Not Really a Conundrum

Oh, this excites me. Every time I think of it I nearly shout, "Hallelujah." This is part of what I will share with those I preach to each Sunday:

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What I am about to ask you might seem rudimentary, but I have a good reason for asking it: Do you believe God loves you?

If ever there was a doubt about that, then all we need to do is look to Calvary’s hill. God demonstrated His unconditional love for you and me when He sent His beloved Son to die as payment for the penalty God requires of 'us' for our sins.

That penalty is death.

God’s holy justice must be satisfied – His immutable justice that requires the death of the sinner. For example, Ezekiel 18:4 – “The soul that sins shall die.” And also Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

But God is also merciful. So how can we justly juxtapose His justice and His mercy so that both His justice and His mercy are satisfied? That’s not such a conundrum. God sent His Son to die in our place. That’s why Jesus’ death is called a substitutionary atonement, a propitiary sacrifice. That’s what the Greek word translated into the English ‘propitiation’ means: A substitutionary sacrifice to appease the wrath of God. You will find that powerful truth in Romans 3:25, Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2 and 4:10.

Remember: God so loved YOU that He gave His only begotten Son, that if you believe in Christ, you would not perish, but have everlasting life.

Oh, think of it! While you and I were still sinning, Jesus died for us, to take our punishment (Romans 5:8). Why does ANYONE turn their back of such a merciful offer from the Almighty God?

Governments, Governors, and the Governed

Those who regularly read what I write know of my growing disappointment, sorrow, fear, and anger over the repugnant direction of our culture, and of a large swath of those sitting in Protestant and Catholic churches. And from time to time I am quiet enough to listen to the Lord tell me He really, really ‘is’ in control of governments, of those who govern, and of those who are governed. Of course, I quickly forget His counsel. It has always, for my nearly 50 years of walking with the Lord, it has always been too easy for me to take my eyes off the Lord and focus on the waves – and then nearly drown under the water. A few nights ago, the Lord spoke once again to me about this same subject. He reminded me of Pharaoh and his army. The pompous leader of Egypt and his army were the most feared and powerful people in the then-known world. But St Paul, quoting God’s words to Moses in Exodus 9:17-18, tells us: “For the Scripture tells Pharaoh: I raised you up for this reason so that I may display My power in you and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth. So then, He shows mercy to those He wants to, and He hardens those He wants to harden.” In other words, God elevated Pharaoh and his army ‘specifically’ to make known God’s absolute power and authority throughout not only the then-known world, but through the ages themselves – even to this very moment as you read this. Yes, God often has to remind me things are not falling apart; they are falling into place. God is still on His throne. He still orchestrates events – perhaps ‘choreographs’ is the better word – God is still choreographing governments, and those who govern, and those who are governed, to do what He decreed ages ago must and will happen, so that His name and His glory will be trumpeted throughout all time, space, and creation itself. He reminded me – and I hope to remind you – trust Him. He is the almighty and transcendent Creator who works all things after the counsel of His own will. All things. Everything. Nothing and no one – regardless of their name, their title, position, wealth, popularity, or any other temporal thing – nothing and no one is outside of God's control. Yes, every knee will bow, and every tongue will ultimately confess – Jesus Christ is Lord. All glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

If They Could, We Can

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

The word used most often in the New Testament and translated as ‘Temptation’ generally has the idea of a testing or a trial permitted or sent by God to demonstrate and to mature one's character, faith, and holiness.

For example, Romans 5:3-5 – “[W]e exult (revel, rejoice) in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Now James 1:2-4: “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” 

Contrary to what many false teachers feed their congregations, God does not promise His children born through the blood of Jesus a proverbial Rose Garden. He did not promise us a carefree, trouble-free walk through life. In fact, He promised just the opposite: “All those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3).” “It has been granted to us in Christ Jesus to not only believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake (Philippians 1),” Do not be surprised at the fiery trial which is to try you . . .” (1 Peter 4).

But in it all and through it all, Jesus promised to walk WITH us. He promised He would not permit us to be tried or tested above what He knows each of us are able to endure – and would provide us the means to escape so that we will be able to endure it.  But – and this is important –sometimes the means of escape is His empowerment to cheerfully and obediently carry our cross even to our own Calvary Hill.

