Mulberry Moments

Remembering Day

2009-05-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

Gen 9:16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."
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I like Memorial Day! Somewhere along the line we are just too busy to remember those heroes who laid down their lives for us. And we shouldn't be! Right now, at our high school, a "remembering" stone stands to help us remember some local heroes that we should never forget. Please this "Remembering Day", remember those who fought and died for us, our true heroes.
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Indulge me in this remembering a moment. The word remember is used 120 times in the NIV Bible. That is a lot of times in 66 books. The favorite of mine is the one used in our text: God will remember the covenant with His people and won't destroy them again by flood.
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I don't want God to forget me. Too many of us are forgetting Him; I will try to remember Him.
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Please, God, don't forget us. We need you, your power, your hope, your salvation.
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And I am very grateful. Hope you will be too.

God, thank you for remembering us. Please let us never forget you. And thank You, for those heroes who gave their lives that I might freely worship and adore you through my Savior Jesus. In His name, Amen!

Is It Nothing to You, All Who Pass By

2009-05-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

Lam 1:12 "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see. Is any suffering like my suffering that was inflicted on me, that the LORD brought on me in the day of his fierce anger?

xYou might have heard of Kevin Carter. Carter was a famous South African photographer who won the Pulitzer Price for feature photography. He was the first to shoot a picture of a South African "Necklacing", execution by a tire filled with gasoline forced around a person's body which was set afire. He experienced the gruesome side of human nature.

xHis prize photograph was of a starving Sudanese girl, about 5, who was trying to walk to a food station. The little body was so weak it could hardly move. In the background of the picture, a vulture was waiting for the child to die.

xCarter says that he shooed the vulture away, but nothing more. His report is that the small child began to walk on her own. What happened to the child, no one knows. On July 27, 1994, Carter put his camera down and took his own life at the age of 33, his friends contending that he suffered from doing nothing for the child when he could have.

xI don't know the truth of the last claim, but I do know this: Jeremiah's question in Lamentations rings out loudly and clearly today. Jerusalem, in its day, was begging, hoping, that somebody would help and try to change; it never happened. Our world today is Satanic chaos: jobs gone, family relationships devastated, finances at an all time low, and at this writing people are even walking around Vandalia with medical masks in fear of the H1N1 or Swine Flu. We don't know what to do. My prayer is that our dying breath will be "Yes, God, we care for you, for your Son, for our churches, and for our world."

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Father, please teach us to look past the chaos of the world and see you. Help us to look into your heart and love Christ and others through Him. In Jesus name, Amen!

Join Us for Easter Sunrise Service

2009-04-01T17:07:00.001-07:00

The Mulberry Grove Ministerial Alliance is hosting an Easter Sunrise Service at the First Church of Christ on Maple Street. It will be held on Easter Sunday, April 12th, beginning at 6:30 A.M. There will be a fellowship breakfast following the worship service. Hope to see you there.

Simple Heart, Simple Love

2009-02-18T06:18:00.000-08:00

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have ever lasting life! -- John 3:16

If you would Google or Yahoo images of hearts, all kinds of pictures will come up. You would find an assortment of designs. Valentine shapes, human heart pictures, even two cats lying mirrored next to each other in the form of a heart, would grace your screen. Valentine shapes have become exotic and fancy; sometimes they are simple letting the basic design of the heart shape itself speak the language of love.

Sometimes I get very flowery in my words. But I'd like for this blog to be simple in design instead of complex. I'd like the scripture for our lesson to simply remind us what true love is all about.

Dear God, please teach us simple, life-supporting, God pleasing love, just as you have shown it and Jesus demonstrated it. Thank you, in Jesus name! Amen.

Candlemas Day?

2009-02-02T17:16:00.000-08:00

According to the www.stormfax.com weather almanac, Groundhogs Day had its early beginnings with a pagan celebration of Imbolc! When the German settlers arrived in America in the 1700's they brought the celebration of Candlemas Day with them, which was based on this celebration. According to the tradition, if the weather was fair on Candlemas Day, which was half way between the start of winter and the start of spring, it was a sign that the ravages of winter would continue. If, on the other hand, the day was not so nice, the folklore pronounced that early spring was surely on its way. Interestingly enough, the Germans watched for the shadow of a badger. In Pennsyvania, the groundhog was chosen as it would arise mid-winter from its hibernation. In February, 1841, a store keeper, James Morris of Morgantown, PA, noted this in his diary: ..."Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate."
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1Timothy 4:7 reminds us: "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly."
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Of course, Groundhogs Day is a fable, an old wives' tale. And of course, it has nothing to do with our salvation or even our Christian life. Like many other celebrations, it was started by pagans and followed by the world. These kinds of things are a lot of fun to study and know about, but certainly are not for the gain of Christian. I wouldn't say don't enjoy Groundhogs Day. But I would say, we need to spend as much time or more time learning the truth of God's word for our lives.
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Current statistics tell us that 10 out of 10 of us will die! Do you find that statistic shocking? We probably would say we don't, but we may not have really thought about it! Follow Paul's advice to Timothy! Don't pay attention to the fables; train yourself to be Godly!
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Dear God: We have a lot of fun with the traditions of man. But please help us to be able to know where and how to draw the line. Help us to become very serious about knowing you. We will die! Help us to be ready to stand before you because we have accepted Jesus!. In His name, Amen!

2009-01-15T13:13:00.000-08:00

Read John 1:45-48

If we had to assemble a team of workers to accomplish some task, we would most likely look for people with the skills we needed and the temperament to work together for the project we had in mind. Obviously Jesus knew the skills of the disciples he chose but they are not apparent from John's writing.

Here is Nathanael resting under a tree - hardly sounds like an eager worker - and his first comment is a disparaging one about a neighboring town. What we might hear in town about someone from Keyesport. He does not sound like a team player. But Jesus knew what he wanted and he convinced Nathanael to join the team.

When we look for prospective disciples we need to rely on Jesus' vision and not our own. We do not need to be selective to our standards - to look for people who we think are qualified. We need to invite everyone and let God qualify them.

Lord God, help us invite whomever we find and trust in you to do the selection. Amen.

Christ, the Light!

2008-12-24T19:00:00.000-08:00

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:9-13)

My daughter is accustomed to having a nightlight burning in her room at night when she sleeps. There is a measure of comfort to her to know that the light is burning. Occasionally the bulb in the nightlight will burn out. For my daughter it is a frightening experience when this happens at night-time. If she wakes and the light is not there she calls out to let me know that something is wrong. By replacing the bulb, her fears are calmed and the whole household can return to sleep.

Jesus tells us that he himself is the light of the world. Without this light, we cannot see, we cannot find comfort. With the light of Christ we are comforted and we can enjoy life calmly. The light was first introduced into the world at the first Christmas. Today, Christ-followers carry the light of Jesus in their spirits. While the light will not burn out (like a nightlight’s bulb), we must let it shine out through the things that we do, and the way that we live.

This is the message of Christmas—Let your light shine!

Father, shine the light of Jesus brightly this Christmas, and throughout the new year. Amen

Joy

2008-12-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:10-12)

Join me in singing the following old hymn:

There’s within my heart a melody

Jesus whispers sweet and low,

“Fear not, I am with thee; Peace be still

In all of life’s ebb and flow.”

Songs like this fill my heart with the same thrill that strikes me when I think about the Nativity. That thrill can be described in one word: JOY.

The old preacher said that Christians should live a life that is guided by joy. He explained that meant that we should approach life in the following manner:

o Jesus

o Others

o Yourself

This Christmas season, let us put J. O. Y. into practical use in our lives.

Heavenly Father, remind us of the joy that came down at Christmas. Help us to make that joy the hallmark of our life. In the name of Christ we pray, Amen.

Love

2008-12-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)

I love Mexican food. It doesn’t always love me back (especially if it’s spicy), but I love Mexican food. I believe that I could eat Mexican food at least five times a week if my stomach would hold out. But my love for Mexican food is simply a passing thought when I think of love.

The movies have taught us that love is something that can develop overnight, or something that we fall into, like a vat of goo. We have so cheapened love that we don’t really know what love is.

Christ taught us what love is: He left all the glory that belongs to him to become a simple man living simply in a simpler time than our own. He made his first cradle in a manger, in a stall that was probably located behind a house in a crowded city. And he did all this for the express purpose of taking my place in death for my sins. That is love—true love. That is the love we sing about and remember at Christmas. Share it this season!

Father, Help us love one another enough to tell each other about your love for us. Amen.

Peace

2008-12-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

One of the verses of a favorite children’s song says,

I have the Peace that passes understanding
Down in my heart;
Down in my heart;
Down in my heart;
I have the Peace that passes understanding
Down in my heart;
Down in my heart to stay.

It’s that peace that, sometimes confusing to the world, is so much a part of life with Jesus Christ. It is a peace that came to Earth in the form of a Baby in an out of the way place. It is that same peace that is deposited in the hearts and lives of everyone who trusts the Savior that the Baby was and is.

This season let us spread the peace that passes all understanding.

Dear Father, May your peace be in, around, and through us this day, and throughout this season. Amen.

Hope

2008-11-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in you. (Psalm 39:7)

It’s an interesting word. We so often misuse it. We say things like, “I hope he calls today,” or “I hope I get a raise,” or “I hope my package comes today.” These statements are not really statements of hope, but personal wishes or desires.

True hope is that thing that we know for sure is going to happen, and it makes us thrill at the thought of its occurrence. Hope is more concrete than a wishy-washy wish. Hope is foundational. Hope springs from Jesus Christ. Our hope is not to see him, or even to be with him at some future date. No, He is our hope.

This season, when we think about His coming and why He even bothered to become a man to dwell among us, let us remember that our hope is set in Christ Jesus. He is our truth and our way—He is the truth and the way. Hope is that knot that we can tie on the end of a rope and hold to, when we’ve reached the end of ours.

Set our hope on You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Advent

2008-11-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

On this Thanksgiving Day, I would like to invite you to begin thinking about the Advent of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The Advent season begins this Sunday and I will once again be offering weekly Advent thoughts to ponder. If you would like to get a head-start on the Advent season, you may want to see last year's entries.

Enjoy the reruns and come back each Sunday (and on Christmas Eve) in 2008 to Worship the Christ and His Advent with us.

