace” which covers more than all our sin.

Manasseh may have sacrificed his two sons to an imaginary god, a meaningless, non-existent god. Another sacrifice of a Son took place about 2000 years ago. It was not an imaginary god asking man to sacrifice His own Son, no, it was the one and only True God who sacrificed His one and only son so we could have all our sins forgiven and reign eternally with His risen Son, Jesus. Do we hear enough about God’s great grace? Women who have had an abortion suffer alone with a guilty conscience. God’s grace is greater than your sin. A man sits alone, sober now but alone; his ex-wife and children are bitter at the suffering incurred at his hand. He feels hopeless yet God’s grace is greater than all his sin.

Alan Fram and Erin Putman wrote an article for Associated Press entitled “Is Everything Spinning out of Control?” Summarized in part it says: “Everything seems out of control, Midwest floods, Polar Bears adrift, gas prices skyrocketing, home values crashing, air fares, college tuition, heath care border on the unaffordable.” Fram and Putman allude “You have very little power to make it change. We look for hope from our politicians but it all seems to be unraveling. Surely we know how to fix these problems, don’t we?” No, we don’t. America staggers looking for an answer. We look to Barrack Obama and John McCain for answers. They won’t come. America needs the Savior, not a politician.

Are you struggling today over sin or past sin? Lift up your eyes to Heaven and ask for forgiveness of the Lord. If you had to go to trial, would the world want to throw away the key? Jesus is willing to forgive and restore. Remember, God’s grace and forgiveness were purchased at a high price—the suffering death of His Son, Jesus. And never forget, Jesus rose from the dead victorious over sin and death. Remember, God’s grace is greater than all our sin!

“Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us”—Having it our way

“Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us” was part of an advertising campaign many years ago by Burger King. (If you’re my age, you could possibly still sing those line.) Burger King wanted us to have our hamburger the way we wanted it. Have it your way! In some ways, Burger King opened a Pandora’s Box. We now want everything our way. Why not? We pay the bill.

Along the way this “have my way” attitude has slid into our lives. We notice it in the property management business. A recent example: temperature issues inside an office are always an issue. Eighty degrees is hot for some and for some it’s the ideal temperature. Last week we had an internal temperature issue with a small office. One woman said she was cold but the other thought the temperature was fine. We carry temperature guns which show us the temperature exactly where a person sits. The temperature read 73 degrees at this woman’s chair. She said “73 degrees means nothing to me; I’m cold.” No matter what the truth was, she was cold. I want my burger my way and you better do something about it. (I wanted to say, “How about putting on a sweater” but I thought better.)

Facts (73 degrees) mean nothing anymore. I’m cold and you better make my burger my way. We’ve lost our adaptability; we’ve lost our understanding of the concept of common good (i.e. if it’s 73 degrees and I am cold but everyone else is comfortable, I’ll put on a sweater).

We can watch any kind of TV anytime we want thanks to TIVO. We can mix and match our music; we program our list of favorites. Isn’t life great? We can have it all our way.

We like our religion our way too. The church music must be our favorite. We really want to believe what we want to believe. We want to be the ultimate authority. We want our burger “my way”.

When we make ourselves the ultimate authority, we are in deep trouble. We make ourselves god. “You shall have no other God’s before me.” Concerning these issues, we’d better be very careful. It’s ok to have our burgers our way but not our faith. The Lord He is God. We’re not. The final authority is God’s word, not what we think or want.

Where are our families?

My business partner, Depesh, is East Indian. Indians put a high priority on extended families. They believe that the family that prays together, eats together, plays together and works together will stay together.

Depesh’s wife is a physical therapist and has a patient who lost both his legs to frostbite. He was evicted from his apartment in the dead of winter, had to sleep in his car for two nights, got frostbite and then gangrene set in. The only solution was amputation of both legs. Depesh’s wife asked the patient, “Where was your family?” He said he had family but he would not ask anyone for help since he didn’t want them to know he was homeless. They really didn’t get along so he felt no one would help anyway.

What really are the issues here? Pride—he didn’t want anyone to know he was evicted and homeless. Other issues were relationship with family plus people having hardened hearts towards one another.

Where is the love of Christ in our hearts? It says in 1 Timothy 5:7-8: "Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

The first inclination in all of our “do-gooder’s” hearts is to form another non-profit to help homeless people. It hasn’t worked; it won’t work. I deal with the homeless every day; it’s not pretty. Many times the only way I can be a blessing to them is to remember that they were once someone’s little baby.

Let’s work to keep our families close and connected. Let’s forgive, let’s reconcile. “Forget it Jerry, it’s too much work,” you say. "It’s hopeless." We live in a time where we have personal trainers, good accountants, financial planners, nice homes, big bellies and empty, hardened hearts. We wince and write each other off at the slightest offense. Oh, how touchy we are. And in the meantime, our kids lose their legs from gangrene and end up going to hell for eternity all because we are proud and unforgiving.

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” ~ Jesus AD 30

God Shows No Favoritism

Acts 10:34-35: “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.’

In the earlier part of Acts 10, Peter was praying when he receives a vision. Peter, being a devout Jew, had trouble understanding the vision which dealt with clean and unclean food as it pertained to Jewish dietary laws. Peter is called to meet the Gentile Roman centurion named Cornelius. Cornelius had assembled his relatives. For what reason did he do this? Addressing Peter, Cornelius says in verse 33, “Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” Then in Acts 10:34 Peter says: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

Later, to the astonishment of the Jews, the Gentiles are given the Holy Spirit and are baptized. God poured out His Spirit upon Jew and Gentile alike. God does not show favoritism.

What relevance does this have for us today? We are facing an election where one of the candidates is a black man. Much has been said and heard. Obama was a member of a church which preaches black liberation theology; they don’t like whites. Forty percent of black churches in American preach black liberation theology.

Yesterday I was listening to the radio when a black pastor from Minneapolis called in to remind people that not all black churches are black liberation churches. He said black liberation theology is for blacks as white Aryan supremacy theology is for whites. Each group believes they are God’s favorite and spew forth hatred at the expense of other races.

