THE EYES OF LOVE

THE EYES OF LOVE

A grandmother and a little girl whose face was sprinkled with bright red freckles spent the day at the zoo.  The children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.

“You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!”  one boy in the line teased.

Embarrassed, the little girl dropped her head and frowned.  Her grandmother immediately knelt down next to her.  “I love your freckles,” she said ever so lovingly.

“Not me,” the little girl replied with genuine self-disappointment.

“Well, when I was a little girl I always wanted freckles,” grandma said, tracing her finger gently over the child’s cheeks.  “Freckles are simply beautiful!”

The girl looked up.  “Really?” she wondered hopefully.

“Of course!” said the grandmother.  “Why, just name me one thing that’s prettier than freckles.”

The little girl peered for a moment into her old grandmother’s smiling face.  “Wrinkles,” she answered softly.

Moral of the story: Love begets love.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WHEN IT'S YOUR CHILD

WHEN IT’S YOUR CHILD

In a Thomas Nelson publication, entitled “You Don’t Have to Be Blind to See,” Jim Stovall penned a poignant tale of the awesome power of love.

There were two warring tribes in the Andes Mountains region.  One tribe resided in the lowlands and the other lived high up in the mountains.  When the mountain people invaded the lowlanders, they captured the baby of one of the lowlander families and took the infant with them back up into the mountains.

Rescue efforts were stalled because the lowlanders didn’t know how to climb the mountain.  They didn’t know any of the trails that the mountain people used; they didn’t know where to find the mountain people; and, they didn’t know how to track them in this steep terrain. Even so, they dispatched their best group of fighting men with the intention of climbing the mountain and bringing the lost baby home.

Those men attempted one method of climbing and then another.  They tried one trail and then another.  Yet, after several days of strenuous effort, they had climbed only several hundred feet.  Feeling hopeless and helpless, the lowlander men decided that their cause was lost and prepared to return to the village below.

As they were packing their gear for the descent, they saw the missing baby’s mother walking toward them.  Suddenly, they realized that she was coming down the mountain that they hadn’t figured out how to climb.  And then, miracle of miracles, they saw that she had the young baby strapped on her back.  ‘How could this possibly be?’ they wondered frantically among themselves.

The leader of the warring search party came forward and greeted the woman with these words: “We could not climb this mountain.  How did YOU do it when the strongest and most skillful men in the village could not do it?”

The mother’s answer was quite simple.  She shrugged her shoulders and said, “It wasn’t your baby.”

Stovall’s story of maternal love reminds me of The One who sacrificed all and suffered more than we could imagine to secure our salvation when we were totally lost and deliverance seemed distant and inaccessible to us.  Many talented people in biblical history gave it their level best.  Patriarchs made every effort to rescue us; prophets tried their heroic attempts; neither judges nor priests could transport us to the throne of grace.  Even the very Law of God failed to secure our salvation.

But Heaven was compassionately attentive.  OUR FATHER was absolutely aware of our plight.  Understand this: you and I Are HIS BABIES!  And when the life of YOUR CHILDREN are on the line, you are more than willing and ready to brave any extremes.  So neither death, hell, the grave, nor Satan, could prevent HIM from scaling our mountain of sin and shame to save us.  THE FATHER sent His Son, and the Son willingly sacrificed His life to redeem us from the hand of the enemy.  Thank you, JESUS!  We are Yours – forever.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WORTH MUCH MORE

WORTH MUCH MORE

It is quite likely that you possess far more worth than others typically ascribe or imagine.  Therefore, when you have given all that you have to give, try your best to mute the careless commentary of the crowd.  Instead, tune in to Heaven’s affirmations about your identity and importance.

In 17^th century France, a scholar by the name of Muretus had fallen ill.  Oddly enough, he presented himself to the medical doctors garbed in the rags of the poor.  Unaware that he was an educated man, the doctors discussed his case in Latin, thinking he would be unable to understand them.  “Faciamus experimentum in anima vili,” one physician suggested, which means “Let us try an experiment with this worthless creature.”  Imagine their shock when this apparent ‘pauper’ replied (also in Latin), “Vilem animam appellas pro qua Christus non dedignatus est mori?”  Translation: “Will you call one worthless for whom Christ did not disdain to die?” Amen.  

Appearances notwithstanding, YOU’re worth SO MUCH more.

