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 . . .

The Struggle of the Cocoon

I read a story a while back that really struck a chord in my spirit. I came across it again today and felt to share it with you. Hopefully it might put some things into proper perspective in your life.
A man came across a butterfly cocoon. Knowing what is inside his interest is captured and he sits watching it for a while. As luck would have it while he is watching the cocoon gets an opening and right in front of his eyes the butterfly begins the struggle of leaving the cocoon.
Watching for several hours, the man observes as the butterfly struggles to get out. Then it seems to have stopped making any progress at all. It seemed that the butterfly would be unable to go any further. The man takes scissors and snips off the remaining bit of cocoon. The butterfly is then able to emerge with ease. However, the butterfly is unable to fly. Its body is swollen and it has small shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch, expecting at any time the butterfly to stretch his wings and fly. Surely at any moment the wings would enlarge themselves and support the body which would contract with time. Neither happened, in fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.
What the man did not know was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required of the butterfly to get through the opening were God’s way of forcing the fluid from the body into the wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we need to be. We would never fly.
Paul said three times he asked the Lord to take away his problem. Each time the reply from God was, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." Paul went on to say, "Now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me . . . for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2Corinthians 12:8-10)
Maybe this poem will help bring it into a better focus . . .
I asked for Strength, and God gave me
Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom, and God gave me
Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity, and God gave me
Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage, and God gave me
Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love, and God gave me
Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors, and God gave me
Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted, but I
Received everything I needed!
Author Unknown
It is the problems, the difficulties that will better prepare us for the victories of life. When the problem and test come our way, accept it is a divine test which has been sent by God. Then rely on Him to provide the power for the struggle and watch as He takes you to new heights!
It’s just a thought! God Bless . . .

Can You Believe Him for the Glory?

I looked out the window of my office just in time to see the long Cadillac make a sweeping u-turn and pull to the curb in front of the Church. Ole’ Big John got out of the car and headed toward the door of the Church. It looked like he was in a hurry. Maybe just a bit excited.
Big John was a new convert to the Church. He and his wife had just been coming a few months and God had begun a great work in their lives. We were excited to witness the change that was taking place in their lives. With this in mind, I was expectant as I waited to find out what had caused Big John to stop by that day.
I greeted him at the door and Big John quickly came to the reason for his visit. He said, “Pastor, I was driving along and was listening to the radio. They announced the bumper sticker for the day and I just had to share it with you!”
Of course, I was interested and told him so. He said, “Well the bumper sticker of the day says, ‘don’t tell God how big your problem is, tell your problem how big your God is!’”
More than ten years later, I still remember that occasion as if it were yesterday. Can we really trust God to be bigger than our problems? We can believe God for the past. We can believe God for the present. We can believe God for the future. However, can we believe God for the Glory?
Mary, Martha and Lazarus were dear friends of Jesus. Jesus has left Jerusalem and has journeyed to a place called Bethabara; this is where John the Baptist had headquartered during his ministry. Not long after He arrives, word comes to Jesus that His dear friend, Lazarus, is very sick. Upon receiving the news of Lazarus’ sickness Jesus tells His disciples the reason for this sickness was not unto death and He continues doing what He was doing for two more days.
Now, after Lazarus has died, Jesus shows up on the scene. When they arrived in Bethany, the news is Lazarus has been in his tomb for four days. Somebody got the message to Martha that Jesus was coming to her house and she ran to meet him. Upon greeting him, Martha asks Jesus why He did not come sooner. Mary falls at His feet and states that if He had come sooner; her brother would not have died.
Martha and Mary were able to believe for the past, present and future: They made comments to Jesus that said, “If you had been here… I believe even now… I believe in the resurrection of the dead…” However, as much as they loved Jesus they were having a hard time believing that the death of their loved one was for the glory of God. Their thoughts, feelings and words told Him, “You could have healed him! You can still heal him! You can raise him in the resurrection! But how could you let this happen?”
So many times as we face the tests of this life, we find it hard to believe Him for the Glory. We believe for the past, the present and the future but have a hard time believing for the glory.
I grew up listening to stories of past miracles and wonders. These were not just Bible stories these were stories from my parents and others who had personally seen the wonders of God. My father often told us a story that took place when he was a child.
His Grandfather, Joseph Doran, had started a church in the Tulare, California area. They had taken two railroad boxcars, put them together, and made a church building. They had sawdust on the floors and an old oil drum made into a heater in the middle of it for heat. He told me of how they would shout and dance all around that stove with their eyes closed and never touch it.
One day his grandmother fell and in doing so crushed both of her kneecaps. The Doctors told her she would never walk without crutches. She came to church and the elders laid hands on her anointing her with oil and praying the prayer of faith. Dad said he watched as one crutch went one way, the other crutch went flying in a different and Grandma danced all over that little railroad car Church! Twenty or thirty years later, when she died she was still walking without the aid of a crutch!
With stories like this, it is not hard to believe God for the past! God could heal! I grew up with stories of God providing for His Children. Theses were not just Bible stories these were stories of God doing it for people I know personally. Yes, we can believe Him for the past.
It is not hard to believe God for the present when you are seeing God work all around you. I personally have prayed for the sick and seen them recover instantly. I personally have prayed for a need and watched God meet the need instantly. No, it is not hard to believe God for the present, for right now!
It is not hard to believe God for the future. I really do not have a hard time believing that God will take care of my family and me from now on. I do not have a hard time believing that if I love His Word and live His Word I will receive my reward. I do not have a hard time believing if I apply the Word of God to my life God will bless and keep me as He has promised. I do not have a hard time believing Him for the future.
I must confess, however, there are times I do have a hard time believing that the test I am in is for the Glory of God. I do have times when it is hard to stand before the grave of all that I have dreamed of and worked for and believe it has died to bring Glory to God.
I stood at the foot of the ICU bed of a dear saint. Only few days earlier I had talked with them on the phone. I was checking on them before we left on vacation. They had what seemed to be a minor backache but said they would go to the chiropractor and all would be fine. I was not prepared to receive the phone call that told me they had slipped into a coma and there was little hope of survival.
We rushed home and to the hospital. I laid hands on her and prayed the prayer of faith, but nothing happened. I joined family and church family members in the hospital waiting room and we all prayed together. Nothing happened. I returned several times to the ICU and prayed. Nothing happened.
Just moments before this dear saint passed away, I felt desperation and asked God, “Don’t I have enough faith to see this saint healed? I preach faith and healing! I preach trusting God with your wants and desires! I preach God will supply your every need! This person has loved ones standing here with broken hearts watching them die! Don’t I have the faith to see this faithful saint healed?”
It was as if God spoke to me in a clear, audible voice. “Yes you have the faith to see them healed. You have the faith to see them raised from the dead. The question is, “Do you have the faith to believe I am doing the right thing and that this will bring Glory to me?”
Several days later, as a direct result of the death of this precious saint, a loved one came to God. This saint had told me months before they were willing to pay any price to see this loved one come back to God. They paid the price that made the loved one God conscious and God received the Glory.
Jesus stood before the tomb of His dear friend. Around Him, he hears the weeping of those dear to Him. His heartbreaks and He too begins to weep. Those standing around watching cannot understand why He did not come and heal His own friend.
Then He regains His composure. He wipes tears from His damp cheeks and dries His eyes. With an authorities voice He tells those standing around to roll back the stone. Then with a loud voice, He calls Lazarus from his “sleep!” Can you believe Him for the Glory?
I have experienced times of testing. I have not been able to make sense of what is happening. I have struggled and fretted. I have asked God, “Why?” Then somewhere in the testing, I have recognized the answer is simply to step back and let God do it for His Glory!
Yes, I can believe Him for the past, I have seen and heard the stories. I can believe Him for the present, I know what He can do. I can believe Him for the future, I will stand on His Word. My prayer, however, is that I might believe Him for the Glory!
It’s Just a Thought! God Bless…

The Blessings of a Wilderness Experience

I was recently in a service and heard someone use the phrase, “I have been in a wilderness experience.” My mind instantly grabbed a hold of what they were saying and I related to the expression, having known the same feeling. A wilderness experience, a place, situation, or multitude of people or things that makes somebody feel confused, overwhelmed, or desolate, is how the dictionary defines it.

