Outdo Others

If we are not careful, we will act like peacocks, showing our flumes to as many as will look.  People go in deep, deep debt to try to keep up with the Joneses and when they do, the Joneses refinance and trump them again.  I even get tickled on social network sites how people 'report' what they are doing-  How grand this restaurant is or how glorious the vacation. Some of it is sharing experiences, I understand, but some of it is just showing everyone else how great you are.  Many are dying for affirmation.  From kindergarten through adulthood many seek through trying to outdo each other. 

Well, if we are going to outdo each other, let's do it biblically.  Romans 12.10- Love one another with brotherly affection.  Outdo one another in showing honor. (www.lifejournal.cc)  If we are going to try to be better than someone else, let's do it the right way.  Let's love better.  Let's lift up better.  Let's encourage better.  Let's honor God better, by honoring others better.  Let's put ourselves and our exploits behind others, and honor God and others at the same time. 

It's a challenge but it is worth the effort.  Let's outdo each other today!

The Blessed Eyes of the Lord

I love the proverbs of Scripture.   They speak to the heart of the matter. Let me give you a special one for me today.  Proverbs 15:3- The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,  keeping watch on the wicked and the good.  (www.lifejournal.cc) 

Does the rat race of trying to live a good life that honors the Lord, ever get wearisome?  I mean the persistent attempt to restrain your tongue, your thought, and  your action.  In the midst of such attempts, the devil will surely whisper in your ear encouraging to let go and give in.  Many get weary in the journey.  It is not really a 'rat race', it is spiritual discipline, but when discouraged it can feel more like the former.  Don't give in.  God knows what is going on.  I stick to my claim that God will bless those who honor Him.  Don't know how that blessing will come. Don't know when that blessing will come.  Don't know if it will be some big blessing (quit thinking about money) or if God will just move more and more in my life with the daily blessings of the power of His Presence.  However, I have grown convinced, I will place my trust in the Lord's way and allow Him to bless me as He chooses.   He has blessed me enough already to cover a lifetime, yet I know that He is not through.  

One of the greatest blessings that I experience is just to know that His eyes are everywhere and He watches over me!  Rest in that today! 

The Gospel Truth

Romans 10:13-15 -For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?^[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

One of the coolest things that has ever been done for me was by my Mom when I first started preaching (several of the coolest things that has ever been done for me was by my Mom...).    I went to put on my shoes to go preach and they were newly shined with a note in them.   Inside the shoe was a note quoting the last part of Romans 10:15- How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! A special moment that over twenty years later I have not forgotten. 
Why are the feet of those who preach beautiful?  Because they transport the Gospel into people's lives.   It is the job of the preacher to preach the Gospel.  It is not his job to preach about the lastest trends in the self-help aisle or to answer every spiritual exploratory question.  It is his job to keep Christ central to the message.  Whatever other gripping illustration is to be used is only to bring the wandering attentions of the listeners back to the Gospel. 
I had an evangelism professor tell me that when you share the Gospel show them in the Bible what you are saying.  Point to the passage and follow along with your finger.  When their attention is drawn away, left your finger back into their view and point them back to the Word.  Seems somewhat aggressive, but it often works.  The point is to keep the Gospel central. 
Every Christian must do the same.  The hope of the world is not a better economy, slicker technology, or psychological insight.  It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Let's just keep pointing people back to the Gospel-  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.- Romans 10:9-10

A Day of Remembrance

I grew up in an Air Force family.  My dad served for 20 years, at least a couple of those years overseas.  The family was not able to go overseas with him.  We stayed at home--waiting and praying.  I was very young during his last overseas tour, however, my life is filled with the stories that I have heard of those days.  I am the youngest of three boys.  My mother had her hands full. 

I returned from Israel on May 4th with a mailed package waiting on me.  What I saw when I opened it, blew me away.  It was a gift from Major Thomas Howell, a presiding officer that works with the 228th Sapper National Guard group based out of our town, but now serving in Kadahar, Afghanistan.  The gift was the flag that hung over the base of the Sapper on Easter Sunday 2012.  Thomas included a note that stated that the flag hung at full mast that day.  That means no remains came through on their way home that day.  A great day in more ways than one.

Blown away by such a gift!  Blown away by such men and women who serve so faithfully.  Let's let today be a day to remember the living sacrifices serving our country as well as those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. 

