FROM THE PASTURE

THE STORY OF RUTH IN THE KEY OF "F"

2010-09-17T14:32:00.002-05:00

As I have been teaching through Ruth, I have been giving a weekly synopsis of the entire plot. I've used different methods (including a song to the tune of the theme song from Gilligan's Island). As I started writing this one I notice my first sentence had several words starting with "F" so I just kept going ...

Facing a famine, a fearful family failed to find food, so they said farewell to their friends. Elimelech forfeited his fortune and fields to flee to a foreign land. His family, including Naomi, followed forth. They found a flawed foreign culture where their faith wasn’t feasible. The two feeble sons married foreign females, which was forbidden. There were three frightful fatalities of the men, and after a few funerals, Naomi and Ruth, two forlorn females, fled back to Bethlehem.

The females had to fend for themselves and were famished. They faced a frugal future, so Ruth found food by following a few folks into the fields. Fortunately, she also found favor in the field of Boaz, a fabulous farmer. It was no fluke that he was fond of her and more than fair; so he fed her full with free food.

Naomi figured that Boaz was fated to be a family kinsman, and could free up the family’s forfeited fields with his finances. She framed a plan to get the fine fragranced Ruth in front of him. During a festival Ruth followed the flow of farmers to find Boaz. Following the feasting Ruth finally found him asleep on the threshing floor.

He woke up a bit fazed to find a female at his feet. She focused on the farmer and finally found the fortitude to frame the fateful question, “I have feelings for you; will you favor me as my fiancé?” He fired back his fervent reply, “Fantastic!” But then he frowned with frustration and said “Another fellow has first family foreclosure rights. But don’t fear, I’ll fix it.” The other fellow didn’t fight. He favored the fields, but not the female, so he forfeited the farm with no fuss. Finally the fair Ruth and faithful Boaz formed a fine family. God favored them with a son who was fated to fulfill God’s future in the fullness of time as foretold by a few prophets. This isn’t a fictitious fable about the fickle finger of fate. It is a factual story of our Father’s Faithful favor toward us. He frees us from a frightful future by fixing our failures and flaws forever through His forgiveness!

Okay, I know that deserves an "F" but frankly, friends, it was fabulous fun to formulate!

RUTH AND BOAZ: MIDNIGHT AT THE THRESHING FLOOR

2010-09-01T20:54:00.002-05:00

The evening air was chilled as Ruth covered her face and followed the sound of the noise and the smell of the smoke toward the threshing floor. It wasn’t hard to find because it was on the highest hill outside Bethlehem. As she looked around to make sure nobody recognized her she remembered the instructions Naomi had drilled into her head earlier that afternoon.

“Don’t let anyone see you. Wait until all the men have finished threshing the grain and have had their food and drink. When you see Boaz, watch where he lies down, but don’t go to him yet. Let him fall asleep and then when it’s dark, make your way to him. Lift his cloak off his feet and then lie down there.” Ruth had memorized every word, but when Naomi stopped Ruth had asked, “What do I do next?” Naomi smiled and said, “He’ll tell you what to do.”

That uncertainty was driving Ruth crazy. What WOULD he tell her to do? Would he say, “Get out of here, girl. Don’t you know nice girls don’t come to the threshing floor at night?” Would he try to take advantage of her? Would he just laugh at her and ignore her and go back to sleep? The uncertainty was killing her.

Three hours later Ruth was shivering behind the rock outcropping. She glanced toward the threshing floor and saw the fires were dying down and it was all quiet. Silently, she made her way through the rocks, being careful not to dislodge them and make a noise that would awaken the men. Finally, she reached the threshing floor and her nerves were tingling. So many questions remained. For a moment, she had the urge to turn around and run back to Naomi. She would just have to be content to glean grain as any other beggar. But her reluctance was soon replaced with a sense of resolve. She had trusted the God of Israel to protect her. She had asked Him to give her a husband. There were many to choose from, but only Boaz qualified as a kinsman-redeemer who could save her family.

Finally she arrived at Boaz’s feet. He was snoring gently as he lay there covered by his thick cloak. Ruth thought, “this seems crazy, but I’ll do what Naomi said.” She quietly bent down and grabbed the bottom of the cloak and gently folded it up until Boaz’ feet were exposed. Then Ruth curled herself on the hard ground at Boaz's feet. It seemed like hours before she heard Boaz move and then wake up. Ruth couldn’t sleep because she was so nervous as she rehearsed the words she hoped to say when Boaz awoke. It was so cold she would have thought he would have noticed his feet were cold before now. Finally he rolled over and sat up. In the dim light saw Ruth curled at his feet. He said in a loud whisper, “Whoah! What’s going on? Who in the world are you?” Ruth sat up. This was the moment. This would determine her future. She breathed a prayer asking Yahweh for strength. She said, “I am Ruth, your servant girl….” She paused for a moment and finally blurted out, “Please, Master Boaz, I desperately need a redeemer and a husband. Will you place your cloak of protection over me? Will you be my redeemer and husband?” She held her breath as she waited for his reply. The seconds seemed liked hours. She looked up at Boaz and he was rubbing his eyes. He said, “Am I dreaming this? Ruth, is that really you? It is! May God bless you, girl! You have shown me more kindness than I could have expected. There are plenty of younger men who would love to marry you, but I am humbled and honored that you would have me. Don’t be afraid, I will marry you and take care of you.”

She couldn’t believe her ears! He had said, “Yes!” She was swooning with delight when she heard him say, “But there is one problem ….”

“That’s it.” She thought, “I knew there was no way this could happen.”

Boaz continued, “There is another man who is a closer relative. But I will speak to him. If he doesn’t choose to be your goel, then as sure as the Lord lives, I will be your redeemer!”

Boaz told Ruth to sleep there for the rest of the evening. He covered her with his cloak and slept at a discreet distance from her. Ruth fell asleep dreaming of a wedding.

After several hours of blissful sleep, she felt someone gently shaking her, and she opened her eyes to see the smile of Boaz. He said, “Be quiet, my love. We don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression, so why don’t you return home before people arrive? And here, take a full load of grain home for you and Naomi. I promise that you’ll hear from me today about this matter.”

Ruth skipped home with her cloak full of grain and her heart full of hope singing, “Please, God, make a way!”

And God made a way.

And God can make a way for you.

OBAMA'S BUDGET - He's baaaaaaaaaack

2010-02-13T10:23:00.002-06:00

Last year I raised the alarm about President Obama's budget proposal that would penalize those who make the largest gifts to charity.

At the time there was a groundswell of opposition to the idea, and it seems that it had died.

Well, it's back.

Read this editorial and let your voice be heard once again:

WHITE HOUSE BUDGET CUT TO CHARITABLE DEDUCTION ALARMS PHILANTHROPISTS AND NON-PROFITS

The Obama administration’s fiscal 2011 budget proposes cutting the tax deduction for charitable donations, alarming both philanthropists and non-profits across the country.

The White House is expecting to collect an additional $291 billion over the next decade by reducing the write-off for families earning over $250,000 despite the fact Congress roundly rejected such a measure last year. While the administration is portraying this as a populist move, experts have said the end result will be a significant blow to charities and non-profits already reeling in the midst of the recession.

“It’s frankly surprising to see this proposal come back this year, it was very controversial last year,” said Tom Riley, vice president for communications at the Philanthropy Roundtable. “This of all times isn’t the time to take actions that would discourage charitable giving. The need for non-profits hasn’t been higher for a generation.”

Roberton Williams, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center said the rule change would make it about 10 percent more expensive for individuals affected to donate to charity. He estimated that would correspond to a $10 billion drop in donations out of the $300 billion Americans give annually.

“From the perspective of charities, they’re in a tough time right anyway,” Williams said. “Some charities have been seeing a drop-off in donations and charities themselves that have endowments are seeing a drop-off in return from investments. It’s a double whammy.”

Last year the Obama administration defended the move, claiming that the $100 million included in the Recovery Act for charities and non-profits would help cover the gap, along with the natural rise in donations following the economic recovery. Those arguments will be even tougher to make this year with the country still mired in double-digit unemployment and no second stimulus for charities in the works.

“I think that can be a naive view, that charities will be specifically helped by getting potential government dollars instead of private dollars they are getting right now,” Riley said. “The idea that private money will be replaced by growth that may or may not happen, government programs that may or may not happen, seems at best a risky bet.”

The cut is targeted to include families that are the largest donors to charitable organizations. Riley pointed out that many members of Congress united with the philanthropic community last year to defeat the measure and he expects a similar outcry this year. Among the most vocal critics on the Hill last year was Sen. John Thune, South Dakota Republican. If the proposal fails, the Obama administration will be forced to look for other savings to avoid tacking another $300 billion onto the already multi-trillion dollar medium-term deficits.

“I think people in charitable world are going to be very alarmed to see this come back,” Riley said. “We thought this was a battle of ideas that had been won.”

If you still think this is a bad idea, contact everyone you know in Washington!

Comments: email me at dod@mail.gabc.org

The OTHER September 11th Attack

2009-10-30T19:25:00.002-05:00

September 11 is an important date in our history. On September 11, a foreign enemy attacked America’s largest seaport. There was smoke and fire that obscured the horrible loss of life from the explosions.

But I’m not talking about September 11, 2001, I’m talking about September 11, 1814. British sea forces started bombarding Ft. McHenry at Baltimore, Maryland, America’s largest seaport at the time. It is called the War of 1812, and most Americans don’t realize how close we came to surrendering our tenuous independence that had been won only thirty years earlier.

Three weeks earlier, British General Robert Ross made a tactical error. Instead of attacking Baltimore immediately, he attacked Washington D.C. which had only 8,000 residents, half of whom were slaves. There was little resistance, and the British captured Washington easily. President James Madison had fled earlier in the day, but Dolly Madison had remained at the White House setting her huge table with forty places for what she hoped would be a victory banquet. She stayed until she saw the British soldiers approaching the White House. As she fled, she quickly took a painting of George Washington down from the wall, cutting it from its frame and an original copy of the Declaration of Independence.

The enemy soldiers entered the White House and found the table set for a banquet with food in the kitchen. General Ross and his officers sat down and enjoyed a sumptuous meal, courtesy of the First Lady. Then they set fire to the White House and other public buildings. Dolly Madison watched from a nearby hillside as our nation’s capital burned.

However, the very next day, an unusual weather phenomenon occurred. Although hurricanes seldom make landfall around Washington, a violent hurricane roared ashore and two hours of torrential rain and winds extinguished the fires, and the White House wasn’t completely destroyed. Tornadoes spawned by the hurricane killed more British soldiers than the battle of Washington itself!

The weather was so bad that General Ross decided to leave Washington rather than occupy it. As he was leaving he asked an American lady: "Great God, Madam! Is this the kind of storm to which you are accustomed in this infernal country?" The lady answered, "No, Sir, this is a special interposition of Almighty God to drive our enemies from our city."

Indeed, you won’t read this in the history books, but that storm probably turned the tide and made the difference between defeat and victory in the War of 1812. Had Washington burned to ground and the British troops not been decimated by the storm, we might be loyal subjects of Queen Elizabeth to this day! But God intervened.

Then General Ross moved what was left of his troops north toward Baltimore. On the fateful date of 9/11, (September 11, 1814) he launched the attack on the final American stronghold of Fort McHenry that guarded the Baltimore harbor. He sent orders for the ships in the harbor to start shelling the Fort. On the next day, September 12, General Ross was fatally wounded by an American teenage sniper as he led his troops. Ross was carried to a ship for medical attention and died there.

Meanwhile, a lawyer from Baltimore who was also a published hymn writer had rowed out under a flag of truce to one of the British ships to discuss a prisoner exchange with the British officers. He successfully negotiated the exchange, but because the bombardment of the Fort had commenced since he had boarded the ship, he wasn’t allowed to sail back toward Baltimore.

It was a fierce attack on Fort McHenry. The British Navy was the strongest in the world and had the most modern weapons of the time. They fired over 1500 shots at Fort McHenry including the new Congreve Rockets that left red trails of sparks as they streaked through the sky. ("the rockets’ red glare") The ship cannons shot bombs with delayed fuses that often exploded in the sky before they reached the target ("the bombs bursting in air").

The commander of Ft. McHenry was Major George Armisted. He realized the importance of this battle for the future of the young nation. So to inspire his troops, he had ordered a huge battle flag to fly over the fort. It was 40 feet long and 32 feet wide - with fifteen stars and fifteen stripes to represent the 15 young states. To give you a feel for the size of the flag, each red and white stripe was 2 feet wide.

The young lawyer and hymn writer was forced to watch the terrible bombardment from the British ship in the harbor. After sunset as night fell, he caught glimpses of the huge flag. Throughout the night it was often obscured by the smoke of the bombing. He watched the rockets red glare and the bombs bursting in air, and he wondered if there would even be a fort, or a flag, or a nation by the next morning. Because of the constant bombing, it was impossible to sleep, so early the next morning the young hymn writer, whose name was Francis Scott Key, rushed to the rail of the ship to see the damage.

The early eastern sun illuminated the fort and as the gentle breeze blew the smoke away, there was silence because the British had expended all their ammunition. Key saw an amazing sight. There, fluttering in the morning breeze, was the huge flag - tattered from shrapnel, but still proud. He was so moved that he wrote down a hymn on the back of a letter he had in his pocket. That hymn later became our national anthem.

Listen to his words again: "O! say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming. And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

That hymn was sung and played for years after the War of 1812, but it wasn’t until 1932 that it became our official national anthem. All of us who love America also love the flag and the national anthem, but notice that the first stanza ends with a question: DOES the star-spangled banner yet wave over our land? It does now, but for how much longer? The Bible says, "The wicked shall be turned into hell; and every nation that forgets God." (Psalm 9:17)

Francis Scott Key’s question is answered in the rest of his hymn. The biggest problem with our national anthem is that we stop singing with the first stanza and most people don’t even know there are four full stanzas. You should read all of them, but the last stanza is the best one. It doesn’t end with a question, it ends with a powerful declaration. And it is a declaration that America needs to wake up and rediscover. Let’s let it speak for itself: "O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand; Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land; Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause is just, And this be our motto: ‘IN GOD IS OUR TRUST.’ And the star-spangled banner in triumph SHALL wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

Concerned Christians should face this powerful truth: As long as our motto is: IN GOD IS OUR TRUST, then we will remain a great nation. Ronald Reagan hit the nail on the head when he stated, "If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

Let's start singing the LAST stanza of our National Anthem!

Comments? write me at david@mail.gabc.org

Is FAITH blind, or is it UNBELIEF that is BLIND?

2009-09-01T10:52:00.010-05:00

This Sunday I resume my teaching series from Matthew entitled, “Parables and Miracles.” If there is one prevailing theme that runs through Matthew’s narrative, it is that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. Matthew used the phrase “to fulfill what was spoken about him by the prophet” fifteen times. He quotes the Old Testament writers several dozen times. As I am preparing this Sunday’s message about how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies, I don’t have time to develop EVERY Old Testament prophecy, so I wanted to provide a list of fulfilled prophecies for those who want access to them.
Sometimes people ask for “proof” that Jesus really was who He claimed to be - the Messiah, the Son of God. Pure faith doesn’t need evidence – but that doesn’t mean it has to be a blind faith. Our faith is based on TRUTH and there is an insurmountable volume of EVIDENCE that Jesus is the Messiah. There were dozens of meticulous prophecies predicting the details of the Messiah’s life made in the Old Testament. These prophecies were written between 500 and 1,500 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. That is a historical literary fact not challenged by any reputable literary scholar. And when you study the life of Jesus of Nazareth, you can’t argue with the fact that He fulfilled all of these Messianic prophecies. Some of these prophecies He could have intentionally fulfilled (like riding on a donkey into Jerusalem). But most of them were beyond His control (I doubt He told the Roman soldiers not to break His legs).

Christian mathmetician, Dr. Peter Stoner, wrote a book several years, Science Speaks, in which he caluclated the odds of one person randomly fulfilling just EIGHT of these prophecies. His results were that a person had one chance in 10 to the 28th power. That's 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 chances!

Here's a commentary from Dr. Stoner's book. Unless you have a college degree in math and statistics, you'll probably get lost, but it's interesting nonetheless.

"What are the odds that any man living from the day of these prophecies down to the present time? To get this answer, we divide our 10 to the 28th power by the total number of people who have lived since the time of these prophecies. At the time this book was published we come up with 88 billion people or 8.8 X 10 to the tenth power.

To simplify it let’s round it off to 10 to the 11th power. The odds of any one man who lived from the the the prophecies were made until the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 10 to the seventeenth power.

Can we visualize this with an illustration? Suppose we took an atheistic professor, blindfolded him and covered the state of Texas two feet deep with silver dollars. Then we put a check on one of those silver dollars and mixed them up. The odds of one person fulfilling just these eight prophecies would be the same as this atheistic professor selecting the silver dollar upon which we have placed a check, in his first try.

There are some 300 - 350 prophecies which were written in the Old Testament to help us identify which person is the promised Messiah. Suppose we add eight more prophecies to our list? And assume that their chance at being fulfilled by just one man is the same as the eight prophecies just considered. Those odds would be 10 to the 28th power X 10 to the 17th power or 1 in 10 to the 45th power.

How big would a ball of silver dollars be using this number? Its diameter would be thirty times the distance from the center of the earth to the sun. Let’s take that same atheistic professor, put a space suit on him, place a check on one of those silver dollars and shoot him out into space. Do you think he would pick the silver dollar with a check on it the first time? Maybe if we left his blindfold off.

Now let’s keep the same odds and chose 48 prophecies. The odds of one person fulfilling them all would be 1 in 10 to the 157th power. But now the silver dollar pile is too large to make a comparison, so let's change from silver dollars to electrons.

It takes 2.5 X 10 to the 15th power of electrons laid side by side to make a line single file ONE INCH long. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. Suppose we made a solid ball of electrons extending all directions from the earth to the distance of 6 billion light years. Dr. Stoner continues, “Suppose again we had this great amount of electrons, 10 to the 157th power of them, and we were abler to make 500 of these tremendous balls, 6 billion light-years in radius, each minute. If we worked day and night it would take us 10 to the 10th times the 6 billion years back to creation to use up our supply of electrons.” (p. 111) Please put a check on one of these tiny electrons.

Now lets take this same atheistic professor and ask him to find the marked electron on his first try. Remember, these are the odds of one man fulfilling just 48 of the 300-350 Messianic prophecies. Whom among us can deny Christ’s credentials? The universe is not large enough to contain the evidence!

Stoner adds, “Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a fact proved perhaps more absolutely than any other fact in the world.” (p. 112)

A former agnotic attorney, Lee Strobels, became a Christian after seriously studying Dr. Stoner's book regarding these prophecies and the astronomical improbability of any fulfilling them randomly. Today, Strobels is one of the leading spokesmen for intellectually stimulating faith in Jesus.

So here’s the incontrovertible truth: Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the Messianic prophecies predicted hundreds of years before He was born. How can any honest, intelligent, thinking person ignore this body of evidence? To me, it’s not faith that is blind, it is UNBELIEF THAT IS BLIND.

37 MESSIANIC PROPHECIES FULFILLED BY JESUS:

1. The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.
Old Testament Prophecy: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.” Micah 5:2
New Testament Fulfillment: “Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod.” Matthew 2:1

2. The Messiah will be a descendant of Judah.
Old Testament Prophecy: “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will obey.” Genesis 49:10
New Testament Fulfillment: Luke 3:23-38 and Matthew 1:1-17 confirm that Jesus is a descendant of Judah.

3. Foreign kings will present gifts to the Messiah.
Old Testament Prophecy: “The western kings of Tarshish and the islands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts.” Psalm 72:10-11
New Testament Fulfillment: “About that time, some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his as it arose, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2
“They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him.” Matthew 2:11

4. The Messiah will be a descendant of David.
Old Testament Prophecies: “The Lord swore to David a promise he will never take back: ‘I will place one of your descendants on your throne. If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant and follow the decrees that I teach them, then your royal line will never end.” Psalm 132:11
“‘For the time is coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will place a righteous Branch on King David’s throne. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right through the land.” Jeremiah 23:5-6
“At that time I will bring to the throne of David a righteous descendant, and he will do what is just and right throughout the land.” Jeremiah 33:15
New Testament Fulfillment: “He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Luke 1:32-33

5. The Messiah will be born of a virgin.
Old Testament Prophecy: “All right then, the Lord himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel – ‘God is with us.’” Isaiah 7:14
New Testament Fulfillment: “But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancee, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly. As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’” Matthew 1:18-21

6. Innocent children will be slain in an effort to kill the Messiah.
Old Testament Prophecy: “This is what the Lord says: ‘A cry of anguish is heard in Ramah – mourning and weeping unrestrained. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted – for her children are dead.” Jeremiah 31:15
New Testament Fulfillment: “Herod was furious when he learned that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill al the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, because the wise men had him the star first appeared to them about two years earlier. Herod’s brutal action fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah.” Matthew 2:16-17

7. The Messiah will be taken to Egypt.
Old Testament Prophecy: “When Israel was a child, I loved him as a son, and I called my son out of Egypt.” Hosea 11:1
New Testament Fulfillment: “That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: ‘I called my Son out of Egypt.’” Matthew 2:14-15

8. The Messiah will be called the Son of God.
Old Testament Prophecy: “The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: ‘The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today, I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your possession.” Psalm 2:7-8
New Testament Fulfillment: “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him.’” Matthew 3:17

9. The Messiah will be preceded by the messenger of the Lord.
Old Testament Prophecy: “Listen! I hear the voice of someone shouting, ‘Make a highway for the Lord through the wilderness. Make a straight, smooth road through the desert for our God. Fill the valleys and level the hills. Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all the people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!” Isaiah 40:3-5
New Testament Fulfillment: “In those days John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness. His message was, ‘Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.’ Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, ‘He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare a pathway for the Lord’s coming! Make a straight road for him!’” Matthew 3:1-3

10. The Messiah will be anointed by the Holy Spirit.
Old Testament Prophecy: “And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:2
New Testament Fulfillment: “After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him.’” Matthew 3:16-17

11. The Messiah will be a light in Galilee.
Old Testament Prophecy: “Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will soon be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light – a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.” Isaiah 9:1-2
New Testament Fulfillment: “When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. But instead of going to Nazareth, he went to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.” Matthew 4:12-16

12. The Messiah will preach good news to the poor, comfort the broken hearted, and announce the year of the Lord’s favor.
Old Testament Prophecy: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” Isaiah 61:1-2
New Testament Fulfillment: “When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll containing the messages of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him, and he unrolled the scroll to the place where it says: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.’ He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue stared at him intently. Then he said, ‘This Scripture has come true today before your very eyes!’” Luke 4:16-21

13. The Messiah will be hated without cause.
Old Testament Prophecy: “Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat. Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.” Psalm 35:19
New Testament Fulfillment: “Anyone who hates me hates my Father, too. If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be counted guilty. But as it is, they saw all that I did and yet hated both of us – me and my Father.” John 15:23-25

14. The Messiah will heal the blind, the deaf, the lame, and the mute.
Old Testament Prophecy: “And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will shout and sing!” Isaiah 35:5-6
New Testament Fulfillment: “John the Baptist, who was now in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, ‘Are you really the Messiah we’ve been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else?’ Jesus told them, ‘Go back to John and tell him about what you have heard and seen – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him: ‘God blesses those who are not offended by me.’’” Matthew 11:2-6

15. The Messiah will enter Jerusalem riding a donkey.
Old Testament Prophecy: “Rejoice greatly, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey – even on a donkey’s colt.” Zechariah 9:9
New Testament Fulfillment: “Jesus sent two of them on ahead. ‘Go into the village over there,’ he said, ‘and you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them here. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord need them,’ and he will immediately them.’” Matthew 21:1-4
“The two disciples did as Jesus said. They brought the animals to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road ahead of Jesus, and other cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around him were shouting, ‘Praise God for the Son of David! Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in the highest heaven!’ The entire city of Jerusalem was stirred as he entered. ‘Who is this?’ they asked. And the crowds replied, ‘It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’” Matthew 21:6-11

16. The Messiah will arrive in Jerusalem at a specific time.
Old Testament Prophecy: “Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One comes.” Daniel 9:25
New Testament Fulfillment: “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.” Galatians 4:4

17. The Messiah will enter the Temple with authority.
Old Testament Prophecy: “‘Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 3:1
New Testament Fulfillment: “Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves. He said, ‘The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a place of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!’” Matthew 21:12-13

18. The Messiah will be despised by the people.
Old Testament Prophecy: “He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.” Isaiah 53:3
New Testament Fulfillment: “And Pilate said to the people, ‘Here is your king!’ ‘Away with him,’ they yelled. ‘Away with him – crucify him!’ ‘What? Crucify your king?’ Pilate asked. ‘We have no king but Caesar,’ the leading priests shouted back.” John 19:14-15

19. The Messiah will be silent in front of his accusers.
Old Testament Prophecy: “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7
New Testament Fulfillment: “Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, ‘Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?’ But Jesus remained silent.” Matthew 26:62-63

20. The Messiah will be rejected by the Jews.
Old Testament Prophecy: “The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous to see.” Psalm 118:22
New Testament Fulfillment: “Yes, he is very precious to you who believe. But for those who reject him, ‘The stone that was rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone.’” 1 Peter 2:7

21. The Messiah will be betrayed by a friend.
Old Testament Prophecy: “Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.” Psalm 41:9
New Testament Fulfillment: “The Scriptures declare, ‘The one who shares my food has turned against me,’ and this will soon come true. I tell you this now, so that when it happens you will believe I am the Messiah.” John 13:18-19
“Jesus said, ‘It is the one to whom I give the bread dipped in the sauce.’ And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him.” John 13:26-27

22. The Messiah will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.
Old Testament Prophecy: “And I said to them, ‘If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.’ So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.” Zechariah 11:12
New Testament Fulfillment: “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, ‘How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?’ And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.” Matthew 26:14-15

23. The 30 pieces of silver will be thrown in the potter’s field.
Old Testament Prophecy: “And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potters’ – this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potters in the Temple of the Lord.” Zechariah 11:13
New Testament Fulfillment: “When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and other leaders. ‘I have sinned,’ he declared, ‘for I have betrayed an innocent man.’ ‘What do we care?’ they retorted. ‘That’s your problem.’ Then Judas threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself. The leading priests picked up the money. ‘We can’t put it in the Temple treasury,’ they said, ‘since it’s against the law to accept money paid for murder.’ After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners. That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood.” Matthew 27:3-8

24. The Messiah will be accused by false witnesses.
Old Testament Prophecy: “Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of things I don’t even know about.” Psalm 35:11
New Testament Fulfillment: “Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other.” Mark 14:56

25. The Messiah will be beaten, mocked, and spit upon.
Old Testament Prophecy: “I give my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pull out my beard. I do not hide from shame, for they mock me and spit in my face.” Isaiah 50:6
New Testament Fulfillment: “Then they spit in Jesus’ face and hit him with their fists. And some slapped him, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?’” Matthew 26:67

26. The Messiah will be beaten, bloodied, and disfigured.
Old Testament Prophecy: “See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. Many were amazed when they saw him – beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person.” Isaiah 52:13-14
New Testament Fulfillment: “Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head, and they put a royal purple robe on him. ‘Hail! King of the Jews!’ they mocked, and they hit him with their fists.” John 19:1-3

27. The Messiah will be mocked and challenged to save himself.
Old Testament Prophecy: “Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, ‘Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!’” Psalm 22:7-8
New Testament Fulfillment: “The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders also mocked Jesus. ‘He saved others,’ they scoffed, ‘but he can’t save himself! So he is the king of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross, and we will believe in him! He trusted God – let God show his approval by delivering him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ And the criminals who were crucified with him also shouted the same insults at him.” Matthew 27:41-44

28. The Messiah’s hands and feet will be pierced.
Old Testament Prophecy: “My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet.” Psalm 22:16
New Testament Fulfillment: “Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they crucified him.” John 19:17-18

29. The Messiah will be given vinegar to drink.
Old Testament Prophecy: “But instead, they give me poison for food; they offer me sour wine to satisfy my thirst.” Psalm 69:21
New Testament Fulfillment: “They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.” Mark 15:23

30. The Messiah’s enemies will throw dice to divide his clothes.
Old Testament Prophecy: “My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my clothes among themselves and throw dice for my garments.” Psalm 22:17-18
New Testament Fulfillment: “When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said, ‘Let’s not tear it but throw dice to see who gets it.’” John 19:23-24

31. The Messiah’s bones will not be broken.
Old Testament Prophecy: “The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and every one. For the Lord protects them from harm – not one of their bones will be broken!” Psalm 34:19-20
New Testament Fulfillment: “The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his legs.” John 19:31-33

32. The Messiah’s heart will be poured out like water.
Old Testament Prophecy: “My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me.” Psalm 22:14
New Testament Fulfillment: “One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out.” John 19:34

33. When the Messiah is struck down, His disciples will be scattered.
Old Testament Prophecy: “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, the man who is my partner, says the Lord Almighty. Strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the lambs.” Zechariah 13:7
New Testament Fulfillment: “‘Tonight, all of you will desert me,’ Jesus told them.” Matthew 26:31
“At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.” Matthew 26:56

34. The Messiah will be buried in a rich man’s grave.
Old Testament Prophecy: “He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.” Isaiah 53:9
New Testament Fulfillment: “Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled the great stone across the entrance as he left.” Matthew 27:59-60

35. The Messiah will be raised from the dead.
Old Testament Prophecies: “For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your godly one to rot in the grave.” Psalm 16:10
“But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of death.” Psalm 49:15
New Testament Fulfillment: “Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples he has been raised from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee.’” Matthew 28:5-7

36. The Messiah will bear our sins and intercede for sinners.
Old Testament Prophecies: “Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6
“From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins – that he was suffering their punishment?” Isaiah 53:8
“But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.” Isaiah 53:10-12
New Testament Fulfillment: “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26

37. The Messiah will ascend to heaven.
Old Testament Prophecy: “When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives.” Psalm 68:18
New Testament Fulfillment: “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.” Luke 24:51

COMMENTS? Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO TV?

2009-07-29T11:51:00.008-05:00

Over the next few Sundays in August, I’m teaching a series called, “THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO TV - a biblical teaching series for a generation of screenagers.”

As I prepared for this series, I asked my friends on Facebook to tell me what they think are the BEST and WORST current television shows. (Of course, I would choose Andy Griffith for the best show, and although it’s technically still on TV land, it’s really not what I’d consider a current TV show. So thanks to all of you who said Andy Griffith and I Love Lucy!)

I received almost 100 responses, and I tabulated them below for my unofficial DOD TV SURVEY. See if you agree with the results:

BEST:
NCIS
LOST
THE MENTALIST.
(receiving honorable mentions were The Amazing Race, 24, and the Office)

WORST:
OPRAH (landslide)
BACHELOR/BACHERLORETTE
KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS
(receiving dishonorable mentions were Desperate Housewives, Nip and Tuck and Nancy Grace).

I haven’t seen any of the best, but one friend said that the show “Lost” is a parable of the Christian life, so I might check it out. Some of my personal favorites are Grey’s Anatomy (don't freak out...just hear this Sunday’s message); and The Deadliest Catch (the only show I DVR). Of course, during college football season I’m watching anytime OU or Auburn is playing.

This is a great place to address the question, “Pastor, should a Christian even watch a show like Grey’s Anatomy?” Well, I'm a Christian and I watch it. There are some Christians who sincerely believe that they shouldn’t watch any secular television, movies, or listen to secular music. I don’t have an argument with them because if watching this kind of television show causes them to stumble or sin, then they should definitely cut it off. Over the next few months as I teach through Matthew I'm going to address Jesus' words where He said that if your right hand causes you to sin, then cut it off. He wasn’t speaking literally, but if watching a certain show causes you to sin, I mean it literally - cut it off.

Some people remind me of the man who complained about all the sex and violence on his DVR! In Romans 14 Paul used the example of eating meat sacrificed to idols as an illustration of "disputable matters" that Christians shouldn't argue over. If watching a television show tempts you beyond your ability to resist, by all means, DON'T watch it. But if you can watch a show like Grey's Anatomy and understand that it reflects our corrupt culture, then maybe the misery of these fictional characters can give you some insight into the lives of real people who desperately need the HOPE that can only be found in Jesus.