Indeed, your value is predicated (only) on The One who sacrificially died and victoriously rose to endow your redemption, justification and eternal life.  So stop browsing through the endless pages of ‘The Majority Report.’  Seldom is it accurate, and rarely does it reflect the perspective of Heaven.  Rather, listen intently to what your Creator has to say: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

EDITOR'S NOTE

EDITOR’S NOTE:
This daily devotional is all about JESUS CHRIST and HIS KINGDOM, not about me. Therefore, please feel free to utilize any of these materials in your witnessing, teaching or preaching ministries. To GOD be the glory! Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed.
-Pastor Wayne M. Bass

UNDESERVED FAVOR (Part II)

UNDESERVED FAVOR (Part II)

GRACE may be defined as the manifestation of favor by a superior, characterized by mercy, clemency, pardon and goodwill.  Grace refers to the free and unmerited act of GOD by which He restores His estranged creations to Himself. (Ephesians 2:8)  It's absolutely amazing!

At the heart of Christianity’s doctrine of grace is the reality of original sin, i.e. that we humans had fallen from our first estate of full fellowship with the Father by our deliberate acts of rebellion and disobedience.  We had been purposefully created in the very image of God, but we lost that image by the willful decision to elevate satanic deception and lies over and above the eternal truth of our Creator. (Genesis 3:1-24)

Grace opens the portal to forgiveness, but we humans were absolutely powerless to either EARN our forgiveness or to RESTORE our intimate fellowship with the Father.  We had sinned willfully against the mandates of our Creator, therefore we became eligible recipients of “the wages of sin,” which means death, i.e. our spiritual separation from God along with our physical mortality. (Romans 6:23)

It is important to note that our sinful acts created a terrible dilemma between the justice of God and the mercy of God.  While the justice of God demands a death sentence for willful rebellion to His clearly stated commands, the mercy of God mobilizes a divine intervention of love, mercy, pardon and reconciliation.  

JESUS CHRIST becomes the gracious and efficacious solution to this awful dilemma that had been chosen and caused by us.  As a mortal man, Jesus Christ was “born in the likeness of sinful flesh,” and therefore had to proactively resist the human tendency toward rebellion and sin. (Romans 8:3) However, as GOD INCARNATE, Jesus Christ possessed both the ability and spiritual authority to resist satanic temptation, so He lived a righteous life and eventually endured our just punishment (vicariously on Calvary’s cross), thereby freeing us from condemnation, captivity, destruction and death. (Hebrews 12:2)

After declaring “it is finished” and giving up the ghost, Jesus was immediately buried in the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea with the assistance of Nicodemus. (John 19:30-42) The scriptures inform us that Jesus Christ thereafter descended into the lower chambers of hell to snatch away the keys to death, hell and the grave from our arch “adversary” and “accuser.” (Revelation 1:18 – I Peter 5:8 – Revelation 12:10) In a word, Jesus Christ went to hell in your name, so you could go to Heaven in His name.  And then He rose from the grave with “all power in Heaven and earth” in His hands. (Matthew 28:18) Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Today, we humans are confronted with a monumental life-or-death choice, to either cooperate with the grace of God, thereby gaining eternal life, or to stubbornly resist His benevolent plan of salvation, thereby confirming our eligibility for eternal punishment. (Joshua 24:15)

God’s grace is sufficient for us.  This means that His grace is always ‘enough’ to save, sanctify, satisfy and sustain us, despite our human frailty and weaknesses. (II Corinthians 12:9) This means that God’s supernatural strength is paradoxically perfected in the deepest dregs of human weakness.  To wit, we are enabled (by His power) to make powerful affirmations of faith that run contrary to our human perceptions, emotions and senses.  Through faith in Christ, the weak can boldly SAY “I am strong!”  By this faith, the sick can confidently DECLARE “I am well!”  And by this faith, the poor can expectantly DECREE “I am rich!” (Philippians 4:13)

One of the more interesting aspects of grace was taught to the Body of Christ by the Wesley brothers, John and Charles.  They often spoke of “prevenient grace,” which simply means that long before we became conscious of our dire need for salvation, GOD was proactively working behind-the-scenes of our lives to bring us to the point of salvation and surrender.  He accomplished this by deploying a wide array of witnesses, words, relationships and life-situations that spoke both subtly and powerfully of His love, mercy and grace.  In truth, none of us ‘found’ God.  Rather, HE found us – so we are especially and eternally grateful. (Deuteronomy 32:10)

It’s His unmerited mercy…it’s our undeserved favor…and it goes by the name of AMAZING GRACE!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

UNDESERVED FAVOR (Part I)

UNDESERVED FAVOR (Part I)

Be prayerfully attentive to the gracious tale of a Christian student.

I left work early so I could have some uninterrupted study time before the final exam in Youth Issues class.  When I arrived, everyone was doing last minute studying.  Our professor entered and said he would do a brief review prior to the test.  We completed the review, encountering some ‘new’ items that were not in our study guide.  When questioned, he said all of the information is in the textbook that we are responsible to read.  We certainly couldn’t really argue with that.

