His Promise Will Not Fail
He was a year younger than me. We had been friends since childhood, belonging to the same Boy Scout troop.
I conducted his funeral last week.
There is an odd feeling that comes over you as you look into a casket and see a familiar face. I have done it before, of course: family members, neighbors, church members. But when it is an old friend, and memories go racing back to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and just plain “hanging out” together, it really has an effect.
I was able to share the words of Jesus at the funeral, “In My Father’s house are many mansions…” (John 14:2). Mansions are not built to be landmarks. They are built as homes, dwellings. Luxurious homes at that. And this is just one metaphor that describes the wonderful place the Bible calls Heaven. One thing for sure – Heaven is a real place. Otherwise, there would be no mention of it by Jesus (“I go to prepare a place for you…”) and certainly no metaphors attempting to describe it. Heaven is referred to quite frequently in scripture. When a metaphor is used it is because our minds are too small to fully understand this wonderful place.
The Bible also refers to Heaven as “paradise.” This word is interesting. In ancient times it was used to picture a manicured garden, with trees and flowers as well as herbs and, occasionally, vegetables. A paradise was a place for rest and physical, emotional refreshment. Then later, by the time of Julius Caesar, it became descriptive of the garden of a king or provincial ruler. Apparently the rulers were the only ones who could afford a beautiful, manicured garden. Their gardens were set in contrast to the garden of the common person, which would be very plain and practical, providing food rather than refreshment. The ruler’s garden, the paradise, would be unimaginably splendid to the common man. The commoner would not be able to see it, for the paradise would be behind walls. But the king’s servants would communicate to all how very luxurious the king’s garden was, in contrast to the average family’s vegetable patch. The ruler’s garden would have fragrant flowers, fruit producing trees with blossoms in the spring, a shade tree or two, vines and undoubtedly a fountain. This would provide a refreshing and stimulating environment. In reality, the commoner could only imagine and never actually realize the splendor of the king’s garden.
When Jesus told the dying thief, “Today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), it was an overwhelming thought. That repentant, believing thief had no idea what was in store for him. “Eye has not seen, nor has the ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
The dying thief had no idea of the beautiful, refreshing and inspiring garden to which he was going, or of the mansion – home that awaited him. Neither do we.
But we know that such a place awaits the follower of Christ. He has promised it to us.
His promise will not fail.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
He is Lord
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” So wrote C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain.
These are the words I recalled upon learning of the massive earthquake in Haiti. Several thousands of persons perished, very suddenly and unexpectedly. Into eternity they went – forever gone from this world.
The Bible reveals a God who is there, who is not silent, who has spoken – and He is Lord. Meaning, He is all-powerful.
Is God all powerful? Is God good? If the answers to these questions are “yes”, then why did He not stop the earthquake? Or the tsunami that hit Indonesia a few years ago, or the killing of children by an insane parent?
In 300 B.C., Epicurus put it in a way that is still common. We think of God as infinite in His power. We also consider God as infinite in His goodness. Furthermore, we consider God as infinite in His compassion. On the other hand, evil exists in the world. Not only does evil affect the perpetrator, but it also affects the good person. And further, not all evil is moral – caused by bad people. Some evil is natural – caused by bad things. Bad things happen to good people. If God is able to remove evil but does not, then perhaps He is not so good and compassionate after all. Or perhaps He is good, but not all-powerful. That would explain why evil events or things, earthquakes and tsunamis, happen in the world.
Epicurus asks questions that many sensitive and thoughtful people still ask. Maybe you are one of those asking. Don’t overlook Lewis’ thesis: pain is the megaphone of God. Apart from it, people would be deaf toward God. Could better ways, more tender ways, be used by God? Of course, and in many instances are used by God to seeking souls. But to the non-seeking soul, God must reveal mankind’s impotence against the forces of nature. Only by seeing themselves in such an impotent state will people turn to God. He alone is omnipotent; in a time when bad things happen, where else may we turn for ultimate and everlasting hope?
