IN THE BEGINNING...GOD

IN THE BEGINNING…GOD

  My friend, don’t you dare begin or end the coming year without GOD!  After all is said and done, HE ALONE is our creator and sustainer.  HE ALONE is “the author and finisher of our faith,” which means that HE ALONE is our savior, source, shepherd, deliverer, guide, confidante, comforter, encourager, healer, intercessor, burden-bearer, friend and supplier of all that we truly need. (Hebrews 12:2)

 The Holy Writ begins with the foundational principle that informs and inspires our faith: “In the beginning GOD…” (Genesis 1:1) For the next few moments, think deeply about that.

 Why not make GOD part-and-parcel of all your circumstances and concerns in 2022, whether engaging family matters, health issues, business decisions, financial considerations, relationship challenges, or whatever other issues might intersect and impact life?

 My best advice for this day (or any other) is simply this: WHATEVER IT IS…TRUST GOD WITH IT!  “Trust in THE LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV)

 As we learn to fully invest our trust and confidence in HIM – in His unfailing Word, in His eternal covenant and in our intimate relationship with HIM as believers – we will walk in absolute assurance and victory.

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

WISDOM

WISDOM

 It has been well said that a wise man learns by the experiences of others.  An ordinary man learns by his own experience.  And a fool learns by nobody’s experience.  J. J. Packer, in “Knowing God,” frames this important matter of wisdom this way: “Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.”

 My friends, throughout this coming year, let us be attentive enough to discern echoes of wisdom in every life experience.  And let us be humble enough to realize that, in the final analysis, “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)  The omniscient and “only wise God” is the foundational Source of wisdom. (I Timothy 1:17)

 So we must tune in and listen (every day) to apprehend His perfect will and way.  Doug Larson puts it this way: “Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you would have preferred to talk.”  Therefore, prayer should never become a ‘word-salad!’  Whenever you pray, pause long enough to reflect on His Word and listen for the still, small inner voice of your Creator.  His desire is to be a present help.  Never allow Him to become a last resort in your problem solving; seek His face.

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

THE GIFT OF HONOR

THE GIFT OF HONOR

 Gary Smalley and John Trent co-wrote an important book entitled “The Gift of Honor.”  It relates the importance of purposefully expressing honor and demonstrating it in family relationships.  One of their anecdotal stories involves Keith Hernandez, one of the most outstanding athletes to play in the National Baseball League.

 Keith achieved lifetime milestones:  a 300 batting average and numerous Golden Glove awards for excellence in fielding.  Additionally, he received a batting championship award, the Most Valuable Player award, and won in the World Series.  However, with all his significant accomplishments, he missed out on something crucially important – his father’s acceptance and the family recognition that what he had accomplished was truly valuable.  In a candid interview about his relationship with his father, Keith remarked: “One day I asked my father: Dad, I have a lifetime 300 batting average.  What more do you want?  His father replied, Yes, but someday you're going to look back and say, I could have done more.”

 Our family members are never likely to achieve perfection, since no one in this world ever does.  But it is of extreme importance to offer the most precious and meaningful of gifts, unconditional love.

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

WHAT WE EXCHANGE FOR HEAVEN

WHAT SOME EXCHANGE FOR HEAVEN

 Today I read a sermon by the legendary 19^th century evangelist, Dwight Lyman Moody, in which he recounted the fable of the swan and the crane.  It’s reprinted below for your prayerful consideration:

 A beautiful swan lighted on the banks of the water in which a crane was wading about seeking snails.   For a few moments the crane viewed the swan in curious wonder and then inquired, “Where do you come from?”

“I come from Heaven!” replied the swan.

“And where is Heaven?” asked the crane.

 “Heaven!” said the swan, “Heaven!  Have you never heard of heaven?”  And the beautiful bird went on to describe the grandeur of the Eternal City.  She told of streets of gold and walls of precious stones; of the river of life, pure as crystal, upon whose banks is the tree whose leaves shall be for the healing of the nations.  In eloquent terms the swan sought to describe the splendor of the coming world, but did so without arousing the slightest interest on the part of the crane.