"The Gospel According to TV" is an example of a "topical message series." This kind of topical series is outside my comfort zone. My typical Sunday morning style is to take a book of the Bible and teach through it verse by verse. I’m currently teaching through the “Parables and Miracles” in Matthew’s gospel. This is my favorite kind of Bible teaching because I believe God’s Word was written to be read and studied, verse by verse, line upon line, precept upon precept. This kind of expository Bible teaching builds strong Christians and strong churches.

Some of the younger pastors who are starting contemporary churches usually avoid long biblical series like the plague. They prefer short, topic-driven series that utilize current themes. I’m not criticizing them, and I say, “go for it if you’re reaching people for Christ!” But some of these young leaders have been told they can’t grow churches these days with expository, verse by verse preaching. Over the past 18 years, I’ve taught through most of the books in the New Testament and quite a few Old Testament books as well. And God has blessed our church with healthy growth!

So even though my favorite style is verse by verse, I enjoy taking a break every now and then during these lengthy series to provide a little variety. Over the past few years, I’ve taken August to present a different kind of series. I’ve done “The Gospel According to Country Music;” “No, that’s NOT in the Bible;” and “The Gospel According to GSPN.” Last August, during the Beijing Olympics, I taught a series called, “Go for the Gold – How to become a Champion for God.” These series are available online here.

So, I’m looking forward to this current series, “The Gospel According to TV.” My message titles are: “Grace Anatomy;” “American Idols;” “And Now a Word from our Sponsor;” “Desperate Households” and “Sunday Morning Live.”

It should be fun. These messages are going to be a little about TV and a lot about Jesus!

Want to still weigh in on what you think are the BEST and WORST shows on television? You can contact me at david@mail.gabc.org

WHAT'S A CAMP MEETING?

2009-07-15T21:32:00.006-05:00

This week, I’ve been preaching at the Salem Camp Meeting near Covington, Georgia. It is the oldest continually running Camp Meeting in America. It started in 1828 and it has been meeting every summer since then. In fact, this week is the 181st meeting. I’m honored to be the keynote speaker each day at this refreshing experience.

So, back to the question--What's A Camp Meeting? Camp Meetings are a rich part of our southern spiritual heritage. They were both a catalyst and a result of the Second Great Awakening that swept through our young nation in the beginning of the 19th Century. As settlers moved westward and southward from the original 13 colonies, most of the families lived on farms that were isolated from their neighbors. The demands of these pioneer farms required that family members work hard to survive. Many of them lived without the benefit of having a local church, but they were committed Christians. Camp Meetings sprung up as an answer to the spiritual need of these brave pioneers. After the crops were “laid by” in the summer before the time of harvest, families would pack up their wagons and gather together to have a week or two of spiritual refreshing. Hundreds of people would gather and camp out in tents for the duration. There would be plenty of food, fellowship, and activities, but the main focus was on the preaching and music.

Today, at Salem Camp Meeting, they carry on the tradition. Hundreds of people and dozens of families gather at this location year after year for a combination of a family reunion and a revival. The families occupy “tents” which are actually rustic cabins that surround the several-acre property. Some of them were the original hand-hewn cabins built in the 19th century, but most of them have been upgraded to include air conditioning these days. Twenty to fifty extended family members may occupy one tent! When the families aren’t worshipping or eating, they are simply sitting out on the porches in rocking chairs visiting and resting. Remember those days? It’s a stark contrast to the mad rush of the modern world that is spinning just a few hundred yards from the camp property.

Many of these families have been attending Salem Camp Meeting for generations. They come back each summer because their grandparents came, their parents came, and they came every year as kids, and now they bring their children. There is a wonderful combination of sweet, elderly saints, young adults, and plenty of children singing and laughing as they ride their bikes around the open-air tabernacle. It’s almost like going back in time – a better time when family and faith were the two things that mattered the most.

In addition to the families who are staying in the tents, many residents from the area attend the services each day at 11am and 8pm. Choirs from many local churches come and provide special music, too.

The outdoor tabernacle was built in 1828. I’m amazed as I look at the huge hand-hewn timbers that support the massive roof. They were smart engineers back then without the benefit of computers or even blueprints. The only new addition is a shingle roof on the exterior which replaced the “brush arbor” from the earliest years. This tabernacle has stood through storms and heat for 181 years. The tabernacle’s roof begins about seven feet above the ground then soars to about sixty feet – and the principle of heated air rising actually draws a nice breeze into the outdoor pavilion. The air rises up through the exposed interior roof and escapes through an ingenious vent at the peak of the ceiling. I’ve been preaching at 11am and 8pm and I haven’t sweated any more than I do in the Worship Center at Green Acres. Amazing!

The dirt floor is covered with a thick layer of sawdust (wood chips) which also seems to keep the area cool as well. The old wooden benches have had cushions added, but it’s easy to imagine people sitting there in the same spots worshipping and hearing God’s Word 181 years ago!

I’ve been eating every day in the dining hall and the food is pure southern cuisine. They serve fried chicken every meal except breakfast! And there is plenty of fresh vegetables and cornbread, too. I’m becoming a “big preacher” just from being here a few days! I never thought I would tire of fried chicken, but I’m getting close! I feel like the Baptist preacher who was served fried chicken every meal for a week, and he really didn’t like chicken. He arrived at the ninth house in a row serving fried chicken and was asked to pray the blessing. He said:

“Lord, I’ve had it hot, I’ve had it cold;
I’ve had it young, and I’ve had it old;
I’ve had it tender, and I’ve had it tough;
But, thank you, Lord, I’VE HAD ENOUGH!”

In the 19th century, pioneers would pack a year’s worth of worship in just a few days of preaching and singing. God did a mighty work through these Camp Meetings. And I have sensed His presence in a mighty way this week at the Salem Camp Meeting.

Maybe what America needs for the next Great Awakening is a few more camp meetings! I wonder where we would be if we took a lesson from generations past.

If you want more information about the Salem Camp click here

Comments? Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

MUSIC: HERE'S YOUR NICKELBACK

2009-06-17T10:08:00.006-05:00

I’ve always had an eclectic appreciation for music and enjoy a wide variety of genres. On my Facebook info page, I say my favorite music group is the Green Acres Celebration Choir and orchestra – I DO love hearing them week after week and listening to their latest CD in my truck.
But still, I've listened to different kinds of music since the time I was a teenager. I grew up listening to the Beatles. I made my first foray into music performance when two of my 6th grade friends and I declared ourselves “The Potato Bugs.” (We thought the Beatles were beetles – bugs, you see). We dressed up in potato sacks (honestly) and even sang at several places, including a talent competition at Florala High School (it was a shock when we didn’t win).
In High School, I was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist in a rock band called “The Inverted Illusion.” This was during the early 70’s when rock bands were named by choosing a random adjective and linking it with a random noun. Bands of the day included Iron Butterfly, Led Zepplin, and the band we modeled ourselves after: Grand Funk Railroad.
Today students have to have a DJ who spins the tunes, but back in the 70’s a live band was required for a good dance. So, the Inverted Illusion actually got PAID to play at quite a few Friday night dances. We weren’t that good, but we were very loud (and as they used to say about songs on American Bandstand, “It has a good beat and you can dance to it.”) The amplifier for my Fender Telecaster was as big as a doorway, and I think I still suffer a little hearing loss from those days. One of our songs was “In-A-Gadda-da-Vida” (by Iron Butterfly). It had a ten-minute drum solo that allowed the other three of us to put our guitars down and go get a coke while our drummer sweated away.
In college, I was in a touring group called “The Hear and Now Singers.” Sadly, some of those pictures have appeared on my Facebook page. We wore California-designed jumpsuits, and our concerts were professionally choreographed. We sang Christian songs as well as songs by Chicago and other popular groups.
I still enjoy most kinds of music (except heavy metal rock music and gangsta rap). Since I’m a huge Beatles fan I’ve downloaded almost all of their songs, as well as hundreds other songs. I was one of the early Napster downloaders (before file sharing was declared illegal). At the time, I had a dial-up modem, so the download times were agonizingly slow. I would start downloading a single song and then go off and watch TV for the next 15 minutes as one song downloaded! Since Napster was declared illegal, I’ve since been downloading songs using iTunes.
Despite the grey in my hair, I’m not just an “oldies” music guy. I have XM radio. I can read Lady Ga Ga's pa-pa-pa-poker face. And I know the Ting Ting's real name. But one of my favorite current groups is Nickelback. They’re a Canadian rock band who chose their name because band member Mike Kroeger used to work at Starbucks (when coffee was $1.95), so he found himself often saying, “here’s your nickel back.”
A couple of their recent songs sound like something you’d hear me say on Sunday mornings. Here are some of the lyrics to “If Today Was Your Last Day.”

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side.

Another song I like is entitled, “If Everyone Cared.” The chorus says: “If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride: then we’d see the day when nobody died.” Of course, even if people behaved better, people would still die, but fewer people would die at the hands of evil people.

Nickelback isn’t the first group to moralize with their music – almost all groups get around to trying to make the world a better place. In 1965 Jackie DeShannon sang, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” John Lennon preached his morality in “Imagine.” Pink warns young girls to strive for success in “Stupid Girls.” And, of course, Bono uses U2's music to preach for social justice.
To me, these and hundreds of other pop and rock songs just prove that there is a universal desire to make the world a better place. In other words, these musicians are all looking for THE ANSWER.
As Christians, we’ve found it – actually we’ve found HIM. Andre’ Crouch put it this way:
JESUS IS THE ANSWER;
FOR THE WORLD TODAY;
ABOVE HIM THERE’S NO OTHER;
FOR JESUS IS THE WAY!

So, go ahead and enjoy your Nickelback, but don't settle for anything less than the priceless GIFT of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord!

comments? email me at: david@mail.gabc.org

DON'T STOP PRAYING!

2009-05-26T18:38:00.003-05:00

After my last blog, I wanted to update my readers on my strategy to deal with my prostate cancer. Over the past three weeks, I’ve visited with a number of doctors including a radiology oncologist, an oncologist, and another urologist. I’ve also discussed my situation with many guys who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are living healthy, normal lives.

After much prayer and counsel, I have decided that rather than have surgery or radiation therapy at this time, I’m going to participate in what is called “Expectant Management.” That means doing nothing (which I’m pretty good at doing) for now. I will have my PSA checked regularly and have another biopsy in a year to 18 months.

This expectant management approach is an acceptable treatment option recognized by urologists. The key is that the person with the cancer has to be able to deal with the fact that there are cancer cells present without WORRYING about it. Some people, even those with my low numbers, might opt for surgery simply because they couldn’t cope with the idea that any cancer cells are present. Although I sometimes struggle with other sins, WORRY isn’t one of them!

In addition to waiting and watching, I’m making a specific effort to eat healthier, exercise more, and to take some natural compounds shown to reduce and even eliminate prostate cancer. These include Selenium, Pomegranate Juice, and other antioxidants. I appreciate all the suggestions and sample nutrients that members of Green Acres have shared with me.

Mainly, I’m depending on prayer. I have been humbled and overwhelmed by the expressions of prayer and encouragement that I have received over the past couple of months. Several groups in our church (including our deacons, Sunday Morning Bible Study groups, and other individuals) have laid hands on me and prayed for my healing.

My attitude is that of the Apostle Paul when he wrote:

"For I KNOW that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to LIVE is Christ and to die is GAIN!" (Philippians 1:19-21)

So, even though I’m not going to undergo treatment, please don’t stop praying for me. I’m asking God to remove even the few cancer cells that are present so that when I have the next biopsy in a year or so, we will find that it is GONE!

RELAX - I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT MY HEALTH!

2009-04-24T11:15:00.001-05:00

It may be a little unusual to post such personal health information on my blog, but I believe that this is probably the best way to get the word out to the hundreds of friends who have told me they’re praying for me and are interested in the results of my prostate biopsy. In case you don’t know what I’m talking about let me give you a little background.

As you can tell by reading the blog “Who moved the Stone?” below, I had the wonderful privilege of having a kidney stone in January. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise (Romans 8:28) because it led to (or was the result of, who knows?) a urinary infection which in turn led my doctor to recommend that I undergo a TUR surgery (Trans Urethral Resection of the Prostate). As part of the TUR surgery, a small amount of tissue removed from the prostate is routinely sent to a pathology lab. The pathology report revealed the presence of a low grade/early stage cancer of the prostate (only about 3% of the cells were cancerous).

Any time you hear the “C” word, it’s a little scary. But I never was scared or worried. And since I firmly believe in the power of prayer, I shared this information with our congregation and many other friends. I didn’t want to keep it private because I wanted as much prayer cover as possible. Over the past six weeks, I’ve been humbled and overwhelmed by the many expressions of love and the promises of prayer from people in Green Acres, Tyler, and around the nation. (Even if there were some weird rumors going around like I had colon cancer and was resigning from Green Acres!)

Six weeks after the TUR surgery my doctor had scheduled a prostate biopsy. I had that done on April 14. My doctor removed twelve cores of tissue from my prostate (another fun day), and these were sent to the pathology lab. I met with my doctor earlier today (April 23) to discuss the results of the biopsy and the report was WONDERFUL! I left his office praising the Lord.

Of the 12 samples, only one showed any misshapen cells that could be considered cancerous, and they are the same early stage/low grade cells that were found from the TUR surgery. So, the worst case would have been if they found more advanced, wider-spread cancer in the prostate, but instead, there is only a small presence (which we already knew from the TUR results).

For those who understand the medical numbers, my PSA is 2.9, The focal area on the one core showed low-grade adenocarcinoma with Gleason score 6 (3+3). Using the TNM staging scale, the cancer stage is T1a.

So, I am praising God for this good report! It just “happened” by “coincidence” that the passage I’ve been studying and preparing to teach on this Sunday is Matthew 6:25-34 where Jesus said, “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life ….Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Of course the word “coincidence” isn’t in God’s vocabulary! And I can honestly say that I haven’t been worried about what the results of the biopsy would show. And I’m not worried about the future.

I’m not naïve enough to believe Bobby McFerrin’s song, “Don’t worry, be happy!” Instead, the song I’m singing is:
“God is good all the time;
He put a song of praise in this heart of mine.
God is good all the time;
through the darkest night, His light will shine.
God is good; He’s so good; All the time!”

As far as treatment options, I’m going to be discussing these with a couple of other doctors (including my daughter and son-in-law, who are both physicians). I’m a good candidate for the “expectant management” treatment, which means that my doctor watches my PSA and performs another biopsy in a year to see if there is any change. Another option would be to undergo radiation therapy, which I am also investigating. As I consider my options, I covet your prayers and any advice from those of you who have walked in my shoes.

For your information, I feel great and am only able to play golf about six days a week now. 

Basically, I want you to know how much I appreciate your prayers and support. It means more to me than you’ll ever know. I agree with the sentiment of the Apostle Paul who wrote these words to the brothers and sisters in Phillipi, “For I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” (Philippians 1:19)

COMMENTS?
Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

Hugs ARE Better Than Drugs!

2009-04-18T09:33:00.005-05:00

Not long ago I spoke on 2 Corinthians 13:12 where Paul encouraged the Believers to "greet one another with a holy kiss." I believe there is a greater need for us to express affection within the Family of God. Here's what I said in that message:

Have you ever heard preachers or teachers say that a kiss on the cheek was the general social custom of the time, and that today since our custom is shaking hands that we should substitute a handshake instead of a kiss? That sounds good, but it causes us to miss a very important point. All it takes is a study of the secular customs of the Roman culture and you will find that KISSING ON THE CHEEK was NOT a regular form of greeting among friends - they would actually shake hands - or men would grasp each others forearms - haven’t you seen the movies? Spartacus says, “Andronicus, how are you? And he grabs his forearm. Actually handshaking originated to show that a person was not holding a knife or sword in their hand.

During the time Paul wrote this, a kiss on the cheek was a custom reserved for family members. It’s the same with us; we kiss our children, our parents and grandparents, and our brothers and sisters, but we rarely kiss strangers. The point Paul was making is that the people in our church aren’t strangers, we’re part of the Family of God. We’re brothers and sisters in Christ, and when we gather together it’s like a family reunion. I never really liked for my Aunt Gertrude to kiss me because she wore a lot of lipstick and I usually had to wipe it off my face, but I sure loved her banana pudding so I endured her kisses! In other words, we should show the same affection here that we show to our biological family - maybe even more! Now I’m not advocating a frenzy of kissing, I’m just saying that we ought to be free to express holy affection to one another. That’s a lot better than getting one of those dead-fish handshakes and a mumbled hello.

Somebody sent me the picture (see above) of two infants. The story sounded almost too good to be true, but I checked out the facts and discovered that it is an inspirational, true story about the value of affection. Much of this information was gleaned from a blog by Donald DeMarco, a seminary professor in Cromwell, CT.

Kyrie (red dot on diaper) and Brielle Jackson were born on Oct. 17, 1995, a full 12 weeks ahead of their due date. At that time the standard practice at the Medical Centre of Central Massachusetts in Worcester, where the twins came into the world, was to place them in separate incubators in order to reduce the risk of infection.

Kyrie's birth weight was two pounds, three ounces. She gained weight quickly and slept calmly. Brielle, however, three pounds lighter than her sister, had breathing and heart-rate problems. The oxygen level in her blood was low, and her weight gain was slow. On Nov. 12, tiny Brielle went into critical condition. Her stick-thin arms and legs turned bluish-grey as she gasped for air. Her heart rate soared. The Jackson parents watched, terrified that their little daughter might die.

It is said that desperate moments call for desperate measures. Nurse Gayle Kasparian, after exhausting all the conventional remedies, decided to try a procedure that was common in parts of Europe, but virtually unknown in the United States. With parental permission, she placed the twins in the same bed. No sooner had she closed the incubator door, Brielle snuggled up to Kyrie and began to calm down. Within minutes, her blood-oxygen readings improved. As she dozed, Kyrie wrapped her left arm around her smaller sister. Brielle's heart rate stabilized and her temperature rose to normal.

In due time, the twins went home. Their parents placed them, once again, in the same bed where they continued to thrive. Even after five years, according to mom and dad, the twins still sleep together and, not surprisingly, still snuggle.

The photograph of Kyrie hugging her little sister, dubbed "the Rescuing Hug," appeared in both Life magazine and Reader's Digest. It brought fame to the pair and spurred a growing interest in co-bedding premature twins, triplets, and quads. The University of Massachusetts Memorial, for example, has co-bedded at least 100 sets of multiple-birth preemies. Observing this practice over a period of five years, the hospital staff there have not found a single case of twin-to-twin infection.

Someone has said that we need four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance, and 12 for growth. This may not be mathematically accurate, but it does illuminate a truth about human beings: "I touch, therefore we are," is infinitely more revealing of human nature than "I think, therefore I am."

Science tells us that hugging is healthy in a variety of ways. It strengthens our immune system, reduces stress, assists sleep, and is an antidote to depression. Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill state that cuddling with your spouse can be good for your blood pressure. Kathleen Keating may not tell us everything we want to know about the mutual benefits of hugging in her book, The Hug Therapy, but she does make it clear that hugging can be wonderfully therapeutic in a variety of ways for people of all ages.

We adults are often blind to the obvious. Sometimes, it takes two premature infants to remind us of what kind of beings we are. Through hugs and handshakes, smiles and squeezes, touches and tickles, kisses and cuddles, we honor and affirm one another. This is not something we need to learn. Brielle and Kyrie knew this long before they were conscious of it. But it is something we may need to re-learn, and surely something we should never forget.

So, as you head out into your world of people, don’t be asking yourself, “Who is going to hug me?” Instead be asking, “Who can I hug today?” Hugs are MUCH better than drugs!

Comments? Write me at david@mail.gabc.org

PENALIZING GENEROUS DONORS – Change We DON’T Need!

2009-03-18T12:57:00.011-05:00

President Obama ran on the slogan: “Change We Can Believe In” and then “Change We Need.” I’ll be the first to admit that we’re in a financial mess, and we “need” some fundamental changes. However, one of the proposals of the President’s 2010 budget plan is to reduce the tax deduction that can be claimed for charitable donations. This includes money given to churches as well as other non-profit organizations. This effectively means a TAX HIKE for the most generous donors.

I believe that this is a CHANGE WE DON’T NEED! If you agree, then join what FoxNews has called “The Charity Revolt” and let your voice be heard. To me, this proposal is a violation of the principle of separation between church and state because the people most affected by this proposal will be religious donors.

Americans are generous givers, but studies have proven that “religious people” are much more generous than “secularists.” In the year 2000, religious Americans (33% of the population who attend worship at least once a week) were 25 percentage points more likely to give charitably than “secularists” (27% who attend worship less than a few times a year, or claim no religion). In terms of actual dollars given, religious Americans gave nearly four times more money per year ($2,210) than secularists ($642). Religious people also volunteered more than twice as often as secularists. (According to an article in The American Magazine.)

Many charities and non-profits that depend on their endowment income have been adversely affected by this recession. At a time when philanthropic giving is dropping, this proposal could drive the nail in the coffin for some non-profit ministries and organizations that depend heavily on large donations from generous givers. Most churches will survive, but they will be required to reduce their budgets if their most generous givers are penalized for making large donations.

The Obama Administration’s response to criticism of this measure is that the government is going to give money to non-profits to make up for this shortfall. Budget Director Peter Orszag said, “Contained in the recovery act, there’s $100 million to support nonprofits and charities as we get through this period of economic difficulty.” (quoted in The Washington Times, 2/27/09)

Okay, let me get this straight. The government is going to PENALIZE people who give the most to support churches and charities, and then they are going to turn around and compensate by giving government money to nonprofit organizations? How much of that $100 million do you think churches or uniquely Christian charities will receive? Don’t hold your breath. (Remember, ACORN is also a non-profit organization.) This is just another example of the government wanting to get into the business that has always been reserved for churches and charities.

We teach and practice that God’s Word instructs us to give a tithe (10%) to the Lord’s work. This proposal will penalize many people who are trying to honor the Lord by giving Him ten percent of their income to His work. This proposal doesn’t limit the amount most Americans can deduct for their donations; instead, it targets families making over $250,000 per year. It’s still a bad idea because it penalizes those who give the MOST money to churches and other charitable organizations.

The previously cited article in The American Magazine reports that the top 10% of households with an average income donate 25% of the all the money that is contributed to charity. And households with a net worth of $1Million or more are responsible for 50% of all charitable gifts. I’m surprised that there isn’t a louder outcry over this proposal from churches and other non-profit organizations.

This is certainly not an attack on President Obama because I am committed to pray for him and, unlike Rush, I wish him (and pray for) success as he leads us out of this recession.

However, we can’t be too surprised about this proposal because charitable giving doesn’t appear to be a high priority in his life. His and Michelle’s tax returns are public record, and over the past seven years, the average income they reported was $551,000 (a low of $241,000 in 2000 and a high of $1.6 million in 2005). The average percentage of their income that the Obamas gave to charity over that seven-year period was 2.17%.

But compared to Vice-President Joe Biden, the Obamas are wildly generous! Over the past decade, Mr. Biden and his wife Jill (a college instructor) gave a TOTAL of $3,690 to charity. That computes to an average of 0.2% of their income to charity. That’s not two percent – that’s two-tenths of a percent.

Contact the White House and your Senators and Representatives to express your opinion about this proposal. If you want to join THE CHARITY REVOLT then contact the White House and your representatives and say or write:

“I’m opposed to the Administration’s 2010 budget plan to reduce itemized tax deductions for charitable giving.”

As I said in the beginning of this blog, this is a CHANGE WE DON’T NEED. If you agree, then you need to let your voice be heard in Washington –NOW! I’ve included the contact information for the White House and for Texas and East Texas. You can click here to find the contact information for your own Senators and Representative.

President Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
202-456-1111

Representative Louie Gohmert
1121 ESE Loop 323, #206
Tyler, TX 75701
903-561-6349
903-561-7110 (Fax)

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
284 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5922
202-224-0776 (Fax)

Senator John Cornyn
First Place
100 E. Ferguson St., #1004
Tyler, TX 75702
903-593-0902
903-593-0920(Fax)

COMMENTS? Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

WHO MOVED THE STONE?

2009-02-17T10:02:00.003-06:00

I write this blog with apologies to Frank Morison who has written a wonderful book with the same title about the scientific proof for the literal resurrection of Christ.
However, the stone I’m writing about isn’t as large or significant as the stone that was rolled away from the tomb of Jesus. My stone was a pernicious kidney stone.

I’ve never had a kidney stone before, but I’ve been associated with two guys who had kidney stone attacks. The first one was when I was in college on a youth retreat. Robert, a tough guy who played college basketball, was one of our leaders. About 1:00am he woke me up with his face drenched in sweat and a wild look in his eyes. He said, “You’ve got to drive me to the hospital.” So I loaded him into the back of my 1972 Plymouth Satellite Sebring and we took off for the 40-mile drive to Jackson Hospital in Montgomery, Alabama. He was sitting/lying/climbing the walls of the back seat while his wife was trying unsuccessfully to hold him down. He was screaming with a guttural roar that sounded like an angry male moose. I’m driving thinking, “Come on, suck it up, it can’t be that bad.” Yes it can.

My second vicarious kidney stone experience happened in seminary. I was singing in the Easter cantata at the church where I served as Associate Pastor. Halfway through the performance, Barry (the minister of music) suddenly turned green and started sweating profusely. Next, he bent over awkwardly to one side making it hard to follow his direction. He finally waved his arms in defeat, called a stop to the music and hurried off the platform. Everyone was so stunned, we didn’t know what to do. A minute later, his wife scurried back on stage and motioned for me. She said that Barry was on the way to the ER with a kidney stone. Would I mind finishing directing the Easter musical? I remember thinking, “C’mon Barry, what a pansy!” He wasn’t.

At 3:00am on January 16, 2009 (three hours into my 56th birthday) I awoke with a dull pain in my lower left back that felt like a muscle strain. The pain wasn’t severe, but it was annoying enough to keep me from going back to sleep. I finally got up at 5:00 as I do on Fridays to teach our Men’s Fraternity group at church. I made it through that with no real trouble. It was fortuitous that I had a regular appointment already scheduled with my urologist that morning, whom I shall lovingly refer to as Dr. Jekyll. When I described my symptoms, he suspected it was a stone and sent me to another location for a CT scan. Happy Birthday to me. The scan revealed that there was a fairly large stone (5mm) present. But it still wasn’t hurting too badly, and, hey, I’m a tough guy. Meanwhile, my kidney function was also below acceptable levels, so my urologist and primary doctor (who I will affectionately reference as Dr. Feelgood) discussed admitting me to the hospital. Happy Birthday to me.

They were ready to admit me, but when my daughter (who is a Dermatologist) weighed in with the fact that I wasn’t really hurting (because I’m so tough), they agreed to allow me to stay at home and just come in on Saturday for an outpatient blood test. They told me to drink LOTS of water, so I was obediently guzzling it by the gallon. After a good night’s rest on Friday, I had decided that this kidney stone deal was a piece of cake and, as I had suspected all along: Robert and Barry were wimps. I was wrong.

On Saturday afternoon, I suddenly went from feeling a dull pain in my back to scream-like-a-girl level of pain in a matter of minutes. Let me see if I can help you understand how to replicate what I felt that day. First, get an aluminum softball bat and have someone start tapping you on your lower back – gently at first like shiatsu massage. But increasing in force until your “masseuse” is swinging for the fences. Don’t stop there, however. While they are hitting you with the bat as hard as they can, drive a dull nail through the bat and keep hitting. Then, with the person still hitting you with the nail/bat, have someone stand in front of you and take a very sharp ice pick and start poking your bladder from the front. Both people must keep poking and swinging until you are certain that the nail and ice pick are meeting somewhere between your kidney and your bladder. Then it gets bad. The bat and the nail and the ice pick get bigger.

I’ve never taken much prescription pain medication, but I had an old prescription bottle of Percocet. I took one – no change after an hour. So, I took another one. I couldn’t tell that it helped at all, but, hey, I am a tough guy so I’m trying to tough this out. I spent most of Saturday night pacing from one side of my house to the other (which seemed to take my mind off the pain), bent over in pain, singing every praise song I know between groans and grimaces. I’d try lying down, but the pain was too bad, so I’d get up and walk again. Then it got worse.

By Sunday morning, I was in such pain that I was nauseated (a new experience for me), so I couldn’t even keep water down. My daughter and son-in-law (who is also a doctor) arrived at our house after church and realized that I needed to get to the hospital asap. My daughter called Dr. Feelgood and Dr. Jekyll and they agreed.

So, for the first time in my life, I was admitted to the hospital. But to be honest, I don’t remember much about it. I recall getting into the hospital bed and getting an IV in the back of my hand.

The nurse giving me 4cc’s of morphine said, “this should take away the pain.” It didn’t. The pain was still there causing me to double up and need to walk around. That’s when the wonderful Dr. Feelgood came in. He works with many hospice patients so he is somewhat of an expert on pain medication. When he saw the morphine wasn’t working, he ordered Diladid (I think that’s it). Almost immediately, the pain disappeared as I vanished down into a warm, fuzzy, rabbit hole. (That’s why I call him Dr. Feelgood) So finally the pain was gone, but the stone was still there.

On Monday, Dr. Jekyll decided to “go after that pesky stone.” Because of the location of the stone, lithotripsy (using sound waves to crush the stone) wasn’t an option. Before I went into surgery, they gave me more drugs, which induced conscious sedation. I don’t know what that means, but I’m sure that all I did was quote scripture verses. Right. Then they gave me general anesthesia, and Dr. Jekyll did his thing. I’m not going to offend your sensibilities by telling you how he went after that pesky stone, just know that it wasn’t pretty. He wasn’t able to extract it during surgery. I think he only made it mad. Have you ever tried to drag a cat out from under a bed when the cat doesn’t want to come out from under the bed? I imagine that’s what that stone was doing – backing up and hissing at the surgical instruments.

So the good Dr. Jekyll inserted a device forged from the depths of hell called a uretral stent inside the tiny tube that runs from my kidney to the bladder. The purpose of the stent was to dilate the ureter to allow the stone to exit. But the stent gave the stone a good run for the pain money! But the only time it hurt was when I breathed. Seriously, it hurt for a few days, and then felt better.

About a week ago, I was scheduled for another visit to Dr. Jekyll to go after the stone again. I had another CT scan performed before the visit to his office, and the scan revealed that THE STONE WAS GONE!

I had gotten emails and cards from friends quoting scripture saying, “this, too, shall pass.” Well, if I passed it, I wasn’t aware of it. Friends who’ve had kidney stones assure me that you KNOW when it passes. So I feel blessed that the stone is gone, and I’m feeling good again. I deeply apologize to Robert and Barry for thinking they were wimps, and I have a new found empathy for people who have kidney stones. I really do appreciate both Dr. Jekyll and Dr. Feelgood, and I have promised both of them that I will drink LOTS of water to prevent future stones. But, WHO MOVED THE STONE? Only God knows.

Comments?
Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

UPDATE to Grace on a High School Football Field

2009-02-02T09:55:00.003-06:00

Click here for a video of the amazing story I shared below about grace on a high school football field in Grapevine, TX.

Wise Words from a Great Friend

2009-01-28T09:12:00.002-06:00

Adrian Rogers was one of my heroes and mentors. I always considered him to be the “prince of preachers.” Over the last decade before he went home to be with Jesus, I had the privilege of knowing him on a personal level. He was a kind, compassionate, witty, positive friend who encouraged me and other young pastors. I miss him. In these days of economic bail-out plans, perhaps we need to hear his words of wisdom again:

“You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom.

What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”

Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931-2005

GRACE ON A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD

2009-01-14T10:26:00.006-06:00

UPDATE: Click here for a video of this amazing story!

One of my favorite Sports Writers is Rick Reilly. For years, the first page I would read in my Sports Illustrated magazine was his column on the back page. Rick has left SI and writes for ESPN Magazine now. One of his recent columns was so good that I want to share it with you. The following is his article:

They played the oddest game in high school football history last month down in Grapevine, Texas.It was Grapevine Faith vs. Gainesville State School and everything about it was upside down. For instance, when Gainesville came out to take the field, the Faith fans made a 40-yard spirit line for them to run through.

Did you hear that? The other team's fans?