No Hindrances

What a powerful piece of Scripture Romans 8 is!  We are not condemned in Christ.  If in Christ, our lives will reflect it.  In Christ we have an intercessor that goes to the Lord for us.  He knows better than we know ourselves and interprets the groans of our soul to the throne on high.  And, today, rest in
Romans 8:38-39- For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing separates us from His Love.  Let's let nothing hinder us from loving Him wholly.
Have a great day of worship!

Firstfruits or Leftovers?

I have never planted my own garden.  I grew up with a yard that had a good size garden in it, but I haven't tried it.  Two reasons:  1) my yard has a lot of trees and little sunlight.  2) I have been blessed over the years by the fruits and vegetables of others' gardens.  When the tomatoes get plentiful, people have been gracious.  That is what I thought about this morning when I read (www.lifejournal.cc)
Proverbs 3:9-10- Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
I noticed years ago that when tomatoes first come in, I don't see many show up on my doorstep. However, toward the end of the season, I have received big bags of over ripe, half rotten tomatoes.  I always 'kid' folks about real love brings the firstfruits, not the leftovers when you are sick of them.   Well, for me, I am grateful for any of them (cucumbers too),  and I am afraid when I write this some may mistake my message for not being grateful.  I just cannot help but parallel this situation to our spiritual situation toward the Lord. 
Does God get your 'firstfruits', the best you have, or does he get your leftovers, whatever you really don't want?  God deserves the best we've got, right off the top.  He gave us his best in Christ, now let's give Him our best in our lives.
That is a lot more important than what is left on someone's doorstep. 
I look forward to worshiping with you tomorrow.

The High Cost of Low Living

Of all the passages that we read today (www.lifejournal.cc) a great summary of our material can be found in one of my most quoted verses, Romans 3:23- For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  The cost of our sin is always much more than we anticipate. Solomon lived a blessed life.  Left with a silver spoon in his hand and a golden mind in his head, his appetite for exploration was far too spirited to keep him on the narrow road of seeking after only the things of God.  Queen Sheba praised him because he was so wise.  His full potential for legacy was never reached because he was far to foolish.  He tasted the flavors  of all the  world by marrying women from all over the known world.  Each brought their own pagan religion and ritual. Some were too influencing upon him.  1 Kings 11:3 states that 'his wives turned away his heart.'  The results were that  a nation blessed to have a great spiritual house built under a king with a great mind for supervision split in two within a generation after he passed.  Israel had been blessed with David, the mighty warrior king, who grew Israel to his largest state.  However, David's adulterous practices were mimicked by his boy, who was also his successor.  Solomon inherited a great land and made it greater with a great house for worship.  However, his own appetites led to the nation going the wrong way.  Sin costs Israel greatly. 
Sin costs us greatly too.  We influence our next generation and they influence the next.  The great salvation story is the forgiveness of God and the free gift of eternal life in spite of our own destructive ways.  However, never underestimate the strong web of influence that your sin has.  Nations have been destroyed because of one man's personal sins...so have homes...so have marriages...so have legacies. 
Live for Christ today...for His Sake...for your sake...for their sake.

All Access

I am a Clemson Tiger fan through and through.  The whole 'run down the hill' thing, also called the most exciting 30 seconds in college football, is intoxicating.  It is wonderful.  I have been blessed over the years to see many of their football games in Memorial Stadium, also called 'Death Valley', and I love it. 
One year I got to do something really special.  A friend of mine had two sideline access passes for all of the 'at home' games and he had conflicts and could not go.  He offered them to me.  With the passes I had free reign from the 30 yard line to the end zone on each side and access behind the bench area.   I absolutely loved it.   It was amazing!  I was actually on the sidelines when Lou Holtz was coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks and Tommy Bowden was coach of the Clemson Tigers and there was  a team brawl at the bottom of the hill before the game.  I was on the opposite end of the field awaiting the kickoff but, Man!, what a scene.  It was really neat for those five or six games to get real access.

That is not the only access I have.   Paul reminded me this morning of even greater access.  In Romans 5:2 he wrote- Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  Much greater than a Clemson game, through Christ I have access to go into salvation and approach the throne of God.  With this kind of access, I have received grace that will pardon me of my sin.  This access guarantees my eternity as well as the Lord's counsel and guidance daily in all the matters of my life.  I have never received such access....and the best news is...it is not just for me....it is for you as well.  Celebrate the Lord today!  Come to Christ today!  Through Him, we have access!