Thankful for . . . Faith

2008-11-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith does so much for the follower of Christ. It is the beginning point of real life; it is the hope for a future; it is the redemption of past mistakes. Faith exercised builds more faith. Faith itself is the pinnacle of all that can be said about a Christ follower.

In the words of hymn writer John Yates:

Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
(“Faith is the Victory”)

Father, increase our faith. Amen.

Thankful for . . . Family

2008-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (II Timothy 1:3-7)

My family of origin may be somewhat like yours. Then again, maybe not. My father was a preacher of the gospel—Baptist by tradition and choice. He was a man full of faith, and that helped to instill in me a desire to follow the same road. My mother was a school teacher, sometimes by choice, sometimes by necessity. In any case, she was always quietly living the faith before my siblings and me.

One reason that I’m thankful for family is the strong ties to faith that were given to me—even as a youngster. Not everyone has those memories or those roots. Here is a list of the things that family often brings to a person:

Love

Belonging

Care

Friendship

The list could grow and grow. This week let us be thankful for our family—the one we have by birth or by choice.

Father, thank you that you created family, and that you blessed the institution of family. Amen.

[Please feel free to add to the list of thankful reasons for family in the comment section.]

Thankful for . . . Church

2008-11-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)

With all the faults that people both without and within the church it is still the greatest place to be. Some of my fondest memories are of the church. It happened to be one of my favorite destinations as a child, and throughout my life.

A group that we had for small children was called “Sunbeams.” I have two basic memories from this group:

Graham crackers are for dunking in red Kool-Aid®, and
Before the end of the meeting, you must sing the song –

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam,
To shine for Him each day;
In every way try to please Him,
At home, at school, at play.

A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam;
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
I’ll be a sunbeam for Him.
(Nellie Talbot, “I’ll Be a Sunbeam”)

Father, may we always be excited about what goes on in Your church, Amen.

[Feel free to post a comment with your favorite memories from church.]

Thankful for . . . Country

2008-11-08T08:55:00.000-08:00

Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." And they marveled at him. (Mark 12:17)

At a loss to say it better than the poet of old, here is a statement of my thankfulness for my country:

America

My country,' tis of thee,

sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;

land where my fathers died,

land of the pilgrims' pride,

from every mountainside let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,

land of the noble free, thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

thy woods and templed hills;

my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,

and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;

let mortal tongues awake;

let all that breathe partake;

let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

Our fathers' God, to thee,

author of liberty, to thee we sing;

long may our land be bright

with freedom's holy light;

protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

(Samuel F. Smith)

My prayer is that you are as thankful for your country as I am for mine.

Lord, thank you for providing a safe country in which to live. Help us to all be as conscientious with our citizenship as you call us to be. Amen.

I Am Thankful for . . .

2008-11-01T19:58:00.001-07:00

November is the month of Thanksgiving. Over the next few weeks we at Mulberry Moments will be posting devotions telling things we are thankful for. We invite our readers to participate. You may do this in one of two ways:

Post a comment in response to our devotional thought for the week in the “Comments” section, responding to the “Thankful” thought for the week, or
Emailing your own “Thankful” devotional to me at the following address – office(at)fbcmulberrygrove(dot)com

Our weeks will be arranged as follows:

November 2-8: Country
November 9-15: Church
November 16-22: Family
November 23-29: Faith

Thank you for participating.

The Grass Is Always Greener . . .

2008-10-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

Mat 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Mat 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee upon the waters.
Mat 14:29 And he said, Come. And Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

According to the website www.deproverbio.com, that old proverb "The Grass Is Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence!" dates back in American form to 1957. In other sentence structures and words, similar phrases date to the late 1800's and a Latin derivative was stated by Erasmus of Rotterdam and put into English in 1545 by Richard Taverner. But common American usage is said to come from 1957.

In 1983, James Pomerantz proved that optical and perceptual laws alone will make the grass at a distance look greener to the human eye than the blades of grass perpendicular to the ground. (ibid) It is suggested that even horses and cows prove this to be true when you watch their behavior in pastures seeking out the most tasty grass (as far as the cows are concerned, but not for me!)

Of course, the truth of the proverb holds so true for each of us. We are constantly seeking the new job that will be just perfect. It, of course, fails to meet expectation when we have been there at least 8 hours. And, why is it, that after the first mortgage payment, something seems to be wrong with that house that seemed so perfect when the realtor opened the door the very first time? And that new car or electronic toy--after a couple of hours of fiddling with it, your spouse wonders why you got that thing anyway because you complain and whine when the newness wears off.

Peter was excited with the prospect of walking on the water when he saw Jesus. It could have been the excitement of seeing Jesus or perhaps it was just stepping out into the vast unknown, where no man, but Jesus, had gone before. But for Peter, when reality stepped in, faith stepped out. He found himself splashing in the waves in a very undignified and fearful position, as the excitement of the moment was gone.

"Death and the grave are never satisfied, and neither are we," says Proverbs 27:20 (CEV) Maybe we should be! We love desserts, but when we know we can't have them, we can be satisfied because we made up our mind. I can't afford that new car in this economy--so I will get to work in the car I have or one that will make do. Wanting is all a state of mind! Even when the grass looks greener, it really isn't. Just like the grass in the proverb, it's an illusion. Christians don't have to fall for it. Christians just need to trust God a little more and themselves a little less. Funny how that always works out!!!

Dear God, teach me to be happy with what I have! You always know what I need and you are all I need! Thank you for the death of Jesus and the life it brings! May it always be enough for me! In Jesus' name, Amen!

Conversations Over Coleslaw

2008-10-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
(16) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
(17) After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
(18) Therefore encourage each other with these words.

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I think we should popularize the idea of getting a cup of coleslaw and talking to each other. I know coleslaw doesn't have the same image as a cup of fine roast coffee and in most places coleslaw doesn't cost $3-$5 a cup. Of course, it isn't good with cinnamon and whipped creme and all the latte flavors. But still, some interesting conversations can be had over coleslaw.

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Let me see if I can explain myself. Obviously, coleslaw is made from cabbage and vegetables just don't have the appeals that a steaming hot cup of coffee has, especially served in an atmosphere with tall tables and light conversation. But, perhaps my recent experience will connect with you.

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Just yesterday I was working with one of my fellow employees at our local fish emporium, otherwise known as Long John Silvers. Our job was to make coleslaw for the next day. The gleaming white slaw making tub was scoured and sanitized and waiting for the crisp fresh cabbage and carrots to be added, along with the creamy sauce that gives LJS slaw its unique and delicate flavor. (That's an awfully flowery statement for slaw, isn't it?) As she was adding the cabbage and carrots we began to strike up a conversation! And our attention turned toward the state of the world and many people that we knew. In a God-moment I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to say that our hope is in Jesus Christ and one of these days, HE IS COMING AGAIN! She looked over the top of her glasses a moment and in a profound tone of voice said something like this, "Yes, and I think it is going to be soon, very soon!" This conversation of encouragement about the Lord's return continued right through the slaw making process. And we both felt significantly encouraged that we might make it through another day of work and another day of life by God's grace; we just needed to hold on to the hope of Jesus and remember that what we are experiencing here "ain't all there is"!

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It doesn't take a coleslaw party to encourage people with the return of Christ! It can be over the waterfountain at your job, a piece of pie at the end of supper, or even a simple text message over the phone. You know, as well as I do, we are living in an age when we see things falling apart. The stock market on which we have relied is nosediving one day and surging the next. Leaders are not trusted. And most of all, we feel so insecure! We can take hope. Heaven may or may not be a lot like earth. But my hope is this: I trust Christ! Whatever happens, WHATEVER happens, He will be there to support us in difficult times. I kind of like that. Jesus is NOT a crutch; He gives strength to my legs to make the most of these days for Him. I trust He will so work in your life as well.

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Father God, we haven't a clue about what will happen tomorrow. We don't know if we will have money or if we will all be poor! But help us to realize that we will always be rich in Jesus Christ; that when the money fails, He will always be there. It is a difficult thing for the world to accept, but yet the truth is so good! In Jesus name, Amen!

You've Got the Power

2008-10-12T18:10:00.000-07:00

Act 4:29-31
(29) And now, Lord, take notice of the threats they have made, and allow us, your servants, to speak your message with all boldness.
(30) Reach out your hand to heal, and grant that wonders and miracles may be performed through the name of your holy Servant Jesus."
(31) When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God's message with boldness.
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We are churches so powerless? I wonder if it is because those people who claim to love the Lord are stymied into believing there is nothing to stand firm for. This is a short thought, but yet so true -- the early church prayed for the ability to do miracles to glorify and testify to the amazing power of God in Jesus Christ. I wonder if we believe that modern day (?) church can have that same power or if folks believe we are just powerless and can't do a thing. As our special guest preacher said this morning, "It's time to get up off our butts and get busy!"
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My 5 year old granddaughter told me that some of those words might not be appropriate! But in all honesty some of our so called Christian actions aren't appropriate either -- especially when it involves not serving God when we know better!
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Dear God, please remove the blinders from our eyes and the doubt from our minds and help us to serve you with our whole hearts! Help us to honor you and honor Christ our Savior and may the world learn of Him through us. In Jesus name, Amen!

Jesus Wept

2008-10-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

Jesus Wept -- John 11:35

What a simple verse! As a matter of fact, it is often one that I encourage small children to memorize first because of its simplicity, its truth, and its hope.
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Let me see if I can explain its importance this way. On Monday, Lord willing, I am going to Indiana to share in a memorial service for my wife's neice's family. The guest of honor is a man I would guess to be around 50. He tripped going down a set of stairs and hit his head causing internal damage and, sadly, he died from his injuries. To complicate the story even more, the family no longer has a local church. As I understand it, though these folks were involved in a church at one time, some rather unChristlike actions from within drove them away. How sad the story!!! How many times it happens that way!!!
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What I want to share with the family is that while man may let you down, Jesus will never let you down. His love never gives up, even when we often fail and have to hurt His Heart of Love.
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What a great example is seen as Jesus wept in this passage. He did not weep because of death, because Jesus is the Lord of Life and Death. He did not weep out of hopelessness because the word does not exist in his vocabulary. Jesus wept because He understood those around Him were hurting. And as Hebrews reminds us, we have a GREAT HIGH PRIEST who understands things just like we do. What a Savior! I hope you will trust Him to meet those empty moments in your life.
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Father, it is no secret that we need you. We need you in our strength and in our weekness; we need you in our sadness and our joy; we need you when it seems everyone else has left us. Thank you for your unending love, no matter what circumstances befall us! In Jesus' name, Amen!