They even made a banner for players to crash through at the end. It said, "Go Tornadoes!" Which is also weird, because Faith is the Lions.

It was rivers running uphill and cats petting dogs. More than 200 Faith fans sat on the Gainesville side and kept cheering the Gainesville players on—by name.
"I never in my life thought I'd hear people cheering for us to hit their kids," recalls Gainesville 's QB and middle linebacker, Isaiah. "I wouldn't expect another parent to tell somebody to hit their kids. But they wanted us to!"

And even though Faith walloped them 33-14, the Gainesville kids were so happy that after the game they gave head coach Mark Williams a sideline squirt-bottle shower like he'd just won state. Gotta be the first Gatorade bath in history for an 0-9 coach.

But then you saw the 12 uniformed officers escorting the 14 Gainesville players off the field and two and two started to make four. They lined the players up in groups of five—handcuffs ready in their back pockets—and marched them to the team bus. That's because Gainesville is a maximum-security correctional facility 75 miles north of Dallas . Every game it plays is on the road.

This all started when Faith's head coach, Kris Hogan, wanted to do something kind for the Gainesville team. Faith had never played Gainesville , but he already knew the score. After all, Faith was 7-2 going into the game, Gainesville 0-8 with 2 TDs all year. Faith has 70 kids, 11 coaches, the latest equipment and involved parents. Gainesville has a lot of kids with convictions for drugs, assault and robbery—many of whose families had disowned them—wearing seven-year-old shoulder pads and ancient helmets.

So Hogan had this idea. What if half of our fans—for one night only—cheered for the other team? He sent out an email asking the Faithful to do just that. "Here's the message I want you to send:" Hogan wrote. "You are just as valuable as any other person on planet Earth."

Some people were naturally confused. One Faith player walked into Hogan's office and asked, "Coach, why are we doing this?"

And Hogan said, "Imagine if you didn't have a home life. Imagine if everybody had pretty much given up on you. Now imagine what it would mean for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you."

Next thing you know, the Gainesville Tornadoes were turning around on their bench to see something they never had before. Hundreds of fans. And actual cheerleaders!

"I thought maybe they were confused," said Alex, a Gainesville lineman (only first names are released by the prison). "They started yelling 'DEE-fense!' when their team had the ball. I said, 'What? Why they cheerin' for us?'"

It was a strange experience for boys who most people cross the street to avoid. "We can tell people are a little afraid of us when we come to the games," says Gerald, a lineman who will wind up doing more than three years. "You can see it in their eyes. They're lookin' at us like we're criminals. But these people, they were yellin' for us! By our names!"

Maybe it figures that Gainesville played better than it had all season, scoring the game's last two touchdowns. Of course, this might be because Hogan put his third-string nose guard at safety and his third-string cornerback at defensive end. Still.

After the game, both teams gathered in the middle of the field to pray and that's when Isaiah surprised everybody by asking to lead. "We had no idea what the kid was going to say," remembers Coach Hogan. But Isaiah said this: "Lord, I don't know how this happened, so I don't know how to say thank You, but I never would've known there was so many people in the world that cared about us."

And it was a good thing everybody's heads were bowed because they might've seen Hogan wiping away tears.

As the Tornadoes walked back to their bus under guard, they each were handed a bag for the ride home—a burger, some fries, a soda, some candy, a Bible and an encouraging letter from a Faith player.

The Gainesville coach saw Hogan, grabbed him hard by the shoulders and said, "You'll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You'll never, ever know."

And as the bus pulled away, all the Gainesville players crammed to one side and pressed their hands to the window, staring at these people they'd never met before, watching their waves and smiles disappearing into the night.

Anyway, with the economy six feet under and Christmas running on about three and a half reindeer, it's nice to know that one of the best presents you can give is still absolutely free.

Hope.
by Rick Reilly, ESPN Magazine
********
Comments? Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

A FOUR-WAL-MART AFTERNOON OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

2008-12-11T20:16:00.005-06:00

The words to one of my favorite Christmas songs say:

“It’s that time of year when the world falls in love; ev’ry song you hear seems to say, ‘Merry Christmas, may your New Year dreams come true.’ And this song of mine in three-quarter time wishes you and yours the same thing, too.”

But as that song keeps running through my head, the lyrics change to: “It’s that time of year … when the world goes crazy … every neighbor tries to out-decorate his friends …”

Yep, it’s that time again – time for decorating for Christmas. I have to admit that the older I get, the less excited I am about pulling down all the boxes (about 30—not exaggerating!) from the attic and then untwisting Christmas light strands and trying to get them to work.

I think simple is better. There’s no way I’m going to put out thousands of lights that are computer-controlled to pulse in time with music. I have a friend in Tyler who does that - of course, their neighborhood is clogged with dozens (hundreds?) of cars trying to see the show. You can save yourself the drive and watch his light and sound show on youtube or click this link.

FYI, nobody is going to post my decorations on you tube, so don’t waste time looking!

Cindy and I have survived 34 years of marriage by agreeing that she will decorate the inside of the house and I will decorate the outside, and never shall the twain meet! I wasn’t able to get the jump on the Christmas lights until this past week. I was gently reminded that “all the other neighbors have their lights out.” So, I bent my back to the job – literally.

For me, decorating our front yard means lining the sidewalks with C7 lights (all you men will understand my decoration-code-speak). That involves spreading out the lights along the sidewalk and then inserting plastic light holders into the ground and then clipping the light into each holder. It’s a long way down to the ground these days – in fact, I had one older gentleman tell me that it’s so hard to bend down to tie his shoes that when he does it, he looks around to see if there is anything else he can do while he’s already down there!

So, since I used approximately 9,000 lights (my estimate), I spent several hours bending down and bending up repeatedly …. Only then to find out that I had the plugs at the wrong ends ….. so I got to do it again! Oh Joy to the World! The sound I keep hearing wasn’t a crackling fire, but a crackling spine! And those weren’t chestnuts popping—those were my joints! Do You Hear What I Hear? It wasn’t a Silent Night as I groaned into a hot bath later!

Okay, when the sidewalks are lined, then I get to put fake garland around the outer and inner front door (we have a porch) – and then I string miniature lights through the garland – that’s a pretty simple task.

The hardest job is stringing hundreds of miniature lights on the two 10 feet tall Christmas-tree shaped holly bushes that frame our front door. They’ve grown so tall and broad that it’s gotten harder each year to string the lights around them. And invariably after I placed the lights, one or more strands of lights would decide to stop working. So this year I came up with the brilliant plan of using those “light nets” which are lights that are connected to form a net that simply drapes over bushes. Thus began my Four-Wal-Mart-Afternoon adventure. Ho Ho Ho.

On the way home from church, I drove to the Troup Highway Supercenter and found the clear light nets. (That’s trip #1) I had no clue how big the nets were so I estimated two per bush. I got home and started putting them on and found that one bush is much wider than the other, so I was one net short. So I drove to the South Broadway Supercenter and fought the traffic and crowds and purchased one more box of net lights. I paid my $8 and drove back home (that was trip #2). Laughing all the way ….

I got back to my house and opened the box only to discover that I had mistakenly bought multi-colored lights instead of clear! I uttered a pleasant interjection at this point and got back in my car and drove back to the South Broadway Supercenter since I recalled they had plenty of lights. The parking lot was almost full by now so I drove around searching for a parking space in Smith County. I finally found one about 6 miles from the front door. Park! The Herald Angels Sing!

I walked up to the cashier in the Garden Center and told her of my mistake. I asked her if I could simply swap it out for the clear lights (I had the receipt). She explained that it would mess up their inventory, so I had to go to customer service. So I walked all the way through the crowded aisles of the store and got in line at customer service. I’ve never seen so many people in line. I’m sure that there were even Angels From the Realms of Glory there.

I finally got my $8 back and then returned to the Garden Center to buy a box of clear net lights. Of course, you can probably guess by now – they had dozens of boxes of multi-colored light nets, but not one single box of clear lights! So I left that Wal-Mart (that’s trip #3) Oh, Come on all you faithful! I even stopped by the Lowe’s down the road to check to see what they had … nada. It was a ghost town on the Christmas aisle because they had reduced all their decorations to 50% off.

So, I drove across town back to the Supercenter on Troup Highway, and voila! If you’re thinking they were out – you’re almost right. I searched among the dozens (hundreds?) boxes of multi-colored light nets and found the last two boxes of clear light nets hiding behind several stacks of multi-colored boxes on a center display. I grabbed them and held them over my head in victory like I was lifting the trophy for winning the Master’s Golf Tournament. “Yes!” I screamed as I headed to the cashier. The little lady next to me who heard my yell looked at me and asked, “Aren’t you that preacher I see on TV?” I was dressed in my sweats and cap and didn’t look very ministerial at that moment so I replied, “Joel Osteen? I get that a lot! No, I’m not him. Merry Christmas!” And I quickly moved to another line to check out. (And that was Wal-Mart trip #4). Tyler has grown so large and the traffic is so bad that I was wishing I lived in Oh Little Town of Bethlehem!

So as the winter sun was setting, I returned home and finished placing the light net on the holly bush (with one extra box left over just in case), and when I plugged everything in, it worked!!!! So what should have taken me about 45 minutes to do ended up taking almost four hours and I used up about 20 gallons of gas!

Oh well, Merry Christmas to you. When I was sitting at a traffic light on one of my many Wal-Mart trips I saw a hand-lettered cardboard sign nailed to a telephone pole that said, “We hang lights” with a phone number listed. I wrote the phone number down.
God Rest Me Merry Gentlemen ...

Comments? Email me at david @mail.gabc.org

ARE WE NOW AN OBAMA-NATION?

2008-11-20T14:19:00.005-06:00

I’ve reserved my comments about the election to allow all the post-election hype to simmer down. I certainly wasn’t surprised when Barack Obama was elected by an overwhelming electoral majority. All the major polls had predicted that this was the trend. As I watched the television coverage of the victory celebration in Grant Park, I became aware that 90% of the crowd seemed to be under the age of 30. Exit polls revealed that young voters both black and white overwhelmingly supported Obama.
You can argue about the issues that affected the outcome of the election: race, the economic crisis, liberal vs. conservative, etc. But I sense that it was more of a generational choice than anything else.

Both Obama and McCain are reformers in many ways, and both agree on the need for change. However, I believe age was an important factor in this election. Obama is young and McCain would have been the oldest president ever elected. In the end, I think it was the simple fact that Americans, especially younger Americans, believed it was time for a younger generation to have a chance at bringing about change. Obama represents the hope of a younger generation. He’s the first president in my lifetime who’s younger than I am, which only makes me feel a little older!

If he had been elected, John McCain would have been the oldest elected President in history (two years older than Ronald Reagan). At age 47, Obama is young, but he’s not the youngest president. There are four Presidents who were younger when they assumed the job. The youngest was Theodore Roosevelt (age 42). Of course, he wasn’t actually elected. He was serving as Vice-president when William McKinley was assassinated. John F. Kennedy was the youngest man to be elected president (age 43). And both Bill Clinton, and Ulysses S. Grant were younger than Obama when they became President.

Texas, and especially Smith County where I live, supported McCain by an almost 2-1 margin. And there were many Texans disappointed by the outcome of the election. Some people have already taken “the-sky-is-falling” position. I’ve gotten emails claiming that Obama is actually the anti-christ. (Don’t be surprised if/when someone uses the letters in his name in some obtuse mathematical formula to claim that it adds up to 666.) Others claim that we are headed toward becoming a socialist state. Actually we’ve already taken a huge step in that direction in the unprecedented financial “bail-out” legislation that was just passed! (I agree with my Congressman, Louie Gohmert, who opposed the bail-out on the grounds that it would move us toward a socialistic form of economy.)

But before you give up on America, let’s give President-elect Obama a chance to prove that he can lead us effectively. As I write this blog I’m in Sao Paulo, Brazil to participate in an EQUIP training event for pastors. I asked the two pastors who picked us up at the airport what they thought about the election, and they said that almost everyone in Brazil was happy that Obama was elected because they thought his election would improve American relations around the world. Go figure.

This election reminds me of the election in 1960 in which JFK defeated Richard Nixon. JFK was the first (and still the only) Roman Catholic to be elected as President. I can remember my parents saying that because Kennedy was elected that it would be the end of the world and that America would become weaker.

Frankly, at times, it DID seem like the end of the world was near with missiles in Cuba pointed at the US. I was part of the generation of elementary students who practiced bomb drills. We were taught to “duck and cover” by hiding under our desks. Since I lived only 40 miles north of Eglin Air Force Base, I doubt that “ducking and covering” would have made much difference in the case of a nuclear attack. But JFK proved to be a strong leader by staring down the mighty Soviet Union and not blinking first.

So, although my candidate of choice wasn’t elected, what am I going to do? Three things:

FIRST: I’m going to PRAY for President-elect Obama and his family. The Bible says, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 1:2) It’s important to remember that Paul wrote these words at a time when “the King” (the Roman Emperor) was persecuting and killing Christians! I challenge you to join me in praying for President-elect Obama, his wife, Michelle, and his two daughters Sasha and Malia. I’m praying that God will protect them and that the job of President won’t be a tool for the enemy to drive a wedge between him and his wife and between him and his two daughters who need a daddy during this time of their lives. I’m praying that God will turn Obama’s heart toward heaven and that he will truly fall in love with Jesus and be a man who seeks God’s face for wisdom and direction. If you think that’s too hard for God, just read the book of Daniel and see how God turned the heart of King Nebuchanezzar toward heaven!

SECOND: I’m going to RESPECT the office of President and the man who occupies it. I will probably disagree with President Obama on issues, but I will disagree respectfully. I have bristled over the last eight years whenever someone made a disrespectful remark about President Bush being “stupid” – or even worse. I’ve asked God to give me the same negative reaction to anyone who maligns the next President. Some malicious attacks are already happening because he’s black. I grew up in South Alabama during a time when there were water fountains labeled “whites only” and public bathrooms that said “whites only.” It is an amazing accomplishment that America has elected an African-American. As I’ve said before, I’m color-blind, and I would have loved for a black female to be elected (but Condoleezza Rice chose not to run!) We must guard against the temptation to make remarks about the President because of the color of his skin. I agree with Beth Moore who has written that “as Christians we must have zero tolerance” for prejudice or prejudicial remarks. So, if you hear a racial slur poised as a “joke,” may God give you the fortitude not to laugh and perhaps to gently respond to the person who told it to you.

THIRD: I’m going to REJOICE that my true King is Jesus! I can never become consumed or obsessed with “politics” in this world because I am first and foremost a citizen of heaven! My King is Jesus, and I didn’t elect Him, He chose me! Kingdoms of this world will come and go, but the Kingdom of God will last eternally. God is still on His throne. Remember Romans 8:28 and believe that in ALL things, God is at work for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I’m praying that America WILL experience change –a nationwide spiritual awakening that will shake our nation from the White House to the Church House!

Comments? Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

FORTY DAYS OF PRAYER BEFORE THE ELECTION

2008-09-25T08:27:00.008-05:00

Today, there are forty days left until the election on November 4. I have committed myself to pray specifically for this election every day for the next forty days. I am also going to be fasting and praying for several days during this period.(I won’t tell you when or how often I’m fasting, or I’ll forfeit the benefit of fasting according to Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:16-18.)

While I would never publicly endorse a candidate from the pulpit of Green Acres, most people know that I’m personally voting for McCain and Palin. I believe their positions on moral issues most closely reflect those in the scriptures.

However, I recognize that there is a distinct possibility that Obama and Biden may be elected. Our nation is currently in such an economic mess that people are starving for a change. If Obama is elected, I will pray for him and support him just as I have done for President Bush.

Whomever is elected, we must remember the words that Daniel spoke to a godless king, Belshazzar, many centuries ago. He said: “The Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes.” (Daniel 5:21)

He spoke those profound words just before he translated the writing on the wall, “Mene, mene, tekel, parsin.” God’s message to Babylon, the world’s super-power at the time was, “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Your kingdom is divided…” (Daniel 5:27-28)

The same can be said for our nation today. We’re the world’s strongest super-power, but we have not measured up to God’s standard of being a beacon of righteousness to the world. To say our nation is divided is an understatement. Just wait until November 4, to see the red states and the blue states. However the election turns out, it will be a close call, reflecting a deeply divided nation.

God help us. Only He CAN help us. But only He WILL help us!

I’m going to be asking the membership of Green Acres to spend the next 40 days in fasting and prayer. If you would join us, please do.

If you would like an online guide to spending the next 40 days in prayer which includes daily devotionals, then click on this link:

Questions? Comments? Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

THE FRIENDSHIP THAT HUMILIATED HITLER

2008-08-25T06:47:00.003-05:00

The People’s Republic of China has successfully used the Beijing Olympics to demonstrate to the world that they are an economic and political super-power. Since a large part of my heart is in China, and I love the Chinese people for Jesus’ sake, I’ve been proud to see the quality of their planning and implementation of even the tiniest details throughout the games. They enlisted and trained over 70,000 official Olympic volunteers, which is a massive accomplishment in itself! I think they have been successful in accomplishing their desire to show China to world.
In contrast, Adolph Hitler failed miserably in his attempt to use the 1936 Berlin Olympics as a platform to promote Nazism and Arian superiority. The Olympics were held on the verge of World War II, with the city and stadium covered with red and black swastikas flying everywhere. German soldiers goose-stepped and saluted the ever-present, posturing Hitler.
By the time the Olympics were over, Jesse Owen, an African-American son of an Alabama sharecropper had crushed Hilter’s myth of racial superiority. He won five gold medals. In addition, he humiliated Hilter through a brief but unique friendship with a Nazi poster boy. More on that in a moment.
Jesse Owens was born James Cleveland Owens in Oakville, Alabama on September 12, 1913. At the age of nine, his family moved to Cleveland. When a new teacher asked his name, he answered “J.C.” in his quiet southern drawl. The teacher misunderstood and called him “Jesse.” He was too shy to correct her, so he was Jesse from then on.
After a stellar track career at Ohio State, Owens arrived at the Berlin Olympics facing intense opposition because of his skin color. In Germany, Nazis portrayed negroes as inferior and ridiculed the U.S.A. for relying on what they called “black auxiliaries.” One German official even criticized the U.S. for allowing “non-humans, like Owens and other Negro athletes” to compete.
Owens, a quiet, humble man, took it all with dignity. During the trials for the long-jump, Owens came dangerously close to not qualifying. He fouled on his first two jumps, and was stunned when officials counted a practice run down the runway as one of his attempts. He had only one jump left to qualify for the finals. It was at this point that Luz Long, a tall, blue-eyed, blonde German long jumper stepped in and introduced himself to Owens. Long was Germany’s best and was expected to win the gold, with Owens being his stiffest competition. Luz Long suggested that Owens make a mark several inches short of the takeoff board and jump from there to be safe. Owens took his advice and easily qualified. He went on to win the gold medal in the long jump and Luz Long took the silver. Long was the first to embrace Owens and congratulate him on his win. Long looked the part of the model Nazi, but he wasn’t.
Later Owens would comment: “It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler. You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn't be a plating on the 24-karat friendship I felt for Luz Long at that moment. Hitler must have gone crazy watching us embrace. The sad part of the story is I never saw Long again. He was killed in World War II.”
Owens returned to America as a hero, but he still wasn’t exempt from the racial discrimination that existed in his home country. He received a ticker-tape parade through the streets of New York City, and there was a reception held in his honor at the top of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. However, in a sad ironic twist to his story, this “hero” was forced to ride the freight elevator to attend his own reception that evening.
Lucrative sports endorsements were rare during the Depression and Owens struggled to have enough money to eat. He resorted to participating in events like racing against horses and dogs. He would later say, “People said it was degrading for an Olympic champion to run against a horse, but was I supposed to do? I had four gold medals, but you can’t eat four gold medals.”
It wasn’t until the 1950’s that Owens attained financial security by becoming a public speaker for corporations and public relations events. Owens died at the age of 66 in Tucson, Arizona in 1980.
His success in the 1936 Olympics far surpassed the impact of simply winning a race or jumping the farthest. His masterful performance was a political and racial statement that was heard around the world. Finally, ten years after his death in 1990, our country gave Jesse Owens a fitting reward for what he really accomplished. President George H. Bush posthumously awarded Owens the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award in America, calling his accomplishments, “an unrivaled athletic triumph, but more than that, a triumph for all humanity.”
This is a great reminder to me that as followers of Jesus Christ, our greatest reward will be given to us posthumously - when the nail-scarred Hands pass out the crowns of righteousness at the Bema - but we'll be more alive than ever before as we cast our crowns at His feet!

Comments? write me at david@mail.gabc.org

WHO WAS CHINA'S FIRST OLYMPIC HERO?

2008-08-13T16:04:00.004-05:00

Here are a few hints:
(1) He was born and died in China.
(2) He won an Olympic gold medal in the 400 meter.
(3) When he died his body was placed in the Masuoleum of Martyrs in Shijiazhuang, China.

If you guessed Eric Liddell, you’re right. He was China’s first Olympic hero.

With so much attention being directed at Beijing during the 29th Olympiad, we might forget that China has only recently come to the Olympic stage. They didn’t compete in any summer Olympics until the 1984 games in Los Angeles. The precision and pageantry of the Opening Ceremony is symbolic of the quantum leap that China has made over the past twenty years!

But China has had an Olympic Hero since the 1924 games. The first Olympic gold medalist to be born and die in China was Eric Liddell. Although he competed for Scotland, he spent most of his life in China and China has claimed him as their first Olympic hero in their earliest Olympic literature.

Eric Liddell (rhymes with “fiddle”) was born on January 16, 1904 in Tianjin, the child of Scottish missionaries. He later attended school in Scotland where he excelled in rugby and track. He qualified for several events, including the 100 meter dash, in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. Contrary to the movie, Chariots of Fire, Liddell knew months in advance that the qualifying heat for the 100 meter would be run on a Sunday. Because of his personal convictions against competing on the Lord’s Day, he arrived in Paris knowing he wouldn’t run on that Sunday. He had also been selected to run in the 4x100 meter relay and the 4x400 relay, both of which were run on Sunday as well. His decision could have cost him three gold medals – not just one. But obviously, Eric was interested in another better kind of gold.

There was great pressure from friends and other athletes for Eric to compromise his convictions. The Prince of Wales personally begged Eric to reconsider and run on Sunday, but Eric politely refused the Prince because of his commitment to his King.

As the starting gun sounded that Sunday morning for the 100 meter qualifying heat, Eric was giving his testimony at a church in Paris not far from the Olympic stadium.
Eric captured an unexpected bronze medal in the 200 meter, and worked his way through the qualifying heats for the 400. His qualifying times were much slower than the best runners, and few people expected him to even win a medal in the finals.

On the day of the race as Liddell prepared to position himself in the starting blocks, an American trainer slipped a piece of paper in his hands with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:20, “Those who honor me, I will honor.”

Eric exploded out of the blocks with that paper crushed in his fist as if it was a 100 meter sprint. Observers expected him to fade, but he threw his head back and ran. He had commented to his sister once, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.”

Liddell's unorthodox running style as portrayed in the movie, with his head back and his mouth wide open, is said to be historically accurate. At an athletics championship in Glasgow, a visitor was watching the 440 yard final in which Liddell was a long way from the leaders at the start of the last lap (of a 220 yard track). He remarked to a Glasgow native that Liddell would be hard put to win the race. The Glaswegian native merely replied, “His head's no' back yet.” Liddell then threw his head back and with mouth wide open caught and passed his opponents to win the race.

In a similar fashion, Eric crossed the finish line with his head held back, breaking the tape five meters ahead of the second place runner. He had won the gold medal in 47.6 seconds, setting a new world record!

THE REST/BEST OF THE STORY

After winning the gold medal, Eric Liddell was a celebrity and could have chosen any job he wanted back in Scotland. Instead, he chose to return to China, the land of his birth, and share the good news of God’s love with the Chinese people. He spent several years teaching at a college for Chinese students.

In 1943 when the Japanese occupied China, Liddell was imprisoned in the Weifang Interment Camp. For the next two years he worked in terrible conditions to maintain the morale of the other prisoners.

Winston Churchill arranged a prisoner exchange with the Japanese and because Liddell was a famous athlete, he was on the list to be liberated. However, at the last minute, Eric arranged for a pregnant woman to take his place and he chose to remain in the prison camp.

The prisoners were given enough food and water to barely keep them alive, and on February 21, 1945, malnourished and sick, our Olympic champion died … and crossed the FINISH LINE with his head held back in victory. He captured the real gold!

In 1991, a memorial plaque was placed at the site of Eric Liddell’s death in Weifang. The inscription is taken from a simple verse in Isaiah that says, “They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary.”

So in the midst of this Olympic competition, in which the talented Chinese athletes will certainly win many medals, perhaps even more than the U.S., let’s don’t forget CHINA’S FIRST OLYMPIC HERO.

comments? email david@mail.gabc.org

EVERY HEART THAT IS BREAKING TONIGHT

2008-07-24T16:30:00.007-05:00

This post is a little different. Instead of weighing in on a topic, I want to direct you to a youtube site. This represents my first feeble attempt to add images to one of my favorite songs, "Every Heart That is Breaking Tonight" by Twila Paris. I woke up one morning about two weeks ago with that song going through my mind. I had never tried to use the program Windows Movie Maker, but I accessed it and figured out how to build a music video or make a movie, then I posted it on you tube. This is my first you tube posting - yeah! So I'd like for you to watch it. You can cut and paste the url below into your browser and watch it. (update: Or just click the link directly below...I'm learning new stuff all the time!)

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=WWxFjufgC24

and let me know what you think.

comments?
david@mail.gabc.org

BACK TO "THE SHACK": now #1 bestseller

2008-07-14T18:32:00.005-05:00

The controversial Christian novel, THE SHACK, is now the #1 bestseller on the New York Times Paperback Trade Fiction list. It is the overall #2 bestselling book of ANY book on Amazon.com (I blogged about THE SHACK on April 15, if you care to scroll down to read my earlier comments.)

Since my earlier blog, readers continue to be sharply divided about its value. Most readers rave about how the book empowered their understanding and love for God. However, some notable Christian leaders continue to take THE SHACK to the woodshed and decry that it is full of heresy.

I deeply respect the intellect and integrity of Dr. Al Mohler, President of Southern Seminary (where I earned two degrees), but I humbly disagree with his evaluation of THE SHACK. He devoted an entire weekly radio show to the book calling it “deeply subversive,” “scripturally incorrect” and downright “dangerous.”

The main character in the story, Mack, was a seminary graduate who at one point says that he now understands that everything he learned at seminary was basically all wrong. Understandably, that kind of statement would put ANY Seminary President on the defensive!

The controversy has even touched Lifeway Christian Resources, the retail giant that supplies books and literature to churches in America – but primarily to the 45,000 Southern Baptist Churches. After some complaints from a few influential pastors (probably some seminary presidents and a few Lifeway trustees), The Shack was briefly pulled from the shelves of Lifeway Bookstores. However, I commend the Lifeway leadership for reconsidering that knee-jerk reaction. The book is once again for sale with a “Reader Discretion Advised” sticker on it. (Go figure! I've always thought we should use discretion when we read ANY book except the Bible!)

Let me share with you one of the main criticisms of the book (don’t read this next line if you haven’t read the book and plan to – it might spoil it). During part of Mack’s “interaction” with God, the Father is portrayed as a kindly, humorous, African-American woman who goes by the name “Papa.” This image is what gives the 21st Century Pharisees apoplexy! Is God really an African-American woman? Is that what the author is saying? Of course not! No more than Jesus is really a powerful, noble lion named Aslan! But you don’t hear many (although there are some) who are criticizing the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.

Again, my love for the The Shack is based upon my appreciation of it as a wonderful Christian allegory. I thoroughly enjoy reading about the easy, loving interaction between the members of the Trinity, and I was drawn to the God of grace who is portrayed in the theme of the book.

William P. Young, the author, wrote the book for his two children. Only after it was picked up by a couple of West Coast pastors was it published to a larger audience (and the audience continues to grow). How does William P. Young (who goes by his middle name, Paul) respond to this overwhelming barrage of theological smart-bombs? In a recent interview (http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-05-28-the-shack_N.htm) Young observed that in America, where only about 3 in 10 people attend weekly worship services and millions are ignorant of the Bible, his readers struggle to find a good God amid their pain.

He says, “I don't want to enter the Ultimate Fighting ring and duke it out in a cage-match with dogmatists. I have no need to knock churches down or pull people out,” he says. “I have a lot of freedom by knowing that you really experience God in relationships, wherever you are. It's fluid and dynamic, not cemented into an institution with a concrete foundation.”

So while some uptight theologians condemn their perceived jots and tittles of spiritual error in The Shack, it will continue to reach an audience of people who have been turned off by the "God" who has been neatly packaged and confined by the traditional church. So what do you think will happen if Oprah chooses to endorse it – heaven forbid!

In my previous blog, I asked for your impressions. I didn’t receive a single negative response, and here are a couple of the comments I received:

David,
I found The Shack to be a fascinating piece of work. I loved it too. I've already given away two copies. I really appreciated Young's images of things like forgiveness (letting go of another person's throat), the Father (Papa, first a woman, then a man), the unique relationship of the members of the Trinity. I too was reminded that the Lord Jesus lives in the present more than the past or future, and that's good for me today. That the Father would also have scars on his wrists was an interesting twist for fiction and allegory----- It was good to be reminded of Papa's desire: "I want all of you and all of every part of you and your day." "Rules and principles are simpler than relationships" was a great reminder, too, of how easily we slip into legalism, judgments. I too loved Sophia!
Anyway, I'm impressed with Young's abilities with words, and I'd highly recommend this little volume to anyone who asked.God bless,-- Jerry

Bro. David- I read The Shack a couple of months ago, and am still contemplating and experiencing the implications of it in my life. If I had to pinpoint the over-arching effect it's had on my life, I'd say that my admiration of Papa has been heightened, my love for my Savior has grown deeper, and my legalistic tendencies have been diminished. I've recommended it to just about everyone I know, and most have responded in a similar fashion. The depiction of the Trinity is so profound, and so "different" from what most people have come to think. This really is a paradigm-shifting book! --David

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO WEIGH IN ON WHAT YOU THINK OF “THE SHACK?”
Send your comments to david@mail.gabc.org

A PRESIDENT WHO LED OUR NATION IN PRAYER

2008-07-06T06:05:00.002-05:00

As I was researching how America has forsaken the foundation of faith that made us a great nation, I came across a new discovery for me. On June 6, 1944, the evening of the Normandy Invasion, Franklin Delano Roosevelt went on national radio and led the nation in a six-minute prayer. He didn’t simply ASK Americans to pray, which many presidents do; he prayed this prayer over the airwaves.

So on the day in which the Greatest Generation stormed the beaches of France to liberate Western Europe, our President was leading our nation in prayer.

What struck me with sadness is that 64 years later, if our President led us in prayer on television or the radio, there would be immediate threats of lawsuits from the ACLU. And the American Atheist Association would be crying “foul!”. Oh, how far we have fallen.

Whoever, he or she may be, wouldn’t it be wonderful to elect a President this year who would do more than ask us to pray for healing in our nation, but would LEAD us in prayer?

Here’s the entire text of FDR’s prayer:

My Fellow Americans:
Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.
And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest — until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them — help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too — strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment — let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace — a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen.
Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944

COMMENTS? Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

MERCY SHIPS--Hope and healing in Jesus' name

2008-05-25T14:21:00.004-05:00

As I write this blog, I’m aboard the H/V Africa Mercy which is docked at Freeport, Liberia, just outside the capital city of Monrovia. in Africa. The International Operations Center for Mercy Ships is located in Garden Valley, Texas, just outside of Tyler, and it has been my joy over the past few years to get to know Don and Deyon Stephens. Don is the founder and president of Mercy Ships.

I’m part of a group of about 20 folks from Green Acres who are volunteering aboard the Africa Mercy for a couple of weeks. Our folks are doing everything from practicing medicine to peeling potatoes in the kitchen (the non-medical folks). But for all of us, it’s a tremendous experience.

The Africa Mercy is the largest hospital ship in the world. It sails to impoverished countries to offer free medical care to the suffering people. The ship was previously a ferry which could carry entire trains, so it’s enormous. It has been completely retro-fitted to accommodate the crew and workers (about 400 people). It has an entire deck devoted to surgical suites, labs, and hospital wards. All the medical personnel on board are volunteers who pay their own way to enjoy the privilege of delivering health care in the name of Jesus.