Finally, it was time to take the test.

“Kindly leave your exams face down on the desk until I tell you to start,” our professor instructed.  When we turned the tests over, every answer had already been filled in!  The bottom of the last page had this message: “This is the end of your Final Exam.  All the answers on your test are 100% correct.  You will receive an ‘A’ on the final exam.  The reason you passed the test is because the creator of the test took it for you.  All the work you did in preparation for this test did not help you to get an “A” grade.  You have just experienced grAce.”

Then, he queried each student individually, “What is your grade?  Do you deserve the grade you are receiving?  How much did your personal preparation for this exam help you to achieve your final grade?”

Typically, I am not very emotional, but I had to fight back tears when answering those questions and thinking about how the ‘creator’ had aced my test for me.

Our subsequent class discussion went something like this: “All semester, I have tried to teach all of you that you are recipients of grace.  I’ve tried to communicate that you need to demonstrate this free and unmerited gift while you are working with youth and with any others.  Never ever hammer people for they are not the enemy.  Help them by empathizing with them, and they will treasure, remember and reproduce GRACE!”

We became totally transparent and talked about how some of us had studied for hours and others for just a few minutes, but all had received the same grade.  Our professor pointed us to a remarkable story of grace that had been shared by The Master. (Matthew 20:1-16) The owner of a vineyard hired people to work in his field and agreed to pay them a certain amount.  At various times throughout the day, he hired more workers under similar circumstances.  When payday arrived, each worker received the same amount of money.  After workers who had been hired early in the morning complained about unfairness, their employer simply responded, ‘Should you be angry because I am kind and gracious to every one?’

Our professor admitted that he had never done this kind of final exam before and likely would never do it again, but due to the judgmental content of some class discussions, he felt that we really needed to experience a practical lesson of grace.

It’s a phenomenal story and a symbolic representation of the divine favor that The Creator affords us.  I love what the prolific Christian author, Max Lucado, shares about the amazing gift of GRACE, which is the unmerited favor of God.  “Grace,” he says, “is God as heart surgeon, cracking open your chest, removing your heart – poisoned as it is with pride and pain – and replacing it with his own.”  Oh, how I love Jesus!  Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

BLUEPRINT FOR LIVING

BLUEPRINT FOR LIVING

Let’s not make life overly complicated.  The scriptural admonitions of Solomon and Joshua offer concise summaries of our responsibilities and our rewards.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Joshua 1:8

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Don’t overthink; just do it.  The Master Architect will skillfully assist you with a detailed blueprint that will support order and secure completion in your ‘messy’ construction zone.  Find it in THE BOOK. (Philippians 1:6)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

CHOOSING NOT TO DO NOTHING

CHOOSING NOT TO DO NOTHING

I know…it’s a double negative and one might suppose I would know better.  But it is what it is! J  In a few hours, Belinda and I will be on my way to the world famous Bronx Zoo in New York.  Since it’s a trip that Belinda and I have pre-planned to engage with three local grandchildren (Dylan, Sydney and Savannah) during spring break, I thought it might be appropriate to share a short story with you – a children’s story at that.  Oh well...here we go.

Winnie-the Pooh is one of the most beloved children’s characters of all time.  Of course, Pooh is the bear who belongs to Christopher Robin.  At the end of the one of the Winnie-The-Pooh stories we learn that Christopher Robin is soon headed for school.  Here’s how the story goes.

Now there comes a time in everyone’s life when toys and games are replaced by pencils and books.  You see Christopher Robin was going away to school.  Nobody in the forest knew exactly why or where he was going, all they knew was that it had something to do with twice times and ABCs and places like Brazil, and such.

“Pooh, what do you like doing best in the world?” asked Christopher Robin.

“What I like best is me coming to visit you and saying, How about a smackerel of honey?”

“I like doing that too, but what I like doing best is Nothing.”

“How do you do Nothing?” Winnie wondered.

“Well, it’s when grown-ups ask ‘What are you going to do?’  And you say ‘Nothing’.  And then you go and do it.”

“I like that, let’s do it all the time.”

“You know something Pooh, I’m not going to do just Nothing anymore.”

“You mean never again?” wondered Pooh.

“Well, not so much,” decided Christopher Robin.

It’s a cute children’s story, and I am most appreciative that you have so generously allowed for my moment of elementary folly.  However, there is a serious lesson embedded in Winnie-The-Pooh’s childlike ‘theology.’ 

