You May Wish to Read these all in Succession

June 28

Personal Note
This week begins my son Jay's life in the navy

As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
2 Samuel 22:31

At the academy, my son Jay is scheduled to be in Company 5. Therefore, I've held up my hand to him and wiggled my five fingers, saying, "Remember, Jay, the shield of faith":

1) God is who he says he is.
2) God can do what he says he can do.
3) I am who God says I am.
4) I can do what God says I can do (which is all things through Christ who strengthens me)
5) God's Word is alive and active in me.

You don't have to be in the military to have the world be a hazardous place. Satan shoots and the world woo's. "Shield's up!" "Take refuge in him."

That will be one of my final pieces of advice to my boy(s). "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8).

Too many of us would like a shield, but we drill holes in it before we're done with point one. Do we really believe that God is powerful and active in our lives and that his way -- not my way -- is perfect?

Jesus tells us that he is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). That three-fold affirmation is today's verse too. "His WAY is perfect." In his "flawless ... Word" there is TRUTH. And when we "take [our] refuge in him," we're escaping the constant hazards and discovering LIFE the way it was meant to be.

Jay -- and all of you -- "Shield's up!" Have a great LIFE!

Love,
Dad
____________________
June 28

Personal Note:
Today we leave home with Jay for Annapolis

Now the Lord said to Abram,
"Go from your country and
your kindred and your father's house
to the land that I will show you. ...
I will bless you ...
so that you will be a blessing.
Genesis 12:1-2

The faith of Abra(ha)m has always amazed me. As Hebrews 11:8 renders it, "he set out, not knowing where he was going."

My son, Jay, does know where he's going. He's aimed for it since he was eight! Therefore, the sense of loss and change mingles freely with excitement and purpose. Only one thing undergirded Abraham's sense of loss and change as he left his father's house, it's the words that started this verse from Hebrews, "by faith."

Faith! That's the way we all go out everyday. And that's why Lutherans for generations have prayed: "Lord God, You have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"

Jay -- and all of you -- may you go forth today and always in the spirit of this prayer ... and with the absolute confidence of God's covenant upon Abraham: "I will bless you ... so that you will be a blessing." (Claim that promise, because, remember, God is who he says he is and God WILL DO what he says he can do.)

Love,
Dad
____________________
June 30

Personal Note ...
It's sure to be a nervous day.
Tomorrow Jay checks into the Academy.

Jesus said ...
do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today's trouble is enough for today
Matthew 6:34

Have you ever waited for surgery ... or waited for a diagnosis ... or waited to start a new job? How'd you sleep the night before?

I'm not much of a worrier by nature; nevertheless, I've definitely been a guy with bags under his eyes on a number of occasions.

The question is: Is this commandment from Christ? (In which case, I've failed many times.) Or is this a piece of wisdom?

I'm opting for the latter. Like in the book of Proverbs, I don't think Jesus is giving us yet another rule to weigh us down; I think he's giving us a piece of wisdom to set us free. I think he's saying

Enjoy today!

Wait ... That may be overstating it a bit. After all, Jesus acknowledges that today may have "enough trouble of its own." Nevertheless, I do see an intentional invitation to "live in the moment"! "Carpe diem" is a piece what Jesus is saying. "Seize the day."

Therefore, Jay -- and all of you who are facing something big -- I give you Jesus' advice: "Do not worry about tomorrow." Instead, embrace today. Yes, they may call your next step -- Annapolis -- "prison," but today is your last day of "freedom" as a civilian. Don't let what's coming enslave you yet!

In fact, try this instead ... Do you remember what Jesus' advice is just before this verse? He said, "33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Therefore, let's ask, "Where are we seeing God today?" Why? Because seeing him in the present reminds us that he'll be there tomorrow too. Seek him today. Seek him tomorrow.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants to capre diem with you
before the Navy capres you manana
____________________
July 1

Personal Note:
Today my son, Jay, will be commissioned
as a Midshipman in the U.S. Navy.
(Go Navy ... Beat Army)

Be strong and very courageous ...
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
For the LORD your God is with you
wherever you go ...
Go ...and take possession
of the land the Lord your God
has given you.
Joshua 1:7,9,11

There are many great commissionings in the Bible. This is my favorite ...

Jay, since you were 8 you wanted to go to Navy. "Go ... and take possession of the land that the Lord ... has given you [to possess]."

I don't mean that in prideful way. I don't mean that you'll "own" the academy. (It will instead "own" you!) Rather, what I mean is ...

"God has brought you here.
Like the Israelites who could look back
at God's mighty hand which parted the Red Sea,
look back and know that God
who was behind goes before you.

"Therefore, go forward in confidence.
'Do not be afraid or discourage.'
Rather be 'strong and very courageous';
not because you are strongest cadet,
but you have a strong and faithful God
behind you, beside you, and before you."

In that sense -- and whether I'm talking to just Jay or anyone else facing a trial -- "Go ... and take possession of the land that the Lord ... has given you [to possess]." "Love the journey" is another way of stating that. And if you can't love the journey everyday, at least embrace it. You are on the adventure of a life time!

One final piece of advice ... and it's not mine; it's the rest of verse 7: "be[] careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go."

God is your compass. He is your true north. If you live with faith and integrity, then you will be truly successful wherever you go.

In Christ's Love,
Dad
(P.S. I love you.)
(P.S.S. I am very proud of you.)
(P.S.S.S. Anchors aweigh, son.)
____________________
July 2

Personal Note:
Yesterday we dropped our son Jay
off at the academy. I don't write to him today
(because he's in boot camp and can't read this anyway).
Therefore, I write to my beloved wife,
Mary Louise.

Mary treasured up all these things
and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19

Well, Dear ... we're on a new part of our journey now. We've got a boy in the Navy.

You did a great job with Jay. You loved him. You challenged him. You held his feet to the fire. You introduced him to God. And since you treasured him in your heart, today's drive back from Maryland hurts a little, doesn't it? (I know that well.)

For those who are reading this, Mary Louise deserves at least 94% of the credit for who Jay (and all of our boys) are.

My 6% is mainly that I didn't mess it up!

Actually, I should really change those figures. God deserves 98% of the credit, and we were just given the awesome privilege to come alongside these three young men, to accept God's mantle and shepherd them through this part of their journey. (Indeed, we both need to pause and thank our own parents for introducing us to the one whose hand was really guiding all of this.)

Anyway, Dear ... I am certain that as we ponder all these things, we will absolutely treasure them in our hearts -- including all of the friends and mentors who came alongside Jay and us at Spirit of Joy!

These were great years, great blessings!

Now, I urge you ... and me ... and all who are reading this and face transitions in your own lives .. to accept the commission given to Joshua, to Israel, and to Jay in yesterday's devotion: "Go ...and take possession of the land the Lord your God has given you [to possess] ... for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Josh 1:11,9).

Dear, I don't know where our life will take us next, but since I know that God has been with us in the past, I know he'll be with us in the future!

• Therefore, I look forward to this journey with you ... and with God by our side.
• I look forward to spending four years with Robbie -- more time one-on-one with this younger son (or two-on-one, Mary Louise, if you'll help me gang up on this giant).
• I'll miss Jay, but do you know what? I'm also really looking forward to seeing Jay's adventures and how God will use this young man.
• I also look forward to Paul's faith and adventures too.

God is good. Thank you, Lord!

