TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

 There was a time when I considered the opinions and assessments of others as necessary affirmations to my personal value and identity.  Such thinking is a potential portal to superficiality and confusion.  Because whenever we perceive and process the views of others as central to our own status in life, we are prone to embracing decisions and choices that are opportunistic and self-serving.

 Over the years, I have radically altered my perspective.  Admittedly, it is pleasing to be regarded positively by others, but the acceptance of others is not mission-critical to success.  What’s most important in life is HEAVEN’S EVALUATION of our conduct and character.  

 REPUTATION is who PEOPLE ‘think’ we are.  CHARACTER is who GOD ‘knows’ we are.

 Reuben Gonzales was a leading racquetball player.  In his first professional tournament, Gonzales reached the finals.  He held match point in the fifth and final game when he made a terrific ‘kill shot’ into the corner to win the tournament.  When the ball was pronounced “good” by the officials, his family and friends got ready to congratulate their new champion.  However, Gonzales turned around and declared that his shot had hit the floor just before it reached the wall.

 This admission caused him to lose his serve, and his opponent went on to win the match and tournament.

The next issue of “National Racquetball Magazine” featured Gonzales on its cover.  Everyone wanted to know why Gonzales had done it.  Why would a professional sportsman disqualify himself after being declared winner of the match?

 Gonzales’ reply was simple: “It was the only thing I could do to maintain my integrity.”

  INTEGRITY is tantamount to WHOLENESS.  In other words, integrity is who we are in the dark.  It’s the decisions we make, the convictions we carry, the activities we engage when we are out of the spotlight and away from the sight of others.

 These days, my primary goal is loving, learning and living from God’s point of view.  As such, I simply want to make God smile.  He delights in simple submission to the terms of our covenant relationship.  Integrity is the cornerstone of being, itself.

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

DECLARE THE GOSPEL EVERYWHERE!

DECLARE THE GOSPEL EVERYWHERE!

 In modern society, where hype often looms larger than truth, one can easily become ‘spiritually jaded’ and buy into a worldview which suggests that your spiritual voice is far too inconsequential to be heard.  Fact is, the Creator gave you a distinctive mission and a unique message that the world (aware or not) urgently needs to experience and explore.  You matter. 

 Let’s prayerfully consider an instructive allegory:

 “Tell me the weight of a snowflake,” the dove required of the mouse.

 “Nothing more than nothing,” was his dismissive answer.

 “Since that is your belief, I must share my story,” the dove replied excitedly.

 “One winter day, I was perched on the branch of an evergreen when it began to snow – not heavily, not a raging blizzard – but descending ever so gracefully without wind or sound.  Since I had nothing better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch.  The number that fell that day was 3,741,952.  But when snowflake number 3,741,953 dropped onto my branch, weighing ‘nothing more than nothing’ as you say, the branch immediately broke.”

 “Perhaps,” concluded the dove, “one tiny voice CAN change the whole world.”

 Sisters and brothers, it is indeed our time to breathe out truth, i.e. to freely share the unvarnished gospel with contemporary society.  Political correctness has caused so many of us to mute our voices while the world audaciously advances an agenda of unrighteousness.  So speak. 

 According to the Word, the whole earth “eagerly waits for the revealing [the manifestation] of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19, NKJV)  My friend, it’s a life-or-death matter.  DECLARE THE GOSPEL EVERYWHERE!

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

THE CHURCH'S TREASURE

THE CHURCH’S TREASURE

 Before being canonized as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, Lawrence was a deacon serving in Rome. When a violent wave of persecution broke out, Pope Sixtus and others were killed.  Lawrence knew it was only a matter of time before they would come for him.  As keeper of the church’s goods, he was responsible for giving alms to the poor.  At that point, he started distributing them more generously than ever.

 It wasn’t very long before Lawrence was summoned by government officials who demanded that he surrender the church’s treasure.  He replied that the church was quite rich and requested three days to get everything in order.

 When Roman officials arrived at his church, they expected it to be filled with silver and gold.  Instead, it was packed with the poor, the blind, the lame and the lepers.  “Here are the treasures of the church,” declared Lawrence with spiritual authority.  As you might expect, the officials were furious and Lawrence was summarily executed in the year 258 A.D.

 What a completely courageous and wise man!  Lawrence was absolutely right about the treasures of the church.  As the Body of Christ, we have significance and value that transcends mere economics and social standing.  It goes without saying that the greatest treasure of the church is THE HOLY SPIRIT. (II Corinthians 4:7) Nevertheless, since HE dwells within and grants us the privilege of serving as His ‘hands and feet’ in the earth realm, we, by extension and proximity, are true treasures indeed.

 My friend, who will you lovingly treasure and touch today, on behalf of your Creator?

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

 

WHY THINGS ARE BOUND TO GET BETTER

WHY THINGS ARE BOUND TO GET BETTER

 Believers have a sure and steadfast covenant relationship with God.  As long as WE are faithful to our part of this spiritual contract, THE LORD is legally obligated to honor and perform His Word.

 Here is scriptural evidence for your coming life-improvement:

 YOUR FUTURE IS GUARANTEED TO BE BRIGHTER.

“The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18)

 GOD HONORS AND UPHOLDS HIS WORD.

“Then said the Lord unto me, You have seen well and I am ready to perform My word.” (Jeremiah 1:12)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

 GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYER.

“It shall come pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)

 GOD CANNOT LIE OR FAIL.

“In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word…” (Titus 1:2-3)

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

 GOD HAS A PLAN TO RELEASE YOUR BLESSINGS.

“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)

 GOD HAS A TIMETABLE TO RELEASE YOUR BLESSINGS.