To most folks a wilderness would be something terrible, maybe even to be ashamed of being there. However, as I begin to consider wilderness experiences I quickly realized it was actually a prelude to greater things in a person’s life. Let me share a few thoughts that came to my mind.

Moses was in the wilderness when God called him to lead Israel out of Egypt. In fact, Moses had spent forty years in the wilderness prior to his call. He had even become productive and blessed in the wilderness. The wilderness prepared him to lead Israel. It was in the wilderness that his attitude changed from that of a brash, impatient man who relied on his own power, ability and authority to a man who was gentle, patient and giving of himself.

It was a wilderness time, again of forty years, that prepared Israel to enter into Canaan. It was a time of learning to be obedient to God’s word. It was a time of learning to rely on God and His ability to meet their needs. It was a time of learning that God keeps His promises. When they came out of the wilderness, Israel was ready to rely on Him.

Joshua spent forty years in the wilderness and it prepared him to become the leader of Israel after Moses died. It prepared him face the impossible obstacles such as the Jordan, Jericho and nations that were much greater military powers than Israel and to know that God would fight their battles for them. The wilderness prepared him to stand before Israel and challenge them to serve the Lord God.

Caleb was spurred by forty years spent in the wilderness and declared that he was fully prepared to claim the promises of God. Caleb went on to demand he receive what was his and assured Joshua he was going to lead his people into battle and take their land.
The wilderness brought compassion and insight to a young man who was to be king of Israel. For a number of years David lived in caves in the wilderness while running for his life. This time prepared him for forty years of leading Israel. It was here he learned to treasure the blessings of God. It was here that he experienced rejection and became compassionate toward those who also experienced rejection, even to his own injury.

It was in the wilderness that Elijah had a close encounter with God. He had experienced the power of God in his life. He had witnessed many miracles, food from ravens, oil and meal supplied from God, consuming fire from heaven, a rainstorm in response to his prayer and fleet feet that could out run horses. However, it was in the wilderness that God spoke to him in the still small voice. God showed that he was not alone but others also trusted God. It was in the wilderness that God sent an angel to minister to Elijah and to encourage him, enabling him to return to his ministry. After the wilderness he was able to share the anointing that was upon his life with Elisha and then to pass on a double portion to his disciple. It was after the wilderness that God sent him a fiery taxicab to escort him to heaven.

In the wilderness, John the Baptist prepared himself for the ministry that God had called him. In the wilderness, John received the message, which he preached to Israel. It was from the wilderness that he obtained the intestinal fortitude to stand up to the highest authority in the land and declare a need for righteousness. Jesus pointed out there was none like John the Baptist.

It was in the wilderness that Jesus spent forty days spiritually preparing himself for his ministry. It was here that He withstood testing and temptations that were designed to sabotage His purpose, but they failed. It was in the wilderness that angels came to minister to Him. It was from the wilderness that He came preaching a message of the kingdom of God working miracles and healing all manner of diseases.

After his conversion, Paul took some time to go into the desert of Arabia. We are not sure how long he was there but some feel maybe close to three years. It was during this time that he obtained a personal knowledge of God. He had many years of teaching but it was in the wilderness that God was able “… He revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.” (Gal 1:16) He came from this wilderness experience with a message and mission to take the wonderful message of Jesus Christ to the whole world.

The wilderness can affect us two different ways. When Israel was in the wilderness, many people died because they refused to recognize it as a place of growth and maturity. They looked upon it as their destiny. They saw themselves as grasshoppers and unable to overcome. The other way it can affect us is as a place where God can become personal with us and take us to a new level in Him. He can minister to us and encourage us. He can give us a new message brought about by a divine revelation of whom He is.

Do not become frustrated and discouraged in your wilderness. Remember and stand on the promises of God for you life. Envision the great victories because of time spent in the wilderness. Use this time as a time to focus on your relationship with Jesus Christ learns of Him. Watch as God brings blessings of provision and sustenance to you, ministering to your needs. I know the wilderness isn’t a pleasant place to be but when you have entered the promises of God and look back on the wilderness you will be blessed at what you experienced during that time. Enjoy the blessings of the wilderness…

Just a thought! God Bless…

Lot, Why Did You Chose Sodom?

Have you ever wondered why a person made a certain decision? Maybe you are looking back in time, like in a history book, and wondering why they made a decision that had a devastating effect on their lives and from your vantage point you can see they should have done something different. I have often asked, “I wonder why they did what they did?” “What were they thinking? “ Those are questions that came to my mind recently concerning Lot.

Now, let me assure you, I do not have an inside track into the mind of Lot. I really have no way of knowing exactly what he was thinking or any way to find out exactly what he was thinking. However, I asked myself the question, as if I were speaking to Lot, “Lot, why did you move to Sodom? Why did you make that choice?”

When Abraham left Haran at the direction of God, he brought with him Lot, his brother’s son. God had spoken to Abraham and told him to go to a place that God would show him. Abraham and his family end up in the land of Canaan. Upon their arrival here, the Lord appears to Abraham and promises him this land and that the promise and the land would be passed on to Abraham’s children. Every thing seems to be going along great and then they hit a snag. A famine comes over the land. With the famine, Abraham decides to continue south to Egypt.
After being in Egypt a short time, Abraham and Lot leave Egypt and return to Bethel, where they had pitched their tents prior to their trip to Egypt. Things still are not normal. They were already rich and both Lot and Abraham have lots of herds and people working for them. Now, settled in one place there is conflict between the two camps. The bickering becomes so unsettling that Abraham finally approaches Lot and suggests they part ways. Abraham offers Lot first choice and promises to go in the opposite direction. The Bibles says Lot looked at the well watered plains of Jordon that were like the Garden of God and he wanted to live there. So Lot made the choice and lived in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Why would he choose to live here? Did he not see the dangers of living in an area that was so perverse and ungodly? Was he not worried about his family and the exposure they would receive from these cities? Why would he choose Sodom, for the next time we read of Lot he is not living in the plains, he is not living in the cities in the plains, nor is he living with his tent door facing Sodom? He is living in Sodom and is a highly respected citizen sitting in the gate of the city. WHY!?

I think the clue is found in the scripture that describes the plains and cities let me quote:
“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.” Gen 13:10 (emphasis mine)

Lot chose Sodom because it reminded him of Egypt. In his journey to Egypt he had gotten a taste for it and when he saw Sodom he disregarded all of the danger to satisfy that hunger. Of course, all through the Old Testament Egypt is an example of sin and the world. It is a type of a place that is far from God and the things God stands for. It is often typical of slavery and bondage. Lot had a taste for Egypt.

We as Christians would do well to be careful to protect ourselves from Egypt. There are going to be times in our walk with God when we will be in the blessings of God, yet it will seem the blessing will not last. Heed the warning; do not go to Egypt to find another blessing! Stand on the promise of God. Abraham left Canaan and Bethel where God had promised blessings and went to Egypt because of a famine. Lot was introduced to Egypt while there.

Parents, how often do we introduce our children to the world and its ways just because we are unsure of the promises of God? Do we give them a taste for Egypt in our moment of weakness? How often do we introduce ourselves to the bounty of Egypt and then wonder why we are struggling with ungodly desires and hungers. Have we looked at the cities of the plains and pitched our tents toward their offerings because of a trip to Egypt?

Sometimes we make mistakes, we are only human. There are times when we will fail to trust God in a moment of weakness and take a trip to Egypt. However when we come to ourselves we must realize we do have a choice. We can return to the place of God’s promise and claim His blessings or we can turn toward the place that reminds us of Egypt. The choice is ours.
Lot, why did you choose Sodom? It reminded me of Egypt…

Just a thought! God Bless…

The Great God of Comfort is Still Available!