One Body of Christ

2008-09-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

I Corinthians 12:12-20, 26-27
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body.

If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

We all have different understandings about the meaning of scripture. We all have different views on what the church should be and how it should operate, otherwise we would just be one church. It is possible that Jesus had intended that we would be one church, but I doubt it. He did understand human nature after all.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness he quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3 saying, “Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” If we are the body of Christ and his body lives on every word that comes from God, then we can expect to understand those words differently.

Bread is very different to the eye than to the tongue; different to the stomach than the tongue and so on. We are different parts of the body of Christ and we understand God’s words differently just as our body parts understand bread differently. The eye cannot say that the stomach is wrong about bread so why would any of us say that another faith community is wrong about God’s word?

I do not agree with some of the Roman Catholic church’s understanding of God’s word. But that does not make them wrong. I do not agree with their holding to the traditions of men rather than the teaching of God. But I do not agree with the United Methodist church on that issue either. It really does not matter.

Every Christian church and all Christians are all parts of Christ’s body. As Paul said: “If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it; if one part is praised all the other parts share its happiness.”

In this community we are all strengthened by each other’s ministry. When one of us suffers the others help. When one is successful, all rejoice. We are partners in ministry not competitors. The competition is all around us – the devil and his workers. When we work together in ministry we can beat the competition.

Lord, help us show the competition just what your body can do. Help us take your light to people in darkness. Amen.

Come to the Table – And Dine

2008-08-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26 ESV)

This Sunday one of the ladies of our congregation shared with me this picture. It immediately brought two verses to mind. Today’s meditation and Psalm 23 – ¹The LORD is myshepherd; I shall notwant.
²He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

⁴Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Bringing those thoughts on God’s provision to mind reminded me how we often lose sight of all that He does provide. Are we truly thankful for what we have? We have shelter, clothing, transportation. We live in a country where we can enjoy an open worship service in honor of God—or not, as the case may be. Let us not forget Who is sovereign in all that we have or will have. Let us come to the table, let us dine sumptuously for He has provided.

For that which You have provided, make us truly thankful. Amen.

Taking the Word and Being the Church

2008-07-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

Luke 9:6-- Commissioned, they left. They traveled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went.
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Worked at Long John Silver's tonight! The store has been remodeled the last few days and tonight was clean up night. I guess this is the place where preachers are supposed to come up with some great parallel to the remodeled store and the new and remodeled life in Jesus Christ. Or maybe, "behold, I make all things new" should crop up there somewhere. You know, preachers are supposed to make those really profound theological illustrations and then we all go home happy that we had a sermon.
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Truth is, I can't do that tonight. The evening proceeded much differently. For just a few minutes, I was standing beside the boss of the boss's boss, or something like that. She was busy working on cooking equipment and I confided that I really found that piece of equipment interesting. She kept intently working on the equipment, knowing that a marvelously theological person was standing next to her, intently staring over her shoulder. Whether it was just to strike up conversation or bring up the inevitable discussion I don't know, but she asked me where I was a preacher (everybody knows by now!). I told her where it was. She worked on for a moment and I asked her the question I am sure she was poised for from the beginning. "Do you have a church home somewhere," came the words. She worked on, but her honest reply came quickly, "I have a brother who is studying to become a preacher. But, I really haven't been to church in a long time." I commented that I was sure in her line of work, she probably had to work a lot of Sundays. In a moment the Holy Spirit had to lead, my mouth began to speak these words, "Well, I guess if we are just looking for something to do, we could go to church; but how many people are really looking for something to do in our busy world. I guess, however, that when we really appreciate what the Lord has done for us, it makes our whole motive for going to church much different." Thoughtfully she replied, "You know, that's really what it's all about isn't it?"
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We are all old enough and mature enough to know that storks really don't bring babies. And our kids get old enough to realize about Easter bunnies and Santa Clause. The truth is that church, in and of itself, is just a social organization designed to take up time if we don't realize that the church is the body of Christ who loved it enough to lay down His life for it. And the motive of being together is the one motive that will put us in the pews every week, make us give from the overtaxed and overextended parts of our budget, and help us through the turmoil of life. And besides, if we don't go to church and do Christian things because we love the Lord, we are demeaning what God wanted the church to be.
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Starting today, would you join me in getting a new vision for what we are to be, loving Jesus Christ with all of our hearts and realizing he is the one that makes everything unique, new, and special.
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Father, please teach us to love Jesus and take Him out everywhere we go. Let us love the church because of the one who died to make it special. In Jesus' name, Amen!

The Story of King Neptune

2008-06-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Matthew 20:28 -- even as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

I don't know if you ever heard of an Illinois folk hero of several years ago. As a matter of fact, he was almost a household name in the part of Illinois from U. S. 40 down to Cairo. His name was King Neptune. He lived in the Shawneetown-Golconda-Harrisburg area. And as odd as it is, Joe Aaron, a writer for the Evansville, Indiana, Courier, reports in his book, 100 Miles From Home, that the local media of the area existant back during World War 2, had almost no reports of King Neptune. See, King Neptune almost single-handedly raised nearly $19 million dollars in WAR BONDS in the Southern Illinois area and across America. If there were movie stars in the area, King Neptune was almost always on stage with them. He made lots of personal appearances and people were just crazy to see this very famous servant working against Hitler and the Axis mob. Yep, King Neptune was a local folk hero. He was also a pig!

That's right. He was a pig. A famous pig and how he gained that notoriety is probably a question we will never know in our day. His tomb stone relates how he was busy serving his country from 1942 until 1946, maybe playing as important a role as any combat troop, fighting the enemy. And at the ripe old age of 9, King Neptune was buried along Illinois Highway 146 just a short distance from Anna, Illinois. Today, it is said you can still go and stretch your legs and read a bit about this American servant. My next trip that way will be to check it out.

I guess this might sound a little silly, but give me a moment before you toss this whole idea out as farmyard lunacy. If a pig can raise $19 million for the war effort of WW2, what can people who love the Lord do when they decide they want to be servants, no matter the cost, no matter the job, NO MATTER. . . simply because they love the Lord!!! Make all the puns you want about the pig. . .he really brought home the bacon; that pig knew how to ham it up . . .but whatever, he served a purpose in his day. Like Queen Esther, we have no idea except that we might be called to serve God in such a time as this. YOU ARE NEEDED! Come to the front, pick up the battle cry, serve the risen Savior who is in the world today!

Dear God, often times we know this a need to serve, but our hearts aren't right and our choices are sometimes less desirable. Teach us to number our days in service to the King of Kings who died for us on the cross and who lives again. In Jesus name, Amen!

Everyone Did As He Saw Fit

2008-06-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

"In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit." -- Judges 21:25

The last 5 chapters of Judges show us how bad the world can become when people quit looking to God as the source of reason and purpose for living.
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Chapters 17-18 tells the story of Micah, not to be confused with the prophet Micah, a man who built his own idols, hired his own priest, and set about taking worship from Shiloh where the ark of the covenant was and bringing it to his own house. Of course he was excited to have his own personal priest to go to the Lord on his behalf. The confusing situation that arose allowed the Danites to take everything from Micah, all that he had made and accumulated for himself, and left him with nothing. The Danites were war driven because their purpose had become hazy and eventually they turned to the same idolatry Micah had known -- all because there was no king and everyone did as they saw fit.
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Chapters 19-21 tell of the wickedness of the Benjamites and how they supported people in their land given to sexual promiscuity and homosexuality. Eventually, the raped concubine of the main character in the story died on the doorstep of the house where the master had thrown her out to assuage the passion of lust of the wicked men in the town. And it is fair to note that the woman had been unfaithful to the man; he had come to taker her home; and wound up with this fate. All this happened because there was no king and everyone did as they saw fit.
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Fast forward to 2008. It is odd to note that we have rulers, though not kings. We have religious leaders of all sorts and types and yet we are a little different people from the days we saw when Israel had no king and everyone did as they saw fit; they just plain do as they see fit.
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Evidence exhibit 1: Look at the number of people who have been part of Christianity who choose not to be. They choose not to take a stand with their lives, and even with their Sundays.
Evidence exhibit 2: What about the murders and theft that have lately seen in our world.
Evidence exhibit 3: What about homosexuality and the way it has won over the world though nobody really seems to like it except the homosexuals.
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We can go on to Evidence exhibit "next", as Perry Mason says in the made for TV movies, and keep going on to the next and many people don't seem to care. And it is the result of people doing what they see fit. What a shame? Where is the church in taking a stand before the world in these matters?
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Sure, we might be laughed at; but the power of God still stands and we must to. We know the end will come and we have God's assurances that things will go strangely. May we make a difference always and be visible on behalf of the kingdom.
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Dear God, we live in a strange world where the right is called wrong and the wrong is called right. Help us to get our priorities straight and serve Jesus. In His name, Amen.