The Africa Mercy has been in port here in Liberia for the past 18 months and will stay here until December. Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world. I’ve traveled to many parts of the world in my lifetime, but I’ve never seen the level of poverty seen here. The unemployment rate is about 75%. The country was torn apart by 14 years of civil war until 2003. The country is slowly but surely improving and stabilizing, but it still has a long way to go. Mercy Ships is here to offer hope and healing in Jesus’ name.

In case you don’t know the history of Liberia, the nation was established in the mid 1800’s as place for former American slaves who had been freed. The first boat of freed slaves arrived here in 1821 under the auspices of the American Colonization Society. The first settlers named their city Christopolos (city of Christ), but it was changed in 1824 to Monrovia after James Monroe who was then the U.S. President. There are American-sounding cities and counties in the country like Buchannan, Virginia, Maryland, and Paynestown. Although these American-Africans were the minority, they controlled the government until a coup in 1979 in which the tribal forces overran the country and caused widespread death and damage. The country is just now rising out of the devastation caused by the bloody civil war.

In spite of the bloody wars and the poverty, there is a spirit of hope and positive expectation in the eyes of the people. The nation is led by the first elected female president in Africa, Ellen Johnson-Serleaf. I had the privilege of meeting her along with other Mercy Ships leaders a few days ago, and she demonstrates a wonderful spirit of wisdom and patience as her country rises from the ashes of civil war. She is a committed Christian and I was able to pray for her. I encourage all believers to pause as you read this and pray for President Johnson-Sirleaf. She is a friend of America and is a key player in establishing stability on a continent where Islam is making aggressive inroads.

This week I was able to observe a couple of the life saving surgeries that doctors performed in one of the 6 operating rooms on the Africa Mercy. The first was a bilateral club foot release. That surgery isn’t performed much in the U.S. because when a baby is born with clubbed feet, they are immediately put in casts to correct the angle of the feet. But this little 8-month-old boy needed surgery to straighten out his feet. Because of this surgery, he’ll be ready to walk normally in a few months.

The second surgery was a cleft palate/lip/nose repair on a beautiful little girl who was only three months old. She was as tiny as a newborn because her cleft palate prevented her from receiving good nourishment. Dr. Gary, the chief of surgery (who has given 22 years of his life to this work), told me that he had performed somewhere between 1,500 to 2,000 cleft palate repairs. Because he was able to close up the opening in the roof of her mouth, she will begin to grow as she takes nourishment. Toward the end of the surgery, there was a problem as the patient gagged and her tracheotomy came out. The heart monitor alarm went off as her heart rate decreased dramatically. A couple of us began to pray as the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nurses started scrambling. After a few tense minutes, the monitor because to record a regular heartbeat again. I must admit when she came out from the anesthesia and started crying, it was one of the most beautiful sounds I’ve ever heard. Dr. Gary commented that even the sound of her cry was more normal than the pitiful sound she had made before the surgery.

These wonderful people are MAKING A DIFFERENCE one person at a time, and they are sharing Jesus Christ with these patients. I consider it a blessing to be a small part of what Mercy Ships is doing in Liberia.

For more information about Mercy Ships click on:
http://www.mercyships.org/

COMMENTS? Write me at david@mail.gabc.org

MISMATCHED SHOES - God's perfect timing!

2008-05-20T06:41:00.004-05:00

In March I brought a message at Green Acres from the passage in 2 Corinthians 6:14 that says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.” Since not many of us live on farms anymore and don’t have a clue about what a “yoke” is, I chose to use an example of “mismatched” shoes to illustrate this truth. During that entire message, I wore a running shoe on one foot and a dress shoe on the other to express God's warning about staying out of mismatched relationships.

A few weeks ago, I received an interesting letter from Claudia Florian. When I read it, I laughed and could only shake my head at God’s timing and His sense of humor. ENJOY:

Pastor David,

I just had to relay to you what I call a "God Stop". It happened several weeks ago; but I am just now getting around to tell you about it.

A few Sunday's ago, my husband and I were getting ready to start to church. We come to the early service and drive from Rusk. As usual, I was running a little late. The week before had been quite unsettling as my husband, who has struggled with health problems all of his life (and never complains) had just been diagnosed with a melanoma on the bottom of his foot.

So this particular Sunday we especially needed lifting up from our Lord and brothers and sisters at GABC. So we made the trip and I dropped Sam off at the main entrance, as I always do (as he wears leg braces) and go park our vehicle.

I get out and start down to the church and look down and discover that I have on one black shoe and one brown shoe. Not even the same style (but similar). I was SO embarassed. What do I do? Sam is already in the sanctuary, so I have to go in. I hurredly made my way in, holding my umbrella in front of me trying to cover my fashion mistake.

Once in the sanctuary and revealing my snafu to my husband, we decided to go ahead and stay for the service and I would just kind of stay in my place and not "visit" too much and then just dash out to the car after the service. Well, we sang, we prayed and then you get up to speak and the first words out of your mouth were something like........"Do you notice anything strange about my appearance? I'm wearing two different kinds of shoes."

Well, you can image that we had to pick our mouths off the floor. After the service, I must say that I walked out proudly with my different shoes. If anyone noticed I'm sure they most have thought that I had some inside information on the sermon that day.

Well, Sam and I have talked about how God was definitely trying to tell us something from this. I have never gone out with two different shoes on in my life; and for me to do it on the very day that you spoke on this. WOW! I feel like one thing that He was trying to tell us was that He sees what's going on in our lives and He's always there. You have mentioned that in many sermons.

Maybe he was trying to tell us how much stronger we are being yoked together to fight this battle that we are facing with Sam's melanoma. But I do know that He definitely was sending us a message through one of my favorite messengers. I just wanted to pass this on and tell you that these past few week when we've been to one doctor after another and down to MD Anderson......I tell myself, "remember the shoes".

Thank you. It is an honor to have you for such a great teacher of the scriptures and a wonderful pastor. God is good.

Blessings,

Claudia Florian
GABC Member

Comments? Questions? Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

AMAZING GRACE on a softball field

2008-05-06T10:47:00.005-05:00

I shared this story in a recent message entitled "Grace-full Living." There were so many favorable comments I want to repeat it here for those in the blogsphere.

In a time when many of our sports stories are about steriods or high-profile arrests, it’s good to hear a sports story that stars grace.

It happened a few days ago at a woman’s college softball game in Ellensburg, Washington. The two teams, Central Washington and Western Oregon were playing for a spot in the league playoffs. It was the most meaningful game of their careers.

There was no score in the top of the second inning, when senior Sara Tucholsky stepped to the plate with two runners on base. Sara was a substitute outfielder who stood only 5 feet 2 inches tall and was batting only 3 for 34 for the season. Sara had never hit a home run in high school or in her four years of playing in college.

She was an easy target for the home-team hecklers who sat behind home plate. She took the first pitch - a strike. Then she swang at the second pitch and when she hit it she knew it was out of the park. She looked up to see the ball sail over the center field fence.

Sara was jumping with joy as she rounded first base - so much so that she missed the bag. So she reversed her direction to return to tag the base - and that’s when disaster struck. Sara’s tendon in her knee snapped and she collapsed on the field.

The two players on base had already crossed home plate, leaving Sara as the only offensive player on the field. She was crumpled on the ground a few feet from first base and a long way from home plate. The rules of the game stipulated that if any of her teammates or coaches touched her on the field of play that she would be called out. Sara was weeping as she painfully crawled to first base. Her coach thought the only option was to substitute a pinch runner for Sara, but since she had only touched first, that would take away the home-run and change it into a single. So, it looked like the only home run of Sara’s career would be canceled.

That’s when grace showed up. As the coach was preparing to substitute a runner for Sara, Mallory Holtman, the first baseman for the opposing team stepped up and asked, "Excuse me. Would it be OK if we carried her around and she touched each bag?" Mallory was the star hitter for the Central Washington team. She was also a senior and had been putting off a couple of knee surgeries herself until the season was over. Now with her post-season career on the line, she offered to help a player who she only knew as her opponent for the past four years.

The umpires conferred and agreed that while none of her teammates could touch her on the field of play there was no rule that prohibited the opposing team members from carrying her around the bases.

So Mallory enlisted the help of her shortstop, Liz Wallace, and the two girls gently picked Sara up and started carrying her around the bases. As the home crowd realized what was happening they started standing to their feet and cheering this act of graceful kindness.

As she talked about what happened Mallory said, "We all started to laugh at one point, I think when we touched the first base. I don't know what it looked like to observers, but it was kind of funny because Liz and I were carrying her on both sides and we'd get to a base and gently, barely tap her left foot, and we'd all of a sudden start to get the giggles a little bit."

When they arrived at home plate, Sara’s teammates met her with tears in their eyes as they congratulated her for her first and only home run of her career. The fans were standing and cheering as they carried Sara back to the dugout.

Then Mallory and Liz returned to their positions to try to win the game that would extend their softball careers into the playoffs. If Hollywood had been writing the script, then Mallory and her team would win and go to the playoffs, but they ended up losing the game 4-2 and were eliminated.

But Mallory didn’t regret for a second what she did. In fact she told a television reporter, "In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much. It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she needed help."

What a display of grace-living! My definition of grace is "God giving me what I NEED rather than what I DESERVE." Mallory and Liz didn’t give Sara what she DESERVED - a single and a record without a homer. Instead, they gave her what she NEEDED. They didn’t give her justice, they showed her grace.

Do you think that would have happened in a Yankees/Red Sox game? If a professional ballplayer was injured while running a base the opposing team would tag him out in a heartbeat and say, "he got what he DESERVED!"

I when I first saw the story of Mallory and Liz carrying Sara around the baseball diamond, I couldn’t help but think what a perfect illustration that is of God’s grace.

Like Sara, each of us has been tripped up and injured by our own sin. None of us could make it home on our own because we’re all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. The law is like an umpire that says, "You’re OUT!"

But Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth, came to us and extended nail-scarred hands, and said, "Excuse me. Would it be okay, if I carry you home?" And it is because of His grace, and His grace alone, that we can arrive safely home.

As the beautiful old song says, "In loving kindness Jesus came; my soul in mercy to reclaim; and from the depths of sin and shame; THROUGH GRACE He lifted me! From sinking sand, He lifted me; with tender hand; He lifted me! From shades of night; to plains of light; oh, praise His name, He lifted me!" (Words by Charles Gabriel, 1905)

And that's just another reason why God's grace is so amazing!

Comments? Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

MICHAEL REAGAN: Keeping the Legacy Alive

2008-04-28T12:08:00.005-05:00

Michael Reagan is the oldest son of our 40th President, Ronald Reagan. I had the privilege of meeting and interviewing him last week when he was in Tyler to speak at a luncheon for Arrow Child and Family Services.

Because I don’t really listen to talk radio, I was unfamiliar with his influence among conservative Americans. His radio broadcast airs on over 200 stations in the U.S. and is heard by a daily audience of 5 Million Americans. He is also heard around the world on http://www.radioamerica.com/.

Michael’s latest book, Twice Adopted, describes his life growing up as the adopted son of Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. His “second adoption” was when he was adopted into the family of God as a follower of Jesus.

I found myself bonding with him almost immediately because we both share a similar experience. I was sexually molested by a high school boy when I was in the third grade. I never told a soul, and I completely blocked out that painful memory until I was in my forties and found myself sharing it with people in my church. My willingness to share that painful experience empowered other people in our church to feel safe in sharing some of their hurts and hang-ups. Like me, Michael was sexually molested by the owner of his after-school day care center when he was in the third grade. He kept that information buried inside his soul until after he became a Christian in his forties.

The most poignant memories he shares are about when he first discovered that he was adopted. At first he was proud that he had been “chosen.” But after the kids at school started calling him a bastard, it damaged his self-image. Even as a young child he knew that there was something bad in the Bible about someone who didn’t know who their real dad was. When he found the verse, it shattered his world and turned him against God for the next 30 years.

In Deuteronomy 23:2 he read, “A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord.” And yes, that’s the exact word that’s found in the King James Version.

As a child, he knew nothing about the Old Testament or the New Testament – and about how Jesus removed the curse of the Law. To him, it was just the Bible, and it turned Him away from God. From that day until he was saved he believed that God hated him and that everything bad that happened in his life was God just trying to make him more miserable.

From that point on, Michael incorrectly believed that God would never accept him, so he set off to do everything he could to “earn his way into hell.” When he used that phrase, I fully expected him to say, “earn my way into heaven.” But I guess when a guy thinks there’s no hope of heaven, he goes in the opposite direction. To get the whole story of his conversion, read his book – it’s WELL worth the price.

As I listened to Michael share his testimony, I couldn’t help but wonder, “How many hundreds (thousands) of people are there in East Texas who have the same mistaken ideas about God because they read a Bible verse out of context or someone told them something that turned them away from God?”

His journey back to God started when he married a Christian woman who prayed for him. She convinced him to go to church, which he did. But he attended for years before he gave his heart to Christ. He was at a church in California when his dad, Ronald Reagan, was President. People would always ask him, “How’s your dad?” Or “How’s Nancy?” Michael said not once did anyone at church ask him, “How’s Michael?” People just ASSUMED he was a Christian because he was sitting in church and opened a Bible – but he wasn’t there yet.

That part of his story also made me wonder how many hundreds of people attend our church (any church), and we make the mistake of assuming that they are Christians just because they show up. How many times do we ask hurting people about trivial things when what they really need is for someone to care enough to ask, “How are you doing, really?”

One of the greatest joys of my life is getting to meet really neat people, and Michael Reagan is certainly someone I’ll never forget. I’m thankful to know that we still have a Reagan around who is making a difference!

Comments? Email me david@mail.gabc.org

THE SHACK - LOVE IT or BURN IT?

2008-04-15T20:27:00.008-05:00

“The Shack” is a Christian novel written by William Young. It’s been quite a while since there’s been such buzz about a “Christian” book. As I read some of the reviews, I am finding that people either love it or hate it.

Eugene Petersen (Professor at Regent College, Vancouver, B.C. and paraphraser of “The Message") endorsed the book with this comment:

"When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of The Shack. This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!"

To read other positive endorsements you can click on:

http://theshackbook.com/endorsements.html

While some love it, there are some who decry that it is dangerous. For instance, Tim Challies, author of “The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment” writes a scathing review of “The Shack” that concludes:

“Because of the sheer volume of error and because of the importance of the doctrines reinvented by the author, I would encourage Christians, and especially young Christians, to decline this invitation to meet with God in 'The Shack.' It is not worth reading for the theology.”

To read his full review and the comments posted click on:

http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/the-shack-by-william-p-young.php

A couple in our church gave me a copy of “The Shack” a few weeks ago, and I was finally able to read it when I was flying to China. I’ve got to admit that I LOVED it. I gave it to Dale Pond, and he loved it. When we prayed we found ourselves talking to God as “Papa” in a very natural way.

I didn’t try to read “The Shack” as a theological textbook, but rather as a fictional novel that wove a tapestry of spiritual truth according to the creativity of the writer. John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress was a such a fantasy-story that it was a hit-you-between-the-eyes allegory. The allegorical truths in “The Shack” are much more subtle.

For someone like me who has believed in and taught about the truth of the Trinity for 38 years, I was fascinated by the relaxed, loving, inter-relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit which Young constructed. Is it that way literally? I don’t know, but it sure helped me get a better understanding of the love and unity that surely exists within the Godhead.

Several people have asked my opinion about the book, and I told them I loved it. But I always add this caveat: I don’t believe 100% of the spiritual assertions in the book, but this didn’t prevent me from enjoying the story itself. It’s like when I go to Brookshire’s to shop. I can’t stand to eat liver. Just because Brookshire’s sells it, I don’t boycott the store, I just bypass the liver! That works well when you’re reading books, too … especially fiction.

I recommended “The Shack” to a pastor friend of mine recently and I warned him that for those folks who are wearing their religious underwear too tight, it will definitely cause a theological wedgy! By reading the reviews, you’ll see that this is true!

So, I suggest you try the book yourself. See what you think. I’d be glad to hear your opinions.

If I get enough responses, I'll post your opinions in another blog.

You can email your comments to david@mail.gabc.org

MOSES HAS DIED

2008-04-07T09:33:00.003-05:00

Of course Moses is dead – according to Deuteronomy 34, Moses died in Moab at age 120 and God buried him, and “to this day, no one knows where his grave is.” (Aren’t you glad that when God buries something – like our sins – nobody can exhume it?)

And now the guy who played Moses is dead as well. I liked Charlton Heston. Whenever I imagine Moses standing before the Hebrew pilgrims, I can’t help but visualize Heston’s character. I don’t know if he was a follower of Jesus Christ or not – only he and God know that now. However, he certainly marched to the beat of a different drummer than most of the Hollywood clan. He stayed married to his wife, Lydia, for 64 years and she was at his bedside when he died.

Most conservative Christians are aware that we are in a “culture war” in America. You may be surprised to read the following words from a speech that Heston delivered at the Harvard Law School Forum on Feb 16, 1999 entitled: “Winning the Cultural War.” In this speech, Heston doesn’t profess his personal faith, but he certainly shares some of the values that many Christians embrace. If you don’t glean anything else from this speech, at least you’ll admit that Heston wasn’t afraid to speak his mind! Here are excerpts from the speech:

I remember my son when he was five, explaining to his kindergarten class what his father did for a living. "My Daddy," he said, "pretends to be people." There have been quite a few of them. Prophets from the Old and New Testaments, a couple of Christian saints, generals of various nationalities and different centuries, several kings, three American presidents, a French cardinal and two geniuses, including Michelangelo.
If you want the ceiling repainted, I'll do my best. There always seem to be a lot of different fellows up here. I'm never sure which one of them gets to talk. Right now, I guess I'm the guy.
As I pondered our visit tonight it struck me: If my Creator gave me the gift to connect you with the hearts and minds of those great men, then I want to use that same gift now to reconnect you with your own sense of liberty, of your own freedom of thought ... your own compass for what is right.
Dedicating the memorial at Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln said of America, “We are now engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether this nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.” Those words are true again. I believe that we are again engaged in a great civil war, a cultural war that’s about to hijack your birthright to think and say what resides in your heart. I fear you no longer trust the pulsing lifeblood of liberty inside you … the stuff that made this country rise from wilderness into the miracle that it is…
I've come to understand that a cultural war is raging across our land, in which, with Orwellian fervor, certain acceptable thoughts and speech are mandated. For example, I marched for civil rights with Dr. King in 1963 -- long before Hollywood found it fashionable. But when I told an audience last year that white pride is just as valid as black pride or red pride or anyone else's pride, they called me a racist. I've worked with brilliantly talented homosexuals all my life. But when I told an audience that gay rights should extend no further than your rights or my rights, I was called a homophobe.

From Time magazine to friends and colleagues, they're essentially saying, "Chuck, how dare you speak your mind. You are using language not authorized for public consumption!" But I am not afraid. If Americans believed in political correctness, we'd still be King George's boys---subjects bound to the British crown.

If you talk about race, it does not make you a racist. If you see distinctions between the genders, it does not make you a sexist. If you think critically about a denomination, it does not make you anti-religion. If you accept but don't celebrate homosexuality, it does not make you a homophobe.

A few years back I heard about a rapper named Ice-T who was selling a CD called "Cop Killer" celebrating ambushing and murdering police officers. It was being marketed by none other than Time/Warner, the biggest entertainment conglomerate in the world. Police across the country were outraged. Rightfully so---at least one had been murdered. But Time/Warner was stonewalling because the CD was a cash cow for them, and the media were tiptoeing around it because the rapper was black. I heard Time/Warner had a stockholders meeting scheduled in Beverly Hills. I owned some shares at the time, so I decided to attend. What I did there was against the advice of my family and colleagues. I asked for the floor. To a hushed room of a thousand average American stockholders, I simply read the full lyrics of "Cop Killer"-every vicious, vulgar, instructional word. "I GOT MY 12 GAUGE SAWED OFF. I GOT MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF. I'M ABOUT TO BUST SOME SHOTS OFF. I'M ABOUT TO DUST SOME COPS OFF..." It got worse, a lot worse. I won't read the rest of it to you. But trust me, the room was a sea of shocked, frozen, blanched faces. The Time/Warner executives squirmed in their chairs and stared at their shoes. They hated me for that. Then I delivered another volley of sick lyrics brimming with racist filth, where Ice-T fantasizes about sodomizing two 12-year-old nieces of Al and Tipper Gore. Well, I won't do to you here what I did to them. Let's just say I left the room in echoing silence. When I read the lyrics to the waiting press corps, one of them said ,"We can't print that." "I know," I replied, "but Time/Warner's selling it." Two months later, Time/Warner terminated Ice-T's contract. I'll never be offered another film by Warner or get a good review from Time magazine. But disobedience means you must be willing to act, not just talk.

When a mugger sues his elderly victim for defending herself ... jam the switchboard of the district attorney's office. When your university is pressured to lower standards until 80% of the students graduate with honors ... choke the halls of the board of regents. When an 8-year-old boy pecks a girl's cheek on the playground and gets hauled into court for sexual harassment ... march on that school and block its doorways. When someone you elected is seduced by political power and betrays you ...petition them, oust them, banish them. When Time magazine's cover portrays millennium nuts as deranged, crazy Christians holding a cross as it did last month ... boycott their magazine and the products it advertises. So that this nation may long endure, I urge you to follow in the hallowed footsteps of the great disobediences of history that freed exiles, founded religions, defeated tyrants, and yes, in the hands of an aroused rabble in arms and a few great men, by God's grace, built this country.

To read the entire speech:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1997561/posts

COMMENTS? Email me at david@mail.gabc.org

WHEN WILL CHINA EVANGELIZE AMERICA?

2008-03-18T07:00:00.005-05:00

Dale Pond and I have just completed a successful week in China where we led a conference for businessmen and women entitled, “How to have REAL Success” in a city in Southern China. This material has been developed by John Maxwell (who is a leadership expert and Christian) and is approved by the Chinese government. REAL Success is a business seminar that allows the facilitator to naturally and positively share the life-changing good news of Jesus. R.E.A.L. highlights four key elements in success: Relationships; Equipping; Attitude and Leadership.
As we taught this “business” seminar, I was amazed to see the level of interest and enthusiasm that the Chinese business people demonstrated. In America, we have so many “success seminars” that we yawn whenever we hear about another one. But this was a totally new concept for the Chinese and they lined up after each session to ask questions through our interpreter.
This is my tenth trip to China, and it is thrilling to see how God is moving here. Many of the people who attended our seminar are believers now because of our work in this particular city. There no longer seems to be INTEREST in Christian truth; I sensed for the first time that there was actual HUNGER for truth about Jesus. Every time we talked about how Jesus was the greatest leader of history, I could actually see the people smile and pay closer attention.
After the seminar, we returned to Beijing where I had the privilege of preaching at Beijing International Christian Fellowship. This is a large, thriving church for foreigners who live in Beijing – it was like heaven because believers from dozens of countries around the world made up the congregation. Each Sunday several thousand of these believers gather and joyfully lift up the name of Jesus.
It’s difficult to talk about numbers because so many Christians are still “unregistered” in China. But among the “registered” churches (meaning the government recognizes them), there are about 45 million Christians in China. A conservative estimate of “unregistered” Christians would easily be three times the number of registered Christians. So many leaders suggest that there are AT LEAST 175 Million Christians in China (population of 1.3 Billion).
That means that there are MORE Christians in China than in America! However, the Chinese Christians still believe that America is a Christian nation, but those of us who live here know otherwise.
When a person becomes a Christian in China, he or she runs the risk of losing future promotions in his or her business or organization. The Chinese Communist party consists of 75 Million people who provide governmental leadership at almost every level. The Communist Party is like the Democratic or Republican parties in America. The difference is that there is only ONE party. To be a member of the Chinese Communist Party, a person must pledge to be an atheist. Having said that, there are many Communist members who have come to faith in Christ – but their faith may prevent them from moving upward in their career track.
All I’m saying is that to become a Christian in China requires the person to count the cost and make the commitment. In America, our churches are filled with lukewarm Christians (the ultimate oxymoron) who consider their faith to be on the same level as their membership in AARP or Sam’s Club.
I predict that the time will come when there will be MORE missionaries from China coming to evangelize America than there are American missionaries sent to win the Chinese. Doesn’t our Father have a wonderful sense of humor?

comments? email me at david@mail.gabc.org

FATHER OF THE BRIDE 2

2008-03-08T13:10:00.006-06:00

WARNING: THIS BLOG IS SICKENINGLY PERSONAL!

Tonight I’ll be giving away my younger daughter, Laura Grace, in marriage as well as performing the ceremony. This makes twice for me because I had this privilege about six years ago when my older daughter, Jenni, married Jason Holman. Some dads say that it’s a bittersweet experience, but as I search my heart, there isn’t a trace of the bitter – there is only the sweet!

Laura Grace has always brought sunshine into my heart, and a smile to my face. Being the dad of such a special girl has been one of the greatest joys of my life - she has always been so much FUN! She was the one who not only memorized her lines in the children’s choir musicals, but everyone else’s as well! She makes me proud of her, not just because of what she has DONE – but because of who she IS. She is truly a gentle soul--a person who fits all the characteristics of love in 1Corinthians 13. She is patient and kind; she isn't jealous or boastful; she doesn't rejoice at wrong but rejoices at the right; she doesn't keep a record of wrongs; she always seeks to see the good in people. She has taught me a lot about life. She’s the kind of gal I would love even if God hadn’t given her to me as a daughter.

When both my girls were little I used to go into their rooms and tuck them into bed by praying for them and kissing them good night. As I finished the spoken part of the prayer, I would always add my silent prayer that God would bless their future husbands. (I was afraid if I prayed that aloud in their presence it would have made them say something like, “Ooohh Daddy, I don’t like boys!”).

So, tonight represents God’s answer to my prayer for Laura Grace, and it’s always a wonderful experience to witness a real, living answer to prayer. Laura Grace met Jim Liner when she started graduate school in the English Department at OU. Jim has since earned his Master’s degree and is a Ph.D. student at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He is one of the smartest, kindest, most trustworthy men I’ve ever met, and I’m honored to have him as my new son-in-law. (Besides, he REALLY laughs at my attempts to tell jokes!) Some dads say that giving away their daughter in marriage feels like a violinist handing a priceless Stratavarius to a gorilla! Not for me - I'm honored and glad to give Laura Grace to Jim. I love and trust him – after all, he’s an answer to prayer!

Tonight after the wedding, Jim and Laura Grace will be dancing together at the reception. This is the message, I want to share with you, Jim. It's expressed in the lyrics of a song by Heartland:

Look at the two of you dancing that way

Lost in the moment and each other's face

So much in love, you’re alone in this place

Like there's nobody else in the world

I was enough for her not long ago

I was her number one

She told me so

And she still means the world to me

Just so you know

So be careful when you hold my girl

Time changes everything

Life must go on

And I'm not gonna stand in your way

But I loved her first and I held her first

And a place in my heart will always be hers

From the first breath she breathed

When she first smiled at me

I knew the love of a father runs deep

And I prayed that she'd find you someday

But it still hard to give her away

I loved her first

How could that beautiful women with you

Be the same freckle face kid that I knew

The one that I read all those fairy tales to

And tucked into bed all those nights

And I knew the first time I saw you with her

It was only a matter of time

But I loved her first and I held her first

And a place in my heart will always be hers

From the first breath she breathed

When she first smiled at me

I knew the love of a father runs deep

And I prayed that she'd find you someday

But its still hard to give her away

I loved her first.

comments? email david@mail.gabc.org

What does John McCain believe?

2008-02-16T11:29:00.004-06:00

Since the last time I weighed in with my personal support for Mike Huckabee for President, a lot has happened!

Guliani and Romney have both pulled out the race and it appears certain that John McCain will be the Republican nominee for President.

When asked about John McCain, James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family said, “Speaking as a private individual, I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances.”

I’ve been searching for comments from John McCain about his personal beliefs, and it’s difficult to find substantial evidence of his faith. Although I didn’t read his entire biography, "Faith of our Fathers," I read sections of it and it appears it could have been correctly entitled, “Faith IN our Fathers” because it’s mostly about the military experiences of his father and grandfather who were both Admirals.

There are some scary statements he has made about moral issues. For instance when asked about gay marriage, McCain responded in an interview, “I think, uh, I think that gay marriage should be allowed if there's a ceremony kind of thing, if you wanna call it that. I don't have any problem with that.” Ouch!

On the other hand, there are some positive hints about his faith. He was raised in the Episcopal Church, but since his marriage to his second wife, Cindy, has attended North Phoenix Baptist Church. He indicated on the video link below that he has recently spoken to Pastor Yeary about being baptized, but has decided NOT to be baptized during the campaign because it might appear to be grandstanding.

During his five years as a POW in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” he was elected chaplain by his fellow inmates. Again, if you watch the video below he humbly dismisses that role citing that he was selected because he had received more religious training than the other POWs.

In an interview with Beliefnet, John McCain responded to a question about whether he would prefer the President to be a Christian: “I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles, personally, I prefer someone who has a grounding in my faith." When asked if America was a Christian nation he said, "I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation."

There is no doubt that McCain is an American hero and the most qualified to serve as Commander-in-Chief. However, I'm still not sure about the depth of his faith. On one of the videos he speaks about reading the Christmas story from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John during Christmas time in the prison. Most folks with a passing knowledge of the New Testament know that only Matthew and Luke have a Christmas story. Hmmm.

If you want to learn more about John McCain’s faith click on the link below and watch the video interviews on Beliefnet.

I’d like your comments on these questions:

What do you know about John McCain’s faith (or lack thereof)?

Can John McCain defeat Obama or Hillary in November?

How would you like to see a McCain/Huckabee ticket?

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/220/story_22001_1.html

comments? email david@mail.gabc.org

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE??

2008-02-04T08:23:00.001-06:00

WARNING: This blog is strong and politically incorrect.

As if we needed any more proof that radical Islam is morally bankrupt according to every standard of human decency – last week al-Qaida strapped explosives on two Iraqi women with Downs Syndrome and detonated the bombs in two different pet bazaars in Baghdad. Estimates are that 73 Iraqi citizens were killed in the explosions.

To use unwitting suicide bombers is an act so wicked that it boggles my mind. Some military experts surmise that this proves that al-Qaida is running out of able-bodied men and are becoming more and more desperate. To me, it just proves that the men behind this act deserve a fate worst than having explosives strapped to them and having someone else push the plunger. By their martyrdom, these extremists expect to enjoy paradise with 70 virgins – instead I believe they’ll find themselves dancing with demons.

Where is the outrage in Washington? The only quote I read related to this event was Condoleezza Rice saying, “the bombings prove al-Qaida is the most brutal and bankrupt of movements and will strengthen Iraqi resolve to reject terrorism.”

And still, there are some liberal Washington politicians who propose that we can simply go over and sit down with these lunatics over a cup of strong coffee and discuss an immediate withdrawal from their country.

To me, this is exactly the reason we’re fighting in Iraq. NOT for oil, NOT for revenge, but to prevent this kind of brutal behavior directed toward tens of thousands of innocent citizens living in the Middle East. And if we weren’t confronting them there, we would probably be confronting them in the streets of America.

DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS?