Have you ever had one of those moments which stand out so vividly in your mind that many years later you can remember ever detail of it as if it had just happened? It can sometimes be a catastrophic event! It might even be just one of those special moments when the occasion is so momentous to you it is like it is etched in stone, like the birth of a child. Maybe it is a time when God had a divine appointment with you, like the one I want to share.
I will never forget this day as long as I live. It was in January of 1997. We were pastoring Triumphant Life Center in Rio Dell, California. That Friday morning I had gone to Eureka, California which was twenty-five miles away to take care of some business. One of my favorite things to do, if time permitted, was to go by the One Way Bible Book Store and browse. They had a good selection of books and a wonderful selection of used Christian books. Even when I didn’t have money to spend I would drop in and just look through the books. I love to read and I love books, so it was a great place to hide for a while.
I had looked around the store and it was time to leave so I approached the checkout with my purchase. The clerk had stepped into an office area behind the counter and was talking to a customer on the phone. I wasn’t in a real hurry so I took advantage of the wait to turn and look at some of the books and magazines in the checkout area. I wasn’t paying attention to the clerk or the conversation but as I stood with my back to the counter and office it was as if suddenly their voice was amplified. I heard the clerk state to the person on the phone, “I am sorry but the great God of comfort is not available!”
Now I don’t really know what they were talking about. Obviously considering where I was at the time, they were either talking about a book or some type of recording which had that name but when they made this statement a feeling went all over me. I suddenly felt something rise up within me and wanted to shout to the top of my lungs, “The Great God of Comfort is always available!”
As I left the store I couldn’t get away from that statement, it just kept rolling over in my mind. How terrible it would be to feel the great God of comfort was not available! How could you deal with life? How could you face tomorrow? How could you go on if you believed the great God of comfort was not available?
That Sunday night, as you might have already figured out, that is what I felt to preach about. God led me to a passage that I had not paid any attention to prior to this time. Paul is greeting the church in Corinth in his second letter and makes this statement as part of his greeting:

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.“ 2 Cor 1:3-4

I preached a message entitled, “The Great God of Comfort is Always Available!” No matter what the problem is, the Great God of Comfort is always available! No matter how great the trial, the Great God of Comfort is always available! No matter how deep the valley or how lonely the night, the Great God of Comfort is always available! He will walk with you through those times when you feel you can’t walk another step! He will comfort you when you feel comfortless. He is always available.
The following Thursday I was again on my way to Eureka this time going with my son Justin to get his drivers license. On our way we stopped in Fortuna to take care of some other errands. As we were leaving town we passed my brother Tim and his wife Cristie and we all waved at each other. Justin and I were surprised when just a few miles up the freeway Tim pulled alongside of us and motioned he needed to talk to us. We took the next exit and they pulled up at the stop sign and told us they had been to the doctor and he was sending them to the hospital to run some tests.
Cristie was expecting their second child and was about thirty-five weeks into the pregnancy. They had just been to the doctor for a checkup and he thought they should go to the hospital to run some additional tests. I asked Tim if I needed to go with him but he said no, everything was fine. Just wanted to let us know so we could pray.
About two or three hours later, as we were returning home, my pager began to vibrate. There was a message to call my wife. My mobile phone was mounted in my truck which she had so I couldn’t call right away. The pager went off again, this time the call was from my mobile phone in the truck!
I was now getting nervous! My father was very ill and I was sure that he had fallen or something else had happened to him. I told Justin to stop in Fortuna and I would find a pay phone to call. We found a phone and I called the truck. There was no answer. I called the house and again there was no answer. About that time my pager went off a third time and this time it was a call from the hospital. I decided not to even call the hospital just to go directly there and find out what was going on.
When I arrived at the hospital I walked directly into the reception area. I had spent so much time there with family and saints the person at the desk recognized me. Before I could say anything she said, “They are all in the chapel!”
My heart sank! My feet became lead! I was wondering what could have happened so quickly that they would already be in the chapel? When I opened the door my wife looked at me with a warning look and eyes filled with tears. I quickly looked around and in the room was several other family members all focusing their attention on Tim and Cristie. I walked over to them and asked what was wrong. Tim, only twenty-two years old, looked at me with a shocked look and said, “They can’t find a heart beat for the baby and are sure we have lost him!”
From that point on things become a bit of a blur. This was my little brother and sister. They were my kids. Tim is eighteen years younger than I and I helped raise him. Cristie was a perfect fit in our family and we have always loved her as one of us. Now they were hurting so bad and I couldn’t help them. I remember taking them aside to talk to them and try to say something right for them. I told them that they could trust God in this and He would help them through this. They could trust Him and He would receive the glory from whatever came from it.
I will never forget as this young couple who were just starting life together and just starting a ministry together looked at me and said, “If the devil thinks this will stop us from living for God and having revival in our lives he is wrong. He is in for a fight!”
Sunday night Tim and Cristie came to church although I had told them if they weren’t up to it I would understand. Tim asked if it would be alright to arrive a bit later than usual and sit in the back as they didn’t feel like answering a lot of questions but did want to be in Church. I, of course, said that would be fine. So they came to Church that night.
Church started in a tentative manner. It was as if everybody was afraid to worship because they knew Tim and Cristie was there. Maybe we were wondering what they would think. We were also feeling their pain and loss. The worship leader started us in the old chorus, “Won’t We Have a Time When We get over yonder?” As we sang it through a time or two it was as if we didn’t believe the song. Suddenly I heard a commotion and looked up. Down the aisle dancing for all he was worth came Tim! He danced to the front of the Church and reached up and took the microphone from the praise leader. With the microphone in one hand and the other raised to his Comforter he began to dance and sing that song giving it a brand new meaning. Several times through the next weeks and months this couple would refer to a divine appointment they had on a Sunday night with God. God met with them and sent them a personal message, “The Great God of All Comfort is Always Available!”
A little over a year ago I received a phone call at work and was told that a Sister in the church we attend had a son pass away that day. The son was in his early thirties and had died unexpectedly!
The following Sunday morning, just a day or so later, I was surprised when his grieving mother came into the Church. I was further surprised a little while later when she alone stood to her feet, raised her hands to heaven and began worshiping her God with all of her heart, just like she always does.
My brother Tim was sitting in front of me and a while later passed me a note that said, “Hey, the Great God of Comfort is still available, put that in a book!”
This past week, while in prayer, I once again felt led of God to share this thought. I still would rather not share it because I can’t without weeping and reliving those moments, it still tears at my heart! However, I feel there are those who are in need of the reassurance that in your moment of despair you can know the Great God of All Comfort is Still Available! It doesn’t matter what your tribulation is, He is available. Be assured He will Comfort you! Be assured He will take you through this time of tribulation! Be assured that from this time of receiving comfort from Him you will be able to share that Comfort with someone else in their time of tribulation.
Before I posted this blog I asked permission of Tim and Cristie to use their story. I knew if it affected me so deeply it would do the same to them. In fact, I sent them a second letter saying I had changed my mind and wasn’t going to post it. However, God once again let me know someone needs to hear this story. I received the following words:

“I don't have a problem with you using our story. Tim preaches about it occasionally, and I know that's part of the reason God let it happen to us, to use it help others. So whatever you feel like doing is fine with me.
By the way, did you realize today was Tyler's birthday? January 30, 1997...now I can kind of look back on it as a beautiful day. I don't cringe anymore when this day comes along.…”

The Great God of Comfort is Always Available!
Today, November 8, 2012, I opened my Facebook page and Cristie had posted something she was thankful for. It touched me so much I had to pull this story out and add her testimony and share it again. Cristie Doran:Today I'm thankful for my second born, Tyler. I carried him in my body for 35 weeks, in my arms for just a few moments, but I carry him in my heart forever. I was taught some invaluable lessons through having loved this baby boy. Just a few of them: The great God of comfort is always available, there really is a peace that passes all understanding, and God really can heal the broken heart. Just a thought! God Bless…

Oops! I am Lost!

