Jun 30, 2011

It Could've Been Me

Every day the media continues to find and report another individual who made a stupid decision and failed to live out vows that they made to their spouse, families, fans, constituents, themselves, and their God.

Every day we see another celebrity’s name drug through the mud as the viewers hunger increases to see another celebrity fall; not just to “our level”, but lower so that the worshipped becomes the groveled.

Every day we shake our heads at how they could’ve been so stupid, as we assure ourselves that it would never happen to us. With all of the people who have been caught in the past, it is amazing that individuals still think that they can get away with it. But the reality is if we are doing it, we will get caught; period, no exceptions.

The Bible tells us: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.” (Galatians 6:7-8b)

The Bible tells us:“But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)

The Bible tells us: "For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes. 18 And first I will repay double for their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable idols.” (Jeremiah 16:17-18)

What should our response be? We need to pray for whose names have been dragged through the mud.
What should be our prevention? We need to pray for ourselves knowing that we too have opportunities to make stupid decisions; we too could have our names dragged through the mud.

The Bible tells us: Be sober; be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)


"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."


It Could've Been Me by Phil Keaggy
From the album: Way Back Home (1994)

I heard the news today
That another soldier tumbled,
A fragile warrior slipped and fell from grace.
The vultures swooped to tear his heart
And pin him to the ground,
And from the shadows someone took his place.

Today we talk amongst ourselves,
We never bought his words.
We say we've seen the madness in his eyes.
Tomorrow he's forgotten as
We've scrubbed him from our hearts,
And as he bleeds we slowly turn our eyes.

But it could've been me,
I could've been the one to lose my grip and fall.
It could've been me,
The one who's always standing tall.
For unless you hold me tightly, Lord,
And I can hold on too,
Then tomorrow in the news
It could be me, it could be me.

And in our hearts we fear the ones
Whose lives are like our own,
Whose shadows dance like
Demons in our minds.
We think to push them far away,
We exercise our souls,
We make them play the tune for all mankind.

Today we talk amongst ourselves,
We never bought their words.
We say we've seen the madness in their eyes.
Tomorrow they're forgotten as
We've scrubbed them from our hearts,
And as they bleed we slowly turn our eyes.

But it could've been me,
I could've been the one to lose my grip and fall.
It could've been me,
The one who's always standing tall.
For unless you hold me tightly, Lord,
And I can hold on too,
Then tomorrow in the news
It could be me, it could be me.

But I believe there is a place
Where we can run and hide,
When we know that we can't stand
For one more day,
And I believe You're waiting, Lord,
To hold me very close
For You know without Your love I'd lose my way.

But it could've been me,
I could've been the one to lose my grip and fall.
It could've been me,
The one who's always standing tall.
For unless you hold me tightly, Lord,
And I can hold on too,
Then tomorrow in the news
It could be me, it could be me.


Jun 23, 2011

As in the Days of Noah

I’ve waiting until now to weigh in on the latest prediction that the world would end on a certain date and time. We all knew it was false because the Bible clearly states that “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32)

Part of the reason that people are deceived is simply because they don’t read the Bible. Jesus said (2000 years ago) while He was on the earth: "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.” (Mat 24:23-25)

Part of the damage caused by these false prophets is that it raises skepticism in the wake of the unfulfilled prophecy.  But, again, this is not a new problem. The Apostle Peter wrote about it 2000 years ago in one of his letters.

In the letter he addresses the scoffers:

"Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3:1-7)
In the letter he addresses why it is taking Jesus so long to return:"8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-9)

In the letter he assures us that Jesus WILL return:
"10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:10-13)

Peter goes on to tell us how we should live:
"14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:14-18)

So what do we know about when Jesus will return? The Bible tells us that life will actually be as it normally is: 37 “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:37-39)

So what are we suppose to do? The Bible tells us: “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:44)  “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." (Matthew 25:13) 

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Jun 16, 2011

AWAKEN ME

The Stanley Cup Games are over. Congratulations to Boston and Vancouver on a great series. I’m happy that Boston won only because I picked them to win; even though they aren’t my team. I went with one of the “Original Six” teams two years in a row.

Last year when the series got down to the “Sweet Sixteen”, I wanted Chicago to play Philadelphia in the finals. I picked Chicago over Philadelphia, but I would have been just as happy if the Flyers had won; as long as the series went seven games.

This year when the series got down to the “Sweet Sixteen”, I wanted Boston to play Vancouver in the finals. I picked Boston over Vancouver, but I would have been just as happy if Vancouver had won; as long as the series went seven games.

It was a great series; the way playoffs should go. The games that Vancouver won were close and could have gone either way if not for great goal tending and great defense. Boston defied the odds to win in one of the best finals series in years. Three of their four playoff rounds went the full distance of seven games and they came from 2-0 behind in the finals to beat the Canucks, who were favorites to win after finishing the regular season with the NHL's best record.

