Holiness and the Word

I am sharing a paper I recently wrote for my college Theology Class, thus the format. I came across some interesting thoughts and felt they might bless you as they blessed me. You might find a new perspective.

Introduction

            There are two words, or subjects, in the Bible that are of great fascination. These are the subjects of Holiness and the “Word.” There is not enough time or space to comprehensively cover these two subjects, for both of them reveals the nature of God to us. However, I would like to share a few thoughts concerning these two subjects that might both enlighten and bless. Holiness can be viewed as a lifestyle of worship and the “Word” can be seen as an action.

Holiness

Theological Definition

What is “holiness?” It is a word that appears frequently, 43 times, in the Bible. In the Old Testament we are instructed to worship God in the beauty of holiness. In the New Testament we are told to follow holiness because it is required of us if we are to see God.

            It is a word which, in the Old Testament, speaks of being set apart or to make sacredly. In the New Testament it signifies the same but goes further in that it speaks of a rightness with God and focuses on conduct and character.

Biblical Foundation

            In First Chronicles King David has led Israel in a great act of worship and honor by bringing the Ark of God to Jerusalem, thereby placing it at the center of the nation’s attention. During the time of sacrifice and thanksgiving, that followed, David delivered a Psalm to Asaph, who was in charge of leading the worship. In this Psalm of Thanksgiving, David encourages Israel to, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness,” (1 Chronicles 16:29, King James Version).

            Paul encourages us to respond to the promises of God. The promises were he would be our Father and call us his children if we would separate ourselves from the uncleanliness of the unbeliever. Paul’s direction was, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” (2 Corinthians 7:1, King James Version).

            When writing to the Church in Ephesus, Paul instructs, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,” (Ephesians 4:23-24, King James Version).

            The last time the word holiness is used, in the Bible, is in Hebrews 12:14. The writer of Hebrews wants the reader to understand that holiness is to be pursed. He encourages us to, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,” (Hebrews 12:14, King James Version).

Practical Application

            When we look at the use of holiness in the Old Testament, it is often tied to worship and more than once described as beautiful. Holiness, worship and beauty create an astonishing picture of an act of separation, cause by the adoration for God by the worshiper. This adorns that worshiper in the splendor of that which is sacred and pure.

            Holiness in the New Testament speaks to us of a right relationship with God. It speaks of character and of character building. Not only does it encourage us to be separate and sacred, it also encourages us to pursue a good and a peaceful relationship with our neighbor as well as with God. Paul, in Ephesians 4:24 tells us to put on that new man who was created in holiness. He then explains some things we need to separate ourselves from such as lying, stealing, corrupt speech and more. In Romans 13:14, Paul tells us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, or again, holiness, “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy,” (1 Peter 1:16, King James Version).

            Combining the New and Old Testament uses of the word holiness paints a picture of worship that is beautiful to God not only in the actions of worship, it goes further to include worship that is beautiful because of character and right relationship with God. It portrays worship that is beautiful for more reasons than flowing words, rhymes and rhythms. But worship that is adorned by a character that is pursuing a right standing with God and portrays the sacredness of God in the life of the worshiper.

The Word

Theological Definition

            As we read the Bible we find an incredible importance attached to the “Word” of God. The Psalmist, in the 119 Psalm, focuses on the impact the “Word” of God has on a life with statements such as, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalms 119:9, King James Version) or “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee,” (Psalms 119:11, King James Version). We also find that the term “thy word” is used interchangeably throughout the Bible with words such as law, statute, judgments, commandments, precepts, testimonies, truth and scripture.

            In writing his Gospel, the Apostle John launches an explanation of the deity of Jesus Christ with this statement, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made,” (John 1:1, 3, King James Version). He then boldly proclaims, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14a, King James Version). John later quotes Jesus Christ as saying, “thy word is truth,” (John 17:17b, King James Version).

            When we are speaking of the “Word” we are talking about more than letters written on paper or verbiage filling the air. We are talking about God himself being expressed to us through the written word as well as through his earthly life. Considering this, our view of the “Word” should be a view of love and adoration.

Biblical Foundation

            God has placed great importance upon his word. The Psalmist penned this declaration, in the 138 Psalm, “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name,” (Psalms 138:2, King James Version). As great as his name is, it is above every name (Philippians 2:9), God has magnified, or made his word greater than his name. When telling of God coming to earth in the robe of human flesh, John identifies God, as the “Word,” the creator of all things, the light that shines in darkness and brings life. Jesus spoke of the word being truth. When teaching Nicodemus he explained that men loved darkness because their deeds were evil. Then, rather than speaking of men doing that which is “good,” which would seem to be the opposite of evil, he said, “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light,” (John 3:21, King James Version). The only way to God is through the “Word.” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” (John 14:6, King James Version).

Practical Application

            The “Word” of God is vitally important to our lives. We need it for direction and illumination as his, “Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” (Psalms 119:105, King James Version). The “Word” will help us to live a life of great peace no matter what the circumstances that we experience, (Psalms 119:165). By living truth, or living according to the “Word” we are brought closer to the light or to God. In fact, the only way we can come to God is by his word or through truth. There should be intense hunger or desire in the heart and mind of each believer for the “Word” of God. Job declared, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food,” (Job 23:12b, King James Version).

            It is impossible to have a stronger relationship with God if a person doesn’t love his “Word.” It is impossible to know how to live a life that is pleasing to him if a person does not love his “Word.” To deal successfully with the pitfalls of life one must use his “Word” as a lamp and guide. It is from his “Word” that a believer will come to know God and learn that he can trust God in all matters of life.

Conclusion

            Holiness is the determination to set apart your life, from the world, and to make it sacred to God. It is deciding to worship God, not only with your voice, but to worship him with your whole life. There is a decision made to take the “Word” of God and to hide it in your heart in order to draw near to him and learn of him.

You Might Lose Your Head But Don't Lose Your Heart

“You might lose your head, but don’t lose your heart” ~ Peter. Ok, I just made that up. Peter didn’t really say those words, that we know of. However, Peter did live a life that spoke those words. He dealt with persecution, imprisonment and eventually death. Yet through it all, he never lost his heart. It is so easy, when things are going good, to make statements and promises that are hard to keep during adverse times. Just as Peter did to Jesus. His promise was that even if everyone else left Jesus, he would stay and fight to his death. His intentions were good, he even drew his sword and took a swing at the enemy. However, when the adrenaline stopped flowing and things quieted down, Peter had second thoughts and lost his heart. The wise man tells us in Proverbs to guard our heart because the issues of life come from it. (Pro 4:23) Of course he isn’t speaking of our blood pumper, but the seat of our emotions and thoughts. This is the place many of our decisions are made. The influences of our lives come from our heart. It is from our heart that the voice whispers to us telling us to do something or not to do it. We would do well to be careful what we allow to come into our heart. There is an urgent need to protect our hearts. Not too many years after the night in the garden and the tragic mistake in the courtyard, Peter’s heart is once again put to the test. He is lead before a court and found guilty of preaching about Jesus Christ. The judge condemns him to death and he is led away to his execution. Of course we have no way of knowing but my imagination tells me that Peter’s heart was reminding him of the night so long ago when it had failed him. Oh the shame and frustration that had resulted from the wrong decision. No! It won’t fail him now. He might die for what he believed but he would die willingly. And he did! Yes, we might lose our head. Things might not go the way we planned or hoped that they would. However, we must protect our hearts at all costs. Our heart affects everything I do so I must keep it safe. Remember, it’s just a thought!

What Do You Do When It Stinks?