Omnipotent versus Impotent.
Not really much of a choice, is it?
It is not wrong for God to reveal our entirely dependent nature. He knows our pride and stubborn spirit will refuse to bend to Him. Occasionally He uses a means to shock us out of a spiritually lethargic state. Means that we call “natural disasters.” Only by such a means will we recognize the great need we have of God and His salvation.
In the midst of tragedy, we strive to assist and minister to those who are suffering. But all the while we come to learn that God alone can ultimately, finally and fully bring healing to others. And His healing is not just physical; it touches the soul (mind) and spirit (the immortal) of man.
Do you trust in the omnipotent God to be there for you and with you through life’s most difficult moments? “Yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, You are with me…” (Psalm 23:4).
We must trust in Him. He alone is greater than the forces of nature, of the traumas of life, and of the grim reality of approaching death.
He is LORD.
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” So wrote C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain.
These are the words I recalled upon learning of the massive earthquake in Haiti. Several thousands of persons perished, very suddenly and unexpectedly. Into eternity they went – forever gone from this world.
The Bible reveals a God who is there, who is not silent, who has spoken – and He is Lord. Meaning, He is all-powerful.
Is God all powerful? Is God good? If the answers to these questions are “yes”, then why did He not stop the earthquake? Or the tsunami that hit Indonesia a few years ago, or the killing of children by an insane parent?
In 300 B.C., Epicurus put it in a way that is still common. We think of God as infinite in His power. We also consider God as infinite in His goodness. Furthermore, we consider God as infinite in His compassion. On the other hand, evil exists in the world. Not only does evil affect the perpetrator, but it also affects the good person. And further, not all evil is moral – caused by bad people. Some evil is natural – caused by bad things. Bad things happen to good people. If God is able to remove evil but does not, then perhaps He is not so good and compassionate after all. Or perhaps He is good, but not all-powerful. That would explain why evil events or things, earthquakes and tsunamis, happen in the world.
Epicurus asks questions that many sensitive and thoughtful people still ask. Maybe you are one of those asking. Don’t overlook Lewis’ thesis: pain is the megaphone of God. Apart from it, people would be deaf toward God. Could better ways, more tender ways, be used by God? Of course, and in many instances are used by God to seeking souls. But to the non-seeking soul, God must reveal mankind’s impotence against the forces of nature. Only by seeing themselves in such an impotent state will people turn to God. He alone is omnipotent; in a time when bad things happen, where else may we turn for ultimate and everlasting hope?
Omnipotent versus Impotent.
Not really much of a choice, is it?
It is not wrong for God to reveal our entirely dependent nature. He knows our pride and stubborn spirit will refuse to bend to Him. Occasionally He uses a means to shock us out of a spiritually lethargic state. Means that we call “natural disasters.” Only by such a means will we recognize the great need we have of God and His salvation.
In the midst of tragedy, we strive to assist and minister to those who are suffering. But all the while we come to learn that God alone can ultimately, finally and fully bring healing to others. And His healing is not just physical; it touches the soul (mind) and spirit (the immortal) of man.
Do you trust in the omnipotent God to be there for you and with you through life’s most difficult moments? “Yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, You are with me…” (Psalm 23:4).
We must trust in Him. He alone is greater than the forces of nature, of the traumas of life, and of the grim reality of approaching death.
He is LORD.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Go to Church!
I call it “a key to happiness.”
I am fond of quoting Abraham Lincoln on the subject of happiness. Lincoln once said, “Most people are as happy as they choose to be.” I think, for the most part, Lincoln is right.
But there may be a key factor missing in Lincoln’s analysis. In fact, it may be “the key.”
Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert has made the study and practice of happiness a passion. He has done much research into this area and written about it in Stumbling on Happiness (copyright 2005 by Vintage Books, a division of Random House Inc, New York). I suppose the title of the book comes because humans are pretty poor at predicting what will bring them happiness. Gilbert shows that more money does not do it. Marriage will do it, provided we are committed to the marriage. Dr. Gilbert defines happiness as “a general sense of satisfaction with life and a sense of well-being.” Fair enough – but how do we come to this place?
Gilbert provides many – not as many as you might think – pieces of evidence from his research. Commitment to a relationship is a big one. Focusing on little things is another. There are more.
But I want you to think about this one. Gilbert writes, “Churchgoers are happier than non-churchgoers.” Did you read that? Why might that be? Gilbert continues, “It is not the religion part that makes people happy. It’s the going-to-church part. It’s the community part. It’s the holding hands and singing. It’s the knowing-folks-who-would-bring-you-soup-if-you-got-sick part.”
It’s the community part. Hmm. The Bible calls it koinonia. This word is translated “fellowship” or “community.”
John Wesley wrote on “the means of grace.” He divided the means (things we do that strengthen the life of the believer and give witness to the world) into a.) works of piety, and b.) works of mercy. One of those works of piety, something we do by which God strengthens the life of the believer, was “belonging to community”. That is, belonging to and attending faithfully the local church.
Attending church is good for you. It provides opportunity for relationship-building, for making friends. It also strengthens you as a person and, consequently, strengthens your home and family. It surrounds you with people who care and love you, who pray with you in a time of hardship and, as Gilbert writes, bring soup to your home and family when you are ill. In short, it becomes family. The lessons learned from the Bible help you understand God and His ways, challenge you to know and serve Him, and empower you to overcome all the challenges life throws in your path. You become a better person rather than a bitter person.
Want to be happy? Listen to Harvard Professor Dan Gilbert.
This Sunday…
Go to church!
I call it “a key to happiness.”
I am fond of quoting Abraham Lincoln on the subject of happiness. Lincoln once said, “Most people are as happy as they choose to be.” I think, for the most part, Lincoln is right.
But there may be a key factor missing in Lincoln’s analysis. In fact, it may be “the key.”
Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert has made the study and practice of happiness a passion. He has done much research into this area and written about it in Stumbling on Happiness (copyright 2005 by Vintage Books, a division of Random House Inc, New York). I suppose the title of the book comes because humans are pretty poor at predicting what will bring them happiness. Gilbert shows that more money does not do it. Marriage will do it, provided we are committed to the marriage. Dr. Gilbert defines happiness as “a general sense of satisfaction with life and a sense of well-being.” Fair enough – but how do we come to this place?
Gilbert provides many – not as many as you might think – pieces of evidence from his research. Commitment to a relationship is a big one. Focusing on little things is another. There are more.
But I want you to think about this one. Gilbert writes, “Churchgoers are happier than non-churchgoers.” Did you read that? Why might that be? Gilbert continues, “It is not the religion part that makes people happy. It’s the going-to-church part. It’s the community part. It’s the holding hands and singing. It’s the knowing-folks-who-would-bring-you-soup-if-you-got-sick part.”
It’s the community part. Hmm. The Bible calls it koinonia. This word is translated “fellowship” or “community.”
John Wesley wrote on “the means of grace.” He divided the means (things we do that strengthen the life of the believer and give witness to the world) into a.) works of piety, and b.) works of mercy. One of those works of piety, something we do by which God strengthens the life of the believer, was “belonging to community”. That is, belonging to and attending faithfully the local church.
Attending church is good for you. It provides opportunity for relationship-building, for making friends. It also strengthens you as a person and, consequently, strengthens your home and family. It surrounds you with people who care and love you, who pray with you in a time of hardship and, as Gilbert writes, bring soup to your home and family when you are ill. In short, it becomes family. The lessons learned from the Bible help you understand God and His ways, challenge you to know and serve Him, and empower you to overcome all the challenges life throws in your path. You become a better person rather than a bitter person.