Occasionally in life, you and I are sorely tempted to slide into pure passivity and simply do NOTHING.  Our engines might have been stalled by discouragement, by doubt, by criticism, or by our imaginary fears of unseen and unknown quantities.  I have learned that doing something is a far more productive choice than its polar opposite.  Of course, we must be cautious enough and wise enough to choose a personal path that aligns with the divine will.

Now hear this, winner-believer!  Never ever surrender to fear.  You can and you will DO SOMETHING because GOD is on your side.  One more thing.  It’s always too soon to quit because You SIMPly cannot AND WILL NOT lose – so get off the sidelines and get into the game!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

DIVINE SECRETS

DIVINE SECRETS

One of my favorite scriptures is the 25th Psalm of David. It says simply that “THE SECRET OF THE LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.” (Psalm 25:14) It is my belief that our Creator endows each of us (at birth) with a sublime and supernatural secret. It is the special imprint of His divine will for our lives. It is our unique gift, our personal potential, our very reason for being. We only find lasting peace and fulfillment when we discover and develop it.

This is the primary reason why so many people are profoundly lacking in peace, joy and contentment. Simply put, whenever these key ingredients of life are absent, the vision and activities of our daily lines have not yet been aligned with THE SECRET POTENTIAL that God has breathed into our souls from the beginning.

Case in point. At an international conference held in Australia, an Aboriginal speaker named Eddie Kneebone explained the sense of importance his people imparted to their children when they still lived “in the old way on their land.” At a predetermined time, every young person in the village would be solemnly entrusted with a secret piece of knowledge. It was vital information that would be pivotal to the tribe’s success or survival. It might be the location of a hidden waterhole in a dry and thirsty terrain. It might be the medicinal and healing properties of a certain plant. It would be one of many very important things. But most importantly, no one else in the tribe would be given that particular piece of vital knowledge.

When time and necessity intersected with opportunity, that young person would be expected to fully contribute his unique gift of knowledge for the benefit and welfare of every tribal member. “Imagine,” concluded Mr. Kneebone, “what a sense of importance and belonging this custom gave to our children. Each of them had a special assignment, an undeniably important role to play in our society. Self-esteem and a sense of personal worth were the great benefits of our Aboriginal custom.”

Lesson learned. To unlock the SECRET PLACE OF POTENTIAL that is granted to us by GOD is to actualize possibility, productivity, prosperity and peace.

This mission-critical, covenant truth was revealed long ago to the prophet Isaiah. GOD declared, “I will give you the treasures of darkness and HIDDEN RICHES OF SECRET PLACES.” (Isaiah 45:3) The implications of this divine pronouncement are crystal clear. No matter how puzzling your personal path might seem to be, GOD providentially dispatches DESTINY via the unveiling of PURPOSE. As you “dwell in the SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH...under the shadow of the Almighty,” HIS SECRETS become your own. And HIS PRESENCE becomes the place and power of the manifestation of all your hidden potential. (Psalm 91:1)

The psalmist David put it this way: “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; IN THE SECRET PLACE OF HIS TABERNACLE He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5) Based on the revelation in this Psalm, the Winans popularized an important gospel song message during the 80s: “I have A SECRET PLACE where I can hide away and talk to YOU all day.”

In 1952, the year of my birth, [Yes, I’m getting ‘up there’], a very popular game show called “I’VE GOT A SECRET” was initiated by CBS Television. Here’s how the game was played. After a clue was provided by the host, celebrity panelists sought to discover THE SECRET of an unknown contestant by asking a series of questions. The secret would be some fascinating fact about that person's life. Throughout this process, the viewing audience was already aware of the secret since it was displayed on the television screen.

THE CREATOR employs a similar (yet infinitely more sophisticated) method in disclosing THE SECRET of your unique purpose on the planet. Over time, you encounter a series of divine clues which I call “destiny moments,” in which He reveals pieces of your life puzzle. Here’s the thing. You are given the option to dramatically speed up the process, i.e. to shine much more light and clarity upon it by familiarizing yourself with the ‘game rules’ that are outlined in The Holy Writ. Additional clues are revealed continually during private moments of prayer and meditation where you have close encounters with The Host and learn more and more about yourself.

Bottom-line: Even though you are required to “walk by faith, not by sight,” THE CREATOR does not actually intend for your life to an absolute and unattainable mystery. (II Corinthians 5:7) However, in order to gain a full revelation and free impartation of HIS PLAN, you must remain in HIS PRESENCE and in close connection to HIS POWER. In the wise words of the Apostle Peter, “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” (II Peter 1:3)

In a word, DIVINE SECRETS ARE OURS, when we are ready, willing and able to receive and embrace them. (John 16:13 – Revelation 2:7,11,17, 29 – Revelation 3:6,13,22) To reprise an earlier statement: “THE SECRET OF THE LORD is with those who fear Him, and HE WILL SHOW THEM HIS COVENANT.” (Psalm 25:14)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

NO ONE ELSE LIKE YOU!

