Tuesday, July 31, 2001
Baptism is a topic that is not talked about much these days but there is quite a difference in what various denominations believe about it. Some believe that you must be immersed, others pour or sprinkling is fine. Some believe that one is not “saved,” even though they have made a commitment to Christ, until they are baptized. Some believe in infant baptism as a means of salvation while others believe that infant baptism is essential but a commitment to Christ later in life then becomes salvation. Regardless of what your denomination or local church teaches in regard to baptism, I would encourage you to study the scriptures for answers and also inquire to your pastor about your churches position and why they believe as they do.
Baptism is important enough for you to spend time and study for yourself. If you have not been baptized I would encourage you to go to your pastor and inquire about being baptized. If it weren’t important it wouldn’t be in the scriptures and John the Baptist or the disciples wouldn’t have been baptizing. Jesus himself was baptized, obviously demonstrating its value and importance. Take the time to find out what is so important about baptism. You will be blessed!
-Matt 28:19-20 NIV
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Monday, July 30, 2001
If you had to work in a circus, which job would you want? Most would pick the less risky jobs like feeding the animals or perhaps hiding behind the clown mask and suit. Few would choose being a Lion Tamer, Hire Wire Walker or flying on the high trapeze. The risk of being hurt is too great.
In the church today we have a similar situation; people want to do the things that require the least risk of being hurt. As a result many our churches have become safe havens of peace but have lost their vibrancy of risk for the advancement of the kingdom. When I see how God moved the people of the Bible I see a constant flow of risk takers. And yes, many of them were hurt and disappointed but not regretful because the cause of Christ went forward and people were saved.
It will be worth it all,
When we see Jesus.
Life’s trials will seem so small,
When we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face,
All sorrow will erase.
So bravely run the race,
Till we see Christ.
-Ps 25:14 NIV
The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
Sunday, July 29, 2001
This morning I attended a church and, as usual, I read the bulletin. When I came to their financial report I was not surprised to read that their income was only 79% of their budget to date for the year. I don’t know if this is typical for most churches these days or if it just the ones that I am at. It would be easy for us to rationalize and say that giving is down because of the economy, fallen stock prices and the lack of job security. My question is what has been the excuse for the previous few years when churches have still been short of income and the economy is booming?
The financial problem that many churches are facing today is not that there are so many people with “broken piggy banks” but rather that there are not enough people with “broken hearts.”
How much should you give to the work of the church? Give until it helps!
-2 Cor 8:11-12 NIV
11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Saturday, July 28, 2001
Don’t ever give up on the local church! It has passed the test of time and is very near and dear to the heart of God. Sometimes I verbally prick at the church to sharpen its edges but it should never be misinterpreted that I have animosity or apathy for the local church. I love the local church and so should you!
-Acts 20:28 NIV
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
Friday, July 27, 2001
Yesterday I watched my niece show her Holstein Steer and nephew show his lamb at the 4-H cattle show at the county fair. The judging ring sits exactly where the mobile home sat where I lived in 6th and 7th grade. It brought back memories.
As I walked into the cattle barn I saw only three dairy cattle, all of them being shown by my niece. I can remember when there were barns full of cattle and many contestants for each category. She will show for one or two more years. Does that mean there will be no dairy cattle at the fair? My how things have changed.
In all of our environments, whether it is country or city, things have changed. With all of these changes we have lost a lot and it is difficult to grasp whether this new “lifestyle” is an improvement. But it really doesn’t matter because we must live within the reality of it.
Therefore, people still need the Lord, the certain unchanging stable factor in our lives who guides, sustains and comforts us in all the changes of life!
-Heb 6:17-20 NIV
17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Thursday, July 26, 2001
The innocence of youth cannot be recaptured once it is lost except through the forgiveness and the cleansing power of Jesus Christ. When we seek His forgiveness He cleanses us from all our sin.
However, there are times that the incense of youth is stolen by someone else and a young person suffers to regain that innocence. Often they feel as though they have sinned or should have done something to prevent the theft of their incense. Unfortunately many of these people spend their entire lives trying to forgive themselves for something they didn’t do and had no control over.
Many people today need healing from the pain and suffering from the theft of their innocence. At Calvary Jesus forgave the sin of the world through His shed blood but He also provided healing and strength for the journey through life by His broken body. Regardless of whether innocence is lost by sin or stolen by a sinner Jesus is the only restorer of innocence.