THE MASADA SOLUTION

2008-01-29T17:40:00.000-06:00

Whenever I bring a group here to Israel, we always visit Masada. Masada has little Biblical significance. However, I love seeing the fabulous hanging palace that Herod the Great built there (and only stayed in twice). The palace "hangs" on the edge of a cliff, and it gives us more insight into the megalomaniacal mind of the ruler who tried to kill the infant Jesus (and did kill several of his sons and his favorite wife!).
To me, Masada is a must-see site for anyone who wants to also understand the modern issue of Israeli/Palestinian relations. Another advantage of visiting Masada is that it allows our groups to enjoy the unique experience of floating in the Dead Sea. You can’t drown there because the Dead Sea is 10x more salty than any other body of water on the planet. The consistency of the water is more like thin jello than water – you float on top and can cross your legs, fold your arms behind your head and read a newspaper while floating. You can even take a can of coke and enjoy it …. That gives new meaning to a “coke-float!" (Plus those who haven’t ventured into the ocean since they saw the movie "Jaws" can enjoy the water with full assurance that there are no sharks, crabs, or fish because nothing lives in it).
Masada stands as a powerful sentinel overlooking the Dead Sea. Centuries before Herod transformed the top of the rock plateau into a city with lush gardens and a extravagant surplus of water, it served as a perfect fort. It was protected by sheer cliffs on all four sides – and could only be climbed by a snake trail that was easily defendable.
The story of Masada really isn’t about Herod’s palace, but what happened in 73AD. This was toward the end of the Jewish rebellion against Rome that had resulted in the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
A group of almost 1,000 Jewish rebels fled to the desert to escape the Romans. They established themselves on the top of Masada. The Roman army surrounded Masada and decided to just wait until the Jews ran out of food and water. But Herod had stockpiled so much food and water that the Jews would mock the Roman soldiers by pouring gallons of water over the sides of Masada each day. This infuriated the Romans because water was scarce and each solider received only a small ration.
The Romans finally decided to build a ramp on the western side of Masada from which they could attack the mountaintop fortress. When they started the ramp, the Jews tossed huge boulders from the sides of Masada killing and injuring the Roman soldiers. So the Romans countered by using Jewish slaves to build the ramp. The rebels stopped throwing boulders because they recognized the slaves as their own friends and family members.
Finally the massive ramp was completed and a huge wooden war machine complete with a battering ram was raised in front of the wooden gate of Masada. The Jews then packed layers of rocks between layers of successive wooden gates, so the battering ram only packed the rubble tighter. The battering ram pounded away until it was shattered. Then the Romans set fire to the wooden gates. For a moment, it seemed as if a miracle of Biblical proportions was happening because the wind shifted and ignited the Roman war machine! However, the wind then shifted again and the gates of Masada were burned and breached.
By this time, it was late in the afternoon, so the Romans retired to their camp confident that early the next morning they would enter Masada and slaughter the Jewish rebels. After all, they weren’t going to escape.
What happened that evening is based upon the writings of Flavias Josephus. Faced with certain death in the morning, the rebels faced a harrowing choice. Their leader was Elazar ben Yair, and Josephus has recorded the impassioned speech that Eliazer made that night. Here’s an excerpt of Eliazer’s speech:

“Noble Jews, you who decided long ago not to submit to the domination of the Romans or to that of any other nation and to obey only God, Who alone has the right to command men, now the time has come to demonstrate by your acts that your heart truly nourishes these feelings.
The enemy desires nothing more than to hang us alive. As great as our resistance will be, we will not be able to avoid an onslaught. Nevertheless, the Romans cannot prevent us from denying them our lives by giving ourselves a noble death, ending our days together with the people who are the dearest to us...
If up until now, we have been sustained by the hope of being able to take revenge in some manner on our enemies by courageously resisting, this hope has vanished. Why delay running to our own deaths while we still have the possibility and of granting it to our wives and to our children since this is the greatest kindness we can do them? We were born to die: it is an inexorable law of nature to which all men, however happy and healthy they may be, are subject. But our nature does not at all oblige us to suffer the outrage of servitude, to see, in our cowardice, the honor of our wives and the freedom of our children ravished when it is within our power to spare them through death.
After having heroically taken up arms against the Romans and scorned the offer they made us to spare our lives if we would accept it from them, what kind of treatment could we expect from their resentment if we fall into their hands alive? The strength and the vigor of the healthy would only prolong their agony and the oldest would not be pitied less because they would have greater difficulty enduring their agony. We would see our wives carried away into captivity and would hear our children, irons at their feet, imploring us in vain for help. Who is preventing us from saving ourselves from servitude while we can freely use our arms and our swords? Then let us die with the people who are dearest to us rather than live as slaves.”
Contrary to popular opinion, what happened that night wasn’t mass suicide. Jewish law strongly forbids suicide. When you understand how this act was carried out, only one man committed suicide. First, families were gathered together, then ten men were chosen by lot. The father in each family used his sword to slay his children and wife, then one of the ten men came and killed the father and laid him beside his family. Then the ten men drew lots and one was chosen to kill the other nine men. And then that last man fell on his own sword – the only one to actually commit suicide.
The next morning, the Roman army marched onto Masada expecting a final bloody battle, only to be met with the sound of the wind and the sight of the bodies of 960 Jewish men, women and children who chose death before dishonor.
By the way, if you’re unfamiliar with the story of Masada, rent the DVD “Masada.” It’s pretty accurate. If Hollywood gave an Academy Award for “facial expression without speaking” then the look on Peter O’Toole’s face, (who played the Roman general) when he arrived on Masada, would easily win the Oscar!
You may wonder, if they all died, how do we know about these events – and especially the speech of Eliazer? It’s because two elderly women and several very young children were found by the Romans hiding in an enormous cistern. One of the women was educated and spoke five languages. She might have been chosen to record and report the speech and the events. Josephus’ record is supposedly based upon her eyewitness account.
To understand Masada is to understand Israel. The events of Masada are fully woven into the fabric of modern Israel. For the first 50 years of modern Israel’s history, they have almost been suicidal in their protection of their country. If they had lost any of their wars, Israel would have ceased to exist. Israel is still surrounded by enemies. That’s why all teenage Israelis, both male and female, are required to serve in the military (which may be one reason Israel doesn’t have some of the same teenage rebellion issues we have here in America!)
For many years, new recruits have participated in a ceremony at Masada when they finish basic training. They hike 15 miles in full gear and then run up the snake trail to the top of Masada. After camping out, they are sworn in as Israeli soldiers just after sunrise. Afterwards, they march to the southern end of Masada and shout three times in Hebrew: “MASADA SHALL NEVER FALL AGAIN! MASADA SHALL NEVER FALL AGAIN! MASADA SHALL NEVER FALL AGAIN!” That Masada mindset has been the rallying cry for years.
My friend and tour guide, Rueven, has wisely pointed out that while this “die before dishonor” mindset served Israel well through the last half of the 20th Century, many Israeli leaders have been reconsidering the value of the Masada Soulution for this reason: MASADA HAD NO SURVIVORS … and Israel must survive.
Is there any way for there to be peace in Israel before Jesus returns? Only God knows, but more and more Jewish leaders are embracing the thought that the MASADA SOLUTION is not the answer.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF NAZARETH?

2008-01-28T07:45:00.000-06:00

Our tour group from Texas visited Nazareth this weekend, and I’m always amazed at the changing nature of the city. We visited a remarkable Christian site called “The Nazareth Village” which is a recreated Biblical village that portrays what buildings looked like and how people lived and dressed during the time of Jesus. It was well researched and presented in an interesting and educational way.
In the New Testament, Nazareth is the place of two earth-shattering announcements – one private and one public. First when a young virgin girl named Mary was visited and given an announcement by the angel Gabriel. She heard the announcement that she had been chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah. That was such an important announcement that there is a huge Catholic Church built over Mary’s home called The Church of the Annunciation (the white building in the background of this photo).
The second big announcement was made publicly and it never resulted in a large church being built. It happened in Jesus’ home synagogue of Nazareth, when a 30-year-old homegrown carpenter, and a son of a carpenter, made a sensational announcement to the people who had know them for most of his life. At this time, Nazareth had a population of about 400, so everyone knew Jesus.
He had already been traveling around doing a little teaching and there was even word that He had done a few miracles in Capernaum. His family and friends were anxious to hear gossip about what He had been doing.
Jesus was invited to teach that day. As is the custom to this day, He stood to read a section from the scroll of Isaiah. When the Torah or Prophets were read, the members of the synagogue stood (that’s one reason we stand to read the scriptures at our church). Jesus chose this particular passage from Isaiah 61, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then He rolled up the scroll and gave it to the attendant and sat down to teach. (The older I get the more I enjoy sitting on a stool to teach sometimes – hey, it’s the way Jesus taught at His church!) He didn’t beat around the bush with a few jokes or promote an upcoming trip to Jerusalem. Instead He made an announcement – and it was a bombshell: “TODAY THIS SCRIPTURE IS FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING.” Only eight words in English, but those words shook the world. Every good Jew knew that the prophecy in Isaiah 61 was for the MESSIAH only. And hometown boy Jesus simply says, “Today (not next week, or next year) this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Meaning; “Pay attention, I have a very important ANNOUNCEMENT: I AM THE MESSIAH.” (mumble, mumble, mumble among the synagogue crowd).
At first the audience wasn’t too upset because they thought surely Jesus was just trying to get their attention, but the more He talked, the angrier they became. Jesus went on to make the revolutionary, blasphemous claim that the God of Israel also wanted GENTILES in His family. Jesus used two illustrations. One, during the famine when Elijah was God’s man, there were many Jewish widows in need of food, but God sent Elijah to a GENTILE widow – the widow of Zarephath in Sidon (mumble, mumble mumble within the crowd). Then Jesus said that during the ministry of Elisha there were many JEWS suffering from leprosy, but God chose to cleanse only one – Naaman the Syrian.
At this point, the crowd grew furious and rushed upon Jesus, grabbed Him, and they planned to throw Him off a cliff and stone Him on the spot. But it wasn’t the right time, nor the right mode for Jesus to die, so He just walked through the mob and walked away from Nazareth.
Today, Nazareth is a teeming city of almost 100,000 people. It is the largest Israeli Arab city in Israel – yes, there are Israeli Arab citizens (in fact 17% of Israel’s population are Arab). For much of its history since the resettlement, Nazareth has been a stronghold for Christians in Israel (3% of Israel’s population are Arab Christians.). About 20 years ago, Nazareth’s population consisted of 70% Christian and 30% Muslim). Today the ratio is reversed with Nazareth having a population of 66% Muslim and 33% Christian (the 2006 photo shows Muslims in daily prayer in front of the Church of the Annunciation).
It’s worse in Bethlehem – only 20 years ago Bethlehem would have been 90% Christian and 10% Muslim. Today you’d be scraping the bottom of the barrel to find 5% Christians in Bethlehem. Since Bethlehem is within the Palestinian-controlled territory, the persecution and removal of Christians has been deliberate and often brutal. Lands belonging to Christians for generations were “claimed” by the Palestinians.
It’s sad to see how the Muslims are replacing Christians and taking over Nazareth as they did Bethlehem. In answer to the question of this blog: IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING IS GOING TO COME OUT OF NAZARETH IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
But the good news is that something good HAS come out of Nazareth – actually Someone good! Jesus Christ. Once a teacher asked Jesus, “Good teacher ….?” Before Jesus answered his question, He had one of His own. “Why do you call me GOOD? There is none GOOD but God.”
Indeed, Jesus is GOOD because He is God! Pray for the Christians in Nazareth as they deal with the encroaching spread of Islam in their city.

AHH! THE GOOD LIFE IN GALILEE

2008-01-27T02:31:00.000-06:00

Through the years of bringing groups to Israel, I’d like to think I’ve learned a few things. For intance, the typical tour group arrives in Tel Aviv and travels up to Galilee first and then swings southward to finish their Holy Land tour in Jersualem.
The first few times I visited here, we followed that route, and I noticed that our tour members became more and more fearful and stressed as we approached Jersusalem. So I have designed my own itinerary that goes against the flow. We start in Jerusalem and end in the Galilee. Israelis call this area “THE Galilee” like Texans call one part of our state “THE Panhandle.” No self-respecting Texan would say, “I’m from Panhandle.” In the same way, the Jews speak of the region surrounding the Sea of Galilee (actually Lake Genneserat) as THE Galilee.
The Sea of Galilee is the lowest fresh water lake in the world, sitting at 600 feet below sea level. It is seven miles wide at its widest point and 14 miles long. Since it is the only fresh water lake in Israel, the Israelis use it as their national swimming pool, and in the summer the shores are packed with Israeli tourists.
Having traveled here for 14 previous trips, I’ve figured out WHY Jesus chose Galilee to be His home and base of ministry – it’s just SO much more peaceful, beautiful, and slow-paced than the rat-race that is Jerusalem. In Jerusalem there are crowded streets, noisy vendors, and rude city-slickers. In Galilee, it’s the country, where life is slower, and people are friendlier and it’s a lot quieter.
When you study the gospel accounts, Jesus really didn’t care to visit Jerusalem often. Imagine this – from an early age you realize that one day when you visit Jersualem you’re going to be arrested, tortured, and put to death. No wonder Jesus only visited Jerusalem when it was required of Jewish males to visit the city for the Jewish Festivals. And when He did visit Jerusalem, there was always a powerful sense of conflict as the Jewish Mafia took every opportunity to question and discredit this rabble-rousing rabbi from the sticks of Galilee.
So when I bring a group to Israel we see the sites, fight the crowds, deal with the traffic...then we escape to Galilee to end our trip. The fields are ripe for harvest in Galilee. The vegetation and plant life is remarkable. Banana trees and citrus groves cover the landscape. It’s like living in the country instead of the big bad city.
I think Jesus had an aversion to the big city life of Jerusalem and preferred the quiet, pastoral setting of Galilee. He probably would have liked John Denver’s song, “Thank God I’m a county boy!”
When our groups visit Galilee, we don’t stay in one of the many fine hotels in Tiberias. Instead, my favorite place to stay is at the Nof Ginosar Kibbutz guest house. This tranquil quiet kibbutz is located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee near where a 2,000 year old fishing boat was found in the mud and was removed and displayed at the kibbutz. We can’t say for certain it was a boat Jesus used, but for sure it was the kind of boat that Jesus would have ridden across the lake. The idea of putting 13 guys in a boat that size gives new meaning to the term “close fellowship.”
Whenever our groups arrive at Nof Ginosar, you can almost hear the audible “ahhhh” as they see the lush vegetation and the Sea of Galilee only 75 yards away. As, I’ve said, I certainly can’t fault Jesus for wanting to live and minister here – it’s some of the most peaceful tranquil settings in the world in the midst of a country that is usually nervously preparing for the next attack.
The sites in Galilee where Jesus fed the 5,000, spoke the Sermon on the Mount and healing and ministered are all easy to find since they happened within a small area surrounding Capernaum.
The nature of a Holy Land Tour group reflects the difference between Jerusalem and Galilee. We rush frantically through the sites, pushed, and crowded by the people in the narrow streets of the old city – probably much like it was in the time of Jesus.
Then we finish our journey in Galilee where there is mostly green hills, open space, and friendly country folks. Jesus knew what He was doing by choosing THE GALILEE. That’s why I love spending the last three days of our trip here. The footprints of Jesus are found wherever we walk!

WHERE IS THE 'PLACE OF THE SKULL'?

2008-01-25T16:26:00.000-06:00

This week I’m enjoying the opportunity to escort a group of 50 Texans around Israel for them to experience the sights and sounds of the land where Bible events happened. One of my greatest thrills is watching their expressions as the Bible “comes alive” in the places where His story occurred.
Yesterday we started the day by spending time in the traditional location of the upper room where Jesus and His disciples ate the Last Supper. This was the same location where 120 disciples gathered on Pentecost and the church was born.
Then we moved a few hundred yards away to the church that has been built over the house of Caiphas where Jesus was placed on trial. Tradition says that between the time of the illegal night trial and the sunrise when He was taken to Pilate that Jesus was lowered by ropes into a pit that had once served as a cistern. Outside this church are the remains of the stone steps that led from that part of old Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives. These steps were certainly the ones that Jesus and His disciples walked, so this is one of the places where you can be sure you’re walking where Jesus walked.
Then we visited the Garden of Gethsemane and once again I knelt at the Rock of Agony where it is believed to be the place where drops of blood fell from the brow of Jesus as He prayed, “Take this cup away, but not my will, but yours be done.” The word “Gethsemane” means “olive press.” It was the place where olives were beaten off the trees by rods and then placed between grinding stones that forced the virgin oil from the olives. How appropriate for Jesus to pray in this place since He was under great pressure and strain as He faced the cross.
Our group spent some time in a private part of the garden among ancient olive trees whose roots certainly go back more than 2,000 years. Every time I’m there I can easily visualize the sight of the string of torches descending from Jerusalem as Judas led the Temple police to arrest Jesus.
We walked along the via dolorosa (the way of suffering) and stood on the very pavement where Pilate spoke with Jesus and turned Him over to the Roman soldiers where He was subjected to their cruel and vulgar treatment.
We finished our day at Golgotha and the Garden Tomb. You may or may not know that there are two purported sites for Calvary. For Centuries the Roman Catholic Church has claimed that the location is where the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is built. I’ve visited there several times, but I’m not convinced that is the correct location.
This site was first established by Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, who visited Jerusalem in the 4th Century when she was 80 years old. She claimed to have had a dream that directed her this location. The story also claims that while at this site, she discovered the pieces of the cross, which when used to touch a sick person would heal them. She also claimed to have found the nails of the crucifixion. In order to assist her son in his military conquests, Helena placed one nail in Constantine’s helmet and another in the bridle of his horse. If that’s true, that’s an interesting final use of the nails that pierced the hands of Jesus.
In addition, many scholars estimate that the location of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was actually inside the city walls at the time of the crucifixion. The writer of Hebrews informs us that Jesus was crucified, “outside the city.” When you see maps or models of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus, many of them have to manufacture an incredible “jog” in the layout of the walls to make the Church of the Holy Sepulcher appear as if it was outside the city.
I join many evangelical Christians in leaning toward the validity of the site often called “Gordon’s Calvary” or better known as the Garden Tomb. British General Charles Gordon is often associated with the location because in 1885 he was the first public figure to give credence to the location that was excavated in 1842.
If one wonders WHY the site was not excavated until the 19th Century, you must realize that Jerusalem was under Roman and then Muslim control since 70 A.D. except for a few years when the Crusaders had captured the city. But they were much too busy defending the Holy Land to even think about looking for Holy sites.
There are several factors that cause me to lean toward the Garden Tomb location: (1) Just look at the rock face – it looks like a skull. Photographs taken in the mid 1800’s reveal that it looked even MORE like a skull 150 years ago. (2) Nearby an empty tomb of a rich man was discovered. We know he was rich because it is located in a large garden (as the scripture says) because a huge cistern was discovered. Wealthy men in Jesus’ time were often farmers or vitners. Jesus told the story of a wealthy vineyard owner who had the money to travel away and leave his employees in charge. The primary necessity of an ancient vineyard or garden in Jerusalem was a constant and large water source. (3) The site is located outside the ancient city walls at the intersection of three main routes. The Romans executed criminals in public places to gain the maximum impact. (4) Muslims often unintentionally “marked” Christian sites by burying their dead there in order to “desecrate” it from future worship. For instance, there is a large Muslim cemetery located in front of the Eastern Gate of the Temple mount. This was to discourage the thought of the Messiah ever entering there since walking over graves would make a good Jew defiled. (But that won’t make Jesus hesitate for a second when He returns in His glory!). And, you guessed it: there is a Muslim cemetery directly on top of the skull rock face in the Garden Tomb area. (And there is no Muslim cemetery at the Holy Sepulcher – hmmm, the Muslims could have easily converted that church to a cemetery during the centuries in which they had total control of Jerusalem.
You can study the issue for yourself and come to your own conclusions. But the main truth is NOT where it happened, but WHAT happened! “CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS – THE RIGHTEOUS FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS – THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD.”
Whether the Garden Tomb’s Golgotha is the actual location where Jesus died or not, I must confess that everytime I stand there I am in awe. I’m reminded of a story I heard about the late Dr. R.G. Lee when he visited Jerusalem for the first time. When his group arrived at the Garden Tomb, Dr. Lee ran ahead of the group and when they arrived they found him kneeling in prayer as he gazed at the skull-shaped cliff. The tour guide asked him, “Oh, Dr. Lee, have you been here before?” Dr. Lee smiled and said, “Oh, yes. I was here 2,000 years ago. I was on the heart and in the mind of Jesus when He died for sinners.” I have the same experience whenever I look at this hill.

WELCOME HOME TO ISRAEL

2008-01-24T15:33:00.000-06:00

On Monday morning, January 21, I departed with 50 travelers to visit Israel, the land where Jesus lived, walked, taught, healed, lived, died, and was resurrected. (And it happens to be the location where He will come again!) After a bus ride to DFW, a 3 hour flight to Newark, and a 10 hour flight to Tel Aviv, we were greeted on Tuesday afternoon by my friend, Reuven Solomon who will be our tour guide for the sixth or seventh time. We arrived at the lovely Renaissance Hotel time in time to check in and eat a delicious buffet – then everyone was ready to do battle with the pesky little foe named “jet lag.” I was in bed by 10pm last night and slept until 5 which is a pretty normal night for me, so we’ll see how I make it today! Jet lag is that insidious fatigue that makes your eyelids heavy when you’ve just traversed several time zones. Some of our travelers often succumb to naps on the bus between sights and become members of the “I slept today where Jesus walked” club!
I think this is my fifteenth trip to Israel, so in a way I always feel as if I’m coming home. I first visited Israel in 1974 when I was a student at Samford University. I was a part of about 12 students and one Archeology Professor who came to study and practice archaeology and see the Biblical sites. Our accomodations were in Christ Church Hospice in the old city of Jerusalem. We stayed for several weeks in cold, bare dorm rooms with bunk beds and meals consisted primarily of a large pot of thin potato soup with all the chunks of homemade bread you could eat. After spending all day sifting through dirt in a 4ft by 4ft square using nothing but a kitchen spoon and a toothbrush, that soup and bread tasted heavenly!!
Actually, we were there while the Yom Kippur War was going on, but, hey, when you’re a college kid, you’re used to a lot noise. Jets streaked over the sky constantly, tanks were in the streets at night, and we could hear distant rumblings that weren’t thunder. In other words, we had a blast!
Since that original trip, I’ve been bringing many groups to visit Israel, and I’m happy to say we utilize somewhat better accommodations (although I still can’t pass up potato soup if it’s on the buffet!). My greatest joy is watching the faces of the friends I bring when they realize for the first time that they really are looking at the same scenes Jesus viewed. The ride across the same Sea of Galilee where Jesus sailed (and walked). They really are walking in places where we know He walked. For the first time, these people who love the Bible are able to form a mental image of events in the Bible. They come away with a visual frame of reference of Biblical events that they could never have by simply reading books or even watching a movie about the Holy Land.
So, we’re off today to visit the Western Wall, the only remaining part of the Temple Mount during the time of Jesus (often called the “Wailing wall). Check out this 24/7 video feed of the Western Wall – http://www.aish.com/wallcam/ if you‘re watching it, we’ll wave.
We’ll walk through the narrow streets of Jerusalem which look much like they did when Jesus carried His cross through there 2,000 years ago. We’ll visit the Rock of Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus fell on His face and prayed “not my will but yours be done.” We’ll have our own private worship experience among the Olive Trees in the Garden of Gethesemane where Jesus was arrested. We’ll end our day at the Garden Tomb – and I’ll be able to report to you again – IT’S EMPTY! He is not here, He has risen from the dead!
If you’re reading the blog and have specific questions about the sites, I’ll try to answer some of them if you leave a comment.
Shalom!

IS I-35 MORE HOLY THAN 1-20?

2008-01-14T10:24:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday morning, I woke up at my usual 5am time to spend another 90 minutes “praying in” my message for that morning. Around 6:30 I sat down with a cup of coffee, the Tyler Paper, and turned on Headline News.

It must have been a slow news morning because the featured story was about a group of Christians in the Dallas area who believe that Interstate 35 is the “Holy Highway” prophesied in Is 35:8 (Is 35 = I-35, get it?) The HNN report showed a group of Christians standing beside I-35 praying fervently for the people traveling on the highway. To be honest, they came across as a bunch of “crazies” which is probably what the producer of the news piece wanted.

In case you haven’t heard or seen the story, Isaiah 35:8 says, “A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it. But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.” (That’s KJV which is the only one they’re using).

Three years ago self-described prophet and God Channel regular Cindy Jacobs was preaching in a Texas church when she said she made the first public connection between the interstate and Bible verse.

"It's amazing that there's a scripture that talks about the highway of holiness and there's an actual one," said Jacobs, who co-founded Generals International ministry in Red Oak, Texas, which leads the Light the Highway movement.

Cindy has enlisted other pastors and churches along I-35 from Laredo, TX to Duluth, Minn. to join her in her quest to Light the Highway. One of the pastors who has joined her is Austin’s Promiseland Church pastor Charlie Lujan. His quote is interesting. He said, “Everything we do, we want to make sure scripture is backing us up. I-35 being Isaiah 35, it just matched.”

Many of the I-35 Highway of Holiness proponents believe that the collapse of the bridge on I-35W in Minneapolis last year was a warning sign from God that more prayer is needed in our nation.

Not every pastor is convinced this if from God, however. Bob DeWaay, pastor at the Evangelical Twin City Fellowship in St. Louis Park, Minn. scoffs the effort saying, “God isn't going to determine how He works based on the highway system.”

My first reaction was that these are religious nuts, the kind that give all Christians a bad name. But being the optimist that I am, I see some positive things about the “light the highway” movement.

1. It’s good to PRAY anytime and anywhere. Any movement that mobilizes people to pray for our nation and travelers on any highway shouldn’t be discouraged.

2. These people take the Bible seriously – if not correctly – at least seriously.

3. These people believe that God is still active and real in our world and that His Word is to applied to our time – even to something as seemingly mundane as a highway.

However, there are a few sound arguments against what they’re doing.

1. Reputable Biblical scholarship cannot justify using the number of a Bible chapter to correspond with a highway number. I believe that God’s Word is totally without error, but the original text of the Old and New Testaments didn't even have chapter or verse divisions. The present chapter divisions in our Bibles were invented and inserted in 1205 by Stephen Langton, a professor in Paris who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury. He followed the chapter divisions of the Old Testament used by Jewish rabbis in 1330 for the Hebrew Old Testament.

2. There is always a danger of taking scripture out of context to “match” a personal belief (called "proof texting"). I’ve said many times that “a text without a context becomes a pretext.” This is an extreme example of this.

3. It’s always dangerous to “play God” and try to announce that God was repsonsible for tragic events. Blaming God for the bridge collapse on I-35 falls into the same category as those who agree with Pat Robertson’s statement that the 9/11 attacks were sent by God as punishment for homosexuality and abortions in America.

So is this legitimate? Only God knows. But since I live closer to I-20, I feel left out, actually. The travelers on I-20 need prayers too.

Hey, I may have found an I-20 verse! Is 20:2 says “Go and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so walking barefoot naked and barefoot … for three years.” On second thought … never mind.

This reminds me of when I was a pastor in Alabama. A rabid Alabama Crimson Tide fan drew me aside and took his Bible to PROVE to me that ‘Bama was superior to Auburn. He opened his Bible to Ezekiel 20:29 and read, “What is this high place to which you go? So its name is called Bamah (which he prounonced ‘Bama) to this day.” I laughed when he finished reading it …. Only to look at his face and realize HE WASN’T KIDDING! Oh well.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IS I-35 THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE PEOPLE?

LET'S HEAR FROM YOU!

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A BABY CAN MAKE!

2007-12-21T13:06:00.001-06:00

During this season, we’re reminded of the earth-shattering impact that a Baby born in Bethlehm has had on our world.

In my message on December 23, I’m summarizing the wonderful short story by Francis Bret Harte (1836-1902) entitled “The Luck of Roaring Camp.” Harte is the only American author who truly captured the wild atmosphere of the California gold rush days.

“The Luck of Roaring Camp”is a home-spun story that colorfully illustrates how one little baby can make a tremendous difference in the world.

In my message, my brief summary doesn’t do it justice, so I’ve provided a link to the full story for your reading pleasure. It will take you about 15 minutes to read, but you’ll be rewarded for your diligence in wading through the 19th Century language and phrasing.

ENJOY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

http://www.classicreader.com/read.php/bookid.810/sec./

MIKE HUCKABEE - LOSING WEIGHT AND GAINING SUPPORT

2007-12-15T16:40:00.001-06:00

If you follow this blog you know that I came out in support of Mike Huckabee for President a few months ago. He doesn’t have a perfect record as Governor of Arkansas (which public official does?), but right now, he has my prayers and support over the next 11 months.

According the latest polls, Huckabee has surged ahead of the other Republican candidates in both Iowa and South Carolina. South Carolina holds its Republican Primary on January 19, and according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll taken December 9-12, Huckabee was the choice of 24% of those polled. This compares with 17% for Fred Thompson, and 16% for Rudi Guliani, who is tied with Mitt Romney who also had 16%. Senator John McCain came in fifth with 13%.

Huckabee’s campaign has just hired former Ronald Reagan campaign strategist Ed Rollins as his new national campaign manager. Rollins is best known for managing President Reagan’s sweeping 1984 re-election.

As should be expected by Huckabee’s surge, both Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson have increased their attacks against Huckabee for everything from his immigration plan to his ethics.

One of the most interesting things about Mike Huckabee is the transformation that he brought about in his own life. He woke up one day and realized he was overweight and out of shape. He decided to make some changes. As a result, in 2003 he lost over 110 pounds and has since run several marathons. He wrote a book about his experience entitled, Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork. Anyone who has ever tried to get in shape or stay in shape realizes that he must have a great amount of positive will power.

But is America ready for an ordained Southern Baptist minister as President? Frankly, I believe that Huckabee’s former job as a pastor may actually hinder his chances. There are doomsday liberals who are always shouting that the “religious right” is bound and determined to establish a “Theocracy” by electing a “preacher.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The religious right only wishes to bolster America by returning the our nation to the moral and religious foundation upon which our nation was founded. We don’t want a weekly sermon from the President, we want bold, courageous leadership by someone who possesses a dynamic personal faith in God.

I encourage readers of this blog to seriously consider the positions of Mike Huckabee. Don’t support him because he was once a Baptist preacher – support him because he has some workable ideas to fix some of America’s problems.

For instance, he has a revolutionary idea of doing away with the IRS. Click on this link if you want to see more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWUxpS7anpo

What do you think?

WELCOME ABOARD YOUR FLIGHT TO NOWHERE

2007-12-06T10:08:00.001-06:00

The title of this blog may sound like a line from Rod Serling as he introduced an episode of The Twilight Zone, but this story is true.

An Indian entrepreneur, Bhadur Chand Gupta, is selling tickets to his fellow countrymen on his “Gupta Airlines" Airbus 300 for $4 a ticket! However, there is a slight catch. The plane never leaves the ground. (Doing so would mean flying in circles because it only has one wing! And besides, the plane doesn’t even have engines.) Nonetheless, Gupta is selling thousands of $4 tickets to willing "passengers."

What gives? Gupta isn't selling airplane flights--he's selling fellow Indians just the chance to experience sitting in a real airliner. Fewer than 1% of Indians will ever travel on an airliner, so Gupta is cashing in on the mere desire of people to experience virtual flight.

Gupta bought the dismantled aircraft from an insurance company in 2003. He reassembled the plane (most of it) in a Delhi neighborhood and soon began offering his “non-flights” on his non-airline.

The plane has no lighting and the lavatories don’t function, but the passengers are seated in actual airline seats inside the fuselage which is cooled by a generator. Airline music is playing from the speakers, and the passengers are given a safety demonstration. They even hear “captain’s announcements” from non-pilot Gupta himself.

Gupta’s wife and other family members serve as a crew of six “flight attendants” who walk up and down the aisles with their drink trollies serving drinks and airline food to the passengers.

(Hold it! To have MEAL SERVICE on a flight isn’t very realistic today!)

During their simulated flight, the passengers hear Captain Gupta make several announcements such as “Prepare for takeoff” and “We will soon be passing through a zone of turbulence, please make sure your seat belts are securely fastened.” And, “We are about to being our descent into Delhi.” But the scenery never changes because the aircraft never moves.

Gupta reports his countrymen are traveling hundreds of miles across India just to have the experience that only 99% of them can only dream about. A $4 chance of sitting in a cramped airline seat for 30 minutes is as close to air travel as they will get--and they're happy to do it. When they leave the plane, they still have never flown, but they relish what it might be like to really fly.

When I first heard about this, I thought that anyone who’d pay money to sit on a grounded airliner couldn’t be very smart. But after thinking about it, I realize that these people are simply doing what millions of tourists do everyday at Disney World – they’re paying to experience what it’s like to have some of their dreams come true.

