Get to know the Designer!

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TOMORROW

 If you are viewing the eclipse please remember THREE  THINGS

  1.  You need protection!  If you look directly without protection you will get a retinal burn.  Your retina does not have pain fibers so you will not feel it.  The damage is not evident right away.  You may go to bed seeing fine but wake up blind
  2. The reason the eclipse is predictable is ONLY BECAUSE the universe is ordered.  It is ordered because there was a designer.  May the awesomeness of this event, or of any natural wonder, cause you to see TRUTH.  Just as these events have a creator, so do you and I.  Get to know your Creator!
  3. The eclipse will come and the eclipse will go.  Enjoy the eclipse….BUT ENJOYING YOUR CREATOR WILL LAST FOREVER!!!!!!

Hope Was Born on Christmas Day

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CHRISTMAS…..glitter, shopping, family gatherings, good food?

No, those are distractions.

Christmas is remembering that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

When we realize we are lost, there is a way back. 

Hope was born on Christmas Day.

Thank you Jesus!

Merry Christmas everyone!

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

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God’s Word is clear on what His disciples are to AFFIRM.  He is the Creator and the Giver of Life and calls us  to AFFIRM life.  We are to value each and every human being created in the image of God.

Our current world is not good at this.  We seem to highly value our own life, maybe the lives of our family, maybe our friends’ lives.  But the lives of “others”…..not so much.  From unborn lives to the lives of those from “elsewhere” to the lives of those “different” from us, we are indifferent or even hostile in our attitudes.

God’s children are clearly called to be different.  We are called to AFFIRMATIVE ACTION towards others, not just in words but also in deed.

Where Christians live as Christ intended, there should be a different atmosphere.  There is fruit that comes from Christ’s presence among us –  love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.  It should lead to communities where people of different backgrounds, different skin color, different heritage all dwell together in harmony.  Only Christ’s love can do this.  It can not be artificially imposed from the outside.  Hearts have to be changed.  Galations 3:28 says that in Christ Jesus there is no Jew nor Greek, no slave nor free, no male or female.  All become one.  Love prevails.

Love always leads to real affirmative action – action where others are even preferred over one’s self.  We are called to help and raise up others, justly and fairly.  Station in life should not matter.  Skin color should not matter. We can celebrate each other’s heritage and differences but they should not divide us.

Unfortunately, in this world, as long as men desire power and are self-seeking, some will seek to use differences to divide.  That should stop.   But affirmative action is not needed because of any inate inequality between people, only because of unequal treatment among people.  This unequal treatment comes in so many different flavors.  That is why God’s word clearly says we are not to judge one another by outward characteristics.

Again, for real peace and real fairness to become reality, hearts need to change.  Legislation never has changed a single heart.  Only Christ can do that.

What our nation needs is to turn back to their creator, reconsider that He made our neighbor just as he made us, that He loves all of His creation and calls them all to follow Him.  That is where our focus should be.  If we focus on Christ, the other problems will begin to melt away.

That is the  real AFFIRMATIVE ACTION!  Let’s all affirm that we are created EQUAL by God.  If we are equal in His sight, why do we persist in behaving as if we are not?

Zechariah 7:9 – “Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another.”

Celebrating Freedom

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As we celebrate the beginnings of America, I feel blessed to live in a land where we aspire to certain truths.  The truths which we hold to be self-evident.  I know America has failed at times to live up to her own standards, but that does not change the actual fact that we are all created equal and are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable Rights, among which are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.  We have to keep trying to live up to these truths.

As we consider how to do this, it may be helpful to go to an old Jewish source, the book of Leviticus.  Leviticus 19:15 states,

“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor OR favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.”

To judge your neighbor fairly is an honorable goal!  We should avoid showing favoritism to the great, the rich, the beautiful, the famous.    Avoiding partiality to the poor seems an odder statement and difficult to understand.   But does showing unfair partiality to those who are poor, either in resources, talents, work ethic, or some other way really help them?  Does lowering a standard in an effort to make everyone feel good give a benefit to anyone in the long run?   Are we not, in doing this, ignoring or holding back some of those who  struggle hard to achieve success?

The standard should be the same for all.  We should not ignore the shortcomings of the great because we want to curry favor, and we should never ignore giving honor to those who struggle against fewer resources to achieve success.

Perverting justice never really helps anyone……..it hurts us all.

There are a lot of problems reflected in our American institutions and we can do better.  But we need to remember that these problems only reflect our own hearts.  That is where our real problems lie.  That is where we need change.   Our trouble start with ourselves.

So on this 4th of July, let us reflect on our great country and its challenges but then let us turn and look at our own hearts.  How do we sometimes pervert justice to those around us in our individual and personal lives?

If we change, our country will change.  If individuals change, our institutions will change.

May the Lord bless you this holiday and all the days ahead!

WHAT IS TRUTH?

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“What is Truth?” Pilate asked Jesus.  Jesus did not answer.

