This Is the Day the Lord Has Made

I love this time of year.  The mornings are cool and crisp.  The afternoons are sunny and just the perfect temperature.  These are the days when it is easy to remember the beauty of God’s creation.  I love to look at the trees and see the changing of the leaves.  It is a beautiful time of the year.

This summer was another story.  Texas has endured record heat and drought.  The Dallas Metroplex saw a record 70 days that were above 100 degrees making it the hottest summer on record. We have seen some of the worst wildfires in the history of this area.  The fires that consumed west and central Texas caused massive destruction and devastation.  Yet, even with all of the miserable weather and treacherous fires, it is the Lord God who has given us this wonderful earth on which we live.

It can be so easy to get wrapped up in our lives that we forget to “stop and smell the roses.”  We forget to look at all the beauty around us.  There is nothing more beautiful to me than a blue sky with bright white cirrus clouds (you know, the light wispy ones).  And, have you ever looked at the growth that occurs after a wildfire?  While the fire is devastating, the new growth that takes place after the fire is so very beautiful.  There is no question that our Divine Creator set that in motion.

We have so many other blessings in our lives…things that we often take for granted.  We have homes that are both heated and cooled, vehicles that take us wherever we want to go, clothing for almost any occasion, and food in the pantry, fridge, or restaurant anytime we want it.  Sure, things can always be better but aren’t they wonderful and great right now?  How can any of us beg for more when we are so incredibly blessed each and every day?

God has provided for our every need and He has given us a beautiful world to enjoy our bounty.  Take many moments to notice the changing of the season and when it begins to get a little bit cold, remember the miserable summer and then be thankful because God always provides.

This is the day the Lord has made,
I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Authentic Christianity

Authentic is a big word.  Webster’s Dictionary defines authentic as conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features; made or done the same way as an original; not false or imitation.  When a person is looking for an authentic stamp, that stamp has to meet certain criteria.  A replica won’t suffice; neither will a copy because the value would not be the same.  It would not possess the true qualities of the authentic stamp.

When it comes to Christianity, authenticity is essential.  There are far too many people in our society who claim to be Christians but they are anything but Christians in their behavior and interactions with others.  Too many times, I have observed people who walk out of a church building on Sunday morning and go to a restaurant only to make a public scene about the poor quality of service.  I have also witnessed cars on the freeway with a “Jesus Fish” on the back while their drivers cut in and out of traffic and display obscene gestures to the surrounding vehicles.

While fake Christianity causes a multitude of problems, perhaps the biggest concern is that these people give true Christianity a bad name.  After all, the word Christian means one who follows Christ.  When people of the world watch those who follow Christ acting in a manner that is inconsistent with what they believe should be the core value system of Christianity, they are completely turned off by the thought of becoming a Christian.  Time after time, Christians have defamed the message of Christ by conducting themselves in ways that are not modeled by the Holy One.

Peter writes, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV)  As Christians, we are called to a higher standard.  We are called to live as ones chosen by God and as made holy by the blood of the Son.  Although it is a higher standard, it is a standard of humility, self-sacrifice and putting others before yourself.  It is a standard of contentment, encouragement and joy.

While we live in a world where everything is synthetic and processed, people still want real relationships.  Non-Christians expect to see those who proclaim to be Christians to live in a manner consistent with their belief system.  People who are seeking a relationship with Christ can see right through the façade and they want no part of it.  If we are to impact our world for Christ, it is imperative that we remove anything that is unreal in our lives.  In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  I believe that people who are seeking a relationship with Christ are going to find that relationship through Christians who are actively living out their lives in Christ all the time.  Every time you step outside of that authentic relationship with Christ, you are not bearing fruit for the Kingdom.

Does your life model a genuine relationship with Christ or have you become a cheap knock-off?

Building a Child’s Faith

According to Essential Church? by Thom & Sam Rainer, statistics show that seventy percent of church-going young adults drop out between the ages of 18-22 years.  That is two-thirds of young people who were raised in church!  A number of reasons are cited by the dropouts but there is one overarching theme:  They simply do not see the church as essential to their lives. 

While there are several reasons that young people might not find the church to be essential, I believe that there is one major cause of this phenomenon:  Too many young people never developed their own faith.  There are far too many teens and young adults who attend church simply to appease mom and dad rather than out of a sense of personal faith.  Somewhere along the line, parents have failed to teach their children to develop their own faith and have instead assumed that the parents’ faith would be adopted by the teen or young adult.

There was a time when faith did seem to be “passed down” from generation to generation.  However, today we live in a society that is taught to question the validity of everything and to learn truth for ourselves.  We also live in a society that does not put a high value on Christianity.  Let’s face it; we can no longer say that America is a Christian nation.  Instead, we are a melting pot of many different religious (and non-religious) beliefs.  We live in an age where each person feels a need to establish their own faith and not rely on the beliefs of the family.  (By the way, isn’t that a much more biblical model?)

