A Passion to Tell

“And when He had come out onto the land, He was met by a certain man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. And seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, ‘What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.’ For He had been commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard; and yet he would burst his fetters and be driven by the demon into the desert.

And Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Legion’; for many demons had entered him. And they were entreating Him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons entreated Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. And the demons came out from the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned.

And when the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country. And the people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. And those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to depart from them; for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat, and returned.

But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.’ And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:27-39

This despicable man lived in a graveyard and cut his flesh with rocks. Every time people tried to tie him up, he burst his bonds and ran back to the tombs or to the desert, wherever the demons drove him (Luke 8:29).

No wonder he was overcome with gratitude when Jesus set him free from demonic dominion. The healed man fell down and begged his newfound Savior to let him come along. Nothing else mattered to him; Jesus had restored him, and he understood that now his life belonged to Him, in wholeness and completion. He knew the horror of the existence from which Jesus had saved him, so he was thrilled all the more for a chance to start over.

When you recognize the sin and hopelessness that Jesus has pulled you from by His matchless grace, you have the same deep, abiding appreciation. The apostle John says: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

You love your Savior because He loved you first and gives you a new life that you cannot get for yourself. Do you have a passion to tell others what He has done for you? You cannot be silent when you feel the fullness of His love.

Love God Passionately

“And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’” Matt. 22:35-40

The word "passion" often carries with it sensual or negative connotations. We think of “crimes of passion” or an immoral act committed in the “heat of passion.”

Passion is a powerful emotion, an overwhelming love of desire that supercedes all other interests. It does not have to be negative; in fact, Jesus says in Matthew 22:37, “...love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” That is what it means to love God passionately.

R.C. Sproul describes it this way in his book One Holy Passion: “If we are to progress in godliness we need to fan the flames of a holy passion. We need a single-minded desire to know God. We follow Jesus who went before us.

He was moved by a single passion - to do the will of His Father. His meat and drink were to do His Father’s will...Jesus revealed the Father to us and called us to imitate His own pursuit. His priority is set before us - to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

Do you have passionate feelings for God? Is a love relationship with your Lord and Savior the all-consuming drive of your existence? He wants it to be. Ask Him today to give you a longing to know Him more.

Forgiveness and Worship

“If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, in order that your opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.” Matthew 5:23-25

Our ability to worship God often depends on our relationship with other people. It is difficult to maintain an intimate relationship with Him when we struggle with bitterness, resentment, or anger toward others.

In Matthew 5, Jesus told the people to leave their offerings at the altar and go be reconciled to those who had hurt or offended them (verse 24). He knew that in order for them to enjoy unbroken fellowship with God, they must be in a right relationship with those around them.

Relationships are very important to God. When He created you, He did so with fellowship in mind - first with Himself and then with others. Very often the way we relate to one another is the way we relate to God.

If you are loving and concerned about others, chances are you will be the same toward God. However, if you are resentful, jealous, or suspecting, you will probably have a hard time accepting God’s love and acceptance of you.

Forgiveness is not always easy. Deep, emotional scars can remain for years. Nevertheless, the first step toward true freedom and peace is forgiveness. When you do this, God will take care of what others have done to you in the past. When you extend forgiveness, God’s peace and forgiveness can be fully experienced.

Praying in A Crisis

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” James 5:16-18

Have you ever noticed how squirrels react to oncoming cars? Many times they run to one side of the road, only to return to the middle. They teeter back and forth in indecision and often come out on the losing end of the contest.

How do you respond to times of crisis? Are you cool and sure-footed., or do you race around, frantically searching for a solution?

God promises to meet your needs regardless of the circumstance. But in doing so, He wants you to come to Him in faith during times of crisis. Through prayer He brings encouragement, hope and guidance.

When we pray, God turns His attention toward us. Even though there is never a moment when we are outside His thoughts, prayer brings us into an even closer relationship with Him. He sees our faith and responds in faithfulness.

God knows when you face a crisis, and He goes before you to bring about a solution on your behalf.