Into the Cold

2008-06-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will become cold." --Matthew 24:12
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I hate winter! I know when I was a child it was a different story. I could play for hours in the freezing cold, not caring at all where my mittens were or if my hat was on. I just knew that when it was cold, there was snow; that meant snow people to build, snow wars to fight, and snow angels to make. That was fine. In my youthful ignorance, I never thought a bit about frostbite, cold hands, or even freezing to death.
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Biologists tell us that the cold is a subtle thing. One story that was making its way around the web had to do with a park ranger in the Yosemite Mountains who was gone all day; at night he went into his cabin and was so tired he never lighted a fire. A rescue dog happened by the cabin and discovered the man, nearly froze to death. The dog licked the man and snuggled up next to him to warm the cold body. Later, the man commented the dog saved his life. He concluded the story by saying that the cold was so subtle. He did not realize it but in starting to freeze, the cold washed over him creating a warmth the man could not imagine. He never would have known he was freezing to death because it hit him slowly.
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I guess you could say that because of the iniquity (wicked lifestyles) that is going on around us, it is easy to get sucked into its lifestyle without a thought. A small thought originally passed off, develops into full-blown sin and one sin after another, without a moment of discernment, drops off into the pit of iniquity and we are lost in it.
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M*A*S*H was one of my favorite TV shows. Simply put, it lulled me into its hedonistic message--booze, cheap sex, and popularity are what you need in the world and you don't need much else. It later became small mini-dramas about values, but even then those values were much more worldly than the normal Christian can handle. The popularity of "Sex and the City" and the premium TV channels brought more iniquity into our homes; the lack of our Bible reading and prayer lives didn't help. And Satan began the barn dance that two-steps into the pits of hell for eternity.
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It's not a popular message. But it is one we must carefully evaluate and measure every day as we walk the Christian life. Eyes are watching us, even when we don't think about it, measuring our integrity against our words. May they find us faithful and not sinking slowly into the cold.
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Father God, thank you for the warning signs you put out before us. Help us to see the danger of slipping into the crevass that Satan has put before us, baited with things beautiful to the eye. Help us to keep walking in the steps of Jesus. In His name, Amen.

Ready to Harvest Fields?

2008-06-09T07:24:00.000-07:00

Mat 9:37-38--Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
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Our church just finished up its Vacation Bible School for 2008, the first school we have had in several years. We had a lot of new workers along with those who have done VBS many times before. The one thing that seemed to be on their hearts was, "How can we touch kids?" I saw one lady who was hardly able get up as she moved around to the songs and encouraged the kids and the adults. It was a treat. I saw a man pick up a child in a laundry basket and run that child to the finish line. I saw children learn lessons about service and then set out to serve their family and their friends and their community and most of all Jesus.
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The key ingredient in our VBS was service, and not just service to be busy, but service with a purpose. My friends, if you are taking time to read this, I hope you'll add a couple of seconds to your time to pray for the community of Mulberry Grove which needs served in Jesus' name so that people can find Jesus. It was really no surprise that 1/3 of the kids who came to our VBS don't have a church home; they come for special programs but they get no guidance from their parents in terms of spiritual things. That doesn't surprise me either after I met the father in town who said he didn't want to influence his child's view on religion; he wanted the child to make up his own mind; the child was 5. I have a feeling the child would have picked Jesus anyway!
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It is now time to make a difference, whether it is the church I preach to or any other church in town or anywhere around us. I should think watching the dismal failure of our economy, the politcal confusion and unrest, the meltdown of world leadership, and the more than adequate reminders of God's power acting on the weather and tectonic plates of our world, should point us back to Christ.
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Can we learn a lesson from the 16,500 native missionaries serving Asia under the Gospel for Asia banner? Catastrophies have hit their world like megaton bombs -- but yet they still go after the harvest! It's hard work; but they press on. Thank you, native missionaries, for helping us see what we need to be reminded of--get the folks at home!

Father, at times we forget because of the world around us; help us to remember to take the world for Jesus. And be with the folks in our community that their hearts will be open and that we will be ready to take them the message. In Jesus' name, Amen!

To Look But Not to Touch!

2008-06-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

Deu 32:48-52 On that same day the LORD spoke to Moses, (49) "Go up Mount Nebo in the Abarim range in the land of Moab, across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan I am giving the Israelites as a possession. (50) Then you will die on the mountain that you go up, and you will be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. (51) For both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence. (52) Although you will view the land from a distance, which I am giving the Israelites, you will not go there."
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Maybe you remember as I do walking into the house right after mom had finished baking the world's most beautiful chocolate chip cookies, or maybe oatmeal and raisin, or quite possibly her world famous snickerdoodles (or at least I thought so). You know what I mean, the smell of the brown sugar and butter simply filled the house. And just as you were ready to try to sneak one off the plate, mom said that you were not able to have one. They were for some special event a little bit later.
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Can you imagine what it would have been like for Moses? For all those years he had put up with those people. And now, there was to be no reward for him because he had forgotten to keep God holy in front of the children of Israel. Can you imagine how heavy his steps must have been up the mountain? Can you imagine the bittersweet joy tears and sorrow tears he shed because he realized the error he had made, perhaps and probably thoughtlessly and carelessly in the moment and passion of anger? And even then, God buried him. Imagine going to your grave knowing that no man would ever pass by where you were, knowingly at least, when you should have been a national hero enshrined in front of the world for all of known time. Or at least many of us would think that way!
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My mind runs in a hundred different ways as I consider the lesson of the moment. But if I had to choose one, it would be this one. Ignorant and passionate mistakes still have consequences. Just because our heart is right does not allow open rebellion against God to be passed off as just a moment of humaness and we need to understand that right now. We must press on toward the mark of the high calling of God and our personal moments of weakness may be forgiven but never accepted. Every moment of weakness we find ourselves in, every time we are forced to take a heavy step in sorry, every incident we find ourselves lacking in needs the forgiveness of Christ and strength of the Holy Spirit. May we never be satisfied with our human frailties but may we always look like Christ or at least strive our best to that end.
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Father God, thank you for your grace and love. Though we know we will falter in our steps, and though you know we will falter in our steps, forgive us, please. And never let us be happy about our ways until they reflect the steps of Jesus. In His name, Amen.

Spread the Word

2008-05-17T15:32:00.000-07:00

Matthew 28:16-20 - 16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

There are some late first century or early second century Christian relics that were recently discovered in archaeological digs in Northern Europe. I wondered how Christian relics got to Northern Europe around the same time that Christianity spread to Turkey. There is no record of any of the Apostles going that far North and there was not much trade from the Mediterranean area. I doubt that there is proof yet, but I wonder if it was from Roman soldiers.

Maybe one Centurion finished his tour in Jerusalem and was transferred to Germany. Maybe another was transferred to England. What if the first told his men: "I was guarding the governor while he interrogated a Jewish rebel and I was amazed. The rebel refused to answer a single question! He never insisted on his innocence or plead for mercy. Nothing! My men whipped him and turned him over to others to carry out his sentence. Three days later I heard that his followers said he was alive and was the Son of God and I believe them.

Maybe the other told his men: "My men and I were watching a Jewish rebel dying on the cross and he said "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." The sky turned black as night and the big curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom like someone getting out. When the rebel died I said "Surely this man is the Son of God."

What if the men responsible for whipping and crucifying Jesus were the same ones who spread the good news to Northern Europe? If they did they certainly did not know the full story of what Jesus did in Galilee or what he said when teaching in the temple. But they told the story they knew.

Disciples are made by people like you and me who take time to tell someone the story they know. Don't wait until you understand all scripture. Don't wait until you have a great message memorized. Be ready to tell someone the story you know of why you go to church and what God has done in your life.

Lord God I thank you that we only have to tell the story we know and let you take it from there. Help us find people who need to hear the story. Amen.

Pray!

2008-04-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV)

Thursday, May 1, 2008, has been designated as the National Day of Prayer. It is an opportunity for all Americans of faith to join together in approaching the throne of Glory in petition for our country, its leaders, and for our world and its existence. Here is a prayer for this week that we can apply to ourselves, our churches, our country:

Lord, make our hearts turn toward you

Without malice for our fellowman

Without haughtiness within

Cleanse us from our selfish approach to your work

With understanding and compassion

With love and grace

Send us forward for kingdom strengthening

With understanding and compassion

With grace and love.

May it be so on our lips, in our minds and from our hearts. Amen.

How Long is God's Arm?

2008-04-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

The Lord answered Moses, "Is the Lord's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you." -- Numbers 11:23
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It was just a normal day for Moses! Fire had consumed the outskirts of the camp. He had two million people to take care of for which he truly needed help. And now the rabble, the non-Israelites who had come out of Egypt with the Israelites, had taken up the "O Unhappy Day Chorus" because of the rations that had been set before them. Their complaint was a simple one: they needed some variety in their diet.
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And, true to form, they swayed the crowd to begin to complain about the food. Numbers 11 records in verse 4-6, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost (emphasis mine) --also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" They forgot how hard the food was to come by and how depressing their work was!
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And now Moses has another problem. God isn't happy with these people. And when God ain't happy, nobody's happy. Moses is disturbed as well by the attitude of these people. And in all the chaos of the day, God, though not really thrilled about the rebellion of His people against His provision, promises to provide meat for His people, enough meat that they will be up to their ears in what will soon become foul fowl!
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Moses then asks, I think out of both curiosity and disbelief, a long question that essentially boils down to, "How are you going to do that?" And God's answer is a simple one that challenges both Moses' inquisitiveness and his doubting, "Is the Lord's arm too short?"

Bingo! There it is! Moses had seen everything that had happened, from the plagues to the Passover, from the burning bush to the burning sky, from no people to tons of people, and he still asks God if he can do it!
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Moral to the story for you and me: If God says He will do it, He will do it and He has more than enough power to do what He says. I sometimes wonder how God can help little churches keep afloat and how He can take care of thousands of missionaries in hostile lands. I wonder how He can heal the sick, while some we pray for so diligently pass away from this life. I wonder how I will survive from day to day. But I often miss the fact that all of this, every little iota of it all, is God's planning and work. So, next time we don't see how something is going to happen we need to remember this lesson from the life of Moses. Love the Lord and have a normal day -- God will still be in it.

Father, I confess my ignorance to the might and majesty of your ways. Forgive me when I doubt you and help me to accept your blessings, even if they aren't what I think I need. I know you know all about me. And thank you, for Jesus, the greatest blessing of all. He really is what I need. When I act ignorantly, please forgive me, put my feet on the right path, and help me press on. In Jesus name, Amen!

Foolishness for April Fools’ Day

2008-04-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25, ESV)

Today of all days we ought to charge the world with the message that is to them foolishness. Instead of attacking others with pranks and backhanded compliments, we ought to approach the world outside the church with the wisdom of the gospel. How often we try to impress the world with our intelligence. I recall the time a young man commenting on a movie that a group was watching together. “This is set in Seattle,” he announced. “You can go anywhere by bus in Seattle.” Most of us were from a more southerly environment and had no knowledge of the great coffee city of the northwest. In fact we were in awe of the metropolitan knowledge of the young man.

And then another of the group intoned, “No, you can’t.” and a minor argument followed.