Have you ever realized that you are lost? Maybe you are driving down the road and it suddenly dawns on you that you have no idea where you are or how to get to where you want to be. By being lost I am talking about not knowing how to get where you want to go and not being able to get back to where you came from. I am talking about being totally lost. It is a strange feeling that I describe as feeling helpless.

I have been blessed with a great sense of direction. Somehow I am able to picture in my mind where I want to go and I am able to get there. If I have been somewhere one time, most of the time I am able to go there again, even if it is many years later. When I was six years old we moved to Fresno, California. We were only there a couple of weeks when Mom took us somewhere, just us kids and her, and on the way home she got lost. She has often laughed about it because I told her how to get home. I can honestly say I have only been lost one time in my life.

I lived for thirty five years on the north coast of California. Much of that time we lived in a city which was about two hundred and fifty miles north of San Francisco. Although it was the “big city” and a get away destination for many people I was only in the San Francisco about seven or eight times in my life. On most of those visits I was passing through on the highway and had only actually visited the city three times. It was in San Francisco that I had my “lost” experience.
My wife and I had been to Bakersfield for a meeting and were returning home. Any trip out of our area to the “Valley” was a long trip. Driving to Bakersfield was a hard nine hour drive. Through the years we had explored the quickest routes and had found a route that would take us through the East Bay area and junction I-5 that saved a lot of time. However, I had never taken that route back and was unfamiliar with it. On this particular trip we were going along when out of the corner of my eye I saw a sign and quickly took the exit. The moment I had committed to the exit and there was no turning back I knew I had made a mistake. It was the wrong exit and before we knew it we were dropped into the middle of San Francisco!

Now understand I am just a country boy. The biggest city that I have lived in during my adult life is the one that I live in now which has a population of fifty-three thousand. However, I was raised and lived in a city of three thousand people. It had no stop lights, no banks, and no car dealerships. It had a couple of grocery stores, bars, one gas station and was about a mile and a half from one end to the other. The tallest building in town was probably the two story house that I lived in, simply because it sat on the side of a steep hill and was actually three stories on that side.

So here I am in San Francisco and I have no idea where I am in comparison to where I have been before. I look up to get direction from the sun and all I can see is skyscrapers. Everything is totally foreign to me. I tell my wife not to worry we will find US 101 and that will get us out of there. I just needed to find out what direction to head in. I look to my left and sitting next to me is a man on a motorcycle so I ask him to tell me how to find US 101.
The nice gentleman says it is simple. Just make a turn and follow the road a bit, make another turn and another and follow the road. It would take us where we wanted to go. That sounded simple enough, so we set off to follow those easy directions. We followed them exactly as he said and came to a stop light. I looked around to see where we were and was astonished to find we were sitting at the stop light we had been at when the nice man gave us directions. We had spent the last twenty minutes going in a large circle; it is hard to know you are doing that in San Francisco with their winding streets. I imagine he is still laughing, I know I am.

After searching for another half hour or so we finally found a gas station and were able to purchase a map. With the map we soon found our way out of the “big city” and headed back to the sanctity of the small town.

I remember another time, when I was very young. We were again returning from a trip to the “Valley” this time through Sacramento. Mom was driving and was not real familiar with the road. I was a sleep in the back and remember waking up to hear Mom and Dad talking about the route to take. Dad settled back to sleep and Mom kept the pedal to the metal.
An hour or more latter Mom asked Dad a question and suddenly he was wide awake. In fact, we were all wide awake. The question she asked had to do with Grass Valley, California. Grass Valley is in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which were in the exact opposite direction from where we were should have been headed. We were headed up I-80 toward Reno, Nevada!

Somewhere along the way Mom had taken the wrong highway and headed in the wrong direction. Dad got out the map and we began to work our way back to where we needed to go. Until his dying day, over thirty years later, Dad would laugh about the night Mom tried to take him to Reno to get a divorce.
You know, it doesn’t take much to get started in the wrong direction. It doesn’t take a lot of effort or planning to get lost. It can happen to the best of us and it can happen quickly. Just a wrong turn is all it takes. Just a moment when we are not paying attention or maybe it was just a bad decision.
We pastored in the Ozarks for seven years. Not long after moving there we had a “Singin‘” one Sunday afternoon. One of the men in the Church invited a Christian Blue Grass band to come and sing. After the “Singin’” was over I was talking with them, just making friends. They told me there was a Christian Blue Grass pickin’’ and grinning that took place once a month and invited me to come and be a part of it. I told them I wasn’t a bluegrass player but would enjoy coming out and asked where it was. They said it was in the Friendship Community building. Well, being new to the area I had to ask where that was.

I will never forget this as long as I live. One of the men slowly leaned back in the pew. He stroked his chin with his right hand, his left arm crossed under the right elbow. He tilted his head back and got a far away look in his eyes as he looked toward the ceiling. The silence lingered as his companions sat and watch in reverend silence. Finally after two or three moments of pondering he looked at me and said, “Huh, I guess you just can’t get there from here!” He never did tell me how to get there and it was just a little ways from where we were.

In life it is so easy to get turned around and lost. It is so easy to find yourself headed in the wrong direction. It happens so quickly as you suddenly find you have made a mistake somewhere back down the road and are now in a situation where you have no idea where you are. Suddenly you are a washed with a feeling of helplessness, even hopelessness. Despair sets as you realize you haven’t any idea where you are or where you are going.

What do we do in this situation? Is there a remedy? Is there any hope? Can we get there from here? Oops, we are lost!

I have to wonder if David was feeling this way when he wrote:

“Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” Ps 25:4-5

When we don’t know where we are or how to get to where we need to go, it is past time to pull out the map and get direction. Our map in life is the Word of God. We can depend on God to show us, teach us and to guide us in the road that will take us safely through life. We can trust in Him for direction in the course our live should take and how to stay on that course. We need to let him show us, teach us and guide us. This will keep us from being lost.

Just a thought! God Bless!

Not Derailed, Just Sidetracked!

Do train noises bother you? I remember when I was a kid we lived between the railroad tracks. Some people worry about living on the wrong side of the tracks. Well, we lived between two sets of track, each set having two sets of tracks. One was in front of our house and the other was behind our house and needless to say there was a lot of noise.

We were living in a small town called Scotia, California. Scotia was a company owned town. You had to work at the lumber mill or one of the businesses in town to live in a house in the town. We lived on Williams Street, which was the last street in town. To get to our street, you came into town and turned at the gas station. You would then come to a set of railroad tracks. When you crossed those tracks, you immediately crossed an old wooden bridge which spanned the log pond. As soon as you were across the bridge you would pass over another set of tracks. You would then go down a hill and around a curve. If you came off the bridge and down the hill fast enough on you bike you could coast the three quarters of a mile to our house. Behind our house, out the gate and about thirty feet lay another two sets of tracks.

Both sets of tracks in front of our house belonged to the lumber mill. They were used by the log trains and every day they would bring in loads of logs from the woods. Usually the trains would come in about 6:00 in the morning and then would run sometime during the day.

The tracks behind our house belonged to Southern Pacific Railroad. Trains ran on those tracks at anytime day or night. These were the trains that were so loud. It seemed like they were always stopping, starting, going forward and backing up. I never have been able to figure it out. Why did they have to do all of that maneuvering? Why did it always take them forever to do it?

The other thing I noticed, and I noticed this because we would play on them, was they would leave railroad cars setting in back of our house for days at a time. The train would pass by the house and then it would stop. It would back up onto a second track and the locomotive would just leave it setting there for days. This was a perfect opportunity for my brother and me to play on it, so of course we did. The whole time that train was setting there it didn’t accomplish one thing. It wasn’t good for anything but a playground for a bunch of boys. In fact, I noticed that to make a train totally ineffective all you had to do was to sidetrack it.

I have found out since that there is a little lever that can be moved and it will switch the track so that when the train comes it will go onto another track or a side track. Many times you can change the direction of that train without even the engineer realizing it because it can be done so gradually. You can make that train totally useless without ever destroying the train. You don’t have to derail it, just side track it!