The Account Credit

I have received a lot in life that I have not earned.  I am blessed with Godly parents.  I did not do anything to earn that.  That was a gift from God. 
I am blessed with a wonderful wife that is an excellent mother to my children and loves the Lord.  That is a gift from God.
I am blessed with two healthy, beautiful, fun girls that love Jesus and love their Mom and Daddy. 
How did I deserve them?
I am blessed to pastor a great church body that supports their pastor, loves his family, and is a blessed fellowship.
The blessings that mark my life are undeserved and I am grateful for each and every way God reveals to me His providential care and love for me.
However, more than anything else, I am blessed with my salvation.  It was not that I earned it.  It is not that I am perfect.  It is that God met me where I was a long time ago, gave me the wisdom to seek His Face, forgave me, changed me, and saved me.  As Romans 4:3 puts it- What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (www.lifejournal.cc)
As Abraham I have been credited with what I don't deserve.  If you have accepted Christ, you have been credited with a righteousness that you cannot conjure up on your own.  It is not about us earning it.  It is, instead, about us reflecting it.   Let's live in gratitude for all that God has done in us and for us today!

Knowing and Stretching

One of the great passages in all the Old Testament is the passage in 2 Chronicles 7 in which God tells Solomon that if his people will seek his face and humble themselves, He will forgive them and heal their land.  Almost like a 'John 3:16' of the OT, we have leaned on such a passage every time the 'trickle down state' of America's morality has been a burden to us.  Do you know where that answer to prayer came from?  It came as a response to what Solomon prayed to God.  Notice in I Kings 8 as we read today how Solomon sought the face of God after building the Temple:
“When your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and if they turn again to you and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, ³⁴ then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers.
³⁵ “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, ³⁶ then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.
³⁷ “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, ³⁸ whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house, ³⁹ then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways ( for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind), ⁴⁰ that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers. - I Kings 8:33-40 (www.lifejournal.cc)

Solomon, overwhelmed at the opportunity to build the Lord's House, consecrated it to the Lord by speaking of humble prayer in times of defeat.  We know from Solomon's own testimony that such thoughts were not always his greatest concern.  He tells us in the book of Ecclesiastes that his spiritual life as a midlife adult was a blur as he experimented with everything the world had to offer him.  However, from such an effort of building the Temple and such a prayer prayed, we know he started in the right place.  As well, from the testimony at the end of Ecclesiastes, we know he ended in the right place.   Isn't it a shame that there were wasted years in between the two? 
It's really no more a shame than it is for us to waste years...months...days...or opportunities with the Lord.  
I want to encourage you not to waste a moment.  Seek the face of God.  When sin hinders your life, take it to the Lord.  When hardship comes, take your burden to the Lord.  When questions come, don't ask everyone else.  Ask the Lord.  As v.38 says above 'knowing the affliction of your heart...stretch your hands toward...heaven.'  We have an opportunity....let's not miss it today.

County Fair Memories

When I played football in high school, we had a first year head coach that was zealous about winning.  He was a strong, tough guy and he wanted us to be strong and tough.  We did not go to camp his first year there (my senior year), we just commuted back and forth each day and got there at 7 am.  One of the activities that he talked about us doing was 'county fair.' Sounds fun don't it!  It wasn't!  It was actually a set of conditioning drills that we participated in.  It may have looked like a fair to someone watching, it did not feel like a fair to the participants. 
 I learned something early, well before the season started, and so did the coaches...everyone does not give the same effort.  They may try to look like it on their face.  They may wave their arms when they run as if it was their final leg, even though they had more 'gas in the tank.'  They may try to look like they are giving the efforts, however, some guys did not.
In our reading today Paul is talking about living the genuine life for God through the power of Christ in us.  More than an outward symbol, or a particular action, it is about the heart.  More than impressing others, it is about pleasing God who really knows us.  Paul put it this way in Romans 2:29  -But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (www.lifejournal.cc)
Seek to please God today....not yourself...and not so much others...but God.