The evil in this world is LOUD! It clamors to be heard.  “The ambiguous and false, the unworthy and mean, will eventually confute themselves.  So the truth can afford to be quiet,” said Charles Spurgeon.

God works in unexpected ways.  Quiet ways.  The creator of the stars became a poor Galilean rabbi in order to carry our sins to the cross.  It is impossible to understand.  The Jewish people were looking for their Messiah, but they did not expect Him to do something like that.

Yet over 2000 years later, the name of Jesus is spoken everywhere.  It is often slung about as a curse word when we are slightly inconvenienced.  It is sung and worshipped by His children in every land.  It is the name above all names.

We need to listen for the still, small voice.  We need to ask to hear wisdom.  We need to seek and we will find.  We need to do it before it is too late.

Jesus did not answer Pilate when he asked “What is Truth?”  Because He had already answered.

Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”  (John 14:6)

Happy Easter!  He is Risen!

HEAVENLY SPEECH

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Over 2000 years ago, on Christmas Day, the heavens spoke!

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
In the manger born a king,
While adoring angels sing,

CHRIST CAME FOR US

Until then, the descent of mankind through the ages brought suffering, as we devised new ways to be evil.  Mankind has been devising evil schemes since Cain killed Abel.  From then until now there has been a consistent theme of mankind hurting mankind….from insults to world wars.

When suffering hits us personally, we ask “Why does God not intervene?”  Oh……but He did!

HIS INTERVENTION IS JESUS CHRIST

And now He waits for us to respond……………

THIS IS THE AGE OF GRACE

But soon…..Heaven will speak again and Christ will return to start His endless, global reign.  He is the fulfillment of prophecy and history.

“Unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulders.”

J. Sidlow Baxter comments that “already He sits on the throne of universal sovereignty in heaven.  His kingdom rules over all.  The mystery of permitted evil on earth has thereby assumed a new aspect and has almost run its course.  The usurper shall be finally banished, and the now rebellious territory shall rest in warless, tearless quietude beneath His scepter.  It shall certainly be so, for He has really risen; and He really reigns, and He will really return.”

As Tennyson said, “This is the one divine event to which the whole creation moves.”

AS WE CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH, I PRAY THAT WE ARE READY FOR HIS RETURN!

HALLELUJAH AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

(Isaiah 9:6, Titus 2:11-14, John14:3)

A DEEP BINDING

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In today’s world the focus seems to be on “our differences.”  They are many ways people differ, of course.  From the way we look to the way we think to the way we act.  From the way we were raised to the way we raise our kids.  We differ in our tastes, our loves, our goals.   The list is endless.

But then there is this.  There is one thing that we all have in common.  We were born.  We were created.   We were  ALL created in the image of God.  Genesis 1:26 shows this truth.  “Then God said, let us make man in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

We all descended from one set of parents, Adam and Eve.  Christians, Muslims, and Jews can all unite behind that statement. For others, who say science is their god, science is also increasingly showing that the minuscule difference in our genetic code points to one set of parents.   There is really only ONE human race.  We are all one big and broken family!

Because each of us was created in God’s image,  every one of us has immeasurable worth.  And, again, according to Genesis 1:26,  each of us was created to be a ruler, first over our own passions, and then over creation.  

WE ARE DEEPLY BOUND TOGETHER BY SOMETHING GREATER THAT ANYTHING THAT SEPARATES US!

The entire human race is a family.  We are ALL related!  Family will fight.  Family members can be very different.  But family is family!

I wish the world would remember this.

A CRACKED BELL AND FREED0M

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THERE IS A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM RESIDING IN PHILADELPHIA THAT COULD TELL A LOT OF INTERESTING STORIES IF IT COULD SPEAK.  IT IS THE LIBERTY BELL.  IT’S INSCRIPTION READS

Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants Thereof”

SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE NOT DOING THIS SO WELL BUT IT IS  A WORTHY GOAL!

HERE ARE A FEW FUN FACTS ABOUT THIS SYMBOL OF FREEDOM

  • IT CRACKED ON IT’S FIRST RING

(Arriving from England in 1752 and weighing over 2000 pounds, it was purchased to replace a bell, brought by William Penn,  that hung behind the state house in Philadelphia.)

  •   LOCAL CRAFTSMEN, JOHN PASS AND JOHN STOW, RECAST THE BELL BUT IT SOUNDED AWFUL!

(A public celebration with free food was scheduled to hear the bell ring but the crowd mocked the sound and it got recast again)

  •       THE INSCRIPTION ON THE BELL ,   “Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants Thereof” is from Leviticus 25:10

(  Abolitionists adopted the bell with its inscription in the 1830s and renamed it THE LIBERTY BELL)

  •   NO ONE KNOWS HOW THE CRACK IN THE RECAST LIBERTY BELL HAPPENED

(the crack appeared in 1846 but there are so many different stories ….which one is true?)