In Christ's Love,
a guy who's blessed
(not because of my circumstances ...
but because of the one who's promised me
an eternal future ... with him!)

+

____________________
June 27

For the Lord your God is
God of gods and Lord of lords,
the great God, mighty and awesome,
who is not partial and takes no bribe
Deuteronomy 10:17

There's an old story about a rich man who -- when he dies -- figures out how to take all of his gold with him to heaven. He meets St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, and St. Peter says, "Why'd you bring pavement?"

(Get it? Streets of gold.)

The point is this: Re-read the last line of today's verse. What could we ever bribe God with?! More pavement?

No matter how much we ... serve him ... read our Bibles ... confess our sins ... tithe to the church ... join a convent ... serve on committees ... discover a cure for cancer ...

God can't love us any more ...
and he won't love us any less.

It's not what you do. It's what he's done!

But there is one thing he does ask ... All he wants is to spend a little more time with you. He loves you and treasures your friendship.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who'd like to find a way
to smuggle on thing into heaven ...
... a few more lost souls

____________________
June 26

Know therefore that
the Lord your God is God,
the faithful God who
maintains covenant loyalty
with those who love him
and keep his commandments,
to a thousand generations
Deuteronomy 7:9

I just finished leading youth group. We played a game. I gave one person a pen, and I gave another person a picture of a pen. I said, "Draw with your pen." One could draw, and one could not.

I gave one person a hammer and the other a drawing of a hammer ... a lollipop and a drawing of a lollipop ... scissors and a drawing of scissors. I said, "Hammer, eat, and cut." One could, and one could not.

What's the difference? "One is real. One is paper (and pretend)."

The point? Some people believe that God is really real. While other believe that God is God-on-paper, God-in-theory. Too many of us read about God on paper -- i.e. on the pages of our Bibles -- but we treat the words as "stories" and we don't really believe he's real.

The question is: What will it take you to truly "know ... that the Lord your God is God"? What's holding you back from truly believing that "God is who he says he is" and that "God can do what he says he can do"?

God is ... powerful. And when you truly believe that God is powerful (powerful for real and not
just on paper), then you will have more power in your life. Much more!!!

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants to recycle all my old paper
and discover (more fully) the real God
and all his power

____________________
June 25

You shall worship no other god,
because the Lord, whose name is Jealous,
is a jealous God
Exodus 34:14

Since "jealous" is generally perceived as a negative term, some translations soften the phrase a bit. Indeed, they try to capture the intent of an uncomfortable phrase. For example, the Good News Translation renders it, "I, the Lord, tolerate no rivals." I like the New Living Translation even better: "For he is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you."

"Passionate," I like. "Jealous" seems harsh to me.

Notice those phrases: "I like" and "to me." My goal is usually to domestic God like I'd try to domesticate a cat -- i.e. bring God down to my size. God is not a cat. He's the Lion of Judah. And if he says, "I am a jealous God" my challenge -- my gift -- is to believe him.

Ultimately I don't want a God that can be brought down to my size. I want a God big enough to spin galaxies and resurrect from the dead. Therefore, I'd better loose myself from the bonds of any false priority -- false god -- that competes with the one who is passionately and compassionately jealous for me. (For me?! Why me? He's awesome, isn't he!)

In Christ's Love,
a guy who's been created wonderfully enough
that God is jealous for me
(I'd better go spend some time with him)

____________________
June 24

To the King of the ages,
immortal, invisible, the only God,
be honor and glory forever and ever.
Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17

I've sometimes asked the youth group: If you could be a superhero, what one trait would you like to have?

Half the kids say, "I'd like to be able to fly."

The next most common response is, "I'd like the ability to become invisible."

Not me.

Sneaking up on people and hearing what they say about me is not appealing at all. I'd rather take people at face value -- as in face to face.

All of us know that other people talk about us behind our backs. But I'd rather give people the opportunity to be who they want to be in the light of day. (Otherwise, I might not like them!)

The remarkable thing about our immortal, invisible King, is that he "sees in secret" ... and likes us anyway! That's true love.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who has a superpower:
I know nothing

____________________
June 23

The Father loves the Son and
has placed all things in his hands.
John 3:35

My father is a man of many talents.

For example, he can fix anything! Over the years, I've seen him craft things with wood, fix car engines, plumb a bathroom, and wire corners of the house.

And when I was little his hands seemed so very big and strong.

Now, I'm an adult and he's supposed to be retired. His hands are still stronger and more capable than mine!

Imagine being Jesus. How big must his Father's hands have seen. My skilled father couldn't spin a basketball on his finger; God the Father could spin galaxies on his pinky toe.

As I grew in year, my father, though, gave me a gift: He entrusted more and more to me. God the Father gave Jesus a gift: "He placed all things in his hands."

If you want to know the Father better ... take a closer look at Jesus.

In Christ's Love,
a very thankful son
(P.S. I've got two great dads)

____________________
June 22

Jesus said ...
"All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me."
Matthew 28:18

With a military son, I've been learning about the chain of command.

For example, you don't go directly to the general when you have a problem. You go to your sergeant. And usually, the problem is taken care of right then and right there.

If the problem's bigger, the sergeant goes to his captain ... but only when the captian can't manage it, he goes to the major ... who goes to the colonel ... who goes to the general only when the rest of the chain of command is at a loss.

I'm so very thankful that God does not work like this!

Jesus absolutely has "all authority," but he never says work through the chain of command. He simply says, "Come to me" (see Matthew 11:28).

In fact, scripture blesses us with the wonderful assurance that "we have a high priest who understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:15-16).

In Christ's Love,
a court jestor who's running
to the throne of the grace

____________________
June 21

The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
1 Peter 1:24-25

Who said this? Jesus! Indeed Peter was basically quoting the Lord himself: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will remain forever" (Luke 21:33).

In this disposable world, it's nice to know that something permanent endures! Like the grass, you and I will wither and fade. Bigger than that, stars are born and galaxies flame out. But the Word, the way, the truth, and the light will never fade.

Like most of you, I worry about little things. Temporary things. "Lord, set my heart on the eternal!"

In Christ's Love,
a lawn guy
(i.e. I'm grass ... but
by the grace of God, I'm eternal!)

____________________
June 20

The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately corrupt;
who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9

Ouch!

Sounds like we need heart surgery. Desperate. Deceitful. Corrupt. And you know ... it's more than a double- or triple-bypass that we need. We need a transplant.

Now, this is delicate surgery. So who is the great physician who is worthy of our trust? I'm choosing King David's doctor, and I'm praying with him, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Ps 51:10).

In Christ's Love,
a guy who doesn't want to be a politician
(desperately corrupt ... as the steorotype goes)

____________________
June 19

Only I can tell you what is going to happen
even before it happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
Isaiah 46:10

Why do I ever attempt to be "in control"?

God is God ... and I am not. Our sovereign God holds the future in his hands. He acts with power. He administers with love.

I can fight against it (and I have before)... or I can say, "You're God. I'm not. I trust in you. Thank you for making my life simpler."

In Christ's Love,
a guy who's not God
(whew!)

____________________
June 18

All a man’s ways are right in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the hearts.
Proverbs 21:2

So many of us spend so much time trying to explain and justify ourselves. We want to be "right in our own eyes."

What this self-justification fails to do is recognize the fact that God has already justified us. And it cost him his life.