What Do I Do When It Stinks? Emotions of despair, those feelings that the situation that is being faced is hopeless and impossible. Realization dawns upon the consciousness bringing with it the certainty that all hope is gone and that I have arrived at the “Irr Home.” At the “Irr Home” everything living here is: Irreparable, Irremediable, Irretrievable, Irreclaimable and Irrevocable! With that realization comes a perception of impotence, which brings with it the awareness of powerlessness and weakness. Struggling with the conception of thoughts that leave one paralyzed with fear. Feeling totally ineffective to face another day of more of the same. These are the feelings of the real world. Products of a world that is determined to take the best we have to offer and to stomp on it until it is totally crushed beyond repair. We have tried our best and our best isn’t enough! We have offered all that is sacred and dear, and it has been rejected. We have gutted it our until we feel that our guts are exposed to be literally ripped from our bodies. The world looks at us with a look of contempt and scorn and says, “You made your bed, now sleep in it!” However, I have good news for you! The wonderful news of the Gospel of Christ! When the world says you made your bed now sleep in it, Jesus says, Take up your bed and walk!” It is just another day like any other day for the past thirty-eight years. Somehow he drags himself one more time down by the sheep market to the Pool of Bethesda. He isn’t even sure why he goes to all of the trouble. He knows that there is no possible way for him to get into the pool if the angel were to come today. With this acknowledgment comes a feeling of despair. His situation is hopeless. He is not only physically impotent. He is powerless to ever change his life. Life will always be this way! In the midst of this chaotic jumble of embroiled emotions came Jesus! Jesus came to this place which conveyed ideas of magical cures. A place where sometime during the year an angel would come and trouble the water and the infirm would hope to be the first into the water. The first person in the water, after the angel troubled it, was healed of their disease. This was a place that was close to the sheep market, and like is the case with large livestock sale barns, I am sure the emanation of the sheep gathered into that one small place would begin to attack the olfactory senses of those that came to the pool. In other words, it smelled! The bodies of men and women who were sick with all manner of diseases, impotent folk. The blind, the halt, the crippled. Many of them unkept and unwashed. It was a painful picture of the chief kind of human suffering and bodily disease. It was a place of hopelessness. A feeling which must have permeated the air. A cauldron of fear percolating out feelings that each situation was irremediable, irrevocable. Screaming there is no hope! Helpless and powerless! Individuals grasping at the illusive, fragile dream that they might be the first into the pool the next time the water was troubled. Struggling to hold on to that dream through year of failure. Hearing a constant bombardment of doubt and fear from those around them that had been at the pool for so many years. Spirits, once high with hope and promise, have now shrunken in distress as realization dawns on them, their situation is hopeless. That was the atmosphere of the Pool of Bethesda! Jesus looks on the man, knowing how hopeless his plight is, and without demanding from the man even faith, asks him, “Wilt thou be made whole?” This individual, who might have come to the place where he was doubtful of the blessing of healing because of the resulting responsibilities, is hearing a question he might have heard from others. He whines out, with a professional drawl, his oft told story, reflecting very much on his lovelessness, quarrelsomeness, and ugly temper. The melancholy recital of his frequent disappointment is given with an air of insolvent resignation. Maybe even a gloomy satisfaction with his lot in life can be heard in his voice. However, Jesus doesn’t even rebuke him for his lack of faith, as he has others. He doesn’t require anything special of him. All he simply says is, “Take up your bed and walk.” The Psalmist said, “Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God! (Psalms 43:5 NLT) The Apostle Paul added to this, “And if we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world.” (1 Cor 15:19 NLT) We are living in a time when life is filled with uncertainty. Men and women are living lives filled with fear and hopelessness. No matter what is tried to improve life it seems powerless to make the needed change. There is a high rate of burnout and certainly a deep level of cynicism. Dependency upon the world system has left many in despair, wondering where to turn and when it will all change. Our hopes in this life and what this life has to offer are bound to bring nothing but disappointment. This world, or the age in which we live, is ruled by the god of this world. As a result, it is doomed for failure. If we rely upon this world to meet our needs and to save us from our despair, we too are doomed for failure and disappointment. Jesus stood at the tomb of Lazarus. His heart was broken, not because his friend had died. He knew and had already said that Lazarus was just asleep. His heart hurt for those who were crushed with sorrow and wept as a result of all hope laying dead for four days. He told them to roll away the stone from in front of the tomb and their response was, “He has been dead for four days and it is going to stink!” So what do you do when it stinks? You roll the stone away! You take up your bed and walk! You refuse to let circumstances dictate to you your response to the blessings of God. Step out by faith. Do the opposite of what is natural and step into the world of the Supernatural! Let Jesus Christ have a chance to bring to live what the world says is dead! It is in the midst of turmoil and chaos that Jesus Christ is at his best. Whether it be in the midst of a crowd at the pool where hope has faded or at the tomb of one who has been buried too long, Jesus Christ is still the answer we need today. When life is nothing but a stinking mess, Jesus Christ is still our only hope. The choice is ours. We can continue to lay in a world of cynical unbelief or we can take up our bed and walk. We can continue to lay in that which has entombed us, or we can arise and come out of the tomb. Well, its just a thought! I refuse to be discouraged or sad, I will put my hope in Jesus Christ!

The Key to Success

The portion of this instruction, which we often ignore, is one key to our success as a Christian Soldier. It is found in this same passage, but is overlooked because we stop when we come to the end of the description of the armor. Here it is:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”; (Eph. 6:18 KJV)

The key, to making the whole armor effective, is prayer. A Christian soldier that doesn’t pray will have the same problems as the Roman soldier that didn’t drink water. Eventually both will become too weak to fight and will die. You cannot be a successful Spiritual Warrior without a consistent prayer life!

The Spiritual Warrior must be given to prayer. We are not talking about only praying when things are going bad and you are feeling overwhelmed. We are talking about praying always. This is praying in every season and on all occasions. Praying that builds up a reserve of strength and stamina to carry you through battle.

In James 5:16 the Apostle speaks of the “effectual fervent prayer” being of great force. The term, “effectual fervent,” means to be effective or to have power. It comes from the root word “energes” which we referred to with the sword of the Spirit. This word speaks of power, being active, and working. The word “availeth” speaks of being forceful and doing much work. We are not talking about “now I lay me down to sleep” type prayers. Nor are we talking about “God bless this mess” prayers. We are talking about prayers that are hot and powerful! These are the prayers that will make a difference.

Just putting on, the Whole Armor of God, will not be sufficient if prayer that is fervent and energized does not power the Warrior. He might as well be a statute in a museum for all of the effect he will have in spiritual warfare. His prayers must be Spirit driven! They must be prayers that he enters with the sole purpose of reaching the throne of heaven.
Jude encourages us to build ourselves up in our faith by praying in the Holy Ghost. Not only will, praying in the Holy Ghost, build us up in our faith, it will also keep us in the love of God. (Jude 20, 21) Again, this is speaking of prayer that is more than rhetorical prayer. This is prayer that enters the Spirit realm.

Paul, in Romans 8:26-27, tells us that as we pray in the Spirit we talk directly with God. To the point, when we don’t know how to pray or what we need to pray for, the Spirit of God will pray for us. Later, in 1Corinthians 14:4, Paul tells us that if we pray in the Spirit and speak in tongues we are building ourselves up or making ourselves stronger.

Accessing all of the resources that God has made available to us is incredibly important, for you and me, so we might be victorious. The promises to the overcomer are eternal. They go beyond relief and victory in this present life. These promises are eternal and include eating of the tree of life. Not being hurt by the second death. The overcomer will eat of the hidden manna and will receive a new name. He will receive power and rule with God. Overcomer, you will receive a white garment and your name will be in the Book of Life. To the one that overcomes is the promise to sit with God upon His throne. The overcomer will inherit all things and God promises to be his God and the overcomer will be His son.

So, Warrior, put on your breastplate of righteousness. Gird your loins with the belt of truth. Shod you feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Put on the helmet of salvation. Pick up your shield of faith. Arm yourself with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Strengthen yourself by praying in the Holy Ghost! Go into battle knowing that it isn’t our battle but the battle belongs to the Lord. Be victorious!

Living Life!

Rain fell in sheets as inside the Church the father of the bride said, in an emotion choked voice, “What’s that Parson, who gives this woman away? Her mother and I.” The young man took the hand of the young lady and they together turned to face the preacher as he began to speak.

Someone sung another song that talked about God teaching us to love. Still they sung another song about the Tie that Binds. The two preachers shared more words. The couple exchanged vows. A Bible was given as a symbol of the foundation the marriage was to be built on.

Finally, the long awaited moment, they pronounce the couple husband and wife. A kiss is given! The couple makes the long walk down the aisle, while the miniature bride and groom jump off the stage and run behind them.

They enjoy cake and fellowship, as people wish the newlyweds’ good luck. A container is passed and many bless the couple with a love offering to help them enjoy a few days together.

Finally it is time for the couple to leave. Many have already left the Church to drive home but a few remain behind to see the couple off. The rain has stopped but the night is still very dark and wet. The couple climbs into the 1969 Mercury Montego Coupe and pull out of the parking lot heading into “a life together.”

No one could predict what the future would hold. There was no way to see all of the thrills and spills. How could anyone know the triumphs and disappointments that would come during the years to follow. That night there wasn’t a mountain that they couldn’t climb or a river that couldn’t be crossed. All that lay ahead, it seemed, was easy victories and great promises.

For life to be lived to its fullest, there will be victories and there will be defeats. A definition of life could be emotional. Like our emotions, which go up and down, so goes life. The key is to have a firm foundation, something to build on. Build life together on something that never changes. The Word of God is forever and unchanging. It is the perfect foundation on which to build a life.