NO ONE ELSE LIKE YOU!

Today and every day, I feel like praising and worshipping our God.  His goodness, His grace, His mercy, His favor and His love are boundless and incomprehensible.  Terry MacAlmon states it far more eloquently than I in her praise chorus entitled “There Is No One Else Like You.”

You deserve the glory,

And the honor---

Lord, we lift our hands in worship

As we praise your Holy name.

For You are great,

You do miracles so great,

There is no one else like You---

There is no one else like You!

Prayerfully read and reflect on the following scriptures which clearly illuminate the majesty and sovereignty of Almighty God.  As you read, take a few moments to invoke the presence of His Holy Spirit and to accept His gracious invitation into The Throne Room of Heaven.  Our God is great – and He is absolutely worthy of all our adoration, devotion, obedience, worship and praise!

Revelation 4:11

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 5:11-13

¹¹ And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

¹² Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.

¹³ And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Revelation 7:9-12

⁹ After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

¹⁰ And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

¹¹ And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

¹² Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 19:1

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God:

Jude 1:24-25

²⁴ Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

²⁵ To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Oh, how we love Jesus!  Every believer lives in joyful anticipation and expectation of His imminent return.  (Titus 2:13) We can hardly wait to see Him!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE

TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE

One of the more memorable sermons of the late great civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was entitled “Loving Your Enemies.”  He had been imprisoned for protesting and daring to suggest that African-Americans should have the same civil rights as others.  During his lifetime, he received countless death threats, he was physically stabbed, he was accused of being a communist, his family home was bombed and he was jailed over 20 times.

Yet in his historic sermon, Dr. King contended that “hate multiplies hate…in a descending spiral of violence” and is therefore “just as injurious to the person who hates” as it is to the victim of hate.  Moreover, he concluded that “love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend” for it has both “creative” and “redemptive” powers.

So who will you touch today with love?

Yesterday, Belinda and I viewed the inspirational film, “War Room,” for the third time.  Both of us find it impossible to watch without being reduced to tears.  Along with its poignant proclamations on prayer, its message speaks volumes about forgiveness, acceptance and unconditional love.  To be transparent, there are many times I have come short in that area.  But here’s a hopeful thing: Long ago, my wife and I dedicated our own “war room.”  It is our home sanctuary, a spiritual space for family prayer, worship and Word study. 

In connection with this, just yesterday we commenced what we call a “complaint fast.”  God being our help, instead of carping or complaining about enemies, frenemies, or anyone else, we will lovingly lift these persons to the Lord on the altar of steadfast and fervent prayer.  While doing so, we will prayerfully and carefully consider ourselves, i.e. our own faults and imperfections, seeking God's grace for our growth edges.

As Dr. King stated so eloquently, our capacity to love is transformative and life-changing.  So we should never underestimate its power, both to transform ourselves and to touch others.

Who will you impact with a proactive and persistent love?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

NO WAY TO AVOID PAYING TAXES

NO WAY TO AVOID PAYING TAXES

It’s TAX DAY in the USA.  On or before April 15^th, Americans must file their federal income tax returns.  Perhaps it’s an odd nomenclature for this day, considering the fact that so many will not be receiving any RETURNS at all, which means they will be writing a check to Uncle Sam to make up the difference between what they have already paid in and the full amount of taxes due.

I overheard a somewhat strange statement the other day.  While waiting for my coffee order at Duncan Doughnuts, a gentleman just in front of me said, “I’m sick of paying these ridiculous taxes, and I’m seriously thinking about quitting my job so they won’t keep bleeding me dry like this!  That’s it.  I’ll quit and they’ll never get one dime out of me again!”

His emotional outburst was rather naïve, for at least two reasons.  Firstly, I might pose a question and offer some advice to my ‘coffee-mate’ (please pardon the pun) that goes something like this: “Why would you cut off your nose to spite your face?  In the end, Uncle Sam will not miss your relatively modest ‘contribution,’ but you would suffer significantly due to a loss of income.  Secondly, you will end up paying some sort of tax anyway if you ever plan to purchase anything, such as clothing (state tax) or a car (both federal tax and municipal tax in the state of Connecticut)!”

Bottom-line: There’s just no way to avoid paying taxes.