Immoral Accommodations

 I had a great experience yesterday.  I witnessed the Houston Hilltoppers Fast Pitch Softball Team win the state championship.  They swept the reigning champs (who were also ranked #16 in the nation) and brought home the trophy.  We rushed back to attend the baseball banquet as the cap of a great season there as well. 

This morning our reading leads us to the book of Romans (www.lifejournal.cc).  Paul begins his letter to the Romans by talking about the marvels of salvation as well as the desperate need for it.  He is burdened by the rampant sin that surrounds that dear church and is giving a spiritual explanation for it.  He, as well, is encouraging them not to ignore, condone, or endorse any such sinful behavior.  He concludes by writing Romans 1:32- Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
I believe that is a message for today's church as well.  I am not advocating 'going after people' who don't agree with us.  I am, however, saying that when public policy turns and takes an immoral twist, we need to speak up.   When the law makes accommodations for immoral behavior we need to respond.  The degradation of society will ride on the back of such policies and laws.  Let's not endorse or condone immoral behavior.
Let's not do it either.  We have a tendency to excuse our sins away or justify them somehow, while looking at another's sins and making it out to be worse.  Don't pigeonhole particular sins.  Stay away from all of them.  Honor God today! 
Hope to see you in church today.  We are honoring a good number of high school and college graduates in our AM Worship.  I am sharing about my recent trip to the Holy Land during the PM Worship time.
Don't miss it!  

A Blessed Saturday?

In Jackson to celebrate with our fast pitch girl's softball team in the state championship. They won game 1 on Friday in a best of two. I missed that due to the time of the game (early because of the opponents' graduation ceremony tonight). However, looking forward to game 2 and ,maybe, 3 today. I wish them the best. I wish it for you too. As the apostle Paul put it in 2Thessalonians 3:16- Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. (www.lifejournal.cc) Have a blessed Saturday!

A Spiritual Root

Psalm 78 is one of the longest psalms that you will run across in the book of Psalms.  If you think it is long, read Psalm 119.  But none the less, it is long.  It is Asaph's reflection upon what the Lord has done in the past and how He had prepared them for their present.  He shares long details of the stories of Scripture that we have read and that was shared frequently in his day through fireside and bedside chats. Why does he reflect on the steady hand of God through history?  He tells us in verse 4. Psalm 78:4- We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. (www.lifejournal.cc)
We live in a society that is trying to keep up with Asia educationally and, apparently, Europe socially.  
If we would be that concerned about laying a spiritual root in our kids' lives, we will leave a greater legacy than education or social enlightenment could ever leave. 
May God wake us up to our opportunity! 

Famous Last Words

David was not a perfect man.  He was a wonderful military leader and he led Israel through her greatest days ever but he was not perfect.  I am glad Scripture is honest about that.  None of us are perfect either.  I truly believe we get the real account of these people's lives in Scripture to show that the imperfect can serve the Lord.  The only way we can serve is to seek His Face often.  David did that.  The Psalms are full of poems and songs he wrote through the overflow of spending time with God. I think it also requires pointing folks in the right direction.  David did a lot wrong.  One of the greatest weaknesses he had was fatherhood.  He was so tied up with leading the world in battle and other pursuits with wrong motives that his kids ran somewhat wild.  He did not correct them as needed.  He did not set a good example for them all the time.  However, as he closed out his life, he did the best he could for the circumstances that he had created.  We talked the other day about how he prepared the way for Solomon to build the Temple.   That is not all.  Notice I Kings 2:1-4  -When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, ² “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, ³ and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, ⁴ that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ (www.lifejournal.cc)
The lasting memory in Solomon's mind of his dad was his father's preparation and his dad's words.  David simply told him, "Follow the Lord and the Lord will lead you."  The same is true for us.
Let's live on that advice today and pass it down to future generations by our actions and our words.

Power Packed Bullets

I like when someone that has something to say gets up and says it.  It is much more seldom that a crowd leaves wanting more.  More times than not a lack of preparation  leads to a speaker taking much longer than it is necessary to say what is needed.  You can wear out  a crowd just mumbling along.  It helps to watch the crowd.  When you look at the crowd, they will show how much they can take.

