LSD GUY
This message began as a meditation on the claim by some in today’s society that they were “born that way,” and cannot change. This is to explain and excuse certain behaviors, especially those that are delineated as sin. My mind ran to 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
But my mind immediately turned to the summer of 1968 when I was a camp counselor at Word of Life Camp in Schroon Lake, New York. I was reminded of two guys who became “new creations” that summer. They definitely changed.
The camp is in upstate New York and a lot of NY City kids were bussed up to the camp for a week away from the ghettoes and other influences of the city. They could not even bring radios. They got to live on an island, which was a very good move for some of the more “transient minded.” I do not recall anyone “running away and escaping. They also got to enjoy camping in the woods, water sports on the lake, and just experiencing the outdoors away from the hustle and bustle (and all the rest) of the Big City.
But more important, they were exposed to the message that Jesus saves. Two lives specifically come to mind. The first was an older “child,” who, many of us counselors estimated to be in his early to middle twenties. How he got into the camp was a mystery–until you hear the rest of the story.
This guy was “on something” as he seemed to be perpetually stoned. Most of us counselors were middle class, midwestern or southern born and bred, and the most severe “addiction” or intoxication we had ever encountered was alcohol. Harder, or more exotic drugs were outside of our experience. When it did not wear off in a few hours, we were more suspicious.
My co-counselor, John, and I were just happy that he was not in our cabin. I seem to recall that he was somewhat voluble, and even vociferous. But, at the same time, he was very personable and likable, to the point of being memorable. (That was 50 years ago.) Then, one night, he went forward and got saved. The skeptic in me said that he had “read the writing on the wall,” and knew he was about to be sent back to New Yawk. This would forestall his departure for a day or so.
I, along with several others, maybe a lot of others, discovered, to our delight that he had truly been saved and changed. Just talking with him revealed a completely new person. He was still the same personality. And in respect to the “50 years,” the thing that made him memorable was the transformation that occurred in his life.
He testified to the entire camp, and, I believe the next group or two as the administrators invited him to stay for an extra week or two. He told these groups of “know it all” city kids that he had been like them, but was now different. He had been on LSD. He may even have brought some to camp. But the second that he received Christ as his Savior, he was freed. He was freed from the wanting for it, and even the effects of his most recent dose. “I do not even want a cigarette, and I have been smoking since I was a little kid,” he declared.
Not every addict is released from the physical effects like that, but he was. I hope that someone, somewhere kept in touch with that guy and maybe we can touch base again. I know I will see him in heaven, but would like to “catch up” on the past half century and see how the Lord worked in and through his life.
God clearly and definitely did a miracle in his life; several miracles, in fact. First, and most important, he was literally a new creature, just as 2 Corinthians says. (He even threw away his drugs, as I recall.) His physical body also experienced a supernatural “healing.” He was delivered from the “addiction” or whatever accompanies LSD, and he also was delivered, for a while anyway, from the residual effects of LSD.
He had experienced “flashbacks” before, and that is when he took another hit. AC, after Christ, he had no flashbacks while at camp. (I imagine that he did not want to go home when the season ended.)
I was able to talk to him and, discerning soul that I am, was able to determine that he had been in a real, life-changing, experience. And I had actually watched him walk down the aisle. I was ashamed of my skepticism. God had worked in his life, and he was a walking miracle, a new creature.
Story number one of WOL 68 is at an end.
See Episode 2 above in the post. (LeTourneau North Word of Life Episode 2)
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
I Told You So
don’t you hate it when someone gloats, “I told you so?” Expecially when they warned or advised you about something and you did not heed their caution. It stings doubly, because you could have avoided whatever loss or reversal that occurred, and...you have to live with the stigma of knowing something, but not responding to it.
There seems to be just such an instance in Acts 27:21. A little background will help us to understand. Paul is on his way to Rome, courtesy of the Emperor, via the “best transportation Rome has to offer.” As you read the chapter, you discover that King Festus had dispatched Paul to Rome in the custody of a Roman Centurian named Julius. The exact number of soldiers accompanying Paul and the “other prisoners” is not indicated. He was part of the Augustan cohort. A cohort was a tenth of a legion and was between 360 and 800 soldiers.
The whole crew probably did not travel, but transporting or confining prisoners usually entailed a group of four, possibly multiplied by three for successive eight hour shifts. When Paul was taken to Caesarea the officer sent 70 horsemen and 200 soldiers. (Acts 23) We may safely infer that there were several soldiers involved.
Without going into details, which you can read for yourself in chapter 27, they ran into a little difficulty and put in at a harbor that the captain and ship owner deemed to be unsuitable for wintering. So they went on, in spite of Paul’s warning. Verses 9 and 10
Paul began to admonish them, 10 and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”
They went on and were caught in a terrible storm that blew them all over the Mediterranean. After 14 days (v. 27) they began to near some sort of refuge. Paul stood up in verse 21:
Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss.”
FYI: They had first jettisoned the cargo, then all of the tackle and sails, and were in fear of losing the ship.
And Paul stood up and “rubbed their noses in it. Or did he? Read on.
22 “Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’”
Paul was not gloating, but offering a validation of his “visions.” In essence, he was saying that the information that had been given to him was valid, true, and reliable. So what he was going to say next was likewise trustworthy. Listen
25 "Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on a certain island.”
Well, the boat crashing was not too encouraging, but he had promised that they all would survive and live to sail another day. (If they wanted to, that is.)
Paul was not a smartypants, lording it over the dummies with which he was consigned. He was sharing God’s message of salvation and deliverance. That is a pretty good message, and one that we ought to be shouting out today.