Speaking of Calvary, the prayer of our Lord in the Gethsemane garden is among the best known and most oft quoted passages in the New Testament. And that’s why it’s so very possible to gloss over the utter anguish that frames this scene.

The Lord Jesus told His closest friends, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death.”  A moment later He looked toward heaven and used the most intimate form of address for ‘Father.’ He said ‘Abba.’  

We would say, ‘Daddy.’ 

“Please remove this cup from me. But I choose your will over mine. Do with me what you wish. I place myself into your hands.”

Listen! Jesus was scared. ‘Terrified’ is probably more accurate. 

We’re told in another place His sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Medical science calls it ‘hematidrosis’ – an uncommon, yet not unknown physiological response to extreme physical or emotional stress. 

Jesus is our example of how to live, and even how to die. We know it intellectually. We hear it from pulpits and read it in literature. Most of us have no difficulty understanding that concept. 

But have tears ever crushed you to your knees? Has gut-wrenching fear or loss ever shaken you to your core? If so, you can better understand the profound level of trust Jesus had in His Abba – His ‘Daddy.’

Yes, Jesus is our example of how to live, and how to die. But only through the supernatural aid of God can that intellectual concept become a living reality in our life. 

That is why, on this weekend of All Saints Day, I want to remind us of some of the giants of faith on whose shoulders we stand – many of whom endured terrible trials – but through them all, God walked with them and strengthened them to see their trials through to the end.

The first I want to mention are the 40 Roman soldiers who died a slow and torturous death for their faith. In the winter of 320 AD in Armenia, the 40 had given their hearts to Jesus. Shortly thereafter the Roman governor demanded of all his troops to make an offering to Roman gods. When he learned of the 40, he threatened them with execution unless they recanted their faith in Jesus.

When the men still refused to bow to false gods, the governor – probably to save face before his own superiors, futilely offered them money and imperial honors. Finally, he threatened them with torments and torture, but the 40 responded:

“You offer us money that remains behind and glory that fades away. You seek to make us friends of the Emperor but alienate us from the true King. We desire one gift, the crown of righteousness. We are anxious for one glory, the glory of the heavenly kingdom. We love honors, those of heaven. You threaten fearful torments and call our godliness a crime, but you will not find us fainthearted or attached to this life or easily stricken with terror. For the love of God, we are prepared to endure any kind of torture.”

The enraged governor had the men stripped naked and herded to the middle of a frozen lake. He set soldiers around the perimeter to prevent any from escaping. Hoping to weaken their resolve, he placed baths of hot water at the shore and told them they could come into the hot baths when they were ready to deny their faith. In the end, one of the forty weakened, came off the ice, and got into a warm bath.

But the climax to this story occurred when one of the guards on shore saw the soldier desert. He threw off his clothes and ran to join the naked ones on the ice, shouting aloud, “I am a Christian!”

The second faithful Christian we must know about is Father Ragheed Ganni. In 2007, after celebrating Mass in a small town in Iraq, several armed men demanded he close the church. Ganni replied, "How can I close the house of God?" The gunmen then demanded he and the three deacons with him convert to Islam. When they refused, they were immediately gunned down.

The third martyr we need to know about died in 1999 during the Columbine High School massacre. Two young male students rampaged through the school, randomly murdering everyone they saw. Seventeen-year-old Rachel Scott knew both young men hated Christians. One found her hiding under a table in the cafeteria and pointed his weapon at her face. He asked if she was a Christian. Rachel knew her confession of faith in Christ would be the last words she ever spoke. But she confessed Christ anyway. He killed her on the spot. 

Not every saint of God dies a martyr’s death, or suffers through decades of trials. Most Christians live quietly and virtually unknown by those around them. They are like the impoverished widow who put her two pennies into the offering plate at the temple. They are like Naomi in the story of Ruth – Naomi, who lost her husband and two sons, but still placed her life into the hands of the God of heaven. They are like Job, the man who in one day lost his fortune, his children, and his health – and yet proclaimed through his anguish, “It is still my consolation, and I rejoice in unsparing pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One” (Job 6:10).