Children came to the young family. First a son was born. Oh the magic of the moment when life is first recognized to have come from you and the one you love. Nothing can compare to that moment. Next a daughter is born. Daddy looks into her dark eyes and he is lost forever. Then, there is the night when she stops breathing and high speed trips are made to the hospital. Hours spent waiting for doctors to discover what is wrong. The two stands together in the hallway listening to their baby scream as the doctors run more tests. A trial! A wilderness! It is a time of learning to lean on the mercy of God.

Life is being lived! A father suddenly becomes ill and passes from life. He is so very young and so is his daughter. Again, a time of learning to lean on God and draw strength from His well. Lessons are learned from the late night times of prayer. Lessons that say that God orders the steps of a righteous man and He takes joy in those steps. You might weep during the night, but the sun will come up and with it will be joy.

Another son is born. So different from his brother and sister in so many ways. He is born during another wilderness time. It is a reminder that the blessings of the Lord come even when you don’t know where God is.

What is life? It is but a wisp of steam, a vapor. You get up every day and live life until one day you look back and realize that thirty-four years have passed since that rainy night when you said, “We will!” Years of blessings!

Children have become teenagers and then adults. They have left the nest and now have their own families. There are moments when you wish you could roll back the years and again enjoy those precious moments of yesteryear. You would go a little slower this time and spend a little more time enjoying those things that are so important. You would recognize things so important now. If you could do it again, you would make sure you emphasized how crucial a love for the Word of God is to a life. You would spend more time kneeling beside your family in prayer. Make sure they realized the importance of a personal relationship with God.

There is no going back! You’ve done the best you could do. Now you have entered another chapter of life. The foundation is still firm because the Word of God is sure. Prayers are made for your children. Precious hours are spent with them and their children. Oh the glorious times of family gathered. Listening to the laughter as precious memories are shared. Watching the grandsons as they play.

Life has a different look now. You are thinking about life from a different perspective. There was a time when it was about building and conquering. Now life is about influencing and teaching. It is about what you will leave someone else someday.

The old Mercury is gone. Other cars have been used to travel the hundreds of thousands of miles since that night thirty-four years ago. Three children have been raised. Three grandsons have been enjoyed. Five churches have been pastored through those years. Many songs have been sung and many messages have been preached. Tears have been shed, but laughter has been there all along the way. A couple, started life together and continuing on. Trusting in each other. Depending upon God. Standing on the Word of God. Blessed beyond measure. No one knows what tomorrow holds, but we do know who holds our hand.

Remember, it’s just a thought!

Dedicated to my wonderful wife Melinda! I love you . . .

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

Our first inclination when we sense danger is to run and hide. We want to flee the threat of danger! Our pulse begins to race! Our adrenalin begins to pump! Fear grips our heart! The first thought we have is to make a retreat and save ourselves.

Fear is a controlling, amazing thing. The cause of fear doesn’t even have to be real, it can be something we have imagined or someone has told us. Experiences can cause fear in our lives that are either real or imagined. Fear will control you. Let me give you an example.

I was driving home from Church one Sunday with my mother. We exited the Interstate and came to a stop sign at an intersection. Across from where we sat, about a hundred feet away and to our right, we could see the shore of a lake. My mother looked at the lake and said, “That makes my stomach hurt!”

Not sure what she was referring to, I asked, “What are you talking about?” To this she replied, “That water! Looking at it makes my stomach hurt!”

Now I was very curious how the lake’s water could make her stomach hurt, so I asked her. To this she replied, “Well, when I was two years old I almost drowned. So when I look at water, it makes my stomach hurt.”

I was surprised and said, “Mom, you can’t even remember when you were two years old. How can that experience make you afraid of water to the point it makes your stomach hurt to look at it? You are just going on what someone told you.”

Mom replied, “I don’t care! It makes my stomach hurt to look at water.” I then began to recall how afraid she had been all of my life whenever water was involved. She had never, in my lifetime, gone swimming. In fact, I don’t ever remember her going wading or standing in the waves at the ocean. When we were kids, we would beg to go swimming at the river. When mom would finally give in and would take us we could only get in the water up to our knees. I was eighteen years old when I learned to swim. A fear that someone had told her about, had controlled her life for seventy-five years.

The same thing happens to us spiritually. We often deal with fears that things that we have experienced in our past have caused. Sometimes the enemy of our soul will whisper lies in our ears that will breed fears into our lives. Our imaginations begin to expand on the lies, making them larger and more real in our minds to the point fear controls us.

Paul tells us, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7 KJV)


John also writes and tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18 KJV)

Fear is the root of so much of our spiritual troubles. It is the cause of much of the conflict we have with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We can find ourselves going through life responding to the fears of what others think about us. We are afraid of what someone else will do or say if we dress a certain way or fail to respond in a certain way. Too often we find ourselves bound by things we are sure others are saying about us. Fear and condemnation can blind us until we become helpless.

When fear sets in it brings torment! Torment will result in the victim becoming self centered. Not because they are egotistical! This happens because they become consumed by the fear that has overtaken their lives. Everything becomes centered on this fear and how it affects them.

The “Good News” is that God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear. He has given us the “Spirit of Power.” Power is the opposite of fear. Fear leaves you feeling weak. Fear causes you to feel vulnerable and helpless. However, power is strength, ability and authority. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you,” (Acts 1:8a KJV).

The “Good News” is that God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear. He has given us the “Spirit of Love.” Love is the opposite of fear. Fear causes you to feel alone. It will make you feel that no one cares and no one is listening to your cries for help. Fear will make you feel that no one will be there to take care of you. Love, on the other hand, is the assurance that someone is there and they do care. It is the knowledge that there is someone you can call to and they will respond and wrap their arms around you in a loving embrace. Peter admonishes us, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1Peter 5:7 KJV)

The “Good News” is that God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear. He has given us the “Spirit of a Sound Mind.” Several translations use the word discipline here. A mind that is undisciplined will cause fear. They allow the imagination to be in control. However, when we control or discipline our mind, fear is no longer able to rule over us. Paul admonishes us, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”; (2 Cor. 10:5 KJV).

When I recognize that I have protection from fear I am free to walk in peace. I will enjoy peace that is beyond understanding in my life. I will know peace with my fellow man. It is then that I will be free to spread the “Gospel of Peace” in a world that is searching for peace. As Jesus said in His last words to His disciples, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8 KJV).

Paul encourages us in to, “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7 NLT)

(An excerpt from the second chapter of the book I am presently writing.)

You are Talking Like a Kid!

Aren’t children amazing? They are so much smarter than we give them credit for. I have witnessed them doing amazing things. Today I listened to a two-year-old sing the “ABC’s” song. Well he sang most of it anyway. He is just now starting to talk but he can belt out “ABC . . . !”

A while back I told a four year old boy, who asked me if I was taking him home, that I was going to take him to the dump. He laughed at me and said, “No, this is a bus. It is not a dump truck! Take me home.”

Recently I heard a child tell another child something that was a complete fabrication of the truth. The second child reacted to the lie and began to whine. One of the adults that was there reassured the second child that what was said was not true and everything was going to be all right. The child continued to whimper for a while but then calmed down. The first child then said the same thing over again to the second child, calling them by name. The reaction of the second child was the same, and they began to whine. Again the adult reassured the child that this was not true and everything would be all right.

Just before we arrived at the home of the second child, the child began to sing out that they were going to see their daddy. The first child then called the second child by name and said, “No! That’s my daddy! No! That’s my daddy!” The second child responded by collapsing in hysteria! They began to cry out that it was their daddy and could not be consoled at all. Even when we arrived at the home and the father of the child came to take them off the bus they continued to cry. All the time the first child laughed and thought it was funny.

As we left the home and began to drive down the road I thought to myself, “How foolish to become so upset by such a complete and obvious fabrication of the truth.” The child knew whose daddy it was. They were reassured by those in authority that the other child was not telling the truth. Yet they chose to believe the lie to the glee of the one that is making it up.

I was then struck by the realization of how often we allow this to happen in our lives. The enemy of our soul loves to taunt and terrorize us with lies. In fact Jesus described him this way, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44

He loves to tell us something that is obviously a lie and then sit back and watch us react to it in fear and frustration. He will call your name and taunt you! He will challenge your spirituality and authority. He doesn’t care that he is lying, he only wants to cause you trouble. He only wants to plant seeds of fear in your heart and mind. The whole time he sits back and laughs!

He will bring up every mistake you ever made and heap condemnation upon you. Then laugh while you beg God to have mercy on you and chuckle as you live in fear of the judgement of God. He will call your name and tell you that you don’t have faith and that is why you are going through the situations that you face. Then laugh when you hang your head and cry because you feel like a failure. He will tell you that you are losing your mind because of past mistakes. Then rolls on the floor in glee as you tremble with fear!