If we'd just TRULY accept that God has justified us, we'd be so much better off. And our hearts would be so much lighter.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants a smaller heart
(I mean ... a lighter heart)

____________________
June 17

Ye shall not go out with haste
Isaiah 52:12

How many of us rush through breakfast ... so we can rush out the door ... so we can rush to work ... so we can rush through the day's jobs ... so we can rush home and rush through dinner ... and then rush the kids to a practice ... where they spend an hour rushing around a field ... while you rush in and out of the grocery ... and then you rush them home ... so you can rush them to bed ... because tomorrow's going to start with another rush ...

Tired.

I am.

I need a verse like this.

No haste. Slow down.

Now, why should we pause for a breath before rushing forward? Isaiah tells us. He says "for the Lord will go before you."

And that's been my biggest problem. How many thousands of mornings have I rushed out under my own steam rather than waiting for God to set the course of my day.

No haste. Slow down. Listen more. Pause and pray. I think I'll be a little less tired.

In Christ's Love,
a Russian guy
(get it? Rushin')

_____________________
June 16

"I will lead on softly ..."
Genesis 33:14

What beautiful words!

Many years before, Jacob had swindled his older brother out of a birthrite, but by Genesis 33 it is time to restore a family. Jacob approaches his brother a bit fearfully. He bows to his brother seven times, as if he were a servant. Esau, however, wasn't angry. He rushed foward joyfully and "kissed" his brother "affectionately." Tears of joy flowed.

The beauty of reconciliation!

After, I imagine, several hours of reminiscing, it was time to go home! Esau said kindly, "'12 I will ... lead the way.' 13 But Jacob replied, ' ... Some of the children are very young, ... the flocks and herds ... too. If they are driven too hard, they may die. 14 So go on ahead of us. I will lead on softly ...'"

How Esau's heart must have leapt again. His once selfish brother -- who would lie and cheat and run away -- has chosen a new pace. Family concerns trump selfish desires. And in that way, he leads on softly.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who knows that leading softly
often starts with reconciliation

__________________
June 13

Those who speak on their own
seek their own glory;
but the one who seeks
the glory of him who sent him is true,
and there is nothing false in him.
John 7:18

I have a confession to make. "I am chronic and habitual 'speaker-on-my-own-er'."
Without a daily discipline of listening to the Word (and listening for God), I'm liable to speak my philosophies, my priorities, my politics, and my pride. Me, myself, and "I think" are my default positions.

How about you?

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants to seek His glory and His truth
because there's only wrong answers in me

____________________
June 12

Simon Peter answered him,
"Lord, to whom can we go?
You have the words of eternal life."
John 6:68

We look to our doctor for healing

... to situations for happiness

... to the wall outlet for power

... to a half gallon of ice cream for comfort

... and to a glass of whiskey for courage.

But there's only one place we can go for LIFE.

Peter knew it. So should we!

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants to trust
as wonderfully in the Word
as I do in Jesus himself!

____________________
June 11

Sir, give us this bread always.
John 6:34

One of my favorite quotes is from Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies: "Many a time," she said, "we’ve been down to our last piece of fatback. And I’d say, 'Should we eat it, or render it down for soap?' Your Uncle Jed would say, 'Render it down. God will provide food for us poor folks, but we gotta do our own washin’.'"

When we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," we're praying for all our daily needs. It's a prayer for food, clothing, shelter, fatback, and Dove soap.

That's not the kind of bread Jesus is talking about in today's verse. Manna fed the people of Israel for a day, but Jesus is the bread of life. He is our life. And only when we feed on his wisdom, love, and power, will we ever be truly satisfied.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who'll even eat the crust
if I can feed on Christ's love

____________________
June 10

Whoever believes in the Son ...
[vs.] whoever disobeys the Son ...
John 3:36

Where in the human body would you locate faith?

In the head?

In the heart?

In this passage, Jesus tells us that it's also in our hands. It's in our actions!

In Matthew 12:50, Jesus says, "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister ..." Actions are part of faith!

A few chapters earlier, Jesus says, "7:21 only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven ... will enter the kingdom of heaven." Again, actions are part of faith and part of our ticket to heaven.

Furthermore, in John 4:34, Jesus -- the model of our faith -- says, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me ..."

Actions! What do you know that God is calling you to act upon?

In Christ's Love,
a man of action!
(P.S. Tell my wife about that.)

____________________
June 9

When evening came,
his disciples went down to the sea,
got into a boat, and started
across the sea to Capernaum.
It was now dark,
and Jesus had not yet come to them.
John 6:16-17

In her sermon last Sunday, Pastor Fran gave me a great image of Peter that I'll always treasure. She said something like, "If Peter saw a boat, he had to get in it." (I looked at my Navy-bound son and had to laugh.)

I bring that up because -- to me -- a curious thing happens in this passage. Apparently when one particular evening came, the disciples saw a boat ... and apparently they just got into it ... and apparently, it just started sailing ... and apparently, they were half way across the sea on the way to Capernaum when it occured to them that Jesus was not with them.

I don't know how they expected for Jesus "to yet come to them" when they just happened to get into a boat and had already sailed halfway to Capernaum.

But come to them Jesus did!

The Savior walked on water.

Now ... I don't know about y'all, but sometimes I just get into a boat and sail off in my own directions. It's sad that Jesus has to track me down halfway to Capernaum and whenever I sail in my own directions. But I am thankful that he does!

In Christ's Love,
a disoriented sailor

____________________
June 8

Jesus said ...
"No one can come to me
unless the Father...draws him"
John 6:44

My Bible study this morning prompted me to ask three questions ...

1. What does this passage (or any passage) tell us about God? I answered, "God's a magnet, and he wants to draw us closer to him."

2. What does this passage (or any passage) tell us about us? I answered, "If God's a magnet, then I am metal. I am designed to be drawn to him.

3. What does this passage (or any passage) prompt me to adjust and obey? If I am not drawn as close to God as I'd like, I need to correct one of three things ...

One, I need to remove anything that keeps me from God. (How many obstacles -- and false priorities -- do I place between me and the mighty magnet, God?)

Two, I need to purify my life. (If I'm not a 100% pure and metallic, then I'll only partly be drawn to God. What do I need to confess?)

Three, maybe I need to turn completely around. (One side of a magnet pushes away from another magnet. If I am far from God, maybe I need to turn around -- which by the way is the definition of repentance. And this makes me prayerful, because don't you know people who seem to be repulsed by God and his perceived injustice rather than drawn to him and healed? Pray for them.)

In Christ's Love,
a guy who asks three questions
and can suddenly explain
why my head is as hard as iron
(thankfully God can use even that to draw me to him)

____________________
June 7

When Jesus realized
that they were about to come
and take him by force to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
John 6:15

Don't you wish more leaders today would follow Jesus' model?

Instead of basking in praise, what if every compliment meant they had to go spend an hour alone on the mountain with God.

What if you and I did that too?

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants more godly leaders
(and as leader, needs to spend more time
on the mountain with God himself)

____________________
June 6

"Gather up the fragments left over ..."
John 6:12b

Many farmers put out a cistern -- a big tank, tub, or reservoir. Many hope to catch enough of the rain so that they may gradually water their plants.

But when rain comes, it doesn't just water the spot where the cistern sits. It covers the land.
God's grace is that way. We catch a little water in our cup, but so much more is falling all around us -- and sometimes we're oblivious to God's generosity.