The apostle Paul tells us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

The Message In The Storm

“My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. How long will you assail a man, That you may murder him, all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; They delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah. My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:1-8

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “In quietness and trust is your strength” Isaiah 30:15. In Psalm 62, David expands that thought, “My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken” v 1-2. There are times in life when all around you can seem stormy and uninviting.

Just when one tempest subsides another sweeps in to take its place. Before long you begin to wonder how you will ever handle the stress and emotional upheaval. The storm center may rest over your place of employment, your home, or a relationship. It may include feelings of rejection, doubt, fear, or isolation.

You try to find a way out or around the problem. But trying and striving are never God’s way. If you truly want the storm pattern to change, tell God you are willing to do what David did and what the prophet Isaiah suggested – wait in trust and silence for His deliverance.

There are times when God wants you to move forward in faith. There are also times when He wants you to be still before Him so you can better hear His voice. When ominous clouds gather, you can respond in one of two ways - trust or panic.

The pathway to peace and stability is always through trust and faith in Almighty God.

Are You Getting Enough Light?

The unfolding of Thy words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130

For years, poinsettias have been a favorite plant at Christmas. But in order for their brilliant color to be revealed at just the right time, nursery growers make sure the plants spend a certain amount of time in darkness. When the plants grow to maturity, large amounts of light are then introduced into their environment.

The poinsettia is native to Florida, and many who have them in their yards tell how the poinsettia must be planted on a certain side of the house in order for the plant’s leaves to turn a brilliant color. Again, the secret lies in the amount of sunlight the plant receives. The more sun at the right time, the more brilliant the color.

God calls us to be lights, in a world of darkness. However, we can never forget that He is our Source of light. Without the light of His presence we become dull and colorless. Christ said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

The true colors of God’s nature are released within us is by spending time in His Word. If we fail to read and study His principles, our lights will never reflect the brilliance of His love, forgiveness, and grace to others.

We must have contact with the Father of Lights in order for our light to have purpose.

Know the Word

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Thy word.
With all my heart I have sought Thee;
Do not let me wander from Thy commandments.
Thy word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against Thee.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord;
Teach me Thy statutes.
With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Thy mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Thy precepts,
And regard Thy ways.
I shall delight in Thy statutes;
I shall not forget Thy word. Psalm 119:9-16

The Bible is as relevant today as it was when it was first written. The pages of Scripture are timeless principles explaining God’s nature and redemptive plan for mankind.

The Bible also gives us an account of the various ways God deals with His people. It even helps us understand ourselves better. Scripture is a constant source of encouragement, instructing us to have hope in hopeless situations and to seek God and His victory when defeat seems eminent.

If you truly want to know God, know His Word. Everything He has spoken through Scripture is for a purpose - not just so we might have a list of rules and regulations - but so we might know Him better.

When we fail to read and study the Bible, our communication line to God is wakened. Drifting from His Word leads to self-reliance and isolation from God. We begin to live separate from His will by trying to accomplish things in our own strength. Without this guidance, life is empty and disappointing.

It is never too late to build a fruitful relationship with the Lord. The moment you pick up His Word, He takes the initiative to reveal Himself to you.

“Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

He Who Walks In Integrity

O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent?
Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?
He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the Lord;
He swears to his own hurt, and does not change;
He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken. Psalm 15:1-5

I remember a popular advertisement that used to be on TV. It showed a car moving through a violent storm at night. The rain beats down on it and the wind is blowing debris, but this solid, dependable car drives on unaffected. It gets through every hazard because it is well engineered.

As a believer, you are equipped to handle any moral challenge and come out the winner.

You don’t have this ‘maneuverability’ in your own power, though - Jesus is the One who fine tunes your character and gives you the strength to obey. He develops these distinct qualities that enable you to confront the trickiest of situations.

Concern for the truth – You are uncomfortable when someone distorts the facts or tells only half the story. You desire to be an accurate and loving witness of what you know to be true.

Commitment to your word — When you make a promise, you are careful to keep it. If you fall short, then you are quick to admit it.

Consistency under fire – Even when the pressure is on to compromise, you follow God’s direction and rely on Him to take care of the consequences.

As you mature in Christ and look for His lessons, these characteristics become a way of life. You can say with David, “He who does these things will never be shaken.”