Of course, I couldn’t help but extract a spiritual analogy from this interesting story. To me, those Indians who pay $4 to experience “virtual flight” are like thousands of Americans who flock to our churches just to experience “virtual spirituality.” They listen to songs as if they are only piped-in, pleasant background music. They watch the ushers move up and down the aisles with offering plates – and they might even drop in a few bucks for the “show.” Then they hear someone deliver a message from the Bible. But they walk out of church exactly like those non-fliers in Delhi--their faith having never left the ground. They “experienced” a form of godliness, but they’ve never experienced the actual power of God. We shouldn’t be too quick to criticize those Indians when our churches are full of virtual worshippers!

It’s a yes or no question – “Have you ever flown?” Sitting in a dismantled aircraft doesn’t qualify.

It’s a yes or no question - “Do you know God?” Sitting in a pew and leaving unmoved and unchanged doesn’t qualify either.

Virtual spirituality may give a clue about what’s possible, but authentic spirituality can only be realized when you EXPERIENCE a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

For those of us who know, love, and serve God, we soar to heights unknown even without the aid of an aircraft! “For those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31)

JESUS ISN'T WORRIED THAT PEOPLE SAY "HAPPY HOLIDAYS"

2007-12-03T18:09:00.001-06:00

A CHRISTMAS LETTER FROM JESUS:

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year. Historically, some of your predecessors decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that, let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that, there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be plenty of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grapevine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. Remember to look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms--no matter how old they are--and remind them that I love them.

5. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take his or her own life this season, feeling so alone and hopeless? Since you never know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make all the difference.

6. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a 'Merry Christmas', that doesn't keep you from wishing them one.

7. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

8. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no 'Christmas' tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity that believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

9. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of Mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember.

I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

HAVE YOURSELF A POLITICALLY CORRECT WINTER HOLIDAY

2007-11-30T09:54:00.001-06:00

And Joseph went up from Galilee to Bethlehem with Mary, his espoused wife, who was great with child. And she brought forth a son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. And the angel of the Lord spoke to the shepherds and said, "I bring you tidings of great joy. Unto you is born a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:4-11)

"There's a problem with the angel," said a lawyer who happened to be strolling by the stable. As he explained to Joseph, angels are widely regarded as religious symbols, and the stable was on public property where such symbols were not allowed to land or even hover.

"Besides," said another lawyer who was with him, "there are no such things as angels, and telling a child that they're real will only hinder the child's emotional development. And I have to tell you, this whole thing looks very much like a Nativity scene. That's a no-no, too."

Joseph had a bright idea. "What if I put a couple of reindeer over there near the ox and ass?" he said, eager to avoid sectarian strife.

"That would definitely help," said the lawyer, who knew as well as anyone that whenever a "savior" appeared, judges usually liked to be on the safe side and surround it with deer or woodland creatures of some sort. "Just to clinch it, throw in a candy cane and a couple of elves and snowmen, too," he quickly suggested. "No court can resist that."

Mary, who had been listening in, asked, "What does my son's birth have to do with snowmen?"

"Snowpersons!" cried a young woman, changing the subject before it veered dangerously toward religion.

Off to the side of the crowd, a federally-subsidized artist was painting the Nativity scene. Mary pointed out that she and Joseph looked unusually tattered and worn in the picture. "Artistic license," the artist said. "I've got to show the plight of the haggard homeless in a greedy, uncaring society in winter," he quipped. “But we're not haggard or homeless. The inn was just full," said Mary. "Whatever," said the painter.

Two women began to argue fiercely. One said she objected to Jesus' birth "because it privileged motherhood." The other scoffed at virgin births, but said that if they encouraged more attention to diversity in family forms and the rights of single mothers, well, then, she was all for them.

"I'm not a single mother," Mary started to say, but she was cut off by a third woman who insisted that swaddling clothes are a form of child abuse, since they restrict the natural movement of babies.

With the arrival of ten child advocates, all trained to spot infant abuse and manger rash, Mary and Joseph were pushed to the edge of the crowd, where arguments were breaking out over how many reindeer (or what mix of reindeer and seasonal sprites) had to be installed to compensate for the infant's unfortunate religious character.

An older man bustled up, bowling over two merchants who had been busy debating whether an elf is the same as a fairy and whether the elf/fairy should be shaking hands with Jesus in the crib or merely standing to the side, jumping around like a sports mascot.

"I'd hold off on the reindeer," the man said, explaining that the use of asses and oxen as picturesque backdrops for Nativity scenes carries the subliminal message of human dominance. He passed out two leaflets, one denouncing manger births as invasions of animal space, the other arguing that stables are "penned environments" where animals are incarcerated against their will. He had no opinion about elves or candy canes.

Signs declaring "Free the Bethlehem 2" began to appear, referring to the obviously exploited ass and ox. Someone said the halo on Jesus' head was elitist.

Mary was exasperated. "And what about you, old mother?" she said sharply to an elderly woman. "Are you here to attack the shepherds as prison guards for excluded species, or just to say that I should have skipped patriarchal religiosity and joined some dumb new-age goddess religion?"

"None of the above," said the woman, "I just wanted to tell you that the Magi are here." Sure enough, the three wise men rode up.

The crowd gasped, "They're all male! And not very multicultural!" "Balthasar is black," said one of the Magi.

"Yes, but how many of you are gay or disabled?" someone shouted.

A committee was quickly formed to find an alternative group of wise-persons who reflected the cultural, racial, and social diversity of Bethlehem. Just then a calm voice said, "Be of good cheer, Mary, you have done well and your son will change the world."

"At last, a sane person," Mary thought. She turned to see a radiant and confident female face.

The woman spoke again: "There is one thing, though. Religious holidays are important, but can't we learn to celebrate them in ways that unite, not divide? For instance, instead of all this business about 'Gloria in excelsis Deo,' why not just 'Season's Greetings'?"

Mary said, "You mean my son has entered human history to deliver the message, 'Hello, it's winter'?"

"That's harsh, Mary," said the woman. "Remember, your son could make it big in midwinter festivals, if he doesn't push the religion thing too far. Centuries from now, in nations yet unborn, people will give each other pricey gifts and have big office parties on his birthday. That's not chopped liver."

"Let me get back to you," Mary said.

In the meantime the Magi had been asked by others how much their gifts had cost, and when told the price several protested and said the money could have been better spent on the poor and homeless. "Besides," said one, "what can a baby do with gold, frankincense, and myrrh?"

"You don't understand," said one of the Magi, "we brought these gifts to honor and worship this child who has been born King of the Jews." Whereupon the child advocates protested that adults should not pre-determine a child's future. "It should be left up to the child to decide for himself what he wants to be."

One of the shepherds called out from the back of the crowd: "The prophet Micah wrote that out of Bethlehem would come a Ruler to shepherd God's people."

"That's just a myth," countered the head of the Prophet's Seminar who had just arrived with his committee. "We scholars have determined that the prophets actually said very little of what they are credited with saying, and everything they reportedly said about a Messiah was added years later by other writers."

"How did you determine that?" asked Joseph.

The most intelligent member of the Prophet's Seminar was chosen as spokesperson and replied, "We flipped a coin."

After much talking, the various advocates agreed to meet again at a later date in a place more suitable for them and continue their discussions about the child's welfare. Gradually they drifted out of the stable and left the shepherds and the Magi alone with Joseph and Mary and the child.

Mary took Joseph's hand and said, "Husband, tell me again what the angel Gabriel said to you about our son."

Squeezing her hand, Joseph answered, "He said that we should call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Mary looked down at her son and sighed deeply, and then said to no one in particular, "I wonder if they will let Him?"

(Thanks to Harold Chadwick at Omega Faith Ministries for his article that inspired this blog post. I have taken his original idea and made slight revisions.)

POTENTIAL REGRET: Let it motivate you NOW!

2007-11-21T15:47:00.000-06:00

As I’ve been preparing my weekly message, I am focusing on the judgment seat (bema) of Christ. The difficulty of message-preparation is that the truth of the biblical text must flow through me before I can share it with others. As I consider what will happen when I stand before the Lord to receive the rewards (or lack thereof) for what I’ve done (or not done), I am painfully aware of my own shortcomings and failures.

However, at the same time, I realize the bema won't be a time of CONDEMNATION but a time of COMMENDATION; it won't be a time of PUNISHMENT but a time of PRAISE; and it won't be a time of REBUKE but a time of REWARD. I'm not interested in rewards for the sake of rewards; I just long to hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Over the past 37 years in ministry, I have tried to serve the Lord with diligence and faithfulness. Why? Not to earn salvation, or to even repay Him for His grace (I cannot be a debtor to grace, because it’s impossible to repay the debt of love I owe). I have simply and solely desired to bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ by faithfully loving Him, seeking His face, and serving Him.

There might be some outsiders who would look at my (God's) "ministry” and declare that I’ve done a lot. However, I am aware that as much as God has blessed and used me, I too have fallen short of the potential and gifts that He has given me. This possibility of experiencing regret at the bema motivates me to be more faithful and to stay faithful to Him who called me.

American Poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) wrote, "For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'" Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), who was a contemporary of Whittier and author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," had this to say: "The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone." What are these two like-minded individuals telling us? The saddest words of all are the words of regret, especially if they are uttered at one's deathbed.

Without becoming “preachy” in this blog, I wonder if you and I both need to ask ourselves if there are some things that we don’t want to leave undone? Are there letters to relatives you've left unwritten, telephone calls left undone, family time left unspent, broken relationships left unrepaired, and goals left abandoned? That wouldn't be a problem if we were immortal, for then we could always do those things "someday" in the future. But we're not. We have a limited amount of time available. To avoid experiencing "the saddest words of all," to avoid facing the bema with regret, we need to get out of the habit of leaving things undone.What value is a blossom that doesn't open? What value is our life if we don't fulfill the potential God has given us? If we surrender to Him and allow His power to flow through us , then when opportunity strikes, we will lead fulfilled lives. But those who lead lives of inaction are like stones in a field that exist but have never truly lived.

Are there things you've done or failed to do that you regret? (Of course, what a silly question!) After all, we're human, which is another way of saying we're imperfect. So, there's no need to panic or obsess over our regrets. Instead, we can use regret to our advantage. First, we can use the regrets about our past as a positive force in the future. We can accept them as a wakeup call. Second, we can avoid the potential regrets of the future by letting them spur us on to new behavior by choosing to act, not postpone. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, "Make the most of your regrets; never smother your sorrow, but tend and cherish it till it come to have a separate and integral interest. To regret deeply is to live afresh."

When we close the gap between what God created us to be and what we are now, we will have a sense of humble satisfaction – which leads to a healthy, God-inspired self-image. Low self-esteem is due to a huge gap between the two. How can we fail if we always remember we have the choice between becoming better or becoming bitter?

We need to refocus our attention from our failures and regrets to the opportunities that beckon us. As Jerome K. Jerome wrote, "Opportunities flit by while we sit regretting the chances we have lost, and the happiness that comes to us we heed not, because of the happiness that is gone." Sometimes we avoid confronting our regrets because of the pain. But that's a mistake. Use them as a lesson, as a stepping-stone to more faithfulness to God. "At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal," said Barbara Bush. "You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent."

Max Lucado has written: "Go to the effort. Invest the time. Write the letter. Make the apology. Take the trip. Purchase the gift. Do it. The seized opportunity renders joy. The neglected brings regret."

My two daughters are grown now and I’m learning how to be a grandfather, but when I read this poem by Diane Loomans, it resonated in my soul.

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd fingerpaint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.

I would be firm less often and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power.

And more about the power of love.

I think that great theologian, Madonna, sang a song once about "The Power of Goodbye." My study of this subject has led me to see "The power of regret." I want to allow the potential of future regret to motivate me to never miss an opportunity to let my light shine that others may see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven. How about you?

FOOTBALL FEVER

2007-11-15T09:35:00.000-06:00

I love football. I loved playing it in high school and college, and I enjoy watching it now. Growing up in LA (lower Alabama), there weren’t any professional teams in our state, so college football reigned. Ninety-five percent of the residents of Alabama are interested in Alabama/Auburn football, and about 40% of Alabama residents are CONSUMED by Alabama/Auburn football.

Where I come from, you have to declare by about the third grade whether you’re an Alabama Crimson Tide fan or an Auburn Tiger fan – and you can only change loyalty ONCE in your life without losing everyone’s respect. For most residents, it’s not a choice because unless you want to risk being cut out of your parents' or grandparents' will, you will support the team your family supports.

This rivalry bleeds over into business and politics. Besides Republicans and Democrats, Auburn and Alabama alliances are utilized. There are “Alabama” banks and busineses and “Auburn” banks and businesses.

I grew up during the time of legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, who was purported to be only the second man to walk on water. A typical joke ran like this: One cold winter evening, Bear Bryant came home after a high school recruiting trip. He crawled into bed and his wife said, “God, your feet are cold!” Bear replied, “Honey, when we’re alone you can call me Paul.”

It was hard to choose against Coach Bryant, but I decided at an early age to be an Auburn fan. Don’t ask me WHY they are the Auburn TIGERS, but their motto is “WAR EAGLE!” And don’t ask me WHY it’s the Crimson Tide, but their mascot is an Elephant.

The fable I like to tell is that years ago during an Auburn game, a Golden Eagle swooped down over the playing field and the announcer said, “Ladies, and gentlemen, look at that eagle.” And since everyone talks with a noticeable drawl in Alabama they all looked up and said as one voice, “WHAR EAGLE?” But I doubt that story is true.

For years, Alabama regularly trounced Auburn in the annual “Iron Bowl.” It was called that because it was played in Birmingham at Legion Field which is in the shadow of the old US Steel Iron works. It was supposedly a neutral site, but with Tuscaloosa just 45 minutes down I-20, it always seemed like a home game to Alabama. The game has since been moved to alternate between Auburn and Tuscaloosa where they each have stadiums that can seat almost 80,000 fans. An Auburn/Alabama ticket is hard to get. It’s still the most important sporting event in Alabama. A team can lose every game of the season, but if they win the Alabama/Auburn game, the season was a success. Coach Mike Shula was a great coach for Alabama, but he's gone because he just couldn't beat Auburn.

Alabama still holds the edge in the series (38-32-1), but there have been some notable Auburn victories. One of the most memorable came in 1972 when Alabama was leading 16 to 3 late in the fourth quarter. Auburn blocked a punt and ran it into the end zone to make it 16 to 10. Then, with only seconds remaining, Alabama punted again, and Auburn blocked it again and scored for a 17-16 win. For years after that you could see bumper stickers that said: PUNT BAMA PUNT!

But Auburn has beaten Bama the last five meetings and 7 of the last 10 games. One of the nice things about living in Texas for the past 16 years is that I haven’t had to hear about Auburn/Alabama football 365 days a year. They take it so seriously that when I was a pastor in Gardendale, Alabama I had to chide the people to come to church the day after the big game even if their team lost. One Sunday morning I showed up for church on the morning after an Iron Bowl that Alabama had won and there was a 40 ft banner hanging in the baptistry that said, “ROLL TIDE.” And I’m certain there were some men in our church who never sang a word in a hymn until we came to that line from “Jesus saves” that says, “Waft it on the ROLLING TIDE, Jesus saves, Jesus saves!” You could actually hear the volume increase on that line!

I still pull for Auburn, but since my oldest daughter, Jenni, graduated from OU and my younger daughter, Laura Grace, is in graduate school there, I’ve become an Oklahoma Sooner fan. As I watched Adrian Peterson break the NFL rushing record a few weeks ago, I couldn’t help but think that he should be playing as a senior at OU this year.

Of course in Tyler, many of us are also pulling for LSU this year. Matt Flynn, the starting QB, is from Tyler and a member of Green Acres. He waited patiently in the shadow of Jamarcus Russell to get his chance to play and now LSU is at the top of the BCS standings.

Because OU went to sleep in their only loss at Colorado, they’re stuck at #4 in the BCS poll. I think Missouri will beat Kansas, and OU will beat either Kansas or Missouri in the Big 12 Championship game. But I’m afraid that won’t be enough since Oregon is currently #2. I’d love to see OU and LSU in the BCS Championship game on January 7, but unless the Ducks sink, it probably won’t happen.

I’m also a Dallas Cowboys fan and Tony Romo and Coach Phillips has the ‘Boys at 8-1 this year. But to be honest, I like college football 100 times better.

How about you? What are you thoughts about the College/Pro game? Who should be #1? Let me hear from you ……
BOOMER SOONER! And WAR EAGLE!

WHEN A "CHURCH" IS NOT A CHURCH

2007-11-05T16:24:00.001-06:00

I am generally reluctant to criticize any other religious body even if I believe their doctrine is suspicious. But I can no longer remain silent about the so called “church” that really isn’t a church at all.

They call themselves Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Maybe you’ve seen “members” of this church as they picket public events displaying signs that say things like:

GOD HATES FAGS
GOD HATES YOU
THANK GOD FOR 9/11
THANK GOD FOR KATRINA
GOD IS YOUR ENEMY
THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLIDERS

Offshoots of this hate group have sprung up in other places, including East Texas. Members of Green Acres may remember some of the “painted buses” that were parked outside our facility on multiple occasions. Their painted slogans blasted me (even though they couldn’t even spell my name correctly!) comparing me with (horrors!) other heretics like Billy Graham. The purpose of these groups is to try to intimidate people. They yell at people trying to approach worship (while being sure to stay on public sidewalks rather than church property). They hope some church member will get fed up and slug them which would lead to a lawsuit, and most-often a generous out-of-court settlement.

At the risk of being picketed again, I’m ready to go on record in saying:

Westboro Baptist Church isn’t a church at all – it’s a hate group and a cult that calls itself a church to hide its cowardly behavior behind the laws that protect religious organizations.

Their core “belief” is that homosexuality is a crime that should be punished by death, and that all of America’s problems, (and the world’s) stem from the practice of homosexuality. This premise misguides their practice of expressing hate toward everyone who doesn’t embrace their extreme position.

This cult was founded by Fred Phelps in 1955 when he was kicked out as pastor of a more traditional Baptist Church in Topeka, Eastside Baptist Church. Although they have “Baptist” in their name, they are not affiliated with any Baptist group. The “church” is comprised primarily of the children and grandchildren of Phelps and another family, the Hockenbargers, who followed Phelps when he was forced out of Eastside Baptist Church. Since the church has few new members, and does not allow members to marry outside the church, this has led to a narrow family tree comprised of descendents of these two families. (Remember John Denver’s song, “I’m My Own Grandpa?”)

Phelps’ oldest daughter, Shirley, is the founder of the Phelps Chartered Law Firm, and the main spokesperson for the hate group. She is a shrewd attorney who stretches the law to its full extent to protect the church’s expressions of hate. They claim that soldiers dying in Iraq, 9/11, Katrina, and the California fires are “God’s judgment against America.” Well, Westboro’s judgement has already arrived.

Two weeks ago a federal judge awarded nearly $11 Million to the father of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, one of our brave soldiers who died in Iraq. Phelps and his hate-group picketed Snyder’s funeral in 2006 displaying signs that said, “Thank God for Dead Soliders.” The jury awarded Albert Snyder $2.9Million in compensatory damages, $6Million in punative damages for invasion of privacy and $2Million for emotional distress.

The cult routinely pickets military funerals displaying their signs, but this is the first time they have been successfully sued for their hateful behavior. Phelps responded by saying that they plan to continue picketing military funerals (as well the funerals of the seven college students who died in the house fire in North Carolina recently). Westboro has appealed the verdict and Phelps has bragged that “it will take about five minutes to reverse that.”

We need to pray that the appeals courts don’t allow this cult to get away with their hateful behavior under the guise of a church. We must also inform as many people as we can that “Westboro Baptist Church” has nothing to do with “Baptist” and even less to do with a “church.”

A real church doesn’t tolerate any kind of sinful behavior, but it doesn’t consider one particular sin more heinous than others. And a true church of Jesus Christ offers the solution of grace and forgiveness rather than simply pointing out the sin.

I wonder if this scripture has been read and studied at Westboro “Baptist Church?”
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

"The Golden Compass" points in a dangerous direction

2007-10-29T19:31:00.000-05:00

In December, New Line Cinema will release a movie called “The Golden Compass.” It's a thinly-veiled attack on God and the church (known as the Magisterium in the movie).

As I’ve mentioned in an earlier blog, many of the cyber-claims about attacks on Christians and Christianity are unfounded, but this isn’t a false alarm. It’s real. You can verify this information by clicking on the snopes link I’ve added at the end of this blog.

“The Golden Compass” is a children’s fantasy film starring Nicole Kidman which features a little girl on a quest to kill God. The movie is adapted from the first novel in Philip Pullman’s trilogy called “His Dark Materials.” Pullman, a British writer, is an outspoken atheist. His trilogy is an obvious rebuttal to C.S. Lewis trilogy, the Tales of Narnia. Like Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Pullman’s story begins with a young girl named Lyra who discovers an alternative world from inside a dark closet.

New Line Cinema has attempted to minimize the Christian backlash by removing the more obvious religious themes in the movie. Atheistic fans of the trilogy have been complaining loudly that the movie has stripped the book of its overt down-with-religion themes.

While the first installment is rather innocuous, the anti-God themes grow progressively more evident with the next two books, “The Subtle Knife” and “The Amber Spyglass.” In the final installment, the characters succeed in killing a character called God (who is identified as YAHWEH) – who turns out to be a phony, and not God after all.

Pullman has not been shy in the past about verbalizing his beliefs — or, some might say, nonbeliefs — and his intentions in writing the "Dark Materials" novels. The novelist himself has admitted that they are in response to C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia.”

"I loathe the 'Narnia' books," Pullman has said in previous press interviews. "I hate them with a deep and bitter passion, with their view of childhood as a golden age from which sexuality and adulthood are a falling away." He has called the series "one of the most ugly and poisonous things" he's ever read.

When asked about his beliefs, Pullman has said, “I don’t profess any religion. I don’t think it’s possible that there is a God. I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words ‘spiritual’ or ‘spirituality.’” In a 2003 interview, Pullman said, “My books are about killing God.”

It’s interesting to me that while concerned parents have been yelling about the witches and magic in the Harry Potter series, “His Dark Materials” have been largely ignored. They are MUCH more dangerous than the Harry Potter series!

I’m not planning on boycotting the theatres in Tyler that show it. But I’m encouraging parents to spread the word about the dangerous message communicated in this movie. The movie cost over $200 Million to produce, so the best thing that could happen for concerned Christians is for it to be a total flop at the box office.

Here’s the link to the snopes verification of the anti-God theme of The Golden Compass:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

LIVING IN-TENTS LIVES ... now

2007-10-23T10:31:00.000-05:00

As I am preparing to share God’s Word this next Sunday, I have the incredible joy of teaching from one of the most precious passages in all the Bible. In 2Cor 5:1-5 we read:

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed, but to clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal shall be swallowed up by life.”

I have too much material to be limited to a 30 minute message, so I want to share with you an imaginary correspondence between a TENTOWNER (that’s us) and the TENTMAKER (that’s God). (from Do Not Lose Heart, by Dave Dravecky).

O Mr. Tentmaker,

It was nice living in this tent when it was strong and secure and the sun was shining and the air warm. But Mr. Tentmaker, it’s scary now. You see, my tent is acting like it is not going to hold together; the poles seem weak and they shift with the wind. A couple of stakes have wiggled loose from the sand; and worst of all, the canvas has a rip. It no longer protects me from beating rain or stinging fly. It’s scary in here, Mr. Tentmaker.Last week I went to the repair shop and some repairman tried to patch the rip in my canvas. It didn’t help much, though, because the patch pulled away from the edges and now the tear is worse. What troubled me most, Mr. Tentmaker, is that the repairman didn’t seem to notice I was still in the tent; he just worked on the canvas while I shivered inside. I cried out once, but no one heard me. I guess my first real question is: Why did you give me such a flimsy tent? I can see by looking around the campground that some of the tents are much stronger and more stable than mine. Why, Mr. Tentmaker, did you pick a tent of such poor quality for me? And even more important, what do you intend to do about it?

In his reply, the Tentmaker writes:

O little tent dweller, as the Creator and Provider of tents, I know all about you and your tent, and I love you both. I made a tent for Myself once, and lived in it in your campground. My tent was vulnerable, too, and some vicious attackers ripped it to pieces while I was still in it…on a cross. It was a terrible experience, but you will be glad to know they couldn’t hurt me. In fact, the whole experience was a tremendous advantage because it is this very victory over my enemy that frees me to be a present help to you.O little tent dweller, I am now prepared to come and live in your tent with you, if you’ll invite me. You’ll learn as we dwell together that real security comes from My being in your tent with you. When the storms come, you can huddle in my arms and I’ll hold you. When the canvas rips, we’ll go to the repair shop together.Some day, little tent dweller, some day your tent is going to collapse. You see, I’ve designed it only for temporary use. But when it does you and I are going to leave together. I promise not to leave before you do. And then, free of all that would hinder or restrict, we will move to our permanent home and together, forever, we will rejoice and be glad.

I pray that after you’ve read this, you’ll rejoice to know that our Heavenly Tent-maker has something so much better for you that it is beyond anything you can ever dream or imagine. So when life gets too INTENSE just remember that this IN-TENTS time is only temporary!

MIKE HUCKABEE IS MY CHOICE...for now

2007-10-17T14:47:00.000-05:00

The 2008 Presidential election is 383 days away. I’ve been polling opinions and listening to the candidates, and I’m ready to declare my support for Mike Huckabee.

In this election, it’s interesting to note that four of the strongest candidates are either current and/or former senators, and another candidate is the former mayor of the largest city in America. So, if you are a conservative, you may be looking for a strong, socially conservative governor among the lot that can stand up for values and be a serious contender to win the election. For those of you who, like me, vote mostly on issues of social concern, Mike Huckabee may need to be on your radar.

You probably already know that Huckabee, 51, served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas. What you may not know is that he was also a former pastor and enjoys playing bass guitar in his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense. (They must be pretty good because they’ve opened for artists such as Willie Nelson and the Charlie Daniels Band!) A significant part of Huckabee’s adult life was spent as a pastor and denominational leader. He became the youngest president ever of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, the largest denomination in Arkansas. Huckabee led congregations in Pine Bluff and Texarkana. According to his website, those experiences gave him a deep sense of the problems faced by individuals and families.If you haven’t already heard what he had to say in a Republican debate about his views on Creation, you need to hear it. I believe every concerned Christian should hear not only what he says, but HOW he says it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-BFEhkIujA

If you weren’t able to see the video, then go to http://www.youtube.com/ and put “huckabee” “evolution” in the search line.

Huckabee is on record saying that he has no problem with teaching evolution as a theory in the public schools and he doesn't expect schools to teach creationism. "We shouldn't indoctrinate kids in school," he said. "I wouldn't want them teaching creationism as if it's the only thing that they should teach.” Also, students should be given credit for having the intelligence to think through various theories for themselves and come to their own conclusions, he said. He said it was his responsibility to teach his children his beliefs though he could accept that others believe in evolution. "I believe that there is a God and that he put the process in motion," Huckabee said.

According to the National Center for Science Education, Gov. Huckabee is also on the record as saying, “I think schools also ought to be fair to all views. Because, frankly, Darwinism is not an established scientific fact. It is a theory of evolution, that’s why it’s called the theory of evolution. And I think that what I’d be concerned with is that it should be taught as one of the views that’s held by people. But it’s not the only view that’s held. And any time you teach one thing as that it’s the only thing, then I think that has a real problem to it…I think that the state ought to give students exposure to all points of view. And I would hope that that would be all points of view and not only evolution. I think that they also should be given exposure to the theories not only of evolution but to the basis of those who believe in creationism…I think it’s something kids ought to be exposed to. I do not necessarily buy into the traditional Darwinian theory, personally. But that does not mean that I’m afraid that somebody might find out what it is…”

I believe Huckabee wisely handled the question of evolution and turned his focus to the broader issue: how we determine what should be taught in our public schools. Republicans who believe in evolution and those who believe in a literal interpretation of the Genesis account share one important belief in common. That is the conviction that Washington should not determine curriculum in our local schools. That responsibility and right lies squarely on the shoulders of local governments and local people.

Let me hear your comments on Huckabee’s remarks!

WHAT IS YOUR TOLERANCE LEVEL?

2007-10-12T11:44:00.000-05:00

Almost 17 years ago, when I attended one of the first meetings of the “ministerial alliance” here in Tyler, I was asked to pray. But the leader specifically requested that I NOT pray in the name of Jesus. I politely declined to pray, and quietly never returned. I like all the guys, but it’s just not for me. I know some people label me as one of those “narrow-minded religious bigots.” And I’ve been called “intolerant” as well. What does it mean to be tolerant?

Last Friday, President Bush gave an interview with Al Arabiya reporter Elie Nakouzi. (Al Arabiya is Al Jazeerah’s top competitor in the Middle East.)

In the interview, President Bush said, “I believe in an Almighty God, and I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God. That's what I believe. I believe that Islam is a great religion that preaches peace.”
I love and pray for our President, but let’s remember that while he is Commander-in-Chief, he isn’t Theologian-in-Chief. I unapologetically affirm that the only true God is Yahweh (Jehovah) and Jesus Christ is His unique Son and the only way to heaven.

Yet, I agree with what President Bush said later in the interview. He said, “I want people to understand that one of the great freedoms in America is the right for people to worship any way they see fit. If you’re a Muslim, an agnostic, a Christian, a Jew, a Hindu, you’re equally American. … it’s your choice to make. It’s not the state’s choice. And that’s a right I jealously guard.”

The first quote was a statement of religious syncretism, which is dangerous. But the second quote is about true tolerance.
“Tolerance” became a new buzzword at the turn of the century and its meaning continues to evolve today. What can we say and not say when someone’s beliefs differ from our own? If I voice my disagreement, I risk being labeled as “intolerant”—which, according to the media, is a fate worse than death.

Not long ago, the word “tolerant” carried a dictionary definition that read something like this: “the allowance or sufferance of conduct with which one is not in accord” or “allowing the right of something that one does not approve.” The same constitutional laws that give me the right to freely preach the Gospel at Green Acres also grant others the same right to personally proclaim their own different beliefs. That’s what tolerance means—to allow two contrasting beliefs to co-exist side by side, protected by the same laws and rights of religious freedom. While I do not agree with the tenets of the Muslim faith, for example, I respect every person’s right to practice Islam or any religion of their choice. Destroying another person’s religion and/or his religious freedom is true intolerance. History is full of examples of religious intolerance that resulted in defamation and death.

However, in today’s society, we’re seeing a not-so-subtle shift in the meaning of intolerance. It’s no longer enough that I tolerate another person’s belief system…I must actually EMBRACE it and accept it as EQUAL to my own or any other belief, lest I offend someone by my own convictions. The result is a society where truth is relative and “everyone does what is right in his own eyes.”

Listen to what Chuck Colson says about this new form of tolerance (from Christianity Today, The Ugly Side of Tolerance): “Our founders, many influenced by Mill and Locke, were seized by the great liberal vision of a society in which ideas arising from a plurality of interests would be freely exchanged. From this dialogue, truth could be rationally discovered. But in today's relativistic environment, pluralism no longer means tolerating competing ideas, but rather forced neutrality: no one should express any idea that could offend another.”

It is increasingly difficult to speak the truth today in an ultra-sensitive society. However, Jesus said that the truth would set people free. Josh McDowell, in an interview with Focus on the Family, said: “Pursuing truth in this context means countering the new doctrine of tolerance. It means teaching our children to embrace all people, but not all beliefs. It means showing them how to listen to and learn from all people without necessarily agreeing with them. It means helping them courageously but humbly speak the truth, even if it makes them the object of scorn or hatred.”

So call me intolerant if you wish, but I still don’t accept the teachings of the Muslims who live and worship here in East Texas. I don’t believe we pray to the same God. I have several Jewish friends, and I’m crazy about their friendly rabbi, but I believe they need to embrace Jesus for salvation. However, like our President, I will jealously guard their right to practice and express their faith. To me, that's what true tolerance is.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

SEMPER FIDELIS - What's REALLY Happening in Iraq?

2007-10-08T08:15:00.000-05:00

THIS IS A LITTLE LONG, BUT WELL WORTH READING!

Major General (Sel) John Kelly was a recent guest speaker at the San Diego Military Advisory Council networking breakfast. Here are some of his remarks about what’s happening in Iraq.