“Yes, you can,” the first speaker insisted. “In Seattle, you can go anywhere by bus.”

“No,” his opponent countered, “you can’t go to Sidney.”

Suddenly the intelligence of the first young man was deflated. His wisdom turned into foolishness right in front of him. Of course, everyone understood (as you do) that the well-traveled young man was speaking about traveling within the city of Seattle. And quite possibly they have such a spectacular mass transit system that no part of the city is unreached by the web of bus routes. Sadly, whenever both young men were at a gathering after that the first young man was afraid to speak because he would be made to look foolish by the second.

Too often this is our own approach to sharing Christ with the world around us. We are afraid of appearing foolish. Think of the message—the sinless one would leave all the comforts of heaven (not just a comfy position, but heaven), become a man with limits heretofore unknown to Him, die to pay for the sins that others committed, and offer the payment so that the actual sinners might avoid death. It bears a strong resemblance to the three-dollar bill. But this foolishness is just what we are called to spread.

How about it? Have you been foolish today? Will you?

Father, strengthen our resolve to be willing to look foolish for your wisdom that others might know you. Amen.

Will You Stand Against the Storm?

2008-03-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called -- Ephesians 4:1

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The bird in this picture may be hard to see. But he is sitting on rocks jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico. Little was he aware of the storm that would later hit this very place, as a hurricane blew in and the winds buffeted his home. In the picture, he was caught up in the quiet of the morning.

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It is unfortunate that many of the people who claim to be God's people are just as ignorant of the spiritual storm that is brewing. For a few minutes earlier today, I sat and talked with a very nice young woman about her life. She told me of talking to the dead and the fear that someone she knew was involved in black magic. Of course,she didn't want to talk to just anybody when she spoke to the dead, for fear they were wicked! She told me of visions and nightmares and dreams. I tried my best to explain that this was not what God wanted His people to do. I appealed to the scripture and encouraged her to surrender her life to Christ. Her look at me was a blank stare as she tried to explain to me that she operated her life under certain principles which she felt were right, which in my observation, have been very destructive to her. Much to my pain, I had taught her in church camp!

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I guess we can't be too hard on her. Many people today, some who have been strong in the faith in the past, are finding it hard to deal with Christianity and standing firm--and none of us are perfect, I know that only too well. Maybe we can't be too hard on her, based on our personal examples, but she still isn't right in terms of God's word and that she flatly rejected! And she must answer to God for those decisions and choices, as will we all.

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A. W. Tozer, a 20th century preacher, quoted in "Against the Wind" by K. P. Yohannon, p. 20, notes the following: "That this world is a playground instead of a battleground has now been accepted in practice by the vast majority of fundamentalist Christians . . . Our religious mood is social instead of spiritual. We have lost the art of worship. We are not producing saints. Our models are successful business men, celebrated athletes and theatrical personalities. . . Our literature is shallow and our hymnody borders on sacrilege. And scarcely anyone appears to care."

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Folks, are you the bird on the rock? The waves will come, the winds will blow and the tides will challenge our strength. We must be ready, able, and willing to stand firm in this day. We will be threatened and sometimes we might waver in the wind. But we can be victorious if we follow Jesus, the leader and his way, and not try to make it on our own, because we can't anyway!

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Father God, in the face of adversity, help us to be strong. Help us to realize that it is not how much fun we have, how much the music touches us, or what people think of us that matters. We know trying times will come and we will face storms. Simply, help us to be faithful and to live that faith out in front of those around us. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Easter Thoughts (3)

2008-03-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (Luke 24:5-7, ESV)

In an old spiritual we find these words:

Hallelujah! He is coming!
Hallelujah! He is here!
Hallelujah! He is coming!
Hallelujah! He is here!

This song about the birth, death and resurrection of Christ speaks volumes to those of us who follow Him. He is here. He is here because He is not there—in the tomb that is. He has risen and this gives us reason to rejoice.

Say it with me, say it out loud, “Hallelujah! He is risen!”

Father, make us bold to shout your rising to the world around us.

Easter Thoughts (2)

2008-03-20T12:45:00.001-07:00

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30, ESV)

It’s Good Friday—the day that Jesus was Crucified.

How? You ask. How can it be “good” if it is the day commemorating such a heinous death penalty? As a matter of fact, how can any death be looked upon and seen as good? The answer to this important question is in what happened on that first Good Friday. I’ll not go into detail about how awful the practice of Roman crucifixion was. Plenty of preachers have done that in the past. If you really want to know the cruelty of this form of punishment find a copy of The Passion of the Christ and watch it.

It isn’t that Jesus was crucified that makes today such a good day, but why He died and what He accomplished by going to the cross. Simply put, people are sinners. We are born that way. We can’t avoid it any more than I can avoid having blue eyes and curly hair. It is part of who we are. We defy and disobey God every opportunity that we get. The price of that sin is death, our death. Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross (because He was sinless) paid the price of our sin for us.

Why “Good Friday”? Because on the Good Friday Jesus made the escape from sin punishment possible. So celebrate! Sin is conquered through the crucifixion of Christ. It is Good Friday!

Father, Thank you for sending Jesus to make my sin payment and conquering my sin when He died.

Easter Thoughts (1)

2008-03-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it." (Luke 22:7-8, ESV)

Today is the day that Jesus met in an upper room with the disciples. The room prepared for the observance of the Passover feast. In that room, Jesus made the Passover come to life. In that room He explained that to the Twelve that He would die. Not only would He die, but He would be sent to His death by the betrayal of one of them there.

They did not understand all that happened as Jesus taught them lessons. Lessons about serving one another, lessons about the payment for sin, lessons that would become real to them in a few short days.

The Passover meal was one that was to remind the Israelites how God rescued them from their bondage to slavery in Egypt. What we call “the Lord’s Supper” is a reminder to us that through the death of Jesus (the perfect Passover Lamb) God would rescue us from our bondage to slavery in Sin. During this most holy of remembrances, think about what Jesus did on that night—giving a visual representation of the breaking of His body not one day later.

Toward the end of the meal, Jesus sent His betrayer away to make the final arrangements. Afterwards the rest of the disciples accompanied Jesus to a garden to pray—a time of dedication in preparation for the miracle that was to come. It was here that Jesus was arrested.

Today is a day of remembrance, a day to consider what this season’s payment is for us all.

Father, teach us again what you did on the first Easter weekend.

Taking Ownership of the Gospel

2008-02-25T13:24:00.001-08:00

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,. . . -- 2 Timothy 2:8

This past Sunday, my 10 year old grandson decided that he wanted to use my camera to take the photograph of two of our church ladies. He didn't ask; he just grabbed the camera. And then when the picture was done, he wanted to make a copy of the picture. And, not only a 4x6 inch picture, but also an 8 x 10 picture as well. He can be very forceful sometimes.
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I thought about his insistence for a moment and then I realized why it was so important to him to finish that picture and deliver it in just exactly what he thought was the right way. It is for the same reason that Paul uses the next to the last word above; that word is "my"!
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It is so important in our day and age for people to take ownership in what they are doing. My grandson saw it as his purpose in life to bless the two ladies with the picture. Paul thought it was significant to share the gospel and he emphasized that he believed it was necessary by calling it "my" gospel -- not about Paul but rather what he took ownership of.
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Here is the point: when we are willing to take ownership in what is happening in our churches and we have it in our heart and in our actions to make our service for the kingdom of God the most important thing, then things will happen for the kingdom. And so we close this devotion with this thought: what is important to you, so important you would do it above all else? What a difference can you make in your community and your church if you take ownership of the gospel and touch of the lives of people for Jesus?
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Dear God, sometimes I get so preoccupied when I see the barricades the devil puts before me. Help me to decide what is the most important things I should be doing. Give me a vision and a challenge and help me to take ownership of the gospel and desire to serve others for the kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen!

What Offends You?

2008-02-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? -- John 6:61

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Just a few years ago, on one of our last trips to Six Flags Amusement Park in St. Louis, an astounding, somewhat amusing, almost ridiculous thing happened to us. My wife was wearing a witness t-shirt that talked about the love of Jesus. A young person, somewhere between 9 and 13 I would say, walked right up to her, looked her in the face, and said, "Your shirt offends me; I am Jewish!" Then the young lady seemed to disappear.

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It would almost be laughable if that weren't a major problem in the world today. Everybody is offened by everybody else, both from within and without the church. You don't think so? Consider this. How many church people are offended by the music of the church, both traditional and contemporary, if we might use those labels? How many people are offened by the Bible version we use? How many people are offended when they don't get their way in some happening in the church family? How many people are offened if they are forgotten accidentally during some thank you or sharing time? The list goes on! And on! And on!

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In the scripture passage in John 6, which I cited above, the disciples of Jesus were offened because Jesus was teaching about his body being food indeed and his blood drink indeed. Most people, at least, understand this to be a pre-direction for the Lord's Supper. But they looked at it as cannibalism -- how could anyone eat Jesus' body. And so, they left--offended!

Jesus' question to the rest of disciples is one we need to answer today as well. Are we offened by Jesus' expecation for us as His people? Are we offened by our brothers and sisters? Are we big enough to forgive and press on and not miss the importance of obeying and following as the scriptures suggestion?

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I can only ask the questions? The answer must come from you!!

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Father, it is human nature to be offened when things don't go our way. You have called us to a life of self-disciple which includes learning how to handle offenses. Help us not to be offened by you or by another. Especially, help us not to be offened by the cross! Help us to pursue each day as important for the you and the Kingdom. Help us to realize we are servants on a unique mission to help the world see you. Help us to realize that offense builds up walls against kingdom work and we should be doing everything in our power to tear them down and build unity by being of the same mind. In Jesus name, Amen!

Finding Answers in Prayer

2008-02-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." -- Matthew 7:7-8

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"A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!"While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again! As she ran she once again began to pray, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But please don't shove me either!" -- source unknown

Recently our church faced a short fall on being able to pay a major bill. In a phone conversation with a new Christian friend I was making, I sought his prayer for this need. He readily agreed to pray and I later found out prayed several more times. He sought the answer by continually asking; he took time to bring it before God and wasn't afraid to knock on God's door and was allowed into God's presence; he asked knowing God could meet the need. He said he would pray for more money than was needed for the bill. And sure enough, within three days, a check for the money came in with over $100 more than the bill was for. Together, we rejoiced in God's goodness over the phone -- and the hope of searching for answers to this life God gives us. For me, I confess the whole situation was a growing experience as I saw Jesus' words in action and looked at how situations can turn us away from keeping our eyes on Jesus and his principles. Sometimes, I think I need a shove -- and I got it. Do you need a shove?