-1 Peter 2:24 NIV
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
Wednesday, July 25, 2001
Salvation is not a result of works but works is a result of salvation!
Eph 2:10 NIV
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
James 2:26 NIV
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Tuesday, July 24, 2001
The walk through the valley of the shadow of death is one of the loneliest places on earth. It may be experiencing ones own death, the death of a loved one or friend. Or perhaps it’s just a very difficult and painful experience. No one can walk there for you and no one can experience the overwhelming helplessness that takes place during the journey. It has always helped me to remember that the psalmist wrote the “shadow of death” and I realize that shadows can’t hurt me (Psalm 23).
It’s also very easy to forget that God is there with us. If you are going to walk in a shadow make sure it is the shadow of the Almighty!
-Ps 91:1 NIV
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Monday, July 23, 2001
The Secret
A favorite poem of Lonna’s Grandmother Johnson
I met God in the morning,
When the day was at it’s best.
And His presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.
All day long His presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me.
And we sailed a perfect calmness,
O’er a very troubled sea.
Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed.
But the winds that seem to drive them,
Brought to me a peace and rest.
Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind.
When I too had loosed the moorings,
With the presence left behind.
So, I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way.
You must seek God in the morning,
If you want Him through the day.
-By Bishop Ralph Cushman
Sunday, July 22, 2001
Last night I attended a fireworks show at a nearby community. I lived there when I was in 3rd-5th grade. The fireworks were on the shore of a small lake (big pond) right in town called Memory Lake and it did bring back memories.
I remembered how I would swim near the beach where they were sending up the fireworks. Sometimes my parents would swim there in the evening with another couple. Now my mother has passed away as well as the husband of the other couple. Yes, memories are often the most precious thing we have as the years go by.
As the fireworks began a handful of people stood up and stayed standing blocking the view of others of the ground displays. People started hollering, “Down in front! Down in front!” The people never moved. Even when someone went up to talk to them they still stood there blocking everyone else’s view that was sitting in lawn chairs.
The thought occurred to me that it is probably more common than we realize that Christians stand in the way of others trying to see Jesus. Either through our actions, words or the lack of them we may be there very thing that prevents people from seeing Jesus. We can easily become an obstacle rather than a receptacle. It is important that we evaluate our own spiritual lives and ask ourselves, “Am I becoming what God wants me to be or am I just doing what God wants me to do?” It leads to a lot of confusion, frustration and ineffective ministry because people forget that we must become what God wants us to be before we can do what God wants us to do! As a result, our testimony can become tarnished and actually be a wall preventing people from seeing Jesus.
And suddenly someone in the back stood up and yelled at those standing in front, “Down in front! There are children back here trying to see!”
-1 Cor 9:24-27 NIV
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Saturday, July 21, 2001
He made the mountains, He made the seas.
He made the flowers that bloom with the trees.
He made the music the saints sing with joy.
He made the little ones, including their toys.
He made the moon that brightens the night.
He made the sunshine that warms the daylight.
He made the raindrops that turn into snow.
He made the gentle breeze direction unknown.
He made the day, He made the night.
He made me know everything is all right.
He made the rivers that flow with such ease.
He made the people just as He pleased.
He made the smile, He made kind acts.
He made the blessings that we call facts.
He made the laughter, he made the tears.
He made the peace to silence my fears.
He made the love that in me has grown.
He made the love that others have known.
He made the promises to strengthen my day.
He made the gate that opens one way.
He made the dreams that inspire my mind.
He made the path that I love to climb.
He made the failure I often achieve.
He made the pleasure I find on my knees.
-Lyn Sahr, July 21, 2001
Friday, July 20, 2001
No matter where you are going, God is already there!
-Ps 139:7-10 NIV
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Thursday, July 19, 200
As I watched the news this morning, Federal Reserve Chairman Allen Greenspan came on and announced his projection for continued downturn in the economy through the remainder of the year. On the news last night more layoffs were announced at major corporations. Yesterday I got news of another internet business going bankrupt losing several millions of dollars of investor money. I suppose if this continues, along with high-energy costs, we will see people terribly inconvenienced:
Parents will have to stay home with their children more as many will have to live on one paycheck.
Many mothers will probably have to stay at home with their children while the husband works.
Kids will have to read books from the library instead attending movies.
More and more people will put up television antennas for local programming eliminating high priced cable and satellite.