 Finally the crane asked, “Are there any snails there?’  “Snails!” repeated the swan.  “No!  Of course not.”  

 “Then,” said the crane, as it continued its search along the slimy banks of the pool, “you can have your heaven.  I want snails!”

 Moody’s fable has deep underlying truth.  How many young people to whom God has granted the advantages of a Christian home, have turned their backs on it and searched for snails?  How many men have sacrificed their wives and families, all for the snails of sin?  How many teenagers have deliberately turned from the love of parents and home to learn too late that Heaven has been forfeited for proverbial snails? 

 Let’s do our level best to differentiate Christ in the minds and spirits of those in our sphere of influence, especially in our families.

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

THE BRIGHT SIDE OF HOPELESSNESS

THE BRIGHT SIDE OF HOPELESSNESS

 The past two years constitute a collective time of tempest and trouble in our society and world.  The Coronavirus pandemic has cost the loss of over 819 thousand in America and 4.2 million worldwide.   Sadly, that number is trending upward daily, and many of us have lost scores of family members, friends, co-workers, professionals and fellow clergy.  Just today, I was informed of the premature death of a wonderful pastoral colleague in South Africa who is years younger than myself.

 Domestically, millions of young students are caught up in a dangerous vortex of confusion, fear and despair due to the increasing threat of school violence and the disconcerting social disconnect in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.  To wit, depression is escalating at a monumental rate that is totally challenging for mental health professionals.

 Nevertheless, in the middle of such overwhelming obstacles, there is hope.  May I offer ‘Exhibit A,’ the following true story, as a rational basis for my optimistic belief:

 Many years ago a young Midwestern lawyer suffered from such deep depression that his friends thought it best to keep all knives and razors out of reach.  He seriously questioned his life’s calling and wondered whether it would be sensible or prudent to follow it through.  During that terribly depressing time, he wrote, “I am now the most miserable man living.  Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell.  I have an awful foreboding that I shall not.”  But somehow, from somewhere, Abraham Lincoln received the encouragement and hope that he so desperately needed.  He got back on track and the historic achievements of his life are remarkable indeed.

 My friend, if you or your loved ones are experiencing a sense of hopelessness or clinical depression, please know that there is no stigma or shame in pursuing counseling and therapy.  Get help, and keep looking up; brighter days are coming.  It’s too soon to quit.  Our God has a mysterious and miraculous way of showing up just on time.  He did it for Abraham Lincoln, and since He loves us all in equal proportions, surely He will do the same for you.  There is hope.  Hang in there…and believe.

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

A TRUE AND HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS STORY

A TRUE AND HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS STORY

 One can never apprehend THE REAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS in the absence of embracing the timeless truth that “GOD IS LOVE.”  In light of the loving character of God, we are admonished by The Holy Writ to “love one another…for everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (I John 4:7-8, NIV)  Nancy Gavin penned a touching story that underscores the true meaning and message of Christmas, which is DIVINE LOVE.  Here it goes…

 It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree.  No name, no identification, no inscription.  It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years.

 It all began because my husband, Mike, hated Christmas.  He did not dishonor the real meaning of Christmas, but he despised the commercial aspects of it, overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle John or dusting powder for Grandma – far too many gifts given in desperation because you just couldn’t think of anything else.

 Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties, and so forth.  I wanted something special just for Mike and my inspiration came in a most unusual way.  Our 12-year-old son, Kevin, was on the wrestling team at school.  Shortly before Christmas, there was a match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church, comprised mostly of African-America children.  These youngsters were dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together.  And they presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and their sparkling new wrestling shoes.

 As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a light helmet designed to protect wrestlers’ ears.  It was a luxury the inner-city team simply could not afford. W ell, we ended up walloping them that day; we took every weight class.  As each one of the opposing team’s boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tattered uniform with false bravado, a kind of pride that refused to acknowledge defeat.