Want to be happy? Listen to Harvard Professor Dan Gilbert.
This Sunday…
Go to church!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Be Part of the TEAM
One of the most amazing Bible stories involves Paul, the Apostle. He had been ministering the Gospel in the pagan city of Lystra, when suddenly a mob scene broke out. Paul and his companion, Barnabas, had been honored as deities. They had corrected this wrong notion, and promptly seen the adoring mob turn into a murderous mob.
This mob, urged on by Paul’s enemies, dragged the apostle out of the city and stoned him. Convinced he was dead, the mob returned to the city. He may have been dead. According to 2 Corinthians 12:2-3, not even Paul himself was sure whether he experienced Heaven in reality or in a vision while comatose. Either way, the disciples, the church, gathered around him – probably praying – and what do you know? “But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe” (Acts 14:20).
Paul’s enemies thought he was dead – and probably had checked to make sure of it! Nevertheless, the Lord had other plans. The enemies were wrong, both in their opinion and in their conduct. It was probably good that they considered Paul dead, as it satisfied their thirst for blood and prevented an assault on the church.
Do you ever feel attacked? Or that your “enemies” have successfully killed your credibility, voice or influence? Do you feel beaten down by life’s events? Perhaps you really do have enemies. Most likely you are overcome by life’s difficulties. Things like job loss, death of a loved one, or loneliness.
It is not an accident that the scriptures record “…after the disciples (church) had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.” The company of the church is powerful! The comfort, encouragement and strength that others from the body of Christ impart is used by God to miraculously revive a person’s spirit. The company of the church changes a person’s attitude and life. You receive strength from others who gather around you during a crisis. And when a person you know is experiencing a crisis, you are able to impart strength to that one.
Look around you today. Do you see a person who has been, figuratively speaking, stoned and left for dead? Pray for that person then go, bring life back into him or her. Provide words of encouragement and hope. Help that person get back up and return to the city – the place of life. Take the person out for lunch, or out to shop. That is the wonderful power of the church: prayer - inviting God’s participation in a situation, and action – doing what needs to be done.
I read an acrostic that went like this: “T.E.A.M. – Together Each Achieves More”.
Are you part of God’s TEAM, the church?
Be part of the TEAM!
One of the most amazing Bible stories involves Paul, the Apostle. He had been ministering the Gospel in the pagan city of Lystra, when suddenly a mob scene broke out. Paul and his companion, Barnabas, had been honored as deities. They had corrected this wrong notion, and promptly seen the adoring mob turn into a murderous mob.
This mob, urged on by Paul’s enemies, dragged the apostle out of the city and stoned him. Convinced he was dead, the mob returned to the city. He may have been dead. According to 2 Corinthians 12:2-3, not even Paul himself was sure whether he experienced Heaven in reality or in a vision while comatose. Either way, the disciples, the church, gathered around him – probably praying – and what do you know? “But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe” (Acts 14:20).
Paul’s enemies thought he was dead – and probably had checked to make sure of it! Nevertheless, the Lord had other plans. The enemies were wrong, both in their opinion and in their conduct. It was probably good that they considered Paul dead, as it satisfied their thirst for blood and prevented an assault on the church.
Do you ever feel attacked? Or that your “enemies” have successfully killed your credibility, voice or influence? Do you feel beaten down by life’s events? Perhaps you really do have enemies. Most likely you are overcome by life’s difficulties. Things like job loss, death of a loved one, or loneliness.
It is not an accident that the scriptures record “…after the disciples (church) had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.” The company of the church is powerful! The comfort, encouragement and strength that others from the body of Christ impart is used by God to miraculously revive a person’s spirit. The company of the church changes a person’s attitude and life. You receive strength from others who gather around you during a crisis. And when a person you know is experiencing a crisis, you are able to impart strength to that one.