As we proceed towards election time, race will be an issue whether we like it or not. The racism issue in American culture has a thin veneer. We, as professing Christians, better be witnesses to Jesus Christ and not add fuel to the fire by our ill-informed comments.

God accepts people from every tribe and nation. It will be a racially mixed crowd in Heaven. God has no favorites, notice in Acts 10:35 who God accepts: “but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.

How do we fear God? We only know who to fear or not fear until we have relationship with those people. If we don’t fear God (have awesome reverence and fear) could it be we don’t have relationship with Him? How do we know how to “do what is right”? By getting into God’s Word and develop a deep prayer life--have relationship with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ.

As we progress towards this election, we as professing Christians must keep our head. Tell the people that God does not show favoritism but accepts people from every nation but under what conditions? Not the ethnicity of their blood or the color of their skin but upon the fact “that they fear God and do what is right and have Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Acts 10:43: “All the prophets testify about him (Jesus) that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Brothers and sisters, we must keep our head. Get rid of black liberation theology and white Aryan supremacy theology; they are both poison. We need to witness to the truth. Read God’s word, pray and give God the glory.

Another Life Lost…

He was born on the streets of Korea, the son of a black American serviceman and a Korean woman. To be half black and Korean in Korea is not a good thing. An American family adopted him out of his misery; if memory serves me right, he was six when he was adopted. His adoptive family was loving and kind. They lived out their Christian faith; they were patient and caring.

He was very intelligent with a quick wit. He was athletic and popular and blessed with good looks. He went to the right schools, married well and moved in the right circles in Minneapolis’ social and business life.

Mike was a successful real estate broker. Mike had it all going for him but Mike fought a life-long problem with drugs. He had been through treatment numerous times. When he was straight, he was a joy; when Mike walked into the room, the room would light up; we smiled inside. When he was on “the juice”, he was undependable and obnoxious. We experienced both sides of his life. He had been straight this time for about one year. One month ago he fell off the wagon; drugs grabbed a hold of him again. His wife finally had enough and asked him to leave. He left. We would only hear from him sporadically. Wednesday morning I received a phone call telling me that Mike had overdosed on the weekend and died. He was 40 years old and left a wife and two children.

I asked God “why?” It seems so unfair. God’s sovereign hand brought him to America, gave him hope and joy yet drugs would not loosen their grip. He viewed his family’s Christian faith indifference. He wouldn’t talk about it.

Brothers and sisters, we must love and accept one another. We must love each other enough to confront them about their faith whether they like it or not. We must confront with respect and in love.

Some days I think the devil is winning. We must not be discouraged. We must push on in love and with God’s strength. I didn’t do enough; I thought there would be more time. There wasn’t. I can do no more. I must entrust him to God’s care but it hurts and it makes me angry. I have no right to be angry but sadly, I am. Forgive me, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Silver and Gold We Have

Acts 3:1-10: “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

Martin Luther was a Catholic monk who began reading and studying God’s word for himself. God convicted him of his sin and Luther’s life was transformed. The Reformation grew built upon the foundational truths of God’s word, the work of Christ, and the blood of the martyrs John Huss, John Wycliffe and others who came before.

One of the things that deeply offended Luther was the practice of the Catholic Church to sell indulgences. The program was that if you pay the church money, the priest would pray to get your loved one out of purgatory. If he needed more money, he came and asked for more money. Because of this practice, the Catholic Church became wealthy and powerful. A Catholic bishop was heard to say to his friend, “Now we’re not like poor old Peter; we have silver and gold.” His friend said, “We might have silver and gold but we can’t tell the crippled beggar ‘in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk’”…

The church today has silver and gold and we can’t tell the crippled beggar “in the name of Jesus, walk.” The truth is, we can do nothing to change ourselves or save ourselves. The only way we change is through the power of God.

We think we are rich (yes, we have silver and gold) but are we spiritual paupers, rich in the things of the world but poor in the things of God. We are in deep trouble and we could care less.

Come Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

Stuff, Mammon and Ice

Stuff is defined as “things we find in our junk pile that we thought we once needed.” ~ J. R. Seehusen

“The problem is not that we tried faith and found it wanting but that we’ve tried mammon and found it addictive, and as a result find following Christ inconvenient.” ~ Arthur Simon in “How Much is Enough; Hungering for God in an Affluent Culture” (Baker).

“Money is always there, but the pockets change.” ~ Gertrude Stein to Ernest Hemmingway; Stein was an American writer, she lived from 1874-1946.

“In life, everyone gets the same amount of ice. The poor gets theirs in the winter. The rich get theirs in the summer.” Author Unknown.

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Author: Jesus Christ (Matt.6:24)

Waiting for Cancer Tests—you got to walk that lonesome valley by yourself…or do we?

In the late fifties there was a popular song entitled “You Got to Walk that Lonesome Valley.” Some of the words are:

"You've got to walk that lonesome valley

Well you gotta go by yourself

Well there ain't nobody else gonna go there for you

You gotta go there by yourself."

Waiting for the results of your cancer test can seem like one is walking in a long, lonesome valley. People who go through this will agree with what I’m saying. Whenever I have upcoming tests to see if my cancer has returned, I get edgy. I get more depressed; I isolate myself on purpose. Problems at work seem much larger than they really are, relationships seem more tenuous. Every ache or twinge gets exaggerated… “has the cancer spread?” Every thought lost in mid-sentence raises the idea “I wonder has it spread to my brain?”

Some people may think I’m nuts but anyone awaiting tests has experienced this in some way or form. Most of us keep all this to our selves. We, by choice, walk that lonesome valley alone and it sucks. After some thought and inspiration from John Piper (“Let’s not waste our cancer, let’s live each day to the fullest”) whether we have cancer or not, today could be our last day. Let’s not keep all the pain and all the joy to ourselves. Whether we want to believe it or not, cancer can be a blessing. Yes, it shifts our priorities, shifts them back to what is really important. Our relationship with God, new found appreciation for our marriages, and our children. Work is still work but if we look for it a reward and satisfaction are somewhere in the mix.