 Seated beside me, Mike shook his head sadly.  “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said.  “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.”  Mike loved kids and he knew them well – having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse.  That’s when the idea for a unique Christmas present came.  That afternoon, I went to the local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes to send anonymously to that inner-city church.

 On Christmas Eve, I placed an envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what had been done and the fact that this was his gift from me.  His radiant smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year, and in succeeding years.  Every Christmas thereafter, we followed this giving tradition – one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year mailing a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground just before Christmas, and on and on.

 THE GIVING ENVELOPE became the highlight of our Christmases.  It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their Dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.  As the children grew older, toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its loving allure.

 But the story doesn’t end there. You see, the next year we lost Mike due to cancer.  When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up.  But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more.  Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on our tree for their Dad.

 Our family’s Christmas tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation, watching as their parents take down the envelopes.  Mike’s spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be present, and will always be a present for us.

 May we all remember each other this year, and may we remember THE REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON AND THE LOVING SPIRIT OF THE CHRIST CHILD, now and always.

 Merry Christmas my friends!  And may you experience the highest of peace, prosperity, health and happiness in the coming year.

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

NOEL: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SEASON

NOEL: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SEASON

 The French word “NOEL” is derived from the Latin root, “natalis,” which means BIRTHDAY.  When capitalized, it is synonymous with the angelic heralding of yuletide or CHRISTMAS.  This term came into popular usage when “The First Noel” was penned during the 18th century by an unknown English composer.  Its joyous lyrics are perennially familiar:

 The first Noel, the Angels did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel!

 Nevertheless, as we reflect upon the contemporary celebration of Christmas, the central message of the miraculous Incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ seems noticeably absent.

 Our focus feels mostly on the festivities, food, parties, gatherings with family and friends and the exchanging of gifts.  The result is a time of tremendous emotional upheaval and widespread depression (even suicide), especially among those who lack sufficient resources to fulfill the more mundane and material expectations of the season.  The gospel of Jesus Christ becomes virtually sidelined by our cultural and customary traditions.  True believers silently ask: “Should this be?”

 Another question is begged: “Is it logical (or even possible) to remove CHRIST from Christmas?”  I think not.  After all, HE IS THE ONE who voluntarily disrobed Himself of the eternal splendors of Heaven and entered into a fallen and finite world system that is dominated by an insidious quest for fortune, fame, prestige and power.  Jesus Christ, alone, is the Savior of our world.  The scriptures testify of His matchless and miraculous gift to humankind:

 Psalm 40:6-8

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.  Then said I, LO, I COME: IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

 Isaiah 9:6

FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 Matthew 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

 John 1:11-12

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on HIS NAME:

 Because of Jesus Christ’s victorious life, vicarious suffering and vital atonement, we are freed forever from the power, practice, penalty and guilt of sin.  HALLELUJAH…WHAT A SAVIOR!

 Romans 8:1-4

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HATH MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, GOD SENDING HIS OWN SON in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

 Bottom-line: JESUS PAID IT ALL!  So in this season (and always) we thank you, JESUS, for your timely birth, your sinless life, your substitutionary death, your victorious resurrection and your gracious legacy of spiritual power, life and peace that is eternally bequeathed to us.  We pledge to remember the real reason for this season as we collectively celebrate OUR GREATEST GIFT with overflowing joy.

 Merry Christmas!  And may you experience the highest of peace, prosperity, health and happiness in the coming year.

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

THE GREATEST MIRACLE

THE GREATEST MIRACLE

 These are wise words spoken by the late President Ronald Reagan.  Indeed, truth transcends party and politics. 

 Meaning no disrespect to the religious convictions of others, I still can't help wondering how we can explain away what to me is the greatest miracle of all, which is recorded in history.  No one denies there was such a man, that he lived and that he was put to death by crucifixion. Where is the miracle I speak of?  Well consider this and let your imagination translate the story into our own time -- possibly to your own home town.