Methinks it is precisely the same reality in the spiritual realm.  We all love God’s gift of free-will, but it carries with it a life-or-death decision.  We can either pay God now, or pay God later.  Moses’ successor, Joshua, issued a spiritual ultimatum to the descendants of Abraham when they made the foolhardy choice to embrace idol worship after their arrival in the Promised Land: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Does not the same choice confront each of us every single day?

If I fail to pay my ‘spiritual taxes’ to God now, i.e. if I do not honor Him, worship Him and obey Him during my lifetime, I will be left to my own self-centered devices on Judgment Day, when “every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess” that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. (Romans 14:11) I don’t know about you, but I must make the uncompromising decision to follow Him in the here and now. 

All of us should pay close attention to the sobering admonition that God shared with Joshua on the day that he assumed leadership of His people.  Its net message is that it payS to personally surrender and render life-long service to HIM.  “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

I shall never regret writing my personal ‘check’ to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He will never overtax us and the ‘returns’ will be eternal and enormous.  In fact, “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things which GOD has prepared for those who love Him.” (I Corinthians 2:9)

My friend, go ahead and pay your taxes.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

COULD YOU BE THE ANSWER?

COULD YOU BE THE ANSWER?

Have you noticed that, at times, Heaven appears to be abjectly silent as some prayers seem to go completely unanswered?  Small wonder that in a world that is serially challenged by pains and problems, it could become all too easy to grow increasingly cynical and to buy into the absurd notion that God does not care.

One day a young woman was walking home from work when she noticed a little girl standing on a street corner begging.  The little girl’s clothes were paper-thin and dirty, her hair was matted and smelly, and her cheeks were bright red because of the fierce wind and winter cold.

The young woman dutifully dropped a few coins into the little girl’s begging bowl, gave her a tentative smile and walked on.  As she headed homeward, however, she started to feel really guilty.  How could she be at ease in her cozy house with a full pantry and an ample wardrobe while that poor little girl languished and shivered on the streets?

Suddenly this young woman began to feel quite angry with God.  She expressed her disappointment in a rather loud prayer of protest.  “GOD,” she accused, “how could you let this sort of thing happen?  Why don’t you DO something to help this young girl?”

And then, much to her surprise, God actually answered.  He whispered softly, “I did do something.  I created YOU.”

Think about it.  If we are not part of the solution, perhaps we are part of the problem.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

A PRAYER FOR NATIONAL REPENTANCE

A PRAYER FOR NATIONAL REPENTANCE

When Joe Wright, the pastor of Central Christian Church of Wichita was invited to open the Kansas Senate session with prayer, everyone expected the usual politically-correct generalities.  What they heard instead was a stirring prayer, passionately calling our country to repentance and righteousness.  The response was immediate.  During his prayer, a number of legislators walked out in protest.

Over the following six-week period, Central Christian Church logged more than 5,000 feedback calls with only 47 registering a negative response.  The church has since received international requests for copies of the prayer from India, Korea and several African nations.

The late media commentator, Paul Harvey, aired the prayer on his radio program entitled “The Rest of the Story” and received a larger response than on any previous broadcast.

Pastor Wright’s prayer in its entirety:

Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance.  We know Your Word says, “Woe to those who call evil good,” but that’s exactly what we have done.  We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We confess that:

We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism.

We have worshiped other gods and called it multi-culturalism.

We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn children and called it a choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.

We have abused power and called it political savvy.

We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, oh God, and know our hearts today.  Cleanse us from every sin and set us free.  Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of Your will.  I ask it in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Amen.

As a people and as a nation, let us make a hasty return to our foundation of spiritual values.  And as believers, let us never neglect our pivotal part.

II Chronicles 7:14

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE OTHERS

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE OTHERS

Sometimes it is rather tempting to judge a book by its cover.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost considerably less, a little boy entered a coffee shop and sat down at a table.  A waitress placed a glass of water in front of him.  “How much is an ice cream sundae?” he inquired with a smile.

“Fifty cents,” replied the busy waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins.  “How much is a dish of plain ice cream?” he asked timidly.

Some people were waiting for a table so the waitress was now growing impatient. “Thirty-five cents,” she snarled with unbridled contempt.

The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he decided.

The waitress brought the ice cream to his table and quickly walked away.  The boy finished, paid the cashier and departed.  When the waitress came back, she swallowed hard at what she saw there.  Placed neatly beside the empty dish were two nickels and five pennies, the little lad’s relatively generous and thoughtful tip.

My friends, it is far easier to judge and criticize than it is to appreciate and accept.  Let’s embrace the latter, not the former.  After all, only GOD knows the hidden value of the human heart.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: A HEARTBREAKING TRAVESTY

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: A HEARTBREAKING TRAVESTY

Global domestic violence is increasing exponentially, both in numbers and intensity.  When I read the following poem by an unknown author, it struck an emotional chord.  Perhaps it will resonate with you.

