Blog

Agree to Agree

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:24:56 GMT

You’ve heard the expression, ‘Let’s agree to disagree’. I say that it’s better to ‘agree to agree’. Agreeing to disagree simply expresses tolerance and accommodation of your differences. On the other hand, agreeing to agree stresses the importance of working towards the same goal in spite of those differences. Disagreement is assured granted we all have unique traits, personalities and ideas. So, why not focus on the commonality—on achieving the same outcome?

You may find it hard to believe that even the most well-known Christian missionary, the apostle Paul, had his share of disagreements. When a fellow-missionary, Barnabas, suggested that incompetent freshman John (also known as Mark) come along on a trip, he just about lost it! Needless to say, Paul went his own way and Barnabas went on his own taking his friend along. Yes, they had a disagreement but even more so, they both agreed to continue preaching the message of Christ. They went on separate trips but were in complete agreement on working towards the same goal.

Try applying this lesson in every aspect of life—at work, among friends, on a school project, or a relationship. Seeing your disagreements and differences in a new perspective might even bring you more success and satisfaction. But, most of all, if you are a Christian believer, continue to work towards the goal of sharing Christ to the rest of the world in spite of the differences you might have with fellow-believers. Agree to agree on achieving this lofty goal.

Giving Up is Not an Option

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 16:32:27 GMT

After 408 failed attempts in the lab, the cleaning product Formula 409 was finally put on the market. It is a powerful illustration on perseverance. Think about Abraham Lincoln who achieved success three times but failed at least 12 times in his career. He simply never gave up. And as a follower of Christ, giving up is not an option. You keep on trusting in God for your redemption and direction in life.

It is one thing to keep on keeping on by getting better at what you do until you achieve your goal. But it is another thing to persevere when those who do not agree with you or your convictions go out of their way to make your life miserable. Such was the experience of the apostle Paul on his first missionary journey. Acts chapter 14 records a few instances where he is mistreated and even stoned to the point where he is left for dead. And every single time he is attacked, he gets right back up and moves on to the next town to preach the gospel. Giving up is not an option.

Revelation 14:12 reads, “Here is the perseverance of the saints…” The true followers of Christ will persevere to the very end—following his teachings and trusting fully in his sacrifice. When you feel like giving up on God, don’t. Follow Paul’s example and get right back up. Persevere. God is always there to give you strength and secure your success.

Then What?

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 05:30:24 GMT

You may find it easy to blend in and remain obscure where you live—no one has to know where you’re from, whether you voted Democrat or Republican, or that you are a Christian. But in countries such as India, your religion, for instance, is a matter of life or death. Authorities have rounded up Christians and placed them in makeshift camps making them easy targets. Hindu hardliners want them dead. Mobs go through villages hunting down Christians and burning their churches and homes while law enforcement looks the other way. Some Christians have reportedly denounced their faith at gunpoint and have reverted back to Hinduism. They now fly a Saffron flag indicating that they are no longer Christian.

My question is, What would you do if your Christianity threatened your own safety? Would you run and hide? Or, would you take a stand and face the consequences? Jesus makes it very clear that as his follower, you will be ridiculed, hated, and even killed. It may not be happening in your neighborhood at the moment but if God’s word is true, it is bound to happen—perhaps sooner than you think. And when it does, then what? If the growing hatred towards Christianity in America is any indication at all, the scenario in India can easily be replicated in here—in a country that is no longer considered a Christian nation.

I encourage you to reaffirm your commitment to God and his plan for you and his church. Take comfort knowing that if he has called you, he will give you what it takes to stand up for him. And when that time comes, you will have the courage to face the consequences, and the peace knowing that you have done the right thing.

No Egypt, No Christianity

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:04:33 GMT

All the recent news about the unrest in Egypt caught my attention this week and led me to think: What’s the big deal about Egypt? I’ve come to the conclusion that without Egypt’s role in history, there would be no Christianity. Let me unpack this idea for you.

There are at least four instances in Bible history where Egypt made the 11 o’clock news. Right after Abraham receives the promise to become a great nation, he encounters a severe famine and seeks relief in Egypt. Remember the story? This is where he makes Pharoah’s officials believe that his wife, Sarah, is his sister. They get kicked out but at least survive the calamity. The next time we hear about Egypt in a significant way is when his great grandson, Joseph, is sold as a slave. Providentially and after a lot of drama, he makes it into the Egyptian government and is put in charge of food distribution during another severe famine saving the lives of many foreigners including his own family. You got to know the next one—the Exodus. You recall stories about Moses, the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the Ten Commandments. God's people are rescued from bondage. The fourth and final instance is, perhaps, the most significant. Right after the birth of Christ, an angel instructs Joseph and Mary to flee to Egypt for safety. Herod’s throne is apparently threatened upon hearing of the Messiah’s birth so he orders that all baby boys in Bethlehem be killed. Jesus is safe and his mission can go on.

You see where I’m going with this? Beginning with Abraham, the Messiah’s entire mission is kept intact so that God’s plan to save you and I would come to fruition! No Egypt, no Christianity. Each time Egypt, or any other ancient Biblical landmark for that matter comes on the news, may it remind you that God is still at work today in his plan to save you. Make the connection. His mighty hand of protection that kept his people and the Messiah safe through extreme conditions will also preserve you until the very end.

No Placebo, Get it Now

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 23:58:30 GMT

The $150 billion anti-depressant drug industry which claims a cure for 80 percent of those suffering depression is now under scrutiny—at least by therapist Mark Tyrell—theorizing that it is nothing more than a ‘sugar pill’. He asserts that these medications thrive on the power of belief and money: You believe the research, spend lots of money on the drug, and you are healed!

Well, not so fast. The dirty secrets regarding the side effects, including the doubling of the suicide rate among those below 24, should make you think twice. Depression is in the mind. And so is peace and happiness. I do recognize that there are cases where a chemical imbalance is the culprit (after proper tests have been conducted, of course) but how many times is your depression due to worry and guilt? Forget pharmaceutical help. Your feelings of hopelessness and shame are like shackles and chains—way out of the league of your local drug store. The only real and lasting cure is no placebo and you can get it now!

The story of Peter’s miraculous escape in spite of very tight security illustrates my point very well. Arms and legs shackled, flanked by two of 16 soldiers especially assigned to him, Acts chapter 12 recounts his perfect rescue by a single angel under cover of darkness. Amazing as it is, what grabs my attention is the way his friends handle the news of his escape. They were apparently holding an all-night prayer vigil and could not get it in their heads that God had just answered their prayer! Even the little girl, Rhoda, who answered the door got so excited at the sound of Peter’s voice that she even forgot to let him in!

The cure for your guilt was paid long time ago. “My sins are gone—I’ve been set free” writes Chris Tomlin in his remake of Amazing Grace. Are you still living in fear and doubt? The last time I checked, God is still “faithful and just to forgive”. Freedom is yours and you can get it now!

Prepare for the Future

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:38:10 GMT

Do you lay awake at night thinking about the economy? I was looking over some old photos the other day and found one I took just 18 months ago of a sign advertising unleaded gas at $2.19 a gallon—a whole dollar less than today’s $3.19 at ARCO! Other commodities are quickly catching up and now cost more. Some say that things are to get even worse while others remain a bit more optimistic. Whatever side of the debate you are on doesn’t matter at this point.

If and when things get much worse, where are you going to turn to for assistance? The government? I wouldn’t suggest it. Peter Schiff, president of Euro Pacific Capital writes: “Our government doesn’t have enough spare cash to bail out a lemonade stand…Our standard of living must decline to reflect years of reckless …Only by swallowing this tough medicine now will our sick economy ever recover.” The Federal Reserve has resorted to printing money which I understand has very serious consequences. Government is not the solution

There is another way to prepare for tough times ahead that even you may have overlooked. My suggestion is that you get yourself well established in a local church (if you haven’t done so yet). I got this idea from a scenario recorded in Acts 11 on how the Christians survived a worldwide famine. Verse 29 reads, “The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea.” Don’t just ‘attend’ church but belong to and actively share life together in a Bible-based community of believers. If you are part of a larger congregation, join a weekly small group. Start building relationships with people who know the love of Christ. This may very well be the most valuable investment you can ever make in preparing for the future.

Comprehensive, Simultaneous...It's All Good

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:56:45 GMT

Have you ever encountered a series of bizarre and seemingly unrelated events? Perhaps you lose your job, your kid’s hamster dies, and it’s now snowing in Houston—or some other crazy combination of events. Before you dismiss them as simple happenstance and weird, you might want to reconsider.

There is a valuable lesson to be learned here—just bear with me. Peter falls into a trance on his way to the fridge (I made that one up) and something like a large sheet carrying the strangest collection of reptiles, birds and animals is served for lunch. It doesn’t happen just once, but three times before it is yanked back up into the sky. The day before, some 61.4 kms away (I looked it up in Google maps), Cornelius, an officer in the Roman army and a complete stranger, orders his men to bring Peter in. He doesn’t know why, but is simply following orders he receives from an angel in a vision. As Peter tries to make sense of the ‘lunch special’, he gets a text (well, actually spoken by the Spirit) that these men will be coming up to his door—and they actually do right on cue. Long story short, Peter and Cornelius finally meet, compare notes, and make sense of all the events. You can read all about it in Acts 10.

I want you to think of just two words: “comprehensive” and “simultaneous.” When God moves, he is comprehensive (covers all the bases) and simultaneous (coordinates multiple events all at once). He has everything under control and constantly multitasks for your benefit. You can trust your whole life to him. It’s all good.

Looking Ahead Into the New Year

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:11:27 GMT

What do you expect God to do in your life in 2011? First, let me give you the short answer: More. If you know me by now, I am not one to launch into a ‘wealth and prosperity’ campaign for the New Year. But whatever it is you haven gotten used to receiving from God in the past, expect more. It goes far beyond your net worth and bucket list.

Now, let me give you the long answer. What do I mean by ‘more’? Here is how God does things: Expect him to do something new in your life that you never thought was even possible. The illustration recorded in Isaiah 43 is like building a road in the desert or placing a running stream in the wilderness. A modern-day illustration might be China’s Taklamakan Desert Highway—an engineering marvel along an ancient silk route through arid desert to support a 3,000 mile-oil pipeline. They had to figure out a way to melt the sand below to keep the highway from drifting along with the constantly shifting sand and also establish an entire team of married couples along the route to water a 10-meter wide strip of vegetation on each side keeping it green all year through extreme conditions. Imagine a functioning, dependable way to get through never thought possible before. The same marvel awaits you in 2011—pathways and streams through seemingly hopeless situations.

As you look ahead into the New Year, expect God to amaze you. He promises to create something new in your life that you never thought was possible. There is a way to get through whatever impossible situation you might be in. Begin by dwelling on the thought that your slate has been wiped clean by what he accomplished on the cross for you. If he has accomplished the task of forgiving every sin you have committed or have yet to commit, how much more will he carry on with the rest of his plan for your life until you are reunited with him for eternity?

Looking Back

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:11:56 GMT

You may have been told not to look back and just to focus on what lies ahead. That is sound advice although may not be entirely true. Granted you have failures and unpleasant experiences in yout past like the rest of us that might discourage you, looking back at how God has blessed you and literally yanked you out of real danger can be of great value as you forge ahead in life.

Let me illustrate. I decided to wash my car and give it a nice coat of wax one day. It was an older car that had some stains on the paint and quite a bit of oxidation. Without consulting the direction on the box, I decided to use a product called “TSP”. I had used it before on my walls in the house in order to prep it for painting and so I thought I’d do the same on my car. Little did I know that this industrial strength cleaner would actually ruin the paint on my car and leave ugly streaks! What a mess! I certainly learned my lesson. Looking back, I would never do that again.

It is human nature to try to fix things yourself. However, when it comes to your sinful past, there is absolutely nothing that will cleanse you of your ‘rap sheet’ that is worthy of death. Think of all the attempts you’ve made in the past to try to ‘be good’ hoping that things would get better. If you look back far enough, only the cleansing blood of Christ on the cross can make things new—even as white as snow!

As you face a brand new year, take bold steps forward as you look back at what God did for you in the past. Make it your primary goal to focus on the future by looking back.

Just When You Thought...

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:24:05 GMT

Waiting is no fun. Especially in this modern age of instant gratification, you want it now whether it be the results of a lab test or a job interview. Not knowing can be torture.

Last weekend was no exception. The plans had been made to hold the Christmas service at our place and we were set on rearranging the patio for the event until Mother Nature showed up forecasting up to a 90% chance of rain. Now, I was not even sure if anyone would show up, especially to wrap shoeboxes for Mexico. But just when I thought that we were doomed, just about everyone that said would be there started arriving! The planned events for the entire day went without a hitch. Not only that, it was the consensus that this celebration of Christmas was the most meaningful one for the group—ever!

I can only imagine what it must have been like among Jewish scholars during the 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testament. Perhaps some gave up hope on the promised Messiah. But four centuries later, the silence was broken. Just when they thought that he would no longer come, Jesus was born fulfilling every Messianic prophecy recorded in Scripture. Hope was alive!

Hope is still alive! I would like to encourage you to never, ever give up on God and everything that he has promised in his Word. May Christmas be a constant reminder that he will always come through in your life even when you think that all hope is lost.

Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a very prosperous NEW YEAR!

A Very Big Deal

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:09:48 GMT

It’s amazing how people these days go on and on about trying to belittle the birth of Christ and completely ignore the substantial record of prophecies and events that lead up to it. From my own perspective, these historical details themselves make such attempts look silly and pointless. By comparison, it’s like diminishing the value of the Declaration of Independence amidst the abundance of other documents that say otherwise and support its very existence.

Take, for instance, the promise given to Abraham—a historical figure in both Christianity and Islam—around 2000 BC, that Christ would come through his lineage. His ‘Seed’ had to be preserved through many generations and centuries in order to fulfill prophecy. Or how about the prophet Isaiah’s prophecy around 700 years prior that Christ would be born of a virgin—completly unheard of let alone impossible without divine intervention. Try divorcing ‘virgin’ from ‘Mary’ in any of the literature—can’t do it. There are over 300 other prophecies including the minute detail of where the baby was to be born, in the little, insignificant town of Bethlehem as prophesied by Micah. This particular prophecy, by the way, is what led the wise men from the East to search for the newborn. Picture this: a group of non-Jewish scholars, possibly from as far as China, studied Scripture, then organized an entire expedition party for the trek across unknown and maybe hostile territory, over a period of several months, to acknowledge the birth of a king with their presence and lavish gifts! Don’t tell me this was not a big deal!

It is so easy to lose sight of how amazing and important the birth of Christ is—"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21 NASB) Don’t allow the festivities to distract you from this. Take every opportunity to tell the whole world that Christmas is a Very Big Deal!

It Really Doesn't Matter

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:06:09 GMT

What doesn’t matter? This might come to you as a shock but I honestly don’t think that the inaccuracies regarding Jesus’ exact time of birth or the manner in which it is celebrated really matter. Really. Blame it on poor record keeping or how traditions are passed on from generation to generation.

Here’s what I’d like you to think about instead. The mere fact that Christ’s coming to planet earth like it had been prophesied is embedded in history in various narratives and cultures is satisfying enough for me. Sure—split hairs on the specifics or on whether the elements of Christmas are pagan or Christian—it’s all good! I would even dare say that all the whining about replacing “Christmas” with “Holidays” is fine by me. As much as I hate the hypocrisy that permeates this childish discussion on signage, all the attention Christ gets underscores the significance of the event of his birth. Negative publicity can be a good thing, you know. The fact that opponents of Christianity even bother says to me that there is enough substance in the first advent that warrants their time, money and energy. If Christ and the meaning of his being born of a virgin to become our sacrificial lamb were not a big deal, why would anyone even bother to address it, let alone counter it with the silliest measures? Seriously.

Christmas time once a year is a built-in, annual reminder to the whole world that Christ once came to earth and that he is coming again. Celebrate the season with that in mind. Time spent with friends and family, the exchanging of presents, and all the wonderful thoughts and feelings Christmas brings are all good. Make it even better by celebrating what does matter the most—Christ your Lord and Savior.

Just a Coincidence?

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:09:58 GMT

Have you ever been in a quandary and then something completely unexpected comes along and solves your dilemma? Did you think that it was just a coincidence? If life was just one random, chaotic existence—perhaps. But in the world of a believer where God reigns supreme—never!

Just recently, I was getting a bit concerned about some travel plans. It was just the weekend of Thanksgiving, one of the busiest times to travel, and there were no flights available. But then I find out that my brother-in-law and his family was going to be in town and were thinking of driving back to the same city of my destination. One phone call is all it took to confirm the facts. They even welcomed the idea of an extra driver to make the 22-hour road trip.

You and I serve a God who is involved in our day-to-day crazy lives. It makes perfect sense: If he takes care of the birds of the air and the grass of the fields, he is also there to take care of your every need. Read about it in Matthew. If he knows the exact number of hairs you got on your head, he certainly knows every single worry you might have. If you don’t think God is currently involved in your everyday life, you might want to look a little closer. Many times you may not recognize it at the moment but in retrospect. The next time you think that something was just a coincidence, think again.

Thanksgiving: A Lesson in Math

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:58:32 GMT

I was teaching my kid how to find the least common denominator the other day. You might have a different way of doing this but here’s what makes sense to me: You take the denominators—say 2 and 5 (if you were working with the fractions 1/2 and 1/5, for example)—then list their multiples until you come up with the lowest one they have in common. The multiples for 2 are: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, etc. For 5 they are: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, etc. The least common denominator is 10.

There is a lesson you can learn from this. As a believer, take the time to reflect all the blessings you have in every area of your life. In other words, think about all the things you are grateful for. And as you do that, think of all the reasons every single one of those blessings was made possible or came about—your health, family, job, friends, etc. Hopefully you will find God as the ‘least’ common denominator. I say ‘least’ meaning that there is nothing else you can break things down to as a reason for those blessings. It is easy, or even tempting, to think that you or some special circumstance is the reason for the blessings in your life. That would be presumptuous. Without God in your life, I can understand that. But if he is Lord of your life, he is in control. Every event that takes place in your life has a blessing—even the most hurtful or disappointing experience.

What this tells me is that when everything is stripped away in your world, and you were to choose what you were most thankful for, it would have to be God. There would be no rhyme or reason to your day-to-day life or your existence if it were not for his divine presence. Christ the Savior in the world and in your world is the only rational for life here and now, and in the life hereafter. It all boils down to him.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Beam Me Up, Scotty

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 05:39:28 GMT

A line from Captain Kirk to engineer Montgomery on Star Trek, this idea sounds like a welcome quick fix for economic hardship today. ‘Just get me out of this mess!’ Perhaps this concept of travel through particle physics was inspired by the apostle Philip back in the New Testament. He had just baptized the Ethiopian eunuch when he was miraculously transported from a desert road to the ancient city of Azotus, a good 20 miles away!

Well, for Philip, this is no escape from hardship but simply the order of the day for one who is under God’s control. A few verses earlier in Acts 8:26, his itinerary that day is interrupted by specific instructions from an angel on how to pursue the Ethiopian searching for answers. This part you might be able to relate to. Let’s say that you had plans for your life but all of a sudden your situation changed. You may not have received detailed instructions from God but all you know is that you are now out of your comfort zone having to deal with tremendous challenges and issues. In a way, you are now being led down a road riddled with unexpected turns, bends, and even pot holes. No need to panic. As long as God is at the controls, your life is secure. Instead of questioning ‘Why’, start asking ‘What’ questions. What is his purpose? What are the lessons to be learned? What to do next?

Remember that as a believer, when you accepted Christ’s sacrifice to pay for your sin, you signed your life away for him to do as he pleases. God now calls the shots and is in charge. You just have to trust him. Even during your most despairing moments, you need to believe that where he leads you is always best. Yes, he will get you out of your mess and ultimately ‘beam you up’ to live in his presence forever.

Never Good Enough

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:10:45 GMT

I was at a leadership conference a few years ago and heard this from one of the speakers: “Do you know how to make God laugh? Tell him what your plans are.” No, it’s not that he makes fun of you or mocks you, but that his ideas are so much better than even the best plans you can come up with for your life.

Take it even one step further—the human heart is deceitful and calloused. Sounds depressing but true. David and the prophets have so much to say on the topic. Take your most-admired saint, guru or pastor—they’re all in the same boat. As a friend of mine pointed out the other day, it’s like biting into an apple and discovering half a worm inside! The fruit looked perfect on the outside but harbored this detestable creature that even you now share. You may appear wholesome, honest, or even religious to those around you, but…surprise!

There are a couple of takeaways from this. One is to always submit to divine authority. God always has the final say. The author of Proverbs counsels you to make plans to the best of your knowledge but leaving it up to God to change as he sees fit. You may come up with the most intelligent and rational plan for the rest of your life and yet you will still come short of what God has in mind. The other takeaway is as important and even more humbling. God accepts you in spite of your horrid condition. It’s this thing called grace. And because you have received such an awesome gift, you are to pass it on to others by accepting them as they are—shortcomings and all. Not being good enough is actually a good thing because it assures you that God’s grace is alive and well!