I have had this happen so many times in my life. I am chugging along through life headed in the right direction. I am so excited about what I am doing for God and what God is doing in my life. Then, somewhere along the way, I find that I have been going in the wrong direction without ever realizing it. Something back down the road had gotten me off on a side track and I didn’t even realize it. I had become totally ineffective. I hadn’t backslidden, or even really sinned. I wasn’t derailed, just sidetracked!

I remember in one church we were pastoring an incident that took place that side tracked us. We had been working, praying, and fasting trying to have a move of God. We had taught some Bible Studies. We had worked with different people and had in fact just baptized our first converts. About this time one of the couples in the church met a couple from town. This couple introduced them to this “wonderful idea.” The couple from the church in turn introduced this “wonderful idea” to everyone in the church. Three of four months later I came to realize that we had all began to focus on this “wonderful idea” to the point we weren’t teaching Bible Studies, praying like we had been or fasting. All of our extra energy was spent on developing this “wonderful idea.” Not derailed, just sidetracked!

I have seen the enemy attack the family. He comes in causing problems and division until the total focus of the family is on the problems. They no longer pray together. They no longer read their Bibles together. They barely go to church together if they even go at all. Have they went out and committed sin? No! But they have become totally ineffective in the kingdom of God. Not derailed, just sidetracked.

Someone says or does something that hurts us. We take offense to it! We begin to think about how bad it is and how bad we have been treated. Pretty soon we have traveled way down a track that is taking us away from God. We aren’t derailed! We are still moving! However we are moving in the wrong direction. There is a cancer eating away at our spirit! We haven’t been derailed, just sidetracked!

God call Abraham out of Ur to a land that He would direct him to. He made him promises that boggled the natural mind. Oh the wonder of it all! Yet, right after arriving in this promised land a famine sets in and Abraham decides theer is no way they can survive. He packs up his family and off they go to Egypt. He is not derailed, just sidetracked!

While in Egypt he almost loses his wife, Sarah. She is the woman the promise is coming thru. While they were in Egypt, Sarah found a handmaid named Hagar. Later she decides Hagar should be the one to bear the promised child. Not derailed, just sidetracked!

On his way home from Egypt he has a falling out with his nephew Lot. He gives Lot a choice of where to go. Lot looks toward Sodom and it reminds him of Egypt. He chooses Sodom and his family is destroyed. Not derailed, just sidetracked!

Whether you are a Pastor or a Saint we all have a purpose and calling in our life. God has given each of us a promise and a blessing. If we continue to respond to that call and that purpose, God will fulfill His promise. The enemy desires to kill, steal and destroy each of us. He has found it to be so effective to destroy us by getting us sidetracked. He steals our purpose. He destroys our effectiveness. Eventually he kills us spiritually because we have gotten so far from where we are supposed to be. Not derailed, just sidetracked!

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” 2 Tim 1:9

Am I losing my effectiveness? Am I losing my power and authority with God? Have I allowed the enemy to overwhelm me and load me down with my past to the point I can no longer do what God has directed me to do? Have I become calloused to the needs of others to the point I am not longer moved emotionally by the cries of the lost and hurting? Am I just going through the motions of life because this is what I have always done and this is what I think is expected of me? Have I been sidetracked?

When was the last time I really prayed though to the Holy Ghost? When was the last time that I talked in tongues uncontrollably? When was the last time the Holy Ghost flowed through me like a river of Living Water? When was the last time I allowed the Holy Ghost to flush out of my soul the pride, the anger, and the bottled up emotions which have been caused by the failures and disappointments in life? I am talking about being sidetracked! Not derailed!

There will be more people lost who consider themselves good Christians because they have gone through the motions of what they considered pleasing to God. Yet, they have not walked in the Spirit! Their lives are spotless if examined for sin. Yet they have failed to know Jesus in the power of His resurrection. They have failed to walk in His Spirit, fulfilling the purpose God has placed in their lives. They have not been derailed, just sidetracked!

Jesus said there would be those who would come to him with a wonderful resume. Look at what we have accomplished! Look at the healings! Look at all the buildings and programs and accomplishments! Jesus response was, yet you and I don’t know each other. You were so busy going through the motions that you never realized that even though you were moving you were going in the wrong direction. Not derailed, just sidetracked.

I want to keep my eyes on Him! I am going to put Jesus Christ back in the seat of the Engineer of my life. I refuse to become sidetracked! I refuse to allow the enemy to blind me to my purpose in Christ Jesus. I will stay on track! If you go far enough on the wrong track your life could end up a train wreck!

Just a thought! God Bless.

Stupid is His Name and Folly is His Game

Have you ever read a story in the Bible that isn’t real familiar, but becomes one of your favorites after you have read it? Maybe you have heard the name of the Bible character many times, but have failed to read the story. Or, maybe it has been so long since you heard or read the story you have just forgotten how it went. I have that happen to me frequently. I hear a name or a reference and find that I have to go back and read the story to refresh what really happened.

I remember several years ago my wife, Melinda, and I were having a discussion. It was late and the house was quiet enabling us to have some time to just talk. I don’t really remember exactly what we were talking about but it obviously must have been concerning something we were dealing with as pastor because I made a statement that caught my own attention and I have never forgotten it. I said, “Spirits beget like spirits.” I then made reference to a Bible story.

Now Melinda and I have both been raised in Church and had excellent Sunday school teachers. Both of our fathers were very good Bible teachers. Yet Melinda said, “You know, I am not sure I know that story.” My reply was, “I can remember parts of it, but it has been so long I am not sure I know it all that well.” It isn’t a story you hear preached every week. In fact, I am not sure I have heard it preached, except the next week when I, of course, used it. What makes this even a bit more ironic is our daughter is named after the main character in the story, Abigail.

I am talking about the story of Abigail and David. The word Abigail means “source of joy.” When you read the story of Abigail you will find that her name fit her. However, let me share what we found in the story that night after I got my Bible and we read the story together. It is found in 1 Samuel 25.

David, with six hundred men is living in caves and the mountains, hiding from Saul and his army. Living the life of an outlaw means you have to live off the land, which at times can be difficult, especially with some many people. While they were in the region of Carmel they protected some shepherds and their flocks. They did this kind deed without taking anything in return. The flocks belonged to a man by the name of Nabal who the Bible describes as a churlish man which means to be cruel and obstinate pr pigheaded. His wife and servants described him as being a son or man of Belial which means wicked.

When David and his men were in need of food, David sent men to Nabal to see if they could receive some help in return for the protection they had provided his men and his flocks. Instead of kindness, Nabal was angry they would even dare to ask. He went so far as to insult David. When David’s men returned with the message from Nabal, David himself became angry. He called together four hundred of his men, armed them and set out to take what he needed from Nabal, including lives.

Now a servant heard all that had taken place and went to Abigail to inform her of the eminent danger that was headed their way. Abigail’s response was to gather provisions in hopes of making amends for her husband’s insolence. She intercepted David on the road and fell at his feet. She explained to him that Nabal was not the most intelligent person in the world. In fact she said his name is Nabal, which means stupid, and folly, or wickedness, was with him. Nabal is his name and folly is his game?

After her explanation and gift, David blessed Abigail and sent her home. He told her that he was listening to her advice. He and his men then returned to the mountains. Upon her return home Abigail finds Nabal having a big party. The next morning when he has sobered up she informs him of what she has done and the danger which she spared them of. Nabal becomes so angry he obviously has a stroke or heart attack and is in a coma for ten days before he dies.

Now comes the beautiful part of the story. When David hears what has taken place and that Nabal has died he sends for Abigail. He wants her to be his wife. She shows, again, a sweet spirit in accepting this offer.
What I had noticed in the story was the reactions of the different people to the attitudes or the spirits of others. Let me give you examples.

• David shows kindness to the herdsmen of Nabal and they in return show kindness to him
  
• Nabal is angry, for no apparent reason and the response from David is anger also.
  
• Abigail blesses David, showing a repentant and humble spirit. David reacts with repentance and blessings. He was going to kill Nabal and changed his mind.
  