The Disaster of Wrong Desires

“They quickly forgot His works;
They did not wait for His counsel,
But craved intensely in the wilderness,
And tempted God in the desert.
So He gave them their request,
But sent a wasting disease among them.” Psalm 106:13-15

Have you ever asked God for something and later on been grateful that He didn’t give it to you? If so, then you learned a valuable lesson the easy way.

You discovered that sometimes God says no or delays answering because He knows what is best for you. You look back at the whole picture with rejoicing instead of regret. If God had given you your own way, you would be miserable today.

The trouble is that when you want something, it can be difficult to see the situation from God’s wise vantage point. The Israelites had this very problem. With grumbling hearts, they whined to the Lord, “ We remember what we used to eat free in Egypt... but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.” Numbers 11:5-6

They refused to accept that God’s gift of food was best for them. As a result. God decided to give them what they cried out for. He sent massive flocks of quail for them to eat until it literally came out their noses, followed by a plague. Numbers 11:20

Learn to thank the Lord when He steers you in another direction and ask Him to adjust your desires to fit His purposes for you. He gives you the gifts that truly satisfy.

The Church Response To Crisis

“And when they had been released, they went to their own companions, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is Thou who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Thy servant, didst say,

'Why did the Gentiles rage,
And the peoples devise futile things?
'The kings of the earth TOOK THEIR STAND,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord, and against His Christ.'

"For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur. "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence, while Thou dost extend Thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Thy holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:23-31

Peter and John had just received a stern, menacing warning from the Sadducees and religious rulers. They could have reacted in natural, human fear and run from the Sadducees’ serious and very real threats. Or they could have strategized and plotted, trying to outwit the authorities and hide their witnessing.

Instead, the apostles returned to their fellow believers, told them what happened, and immediately bowed to the Lord in prayer. What was the result? God gave them grace and turned difficulty into an opportunity to focus His people on the right goals.

They asked God to give them boldness in their faith. Instead of asking the Lord to protect them and keep them safe from harm, the church was moved by these trying circumstances to ask for strength to face the challenge head on. God answered their prayers and stirred the whole congregation into excitement about sharing the Gospel.

The pattern of “trouble-shooting’ in this first church crisis applies today. He wants to turn every trial into an opportunity for growth, individually and corporately.

Seek God’s will in prayer with fellow Christians. He will develop unity of purpose in your congregation and reveal His gracious plans for you.

Controlling My Emotions

Answer me, O Lord, for Thy lovingkindness is good;
According to the greatness of Thy compassion, turn to me,
And do not hide Thy face from Thy servant,
For I am in distress; answer me quickly.
Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it;
Ransom me because of my enemies!
Thou dost know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor;
All my adversaries are before Thee. Psalm 69:16-19

As you read through the sixty ninth Psalm, it reads like many people’s life –
One day you are feeling wonderful, confident in the Lord and His plans for you. Even small irritations pass you by without much stress.

The next day, however, something happens that clouds your confident view of the future. “Does God really care what’s going on?” you question. Your sense of worth and joy ebb away, and you struggle to get through the day without losing your cool entirely.

Emotions are an essential part of life, but is there a way to keep them balanced and in check? Does your day have to be a roller coaster ride of ups and downs? Absolutely not. As David took his problems before the Lord, his feelings made a turn towards the positive.

He began by saying he was “sunk in deep mire,” but by the end, he asserted in faith, that God is in control and will bless His people. “Answer me, O Lord, for Thy lovingkindness is good; according to the greatness of thy compassion, turn to me.” V 16. In the middle of personal pain, David recognized God’s power.

The Lord offers abundant and consistent comfort – you don’t have to be tossed by every wave of emotion and sink under negative feelings.
Embrace His tender comfort today - He will sustain you through all things.

The Blind Man’s Confidence

“And as they were going out from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And the multitude sternly told them to be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” And moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him. Matthew 20:29-34

A poet and an artist once examined a painting representing the healing of the two blind men of Jericho.

The artist asked, “What seems to you the most remarkable thing in this painting.”

The poet said, “Everything is very clear – the groupings of the individuals, the expression upon the faces, etc.”