Cancer is not a detour in life. It is life. Why do we think we’re exempt from getting it? Why should everyone else get cancer and not me? Why do other people lose loved ones in tragic accidents yet I’ve been spared that? Life in this sinful world is cancer and tragic accidents along with joy and sheer delight all mixed in…that’s life.

We must keep involved in life, we cannot withdraw. A lot of people don’t want to hear about our aches and pains. Yet if we pray and search, God has gifted certain people with the gift of encouragement and the long lost ability to just listen; to be still and yet love us and encourage us.

The world and its songs may say “You got to walk this lonesome valley by yourself.” We can walk it alone or with someone else; the choice is ours. But, if we are a believer, we don’t walk it alone, the Lord is with us. Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The Lord is with us. His rod (an instrument of authority; He rules the universe and eternity) and His staff (an instrument used to control, rescue, guide and protect sheep) comfort us. What is God’s comfort? It is His reassurance that He is on the throne in control of all things and we need not worry. Good news!!

Remember, whether we are on the mountain top or in the valley, whether we’re riding the horse given us or crawling to the finish line, we need to remember the Lord is with us. This is good news. Hang in there; the Lord is good. Amen.

The Super Nanny—required TV watching with something missing

The “Super Nanny” arrives on the scene in a British taxi. She looks proper and stern. Super Nanny is an ABC-TV program which is on Wednesday evenings. The purpose of the program is to bring hope and change for troubled families. It makes for good TV.

I have watched several episodes and have begun to see a pattern in these troubled families. Dad is uninvolved and distant. (Few dads realize the importance of their role in the family.) Mom is overwhelmed trying hard to hold the family together. She is overworked and disrespected. There are no schedules and no list of duties which need to be accomplished. There is no discipline; no consequences for wrong doing because there are no rules. It’s chaos. It’s an ongoing frat party with major amounts of head butting, disrespect, and outright disobedience.

The Nanny works with the family to put schedules into place. The family makes up a set of “house rules”: no cursing, no yelling, no fighting, no talking back, and no biting off the head of pet frog Elmer. She makes the parents enforce the “new found” rules. Disobedience results in a loss of privileges which have been agreed to beforehand.

The Nanny spends a week with the family helping put the new system in place. One thing I’ve noticed is there is never any mention of a spiritual component. (Maybe it was addressed in programs that I missed.) You may say, “so what Jerry?” I’m speaking from experience here; one spiritual point must be made.

When “Little Princess” and “Juvenile Junior” see no spiritual accountability in the parents, they will at some time question by what authority do parents have the right to tell them what to do? A time will come when Princess and Junior will rip the “veneer” off of the good family image and view Mom and Dad’s attempts to bring order and discipline as just two “old goats” trying to make their life miserable. Little Princess and Juvenile Junior are asked to be accountable to Mom and Dad but…who are Mom and Dad accountable to?

Mom and Dad, you are accountable to God for the gift of your children which God has given you. You are God’s chosen stewards of His beautiful creation. Start in Genesis, go through the Bible; the message of the Bible is clear, you will answer to God for your parenting. Genesis 18:18-19: “Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." Eph. 6:1-4: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise--"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

You may say to me, “Jerry, I don’t believe that!” If that is the case, it doesn’t make any difference whether you believe it or not. God does not need your approval for anything. You will be held accountable.

Our children need to see that we, the parents and grandparents, are accountable to God for their care and upbringing. They need to see in our every day lives that we live recognizing God’s very present reality in every day events. We need to demonstrate our love and caring for our children and grandchildren by loving them enough to call them to account and to discipline them in love.

Watch the Super Nanny, put into practice what you need to do but remember we are all accountable to God.

Peace with God

Peace with God comes only through Jesus Christ. Roman 5:1 says: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, “

Peace with God is not mere rest, mere solitude, and mere quiet or mere retreat behind our self constructed walls of escape from the real world. Christ calls us to a higher mission than to find comfort and tranquility in this life. Love of family is a law of God, but even this love can be self-serving and an excuse not to serve God or do His work. True peace with God is complete and total reconciliation with God; as a matter of fact, total and complete God driven reconciliation is our ministry. II Corinthians 5:16-21: “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

The process for peace is always war. Yes, war. Hard to believe? Jesus said in Matt. 10:34: "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

At first glance this sounds like a contradiction. In Isaiah 9:6 Jesus is prophesized as the “Prince of Peace”. In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you.” It’s true that Christ came to bring peace between the believer and God and peace among men. Yet the inevitable result of Christ’s coming is conflict—conflict between Christ and the anti-Christ, conflict between light and darkness, and conflict between Christ’s children and the devil’s children and sometimes conflict between family members. The process for peace with God is conflict or war.

We don’t like conflict with one another. As a matter of fact, we go to great lengths to escape confrontation. Our failure to face our personal sins and our conflicts with one another leads to trouble. We compromise. We must never comprise with evil. God’s power transforms evil into good.

Christian families are in trouble. Why? Because we fail to confront (we hate conflict and the confrontation of truth). So, the truth seeker is labeled the troublemaker, and the compromiser with evil is viewed as a peacemaker. Yes, we may feel good for awhile when we compromise with evil but it’s a false peace that doesn’t last. Eventually, the chickens come home to roost. We must deal with the issue. To have true peace with God and others we must go through war, confrontation and even conflict, but the result is true peace…a lasting peace.

Let’s strive for peace on all levels; the process is never a compromise with evil. The Lord, by His divine power, transforms evil into good. To the world, the cross looked like failure but it purchased our freedom. The burial of Christ looked like the end but Resurrection brought victory over death and sin.

Yes, blessed be the peace makers. Work for peace and reconciliation with one another and with God; it is our ministry or purpose. That is true peace, not some cheap imitation which is a mushy although “popular” compromise with evil.

Brothers and sisters stand for truth and sacrifice for peace, for God alone, through Jesus Christ provides it.

USAF not quite “Above All”

Psalm 138:2: “I will bow down toward your Holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word."

I am a proud veteran of the United States Air Force. My experience in the Air Force, even in the time of conflict, was excellent. The Air Force Training Schools are the best; we were good at what we did and we did it 24/7.