 A young man whose father is a carpenter grows up working in his father’s shop.  One day he puts down his tools and walks out of his father’s shop.  He starts preaching on street corners and in the nearby countryside, walking from place to place, preaching all the while, even though he is not an ordained minister.  He does this for three years.

 Then he is arrested, tried and convicted.  There is no court of appeal, so he is executed at age 33 along with two common thieves.  Those in charge of his execution roll dice to see who gets his clothing -- the only possessions he has.  His family cannot afford a burial place for him so he is interred in a borrowed tomb.  End of story?  No, this uneducated, propertyless young man who has, for 2000 years, had a greater effect on the world than all the rulers, kings, emperors; all the conquerors, generals and admirals, all the scholars, scientists and philosophers who have ever lived -- all of them put together.  How do we explain that?...unless he really is who he said he is.

 These are irrefutable facts about the Son of God who became a man to enable men to become the sons of God.  HE is the greatest miracle.

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

LIGHTS NEEDED

LIGHTS NEEDED

 One cold day in December, a Christian gentleman was walking down a Chicago street. He noticed that someone had thrown a handful of bird seed on the ground to nourish the sparrows who were now experiencing the cruel cold of winter.  Dozens and dozens of sparrows had come (seemingly out of nowhere) to enjoy their unexpected feast.  

 This man edged closer to enjoy the satisfying sight of God’s creatures being fed.  But as he approached, the birds became anxious.  Another step forward, and they prepared to flee.  Two more steps, and they all flew away, leaving their winter banquet behind.

 The man stopped and considered what had happened.  Why had the sparrows scattered when he had no evil intentions toward them?  Then it dawned on him.  It was not his intentions, but his bodily presence that had so frightened them.  He was so big in comparison to the tiny sparrows, and the only way he could have walked among those birds without scaring them would be to somehow assume their own characteristics.

 If only he could become a sparrow for a while, the man thought.  He could be so close and he would be able to communicate.

 Isn’t this a clear picture of THE INCARNATION?  God’s righteousness loomed so large and humankind’s sins and shortcomings caused us to seem so very small.  Nevertheless, “God SO loved the world” that He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, i.e. to become “Emmanuel,” God with us, and ultimately to endure our shame, our sin, our pain and our judgment. (John 3:16 – Matthew 1:23 – Romans 5:19)

We existed in absolute darkness until “the light of the world” drew near to us and forever redeemed us from the curse of sin and death. (John 8:12) The gospel writer, John, explains it this way: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)  Hallelujah, what a Savior!

 Now, it is our turn; it is our task to BECOME THE LIGHT and to shine brightly in the darkness of this world system, especially into the lives of those persons whom God has positioned in close proximity to us. (Philippians 2:15 – Matthew 5:16)

 SHINE and reflect God’s glory.

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

OUT OF THE IVORY PALACES INTO A WORLD OF WOE

OUT OF THE IVORY PALACES INTO A WORLD OF WOE

 I love this journey into our imagination penned by the prolific Christian author, C.S. Lewis:

 Imagine that lying at your feet is your dog.  Think, for the moment, that your dog and every dog in the world is in deep distress.  Some of us love dogs very much.  Pause and seriously reflect.  If it would help all the dogs across the globe to become like men, would you be willing to become a dog?  Would you put down your human nature, leave your loved ones, your job, hobbies, your art and literature and music, and choose instead of the intimate communion with your beloved, the poor substitute of looking into your beloved’s face and wagging your tail, unable to smile or speak?  Christ by becoming man limited the thing which to Him was the most precious in the universe; His unhampered and unhindered communion with the Father.

 Hallelujah, what a Savior!  The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God.

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

ONE NEVER KNOWS

ONE NEVER KNOWS

If any among you are tempted to feel sad or depressed during this Christmas season due to a lack of resources or the loss of a loved one, you must read and share the following story written by an unknown author.  It will surely inspire and bless you.