The artist found the most significant touch elsewhere. He pointed to the steps of a house in the corner of the picture. “Do you see that discarded cane lying there?”

“Yes,” said the poet, “but what does that signify?”

“The blind man who has rushed to Jesus is so sure he will be healed,” said the artist, “that he has left his cane behind. He will need it no more and rushed to the Lord as though he could already see.”

Too often we hold on to canes and crutches of our own making instead of looking only to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith!

The Way to Heaven

“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. “For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” Matthew 7:13,14

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.” Matthew 7:24

Anglican Bishop Samuel Wilberforce, son of the great reformer William Wilberforce, was noted for his witty responses. Once, he was accosted at a railway station by a man who said he thought he could put to him a question he would be puzzled to answer.

Bishop Wilberforce asked what it was.
“Which is the nearest way to heaven?” said the man.

“Oh, that’s quite easy,” said the bishop, “any child knows that. I learned it when I was a boy at Sunday school. You just take the first turning to the RIGHT, and keep straight on.”

Prayer Plus

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” James 1:22

It is recorded of D.L. Moody that, upon one of his journeys across the Atlantic, there was a fire in the hold of the ship. The crew and many volunteers stood in line to pass buckets of water. A friend said to Moody, “Mr. Moody, let us go to the other end of the ship and engage in prayer.” The common-sense evangelist replied, “Not so, sir; we stand right here and pass buckets and pray hard all the time!”

Moody understood that supplication and action are two hands of the same person; they should not be separated. God answers prayer, but He also expects us not to shirk our responsibility to do what is right. We do not always have to be in quiet solitude to cry out to God.

Seeking Something Solid

“But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Tim. 6:11-12

On April 23, 1921, Andre Corey, a self-proclaimed “human fly,” was attempting to climb the outside wall of the New Howard Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. He had staged the stunt as a fundraiser for an orphanage.

Corey climbed easily up to the sixth floor, but, as thousands of spectators watched, he reached for was looked like a gray piece of stone near a cornice. He gambled all his weight and safety on it as he stretched upward, but suddenly he plummeted to his death on the concrete below. When they opened his hand, they found, ironically a spider’s web. He had gambled his life on a something hollow and unstable masquerading as something solid.

Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.” Matt. 6:19-20

Life is serious business. Do not gamble your soul on earthly things that are hollow, unstable, and transitory. Secure your soul by pursuing spiritual treasure found in God’s Word. Sin weaves a web of deceit that makes us think we have something solid to grab onto as we navigate the climb of life, but its web will not support you. You need something more substantial; the firm foundation of Jesus’ teaching. “...take hold of the eternal life...”

The Blast-Furnace

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6-9

Did you ever see a blast-furnace? How long would it take a man, do you think, with hammer and chisel, or by chemical means, to get the bits of gold out from the stony matrix of ore? But fling them into the great cylinder, pile the fire, and let the strong draft roar through the burning mass, and by evening you can run of a glowing stream of pure and fluid metal. All the dross and rubbish is parted from it; it has been charmed out of all its sullen hardness, and will take the shape of any mold into which you like to run it.

The fire has conquered, melted, and purified. So love shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit given unto us will purify us from all sins.

A Spiritual Checkup

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:6-7

When you go to a doctor for you annual checkup, he or she will often begin to poke, prod, and press various places, all the while asking, “Does it hurt? How about this?” If you cry out in pain, one of two things has happened - Either the doctor has pushed too hard, without the right sensitivity, or, more likely, there’s something wrong, and the doctor will say, “We’d better do some more tests; it’s not supposed to hurt there!”

So it is when ministers preach on financial responsibility, and certain members cry out in discomfort, criticizing the message and the messenger - Either the pastor has pushed too hard, or perhaps there’s something wrong. In that case, my friend, we’re in need of the Great Physician because it’s not supposed to hurt there.

We’re never more like God than when we give. You want joy? Then give with a cheerful heart and see if it doesn’t change your attitude.