The chapter finishes with this description:
And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land.
I have a strong suspicion that the centurion, and probably most of the soldiers became believers. We know that in the next chapter most of the inhabitants of the island became believers. This “little diversion” was not a glitch in God’s travel itinerary for Paul, it was a designed encounter with some people who needed to know God. If we could see the travel planner it probably said, “Leave Caesarea, travel to Malta. Preach the Word. Proceed to Rome.” (The details are in Acts 27 and 28.)
Once again we are reminded that the Divine Author of the Bible did not waste words or time. He gave us what we needed to know, even if we didn’t know that we needed it. So when we need it, we have it. Having a reversal today? God does not always ‘make it all right,” but He is in control and nothing is out of His control. What a blessing.
Bon Voyage!
There seems to be just such an instance in Acts 27:21. A little background will help us to understand. Paul is on his way to Rome, courtesy of the Emperor, via the “best transportation Rome has to offer.” As you read the chapter, you discover that King Festus had dispatched Paul to Rome in the custody of a Roman Centurian named Julius. The exact number of soldiers accompanying Paul and the “other prisoners” is not indicated. He was part of the Augustan cohort. A cohort was a tenth of a legion and was between 360 and 800 soldiers.
The whole crew probably did not travel, but transporting or confining prisoners usually entailed a group of four, possibly multiplied by three for successive eight hour shifts. When Paul was taken to Caesarea the officer sent 70 horsemen and 200 soldiers. (Acts 23) We may safely infer that there were several soldiers involved.
Without going into details, which you can read for yourself in chapter 27, they ran into a little difficulty and put in at a harbor that the captain and ship owner deemed to be unsuitable for wintering. So they went on, in spite of Paul’s warning. Verses 9 and 10
Paul began to admonish them, 10 and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”
They went on and were caught in a terrible storm that blew them all over the Mediterranean. After 14 days (v. 27) they began to near some sort of refuge. Paul stood up in verse 21:
Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss.”
FYI: They had first jettisoned the cargo, then all of the tackle and sails, and were in fear of losing the ship.
And Paul stood up and “rubbed their noses in it. Or did he? Read on.
22 “Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’”
Paul was not gloating, but offering a validation of his “visions.” In essence, he was saying that the information that had been given to him was valid, true, and reliable. So what he was going to say next was likewise trustworthy. Listen
25 "Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on a certain island.”
Well, the boat crashing was not too encouraging, but he had promised that they all would survive and live to sail another day. (If they wanted to, that is.)
Paul was not a smartypants, lording it over the dummies with which he was consigned. He was sharing God’s message of salvation and deliverance. That is a pretty good message, and one that we ought to be shouting out today.
The chapter finishes with this description:
And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land.
I have a strong suspicion that the centurion, and probably most of the soldiers became believers. We know that in the next chapter most of the inhabitants of the island became believers. This “little diversion” was not a glitch in God’s travel itinerary for Paul, it was a designed encounter with some people who needed to know God. If we could see the travel planner it probably said, “Leave Caesarea, travel to Malta. Preach the Word. Proceed to Rome.” (The details are in Acts 27 and 28.)
Once again we are reminded that the Divine Author of the Bible did not waste words or time. He gave us what we needed to know, even if we didn’t know that we needed it. So when we need it, we have it. Having a reversal today? God does not always ‘make it all right,” but He is in control and nothing is out of His control. What a blessing.
Bon Voyage!
Friday, July 27, 2018
Lunar Eclipse and Elijah
What a bummer. The longest lunar eclipse in the century is happening tonight, and we cannot see it. It is still daylight here, and we are on the wrong side of the planet to see it. Quick fly to South Africa or the middle of the Indian Ocean. Done. Not a completed objective, but my chances of seeing it. Well, it will be on the internet. We can watch by proxy, if you will. Or else on the “instant replay.” (Only not so instant.)
Well, let’s not let a good opportunity to learn go by, so let’s apply the eclipse to Elijah. Huh? Yep, makes perfect sense. Old Elijah was a fascinating character. Something that I just realized this week, thanks to David Jeremiah, was that nearly every action of Elijah’s life was driven by the same phrase.
Let’s take a peak at the first one. 1 Kings 17:1, 2
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 The word of the Lord came to him, saying,
Elijah “stood before the Lord” and heard a message, which he delivered. Then comes the crucial statement in v. 2. “The word of the Lord came to him...” “Him” is Elijah. We have looked at this story before and will explore it again, but just hold that in abeyance for a minute.
Elijah went to a brook in the wilderness and lived. In short, the brook dried up. V. 8 “Then the word of the Lord came to him,” and he was sent to a widow up in Zarapath, in Sidon. After surviving the drought with this woman and her son, and incidentally, raising him from the dead, the story continues. ”Now it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah...” (1 Kings 18) this led to the epic confrontation on Mt. Horeb between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.
1 Kings 21:17 “Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah...” Elijah is to confront King Ahab and pronounce God’s judgment for Ahab’s murder of Naboth. Verse 28, “Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah...” And God announces that He accepted Ahab’s repentance.
2 Kings 1:3 “But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah...” Elijah is sent to intercept the messengers of King Ahaziah, Ahab’s son. V. 15 “The angel of the Lord said to Elijah...” Elijah is given permission to accompany the King’s “escort” to meet with him.
Then, in 2 Kings 2 Elijah is going to get his whirlwind ride to heaven. (No amusement park ride named “Whirlwind” can match this. But I digress.) V. 2 “Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here please, for the Lord has sent me....” He is introducing his protégé to the “guidance system” that had directed his life. V. 4 “Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me....” More of the same. Verse 6 “ Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me....” One final chance to “miss the boat.” Elisha declined, and went along.