All the time this is happening, the authority in your life is telling you that these are just lies. What is being said is obviously not true! We do have power, faith and sound mind and it comes directly from God! (2 Timothy 1:7) We are children of the King and have spiritual authority as our heritage. We are God’s kids! (Romans 8:15-17)

We don’t have to worry about our past mistakes. We have the assurance that if we have confessed them to God, then God has forgiven us of them and cleansed us from all wrong doing. (1 John 1:9) We are also reassured that the only one who can condemn us is Jesus Christ and He isn’t condemning us because He is on our side! (Romans 8:31-34)

So the next time you hear that taunting voice. You know that voice that preaches to us about our failures. The next time you hear that voice, just stop for a moment and listen to the voice of authority, the Word of God! The holler back to the taunter, “You are just talking like a kid!”

Well, it’s just a thought!

Let Me Hear Him Preach One More Time!

David Leo Doran was said to be one of the greatest preachers to ever walk in shoe leather. I have said it myself and have heard many others say the same thing. He was an old time fiery preacher. He would quote more scripture in one sermon than most preachers use in a year’s worth of sermons. He could tell a story like you have never heard it told anywhere else. Most important of all, when he came to the pulpit, you knew that he had been in touch with God.

David did not have very much formal education. He had to leave school in the tenth grade to work and help support his family. Yet he always had a hunger to learn and continued to study and educate himself. He would talk to well-educated men that he admired and ask them what books they recommended. He would then buy the book and read it from cover to cover. He was much disciplined about this. I remember someone recommended Clyde Narrimore’s book, “The Encyclopedia of Psychological Problems.” They said it was a good book to have to help when you had to counsel with people. David bought the book and read it from cover to cover, word for word.

He was a preacher who studied. He would eat lunch on Sunday afternoon and then go to his study and prepare for the message that night. When he was finished, he started on his Bible lesson for Tuesday night. Tuesday nights, when he got off work, he would eat, bathe and change clothes, and then he would head for the church to finish up for Bible Study that night. He never walked to the pulpit without spending hours in study and prayer.

He took his responsibility so seriously that I recall a time or two when he would actually tell us that he didn’t have a message, although he had spent time in study and prayer, he didn’t have a message. He refused just to go through the motions or just be redundant in what he had to say. He was honest and up front and said he had nothing.

I saw him, at a Fellowship Meeting, it is a service with several churches, preach. He was preaching on Jehu telling different men to come see his zeal for the Lord. David got to preaching about being zealous for the Lord. He got to preaching about being like Jehu, who they said drove his chariot ferociously. David grabbed the hand of a young man sitting in the front of the church and he began to run around the building. The whole time he was pulling this young man behind him and preaching with all his might about having zeal for God.

Mind you, at this time David was about 47 or 48 years of age at this time. The young man had just returned from Marine boot camp. David ran him around that building until his tongue hung out, while David never missed a word or slowed down. The man could preach!

A Bible Study, which David taught, might last an hour or more. A sermon that he preached would be thirty minutes or so. That was his average. A Pastor once called him to preach for them for several nights and the night of the main event the Pastor requested David preach on a certain subject and asked that he preach for three hours. David did just that, he preached for three hours and although I was not able to be there, those that I spoke too later told me it seemed just like minutes.

When David was 59 years old, he found out that he had Parkinson’s disease. If you are not familiar with Parkinson’s disease let me briefly explain, its effect on a body. Parkinson’s disease is the result of a chemical deficiency between the brain and the nerve center that sends signals to the muscles. As a result of this, many of the things we do reflexively have to be thought out, step by step, in order for the person to be able to do them. For example swallowing is something done as a reflex, we don’t think about it at all. Yet with Parkinson’s you have to think through the whole swallowing process. Many people with Parkinson’s have problems swallowing food or even saliva.

Parkinson’s affects walking, talking, and standing. I won’t go into detail, but because of the lack of the signal from the brain to the nerve center it was soon evident that David’s time as a pastor had come to an end. It was also obvious that he would no longer be able to preach the way that he once had preached.

David was a champion; he squared his shoulders and faced the problems before him. I must say that the most difficult thing for him to face as a result of this disease, which so disabled him, was not being able to preach the way he loved to preach. At the time of his being diagnosed with Parkinson’s I was David’s associate pastor. When he could no longer carry on the work as pastor, in the church where he had pastored for twenty-five years, He and the church asked me to step in and carry on his work. Being his son and his student, I knew how he wanted to stay involved so I encouraged him to seek other ways to minister. One of those ways was discipling young Christians.

When I became Pastor, the people in the church began to call David “The Elder” as a way of honoring him for his life time of service to that church. When we started working together with David teaching young Christians, I called it, “Sitting at the feet of the Elder.”

David dealt with Parkinson’s and all the effects it had on his life and his body for ten years. In 1999 the doctors told him and the family that Parkinson’s had taken its toll and David didn’t have much longer to live.

I spent many nights, along with my brothers and oldest son, sitting in David’s living room, sometimes holding his hand. Most of those nights were spent sitting together, talking quietly and listening to him talk to us. I don’t remember a lot of the details of those conversations, I think it was more of his spirit strengthening ours than it was of words and dialog. I just remember being there with him. As the days went by, David became weaker. He became so weak that they brought a hospital bed in and set it up in his living room.

I remember on a Saturday afternoon I was sitting with him. Faye, his wife and my mother, had laid down to rest. David was a sleep and I was sitting on the couch in the living room thinking. It was very quiet and still. I watched David as he slept and seemed to labor a bit in breathing. In the still time my mind went back over the years and I began to remember the different times that I had heard my Dad preach. I began to relive those moments and those sermons which we called “Messages,” my how he could preach.

I walked through the years. I remembered the times and the places. There were one-room school houses. There were school gymnasiums. There were Camp Meeting Tabernacles and Brush Arbors. There were nice Church buildings and other buildings that had been converted from a former life into a church building. There were big crowds, medium size crowds and there were small crowds. David had preached in them all and to them all.

I remembered sermon titles like, “Are You Asking for Trouble?” “You Know Too Much!” “Check Points on the Road to Heaven.” “Five Things I Would Like on My Tombstone.” “A Three and Two Count!”

It was a very overwhelming experience. In my heart I knew that David didn’t have many days left to live. Along with that knowledge and the memories I felt just a little overwhelmed. Then I remember a thought that came to me. Maybe it was more of a wish or even a prayer than a thought, actually. Whatever it was, I said to myself, “I wish I could hear Dad preach one more ‘Message’. I wish I could just hear him do it one more time.”

My eyes had actually been closed and when I opened them Dad was looking at me. I asked him if he had gotten some rest and he answered back appropriately. Then we both sat there somewhat lost in our thoughts.

A few moments later, Faye came into the room to check on David. They spoke to each other in low tones and then Faye left the room. I didn’t think any more about what had been going through my mind because within just a few moments’ people started coming into the house to visit. There was Slim and Rose Daniel. Jean Daniel and the Petranoff family showed up. Marc and Valerie Anderson came walking in and the house was soon filled with family and friends from the church. One of the last people to come in that evening was Joe Silva. Joe and his wife Sheryl were new Christians that David and Faye had been teaching and Joe looked to David as a son does to a father.

After Joe came in, David began to talk. Suddenly he was once again the Pastor. He looked at my wife, Melinda, and asked her if she would get out the old accordion. He looked at me and asked me to get out my guitar. Then he looked at us all and said that he had asked Faye to call everyone in so that we could have a time of worship and fellowship. It was about this time that I realized the people he had Faye call in were those people that he had pastored for so many years. These were “his people or his saints.” He had loved them, led them to Christ, discipled them and pastored them for twenty-five years. They were those who were dearest to his heart and him to theirs.

He would tell us the song that he wanted us to sing and we all gathered in and sang our hearts out. He would call the name of an individual and ask them to sing a “special” song that they had sang in church, and they would sing their hearts out. What a time we had. You could feel the Spirit of God as it began to minister to each of us.

After everyone had sung and after we had pretty much exhausted the old song book. David spoke to Justin, his oldest grandson and my oldest son, and told Justin to go into his office and bring him some things. When Justin returned he had with him some sermon notes and a chart which he set up for his Grandpa.

David turned to Joe and said, “With all that has happened I haven’t been able to teach you this lesson that I really want you to hear. I have called you all in because I have something that you really need to hear.”

My prayer was answered. My desire came to past. There on his hospital bed “The Elder” preached one last “Message” to his people. I got to hear him preach one last time.