 A pastor and his wife were given their first assignment, to reopen a church in Brooklyn, New York. They arrived in early October, thrilled beyond measure to be entering an exciting new phase of ministry.  However, as they entered the church, their enthusiasm faded when they found the building to be run down and in dire need of restoration and repair.  But right then and there, they set a goal to have all the necessary work done in time to have their first worship service on Christmas Eve.

 They worked diligently, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc., and on December 18th they were well ahead of schedule, just about finished.  Nevertheless, on December 19th a terrible winter storm hit the area and lasted two days.

 On the 21st of December, the pastor went over to inspect the church edifice.  His heart sank when he found that the roof had leaked, which caused a large area of plaster to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary behind the pulpit. The pastor swept up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do, he headed homeward, planning to postpone their first service.  On the way home he noticed a local business sponsoring a flea market for charity, so he decided to stop by.

 One of the items on sale was a beautiful, hand-made, ivory colored, crochet table cloth.  It was truly an exquisite work of art, with striking colors and an ornate cross embroidered at the center.  The new pastor thought, ‘It’s just the right size to cover up that hole in the front wall of the sanctuary!’  So he bought it and quickly headed back to church.

 By that time it had started to snow.  An older woman hurried from the opposite direction, trying to catch a passing bus, but she missed it.  The pastor invited her to wait inside the warm sanctuary for the next bus, which was due to arrive 45 minutes later.  The grateful woman sat in a pew and paid little attention to the pastor while he gathered a ladder and wall hangers to mount the gorgeous tablecloth as a wall tapestry.  The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and how perfectly it covered the entire problem area.  Just then, he noticed the woman walking slowly down the center aisle, wearing a shocked facial expression.

 “Pastor,” she inquired, “Where…where…did you get that tablecloth?”  The pastor related the story of his recent purchase.  Then the woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials “EBG” were present there, and they were.  These were actually the initials of that very woman, who had made the tablecloth herself, 35 years previously while living in Austria.

 The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do citizens of Austria.  When the Nazis arrived, her husband sent her to safety, and planned to follow the next week.  Unfortunately, she was captured, detained in a camp, and never saw her husband or her home again.  The pastor offered to give her the tablecloth, but she insisted that he keep it for the church.  He said, “Then I will drive you home; that is the least I can do.”  The woman lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day doing a housecleaning job.

 Christmas Eve arrived, and what a wonderful service they had!  The church was practically full, and the Holy Spirit moved upon the hearts of all who attended.  At the close of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many people promised to return often.

 One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews with a blank stare on his face, and the pastor wondered why he did not leave with all the rest.  The man asked, “Where did you get the tablecloth on the front wall?  It’s identical to one my wife made years ago when we lived in Austria before the war.  Could there be two tablecloths so much alike?”  He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for safety with plans to follow her, but then he was arrested and placed in a concentration camp.  He never saw his wife or his home again for all the 35 years in between.

 The pastor smiled inwardly and asked the gentleman if he would accompany him on a ride.  They drove to Staten Island, to the same building where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.  He helped the elderly man climb three flights of stairs to the woman’s apartment, knocked on the door and saw the greatest Christmas reunion one could ever imagine!  What a miraculous story of the matchless grace and marvelous love of our God!

 Consider this.  None of this heartwarming story would have been possible without that terrible winter storm and the resultant hole in the church sanctuary!  My friends, very often our apparent ‘storms’ are divine appointments in disguise that ultimately bless us and others.

 In truth, ONE NEVER KNOWS WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE.  So…please…do not surrender to doubt or despair.  It is my prayer that your Christmas will be endowed with the fullness of peace and joy that is the life and legacy of OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.

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

THE HOLY CHILD

THE HOLY CHILD

 This is a Christmas poem composed in the 1500s by the Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther, entitled “The Holy Child.”

 Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,

Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.
My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep,
I too must sing with joyful tongue,
That sweetest ancient cradle song,
Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given
While angels sing with pious mirth.
A glad new year to all the earth.

 Always remember: The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God.  My Jesus, what a wonderful Savior, Redeemer and Deliverer you are!

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

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF THE WORD OF TRUTH

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF THE WORD OF TRUTH

 Statistician Peter Stoner applied the science of probability to just eight of the many prophecies regarding Jesus Christ.  He concluded, “The chance that any one individual might have fulfilled all eight of these prophecies is one in 10 to the 17^th power.”  That is 1 chance in 100,000,000,000,000,000 or one hundred quadrillion. 

 To illustrate this, Stoner suggested that we take that number of silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas.  This is such a gigantic number of coins that they would cover the entire state of Texas…two-feet deep.  If we were to mark one of these silver dollars and somehow stir the whole mass thoroughly, then blindfold a man and tell him he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up that one marked silver dollar.  What chance would he have of getting the right coin?  Stoner concluded that statistically he would have the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing those eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man without the hand of God.  It would be absolutely impossible!

 Therefore, the verifiable prophecies in scripture concerning our Savior are proof positive of both the reality of God and the miraculous incarnation of Jesus Christ.

 Always remember: The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God.

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

THE INCARNATE CHRIST FOR ALL HUMANITY

THE INCARNATE CHRIST FOR ALL HUMANITY

 We may never fully apprehend the mystery of the incarnation.  While God the Father lovingly acted for us, God the Son graciously acted with us as Emmanuel. (Matthew 1:23)  In the words of the Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, “The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.”  Unquestionably, He loves us with everlasting and unfathomable love.

 Jesus Christ entered this earthly plain with manifest humility and love, with the express intent of redeeming fallen humanity.  As such, the King of Kings was fully content with a modest stable at His birth – so we would have a mansion when we die.

 He never appeared as a Messiah solely sent for the empowered or elite, those whom we customarily equate with fortune and fame.  Rather, He came to compassionately minister to the lost and dispossessed, to set the captives free, to liberate people of every culture and color.

 I love what one of my ministry mentors, the late Dr. E.V. Hill, said concerning this.  When questioned about the racial heritage of Jesus, due to the fact that He is depicted in Eurocentric paintings as Caucasian, Dr. Hill wisely responded:: “I don’t know anything about a white Jesus.  I know about Christ, a Savior named Jesus.  I don’t know what color He is.  He was born in the brown Middle East; He fled to black Africa; and He was in Heaven before the gospel came to white Europe.  So, I don't know what color He is.  I do know one thing: If you bow at the altar with color on your mind, you’ll get up with color on your mind.  So go back again, and keep going back until you no longer look at His color, but at His greatness and His power to save!"

 Indeed, Christ liberates us from the inbred indoctrinations of prejudice, discrimination and racial animus.  According to Luke, the physician-apostle, “He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth.” (Acts 17:26)  Therefore, our celebration of the birth of Christ should be the most unifying moment of our year.  And since the Word declares that Heaven will include persons “of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation,” wouldn’t it seem both logical and imperative that we learn to live together respectfully and amicably here?

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

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

 Christmas is not really about the traditional giving and receiving of gifts; it is all about the giving and receiving of The Greatest Gift.  E. B. White wrote that our cultural “tendency to perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year.”  Somehow Jesus is relegated to the backdrop of our festive celebrations.  While there is absolutely nothing wrong with colorful decorations, with beautiful gifts, or the shared fellowship of sumptuous meals, the true meaning of Christmas can be lost in the sauce of secular activity.

 Its actual significance is simple, yet vitally important for all to remember:  The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God.

 To wit, Jesus Christ is the world’s panacea, our situational cure-all, the only reliable answer for all life’s questions and issues.  HE is precisely what fallen humanity requires – past, present and future.  If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.  If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.  If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.  If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.  But the greatest human need is forgiveness and salvation, so God sent to us a Savior.