Because my attention is often at a deficit, I really appreciate the way the apostle Paul concludes I Thessalonians 5.  Notice  a few of these verse: Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. - I Thessalonians 5:16-19 (www.lifejournal.cc)  You could preach on each one of these for days....but that, of course, gets back to that whole 'say too much' thing that I am talking about. 
Let me 'briefly' comment on these power packed bullets and then make a point to apply at least one of them to your life today.
Rejoice Always- It is easy to be down in the mouth, ill, and complaining about whatever may come.   Anybody can do that and most people do.  Dare to be different.  Brighten the room today instead of darkening it.
Pray without Ceasing- That does not mean that you 'Tebow' all day.  It does mean that you keep your mind set on the Lord throughout the day and don't talk to yourself so much as you talk to Him.  Warning: You will run off track some in your attempt.  Like a small boy with a new train set, just pick your mind up and set it back on Him.
Give Thanks in all Circumstances- Don't wait  for a big ole blessing.   Celebrate the little things.  It will give you a better attitude of gratitude.
Do not quench the Spirit.- If you are not right, most of the places that you go will not be right.  Don't ruin the atmosphere around you.  The Spirit of God is in this place--regardless of where it is.  Don't think, speak, or live in a way that stifles the Spirit.
I could go on and on about quenching the Spirit when it comes to worship but preachers going on and on can quench the Spirit as well so I will save that for another day!

Pick a power packed bullet today and live by it! 

Immoral Legislation

North Carolina passed a referendum that banned gay marriage last week.  Their governor did not like it.   She said passing such an amendment made the state 'look like Mississippi.'  Mississippi's governor did not like the comment.  They have talked now and I think everything is going to be alright.  If he didn't get some Carolina BBQ out of it and she didn't get some catfish, it was a wasted meeting.    North Carolina's governor said that her state had done so well with race relations, it seemed backward to take a stand against gay marriage.  There is a lot of difference in race and immorality though. 
It is amazing to me that we live in a world that does not see that.  It is  also amazing to me that we live in a country that would really like to ban me from saying such as this.  It has also been amazing to see some of the discussions that I have seen on social networks about the matter.  Some have suggested that Jesus has come to set us free and that means everyone can love anyone they want to love in freedom.  Well, Jesus did not interpret his own words like that.  In the first few verses of Matthew 19 He talks about marriage between a man and a woman.  In 1 Corinthians 6 the apostle Paul puts homosexuality in the same sinful area as adulterers, fornicators, and drunkards.  All of which are the paths of the unrighteous.  In other words, adultery is still wrong...as wrong  as homosexuality.  Acting like your married when you are not is still wrong.  Christians don't ignore that or turn a blind eye to that either.  Whether it is outlawed or 'inlawed', it is still wrong.   Our standard is not set by the legislators, who many times, are substandard anyway.  Our standard is set by the Word of God which challenged us today in I Thessalonians 4.  In light of the imminent return of God, live by His Standards until Christ comes:  For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, ⁵ not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. ⁸ Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.- I Thess. 4:3-8 (www.lifejournal.cc)  We don't need to live like the world, applaud the world, condition ourselves to the world, ignore the world, or turn against one worldly way and ignore another.   We need to live as if Christ empowers us to live by a higher standard than the world....because He does.  

Live in a manner pleasing to Him today.

Building Up the Temples

King David looked at the grand place that he had built to live in and got convicted about the need for the Lord to have a permanent house for worship.  He set out to build it.  It was not in God's plan.  David's military success had led Israel to grow as strong as it had ever known.  His job was to grow Israel, not to build the Temple.  However, God told him that David's son would build it.  David took it to heart and set out with a plan.  I Chronicles 22:5 describes it- For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death. (www.lifejournal.cc)
He was determined to set a path that his boy could follow to do something great for God.  That is exactly what we must do!  We celebrated Mother's Day yesterday.  Father's Day is coming.   I am the father of two young girls.  Part of my responsibility as a Godly father is to set a path for them to follow to do great things for God.  I don't need them to build the Lord a Temple.  My girls are temples of the Holy Spirit of God.  What I need, is to pave the path for their 'temples' to flourish for the cause of Christ. I must do all I can to build up a spiritual resource base in their lives for them to lean on no matter what may come.

I want to encourage you today to prepare the way for those that God has entrusted to you.  We can do great things for the Lord along the way.