He preached from Hebrews 10:34-38 which reads:

Heb 10:34-38
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” KJV

The words of the “Old Preacher’s” last message that stuck in my mind was this. Don’t cast away your confidence in God. Trust Him that He always does the right thing. I don’t know why things in my life haven’t worked out the way that I planned them, but I have confidence in God that I will receive my reward and that He knows what is best.

Yes, just as I had remembered it, the Preacher had a Message and that Message was for me. I am thankful I got to hear him preach one more time.

Just a thought! God Bless!



40th Anniversary of Triumphanlt Life Center Rio Dell, California

Almost Only Counts in Horseshoes and Hand-Grenades!

How often have you used the phrase, “I almost” attached to an action that almost happened? How many times have you looked back with a bit of regret and used the phrase indicating that you had almost made the right decision? If you are like me, it has happened more times than you want to count. Almost doing it shows good intentions but it doesn’t really count. In fact, when I was growing up there was an expression that was often used in our neighborhood, “Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades!”

I am not a great horseshoe player but I do enjoy a good game when the opportunity comes my way. Horseshoes, like a lot of games, can be very enjoyable but can also be very exasperating as well. In case you have never played, let me explain it in a brief and simple manner. You have two stakes set up several feet apart and you have four horseshoes to throw at the stake. Each player stands by a stake and throws their shoe at the stake several feet away. You want to ring the stake with your shoe to score points. However, if you get a shoe within the width of a horseshoe you also get a point. This is where the “almost” comes into the picture. You can almost get a ringer and still be a winner.

I think hand-grenades are very obvious. They are some shrapnel bombs of sorts. When they explode, they send shrapnel in every direction. Again, you don’t have to hit the target right on, just get close or just almost hit it.

Standing in the court room, he gave his best defense to those sitting in judgement. Well, I wouldn’t really call it a defense, it was more of a story of the change that had taken place in his life prior to this day. He explained to all that listened how he was raised and his early goals in life. He explained that he was so focused on doing what he thought was right that his whole life centered on accomplishing it, not realizing how wrong he was. He the told them of how God brought light into his life and changed it and how he could change their lives also if they would allow it to happen.

As he finished speaking one of the men sitting in judgement was visibly moved by what he had heard and said, “Paul, you have almost persuaded me to be a Christian.” However, as you and I both know, almost only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades. You cannot be an “almost” Christian.

Just outside the city of Hebron, his attention is caught by the beckoning voice saying, “Come here! I have something important to tell you!” Foolishly he turns aside and walks over to talk to a man who he knew to be his enemy. A man he knew had sworn that he would kill him the next time he saw him. As he stood in front of the alleged messenger, he felt a stabbing sensation in his side. In horror he looked down to see his life’s blood flowing from his side. He was almost inside the city of refuge where his enemy, Joab, could not have touched him. In fact, David, the King, gave a eulogy at his funeral that said, “Abner died as a fool died. His hands were not bound and his feet weren’t in chains. He was almost safe and turned aside!” Of course, you and I know that almost only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades.

I wonder how many of us will stand before God, some day, and use that ill-fated word as our excuse, “Almost!” I almost read my Bible. I almost prayed. I almost went to Church. I almost talked to them about salvation. I almost made a commitment in my life. I almost . . . but of course you and I know that almost only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades.

My dad once told me, “The road to hell will be paved with good intentions!” I am sure this is so true. We all have those good intentions that we will someday do what we know we should. Let me encourage you to make up your mind to do so today. As you are reading this there are thoughts going through your mind of things, you know you need to do. You are thinking of changes you need to make in your life. There are choices you have been weighing for a while, knowing the way you need to go. Make the choice today! Do what you should do today! Make the change in your life you need to make today! Almost will never change anything because, as you and I both know, almost only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades.

Well, it’s just a thought! God Bless . . .

If That Isn't Love...In Memory of Shirley Petranoff

I woke up this morning with a song running through my mind. It wasn’t just the words of the song I was hearing but I was hearing it sang by a certain voice. Here are the words to the song:

He left the splendor of heaven,
Knowing His destiny,
Was the lonely hill of Golgatha,
There to lay down His life for me.
1. Chorus
If that isn't love;
The ocean is dry,
There's no stars in the sky,
And the sparrow can't fly.
If that isn't love;
Then heaven's a myth,
There's no feeling like this,
If that isn't love!
Even in death He remembered,
The thief hanging by His side;
There He spoke with love and compassion,
Then He took him to paradise.
Chorus
If that isn't love;
The ocean is dry,
There's no stars in the sky,
And the sparrow can't fly.
If that isn't love;
Then heaven's a myth,
There's no feeling like this,
If that isn't love!

The song has been recorded by many artists over the years. Probably two of the most famous would be Elvis Presley and Dottie Rambo, the writer of the song. However, it wasn’t either of these voices I heard singing the song. Rather it was a voice that most would not recognize and which would never win any awards. Yet my soul was moved once again as, in my mind, I heard the love that the song was sang with. I could even hear the voice break with emotion, as it had so often in times past.

I walked from the bedroom into the dark kitchen to prepare breakfast and my mother was there. It was then she told me that Shirley Jean Horn Petranoff had received her promotion last night. My eyes immediately filled with tears and I thought, “Shirley, you can now tell Him personally how much you appreciated that love.”

I first met Shirley and her husband Ed in the fall of 1972. They had come to Rio Dell to visit Ed’s family and had decided to move “back home.” We were excited to have a new young couple in the Church. They had two small children at the time, Leann and Steve.

Shirley and Ed fit right in with the Church family. It wasn’t long until Shirley was asked if she would teach the Nursery Class. She was more than happy to help in any way possible and taught the Nursery Class for a number of years. She felt that was her calling. Shirley had a few notable students that came through her classroom doors such as Tim Doran (Pastor in Osceola, AR) Abby Doran Harrell (Music Minister in Harrison, AR) Justin Doran and many others including some of her own children.

I remember the love that Shirley had for her family. When her grandchildren came along, she was so faithful to bring them to Church at every opportunity. Even when they were tiny infants she made sure they were in Church. A Nursery teacher knows the importance of getting the Word of God into a baby’s heart.

I always thought of Shirley being a “fighter.” Not that she had a pugnacious nature, but she was tough. Shirley was born with a bone disease and it seemed like she had to fight for most things she did in life. She was a hard worker and a giving person.

In the fall of 1990 I became the pastor of the United Pentecostal Church in Rio Dell, CA. My father had been the pastor for the 17 years that Shirley had been a part of that Church. Shirley had worked under his leadership and felt a strong bond with my parents. Now they were stepping down and a new man was taking the leadership, one that she could remember “when!” I knew that it was going to be hard for some folks to see me in this new role, to make that change. I always felt that in her heart the Elder and Sister Doran would always be her “pastor” and that was all right because they will always be mine. However I can truly say that Shirley was always loyal and faithful.

I will always remember, as I did this morning, hearing Shirley playing her accordion and singing those words, “If that isn’t love . . .” She sang not with the most beautiful voice, but she sang it with a voice that had truly known that love.

It’s just a thought!

The Hardest Part of Discipleship

The Hardest Part of Being a Disciple

I have often thought of how great it must have been to be a disciple of Jesus. I could see him everyday. I would love to have the opportunity to visit with him. To sit in the same room, or area, and just listen to him talk and share his wisdom and understanding. That would have been incredible.

I have often thought if I could have been one of the disciples of Jesus, I wouldn’t have all the problems that I have now. All I would have to do is take each problem to him and he would solve it. Life would have been glorious.

Then I realize I am a disciple of Jesus. As a disciple I can enjoy those privileges. I can take my problems to him. I have the opportunity to fellowship with him. To listen to him talk and share his wisdom. I can take my all problems and my cares to Jesus. Bringing them all to him with the knowledge, he cares.

Yet, the role of discipleship is not without its difficulties. There are no drawbacks, but there are areas that require adjustment in our lives. Our priorities will change. Sometimes even our vocations might change. Like the vocations of some of the disciples of Jesus changed. Furthermore there is a position of discipleship that can be difficult for even the most ardent of disciples.

To be a disciple simply means to be a learner. It means to follow the teachings of the teacher. When a person becomes a disciple they begin to adhere or hold fast to the teachings of the teacher. A disciple is more than just a student. The disciple actually conforms to the teaching. He in reality becomes an imitator of the teacher. In this case we are talking about being an imitator of Jesus.

In the writings of Luke we find requirements, listed by Jesus, for a disciple. Jesus speaks of a disciple hating his mother, father, sister, brother and his own life. He talks of counting the cost before you start otherwise you might not be able to finish the task. Jesus also said in order to be his disciple we had to forsake all that we have.