Teens will have to walk to school together instead of driving cars with the price of cars, insurance and gas.
Kids will have to play simple, inexpensive sports like baseball in the back yard and vacant lots.
Families will have to start playing scrabble and clue again.
Instead of weekend trips out of town, families will have to do that boring “picnic in the park” thing.
Neighbors will have to get together for backyard fun that doesn’t cost.
And our churches will be full of people looking for somewhere to go that they don’t have to pay admission. And they will perhaps choose a church they can walk a few blocks to with their neighbors. What a novel idea.
Yup, people are going to be really inconvenienced without all the extra money they have had in recent years.
-Prov 19:23 NIV
The fear of the LORD leads to life:
Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Wednesday, July 18, 2001
Youth ministry seems to be a major struggle for many churches. At a meeting that I was at a couple of years ago the speaker said that there was a 50% shortage of Youth Pastors. That being the case, half of the churches that want to hire full-time youth pastors are going to have to do something different. And that’s just the ones who think they can afford to hire an additional staff person. But what do they do? Go without youth ministry? Unfortunately, some churches do.
We have come to believe that volunteers do not exist anymore to serve in these ministries. Nothing could be further from the truth. In our churches today there are wonderful people with big hearts for kids and youth. A willing, loving heart still goes a long way in ministering to others.
If you have a heart for ministry, go see your pastor and volunteer. After you revive him, you will probably be up to your elbows in ministry! Use your gifts!
-Eph 4:11-13 NIV
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Tuesday, July 17, 2001
Predicting the future is really not that tough. I know that it is going to get dark this evening, remain dark through the night and get light in the morning. That doesn’t take much to predict.
I know that we are all going to take our final breath one day and someone will bury our body in a box in the ground or burn our body and save what’s left of us in a bottle. That doesn’t take much to predict either.
I also know that we have a soul that lives on forever. Where we have our eternal home is the part that is hard to predict in other people. But when it comes to ourselves, we have no problem predicting where we will spend eternity. God has given us the choice and that choice is by accepting or rejecting His Son, Jesus Christ, as our personal Savior. And we all know what we have chosen.
-Josh 24:15 NIV
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Monday, July 16, 2001
Children are looking for someone to lead the way. Every day of every year of their life they have to travel the road of the unknown in the process of growing up. Who leads the way? They call them parents!
If parenting has been difficult for you, don’t be too hard on yourself. God had a couple of kids named Adam and Eve and things didn’t go so smoothly for Him either. If God had trouble raising children, we shouldn’t think it should be so easy for us either?
-Prov 17:6 NIV
Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
Sunday, July 15, 2001
Many of our churches today are disguised as social clubs and entertainment centers. Soon that is what people come to expect, nothing more, nothing less!
-Ps 29:2 NIV
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
Saturday, July 14, 2001
When asked how things were going in church a retired couple said, “Really good, except we would like it if they would sing more hymns in our worship service. All we sing is choruses.” I wasn’t startled because I have heard this many times in recent years. They went on to say that they enjoyed the choruses but that they would still like to sing some traditional hymns with the piano and organ.
But then they said something that really made me stop and think. “We call them (some worship choruses) ‘7-11 songs.’ They have 7 words and we sing them 11 times! We find it strange that evangelicals left the mainline churches to escape the vain repetitions of liturgy and here we are, doing the same thing, just singing it instead of saying it.”
Hmm, I thought, this is a “Thought For The Day!”
-Ps 9:1-2 NIV
I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Friday, July 13, 2001
Lies are like a chain, link after link heading right back to the person telling the lies. When you get to the end of the chain you will find the truth. The problem is that the person holding the chain gets so used to lying and has told so many of them that they no longer know the truth, fail to recognize it or just refuse to recognize it.
Often you will discover that the chain goes beyond the person you know. If you follow the links you will find them in the hands of someone else whose lies have affected and distorted the life of the person you know. Typically, these lies are supported by “so called” friends who must justify their own hearts.
But one thing is for certain. No matter how many sections of chain (lies) that you follow to the root of the lie, you will always find evil at the very end of the chain. So, if your hand is holding a chain of lies lay it down and exchange your lies for the truth. If someone you know is holding a chain of lies pray that God will give you wisdom in your love for them and that He will reveal to them the evil at the end of the chain. As Paul writes in 2 Cor 11:14, “…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Don’t be surprised at the power and deceit of darkness in spiritual warfare.