The Threshing Floor

I Chronicles 21:28- At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. (www.lifejournal.cc)
In 2008 after reading the book The Divine Mentor, I started on a daily reading plan that has had a strong impact on my life.  I felt led to lead my church in a 40 day period of prayer for direction and clarity.  I wrote a small devotional book for these days and one of my central themes was 'the threshing floor.'  God had continued to point out to me time and time again the significance of prayer at the threshing floor.   The threshing floor was a raised hard surface that was prioritized for threshing out wheat.  However, I found in my Biblical studies that there was a lot more than just wheat threshed out at such a place.  God was threshing out people as well.  He 'threshed out' David in our reading today. 

One of the many sights we saw in Israel was a sacrificial area on Mount Megiddo that resembles a threshing floor.  Typically a threshing floor would be a bigger space and may have a knee-high wall, but, even with that, the point was well made when I saw it and thought of passages like we read today.

Humble yourself before God today and encourage Him to seperate the wheat from the chaff in your life.  The spiritual pounding will be worth it.

A Light in Darkness

2 Samuel 22:29-31-  For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.
³⁰ For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
³¹ This God— his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.  (www.lifejournal.cc)

We live in dark days.  In hopes of enlightenment the decisions that America's leadership makes actually darkens our days and threatens our future.  It seems funny to me that the rest of the world wants to be like America and instead of America shining like a beacon on a hill, we want to walk off the hill and go join the world.  We live in dark days. 
I am thankful that there is light to all who seek it.  The Lord lights the way.  He exposes the danger and damage.  He will guide us to succeed if we just follow.  His Word and His Way are right.  We cannot change everything in our world, but we can do something about ourselves.  Let's shine through Christ, no matter the darkness of our days. 

The Tomb is Empty

It has been a joy to return from my visit to the Holy Land, only to read our daily passages (www.lifejournal.cc) about the very things that I witnessed.  The greatest of which must be the empty tomb.  Matthew 28:5-8  - But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he^[a] lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” ⁸ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

When you see the close proximity of this tomb to the place of the Skull (that I wrote about yesterday) and then witness the emptiness of the tomb, it is all quite startling.
He lives and because He lives, we too shall live!
Let's live today as if we have life eternal and the rest of our days to proclaim why we live!
Christ is Risen!

The Place of the Skull

  Matthew 27:33-35- And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), ³⁴ they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. ³⁵ And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.  (www.lifejournal.cc)I got to visit the Place of the Skull last week.  It has changed some.  The first picture is what it looked like in the 50's.  The second picture shows that some things have changed.  The rock has degraded or been changed.  The 'eye sockets' are not as defined.  The mouth has been covered over by a city bus parking lot.  A wall has been placed on top of it.  The property above it is owned by Muslims and two signs stand on top of this historic hill. One says in Arabic- Allah is the only true god.  The other says- Muhammad is his only prophet.   It is most likely that Jesus was crucified at the foot of this cliff or close to where the 'mouth' was.  This area was also known as a common place for Roman execution by stoning. 

When I saw the changes over the years, it really bothered me....then I came to a reality.   This is the same kind of atmosphere that Jesus died in.  They did not set Him a place aside, not even for his birth, let alone His execution.   George McCloud put it this way- I simply argue that the cross be raised in the middle of the marketplace.  For Jesus was not crucified in a church between two candles but on a cross between two thieves.  A place so cosmopolitan they had to write his name in 3 languages:  Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic.  It was the town garbage heap.  Where thieves cursed, cynics hurled insults, soldiers gambled.  That is where he chose to die and those are the people he chose to die for...and that is where the church needs to be and those are the people we ought to care for as well.
The world did not stop for Christ.  It will not stop for the Christian stand.  However, He showed us that is where we are to stand.  We will be amazed at the eternal difference it makes, when we do.   Stand for Christ today!