Recently the Air Force has launched an advertising campaign entitled “Above All”. It is a creative and impressive campaign but I want the Air Force Generals to know they are not above all.

For sake of illustration, the distance from the earth to the sun is 93 million miles. If we assume a line 93 feet long, that would mean each foot equals 1 million miles. Each inch on the line equals 83,333 miles. The Air Force can fly as high as 150,000 feet. Impressive yes, but compared to the distance between the sun and the earth 150,000 feet is a mere speck on the 93 foot long tape measure. We may think we are “above all” but in reality, we are a speck of dust.

To the Air Force Generals, I am impressed with what you do but God’s name, God’s word is above all things. In John 3:31 it says in part: “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.” He is not just above all things, Jesus is above all and that means all. We better not forget that.

I suggest a new Air Force advertising campaign—“not quite above all.” The Air Force may be above a lot of things but in retrospect, they are a speck of dust in God’s universe. Whenever we see these ads, let make it an opportunity to praise the one who is truly “above all” – Jesus Christ.

People watching in the Phoenix Airport—Marionette and HER Girls

Recently completing a business trip in Scottsdale, I took a flight from Phoenix to Las Vegas to visit our son Andy for the weekend. While waiting for my flight, I took up the ever popular sport of people watching. I noticed a group of women dressed in wind pants and jackets; most of them in their twenties. Some of the women were white and some were black; they were accompanied by an older black woman, in her 40’s. They sat down near me and I saw it said “Stage II Softball” on their windbreakers.

As I boarded the plane and found my seat, I found the older black women to be my seat mate. I introduced myself and she said her name was Marionette (if you’re wondering, there were no strings attached!!). She is a US Air employee who works as a gate attendant supervisor in the St. Louis Airport. I asked her what “Stage II Softball” is and she said it’s a women’s softball team based in St. Louis which competes on a national level. They were going to Las Vegas for a tournament. They attend eight national tournaments a year. I said, “So you’re the coach?” She replied with a smile, “No, I’m the oldest player.” I was impressed, in her middle forties and still competing in women’s softball and on a national level; quite impressive.

We visited; she has a husband and a teenage son. She said, “He’s a big boy”—football player, defensive end, and is being recruited by many big time football programs. When I asked her why she still plays softball, she said, “These young girls need me; they are my girls. They talk to me, I help them.” Marionette is a devout, live-out-her faith Christian. Her motivation to keep playing softball is that the “girls need me.” Then she corrected herself. “Jerry,” she said, “they need the Lord and they also need me.” I realized I was sitting in the presence of a humble servant of Jesus Christ.

We visited more. I asked, “What is the biggest change you have seen in your work in the last twenty years?” She did not hesitate; she had an immediate answer. People have become more mean and impatient. She went on to tell me of incidents to back up her point. Just last week a women in her 50’s dropped off her 88 year old wheel-chair-bound mother at the St. Louis Airport and just left her at the curb. Marionette was called to help and help she did but dealing with this experience left her frustrated, tired and disgusted.

God’s Word says in part in 2 Timothy 3:1-5: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” Yet in the midst of these times, Marionette is on the front lines being Christ to her neighbor. Is she discouraged? Yes, but she keeps playing softball because “her girls” need her and in her words “they need Christ”.

Later in Chapter 4 of 2 Timothy, Paul writing to Timothy encourages him with these words in verses 3-5: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

Paul’s words to Timothy apply to Marionette; she shares Christ with a hurting world in word and deed. Although disgusted, Marionette is, in Paul’s words, “keeping her head.”

When we arrived in Las Vegas, we both had tears in our eyes. She told me, “I never talked to anyone like you.” I told her, “I never talked to anyone like you.” I was in the presence of greatness; a humble servant of Christ on the frontline serving Christ and “her girls” and touching the heart of an old country boy from Minnesota. She is living proof that God will always have his remnant.

Thank you Lord, for people like Marionette. Amen

God’s Favor

Favor is defined as an act of kindness; liking and approval; exceptional kindness; to give more than fair treatment.

Have you ever been a favorite? A favorite of your parents? Favorite of your teacher? None of us would admit to being a teacher’s pet but if I was a teacher’s pet, it would have been with Miss Novak. She was my first and second grade teacher; she was nice and really pretty. She was going to marry “this guy”. (I thought she should have waited for me but she didn’t.). She grew up in Olivia and her wedding was in St. Aloysius Catholic Church. I talked my aunt Lillian into taking me to the wedding. I remember I bought her a set of salt and pepper shakers for 59 cents; I handed them to her in the receiving line and she bent down and kissed me. I was on the top of the world but I still didn’t like the guy she was marrying!

If we are honest, we like to be favored. Look at the definition of the word: act of kindness, exceptional kindness, to give more than fair treatment. Who wouldn’t want that?

The prophet Daniel, writing in Daniel 9:13 (NIV) says: “Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.” Even in disaster, the nation of Israel did not seek the favor of the Lord. Would we do the same? I think so. We as a nation are so self-centered that in the midst of disaster we would not seek the Lord’s favor. What makes us think we would be any different from the children of Israel?

How do we seek the favor of the Lord? By “turning from sin and giving attention to your (God’s) truth”. Yes, it’s that simple. Daniel says “turn from sin”—quit it; quit it. We are not just to confess it but quit it. We are also to give attention to God’s truth. Where do we find the truth? In God’s Word! We need to give attention to God’s word; don’t just look at it, don’t browse it, don’t just talk about it…give attention to it, read it, live it, make it part of our lives. The truth shall set us free. And guess what? We will be in God’s favor; God’s favor—to receive more than fair treatment. We receive exceptional kindness. God has not treated us as we deserve. No, He has shown us exceptional kindness through the shed blood of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, today is the day of God’s favor.

March…I don’t always like it

Sometimes March in Minnesota is a cruel master. I remember as a kid, working through a cold winter grinding feed, hauling manure and lugging pails of feed and water. When March rolled around, I was tired of the work, the cold and the mud. Then the first days of March came warm and sunny with gentle warm south breezes, tempered by the melting snow. Spring was on its way. I felt optimistic. Then the hammer would drop, the wind would switch to the northwest. It would become bitterly cold in just hours; the cold would wring every ounce of water out of the atmosphere and dump 21 inches of misery in drifts and piles much deeper than that. It was disheartening.