All of these episodes began with “The word of the Lord came to Elijah...” Sadly, this brilliant testimony is somewhat eclipsed by Chapter 19. Jezebel just threatened to kill Elijah and he took off like a scalded cat. He ran all the way from Samaria, up in the northern part clear down to the “desert, to Mt. Sinai. God is speaking, “and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’”
God was not asking where Elijah was, or even his motivation. He already knew that. His question was essentially, “I did not send you here, why are you in this place?”
The moon comes up and shines brightly almost every night. Exceptions of new moon and obscuring clouds noted. But we pay most attention to the times when the moon is eclipsed by the shadow of the earth. Elijah’s ministry is “shadowed” by this one incident. He could have stood up to old Jezzie, and challenged her threats. “You and whose army, Lady?”
But as noted before, he ran. (Ed: SPCA disclaimer. The idiom, “scalded cat,” is just a figure of speech, and not reflective of any actual events.) Maybe a fainting goat crossed with a scalded cat would be an apt description. Anyway, his career was tainted. (No reference to a blood moon.)
Elijah finished well. His “training trip” was used by the Lord to reinvigorate his ministry, and as we already saw, he boldly confronted Ahab after that. He also commissioned his successor, Elisha, who, according to his request, had a “double portion of Elijah’s spirit.” That was the Holy Spirit and Elisha’s request was very appropriate. As far as we can tell, Elisha did not stumble.
So, as you watch the eclipse “in absentia,” just recall that our lives are often marked by one, or a few stumbles. But God is interested in the final result. Elijah can testify to that. I am thankful for that also.
Have a blessed day–and night.
Well, let’s not let a good opportunity to learn go by, so let’s apply the eclipse to Elijah. Huh? Yep, makes perfect sense. Old Elijah was a fascinating character. Something that I just realized this week, thanks to David Jeremiah, was that nearly every action of Elijah’s life was driven by the same phrase.
Let’s take a peak at the first one. 1 Kings 17:1, 2
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 The word of the Lord came to him, saying,
Elijah “stood before the Lord” and heard a message, which he delivered. Then comes the crucial statement in v. 2. “The word of the Lord came to him...” “Him” is Elijah. We have looked at this story before and will explore it again, but just hold that in abeyance for a minute.
Elijah went to a brook in the wilderness and lived. In short, the brook dried up. V. 8 “Then the word of the Lord came to him,” and he was sent to a widow up in Zarapath, in Sidon. After surviving the drought with this woman and her son, and incidentally, raising him from the dead, the story continues. ”Now it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah...” (1 Kings 18) this led to the epic confrontation on Mt. Horeb between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.
1 Kings 21:17 “Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah...” Elijah is to confront King Ahab and pronounce God’s judgment for Ahab’s murder of Naboth. Verse 28, “Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah...” And God announces that He accepted Ahab’s repentance.
2 Kings 1:3 “But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah...” Elijah is sent to intercept the messengers of King Ahaziah, Ahab’s son. V. 15 “The angel of the Lord said to Elijah...” Elijah is given permission to accompany the King’s “escort” to meet with him.
Then, in 2 Kings 2 Elijah is going to get his whirlwind ride to heaven. (No amusement park ride named “Whirlwind” can match this. But I digress.) V. 2 “Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here please, for the Lord has sent me....” He is introducing his protégé to the “guidance system” that had directed his life. V. 4 “Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me....” More of the same. Verse 6 “ Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me....” One final chance to “miss the boat.” Elisha declined, and went along.
All of these episodes began with “The word of the Lord came to Elijah...” Sadly, this brilliant testimony is somewhat eclipsed by Chapter 19. Jezebel just threatened to kill Elijah and he took off like a scalded cat. He ran all the way from Samaria, up in the northern part clear down to the “desert, to Mt. Sinai. God is speaking, “and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’”
God was not asking where Elijah was, or even his motivation. He already knew that. His question was essentially, “I did not send you here, why are you in this place?”
The moon comes up and shines brightly almost every night. Exceptions of new moon and obscuring clouds noted. But we pay most attention to the times when the moon is eclipsed by the shadow of the earth. Elijah’s ministry is “shadowed” by this one incident. He could have stood up to old Jezzie, and challenged her threats. “You and whose army, Lady?”
But as noted before, he ran. (Ed: SPCA disclaimer. The idiom, “scalded cat,” is just a figure of speech, and not reflective of any actual events.) Maybe a fainting goat crossed with a scalded cat would be an apt description. Anyway, his career was tainted. (No reference to a blood moon.)
Elijah finished well. His “training trip” was used by the Lord to reinvigorate his ministry, and as we already saw, he boldly confronted Ahab after that. He also commissioned his successor, Elisha, who, according to his request, had a “double portion of Elijah’s spirit.” That was the Holy Spirit and Elisha’s request was very appropriate. As far as we can tell, Elisha did not stumble.
So, as you watch the eclipse “in absentia,” just recall that our lives are often marked by one, or a few stumbles. But God is interested in the final result. Elijah can testify to that. I am thankful for that also.
Have a blessed day–and night.
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Prayer on a Plane
That title sounds better than the movie about undesirable “‘Visitors’ on a plane.” I did not ever see that movie, and will not ever do so. On the way home from Minneapolis recently, we “randomly” chose a spot on the plane to Nashville and sat beside an interesting character. Just for the record, my wife led the way down the aisle and passed up a couple of sets of seats on the window. (We expected to be on a full plane, so accepted the role of taking the infamous center seat on the Boeing planes on Southwest Airlines.)