"I left Iraq three years ago last month. I returned a week ago after a two week visit of getting the lay of the land for my upcoming deployment. It is still a dangerous and foreboding land, but what I experienced personally was amazing and remarkable--we are winning, we are really winning. No one told me to say that, I saw it for myself. The higher command in Baghdad told us four years ago when we first took responsibility for the Al Anbar not to worry about victory, as no one--military or civilian--thought it possible. That thirty years from now when the rest of Iraq was a functioning democracy, Al Anbar would still be a festering cancer within...

Our success, so we were told, would be in containing violence, not defeating the Al Qaeda and other foreign born terrorists that were deeply entrenched in the Province. The reality is that today the incidents of attack in Al Anbar--mostly by Al Qaeda--are down by over 80% in the last six months--that translates to dozens and dozens every day then, to perhaps three or four today. Since the spring, local inhabitants and their sheik leadership are now joined with us at the shoulder in fighting the extremists that plague their country. Three weeks ago, I went to a gathering of sheiks from the Province outside of Ramadi that numbered over 300 of the most influential men in the west. Three years ago, my entire days and nights were devoted to tracking many of these same men down, and capturing or killing them, which is exactly what they were trying to do to me. However, by relentless pursuit by a bunch of fearless 19-year-olds with guns who never flinched or gave an inch, they have seen the light and know AQ can't win against such men. By staying in the fight and remaining true to our word and our honor, AQ today can't spend more than a few hours in Fallujah, Ramadi, or the Al Anbar in general, without being ID'd by the locals and killed by the increasingly competent Iraqi Army, or by Marines.

That's the way it is today in this war, but it is also the way it has been since the birth of our nation. Since our Declaration of Independence, 42 million Americans have claimed the honor of having served the nation in its military forces. Since that time, over a million have lost their lives serving the colors, with millions more wounded. Since George Washington first took command of the Continentals besieging Boston, America's warriors have stepped forward and endured horrors unimaginable to most Americans and saw it all with their young eyes so that those safe at home would never have to. With all this service and loss of life, we as Americans can be proud of the kind of people we are, as we have never retained a square foot of any country we have defeated. We possess no empire. No man or woman calls us master, as we have never subjugated any society. On the contrary, billions across the planet--and billions more yet unborn--are today free and increasingly prosperous because America took a stand; but it has always fallen on the shoulders of our soldiers, sailors, airmen Coast Guardsmen, and Marines that the task fell to...and they have never wavered.

The reality was that when many in this room grew up, and I know I am showing my age here, we were surrounded by men, real men, who had gladly worn the country's cloth in wars against fascism and communism. The earliest memories we had as kids back then were of comic books and paperbacks that honored the sacrifices of the super heroes of those conflicts. It was a time when little boys could play guns and weren't considered at risk to be psychopaths. To stand up when the national anthem was played or say the pledge of allegiance and a prayer to any God you worshiped before school, wasn't considered offensive to the sensitivities of the nation's self-proclaimed intellectual elite. Places like Guadalcanal, Coral Sea, Normandy, Iwo Jima, the Chosin Reservoir, and Hue City were real to us then, and we knew without thinking that we owed the nation a debt.

We live in a very different world today. Today, Memorial and Veteran's Day are more about a day off to take advantage of the big sales at the malls, or fighting the traffic to get a long weekend at the seashore. But we should not forget that as we stand here today we are at war, and a new Greatest Generation is fighting a merciless enemy on our behalf in the terrible heat of Iraq and mountains of Afghanistan.

Like it or not America is engaged in--and winning--a war today against an enemy that is savage, offers no quarter [and] whose only objectives are to either kill every one of us here in our homeland, or enslave us with a sick form of extremism that serves no God or purpose that rational men and women can ever understand. Given the opportunity to do another 9/11, our vicious enemy would do it today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter. In addition to killing thousands of innocent victims that day, they also killed hundreds of heroes: police, firefighters, and first responders of every sort that were not victims in their deaths, but the first fallen warriors of this generation's war. Given nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons--and the experts bet they will get them--these extremists would use these terror weapons against our cities, and smile. The best way to fight them is somewhere else...for whatever reason, they want to destroy our way of life. I thank God we still have enough, just enough, young people in America today willing to take up the fight and defend us all.

Our enemy is on a 100-year campaign to victory and believes without question that he is winning. We, on the other hand, look out two years at best and seem to be wavering and looking for a way to rationalize our way out. The problem is our enemy is not willing to let us go. Regardless of how much we wish this bad dream would go away, he will stay with us until he hurts us so badly we surrender, or we kill him first. To him this is not about jobs, economic opportunity, or solving social problems in the Middle East. It is about way of life, about every man's and every woman's worth and equality in the eyes of the law, about the God given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He doesn't believe in these cherished concepts--we do. Our positions are irreconcilable.

The good news is our service members are as good today as their fathers were in Vietnam and their grandfathers were in Korea and World War II. In my two tours in Iraq as an infantry officer with the 1st Marine Division, I never saw an American hesitate, or do anything other than lean into the fire and with no apparent fear of death or injury take the fight to our enemies. They also know whose shoulders they stand on and would die before anyone of them shamed any veteran of any service, living or dead.

You should see them. They have a look in their eye and a way of walking that marks them as warriors as good as any that have ever marched to the guns, but they are not born killers. They are, on the contrary, good and decent youngsters mostly from the neighborhoods of our cities, and small towns across America. Almost all are from "salt of the earth" working class homes, and, more often than not, are the sons and daughters of cops and firemen, factory workers and farmers. Kids who once delivered your papers, stocked shelves in the grocery store, played Little League, and served Mass on Sunday morning. They were athletes, as well as "couch potatoes," drove their cars and motorcycles too fast, and blasted their music a bit louder than they should. They are ordinary young people, performing remarkable acts of bravery and selfless acts of devotion to a cause bigger than themselves. They could have done something more self-serving, but chose to serve knowing full well Iraq and Afghanistan was in their future.

America's Armed Forces today know the price of being the finest men and women this nation has to offer, and pay it they do everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over 4100 in all services have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, over a thousand of this number Marines, and Sailors serving with Marines - our precious Docs. And the sacrifice continues as Americans have gone to God since we all went to bed last night and slept free and protected. Their mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, wives and husbands, aunts, uncles, cousins and fiancés have only just learned of their deaths and begun to deal with the unimaginable pain that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Thousands more have suffered wounds since it all started, but like firefighters and cops who fall protecting us here in America, they are not victims as they knew what they were about and were doing what they wanted to do.

Rest assured, my fellow citizens, the nation you are a part of, this young experiment in democracy called 'America' that started just over two centuries ago, will forever remain the 'land of the free and home of the brave' so long as we never run out of tough young Americans willing to look beyond their own self interest and comfortable lives and go into the darkest and most dangerous places on earth to hunt down, and kill, those who would do us harm."

Semper Fidelis

PRAY FOR TONY SNOW

2007-10-07T17:54:00.000-05:00

I recently read this interview that former Fox Newscaster and Presidential Press Secretary, Tony Snow, gave to Christianity Today. It was such a blessing I wanted to share it with you!

Commentator and broadcaster Tony Snow announced that he had colon cancer in 2005. Following surgery and chemo-therapy, Snow joined the Bush administration in April 2006 as press secretary. Unfortunately, on March 23 Snow, 51, a husband and father of three, announced that the cancer had recurred, with tumors found in his abdomen—leading to surgery in April, followed by more chemotherapy. Snow went back to work in the White House Briefing Room on May 30, but resigned August 31. CT asked Snow what spiritual lessons he has been learning through the ordeal.

"Blessings arrive in unexpected packages—in my case, cancer. Those of us with potentially fatal diseases—and there are millions in America today—find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God's will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence What It All Means, Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations. The first is that we shouldn't spend too much time trying to answer the why questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can't someone else get sick? We can't answer such things, and the questions themselves often are designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer. I don't know why I have cancer, and I don't much care. It is what it is—a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out.

But despite this—because of it—God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don't know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face. Second, we need to get past the anxiety. The mere thought of dying can send adrenaline flooding through your system. A dizzy, unfocused panic seizes you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon. You fear partings; you worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere. To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, but into life—and that the journey continues after we have finished our days on this earth. We accept this on faith, but that faith is nourished by a conviction that stirs even within many nonbelieving hearts—an intuition that the gift of life, once given, cannot be taken away. Those who have been stricken enjoy the special privilege of being able to fight with their might, main, and faith to live—fully, richly, exuberantly—no matter how their days may be numbered.

Third, we can open our eyes and hearts. God relishes surprise. We want lives of simple, predictable ease—smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see—but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension—and yet don't. By his love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise.

'You Have Been Called'
Picture yourself in a hospital bed. The fog of anesthesia has begun to wear away. A doctor stands at your feet; a loved one holds your hand at the side. "It's cancer," the healer announces.
The natural reaction is to turn to God and ask him to serve as a cosmic Santa. "Dear God, make it all go away. Make everything simpler." But another voice whispers: "You have been called." Your quandary has drawn you closer to God, closer to those you love, closer to the issues that matter—and has dragged into insignificance the banal concerns that occupy our "normal time."
There's another kind of response, although usually short-lived—an inexplicable shudder of excitement, as if a clarifying moment of calamity has swept away everything trivial and tinny, and placed before us the challenge of important questions.

The moment you enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death, things change. You discover that Christianity is not something doughy, passive, pious, and soft. Faith may be the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But it also draws you into a world shorn of fearful caution. The life of belief teems with thrills, boldness, danger, shocks, reversals, triumphs, and epiphanies. Think of Paul, traipsing though the known world and contemplating trips to what must have seemed the antipodes (Spain), shaking the dust from his sandals, worrying not about the morrow, but only about the moment. There's nothing wilder than a life of humble virtue—for it is through selflessness and service that God wrings from our bodies and spirits the most we ever could give, the most we ever could offer, and the most we ever could do.

Finally, we can let love change everything. When Jesus was faced with the prospect of crucifixion, he grieved not for himself, but for us. He cried for Jerusalem before entering the holy city. From the Cross, he took on the cumulative burden of human sin and weakness, and begged for forgiveness on our behalf. We get repeated chances to learn that life is not about us—that we acquire purpose and satisfaction by sharing in God's love for others. Sickness gets us partway there. It reminds us of our limitations and dependence. But it also gives us a chance to serve the healthy. A minister friend of mine observes that people suffering grave afflictions often acquire the faith of two people, while loved ones accept the burden of two people's worries and fears.

Learning How to Live
Most of us have watched friends as they drifted toward God's arms not with resignation, but with peace and hope. In so doing, they have taught us not how to die, but how to live. They have emulated Christ by transmitting the power and authority of love. I sat by my best friend's bedside a few years ago as a wasting cancer took him away. He kept at his table a worn Bible and a 1928 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. A shattering grief disabled his family, many of his old friends, and at least one priest. Here was a humble and very good guy, someone who apologized when he winced with pain because he thought it made his guest uncomfortable. He retained his equanimity and good humor literally until his last conscious moment. "I'm going to try to beat [this cancer]," he told me several months before he died. "But if I don't, I'll see you on the other side."

His gift was to remind everyone around him that even though God doesn't promise us tomorrow, he does promise us eternity—filled with life and love we cannot comprehend—and that one can in the throes of sickness point the rest of us toward timeless truths that will help us weather future storms. Through such trials, God bids us to choose: Do we believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations? Can we surrender our concern in things that don't matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do?

When our faith flags, he throws reminders in our way. Think of the prayer warriors in our midst. They change things, and those of us who have been on the receiving end of their petitions and intercessions know it. It is hard to describe, but there are times when suddenly the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and you feel a surge of the Spirit. Somehow you just know: Others have chosen, when talking to the Author of all creation, to lift us up—to speak of us!
This is love of a very special order. But so is the ability to sit back and appreciate the wonder of every created thing. The mere thought of death somehow makes every blessing vivid, every happiness more luminous and intense. We may not know how our contest with sickness will end, but we have felt the ineluctable touch of God.

What is man that Thou art mindful of him? We don't know much, but we know this: No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects, each and every one of us, each and every day, lies in the same safe and impregnable place—in the hollow of God's hand."

CAN FRED BEAT HILLARY?

2007-10-06T12:27:00.000-05:00

I received the link at the end of this blog from a trusted friend, who sends me a lot of the good stuff that I’m able to share. It’s not a joke, it’s a real website that will ask your opinion about several moral/political issues. Once you’ve registered your answers, it will show you the candidate or candidates who most closely match your position. It’s not biased toward either political party or position.

It only took me about a minute, and the results showed that Fred Thompson most closely matched my positions. Hmmm. He is definitely a conservative politician, but I still have questions about his personal faith.

Has anyone reading this blog been able to find a quote or article about Fred Thompson being a follower of Jesus Christ? I’ve found that he was baptized in a Church of Christ in Tennessee, but that it doesn’t appear that he has attended church much as an adult. He married his second wife, Jerri, in a liberal United Church of Christ (which is as different from an ultraconservative Church of Christ” as grits are from waffles).

Take the test yourself, and let me know which candidate matches your convictions.

By the way, it’s EASY to leave a comment. You don’t have to register or leave your name, you can comment as “anonymous” if you like.

Here’s the link:
http://www.wqad.com:80/Global/link.asp?L=259460

FOR CRACKED POTS ONLY

2007-10-02T07:33:00.000-05:00

I had several people ask me to repeat or send them the story I used to close the message last Sunday entitled “GOD USES CRACKED POTS.” In my opinion, the theme verse of 2 Corinthians is, “But we have this treasure (thesaurus) in jars of clay (ostrakinos) to show that this all-surpassing (huperbole) power (dunamis) is from God and not from us.” (2Cor 4:7)

There is a beautiful fable that comes from the East (both China and India) that illustrates a wonderful truth about how God can use cracked pots.

Once upon a time there was an elderly Chinese woman who owned two large clay pots. She would hang each pot on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. Every day she would walk from her house to the nearby stream to fetch water. She would fill both pots, pick up the pole and walk back to her house. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full pot of water. At the end of the long walk back to her house, the cracked pot always arrived only half full. Because of the crack, half the water had leaked out during the trek.

For two full years, this happened daily. The Chinese woman arrived home with only one-and-a-half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud that it had never lost a drop of precious water. But the poor, cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection and was miserable, thinking it was a complete failure. One day, the cracked pot was so tired of failing that it spoke to the woman. The cracked pot said, “I am ashamed of myself because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. I have failed you, and I’m sorry. Maybe you need to replace me with another pot that isn’t cracked.”

The old woman smiled and said gently, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other side? I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on the path on your side. And every day as I’ve walked back you’ve been watering those seeds. For the past two years I’ve been able to pick the flowers to decorate my table. Without you being just the way you are, there would have been no beautiful flowers to grace my home.”
The cracked pot no longer felt like a failure, nor was it jealous of the perfect pot. Instead, the cracked pot continued to contain and share the precious cargo it carried.

One of the mysteries of the Bible is how God uses less-than-perfect vessels for His service. You don’t have to read far into the Bible to see that the “heroes” of the faith, weren't always heroic. Abraham lied; Jacob cheated; Moses murdered; David committed adultery; and Peter blasphemed. God can use cracked vessels. So don’t despair if there are flaws and failings in your life; God can use cracked vessels who are clean and empty!

A WOLF IN CASUAL CLOTHING

2007-09-27T07:39:00.000-05:00

QUESTION: Who’s more dangerous than Osama bin Laden, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il combined? Here’s a few hints: He doesn’t rant and rave in the fashion of Hitler, Krushev, or Castro – he speaks quietly and eloquently. He doesn’t dress up in an opulent solider’s uniform bedecked with fake medals like Idi Amin, Sadaam Hussein, or Moammar Khadafi – instead he prefers sport coats with open-necked shirts.

I’m talking about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Born to a blacksmith, educated as a revolutionary, trained as a killer and derided by rivals as a mystical fanatic, Ahmadinejad is easily cast as the personification of everything there is to fear about a nuclear Iran.

This past week he spoke at Columbia University and the United Nations. Columbia University President Lee Bollinger, who was criticized for inviting Ahmadinejad to speak, issued an excoriating introduction in which he said, “Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a cruel and petty dictator.” President Bollinger also challenged Ahmadinejad’s public denial of the reality of the Holocaust, noting: “In a December 2005 state television broadcast, you described the Holocaust as a fabricated legend. One year later, you held a two-day conference on Holocaust deniers.”

One reason Ahmadinejad is dangerous was revealed by his calm reaction to such a negative introduction. Where some leaders would have been so insulted they would have left the stage, Ahmadinejad acknowledged that the introductory remarks were harsh and that in his country, guests are treated with respect. Then he launched into his speech.

If you read or watched the news reports, most of the attention was focused on the Q&A time in which Ahmadinejad denied there were homosexuals in Iran, (to the hoots and laugher of the audience). He also blatantly questioned who was really responsible for the 9/11 attacks on America, then talked about his desire to visit Ground Zero (which was refused, of course). He denied that Iran was influencing any of the insurgency attacks in Iraq. He also calmly denied that he had ever questioned the reality of the Holocaust. His actual recorded remarks from 2005 are: "They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets," and "The West has given more significance to the myth of the genocide of the Jews, even more significant than God, religion, and the prophets. (It) deals very severely with those who deny this myth but does not do anything to those who deny God, religion, and the prophet." Here’s a man who can lie easily without even looking uncomfortable.

But what most of the public didn’t read or hear in the news clips were his remarks in the text of his prepared speech. Ahmadinedjad talked more about God in his speech than perhaps any speaker in the past 20 years at this liberal Ivy League school! Of course, he was talking about Allah, the god of Islam, who is NOT the God of the Bible. But most of the hearers at Columbia wouldn’t have made that distinction. Here’s a sample of some of his remarks:

"Dear academics, dear faculty and scholars, students, I believe that the biggest God-given gift to man is science and knowledge. Man's search for knowledge and the truth through science is what it guarantees to do in getting close to God [sic]. But science has to combine with the purity of the spirit and of the purity of man's spirit so that scholars can unveil the truth and then use that truth for advancing humanity's cause.

God is aware of all reality. All researchers and scholars are loved by God. So I hope there will be a day where these scholars and scientists will rule the world and God himself will arrive with Moses and Christ and Mohammed to rule the world and to take us toward justice.

My dear friends, all the words and messages of the divine prophets from Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, to David and Solomon and Moses, to Jesus and Mohammad delivered humans from ignorance, negligence, superstitions, unethical behavior, and corrupted ways of thinking, with respect to knowledge, on the path to knowledge, light and rightful ethics.

Science is the light, and scientists must be pure and pious. If humanity achieves the highest level of physical and spiritual knowledge but its scholars and scientists are not pure, then this knowledge cannot serve the interests of humanity.

If you care to read all of his speech and the Q&A you can find the transcript at:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,297930,00.html

I read every word of the transcript, and if you take the time to read it, you’ll have to admit that Ahmadinejad is NOT a wild-eyed, ignorant, Islamic fanatic. He is a calm, educated, confident Islamic fanatic. In my opinion, that makes him much more dangerous. I’m not saying that he’s the Antichrist, or that he has 666 stamped under his scruffy beard. But he’s part of a new breed of Islamic radicals who aren’t content to hide in a cave and direct covert terrorist attacks on America. Instead he visits our country and smiles while he lobs perverted intellectual/religious ideological bombs with impunity.

Jesus said, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matt 7:15)

Ahamadinejad denies his country is interested in building a nuclear bomb. But scientists believe that Iran is close to having enough enriched Uranium to fabricate a weapon. Adamadinejad has made statements that would indicate that he believes he is called to usher in Armageddon. He has called for the total extermination the nation of Israel. When he spoke at the UN in 2006 he ended his speech by making reference to soon-coming "return of the Hidden Iman" who Shiites believe will usher in the end of time.

You can bet that Israel is watching Iran closely. I suggest that every patriotic American and every Christian who understands end-time prophecy keep a wary eye on this wolf in casual clothing.

COULD WE PLEASE HAVE A LITTLE MORE LIGHT?

2007-09-25T07:22:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I write about serious stuff, but sometimes I like to just make people smile. Let me know which one of these you like the most – and add your own to the comments section!

After attending my first meeting of the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville, I’m ready to answer the question:

“How many Southern Baptists does it take to change a light bulb?"
One hundred and nine people - seven on the Lightbulb Task Force Sub-committee, who report to the twelve on the Lightbulb Task Force, appointed by the fifteen on the Trustee Board. Their recommendation is reviewed by the Finance Executive Committee of five, who place it on the agenda of the eighteen-member Finance Committee. If they approve, they bring a motion to the twenty-seven Member church Board, who appoint another twelve-member review committee. If they recommend that the Church Board proceed, a resolution is brought to the Congregational Business Meeting. They appoint another eight-member review committee. If their report to the next Congregational Business Meeting supports the changing of a lightbulb, and the Congregation votes in favor, the responsibility to carry out the lightbulb change is passed on to the Trustee Board, who in turn appoint a seven-member committee to find the best price in new lightbulbs. Their recommendation of which hardware is the best buy must then be reviewed by the twenty-three-member Ethics Committee to make certain that this hardware store has no connection to Disney. They report back to the Trustee Board who then commissions the Trustee in charge of the Janitor to ask him to make the change. By then the janitor discovers that the light bulb just needed to be screwed in tighter!

While on this subject:

How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb? Calvinists do not change light bulbs. They simply read out the instructions and pray the light bulb will decide to change itself.

How many liberals does it take to change a light bulb? At least ten, as they need to hold a debate on whether or not the light bulb exists. Even if they can agree upon the existence of the light bulb, they still may not change it to keep from alienating those who might use other forms of light.

How many fundamentalists does it take to change a light bulb? Change?????

How many Church of Christ members does it take to change a light bulb? None. The Bible DOES NOT SAY anything about light bulbs!

How many charismatics does it take to change a light bulb? Three. One to place hands on the old bulb and one to catch it when it falls, and one to pray against the spirit of darkness.

How many United Methodists does it take to change a light bulb? We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey, you have found that a light bulb works for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal relationship to your light bulb and present it next month at our annual light bulb Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-lived, and tinted; all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence through Jesus Christ.

How many Jehovah’s Witnesses does it take to change a light bulb? None. The lights are on, but nobody’s home.

How many egotists does it take to change a light bulb? One. They hold the bulb and the world revolves around them.

How many surrealists does it take to change a light bulb? To get to the other side.

How many post-modernists does it take to change a light bulb? Each and every one of us.

How many teamsters does it take to change a light bulb? Forty. Hey, you gotta problem with dat?

How many straight San Franciscans does it take to change a light bulb? Both of them.

How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb? None, they all scatter when exposed to light.

How many accountants does it take to change a light bulb? What kind of answer did you have in mind?

How many engineers does it take to change a light bulb? Approximately 1.0000000000000000000000.

GOT ANY MORE? LET’S HEAR THEM!

O.J. Simpson: Oops he did it again

2007-09-19T21:01:00.000-05:00

As you know, O. J. is in jail again. The timing of his recent arrest couldn’t have been more perfect to promote his book. In 2006 Simpson wrote a book “IF I DID IT” (the original cover is seen on the left) which is a “hypothetical” description of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

The original release of the book in Oct 2006 was cancelled.

Last month, a Florida bankruptcy court awarded the rights to the book to the Goldman family to partially satisfy the settlement of the wrongful death civil trial in which Simpson was found guilty.

The Goldman’s have expanded the title to read “IF I DID IT: Confessions of the Killer.” The word "if" is written so small you can hardly see it! (Notice the new book cover to the right). Over the past couple of weeks, it has been one of the best sellers on Amazon.com.

The murder trial of O.J. was a sensational event caused more people to tune in to the 24 hour cable news channels. We probably all remember people who were glued to the television for the full duration of the trial.

Simpson hired a team of expensive (totaling $4 million), high-profile lawyers, including F. Lee Bailey, Barry Scheck, Robert Shapiro, Robert Kardashian, Alan Dershowitz, and Johnnie Cochran, who argued that Simpson was the victim of police fraud and sloppy internal procedures that contaminated the DNA evidence. Simpson's defense team, dubbed the "Dream Team" by reporters, argued that LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman had planted evidence at the crime scene. Police evidence collector Dennis Fung also faced heavy scrutiny. In all, 150 witnesses gave testimony during the eight-month-long trial.

On October 3, 1995, in front of an estimated 150 Million television views, Simpson was declared not-guilty.

A CNN poll after the trial in 1995 revealed that 33% of Americans agreed with the verdict and 56% disagreed.

The essence of our judicial system is that a jury of his peers determined that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty. Legal verdicts are not determined by popular opinion. The principle of Double Jeopardy guarantees that O.J. won’t be tried again for murder.

Some people believe that in our celebrity-obsessed culture, we utilize a different standard for sports and movie stars like O.J. (or Michael Jackson). Michael Vick’s arrest and guilty plea for dog-fighting may represent a backlash against this double standard.

But now O.J. has been arrested for armed robbery in Las Vegas. Only God and O.J. know for certain whether he got away with murder or not. But if he gets sent to jail for armed robbery there would almost be a sense of poetic justice about it all.

However, according to our legal system, he is innocent until proven guilty. Every person gets “their day in court.” It looks like OJ will end up having several!

This only serves to remind me that I stand before the Judge of the Universe and plead that I am completely guilty and deserve the fullest punishment under His perfect law. And in the moment that I throw myself upon the mercy of the court, the Judge steps down from the Divine bench and becomes my advocate. Then, Jesus steps up and accepts the punishment that I deserve.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2cor 5:21)

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

THE UNCONVENTIONAL SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

2007-09-18T11:13:00.001-05:00

Although I’m still suffering some effects of jet-lag from the Mediterranean trip, I’m back on an airline today to travel to Nashville for my first meeting as a member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Because of my primary passion to serve as pastor of Green Acres, I’ve intentionally declined most invitations to serve on boards or committees. Currently, I serve only on the Trinity Mother Frances Health System Foundation Board, and the Board of Trustees of the Texas Baptist Child and Family Services. I accepted that position because of my heart for ministries like Breckenridge Village of Tyler. (For more information on Breckenridge read my August 24 blog)

I allowed my name to placed in nomination for the SBC Executive Committee because of my deep love for the people and churches of our denomination. I also agreed to serve because of my concern for the future of the SBC.

For those who may be unfamiliar with the organization of the Southern Baptist Convention, let me give you a thumbnail of our structure. First, unlike most other denominations, there is no hierarchy in the SBC. It’s not a top-down structure where an individual or a small group dictates policy and practice for the churches. The most powerful entity in the SBC is the local church. There is no pope, bishop, apostle, prefect or board that tells Green Acres what we have to believe, or how we spend our offerings.

This precious Baptist value is called “the autonomy of the local church.” The SBC is an organization is which about 42,000 local churches voluntarily agree to affiliate and cooperate with the other churches for the sake of missions, ministry, and theological education.

In addition to the national SBC organization, there are also State Baptist Conventions (for most states). But the national SBC organization doesn’t dictate to the state conventions either. In addition to the national SBC and State Conventions, there are also local Baptist Associations (usually a county or two). But again, neither the SBC, nor the State Convention dictates to the local associations.

For instance, Green Acres voluntarily affiliates with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and Smith Country Baptist Association. But these are three separate lines of connection, not one line that runs from the church, through the association through the state to the national convention. If you’re confused at this point, don’t be embarrassed. Probably about 90% of the people in the pews of our churches aren’t clear about this.

The Southern Baptist Convention actually only “exists” for two days a year when the messengers from the local churches convene for the annual meeting. For instance, last June the annual meeting was held in San Antonio and there were about 9,000 messengers from local churches around the U.S. This annual meeting is like a gigantic church business meeting in which any elected messenger can speak or make a motion. It is the largest deliberative body in the world.

Although the convention truly “exists” for two days a year, the work of the Southern Baptist Convention continues 365 days a year through the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, our six seminaries, and various other agencies. So two people from each state convention are elected by the SBC messengers to comprise the Executive Committee. This group oversees the work of the SBC between the annual meetings. I was elected for a four-year term last summer in San Antonio to serve from Texas. The Executive Committee meets three times a year, and oversees the budget and the work of these various agencies.

The 42,000 churches in the SBC all contribute to a fund called “The Cooperative Program” so that even the smallest church can be a partner in world missions, evangelism, and theological education. This year the total Cooperative Program gifts were more than $200,000,000. In 2006 Green Acres gave over $1.7 Million to the Cooperative Program – this amount is more than any other single church in America gave. That’s not a statement of pride, instead it’s a statement that reveals how serious we are about missions. I'm blessed to serve a church where the members are so generous in their gifts and participation in missions. We put our money where our heart is – in THE MISSION of taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

I covet your prayers as I serve the Lord and serve our fellow brothers and sisters in the Southern Baptist Convention. We must have organization and structure, because God is not the author of confusion, and everything regarding His church should be done decently and in order (1Cor 14:33). In spite of this, don’t forget that the Bible DOESN’T say, “For God so loved the world that He sent a committee …….”

Where's a Star Trek Transporter when you need one?

2007-09-15T00:42:00.000-05:00

Our weary but enlightened travel group is on the way back from Rome to Chicago. We fly from O’Hare to DFW, then we’ll take a bus into Tyler. I’m somewhere over the North Atlantic as I type these words on my laptop. It’s one of those “long travel days.” We left the ship at 6:30am, and flew out of Rome at 11:30am on Friday morning. Because we’re traveling from the East, we’re crossing backwards into time zones so it has been daylight for the entire trip. We are scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 3:30pm. We should be arriving in Tyler before midnight. Almost 24 hours of travel on a Friday afternoon!

I love to travel, and I really enjoy taking groups on mission trips or inspirational trips like this. But like most people, I dread those long flights to get there and back. I’ve decided that I need one of those transporters that used to be on Star Trek.

If you ever watched Star Trek, the television show of the 60’s and 70’s, you’ll recall that Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock could step into the “transporter” on the Starship Enterprise. Chief Engineer, Scotty (“I’m givin’ her all she’s ghat, captain”) would push a couple of levers, and presto! In a few seconds they were transported to a planet thousands of miles away. Although you see t-shirts with the slogan, Star Trekkies insist that Captain Kirk never actually said the words, “Beam me up, Scotty.”

I never watched many of the early Star Treks episodes. I’ve seen the reruns, however. By modern standards the sets and dialogue were pretty lame (but better than the old "Lost in Space" show. Remember the robot saying, "Danger, Danger, Will Robinson"?)

However, I was (and still am) a big fan of Star Trek the Next Generation. When our girls were young, it became a family activity to watch Star Trek TNG. We would carefully set the huge, hard-to-program VCR to tape an episode on Saturday night and then after church on Sunday evening we’d sit around eating Taco Bell tacos watching Star Trek, the Next Generation.

We came to know all the characters including Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the android, Data, Riker, Counselor Troy, Dr. Beverly Crusher, and Jordie. But my favorite was the Clingon warrior, Warf. Clingons are real men … uh, at least they would be if they were actually men!

I have a strong personal opinion that Jean-Luc Picard made a MUCH better Captain than Kirk. I think Picard could take Kirk any day of the week. So, if you're a trekkie (or even have an opinion) – leave your comment: Kirk or Picard? And why?

Getting back to the whole transporter idea – it’s time that somebody invented something like that. Over the last 40 years, we've been in a transportation rut.

In the 60’s and 70’s most Americans believed we would be more advanced in space travel by now than we actually are. Those were the days of the space race and in one short decade we progressed from putting a monkey in space to putting men on the moon. Imagine where we might be now if we had maintained that same pace of development.

Do you remember the movie, “2001, A Space Odyssey?” It was produced in the 70’s and the writers predicted that by 2001, we would be involved in interplanetary space travel. They were wrong – but it’s a pretty cool movie, if for no other reason than hearing the spooky voice of HAL the deranged computer.

Our pace of transportation technology development has slowed to a crawl. In the 20th Century, we made quantam leaps from buggies and trains to airplanes and cars. In 2007, we’re still driving cars using internal combustion engines like they were doing in 1910. They look fancier and go faster, but it’s the same technology.