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Dear Father, when I am weakest, I need your strength. Oddly enough, when I am strong in myself, I am weak in my relationship to you. I need you. I thank you for the answers to prayer and the promise that I can ask, seek, and knock to find out the answers to the needs in my life. Thank you most of all for Jesus, the one person I need most, to deal with the things in my life that keep me from fully knowing you. It is in his name I pray! Amen!

The Danger of Pride; The Need for Humility

2008-02-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Many of you readers may not have heard of K. P. Yohannan. K. P. is the founder and president of Gospel for Asia. I have not met the man, but I love what I see coming from his heart in his writings.
Would you take a moment and explore something he wrote that strikes a chord with me? In SEND magazine, First quarter 2008, volume 28, number 1 on page 23 he writes: "If there is no greater glory than being a servant of all, then much of our 21st century church is miles away from the pattern Christ left us. Our worldly view of glory is precisely where we need to get our understanding set straight." He goes on to explain that when we picture ourselves as humble, we feel like we are going to be trampled on. But indeed, he notes, that it is a positive thing and wonderful to be humble because it is the nature of Christ.
In this month of "love" would join me in calling for God's people to put their heads on straight and to start loving the Lord again as we should. Would you join me in praying that we can begin to change the world for Christ by being more like our master instead of exploring what H. P calls "fantastic plans, schemes, committee meetings or mega-Madison Avenue strategies"? Let's simply be Christians and continue to change our community by humble (honestly humble) hearts.

Father: In the simple humility of the carpenter of Nazareth, may I please be a simple servant as well. Please help people to know my love and to realize that I know it is not all about me. Help it to always be about Jesus. In His name, Amen!

"I Am Resolved"

2008-01-01T05:13:00.000-08:00

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

At the outset of 2008, let us all take a moment to make resolutions that are worthy. Not those empty promises such as we will hear continually until November, the kind that politicians make with no intention of fulfilling. Not those ordinary, meaningless, ritualistic platitudes that we repeat every New Year’s Day. This year make our resolutions not empty goals or promises, but true resolutions—determinations to accomplish something real. Read the words of the hymn writer Palmer Hartsough from the 19th century (go ahead sing them if you wish):

I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world’s delight,
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.

I am resolved to go to the Savior,
Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true One, He is the just One,
He hath the words of life.

I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living way.

I am resolved to enter the kingdom
Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.

I am resolved, and who will go with me?
Come, friends, without delay,
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We’ll walk the heav’nly way.

[Refrain]
I will hasten to Him,
Hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest,
I will come to Thee.

This year, let us covenant together to make just such a commitment. Not with our minds only. Not simply on a list we write down. But truly, deeply in our hearts. I am resolved . . . are you?

Father, with your help we will resolve our hearts and minds to meet more with Jesus, to trust more in Him, to walk more with Him, and to be more like Him in the coming year. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.

Advent – Christmas Eve: Christ

2007-12-24T04:40:00.000-08:00

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16, NIV)

The night before Christmas has become an icon for Americans. We quote and re-quote Clement C. Moore’s “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” every year. He gave us the red-suited “jolly old elf” in a sleigh driven through the sky by “eight tiny reindeer.” Families build traditions on the night before Christmas: from opening gifts to decorating the tree, to sitting around the already decorated tree to read or re-tell the Christmas story. Many churches have a traditional Christmas Eve service which includes carols of the season, devotional thoughts, communion, and candle lighting.

This year, on this eve of the birth of the Christ child, let us turn our thoughts to the true meaning of Christmas. The true meaning of the holiday is not about family, though we often find it easiest to understand Christmas in the midst of our family, enjoying traditions that say “Christmas” to us. The true meaning is not giving, although God gave the gift of His son, the Magi gave gifts fit for a king, and we practice giving to family and charity even more than at any other time of the year. Christmas is not simply about love, though it is during this time of year, more than any other, that we turn our hearts to love and loved ones.

Christmas, instead, is about the Christ—all that He is and all that He was. He is God come to earth as a man. He came in the form of a child. He came so that He could sacrifice Himself in the place of everyone. The true meaning of Christmas is wrapped up, not in gold and silver paper, but in the moment of Easter. Christmas is about the change that is brought to us because the Christ intervened on our behalf. Let us celebrate the resurrected Christ who is the Babe of the manger.

Jesus, our Savior, Thank you for the sacrifice you made. Thank you for being the Christ. Change our lives today just as you changed the world over two thousand years ago. Amen.

Advent – Week 4: Love

2007-12-22T04:31:00.000-08:00

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, NKJV)

At one point Jesus told the disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, NIV)

It is for this reason that He came to earth in the first place: to share love with those that He does love. During this time of celebration we must first remember the love that was shown to us, in Bethlehem at the lowly beginning of the King of kings, and then again at Calvary in the greatest act of sacrifice ever witnessed by humanity. Jesus embodied love. The great cantata writer John W. Peterson put it this way, “Love came down at Christmas.”

After we have sufficiently pondered the love that Jesus showed, it becomes our responsibility to let that same love live in us. We are responsible to the world to make Christmas love a reality to the world for all the year. Sharing our life with those who surround us, even to the point of giving up our own life and comfort for the sake of the lives of those in our sphere of influence.

When love becomes a major part of our life because of Christ who lives in us, then that love should demonstrate itself in real ways in our own lives. Especially at the season of Nativity, should we remember to give the gift of love in all our celebrations.

Lord, thank you for loving us so much that you came to earth to die for us. Increase our love to be a mirror of your love. Amen

The “W” in Christmas

2007-12-17T06:54:00.000-08:00

by Linda K. Bartlett

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations—extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas. My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old.

For weeks, He’d been memorizing songs for his school’s “Winter Pageant.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’d be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there’d be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as “Christmas,” I didn’t expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son’s class rose to sing “Christmas Love,” I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row – center stage – held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing, “C is for Christmas,” a child would hold up the letter C. Then, “H is for Happy,” and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message: “Christmas Love.”

The performance was going smoothly until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet girl in the front row holding the letter “M” upside down—totally unaware that her letter “M” appeared as a “W”. The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one’s mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her “W”.

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

“C H R I S T W A S L OV E”

And, I believe, He still is.

Scripture thought - [Jesus said,] "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12, ESV)

Prayer for today: Dear Lord, as we think of all the Christmas season was and is, help us to add love to the gifts that we give, just as you gave and give love to us as a result of Christmas and of Easter. Amen

(submitted by Jaynece Dothager)

Advent – Week 3: Joy

2007-12-15T06:26:00.000-08:00

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. (Luke 1:41-44, NIV)

In the final moments of the game your team makes the final—the winning—goal! The crowd goes wild and you are right there with them, live and in person.

You stand at the front of the church facing the doors. Your hands begin to sweat, but then she appears. The most beautiful woman you have ever seen. You don’t know how she did it, but she is more beautiful today than you have ever seen her before. And your heart swells awaiting the moment that you have been anticipating for months—your wedding day.

You hold a baby in your arms. Not just any baby, but your baby. Perhaps this is your first grandchild. They coo, and they wriggle, and they grin their toothless grin.

All of these scenes, to some degree or another elicit within us the same feeling: JOY. Joy, that wellspring of emotion that rushes up and burns in our chests as it bursts through our eyes and often shouts from our lips unhampered—because joy is something to be shared.

What is it that makes joy well up so strongly? It is Jesus. When Jesus comes close enough for us to sense, joy begins to build. We want to jump, we want to shout, we want to sing. This is why Christmas is such a time of joy. This is why joy is used to describe the holiday, because we feel it before we know it, and then we want to share it with all who come within shouting distance. Share the Joy of the season that wells up at the sound of a favorite Christmas hymn, story, or thought. As we go through the traditions that have attached themselves to our holiday-making let us revel in the joy that is represented in the presence of the One who comes in the manger.

Almighty Joy-Giver, remind us of the Joy You shared in Jesus Christ. Help us to share the Joy with others as we have opportunity.

Advent – Week 2: Peace

2007-12-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27, NIV)

Isaiah prophesied that Jesus, the Messiah, would be called Prince of Peace. The angels that announced His birth proclaimed, “Peace on earth, good will to men on whom His favor rests.” And still it is difficult for us to believe in this peace. Why is it so difficult?

The answer to this ageless question lies in the arena of belief. When we picture the baby lying in the manger, peace overwhelms us. When we think about the love that is represented by that lowly scene in the manger, peace fills our hearts. Consider this Christmas Carol:

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.

"Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
(“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

And now, consider peace this season.

Father, grant us peace—the peace that passes our understanding. Amen.

Advent – Week 1: Hope

2007-12-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

[On Saturdays for the next few weeks, I hope you will enjoy these thoughts in preparation for the Advent season (traditionally we light one candle of the Advent Wreath each Sunday leading up to Christmas, and the center candle on Christmas Eve).]

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:1-2, ESV)

The wise men, we call them Magi, were experts in hope. They followed a star from the East. The star appeared in their night sky signaling a new king. They knew nothing about this new king except that he would be great. After all he was heralded by the appearance of a brand new star – one that had never been seen before.

In hope of a new and special day, they came to Jerusalem from a country far away. Some experts estimate that the trip might have taken up to three years. When the star appeared announcing Jesus’ birth, they began to excitedly make preparations. They gathered together a caravan that would be a worthy envoy to the new royal whose star it was. They then searched far and wide for presents fit for a king. Recorded for us are gold, frankincense and myrrh. Who knows what other rich gifts were brought in anticipation of this new king. Then they traveled no one knows how many miles to greet this new king.

Hope springs eternal when we see these wise men. They held hope for something grand to happen in their time, so they watched the sky. They saw hope represented in a star that appeared in the nighttime sky. They rushed toward hope by making the arduous journey to a foreign land to greet and bring appropriate gifts to the king. They lived on in hope by obeying the warning dream that instructed them to avoid Herod in their journey home.