A Complete 180

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:39:43 GMT

Think of the most defiant, Christian-hating, atheist out there. It might even be someone in the family. I got news for you: there is a very good chance that they will do a complete 180 and start believing in God. Don’t take it from me; take it from the apostle Paul himself.

As the story goes, Saul (Paul’s previous name) was passionately and diligently seeking out the new believers going “house to house” and turning them over to authorities to be punished or even killed. He knew about Christ’s resurrection, had a fair knowledge of Scripture and yet had such intense hatred towards Christians. One commentary describes him as one “threatening them with every breath the action of a man violently enraged.” This all changed one day when God literally stopped him dead in his tracks, striking him blind. After three days of confinement and incapacitation, a miraculous transformation took place—so dramatic and extreme that eyewitnesses even had their doubts. This unmistakable change is verified by the fact the ‘hunter’ now becomes ‘the hunted’ as believers protect him from his former colleagues.

As you think about that atheist or agnostic in your life, or even, let’s say, the professing Christian steeped in legalism and self-righteousness, expect the miracle of transformation to happen. There is always hope. It is only through the direct intervention of Holy God that this can ever take place. Pray for that miracle. Quit trying so hard and continue living a transparent Christian life. Last of all, trust God completely to bring about that complete 180 when the time is right.

God Does Facials

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:21:11 GMT

Yes, he does! Remember when Moses came down the mountain the second time after God had to re-write the Ten Commandments? The record says that “his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.” Or, how about Stephen’s face just before he died a martyr—“like the face of an angel.” Well, so what’s my point?

Just like your eyes that are ‘a window to your soul’, your face says a lot about you. In Chinese medicine, your face is a ‘window to you health’ giving off signs of impending ailments. Your face can be a quick read into your life at any given moment. Think about the last time someone made the comment, ‘You look stressed out…is everything okay?’ or ‘Looks like you’ve just seen a ghost!’—just by looking at your face.

There is a certain calm and confidence you may have in you that radiates from your face. I’m talking about the stuff that only comes from the Prince of Peace himself. This is that unshakeable assurance that everything is going to be all right no matter what—even in the face of death. Your circumstances simply have no bearing on this reality. It is unmistakable. Those around you see it in your face and know it.

Want some of this? A good place to start is by spending more time with God. We’re talking about quality time in the Word, in prayer, and associating with like-minded believers. Botox can only do so much. God’s facial is way better.

God's Kingdom is "It"

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:22:36 GMT

I witnessed this with my very own eyes and would like to pass it on while it’s still fresh in my mind. I was at a Bible study group in Los Angeles earlier this week that my cousin invited me to. It was good to run into friends I had not seen in years but even better to see the Holy Spirit at work right at the moment. Here’s how it went.

Matthew 7:7 seemed quite basic and apropo: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” But then the discussion got heavy. One seated next to me blurted out, ‘Why doesn’t God listen to my patients when they ask for healing? How is this supposed to work?’ We then all chimed in reasoning that we had to ask for things that were within the will of God. Well, that didn’t work. We looked at the definition of words, the context, etc.—still we were stumped. You are to ask, seek, knock, and God will grant you whatever it is! We were getting nowhere. I personally felt so inadequate in shedding light on what seemed to be a very simple verse. Going back to the previous chapter where it talks about God clothing the grass and not worrying about food or drink made matters even worse because here I was trying to snuff out the power in the passage.

But then it hit me. My eyes landed on chapter 6, verse 33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness...” The “it” in “Ask and it will be given” is “his kingdom and his righteousness”—not our wants or even our needs as important as they may be! It is the person of Christ himself that we are to pursue above all else. Christ, through his life, death and resurrection, is the embodiment of this kingdom today in the lives of his followers. A deeper understanding and more meaningful experience of this kingdom is what God promises to grant us. Without fail.

Set to Prosper

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:25:19 GMT

I love this verse, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I find it very attractive because of the word “prosper” as in prosperity. Just about every sermon I’ve heard on this verse emphasizes the material blessings God is capable of bestowing.

Well, based on my experience as well as a closer look at the verse, I see things quite differently. As for my experience, I feel that God is prospering me although I lay no claim to material wealth. How is this possible? Looking more closely at the word “prosper”, it means “peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment”. The last time I checked, one’s sizable net worth is no guarantee for peace, quiet, tranquility, or contentment.

It’s possible to interpret this verse to mean material blessings based on the context, granted that Israel was in captivity at the time with all of their material wealth taken away. However, one has to look at the bigger picture of what God had in mind for the role they were to play in his plan of salvation. Their shortsightedness might have limited their view to just their immediate, material needs. The same may be true for you: your pressing needs for cash, for example, makes you interpret this verse in terms of material wealth. I wouldn’t discount that although I’d argue that it would be more prosperous to have peace, quiet, tranquility and contentment amidst the craziness of this world today—yes, even more than having lots of money!

I pray that you experience this kind of prosperity. Coupled with the rest of the verse, “not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”, you’re set—set to prosper!

Finding God

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:07:58 GMT

Do you find God, or does he find you? The current label “seeker” for the unchurched seems to imply that sinners do the looking. In your case, if God does not yet have complete rule over your life, what does it mean to “Seek the LORD while he may be found”?

The idea of seeking the Lord does not mean that he is playing ‘hard to find’ or waiting for you to make the first move. Based on how he sacrificed his Son on the cross, it is God that is proactive in wanting to save you. He already took the first step and is actively seeking out the lost. The word “seek” must then mean something else—your doing something “to get the knowledge of God’s will, and to obtain his grace and favour.” The knowledge is out there, easier than ever to acquire, if you ask me, in today’s information age. You are to actively seek that knowledge about the idea of being saved, eternal life, and how that all works. The prophet Isaiah penned these words after the nation of Israel had turned away from God and placed their hope in the worship of other gods—no different from your situation today, perhaps. This verse belongs to the second half of the Book of Isaiah that lays out God’s love, mercy and hope for those who had forsaken him. This book, regarded by some as the fullest revelation of Christ in the Old Testament and is often referred to as “the gospel according to Isaiah” reveals a truth that is alive and well in the 21st century.

It’s time to turn from the idols in your life that offer nothing but emptiness and certain failure and destruction. Seek God’s way and see for yourself how it is supposed to play out in your life. He may be found. He is near.

Pure and Blameless

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 23:57:34 GMT

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes, “live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.” Is that even possible?

The first thing you have to remember is that no one is “pure and blameless” except Christ. It is his perfection that is credited to all who repent and accept his sacrifice on the cross. Isolated from the rest of the context, you might construe this to be a legalistic, works-oriented form of salvation. But all you have to do is go back a few verses (see 5 and 7) to identify the theme of the gospel and God’s grace. Yes, you are saved based on Christ’s merit, but also notice that you are still commanded to “live pure and blameless lives…” How are you to do this? Read verse 9, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more…” It’s by having love that keeps on growing to the best of your knowledge and ability.

Perhaps your immediate reaction, just like mine, is to be pure and blameless by refraining from sin—not stealing, not lying, not committing adultery, etc. But the apostle Paul is actually teaching that it is by being proactive—by making your love overflow. One commentary describes this idea like this: “that it may be like a river, perpetually fed with rain and fresh streams so that it continues to swell and increase till it fills all its banks, and floods the adjacent plains.” You are to develop your love for God and others to its fullest the rest of your life here on Earth until Christ returns.

Another way of saying this is: Christ stands in your place as your perfect sacrifice, so live a “pure and blameless” life by being the most loving and caring person you can ever be until he returns.

It's All About Love

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:34:16 GMT

What motivates you? Is it really that simple? Is love really the answer? When you break it down to the bare essentials, the answer is a resounding “Yes!”

Let’s apply this idea to a person that is not a Christian, or someone who does not know God. In my own personal experience working with people, it is love that wins them over. This is not to say that doctrine or logic don’t come into play—all I’m saying is that getting a taste or a glimpse of a loving God draws them in even before they intellectually process Christianity.

I was listening to a podcast by Andy Stanley on Youtube the other day, and he illustrated this concept very clearly. He addressed all the married men in the audience and made a list of the reasons that hindered them from finally tying the knot—giving up freedom, too expensive, meeting someone ‘better’ later, etc. He argued that when they fell in love with that one person, all those obstacles to marriage shrunk. All of a sudden, they were no longer an issue. When it comes to becoming a Christian, one website lists 20 reasons not to—hatred, homophobia, Bible contradictions, based on fear, etc. Another website specifically points out that a majority of the Moslem population have a picture of Christianity based on Hollywood! This website was also quick to point out that the defining moment that led to conversion was getting to know Christians up close through personal relationships and experiencing genuine, authentic love.

The apostle John writes, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” I hope that this realization encourages you to be the most loving and caring person God wants you to be. When all is said and done, it truly is all about love.

Amaze Your Friends

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:40:36 GMT

As a practicing Christian, do you ever feel like you are inept and inadequate in articulating your faith to those around you? You are not alone. And if there was ever a more crucial time you broadcast your faith in no uncertain terms, it is now.

The story of the healing of a man who was lame from birth in Acts 3 reveals a very basic understanding of your role as a follower of Christ carrying out the Great Commission. As the story goes, bystanders “were taking note” of his healing and were “filled with wonder and amazement”. Peter acknowledged their reaction and even asked why they were amazed. He then goes on to connect the dots by preaching about the person of Christ and the story of salvation. This caused such a stir that the authorities imprisoned Peter and John. As a result of all the drama, 5,000 men believed. Wow!

You and I have been healed from a malady we’ve all had since birth called Sin. Perhaps the problem is that those around us are not amazed by it because we either don’t get close enough for them to see, or we blend in so much with the population that they don’t even notice a difference. The word “amaze” means “a throwing of the mind out of its normal state”. When those around you begin to take note of the change in you, it should literally blow their minds! It is not ‘normal’ to see sinful people just like themselves who are at peace, most loving, joyful, content, and fully confident especially in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty we are in today.

Your job is to live an authentic Christian life that unashamedly gives credit to the Judeo-Christian God and the Lamb that was slain. Coupled with divine power through the Holy Spirit, it will amaze your friends and draw them in.

God Goes With the Flow?

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:48:37 GMT

You might find it hard to believe, but there are times when God does go along with the choices you make and works through, and in spite of them. If he didn’t, he would have quit on you long time ago! In his infinite wisdom, he is still able to accomplish his will in your life.

Take, for example, the Israelites in the Old Testament when they demanded that they have a king just like the nations around them. God gave in to their request and even outlined a procedure on adopting this new practice. Prior to this, God functioned as their king through his prophets. This was a more efficient system. But, again, God ‘went with the flow’, so to speak, and accomplished his divine will through a system that was flawed and inefficient. The same goes for the idea of church as we now know it. It was not God’s intention that it become institutionalized tracing all the way back to Constantine in the 4th century. Christendom was transformed forever and God has and continues to acknowledge this. It is a far cry from the house-based, cell structure of the New Testament church but God has worked through, and in spite of it through the centuries.

Perhaps, having a deeper understanding of God’s original intention for his church will encourage you to commit to a more intimate fellowship such as a small group in your church, or take your participation in one more seriously. Go past the tradition of attending religious meetings and begin experiencing the Body of Christ how God intended it.

Change Backward

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:41:32 GMT

Normally, when you use the word change, you think ‘forward’ as in improving your situation by doing something that is new and fresh. But what I’d like to propose in this matter of having a more meaningful church experience, is that you think backward. Instead of thinking of some innovative method never tried before, go all the way back to the beginning—how things were meant to be.

Notice how I said “meant to be” and not “used to be”. It’s easy to simply go back to a time and place where everything felt good. It is meaningful because of the wonderful memories and experiences attached to it but not necessarily where God wants you to be. One author describes the original Christian church idea as a “new-yet-ancient system”. Congregations were small and met in homes. Even the 3,000 that were added in a day (probably even more with women and children) very likely formed house churches in their neighborhoods. The key is “small”. Churches were small and intimate. Today, you will find many successful Christian churches thriving because of a small group or family cell program taken very seriously and working well. Even the mega-churches will tell you that. They’re getting it…somewhat.

But what about going all the way—to ‘de-church’ or ‘un-institutionalize’ so to speak and change backward? For practical reasons, this is almost impossible. God will still continue to use the current state of things (more on that topic next week). For now, one thing I would suggest is that you actively participate in a weekly small group or family cell group in church to experience something deeper besides just attending a church service. Or, if there’s one in your neighborhood, join a house church. You just might find that change you’re looking for by changing backward.

Just Because

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:45:04 GMT

Do you find yourself in the habit of doing certain things a certain way ‘just because?’ This is how you have always done it so why do it any other way? Sounds silly but I think that that’s just the way it is. And I bet that if I was to suggest a better way, you might even resist the thought of change. Let’s test this little theory—How about the way you ‘do’ church?

The New Testament describes the first Christian churches very clearly—they all met in homes. Initially, they also gathered at the temple but that all changed once the religious leaders started persecuting them (just like Saul, later named Paul, did). A quick survey of the Book of Acts will give an indisputable picture of the church diametrically opposed to church as we know it now. There were no church buildings, liturgical services, huge productions, or even professional clergy. They worshipped and shared meals “from house to house” and yet the growth and activity was phenomenal! So, what happened? You can Google this yourself but very quickly, let me just say that the shift from ‘house church’ to the institution as it has been known for the past 2,000 years happened in the 4th century—thanks to Roman emperor Constantine. The Reformation Movement led by Martin Luther tried to reform doctrine but left the structure of the church virtually untouched. By this time, you’re probably asking, So?

I’d like to pursue this theme in the weeks to follow. For the time being, why not evaluate your own personal experience with church. Has it become so structured or habitual that you find it meaningless and so out of touch with reality? Is church something you simply ‘attend’ and have no passion for? Can there be something better that you’ve missed this whole time? The answer is a resounding Yes! We’ll pick this up next time.

All, Everything, 100 Percent

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:34:17 GMT

When you are sold on an idea, you put your all, everything, 100 percent into it. I have an admiration for those who demonstrate this attitude in, say, an MLM scheme (although I’m not into any of that myself). All you hear is talk about “the business” or how to be “financially independent”. Their passion and conviction come through in every aspect of their lives at work, at home, and in every conversation.

This is exactly what Jesus had in mind when he instituted what we now know as Communion or the Lord's supper with his disciples in the upper room. His sacrifice for mankind on the cross is not to be taken lightly. It is to integrate itself into the life of every believer. This is why he said to his disciples, to eat the bread and drink the wine. He could have said to simply touch, smell, or look upon these emblems. But no—he wanted to demonstrate that these symbols were assimilated into the body by the digestive process. The meaning and significance of his sacrifice was to affect the believer’s entire being permanently! Not part time, not optional, not whenever it was convenient. It was something to stay until that grand reunion in the heavenly kingdom.

Is this the case in your life right now? The next time you celebrate Communion, think about God influencing every decision, every activity, every thought. Start now, or the next conversation, email, or FaceBook post. His all-encompassing sacrifice calls for your all, your everything, your 100 percent.

Can't Do Without

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:10:58 GMT

If you were to narrow it down, what is that one thing you can’t do without? Commenting on his latest book, Forgotten God, Francis Chan says “he wants to live a life unexplainable without the Holy Spirit, so dependent on the Spirit that, he says, if he doesn't come through, I'm screwed.” Before you start drawing your own conclusions about this statement, allow me to expound.

Francis Chan, a successful pastor of a megachurch for 16 years, recently left his post stepping out in faith to follow where God leads next. This book makes a compelling argument that Christians in general have admired the power of the Holy Spirit but have failed to harness his power. I’ve followed Francis’ ministry over the years and have heard him numerous times at seminars and conferences. His transparency about his personal walk with God convince me that he is the “real deal”, and that you can trust his heart. But even more so, you can trust the One who, after all, was promised to be “another Helper” [as in Jesus, the ‘other’ one] who is to “teach you all things.” Note that the verse in John 14 doesn’t say ‘just a few’ or ‘certain’ but ALL things.

To say that your life, or life on planet earth in general, is complicated is such an understatement. Life as we know it—personal or global—is getting more complex, or even bizarre by the minute. God is more than just a handy reference or a personal guru. Through the Holy Spirit, he can be that plus so much more, giving you everything it takes to make it through this life and into the next. There’s just no way you can do without him!

Submerged in God

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:41:52 GMT

Here’s another way to view your life as a believer—submerged in God! Here’s how it works. Before his ascension, Jesus told his followers, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…" He used the word baptize both times: for water and for the Holy Spirit. Technically, the word “baptize” means to dip, immerse or submerge. The entire body is submerged under water to symbolize the entire body’s death or burial along with Christ’s death and resurrection.

You probably grasp the idea of water submersion, but what about Holy Spirit 'submersion'? If water baptism symbolizes completely dying to your old self, Holy Spirit baptism represents completely living under the power and direction of God. To fully accept Christ’s sacrifice also means to fully accept his controlling presence. If you were once submerged in that watery grave, you are now to live a life submerged in the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is easy to accept water baptism to take care of your past and then stop there. Move into the rest of God’s plan and live the rest of your life in complete surrender and control by him.

Jesus is both your Savior and Lord—he died your death and now lays claim on your life. He gave all that you might live—live completely for him!

Blood Pact

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:26:19 GMT

Have you sometimes wondered why the Bible uses gory terms such as 'eating flesh' and 'drinking blood?' It almost sounds like an idea from a vampire movie or a blood pact in the Warcraft video game. The Urban Dictionary defines a blood pact as a “very serious and legally binding pact between two or more parties in which blood from each party is placed onto the bottom of the pact next to the signature of each of the parties involved.”

In the case of Christ’s death on the cross for your sins, John 6:55-56 in a way spells out two parties involved in a very serious agreement, so to speak. One glaring difference from a blood pact is that the blood of only one party is required—Christ’s. Another observation is that the blood shed represents the actual death of this party. All the other party has to do—that’s you—is to eat this flesh and drink this blood meaning that your life totally depends on this sacrifice. You take his sacrifice very seriously. The word used here is “abide”—you wait, endure without yielding, bear patiently, accept without objection, remain stable or fixed in a state, or continue in a place. This is the only way to ensure your safety and your future.

One more thing: the very last phrase of verse 56 says, “and I in him.” If Christ requires your unwavering allegiance to him, so does he promise his abiding presence in your life. Christ’s unsurpassable, everlasting and ever consistent faithfulness and devotion to you is assured in this pact. Why then the goriness? It is in order to relay the utmost seriousness of the matter—your redemption and what it took.

A Way of Life

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:18:00 GMT

Has this idea crossed your mind? ‘I will live as I please and come back to God when I’m ready.’ This Bible verse even seems to support it: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Peter preached about it on the Day of Pentecost and Paul wrote the same to the Romans, both quoting from the Old Testament prophet Joel. It almost sounds like a hotline back to God—toll-free, 24/7.

Don’t get me wrong: God is always there for you like a caring father looking after you. But to interpret this verse as your ticket to eternal salvation at your convenience or in the face of danger is simply wrong. The idea of ‘calling on the name of the Lord’ suggests an on-going, deep relationship with God. Peter explains in his sermon that this involves two things: a complete “180” (aka repentance) and trust in Jesus’ sacrifice (demonstrated through baptism). Paul also paints a picture of daily dependence on God’s grace as opposed to some emergency escape plan just before impact. Applying this scenario to yourself as a believer, you are one who ‘calls on the name of the Lord’ because you repent of your sins and rely on God’s mercy and forgiveness. You have made God’s plan of redemption a way of life and constantly commune with him on every aspect.

As complicated as life tends to get, the more it makes sense to have God involved in your life. You can count on him everyday for the big issues, or even the most insignificant ones. Most of all, you can depend on him for your eternal future. Make this your way of life.

The Way It Used to Be

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:46:24 GMT

Has this ever happened to you? You recognize a familiar face or voice from a distance and you want to crawl under a table and hide. Now, why would you do that? Could it be that you used to be close to this person but something terrible happened between you? Now, you feel awkward or repulsed being in their presence.

You get the same picture in the story of Adam and Even when they hid from God. Something very terrible happened when they disobeyed and did not trust him. As the story goes in Genesis 3:8, “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” From this single verse, you get the idea—the first couple used to look forward to his company and used to take walks with God in the garden on a cool day. This is the way it used to be. This is the original blueprint for your existence—to be in daily, direct communion with God. Well, you know the rest of the story. But the rift caused by sin has been repaired by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. His shed blood has reconciled you back to God. You were created for daily, personal interaction with him and Christ has made it possible to have that relationship once again.

Do you claim Jesus as the One who saves you? Then make it your life’s ambition to cultivate that lost relationship he has restored. Seek God’s presence daily. Cherish every opportunity to take long walks with him. This is the way it used to be.

Freedom and Happiness

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:53:45 GMT

What is freedom? You may argue, as we have just been reminded as a nation, it is the liberty to exercise “certain unalienable rights” such as the “pursuit of happiness.” Well, from a Christian standpoint, it goes way beyond the Declaration of Independence.

In Galatians 5:1, Paul speaks of freedom that specifically comes from Christ. It has nothing to do with the exercise of religion as stated in the First Ammendment either. The verse reads, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” This freedom is from a sin condition that leads to certain death from which there is no escape except through Christ. For Paul’s audience, their “yoke of slavery” was the futility of meaningless rituals handed down from many generations that they believed would bring happiness and eternal security, but in reality only brought death. They were enslaved to a system that led to a dead end.