God promises to not give us anything that will destroy us. Yes, circumstances of life may take our health, our family, our finances, even our life – but none of those things mean God has left us alone. Quite the opposite. The mean God is purifying us, molding us more closely into the image of Jesus.

If the forty Roman soldiers could stand for Jesus in the face of death, if Fr. Ganni and the three deacons with him could stand for Jesus in the face of death, if Rachel Scott could stand for Jesus in the face of death – then WE can stand for Jesus, by the same Holy Spirit who empowered them to stare death in the face.

Trust Him. God will always empower you and me to do whatever is necessary to bring honor and glory to His Name. Yes, trust Him. He is always faithful to His word.

Don't Fear Confession

I recently heard an encouraging homily. The deacon proclaimed God’s truth with kindness and hope and reassurance. His theme was our need for confession, to see our sins wiped clean from our conscience. 

The homilist suggested it is usually our fear of God that keeps us from the confessional. And that confused me.

Why would anyone be afraid of confession? It’s not like God doesn’t know where we’ve been and what we’ve done and how often we’ve done whatever it is we did. But that’s precisely why God gave us the gift of confession so we might be reconciled again to Him. That we might be forgiven. A spotless slate. Not a molecule of any confessed sin remaining to stain our soul. 

Forgiveness is why Jesus died in our place – so we could forever trust God’s vow to forgive the penitent sinner: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) 

Forgiveness is why the Holy Spirit moved the apostle John to write: “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.” (1 John 2:28) 

Are you abiding in Christ to the best of your human ability? Then you have nothing to shrink from, nothing to fear by coming to Him in honest confession. Do you sometimes fall back into bad habits, or stumble in your walk with Jesus? 

God’s promise of forgiveness is inviolable. No one has anything to fear by coming to Him in honest confession.

Our Father in heaven loves you. He demonstrated that love toward you in that while you were still sinning, Christ died for you (see Romans 5:8 below). And He continues to demonstrate His love toward you because when you come to Him in honest confession, He removes your confessed sin as far as east is from west (see Psalm 103, below). 

Please don’t be afraid of confession. By faith, simply receive God’s gift to us to be once again reconciled to Himself and enter into the joy of our salvation.

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Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”



Psalm 103:8-12 “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

I Did Not Change Religions

Many times in the past 47 years – and as recently as yesterday – I’ve been introduced to others as someone who used to be Jewish but is now a Christian. And each time – as recently as yesterday – I quickly corrected the misconception. I did not change religions in December 1972 when God showed me in my Jewish Bible that Jesus is the Messiah. I did not change religions. I simply dove deeper into the faith into which I’d been born and educated. Actually, and unknown to most Gentiles who are Christians, when they originally confessed their sins to Christ and followed Him in baptism, they BECAME part of God’s Israel. They became, as it were, “Jews.” Rabbi Paul of Tarsus talks about that in his letter to the Christians at Galatia (Galatians 6). He speaks of it again in Romans 9 and Ephesians 2. And Messiah Jesus speaks of it in John 10. If you are a Jewish follower of Messiah Jesus, keep walking toward the New Jerusalem. If you are a Gentile follower of Jesus the Messiah – keep walking toward the New Jerusalem. According to the prophets Isaiah (chapter 25) and Ezekiel (chapter 47) – to name only a few – a great Jewish feast awaits us all. Oh, Lord Jesus, come quickly. We hunger to sit and dine with You.

Guest Post

Les is a fellow servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike me (a Catholic), Les is a Lutheran. He just posted this and gave me permission to share it. I am including my comment to him in reply:
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I'm not sure you can find a denomination where Satan has not made inroads to one degree or another -- even in the Catholic Church, as I have mentioned several times in the past couple of years, and especially recently at the Vatican.

St. Paul spoke of such things in 2 Cor 11:13-15 "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds."

Stay faithful, my brother. Follow Jesus even if it means to the cross. He is in the process of separating the sheep from the goats, and clerical garb is not necessarily synonymous with holiness.

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Les writes:

The Lutheran Church has lost its mind. It has lost its moral compass. It has no right to call it a church of Christ. Its most famous pastor promotes sexual immorality.