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it shall speak, and it will not lie.  Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:3)

 GOD HAS A WAY TO POSITION YOU FOR BLESSINGS.

“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)

 Bottom-line: THINGS WILL GET BETTER – SIMPLY BECAUSE GOD SAYS SO! 

 My friend, whose report do you believe – that which was crafted by ‘the father of lies’ or that which is certified by THE ONE who is “the way, the truth and the life?” (John 8:44 – John 14:6)

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

WOOING AND WINNING US

WOOING AND WINNING US

 The Danish theologian, Soren Kierkegaard, penned a simple story that aptly describes the grace of God.

 Once upon a time, there was an extremely rich but unhappy king, unfulfilled because he lived all alone in a gorgeous but empty palace.  How he longed so deeply for a wife with whom he would share his life.

 One day the king spied the most striking beauty ever walking through the streets of the city.  Royal enquiries revealed the fact that she was merely a peasant girl, but the king’s heart had been completely captivated.  He made up his mind to ride past her house every day, hoping to catch just a glimpse of his true love.

 Indeed, the king had a logistical problem that loomed large, for how would he ever win her love?  Of course, he could draw up a royal decree commanding her to appear at the palace and become his queen.  But then he would never be sure he had won her love, for she would be required by law to comply with his royal decree.

 Perhaps he could call on her and try to win her over, appearing in all his regal glory and sweeping her off her feet.  But under these circumstances, he would never be sure whether she had married him only because of his great power and vast riches.

 Ultimately, he came upon the perfect plan.  He would enter the life of his beloved as an ordinary peasant. That would be the only sure and practical way to positively win her love.  

 So the king abandoned his palace.  He left his riches and creature comforts behind, donned peasant’s clothing and embraced the living conditions of the common people.  He made the sacrificial decision to live among the poor, to work with them, to share their sufferings, to participate in their feasts – until he would woo and win the heart of the woman who had so completely captured his own.

 And so it is with our God.  Jesus Christ became one of us, lived among us, walked among us, suffered along with us, and greatly honored us by way of his loving presence and purposefully muted glory.  All of this was done to win our hearts.  And now, we are the beautiful bride of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 25:1 – Revelation 21:9)  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!

KEEP ON

KEEP ON

One thing I love about life is the fascinating mystery of human potential.  Some possibilities seem so apparent.  Ohers seem to remain just out of reach or somewhat hidden, but they are just as real because The Creator has made them so.  For verification of this truth, let’s consider the following story.

 Wishing to encourage her young son’s progress at the piano, a mother bought tickets for a performance by the world-famous concert pianist, Ignace Paderewski.  When the night finally came, they arrived early and located their seats near the front of the concert hall, excitedly eyeing the majestic Steinway on the stage.

 As the mother conversed with a nearby friend, her son quietly slipped away.  When eight o’clock arrived, the curtain opened and the audience quieted.  Only then did the mother realize that her young son was up on stage seated on the piano stool, innocently picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

 The mother gasped, but before she could retrieve her son, the master musician appeared on stage and quickly walked over to his piano.

 “Don’t quit – keep on playing,” Paderewski whispered into the ear of the little lad.  And leaning down, he reached over with his left hand to fill in the bass part.  Soon his right arm reached around to the other side, encircling the child and adding a beautiful obligato.  Together, the musical maestro and his novice protégé had totally amazed and mesmerized the crowd.

 There’s an important life lesson embedded in this story.  Unpolished though our lives may be, it is THE MASTER who, time and again, surrounds us and whispers ever so gently, “Don’t quit – keep on playing.”  And in His powerful presence, loving grace and supreme power, all of our insufficiencies and inabilities are miraculously swept away.   His sure promise of a brighter tomorrow encourages us to continue – until He can shape and develop us into His own image and likeness.

 Keep on, no matter what.  JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH is there. 

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

PROBLEMS WILL CEASE - YOU WILL CONTINUE

PROBLEMS WILL CEASE – YOU WILL CONTINUE

 An old gospel song contains simple but powerful lyrics: “I’m so glad that trouble don’t last always.”   Although its grammar might seem incorrect, its theological message is right on target.  Be encouraged, my friend, for there is a definite end-point for your current challenges.

 Widely recognized as the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest rises 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) above sea level.  In the early 1920’s, the famed mountain climber, George Mallory, launched a number of attempts to scale Mount Everest.  In his third and final attempt (1924), Mallory died while scaling the mountain.  Before his final and fatal attempt, he announced “I can’t see myself coming down defeated.”

 Mallory was an extraordinary climber, and nothing would force him to give up.  His body was found in 1999, well preserved by the snow and ice, 27,000 feet up the mountain, just 2,000 feet from the peak.  Give up?  He did not.  His body was found face down on the rocky slope, head toward the summit, and his arms were extended high over his head.  His toes were pointed into the mountain; his fingers dug into the rock, refusing to let go even as he drew his last breath.

 Those who maintained Mallory’s base camp farther down the mountain soon returned to England and a banquet was held in Mallory’s honor.  A huge picture of Mount Everest stood behind the head table.  When the leader of the group stood to be applauded, with tears streaming down his face, he turned and gazed defiantly at the picture.  “I speak to you, Mount Everest, in the name of all brave men living, dead and unborn.  Mount Everest, you defeated us once; you defeated us twice; you defeated us three times.  But Mount Everest, we shall someday defeat you.  YOU CANNOT GET ANY BIGGER; BUT WE CAN.”

 In 1953 two climbers, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Norgay, did reach the summit of Mount Everest.  My friend, never forget that today’s crisis has a definite and finite shelf life.  You will outlast and overcome.  Why?  Because you are in covenant with an infinite, almighty, compassionate and loving God.

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