Christ changed that. He came to die your death so that you no longer have to pay the penalty for your sin. He is the Truth and has set you free. This is where your ‘pursuit’ of real happiness begins—not worrying about guilt or the consequence of sin. Christ is now your Master who will guarantee you true, eternal happiness from this day on forward.

Heaps of Coals

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:17:57 GMT

You’ve probably read the verse “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Logic would suggest that by doing good, you cause guilt in the person that offended you. Then maybe, just maybe, they would see the errors of their actions and change.
Well, good try. That’s exactly what I used to think. But, perhaps, there is another way to interpret the passage by looking at an ancient custom of that time and the actual context of Romans 12.

"This has been described as a reference to an Oriental custom. A fire in the center of a village was kept going day and night. This fire was used to light the fires in individual homes each day. Every morning a village youth would put a container on his head, and hot coals would be heaped into it. He would then go from house to house distributing the hot coals so that the villagers could start their fires. On cold days this was an enviable job, since the heat from the coals of fire kept the head and hands of the youth warmed. To heap coals of fire on someone's head, then, means to warm him, and, by extension, to bless him."

Try reinterpreting this passage within the actual context of the entire chapter in mind—transformation, love, the Body of Christ. The idea here is to simply to do good when people wrong you. Bless them with warmth. Pay back evil with love and caring. It is God’s job to convict and judge. Not yours. Just do the right thing—by doing good!

Persecution from Within?

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:28:38 GMT

The text in Romans 12:14 reads, “Bless those who persecute you…” At first glance, you might think that it is talking about those outside the church who are against Christianity that are out there to cause you harm. Well, not so fast. Looking at the context of this passage, it refers to those within the church!

Is there persecution that happens in Christian circles? Well, let’s find out. The word “persecute” actually means “to drive away, harass, pursue in a hostile manner”. Just because you see the word “persecute”, your mind tends to think of places like China, Moslem countries, etc. This word, according to the rest of the chapter, is directed at other members of the body who may ‘drive you away, harass, or pursue you in a hostile manner’. Has this ever happened to you? Do you know of someone who has experienced this from a fellow-believer? Paul’s counsel is to “bless and do not curse.” You not only tolerate these individuals, but you wish them well. To “bless” implies some proactive action where you intentionally go out of your way to make life better for another person. How’s that for the next time a difficult person rubs you the wrong way and makes you fume with anger and frustration?

Two lessons you can take from this short piece: 1) The church is made up of imperfect people; 2) you love them just the same. This is very sound advice. Who knows, you might end up on the receiving end next time.

Boxes, Boxes, Boxes

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:57:44 GMT

No, we’re not talking about packing and moving. This is about how we tend to separate ideas and activities and place them in neat packages, so to speak. Some examples are: your job, your family, the community, religion, entertainment, etc. Yes, there is value in maintaining certain boundaries such as ‘leaving your work at the office’ or how you deal with codependency and substance abuse issues. However, there are certain things that, as a believer, you ought to seriously consider integrating into who you are—the essence of your being—in the Body of Christ.

In Romans 12:10-11, Paul applies the idea of brotherly love to two very significant aspects of Christian living. First, the context of spiritual gifts makes it very clear that exercising those God-given abilities is an expression of love for one another. Your role in the Body is not some isolated task or function. It always involves another person. It always has to do with building up that person. You “give preference to one another” meaning that you think of the other person before yourself. Second, anytime you express “brother love”, it is “serving the Lord” with diligence and enthusiasm. It’s the same principle that Jesus teaches in Matthew 25:40, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” You see, loving one another permeates your entire experience as a believer as you exercise your spiritual gifts. It is your “spiritual service of worship” to God (see Romans 12:1) as you respond to his mercy and grace.

Take a few steps back and take inventory on how you conduct your daily life. Do you compartmentalize the way you love and the way you serve? Brotherly love is a way of life that shows up in all your dealings with everyone. It also expresses your love for the One who loves you most.

What It All Translates Into

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:16:52 GMT

True story: After the devastation caused by Katrina, I went on a mission trip with another church to repair homes in Louisiana. I can’t tell you how thrilling it was to sport a leather construction belt around my waist complete with nail pouch and holster for my cordless drill. It was so cool to be a construction worker for a few days with a bunch of other guys.

Then there was Sammy (not his real name). This was his third trip to the area. He had two suitcases full of brand new power tools and hand tools. But one thing about him caught my attention. He was planning to leave all of his tools with the local families and other workers like he did on previous trips. You see, he knew exactly why he was there. He could care less about looking good or having more tools than anyone else. He had skills and abilities. He was there to serve because he genuinely cared for those who had lost their homes.

The same goes for the skills and abilities from God’s Spirit—aka spiritual gifts. They may be fun exciting to have but the reason for the gifts is for the other person. They are given for the purpose of building up the Body of Christ—the individuals that make up the church. What it all translates into is a love for others that is sincere and not for your own benefit. Discover that gift, and then use it to bless others.

You Are Either In or You're Not

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:06:27 GMT

Can you imagine running into Adriane Gonzalez of the Padres—you’re not 100 percent sure it’s him so you ask, ‘Aren’t you on the Padres baseball team?’ His reply is unimaginable: ‘Not really…I just sit on the bench and watch!’

Is this you? For some Christians, belonging to a church is being a spectator—once a week! The extent of their involvement is sitting through a worship service for about an hour and a half. That’s it. Becoming a follower of Christ is like becoming a member of a team—the Body of Christ. You have a specific function and perform a specific task. (Incidentally, Adriane Gonzalez plays first base). In the Bible, there is no such thing as an inactive follower of Christ. You participate, not spectate. The power of the Holy Spirit is given to each one—not just to some—each one. There are different kinds of gifts and different kinds of service. The apostle Paul teaches that God works all of them in all men. No one is exempt. You’re either in or you’re not.

Take time to consider your involvement in the Body of Christ. Do you find yourself just sitting and watching? If so, it’s time for a change. Get on your knees and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal that specific role you are to play. This might just be the beginning of a whole new experience as a believer

Unthinkable!

Wed, 26 May 2010 13:20:00 GMT

Picture this: you sign up as a volunteer at your local Red Cross then say, ‘Keep me on your list but please don’t call on me—I’ll attend the meetings, though.’ Unthinkable! But that’s exactly how many believers think what being a Christian is like—you accept Christ’s sacrifice, join a church, then basically just attend the meetings. Unacceptable.

Paul’s analogy of the Body of Christ in Romans 12 also implies the exercise of a God-given gift for a specific assigned task. This gift, aka “charisma”, came along with the original Gift aka “grace”. You just didn’t know it at the time, perhaps. Now that you do, it’s time that you discover what it is. Get used to the idea that being a member of the body comes with a specific roll to play. Verse 6 reads: “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly…”

Perhaps your definition of church does not go far enough. If you belong to the Body of Christ, discover what that spiritual gift is. Once you know what it is, then exercise it.

Think 'Rice and Beans'

Wed, 19 May 2010 14:00:08 GMT

When you think of rice and beans, as in a burrito, it’s always more than a single grain or bean—you got to think collectively. Believe it or not, there is a lesson to be learned here. When you become a follower of Christ, you become part of a collective whole called God’s church. There is no such thing as a solitaire Christian.

Paul illustrates this idea by describing the human body: all the different parts are important, they all play various roles and yet all are joined together to make up a single body. It might sound like a great idea (which it is) but it is easier said than done. It goes against the grain of a society that caters to a ‘me-me-me’ attitude. In practice, the tendency of a believer might be to keep his or her religion a private or personal matter. Some might even narrow it down to slipping in and out of a church service on weekends.

If you are a believer, God wants you to think beyond yourself and embrace the idea that you now belong to a host of believers that make up his church. From now on, you are to plan and live the rest of your life thinking collectively—like rice and beans!

Value and Change

Wed, 12 May 2010 06:34:51 GMT

The concept is this: the more you value something, the more you are willing to change in order to enjoy and keep it. When our daughter was born, her older brothers valued her so much that they changed in so many ways in order to welcome and enjoy the new addition to the family—time spent with friends, weekends, baby talk, acting silly—to name a few.

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross ought to do the same for you. The more you value it, the more you would be willing and eager to live your life differently in light of such a priceless gift. The apostle Paul refers to “the will of God” in Romans 12. And it starts by the “renewing of your mind”—by the way you think. Such transformation is deliberate and empowered by the divine compared to being “conformed to this world”—a subconscious process that takes place by simply living in a sinful environment. The more you understand and appreciate God’s mercy and grace, the more you would seek his will for your life and obediently comply.

Make it your daily desire to completely surrender to his will. Keep dwelling on God’s goodness and his boundless love for you to the point where you are compelled to live out the rest of your life in his will.

'End of the World' Holiday?

Wed, 05 May 2010 00:17:08 GMT

A holiday for Christ’s first advent—Christmas—no problem at all. But it is hard to imagine a holiday celebrating the end of the world although the Old and New Testaments of the Bible contain more prophecies about Jesus’ second coming compared to his first. Make no mistake: Scripture is very clear that Christ will return. He even said so himself.The topic of a coming judgment or the end of life on earth as we know it is not very popular, perhaps because it brings up guilt and fear in people's hearts. Churches and believers everywhere have yet to get the word out that if Jesus came the first time, he will come again. However, this topic seems to be getting more and more attention these days, especially with the increased frequency of calamities, disasters and wars. One film maker has released a short film on YouTube called The Return as his way of getting the public’s attention, including many atheists who have posted their comments.So, how about a holiday for Christ’s return? Well, that will have to take place after the fact—in heaven! He will return. The end will come. It’s not a matter of if but when.

Our Counselor

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:36:05 GMT

It is only because of Jesus dying on the cross, that we have the Holy Spirit. Because of this crucifixion, we each have a little piece of God inside us at all times in the Holy Spirit. He is a gift from God, and when we receive it, Paul says our sins are forgiven. The Holy Spirit is an internal watchdog, a friend, an internal guide who'll help us live the life illustrated in the Bible.

What God is looking for is to develop our relationship with Him. It’s all about the relationship. Looking back through the years, I had different coaches with different coaching styles. One in particular that used fear as a tool, eventually went too far and got himself fired. Another, who took the time to care about his players and build the relationships, had players that would walk the plank for him. God wants those relationships.

So the Holy Spirit has been given to us—a counselor who will guide us in our walk with God, speak to God for us when we don’t know what to say, and be there as our attorney (counselor) on judgment day to represent us when Satan accuses us before God of all of our sin. Our Counselor can look God in the face and say, ‘Yes, Father, he did commit all of those sins. He is guilty as charged. But Jesus died on the cross to pay the price, so he is good to go on to heaven to be with you.’ WOW! God so loves us! Let us do everything we can to get in touch with that love. It is there for the taking, we just need to accept it. Even though we seem unworthy in our own eyes, we are God’s children and He has made us perfect in His.

Get In the Game

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:41:00 GMT

My daughter came home the other night all excited about going to her first baseball game at the stadium with some friends. She got to see the game—well, sort of—through a fence near centerfield for a lot less. She had so much fun! But can you imagine how much more fun it would have been, say, watching it from a VIP box with Padres owner Jeff Moorad right behind home plate?

As a believer, you might be short-changing yourself by having a relationship with God that is only ‘through a fence’ when you already have a ‘VIP pass’ to be in his presence 24/7. This is exactly what the writer of Hebrews is trying to describe in chapter 10—having confidence to enter the Holy Place. (If you recall, the “Holy Place” is in reference to the second compartment of the portable sanctuary symbolizing God's presence to the Israelites in the desert.) But now that Jesus has already been offered as your sacrifice on the cross, he has made it possible for you to have direct access to the Father. Think of a reality show where God is your audience and actively participates in it. Imagine living your life in the presence of Holy God who wants nothing but what is best for you, and ultimately, your eternal existence with him!

You might have to re-think the way you relate to God’s presence from now on. Get in the game. If the cross assures you of complete pardon for all of your sins, it also assures you of God’s presence starting now—and throughout eternity!

Christ Was You

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:15:57 GMT

Christ was you. Sound like a new concept? Might sound over simplistic but, trust me, the implications are not. It is, rather, a matter of life and death.

Simply put, when Christ was crucified, it was you that hung on that cross. Christ was you. Every reason there is under the sun to disqualify you from being in the presence of Holy God, let alone live the rest of eternity with him, was eliminated when he died your death on the cross. In essence, he represented your utterly sinful, despicable and hopeless life in bodily form and suffered the shame, separation and torment that you rightfully deserved—yes, even final, eternal death.

Listen to Paul’s words to the believers in Corinth, He [God] made Him [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf… Christ was sinless and yet became your sin. Another way to picture Christ as you is this: since Christ was sin, it was your sin that was nailed to the cross. Paul also alludes to this when he wrote to the believers in Colossae, He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

But is doesn’t end here. If Christ was you on that cross, Christ is also you resurrected from the dead. He died your eternal death—now you live his eternal life!

Who's Got the Power?

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 05:44:15 GMT

Do you find your Christian experience stale and powerless? Do you sometimes feel distant from God? Your knee-jerk response might be to read your Bible more often, say longer prayers, or listen to Christian radio—nothing wrong with any of that. But have you considered signing up for some personal ministry? Okay, so that sounds a bit odd. Let me explain.

Jesus’ 12 disciples practically hung out with him 24/7—they heard his teachings, they witnessed his healings, but they still had an important lesson to learn. In the story of the 5,000, when Jesus practically ordered his disciples to feed the hungry crowd themselves, they complained that all they had were five loaves and two fish. Jesus replied, “Bring them to Me.” In other words, he asked that they bring their limitations to him—all that they had. After he blessed the meal, he gave them to the disciples who then passed them on to the crowd. Notice very carefully: 1) the disciples turned in all they had, 2) the miraculous supply of food came from God, and 3) all they did was to pass it on.

Read between the lines in this Matthew 14 passage. There had to be excitement and renewed passion among the disciples encountering the power of the living God as they handled this abundance of food straight from heaven! The hands-on experience of ministering to the needs of others was a powerful teaching tool that God still uses today. Try it sometime. Bring your limitations to the table and experience the power of God as you pass on his blessings to others. The very next chance you get, sign up for a personal ministry.

The "D" Word

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:13:30 GMT

The word is “discipline”—not a very popular idea in today’s ‘I want it now’ culture. But what if I were to tell you that spiritual discipline is expected of you as a believer? Not to be confused with the false teaching of salvation by works, it is your deliberate, diligent obedience because you have already been saved.

Spiritual discipline is when your faith intersects with God’s faithfulness. In other words, hearing a teaching is not enough. It is when you act on what you hear and learn that you begin to experience God in a way that you wouldn’t otherwise. Jesus taught this principle in the story of the two men who built houses on rock and on sand. To hear and act on his Word was likened to the man who built his house on the rock that withstood the rain, flood and wind. For example, it is one thing to hear and understand a teaching on benevolence. But unless you practice the spiritual discipline of giving, you are like the man who built his house on the sand.

There is a ‘storm’ looming over the horizon. This could be in a global, cataclysmic sense, or a personal crisis. Your only safety is to start building on a strong foundation and this takes discipline—acting on God’s Word. The next time you feel like blessings are being withheld from you, or you are not experiencing God in a powerful way, take inventory of your life and make the decision to start acting on what you already know.

Be Amazed

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:37:21 GMT

So, if God is actively at work in the world today, he constantly seeks you out in his desire to have a deep relationship with you. One way he does that is by amazing you with a truth discovery about himself or the Bible. One discovery a new believer shared with me just recently is on how merciful and patient God was! That thought had never occurred to them before!

There are two things that God wishes to accomplish when he wows you with something about himself that you’ve never realized before—it will definitely bless your life and it will lead someone else to know him. This is exactly the way it happened when Jesus amazed the Samaritan woman at the well with living water that would quench her thirst forever. She got so excited and was greatly blessed. She also shared this discovery with the rest of the town and led others to meet Jesus themselves. They responded and said, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

Be on the lookout for a brand new discovery whether it be in your personal study, a podcast, or some random, unexpected event in your life. Start seeing God as one who truly cares and is actively reaching out to you as well as all those around you.

Your Network

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:18:35 GMT

God is actively seeking you out—continually drawing you into a closer relationship with himself. This is first recorded in Genesis when he sought after Adam and Eve after they had sinned. Today, he continues to reach you with the power of his love, his sacrifice on the cross.

For all practical reasons, he uses what I’d like to call ‘divine agents of influence’, one being the network of people around you. He speaks to you through those around you in his attempt to draw you in. Think of the last time someone said something to you that completely changed the direction of your life for good. Instead of simply communicating to you by talking to you directly, or implanting ideas into your head, sometimes he chooses to use the influence of people around you. Their testimony carries more weight than any website you can google, a religious pamphlet or self-help book.

Start paying attention to your network and see God at work. He is alive and well, and actively reaching out to you. Your utmost fulfillment in life is in him and he will do whatever it takes to have that relationship with you.

Joined Together

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:07:35 GMT

In your walk through life as a believer in Christ, as one who has trusted in His work on the cross, as sinners condemned by our wickedness that have been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus, we rely on one another for so much. On the long road home, Christ is our comfort and the church is our family. We say to “go to church” and we say even more specifically to “be the church” and we know that what that means is to treat one another as who we are: members of the household of God. Encouraging and bearing one another’s burdens, being stirred up to do the good works that God has prepared.

Look ahead to the prize, to the heavenly kingdom to which we belong, and see Jesus lifted up as our Savior. See Jesus exalted as our Lord; see Jesus as He has been raised from the dead as our Hope; see Jesus interceding for us daily as our High Priest. See the church, the people around you as a building and look to Christ as our cornerstone to ensure that we fall in line. Look beneath your feet and examine your foundation, your doctrine and search the scriptures to ensure that they agree. Run the race with endurance on the long road home, and persevere until we arrive to be with Him.

Lasting Peace

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:10:22 GMT

The phrase “world peace” has become a cliché, at least in the beauty pageant industry, becoming nothing more than a politically correct throw away line. In recent events, even the Nobel Peace Prize has lost significant meaning. The truth is that any attempt to bring about lasting peace in the world without God will always fail.

The Bible speaks of a kind of peace that has its roots in the cross—a symbol of the greatest event in human history that divided time in half in order to establish the foundation for real, lasting peace. The offering of Christ’s own body as your sacrifice ended centuries of an exclusive society chosen by God to preserve his plan of redemption for you. The barriers between the favored nation of Israel and the rest of the world have been torn down to demonstrate once and for all that the barrier of sin between you and God has also been eliminated forever.

Lasting peace can only occur in God’s kingdom—where he now reigns—in your life, in this world, and in the world to come. Christ, the Prince of Peace, came to earth to establish peace on earth, and you can have it beginning right now.

Aliens No More

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:25:12 GMT

No one likes to be left out. You’ve seen the movie, you’ve read the book, you’ve heard the story many times and you’ve no doubt experienced it yourself: rejection, isolation, exclusion. The kid that gets left out of the kickball game because he’s not as strong as the others; the nerd who avoids social contact and sets himself in his house alone; the sign on the clubhouse that says “No Girls Allowed!” We all have experienced the idea of being left out of something in one way or another. When we read scriptures like Ephesians 2:11-13 and see words like alienated it conjures up for us images of rejection and exclusion that we have experienced in the past.

Naturally as non-Jews (and even Jews that don't believe in Christ), we are alienated from the people of God and excluded from His family by our sin. The good news of the cross is that Jesus has put an end to sin for those who trust in His sacrifice! Don't miss that—put an end! That means that the sin of everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus is no longer in need of payment, because Jesus made the blood payment for us (Hebrews 9:26; Psalm 103:12). Those who believe on the Lord Jesus and have been purified by the blood of the perfect Lamb of God are now reconciled to Him forever, and are no longer aliens but citizens of the heavenly kingdom.

He's Expecting You

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:18:12 GMT

True story: There was a girl I liked in grade school. My family planned a trip (actually another one of my dad’s medical/political conventions) that would bring us to the same town where she was spending the summer with family. Her parents learned about this and extended a cordial invitation to our family to come visit. We politely said Yes but somehow my dad’s busy schedule kept us from traveling just a few more miles for this visit.

It was no big deal for us, I guess, but not so for my friend’s family. They were so certain that we were coming and even had a welcoming banner hung across the main street announcing our arrival! Needless to say, I felt awful and was so embarrassed.

The Bible says that from God’s perspective, you are already seated with him in heavenly places. In other words, he is already expecting your arrival. His posture demonstrates the power and effectiveness of the salvation he has already given you—saved by grace through faith. He is 100 percent sure about it! Start talking, thinking, and acting like you will live eternally because you will! He’s already expecting you.

Dead but Alive

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:16:48 GMT

You were dead. If you are not a believer as of right now, if you have not trusted in the perfect sacrifice of Christ for the redemption of your sins, you are dead. Everyone in history, throughout the entire world and in every age in which human beings have lived, was found at one point to be spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, and will one day (as a result of that spiritual condition) be found to be physically dead as well. Just being here, just being human makes you dead—but God makes us alive!