In the feeding of the 5000, God rained down bread. A multitude ate. And the truth was that there was a multitude of bread "left over." There was grace to spare.

This passage invites us to look beyond ourselves. In fact, the more take our eyes off of just ourselves, the more we will see God and grace and glory all around us.

In Christ's Love,
a guy wants to see more rain

____________________
June 5

When they were satisfied ...
John 6:12

Some people -- especially young children -- look at communion as a snack. Why a snack? Because it's not nearly enough to satisfy our full hunger.

There are seasons for snacks -- a taste of grace that gets to the next feast.

There are also seasons for full and utter satisfaction. The feeding of the 5000 was one of those occasions. Jesus let them eat until they were full ... and then he showed them how bountiful God's power was by revealing how much was leftover.

We're Americans. We're good at full bellys and expanding waistlines. But don't be surprised when God's grace comes as a simple snack. The feast is heaven. Right now we generally get a foretaste -- just enough of a glimpse to help us make it through.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs to eat more snacks
(tell my wife that please)

____________________
June 4

When [Jesus] looked up and saw
a large crowd coming toward him,
Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we
to buy bread for these people to eat?"
He said this to test him, for he himself
knew what he was going to do.
John 6:5-6

If I were writing a screen play, here's how I imagine this scene playing out:

SETTING: A horde of five thousand people rushes toward Jesus and the disciples.

PETER (THINKING): "Crowd control. How am I going to rope off -- and hold off -- five thousand people who want to touch just the edge of Jesus' cloak so they may be healed?"

JOHN (THINKING): "Public Relations: Where do I station the press so that we get the best coverage on the evening news?"

PHILIP (THINKING): "Logistics: Where are we to buy enough bread for these people to eat?"
You see, I think Jesus might have just said outloud what was already in Philip's heart. I mean, how many of us think things inwardly and they grow like an infection. We'd do so much better opening them up and like de-breeding a wound, discussing them outloud. When things are in the light, light tends to win. But when we hold thoughts, feelings, and fears in the dark, darkness tends to prevail.

Yes, Jesus tested Philip when he pulled the question into the light. But he didn't leave him alone to carry the weight of the worry. He showed him the path toward healing, feeding, and truth.

And yes ... Jesus will test you. But when you allow him to be part of your problems, he'll never leave you to carry their weight alone.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who'd prefer a test from God
than a test from Ms. Taylor
(my 12th grade Calculus teacher)

____________________
June 3

Jesus said, "There is another
who testifies on my behalf ..."
John 5:32

Imagine that you were a first century person, trying to figure out if Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. In this passage, Jesus points to three powerful witnesses to his identity.

The first is John the Baptist. "35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light." People believed John, and John pointed to Jesus. Therefore, why not believe in Jesus?

The second is Jesus' "works" -- the healings and the miracles. Jesus confirmed his identity to John the Baptist -- and to us -- saying, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them." Jesus said, "36 the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me."

The third is the scriptures themselves. Why did John and others believe that Jesus was the Messiah? Because the works of Jesus confirmed the prophecies about the Messiah.
"39 You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf."

I'm tempted to ask "which 'proof' finally convicted you?" But ultimately faith is not about logic and proofs. Faith is about the person who was saying these things. Indeed faith is about a relationship with this person -- the living Lord, Jesus Christ.

In Christ's Love,
a guy
(which means problem-solving and proofs
comes easier than relationships
which means I have to work at faith)

____________________
June 2

just as the Father raises the dead
and gives them life
John 5:21

One of my saddest duties is standing beside some death beds.

Notice ... I said, "some."

Many death beds are like cruise ship dock. Many who are dying -- and their families -- have such an confidence in the power of the resurrection that death is a bon voyage.

Other death beds are like quicksand. Fear swallows hope and everyone's just trying to keep their head above being suffocated.

I love logic that is implied in John 5:21. If God gives life, why do we have such a hard time believing that he can -- and will -- raise the dead.

Faith is a powerful force. In fact, it's magic. It transforms a quicksand and sinking feelings into cruise ships, bon voyage, and hope.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who's ready for a cruise

_____________________
June 1

"My Father is still working,
and I also am working."
John 5:17

How many people look around and say, "Where is God in all this?"

Answer them with John 5:17. It was true in Jesus' time and it is true today: "Our Father is still working."

And if anyone ever doubts that, give them an additional reminder. Let your light shine too! May our crying always be: "Our Father is still working, and I also am working."

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants people
to see God through
my hard-working hands

_______________________
May 31

Jesus said to him,
"Do you want to be made well?"
The sick man answered him,
"Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool
when the water is stirred up ..."
John 5:6-7

Have you ever laid in a hospital bed? Or sat for days with a loved one there?

Have you ever had a much-too-happy aid come in -- oblivious to the gravity of your situation -- and said something as inane as "Do you want to be made well?" Has a sarcastic "of-course-I-want-to-be-made-well" ever been the gentlest response you can manage?

The man at the pools of Bethzatha, looked for a physical answer to a life-long illness. How many of us look for physical answers when the deeper problem is really spiritual?
God can cure the physical. He did in this man's case. But sometimes the greater miracle is not physical. Sometimes the greatest miracle is faith in a world of pain.

Faith is all that ultimately matters to Jesus. Why? Because if we have faith we will ultimately be healed (and ultimately means in the realm of "no more mourning or crying or pain"). But if we don't have faith, all physical healing is destined to be temporary. (More meat ... less fat ... in the eternal barbeque.)

God aims for the permanent. How about you?

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants to be even more permanent
than a Sharpie

______________________
May 30

The man believed the word
that Jesus spoke to him
and started on his way.
John 4:50

Belief -- even without seeing -- is a huge spiritual point in the Gospel of John. Thomas missed the first glimpse of the resurrection and said, "Unless I see ... I will not believe."

The "royal official whose son ... was at the point of death ... believed the word that Jesus spoke ... 'You son will live.'" He didn't see the healing. He just trusted. And based on his faith, he acted immediately -- he started on his way, he set off toward home.

What is the Word that you know God is speaking to you right now? Sometimes God comforts the afflicted -- is that what he's saying? Other times he "afflicts the comfortable!" Do you "need" some reorienting affliction? Quite frequently, God calls us in a new direction we should go. Other times he simply convicts us of some sin. (Don't miss that one!)

Unlike our kids often do with us, what if we simply believed the word that we knew was from God and acted immediately.

What is the Word that you know God is speaking to you right now?

In Christ's Love,
a Thomas
who doesn't want to doubt
anymore

______________________
May 29

My food is
to do the will of him who sent me
and to complete his work.
John 4:34

My food is Oreos, Doritoes, and Nachos. I would do better with Jesus' diet!

If anyone other Jesus' said, "My food is to do God's will," we'd call them hopelessly pious. Jesus, however, was satisified by nothing else.

"Man does not live by bread alone," said Jesus, "But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."

May we hunger for God's Word ... and be satisified by nothing less than doing his will.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who is a nut
(if, indeed, you are what you eat)

_______________________
May 28

You are right in saying,
'I have no husband’
John 4:17

In our generation, it seems like everybody has a past. Few of us would make it past the purity police -- especially in terms of previous marriages and past relationships.

The woman at the well -- whom Jesus is talking to in this verse -- is the patron saint of messy pasts. Five former "marriages" and "the man you're living with now is not your husband."