So, how do we help our children to build their own faith?  I believe that, first and foremost, children must see their parents’ faith modeled before them.  If you want your son or daughter to learn how to wash the dishes, you must first show them how to do it.  How can you expect your kids to know how to pray when you have never prayed with them?  By the same token, how can you expect your kids to know the importance of reading the Bible on a regular basis if you never pick it up in front of them?  Unfortunately, there are far too many Christian parents who do not walk beside their children teaching them how to develop a faith of their own.

It is also amazing how quickly kids pick up on double standards.  Have you ever been teaching your child to drive a car and had trouble getting them to stop completely at a stop sign rather than roll through it?  If so, what are your normal stopping habits?  The same thing applies to the Christian faith.  If parents expect a particular behavior from their kids because it is a “Christian” behavior, then the same behavior better be modeled by the parents.  Parents cannot expect a young person to enjoy serving others if the parents are constantly grumbling about the same.  Nor can we expect children to be excited about going to Bible class when the parents drop them off and then go get a cup of coffee without going to Bible class themselves.

In order to help a young person develop a faith of their own, parents must actively model and teach biblical principles.  Children must be encouraged to get involved in the work of the church at a young age.  They need to be encouraged to develop their spiritual gifts so that when they leave home they will know that they are needed in the church and that when they are not present, they are missed. 

It is possible to decrease the church dropout rate of young adults.  It takes extreme parental involvement and encouragement.  It’s not a foolproof system but it’s surely more likely to work than the old plan of osmosis.

I believe the proverb writer said it best, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)

Where I Go To Encounter God

I have two favorite places on earth—actually three, but since Walt Disneyworld is not part of God’s nature, I won’t include it.  Although I haven’t had many opportunities to dive beneath the surface of the ocean, I consider the depths to be one of my favorite places because of its serenity and absolute beauty.

Without contestation, my absolute favorite place on earth is Camp Blue Haven.  Camp Blue Haven is located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains just outside of Las Vegas, NM.  For me, Blue Haven holds nearly a lifetime of memories since I have spent at least some time there most summers since I was twelve years old.  If you were to ask me where I feel closest to God, my answer would be Camp Blue Haven.

As soon as my tires hit the dirt road, I like to roll down my window and breathe deep the fragrance of fresh pine and listen closely to the rippling water as it flows gently down the Tecolote Creek.  I envision, as though it’s right in front of me, the first glimpse of the camp as I wind down the dusty road in my mind’s eye.  I then turn to cross the bridge (I even remember the old bridge—the one that didn’t really look safe to cross) and see the sign that reads simply, “Camp Blue Haven,” and right behind it, the mansion, which is actually the caretakers home,  and then the dining hall up on the hill.  It is all so familiar to me, yet it isn’t what brings me so close to God. 

I think of the evening campfires and the hikes through the wilderness that take you to remote and beautiful sceneries such as Marble Falls, a three-tiered waterfall, and Hermit’s Peak, a beautiful mountain peak from whose vantage point you can see forever!  I think of “The Roost,” a place just a few minutes hike behind the dining hall where you can view the mountaintops of El Cielo, Hermit’s Peak and Johnson’s Mesa.  Yet still, this is not what brings me so close to God. 

I think of the worship lifted up to our omnipotent God, whether it is at a campfire or on the deck of the dining hall or in the barn or in the simulated Catacomb worship or on the side of a mountain.  I think of the elation of hearts because of the fellowship of Christians who come together to experience God together for a few days, each removed from the distractions of the outside world.  I think of the lives that are forever changed because decisions are made to clothe themselves with Christ through baptism in that cold water of the Tecolote.  This is what brings me close to God.

I realize that the worship and the fellowship and even new Christians being added to the Kingdom are all things that can occur wherever I am, but the fact that it all happens right in the middle of God’s most glorious creation makes it so perfect.  There is something very special to me about spending time in God’s unadulterated world, where the only sounds you hear are the sounds of the birds and the rustling of leaves.  For me, it is a most precious time to commune with the Father of all creation.

Where do you go to encounter God?  It is different for each person but it is an all important occurrence.  If you have never found the place where you can be completely alone with your thoughts to God, find it.  It can be your recliner or your backyard.  For some, it will be the lake or the mountaintop.  Find it.  Rejoice in your God and commune with Him.  It will change your life!

Where’s the Urgency?

It was early in the 19^th century, right in the heart of the Restoration Movement, when Henry Babcock stood behind the pulpit inside a small church house in eastern Tennessee.  It was the culmination of a weeklong gospel meeting where several area preachers had brought their congregations and packed the little church night after night.  Mr. Babcock was the final preacher for the series of lessons entitles “Wayward Man and the Road Home.”  As he wrapped up his lesson, he issued the final challenge of the week:

“If you are sitting in that church pew thinking about what would happen to your soul if you were to leave this little church tonight and were attacked by a gang of robbers, then it is time for you to make a change.  It is time for you to turn your life by repenting of your sins and having them washed away by the blood of Christ through baptism.  If you have been baptized but you have fallen into the devil’s evil trap and are once again enslaved by sin, then it is time for you to repent of those sins and ask for the prayers of the church – those people who love you so dearly.  If you have any needs tonight, the church wants to help you now.  We want to see your wayward feet walking on that road home.  Please, come forward now as we stand together and sing the hymn that has been selected.”