We might take a lesson from these men who found hope to be so strong in their lives, especially during this season of hope.

Father, renew in us the spirit of hope that was brought to wise men in the form of a star. Amen.

Accept the Invitation

2007-11-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

Read Luke 19:1-10

In this parable, a short man, well dressed, well known but probably disliked, elbows his way through a crowd, runs on ahead and climbs a tree. The folks there who know him probably think he's a little whacko. But Jesus finds him and tells him he has to stay at his house. Jesus simply asks Zacchaeus for hospitality.

Zacchaeus welcomes Jesus with joy and offers half of his riches to the poor without being asked. Nice contrast to the rich ruler who is told to sell all he has and his response is to walk away sad. Jesus tells the crowd that salvation has come to Zacchaeus' house. Salvation has come because Zacchaeus accepted an invitation from Jesus.

Salvation is available to us as well if we simply accept the invitation from Jesus. It comes for free. Nothing is required of us to accept it. There is no prayer that makes it available, no act of piety, no special ritual. Just accept the invitation.

What we do after we accept the invitation is a story for another day.

Lord God I thank you for your invitation to join you in eternity. Help us accept and help us show your love to others. Amen.

Holier than thou - NOT

2007-10-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

Read Luke 18:9-14

In this parable Jesus compares a Pharisee who thanks God that he is holier than the sinner next to him and the sinner who knows he is less holy than anyone. Of course the one who knows his sins and prays for mercy is put right with God and the one who thinks he needs no mercy is not.

Our worst response in reading the parable is to think "Thank God I'm not like that Pharisee." Because it would make us exactly like that Pharisee. We should not think we are better or holier than anyone regardless of appearance. One might feel superior to a murder, to a Muslim terrorist, or a Catholic priest who is in jail as a pedophile. While they may have done more evil things than we have, they are also children of God and salvation is available to them. We should be praying for their salvation not thanking God that we are better.

A more subtle problem is feeling like we are more holy than some other denomination of Christianity. Thinking that our church has a better knowledge of scripture or superior doctrine or more pleasing rituals. I think God is more interested in the fact that none of us is perfect and neither is any of our churches. We should be praying like the tax collector - for mercy. Then perhaps we would be able to heal the body of Christ on earth by praying for each other.

Lord God, forgive our failure to be what you want us to be. Bless us as we strive to be one body in your service. Amen.

Trust in the Lord

2007-10-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path. Proverbs 3:5-6.

These are two verses that have stayed with me since my youth. I have lived in many different areas in my lifetime. Many years we would always go to Eldorado Youth Institute. One year the song leader was a man from Greenville, Illinois named Rex Moon. He as a song evangelist and every evening during the service he had all the congregation repeat these two verses. I have never forgotten them. At that time I had no idea that for many years now I would live in this Greenville area which was his home. Experiences in our youth help us thru many situations later in life.

Thank you Lord Jesus for your continuing help and guidance day by day. Amen.

Submitted by Evelyn Koertge

We are one body in union with Christ

2007-10-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

October 7th was World Communion Sunday, which originated in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1940 as a global, interdenominational event prompted by the impact of World War II. It reminds us of Paul's many references to our being one body in union with Christ. In his first letter to the Corinthians he states in chapter 12 verses 12 and 13, "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."

Even though our churches are different in our approach to worship, our understanding of scripture and our adherence to ritual and tradition, we are the body of Christ. When we work together in ministry, when we promote each other's programs, we are strengthening the body of Christ.

Whatever any of us do in ministry in our community, give God the glory. As Jesus said in Luke 17:10, "...when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, "We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!" Give God the glory and get back to work.

As Paul sumarized in I Cor 12:27, "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."

Father God, Jesus prayed that we might be one – one in spirit, in mission and in communion with each other. Give us eyes to see you in Christians everywhere. Give us a mind to accept and celebrate our differences. Give us a heart big enough to love your children everywhere. Amen.

Giving Up

2007-09-30T13:49:00.000-07:00

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

Sir Winston Churchill, the great English statesman of World War 2 era, went by the nickname of "Old Winnie". I am not sure what that was all about, but I do that despite the very stupid sounding nickname, at least to American ears, a man of fortitude lived behind that name. Churchill was called to America to give a speech to a college graduating class and this is the text of the entire message he gave, "Never, never, never give up!"

What words of hope that is for us as we live out our Christian walk. When hard times come our way, stand firm. When the world around us is falling down, stand resolute. When people are chiding us for our faith, stand tall! We must never give up.

Look at it this way, in the Bible three rewards are promised to those who are willing to be sacrificial and serve the kingdom. The first reward is to be in the presence of Jesus. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). For some people, that may not be their hope and dream, but for the Christian, it is. The second reward is the inheritance of the kingdom prepared since the beginning of time. (See Matthew 24:34) What God has wanted to give His children since the beginning of time, a great Kingdom, beyond description is what we receive. The third reward is seen in the closing chapters of Revelation (see chapters 21 & 22). That is, a place where there is no suffering and heartache because it will all be gone.

So, when it seems like the sacrifice is too much or you can't hold on any longer, remember what Old Winnie said, "Never, never, never give up!" In the words of an old gospel song, we are too close to the crown to give up the cross!

Father, thank you for the hope of today and tomorrow and memories of the past. May we learn from each of them to stand firm when we are tempted to fail. You have given us Christ and for that we shall be eternally grateful! In Jesus name, Amen!

Words, Words, Words

2007-09-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

James 1:26: If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his relgion is worthless!

Have you ever said something you were sorry for. In the old novel, "Man Without a Country", after many days of traveling on boats and just seeing land in sight, the man who so vehemently denied his country began to long for a return to the land he remembered. Oh, if only he had been more careful with his words!

Have you ever said that, "I wish I had been more careful with my words!" Did you ever say something that hurt others so deeply, life would never be the same. You can no more take those words back, than you can squirt the deodorant you use back into the can! And it hurts.

Maybe you have made promises to someone else you didn't keep. Maybe you made promises to God you didn't keep. Whatever the case, you sure wish you had.

Each Lord's Day, we have a chance to come and look at where we have been this past week. Maybe you can't change the hurtful things you said, but you can repent of them. And you can make it right between you and God because of the death of Jesus on the cross. Today, start to decide you want to do what is right and you want to mean what you say and you want to do what you say. It will change your life.

And while you are thinking about your words and seasoning your tongue, don't forget on September 26 to stop and praise God for our schools and the people who lead them. They may not always make the "right" decision but they usually make the "best" and I am thankful for them. Would you encourage your children in school to be at the flag pole at the school at 7:45. And, maybe you could join somne of us adults across the street as we pray as well.

God, we don't intend to say mean and unkind words. Sometimes they slip out. Please forgive us when we don't do and say what we should. Help us to be different because the world needs to see different. And, Father, thank you for our schools. Guide its leaders and administrators. Direct its teachers to teach in wisdom and its students to learn. We want to be more like Jesus where we live. In Jesus Name, Amen.

And A Time For Everything Under the Sun

2007-09-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

The writer of Ecclesiastes understood very well. Life comes at us in cycles. It is day and then it is night; we are born and then we die; we laugh and then we cry; we work and then we rest.

If this is true, and I am sure that it is, why are we so surprised when we discover we have good days and bad days. You know what I mean--some days we are joyful and excited and everything is right with the world. And the next day, we are down in the dumps and even our faith in God can't pull us out of the shadows we feel, or at least so it seems.

Our hope is this: the Hebrew writer reminds us that Jesus Christ is the same everyday. His love and compassion of yesterday is still the same as today, no matter how bad today is going. And the joys and mountaintops of today, when when we are in the valleys tomorrow, He is still there with us encouraging us and kicking us on through despite the blackness we feel.

Friends, don't give up. If the Bible is right, and I believe it is, this old globe has been spinning for 6000 or more years. And from the very onset, God has been watching it and holding it together and taking care of us. He has seen the cycles; he created them I suppose it is fair to say. So, as you face them, go with God. Trust Christ! And get ready for the ending of the cycles is the ending of the world. And we will go to be with God forever. Praise His Holy name.

Dear God, I confess there are things in this world I don't understand. But as I see the cycles of life, help me to be prepared to face both the good and the bad with integrity. And prepare my soul to be with you forever. Help that to always be good enough for me. In Jesus name, AMEN!

Thirsty

2007-09-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

We have received some much needed rain the past couple of September days here in Mulberry Grove. While I don't have the exact numbers, I can see the results of the thirsty ground drinking in the rain. The grass has begun to green and my dried and parched garden is beginning to once again show signs of life. The cracks in the ground are beginning to close and the swimming pool is a bit fuller than it had been. When water quenches the thirst of a parched ground, things begin to happen.

It is safe to say that this applies to our spiritual lives as well. Or at least it should! If you have ever heard anyone tell their "story" of how Jesus changed their lives, it usual starts with a starving or thirsting longing to find something they were missing. And the moment comes when Jesus touches their lives and refreshes them in a new, different, and nearly unbelievable way. Even for those who don't have the remarkable "stuck in the gutter" experiences, the moment when Jesus began to refresh their lives was totally amazing.

If you remember the accounts in the Bible of the final moments of Jesus, you will remember that one of his last 7 phrases was, "I thirst." At that time, someone there gave him a sponge soaked in cheap wine and drugs for the pain. At that moment, Jesus took in the fluid and shortly thereafter he died. Was this a moment in which the laws of nature did not come true? No, because His refreshing brought an even greater refreshing to our lives.

Today, are you thirsty? Why not try a drink of the "living water" that shall means you shall never, deep down inside, thirst again? I am sure all of us could use a little drink!

Procrastination Is Making Me Wait, Keeping Me Waiting

2007-08-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

It occasionally strikes me that I have been waiting ‘til the last minute to do things again. I’ve made a commitment to do this, write that, speak here, go there, and I’ve wasted precious time before addressing the commitment. When we wait until the very last minute to start on the way to an appointment, we often find that we’re not prepared for the flat tire, the wreck just ahead, or the road construction that was supposed to be completed two days ago. We walk into the meeting late with an apology hanging on the tip of our tongue.