We slipped into the window and center seats beside a guy who had taken the aisle seat and settled down. “Hi, I’m Jim.”
He responded that his name was Micah. I asked it it was Mikah or Micah. He responded that it was Micah with a “C.” “Like in the Bible,” I responded.
“Yes, my dad was a preacher.”
Next we chatted about our destination. We were going “home,” and he was hoping to catch a connecting flight to Pensacola. But he was not confident of making the connection, as our plane was over an hour late in departing. He explained that he had discovered a rental car company that would not charge him a fee to rent at the BNA airport and return in in Pensacola.
Then he mentioned that since we live in the Nashville area we might have known of his uncle. His dad was a Baptist preacher and had a twin brother who preached in Nashville. I punched him (lightly) in the shoulder, and exclaimed his uncle’s name. He had been the preacher at the church we attended.
He nodded agreement and we began an exciting and exhilarating discussion that lasted most of the flight. During that time, we discussed his family and his uncle. What fun it was to catch up on an old friend. (Well not “old” but long time friend.)
During the course of our conversation, I mentioned the book “Sing” by Keith and Kristyn Getty. I was reading it and was completely overwhelmed by the import and message of this little volume. (Ed note: Get that book. It doesn’t cost very much and pass it to every pastor and music/worship leader that you know. Read it first. Here is a link for a quick view and a link to order the books at $5 apiece for 20. It also has some free resources and the printout of chapter 1. http://thesingbook.com/)
The Gettys have a fantastic view of music and its role in the church. We are created to sing. We are commanded to sing. And we are compelled to sing. Here is an excerpt from the description:
Authors, lyricists, and worship leaders Keith and Kristyn Getty write to church members to remind them why the Church should sing, when the Church should sing, and how the Church should sing. A congregation that gains a greater understanding of why they sing won't dread a worship service, with arms crossed and shoulders slumped, but see singing as an opportunity to proclaim the gospel together in obedience to God.
My attitude toward music is totally changed, and I am now an evangelist for singing. Get the book. Get several, (20 at $5 each) and put your name on the inside cover of each one that you give out. Ask the recipient to do two things. First read it, then hand it on to someone else, after putting his name under yours. See how long it takes to get back to you and how many people it touches.
I am going to print stickers with the following:
This book has changed my outlook on music, singing, and worship. I pray that it will affect you as much as it has me. Please read it, put your name below, and pass it on. This is not a library book, it is a circulation book. Wear it out. May the Lord bless you.
Back to the story. During our discussion, I felt the Lord prompting me to do two things. First to give Micah the book. So I finished reading it and gave it to him. Second, I should pray that the Pensacola flight would be delayed and he would make his connection and get home without having to drive over 400 miles to Pensacola.
As we neared our landing, he checked the online schedule for his ticket. His plane, that originally was to leave about 7:40 or so, had been delayed to 8:20. We got onto the jetway about 8:05 and he had gone in front of us.
We prayed that the Lord would get him home that night, and that the prayer was answered. Our random encounter was obviously the Lord directing us to meet a new friend and reconnect with some ol–uh previous ones.
This is expected. Check a few references:
Psalm 31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
Psalm 48:14 For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.
Psalm 73:24 With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.
Isaiah 49:10 For He who has compassion on them will lead them And will guide them to springs of water.
Isaiah 58:11 And the Lord will continually guide you.
Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life.
And of course, Psalm 32:8 (AKJV) I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall
go: I will guide you with My eye.
A lot of prayers went up on our flight into Chicago, as it was exceedingly rough. “What if the wings break off?” We later heard that a bad stretch of weather had hit the eastern seaboard had affected flights all day. That is why our plane left late, and the connecting flight from Nashville was delayed.
Our prayer was not only for “help” in meeting the next plane, but thanks for the wonderful time we had in sharing the Lord and learning about singing. Was our prayer for a connection answered? You could say that we had prayed for a fait accompli: Something that had already been done. On the other hand, God had orchestrated the entire day to bring us together. It is not far fetched to realize that He completed the entire day with a flight home. We prayed for His guidance and protection that morning. God answered.
Prayers were answered all day, and they were welcome and profitable on that plane. Maybe we need another little book named, "Pray."
Do you have a song running through your head from Sunday? The Gettys say that a good worship experience will stay with you, both in the message and the music. We sang “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” on Sunday and it is still rocking around in there. The sermon was also very poignant and even the bulletin was inspiring. What a church.
That will be the topic of the next discussion. Keep an eye out.
We slipped into the window and center seats beside a guy who had taken the aisle seat and settled down. “Hi, I’m Jim.”
He responded that his name was Micah. I asked it it was Mikah or Micah. He responded that it was Micah with a “C.” “Like in the Bible,” I responded.
“Yes, my dad was a preacher.”
Next we chatted about our destination. We were going “home,” and he was hoping to catch a connecting flight to Pensacola. But he was not confident of making the connection, as our plane was over an hour late in departing. He explained that he had discovered a rental car company that would not charge him a fee to rent at the BNA airport and return in in Pensacola.
Then he mentioned that since we live in the Nashville area we might have known of his uncle. His dad was a Baptist preacher and had a twin brother who preached in Nashville. I punched him (lightly) in the shoulder, and exclaimed his uncle’s name. He had been the preacher at the church we attended.
He nodded agreement and we began an exciting and exhilarating discussion that lasted most of the flight. During that time, we discussed his family and his uncle. What fun it was to catch up on an old friend. (Well not “old” but long time friend.)