Calvary’s Cavalry

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.” 1 John 5:4

On March 6, 1836, residents of San Antonio, Texas, thought their world had come to an end. Declaring their independence from Mexico, they fought valiantly at a Catholic mission called the Alamo. Unhappily, Mexican General Santa Ana and his troops killed all 189 of the defenders, including the legendary Davy Crockett.

Six weeks later, though, with the battle cry of “Remember the Alamo,” General Sam Houston and a small calvary ensemble launched a surprise attack on Santa Ana. He was captured, forced to give up his army and acknowledge the independence of Texas.

This moment in American history is not unlike another more significant set of events in the chronology of our world. After His work of creation, God had placed His people in a luxurious garden called Eden. There, Satan declared victory after successfully encouraging man to rebel against his Creator.

The ultimate vindication, however, when the Son of God came to earth in human form, gave up His life on Calvary’s cross for the sins of mankind, and was raised from the dead. The Bible even taunts Satan, saying, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Cor. 15:54-55

As overcoming believers, we daily shout “Remember Calvary” and declare Christ’s victory over sin, death, and Satan.

How to Destroy Your Enemies

“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.” Hebrews 12:14-15

Abraham Lincoln, after becoming president of the United States, was taken to task for his kindness toward his enemies. “Why do you try to make friends of them?” asked an associate. “You are in a position now to destroy them.” Lincoln gently replied, “Am I not destroying my enemies when I make them my friends?”

Many a person lives for the day when he will be in a position to get even with those who have wronged him. But vengeance doesn’t belong to man- it belongs exclusively to God. He announced: “Vengeance is Mine” Rom 12:19. The sword of vengeance is too heavy for man, and he usually falls on it and destroys himself.

Batsell Barrett Baxter told of riding in a plane beside a blind businessman. He was so impressed with the man’s friendliness that he couldn’t refrain from asking how he lost his sight. “A competitor of mine threw acid on my face,” was the reply.

“Do you feel a terrible resentment?” questioned Baxter. "Oh I did for years, but it dawned on me that I was doing myself the real injury,” said the man. “I forgave him and have actually done him some favors in recent years.” He went on to tell how his attitude toward an enemy had changed his entire life.

He did exactly what the Lord advises: “...if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink...Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Rom. 12:20-21

Let me ask you - Who is it that is ruining your life?
Why not forgive, let go, and let the Lord take care of it and you!

Wasting Life

“For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26

There was something different about Morris Siegel, a street person in Los Angeles, California. On the surface, he seemed like your average L.A. street person - roaming about in dark alleys, sleeping outside, carrying everything he owned in an old shopping cart - and he died the way one assumes a street person to die: found in an alley, dead of natural causes.

What was different? Maybe it was his three bank accounts containing a total of $207,421.00.

In 1979, Morris’ father died and left him the money. When he did not claim it, the Division of Unclaimed Property tracked him down, and his family forced him to accept it. He did not show up for the ceremony when the cash was handed over. He took enough of the money to by an old car, where he slept in bad weather. Relatives rented him an apartment; he never went there. He died Dec. 14, 1989, with three dollars in his pocket and an untouched fortune in the bank.

Sound crazy? Figure this one out:
Over two thousand years ago, our heavenly Father ratified His will and left all His children eternal wealth - life, peace, and victory.

To this day, many have not claimed the windfall and some have refused to spend any of it. Lost people shuffle down blind alleys of an empty existence, facing hell for eternity, and ignore the salvation promised in Christ.

Many Christians are content to live isolated, unproductive lives on this earth when they have the riches of heaven at their disposal (2 Cor. 8-9). Trading eternal life for a perishing earth sounds as crazy as Morris.

Scripture says, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart...” Heb 3:7-8

Good Journalism

“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!’” Romans 10:15

The news report read: “The Committee to Protect Journalists presented its 1999 International Press Freedom Awards to four journalists - from Columbia, Kosovo, and Pakistan - at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.”

The report told of the heroic exploits of four journalists who kept on reporting the news in spite of beatings, imprisonments, and death threats. A fifth reporter would have been recognized except he was in a Cuban jail for proclaiming the truth.

Two thousand years ago, and again and again since, men and women have put themselves on the line to bring the Good News of a great joy to mankind. They too have been beaten, imprisoned, and threatened - in fact for many it has cost them their lives.