It was really great to hear the Vancouver fans cheer for Tim Thomas when he held up the Conn Smythe Award and cheer for Tim Thomas and Milan Lucic when each of them held up the Stanley Cup.
However, it was very disappointing to hear the boos ring out inside the stadium when Bettmann presented the cup to Chara and for the riots and violence that erupted on the streets of Vancouver by Vancouver fans

The loss for Vancouver and its fans is a heartache that won't go away for a while.  Many of the Vancouver fans are probably saying something along the lines of: “Then I said, 'I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain…" (Isaiah 49:4a). Perhaps this comes from feeling as though all there is in this life is some temporary award to strive for.

But the rest of that passage goes on to say: “yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, and my work with my God.'” (Isaiah 49:4b). We feel deflated when we lose our eternal perspective; YES, THERE IS MORE TO THIS LIFE THAN A TEMPORAL REWARD!

Our problem is that we have temporal eyes fixed on a prize that is really temporal and has lulled us to sleep. When we spend our time with temporal things instead of spending time with Him, there is a pretty good chance that we will come up feeling “not quite full”. We need to have the Lord awaken us and remind us of that there is more to this life.

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."



“AWAKEN ME” by MISTY EDWARDS
NOTE: This song was done live and spontaneous and I couldn’t find the actual lyrics online

Forgive me for neglecting Your heart
Forgive me for neglecting mine
Forgive me for my busy life
Forgive me for wasting time

Forgive me for neglecting Your heart
Forgive me for neglecting mine
For I am dark from working in the vineyard
But my heart I have forgotten

Just put Your hand upon my heart
Put Your hand upon my heart
Please put Your hand upon my heart
I want to feel

Just let me know that I’m alive
Let me know that I’m alive
Let me know that I’m alive
I want to feel

Take away the dullness
Take away a proneness to boredom
Take away my wandering spirit
Tame this wild soul

Fascinate me and captivate me
Come and own me like you do
Capture this imagination
Capture my affections too

Jun 10, 2011

It would help if it was plugged in…

One of the things that I love to do is mow the lawn, and one month ago grass cutting season was finally upon us here in Minnesota. My lawn mower was ready for a new season of use; all of its parts were cleaned and in top form including new oil, a sharpened new blade, and a new spark plug, and a fresh tank of gasoline. And so I proceeded to cut the lawn.  

I primed the engine and gave the cord a pull and IMMEDIATELY the engine fired up. This is the way that lawn cutting is supposed to be! I spent the next half-hour leisurely cutting my lawn, enjoying the moments to be alone with my thoughts; "interrupted" only by someone waving to me as they drove by my house. When I was finished, I stood back and enjoyed my accomplishments. 

I also noticed that my next door neighbor hadn’t gotten around to cutting her lawn yet. I used to occasionally cut the lawn when her father lived there so I offered to cut the lawn for her; and she promptly accepted my offer. I primed the engine and gave the cord a pull and IMMEDIATELY the engine fired up. This is the way that lawn cutting is supposed to be! I spent the next few moments cutting my neighbor’s lawn enjoying the moments to be alone with my thoughts; interrupted by the sudden silence of the lawn mower suddenly stopping.  

I assumed it was out of gasoline so I went to retrieve the gas can; only to find that there was still fuel from when I had filled it earlier in the day. I tried several more times to start the engine by priming the engine and pulling the cord; but with no success. Eventually I discovered what was wrong; the spark plug cord was not connected to the spark plug. Apparently, I had knocked it off when I was mowing under my neighbor’s swing set. I said to myself; “It would help if it was plugged in…”

Without the connection between the spark plug and the spark plug wire, ignition wasn’t going to take place. There had to be the correct connection in order for the power to flow. The engine needed to be connected to the power source in order for there to be ignition.

Have you ever read the Bible and wondered why it didn’t make sense? I don’t mean the pondering of questions like; “Did Adam have a navel?”; I mean that when you read it, there seemed to no real life or application and so the Bible becomes a boring book to take or leave. I say that it would help if you were plugged in; to the Author of the Bible. 

The Apostle Paul writing to a church in Corinth (Greece) wrote; “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)

It would help if it was plugged in… There has to be the correct connection between the Author of the Bible and us, the readers, in order for the power to flow. We need to be connected to the power source in order for there to be ignition. 

Simply put, we need the Holy Spirit to understand the things of God. It is the Holy Spirit that testifies to the truth of God's message and the response of a man's heart. It will be impossible for anyone one to understand and appreciate matters that relate to God without the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said; “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:4-6)

Over 2000 years ago, disciples of Jesus Christ were given the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-23 and Acts 2:1-4). As longs as they were connected to the source of power, real ministry took place. 

During this time of year when the Church celebrates Pentecost (The Christian festival celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after His Ascension, held on the seventh Sunday after Easter), it is a good time to ask yourself if you, too, have been “plugged in” to the source of power, or are you still “pulling the cord; but with no success”. 

Today, today you, too, can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit by simply asking.  Jesus said; “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Read Luke 11:10-13).

“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:8-11)

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."



Jun 3, 2011

If Love is All we've Got

For the love of my life...   June 6, 2011
HAPPY 30TH ANNIVERSARY KATIE!

A song for her.....