I recently received an email from Kevin Strickland, the bishop of region 9 for the ELCA. In the email, it said the Lutheran Church passed a social statement titled, “Faith, Sexism, and Justice: a call to Action” The aim of the resolution and the regional 9 bishops’ call for a “Bishops’ Relational Agreement for Boundaries” is to level the playing field for women in the church. It advocates equal pay as well as respect and dignity for women in the ministry. It also goes on to state that patriarchy is a sin. That in itself is humorous as God instituted patriarchy in the Old Testament and Paul confirmed it, but let’s not let the bible interfere with the ELCA social statement or my post.

What absurd hypocrisy! The most famous Evangelical Lutheran pastor in America is Nadia Bolz-Weber. She has been interviewed by the press world-wide, has had numerous appearances on CNN, and was even was highlighted at a Ted Talk. She has a best-selling book called, “Shameless.” In the book she advocates a sexual revolution in the ELCA. She advocates consuming hard-core porn. It you are offended by hard-core porn, she says there is an ethical porn alternative.

This woman advocates watching woman being reduced to sex toys without a brain. The only lines they have to remember is a groan or moan. Porn teaches young men and boys that girls will take their clothes off the minute a man walks into the room. 60 minutes did a segment on how porn influence the attitudes of young men when they enter college. The men’s only exposure to women has been through porn so many of them assumed that during the first date, the girl would jump in the back seat and say, “I am ready for sex.” Is it any wonder the Lutheran Church has a problem with sexism? Porn dehumanizes women. It makes them look like idiots. It makes them look like slaves to men.

Porn also promotes drug use. Women in porn find it easier to perform while on drugs. They moan better and don’t suffer the immediate moments of regret after a scene.

Pastor Weber found out about a movement encouraging chastity called the Chastity Movement. A young girl will make a promise to God to not have sex until she marries. She then will wear a chastity ring. Weber was outraged. She encouraged the young women to break their promise to God and mail in their rings. When she had enough rings, she melted them down and poured it into a mold of a vagina; I guess it is the modern day golden calf. She then gave the vagina to Gloria Steinem at a women’s liberation awards banquet. She has been quoted as saying that it is okay to have sex with anyone, any time, at any place, as long as it is not with a dog or a child.

How can an organization that promotes gender equality and respect at the same time promote the debasement of women? How does that work? Outside of keeping a woman tied up in the basement, porn has to be the worst thing to happen to them. They look like half-wits/morons with curvy bodies. If the church was serious about getting respect for women, it would encourage women to not appear in porn. It would launch a movement to eliminate porn but for obvious reasons, that won’t happen. As a side note, a majority of porn is now produced by women so the argument that men trick women into acting in porn is mute.

The ELCA is in desperate need of a Martin Luther!

Tonight is Halloween

Tonight is Halloween. Originally the Holy Day (yes, it used to be a Holy Day) was called All Hallows’ Eve – the night before All Saints Day, which occurs tomorrow on November 1.

All Saints' Day (also known as Hallowmas, the Feast of All Saints, or Solemnity of All Saints) is a Christian celebration to honor all the saints in Church history, known and unknown. It is celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Methodist Church, the Church of the Nazarene, the Lutheran Church, the Reformed Church, and other Protestant churches.

I searched the internet for information about the martyrs who’ve died for their faith.  Currently across the globe, more than 200 million Christians are threatened because of their faith. One report notes that there have been more Christian martyrs in the 20th and 21st centuries than in the preceding 19 centuries — going back to Jesus Christ’s time on earth.

One of my favorite stories of the martyrs to be commemorated tonight and on All Saints Day tomorrow is of the forty Roman soldiers, known as the Forty Brave Soldiers for Jesus. You can listen to their story in song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXgEzauXUdc&t=109s

Halloween was NEVER about ghouls and ghosts and witches and goblins – creatures which are the enemies of the Second Person of the Trinity. Halloween was originally about Christian devotion to Jesus Christ, and a commemoration of those giants of faith -- many of whom were martyred for their faith, on whose shoulders we stand today.