• David shows a sweet and caring spirit to Abigail in asking her to be his wife. She responds again with humbleness.
  

I have found this principle to hold true in my relationship with people. I have found myself reacting to the anger of other people with anger myself. Later I would wonder why I am angry. I have also found myself responding to a kind sweet spirit with kindness on my part. Spirits begat like spirits!

So why am I bringing this out? I don’t know do you ever have to deal with attitudes or spirits that bring you to the brink of frustration? Do you ever have situations that you are dealing with and you are wondering why everyone involved always end up angry and there is no resolution? Could it be that spirits are bearing like spirits? Could you be causing anger in the people you are dealing with because of your anger? Could you be responding in anger because of their anger? The answer to these and other interesting questions inquiring minds want to know!

Let’s take some lessons from Abigail. She defuses a very volatile condition with simple submission and humbleness. She did not justify the wrong in any way. In fact she called it as she saw it, “The man is stupid, his name says it all!” But she was humble and repentant, she was sorry for the actions of Nabal. In response, even though he had murder in his eye, David the giant slayer is stopped without a bowstring being drawn or a sword brandished.

What would happen in our marriages if we responded with that type of a spirit? You say that you are in the right. A man wisely said, “Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?” Abigail is the one who was mightily blessed in this whole turn of events. She is the one who ended up marrying the King. If I can just keep my spirit right what could happen?

When I have done wrong, or had wrong committed against me, what would happen if I humbled myself in repentance? Repentance both to God and the other person involved. I know, maybe I was justified in man’s eyes! I know, maybe I was the one who was done wrong! But that isn’t real the question! The real question is this “Is being right or justified worth the loss of a friend or the relationship of a loved one?” Spirits beget like spirits!

How much more effective could we be in reaching the “unchristian” if we have a sweet and humble spirit? I have seen so often an attitude of superiority even arrogance, because we know something they don’t know. Actually our attitude should be that of humbleness because we have been so blessed to have the Truth of the Word of God revealed to us. God has asked us to be His Bride how humbling to receive such an honor! Humbleness isn’t being a mouse, humbleness is recognizing your position in response to the position you have placed God and others in. It is having our priorities correctly placed.

This comes back to the Golden Rule, “treat others as you want to be treated!” If I was in their place, how would I want me to act or react? Doing so will go a long ways to bringing about the results I desire in this situation. Why? Because spirits beget like spirits!

Stephen could have became angry, justifiably so. However, he prayed for those who were murdering him and Paul was converted. Jesus could have called a legion of angels, or more, and destroyed all those who desired to kill him. Instead, he reacted with love and mercy! You and I are the result. Nothing strengthens a relationship more than love and mercy!

Just a thought!

God Bless!

How's Your Hearing?

Several years ago I was given a new Bible by a Bible Book store that I frequented. It was newly published and they wanted local Pastors to check this new Bible out and give them an opinion about it. Well, I am a big book fan and a bigger Bible fan, I have a small collection of each, so readily accepted the offer. I am a bigger fan of free!

I took the Bible home and at my first opportunity excitedly sat down and began to read. I first went to favorite passages and read each of them. I then just began to thumb through it and read different passages that caught my attention. In doing so, I came across a passage that surprised me. I quickly picked up my worn King James, Thompson Chain to verify what I was reading. Although I had read the passage many times and had even used it in different messages I had never seen it on this wise.

For many months I had been seeking God to know more of Him. In this time and endeavor God had been instilling in me a greater love for His Word. He had awakened an appetite to learn all I could of Him. He had been showing me that if I didn’t have a great love for the Word of God I could not have a great love for Him because He and His Word are inseparable.

During this time period I had several friends, along with others that I had known and respected, who had walked away from the Truth they had once held and preached. I am not talking about adjustments but I am referring complete rejection of these Truth. The question had often come to my mind, why was this happening. The prayer had often come from my heart to my lips, “God I want to protect my love for Truth, show me how to keep this from happening to me.” When I read the above referred to passage I felt God had answered my prayer and given me some insight and direction for my life.

Jesus is teaching on the seaside. He is giving good, basic instructions to His followers. These were instructions that dealt with the basics of a relationship with God. He talks of the Kingdom of God and the importance of the Word of God in our lives. While sharing these principles he makes a statement which is what caught my attention, let me share:

“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.” (Mark 4:23-25)

Now, before I talk to you about what I felt God showed me in this passage, let me share this from the Bible that I was reading when it caught my attention:

“Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand! And be sure to pay attention to what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand — and even more, besides. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them." (Mark 4:23-25 NLT)

What a powerful statement. We are often told to listen. We are often told to take heed how we hear. We are often told that when we give we will be blessed in receiving. However, I had never connected all of these together. I had never noticed, before this time, Jesus links listening, understanding to a closer relationship with Him.

In fact Jesus tells us to be willing to listen and understand. We need to have a hunger for the Word of God. We need to have a desire to learn more of Him through His Word. We need to be careful and give close consideration to what we are hearing. Along with these instructions there are some assurances or even promises, notice:

1. The more we listen, understand and pay attention the more we will understand.
2. By being open to His teachings He will give us more understanding.
3. By not being open to His teachings we will lose what we have already learned from Him.

When I had read this and spent some time thinking on it, I became very thoughtful in my soul. I came to realize that God was answering my prayer and question at the same time. He was assuring me that if I wanted to know Him better and wanted a greater relationship with Him it would come through a desire for His Word. By loving His Word and learning of Him I would acquire a greater understanding of Him. How awesome! This was an assertion there was a way to get closer to Him and that was through His Word.

The answer to the question of why people were walking away from the Truth they had once embraced was also given. It was simply that somewhere along the road they had lost their love for Truth, for the Word of God. Because they were not careful how they heard, they lost what they had. Because they didn’t have a hunger and desire for the Word of God, the Truth they had received was gradually removed from their lives. Let me give you an example of a couple of passages of scripture.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Paul warns us that in the last days before the second coming of God we should be very careful to guard what we are hearing. Caution should be used in what we embrace as Truth. If we fail to love Truth, God Himself will send a great deceit that they would believe a lie and be damned.

There is a very sad and shocking story shared with us in the closing chapter of 1 Kings. Jehoshaphat, king of Judah has joined forces with Ahab, king of Israel against their common enemy Syria. Before going into battle Jehoshaphat asks for a prophet of the Lord to give them direction. Ahab calls his prophets but Jehoshaphat wanted a prophet of the Lord. Ahab said there was only one around but didn’t like the man because he never had anything good to say to him. However, it being insisted, he sent for Micaiah the prophet.

The prophets of Ahab all prophesied Israel would route the Syrians and win the battle. When Micaiah was brought before the Kings, he was instructed by the messenger to likewise say good things. Micaiah did as the others and said good things but was rebuked and told to say what God had told him to say. He told this story, please pay attention it is very sobering: “God was having counsel with the host of heaven and He asked who shall persuade Ahab to go to Ramoth-gilead that he might die there, as had been prophesied? Several came before Him with suggestions until a spirit came before the Lord and said, ‘I have a way to persuade him! I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ The Lord said that would persuade him and the Lord put a lying spirit in the mouths of the prophets of Ahab.” Ahab believed the prophets, disguised himself and went into battle. A random arrow, shot into the air, pierced his armor and killed Ahab in that battle. He died just as prophesied, because he did not love truth, but loved what made him feel and look good.

Without a love for Truth we will be destroyed. If we fail to take heed to how we hear, we are seeking destruction. This is not a time to walk away from the Truth of the Word of God. Today is a day, more than any before, when we need to embrace Truth, we need to love Truth.
I desire a greater love for Truth. I desire and purpose to be careful to what I listen to. God give me a greater understanding for your Word and a greater knowledge of you!

Just a thought!

God Bless

The Sickness Whereof He Died

Have you every heard something said that impacts you so profoundly you still remember it many years later? I don’t mean remember it in a way where you say, “Oh I remember something about that. “ I mean, remembering it so vividly that you remember exactly where you were when it was said. You remember the day, time and everything else about it. You can see it in your minds eye as if you were still there. Several years ago this happened to me and I have never forgotten what was said.

