What Are We Building
March 30, 2008
We have all greatly anticipated the erection of the new social hall for the last few months. It has begun. The ground is being prepared. The question that now enters my mind is what are we building? The answer seems obvious, a new social hall. Once more I ask the question: what are we building? It is a terrible tragedy indeed if we are simply erecting a new building in which to eat fried chicken.
We have a facility to accommodate between 120 and 150 people. Once Napoleon once said, “There is no greater immorality than to occupy a position you do not fill.” America needs revival. Revival always means change or death for those exposed to it. Now is not the time to take pride in our facilities and “count our stuff”. Now is the time to be real with God, repent, and seek Him. Now is the time to give God the areas of our life we have kept for ourselves. Now is the time to earnestly pray for the grace of God in our lives because it is imperative that we have it to go forward. Now is the time to beg God to save lost souls. Now is the time to pray the Lord to send workers into the harvest. Now is the time to prepare to “make disciples of all nations (people groups)”. Now is the time to become children of God who walk in the power of God. Now is the time to pray like our very existence depends on it, because it does!!! Amen!!!
My Lord and My God
March 23, 2008
Two thousand years ago a group of women went to a tomb expecting to find a dead man. They watched Jesus be crucified and sealed in a tomb. He was dead and they were powerless!!! Stop, think, and let that sink in for a moment. So many Christians search for life stumbling through the dark going to the tomb of a dead man. We pray to Jesus as if He were still in the tomb. Dead men do nothing, hear nothing, see nothing, and expect nothing from our lives.
It is a miraculous thing for a dead man to see the risen Lord in the flesh. Prior to salvation we are all dead men. When we look to the risen Lord it is a radical change that takes place as we are transformed from dry dead bones into living breathing sons and daughters that bear the image of God. Allowing the image of Christ to transform us is still the greatest miracle of all time.
Thomas was a dead man like us who had trouble believing. When the darkness of the cross surrounded Jesus and He did not understand God all faith in a living savior and a resurrection power in his own life left him. “So he said to them, Unless I see in His hands the prints of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe… Then Jesus said to Thomas, Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (John 20:25; 27). Christianity began with a demonstration of God adding His power to an impossible situation in a life that had purposed that nothing would keep Him from doing the Father’s will. It is time for God’s people to look at the risen Savior and cry with Thomas, “My Lord and My God!”
Steeple People
March 16, 2008
It used to be that every church built had a steeple on top of it. The steeple was a way of clearly identifying the location of a place where people could meet to worship God. The steeple points to heaven where true believers will one day live eternally in the presence of God. The steeple reminds us of the power of the resurrection that every believer may know today.
If you look at the front entrance of Marvin Chapel you will notice that both doors have crosses on them and the steeple is perfectly centered over the two crosses. At the crucifixion there were three crosses: one for two thieves and one for Jesus. Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). The steeple reminds us that He is now raised from the cross He endured and will return in Glory.
Jesus completed the will of the Father through the cross. We likewise, can only worship God when we enter by the door of the cross. Two thieves hung on those two crosses. One had no use for a savior who would not meet his desires. The other confessed his sin and humbly begged forgiveness from a Savior whose love he could not fathom and whose method he did not understand. Many Christians do not understand the cross because they do not understand the steeple. The cross is an incomplete symbol without the steeple. “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12)
Too Many Things to Do
March 9, 2008
Pastors only work for one hour on Sunday. If you believe that I have some ocean front property in Arizona I would like to cut you a deal on. The truth is that we all have more ”things to do” than we can possibly get around to doing. There is a secret to keeping a level head through it all. We should work less and enjoy more! How???
Once there was a woman who sat at Jesus feet while her sister griped at his feet. “And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me. And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:39-42)
There is a vast difference between working for and living for Jesus. We will not live for Him unless we spend quality time with Him daily. I make it fine as long as I guard that good part. When the good part is removed many things become a crushing work load. Some people really do not have time for God. I have been there. If that describes you, restructure your life rather than leave Christ out.
Who Needs Crutches
March 2, 2008
- Everything going wrong may be the result of doing everything right
- Spiritual crutches are nothing less than idols
- The removal of our crutches will be a painful process
- We don’t need crutches where God is going
Brother Beck, Some Rednecks and Some Specs
March 2, 2008
Earlier this week we erected a two hundred and thirty two foot fence around the pool at the camp. We encountered several things that we did not expect, namely roots, excessive concrete around posts, and clay. Our goal in erecting this fence was excellence. As Christians we must always strive for excellence. However, as Christians we often break the great commandment (love your neighbor) in the name of excellence.
We noticed that Brother Beck and a co-worker were committing a cardinal sin. They nailed fence pickets to the rails and the topers were not even. We got a good laugh out of the matter. I told Brother Beck the fence looked good. He responded, “That’s not what you said a minute ago.” Brother Beck did not get his feelings hurt as a weaker brother might have. We do this in other areas of life. We are quick to notice the speck in our brother’s eye while ignoring the board in our own. Hypocrites!!! We violate the command to love our neighbor in the name of excellence. When we took the plumb line down the irregularity was not noticeable. The Fence looks great. If we had decided to sweat the small stuff the fence might not be there. In case you are wondering, yes I did put the two corner posts in the wrong place. But let’s not sweat the small stuff.