  •       NO ONE ALIVE HAS EVER HEARD THE LIBERTY BELL RING

( It has not been rung since a birthday celebration for George Washington in February of 1846)

  •       OVER A MILLION PEOPLE VISIT THE LIBERTY BELL EVERY YEAR

(My parents took me to see it when I was young.   Admission is free and you can see it every day except Christmas)

  •      IT WAS ONCE INVOLVED IN AN APRIL FOOLS DAY JOKE

(As an April Fool’s Day joke in 1996, Taco Bell ran a full-page ad in a national newspaper and  said they had bought the Liberty BelL)

FREEDOM IS NO JOKE.  IT IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR….. OUR OWN FREEDOM AND THAT OF OUR NEIGHBOR.  LET FREEDOM RING!

    The Liberty Bell in historic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA)

    Are You Fed Up With The World?

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    Do you believe in God?

    Do you understand the world?

    If you believe in God, can you fathom how He is working in the world?

    When I look around at the world we live in, there is so much that is anti-God.  So much suffering.  So much dishonesty.  So much selfishness.  So much death.  It is overwhelming and disheartening.

    Looking inside is not much better.  I find all sorts of things inside that are just as distressing.

    My lack of understanding can really get me depressed.

    I am sure I am not alone in this, so I want to share a “ray of light” that has helped me.

    The ancient book of Jeremiah, chapter 9, verses 23-24 says that I should be able to boast in knowing and understanding God. In fact, it warns against boasting in riches, or wisdom, or strength.  These are all the things men usually like to boast about.   But knowing and understanding God?  Really?  We are finite and God is infinite.  And yet I find comfort in this verse because God’s word says it is possible.

    So how do you get to know and understand God?  I guess it is a simple but never ending journey.  Jesus, when He was on earth, says that if we have seen him we have seen the Father.  So getting to know Jesus is the same as getting to know God.

    The world was a mess when Jesus was here, just as it is today.   And He had a lot to say about it, even though He taught us to live in a larger and more eternal context.   He says a lot about seeking to know God.  Jesus tells us to seek FIRST the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and that then we will receive everything else we need.

    And yet, from God’s perspective, nobody seeks Him on their own.

    The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

    They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;

    there is none who does good.

    2  God looks down from heaven

    on the children of man

    to see if there are any who understand,2

    who seek after God.

    3  They have all fallen away;

    together they have become corrupt;

    there is none who does good, not even one.

             (Psalm 14)

    And then there is Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, who set out to understand God.  In Ecclesiates 7,  this is what he concluded:

     See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out MANY SCHEMES.

     Many schemes??   LOL.  That sounds about right.  It pretty much sums up the world!  Man and his many schemes.

    But we do not need to despair.

    Jesus says that HE came to give life.  As He says, to give it MORE ABUNDANTLY!

    CS Lewis described us as playing in mud puddles, and refusing a trip to the beach, because we thought we were happy in the mud.  But we are really not happy in the mud.  We need and want the trip to the beach!

    Seek the  more abundant life!  Seek to understand and know God.  If you are discouraged, or confused, or exhausted, or fearful, there is an answer to be found.   We humans have big problems, but Jesus came to be the solution.

    !

    WHY I AM THANKFUL FOR EASTER

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    I always thought that Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane, when he was preparing to face death, dreaded the physical pain of the cross.  But now I am not so sure ……

    Think of the worst thing you have ever thought or done.  Do you remember feeling shame? Guilt? Filthy? What if the whole world knew? You will never be innocent and clean.  Have you hated yourself?  Have you felt that there was no hope of reconciliation with God because you could not even accept yourself?

    Now multiply that by the shame and guilt felt by all sinners through all the centuries.  Think of all the rapes and murders and betrayals that have occurred.  Hideous things hidden from all but God.  All human selfishness.  All human evil, collected together.  The sins of Ivan the Terrible.  The sins of Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Franco, Pol Pot.

    Imagine if you had to carry the guilt and shame of ALL human sin, not just your own.  Imagine paying the price of separation from a Holy God because the guilt of all of those sins were on your shoulders.

    When the Lord Jesus Christ hung on the cross, and “became sin who knew no sin,” He must have felt all of the shame and guilt of all sins committed through all of time.  No wonder, He said “My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  He was feeling the separation from His father because of all that sin, for He was no longer Holy in that moment, because He was loaded down with our guilt and taking the punishment for it, in our place.  In my place!

    I think that is what He was dreading.  Yet if it were not for the sacrifice of my Lord Jesus Christ, my sin would now separate me from a holy God.  I would be doomed but for the fact that Jesus was separated and punished in my place. Isaiah 53:5 says,

     

    He was pierced for our transgressions;

    He was crushed for our iniquities;

    Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

    And with his wounds we are healed

     

    The Cross is where human sin met Divine love.  The cost for our cleansing was extreme but holiness and sin can never mix.  Our sin had to be dealt with and paid for.   It was the only way we could have a relationship with our creator…the only way we could be in His presence, our sins covered by the blood of Jesus.

    Am I thankful for Easter?  Eternally so!!

    Jesus is the ONLY way to know God.  No one else shed divine blood FOR YOU.  Seek Him and you will find the highest TREASURE in the universe!