In the Book of John, chapter one, we are introduced to a man that was one of the first disciples of Jesus. In studying this man we find a picture of true discipleship. John the Baptist stood with two of his disciples and saw Jesus walk by. He said, “Behold the lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus. One of the two disciples was Andrew who was identified as Simon Peter’’s brother.

In the life of Andrew we find a picture of the most difficult part of being a disciple of Jesus. Most of us know very little about Andrew. There are only four references of him personally to show us anything of his character. Yet in those few words he shows us how to be a true disciple.

Andrew was first a disciple of John the Baptist. He was among the first to follow Jesus. Tradition says that he was the first. That might be because John doesn’t name the other disciple of John the Baptist who was with Andrew. So when we look at the twelve who became Apostles, Andrew is the one with the most seniority.

Andrew does not have a real reputation of his own. Even the first time he is introduced to us, by John, he is introduced as the brother of Simon Peter. The ironic thing is we haven’t met Simon Peter yet.

He was part of the first men’s quartet, Peter, James, John and Andrew. They were all friends. They all grew up in the same town and worked in the same vocation as fishermen. However, we find that even the children’s Sunday school song fails to mention anything about Andrew. The song just speaks of “Peter, James and John…” being in the sailboat out on the deep blue sea.

Even with his seniority Andrew is not a part of the “inner circle” with Jesus. It was Peter, James and John who were with Jesus on the Mountain. The three of them were the ones who went with Jesus into the room of Jarius’s daughter. They were the trio that went a little further with Jesus in the Garden.

When the disciples were ordained and called Apostles, the writer Mark said that Jesus changed their names giving them a new identity. Simon became known as Peter that means rock. James and John were identified as the Son’s of Thunder. Yet Andrew’s name remains the same. He kept the same identity as before.

Andrew, however, from his first introduction to us shows us what is important. Even with as limited knowledge of Andrew as we have we are witnesses of what he considered to be of great magnitude. It is obvious from the start; there is a hunger in the heart of Andrew to know the Messiah. There is an intense desire to know Jesus.

He was a disciple of John and John’s whole ministry was pointing to Jesus. As soon as John said to him, “Behold the Lamb of God,” Andrew followed Jesus. However he did more than walk behind him. He had questions that would allow him to know Jesus. He asked questions like, “Where do you dwell?””

He was saying, “I want to know you. I want to know where you are living. I want to know where you are coming from. I want more than just a passing knowledge; I really want to know you.” He spent time with Jesus and came to recognize the Jesus was the answer to all he had been seeking.

We find that Andrew is the first soul winner. After he first met Jesus he went to his brother Simon Peter and John tells us that Andrew said to him, “We have found the Messias, the Christ.” We have come to know the one we have been looking for.

When Greeks, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, heard about Jesus they encountered Philip in their search. They asked him for help saying, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” What did Philip do? Philip went and found Andrew and informed him about the men. Then Philip and Andrew went and found Jesus and told him.

In John chapter 6 Jesus looked at the multitude that followed him and realized they were hungry. He turned to Philip and asked him where they could buy bread so the people could eat? Philip’s reply shows the bewilderment I would have felt in his place, “There is no way we can come up with enough money today to feed this many!”

At this moment Andrew, the disciple who was learning Jesus, steps forward to introduce an opportunity for a miracle. We might not have the money, but here is a young boy who is willing to share his lunch of five loaves and two fishes. It isn’t much among so many nevertheless here you are.

Andrew was willing to fit the part that Jesus had for him in the kingdom of God. He wasn’’t colorful or articulate as Peter was. He wasn’t as fervent or intense in his personality as James or John. He didn’t become part of the inner circle that was seemingly so close to the Master. He never was identified as ““the one Jesus loved.”

Yet when we look at Andrew we see that Andrew recognized Jesus as his Rabbi or his teacher. He called Jesus his Messiah or Savior. Andrew, without being angry or jealous, was faithful. He was the steady one. Andrew was the soul winner. Andrew wanted to know Jesus and to point others to him as well.

The hardest part of being a disciple is coming to know Jesus. Realizing that it is not the recognition that is received or the credit that is given that is important. What is important is recognizing who your Master or Savior is. The hardest part of being a disciple is coming to the knowledge that each disciple has a part in the kingdom of God and then striving to become that part to your fullest capability.

The hardest part of being a disciple is to become and imitator of Jesus Christ and in doing so, pointing others to him. Thank you, Andrew, for being a true disciple.

Gotta Have a Good Connection!

You gotta have a good connection! There is no other way if you are working with anything electrical and want it to work properly. If the connection isn’t good, you experience a lot of frustration until it is corrected. If the connection is good, you will find that you never think about it at all.

I have talked, in the past, about the adventure of fixing Jared’s car. We replaced the alternator and the car wouldn’t start. We replaced the battery, which had died when the alternator went out, and the car started but the battery light wouldn’t go off. We found there were fuses out and replaced those. Still the battery light stayed on and the battery would run down. We found there was a bad connection on the battery and fixed that. Still, we had the same problem. We had a diagnostic test done and found the new alternator was bad. We replaced that and drove it for a couple hours only to have the battery light come on again and the battery ran down.

Car problems are no fun! They are not even fun when your car is still under warranty and you have lots of time and money. When it is no longer under warranty and your time and money is limited car problems can be even more frustrating!

Sunday night we found the source of the problem was a small ground wire that connected to the alternator. It had become worn and frayed causing a short-circuit in the system. They just clipped the wire and crimped on a new connector. Three days later it is still working fine. All of these problems were because of a bad connection.

For some reason, at five A.M. this morning, I thought about that bad connection and couldn’t help but think about my connection to God. How much frustration have I experienced in my life because I haven’t made sure I have a "good connection" to God? How often have I struggled and became "spiritually rundown" because my "ground" wire has become frayed causing a spiritual short?

The Psalmist David wrote, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Ps 51:10 KJV) He spent some time talking about sin that had been in his life and asking God to cleanse him from those sins. He is exact in his request to God. He wanted a good connection, a clean heart! He wants to make sure there isn’t anything in his life that will cause a short in the circuit between himself and God.

How often have I let the things of life and sin bring a bad connection in my relationship with God? It isn’t always bad things that have caused me to have a short. It is sometimes something as simple as a distraction. So I began to ask myself what could cause a bad connection between me and my God?

One of the things that came to mind was distraction. Distractions are those things which divert your attention. Distraction comes so easy and appears in so many disguises. When Jared was young, I would tell him that he was easily distracted by shiny objects. It didn’t take much to make him forget what he was doing and he would be doing something else. I have found this to be so true in my spiritual life.

I go to pray and think of something I need to do first. The next thing I know I haven’t prayed and time is gone. I want to read my Bible but get caught up in answering an email that is important or even something else and time is gone. Pretty soon I realize it has been a while since I talked to God or allowed Him to talk to me and there is a bad connection.

I sometimes find myself struggling in my spiritual walk. I am not experiencing the joy that I know I should be feeling. My attitude isn’t really what I want it to be. Some of the "wonder" is missing in my relationship with God. When I begin to check the connections, I often find that I haven’t been as focused in giving praise to God. My worship hasn’t been as intense as it sometimes is. There is a bad connection between me and my God. It is time for me to stop coasting on what others are doing and make a good connection between me and God.

There are times I find myself stymied, at a stand still. In checking my connections I have found that I haven’t been applying the Word of God to my life. When I read His Word I need to ask Him to show me what I need to do with what I am reading. The Bible is more than a good book. It is the road map to life. If I don’t apply it and live by it the Bible just becomes another book. However, when I allow God to reveal His truth to me and begin to live truth the connection is made.

Now I don’t mind admitting that I am a "Jesus Fanatic." Just to make sure that I am, I looked up the word "fanatic" and this is the definition: Enthusiast; Marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea: "rabid isolationist."

I was so excited because that is how I feel about Jesus! I am His biggest fan. I am not afraid that someone will say I go overboard in my lifestyle for Jesus. I do not go through life asking why I can’t do certain things in order to live for Him. I try to make my question, "What more can I do to have a better connection with Jesus?"

Let me encourage you to spend some time checking your connections! Go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you see the areas in your life and walk with Him that are becoming frayed and corroded. Get a good connection and watch the power flow in your life!

Remember. It is just a thought!

How's Your Thinking Been?

Have you ever read a passage of scripture, or maybe just a verse, many times and one day read it only to realize you haven’t read it that way before? This happens to me on a frequent basis. In fact it just happened the other night. Let me share what happened.