How I wish, oh, ESPECIALLY in this day of rapidly growing apostasy and a turning away from Scripture – how I wish every Christian, and every church in America that claims the title of Christian, would encourage their congregants to remember our forefathers in the faith in more honorable ways than many will do tonight.

The Holy Spirit Today

"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) 

The Lord Jesus, before His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, told His disciples: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper [Paraclete – comforter, advocate, Someone to always stand with you], that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

Many Christians often think of the Holy Spirit only in relationship to the Day of Pentecost when He filled the 120 disciples in that upper room, and they began glorifying God with other tongues. We find that event in Acts chapter two. But God the Holy Spirit is much more than we see in Acts 2. Here are only a few examples of His role on earth and in the life of the child of God:

The Holy Spirit participated in the creation days of Genesis chapters one and two. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3).

Look back to the clause where Moses described the Holy Spirit as ‘hovering’ over the surface of the waters. The Hebrew word Moses used for hovering – ‘moving,’ in some translations – can also be translated as “brooding,” as an eagle broods over, protects, and cherishes her young in the nest.

Do you feel loved? Do you feel protected? Do you feel cherished by God? I hope so. But please also remember, we do not live by our feelings. We live by faith in what God says to us in His holy word – words such as these in Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” Or this beautiful text from Psalm 139: 

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalm 139:1-16, NLT)

Please listen: When God tells us He cherishes us, that He loves us, that He is always protecting us, believe it because God cannot lie. Cannot. Lie. God has given to each of His children the inexpressibly wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit to be our comforter, Someone to always stand with us.

And don’t think for a nanosecond the Holy Spirit is not right now brooding over you, wherever you might be reading this. God the Holy Spirit hovers over us to protect, to nurture us, to love us, and to gather us under His wings.

Another role of the Holy Spirit is, in the words of Jesus, to “convince the world of its sin, and of the availability of God’s goodness, and of deliverance from judgment.” (John 16:7-8, TLB)

If you are a child of God through the blood of Jesus, you are His child because of the Holy Spirit’s work in your heart years and years ago to convince you of your sins – and at the same time to reveal to you God’s willingness to forgive every one of those sins – regardless of how egregious they were. It was the Holy Spirit who taught you how you could be completely and forever delivered from God’s wrathful judgment against us for those sins.

And the Holy Spirit also empowers us to co-labor with Him, to reach out to those who still live away from His nurturing and comfort. Jesus gives us the inexplicable privilege to go with Him in His Name into all the world and make disciples of all peoples, races, languages, cultures, and backgrounds. That’s the message of Isaiah 61: 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners . . . To comfort all who mourn . . .

This passage of Scripture does not only apply to the Lord Jesus, or His apostles, or the pastors and shepherds and teachers. It applies to every Christian because every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit who has commanded us – and has empowered us – to go into all the world.

The Holy Spirit gives you and me the authority to bring good news to sin-sickened souls, the good news that God loves them – regardless of their sins. We bring them the good news that He wants to forgive them and give them a new heart and a new spirit and a new soul. A clean slate. He wants to write their names in His book of life.

Think for a moment what that means. We can bind the wounds of the brokenhearted, give them good news that can free the prisoners from sin’s chains through the blood of Jesus. We can comfort those who mourn – those who mourn their losses – their lost years, lost opportunities, lost loved ones, lost chances.

And there is still more. The Holy Spirit leads us into truth. God’s truth. The only truth which can free us from the subtle and deadly chains of satanic deception vomited hourly from sources of news, entertainment, politics, and education. The Holy Spirit tells us of God’s inerrant and eternal truth.

You may remember Pilate’s question of Jesus as the Lord stood before him at the trial. Here is how John records it: “Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him” (John 18:37-38).

We’ve all heard the proverb, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.” Likewise, the Holy Spirit leads us to His eternal truth preserved for us in the Holy Scriptures, but we have a responsibility to receive AND obey that truth.

God help us to not do as Pilate did – ask God a question and not wait for His answer. God help us to not be as those of whom St. Paul wrote, “[W]anting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4.)