I got flowers today…
It wasn’t my birthday or any other special day.
We had our first argument last night,
And he said a lot of cruel things that really hurt me.
I know he is sorry and didn’t mean the things he said,

Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today…
It wasn’t our anniversary or any other special day.
Last night, he threw me into a wall and started to choke me,
It seemed like a nightmare.
I couldn’t believe it was real.
I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over.
I know he was sorry because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today…
It wasn’t Mother’s Day or any other special day.
Last night, he beat me up again,

And it was much worse than all the other times.
If I leave him, what will I do?
How will I take care of my kids?
I’m afraid of him and scared to leave.
But I know he must be sorry because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today…
Today was a very special day.
It was the day of my funeral.
Last night he finally killed me.
He beat me to death.
If only I had gathered enough courage and strength to leave him,

I would not have gotten flowers today.

Domestic violence is a growing global pandemic, but the stark statistics are particularly staggering in the USA.  For example, the number of American troops killed in Afghanistan and Iraq between 2001 and 2012 was 6,488. The number of American women who were murdered by current or former male partners during that time frame was 11,766. That’s nearly double the amount of casualties lost during two major wars.

Consider these facts.

4,774,000 = the number of women in the USA who experience physical violence by an intimate partner every year.

1,509 = the number of women murdered by men they knew in 2011.  Of the 1,509 women, 926 were killed by an intimate partner and 264 of those were killed by an intimate partner during an argument.

18,000 = the number of women who have been killed by men in domestic violence disputes since 2003.

1 in 4 = the number of women who will be victims of severe violence by an intimate partner in their lifetimes.

8,000,000 = the number of days of paid work that women lose every year because of the abuse perpetrated against them by current or former male partners.  This loss is equivalent to over 32,000 full-time jobs.

40-45% = the percentage of women in physically abusive relationships who are raped and/or assaulted during the relationship.

25% = the percentage of physical assaults perpetrated against women that are actually reported to police annually.

70x = the amount of times that a woman is more likely to be murdered in the few weeks after leaving her abusive partner than at any other time in the relationship.

10,000,000 = the number of children exposed to domestic violence every year.

It is important to note that in 2 out of 3 female homicide cases, females are killed by a family member or an intimate partner.  Families must be open to discourse and resolution of this issue.  Churches and schools must shed light on it.  Legislative bodies must address it with maximum attention and resources.

A Note to Men Everywhere:  If you are unhappy or unfulfilled in your relationship, why resort to violence in order to communicate or ‘settle’ your differences?  Remember: A woman is God’s gift to be your companion, not your pawn or your property.

A Note to Women Everywhere:  If you are a victim of violence, why empower your attacker by ‘serial forgiveness’ or by your presence, no matter what they are doing to you?  While we are not necessarily advocating divorce, sometimes distance is the only compassionate and logical response to those who would endanger you and/or your children.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).  They are available to provide confidential and anonymous assistance in more than 170 languages…on a 24/7/365 basis.  Their website is www.thehotline.org.  If you are in need of such services, please do not hesitate to call.  Also, feel free to discuss your dilemma with a mandated reporter such as a clergy person, social worker, counselor, or public school educator.

This is an extremely delicate and sensitive issue to discuss.  In truth, it takes all of us out of our comfort zone.  But it is mission critical that we fully engage and understand the ramifications of our relationship decisions.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

OCCAM'S RAZOR AND INTELLIGENT DESIGN (Part II)

OCCAM’S RAZOR AND INTELLIGENT DESIGN (Part II)

In its simplest form, Occam’s Razor contends that “When you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better.”  The simplest explanation is usually correct.

Although much of the scientific community (certainly not all) has embraced the theory of Darwinian evolution, there is a much simpler way to view the origins of all that we see around us.  The simpler view is INTELLIGENT DESIGN, the idea that “certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an INTELLIGENT CAUSE, not an undirected process such as natural selection. 

In our previous devotional, we commenced an examination of the ‘holes’ in Darwinian theory.  We have discovered at least five major problems with the current theories of biological and chemical evolution.  Two of them, in the scientific disciplines of genetics and biochemistry, have already been addressed.  Today, we will highlight the remaining three.