Jared and I had been having a discussion. We had been talking about some different things, some of which were happening in our lives and some that were not happening. After several minutes of talking I told Jared, "I really feel like I need to spend some time in prayer, will you join me?" Of course he joined me and we enjoyed a good time of discussion with God about our concerns.

Many months ago, while in a prayer meeting, a passage of scripture had come very forcefully to my mind. I had looked it up and the verses had become directive and favorites in my personal arsenal of scriptures. In fact I wrote an article about the incident titled, "My Friend Said Don’t Be Careful!" As I was praying this passage came to mind and I felt to share it with Jared.

As I began to read the verses I was inspired that God would again use these verses for a reminder of the peace He offers and assures us of. Only this time I did not stop where I usually stop but continued reading the next several verses. That is when I realized I had missed something on the earlier occasions of reading the verses. In fact I had been missing something here all my life.

In Philippians chapter four and verses six and seven the writer Paul tells us, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Another word for careful is worry which is the main thing I needed to hear on the previous occasion. God, or my friend, told me to stop worrying!

Worry is simply the wringing of your hands wondering what you are going to do or what is going to happen. I have been around some worriers in my life. A really good worrier can create monsters out of nothing. Their minds will make mountains out of ant hills! It is the result of an undisciplined mind and Paul said we are not to worry but to take our needs to God in prayer. We are to ask of God, with thankfulness, those things which we are concerned about. When we do this, God will allow a peace to come upon us that will protect our emotions and our thoughts. To me this is exciting!

Here is where my last reading became even more interesting. I have found it to be true that when we pray we often undo our prayers because of a lack of faith which is evident through our verbal conversation. We ask God to meet a financial need, then talk about how poor we are, what a struggle we are in and how much we lack. We ask God for healing and then talk about all of the pain and suffering we are experiencing. Our conversation destroys our faith and also negates the peace of God which God has given us. Lookout, here come the ulcers!

Paul continues with his instruction in Philippians chapter four and verse eight by saying, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." HOLD THE BUS! I had never read this passage with the passages mentioned earlier. What a new thought this produced!

Jared mentioned how powerful scriptural principles will be to us if we read them as they are written, in the proper context. I have often read and quoted verse eight and given instruction that we should use it as a guide for living or thinking. However, I have never thought of it as a guide for believing!

So basically Paul is telling us to stop worrying. He is telling us to pray in a certain way. He is telling us that God will send an unexplainable peace to protect our hearts and minds. Then he is telling us to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praise worthy. Wow! So instead of destroying my faith and tearing down what I am actually trying to accomplish, I will be strengthening them through this change of attitude. I will be continuing to reside in peace because I will be erecting a wall of protection around my heart and mind by my conduct.

Paul underlines this principle in verse nine when he said, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." Do what we know is right. Follow Paul in as he follows Christ. Listen to the Word and apply it to your life. Doing these things will result in "the God of peace" being with us.

In a nutshell we need to stop worrying! Bring our needs to God in prayer, asking of Him with thanksgiving. We can enjoy the peace in the midst of turmoil knowing God will protect our emotions and thinking. We are thinking on the good things and pushing aside the bad worrisome things. We keep doing what we have heard to do from the Word of God. As a result God will be with us. God will, I know I already said it but I have to say it again, be with us!

Just remember, It’s just a thought!

Desperate Men are Radical!

The sword made a screeching, scratchy sound as it was drawn across the floor. The one hundred and forty, battle weary, men looked on in silence, wondering what was the meaning of this exhibition? Why had they been called from their posts? There were no sentries on guard, and everyone had been called to this meeting. Why?

Finally, a line had been drawn across the length of the great room. Colonel William Travis stepped across the line that was made by his sword. He turned and looked at the 141 men that were before him and said, "Men, there is a chance that those desiring to do so, could slip through enemy lines tonight and escape to safety. There is also the chance that if some of us will stay here and fight, the rest of the Army fo Texas could regroup and go on to win the war. If you want to remain and give them this chance, just step across the line."

The rest is history. One hundred and thirty-nine men stepped across the line. The one hundred and fortieth man had his bed carried across the line. And yes each of them died in the Alamo on March 6, 1836.

Why did they do it? They were desperate men, desperate to have freedom from tyranny! Their desperation made them radical in their actions. Their actions did keep General Santa Anna and his army of 6,000 to 7,000 men occupied for twelve days. They did kill or mortally wound 1,500 enemy soldiers. They did give the army of Texas time to regroup. Because of their extreme, on April 12, 1836, some thirty-seven days later, General Santa Anna and his army met defeat at the hands of the Army of Texas screaming "Remember the Alamo!"

Let’s take a moment to look at a couple of words. The first is Desperate, which has the following words as synonyms: Extreme, Bold, Excessive, Heroic, Drastic, Frantic, Reckless, Rash. The second word is Radical, which has the following words as synonyms: Revolutionary, Excessive, Extravagant, Extreme, Fanatical, Violent, Nonconformist, Fundamental, Essential.

A desperate person will go to any means necessary to accomplish what has to be done. Paul is on his way to Jerusalem and people are begging him not to go. One even prophesied that if he goes he will end up in prison. However, Paul is a desperate man thus making him radical in his actions. He asked them to stop breaking his heart. He feels he has to go to Jerusalem to preach of the grace of the Lord Jesus. He says to them he is not only willing to be bound but also willing to die for the Gospel. (Acts 20:22-24 & Acts 21:11-13)

There is no reasoning with a man who is desperate. Desperation is extreme, bold and excessive. It leads to drastic measures. It breeds recklessness and frantic actions. Oh yeah, the desperate man will be radical. He will become revolutionary in his thinking. There is no excess with an excessive man! He will not conform but will be extravagant in his course of action fueled by the desperation that resides inside of him.

We are living in a day when the Church world has become complacent in its relationship with Jesus Christ. I am reminded of two of the Churches of Asia found in the Book of Revelations. The Church of Ephesus had left their first love. They weren’t sinning like several of the other Churches that were written to. They had just lost that deep burning love for God they once had. Their relationship had lost it zip. They had become more interested in other things than they were in God. They had begun to take God for granted.

The second Church I am reminded of is the Church of Laodicea. They were a complacent Church. God called them "lukewarm" and said it made Him sick enough to puke. They weren’t hot! They weren’t cold! They thought they had arrived and didn’t need anything else. They were wrapped up in what they had and what they had accomplished and no longer were hungry for more of God.

Both of these Churches are warned by God they are on the verge of rejection from Him. Ephesus is about to have their candlestick removed and Laodicea is about to be spit out. Church of the 21st century it is time we woke up and realized we need to get desperate for more of God. We need to become extremist in our relationship with God. It doesn’t matter what I experienced yesterday, what does God have for me today.

The Psalmist was hungry for God. He asked God to show him His ways, to lead him in His paths. He had a relationship with God. God had moved mightily in his life. Yet there was a hunger in his soul to know more about God. His cry was, Show me your divine ways. Show me how you live! Show me what you consider to be right! Teach me the path that you follow. I have got to know how to please you.

Teach me your truth, lead me to live it. It will bring my salvation. When was the last time I prayed that kind of a prayer? But a man who is desperate and hungry for more of God will cry out, "Show me! Lead me! Teach me!"

Paul wrote to the Phillippian Church that he wanted to know God. I have often by struck by the fact that Paul, who had accomplished so much for God, felt lacking in this area. However it is then I realize that he was a desperate man, reckless and radical. He was a man willing to be extreme in order to have the relationship with God that God wanted him to have.

This evening I received a phone call from a pastor who shared with me that for the past several months, about nine months, the church he pastors have been seeking God and desiring the Spiritual things of God in their lives. During this time, as people have sought God they have been directed by God to make changes in their lives and families. Satellite tv’s have been disconnected. Percentage of giving has been increased in some families. More time has been focused on prayer and Bible reading. These are desperate people and so they are radical.

Last night a seven-year-old girl was in the altar seeking God to give her the Holy Ghost. She was touched in a mighty way by God during that time. This afternoon her father came home and she was engaged in a conversation with her mother. As the father joined in she began to ask him questions like, "Daddy why don’t we do different things?" (These things included dancing, wearing make-up, smoking and many other things.) His reply to each of the things she mentioned was, "We don’t feel that Jesus likes those things." To this she replied, "Why do we watch movies where they do all of these things that you say Jesus doesn’t like?"

The pastor told me that the father had called him and said he had just gotten rid of more than twelve hundred movies because when he asked himself what was being portrayed in each of them it was something that Jesus would not be happy with! He had already disconnected his satellite tv several months ago. I am talking about desperate men being radical! Going to the extreme! Becoming reckless in their desire to have a greater relationship with God.