And finally, for today’s message, just as Death’s grip could not hold the Lord Jesus in the grave, Death will not hold you, either. It is the Holy Spirit who will resurrect from death all those who have, in this life, loved and served Jesus. Here is what God tells us through the apostle Paul: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)

This song written by Jeremy Camp, speaks to that glorious truth. Here are some of the lyrics (The Same Power):

The same power that rose Jesus from the grave,
The same power that commands the dead to wake
Lives in us, lives in us.
The same power that moves mountains when He speaks,
The same power that can calm a raging sea,
Lives in us, lives in us.

Greater is He that is living in me
He's conquered our enemy
No power of darkness
No weapon prevails
We stand here in victory

Christian, listen: God the Holy Spirit is not done with us yet. He still has a mission for us to accomplish. Whatever our age, whatever our health, whatever our limitations – the Holy Spirit still specializes in meeting the needs of multitudes with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread.

Let’s stay with Him in His holy work.

An Old Lady's Poem

I teach nursing in a local BSN program. Yesterday I read to them this poem, written by an old woman before she died in a nursing home. Please read it now. I will make a comment or two afterward.


An Old Lady's Poem

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice the things that you do,
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe.....
Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill....
Is that what you're thinking? Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse; you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten ...with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at twenty -- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.


At twenty-five now, I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide and a secure happy home.
A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.
At fifty once more, babies play round my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead;
I look at the future, I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and the love that I've known.

I'm now an old woman ...and nature is cruel;
'Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years ....all too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, nurses, open and see,
Not a crabby old woman; look closer ...see ME!!

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I often ask my students – many of them in their 20s – how long will it be until they are 60. When I asked them yesterday, they told me 40 years. I told them they are wrong. It will be about four weeks. 


Those of you reading this, if you are already in your later years of 50s and 60s, you know ‘four weeks’ is about right.  You can think back so clearly to incidents that occurred in your life decades ago, many of which seem to have occurred only a few weeks ago.


When I spoke to them yesterday, I wrote on the whiteboard “Ecclesiastes” and told them they can find it in the Old Testament. It’s a short book. Only twelve very brief chapters. It won't take more than 15-20 minutes to read. But it’s something everyone – In their twenties, thirties, sixties, even to their nineties – everyone should read at least once a year. And they should not overlook the last chapter.


Please, you who are now reading this, hear me. One day, if we live to old age, every one of us will stare at the reflection in the mirror and wonder where the decades have gone.  So fast. So soon.


Please, before you get there, I hope you will pay very close attention to what Solomon wrote in chapter 12 of Ecclesiastes:


“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them” . . . The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13)

Something to Provoke Thought

I’m preparing one of my Bible studies for next week. As I was putting it together, I thought to post this section to provoke some thought.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)

a. How is the principle of this text similar to the opening verses of this chapter (chapter 14): “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also”?

b. What is the source of the peace Jesus speaks of here?

c. Now see John 16:33 “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

d. How does all this compare with St. Paul’s words to the Christians at Philippi? “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

e. What daily practices can you employ to better sense the peace Scripture speaks of here?

What are we Building?

“For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. (1 Corinthians 3:6-13, HCSB)

Last week we looked at how God uses us to plant and water His seed in others. (See this link). Today we ask ourselves what we are building into the lives of others, and into our own life. What are we doing with what He has entrusted to us? 

St. Paul wrote, “No one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. And you’d think Christians would accurately teach the central doctrines of Christian theology when we work to build godliness into the lives of others. But even people with the best intentions can have their theological blind spots. And that’s why it’s essential that we not only be aware that WE might have some blind spots, but that our teachers may also have theirs.

In other words, we should trust our pastors and teachers – but we should also test what they tell us against the inerrant word of God and the historic teaching of the Church. 

There is good scriptural support for this kind of ‘trust but verify’ method. For example, when Paul and his Silas were run out of Thessalonica, they went to Berea to present them with the same message of truth, righteousness, judgment, and repentance. The Bereans listened – and then verified – what Paul and Silas were telling them. Here is how Luke records it: “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11) 

If the Bereans thought it prudent to search the Scriptures to verify St. Paul’s teaching, then who today – regardless of their titles, positions, or their educational training – has the right to take umbrage with anyone who wants to test what they teach with the Scriptures and the historic teaching of the Church? 