During the course of our conversation, I mentioned the book “Sing” by Keith and Kristyn Getty. I was reading it and was completely overwhelmed by the import and message of this little volume. (Ed note: Get that book. It doesn’t cost very much and pass it to every pastor and music/worship leader that you know. Read it first. Here is a link for a quick view and a link to order the books at $5 apiece for 20. It also has some free resources and the printout of chapter 1. http://thesingbook.com/)
The Gettys have a fantastic view of music and its role in the church. We are created to sing. We are commanded to sing. And we are compelled to sing. Here is an excerpt from the description:
Authors, lyricists, and worship leaders Keith and Kristyn Getty write to church members to remind them why the Church should sing, when the Church should sing, and how the Church should sing. A congregation that gains a greater understanding of why they sing won't dread a worship service, with arms crossed and shoulders slumped, but see singing as an opportunity to proclaim the gospel together in obedience to God.
My attitude toward music is totally changed, and I am now an evangelist for singing. Get the book. Get several, (20 at $5 each) and put your name on the inside cover of each one that you give out. Ask the recipient to do two things. First read it, then hand it on to someone else, after putting his name under yours. See how long it takes to get back to you and how many people it touches.
I am going to print stickers with the following:
This book has changed my outlook on music, singing, and worship. I pray that it will affect you as much as it has me. Please read it, put your name below, and pass it on. This is not a library book, it is a circulation book. Wear it out. May the Lord bless you.
Back to the story. During our discussion, I felt the Lord prompting me to do two things. First to give Micah the book. So I finished reading it and gave it to him. Second, I should pray that the Pensacola flight would be delayed and he would make his connection and get home without having to drive over 400 miles to Pensacola.
As we neared our landing, he checked the online schedule for his ticket. His plane, that originally was to leave about 7:40 or so, had been delayed to 8:20. We got onto the jetway about 8:05 and he had gone in front of us.
We prayed that the Lord would get him home that night, and that the prayer was answered. Our random encounter was obviously the Lord directing us to meet a new friend and reconnect with some ol–uh previous ones.
This is expected. Check a few references:
Psalm 31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
Psalm 48:14 For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.
Psalm 73:24 With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.
Isaiah 49:10 For He who has compassion on them will lead them And will guide them to springs of water.
Isaiah 58:11 And the Lord will continually guide you.
Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life.
And of course, Psalm 32:8 (AKJV) I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall
go: I will guide you with My eye.
A lot of prayers went up on our flight into Chicago, as it was exceedingly rough. “What if the wings break off?” We later heard that a bad stretch of weather had hit the eastern seaboard had affected flights all day. That is why our plane left late, and the connecting flight from Nashville was delayed.
Our prayer was not only for “help” in meeting the next plane, but thanks for the wonderful time we had in sharing the Lord and learning about singing. Was our prayer for a connection answered? You could say that we had prayed for a fait accompli: Something that had already been done. On the other hand, God had orchestrated the entire day to bring us together. It is not far fetched to realize that He completed the entire day with a flight home. We prayed for His guidance and protection that morning. God answered.
Prayers were answered all day, and they were welcome and profitable on that plane. Maybe we need another little book named, "Pray."
Do you have a song running through your head from Sunday? The Gettys say that a good worship experience will stay with you, both in the message and the music. We sang “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” on Sunday and it is still rocking around in there. The sermon was also very poignant and even the bulletin was inspiring. What a church.
That will be the topic of the next discussion. Keep an eye out.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Serving God
You may have heard an exclamation, “And I shaved my legs for this?” Believe it or not, this is not new. It echoes Psalm 73:13. Listen.
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;
Here is the Holman rendering:
Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?
For the record, the Psalm writer observed the wicked and noted that they were prospering despite their ungodly lifestyles. Not a foreign observation in our world. It seems that the “bad guys” both morally and socially are prospering and leaving the good guys behind. This is a repeat of the theme in Psalm 37.
These two Psalms mirror the book of Job. A question of the value of faith predominates the early verses (or chapters), but then God “turns on the light” and all is suddenly clear. When he came into the house of the Lord (the Light) he exclaimed: (73:17, 18)
Then I perceived their end. 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.
No more need be said. It was worth “shaving.” An older song comes to mind: “The Longer I Serve Him, the Sweeter He Grows.” Check out the lyrics: (Citation below)
Since I started for the Kingdom, Since my life He controls,
Since I gave my heart to Jesus, The longer I serve Him, The sweeter He grows.
The longer serve Him, the sweeter He grows, The more that I love Him, more love He bestows; Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows, The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.
Ev'ry need He is supplying, Plenteous grace He bestows;
Ev'ry day my way gets brighter, The longer I serve Him, The sweeter He grows.
The longer serve Him, the sweeter He grows, The more that I love Him, more love He bestows; Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows, The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.
This is particularly poignant when it is sung by an older Christian. They know. I am reminded of my Dad. This will be a late Father’s Day tribute. When he died, several of the attendants from his nursing home came to the funeral. That in itself was a wonder to me, but most if not all of them commented to “us kids” that Dad always had a smile on his face.
I am confident that there is not a single person in SW Nebraska who would be able to say that, “Howard cheated me or was unfair to me.” I saw him go out of his way to give the other person in a transaction the best deal possible. His reward was not down here, so he was not enamored or ??? with accumulating earthly wealth.
The reputation and legacy he left for his children to follow is the greatest heritage that we could have imagined. Interestingly, many of his brothers’ children would say the same about their Dads. And it came from Grandad. As an illustration, he was with my cousins in a California amusement park when another family, having observed his for a while, approached him and asked him if they could “hire” him to be a Grandad for their kids. They were serious.