It was a Sunday morning in July of 1990. My family was on vacation and we had stopped to visit some close friends. We were in services with them that day and setting in the Adult Sunday School Class. Elder Harvey Cantrell was pastor of the Church we were visiting in Hanford, California and was teaching the lesson that day. During the course of the lesson Elder Cantrell read a passage of scripture that impacted my life. Now, in all honesty, eighteen years later I don’t remember what he was teaching that day. Nor do I remember much that was said before or after he read and made a short comment on this passage of scripture. It was the scripture and the brief comment that struck a chord in my heart.

The scripture was; “Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died…” (2 Kings 13:14). The comment that he made was, “We will all die sometime, unless the Lord comes first. That is why sickness comes and people aren’t healed. It doesn’t mean they don’t have faith, it means that it is time…”

What made this scripture and statement so impacting to me was the fact that just a few months prior to this we had found out my father had Parkinson’s disease. We had been praying and fasting for his healing, however, he wasn’t getting better but was getting worse. I was dealing with unanswered questions in my mind and in just a few simple words God had given me an answer to my question. There are just sometimes God doesn’t heal because it is time to go home. That day God let me to know that my father wouldn’t be healed in this life. I needed to live my life accordingly.

Death is a hard subject to address for a couple of reasons. One is that very few people are around to tell us about death that has actually experienced it. Because of this it remains a mystery and we are all somewhat afraid of the unknown. The second reason is death is looked upon as the end of everything, which it is in this life. No one wants to experience death. However, I have a couple of thoughts about death that came to mind recently with this memory and I felt maybe I should share.

Death was introduced into this world because of the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden. The Bible tells us it is the curse of man, because of sin. We also know that it is appointed unto man to die. That is the end of it all for us.

There is another way that the child of God can view death. Looking at our own death or looking at the death of a loved one who is a “believer.” The Psalmist tell us in Psalms 116:15, the death of one of His saints is precious in the eyes of the Lord. This should let us know there is a different view of death for the born again child of God. In God’s opinion His saint passing on is a special event. Why? One of the reasons is God looks upon us with great value and calls us His jewels in Malachi 3:17.

Death came to this world by the sin of one, Adam. By the same token life was brought to us by the second Adam, Jesus Christ. Paul said that when we were born again we became new creatures in Christ. Those things of old are passed away and all things become new. I am in no way saying that we will never die, I have preached too many funerals for faithful saints to say that. What I am saying, however, is that we can take a different view of the death of a saint. The curse of sin was death. Yet when we are born again, that curse is removed. Jesus Christ walked into hell and demanded the keys of death and hell. Death no longer has dominion over us. It no longer rules or has authority over us. Death is no longer a curse to the saint of God, it is now precious. Our second birth has brought about that change.

I remember sitting there that morning and thinking of my loved ones who had already gone before me to meet the Lord. I thought of others I knew who were dealing with sicknesses whereof they would die if God didn’t heal them. I realized, although I was a healthy young man at the time, there might come a time when I would hear a doctors report that spelled out the end being near. I remember these thoughts going through my mind and thinking; “Isn’t that just like God, He takes sickness, tragedy and all of the other things that seem to be so bad and brings about that which is precious. He uses it to add another Jewel to His Treasury!”

Just a thought!

God Bless!

Entertained by the Ambassador of the Enemy

It is 2:20 PM on Sunday afternoon, footsteps echo down the hall as Admiral Momura and Mr. Kurusu approached the office of Secretary of State Cordell Hall, for a requested meeting. The two Japanese representatives enter the office and hands the Secretary of State a decoded message from Tokyo saying, in brief, negotiations between the two nations were at an end. They were totally taken back and embarrassed by Secretary Hull’s reaction. You see, what they didn’t know is that moments before they entered the room, Secretary Hull had received word of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the same Japanese nation these men represented. That attack had happened at 1:53 PM Washington, D.C. time. In fact, they themselves didn’t even know of the attack at that time.

This picture of Pearl Harbor was
taken from a Japanese attack plane.

How like the enemy! No matter who your enemy is, they want to make you feel at ease and catch you “off guard” with their attack. The enemy of our soul tries the same tactics over and over again. He will send his ambassador to entertain us and keep us busy while he slips in the back door to destroy us.

The messenger arrived with a letter of great importance. I am shocked to receive a message by a messenger since almost all messages are sent by email or by text message now. I opened the envelope and read the message, surprised at the signatures at the bottom of the page. What could they possibly have to say to me? My surprise deepened when I read the contents as it was an invitation for coffee! Wow, who would have thought this would take place, not even in your wildest imaginations.

The invitation was from Sandy and Toby, two people who do not like me at all. They wanted me to meet them at the little Java Hut on the corner of Ono and Plains Streets. Which is not a good area of town; in fact, it is a good place to stay away from. These two men can have nothing good on their minds.

The messenger turns to leave but I stop him before he reaches the door. “Wait a moment and I will send the reply with you!” If they were going to be formal, I would as well. I would also handle this immediately since I didn’t have to think about my answer.

I sat down at the keyboard and quickly typed out the return message which read, “Ono, I won’t go! Why should I leave the work I am doing for God to be entertained by the enemy of my soul who desires to do me harm.” I hit print and as the message printed I grabbed an envelope. I gave it to the messenger, along with a tip for his efforts, and sent him on his way. The matter was all settled.

As Nehemiah refused to meet with Sanballat and Tobiah and the others, we should refuse to be entertained by the enemy of our souls. Nehemiah had purposed in his heart he was going to see Jerusalem rebuilt, no matter what the cost might be. When the enemy did their best, on several occasions, to distract him, he refused to be distracted. He refused their offers of entertainment. Ono, he just wouldn’t go to the Plains of Ono!

Satan tries his best to distract us from the work we are doing for God. He tries to get us engrossed in other things drawing our attention away from our purpose.
God tells Adam and Eve they can eat of every tree in the Garden except the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan appears and asks them, “…hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen 3:1) Suddenly the emphasis is off what God is blessing them with, every tree but one, to what God isn’t giving them, not everything.

He speaks to a young man, Cain, and tells him it doesn’t matter what he sacrifices, just make a sacrifice. He wouldn’t have dared to say, “Don’t make a sacrifice!” That was too big a step. He just said your sacrifice is as good as what God is requiring, so do it your own way.
He spoke to Saul and said you are the King why do you have to wait for a prophet? Go ahead, the people expect you to make the sacrifice.

He comes against us with partial truths, which are only lies. He tries to distract you, confuse you and destroy you. Let me encourage you to refuse to sit down for coffee. Don’t let him in your living room or office. Don’t be entertained by the enemy.

When President F.D. Roosevelt gave the news to Secretary Hull he instructed him to not let the Ambassadors know that he already knew of the attack and to quickly and discreetly send them on their way. However, Secretary Hull called it as he saw it and the two men left in embarrassment. We don’t need to negotiate with the enemy, we need to send him on his way, with a firm, “ONO, I won’t go, why should I leave the work of God while you intend to do me harm?”

Just a thought!

God Bless!

It is About Point of View

Do you fly? You know what I mean; do you fly in an airplane? To me, flying is one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had. I was flying into San Francisco on a 707 one time and we stopped in San Jose. We let off a lot of passengers there. The plane seated about 220 passengers and I doubt there were 10 people left on the plane when we took off to make the short hop to San Francisco. I will never forget and it is twenty years later, the g-force and incredible take off we had that day. It was awesome!

I am not a frequent flyer. It is only every now and then that I get the opportunity to fly. I would like to share some observations about flying that I have made. I remember my wife’s first time to fly. We were flying on a twin-turboprop commuter airplane that seated 30 passengers. Now this was my first time to be on this small of a plane and Melinda was “freaking” out just being on a plane. We were seated over the wing and I had the window seat. As we are waiting to take off, I looked out the window and notice there was a “patch” riveted on the cover of the prop motor on the wing. What really caught my attention was I could see a little bit of oil squirting out of the “patch.” Now I didn’t mention this to my wife or anyone else because I knew they wouldn’t get that plane off the ground if I did so.

