Category: Preacher

Why do we concentrate on the negative when there are some many examples of winning attitudes?Hebrews 12:1 says, “So then let us run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us…” We should go on faith. It is a joke when I hear the 24-hour new cycle of what one candidate did as opposed to the other clown. (Not gender specific by the way.) They both remind me of a couple clowns. Unfortunately, the presidency is not a joke. Wouldn’t it be nice if they ran a race worthy of the position? We have plenty of biblical examples such as Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab, Samuel, David to name a few but we also have current examples like Simone (twice), Michael and so many others in the Summer Olympics of 2016. How about more current examples of those fighting against the natural disaster of flood waters. They are just as important as any other person on their faith journey? They are running their race as put before them. Let us cheer them on and encourage them to keep running to the finish line. In one of my previous messages, I asked the question, ‘What does faith mean?” Keeping on the topic, I ask you now, are you running your race not someone else’s race? I believe those amazing athletes were so approved by God for running the race laid out before them. Read Hebrews 11: 39 and 40 about those being faithful given approval for their faith though they perhaps did not see all of the promise but were given a glimpse. It is up to the next generations to carry on their faith journey. Let us run our race according to His will not ours. Life is full of obstacles to make us stumble and fall but does that give us the right to stop running our race? No! We may even win a few races along the way but does that give us a pass to brag about our victories? No! When I look at one Olympic athlete that partied too much and tainted his own victories, does that give us the right to tar every Olympian with the same shameful brush? No! How about all of those other great winners in gymnastics and swimming and track that ran their race to victory! Grace and peace be with all who go on faith and may we all cheer them to victory. Listen to my brief audio message below if you have time.

T

What does faith mean? Perhaps, it is simply believing in something greater than yourself. As I watch the Olympics currently going on in Rio, I am totally amazed. I believe these Athletes all go on faith to see the unseen. The scientist of this world may reason how creation came into existence but there is little doubt we are led by faith to understand the universe. There is not an engineer, doctor, scientist or athlete that made it to the peak of their career without understanding they could not have made it without help. Some may deny where the help came from but most all I suspect will admit the help came when they had faith. By faith, Abraham and Sarah went from their known land to a land full of uncertainty but they possessed faith to live and grow in a land full of promise. They died without receiving the full promises, but they saw the promises from a distance.  Some of us are so blessed to have enough faith to begin to see the unseen in our life time. Read Hebrews 11:1 for a more precise authoritative meaning of faith but to me it is simply seeing not with your eyes but with your heart. Verse 2 says past elders were approved because they showed faith. Perhaps in this day of instant gratification, we may consider these words very carefully. Enjoy the reality of what our athletes in Rio hoped for with the proof of what they have accomplished. History is full of missed opportunities to fulfill a dream. It is a very pleasant feeling to see the power of faith being realized in those who refused to listen to the doubters. Go on faith to fulfill your realities in your future.

T

It seems to me that we are on a perpetual “breaking news” cycle of the latest tragic events in the world. We thrive on the negative it seems. We get so immersed in the 24 hour coverage of tragic events it is a wonder we can function  going about our lives as normal. Unfortunately, some function very badly as evident in the events of this last week. What is this world coming too? What other tragic events are coming to the breaking news headlines? What is the answer? “GDLW” means Go and Do Likewise”. Remember the bracelet so popular for years that simply says WWJD. Well, this message is similar. In Colossians 1:6, the message has not changed for thousands of years. We choose to ignore the peace given to us through the Holy Spirit that dwells deep inside us all. Why do we choose to ignore guidance from the Holy Spirit and go on our own? The violence in Dallas this last week resulted from one person’s rage with his perceptions of injustice. Does two wrongs make a right? I do not perceive to know and understand the tragic events that took the lives of people. The constant barrage seen with the 24 hour coverage of these events surely has not helped to calm angry people. I choose not to judge one way or the other on just exactly what happened but recognize that it was tragic. Families on both sides of these tragic acts of violence are all victims. Why do some people personalize an event seen on TV to create another tragic event? I remember watching my father get so upset watching the TV and back then was not even 24 hour coverage. I find myself getting angry but do we do likewise according to the violence shown on TV or do we do likewise according to the message of hope found in the gospel? In Luke 10, Jesus is explaining in the form of a parable who is our neighbor. The priest judged the victim as unworthy to even assist in any small manner of humanity. Likewise, the Levite stuck his nose up to pass by the victim. But the Samaritan who is perceived unworthy by most in those days, chose to act with compassion. Regardless whether we encounter black, white or any other color individual, do we act with contempt or with compassion? Jesus said to Go and Do Likewise to the acts of compassion.  May we take his advice and do likewise? May we all pray for peace to a much higher power than us mere humans. Listen to my brief sound bite below if you have time. Peace be with us all.

T

 

This is my second message on Independence Day! As we celebrate independence, I hope you recognize we are all interdependent meaning we are dependent on each other to survive. Okay, what does that mean? It means that we cannot survive without reliance on each another. We can claim to be one of those survivalist who stock pile food, water and enough weapons to fend off an army but eventually we must rely on each other. I contend that we must also be guided by a power much greater than mere humans. My concern with our march into new worlds of progress is that we choose to strip off our interdependence with that higher power. Call it what you wish but I will call him the great I Am. I recommend a book I recently read not to plug the book but to offer an alternative to those who may wonder about divine intervention. Without ruining the story line, I encourage the reader to read beyond the mere story into the real story of redemption. The book is called “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers if you choose to explore its contents and how we are all given saving grace to survive in this hostile world.

My topic on Caution to the Harvester is about patience, doing what we are called to do and doing them for the right reasons. Advice given to the Galatians in chapter 6 seems to be full of common sense such as treating people with gentleness, carrying each other’s burdens and being happy with simply doing good without reward. These are all attributes of freedom to be what we are intended to be. Sow good things to be able to harvest a plentiful crop of goodness. If planting bad seeds, then bad crops are to be expected from our efforts. So why not realize this simple truth and be careful what we sow. In Luke, chapter 10, it is said that the “harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers”. The Lord commissioned many with strict instructions to go humbly to share the good news knowing that they would meet resistance. They were told to share with those who were willing to hear but dust off their feet to those who wouldn’t. Good advice!

Perhaps, as we celebrate our independence but recognize our interdependence with each other and the great I Am, we should take the good advice found in the scripture to sow good seeds in order to harvest good crops and to be happy with the simplicity of sharing with those who will listen as we travel along life’s path.

Listen to my very brief message below and read for yourself the miracles of His redeeming love.

T

 

Happy independence day! Whether you are remembering the great sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom and made America great or celebrating independence wherever you are, remember freedom is not a free pass.

Paul spoke to the Galatians about freedom. He advised not to let freedom be an opportunity to indulge in selfish impulses. Selfish desires go against the Spirit. We can easily be corrupted by what freedom offers but freedom opposes slavery in all forms. We should guard our gift of freedom against all temptations to fall back into bondage. Galatians 5:13 warns us of misguided opportunities freedom allows. Whole countries in history have celebrated what they thought was freedom only to become slaves in another form. There is a partial list in Galatians 5:19 produced by selfish motives. Can you find one of these on the list that has set you into bondage? If not, look into your past to perhaps areas where you were free but fell into bondage when you did not keep your guard up. The opposite to this list can also be found in verse 22 which lists the fruit of the Spirit.

Your choice! Happy freedom day to you all.

T