I plead guilty once again, for those few who have begun reading here. A few weeks ago, our ministerial alliance group divided the next several months (beginning with August) with the goal that each of us would post at least one devotional thought a week. I missed last week. Mea culpa, pardon moi, I’m so sorry. But doesn’t that illustrate what we all do all of the time—put it off until we’ve either missed the opportunity or turn in a shoddy, half-hearted attempt at the job? Of course, while the idea of “there is a time to wait and a time to go” included in the preacher’s words from Ecclesiastes 3, the assumption of “there is a time to put it off and a time to ‘git ‘r done’” doesn’t quite foot the bill.

Franklin suggested, “Why wait until tomorrow to do what you can do today?” We often turn it into, “Why do to day what you can put off until tomorrow?” There is a time for everything, and the time is now to do what we have committed to do.

Lord of all time, help me to use wisely the time you have given me. Thank you for the time to work, to play, and to live. Help me to be faithful to the commitments I have made.

“Have a Blessed Day”

2007-08-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:3)

That’s how the waitress said good-bye to the patrons at the table near mine in the restaurant just this week. I like this greeting better than the one it seems to be replacing: “Have a good one.” After all, as believers in Christ we are to be blessed and be a blessing, are we not?

In thinking of this way to say good-bye, I began to think of ways that I am blessed. My family of origin (that’s my parents, my brothers and sister, the family into which I was born) is one in which God was important and church life was a natural succession. My family of choice (that’s my wife, the family I got to have a say in) is supportive of my ministry and loves me in spite of who I am. My children provide times of growth and pride for me. I can’t imagine life without them.

I’ve had experiences that have allowed me to grow closer to God along every step of the way. You may have had those, too. Mine are time spent as a public school teacher, time spent living overseas in service of the Lord and His work, and time spent on staff at a local church. That brings me to my next blessing: the church. We live in a place where church involvement is available at an easy rate. Even in our village with a population of 700, there are three churches within the city limits (not to mention those which are planted outside the city limits). We are a church saturated society. Do you want to be blessed? Get involved in one of the local churches on the corner of the street near you.

And the list goes on: health, safety, love, food. An old hymn says, “Count your many blessings name them one by one . . . And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” (“Count Your Blessings, Words: Johnson Oatman, Jr., Music: Edwin O. Excell)

Have a blessed day!

Father, thank you for my many blessings. Keep them coming, and keep me thankful. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

I Am Thankful . . .

2007-08-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6, NIV)

I am thankful for the gift of life in this beautiful world that God ahs created and for parents and grandparents who taught me about God’s love and His promise of eternal life through His son Jesus.

I am thankful to be born in a country where we can live and worship in freedom and for those who have sacrificed and are still sacrificing for that freedom.

I am thankful for my home and family who have blessed my long and happy life.

I am thankful for the hard times and disappointments that have taught me to understand and appreciate the grace and comfort of the Lord.

I am thankful for each person who has blessed my life and given me a reason to live; my husband and our children and grandchildren and all the little ones yet to come.

God has given us so much of life
And love and health and such:
Little ones to bless our home,
Three boys and two girls of our own.
Wonderful, happy, busy days
For all of these we give You praise;
Some troubles, sorrows, disappointments, too
You’re always there to see us through.

Thank you, dear Lord, for Your presence with us here and now and for the promise fo a life everlasting in Heaven with You that You have given to all who believe Your word and receive You as Savior.

—Jaynece Dothager, First Baptist Church of Mulberry Grove

The Cream of the Crop

2007-05-19T04:36:00.000-07:00

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." (Luke 8:5-8)

Planting season is in full swing, and we live in corn country. As I was driving through the countryside recently I noticed that some of the cornfields are beginning to sprout. Carefully cultivated rows are beginning to have small plants pop through the soil. On this particular day, I noticed that one field was rife with weeds cropping up between the rows. What was interesting was that the neighboring field was pristine—the corn was about three to four inches high, evenly distributed, and the soil was clean between the rows.

I was reminded of the way we treat God’s word in our lives. Some people are filled with distractions and struggles that take away from the focus on God’s word in their lives. At the same time, others are ordering their lives with the aid of God’s word. May we rid our lives of the distractions that fill our lives with weeds keeping our crop from growing strong.

Father, use your word to till the soil and rid our lives of the weeds that distract us.

Something New in Things Familiar

2007-04-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

Matthew 6:28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.”

The bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas. As a native Texan (transplanted to Illinois) I’ve always loved this wildflower. It thrives in hot, sunny areas and thrives in rocky soil.

The wildflowers that we see along the way are God’s way of creating beauty in a place where there would otherwise be desolation. Recently, God did something unique. When He was visiting our country—even our part here in Mulberry Grove—with a winter breeze when we’d already been welcoming Spring, a few inches of snow found its way to central Texas. The wildflowers in full bloom donned a quiet coat that they normally don’t even get to try on. The beauty and the message struck me—God is able to take those things that I count beautiful and make them new.

At Easter time, He did something totally new. The beauty of the spring wildflowers was joined by the beauty of winter’s frost. The result was breathtaking. Pause and thank Him for His care for you, and the reminders of that care in the beauty of a new moment.

Father, thank you for provision, for life that you breathe new each day. Help me not to forget that you make even the old seem new. Thanks for the reminders from your creation.

More Than a Legend

2007-04-15T19:31:00.000-07:00

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

The picture along with the post tells the story of the legend of Spook Hill in Lake Wales, Florida. Supposedly, if you pull your car up to the white line in the road and put it in neutral the car will roll backwards, apparently uphill. We got out of the car and watched as the driver put the little PT Cruiser in neutral and took his foot off of the brake. It most certainly began a backward roll that appeared to be up a small hill.

How can I, a preacher from Mulberry Grove, Illinois, explain what happened? I can't. I have been told that people have taken building levels and all sorts of tools to determine that what seemed to be happening indeed was. And it appears to be true. Of course, the story about an alligator and an Indian chief fighting makes a good story for something to supposedly happen.
Did you ever stop to consider how many people have real events in life which should lead them to faith in God and Jesus Christ, but somehow they don't? Many people have wonderful blessings coming their way. But they just can't believe there is a God or that they need a Savior, when in all reality they do. To them, it seems to be an impractical and unbelievable legend which piques the curiosity but offers nothing for them to live by.

Let me encourage you today to trust in Christ if you haven't done that all ready! It is not a legend. It is a reality that has stood the test of time. And I pray you will know the truth of Jesus in your life.

Father God, how thankful we are for the hope we can have in Jesus Christ! Thank you for His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead that were truly wonderful events, and not just glorified stories. May we trust in Him with all of our hearts! In Jesus Name, Amen!

How Has God Gotten Your Attention?

2007-04-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

Exodus 3: 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

It was cold and silent as I walked onto the porch. Snow had been falling at a steady rate and the traffic was now quiet on the usually busy road. As I admired the winter wonderland, a strange noise made its way up the road. The clopping of the hooves grew steady. I expected to see horses making their way up the road. Perhaps riders were out for a winter ride with their trusty steeds.

As I looked, I was not ready for what I saw. Wild deer were making their way down the street in front of my Mulberry Grove home. Steadily the noise became louder. As the herd approached I silently counted and found there were 16 deer clopping past my house in the dark of the evening on the asphalt pavement. In the dim street light I could make out some of their features. Thirty-two eyes glistened in the dim light. Sixteen coats of brown fur laid back in the wind as some of the snow bounced off the sides of the animals. It was truly a reverend moment.

Watching this otherwise silent parade, God laid on my heart that what I was seeing was something no man could do. No man could create the marvelous creatures that mystified me on this brisk, snowy evening. No man could create the fur. No man could put the glisten in the eyes. No man could create the firm hooves which tromped the road.

I had to praise God for what I saw that only He could do. It prompted me to remember that God made me and all that I could see around me. He had really gotten my attention, which sometimes gets diverted with the worries of life! What has God been doing to get your attention? Has He got it?

Dear God: Thank you for the marvels of your creation. Thank you for taking the time to put them in front of me to make me think about you. Thank you for saving me through the death of Jesus, something else I could not do for myself. In Jesus name, Amen!

Call for Stories

2007-03-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

For all the residents living in the Mulberry Grove, IL community, we would like to send out a request for devotional moments. We, the Mulberry Grove Ministerial Alliance, would like to invite you to share your stories and thoughts, including relevent Scripture quotations and prayer, to be included on this website, and for possible inclusion in an upcoming publication entitled 30 Days of Thanksgiving. If you are interested, please note the guidelines below. We welcome devotional thoughts to any of the members of the MGMA. Thank you for your participation.

--Benjamin Potter, FBC Mulberry Grove

Writing Guidelines for the 30 Days of Thanksgiving Devotional

Anyone in the community is welcome to submit a devotional of an inspirational and Christian nature.
All devotionals will become property of the Mulberry Grove Ministerial Alliance and no payment will be made for any of the devotionals.
The recommended length will be 250 words, with an appropriate verse of scripture and a short prayer to be included on the page.
The theme of the devotional is to reflect Thanksgiving or praise for God’s goodness.
The devotional is to reflect a local flavor – featuring events or happenings that would relate to the people of Mulberry Grove. Each devotional should have an appropriate title.
The deadline for submission will be Memorial Day and they are to be submitted to one of the local pastors. They will be reviewed by one of the pastors and may be resubmitted to writer for editorial corrections. Ministerial Alliance reserves the right to edit based on available space.
Devotionals may be selected for use in a local publication of a devotional book entitled “30 Days of Thanksgiving” or a blog set up to distribute similar material. Material may be made available to each resident of Mulberry Grove or other persons without fee. Freewill offerings to help with publication would be most welcome.
Decision of the ministerial alliance will be final in determining usage in the book or blog.
All submitted articles must include the signed release below stating transfer of intellectual property rights.

I, ____________________________________, hereby submit the devotional entitled _____________________

for possible use in the devotional booklet “30 Days of Thanksgiving” or on a blog site set up for this purpose.

I assign all publication rights to the Mulberry Grove Ministerial Alliance. I understand I do this as a community

project and that no fees or royalties will be paid. I understand that apart from the preceding mentioned work,

I retain all rights to my work for future publication and use.

Signed: __________________________________________ Date: ________________________________