I remember one March I did not go to school for a whole week. All I did was pray we would not lose power so we could keep feed and water in front of the animals. It was a boring, miserable life. I didn’t like March.

March is the month of my Mother’s birthday--March 2nd. One reason I probably don’t like March is that it is the month that Mom died, March 4th and we buried her on March 7th. I remember those days—cloudy in more ways than one; cold, actually more than cold, it was piercing cold—the wet cold that cuts to the bone. It was the type of cold that you don’t warm up from, it’s the type of cold you must forget.

Do I have any right to complain about March weather? Actually, no. God in His creative genius, His sovereign hand creates the weather and March. It would do me good to quit complaining.

Fast forward forty-some years; it’s March, and March still can’t decide if it wants to be winter or spring… Judi and I watch as the pups play outside. In the early morning, the large mud puddle northeast of the house is still frozen. Pups fight and wrestle on the ice, slipping and sliding in gleeful mayhem. We laugh at their antics. None of them have any footing, slipping and sliding it’s a comedy of errors. Sven chases Tubby behind the bird feeder tree and they come running back together to the frozen mud puddle with the sole intention of steam rolling the other three pups only to lose their footing and the pups crash together in playful anarchy. What a hoot! We can’t help but laugh at their antics.

The day warms up, the temperature rises, the ice turns to water, the frozen soil turns to mud and Duke and Sven decide to lie down to cool off right in the middle of the mud puddle. When they finish cooling off, they join the other three pups in the sun on the south porch and fall asleep. Yes, for 15 minutes they sleep or slumber, worn out from the previous antics. Even muddy pups are beautiful when they are sleeping. This day truly is a March Day in Minnesota.

When we went to church at Lake Jennie, John Johnston, an Irish man and old missionary to China came to speak. He was in China before World War II, was captured by the Japanese and was a POW. He grew up in Ireland, the son of an Irish farmer. During the service, someone asked for prayer for the weather. We prayed. After church John spoke to the adult Sunday School class and commented on the prayer request for the weather. He said that when he was a child, whenever anyone complained about the weather, his dad would say “Who is this who riles at God’s providence?” In other words: “who is this telling God what to do?”

Jerry, quit complaining, God’s still on the throne. I would do well not to comment on His sovereign rule. Who am I to rile at God’s providence? I may even come to like March; as a matter of fact, I better like it.

Happy Easter

Wishing you all a Blessed Easter.

Please click on the Title above to link you to a remarkable phone call from a 12-yr old boy to Houston radio station KSBJ FM 89.3. So profound, the station has it posted on their website. It is the Easter story in a nutshell!

Irritabilty and a soul-searching conscience

Did you ever wake up irritable? Are you irritable for no specific reason? Over the years I’ve quit trying to figure out why these “irritable days” come into our lives. One lesson I have learned is that I must work hard not to make that “irritable” feeling ruin my whole day. At 11 o’clock yesterday morning I had to take an adult “time out” to gain proper perspective. I’ll tell you why…

Earlier I received a call from a trash hauler saying our recycled cardboard container at one of the smaller properties that we manage has been overflowing and that we need to increase our service. I asked her “What constitutes an overflowing container?” Her answer was “Anytime the lid doesn’t close completely.” “As a matter of fact” she said, “you were one ton over on the pick-up this week.” I told her I found it hard to believe we would get one ton of cardboard out of a 25,000 square foot building in six months much less be over one ton in one week.

A friend of mine happens to have a son who is a former driver for the company and is now the current Safety Director. I called him about the situation. He said the recycled cardboard is never weighed and felt that the comment was a total lie.

I called the lady back and confronted her about what she had said. She finally admitted that the only purpose of the call was to intimidate me (my description, not hers) into signing up for more service. What concerned me was this—she was not the least bit contrite. What has happened to us as a society and a nation? When a nation loses its conscience, hard tough days are ahead. Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky said: "If God does not exist, everything is lawful."

There is a limit to God’s patience. In Romans is says: “God gave them over…”; over to what? Romans 1:28-32 (NIV) says: “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

In light of the truth of these verses, I need to do some personal soul searching, an “adult time-out” as it were. I read Romans 2:1-4: “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?” What have I done to bring this lady the truth of Jesus Christ?

No, I may not do exactly as this woman did but I need to be reminded that I sin also, and every day, every hour, I need God’s grace and forgiveness. Yes, I do, and I’m grateful.

This week it would be easy to point our finger at Elliott Spitzer. But before we point, let’s do some serious soul searching.

Thank you Jesus, forgive me. Don’t give me over. I thank you that you love me not for what I’ve done or not done but you love me because I’m yours. Amen.

Clinging to our average days or pleasing God

W. H. Auden wrote a poem entitled “September 1, 1939” it says in part:
“Faces along the bar
Cling to their average day
The lights must never go out
The music must always play
Lest we know where we are,
Lost in a haunted wood,
Children afraid of the dark,
Who have never been happy or good.”


Is your life boring? Do you cling to your average day? Is your life so routine the sameness drives you up a wall? Do you appear to the world as if you “have it all together”? Yet, in the words of Thoreau, “you are living a life of quiet desperation.”

We of all people are blessed. And even with this in mind, some days I feel guilty about how little vision and purpose I live out my life. In many ways our lives are routine and boring but what are we looking forward to?

Do you have any plans to march into hell for a Heavenly cause? Do you truly believe, with God’s help, that we can impact our society for Christ? Or, do we cling to our average days just running out the rest of our life, living as Auden would say “in a haunted wood, afraid of the dark.” Don’t be afraid of the dark. Share Christ, the light of the world. Proverbs 15:33-16:7: The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The Lord works out everything for his own ends-- even the wicked for a day of disaster. The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil. When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”

Do you have any vision for the future? Commit it the Lord. Remember in all you do, “fear the Lord” but never forget to please the Lord. In the end, in all we do, our overriding ambition should be to please the Lord.