Some Christians don't tolerate tarnished pasts. Jesus wasn't one of them. It's not the past that matters, but the present and the future. Jesus had just told the woman at the well about "living water." Yes, it quenches our thirst, but even more so, Jesus longs to use it to wash us clean.
What in your past haunts or tarnishes you? May the living liquid of his grace wash you clean.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs to shave his head
(so my forgiven self will look as clean as Mr. Clean)

________________________
May 27

"If you knew the gift of God,
and who it is that is saying to you,
'Give me a drink,’
you would have asked him,
and he would have given you living water."
John 4:10

My wife -- the medical one in the family -- tells me that coffee (and caffeine) are diuretics. In other words, they may go down wet, but they don't really quench your thirst. (To be blunt: Take you pee more, and, therefore, leave you thirstier than before.)

In John 4, Jesus is saying that too many of the ways of the world are spiritual diuretics. They may go down wet and satisfying, but they leave us spiritually parched. We chase after worldly satisfactions, and we wonder why we're still unsatisfied. We wonder why we feel deep down like we're as thirsty as if we'd just run a marathon on a hot day.

The key to growth in faith is to monitor your level of spiritual hydration. Only Christ can give you living water. Only Jesus can truly quench our thirst.

In Christ's Love,
a former advertiser who wonders
whether spiritual Gatorade
would see better than Living Water
(ahhh ... just give me Jesus!)

+

____________________
May 26

He [Jesus] must increase,
but I [John the Baptist] must decrease."
John 3:30

Daily I am praying for revival -- mine, first; our church, our nations.

Someone said to me recently that "I heard revivals are often short-lived."

"It's true," I said, "The Holy Spirit comes down powerfully for a period of time. And then that magnificent seasons sometimes ends as quickly as it started."

"Do we really want to pray for something that may come and go."

"Absolutely," I said, "after all, do you know how long John the Baptist's ministry was? I've heard that it was maybe as short as six months. But wouldn't it be worth everything in creation to be as alive as John for even six months ... and have even a fraction of his impact on the kingdom?"

And wouldn't you love a faith so trusting that could joyfully say, "If something better may increase, let my moment decrease?"

In Christ's Love,
a guy who says,
"my whole life here on earth
for six months like that!"

____________________
May 25

"God did not send the Son
into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world
might be saved through him."
John 3:17

If you love John 3:16 ... I invite you to love the next verse just as much.

John 3:16 is full of love, grace, forgiveness, and the remarkable assurance that God loves YOU so much that he's (and the son) are willing to submit to the pain of death for YOU.

John 3:17 adds one more assurance ... Many people see God (and church and Christians) as legalistic and judgmental. The sacrifical life of Jesus is, however, the exact opposite of condemnation.

Many of us are imprisoned by our past sins and too many say, "God can't forgive me."
John 3:17 reminds us that Christ is literally dying to forgive you.

Condemation? No! Freedom.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who believes
that those who don't know history
are condemned to repeat it
(if we don't remember the history of the cross,
we force ourselves to continually relive
our hopelessness because of past sins)

____________________
May 24

Jesus answered him,
"Are you a teacher of Israel,
and yet you do not understand these things?"
John 3:10

Read Jesus' words again. Our fear of not knowing everything absolutely paralyzes God's church. Therefore ...

+ We don't go to Bible Studies ("I might not know something and look stupid").
+ We don't evangelize ("What if they ask me something I don't know?").
+ And we don't teach -- our kids or classes at church ("I don't know enough").

I was in a Bible study a few weeks ago and threw out a term that I thought was readily understandable. One of the longer-term students in the group finally said, "What does that mean?!" And all the others cheered. "Thank you."

I loved the hunger to understand! And I loved -- even more -- the willingness to risk asking the question. I am certain that Jesus did too when he said to Nicodemous, "are you a teacher ... and yet do not understand ..." He wasn't judging! He was clarifying what was and wasn't known so that in John 3 he could teach some of history's deepest truths. (Where would we be without Nicodemus' questions and John 3:16?)

Fear paralyzes us ... and the church. Be bold. Clarify. Everyone will be richer.

In Christ's Love,
a dumb guy
(because I haven't always asked the right questions
and have been dumber because of it)

+

____________________
May 23

He came to Jesus by night
John 3:2

The Gospel portrait of the Pharisees is: Whitewashed tombs. Clean as a freshly scrubbed cup on the outside, but full of greed, self-indulgence, legalism, and pride on the inside (see Mt 23:25-26).

Fortunately, at least one Pharisee defied the stereotype. Nicodemus was hungry for the truth. Therefore, he sought out a humble carpenter who reflected the way, the truth, and the life. Isn't it fascinating, though, that he did it at night, under the cloak of darkness?

I've watched too many spy movies (to be sure) and a few comic capers like Get Smart. Therefore, I often imagine Nicodemus as Maxwell Smart -- sneaking between the shadows, looking over his shoulder, dialing Pharisee number 99 on his sandal phone, and meeting with Jesus under the cone of silence.

How many people in our sphere of influence are hungry for the way, the truth, and the life, but they've dug themselves into a prideful hole? They dare not admit that they need help ... need faith ... need healing ... need God. They're so scarred by life that they cannot believe that they can be loved. They cannot come forward publicly. It would be too embarrassing.

Who do you know like that? Tell them about Nicodemus. And encourage them to sneak into God, church, and faith undercover. (For example, many people can't imagine coming to a church worship service -- "the roof might cave in" -- but they wouldn't mind being invited to a picnic!)

In Christ's Love,
Agent 32
(as in John 3:2)

____________________
May 22

His disciples remembered that it was written,
"Zeal for your house will consume me."
John 2:17

John doesn't record my favorite line in the cleansing of the temple: "My house shall be called a house of prayer" (Mt 21:13, Mk 11:17, Lk 19:46 -- all based on Isaiah 56:7). Thankfully, John's remembrance enriches us with another verse -- based on Psalm 69:9, "Zeal for your house will consume me."

When you think of "church" -- Spirit of Joy -- what do you think of? I urge you to lift two words to the top of your list: prayer and zeal.

Pray more and more for you church ... and in your church. Come early. Stay late. Pray for our council and leaders. Pray for our hurting brothers and sisters. Lift up our kids in a society intent on dumbing them down. Ask for reconciliation with those who've hurt you. Seek to know those who are new as true brothers and sisters in Christ.

And zeal ... Zeal means passion, enthusiasm, eager desire, fervor, and love. What keeps you from zeal for God's house -- our church -- in your life? Whichever one of those words for zeal is missing in your heart, start praying for it daily. "Lord, help me have a fervor for church and service -- not just an exhaustion in my life and work." "Lord, help me be enthusiastic supporter of ____ ministry."

In Christ's Love,
a guy who hungers for
a stronger and stronger and even stronger
house of prayer

_________________________
May 21

Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water."
And they filled them up to the brim
John 2:7

It didn't make sense.

They were out of wine. Why fill the barrels with water?

Sometimes our instructions to our kids don't make sense. We say stop. They go three more steps, then think about slowing down. From their perspective, there's no reason to halt. But what if there was a snake? Obedience matters. Immediate obedience matters.

It didn't make sense for the stewards at the wedding in Cana to fill the jars with water. In fact, many of the passages in the Bible don't immediately make sense ... at least from our human perspective. But miracles happen when godly obedience exceeds human reasoning.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs to write a hundred times,
Obey immediately.
Obey immediately.
Obey immediately.
Obey immediately.
Obey immediat.....