Look around you today. Do you see a person who has been, figuratively speaking, stoned and left for dead? Pray for that person then go, bring life back into him or her. Provide words of encouragement and hope. Help that person get back up and return to the city – the place of life. Take the person out for lunch, or out to shop. That is the wonderful power of the church: prayer - inviting God’s participation in a situation, and action – doing what needs to be done.
I read an acrostic that went like this: “T.E.A.M. – Together Each Achieves More”.
Are you part of God’s TEAM, the church?
Be part of the TEAM!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Pray for Your Leaders
I’ve been thinking about taxes recently – probably because I have begun accumulating the necessary items to prepare my taxes for filing.
Ben Franklin, writing in Poor Richard’s Journal, said “the only certainties in life are death and taxes.” Okay, we all know it takes revenue to support government services. My question is, how much constitutes the “fair taxes” I keep reading about?
Work was part of the original creation. God worked – then rested on day seven. He assigned work to Adam because it was good for Adam. Work is good. Compensation must be fair. The danger comes when a government removes all incentives to work through excessive taxation. A person no longer finds work fulfilling and meaningful – the reward for his work go elsewhere, not to provide for his own needs or those of his family. When incentives for wealth creation are removed, revenues to the government actually decrease. They also decrease to charities. Plus individuals and their families suffer lower standards of living. It is not an accident that the most repressive, overly taxed societies are also societies that have a low standard of living. Who wants to work if he can not retain the fruit of his labor? The answer, of course, is “no one.”
Herbert London, President, The Hudson Institute, writes that “from the standpoint of government policy, there is not any difference between a tax of zero and a tax of 100 percent. On its face this seems counterintuitive. Yet a zero tax derives no revenue for the government, and a 100 percent tax rate results in disincentive for work, which consequently yields zero revenue for the government.”
Establishing tax rates becomes a balancing act – trying to achieve the proper balance between incentives for work and providing government services.
Karl Marx wrote, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” Unfortunately, this seems to be the goal of government, whether Communist or not. Progressive taxation, the current policy, is certain to doom our nation. As tax rates progressively increase, incentives for work progressively decrease. People are not interested in working to meet the needs of unknown others or of funding extravagance by elected officials. Reduced work effort and productivity mean that government revenues actually decline, as does giving to charities and standard of living.
The problem is that we do not understand the theology of work. In Genesis 2:15 the scripture says, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” There was but one person, one man – and he was to work the land for the benefit of himself and, later, his wife. There is a self interest in work. This is not wrong. Self interest is the greatest possible incentive. We provide for ourselves and our own because we desire to survive. This survival, life, we desire to experience as comfortably as possible. Resentment results when a person is forced to give the results of his labor to others. Especially is this true when the recipients work less diligently or do not work at all.
These thoughts lead me to this conclusion: the need to pray for government leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-3). Pray that government leaders are given wisdom to find the proper balance between incentives for work and providing government services.
Pray for your leaders.
I’ve been thinking about taxes recently – probably because I have begun accumulating the necessary items to prepare my taxes for filing.
Ben Franklin, writing in Poor Richard’s Journal, said “the only certainties in life are death and taxes.” Okay, we all know it takes revenue to support government services. My question is, how much constitutes the “fair taxes” I keep reading about?
Work was part of the original creation. God worked – then rested on day seven. He assigned work to Adam because it was good for Adam. Work is good. Compensation must be fair. The danger comes when a government removes all incentives to work through excessive taxation. A person no longer finds work fulfilling and meaningful – the reward for his work go elsewhere, not to provide for his own needs or those of his family. When incentives for wealth creation are removed, revenues to the government actually decrease. They also decrease to charities. Plus individuals and their families suffer lower standards of living. It is not an accident that the most repressive, overly taxed societies are also societies that have a low standard of living. Who wants to work if he can not retain the fruit of his labor? The answer, of course, is “no one.”