1.        Paleontology: The fossil record lacks intermediate fossils. The fossil record’s overall pattern is one of abrupt explosions of new biological forms, and any possible candidates for evolutionary transitions are the exception, not the rule.  This has been recognized by many evolutionary biologists such as Ernst Mayr who explained in 2000 that “new species usually appear in the fossil record suddenly, not connected with their ancestors by a series of intermediates.” Similarly, a zoology textbook observed that “Many species remain virtually unchanged for millions of years, then suddenly disappear to be replaced by a quite different, but related, form. Moreover, most major groups of animals appear abruptly in the fossil record, fully formed, and with no fossils yet discovered that form a transition from their parent group.”

2.       Taxonomy: Biologists have failed to construct Darwin’s so-called “Tree of Life.” Biologists hoped that DNA evidence would reveal a grand tree of life in which all organisms are clearly related. It has not done so. Trees describing the alleged ancestral relationships between organisms based upon one gene or biological characteristic very commonly conflict with trees based upon a different gene or characteristic.  As the journal New Scientist put it, “different genes tell contradictory evolutionary stories.” The eminent microbiologist Carl Woese explained that such genetic conflicts “can be seen everywhere in the universal tree.” This conclusion implies a major breakdown in common descent, the hypothesis that all organisms share a common ancestor.

3.       Chemistry: The chemical origin of life remains an unsolved mystery.  The mystery of the origin of life is unsolved and all existing theories of chemical evolution face major problems. Basic deficiencies in chemical evolution include a lack of explanation for how a primordial soup could arise on the early earth’s hostile environment, or how the information required for life could be generated by blind chemical reactions. As the evolutionary biologist, Massimo Pigliucci, has readily admitted, “we really don’t have a clue how life originated on Earth by natural means.”

We need to explore the deeper root cause for the scientific perspective that spawned evolutionary theory.  George Gamow, a Russian-born scientist who became an American citizen, was a nuclear physicist and the foremost advocate of what is known as the big-bang theory.  This theory states that the universe was formed following a colossal explosion that took place billions of years ago.

One of the foundational arguments for the big-bang theory is that the universe continues to expand in all directions at the speed of light, which is 186,000 miles per second or approximately 299,000 kilometers per second.  The scientific community drew the ‘logical’ conclusion – that a huge explosion must have occurred, causing the accelerated distribution of matter throughout the cosmos.

While their logic seems sound, their conclusions are questionable.  Let’s employ Occam’s razor here.  If indeed an ‘explosion’ did occur, as scientific evidence seems to suggest, why is it necessary to presuppose it to be an entirely spontaneous and random event?  Is it not just as easy and reasonable to conclude that such a primordial event was the first act of an intelligent design for the universe?

Let’s consider the perspective of the philosopher, Aristotle, who was absolutely convinced that GOD was involved in the formation of the universe.  Aristotle contended that since we live in a universe that is characterized by the governing principles of cause and effect, something must have started the ‘universal ball rolling’, so to speak.  And since no other original cause is either provable or demonstrable, it can just as rationally and rightly be concluded that “GOD is the FIRST CAUSE” or “the prime mover” of the universe.  Wow!

So, if there was a primordial explosion that caused the universe to begin and to expand continually, why would it be more probable that a random event caused it than to believe that Almighty God conceived and executed it?  I firmly believe that if there was such a primordial explosion, OUR GOD SET THE CHARGE AND LIT THE MATCH!

The principle problem underlying Darwinian theory is that it is a GODLESS view of reality.

As I stated at the outset, I believe that, in every case, the Word of God is right.  The Bible clearly states that “In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) The mere fact that humans cannot comprehend the ‘how’ of divine creation does not cause it to be false or untrue.  It is virtually impossible for me to accept the possibility that all that we see (including us) is the result of an extraordinary series of random events.

In the interest of intellectual integrity, it is acceptable to allow for legitimate discourse regarding the literal account of creation, as set forth in Genesis. Indeed, the fossil record could challenge the given time frame (6 days) for creation. However, this does not at all contradict the foundations of our faith. How so? The ways of God are infinitely transcendent, therefore largely unknowable to us. And, most importantly, GOD’S SCALE OF TIME cannot be reckoned by referencing human clocks and calendars. (Isaiah 55:9 – Psalm 90:4 – II Peter 3:8) Indeed, HE is “the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity.” (Isaiah 57:15)

As such, it is improbable that we will attain full understanding (in our frail and finite world) of the infinite plans and purposes of God.  According to the Apostle Paul, “Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face [with HIM]: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (I Corinthians 13:12) My conclusion and conviction is that if I am required to make a ‘leap of faith’ based on the option of either embracing the Word of God or the speculations of men, I choose to believe GOD.  Both Occam’s razor and my GOD-GIVEN FAITH lead me to this conclusion.  It’s my story – and I’m sticking to it!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!