Because of the life He lived, Christ proved Himself to be worthy of His calling and His purpose as the Son of God to be the perfect sacrifice for sins. Because of the death He died, Christ fulfilled His work as the only mediator between God and man and provided that sacrifice to sins that we may identify with that death (toward sin) and our sins may be removed. Because of the life He now lives, having risen from the grave after His crucifixion and ascended to the right hand of the Father to His rightful place, Christ has assured us of the hope that we will also rise again. God makes us alive together with Christ!

Christ has suffered the wrath you naturally deserve as your substitute. If you believe the gospel, you will surely be saved, just as surely as Christ has risen from the grave, you will also arise a new person. If you believe the word that God has spoken to you today, if God has looked down at your deadness and your inability to do anything but blindly followed sin, and He has made you alive, you are no longer spiritually dead – you are dead to sin. By the wonderful, amazing grace of God, you have been saved from death. Go forth, live now as you’ve been made alive.

Place of Abode

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:40:35 GMT

Using the phrase place of abode is not very common and may pop up in an IRS document on occasion to refer to your permanent address or residence. The key here is the idea of permanence as opposed to temporary or even sporadic. You always come home to your place of abode because you belong there.

Now, think about the word abide as Jesus used it when he addressed his disciples in the upper room just before his death. He basically told them to ‘take residence’ in himself. This was where they belonged. This is where they would find life and sustenance just like the analogy of the vine and branches. It was their permanent address, so to speak, and yours as well. You are to come home to this address for life. It is your place of abode. But that’s only the first half.

The second half of this teaching is that Christ also abides in you. The text reads, "Abide in Me, and I in you." You are his place of abode through his Holy Spirit dwelling or abiding in you. It is easy to overlook this fact. He uses the same word, abide, that also expresses a permanent place of abode. Since Christ already dwells in you as a believer, shouldn’t you also make him your place of abode? This is where you belong.

Head Back

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:20:50 GMT

With the beginning of another new year, it is a good idea to look in a forward direction, having a positive, optimistic attitude. But what good is it if the direction you are heading is the wrong one?

Let me suggest that you head back instead. Let me explain. Since you belong to the human family, you can trace your heritage all the way back to the first couple. Man was designed to remain in a relationship with the Creator. This, however, was marred by sin. That relationship has been restored through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. He is the second ‘Adam’ whose family tree you belong to. The problem is that your sinful nature keeps pulling you away from that relationship and you need to head back. Your safest and natural place is back home where you belong—with God.

It may have been many years, a few months, or just days since God was Lord of your life. You need to head back. You've taken over the controls, and like the story of the prodigal son, you have wasted your life by focusing on you instead of him. And just like the story, the Father is anticipating you return. Head back.

Not Again!

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:39:15 GMT

Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? It’s actually not a bad idea—shed those extra pounds, stay within a budget, or be a safer driver. However, personally, I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. If your experience is like mine, it will start out really great but in a few weeks, we’re back to square one. Besides, if you haven’t made them yet, it’s already several days past the 1st of January which means that you already missed your chance!

On a more serious note, there is a ‘resolution’ of a much higher calling that you can make any day of the year. In Hebrews 4:7, quoting from King David, Paul says, “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” This verse refers directly to the divine rest that only comes from trusting in Christ’s finished work on the cross for your eternal salvation. It is one thing to make choices that would give you a better quality of life on this planet, but it is of greater consequence that you make the choice to trust God’s plan for your eternal destiny. Don’t make the mistake of ever thinking that your good behavior will earn you what is an unconditional gift from the Almighty. The obedience he wants of you is to rely on him completely.

You can start the year right—anytime! Make it today. Stop taking charge and let God take over for a change. It’s the best resolution you can ever make!

Your Personal Trainer

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:45:18 GMT

Everyone is unique and different; there are no two people alike, not even identical twins. As a believer, your life experience is also unique and different from everyone else. This calls for a personalized, highly-customized ‘training program’ to fit you exactly. What I am referring to is nothing other than your life experience itself.

Think of all of the situations you have been in—good and bad. Nothing is wasted, especially the unpleasant ones. It is easy to dismiss the dark chapters of your life but then you also are missing God’s intent. He uses every aspect of your life experience to teach, mold, and shape you for a unique purpose in his grand plan of redemption. This is your unique, one-of-a-kind training.

Just like God chose John the Baptist even before birth for the role of preparing the people for the coming Messiah, he also chose you to prepare his way into the hearts of those around you. You may not have a diet of locust and wild honey living in the wilderness, but God is preparing you just the same through everything you are experiencing through your own ‘wilderness’ experience.

As you face the coming year, live each day knowing that God is with you—just like having a personal trainer. Submit every thought, every decision, and every moment to him knowing that you are part of his divine plan.

Stinkin' Shepherds

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 07:09:52 GMT

‘Stinkin’ shepherds’ is how they were referred to in a skit the kids did at the recent Christmas service. In my observation, the narrative on the shepherds’ encounter with the angels is often bypassed or even ignored when there is so much to learn from it. The question is, Why did God choose to make the first public announcement of Christ’s birth to a bunch of losers? As tradition has it, shepherds were typically ex-cons, thugs, and other undesirables in society. Nobody wanted their job.

This encounter is in keeping with Jesus as Emmanuel which means God with us. As we pointed out a few weeks ago, his family tree intentionally included people of ill-repute to demonstrate how much he wanted to identify with the human race. Jesus himself was often found in the company of sinners during his 3 ½-year ministry on earth to show people that he came to save the lost and not the righteous. As a matter of fact, he made his first announcement as the Messiah to someone shunned by society: a Samaritan woman.

The point is that Christ came to save sinners. Since the story of the shepherds is part of the Christmas narrative, Christmas is about Christ coming to save sinners. Since you are a sinner, in a sense, Christmas is about Christ coming to save you. You, my friend, are a ‘stinkin’ shepherd’.

Observe and Be Moved

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:19:57 GMT

We can have all of the information in the world front of us, we can have every argument and every proof for the existence of God and the verification of the scriptures, and we can lay them all out in a nice little package. But except the Spirit of God move in the hearts of unbelievers, these things will avail nothing. You can point to every star and constellation to declare with the Psalmist the glory of God, but it will be gazed upon with blind eyes unless the Lord enables them to see. You can quote every scripture in every chapter of every book in the bible, but it will fall on deaf ears unless the Lord enables them to hear.

Seeing the natural revelation of God in creation and hearing the supernatural revelation of God in the holy scriptures will lead you, like the wise men, to obedience. But it does so only by the will of God, through the grace of God, to the glory of God. Let us see and move.

Let us hear and move. Not by our own desires or on our own strength, but what He wills and through His grace to His glory.

Always Ready

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:12:46 GMT

Have you prayed for something thinking that once you got what you prayed for, you’d be set and won’t need much for a while? That can be perceived as arrogant and rebellious. Here’s why.

As a believer in Christ, you are to surrender your life to him. Since he is your Savior, he is also your Lord. He demands your complete submission and obedience. Even as you pray, your posture remains the same—you give God free reign on how and when he will answer your prayers remaining open to the likelihood that he will continue to direct and guide you. He may send you a new set of instructions to cope with a changing situation that only he can see.

It’s like the ordeal Joseph went through. After receiving instructions from an angel while in Bethlehem, he took mother and child to safety. But Egypt was not his final destination. Upon Herod’s death, the angel then informed him that it was now safe to return. So, he got up again and ended up in Nazareth.

As a follower of Christ, where you are in life at this present time is exactly where God wants you to be whether it be a lousy job or no work at all. He has his reasons—trust him. Your job is to pay attention and always be ready to follow his next set of instructions.

God Is With You

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:58:35 GMT

Christmas is only a few weeks away. Are you aware of the drama, the insinuations, the innuendos surrounding the birth of Jesus? What if I were to tell you that such things are recorded in the Bible—intentionally placed there by God himself? And why on earth would he do such a thing?

What I am referring to is two-fold. There is the genealogy of Jesus that includes people of ill-repute such as Jacob the cheat, Rahab the harlot, and David the murderer. Then there is the incident when Joseph suspected Mary of having premarital sexual relations. Go ahead—read all about it in Matthew 1:1-25. These things, I believe, were all written for a reason by the author under God’s direction—to demonstrate without a doubt that God identifies with all of your failures, your disappointments, and every sin in your life that you are shameful of.

His name, Immanuel, which means “God with us”, in a personal sense also means ‘God with you’. He gladly assumed a position lower than the angels so that he could identify with you. If you have accepted his sacrifice for your sins, he promises that he will never, ever leave you. The next time you feel unworthy, remember this—God is with you.

Most Grateful For

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:33:21 GMT

If you could pick just one thing, what are you most grateful for?

A quick survey of the history of Thanksgiving will show that what people have been thankful for since that memorable harvest feast with the Wampanoag Indians has evolved over the years. The early settlers celebrated their safe passage to America and bountiful harvests. Two hundred years later, Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November a national day of thanksgiving to God in hopes of uniting the nation torn apart by the Civil War. Today, it has become a special time for families to get together and share a traditional meal of turkey and all the fixings.

One obvious observation you should note is that God and Thanksgiving cannot be divorced whether you consider the Pilgrims’ quest for freedom of worship, President Lincoln turning to God for peace, or the dinner table at Thanksgiving where God is acknowledged in prayer. As a believer, I do hope that the one thing you are most grateful is God—for giving you eternal life through his Son Christ Jesus.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

A Full Production

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:45:45 GMT

In order to get the most out of this little blurb, you might want to watch a movie posted on YouTube—Sound of Music at Belgium Train Station. The song Do-Re-Mi is piped through the PA system, then two people spontaneously start dancing to the music in the middle of the hall, quickly followed by more pairs of dancers. A full dance troupe of at least 100 finally emerges and you now realize that this production had been planned all along.

Here’s the moral of the video. Many times we send God a quick prayer on just a slice of our life at the moment—about money, health, work, etc.—not realizing that he has already choreographed an entire ‘production’ to answer that prayer that is way bigger and more significant than you could have ever dreamed of. The priest Zacharias prayed for a child in his old age that God gladly answered and brought along John the Baptist who heralded the coming of the Messiah, his cousin Jesus! Little did Zacharias know that the answer to his prayer involved the plan of salvation that God already had in progress since the beginning of time.

If you are a follower of Christ, expect God to keep drawing you into his plan to save you, your family, and everyone else around you. You may pray for one little thing, but expect God to reveal something greater that he wants to fulfill in your life.

Unconditional Blessing

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:53:26 GMT

The words "By faith Rahab the prostitute" introduce us to our final example in the Hall of Faith. By her faith, which was given by the Lord, she not only provided safety for her entire household, but was blessed to be included in the lineage of Christ! Rahab's remarkable faith was received and displayed before she had been given any promise of deliverance from the dire situation she was in. By faith, she gave a friendly welcome to the spies and did not perish with the unbelieving.

The remarkable thing we have learned throughout this study in Hebrews comes out strikingly in Rahab's story—God can and does use anyone in any situation to fulfill His promises and bring glory to His name. While Rahab may have lied in order to aid the two Hebrew spies and the life she had been living was less than favorable, God still had favor on her. It's very easy for us to look at this and hastily think that she was so far from God that surely He could have used someone more worthy to accomplish His will.

It all boils down to this: apart from Christ, we are all slaves, sold into sin. But Jesus is the redeemer who sets us free from the bondage of sin. We are full of hatred towards God and full of evil, but God is good and faithful to save and forgive us if we confess our sins and turn to Him in repentance. Rahab's sin is no greater than ours and the wages of any sin is death. Just as Rahab was spared from death by her faith, it is by faith which is given to us as a gift (Ephesians 2:8) that we are led into the grace of the Father who saves us from the power of sin and death and raises us in the last day just as Christ was raised for us.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:32:52 GMT

Have you ever prayed for God to intervene in your life in a powerful way and got no response? I’m pretty sure he has his reasons for delaying his response. Here’s one that may apply to you.

So, Moses had just led the Israelites out of Egypt and now they are literally caught between a rock and a hard place: they are flanked by mountains and other structures on both sides, the Egyptian army is right behind them, and there is no way they can make it through the Red Sea right in front of them! Well, you know the rest of the story—God miraculously parted the waters and provided a safe passage for his people.

What amazes me is how God gave specific instructions to Moses to position themselves in this precarious position. But why? The account in Exodus states, “and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." Let me translate: God wants your back against the wall before he comes to your rescue so that he will be honored, and those around you will know that he is the Lord of your life!

The next time you find yourself between a rock and a hard place, you can count on God coming to your rescue for the whole world to see. Admit you are completely helpless and fully rely on his power to fix your problem. He is the Lord of your life and he will do it.

Seeing the Unseen

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:17:48 GMT

It is hard enough to accept that there is a God that truly cares about you, let alone one minor detail—he is invisible! The Bible says that God is spirit, unlike humans who have flesh and bones. How can you, in a physical universe, put your complete trust in someone who is in the spiritual?

Scripture says that Moses “endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.” He took gigantic leaps of faith by moving forward (or backward—depending on how you look at it) knowing that God would always be there. The writer of Hebrews immediately adds that Moses “kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood”, which, in my humble opinion, makes a very significant point. His focus on the main thing—the coming Lamb of God—is the key to seeing the unseen. By physically touching, smelling, and seeing the symbol of the blood which all represented Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, Moses was able to see God through the eyes of faith.

Since Christ’s death as your sacrifice has already occurred in history past, you have the assurance that although God is spirit, he can be seen through the eyes of faith. You can take comfort in his strength through the lives of believers around you that testify to his mercy and grace. Because of his finished work on the cross, you can endure the difficult times you are in because you truly see him who is unseen.

It Is What It Is

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:08:11 GMT

As frail, sinful human beings, we might have the best intentions but the way we go about accomplishing them are hopelessly flawed. We’re dishonest, selfish, doubtful, careless, inconsistent—the list goes on. The question is, How does God deal with our imperfection?

When the king of Egypt questioned the Hebrew midwives why they did not kill all male babies like they were instructed to, they flat-out lied, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." And how did God respond? Scripture says that he was kind to the midwives and blessed them with families of their own. When Baby Moses was discovered in a basket afloat in the Nile River, his sister and mother pretended that they did not even know him in front of Pharoah’s daughter and her entourage. God even orchestrated events so that Baby Moses ended up back at home. When he became an adult, he knew he was committed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and yet the first thing he commits is murder! He goes into hiding for 40 years, and, get this—God still called him to do the job!

The midwives, Moses’ family, and Moses himself—they all meant well and feared God. But their lives were not always filled with integrity and they were good at bungling things up. Sound familiar? It is what it is. As a believer, your imperfect life does not mean that God abandons you. He has already pardoned you. He will always show you kindness and continue to bless you.

What is Your Egypt?

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:28:42 GMT

What a strange question—sounds like Greek (or Egyptian?). I am referring to is Joseph in particular who lived a life that was so far removed from anything he had planned for, and yet is forever etched in history—all to the glory of God. What I am proposing is that you also have such an experience. Let me elaborate.

For starters, Joseph’s series of mishaps all resulted in blessings: being sold to Midianite slave traders then ending up in Potiphar’s household; falsely accused by Pharoah’s wife and imprisoned then ending up as second in command throughout Egypt. His legacy—providing food to many nations during the 7-year famine, as an architect and builder, interpreter of dreams and many others—is recorded in hieroglyphic form that has been preserved over the centuries under the Egyptian name Imhotep. And yet, he was not ashamed to worship the God of Israel and prophecy about the coming Exodus in fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham—the promise of redemption.

Take a moment and take inventory of your life. Do you sometimes wonder why you are where you are, perhaps so far removed from what you had envisioned years ago? Has it occurred to you that God wants to use your circumstances for his glory—to reveal his plan of redemption to those around you?

Take heart and rethink your purpose in life through God’s spectacles. The outlook of your life is much better than you think. This is your Egypt.

Made Worthy

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:01:50 GMT

I got news for you—first, the bad news: you got no business associating yourself with God let alone attempting to worship him. The good news: the cross changes all that.

Nobody, on their own merit, including myself, is ever worthy to be in the presence of Holy God. Our sinful wretchedness and his sinless holiness do not go together. Coming to God requires faith. Take, for example, Jacob—it way by faith in God’s mercy and forgiveness through the coming Messiah that he passed on blessings to the next generation and worshiped God. The low points of his colorful past (vibrantly so!) were a constant reminder of his unworthiness. And yet, God accepted him and fulfilled the promise to bless him and the nations of the earth.

The next time you think you are good enough to come to God, remember that you’re not. The next time you realize how unworthy you are to even worship him, remember that you are made worthy because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

True Faith

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:20:03 GMT

In the whole of Hebrews chapter 11, the writer cites many examples of people who exercised faith. These people, as we see each week when we talk about the specifics of their stories, were not perfect. In fact, some of them were downright rotten. Isaac's son Jacob (to whom he gave the blessing) and even Isaac himself are prime examples of this, and yet the writer calls them and their actions faithful.

True faith is given, not made. The faith that we have in objects, people and things in this world is not the same as the faith we have in Christ. This was the difference between Esau's faith and Jacob's faith. Esau's lifestyle focused only on the things of this world, to the extent that he actually sold his birthright for a measly bowl of soup. By contrast, Jacob (even though he was a sneaky child) had his eyes set on the things that were more important—the birthright and the blessing—things that were signs and symbols of a greater birthright and a greater blessing to come.

If you are a Christian today, it means that God has determined in His unmatched wisdom that you should receive this faith that goes beyond what we see in this life. Hold fast to this promise by the strength of Christ, who gave His life as a ransom for all who believe. Keep your heart from misplaced confidence in the things of this life that so easily distract us and embrace the true faith with eternal promise!

Are You Getting It?

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:54:45 GMT

Tests are used to determine whether or not someone or something deserves a passing grade—potable water, the quality of the air, final exams in school. There are also times when tests are used to reinforce learning—to make sure you are getting it. Take Abraham’s experience: Did he really learn to trust in God completely?

The word test in the original Greek means “to try, make trial of, test…for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself”. When God told Abraham that they were to have a child in their old age, he laughed at the idea! Then God came through. But was he getting it? According to Scripture, God decided to test Abraham by asking him to slay his only son, Isaac—the fulfillment of the very promise just a few years ago. Abraham obeyed without a single trace of doubt to the point that he would have followed through had an angel not intervened. He believed in the coming Messiah that would raise his son back to life.

God wants your complete trust and obedience. Are you getting it? As a believer and a child of God, you will continue to be tested to reinforce your faith in your substitute—the Lamb of God. He already died for you. Eternal life is already yours. He will come through for you.

ROTFL

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:52:57 GMT

ROTFL—that’s internet slang for “rolling on the floor laughing!” Once in a while, somebody would post something on Facebook that is so funny and my response would be ‘ROTFL’. Laughter is a good thing—we laugh at jokes, at our mistakes, or very funny situations. But there are times when laughter reveals a darker side, one of distrust or even disrespect.

Take, for example, when Abraham fell on his face and laughed, very likely in public, when God reminded him that he and his wife would have a son in their old age. Was this something funny to laugh about? Not really because although Sarah laughed quietly, in private, it was still done to express the same lack of trust and their disrespect for Mighty God. God himself called Abraham on it and added, Is anything too hard for the Lord?

God can be trusted. Whenever he promises to do something, he delivers. It may not be when you expect it to happen, but you can be sure that it will when he decides. Think of the last time a verse in the Bible spoke to you. You knew the promise was from God but brushed it off as wishful thinking—it could never happen to you! You doubted God and in a way were ROTFL just like Abraham. But guess what? God will still come through in spite of the disrespect and lack of trust, just because he is a loving and merciful God. Who’s laughing now?

Look Beyond

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:39:42 GMT

When God called Abraham to get up and move to a new country, that in itself was a monumental undertaking. Without even knowing the exact location, he obeyed. This is faith. However, there is more to this scenario. In Hebrews 11, moving to this new place was only temporary—like an alien or temporary resident in a foreign country. Verse 10 points out that the ultimate destination he set his sights on was the city planned and built by God—heaven!

Abraham faced his immediate challenges with confidence because he was secure in the fact that he would eventually make it into God’s eternal kingdom. The same goes for you today: you can face the daily challenges of life because you have the assurance of residing with God in heaven. You can put your complete trust in God to take you through the daily grind because you have hope in his eternal plan for you.

Look beyond the present and set your sights on eternity. Just like Abraham, you are an heir of the kingdom. Your inheritance is secure. Your journey here on earth is only temporary. You belong with God, to live with him forever!

In Reverent Fear

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:54:10 GMT

These days, it's not hard to imagine something as serious as a catastrophic flood that cuts off all human life—that's just something you see in the movies. Despite the withdrawn and disillusioned attitude we take toward things like the flood in Genesis 6-9, the testimony of Noah's faith is something we can really relate to. If we can't relate to it, we can look to it as an example of what our faith in Christ should look like, as well as the way we should be living as followers of Christ.

The example of Noah's faith can help us immeasurably as we go about our days seeking to live righteously and please God by drawing near to Him. Like Noah, we can reverently fear God and what He has said in His word, and by His strength we can be obedient to do what He asks. This obedience will serve as a testimony and condemnation of all who do not follow Christ, and also as living proof that we are heirs of the righteousness which comes by faith.