Herbert London, President, The Hudson Institute, writes that “from the standpoint of government policy, there is not any difference between a tax of zero and a tax of 100 percent. On its face this seems counterintuitive. Yet a zero tax derives no revenue for the government, and a 100 percent tax rate results in disincentive for work, which consequently yields zero revenue for the government.”
Establishing tax rates becomes a balancing act – trying to achieve the proper balance between incentives for work and providing government services.
Karl Marx wrote, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” Unfortunately, this seems to be the goal of government, whether Communist or not. Progressive taxation, the current policy, is certain to doom our nation. As tax rates progressively increase, incentives for work progressively decrease. People are not interested in working to meet the needs of unknown others or of funding extravagance by elected officials. Reduced work effort and productivity mean that government revenues actually decline, as does giving to charities and standard of living.
The problem is that we do not understand the theology of work. In Genesis 2:15 the scripture says, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” There was but one person, one man – and he was to work the land for the benefit of himself and, later, his wife. There is a self interest in work. This is not wrong. Self interest is the greatest possible incentive. We provide for ourselves and our own because we desire to survive. This survival, life, we desire to experience as comfortably as possible. Resentment results when a person is forced to give the results of his labor to others. Especially is this true when the recipients work less diligently or do not work at all.
These thoughts lead me to this conclusion: the need to pray for government leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-3). Pray that government leaders are given wisdom to find the proper balance between incentives for work and providing government services.
Pray for your leaders.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Make Spiritual Resolutions
The New Year will soon be upon us, and with it a list of “New Year’s resolutions.” For many of us that list will include items like “lose ten pounds” or “watch less TV”. Most New Year’s resolutions that I have made are items that should have and could have been addressed at an earlier time. I did not have to wait until the first of the year. But the New Year does speak of new beginnings, and serves as a convenient time for making some life changes. I have read where New Year’s Resolutions last for all of about three or four days in most cases. But if you can hold on to the resolution for six weeks – 40 days – most experts agree that you will have developed a habit.
I encourage you to make spiritual resolutions. Then give these resolutions six weeks of practice.
I think of Jonathan Edwards who wrote in his diary, “Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory and to my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now or never so many myriads of ages hence.”
Or Matthew Henry, who wrote, “I do in the beginning of this New Year solemnly make a fresh surrender of myself, my whole self, body, soul, and spirit, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, covenanting and promising, not in any strength of my own, for I am very weak, but in the strength of the grace of Jesus Christ, that I will endeavor this year to stand complete in the Will of God.”
Are you puzzled about spiritual resolutions? Let me suggest a few.
• Resolve to read a Psalm or two daily (one if lengthy, two if short). This portion of the Bible will warm your spirit and bring you into God’s Presence. You will learn from the Psalms of God’s greatness and man’s frailty. You will learn to trust God in the disappointing experiences of life and praise Him for the pleasant experiences.
• Pray daily for someone else. Especially for someone you do not particularly like or with whom you had a dispute. Pray that God will bless and work in that person’s life.
• Purchase a good devotional Bible and read from it daily. Don’t know which one to buy or use? Try Seasons of Reflection, 365 daily readings from the Bible, published by International Bible Society (Colorado Springs, CO). If you already have a Bible reading plan, stick with it.
My prayer for you and everyone I know is that the coming year will be a year when you will draw close to the heart of God, experience God’s grace and peace in abundance, and mature in your spiritual life.
For that to happen,
Make spiritual resolutions.
The New Year will soon be upon us, and with it a list of “New Year’s resolutions.” For many of us that list will include items like “lose ten pounds” or “watch less TV”. Most New Year’s resolutions that I have made are items that should have and could have been addressed at an earlier time. I did not have to wait until the first of the year. But the New Year does speak of new beginnings, and serves as a convenient time for making some life changes. I have read where New Year’s Resolutions last for all of about three or four days in most cases. But if you can hold on to the resolution for six weeks – 40 days – most experts agree that you will have developed a habit.
I encourage you to make spiritual resolutions. Then give these resolutions six weeks of practice.