____________________
May 20

In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Confirmation used to be an ordeal for many young Lutherans. "Every Sunday we had to sit on the front row of the church and take notes on the Pastor's sermon. And he'd stare down from us from the pulpit whenever we missed jotting down one of the points."

We live in a kinder, gentler era of church going. Much of it is for the better. But there was a very good purpose for this notetaking. We remember about 5% of what we hear, but we remember about 15-20% of what we write down.

Therefore, if you want my sermons to four times better, take notes!!!

I'm reminded of this because of an email I received today entitled, "Your Sermon Blessed My Socks Off." I opened it immediately (of course) ... and I pass on to you as an encouragement to be a notetaker ...

Dear Pastor Ed,

Last week I ran into notes I took from one of your sermons preached some time ago. It was based on, "In this world you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world."

You asked, "what would our lives look like if when we experienced tribulations we realized Jesus had already overcome it? We would then be able to be Of Good Cheer.

You also quoted, "your new name will be contentment ... joyful and ______. (My notes are at home and I am at work.)

I don't know how much that sermon blessed me the first time but after spending the last 5 days [in] reflection and prayer ... it blessed me immensely--it made me JOYFUL.

I just wanted to bless you for blessing me.

God has more blessings in store for each of us than we can possibly remember. (So take notes ... you may remember a few more!)

Note: I know of another member who carries a notebook in her purse. All the sermons and all her blessings go in that book. It's a traveling treasury of insight and joy.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants to develop writer's cramp
from remembering and writing down
all of God's lessons and blessings

____________________
May 19

And lead us not into temptation ...
Matthew 6:13

I love it when people ask me questions about faith and scripture. Occasionally, I will pass them on to the rest of you, figuring if one person's interest, others may be too. Here's today's question ...

How do you explain the phrase of the Lord's Prayer that says "Lead us not into temptation" when the Bible says that God does not tempt us? (James 1:13-14)

1
God does NOT tempt us -- nor lead us in that direction. How does we know this? Because it is never God's desire for us to enter into sin because sin is incompatable with God's nature. As it says in 1 John 3:9, "[when] God's seed [God's life, God's nature] abides in [us], [we will not] make a practice of sinning."

2
Nevertheless, God allows us to be put into situations where our faith is tested and strengthened. As it says in 1 Peter 1:7, "These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.

3
Where do we find hard, challenging, tempting situations? In every corner of daily life! As Paul puts it -- 1 Cor 10:13 -- "No temptation has seized you except what is common to [all]."

4
What's our hope? God! His power. His guidance. His intervention ... as we allow him to truly work through us. Again Paul says -- same verse 1 Corinthians 10:13 -- "When you are tempted, [God] will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

SUMMARY
Does God lead us into temptation? No. Life does! And life's hard knocks can purify us if we let them.
. Furthermore, we need to take strength in this: God will protect us in and through all our trials if we let him! Again 1 Corinthians 10:13 -- "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear."

In Christ's Love,
a guy who's succumbed to temptations
and is continually learning to rely on God's power
instead of mine

____________________
May 18

"I saw you under the fig tree"
John 1:48

At the moment Jesus met Nathanael, Jesus immediately revealed a few key things about Nathanael's life.

Nathanael's jaw dropped. "How do you know me?"

"I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you," said Jesus.

Spiritual sight! Jesus saw Nathanael. Our Lord sees all things. Jesus gave Nathanael a glimpse of this power. Nathanael began to see Jesus as the Son of God. But Jesus said, "you will see greater things than these."

God sees us -- indeed, watches over us -- but even more so, he invites us to see him. Through Scripture ... and prayer ... and experiences ... and church ... and through Jesus himself ... we catch glimpses of God's love.

I heard someone complain recently about not believing in God because they see too many Christians who are hypocrits and too many churches that are imperfect. Then I heard someone respond, don't look at people and institutions, look at Jesus.

When you look down, you'll inevitably be disappointed. But when you look up, you will see "greater things" -- greater love, greater peace, greater hope, greater joy, greater forgiveness, greater life.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants to go
from good to great

+

____________________
May 17

The saying is sure:
If we have died with [Christ], we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful
— for he cannot deny himself.
2 Timothy 2:11-13

The first petition reflects a common Biblical theme. In Matthew 16, Jesus said, "those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." When we unite our lives with Jesus and die to ourselves, then we shall "live with him" -- now and eternally.

The second petition reflects that this journey of life can be hard and this journey of faith can involve persecution. The crown won't come here, in this life, but in the end, those who are faithful will "reign with him."

The third petition we don't like to think about.

But something happens in the fourth petition. Going into this reading, I would have said that "denying Christ" and "faithlessness" were the same thing. Perhaps they are not.

It seems to me that denial is intentional while faithlessness (doubt) is unintentional. We'd like for it to not be this way, but our faith often rides a roller coaster along with our circumstances. And thanks be to God, a down day will not exclude us from the kingdom. God remains faithful even when we waver. He loves us, forgives us, woos us.

In Christ's Love,
a roller coaster guy
who will not deny
(God help me)

____________________
May 16

I have singled him out
so that he will guide his children
Genesis 18:19

One of the greatest calls that any of us can have is to guide our children. So ... do you know what American parents tend to wish most for their kids? "I just want them to be happy."

Happiness, however, is situational. Therefore, happiness is always fleeting. And if our goal is for our kids to be happy, we are teaching them to be consumers (trying to buy their next glimpse of happiness) and we are teaching them to look out for me, myself, and I (self-centeredness).

Now ... that's certainly not all that we teach our children. We clearly teach them other good things -- like being moral and compassionate -- but then we leave them oddly conflicted. Their self-centeredness (personal happiness) constantly struggles with their sense of compassion (morality). What wins? A stunted view of right and wrong. "I'm compassionate if and when it makes me feel good (and is convenient)."

As soon as morality is subjective, however, our children lose the ability to discern right from wrong. All we have left is an experiential (feelings-based) morality. If it makes someone feel good, it must be "okay for them."

What's the answer? We return to scripture. The verse above is not the full verse. Scripture tells us that God singled out Abraham "So that he will direct his children to keep the way of the Lord." If we believe that the fruit of the Spirit is joy and if we believe that joy includes and far exceeds happiness, then we know now the compass for guiding our children. We don't teach them happiness (which encourages selfishness); we teach them righteousness and holiness and faith (which encourages servanthood). We ground their lives in godliness because the Lord will uphold them even when life's situations are trying.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who doesn't want to be happy
... just spiritual, fruitful, and joyful

____________________
May 15

"He shall come down like
rain upon the mown grass"
Ps. 72:6

One of the things I love about scripture is how specific it can be. This Psalm doesn't say, "rain on grass"; it says, "rain on mown grass." That means I can smell it! Can you?!

The smell of mown grass is the smell of summer.

Rain also has a smell ... and a feel. Here in the south, a summer rain almost clings to you. It cools things off, awakens the fragrance of parched plants, and envelops you in it's humidity.

That's what God's presence does, says this Psalm. Soothes. Awakens. Envelops and surrounds.
God is near you. Can you see him? Feel him? Smell him?

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs to go outside
instead of sitting at his computer
and experience a little of God's goodness!