Here are two examples of (I am sure, innocent) theological blind spots that illustrate the importance of being like the Bereans: 

In the preface to the text of 1 Timothy, the editors of the New American Standard Bible (Harvest House, copyright 1995) stated this: “Paul wrote to his beloved son in the faith an epistle that would become a legacy for the church, and a pillar and support of the truth.” 

I’m not sure why the editorial board altered the actual words Paul used in this letter to Timothy, but here is what the apostle actually wrote in 1 Timothy 3:15 – “I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

In other words, Paul said the CHURCH is the pillar and support of the truth – not his letter, which the editors claimed. Their theological blind spot caused them to get it wrong. But readers wouldn’t know that without researching the Scriptures.

Another example: When I was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, I attended a communion service held by one of the Army chaplains. As he held aloft the communion bread, he told us, “Jesus said, this is a symbol of my Body.”

I thought I had misheard him. But I did not. Let me assure you, Jesus did not say, “This is a symbol of my Body.” What Jesus DID say during the Last Supper was, “This IS my body.” (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24). But unless those of us sitting in that communion service had searched the Scriptures, we would not know the chaplain had (innocently, again I am sure) spoken from his theological blind spot.

God wants to build our lives around Jesus the Cornerstone and on the firm foundation of the Scriptures. The cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of a brick building. All other bricks will be set in reference to that stone, thereby determining the position and the angles of the structure. 

Without a properly placed cornerstone, the entire structure will be unstable. If we hope to build godliness into the lives of others – and into our own life – we must stay within the framework given us by God – Jesus the Cornerstone, from which and around which we construct our spiritual life on the foundation of the Scriptures. 

Notice what the Lord Jesus said about foundations: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”  (Matthew 7:24-27).

Since Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, it is theologically sound to extrapolate from this text in Matthew to mean our life-stability rests squarely not only on His Sermon in chapters five through seven, but on the message of the entire Old and New testaments. Therein lay God’s truth. Pure, inerrant, salvific truth. Therein only are the building blocks of a godly life. 

The foundation upon which we must build a stable spiritual structure is pretty straightforward. The apostles repeatedly make that case that we must live obediently to Jesus who is almighty God in the flesh of a man; That He was born of the virgin, as prophesied by Isaiah; That He lived a perfectly sinless life, and then became our substitutionary sacrifice by which His bloody death satisfied God’s wrath toward us because of our sins. 

Scriptures teach us again and again that Jesus alone is the doorway to heaven. No one comes to the Father except through Him. No one can have his or her sins pardoned except with His blood. No one. 

It’s all about God’s unchangeable foundation of truth.

But for the past 2000 years, and right up to this very day, some have tried to corrupt the gospel message to build their own version of truth. 

For example, many people – even church-goers – believe and teach that Jesus is NOT the only door to heaven. Some, even pastors, will tell you all you need to be assured of heaven is to be good to others. I’ve heard some pastors teach that hell is not a place of fiery torment. It is simply eternal separation from God. Others say that God has thrown Israel aside and replaced it with the Church. Even a well-known Atlanta pastor teaches his congregation it is no longer necessary or even wise to use the Old Testament as a source for Christian faith. 

Do you see why it is important to not only have a good working knowledge of the Scriptures, but also the historical teaching of the church dating to the days of the apostles? The Lord Jesus said when blind guides lead the blind, both fall into a pit. (Luke 6:39). 

I started this message quoting Paul’s admonition to the Christians at Corinth: For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.

What are you building in others, and in yourself? What materials are you using? Most everyone reading this knows from hard experience, life is far too short and far too fragile to build our lives on unstable foundations. 

May God help us to always build uncompromisingly around Jesus as the only cornerstone of true and salvific faith, and the Scriptures as our only foundation that will give us stability in the darkest storms.

Lifting up Jesus

So, I’m reading this morning in John’s gospel, and this verse stopped me: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32).  Almost immediately, another verse injected itself from my memory: “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”  (1 Corinthians 2:2).



In other words, Richard, don’t lift up your church. Lift up Jesus. Don’t lift up your pastor. Lift up Jesus. Only in lifting up Jesus will He draw to Himself all who still hunger and thirst for righteousness.