The godly heritage passed down from him challenges me, and the rest of my family, to live up to the standard laid down. I can confidently proclaim that, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.” And in the words of the Psalmist, it was worth shaving my legs for this.
If you would like a visual and audio reminder, follow the link below.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Bill+Gaither+Trio+the+Longer+I+Serve+Him&&view=detail&mid=E51619D7C91878B9D5AFE51619D7C91878B9D5AF&&FORM=VRDGAR
http://www.songlyrics.com/bill-gaither/the-longer-i-serve-him-lyrics/
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;
Here is the Holman rendering:
Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?
For the record, the Psalm writer observed the wicked and noted that they were prospering despite their ungodly lifestyles. Not a foreign observation in our world. It seems that the “bad guys” both morally and socially are prospering and leaving the good guys behind. This is a repeat of the theme in Psalm 37.
These two Psalms mirror the book of Job. A question of the value of faith predominates the early verses (or chapters), but then God “turns on the light” and all is suddenly clear. When he came into the house of the Lord (the Light) he exclaimed: (73:17, 18)
Then I perceived their end. 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.
No more need be said. It was worth “shaving.” An older song comes to mind: “The Longer I Serve Him, the Sweeter He Grows.” Check out the lyrics: (Citation below)
Since I started for the Kingdom, Since my life He controls,
Since I gave my heart to Jesus, The longer I serve Him, The sweeter He grows.
The longer serve Him, the sweeter He grows, The more that I love Him, more love He bestows; Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows, The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.
Ev'ry need He is supplying, Plenteous grace He bestows;
Ev'ry day my way gets brighter, The longer I serve Him, The sweeter He grows.
The longer serve Him, the sweeter He grows, The more that I love Him, more love He bestows; Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows, The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.
This is particularly poignant when it is sung by an older Christian. They know. I am reminded of my Dad. This will be a late Father’s Day tribute. When he died, several of the attendants from his nursing home came to the funeral. That in itself was a wonder to me, but most if not all of them commented to “us kids” that Dad always had a smile on his face.
I am confident that there is not a single person in SW Nebraska who would be able to say that, “Howard cheated me or was unfair to me.” I saw him go out of his way to give the other person in a transaction the best deal possible. His reward was not down here, so he was not enamored or ??? with accumulating earthly wealth.
The reputation and legacy he left for his children to follow is the greatest heritage that we could have imagined. Interestingly, many of his brothers’ children would say the same about their Dads. And it came from Grandad. As an illustration, he was with my cousins in a California amusement park when another family, having observed his for a while, approached him and asked him if they could “hire” him to be a Grandad for their kids. They were serious.
The godly heritage passed down from him challenges me, and the rest of my family, to live up to the standard laid down. I can confidently proclaim that, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.” And in the words of the Psalmist, it was worth shaving my legs for this.
If you would like a visual and audio reminder, follow the link below.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Bill+Gaither+Trio+the+Longer+I+Serve+Him&&view=detail&mid=E51619D7C91878B9D5AFE51619D7C91878B9D5AF&&FORM=VRDGAR
http://www.songlyrics.com/bill-gaither/the-longer-i-serve-him-lyrics/
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Lost
Jesus told a series of parables in Luke 15 in response to criticism from the Scribes and Pharisees. They noted that He was fraternizing with tax collectors (publicans, KJV) and sinners. The three parables are about a lost sheep, a lost shekel, and a lost son. All three of these had one thing in common and one thing that differentiated each one from the other.
They were all lost. You may have discerned that without help. I had not thought about their lostness before. The different aspect of their conditions is the path that led to being lost. The sheep had gotten lost out of innocence or ignorance. It did not know that there were places and things out there that were dangerous. The sheep simply wandered off, probably following a little trail of grass. It did not intend to get lost, it just happened as it innocently strayed away from the shepherd.
The coin, on the other hand, was a completely passive object. It became lost due to the carelessness of the owner or simply fell from its normal location due to some outside influence. Possibly the shekel was simply moved for some reason, and the “put away place” was forgotten. Have you ever put something somewhere, thinking that you would remember where it was when you needed it? Then when the need arose you could not, for the life of you, remember where you had put it. I often recall that I have a tool or a part and vividly recall putting it where I would remember it, but not being able to find the resting place.
The lost son, on the other hand, knew exactly what he was doing and deliberately, decisively, and determinedly left home. He knew exactly where he was and why he was there.
But the point of Jesus’ telling of these stories was not that the three had been lost, but that they had been found. The lost sheep was incapable of returning to safety. It is quite possible that it had become trapped somewhere and was facing death if not rescued.
The shekel had no cognition and was not involved in anything. It just “sat” where ever it had been placed or had fallen. In contrast to those, the lost son had intentionally left, and knew exactly where he was, even if the father, the seeker, did not know.
But the best comparison is that all three were found. The shepherd actively searched until he discovered and recovered his lost sheep. The woman diligently went through the house eliminating every possible “hiding” place until the lost was discovered.
The father was diligently seeking the return of the lost, but at the same time was respecting the son’s sovereignty. It was a volitional decision to leave, and a volitional decision was required to become “found.” (Verse 32)
The sheep undoubtedly learned a life changing lesson, and we can surmise that it never wandered off again. Hopefully the woman learned to “put everything in its place” instead of merely stashing things in a convenient location. Finally, we can affirm that the son never strayed either. If he was a sharp as a sheep, he not only stayed out of trouble, but was an ambassador to others who were on the verge of straying. Hopefully, he was able to influence his older brother over time.