+

____________________
May 12

"Under hopeless circumstances
he hopefully believed"
Romans 4:18

I love this Weymouth translation.

And the question is: How do we find hopeful belief in hopeless circumstance?

The answer is: Don't wait til a hopeless time!

God invites us to develop a personal relationship that will transcend every momentary crisis. Therefore, let us each strive to draw nearer to him each day.

In Christ's Love,
a guy named "Hope"
(it's kind of like being Johnny Cash's
"boy named Sue")

____________________
May 11

They that dwell under his shadow shall return;
they shall revive as the corn
and grow as the vine
Hosea 14:7

The context is the Exile. God's people have been conquered and kidnapped. Who can come home? "They that dwell under his shadow."

In what corners of your life are you not where you belong?

If you want to come home and experience richer blessings, "dwell under [God's] shadow." Or in other words, draw near to him.

And what will be the fruit? God wants to pour water on you in the same way that a gentle summer rain revives a parched field of corn. He wants to take you -- the severed branch -- and graft you onto the vine, so that you may grow and bear much fruit.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs to
quit being afraid of the shadows
(especially God's)

____________________
May 10

Your gift will return to you in full measure,
pressed down, shaken together
to make room for more,
and running over.
Luke 6:38

God wants to give to you.

Bountifully.

Lavishly.

Extravagantly.

But there's a problem. We are often too full of ourselves that there's no room for Him, no room for better blessings.

Therefore, we must empty ourselves. And one of the ways we do this is by giving. And the amount that we give and empty ourselves is the amount that God can supply.
And then God gives more!

He fills us up. Then he presses the flour (the blessings) down. Then he shakes it, compacts it even tighter. Why? He's making room for more blessings. He pours, presses, shakes, and then pours some more. He desires to pour and pour and pour until we're running over.

But it starts with this: Emptying ourselves of ourselves. And we do that by giving generously and focusing on others (instead of ourselves).

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs to be shaken

+

____________________
May 9

As many as I love
I rebuke and chasten.
Revelation 3:19

We find several passages like this in scripture.

For example, in Psalm 23 we hear that "[God's] rod and staff, they comfort me." I don't know about you, but I don't find it comforting to be grabbed by the neck with a hook nor bonked on the head with a correcting stick.

In John 15 scripture tells us that Jesus prunes us whether we're good or bad! "2 He [prunes] every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit."

Correcting sticks, pruning shears, rebuking, chastening. How is that love?

I caught two minutes of an interview on the radio yesterday regarding a book entitled, I think it was, "The Other Wes Moore." The author -- the first Wes Moore -- grew up in a tough inner-city environment. He researches how he rose from that environment to be a Rhodes Scholar and State Department assistant to Condoleeza Rice and the other Wes Moore -- who grew up in the same years on the same streets -- to be on death row for killing a cop.

In the end, the final analysis -- at least in the two minutes that I listened -- is that one Wes Moore had parents who loved him enough to use correcting sticks, pruning shears, rebuking, and chastening ... and the other didn't.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who want to be hit with a stick
(no ... I know what you're thinking ...
that's God's staff I'll submit to ... not yours!)

____________________
May 8

But what things were gain to me ...
Philippians 3:7

In your life, what do you consider gain? What do you consider valuable? What do you consider treasure?

Jesus says, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
And Paul finishes this verse like this: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."

What are you willing to give up for Christ?

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants to run a deficit
so he can be truly rich

+

____________________
May 7

As I was among the captives by the river of Chebar,
the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God ...
and the hand of the Lord was there upon me
Ezekial 1:1,3

Do you want God to act in powerful ways in your life? First you may wish to join Ezekial down by the riverside.

Chebar is a river in Babylon. This means that Jerusalem had already been sacked by the Babylonians and much of the Jewish nation -- including Ezekial -- had already been shipped into Exile.

Bad Babylonians, right?

No.

It was God's people who had been "bad." In spite of generations of warnings from God, the Jews had opted for generations of unfaithfulness and sin. In effect, they chose their own bondage.

The very first verse of Ezekial ought to remind us of God's continual promise to set the captives free! And all of us have some thing(s) we need to be set free from. But as this book of prophecy unfolds, Ezekial will remind us that there is always a two initial steps to freedom -- 1) recognizing our own part in our own bondage and 2) turning from those sins.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who'd rather blame the chocolate bar for my bondage
than accept personal responsibility
(repentance = turn away from the chocolate bar and turn toward God)

____________________
May 6

And all of us have had that veil removed
so that we can be mirrors
that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord
2 Corinthians 3:18

On Mount Sinai, Moses saw God, and when he came down the mountain, his face glowed. In fact, for many days afterward, he needed to wear a veil so that the reflection of God's glory -- shining on his face -- wouldn't overwhelm others.

Paul says in today's verse, that it's time to take our veils off. If you've encountered God, let it show and let it glow! Our world, our nation, needs shining faces right now -- not smiling faces, but lives and faces that are transformed by a very real encounter with God.

Indeed, a few verses earlier, Paul invites us to be "3 a letter from Christ" to the world around us, "written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. [C]arved -- not on stone, but on human hearts."

In Christ's Love,
a guy who's more like the shine on a car than a mirror
(i.e. kind of dull ... especially if you've seen my still pollen-coated vehicle)

+

____________________
May 4

"On all bare heights shall be their pasture"
Isaiah 49:9

Have you ever felt like the mountains were bare, the opportunities were scarce, and God's voice was silent. You were hungry for pasture, for feeding, and for rest; instead you were like Charlie Brown. Instead of Halloween candy or heavenly goodness, you got rocks. Good grief!

It seems like about half of God's prophecy is speaking words of hope to people in rocky times. In this case, "the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel" says ... (and see if this isn't a good summary Isaiah 49:7-10, see at bottom) ...

God says, I will keep you close to my heart.

And when the day of salvation arrives, I will help you.

If you feel like a prisoner in this broken world,
I will say to you, Come out of the darkness.

I will take you on a journey.

I will feed you along your pathways.
I will turn the mountains into a road.

On what appear to be bare heights, I will sow a pasture.

The sun shall not strike you.
Instead springs of water shall guide you.

So sing for joy,
for the Lord will have compassion on his suffering children.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants to invite God
on his next vacation
(all that's a pretty good deal!)

Isaiah 49 - 7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, "Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." 8 Thus says the Lord: In a time of favor I have answered you, on a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages; 9 saying to the prisoners, "Come out," to those who are in darkness, "Show yourselves." They shall feed along the ways, on all the bare heights shall be their pasture; 10 they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. 11 And I will turn all my mountains into a road, and my highways shall be raised up. 12 Lo, these shall come from far away, and lo, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene. 13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones.


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May 5

"But prayer"
Acts 12:5

Last night our church council laughed at me. I said, "I have a very short report this month." "Yeah right," they said, "We've heard that before." I said, "Here it is: Prayer works."

Therefore, when I found today's lesson, I delighted that it was also only two words! Now the book of Acts -- like my council report -- elaborated just a little bit. In Acts, it tells us three things about prayer ...

1) The Need: "5 Peter ... was ... in prison ..."

2) The Human Action: "5 but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

3) The Heavenly Reaction: "7 [So], behold , the angel of the Lord came upon [Peter] ... and ... his chains fell off from his hands."

If you have a need, and want a heavenly reaction, you may want to try "prayer ... without ceasing"!