I think of Jonathan Edwards who wrote in his diary, “Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory and to my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now or never so many myriads of ages hence.”
Or Matthew Henry, who wrote, “I do in the beginning of this New Year solemnly make a fresh surrender of myself, my whole self, body, soul, and spirit, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, covenanting and promising, not in any strength of my own, for I am very weak, but in the strength of the grace of Jesus Christ, that I will endeavor this year to stand complete in the Will of God.”
Are you puzzled about spiritual resolutions? Let me suggest a few.
• Resolve to read a Psalm or two daily (one if lengthy, two if short). This portion of the Bible will warm your spirit and bring you into God’s Presence. You will learn from the Psalms of God’s greatness and man’s frailty. You will learn to trust God in the disappointing experiences of life and praise Him for the pleasant experiences.
• Pray daily for someone else. Especially for someone you do not particularly like or with whom you had a dispute. Pray that God will bless and work in that person’s life.
• Purchase a good devotional Bible and read from it daily. Don’t know which one to buy or use? Try Seasons of Reflection, 365 daily readings from the Bible, published by International Bible Society (Colorado Springs, CO). If you already have a Bible reading plan, stick with it.
My prayer for you and everyone I know is that the coming year will be a year when you will draw close to the heart of God, experience God’s grace and peace in abundance, and mature in your spiritual life.
For that to happen,
Make spiritual resolutions.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Keep The Truth Central
I read in the newspaper a few days ago that “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” is to be shown on television. This is one of the many stories of Christmas, we think. This is one of the many stories of Christmas?
Fact is, there is nothing about the Grinch that has anything to do with Christmas - at least not the Christmas that I celebrate.
Please don’t get me wrong. I know that children enjoy the story. And I also know that the Grinch has a change of heart, going from a “bad one, Mr. Grinch” to a pretty decent resident of Whoville. I also realize that Christmas has taken on huge secular proportions. It is more a holiday for merchants than for Christians.
But we need to keep the truth central to the holiday. And the truth is: this is a remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ, the God-sent Son. The coming of Christ is simply without a doubt, the most astounding event in history.
Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts cartoon strip, was an ordained minister. Many of his comic strips contain Biblical truth, though the casual reader may not know it. There is one production of Schulz’s that is remarkably clear and to the point, however. It is the program, A Charlie Brown Christmas, also seen on TV. In this particular program, Charlie Brown has failed in his attempts to find the true meaning of Christmas. Then Linus approaches and begins reciting a passage from the Bible:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Then Linus remarks, “That is what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
Linus is right. That is what Christmas is all about. There are not many stories of Christmas. There is one.
Keep the truth central.
I read in the newspaper a few days ago that “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” is to be shown on television. This is one of the many stories of Christmas, we think. This is one of the many stories of Christmas?
Fact is, there is nothing about the Grinch that has anything to do with Christmas - at least not the Christmas that I celebrate.
Please don’t get me wrong. I know that children enjoy the story. And I also know that the Grinch has a change of heart, going from a “bad one, Mr. Grinch” to a pretty decent resident of Whoville. I also realize that Christmas has taken on huge secular proportions. It is more a holiday for merchants than for Christians.
But we need to keep the truth central to the holiday. And the truth is: this is a remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ, the God-sent Son. The coming of Christ is simply without a doubt, the most astounding event in history.
Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts cartoon strip, was an ordained minister. Many of his comic strips contain Biblical truth, though the casual reader may not know it. There is one production of Schulz’s that is remarkably clear and to the point, however. It is the program, A Charlie Brown Christmas, also seen on TV. In this particular program, Charlie Brown has failed in his attempts to find the true meaning of Christmas. Then Linus approaches and begins reciting a passage from the Bible:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Then Linus remarks, “That is what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
Linus is right. That is what Christmas is all about. There are not many stories of Christmas. There is one.
Keep the truth central.
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