The question was asked: “what is the purpose of man?” The answer: to know God and enjoy Him forever. Do away with your average days. Let’s enjoy God forever. Have vision. This is the vision: Zechariah 9:16-17: “The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How attractive and beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women.”

Lord, by your power, turn our average days into days where we fear you and please you and may we enjoy you forever. Amen

Cottonwood, Minnesota. So easy to be angry…so hard to forgive

Cottonwood, Minnesota is 40 miles down the road from our farm. Until this week, a typical sleepy Western Minnesota town; a good place to live. Cottonwood got world-wide attention this week. This attention came about in a most tragic way.

A school bus accident resulted in the death of four students and sent 14 other people to the hospital. As the details of the accident came out, passions were lit up on the Western Minnesota prairie. A 23 year old, illegal immigrant woman driving without a driver’s license blew through a stop sign at fairly good speed hitting the bus, causing the accident. As of today, authorities do not know her real name and country of origin. She had broken-up with her live in boyfriend and was heading to work. The woman has been charged with four counts of vehicular homicide. It may be possible that she will serve 60 years in jail.

In light of all of this, the people of the prairie are angry. What the driver did was wrong, no doubt about it. Emilee’s mom will never take pictures of her on prom night. Reed will never get a chance to play football to the cheers of his family. Hunter and Jesse will never enjoy a sunny winter’s day ride on the snowmobiles. I cannot imagine the depth of hurt for these families. I have not walked in their shoes but people who have lost children say the hurt is long-lasting and the pain cuts deeply.

The Latino community and illegal immigrants have taken the brunt of the anger. I ask a question: “Why was she here?” She probably came for economic opportunity; the same reason most of our ancestors came to America, but she came illegally. Who’s fault is that? Hers, yet politicians in America and other Latin American countries have little, if any, urgency to even attempt to solve the illegal alien problem. And, we don’t hold them accountable. Why did she leave her home country? Possibly just because she was hungry. She was willing to risk death to eat and have a low paying, menial job…

Why does America need her labor so badly? Could our own actions be the major part of the problem? Since 1973 approximately 1 million babies a year have been aborted; from 1973 to 2008, totaling approximately 35 million children. If 25% of these 35 million replace themselves, the total then moves to 42 million people. Forty-two million lives snuffed out of our economy and they were never able to go to the prom either. We sacrificed our own flesh and blood at the altar of convenience and at the altar of preserving our own flawed reputations. We sat while we murdered a generation of our people. America, our hands in this are not clean…

Because of this accident, I heard really sad things being said on the radio; things written on the internet and in local papers. What’s happening to us? Yes, what was done was, and is, and will forever be wrong. Can we forgive her?

Jesus taught His disciples to pray “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” In our rush to judgment, have we forgotten what Jesus taught us?

I’m sure some of you consider me a milk toast mush headed Bible thumper; so be it. Whether we like it or not, Jesus calls us to complete obedience to his will. He should be Lord of our whole life. If He isn’t Lord of our whole life, He is not our Lord at all. Wake up.

In our rush to condemn all illegal immigrants, remember they are children of our Heavenly Father also. While we rush to judgment, may I remind you, as a fill-in lay preacher, I have preached in over 30 different churches in West and Central Minnesota and I have yet to fine one church with a ministry to reach Latinos or Hispanic people. God forbid we would ever stir from our comfortable pews. Let’s be honest, we don’t even look at them or wave at them as we pass by on our way down the street. I must be fair, this is a two way street and the Latino community has not always been open and willing to embrace the American culture.

Brothers and sisters, if ever, now is the time to keep our head. Now is the time for committed Christians of all races and ethnic groups to rise above the anger, hate, and bitterness. We must forgive. Why? Because Jesus said so. Let’s confess our own sin of indifference. Indifference to the millions aborted, indifference to our political situation and confess our sin and indifference of sharing Christ with our neighbors and co-workers. “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.” Jesus said that, we must obey. We must do it.

Micah, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said it best in Micah 6:8: He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

We must pray for the families, the community and yes, even the woman driver. We must act justly, we must seek justice in this case and we must love mercy, like Christ has loved us. Then, yes then, we will walk humbly with our God.

A Joyous Biker Wedding

On a cold Saturday in February, my friend and Christian biker, Mike, married the wife of his dreams. For both of them, this is an answer to prayer.

Mike grew up tough in a home with a father who was a drunk. Mike’s life turned into a biker lifestyle—drugs, drinking, hell raising; riding the hog to the limit, living life to its fullest just at the edge of Hell’s door. He married and had a family; the wife left him for another. He had cancer; he sat alone in his recliner tired, fed up, depressed. Before he fell asleep, he asked Jesus to save him. He woke up the next morning and for the first time in many years, was refreshed, relieved, and optimistic; freed of the burdens of his past sin. Mike was saved!

Brenda, his new wife, works at a law firm; she’s a godly, sophisticated, beautiful woman. This is her second marriage also. Mike has often asked, “What does she see in me?” His friends remind him it’s not so much that Mike’s attractive but it is Christ working in him and through him. It’s called a transformed life for both of them; Christ has transformed their lives. Only God can put together a tough old biker with a sophisticated lady and make it work. It will work because different from their first marriages, Christ is the foundation of this marriage. They view each other as an undeserved gift from God. I’d say that’s a good foundation. Those of us who are married should view each other as a gift from God.

Mike is a member of the motorcycle club “Bond Slaves for Jesus.” This is printed in large letters on the back of their vests. The name bond slave means “ones who are slaves to another.” In their case, they are bond slaves to Jesus; they are slaves by choice. They minister to other bikers or motorcycle clubs. The club was founded in Princeton, Minnesota and is nationwide and is also in foreign countries.

For my first biker wedding, I liked it. We traditionalists could learn a lot. Christ was the center of this service not Mike and Brenda. Crusty old bikers, wearing their leathers, sat next to well coiffure women, escorted by husbands who have done quite well in the business world but guess what, all this did not matter. We were all one this day; all one in the Lord.