I think of Paul in his report to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 6:4-5). I recall the accounts preserved for believers in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11. My mind reflects on the lives of the apostles; men who were reportedly skinned alive, torn asunder, crucified upside down, and decapitated - all after torture and great hardship. Fox’s Book of Martyrs calls to my mind all those who’ve served and suffered and been slain.

But most of all I think on the Son of God who, for the love of God, came bearing Good News - only to be beaten and crucified for telling the truth.

So many have given so much so that we might know the truth and meet Christ, the Savior. Do not fail to pass on the torch!

Start Your Engines

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

When we were kids, cars with dead batteries were common - we didn’t have jumper cables, so we pushed them to get them started. Most people drove 'Roles Canardly' cars - if it doesn’t roll down the hill fast enough, it can’t hardly make it up the next.

Engines are started with batteries. Batteries are stored up potential energy. Once the engine is running - it is kinetic energy. Our knowledge of the Bible, like a battery, is our potential ability to do works that are mentioned throughout the New Testament and by which we will be judged. Our problem is that we are remaining potential.

Any battery charger that does not have an overcharge protector may burn up a battery. Any church that does not have an organized and perpetual ministry of evangelism and outreach runs a risk of burning out her members. An active, pastor-led ministry of evangelism fulfills the Great Commission, edifies the Church, and brings glory to God - it changes our potential energy into kinetic energy.

It’s not what you know - but what you do - that counts.

Pray for us. We have started our 23rd semester of F.A.I.T.H. Evangelism. Pray for our people, our visits, and a harvest of souls this semester.

Drink From My Saucer

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:1-6

I’ve never made a fortune,
And it’s probably too late now
But I don’t worry about that much,
I’m happy anyhow.
And as I go along life’s journey
I’m reaping better than I sowed
And I’m drinking from my saucer
Cause my cup has over flowed.

Ain’t got a lot of riches and
Sometimes the going is tough,
But I’ve got my family and friends that love me,
So I’m rich enough.
I just thank God for His blessing
And the mercies He’s bestowed.
I’m drinking from my saucer
Cause my cup has over flowed.

I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith got a little bit thin,
But all at once the dark clouds broke and
That old sun peeped through again.
So Lord help me not to gripe
About the tough rows I’ve hoed.
I’m drinking from my saucer
Cause my cup has over flowed.

And if God gives me the strength and courage
When the way grows steep and rough,
I’ll not ask for other blessings,
I’m already blessed enough,
And may I never be too busy
To help another to bear his load.
Then I’ll keep drinking from my saucer
Cause my cup has overflowed.
-Unknown

American’s Demise .....continued

“Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor. 6:18-20

“Expansive energy” was the term Unwin used to describe a culture that was growing and healthy. Concerning this reality he observed, “Expansive energy has never been displayed by a society that inherited a modified monogamy or a form of polygamy.” What Unwin discovered is that once a society ceased to value marriage and sexual restraint, it began to decline.

He added, “In human records, there is no instance of a society retaining its energy after a complete new generation has inherited a tradition which does not insist on pre-nuptial and post-nuptial continence.”

In other words, once a generation abandons a sexual ethic that values sexual restraint and monogamy, the following generation begins to wane culturally. It is then only a matter of time before society shrivels and dies.

Concerning his study, Unwin made a chilling observation. He wrote, “The evidence is that in the past a class has risen to a position of political dominance because of its great energy and that at the period of its rising, its sexual regulations have always been strict. It has retained its energy
and dominated the society so long as its sexual regulations have demanded both pre-nuptial and post-nuptial continence... I know of no exceptions to these rules.”

No exceptions to these rules. Once a society utterly rejects a sexual ethic that vales restraint and monogamy, its days are numbered.

America is in the midst of casting off all sexual restraint.

Sexual license is celebrated daily in the popular media. While marriage is still practiced, no one can say that it is approached as seriously, en masse, as it once was or as it should be. With the introduction of “gay marriage” the deconstruction of marriage will be complete. And, while not yet widely accepted, some “elite” academicians are introducing ideas that polygamy and polyamory, and even pedophilia and bestiality are healthy pursuits.