However, on our return trip I noticed some things that I want to share with you. I noticed there were times when, because of the clouds, I couldn’t see where we were going. In fact all I could really see was right where we were. My vision was very limited but the pilot had assured us that his visibility from the cockpit was many miles ahead. I also noticed that as we were flying at the thirty thousand feet altitude I could not distinguish anything on the ground. In fact, I pretty much had no idea where we were. The pilot, however, seemed to know exactly where we were at all times. There was no hesitation on his part at all.

When we came into the airport I noticed the closer we came to the ground the bigger things became. At first you could barely make out the cities, then the houses, then the cars, and then the people. Just as we were coming in we flew over a golf course and you could actually see the people playing golf. The closer we got, the bigger things became.

I remember on another flight, I was flying from San Francisco to Dallas. We flew into Denver and I switched planes. The flight from Frisco to Denver was very rough. It was bad enough they wouldn’t let the flight attendants up. This plane was fairly large, and full, but was being tossed around like a kite in the wind. It was bad enough the person sitting next to me filled several “doggie” bags before we landed. When we left Denver for Dallas they allowed us to tune into the pilots radio frequency with our headsets and we were able to hear him communicate with the tower. Again, we were being tossed pretty bad and the pilot kept asking to be allowed to fly at a higher elevation so we could get above the turbulence. They finally gave him permission and we had a smooth ride.

I flew from Springfield, Missouri to Fresno, California several years ago. I was going to where my mother was living at the time and moving her to Arkansas. The day that I left I woke up with a terrible cold. I wasn’t in the air five minutes before my ears plugged from the pressure. They remained plugged until we were in Flagstaff, Arizona, elevation 7,000 feet, traveling to Arkansas three days later.

Let me try and tie this together. When I am in a plane I place my life in the hands of the pilot. I don’t have to be able to see because I trust his judgment. I don’t have to understand if the plane is leaking oil because they have checked it and know what is happening. If I will let the pilot have control he will take me from point A to point B safely. He has my safety as his concern! I need to do the same with God. I need to put my life in His hands and trust Him to get me to heaven safely. It doesn’t matter if I can see or if I understand everything, I must trust Him.

This is the USS Ronald Reagan in the San Diego Bay. Notice how small they seem. The higher I fly the more my point of view changes! There will be some pressure. There will also be some turbulence. But the closer I get to heaven the less the turbulence is going to affect me. Those things of this world that seemed so “big” to me on the ground now seemed so insignificant. Things like houses, cars, pleasures, people, all of these started to loose their importance the higher I go. They eventually become insignificant. I noticed just climbing into the plane changes one’s perspective, of everything on the ground. The closer I get to God and the more I learn of Him, the more my perspective of this world changes.

A scripture comes to mind, “They that wait upon the Lord… shall mount up with wings like an eagle…” I have to wonder if part of that meaning could be that when we bind ourselves together as one with God (which is what the word “wait” actually means) we will get a totally different point of view about the things of this life. Will the way we view things change? Will the “…things of this world… grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace?”
What would happen if we really developed a “heavenly point of view?”

Just a thought!

God Bless!

The Brown Thompson Chain Bible

I was talking to someone the other day, I can’t remember who. Time out, the bad thing about talking to so many people and getting old is you can’t remember who you told what. So then everyone thinks your losing “it” because you repeat yourself. You aren’t losing “it“, you are just having trouble keeping track of “it.” Meanwhile, back at the ranch.

I was talking to someone the other day about an old Bible that I have which belonged to my Dad. My father started preaching at the age of eighteen in 1948. He preached his last message five days before he passed away. That message was preached from his hospital bed in 1999. During those fifty one years he wore out two Thompson Chain Bibles and used a couple of others. The first Bible that I remember Dad using was a brown covered Thompson Chain. It is the only thing of Dad’s that I ever really wanted and he gave it to me a few years before he died. The cover is so worn around the edges that the leather is separated. The binding is coming loose in the back. The pages are wrinkled and marked from handling, preaching and studying.

I remember the Christmas that Mom bought Dad a new black Thompson Chain Bible. With this one she bought a case for protection. I remember him preaching from that Bible many times. It too showed the signs of much use when it was finally put into “retirement.” I could have had the choice of either Bible, mainly because I asked first. However, I wanted the Brown Thompson Chain Bible. You see there were some special memories that I have with that Bible. Let me share a few with you.

On February 12, 1952 a twenty one year old man became a soldier upon invitation from Uncle Sam. Dad was an Ordained Minister of the Gospel. This should have disqualified him automatically. He said that President Truman liked him so much he come visit anyway. Dad had flat feet and was born blind in one eye. Either one of those should have kept him out of the military, yet they took him anyway. When he arrived in Virginia for basic training the doctors examined him and asked, “How did you get in here with these conditions?” Dad replied, “It wasn’t hard at all!” At that time they wanted to send him home. He shouldn’t have been there at all. Yet Dad said, “No, I am proud to serve my country, let me stay.” He felt God had him there for a reason. They let him stay.

While at Camp Pickett, Virginia Dad was able to start a church on the base for the Pentecostal soldiers and their wives to attend. Through the years he talked to many soldiers who attended that church after he was shipped out. God had him there for a reason. He was shipped to Korea. He was in the Medical Corp and drove an ambulance. Because of his beliefs he refused to carry a weapon. He wouldn’t even carry a side arm. He walked guard duty on the front lines, but refused to carry a weapon.

Several times his life was spared by the hand of God. One time he was helping load wounded soldiers on a train just behind the front line. As he returned from the train to get another patient his commanding officer handed him a piece of shrapnel. The officer said it had landed inches behind Dad and if it had hit him it would have killed him.

The Bible Dad preached from was the Brown Thompson Chain Bible. He carried it to Virginia and preached from it there. He carried it with him to Korea and preached from it there. I remember as a young child seeing him carry it to the pulpit and preach from it. I remember him sitting and reading from it when he was grieving over the death of his father. I remember a few months later when he returned from the funeral of his young brother who was killed so tragically in an accident, he would pick up the worn Bible and read from it. It was like a friend.

In those early formative years I came to realize that it wasn’t “that” Bible that was so special. It was “the” Bible that was so special. The author and he were good friends. He could share his thoughts and sorrows with him and get Words of strength and encouragement in return. I will never forget sitting with him one night, very late. It was a few days before his passing. He had called us boys to come and talk. Actually, it should have been to come and listen. My two brothers and my son Justin were with me. Dad shared a lot of things with us that night. One thing he said I will never forget. In essence he said he didn’t understand why he had gotten Parkinson’s disease. He was younger than most people are when they get it. He didn’t understand why he had been stopped from doing what he had hoped to do with his life. He had wanted to travel and preach. He had wanted to take care of Mom and enjoy his grandkids and great grandchildren. He said there were a lot of things that he didn’t understand. Yet he said he wanted us boys to know, if just one life was touched by his ten years of suffering, it was worth every moment of it.

I came across a passage today that touched my heart. The Psalmist made this statement, “I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.”
Dad made the name of the Lord to be remembered to all generations. Eternity will only tell exactly who was touched. Only eternity will reveal whose life was changed because of a man who loved and served God first and foremost in his life.

This I do know. My life is different because Dad made the name of the Lord known to me. This I do know, I have two brothers who are also preachers of the Gospel because the name of the Lord was made known to them. This I do know, he has a grandson and grandson in law that are preachers of the gospel. This I do know three of his granddaughters are filled with the Holy Ghost and living for God, actively involved in the work of God.

I am encouraged to know as I deal with the cares that life brings my way, I can make the name of the Lord known to all generations. I can do it by placing my trust and confidence in God. As I do this, the next generation will hopefully realize that God is faithful and true no matter what we are dealing with.

Yes, I picked the Brown Thompson Chain Bible because it reminded me of the God of my Father. A God whose name he made known unto me.

God Bless!