 Christ IS Christmas.

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

THIS SEASON OF HOPE

THIS SEASON OF HOPE

 Every Advent season motivates me to seriously consider the meaning of Christmas.  As students of history, we are well aware that the chosen date for this festive celebration was first authorized by Pope Julius I, who in 353 A.D. designated December 25^th as Christmas Day.  Who would have thought it would become what it is today?  And in 1832, when Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in America, who would have thought it would become the festive season that it is today?

 Every passing century somehow distances fallen humanity from that miraculous and awesome night when the angelic host sang joyously, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:14)  We try to envision the shepherds who witnessed God’s heavenly light-bearers suspended in the air.  We strive to imagine the magi, that wise and faith-filled trio who sojourned from the East to bring majestic gifts to the Christ-child.  And we seek to mentally conceive of the joy and wonder of Mary and Joseph when they first beheld their infant son, whose destiny was to become the King of Kings.

 Now the question for this hour is this: What will WE do with these powerful-but-fading impressions?  What will OUR response be to this Lamb of God, who graciously takes away the sin of the world?  The answer is simple indeed.  We, too, must bow before Him.  We, too, must honor Him.  And beyond that we, too, must worship, adore and covenant with Him, not only in this special season, but for all the days of our lives.  Hallelujah, what a Savior!

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

TRUE REPENTANCE

TRUE REPENTANCE

 Contemporary believers must be ever mindful to avoid embracing what Dietrich Bonhoeffer labeled as “cheap grace.”  He described it as “the grace that we bestow on ourselves…the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline…grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.”

 In modern society, far too many tend to equate membership on church rolls for genuine Christian discipleship.  That is, many operate under the mistaken notion that we can mystically add Christ to our lives without the personal commitment to subtract sin.  Cheap grace means a superficial adjustment in our intellectual beliefs without an accompanying change in our behaviors.  According to the book of Revelation, this is tantamount to having a name [a reputation] that we are spiritually alive while we are actually spiritually dead. (Revelation 3:1)

 Let’s strive to be absolutely authentic, i.e. real in our relationships with Jesus Christ.  For only Jesus Christ can inscribe our names on “The Book of Life.”  (Philippians 4:3 – Revelation 3:5 – Revelation 13:18 – Revelation 17:8 – Revelation 20:12;15 – Revelation 21:27 – Revelation 22:19)  Our names cannot be signed there by our family, our friends, our ministers, or any others – only Christ.  It is mission critical that we live right for Him, not for the affirmation or approval of others.

 All that we need is available at the foot of the cross of Calvary.  Bow before Him.

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

OUR AWESOME GIFT

OUR AWESOME GIFT

 In Richard Baxter’s book entitled “The Free Gift,” he relates an interesting behind-the-scenes story that took place during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge over San Francisco Bay.  The project was way considerably behind schedule because several workers had accidentally fallen to their deaths from the lofty bridge scaffolding.  Engineers and administrators could find no solution to those horrendous and costly delays.  Finally, someone suggested a gigantic net that would be hung under the bridge to catch anyone who might accidentally fall.  Despite the enormous cost, the engineers opted for the safety of the net.  After it was installed, progress was rarely interrupted.  Workers did accidentally fall into the net, but all were saved.  Ultimately, all the time lost due to construction accidents and fear was regained by replacing their fear with faith in the net.  

 This engineering solution is a powerful reminder of God’s grace.  The Sovereign God has provided a salvation net for you and I.  Indeed, we have paid nothing for the Father’s eternal love, nothing for the Son of His love, nothing for His comforting Holy Spirit, nothing for His matchless grace and mercy and nothing for our miraculous covenant relationship.  We are not at all deserving, just as the word “grace” suggests, but we are constant and blessed recipients of His love.

 What a mighty and marvelous God – to whom we worship, honor, submit and serve!  During this Advent season, we must pause often to reflect prayerfully on His awesome gift of grace.