Will this be the generation that throws off all sexual restraint? Will the next inherit a sexual ethic of ambiguity? How long can America last if she rejects a moral compass that points toward sexual purity before and after marriage? Not long, according to Unwin.

Sexual Anarchy-America’s Demise?

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God.” I Thess 4:3-5

Baptist Press writer, Kelly Boggs put out the following information -

When it comes to all things pertaining to sexually and sexual expression, liberals advocate for nothing less than sexual anarchy. A litany of the left’s positions affirms that the previous statement is an ironclad truth.

The left views traditional marriage as nothing more than an anachronism, sex outside of marriage as sacrosanct and any and all sexual expression worthy of acceptance. If the left does accept any boundaries in respect to sexuality, the lines are hopelessly blurred by post-modern subjectivity.

Those who embrace a hedonistic ethic of unfettered and unrestrained sexual freedom insist that sexuality belongs to the realm of the private and the personal. Consensual behavior, in which no one is harmed, is simply none of society’s business, they say.

Are liberals correct? Is sexuality simply a private matter with no consequences for society? On this subject, as with most others, the left could not be more wrong. One thing the left rarely considers when delineating their dogma is unintended consequences.

“The law of unintended consequences pushes us ceaselessly through the years, permitting no pause for perspective,” observed Richard Schickel, film critic for Time Magazine.

Schickel is correct about the ever-present reality of unintended consequences, which the left continues to miss. However, he is wrong about the inability to gain perspective – especially when it comes to the impact collective sexuality has on a society.

One of the best ways to gain perspective concerning unintended consequences is through the lens of history. And history has much to say about the impact of collective sexuality on a society.

British anthropologist J.D. Unwin studied the sexual behaviors of 86 cultures through 5,000 years of history. His findings were published in 1940 under the title “The Sexual and Economic Foundations of a New Society .” Unwin’s observations were....and are...sobering.

Unwin’s observations ran counter to one of the most influential thinkers of his day, Sigmund Freud. Freud maintained that sexual repression was the root cause of a society’s ills. Unwin found the opposite to be true. Unwin’s findings showed that cultures that observed a strict sexual ethic - especially valuing pre-nuptial chastity and post- nuptial monogamy - thrived and flourished. However, those societies that rejected sexual restraint withered and died.
– Continued tomorrow.

Families Opt for Internet - Over Food, Family Time?

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.” Deut. 6:4-8

From the Baptist Press –
Quick question: During the current economic recession is your family more reluctant to cut back of the grocery bill or the Internet bill?

In a survey of 500 British families, the internet got priority over food, and it wasn’t even close. The survey by the British internet provider O2 showed that given several options, 67% of families were more reluctant to cut back on their internet bill than they were on school uniforms (59%), family vacations (30%), and the weekly grocery bill (24%).

The survey, O2 said in a release, provides insight into “what is regarded as essential and what is regarded as discretionary” spending by modern British families. But American families might agree too, according to a recent survey by the Center for the Digital Future at the U.S.C. Annenberg School for Communications. That June poll shows that as household internet usage has increased, family time has decreased.

According to the U.S.C. Annenberg survey of 2,000 US households, the percentage of people who say they spend less time with household members since being connected to the internet grew from 11% in 2006 to 28% in 2008. The total hours per month devoted to family time had changed too, from an average of 26 hours per month during the middle of the decade to 17.9 hours per month in 2008.

Over the same period, reports of family members feeling ignored by members using the internet grew 40%. Women (49.2%) were more likely than men (39.1%) to report being ignored.

Twenty-eight percent of respondents said they had concerns about the amount of time children and teens within the household spend online, compared to 11% who answered similarly in 2000.

The British survey found that 15% of parents reported that “at lest one of us, is always working at home outside normal working hours.”

Michael Gilbert, a senior fellow at the Center for the Digital Future, noted that families have survived past new technologies, including the telephone and television, but that the internet “delivers an engrossing interactive universe into our homes and demands much greater individual commitment.”

“The family is our social foundation, society’s basic building block,” he said. “We need to guard its health in what otherwise seems to be a boundless digital future.”