Communion was held at the end of the service. The Chaplain for the motorcycle club told us communion was for all--old people, young people, crippled people, people of every tribe and nation. It is the Lord’s Supper. Each of us believers must examine our hearts. Bankers and bakers and candlestick makers, bikers in colors from Minnesota and other states and Canada, sang, laughed, smiled, hugged, and worshipped the Lord. It was a little bit of Heaven for this country boy and his wife.


As people went forward for communion, I was moved to tears. The words to the song “The King is Coming” rang in my head. “Happy faces line the hallway, those whose lives have been redeemedBroken homes He has mended, those from prison He has freedLittle children and the aged hand in hand stand all a-glowWho were crippled, broken, ruined, clad in garments white as snow”

The most marvelous thing about this wedding was that seven people were saved! Now, that’s my kind of wedding! Isn’t it interesting how Jesus works? On a cold February Saturday a biker and his beautiful wife were married, Christ was worshipped, seven people were called into God’s eternal kingdom, and all of us experienced a touch of Heaven. Come quickly, Jesus, come.

Pampered Love or Perfecting Love

(Note: This blog was posted in error the end of January along with the intended blog for that day so it appeared to be a previous entry. We had planned to publish this one the first week in Feb. when we were on vacation. If you did happen to read both blogs that were listed on that day, forgive me for running it again. ~ Judi)

Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so…

What kind of love do you expect from Jesus, a pampering love? We like to be pampered don’t we? I mean He promised us a more abundant life, right? Should I not expect the best? Pamper me, Lord. I find it interesting that we like to be pampered yet Jesus had no home, or as He said it, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Matt 8:20.

We live in a time of increased expectations. We want it all, if not all, at least a little more than enough. But, I believe Jesus love is not a pampering type of love but a perfecting love.
(Hebrew 12:2-12: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.”

Job was tested. He got frustrated with all of it and in a sense, lipped off to God. God is patient but finally He had enough of it and tells Job in Job 38:1-3 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.” Brace yourself like a man…”We need to talk.” Sixty-six questions later, Job speaks in Job 42. Job said in verse 3b: “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.”

Job repents. Yes, he sees God and his life in a different light, from God’s perspective. He repents and gets right with the Lord; a perfecting love.

If you’re facing trials, don’t get angry and become embittered because you were expecting to be pampered. God has sent trials and tribulation to perfect us. He does this because He loves us and we are His. It hurts, but in the end He will take us Home to glory. (Read Ps. 73:23-24).

Lord, thank you that you have called me; I am yours. Correct me Lord but only with justice not in your anger lest you reduce me to nothing. (Jeremiah 10:24): Perfect me, Lord. Amen.

More Good News—God has a Learning Disability

Daniel 2:20-22: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.”

Yes, this is good news; God has a learning disability. God is and has been forever. God cannot learn anything because He knows everything, created everything and sustains everything. God is present everywhere; there is nothing that escapes His gaze or control. God is never surprised. God never wonders; He knows. In light of all of this, He has nothing to learn.

Everything we do, everything we create must operate under the laws of universe established by God. The Russian lunar rover was modeled after the legs of ants. Yes, ants. The legs are multi-jointed with great flexibility and strength. Scientists are also trying to duplicate the suction on the feet of a gecko. Man may think he is creative but we imitate the Master Creator; God is the Master Creator and Designer.

The Psalmist says God’s understanding has no limit. Psalm 147:4-11: “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”

The infinite all-knowing God doesn’t need or ask our opinion of things. God’s infinite knowledge is exercised for our good. At times we doubt His Sovereign Hand. We wonder, “Is He still on the throne? Is God still in control?”

I am sixty years old; I have lived long enough to know that things that occurred when I was young, things that hurt me were for my ultimate good. I will admit that, at times, these things are hard to understand. Be patient; God is refining you, making you pure gold.

A.W. Tozer said this: “With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack? Surely we are the most favored of all creatures.”

Oh Lord, our God, the God of wisdom and knowledge beyond measure. Forgive our desire to be considered wise before men who are as ignorant as ourselves. We praise you and thank you for your sovereign, all-knowing knowledge and grace found only through Jesus Christ. Amen

Of Politics and Pups and other earthly stuff – Part 2

I’m going to make a prediction. I can tell you who will be the next President of the United States. (Please do not call FOX News—we don’t need satellite uplink trucks in our yard!) Let’s approach this Biblically. Daniel 4: 17: “The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'” Daniel 4:32: "You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."
2 Chronicles 20:6: "O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you."

The next President of the United States will be…the exact person God intended. Yes, the exact person God intended. If your candidate doesn’t win, don’t pull the hair out of your head. Chill out, don’t trust in men, and trust in God who put them in their place. We live in a marvelous system; work for your candidate but if he or she is not God’s sovereign choice, relax.

This said, we as men and women get into trouble when we trust men rather than God. When Ronald Reagan was President, I was happy because I thought he was the one of the finest Presidents ever but when he was in office, Nancy Reagan was consulting astrologists. We should trust God, not men. As men we will fail one another. Don’t trust in men, trust in the God who made them and put them in place of leadership.

One other earthly thing we worry about is our health. We want good health to prolong our life. We should work towards that; the choice is ours how we get to the finish line. Psalm 139:16b says: "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." It says our days on earth were numbered before one of them came to be. We will not die one day too soon or one day too late. The Sovereign Lord has our days numbered; in many ways this is all hard to understand. Let’s make every effort to be healthy; let’s live each and every day God has given us with passion and with fire. Let’s make the most of the time God has given to us.

I think of the words of the song “What a Friend we have in Jesus;” the words in part say, “Oh what needless pain we bear.” Yes, what needless pain we bare when we worry about earthly things that God has taken care of. In John 3:12 it says: "I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?"

May we trust the Lord for these earthly things until He brings us home to be with Christ. Yes, those Heavenly things…bring on those Heavenly things.

Things we say to ourselves…

For illustration: it is early morning as you shuffle across the kitchen floor to get your first cup of hot coffee but you drop the hot coffee on your bare foot, burning your foot, breaking the cup, spraying hot coffee over the floor, the cupboards, the stove face, etc. You stand still for a moment and what do you call yourself; jerk, idiot or even worse. We say things to ourselves we would never say to anyone else.