We’re still flying jetliners than bascially follow the scientific principle that the Wright Brothers discovered - a cambered wing produces lift. We're still flying on Boeing 747’s that were built in the 1970’s. The avionics and engines have been upgraded, but they basically still fly as fast and as far as they did 35 years ago. Even the new Boeing 787 due out next year is just a larger, lighter version of the jumbo jet.

So come on! Why don’t some of you MIT or Auburn graduates get on the stick and invent a transporter so none of us will have to endure these 11-hour flights?

I'm not holding my breath. Or canceling my airline reservations. Even if nobody invents a transporter, I'm still going to be transported one day. And it will be quicker and more glorious than Kirk or Picard. In a moment … in a twinkling of an eye .. at the last trumpet ….. those of us who are alive and remain shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the sky …. Hallelujah!

Beam me up, Jesus!

CORINTH AND ATHENS--THEN AND NOW

2007-09-13T02:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday our travel group enjoyed an eight-hour tour of Corinth and Athens. Corinth is about 60 miles from the port, but it took us two hours because the Athens traffic is worse that LBJ Freeway at rush hour. We crossed the Corinthian Canal that was completed in 1893. This four-mile long canal connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea, saving ships the 400 miles it used to take to sail around the Peloponnesus. Nero attempted to dig it in 60 A.D., but his “engineers” told him that if the two seas were connected the Ionian Sea would drain into the Aegean Sea, flooding all of Greece (can you say “sea level?”)

When we arrived in ancient Corinth we walked through the excavations of this amazing city. Corinth was the site of the Temple of Apollos and the center of worship for the fertility goddess Aphrodite. It is not far from the Ionian Sea, and it is estimated that there were 3,000 temple prostitutes living there. These prostitutes were the priestesses of Aphrodite, and all the worship acts were led by the older female priestesses. The prostitutes could be identified because they would wear sandals with a word written on the bottom of the sandal that said, “follow me.” They would flash the bottom of the sandal to sailors and other visitors to lure them into their depraved worship acts. Corinth was so wicked that it was common throughout the Roman Empire to talk about someone being “Corinthianized” when they became thoroughly corrupt.

It was in this erotic culture that the Apostle Paul introduced the revolutionary concept that agape (1 Cor 13) was the highest and purest love.

Not far away across the inlet of the sea you can see where the Oracle of Delphi was located. This was a “possessed” woman who went into a trance and babbled supposedly giving the future to generals and officials who visited her. When you understand this historical background, it’s easier to understand why Paul wrote so strongly to the church at Corinth about women being silent in the church. He didn’t want Christian worship to be confused with fertility worship. The reason he carefully regulated the gift of speaking in tongues was because of the unruly influence of the oracle at Delphi. He wrote that God is not the author of confusion and that everything in the church should be done decently and in order.

Paul spent almost 18 months here working in a tent-making business with Aquilla and Priscilla. Every customer became a potential believer. Paul was rejected by the members of the Jewish synagogue, but Crispus, the president of the synagogue became a believer.

On our tour, we stood in front of the remains of the raised platform that was called a bema. This was the judgment seat, where the proconsul would sit and judge cases and pass out awards. The jealous Jews in Corinth brought Paul before the proconsul Gallio and charged him with treason. Gallio declared Paul not-guilty. Every citizen of Corinth could picture this setting when Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat (bema) of Christ.” (2 Cor 5:10)

Corinth is in ruins, but, Athens is a bustling city. The population of Greece is about 11 Million and 5 Million of those live in the vicinity of Athens. In Acts 17 Paul made his defense before the 12 judges who comprised the Areopagus (Acts 17:22). This is often called his “sermon at Mars Hill.” Mars is the Latin name of the Greek god, Ares, but the translation isn’t the best because it wasn’t a place as much as an official council. It was more than a sermon; it was Paul’s defense to the charge of “bringing strange ideas” to Athens. Remember, Socrates had been condemned to death by the Areopgaus for his “strange ideas” and forced to drink hemlock.

To appreciate Paul’s intelligence take a moment and read Paul’s address in Acts 17:22-31.

Paul’s defense is a masterpiece of erudition and philosophical reasoning. In his brief address, he makes direct or indirect references to: (1) Eumenides of Aeschylus; (2) Plato’s Tenth Book of the Republic; (3) Epimenides the Cretan poet; (4) Aratus the Cilician: and (5) Euripides the Greek philosopher.

Joke: Did you hear about the Greek guy that took a pair of torn trousers into an alternation shop? He showed the trousers to the owner and asked, “Eumenides?” The owner replied, “Euripides?” (You have to read it out loud to get it…… Okay, for all you Aggies or Crimson Tide fans, Eumenides is pronounced “you meni dees” and Euripdes is pronounced “you rip a dees”) Sorry, I can’t help it – I have groaner’s disease.

Paul was “becoming all things to all men” in order to win some. He could talk to a tent customer, a solider, or a woman dying cloth beside the river (Lydia in Phillipi). But he could also hang in there with the most astute minds of that time – members of the Areopagus. He began by complimenting them on being very religious. Then he made reference to the “unknown God” and proceeded to explain that the unknown God was Jesus.

Paul said, “We should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by man’s design and skill,” (Acts 17:29). As he spoke these words, he certainly gestured behind him to the massive Parthenon shining above on the Acropolis. Inside the temple was a 40-foot gold statue of the matron goddess of Athens, Athena.

Paul’s speech was interrupted with sarcastic laughter when he mentioned the resurrection of Jesus. They said, “We will hear you later on this matter.” That was a polite dismissal. But one of the judges, Dionysius, became a believer. Basically, Athens, the intellectual capital of the ancient world, rejected Paul and his message. Paul had to leave quickly. Little did he know that his short speech would be remembered and that entire books would be written about it. Today it stands alongside the Funeral Oration of Pericles and the Philippics of Demosthenes as one of the greatest philosophical speeches of the Greek era.

FAST FORWARD: Almost 20 Centuries have passed. Greece finally emerged from the Islamic Turkish regime after WWI, and since 1974 it has once again become a sovereign state with its own national flag. The actual name of the country is NOT Greece, by the way; it’s the Hellenic Republic. Two thousand years ago, the city leaders laughed Paul out of court when he mentioned the resurrection of Jesus, but today, the national flag that flies over the ruins of the Parthenon is lowered to half-mast each Good Friday, and then raised on Easter Sunday morning to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

God ALWAYS has the last word!

EPHESUS AND US

2007-09-11T15:58:00.000-05:00

Our tour group visited the ancient site of Ephesus yesterday. During its peak, Ephesus was had over 250,000 people living there making it the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire (behind Rome, Alexandria and Antioch).

Some of the important sites there are: the Church of St. John where the grave of the Apostle John is believed to be located. Also, there is a strong tradition that Luke is buried near Ephesus as well. The main tourist attractions are the ruins of the city of Ephesus. It is still under excavation with only about 20% of it having been uncovered.

According to Acts 20:31, Paul spend three years in Ephesus which would make it his longest “pastorate.” Like everywhere else, he stirred up plenty of trouble there. Because so many people turned to Christ by his preaching, the lucrative silver trade supplying sacrificial shrines for the goddess Artemis suffered. People can usually be religiously tolerant until it starts affecting their pocket book.

A mob gathered in the amphitheater to protest this trend. The same massive theater that seated 24,000 people has been excavated and can be seen today. The crazed mob chanted “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” for two solid hours (Acts 19:34) As they shouted, they could look about ½ mile to their right and see their glorious temple. Paul wanted to speak to the crowd, but cooler heads prevailed, and he escaped to preach another day.

The Temple of Artemis (also called Diana) was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Artemis was a fertility goddess and virgin huntress. She was considered the first of the “Amazon women” and the priests were young girls who dressed in Amazon-huntress fashion. The temple consisted of 117 columns that were 60 feet in height and 6 feet in diameter. It was 440 feet long, 220 feet wide and 60 feet high. Inside the temple was some kind of object that had fallen from the sky (Acts 19:35). Scholars speculate that it was a meteorite that resembled the shape of a woman, with multiple breasts to represent fertility.

Today, all that remains of the great temple is one column and the foundation. In fact, there is nothing that remains in Ephesus – it is only an archeological site – there’s nothing there but cold stones and dead memories. As I’ve traveled the world, I’ve often wondered why some cities still exist today that existed in Bible times, and why others have simply become a pile of rocks. For instance, the Athens and Rome that Paul visited are still a thriving city, but Ephesus is gone. Why?

Some say it was because the Cayster River filled with silt and it was no longer suitable for a port. True, but the city could have just shifted a few miles south to the Meander River (from which we get our English word “to meander.”) Why is the great city of Ephesus a ghost town? I believe the answer is found in 2 Ephesians. Yep, I said 2 Ephesians. Now, if you know your Bible you’re thinking, “there’s a 2 Corinthians and a 2 Thessalonians, but there’s not a 2 Ephesians.” Yes there is. It’s just not called 2 Ephesians. It’s the letter that Jesus sent to the Church in Ephesus found in the 2nd Chapter of the Revelation.

Ephesus was one of the seven churches in Asia Minor to receive a special message from the Lord. When John penned these words: “To Ephesus under the direct orders of Jesus (Rev 1:19),” he knew the church well because tradition says that he had been the pastor there before he was arrested and exiled to Patmos. By the time Jesus sent this message to the Ephesian Church, they had grown large and influential. Listen to the warning that Jesus gave them:

“I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! (Perhaps a sarcastic reference to the meteorite that had fallen from the sky?) Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Rev 2:4-5)

Today, Ephesus is a dead city with no churches. It looks to me like they had their lampstand removed – just as Jesus promised.

Let this be a warning to all of us – especially at times when we’re tempted to boast about the riches and influence of the American church. We must repent and return to our first love as well – a passionate, fervent love for Jesus. If we don’t (should Jesus tarry), there may be tour group visiting the ruins of America in the year 4007, as a guide explains the past glory and beauty of our culture.

LET'S TALK TURKEY--DON'T BE FOOLED ISTANBUL

2007-09-10T02:31:00.000-05:00

It’s Sunday and we’re docked at the strikingly beautiful city of Istanbul, Turkey. We had our own worship service this morning for those not on an early excursion, and most of our folks who weren’t on a planned tours visted different sites in the city.
It’s now Sunday afternoon, and at this moment, I can hear at least six different Muslim calls-to-prayer over loud speakers across the city – and that’s just within my hearing range (there must be a hundred others I can’t hear in this city of 15 Million people that sprawls for about 50 miles.) Each warbling, high-pitched sing-song chant in Arabic is in painful disharmony with the others, and the different calls clash with each other like playing five notes next to each other on a piano keyboard. It’s really unnerving and unsettling to hear. What a contrast with the beautiful musical harmony that is a part of our worship experience – and which I missed so much today at Green Acres!

Istanbul is a city in transition trying to find its identity. The city truly bridges east and west, because it is located on the dividing point between Europe and Asia. The city spans the narrow body of water (Golden Horn – or Hellespont in earlier literature) that connects the Aegean Sea with the Black Sea. As I look to the left, I see buildings and ornate mosques in Europe, and as I glance to the right across the Bosphorus (the thriving harbor), I see buildings and mosques in Asia. Istanbul is at a cultural and religious crossroads and it could play a major role in the unfolding of history in these last days.

A LITTLE HISTORY: In 330 A.D. Constantine moved the capital of the Empire from Rome to the city formerly known as Byzantium (Byzantine art and culture stem from this site). At first Constantine called the city New Rome (like New York) but the name was later changed to Constantinople in his honor. In 395, Theodosis divided the Empire between his sons, with the western empire administered from Rome and the eastern empire centered in Constantinople. A little later, the catholic church (“catholic” with a small “c” just means worldwide church) divided between West and East. The West became the Roman Catholic Church and the East became the Eastern Orthodox Church (also known as Greek Orthodox or Russian Orthodox).

With the spread of Islam in the 8th century, most areas in the Byzantine Empire fell to the Muslim armies. Constantinople held out longer than other areas. (The European Crusader armies of the Fourth Crusade controlled Constantinople from 1204-1262).

But in 1453, the Islamic warrior, Sultan Mehmet II, captured the city and changed the name to Islambol (“the city of Islam”). The modern version of the name is “Istanbul.” The Ottoman Empire grew and thrived for the next 400 years. The Ottoman Turks were one of the most prosperous and powerful dynasties in world history. With the arrival of Islam as the only religion, the churches were closed and turned into mosques.

For instance, one of the oldest Christian Church buildings in the world is found in Istanbul. It’s called Haghia Sophia (Church of Holy Wisdom) and dates back to 537 A.D. When Constantinople was captured by the Muslims it was converted to a mosque, and today it is a museum. As an avid lover of church history, I couldn’t make myself visit it today because I’m afraid I would have been saddened by the way the beautiful church had been kidnapped by the Muslm Conquerors. Since that time until now, Turkey has been a predominately Muslim nation.

A LITTLE TRIVIA: Istanbul is where the British nurse, Florence Nightingale, became famous. During the Crimean War in 1854-56 she set up a hospital for wounded British, French, and Turkish soldiers. She is credited with creating modern nursing practice.

After WWI, the sultanate was abolished and Turkey became a republic. For the past 80 years Turkey has mandated a separation between government and religion. While being a Muslim country, it has maintained a secular government which has also allowed Christian churches to exist in Turkey. There aren’t many churches, but they are not illegal. Currently about 5% of Turks are Christians. However, that could change soon – and not to the advantage of Christians.

Unless you’ve had your head in the sand for the past decade, you know that it is the stated goal of militant Islamic forces to establish Islamic states in EVERY country – but especially in every country where Islam is prominent. I read just today in an English newspaper that in recognition of the 9/11 attacks that Osama Ben Laden’s has released a video in which he directs all Americans to embrace Islam – as if it’s an option. For much of history, Muslims converted nations by saying, “convert or die.” That’s basically the same message that OBL is still mouthing. At least he’s not guilty of political doublespeak – he doesn’t beat around the Bush (no pun intended).

Unfortunately, times are changing in Turkey. There are loud and vocal forces who are attempting to steer Turkey away from its distinction between secular and religious governments. In the last election, a pro-Islamic party was placed in power. There is an alarming trend in Turkey to make it less like the West and more like the radical Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia and other Arabic countries.

I’ve read that ten years ago, it was rare to see a Turkish female wearing a burkha (head covering). Over the past two days, I estimate that about 50% of the Turkish women are now wearing them – an indication that the population is embracing a stricter form of Islam than before. There have been recent large demonstrations in Istanbul to change the country from their current republic back to a more religious-based government. If Turkey becomes an Islamic state, it will be a huge plum for militant Islam. If that should happen, God forbid, then once again the churches would be closed and Christians might be expelled. In other words, as in other Islamic Sates, Christianity would again be illegal.

Based upon my observation, it could go either way. We need to pray for the wonderful, friendly, people of Turkey – that they will resist the extremist forces that want to drag them back into the 15th Century.

Don’t be fooled, Istanbul!

If they become an Islamic State, our mission efforts in this part of the world would be severely hampered. So, pray for Turkey, and for the people of Turkey. Ask every Christian you know to that the Turkish people will refuse to be drawn into militant Islamic extremism.

In my humble opinion, Islam is not just another nice religion that we can place beside Christianity and politely say, “Muslims get to paradise through Mohammed, and Christians get to God through Jesus.” It is a dangerous, deceptive, false religion that prevents people from even listening to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s true in Turkey just as it is in Texas, Tennessee, Tanzania or Tazmania – “Salvation in found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

I’ve enjoyed seeing Turkey today, but now I’ve got to go … it’s time to dress for dinner. So you might say today has been all about Turkey and dressing.

Waking Up in a Beautiful Place

2007-09-08T15:47:00.000-05:00

We set sail from Rhodes yesterday and arrived at the Greek Island of Santorini this morning. Santorini really is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. It’s part of a ring of islands formed by a huge volcano. The main town, Fira, sits atop a sheer cliff that rises 1,000 out of the azure water. Perched on top of the cliff are dozens of pastel colored buildings that hug the cliff side as if they are part of the natural rock. When you see travel posters for the Mediterranean, you’ll most often see a picture of Santorini.
The ship arrived in the harbor in the early morning hours and anchored there. We are fortunate to have an outside stateroom, so when I opened the curtain this morning, my senses were pleasantly assaulted by the sheer beauty of the scene before my eyes. It was so awe inspiring that I couldn’t help but utter, “Oh, wow!”

When I went to sleep last night, there wasn’t anything to see - only dark seas. Then I went to sleep, and I woke up in a beautiful place. I couldn’t help but think that when my time comes to die, I’ll have the same experience – except that the wonder and awe of heaven will be a billion times greater!

Since the beginning of recorded human history, death has been a lurking adversary for each person. I’ve read somewhere that human beings are the only creatures who know they’re going to die. That’s probably correct, but whenever I read that I remember how in the early Tarzan movies, the elephants that were dying would go to a certain valley for their final resting place. That could be a Hollywood inspired myth, or maybe some basic animal instinct. For sure, we are the only creatures who can think about dying for most our lives.

It always reminds me of the funny story I heard about a preacher who was trying to drive home this point. He shouted, “Every member of this church is going to die!” A little kid on the front row giggled. The preacher didn’t like that so he repeated his statement with more vigor and volume, “I SAID, ‘every member of this church is going to die!’” The same little kid laughed out loud. The preacher just stopped and said, “Son, what’s so funny about that?” The kid replied, “I’m not a member of this church!” Whether you’re a member of our church, any church, or no church, the Bible says that everyone is going to die.

Before the cross, death was a terrifying prospect. Satan used the idea of death to terrorize and frighten people. But the Bible says, “by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil – and FREE those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Heb 2:14-15)

In our you-only-live-once culture, people are doing everything within their power and income to avoid or delay the slow but steady approach of death. Physical fitness and health should be the goal of every Christian, but we do it to keep God’s temple clean and to be a usable vessel for as long as possible. Some people, including baseball great Ted Williams, have even resorted to Cryogenics to keep their bodies frozen until a future date when science and technology has found a cure for death. Don’t hold your breath, Ted. Oh, sorry, you don’t have any breath do you? I’ve said it would be my luck that if I was frozen after I die, someone would trip over the cord and unplug me!

But death is no longer a threat for Christians. Since Jesus conquered death, those of us whose lives are hid in Christ no longer have to fear death. It’s just like going to sleep and waking up in a beautiful place.

I believe that’s why the Apostle Paul used the term “sleep” for death. “We do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” (I Thess 4:13-14)

A few weeks ago, my secretary received a call from one of our television viewers near Hawkins, Texas. This lady shared that her mother was dying of cancer and that since she was no longer able to attend her own church, she watched me on television every Sunday. Her mom was a Christian, but she was struggling with the fear of dying, so she asked if I would drive out and speak to her mom. I was happy to do it.

I visited with her on the back porch of her house. We sipped glasses of iced-tea as her three friendly dogs competed with each other for my attention. As I asked her the basic diagnostic questions about salvation, she gave a clear testimony of her faith in Jesus, but she shared that she was just afraid of what it was going to be like to die.

I said, “I think it’s going to be like this. When I was a kid in South Alabama, my family would often drive to Panama City, Florida to visit my grandparents. We would sometimes drive back late at night. On most of those return trips, I would fall sound asleep in the car. When we arrived home, I wouldn’t wake up, instead my dad would carry me in his strong arms and put me in my bed. When I woke up the next morning, I would be at home in my bed. I went to sleep at one location, but when I woke up I was safe at home. I believe that when it comes time for you to go home, you’ll just go to sleep here and the next thing you know you’ll wake up and you’ll be home – in heaven.” As a single tear trickled down her cheek, she smiled and said, “Thanks. That helps me a lot.”

One day, those of us who have placed our lives in Christ will wake up in a beautiful place – more beautiful than any scenery on earth. The truth that makes heaven home is not WHAT is there – streets of gold, crystal sea etc. Heaven will be a beautiful home for us because there is a beautiful Savior there.

I’ll see you in the morning.

ALL RHODES LEAD TO...COLOSSAL CULTURE SHOCK IN GREECE

2007-09-07T07:25:00.000-05:00

I’m in the middle of an educational experience in which I’m leading a tour of people from Texas studying the Adventures of Paul on the Mediterranean Sea. There’s no record that Paul preached in Rhodes, but he did stop here on his way to his final showdown in Jerusalem. Acts 21:1 says, “After we had torn ourselves away from them (the tearful meeting with the Ephesian elders), we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara.” Today the main bay is called St. Paul’s Bay even though there is no record that Paul stayed and preached there.

The importance of Rhodes stems from two interesting historical footnotes. First, it was the location of one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. A huge statue, called the Colossus of Rhodes, stood at the entrance to the harbor. Some eyewitnesses claim that the 100-foot statue stood with his two legs spanning the opening to the harbor (it IS a narrow opening). It was said to be so tall that the largest ships of the day would sail under the legs of Colossus. (Other accounts had the colossal statue standing on a pedestal beside the harbor.) The bronze monument was built to honor the sun god Helios and took twelve years to build. It was toppled by an earthquake 227 BC after standing for 56 years. The remains were later moved to Asia Minor where they were eventually lost and probably melted down to make weapons.

The other historical highlight of Rhodes is that it was the last outpost for Christians when the Ottoman Turks were conquering much of that part of the world in the name of Islam. One by one, all the islands fell to the Turks, but a small, brave band of Christian Knights kept Rhodes protected from the Muslim invaders. For years, the Turks enlarged the force besieging the island. The island finally fell and on January 1, 1523, the remaining Knights were offered safe passage. They along with 2000 Christians remaining on the island chose to leave rather than to live under Islam. In the battle for the island, 3000 Christians had been killed, and over 50,000 Muslim warriors had died.

The island is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Europeans because it enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year. Tourists still worship the sun, just without the statue.

I wasn’t surprised by the narrow streets or by the multitude of shops and Greek restaurants, but I have to confess I experienced culture shock when I walked into a main square of the old city and saw three Native Americans performing an ancient song and dance routine. They were dressed in full feathered headdresses, buckskin loin cloths, and their bodies were adorned with war paint. There were two men and a boy of about seven chanting and singing into microphones with a taped accompaniment. Between verses they would perform a war dance (or maybe a rain dance, I’m not an expert). They were actually dancing around patting their open hands to their mouths going, “woo, woo, woo, woo” just like we did when we were kids! After their show, they offered to sell Native American items such as spears, feathered headdresses, and spirit omens.

I thought, “What’s wrong with this picture? Here I am in Greece, and I’m watching something from a black-and-white Cowboy-and-Indian movie!” That kind of activity wouldn’t even be politically correct anymore in America, but I suppose the stories of the American Wild West are still fascinating to people in other countries.
I was reminded again that people around the world often have misconceptions about our country. Some people viewing the show today might actually think there are Native Americans who dress and act like that today. When the truth is that many of our Native Americans are getting the last laugh for being evicted and smile all the way to the bank with their casino profits!

Being exposed to other cultures (even an American subculture in Greece) is a valuable experience for a believer. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for EVERY culture and EVERY nation on the planet. True Christianity is not an American faith, a European faith, or an Asian faith. As the future song to Jesus in heaven resounds, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Rev 5:9)

All roads don’t lead to heaven – only ONE does: Jesus Christ. And that’s the COLLOSAL truth that stands over every person who will ever enter the safe harbor of heaven!

HOW BIG IS YOUR CHURCH?

2007-09-06T07:05:00.000-05:00

As our travel group toured the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica, I was reminded again of the tremendous wealth of the Roman Catholic Church and the pride which they possess over their history and position. Lest you think I’m about to attack the Catholics, think again. ’ll get around to that when I finishing pointing out the mistakes of Baptists (which means I’ll never get around to it).

It was the third time I had visited the Vatican Museum, and it is a huge facility that would take eight days just to see all the art on display. And 90% of the art, artifacts and antiquities owned by the Vatican are NOT on display. In other words, the value of the Roman Catholic Church in art alone would run into the trillions of dollars. It’s hard to estimate since so much of the art is truly priceless.

It reminds me of the story I heard about two clergymen who served wealthy congregations. As they were standing in one of their ornate cathedrals, one waved his hand at the artwork and gold and said, “Look how far we’ve come. In the beginning Peter and John had to say to the crippled beggar, ‘Silver or gold I do not have.’ We no longer have to say that. Look at all the wealth we have.” But the other clergyman wisely responded, “That’s true, but neither can we say to crippled people the words Peter spoke when he said, ‘But what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ It’s true that we’ve lost the poverty - but somewhere along the way, we’ve also lost the power.”

Our group visited the beautiful Sistine Chapel, which is still the biggest draw at the Vatican Museum. After the refurbishment of Michelangelo’s ceiling and Last Judgment in 2000, the colors are once again brilliant. During tourist hours, the chapel is packed with several thousand people all standing with their necks bent backward looking up at the story of God’s message – maybe we’ve lost the vertical aspect of worship in our evangelical churches

As we walked through St. Peter’s Basilica, I was once again drawn toward the fascinating Pieta, Michaelangelo’s sculpture of Mary holding the limp body of her son. I smiled at the intentional artistic misproportion of Mary – who is larger than Jesus.
Dominating one corner is the massive tomb of one of the Pope Pious (I forgot his number), with the globe under the foot of the angel with a nail through England because of Henry VIII’s apostasy in leaving the mother church. Not very subtle.

The Roman Catholic Church is an amazing institution. I think there are some born again Catholics who know the Lord and love Him – in spite of the layers of tradition and history. (Is that radical? I even think there are some born again Baptist who know the Lord – in spite of all the Baptist politics!) Do they embrace doctrines that I think are unbiblical? Absolutely – just like legalistic Christians in every church. You’ve got to admit though, the Catholics have it down to a system – attend mass, confess to the priest, genuflect, participate in the sacraments – push, pull, click, click – salvation. But how different is that from evangelicals who still embrace legalism to earn God’s blessing and favor. Legalists like DOING things to feel good about their faith – they may be a little jealous of our Catholic friends who get to DO all those rituals. I guess you could say Christian legalists (oxymoron?) are guilty of penance-envy.

As we walked through the center of the basilica, our guide informed us that St. Peter’s is the “the longest, widest, and highest Christian Church in the world.” (I guess they don’t consider Joel Osteen’s “arena” in Houston a true church). They are so proud of the size of St. Peter’s that there are inlaid marks on the floor showing the length of the other large cathedrals in the world – for instance, there’s a mark for the Notre Dame in Paris, and even one for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. These marks are placed on the floor so everyone can see how much bigger St. Peter’s is than the other cathedrals. Pretty arrogant, huh?

Actually, it reminded me of when I used to attend Baptist meetings and hear preachers compare the sizes of their congregations as a badge of honor. As a young preacher, I used to hear them ask other pastors, “How many are you running now?” I can remember thinking, “I may be RUNNING 200, but I’m only ‘catching’ about 50 of them!” When a preacher asked, “How many are you running?” I always suspected what he really meant was, “Now ask me how many I’m running so I can tell you much how much larger my church is.”
I must confess I was guilty of some of those church-size-comparisons when I was young. I was always in awe of the big church pastors. I’ve learned since then that CHURCH HEALTH is a much better indicator than CHURCH SIZE. I’ve known of healthy congregations of 100 who were faithful and effective, and I’ve known of congregations of 3,000 who were crazily dysfunctional.

I used to embrace all the practical church growth strategies so I could GROW a great church for God. It’s was a liberating day when I realized that it wasn’t my job to grow or build a church. Once when I was on a personal retreat, Jesus made these words come alive for me, “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). I remember saying, “Wait a minute, Lord I thought I was supposed to build your church!” The impression I received from the Lord emphasized the pronouns He had used. “I didn’t say, ‘YOU will build YOUR church.’ Or ‘I will build YOUR church,’ or ‘YOU will build MY church.’ I said, “I will build MY church.” Since that day, I’ve just tried to be faithful and believed that since Jesus was building His church, I didn’t have to try to build it bigger – I only have to try to create a healthy spiritual atmosphere in which growth can happen.

“How big is your church?” It’s more important to answer, “How HEALTHY is HIS church where you serve?”

WITH THE APOSTLE PAUL ON THE HIGH SEAS

2007-09-05T10:45:00.000-05:00

When you study the book of Acts, it’s easy to see that the Apostle Paul loved to travel. He spent a lot of time sailing the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea. His desire to travel and take the gospel to Rome and beyond is why Christianity spread like a contagious disease. Paul not only spent time ON the sea; he spent time IN the sea! He mentions that he was shipwrecked three times and even spent over a day and night in the water.

Over the next eleven days, I’m taking a break from my regular pastoral routine to lead a group of Texas travelers to the Mediterranean Sea. After a tour of Rome, we’re boarding the Celebrity Cruise Ship Galaxy to sail around the tip of the boot of Italy into the Aegean Sea. I’m calling this tour THE MEDITERRANEAN ADVENTURES OF THE APOSTLE PAUL. Hopefully, we’ll have LESS of an adventurous time than Paul!

I’ll be teaching a Bible Study on board the ship about the life and journeys of Paul. In addition, I am escorting our group on special tours of Ephesus, Corinth, and Athens. The Galaxy will also be stopping at other ports including Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Istanbul and Naples.

I’ve been to Israel 16 times and I love taking people to stand in the very places where so many Bible events occurred. One of the my greatest joys is watching the expressions on the faces of people as they realize they’re standing where Jesus stood. From that point on, they will always have a visual frame of reference for the events described in the Gospels. This is my first trip retracing some of the steps of Paul, so I’m hoping to learn a lot. Depending on internet availability, I’ll be posting several blogs about our trip.

In preparation for this trip, I’ve been devoting some extra study into the life of Paul and I’ve fallen in love again with this amazing servant. Some historians claim that, excluding Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul was the most influential person in human history. Certainly, his impact on Western Civilization is immeasurable.

Have you ever wondered about Paul’s appearance? There is an apocryphal description of the physical appearance of Paul found in a document called “The Acts of Paul and Thecla.” This document is uninspired, unauthoritative, and contains teaching contrary to scripture, so we don’t know if this somewhat famous description is pure fiction or based on an eyewitness account. With that disclaimer, it’s still interesting to read:

“A man small in size, bald-headed, bandy-legged, well-built, with eyebrows meeting, rather long-nosed, full of grace. For sometimes he seemed like a man, and sometimes he had the countenance of an angel.”

If I had to proffer an opinion, I’d guess that it’s probably accurate because if someone was going to fabricate a physical description, wouldn’t they make Paul sound a little more attractive? He doesn’t exactly sound like a candidate for the cover of GQ!

In our beauty-obsessed culture, I wonder how well Paul would have been received by Americans today. Americans want their leaders to be handsome. I’ve tried to get my friend, U.S. Representative, Louie Gohmert, to run for President, and he always laughs and says, “Do you know how long it’s been since Americans elected a bald president?” Hmmm let’s see, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, FORD? (We didn’t elect him) Nixon, LBJ, Kennedy…and the winner is: IKE. (So what does that say about Rudi, John, and Fred?)

My point is, do you think Paul would have gained the eye of a pastor selection committee? I can just hear the committee discussing their candidates and someone says, “Oh, was he the short, bald guy with the big nose and the unibrow?”

No, we don’t know what Paul really looked like, but we do know that he had problems with illness and weakness. The beauty of God’s plan is that He can use a tall, handsome man with piercing eyes like Billy Graham ….He just has to work a little harder. God delights to use the weak, the ignorant, the ugly, those who stutter...in other words, the LEAST likely candidates! Aren’t you glad that “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart?” Paul might have been short and ugly in the eyes of people, but today he stands as A GIANT on God’s list of servants.

So, friend, Paul should remind us that God can use YOU in spite of your mistakes, your appearance, or your faults. Don Francisco has a great song about how God used Balaam’s donkey. He concludes the song with these profoundly funny words:

THE LORD’S THE ONE WHO MAKES THE CHOICE
OF THE INSTRUMENT HE’S USING.
WE DON’T KNOW THE REASONS
NOR THE RHYMES BEHIND HIS CHOOSING.
SO IF THE LORD STARTS TO USIN’ YOU
DON’T YOU PAY IT ANY MIND.
HE COULD HAVE USED THE DOG NEXT DOOR
IF HE’D BEEN SO INCLINED!

PS The painting of Paul being blinded by Christ’s presence is by the Italian artist, Carravagio: “The Conversion on the Way to Damascus.”