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

NEVER ALLOW LONG-TERM ABUSE

NEVER ALLOW  LONG-TERM ABUSE

 Our society has become increasingly violent within the family setting.  According to a survey by the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in seven American couples has experienced some form of physical abuse during domestic arguments. 

 Not only is this problematic for the partners involved, but it has long-term poisonous implications for the next generation.  The fact is that children who either witness or experience abuse are six times more likely to abuse their spouses when they eventually marry.

 A related University of New Hampshire study reports that 15% to 34% of female children experience abuse, while 3% to 9% of young boys have these destructive experiences.  Admittedly, I don’t have all the answers to this tragic social dilemma, but it is mission critical that the church be proactively engaged in highlighting this corrosive issue, while ministering compassionately to those who suffer such life-changing experiences.

 The question is begged: ‘Should any of us grant passive permission to another by remaining in situations in which we are physically or emotionally abused?’  In your heart, you already know the answer.  It is God’s will that “you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (III John 1:2)  If any relationship produces constant pain or danger, seriously consider, seek help, faithfully pray and take appropriate action.

 Bottom-line: Let wisdom reign in your family affairs, and live a healthy and happy life.

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

KEEP LOOKING UP!

KEEP LOOKING UP!

 Our life journeys suggest that we can always expected the unexpected.  Although we are under the sovereign protection of Almighty God, none can escape occasional appointments with pain, or loss, or disappointment, or suffering, or sorrow.

 James Russell Lowell said that our “mishaps are like knives that either serve us or cut us as we grasp them by the blade or the handle.”  Therefore, the key to victorious living is learning how to process and deal with everything from Heaven’s perspective, which is the Word of God. 

 Romans 8:28 assures us that God is powerfully and providentially present in all of life’s circumstances, especially for those of us who truly believe and walk in divine purpose.

 So no matter what comes, or who goes, trust Him.

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

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

AMEN!  AMEN!  AMEN!

 I read an interesting article today, simply entitled “Amen.”  It is reprinted below for your spiritual edification, enjoyment and enlightenment.

 II Corinthians 1:20 declares, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”  That word “amen” is most remarkable.  It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so it is practically a universal word, arguably the best-known word in human speech.

 This word is directly related--in fact, almost identical--to the Hebrew word for “believe” (aman).  Thus, it came to mean “sure” or “truly,” an expression of absolute trust and confidence.  When one believes God, he indicates his faith by an “amen.”  When God makes a promise, the believer’s response is “amen”—or so it will be!  In the New Testament, it is often translated “verily” or “truly.”  When we pray according to God’s Word and will, we know He will answer, so we close with an “amen,” and so do we also conclude a great hymn or anthem of faith.

 The word, “amen” is even a spiritual title of Christ Himself.  The last of His letters to the seven churches in Asia begins with a remarkable salutation by the glorified Lord: “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” (Revelation 3:14)  We can be absolutely certain that His Word is always faithful and true, because He is none other than the Creator of all things.  He is our eternal “Amen.”  As the Apostle Paul reminds us, every promise of God in Christ is “yes and amen.”  

 It is, therefore, profoundly meaningful that the entire Bible closes with an “amen.”  Recorded by the Apostle John, it reads “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.” (Revelation 22:21)  It is our assurance that the entire biblical book is absolutely true and trustworthy.  AMEN!

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

SHINE!

SHINE!

 Lamps never talk, but they sure do shine!  Words are certainly powerful, but someone’s practical observation of ‘The Light of the World’ glowing from within is the brightest spiritual illumination.

 Jesus Christ to past and present disciples: “You are the light of the world.”  (Matthew 5:14)

 I love the way that the legendary preacher, C. H. Spurgeon, framed it.  He wrote, “A man's life is always more forcible than his speech.  When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies.  If his life and doctrine disagree, onlookers reject his teaching.”  

 So let’s make sure that there is harmony between what people hear and what they see.

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