In Sync

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:09:09 GMT

Have you ever watched a movie and the dialogue is not in sync with the picture? Or, perhaps, a music video where the singer’s lip synching is completely off? This can be quite annoying and ruin the whole experience.

It’s probably like one of those off-days where nothing seems to be working out and you begin to wonder if God is even around. How is this text supposed to work, Trust in the Lord with all your heart…? Consider Enoch’s example. The Bible says that he “walked with God,” a common phrase used in Eastern countries meaning to be constant and familiar in relating to someone. In another verse it says that “he was pleasing to God.” These two phrases actually mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably. Although he did not actually take walks with God here on earth, Enoch lived a life of faith that was constant and familiar with God. The analogy is perfect—walking in sync with God!

Seek God’s will constantly. Become familiar with his mind through his Word. Listen to his directions when to move forward, when to pause, or when to stop and “he will show you which path to take.” This is pleasing to God. By his grace, he will take you to the ultimate place—to walk and live with him for eternity.

Peace Spells Trouble

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:24:04 GMT

Just before Jesus was arrested, he promised his disciples peace—a gift foreign to the world that only he could give. However, along with the peace was the promise that they would have trouble.

You see, the fact that Jesus promises the gift of peace is based on the fact that you will certainly experience difficulties. To be more specific, the type of trouble Jesus referred to in John 16:33 was the coming uncertainty, fear and persecution his followers were to experience shortly after his death and resurrection. The same is true today. Yes, the whole country is having money problems and all its consequences, but the kind of trouble wherein you are to experience his peace is that which will shake the very foundation of your faith.

Your resolve as a believer will be tested in every way. It may be in the form of seemingly insurmountable money problems, unemployment, or a strained relationship—threatening to create doubt and fear in your life. Remember, at the first sign of trouble, the promise that Jesus will give you peace. He won the victory on the cross and has overcome the world!

Faith Is For Real

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:40:01 GMT

What is faith? Do you have any? Actually, you do—sort of. In a way, it is when you anticipate a certain action to take place without a shadow of a doubt. Turn on the faucet—water will flow. Inhale—air will enter your lungs. Fine. But what about having faith in God and what he says he will do?

One version of Hebrews 11:1 defines it as “perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses”. In other words, down deep in your gut, you already regard something as 100 percent true even before any of your five senses has experienced it—like a kid knows he or she is going to Disneyland before even getting in the car! So, you turn on the shower before you feel the water hit your skin. “That’s different,” you might say, “that’s just common sense. It happens all the time”. Well, that’s exactly my point. Faith in God can become ‘common sense’ and happen all the time. But unless you have some reference point or previous encounter with the divine, it may sound like an impossibility just getting started.

Start with the notion that every believer has been given a certain amount of faith. It isn’t something you can come up with on your own—it’s a gift from God. For a reference point, look at the examples in the Bible of how people, just like you and I, ‘perceived as real fact what was not revealed to their senses.’ Or, hang out with someone you know is close to God and experiences faith on a daily basis. It is a fact for many that they have been given a new lease on life on earth with eternal existence to follow. It is for real and you certainly can have some of that.

Persecution Is Not Optional

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:02:20 GMT

Imagine this: You are just leaving the dealership wish a fully-loaded, brand new car, when the car salesman reminds you, ‘By the way, expect your car to be in fender-benders on a regular basis. Don’t be surprised when it gets car-jacked—it’s not optional!’

In essence, this is exactly what the Beatitude says about your new life in Christ: expect ongoing persecution—it’s not optional! Matthew 5:10, Jesus says, Blessed are those who have been persecuted... The verb used is what is called “perfect tense” indicating continual action. The three verbs in verse 11 are also in the active tense—insult, persecute, and say. In 1 Peter 4, the apostle says not to be surprised...as though some strange thing were happening...keep on rejoicing...not to be ashamed. To summarize, after having been given seven wonderful insights of what your life could be like as a Christian, an eighth beatitude is tacked on to remind you that you will suffer insult, persecution, and slander!

Persecution is happening all over the world on a regular basis; believers are being tortured and killed daily because of their faith. Here in the US, it may not be as intense although reports indicate that it is on the rise. As a follower of Christ, expect persecution to come your way as a ‘normal’ part of your life as a Christian. If Christ suffered ridicule and physical harm, why shouldn’t you experience the same?

World Peace

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:57:27 GMT

What a high and lofty goal! But can it be achieved? You bet! However, not in the way you might think. If you are a believer, all you have to do is look at the end game in the book of Revelation. The Prince of Peace does take over the world just like the prophet Isaiah prophesied!

However, I find it a bit disturbing when we take a verse like Matthew 5:9 and start referring to peacemakers as those in law enforcement, politics or even the military to bring about global harmony. Don’t get me wrong—I, too, would like to rid this planet of crime, inequality, and war, but in the way God’s Word teaches. Too often, we take a verse out of context to fit our own personal ideas just like the Jews did when they expected a political Messiah to overthrow the oppressive Roman government. Yes, all the nations will eventually bow down to the Prince of Peace and bring about world peace—when Jesus comes again.

For now, the peace you ought to be concerned with is the peace of knowing Christ your Savior. Being at peace with God because he saved you is the peace he wants you to pass around. Get busy as a peacemaker and share this hope and reality in your daily interaction at home, at work, and in the community. You are an ambassador of the Good News of the Gospel. This spiritual peace is available here and now. World peace will come later in God's timing.

Motivation for Missions

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:38:38 GMT

As a missionary myself, I get really excited whenever it's time to speak on the topic of missions. Actually, in retrospect, I wish I had studied the topic of the motivation for missions more deeply before I headed out for the field. To view a mission field as an opportunity to display and reflect the love of God for His people, and to seriously consider with prayer and fasting the substance of our calling is something that simply cannot be undervalued.

It's no coincidence that my previous sermon was on mercy, illustrating the motivation for mercy, because the same principle can be applied to missions! Just like the merciful one who is so because of the mercy he has received from God, we are servants in missions because of who God is—not just because there is a physical need to fulfill. We must understand the spiritual need of all men (the need for the gospel) and attempt to deliver that which is of first importance (the gospel) before we can hope to be successful in any other missionary work.

The motivation in missions work, the motivation in evangelism, the motivation for all of the things we do on a daily basis is God Himself. God the Holy Spirit is the one who will provide the power to witness wherever the individual goes. When we give to a missions organization, pray for a group of missionaries, go out on a mission trip or endeavor to serve the local community in practical ways—even when we simply preach the gospel, we do so in the power of the Holy Spirit. Fast and pray to God, seek out where He would have you in relation to world missions. You may be surprised with the result!

Nothing Short of Perfection

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:54:20 GMT

Jesus states quite clearly that only the “pure in heart” will see God. There can be no trace of sin in you—immaculate, spotless and impeccable—if you expect to be in God’s presence.

In this beatitude, Jesus is simply stating an absolute that remained unchanged since the fall of man. Even today, it is important you realize that God’s requirement is still the same: nothing short of 100 percent. Just one careless thought of lust or hatred and you fail! You think that this is too hard? No, I say that it is impossible! There is absolutely nothing you can do but accept God’s gift—the sacrifice of his son on the cross. With Christ as your substitute, you are already pure in heart.

Your admission into heaven will always be the pure and sinless life of Christ that is counted on your behalf. In the meantime, God will continue to transform you into his likeness until he returns. It’s like saying, ‘I am pure in heart but not yet’. This grace gives you the assurance that you will see God and at the same time be changed into his likeness when he comes again.

Streams of Mercy

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:51:14 GMT

The merciful person is so blessed because he has received mercy from God and has mercy for others! At Crossweave, we talk a lot about both vertical mercy (mercy from God) and horizontal mercy (mercy for others). Remember that mercy can be as simple as giving a phone call to encourage during the week and as complicated as building an orphanage in Africa. Don't think that what you can do or actually do is too small to be viewed as mercy in God's eyes—even giving a glass of water to someone in need is like doing it for Jesus Himself!

When God shows us mercy and saves our souls by cleansing us with the water of life, He also empowers us to show others mercy and share that loving kindness with the world. The Lord has transformed us into creatures of mercy that are intended to perform acts of mercy toward others in order to transform them through the gospel. Rather than looking to ourselves to find a guide for mercy to follow, trusting in our sinfully flawed ideas of who deserves that grace, God intends for us to look to Himself. Cast yourselves on the mercies of God, that we may be merciful to others—and be supremely blessed!

Starve to Death

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:40:44 GMT

If you quit eating, you will starve to death. Guaranteed. That’s just the way it works. It might take days or even weeks, but the outcome is still the same. This is in the physical realm. What if you were to apply the same scenario in the spiritual?

Jesus told his audience that they would be supremely blessed and fully satisfied if they hunger and thirst for righteousness—basically meaning to have a craving for God. His audience knew too well what it meant to be without food and water. Many times, it was a matter of life and death. Jesus knew real well that he would get their attention by going there and he did. The difference is that he did not apply hunger and thirst to food and water, but to heavenly things—to the only One who is righteous—God. In other words, not to have nourishment from him for the soul, like food and water for the body, spelled starvation and death.

Are there times when you feel ‘dead’ inside and have no sense of direction or energy to move on? The difficult times we live in only make matters worse. You might want to pay more close attention to those spiritual hunger pangs. The promise is that you “shall be satisfied.”

Inherit the Earth?

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:29:57 GMT

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Wait a minute! Aren’t we supposed to be talking about heaven instead? Why the sudden switch?

To his Jewish audience, what Jesus was referring to was clearly the Promised Land—Canaan. But since they had already reached that place, they anticipated a future political kingdom free of the oppressive Roman rule. What they did not know at the time was that Jesus had something even better in mind—his kingdom.

In times of great need such as today, you might be quick to translate a text such as this to mean something material. What God is promising here is an inheritance that you can enjoy beginning now. This kingdom was established when Jesus came and culminates when he comes a second time—in heaven! As a child of God, this inheritance is already yours, just as the word implies. You are living in it even as we speak.

Be Happy-Sad?

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:32:55 GMT

t first glance, this is basically what the beatitude is saying: ‘Happy are those who are sad.’ It just doesn’t make sense. How can one be both happy and sad? As a student of the Word, whenever you come across what seems to be a contradiction in Scripture, this is your cue to look beyond the words on the surface and dig a little deeper. This is another instance of the Master using the natural to explain the spiritual.

Do you remember the last time you were profoundly saddened by a loss—perhaps a loved one, a relationship, or even a job? The lesson of Matthew 5:4 is this: you achieve a level of unspeakable peace and contentment when you acknowledge your utter worthlessness as a sinner. You mourn the loss of the divine image you were created in because of sin. The apostle Paul refers to this as godly sorrow and humility before a holy and righteous God.

The next time you have some quiet time—at work, driving alone, or first thing in the morning—reflect on the gravity of your sinfulness that required Jesus to die for you. Heavenly comfort and supreme blessedness can be yours. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

The Poor In Spirit

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:04:26 GMT

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? If all it means is the lack of money, then the needy in your neighborhood would all enter into the kingdom of heaven. From the context of the Sermon on the Mount, this form of poverty is spiritual in nature—more like spiritual bankruptcy.

The Bible teaches that the entire human race is spiritually bankrupt. All of your goodness is like filthy rags; there is absolutely no one righteous; even your greatest achievements are considered dung. But this can hardly mean that every person ever born can enter into God’s kingdom. This condition has to be taken a couple of steps further. Let me explain.

To be poor in spirit in the beatitudes means to recognize your utter sinfulness and to seek after God’s grace as your only hope. It is one thing to know you are hopelessly sinful; it is another to recognize Christ as your only way out and act on it. As a believer, this condition brings you supreme blessings and the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. So, are you poor in spirit?

Wheat and Weeds

Tue, 26 May 2009 14:15:03 GMT

It's remarkable how two things, one that is used to create delicious food and the other that is good for nothing, can look so similar. The parable of the weeds reminds us all that we can't live our lives inside of a 'bubble' and be surrounded by only Christians. In this world (and even in our church), the good seeds and bad seeds grow up together—and this is how it's meant to be!

Remember, as you go about your week that Christ is the master of the field called planet earth, that we are His humble servants. May we all learn from the Master in obedience to His ways, that we would be safe from the enemy's schemes and prosper in this life. Let us also remember that there will come a day when all of the bad seed (the children of the devil) will be gathered together and burned in judgment, and the good seed (all who believe the gospel and are children of the kingdom) will be brought into God's storehouse.

Ask Christ to make you humble and low, that He may raise you up on the last day.

Your Are Safe Here

Tue, 19 May 2009 17:43:36 GMT

Have you noticed that just about every success story you hear about had a small and humble beginning? McDonald’s—from two brothers to over 413,000 workers today; Yahoo—once a hobby for two Stanford students now has over 345 million users.

The Kingdom of God had an obscure, humble beginning with Jesus’ birth in a small town. His followers that started with just 12, mostly uneducated, have grown to over 2 billion worldwide—not counting scores of undisclosed members meeting secretly and generations of previous followers that have passed on. Jesus chose the tiny mustard seed to illustrate this phenomenal growth—from a speck 1 millimeter in diameter to a tree over 15 feet tall! This massive movement continues to experience relentless growth even as we speak, with no signs of stopping anytime soon.

What does this have to do with you? If you are already a believer, then you are a part of this growing body—the Body of Christ. In spite of the current attack on Christianity in political and academic circles (mostly unpublicized), the proclamation of the Good News continues to advance. As a subject of the King of Kings, you may rest assured that this kingdom will prevail no matter what until the culmination of his return. You are safe here.

Sin-Proof?

Tue, 12 May 2009 14:52:16 GMT

Is it possible to sin-proof your life? Where do I sign up?

According to the apostle John, “No one who is born of God practices sin because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” The form of the verb “sin” is in the active present, meaning a habitual, continual act or practice. This form of the verb distinguishes it from the sins you and I commit everyday that apostle assures us our Advocate, Jesus Chris himself, takes care of.

As a believer, you are now family—born of God. Through his power, the direction of your life, or your agenda, is no longer to sin. The Seed who is Christ the Living Word, now lives in you through the promised Holy Spirit. His presence in you is your guarantee that you will live eternally when Jesus comes back. With such an assurance, how can you even think of sinning?

Make sure you ‘sign up’ unless you already have.

Born Again Again?

Wed, 06 May 2009 07:55:32 GMT

The Bible teaching of being born again is key in the life of the believer. You may have heard the phrase or used it so many times that it has lost its meaning. Perhaps the perspective from the apostle Peter might give you renewed insight to what it means.

He uses the analogy of being born of imperishable seed. This imperishable seed is no one else but Christ himself, the living word of God. The apostle Paul makes that very clear in Galatians 3:16. Imperishable seed—what is the significance? Simple. An apple seed brings forth apples. An orange seed brings forth apples. The imperishable seed—Christ—brings forth imperishable offspring—Christians!

If you claim Christ as your Savior, then you have been born again into a life that will never perish. Your natural birth brought you sure death; your spiritual birth will surely bring you eternal life! There is no better place to be than being born again!

Expected to Grow

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:28:54 GMT

I recall, as a kid, working on ‘seed art’—a kind of ‘natural mosaic’, if you please. An assortment of colorful seeds were glued on to a piece of plywood to form an image such as an animal or landscape. To put it bluntly, many churches and believers are like this: everything looks great and exciting just like mounted seeds.

Seeds represent the word of the kingdom and are meant to be planted so that they grow and mature. In the parable of the sower, the seeds that fell among the thorns, perhaps, describe the situation you might be going through today. The knowledge of God’s mercy and grace have not had a chance to germinate and mature because it is “crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life.” The overwhelming concerns you have in every aspect of your life are choking the life out of God’s word.

Jesus desires you to grow in good soil—to accept your need for mercy and grace with an honest and good heart, and cling to him with all you got. Growth is expected here. God promises you a bountiful harvest and it is yours to receive!

Hurry Up and Die!

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:47:40 GMT

This title, at first glance, sounds awful! However, the apostle Paul wouldn’t think so. In addressing the Christians in the city of Corinth who did not believe in the resurrection, this was his counsel to them—What you sow does not come to life unless it dies (1 Cor. 15:36 NIV). What did he mean by this?

There are two ways to look at this passage. Paul could have been referring to the fact that Christ had to die before his resurrection could take place. Or, he could also have been referring to those who did not believe in the resurrection. In order for them to experience growth, new life, and eternal life itself, they too must die by accepting Christ’s death in their stead.

Here’s the deal: if you are not experiencing growth, new life, or do not have the hope of eternal life, then you too must die by accepting Christ’s death as your very own. Claim that payment he made on the cross for you. You are no longer required to pay this debt. Christ now has full ownership of you and you must give full control of your life over to him. So, hurry up and die already!

Were You There?

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:52:15 GMT

The first line of this spiritual song goes, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” I never really gave it much thought until just recently. The fact is, you were there—not as a spectator but as a participant! It’s like this illustration:

You are driving down the highway in a pickup truck when 200 miles later you get pulled over. Apparently, the little hutch on top of the desk you are moving broke loose and hit the windshield of another car causing the death of the driver and her 5-year-old son. You are in shock and stare past the officer in utter disbelief.

In reality, you have been cruising down life’s highway and 2000 years later, I hope you realize that it is you that caused Christ’s death on the cross. Your sinful self already existed in his mind while he experienced the horrific agonizing pain of your sacrifice. He paid the only price that would satisfy the penalty of death—his own death.

Yes, you were there.

-Ritchie

Click HERE to comment

Just Another Holiday?

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:31:45 GMT

With Easter only a few days away, is this going to be just another holiday? Have any plans for celebration?

For some, this is one of two occasions to attend a church service (the other being Christmas). Perhaps your church is doing the ‘usual’ thing that you won’t even take notice this weekend. I know of some churches that don’t even make Easter such a big deal anymore. Then there are those few, perhaps more affluent churches that go all out with the huge publicity and production.

Here’s an idea: this time around, go beyond the holiday—the egg hunt, bunnies, even the Sunday sunrise service—and get to the heart of Easter, Christ himself. Ask yourself, “Why did he have to die?” “How does his death affect my life?” “What future do I have if he did not sacrifice his life?”

Easter is not just another holiday. I do hope that you rediscover the person it points to and the value of his death and resurrection for you and for all mankind.

Pursuing Eternity

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:07:04 GMT

We hear a lot about investing today, especially from our government and in the news. We are told to invest in things like health care, retirement, education and many other things that are certainly worthwhile investments, but they all share a common thread—they will pass away.

The scriptures encourage us to press on toward Christ and put off anything that ensnares us; the word of God tells us that we must pursue that which is eternal and keep our focus off of the temporary things and on God Himself. The unfailing love of God is the only place to start this, and the self-sacrificial, patient and benevolent perfect love for one another is a great place to end. Love God and keep His commandments; love your neighbor as yourself.

As we go through our week, let's be thinking about how we can make worthy investments in loving God and people. Let us be motivated by love to practice the good work of showing that love to others by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and being the church 24/7!

You've Got to be Kidding!

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:49:13 GMT

There are a total of 15 facets of love listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7—15 expectations of each member of Christ’s body. This is that love you must have or else anything you do or accomplish amounts to nothing. Zero.

But there’s a slight problem here. This description of love—patient, kind, not jealous, not prideful, etc.—is exactly what Moses got a glimpse of when he met God on the mountain in the wilderness. So, as believers, are we expected to love exactly the same way God does? You got to be kidding! How can Paul demand of us traits that describe God himself? Is to love in this way even possible?

Jesus said that through God, all things are possible. First, if you are already a believer, your life is already hidden in Christ—God sees Christ’s perfect character in place of yours. Second, as a believer, the Holy Spirit dwells in you and is actively transforming you to love this way—all 15 different facets! Impossible? Think again.

Forget It!

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:22:55 GMT

In essence, this is what the apostle Paul says, even of the most amazing thing you can do—help the poor, feed the hungry, or outdo Mother Theresa. If it is not done because of love, it is worthless!

Sound pretty harsh? Perhaps. The main point is that when all is said and done, after the dust settles, all things considered, the only thing that counts in your life is the love of God. To be mores specific, it is his agape love: that sacrificial, unconditional, everlasting love. The question is, do you know that love? Do you experience that love each day? Is this the driving force of everything you do and say? Everything else that you do, no matter how noble or well-intentioned, is worth nothing unless it emanates from a heart that has been melted and transformed by God’s love.

Stop what you are doing and go back to the starting point of the cross. Christ’s sacrifice was meant to form the foundation of your life, you’re day-to-day living. Embrace it today!

Who Can You Trust?

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:14:50 GMT

The muck and mire we are stuck in as a nation is real. If you do not think you are affected by it, perhaps it’s time you got your head out of the sand. The question is, Who can you trust to guide you out of this mess?

The phrase, “from the cradle to the grave”, caught my attention the other day. Looking at the bigger picture, who do you trust with your entire existence here on earth, to navigate the troubled waters you’re in until the day you die? Whether you may agree or not, the answer to this question is beyond the scope of even the best-case scenario of President Lincoln’s “government of the people, by the people”. Even our brightest financial guru’s and the best minds in Washington remain clueless. If the lessons of history can be trusted, resorting to a form of socialism will only make matters worse.