What would happen if we fell on our faces before God and asked Him to show us what stood between Him and us? What would happen if we asked God to show us what had interfered with our first love? I am talking about being desperate! Desperate men are radical! What would happen if we asked God to show us how to become on fire for Him? What would God have us to do? Where would this take us in our relationship with Him?

Are we to the point of desperation? Are we willing to become radical for Jesus? Are we willing to change our lives to the point of making sacrifices that hurt and cost? Are we willing to become different?

Desperate men walk to the beat of a different drum. It was a man desperate for liberty from tyranny that stood in the meeting house one day and cried, "If this be tyranny make the best of it! Give me liberty or give me death!"

It was a man who walked to a different drum beat that stood and said if you want to serve the gods of your fathers in Egypt you go ahead, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord! Desperate men are radical . . . give me more of God!

Remember, it’s just a thought!

Have You Considered Your Miracle?

Have you ever been going along enjoying life? I am talking about everything just going great. The kids are all doing well, no problems there. The boss seems to think you are the greatest, no problems there. The car is running perfect, in fact getting the best gas mileage it has ever gotten, no problems there. Your mother in law even acts like she likes you, no problems there.
Then suddenly, out of no where, troubles come pouring in! The kids are in trouble with the teacher, problems there! The teacher is in trouble with the principal, problems there! The boss isn’t happy with anything you try to do, problems there! Even if you stood on your head they wouldn’t be happy, problems there! The car no longer is your friend, problems there! Your mother in law has decided you are just as bad as she said you were before you married your spouse, problems there!
The sun has gone behind more than a cloud. It has totally disappeared and the bright sun shine is gone. In its place is a dark dismal gloomy day! Have you ever had this happen to you? Do you know what I am talking about?
Most folks started nodding their heads in agreement at the start of the second paragraph. That doesn’t mean that they are pessimist. It doesn’t mean that they are always looking at the doom and gloom. It does mean they are living life. This is the way that life is. One minute you are going along thinking life couldn’t get any better. The next you are going along and thinking life couldn’t get any worse. That is life!
A while back, I was involved in an “on-line” discussion. Now this was a Christian discussion so the blood was only flowing as high as the “horse’s stirrups,” it hadn’t gotten as high as the bridles yet. One participant said, with great emphasis, “I am screaming READ MARK 6, READ MARK 6!!”
Well instantly I am interested in what Mark chapter 6 has to say about our discussion. I reach over to my trusty mouse and take it in my delicate little hand. I click, and then I click again. I wiggle it and click again. Then I type a few strokes on the keyboard and wallah! I am reading from Mark 6 on my Bible. (I love computers!)
Now try as I might I never did figure out what Mark chapter 6 had to do with what we were talking about in the discussion. After reading it a couple of times I realized that the discusser must have made a typo. I also realized, at the same time, that God had probably allowed it to happen because He had something to say to me from Mark chapter 6.
The disciples have been ministering. Jesus had taken them with Him as He went from town to town. They had observed Him as He had ministered. Then Jesus had sent them into the surrounding area in groups of two.
Their efforts and works were blessed. Devils were cast out. They anointed the sick with oil and they recovered. They preached a message of repentance that resounded all of the way to the king’s house. Their missionary tour has been blessed.
Yet when they returned the disciples are very weary. Life hasn’t been treating them all that well. The pressure has been great. In fact, the emphasis of their report to Jesus is the death of John the Baptist.
Seemingly, just in the nick of time, Jesus steps on the scene and tells them it is time to take a vacation. In fact, let’s make it a little cruise. He tells them to get in the ship and they go to a desert place. It was just Jesus and His disciples.
Well, that was the way the travel agent told them it would be. You know, take this trip and get away from all of the pressure. Just enjoy life at a faraway place. So off they go and when they got there, they were met by the crowds. In fact, they were met by large crowds that wanted their attention.
Instead of resting and being able to refresh themselves, they must again work. Rather than a time of relaxation it became many hours of serving. Instead of having a time alone with the Master they had to share that time with a multitude of people.
Jesus begins to teach those who have come to learn from Him. The day passes and the crowd grows. The disciples realize the people need to eat. It is also at this time they realized the local McD’s isn’t going to work. In fact, there is not a place close enough for the people to find food.
It is interesting as you read this passage the disciples realize the lateness of the day and the fact they do not have any food with them is a big problem. They actually tell Jesus to send the people away so they can find food.
We need to realize that Jesus has set the scene for a miracle. He says to His disciples, “Why don’t you feed them?”
Not totally “with it” the disciples ask Jesus, “Do you want us to go get food for everyone?” They aren’t following His thought pattern at this time.
Jesus then asks “How much food do you have? Go ask the people.”
Too often we see our problem as a road block. We view it as the end of the line. We are ready to bail out, to jump off. We are seeing a train wreck about to happen. Yet at the same time God is seeing it as an opportunity for a miracle!
We see the multitude that needs to be fed. We recognize the need and are very concerned that it be met. Then we are ready to give up on the situation right then. In our opinion it can’t get any worse. Jesus sees the need and recognizes the multitude needs to be fed and in his opinion things are just perfect, it is a miracle setting.
They inquire of the people and come up with five loaves and two fish which they present to Jesus. He takes them, breaks them in pieces and feeds a multitude of people. What an incredible miracle. It is a miracle that many times we brush over because of the familiarity of the story. From nothing he feeds a multitude of people. Five thousand men and maybe two or three times that amount of women and children. Jesus feeds them, friend this is truly a miracle of colossal proportions.
It doesn’t matter the magnitude of our situation, He can meet the need. It doesn’t matter if there seems no way to take care of it. He can take care of it and bless others while He is doing so.
The next part of this story I want us to pay close attention to. I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency to gloss over things in the Bible that I have read or heard told a lot. Let’s consider a few things here.
The Bible tells us that Jesus constrained His disciples to get in the ship and told them to go to the other side of the lake to Bethsaida. He was going to get rid of the crowd. After getting rid of the crowd, Jesus went to the mountain to pray.
The word constrained in the Bible means to compel. In our vernacular it means to require. In fact, every translation that I read this passage in says that Jesus “made” them get in the boat to go to Bethsaida. He put them in a place where they would encounter a situation that would be an opportunity for another miracle. He left them to deal with that opportunity on their own, enabling them to recognize their need for Him.
Jesus then goes to the mountain to pray. When the dark time came He saw them on the sea. This is the part that really caught my attention. The Bible says that Jesus saw them in the midst of the sea toiling in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them.
They were in a situation. It is about three o’clock in the morning. They are very tired. They have been through some great difficulties in the past weeks. They had a very strenuous day of ministering to a multitude of people. Now they have been on the water for some time working in a very adverse situation. Things were not going their way at all.
I find myself in these types of situations. I feel I have carried a heavy load for a long time. I have spent time giving of myself. Even still, I am struggling with all my might and seemingly I am going nowhere.
It is in this scene that Jesus shows up. He comes walking to them out of their storm. Walking on what they are struggling with. It was a miracle right before their eyes. He is in total control of the whole situation. A miracle in the midst of a storm, and they almost missed it!
Jesus would have walked on by if they hadn’t called Him. Someone told me one time, “God is a gentleman, and He doesn’t force Himself on anyone with out an invitation.”
How many times have I allowed Jesus to walk past in the midst of the storm? I get so busy! I get so involved! I fail to look around for Him to help me. I am toiling! I am giving it everything that I have got! I am putting my all into it! What I really need to do is look for my miracle. It is passing me by walking on my storm.
When Jesus enters the boat the disciples are amazed. They could not believe what had just happened. As we would say, “Their minds were completely blown!”
The Bible tells us the reason for their astonishment. I really think this is something that we need to pay close attention to. The reason for their astonishment was they did not consider the miracle of the loaves and fish. They had been blind to what had really happened. They failed to understand what Jesus was showing them. He was saying, “No matter where you are and no matter what the situation, I will meet the need.”
Have we considered our miracle? Do we understand that God can and will meet every need that we have in our lives? Do we forget the miracles of the past? Do we remember what God did yesterday or last month? He we considered our miracle?
We need to recognize that God allows us to be in a situation where He can show His power. Not too much further down the road he is going to allow us, or even put us, to be in a situation where we will need to remember our miracle in order to get out of the situation.
I pray that when I am in my next storm, which I know will come, to remember my miracle. I pray that I will remember that God has allowed me to be there because he has confidence in me, confidence that I will go to the other side. The last verses of the story tell us the disciples saw some of the greatest miracles of their lives when they reached the other shore.