As we stand there, we need to make a decision; should we soak your foot in ice? Should we pick up the broken cup? Should we wipe down all the coffee spills? As we do these three separate tasks, we talk to ourselves heaping more stupid, self-talk comments upon our head.

I ask you this “Is dropping a cup of hot coffee really that big of a deal?” I mean, what will it matter in one hour, one day, or one week? But in the process, we beat ourselves up about our dorkiness, clumsiness, being a klutz, whatever. Then we wonder, why do I feel downhearted?

There is much emphasis on how we treat others. That is good; but I wonder, how do we treat ourselves? I mean, how do we react to life’s situations and battles with a Christ-like attitude?

Someone once said, humility is knowing the truth about ourselves. I need to realize God orders the small things in my life. Daniel 1:9: Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel,

I need to recognize my lack of control and I need to let go of my need to control, comment or pontificate on everything that happens in my life. I need to stop making a mountain out of a molehill. When we make mountains out of molehills, it rings of self-exaltation, making ourselves a larger part of the mosaic of life than we really are. This is all a form of human pride.

We need to ask ourselves, what is the center of our life, me, myself and I or is it the Lord? I ask you what do you think about when you have nothing to think about? Whatever it is, it’s a good bet it is the center of your life.

Let’s not overstate our importance, lets not beat ourselves up saying things about ourselves we would never say about or to anyone else. Lets be humble, knowing the truth about ourselves.

Yes Lord, I’m a sinner saved by grace. Because of Christ, I’m your child. Ah, sweet, sweet Jesus. Amen.

Of politics and pups and other earthly stuff – Part I

Lily is our black lab. She had strayed to my cousin, Keith’s place and we couldn’t find the rightful owner. She ended up at our place. Lily has been a special addition here at the Seehusen farm; always happy in demeanor, always ready for a walk. She leaps for joy when she realizes we’re going for a walk.

I took her in to the vet; some work was done but we planned on spaying her later. (You can see it coming can’t you?) We didn’t get the job done in time; yes, Lily was pregnant.

Last Saturday a.m. Lily was her normal, buoyant, joyous self, somewhat slower due to the fact that she was carrying pups. She was begging for treats and needed a lot of Ol’ Jer’s attention; a typical day for a very pregnant Lily. Judi checked her at 3:30—two pups; I checked at 9:30 p.m.—nine beautiful pups! When I was cleaning up the nest, Lily was all business; no treat begging dog here; no fawning for Ol’ Jer’s attention. Inside of three hours her demeanor changed completely. She became a dedicated mom and was 100% focused on those new pups.

I marveled how great God is. By His creative genius He made all this possible. It is a thing of beauty. This mundane process of having pups makes me marvel. The instinct of the pups to seek, the mom’s instinct to protect and provide and the provision and timing of their birth, on a day when we were home and it was warm.

You may say “big deal” you’re dog had pups. I know I’m a simple country boy but I still marvel at the new birth of animals, sunrises and birds who find enough feed to make it through a cold winter. Call me simple but I still marvel. Only God could do all this; yes, only God.

Do you, as a professing Christian, believe God created and sustains all His creation? Or do you believe in evolution? Do you doubt God’s ability to create or sustain? These are all earthly things. Why should He trust us with heavenly things? Why should God bless us with heavenly things when we doubt His obvious presence in earthly things? “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” John 3:12

Friends of ours grew up in Romania under the communist system. Their families were some of the few Christian families in Romania in the 1950’s and 1960’s. They suffered for their faith. If you are a communist you must believe in evolution. Our friends believed God created them. They would tell their childhood friends who pestered them because of their belief, “You may be descended from monkeys but God created us.”

Earthly things, origins, standing up for truth; “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” John 3:12

2008 – The Bride sits…

Joshua 24:31: Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.

What happened to Israel after Joshua and the elders died? They fell into sin and disobedience. Joshua had a clear call to occupy all the land God promised to them. They only occupied part of the land God promised them. After Joshua and the elders died, the leaders thought “Hey, we’ve arrived; we live in the Land of milk and honey. This is cool, let’s just occupy and not push to occupy the rest of the land."

The assignment they were given was not completed; not completed for almost 500 years up until the time of King David. In their complacency, they forgot about their God given assignment and just loved to occupy the land.

The purpose of war is to gain victory. When victorious, we are to occupy. What’s the purpose or reason we occupy? Its purpose is to promote advancement.

We are in spiritual war; God versus the devil, good versus evil. God has equipped us for victory but before we have complete victory we decided to occupy. We rub our fat bellies and almost totally forget our assignment to advance the Kingdom of God… We love to sit and occupy.

Joshua reminded the leaders who would follow of God’s complete and total provision in Joshua 23:14 ("Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”) Every one of God’s promises has been kept/fulfilled; kept to the full. God has, God will, and will forever accomplish all His purposes and He has called us to be tools used of Him to participate in the accomplishment of our assignment. Our assignment is to take the love, hope, and freedom of Jesus Christ to the hurting world. BUT the church, the Bride of Christ, seems more interested in occupation rather than advancement. We sit because we have become aware of whom we are rather than who God is! We want our agenda not His. We are self centered, self consumed, occupied, and we love it.

The safest place for Christians to be is on the front line not sitting and protecting what we have. We must become like the first “fisherman disciples” who when they met Christ abandoned their boats. We need to pull our boats of self sufficiency, pride, and self-confidence onto the shore and burn them.

In Luke 10 Jesus commissions the 72. He sends them out and tells them “you will be like lambs among wolves.” Not a reassuring statement as wolves like to eat sheep. But the disciples come back…Luke 10:17: The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

The Lord issues the assignment and provides the means to accomplish it. Pull the boats onto the shore, burn them, and go to the front lines. For the only thing that is truly safe is what God protects. Rise up, Church. Go to war, fight until there is complete victory, never quit, occupy where you can but never be content to sit. Advancement of God’s Kingdom is our assignment. Let’s go do it! “Go into all the world…”