A former leader in Israel, King Solomon, once wrote: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” Unless you got a better idea, this is the only admonition that makes sense. As a believer, make this your agenda each and every day—trust God with your whole life.

The Wrong Answer?

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:50:53 GMT

Have you ever ordered something over the phone or the internet and receive the wrong item in the mail? Well, it’s like praying for something, and when it gets answered, it’s the wrong answer! Or is it? Can it be that someone up there new better and ‘switched’ the answer to your prayer with something even better?

The apostle Paul teaches exactly that in Romans 8. He explains that the Holy Spirit intercedes each time you pray “with groanings too deep for words”. If you are a believer, according to Scripture, he already dwells in you. He actually knows you more than you know yourself. You don’t even know how to pray or what to pray for. He ‘intercepts’ your prayers and fashions them according to the will of God. You think you received the wrong answer because you prayed for the wrong thing!

The next time you approach his throne with your petition, keep in mind that it is always subject to the Holy Spirit’s modification or replacement. And when your prayer is answered, it will be the right answer every single time.

It's All About the Wait

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:57:07 GMT

Waiting. If you’re like me, you do not relish the thought of having to wait in line at the bank, in traffic, or for anything. But what if I were to tell you that being a believer is all about waiting? Or what if I paraphrased Romans 1:17 like this—‘the righteous shall live by waiting’?

The original passage in Romans is found in Habakkuk 2:4 set in the context of God assuring the prophet that his vision will not fail. The idea of waiting is underscored in the preceding verse—“It hastens toward the goal…wait for it… it will certainly come, it will not delay.” This is the context of the passage “But the righteous will live by his faith.” You, as a believer, are to live of life of waiting.

When God makes a promise, it will certainly happen. It’s just a matter of when. Romans 8:32 teaches that if God sent his Son to die for you, why wouldn’t he also give you “all things”? The Bible also teaches that Christ came “at the right time”. If he came on time, so will all of the blessings he has for you—right on time according to his time. It’s all about the wait.

Hope In God

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:12:14 GMT

There are surely times in your life when you feel like David—times when oppression and various adversaries surround you and cut you down until you fall into a terrible despair. Perhaps that time is now, perhaps it was in the past and perhaps these hard times are yet to come. No matter when, hard times will come eventually. It is unrealistic (and actually unbiblical) to believe that once one becomes a Christian, all life is smooth sailing and trouble-free.

Be assured and forewarned that hard times will indeed come, but also know that for those covered with the blood of Christ, those hard times will last only a short while. Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning! It was once rightly said that for the saint, we may take great comfort to know that this life on earth is the closest we will ever come to hell. We know this because Jesus the Christ suffered the agonies of hell on behalf of the elect of God—He took the punishment so we never have to face it ourselves. What wondrous grace!

No matter what your problems and persecution are, know that we have a Savior God that was "a Man of sorrows and deeply afflicted" who experienced every pain and anguish in life. Know that we have a great High Priest that can sympathize with us in our troubles, and know also that if Jesus conquered the grave to redeem your soul, He can surely defeat your worst fears and bring you through all manner of trial and tribulation. Hope in God, our once suffering but now gloriously risen Savior and Friend!

Jesus IS the House

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:33:38 GMT

You might have come across the title “Jesus Is In the House” but what I'd like to say is that Jesus IS the house! Doesn't quite make sense? Let me show you how that works. Understanding this concept can do you a lot of good.

The last verse of Psalm 23 reads, “and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” But what house is David talking about? Easy. Fast forward all the way to the story when Jesus drove out the merchants from the temple. The account in John 2 quotes Jesus referring to himself as the house—“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Jesus IS the house! You are to dwell in him. Perhaps you have only been an occasional renter. It's time you moved in and made him your permanent address—forever!

The preceding line in Psalm 23:6 reads, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”. Can you think of a better deal, especially in today's insanity? There is a peace and calm assurance that can be yours starting now. It just depends on where you live these days.

Got Some Enemies?

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 07:09:50 GMT

You got to have some—enemies! If you don’t, we got to talk. The Bible teaches that if you are a follower of Christ, you will have enemies just like he himself had enemies. It’s a given: follow Christ and you will face opposition. You see, having enemies can be a good thing if it indicates your allegiance to Christ.

So, what’s the point? The fact that you will have enemies comes with a beautiful promise: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” (Psalm 23:5 NASB) Picture yourself in the middle of a raging battle, and at the same time picture an amazing feast being laid out in front of you while the enemy helplessly looks on in absolute disbelief! This is exactly what King David was experiencing when he penned these lyrics—so assured of the care and sustaining power of the Shepherd amidst his most troubling times. You get the picture?

As our nation braces itself for the worst that is yet to come, there is a calm confidence that you can count on. God promises to provide whatever it takes (and more!) to face all of your enemies, whether they be in the form of persons or circumstances. You have been anointed for a special task and his provision for you is spilling over!

No Fear

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:30:37 GMT

The verse from the 23rd Psalm goes, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...” A good starting point in understanding this passage is to create the imagery in your mind of a shepherd guiding his sheep through a valley where danger lurks in the shadows. What I find interesting here is that the fear is in the shadow, and not death itself.

There is a lesson to be learned in this illustration. How many times has worry or the thought of failure kept you up all night? The disaster has not actually occrued yet however the mere thought of it terrifies you! Such is the reality of our daily lives—we are fearful of shadows and not the actual cataclysmic event such as death itself. Last time I checked, you are alive and kicking although some shadow of worry may be torturing you! And another thing—Christ has already conquered death!

The rest of the phrase in verse 5 reads, “I will fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” The presence of the shepherd and his night stick vanishes every reason to be afraid. Again, the last time I checked, if you are already a believer, you do have God's presence in your life through the Holy Spirit. He is always present and all powerful! Have no fear, my friend.

What Do We Do Next?

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:52:32 GMT

History has been made! A record crowd braving 25-degree and below temperatures flooded the National Mall to witness the inauguration of the first African-American president of the United States. The explosion of unprecedented enthusiasm at this momentous event in Washington DC was described by some as “off the charts”. Now the question to ask is, What do we do next?

As a Christian, you have the responsibility of supporting and obeying the new Commander-in-Chief regardless of who you voted for in the election. Yes, you heard it right. This is the biblical injunction and it is the right thing to do. Barrack Obama, now our 44th president, summarized it well when he said, “On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.” It is time that we set our political differences aside and “begin again the work of remaking America.”

However, as a follower of Christ and a citizen of this great nation, you have a unique role to play. Your primary task remains unchanged—you are to continue preaching the Gospel with fervor and determination. Your citizenship in God's Kingdom takes precedence over the earthly. Your allegiance is to God first, man second. And, when human leadership gets in the way—and it will—as you carry out your divine marching orders, like the apostles, you must “obey God rather than men.” Do not allow the references to God and the Bible during the inaugural speech make you think even for one moment that opposition to God and Christianity is no longer a threat in this country. You are to uphold and protect the same principles America was built on by our forefathers as we “dust ourselves off” and move on.

Now that the rhetoric has died down, the real work begins. God [continue to] bless America!

Wants vs. Needs

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:29:05 GMT

One thing that you can learn from sheep is that life is simple and they are content with what they have. If you look closer, the shepherd has the last word on where they go, what they do, and what they actually need.

The apostle Paul writes that God will supply all your needs, not your wants—a huge difference. The problem is that, too often, you treat your wants as if they were needs. And then you wonder why God isn't replenishing your supply. It might be worth your while to take inventory of the things you think you lack—they might actually be things you want and not what you need. His resources are inexhaustible and he is waiting to flood you with them.

The Lord is your Shepherd—why not have him define what your needs are? Ask for wisdom, discerment, and contentment for what you already have. If he is your Shepherd, then you must be one of his sheep. Take on the role and start acting like one. Let him lead. Rely on him.

No Resolutions for the New Year?

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:33:43 GMT

‘I will eat less’, ‘I will stop procrastinating’, ‘I will read my Bible everyday’, ‘I will…”—and so forth. New Year’s resolutions put a lot of emphasis on self, on what I can do. As a believer, how about flipping this 180 degrees? Instead of dwelling on self, how about starting the New Year thinking about what God is doing and can do?

Take, for example, Psalm 23: “The Lord is my Shepherd”. It starts out with God himself—The Lord. The all-powerful, all-knowing, all-sufficient, creator of the universe is my shepherd—a present, not past or future, reality. He is my shepherd meaning that the way he cares for me is as highly personalized and specialized to suit my personality and my needs as the ringtones and wallpaper of my cell phone. Recognizing him as a shepherd is admission that I am part of the sheep species—submissive creatures whose survival depends on that trust relationship with one who will lead and protect. Just like a lamb, your entire existence hangs on God’s leadership and provision in your life.

In today’s volatile economy, this analogy is perfect. There is absolutely no one on earth that has any reliable or accurate information on what is going to happen next, let alone give dependable advice on what to do next. The only One who can take you through the mess we’re in is the Good Shepherd of the Bible—Jesus Christ himself. His sacrifice for you on the cross was just the initial deposit for your eternal salvation. He wants to take you by the hand through these perilous times to safety.

Give Like a Macedonian

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:12:15 GMT

How do you think you would react if you saw someone whom you knew was living in poverty come up to you and joyfully beg you to allow them to give you money? In our society, I'm sure the response would be a puzzled look or perhaps a cocked head and thought of clinical insanity! In the early church example of the Macedonians, however, we have a great example of biblical giving from a grateful heart!

When we give to God and to others by sharing the gospel, praying, giving money and using our abilities to glorify God; we should do so in this same way—with a sense of gratefulness for all that we've been given! In this season of giving, especially following a holiday about giving thanks, what better time is there to reflect on what we've been given (everything) and consider how we will react as stewards of God's provision.

As you go about your week, consider your giving in light of the greatest gift of all, eternal life through Jesus Christ. We should also consider that God-honoring and joyful motivation behind that gift when we check our own hearts in giving, that we may be good stewards and gift-givers. May you give faithfully and abundantly according to what you have been given, and may the Lord our Father bless you immensely that you may give more and more as time goes on.

Apollo 8 and Christmas

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:43:10 GMT

Exactly 40 years ago, on Christmas Eve, a very significant historic event took place—no, not making it to the moon although that, too, was historic. I’m talking about three of the nation’s top scientists, funded by American tax dollars, reading the Creation story from the Bible to a crowd of millions on planet earth! What is so significant about this?

In today’s arena of political correctness, such a feat might easily be construed as a ‘hate crime’. If the display of mannequins and stuffed animals offends atheists, what more would a public, global acknowledgment of God as the Creator of the universe? What astronauts Anders, Borman & Lovell did while circling the moon in 1968 underscores the dramatic shift that has taken place. It is no longer considered ‘politically correct’ by some to acknowledge God in public let alone put up a nativity scene.

Jesus told his disciples that they would be hated and despised; today’s public outrage comes as no surprise. Take courage the next time your faith comes under fire. It means that the Christ of Christmas poses a real threat to those who do not honor him because he is the Promised One. Stand up this Christmas and proudly proclaim the God of the heavens who came to earth to die for sinners.

He Is the Boss of You

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:13:28 GMT

The real meaning of Christmas goes against the grain of today's self-centered and independent-minded society where nobody wants to be told what to do. Even my own kids will say to one another, 'You're not the boss of me!'

Did you know that Christmas is about Christ ruling in your life as Lord? It is about God who rightfully deserves this lordship because he created you and also saved you. This is exactly what the angel announced to the shepherds who were watching their flock one night, “for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Has it fully hit you that the One whose birth we celebrate once a year, is actually the God of the Universe himself who desperately wants to be the Lord of your life? All things considered, he is the boss of you.

Intelligent Design

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:23:12 GMT

More and more scientists are beginning to consider intelligent design as an alternative to the popular theory of evolution. This trend in academia fueled by the increasing realization of the complexity of the basic cell, not to mention the flaws and questions that riddle Darwinism, is bringing more attention to Creationism and the existence of God.

You might ask, ‘What does any of this have to do with me?’ 'So what, if more scientists start believing in some force or being that designed life down to the minutest strand of DNA?' 'So what if, evolution gets knocked of its pedestal (which I doubt will ever happen) and Creation be taught side-by-side with evolution in the classroom (I doubt that too)?'

As a Christian, you can rest assured that if there is a God that designed a finely-tuned universe that supports life balanced on a razor’s edge, he designed your life with meaning and purpose as well. Each time your future looks bleak, or your day is going so bad that you just want to quit, think about the idea of intelligent design in your life in spite of all the negativity. Look beyond your circumstances and start noticing evidences of God’s working in your life.

Make this another way of celebrating Christmas this season—Baby Jesus from the cradle to the Creator who made you with a purpose! Perhaps Christmas was ‘designed’ to point to intelligent design—yours!

Nothing to Fear

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:57:57 GMT

Going to court and standing in front of a judge to contest a traffic ticket was, perhaps, the most frightening experience I’ve ever had. Judgment and fear seem to go hand in hand—especially when you think about the impending judgment on the last day.

Well, if you are already a believer and have accepted Christ as your sub (for your death), you have no reason to be fearful. There is no judgment day to be afraid of. The moment you became a Christian, you “passed out of death into life”. And those who have already rejected God’s offer of salvation, according to the Bible, have already been judged. The day of reckoning that is to come on the last day is when God will reward you for the good works you’ve done as one already saved by grace. The decision to grant you eternal life would have been made way before then.

Jesus came to earth the first time not to judge but to save. When he comes again, he will bring judgment—nothing to fear as long as he is your Savior. Dwell on that thought this Christmas.

The Gifts vs. The Giver

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:05:30 GMT

It is so typical to express your gratitude for things God blesses you with such as a place to live, clothes, good health, a job (if you have one), or even the people in your life. But I’d like to propose that you thank God simply for who he is and not just the things that are only temporary.

Let me illustrate. A wealthy couple from the States adopts an orphan from a third world country and gives that child the hope of a new life—a family, a home, a nice car, a fine education, a career—the American dream! You are this child, now ready to move on. How would you thank your adoptive parents? Would you come up with a list of things you can thank them for? Or, would it be more meaningful to thank them for who they are to you—the kindest people who came into your life and showered a very undeserving child with love and affection?

Yes, God is a giver of good gifts and deserves your gratitude. But more than that, he deserves your highest praise just because of who he is. As the Psalmist wrote, “His love endures forever.” He gave you the ultimate gift, his own Son, to die in your place. Thank God that he came into your life to take you as his very own—to love in this life and through eternity.

Expedience

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:56:19 GMT

As we go about our days, we're faced with choices concerning how we spend our time. We can choose to read, exercise, study, mow the lawn or just about anything else. Whatever we do, we must be sure that we are spending our time wisely and doing all things to the glory of God. In Titus 3, Paul explains what this isn't and what it is.

We must not spend our time arguing over petty things, including things that we may consider 'spiritual', and dividing over issues that are 'moronic'! On the contrary, our time is best spent edifying one another (building each other up in love) and taking care of each others' needs from day to day. Just like Paul asked Titus in his letter, we should be (and hopefully are) making sure that our brothers and sisters are not lacking anything, but have everything we need.

Next week is Thanksgiving, and what better thing to be thankful for than God's supply, despite the drought of the current financial hardships of our time. Praise God for His unfailing character, His mercies that are fresh each morning and His total support and provision.

It's All About Grace

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:13:09 GMT

As Christians, when we think about the holidays—Thanksgiving and Christmas especially—the central theme remains the same: It's all about grace! In our study on Titus, Paul begins and ends his letter talking about God's grace just to underscore it's significance.

In the day-to-day life, there are so many things that fight for our attention and take our focus away from grace. Paul singles out foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law. He even calls them unprofitable and useless. Do you sometimes find yourself so wrapped up in activities that have absolutely nothing to do with your salvation? Looking back, do you find certain things you've done that were unprofitable and useless—a complete waste of time?

Let's make God's grace the center of the coming holidays, and even more so, the center of our lives. Take away anything that gets in the way. Let us devote our full attention to studying, meditating on, and sharing the gospel.

Who Can You Trust?

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:17:55 GMT

In today’s society, especially after the recent elections, who can you trust? All the rhetoric along the campaign trail is suspect—according to at least one political watchdog—where every single major candidate told some half-truth or even a blatant lie.

The apostle Paul had good reason to use the phrase This is a trustworthy statement when addressing the believers on the island of Crete who were known for their habitual lying. He wanted to assure his audience that what he was telling them was reliable and true. So, what is this trustworthy statement?

Simply put, it is the fact that he saved us. He saved you. Not on the basis of anything good you’ve done but on the basis of his mercy and grace. Period. Take everything else you hear with a grain of salt. But the fact that God saved you through his Son Jesus Christ is a statement you can rely on 100 percent! Don’t put your trust in any man; put all your trust in a God who cannot lie, who desires to restore your relationship with himself for eternity!

How Should a Christian Vote?

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:22:38 GMT

Do you realize that, for a Christian believer, when it comes to voting in an election, the stakes are much higher? The way you cast your ballot goes way beyond the issues presented by both major parties. How is this so?

Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness”. This is a principle that you, as a professing follower are to live by in every aspect of life, including the way you vote. If the expansion of God’s kingdom—God’s present reign on earth through his followers—is your top priority, the way you vote would reflect choices that promote and support this kingdom. All the other issues, significant as they are—the economy, jobs, taxes, health care—pale by comparison. It is your duty to help shape government policy in a way that advances the Great Commission to preach the gospel.

Perceiving your role in the democratic process in this way gives more importance to the character and moral judgment of a candidate. It also juxtaposes each proposition against the Judeo-Christian principles America has been built on.

Voting is both a privilege and a responsibility. Exercise it not just for the future of the establishment, but for the establishment of God’s kingdom.

Our Spiritual Armory

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:55:09 GMT

No matter where you stand on the controversy of whether or not to celebrate Halloween (for whatever reason), we all deal with spiritual warfare in our lives. For this reason, it is very important that we are aware of the tools and equipment God has given us to stand against the enemy in these times. Our father, the great supplier of all things, has not left us as orphans but came to us (John 14:18), bearing a suit of armor and strong weapons with which to wage war in the Spirit.

The armor of God all works together to show us that Jesus Christ is our real armor to wear as we go into battle as soldiers of the gospel. He is the truth, our righteousness, the heart of the gospel and our peace, the object of our faith and the author and guarantor of our salvation! With all these vital pieces of armor at our side (or on our bodies), we need not fear the spiritual darkness we may be living in. Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

From Gridlock to Grace

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:25:34 GMT

Ever been stuck in traffic? I mean really bad traffic like gridlock where you are completely immobilized. For many, this is what it feels like in today’s failing economy—out of a job, out of money, mounting bills—you got the picture. How do you cope when you get stuck?

Economist Paul Romer writes, "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste." There is much to be gained even from life’s toughest situations. Another Paul—the apostle—writes, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Yes, your ‘gridlock’ has the potential of giving you more confidence in God’s salvation. Remember the sequence: problems, endurance, character, confidence.

So, the next time you feel trapped and strapped, don’t let the opportunity go to waste. Your gridlock can lead to grace. Count it a blessing and eagerly anticipate what God has in store.

Make God Look Good

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:48:24 GMT

God is good. His word is good. But did you know that you are called to dress up or make God and his word look good? The word Paul uses is adorn, the same Greek word we get cosmetics from. Here’s how it works. Whether you are aware of it or not, people are constantly watching you as a believer. But all the good you know about God is useless unless the onlooker is attracted to it. This is best accomplish by ‘adorning’ him and his teachings by living your life in such a way that puts God and his truth in the best possible light.

This was the advice that Paul gave to Titus for the Christians in Crete whose lives were far from honorable. The lives of elders were to be above reproach. The more mature members were to mentor the younger ones. There was to be respect and honesty in the workplace. Other traits he encouraged were self-control, sexual purity, kindness, and love. Note that it took a group—the church body—and not individual believers to accomplish this goal.

The next time you decide on how to act or what to say in any particular situation, remember that you are making God look good.

Beware of False Teachers

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:04:59 GMT

Just a reminder: Be on the alert for individuals in church who teach false doctrines—yes, even in your local church! Remember Jesus' parable on the wheat and the tares? The weeds are allowed to mature alongside the good crop until the harvest when they are thrown in the fire. Paul specifically singles out Jewish myths, commandments of men, and those of the circumcision party, all found within the church. These were either distortions of the Gospel or non-sensical, 'empty', ideas that distracted believers away from a clear view of God's mercy and grace.

'That was back then!' you might say, 'I don't have to worry about that problem anymore!' Yes you do! The attacks from evil forces are even more intense today although probably very subtle and seemingly harmless. Here are just a few examples:

Just live a good life and love everyone. Wrong. Only God is good. You and good don't mix. Only the sacrifice of Christ can make you good.
There are many ways that lead to God. That's a lie. The Bible teaches that Christ is the only way.
'Name it – Claim it'. God is not Santa Claus. Oh, and you aren't in-charge either—God calls for complete surrender to, and dependence on him.