The Man and the Tree

The Garden of Gethsemane has meant a lot to me for a long time.  It was there that the Lord prayed about the cup.  It was there he surrendered to it.  Before the guards ever came, the Lord dealt with the cross in the garden.  The cup that he refers to his prayers there is an Old Testament term that compared the Lord's Wrath with a foaming cup of life destroying wine.  Sinners would have to drink it up.  Now Christ, sinless on our behalf, would have to endure the wrath of God on Calvary because of, not His sin, but ours. It all happened on that Mount of Olives that overlooked the Temple mount and, more specifically, in that garden that held the oil press.  That is where this happened:
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” -Matthew 26:39 (www.lifejournal.cc) 
I have often thought about the Garden and often thought I would like to go to Israel just to be in the garden and walk where the Lord struggled so on our behalf.  On our recent visit, it was one of my favorite spots.   It was beautiful but that is not why I wanted to be there.  It was fascinating.   The trees that are in the garden are over 1000 years old and we met a Franciscan monk who had tended the garden for over 50 years!  The reason I wanted to go is to try to get a greater feel of the atmosphere on that awesome night.  Many things have changed about its appearance since then.  It is not just a grove, but a major attraction.  Beautiful churches are built around it claiming 'the spot.'  However there was also this tree.  The picture to the left is of an olive tree that has stood for over 3000 years.  This tree 'witnessed' the Lord.  That is quite an awesome thought. 

Much has changed, but one thing has not:  Jesus took on your sins and mine when He took on the Cup of God's Wrath on the cross.  Because of his willingness, we can be forgiven and renewed.   No more sobering thought than the greatest love of a man laying down His life for his friends. 
Let's live today like an indebted friend to Jesus!

The Shepherd's Voice

Matthew 25:32-33  -Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. (www.lifejournal.cc)
On our travel from Jerusalem to the desert area we would often see many interesting sights that we did not have time to pull over and snap a picture of.  Most pictures from the bus leave a lot to be desired.  One of the sights that we saw often were the Bedouin people.  They would look to be homeless but they are really not.  They live in the desert.  They build houses out of scraps of metal, left over wood, and such.  The houses are no more than open air shelters.  Many are shepherds.  We saw some of their children walking home from school.  Our guide told us that their kids walk five miles to school every day.  They looked like the homeless, but they had chosen that life. 
Because many were shepherds,  we often saw shepherds with sheep or goats.  One time in particular I saw four shepherds bunched up talking.  They were surrounded by sheep and goats.  The flocks were all mixed together but I know that once the shepherd gave his unique call, his flock will follow.   The sheep and the goats would part ways.  
This was a common sight in Jesus' day as well and out of that experience, He shared a story.  He explained that at the end of the time, the mixture of all types of people in this world, will be seperated between those that loved and followed the Lord, and those that never claimed Him as shepherd.  Eternal rewards are based on are what we do with life's opportunities. 
We have heard that many times.  Hearing it many times does not take away from the reality of it, but it can effect how much we still pay attention to it.  This is my question for today:  How well are we listening to Our Shepherd now?  While on the earth and in our daily lives, how well are we listening when He calls us to gather to Him? 
Let's not miss a single opportunity.  Let's listen to Him now, daily, so that we will be sure to recognize His Voice when THAT day comes.

The Real Temple

It seems amazing to me that we are reading (www.lifejournal.cc) the words that we are reading each day just after my return from Israel.  The correlation of the text with my experience is really fascinating!  Today we read about Jesus prediction of the Temple destruction. In Matthew 24:1-2- Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ² But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 

I mentioned yesterday that the Temple was destroyed about 40 years after Jesus made this prediction.   It was completely destroyed.  Not a stone was left on top of another.  It was leveled to the ground.  Historians have told me that the fire was so hot that the gold of the inner parts of the Temple melted into the grout of the street.  None of it stood.  I learned last week that the area was abandoned and nothing was done with the property for over 600 years.  After so much time of desolation, the Muslims then built their incredible mosque, the Dome of the Rock, on part of the Temple grounds. 

I also mentioned yesterday that the Western wall  was a retaining wall that actually set below the ground level of the Temple.   When you look at the accompanying picture, you can see how big the wall is (see the little people) and you can also see where the original stops.  The big stones that go about 25 feet up (or almost as high as the flag) are the originals.  That is the only part of the 1st century Temple that is left. 

That means a lot to the Jews that come to pray in that wall and put their requests in the cracks of the stone.  What should it mean to us?  Paul says we have to look a little deeper.  Things have changed.  I Corinthians 6:19-20- Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.  It was wonderful to visit the historic places where Jesus walked...an eye opening, Bible understanding trip!   However, we don't worship a place, we worship the Lord...and He lives within us.  Let us honor God with our bodies...for our bodies are Holy Places!