Prayer works, I told our council. For four straight months, we have embarked on the wonderful discipline of holding a prayer vigil on the first Saturday of the month. We had 150 prayer requests this month -- some of them praise reports from last month.
Doors are opening. Rough places are being made smooth. Chains are falling off. Healing is occuring.

Two words: Pray more!

In Christ's Love,
a guy who's practicing
what he's preaching

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May 1

even when we were dead in sins,
[God] hath quickened us together with Christ
Ephesians 2:5

I surely could have found a more modern translation of this verse, but I can't ever pass up that old word "quickened."

In contrast to "dead in [our] sins," quickened officially means alive. But how many of us -- though alive -- are really bored ... distracted ... and slow -- slow of heart and dead in faith.

Quickened, to me, means more than having just a heart-beat. Quickened means living a life that is vital, having a purpose that matters, and developing a heart that thumps with as much significance as Christ's.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs a running coach
(I want to be quicker)

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April 30

[The Lord] shall sit as a refiner
and purifier of silver"
Malachi 3:3

The most important word in this phrase -- to me, today -- is "sit."

I don't know much about refining silver and gold, but I've come to believe that it's a slow process. You heat the metal. It turns to liquid. Eventually the dross rises to the top. You scoop it out. Then you wait. Eventually more appear. Then you scoop ... and wait ... again and again.

Sit means patient.

God cares enough about you to stick with you. Hour after hour. Day after day. Year after year. Until you're pure enough to be valuable. And you are valuable. He loves you.

In Christ's Love,
a guy with silvery hair who's impurities
have probably caused God to have a few silver hairs
(Thank you, God, for being patient as I seek to become pure)
　
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April 29

...know the God of your father,
and serve him with single mind and willing heart;
for the Lord searches every mind,
and understands every plan and thought.
If you seek him, he will be found by you;
but if you forsake him, he will abandon you forever.
1 Chronicles 28:9

Three things:

1. "Seek" God.
2. "Know" God.
3. "Serve" God.

This advice -- King David's to his son, Solomon -- could be the three most important things in life. And he expounds on it in helpful ways ...

1. Seek God ... because "he will be [and wants to be] found by you."

2. Know God ... because if the creator of the universe cares enough to "understand[] every plan and thought [of yours], why wouldn't you want to know every thought and plan of his?!

3. Serve God ... and not half-heartedly. Serve him "willing[ly]," from the "heart," and with a "single[ness]" of purpose.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs to be like King David
and give this advice to his sons

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April 27

Ask and ye shall receive,
that your joy may be full
John 16:24
　
What is Jesus' hope for our life. Twice in the night in which he was betrayed ... twice in his final words and purposes for us ... twice, our gracious Lord Jesus offered a way for our "joy [to] be full." 　
The mention of full joy occurs in the context of the parable of the vineyard -- John 15. Jesus says essentially, I am the vine and you are the branches. And then he invites us to abide in him and bear much fruit (v. 5). And then he invites us to abide in his love by obeying his commandments (v. 10). And then he invites us to abide in him, bear fruit, obey his commandments, and discover the fullness of joy (v 11 as a summary of 1-10).
　
In chapter 16, Jesus adds just one more thing for a fuller, richer joy -- prayer!
　
When we "ask" God for things in prayer, what do is the best thing we "receive"? It's not joy; it's Jesus. When we talk to God in prayer, what we receive most of all is a relationship with our Lord and Savior ... and by the way ... that's what brings joy!
　
In Christ's Love,
a guy who desires jelly beans, a cup of java, and shiny red Jaguar
and a few more important things that start with "j" like Jesus and joy

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April 26

He went up into
a mountain apart to pray
Matthew 14:23
　
When I read today's verse, I immediately thought of a conversation I had recently with a friend. This friend has been working with a mentor on the gift of quietness.
　
The discipline is: Turn off the TV. Don't plug in the ipod. Silence the car radio. And practice solitude.
　
It's amazing, the friend essentially said, how much you can hear when there's no noise.
　
It's amazing, indeed. But it shouldn't be. Jesus practiced solitude. In key moments he found a place "apart" and in his prayers, the only sound was the still small voice of God.
　
In Christ's Love,
a noisy guy who needs to learn to say "shhhh!"

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April 22

And the peace of God,
which transcends all our powers of thought,
will be a garrison to guard
your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus
Philippians 4:7

I like this old Weymouth translation of Philippians 4. And what an irony: To gain the peace, we need it to act like a military garrison to guard us!

Just seconds ago, I wrote the first sentence of this devotion when the phone rang. A member got chewed out, laughed at, and ridiculed at work for refusing to lie. This person needs God's supernatural peace to act as a military garrison around her integrity.

Peace can be your guard. Truth can be your guide. Integrity can be your power. And the Word of God can be your light.

What are you battling with for which you need reinforcements from God?

In Christ's Love,
a guy who wants to be part
of your military garrison

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April 21

[Joshua] commanded the people,
"When you see the ark of the covenant
of the Lord your God
being carried by the levitical priests,
then you shall set out from your place.
Follow it ...
Joshua 3:3

God wants to come and abide with his people. Consequently, in the midst of the Exodus he asked that a "mercy seat" be sculpted on top of the ark of the covenant. The mercy seat was where God would "sit." Indeed, that seat was a potent symbol that God was truly present among his people. Therefore, whenever the people of Israel set out in new directions, they followed (not the ark, but ...) God who was "on" the mercy seat.

Where might you be heading next in your life?

Try following the method of the Jews: Don't move until you see God moving!

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs to look both ways
before crossing any street
(and see if God went that way first)

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April 20

Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites,
thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers—
none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Ouch. Don't you hate judgment? I'll bet all of us can find a place or two where we don't want to fit into this list -- or other lists -- for judgment.

Fortunately, Paul -- nor God -- leaves us "dead, doomed, and sinful." (Those three words are my summary of the first few verses of Ephesians 2. Blessedly, Paul chimes in with a healing word -- "but." Paul celebrates, "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.")

First Corinthians gives us hope with a "but" too! Paul says, "11 There was a time when some of you were just like that, but now your sins have been washed away ..." Paul is not saying that these sins doom us to hell. He's saying faith saves us from two things: 1) damnation and 2) a life that has to be controlled by these and other sins. God's love can save us from bondage to sin.

Now ... IMPORTANT POINT ... when you see someone doing any of these sins, don't think, say, judge or imply that these people will not inherit the kingdom of God.

For one, we can't expect non-Christians to behave like Christians; therefore, use this as an opportunity for evangelism!!! Introduce them to the love and joy of faith in Jesus Christ -- love and joy, not judgment. And then let Jesus do the working on their faith, life, and behavior.

Second, even good, faithful, saved Christians will fall back into the pit of sin. It doesn't mean we're not saved. Therefore, don't ever presume or pronounce judgment on a person! Just love them more. Yes, there is a time when we need to hold a friend accountable -- that's what friends do -- but make sure you develop the friendship enough that they'll hear love first last and alway. And only then speak a word of encouragement and accountability!

If we judge, we're pretending that we're God. Let's simply love others into the hands of the one who "is so rich in mercy ... and ... love[s] us so very much, that even [when] we [are] dead because of our sins, he [will give] us life when he raised Christ from the dead."

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs to wear less black and more red
(black robes are for judges, red makes me look like a big Valentine)

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