But the point of the story is not in the individual narratives. The overall thrust of Jesus’ presentation is that all three were found. The “lost” did not recover themselves. Even the lost son, though he had a change of heart, depended upon the father’s seeking heart for recovery. Look at verse 20: “ But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him....” Can you put yourself in the lost shoes of this boy? The father “... felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
A question that often arises is whether a Christian can “lose” his salvation. Even a straying son will be sought by the loving Father and brought back to the place of safety, security, and service. This trio of parables combines to reassure that, if lost for any reason, we will be found. In fact, 1 John 2:19 explains the difference between a true believer and one who has never been a “son.” In expanding the warning in verse 15, John explains:
They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
The “they” are people who love the world.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
These pseudo-sheep pretend to be part of the family, but their true love becomes evident by their actions. Their “going out” is not part of the triple analysis for being lost that Jesus was explaining. If the older brother refused to reconcile with the prodigal, he was demonstrating that, although he was a biological child, he was merely residing in the home and not a true son.
Jesus warned about that in Matthew 7:23. To those who pretended to be part of the family, He declared, “I never knew you.” We are not Christians because of a biological event. In the same line of thought, a true “son” has decided to follow the Lord. Once part of that household, we become subject to the “Seeker’s” will. And the best news of all is in 2 Peter 3:9. The Lord is not willing that any should perish.
Jesus said in John 6:39
This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
What an assurance. What a confidence we enjoy. We are secure based on God’s will and Jesus ability.
That applies to those who have not yet believed and those who have. Once we are part of the family, we have the confidence that we can never be removed. In Paul’s time and even today, a child that was adopted into a family could never be disowned or disinherited. That is why Paul used the term adoption for our inclusion into God’s family. (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5)
The lost sheep, the lost shekel, and the lost son were found. The comparison is to the critics who refused the offer that Jesus made. They neither “ate with” Publicans and sinners, nor the seeking Savior. In contrast, this is the reassuring picture of what awaits believers who have been adopted into God’s family.
I am found! Praise God!
They were all lost. You may have discerned that without help. I had not thought about their lostness before. The different aspect of their conditions is the path that led to being lost. The sheep had gotten lost out of innocence or ignorance. It did not know that there were places and things out there that were dangerous. The sheep simply wandered off, probably following a little trail of grass. It did not intend to get lost, it just happened as it innocently strayed away from the shepherd.
The coin, on the other hand, was a completely passive object. It became lost due to the carelessness of the owner or simply fell from its normal location due to some outside influence. Possibly the shekel was simply moved for some reason, and the “put away place” was forgotten. Have you ever put something somewhere, thinking that you would remember where it was when you needed it? Then when the need arose you could not, for the life of you, remember where you had put it. I often recall that I have a tool or a part and vividly recall putting it where I would remember it, but not being able to find the resting place.
The lost son, on the other hand, knew exactly what he was doing and deliberately, decisively, and determinedly left home. He knew exactly where he was and why he was there.
But the point of Jesus’ telling of these stories was not that the three had been lost, but that they had been found. The lost sheep was incapable of returning to safety. It is quite possible that it had become trapped somewhere and was facing death if not rescued.
The shekel had no cognition and was not involved in anything. It just “sat” where ever it had been placed or had fallen. In contrast to those, the lost son had intentionally left, and knew exactly where he was, even if the father, the seeker, did not know.
But the best comparison is that all three were found. The shepherd actively searched until he discovered and recovered his lost sheep. The woman diligently went through the house eliminating every possible “hiding” place until the lost was discovered.
The father was diligently seeking the return of the lost, but at the same time was respecting the son’s sovereignty. It was a volitional decision to leave, and a volitional decision was required to become “found.” (Verse 32)
The sheep undoubtedly learned a life changing lesson, and we can surmise that it never wandered off again. Hopefully the woman learned to “put everything in its place” instead of merely stashing things in a convenient location. Finally, we can affirm that the son never strayed either. If he was a sharp as a sheep, he not only stayed out of trouble, but was an ambassador to others who were on the verge of straying. Hopefully, he was able to influence his older brother over time.
But the point of the story is not in the individual narratives. The overall thrust of Jesus’ presentation is that all three were found. The “lost” did not recover themselves. Even the lost son, though he had a change of heart, depended upon the father’s seeking heart for recovery. Look at verse 20: “ But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him....” Can you put yourself in the lost shoes of this boy? The father “... felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
A question that often arises is whether a Christian can “lose” his salvation. Even a straying son will be sought by the loving Father and brought back to the place of safety, security, and service. This trio of parables combines to reassure that, if lost for any reason, we will be found. In fact, 1 John 2:19 explains the difference between a true believer and one who has never been a “son.” In expanding the warning in verse 15, John explains:
They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
The “they” are people who love the world.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
These pseudo-sheep pretend to be part of the family, but their true love becomes evident by their actions. Their “going out” is not part of the triple analysis for being lost that Jesus was explaining. If the older brother refused to reconcile with the prodigal, he was demonstrating that, although he was a biological child, he was merely residing in the home and not a true son.
Jesus warned about that in Matthew 7:23. To those who pretended to be part of the family, He declared, “I never knew you.” We are not Christians because of a biological event. In the same line of thought, a true “son” has decided to follow the Lord. Once part of that household, we become subject to the “Seeker’s” will. And the best news of all is in 2 Peter 3:9. The Lord is not willing that any should perish.