But what happens if a person continues in the lies? Where does the chain lead? That’s the interesting part. It leads right back to evil and re-links itself to become a vicious “circle of evil” that never ends. If you can visualize this picture I think you can understand the bondage that people find themselves in. It takes the power of God to break the chain of lies that bind people.
James writes that sin is conceived in the mind. It is also received in the mind and people are deceived in their minds. This deception comes from lies, the language Satan speaks.
-John 8:44 NIV
…When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
-Eph 6:11-13
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
-John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
-John 8:32
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
-Acts 26:17-18 (Jesus calling of Paul)
I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
-1 John 2:21-22
21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.
-2 Thess 2:10
They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Thursday, July 12, 2001
It takes a very soft heart to turn the other cheek, especially for those of us who are “stiff-necked!”
-Matt 6:14-15 NIV
14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Wednesday, July 11, 2001
When God created man and woman, they married and became one flesh. That appears to have been the easy part. Husbands and wives becoming of one Spirit seems to be the challenge.
-Eph 5:31,33 NIV
31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Tuesday, July 10, 2001
When it seems that God is not answering our prayers or even responding, it doesn’t mean that He has not heard us or that He is not going to act. In this day of “instant” everything we expect God to move at our first request and our earliest convenience. Be patient and wait. God’s response is pure and His timing is perfect.
-Isa 40:28-31 NIV
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Monday, July 9. 2001
As the world continues to shrink in this high-tech age, God remains as big as ever!
-Jer 32:17 NIV
17 “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
Sunday, July 8, 2001
Can God raise the dead? Yes!
Can God make the lame to walk? Yes!
Can God make the deaf hear? Yes!
Can God make the blind to see? Yes!
Can God get people to use their gifts in church? Ooh, aah, that’s a tough one!
-Rom 12:5-8 NIV
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Saturday, July 7, 2001
Yesterday morning, at a traffic light in downtown Saint Paul, the transmission went out of my car. I immediately turned my four-way flashers on so that people would know that I was stranded. I had to wait about 45 minutes for a tow truck. As I waited, people would continually drive up behind me, stop and wait for the light to turn green. Then they would begin to honk their horns, make obscene gestures with their hands and holler apparent obscenities. Finally I would just put my hands up in the air and they seemed to finally get it that I wasn’t going anywhere. As they drove by they would accelerate and mumble! It was really quite a sight to see the frustration they experienced because they did not pay any attention to the flashing warning lights.
As I waited and the continuous flow of frustrated drivers took their turns behind me, I thought of how Christians also miss the spiritual warning lights as they pay little attention to their drive through life and suddenly they find themselves stuck in the sin traffic lane. Look what is going on around you and pay special attention to the warning lights that God has placed in your way to help you have a safe journey.
-Prov 3:21-26 NIV
21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; 24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
Friday, July 6, 2001
Once I saw a sign that read, “I fought the lawn and the lawn won!” That’s how I felt the other day mowing my grass and trimming around the trees. It felt like I was never going to get done.
The life of faith is a little like my yard. It needs attention often. If I let it go to long it just becomes a much bigger task to restore it back to a thing of beauty. And a life that grows wild is a lot worse than a yard grown wild!
-Ps 103:15-18 NIV
15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children– 18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
Thursday, July 5, 2001
Sin has a way of blinding people before it snares them. Once a person is trapped in the sin their eyes are opened and they see their failure. I believe the embarrassment, pain and torment of the recognition of sin is part of the pleasure that Satan gets from his successes. But I always remember the words of a wise friend, “Just because you trip and fall climbing the mountain doesn’t mean you have to roll all the way to the bottom!”
If you have fallen, grab on to something and stop, get back up and walk on the safe trail, the one that that God has made and marked for you.
-Ps 145:14 NIV
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
Wednesday, July 4, 2000
Everyday chores are often the greatest labors of love. For those who are touched, their reflection in the mirror of time is what is remembered.
-Phil 2:14-15 NIV
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe…
Tuesday, July 3, 2001
People have become slaves to their “lifestyles” and no longer have the freedom to serve.
-Gal 5:13-14 NIV
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Monday, July 2, 2001
You can’t walk close to God and be running away from Him at the same time!
-Heb 10:23 NIV
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Sunday, July 1, 2001
Denominational lines are drawn by doctrines that are erased upon death!
-John 14:6-7 NIV
“…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