Thoroughly Clean

Last week in Jerusalem we spent a day walking the old Temple Mount and visiting the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall.  The rabbis that go there everyday are dedicated to praying at that special part of the Temple Mount.  When the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, not a stone was left on top of another, just as the Lord had predicted.  However, due to the topography of the land with two deep valleys on two sides of the Temple, there was a retaining wall that remained.  The bottom twenty-five feet or so on the Western side was a retaining wall for the Temple of the Lord's day.  That makes it a special place.  The rabbis of today go through a special preparation process so they may pray effectively.  They go through a hand washing ceremony.  They put on their prayer shawl and their phylacteries (You can see a small wooden box on this rabbi's forehead and also the straps that hold the box on his arm.  His arm box is actually sitting on the inside of his arm right above the elbow.).  These little boxes hold some part of the law, in response to the Shema, that I addressed yesterday.

I don't know if this is exactly like it was in the Lord's day, but I don't think much has changed.  The Sanhedrin that came against Jesus was a part of men like these.  Notice what he says to them in Matthew 23:25-26- “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Also notice v. 5- They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad.  Now, please don't get the wrong message from me.  I was humbled at the Wailing Wall as well as the special rabbinical tunnel that we entered in that same area.   These men's intensity to pray and dedication to prepare to pray and time spent in prayer humbled me.  Oh, that most Christians, would be so set on prayer!  Jesus had a burden for the men of his day that did this kind of public praying and so He speaks to it.  I have a burden about the lack of prayer today in the average Christian's life and the average Church's life.   Let's not pretend we are clean and keep walking in our sin.  Let's not try to look the part and not really live the part.  Today, let's genuinely be cleaned thoroughly by the forgiveness of God and shine brightly for His Honor and Glory!

I hope to see you in worship this morning!

Hear, O Christians!

It is wonderful to be back writing this blog again.  I have thoroughly missed it.  I had planned to continue to write on my trip to Israel, but on the first night I opened up the webpage of the blog and all my instructions were in Hebrew.  Now, I took some Biblical Hebrew along the way, but 'email', 'blog' and such are not words found in the Hebrew Bible.  That and the time change made me back off until I returned. Now I have slept a couple of nights in my own bed, I am beginning to get my feet under me now.

Today the Lord reminded me of something that I have tried to frame my life around.  He speaks of it in Matthew 22:35-38-   And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment.  (www.lifejournal.cc). When the Lord uses these terms it would immediately take the first century Jew back to another passage of Scripture in Deuteronomy 6:4-5-  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ⁵ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  Notice how those verses continue as well....⁶ And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (v.6-9).

This is a key passage of Scripture in Jewish life and it should be for us as well.  For the Jews their lives are marked by these passages.  If one is familiar with the Jewish holiday around Christmas time that is called Hanukkah, you are probably familiar with the 9 stem candelabra called the menorah.   The menorah is developed out of a different historical event in Jewish history but it is very important to the Jew today.  While on our trip to Israel, one of our quick stops was to see a large copper menorah that stood out in front of one of the Israeli government buildings.  It was quite a piece of art.

It stands about 12 feet tall.  If you look close, you will see a circle on the base of it.  That circle has two Hebrew words.  The first line is 'Hear' which is pronounced in Hebrew: Shema.  The second line says 'Israel'.  It is a reference to Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and is a mainstay in Jewish life.  It is simply called the Shema.  Because of the Shema, every door in every hotel room that we stayed in on our trip had a small box on the frame with the first letter of the word 'shema' on it (a reference to Deut. 6:9). When Jews walked by, they touched it and said a little prayer.  During prayer time, fundamentalist Jews would place small boxes with leather straps on them on their forehead and their forearm.  These boxes are suppose to contain some piece of God's law (a reference to Deut. 6:8).  It is a big deal in all of their lives.                                            

It ought to be a big deal in our lives as well.  No, we are not to put a special something on our doorframes or our foreheads.  The point of the passage was to mark your homes with your love for God.  Whether they are marked physically or not, does not matter near as much as the fact that they are marked spiritually.  Your mind (forehead) is to be on God and your hands are to do the work of God.  We are to love Him with all that we have. 

It was inspiring to see the dedication that the Jewish people had to their understanding of these passages.  It is even more inspiring and life changing when we live it out with all of our lives.  Love the Lord your God today and let it reflect in your homes, with your family, and with your neighbors!

I look forward to worshipping with you tomorrow.