Jesus said in John 6:39
This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
What an assurance. What a confidence we enjoy. We are secure based on God’s will and Jesus ability.
That applies to those who have not yet believed and those who have. Once we are part of the family, we have the confidence that we can never be removed. In Paul’s time and even today, a child that was adopted into a family could never be disowned or disinherited. That is why Paul used the term adoption for our inclusion into God’s family. (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5)
The lost sheep, the lost shekel, and the lost son were found. The comparison is to the critics who refused the offer that Jesus made. They neither “ate with” Publicans and sinners, nor the seeking Savior. In contrast, this is the reassuring picture of what awaits believers who have been adopted into God’s family.
I am found! Praise God!
Friday, June 8, 2018
Little Foxes
Have you ever noticed how little things that you do not know can lead to very big problems? For instance, I have a Cub Cadet lawn mower and have had it break down about five times in the past two or three years. It has an electric clutch that activates the mower deck and that clutch kept getting loose and spinning on the shaft.
Did you hear my description? It is an electric clutch, so when it spins, the wires that carry electricity to the clutch are damaged and pulled out. One of the mishaps was so serious that it pulled the wired completely out of the housing, which required a replacement with a new clutch at the rate of $100.
Well, I got the new clutch installed last week and cut the grass. I was doing it again this afternoon when suddenly the mower just stopped dead. Fearing the worst, I stepped off the tractor and peered at the wire that is supposed to go through a hole in the deck to the clutch underneath. Just as I suspected, no wires were visible. Lying down on the grass, oblivious to chiggers, I looked under and there they were, stripped of insulation and hanging free.
To make a long long story short, as I was securing the clutch so that it would not spin again, I discovered that there are two, different sides to the bracket that secures it. The bracket, for those who are mechanically inclined, or declined, also serves as a belt guard to hold the deck drive belt on the pulley driven by the clutch.
You can disengage the bracket, swing it back out of the way, and slip the belt off the drive pulley to remove the deck. When I reconnected the deck and replaced the bracket, I made sure that it had engaged the clutch to keep it from spinning. Only this time, I decided to connect it to the opposite side of the bracket. The side, incidentally, that is fastened to the frame with a bolt so that it cannot come loose.
I tried several times to move the bracket far enough to engage the clutch mechanism but was unable to do so. My only recourse was to remove the bolt, lower the bracket, spin the clutch to match the bracket, and bolt it back. And it suddenly dawned on me why it continued to come undone. The side that I was using to hold it was not made for it, and was slipping.
So I have now connected the clutch “where is is supposed to be,” repaired the wires which were broken, and reassembled the connections. That one little thing, which took less than 10 minutes to connect correctly, even if the bolt had to connect with a hole in a blind location, has cost me over one hundred dollars and 15 to 20 hours of “monkeying around.”
I had even contemplated jerry-rigging a clamp on the bracket to keep it from slipping. The little things that we do not know can surely cost us time, money, and frustration.
Solomon noted that in Song of Solomon 2:15
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
Little foxes can spoil an entire harvest, particularly if they strike at a vulnerable time in the development of the crop. “Little things” in our lives that are not controlled and even eliminated can cause significant havoc. Take care of the little things and the big things take care of themselves. Emily Dickinson may have been the first to say that, but she could have taken it from Solomon.
Take care of the little things.
Did you hear my description? It is an electric clutch, so when it spins, the wires that carry electricity to the clutch are damaged and pulled out. One of the mishaps was so serious that it pulled the wired completely out of the housing, which required a replacement with a new clutch at the rate of $100.
Well, I got the new clutch installed last week and cut the grass. I was doing it again this afternoon when suddenly the mower just stopped dead. Fearing the worst, I stepped off the tractor and peered at the wire that is supposed to go through a hole in the deck to the clutch underneath. Just as I suspected, no wires were visible. Lying down on the grass, oblivious to chiggers, I looked under and there they were, stripped of insulation and hanging free.
To make a long long story short, as I was securing the clutch so that it would not spin again, I discovered that there are two, different sides to the bracket that secures it. The bracket, for those who are mechanically inclined, or declined, also serves as a belt guard to hold the deck drive belt on the pulley driven by the clutch.
You can disengage the bracket, swing it back out of the way, and slip the belt off the drive pulley to remove the deck. When I reconnected the deck and replaced the bracket, I made sure that it had engaged the clutch to keep it from spinning. Only this time, I decided to connect it to the opposite side of the bracket. The side, incidentally, that is fastened to the frame with a bolt so that it cannot come loose.
I tried several times to move the bracket far enough to engage the clutch mechanism but was unable to do so. My only recourse was to remove the bolt, lower the bracket, spin the clutch to match the bracket, and bolt it back. And it suddenly dawned on me why it continued to come undone. The side that I was using to hold it was not made for it, and was slipping.
So I have now connected the clutch “where is is supposed to be,” repaired the wires which were broken, and reassembled the connections. That one little thing, which took less than 10 minutes to connect correctly, even if the bolt had to connect with a hole in a blind location, has cost me over one hundred dollars and 15 to 20 hours of “monkeying around.”
I had even contemplated jerry-rigging a clamp on the bracket to keep it from slipping. The little things that we do not know can surely cost us time, money, and frustration.
Solomon noted that in Song of Solomon 2:15
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
Little foxes can spoil an entire harvest, particularly if they strike at a vulnerable time in the development of the crop. “Little things” in our lives that are not controlled and even eliminated can cause significant havoc. Take care of the little things and the big things take care of themselves. Emily Dickinson may have been the first to say that, but she could have taken it from Solomon.
Take care of the little things.
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