One last thing: Make sure you know that you are, and how you are saved. It makes the biggest difference in the whole world! Being well-versed in a solid understanding of the Gospel from God's Word will make it easier to discern error and spot false teachers and their teachings. Consider yourself forewarned!

What Is an Elder?

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:41:35 GMT

Back in March or April of this year, I set out to the task of researching biblical eldership in order to help Ritchie structure the government of Crossweave. What I found was interesting, I learned that what I thought of elders all along was not even in the Bible! I listened to lots of sermons and seminars on the topic, but what really convinced me was simply reading what God's Word had to say about it.

Knowing about Biblical eldership is important to all of us, because in order to trust our leaders to take us in the right direction (toward Christ in response to His finished work on the cross) we must see that they are living the way the Bible says we should live. The standards of being an elder are the standards of being a Christian: relying on God to supply every need and enable us to live above reproach!

As you go through this week, meditate on the graces mentioned in this passage we've studied—hospitality, self-control, uprightness, holiness, peace and soberness of heart and body. Consider yourself in the light of these things and pray earnestly that God would lead you in these ways and miraculously work into you these values.

God's Sure Promise

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:52:16 GMT

With all the talk in the news about government bailouts of companies going under, it's hard to tell who we can trust to make good on their word anymore! When you put money in a bank, the bank ensures that they will keep your money safe for you. In a similar way, God makes a promise to us to provide salvation from our sin. The way He backs this up is by rooting the tree of salvation in His own character —which is far more reliable than the FDIC! We can be assured that God's salvation is on solid ground since it was birthed from His own character in eternity past, before creation.

As I said on Sunday, to know that we are loved by God is a blessing indeed. To know the extent of that love and the origin of it is even more breathtaking! Not only to be loved, but to be chosen unconditionally. Not only to be chosen but to be predestined for an adoption as sons and daughters, despite our inherently sinful and wicked conditions. To do all this for sinners, at the cost of the sacrifice of God's own Son— bearing in His soul and on His body the fierce wrath of almighty God that we all unquestionably deserve. Praise God for His sure promise!

"Don't Worry, Be Happy!"

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:07:27 GMT

You remember Bobby McFerrin’s pop song from the 80’s? Not bad advice for 2008 in a world of extreme chaos and uncertainty. It is certainly a virtue worth acquiring; you don’t even have to be religious.

The apostle Paul has a teaching along the same lines called contentment. It doesn’t come easily or naturally. He says, “I have learned to be content…”—not just in one thing but in any situation. You might argue, ‘Easy for him to say because he knew nothing of our modern culture.’ Well, not so fast. Paul goes on and ties the idea of contentment with trusting in God, and not in riches or money. Here’s another way of putting it: Trusting in material wealth brings discontentment while putting your hope in God brings contentment. The principle remains true whether you lived in the 1st or the 21st century.

Contentment. It's more than being worry-free and happy. It is about putting all your trust in God—completely. Perhaps this spiritual discipline is what you’ve been missing. Here are some final words from Paul: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 NIV

We Plan, God Makes It Happen

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:43:28 GMT

When you look back over the past 12 months and see indications of God’s leading over and over again, you can’t help but praise him and thank him for his goodness! Well, this is exactly what happened on Sunday as we celebrated our first anniversary. The theme, The Final Say, based on Proverbs 16, says it all. We made the plans and did God direct our steps! All the prayers, the songs, and the remarks spoke very clearly on this.

There was a definite increase in attendance in spite of the fact that several members were not able to make it. The band rocked, the place was packed, and Jeff took it up another notch on the BBQ grill! After the service, tables were set up for the very first time, banquet-style. Dan Young, owner of the building, commented in an email: “Sunday was fun and exciting”! Worship leader Bud Newman asked, “Why can’t we have this every month?”

At Crossweave, we do emphasize that church is not the building or the meeting, but it sure is a good feeling to have a place we can call ‘home’ at least once a week. The banners from North Coast Calvary Chapel are now in place and have transformed the entire room. The drywall is up except for a few places above the rollup doors. The bathroom walls are now textured and painted.

God’s Word is true: “Commit to the Lord everything you do. Then your plans will succeed. " Proverbs 16:3 NIRV

The Habit of Worship

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:16:59 GMT

Do you treat going to church like a chore? If you do, you're not alone. You would be one of the thousands of people dragging themselves out of bed and "religiously" filing into the pews or chairs week after week. But this should not be so! Many well-meaning believers are simply not aware of the blessings to be had in faithful attendance at a local congregation and throughout the week. Remember that it is both a privilege and an honor to be able to worship God in the first place, and even more so with His church as a group!

Meeting together as a church body helps us to demonstrate unity in belief, fellowship in Christ's sufferings and it honors God to be obedient to His precepts. As we draw near to God by meeting together, God will draw near to us and reveal Himself further to us - bringing forth tremendous spiritual growth and encouragement.

As Christians, we make the commitment to honor God by meeting weekly on the Lord's Day as well as gathering with one another day by day in order to stir one another up in love and good works. If we keep this the focus of our gatherings, it will start to feel less like a chore and more like the blessing God intended it to be. Let us keep this in our hearts and rejoice in the rest that our Father has provided for us in Christ Jesus. Amen!

More Than Self-Help

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:19:02 GMT

You have probably heard it said that the Bible is like an owner's manual for living—like a ‘Living for Dummies’ you’d find at the self-help section at Barnes & Noble. But I’d like to go way beyond that idea and show you how this popular concept misses the point entirely or has the potential to mislead.

The primary theme of the Bible is about God saving man through Jesus’ death on the cross. The apostle Paul reminded Timothy that the “sacred writings” lead to salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). Jesus himself shed light on this fact on the road to Emmaus when he unpacked his identity as the Messiah through the Law and the Prophets. The unveiling of the plan of salvation begins in the first book of the Bible (Genesis) and culminates triumphantly in the very last book of the Bible (Revelation).

The discipline of studying the Bible is a discipline in meditating on salvation that comes through faith in Christ. David wrote beautiful lyrics on this theme in the Psalms (read Psalm 119). I encourage you to embark on a personal Bible reading plan and go beyond the idea of a ‘self-help’ book. Click HERE for links to help you get started.

The Discipline of Prayer

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:42:16 GMT

How is your prayer life? What prayer life? Exactly. Actually, there are more people than you think that do pray. The problem is that when they do, it is usually out of necessity and not a habit like, let’s say, taking a shower or eating a meal. Remember, the word “discipline” means “exercise”. How often do you ‘exercise’ prayer? And when you do, is it usually because of some special need or crises?

In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Paul urges young Timothy to get into the habit of prayer—not for himself but for, and on behalf, of others. He lists four specific types of prayer—once again, not for himself but for others. Can you see yourself on your knees habitually praying for everyone else—leaders and all—including people you don’t like? It goes against the grain of our self-centered society where ‘it’s all about me’. But verse 3 says that praying this way is “good and acceptable” in God’s sight.

So, get in the habit. Start thinking less of yourself and pray for the needs of others. The promise that awaits you is a peaceful and tranquil life of confident godly living (verse 2). This fulfills the will of God and brings him glory.

The Olympics and Discipline

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:57:24 GMT

An athlete requires discipline in order to get the most out of his or her God-given gift in sports. Strong, developed muscles do not magically appear; it takes hard work and exercise. The same is true for the Christian believer—the gift of salvation also requires lots of hard work and commitment. It is very likely that the apostle Paul used the word “discipline” with the Greek olympiad in mind, a word that literally means to “exercise naked”—perhaps inferring the idea of unhindered physical training.

The topic of spiritual discipline is not a popular one. An excuse I hear often is 'I am saved by grace and Jesus paid the price for my sin.' This is very true. In Ephesians 2:8, Paul describes salvation as a gift that is not earned—it is received by faith. But he also says in Philippians 2:12 that we are to “work out” our salvation. We exercise this gift just as an athlete does. Just the other day, a friend of ours told us about their 17-year-old daughter—her name just happens to be 'Grace'—who recently discovered her natural ability and love for swimming. I can imagine her taking every opportunity to work out and do laps in the pool.

The most comforting thing is that with the gift of salvation, God also gives you the ability to preserve and maintain that gift through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Whether it be the discipline of prayer, studying the Word, trust, obedience, gathering for worship, or benevolence, it is through divine power that you nurture and develop this gift. You might want to dwell on this idea as you keep up with the Olympic games in Beijing.

Preach No Matter What

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:46:57 GMT

What's your motivation? Why do you witness? Are you moved by results and discouraged by what seems to be a failure? Remember that when the true gospel is preached, there is no such thing as a failure! The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and the word of God will not return void, but will accomplish precisely what it sets forth to do! As long as we remain true to the gospel message and obedient to the call to preach, we don't have to worry about failure.

Remember that the primary motivation of evangelism, as in everything else in the world, is the glory of God. Keep this in mind as you go about your week that whenever you share the gospel or your own story with God, that you may be encouraged. Whether the response is positive or negative, God is honored and the Holy Spirit's work in you is magnified by that obedience to the word.

Remember the example of our Lord and Savior, the model human being that did everything perfectly including evangelism! Jesus went through the villages and towns and was hindered by a lack of faith, but He still continued to go and teach them anyway. He knew they would not respond favorably and that most of the people would not believe in Him, but He did it anyway! So should we be constantly preaching the gospel to the nations, starting at home and in our close circle of friends and acquaintances, moving out from there.

Undercover Christian

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:48:40 GMT

It is so easy to blend into the general population not letting anyone know that you are a believer. Somehow that too-common fish sign on your car, or the fact that you don’t use expletives is not convincing enough. It isn’t until you open your mouth and confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior that your identity becomes known. Sound too religious? Public speaking is not your thing?

Think about the last time you got excited over something—a new job, that low interest rate, or the price of gas falling below four dollars—you actually opened your mouth and told someone. How hard was that? It is a natural thing to pass on and express something significant or amazing that has happened to you. Can you imagine yourself keeping it a secret if you won the lottery? Unthinkable.

Paul teaches that “with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved”, and in that particular order: you believe and then you confess. If you truly believe that God has pardoned you of every sin in your past, present and future life, how can you not proclaim this? Or, maybe you are still doubtful? We’re not talking about speaking in public here but simply telling someone—in a normal conversation—how amazing God is! You got to start somewhere; start today.

-Ritchie

Click HERE to comment

Why Even Bother?

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:17:23 GMT

The poor and the needy will always be around, so why bother when you have faith groups and the Red Cross?

In Matthew 25, Jesus describes a scene from the judgment where the king separates the sheep (good guys) from the goats (the bad guys). And on what basis? He outlines six specific conditions: (1) feeding the hungry, (2) giving drink to the thirsty, (3) taking in a stranger, (4) clothing the naked, (5) visiting the sick, and (6) visiting those in prison. The importance of this list is because it is mentioned not two, not three, but four times in the chapter! The good guys are admitted into the kingdom because they did these things.

Don’t get me wrong—we’re not promoting a doctrine of salvation by works but rather emphasizing the importance of acting on the salvation that only comes by grace, through faith. This is faith that works. Having freely received God’s mercy, we are to freely perform acts of mercy to those in need. Otherwise, your faith is dead. Jesus goes on to say, ‘to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

Why bother? Jesus commands it. It is the fruit of having been saved. And we do it to him when we do.

It Doesn't Get Any Better

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:37:49 GMT

Here’s a quick recap on our search for a new place. We found two churches that were willing to rent out their facilities to us which meant meeting in the afternoon. Matt Unwin from Palomar Christian was eager to come on board and help with worship and moving the service to a later time was ideal. We also had hoped that his coming over would encourage the Monday study group to attend as well. So, trusting that this was where God was leading, we went ahead and moved the service to 12 o’clock noon in anticipation of the coming changes.

Well, the church rental idea fell through. Switching to 12 o’clock noon created some complications. Attendance dropped. It seemed as if we had hit a major snag. Well, not really. This was just the beginning.

At a previous core team meeting, Luke had suggested to check out a building that he thought might work out. We did but found it very difficult to arrange a meeting with the owner. Several weeks passed. Just this morning he was able to contact Dan Young and we got the final okay to use his building! We can move in anytime and use the facility—rent-free! It doesn’t get any better than this, folks! Upon receiving the good news, my head started spinning thinking about all the possibilities for doing ministry at this location.

Here’s the lesson. God is all-powerful and is eager to bless if we put our complete trust in him. We remained obedient, we relied on him for wisdom, we kept an open mind for him to direct and provide—and he came through! God is awesome!

FROGG Christians

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:42:47 GMT

F-R-O-G-G is actually an acronym that means to “Fully Rely On God’s Grace”, the first installment of a three-part study on worship at Crossweave. This is no new doctrine or not even a new twist on an old teaching, but rather a reminder of the essence of what worship is all about. Paul makes it clear in Philippians chapter 3 that we “put no confidence in the flesh” and completely rely on what God has already done for us on the cross. He actually goes on to say that even our best accomplishments are a four-letter word: dung.

I personally know of Christians who do fully rely on God for the daily provisions of food, clothing and shelter but fail to trust in Christ’s finished work as the sacrifice for their sin. It is possible to maintain a daily devotional life and perfect church attendance, and yet, according to this perspective on worship, fail to truly worship. To begin to worship God is to realize and accept that there is absolutely nothing you can do to save yourself from sin and the punishment of death, but to fully rely on God’s grace. One version of John 3:16 reads, “so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.”

Be a FROGG Christian. Rely on him for your eternal security—it’s the only way.

Who Is Leading?

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:27:47 GMT

“Seek ye first the kingdom…”—you probably know this verse by heart. As individual believers, this command to pursue God’s leadership and his agenda makes complete sense. Just think of the last time your plans failed because they were your plans and not God’s.

Well, the same could be said about planting and growing a church. To seek God’s direction and leadership could very well make the difference between success and failure. As lead pastor of Crossweave, I am amazed and at the same time humbled by the awesomeness of God’s infinite wisdom. Yes, we can come up with all kinds of ideas on what to do and how to accomplish them and yet they will fail if they are not his. Talk about timing—he knows exactly when to make things happen.

Just in case you haven’t noticed, my leadership ‘style’ is one of complete obedience and submission to God’s leadership. I ask you to join with me in truly making God our leader at Crossweave as we experience change in many ways. The rest of the verse goes, “and all these things will be added”. Whatever it is we yearn for as a church, our task is to continue seeking God’s agenda and these will be added!

Don't Believe the Lie!

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:37:38 GMT

We had some friends come show us their favorite YouTubes one Friday night and there was this one video on Oprah that was simply shocking! She repeatedly denied Christ as the only way to God and instead emphasized that there were so many other ways [perhaps millions] “to what you call ‘God’”. All you had to do to get to there was by being loving, kind and generous. One person in the audience spoke up and said “there is only one way, and only one way, and that is through Jesus”, to which Oprah responded, “It couldn’t possibly be!”

Jesus himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” What’s happening here is that Oprah is using her platform in the media to promote a lie that undermines the entire essence of the Gospel! Not only that, she is denying God’s true character and his purpose for mankind. In a subtle way, her teaching ignores the presence of sin and evil, the need for a savior, and places the focus on man and not God—New Age doctrine now under her own label!

Unbelievable? I don’t think so. The Bible is replete with warnings that this would happen in the last days. Don’t be deceived. Study the Word and cherish the Gospel. You are a sinner and Jesus is your only hope.

1 + 1 + 1 = One!

Tue, 27 May 2008 16:30:42 GMT

In what sense can we understand that God is one? Is it according to number, according to strength, according to personhood or being? What does it mean when we say "God is one"? We know that there is one God, but in essence and nature, he is both three and one. The Hebrew words to describe God are very commonly plural words referred to in a singular sense!

We also know that God is one in His ability (by His holiness and omnipotence), fully sovereign over all things; and that He is one in purpose. The most striking purpose is presented throughout the entire bible—the redemption of fallen man! The one true God (all three persons of the trinity included) works together for and in the believer for the purpose of redemption. In the gospel of Luke in Chapter 24, Jesus revealed that the entire Old Testament, the Law and the prophets and all of history was purposed for the redemption of fallen man through Jesus Christ.

As you go about your week, meditate on God's oneness and at the same time look for evidences of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit working together in distinct ways to make you more like Jesus Christ.

Dumb Arrogance

Tue, 20 May 2008 01:42:02 GMT

The other day, my daughter asked me to help with the usual “Question of the Day” all 7th-graders were required to respond to. It goes: "The wonder is, not that the field of stars is so vast, but that man had measured it." Pretty deep, huh? My first response was, ‘How arrogant can man get!’

What about yourself—do you feel like you have gotten God all figured out by now? If the vastness of the universe still remains unknown even to the brightest minds in academia, what more it’s maker—Creator God himself! The prophet Isaiah, upon getting a glimpse of God’s holiness in a vision, responded with utter hopelessness and proclaimed, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

As you behold how awesome and great the Holy God is, the enormity of your sin and your unworthiness becomes so apparent. He then demonstrates his glory and holiness by forgiving you of your sin. The awesomeness and greatness of God is in his power to pardon and redeem you.

Changes Coming Soon?

Tue, 20 May 2008 23:42:52 GMT

We are seriously contemplating making some changes regarding the time and place of our weekend gathering. For example, what do think about starting at noon? How about starting with a light meal, have community prayer, the study, then sing? The time change alone would make it so much easier to move the service to another church facility that ends their services before noon. There are also more individuals in the Monday study group that would be able to participate if we started later. Please share your thoughts by commenting. If you have not registered, this is a good time to do so—just click away!

Just Getting Started

Tue, 13 May 2008 02:48:58 GMT

My wife and I were in shock and disbelief yesterday morning upon hearing the news of the devastation in China from the killer earthquake that was felt 1,000 miles away leaving at least 12,000 dead and 18,000 buried alive including some 900 children trapped under the rubble at one school. Just days earlier, a cyclone packing winds of 190 mph left 15,000 dead in Burma. These disasters make the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma and Missouri, though also serious and tragic, look like little fender-benders. Now, what does this all mean?

You might say, ‘It’s God punishing us for our sins!’ or ‘It’s the end of the world!’ Well, it could even be both. After all, didn’t Jesus say that the last days would be “just like the days of Noah”? But wait. Jesus also said in Matt. 24:8 that “these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” We’re just getting started! As bad as conditions are in our world today—jobs, gas prices, the Middle East, storms, earthquakes—the Bible teaches that there is yet more to come. Things will get worse before they get better.

In the meantime, what are we to do? Verse 14 reads: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached...and then the end will come.” We are to keep preaching the gospel. False prophets, tribulation, and other signs yet to come must not deter us from bringing Christ to the nations. Pray for those who are suffering from the recent calamities but pray also for the strength and courage to keep spreading the good news of the gospel.

Pocket Idols

Tue, 06 May 2008 19:13:06 GMT

You have probably heard of Pokemon—short for ‘pocket monster’—a seemingly harmless toy hailing from Japan. Well, guess what? You carry around pocket idols of your own in your wallet everyday called money! Okay, I know, it’s the love of money and not money itself that is evil. And that’s just the point. Money is a commodity that represents a host of things we value. And anything—idea, activity, person, etc.—that you value more than God is an idol.

You can try to justify yourself, but Jesus made it clear that you cannot serve both God and Mammon—a personification of wealth or anything of value, including time and resources, that comes between you and God. My question is, Do you have any idols that need to be torn down? Is your relationship with God adulterated by third parties that God himself would label as ‘harlotry’ just as he does in Hosea?

Since God rescued you out of your slavery to sin like he did the Israelites out of Egypt, the commandments in Exodus 20 against idolatry are meant for you as well. I am suggesting that money, whether it be in currency or plastic, is today’s modern ‘graven image’. Take a moment to ponder this thought. Then ask God to start tearing down some idols in your life.

Your Living Hope

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:33:47 GMT

Let me go straight to the point: if you are a Christian, the Bible tells you to live a life of rejoicing independent of your circumstances and feelings. This is not an add-on experience to your life but the essence of it—all because of the inheritance that is “imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God...” (1 Peter 1:4-5 NASB)

Not possible? I beg to differ. Remember the last time you got excited over an item that you purchased because it was on sale? Now it’s just a piece of junk! Once a year, hundreds of thousands of people ‘rejoice’ over Black Friday—better known as the day after Thanksgiving sale—waiting in line for hours in freezing temperatures, to buy some gadget for a steal that eventually will become completely worthless in a few years.

Putting things in perspective, the inheritance God has for you is as sure as the fact that you were ever born. It is already yours just waiting to be claimed. This is our living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rejoice in that thought!

Why Suffer?

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:41:08 GMT

Why do Christians have to suffer persecution and hardships? In this country, maybe not persecution but definitely hardships! Jesus did say that in order to be his disciple, you must carry your own cross. And if people hated him, so will they also hate his followers. In other words, trials and afflictions are to be expected in your life. But why?

Paul teaches that tribulation is the context in which you develop and exercise your love for each other and your faith in God. He commends the Christians in Thessalonica for their perseverance [in loving] and faith [in God] in the middle of all their distresses. Not only that, he also teaches that living through these difficult times as believers is positive proof of God’s judgment that it is he who makes you worthy for the kingdom!

Consider all the stresses and challenges you go through as God’s ‘lab’ for molding your character and verification that you indeed are destined to be part of his kingdom. Thank him for your suffering.

Repent!

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:48:53 GMT

True repentance is an enduring, grace-inspired, faith-awakened change of mind. It takes a mind that is set on a man's self, serving only his own desires ("set on the flesh" in Romans 8:7) and loving sin, and points it Godward—resulting in a Godly hatred of sin. We know that knowledge of the gospel and the things of God are not enough to change a man's life and get him right with the Lord. It takes a change of mind to renew him from the inside out. We also learn from scripture that this is not our work (fortunately) but the work of God.

It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit would work in each of our lives and renew our hearts unto God, so that we would have a right standing before Him in order to do what He asks of us.

Reduce Your Life to the 'Lowest Terms'

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:52:36 GMT

In math, it’s also called simplifying fractions. At the checkout counter at the market, it’s like being told to simply ‘hit the green button’ on the ATM pad—simple! So, when it comes to simplifying your task as a believer, what is that task? And, how are you supposed to accomplish that task?

The lawyer answered correctly when he recited the Jewish creed he had learned from childhood, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." In the light of the resurrection, Jesus has taken this task to another level. Jesus called it a new commandment [teaching, instruction] based on the love he demonstrated on the cross. This is how we love God!

The power to love like Jesus loved us comes through the power of the Holy Spirit that has been given to believers. The context of this power in John 14 is in fulfilling this task of loving one another. Start simplifying your life today. Love in God’s power!

Already But Not Yet

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:36:21 GMT

All your sins are forgiven, you are assured of eternal life, and yet your world still seems destitute, depraved and deplorable. Sounds like a contradiction? Not really. If Christ’s first advent took sin out of you, his second advent will take you out of sin. Guaranteed.

Did you know that for every prophecy of Jesus’ first coming in the Bible (around 300), there are 6 references to his second coming (around 1,800)? That’s a 6:1 ratio. We know that he did come the first time. What these stats say is that his second coming is even more certain! If you believe in the historical and Biblical evidence of his first arrival, you can bank on the second. Jesus was emphatic about this when he told his disciples, “I will come again”—using a tense in the Greek that means 100% certainty! He said that if he would go (which he did), then he will certainly be back (which he will!).

Do not lose heart—the story isn’t over yet. Rise above the daily grind. Don’t even worry about how or when Jesus will return. Just remember that he will. We’re not there yet but we will be for sure.

Your Broken Life

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:13:28 GMT

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” In other words, if my life is working just fine, why do I need God? FYI, it’s ‘broke’ and needs fixin’. And it’s a God-size problem only he can fix.

Whether you accept it or not, you got a sin problem. We know that because you have a death problem as well—we all do. Just as a leopard cannot change its spots, you cannot change the fact that you are inherently sinful and bound to die someday. You are part of the human race God created for the purpose of having an eternal relationship with him. Sin changed all that. But Jesus fixed it by bearing all our guilt and shame, and by dying our death in order to restore that relationship.

Hundreds of millions of believers celebrated that fact on Easter Sunday. Jesus rose from the grave and broke the power of death so that you can live forever! Now that’s something to really get excited about!

-Ritchie

The Precious Pearl

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:22:55 GMT

When a jeweler wants to show off a precious pearl, he will often choose to showcase it in a very dark box, laid upon a soft black velvet cloth. The reason for this is that a light-colored background will surely distract from the beautiful, glimmering sheen of a bright white pearl.

In the same way, the message of the Gospel is a pearl that is so commonly presented in a lackluster fashion because it is not presented amid the dark contrast of man's inability to seek after God. When we place the good news of Jesus Christ — the resurrection and power therein — in the context of just how evil man is without Christ, we can see this wondrous treasure as it truly is in all its glory. Once we realize that "while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son", we can truly understand how we will be "saved by his life." (Romans 5:10)

Don't be afraid to tell people the hard truth about their state before God as unbelievers, for just as the black cloth brings out the bright white of the pearl, this will enable our neighbors to truly see the precious pearl of Jesus' resurrection and hope for what it is.

Life Assurance

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:15:41 GMT

In today’s fast-paced and chaotic world, it is hard to find anything that you can rely on anymore. Not too long ago, many that lost their homes in the wild fires quickly discovered that not even their insurance policies were bullet proof. One health insurance company was sued last month for unlawfully canceling policies in Los Angeles. Instead of thinking ‘life insurance’, how about ‘life assurance?’

When Jesus agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, he told the Father that “not one perished” out of those given to him. As he was being taken away by the Roman soldiers, Jesus asked that they let his followers go unharmed to fulfill what he had said earlier in prayer that “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.” It was with great determination that Jesus assured the eternal salvation of his followers even though Scripture says that all of them abandoned him. In spite of their utter failure, Jesus still kept his promise.

Well, that same promise goes for you today no matter how much of a failure you might see yourself. It is because of your shortcomings and your inability to ‘measure up’ to God’s expectations that Jesus came to die on the cross. The Allstate Insurance slogan goes, “Are you in good hands?” Scripture says that your life is in God’s hands. That's life assurance.

Santa Clause at Calvary?

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:23:06 GMT

Jesus himself said in the Gospel of John that “if you shall ask the Father of anything, He will give it to you in My name.” Well, there you got it—ask anything and voila! Perhaps you've prayed that prayer and got...nothing. What were you asking for: a Hummer, a 40-foot yacht, to win the Lotto? Is that what the verse is saying, that God is like Santa Clause or a vending machine that dispenses anything your heart might desire? Or, is there some deeper meaning that we're missing here?

Jesus made this statement just hours before his crucifixion in the context of his impending death on Calvary. Just a few verses back, beginning at John 16:16, the phrase “a little while” is mentioned 7 times. This phrase was a direct reference to what was about to unfold in a little while—his own crucifixion. It was this event that was the center of contention among the disciples. Jesus was fully aware of this and he showed them how to deal with their dilemma. He taught them that if they asked the Father for anything that had to do with grasping the meaning of his coming sacrifice on the cross, they would receive. Jesus further enlightened their understanding using childbirth to demonstrate that their sorrow would be turned into joy. He told his disciples, “you will receive, that your joy may be made full.” John 16:24

So, perhaps, you've been asking for the wrong things all along! Begin praying for wisdom and understanding in regards to Jesus' death on the cross and you will receive! How does this impact your life? How is your life changed forever because of Calvary? Unspeakable joy may be yours in the midst of your most difficult situation. It all depends on what you as for.

Clergy and Laity Unbiblical?

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:20:36 GMT

Did you know that a distinction between pastors and lay members is not supported by Scripture? What does this have to do with you? When Christ breathed his last on the cross, the veil in the tabernacle was torn in two commencing your direct access to God. This also removed any difference between priests and congregation. The New Testament now teaches that Jesus is our high priest and that you, as a believer, belong to a holy and royal priesthood. And, guess what—a category of “layperson” no longer exists!

This teaching known as the “priesthood of all believers” is obscure for the most part in many denominations and churches but its implications are far-reaching. You are no longer just a church member; crucial and serious tasks are now expected of you whether or not you are on the church payroll, have a religious degree or title. Churches that still maintain this dichotomy might benefit from applying this teaching in order to counter the alarming rate of decline in membership and participation in ministry.

At Crossweave, we teach that believers are followers, also known as disciples. We also maintain that every believer joins this priesthood as taught in 1 Peter 2. We tried to make this idea stick at Sunday's gathering by wearing ‘clerical collars’ made of construction paper. Welcome to the priesthood!

San Marcos Small Group -- Great Study and Fellowship

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:23:56 GMT

The first meeting had a great turnout of 9 adults with everyone arriving on time. We started in prayer and flowed into a few songs led by Matt on guitar. Larry conducted the study; it was meaningful and there was good participation.

Then there was Jeff's enchiladas...they are not to be missed. Try and make it some time--we'll request his CHILI--oh yeah. A great time of fellowship was had by all. We ended right on time around 8PM.

If you haven't experienced a small group, you dunno what you're missing. Do your soul a favor and sign up for one. If you need childcare, sign up for Escondido Small Group which meets on Thursdays @ 6PM.

Peace.

Joy In Tribulation

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:48:58 GMT

Throughout the life of a Christ-follower, great sacrifice is always accompanied by great joy. No matter what we are doing, where we are going or how troubling things are around us, there is always joy to be found in the service of Jesus.

In his epistle to the Philippians, Paul tells us that we as Christians ought not to complain or "grumble" in our service to God. He goes on to explain the reason, that we may be counted without fault or blame "in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world". This is not a challenge to us, something we must strive toward or work for to look good for others; this is the work of God. We are lights and lights shine—this is their natural work. God provides the electricity.

Just as Paul was poured out as a drink sacrifice, accompanying the suffering in service for Christ of his brothers and sisters, may your life be a life of joy mingled with sacrifice. Let Jesus be your joy, your treasure and your hope as you walk and live a Godly life in this depraved world.

The Point of It All

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:12:27 GMT

One pastor writes, “our culture is filled with “‘successful’” people who are mired in anxiety and confusion because they do not know the point of all their toil.” Do you agree with this observation? Does this describe your life?

Success according to the world’s standards is not the equivalent of a meaningful life. The only known antidote to meaninglessness is finding your place in God’s universe—to know the He is God and you’re not! He is at the center—not you. He is the Lord of His Kingdom and you were created and designed to serve in His court. If and when you get this paradigm is when your life begins to make sense.

Jesus redefined this concept as discipleship. He died for you and now you belong to Him. You call Him “Lord” and He calls you to be His disciple. That you live the rest of your life in complete submission to Him because of His outrageous love for you is the point of it all.

Spectate or Participate?

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:00:23 GMT

Catchy title, huh? You probably haven’t used the word spectate but it’s where we get spectator from—the opposite of participator or participant In your everyday life, there are activities you spectate and there are those you participate in. Take sports, for example. Most Americans watch professional athletes play rather than participate in the sport themselves. If you were to say ‘I love football’ but don’t ever get out on the field to play, then you might as well say ‘I love watching football.’

The same can be said about the Christian life—you can spectate or you can participate. In Jesus’ day, there were the huge crowds that watched from the sidelines (or was it the shoreline?) and then there were the 12 disciples who participated. Which group do you identify with? Is Christianity something you watch or talk about? Or, is your entire being immersed in trusting and following Christ? The Bible calls this being a disciple. Jesus’ final instruction to the remaining 11 was to recruit and train more disciples who would also recruit and train more disciples. And today, the marching orders remain the same.

If you claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your instructions are to disciple disciples to disciple other disciples. It's like crazy falling dominoes on YouTube: God's love 'knocks you over' to start a chain of movement around you. Absolutely no room to spectate here; you participate. If your Christian experience is lifeless, perhaps it is because you spectate and not participate. Jesus is instructing you to go and make disciples. Get up and do it.

From Fishermen to Fishers of People

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:18:42 GMT

Discipleship is not just another option; it is what Christ expects of you if you claim to be a follower of His. But becoming a disciple can sound so intimidating especially when you think that it might involve something like speaking in public. Well, if you have that gift, maybe not. But for the rest of us, it can be a terrifying proposition. But what if I was to tell you that God always starts you out where you are? Yes, He will take you to another place in your walk and keep pushing those boundaries, but He starts you off right where you are.

Consider His first disciples—fishermen! He didn’t say ‘I will make you great orators for my cause’; instead he said ‘I will make you fishers of people!’ Their starting point as His followers was in an area of work that they were familiar with—fishing. Try this idea on yourself. You are in sales or marketing so God will relate to you through those skills as He disciples you. The list goes on: mechanical skills, medical arts, accounting, food service, graphic design, homemaker—you name it. You can rest assured that you are ready for an exciting adventure in discipleship!

Perhaps, as a believer, your life is dull and empty. Consider this message your call to discipleship. I pray that you answer it.

What Are You Willing to Give Up?

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:56:22 GMT

Jesus tells the story of a contractor who takes the time to calculate what the entire project would cost before he begins the work to avoid the embarrassment of not being able to complete it later on. In this story, did you know that He is referring to you and your role as a disciple? Have you sat down to seriously assess what being a true follower of Christ entails?

To be truly committed to anything—such as excelling at work, in school, or your favorite sport—costs something and to take it seriously means paying a price or giving up something. To be a disciple means to take following Christ very seriously and also demands a hefty price tag. In Luke 14, the ultimate test that Christ presents to you is a willingness to give up everything, what is dearest to you—even your own family or your own life. What is it for you? Can you identify anything of great value that you are currently giving up for God? If not, perhaps being a disciple is what you are being called to consider next. I do hope and pray that you make that commitment today and start following as a disciple.

It's All About the Cross

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:54:09 GMT

Think of it like oxygen. Without the cross, your daily existence, your future, whatever it is you do—they all wither and die. Take away the cross and your life is just a lifeless string of unrelated events soon to fade away. Christ gave up His life on the cross to change all that. Your life now has purpose and direction. There is rhyme and reason to everything that happens—both good and bad!

In Matthew 16:24 Jesus says to “forget about yourself” and “take up your cross” (Contemporary English Version). Another version reads: “you must turn from your selfish ways” (New Living Translation). You forget and you turn. Forget and turn. This means a deliberate change—not in just a few things but your entire life. Listen to Him say “let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.” (Message)

All of Heaven was changed forever when God joined the human race in order to give you life everlasting beginning now. He asks of you to give up life as you know it and subscribe to His plan at all costs. This is the cross you take up.

-Ritchie

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:37:31 GMT

Sounds a bit odd? If it makes you feel better, Merry Christmas to you then, and a Happy New Year! Unless you haven’t noticed, there is a huge shift in focus between the two greetings–‘Happy Birthday, Jesus’ is directed at Jesus, specifically focusing on the memory of his birth, while ‘Merry Christmas’ is directed at people you greet during this holiday season. One focuses on Jesus, the other on ourselves.

So, what’s the big deal? Put it this way. If it was your birthday, you would expect family and friends to greet you with ‘Happy Birthday, (your name),’ wouldn’t you? You are the center and specific focus of the greeting. But what if people showed up to your party and instead of coming up to you, they walk right past you and greeted each other instead with something like, ‘Merry Time-of-opening gifts, pastries, lights, and cool songs’ instead? Exactly. Personally, I would be very offended. I’d probably slip away from the party and take a long walk along the beach or something.

As Christians, it is so easy to get caught up in the excitement, the glitter, and, yes, even in the expression of love to one another through the giving of gifts and yet miss the entire focus of Christmas—the birth of Jesus! Sure, the date is not accurate—any historian would tell you that. I just checked wikipedia.com and there are at least three other possible dates: November 25, January 6, and sometime in October. However, this doesn’t change the argument. Jesus is the focus of Christmas, and not us.

But let’s be practical about this. When we come together to celebrate Jesus’ birth, keep the same greeting—Merry Christmas! It would be pretty weird if we all filed past Baby Jesus in the nativity scene in the front yard and greeted him ‘Happy Birthday’ (although, on second thought, that might be a powerful teaching tool for the little ones). What might be more practical is to set aside a specific time to read a passage from the Bible—at the dinner table, or just before the opening of gifts—and recognize Jesus as the reason for the gathering. My favorite is Luke 2:1-20. I would even suggest using a modern version to make the story fresh and more exciting!

Start a new tradition for yourself or the family. Shift the focus of Christmas back on the Person whose birthday it is, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:11 NLT)

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Crazy About You!

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:01:34 GMT

How important are you to God? On a scale of 1 to 5, I’d say you are a whopping “10”!

Convicted-felon-turned-songwriter David of the Old Testament wrote a song about this in Psalm 139. This tune does not mention the name Emmanuel but has God with us written all over it. Here are a few lines:

I'm never out of your sight...

I look behind me and you're there...

then up ahead and you're there, too...

This is too much, too wonderful...

I can't take it all in!

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?

to be out of your sight?

You'd find me in a minute...

I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!

You know me inside and out...

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth...

Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!

God, I'll never comprehend them!

You are extremely important to God. If He had a refrigerator, your picture would be on a magnet. Your name would be on his license plate and your photo right next to His Samaritan Express in His wallet.

So, if this is how much God cares about you, my question to you is, How much do you care about him? Do you reciprocate His love and devotion to you by the same token? How often do you even mention His name in a conversation, or sent an email to a friend on one of His awesome personality traits or a cool thing He did for you?

Get into the habit. Jesus once said, “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32 NLT). Start talking about Him today—at work, in school, with your friends, your neighbors, your banker—just get out there and get excited about God! He’s crazy about you!

How do you respond to this? Sign in and post your comment.

Life is Loud

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:11:55 GMT

Sometimes life gets so loud that you can’t hear God. He might be standing right in front of you and yet you are completely oblivious of His presence just like the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 19. His fears got so loud that he hid in a cave. Has this ever happened to you? Life becomes so overwhelming that you retreat into your 'cave'? Are there times when your life gets so crazy and you don’t even have time to think about God? Your busyness is deafening. You worry about so many things like deadlines, unpaid bills, and that maxed out credit card—all adding a few more decibels to the loudness.

You can turn the volume of life down so that you can begin to hear God. It takes discipline and planning. You need to be intentional. Plan your day so you have a specific time slot just for Him. Read your Bible or an inspirational book. Turn your radio off as you drive and listen to God. Take a walk through the park or along the beach. One thing I love doing is going on long drives and not have the CD player or radio on. It gives me time to pray and listen. As much as I love listening to music and podcasts, I would rather spend time with God in this manner.

Oh, and one more thing: when you start running into problems and start stressing out, this could be God trying to get your attention just like he used the wind, an earthquake and fire to get through to Elijah. Step out of your cave and listen for God’s still, small voice. Read the entire account in 1 Kings. Here was a prophet—someone very close to God—who had just experienced incredible success and yet when life got very loud, he felt that God had abandoned him. If a God-fearing, Bible giant such as Elijah can go through such a demoralizing experience, how much more can you?

Never, ever forget that God's presence in your life is real. He is consistent and desperately wants you to realize that no matter what you might face in life. And He will do whatever it takes to get your attention. Turn the volume down and start listening. What are your thoughts on this?

-Ritchie

God Started this Multiethnic Thing

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:15:22 GMT

In our most recent study in church, the argument was made that going multiethnic as a church was God's idea. And it is. This we saw from a Biblical standpoint. In John 17, Jesus prays for those who were to come to believe in Him through the ministry of his disciples. This refers to all believers including ourselves in the 21st century. He refers to this group as being of one mind or having unity at least three times--an indication of it's importance. He then ends His prayer by wishing that we would soon join Him to see His glory.

Taking that last thought to mean being present with Him in heaven, we then did a quick fast forward and looked at a description of this group in the last book of the Bible--Revelation 5. It is unmistakbly clear that the makeup of this group is multiethnic--from every tribe and language and people and nation. We then did a quick rewind back to the very beginning of the Bible--in Genesis 11--and read through a story that took place right after Noah's flood. God acknowledges that the people in the land of Shinar are of one language and one culture. Apparently, it was not a good thing because they were building a structure to bring glory to themselves and not to God. God remedies the situation by confusing their language and scattering them all over the earth.

Why did God choose to initiate the diversification of mankind? My thesis is that God receives the most glory when there is evidence of the most unity among the most multiethnic or diverse groups of people that accept Him as Lord and Savior. This brings much glory to Him. It is, therefore, a mandate and not an option for Crossweave to embrace the idea of a multiethnic congregation and to reach out to the various people groups in the community. It was God's idea from the very beginning. This fact gives more substance to the great commission in Matthew 28 to preach the Gospel to all nations.

Why Plant a New Church?

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 20:16:38 GMT

The question we should really be asking is: Are we planting enough churches? The 2000 Census reports a population growth in the US of about 13% from 1990 while one study in Christianity Today reports an 18% decline in church attendance for the same period. We can pack all of our churches in the country on the weekend and would still not be able to keep up with the population growth. Church planting is the single most effective method of evangelism today. This ought to be the norm in growing God's kingdom and not just a novelty idea.

Spank your kid--go to jail.

Mon, 14 May 2007 20:21:26 GMT

There are more than a dozen states in America that have laws banning the spanking of children. Will California be next? Spanking could become a misdemeanor--up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Time magazine published an article back in January on a bill by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber who commented, "Young children can't run or speak for themselves. They are sitting ducks for abuse." At the same time, data compiled by American Demographics in 2004 report that about 50 percent of parent-age Americans think that spanking is an appropriate mode of discipline for kids 12 and younger. Your thoughts?

Tangled Web?

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:38:17 GMT

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to believe." -Laurence Peter. Do you agree? In a spiritual sense, isn't belief in God the antidote for chaos?

Killing spree

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:03:54 GMT

How do you respond to heinous acts such as the recent killing spree at Virginia Tech? How about other crimes in our schools that never make the headlines?

FoxFaith

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:10:02 GMT

Apparently 20th Century Fox is building FoxFaith. According to ChristianityToday, "Media giant aims to reach evangelical market with introduction of FoxFaith brand, feature up to 12 films per year." Think they are for real or merely jumping on Mel Gibson's multi-million-dollar bandwagon?

Cellphones on the road

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 05:39:19 GMT

Have you ever encountered that motorist doing something really stupid because they were talking on a cellphone? I don't have the numbers but there is a growing number of road accidents that are attributed to the use of cellphones on the road. How would you address this issue?