It was at that moment that the hearts of many were convicted to the heart and 14 were baptized into Christ while another 22 came forward to confess their sins to one another.  It was a great night and all the preachers in attendance saw how effective this new method had been.  Mr. Babcock had delivered a wonderful message that convicted many hearts and he kindly invited them forward.  And so was born, that little part of worship called the invitation.

Of course, that little story is fictitious but I can imagine that the formal invitation given at the end of every sermon was born out of a similar occurrence.  For my entire life, every sermon I have heard has ended with an invitation to “obey the Gospel.”  Now, as a disclaimer, I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with offering an invitation at the end of a sermon.  However, I do think that a couple of problems have arisen from this tradition. 

First, not all sermons call for repentance.  For example, a sermon about the importance of giving to the work of the church will not necessarily shake someone to the core and cause them to see the error or their ways.  The same can be said of the topic of fellowship among brothers and sisters in Christ.  Certainly, that does not mean that you shouldn’t keep repentance and baptism in the minds of those who are not Christians but it is unlikely that some topics will produce a penitent heart.

My greatest concern, however, is the lack of urgency that has resulted from the formal invitation to obey the gospel.  There are so many people who realize their need for salvation on Monday and yet wait to have their sins washed away until Sunday when the invitation is given.  That does not make sense!  If you realize that you have dirt on your face, are you going to wait for three days to wash it off because it is inconvenient?  No!  You will make the necessary arrangements to get the dirt off of your face.

When did baptism become something that needs an audience or an act that needs to be scheduled?  The Ethiopian eunuch, after studying with Philip, said, “See here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36)  The eunuch understood the urgency involved in his decision to have his sins washed away through baptism.  I believe we have watered down the necessity of baptism by saying, whether intentionally or unintentionally, that one can wait until Sunday to be baptized. 

If the need for salvation is not an urgent matter in the mind of a person, perhaps there is a lack of understanding of the fate of their soul.  May we realize that God never intended our salvation to depend on the meeting time of the church or the right invitation followed by the right sermon.  God intends our convicted hearts to follow him immediately.

Reflections on a Tragic Morning

As I reflect on the events of September 11, 2001, I am still awed by the sheer devastation that occurred in such a brief time.  I will never forget where I was and what I was doing that morning.  I was at Bowie Middle School in Amarillo, TX, and I had just finished teaching my 2^nd period class.  The principal come over the speaker and told teachers and students that although a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Tower, they should turn their TVs off and continue as if it were a normal day.  That was the first I had heard of the tragedy.  It was my conference period, so I walked over to turn on my TV and as I did, I remember thinking, “What could have happened that caused some small, single-engine, two-passenger Cessna to crash into the World Trade Tower?”  Little did I know that not only had a huge passenger jet been intentionally flown into the building, but that another jet had crashed into the other tower, another had crashed into the Pentagon, and still another had been a failed attempt at the White House!

The images of the smoke billowing from the first tower and of the second plane as it crashed into its target are forever burned in my mind.  I will always remember the hordes of people fleeing the wreckage amid falling debris while emergency crews were desperately running toward the danger.  I remember thinking, “This cannot be happening.  How could this happen in America?”  I remember people all across our great land wondering for days if their spouse, son, daughter, mother, father, aunt or uncle had made it out safely.

I remember, although never having been a fan of the David Letterman Show, watching his first broadcast which was aired six days after the attack.  It was a somber event.  Letterman struggled to fight back tears as he tried to make sense of the ruin that had consumed the great city of New York.  He is quoted as saying, “If we are going to continue to do shows I just need to hear myself talk for a couple of minutes and so that’s what I’m going to do here.  We are going to try to feel our way through this and we’ll just see how it goes — take it a day at a time.”  The world as we knew it had ended.  A new day had begun and we had to learn how to live again.

I remember churches all across the nation holding prayer vigils and people of all religions and those who, until that time, did not claim a religion came together to ask for God’s guidance, peace, comfort, understanding.  For a moment, however brief, the entire nation and much of the rest of the world looked to faith in God as their help. 

I have been fortunate to visit the site of the World Trade Towers twice since then.  It is a humbling experience to say the least.  To think that someone would hate Americans so much as to destroy the lives of so many innocent people.  There were, of course, the immediate victims; those who were on board one of the jets and those who were inside the buildings at the time of the attack.  Then there were all of the family members of those who lost their lives…their lives have been forever changed through the absence of their loved ones.  And, we cannot forget the first responders; the firefighters and police officers and civilian “good Samaritans” who sacrificed their own lives to try to save as many as they could.

So much has changed since the attacks of 9-11.  This year marks the tenth anniversary of one of the worst attacks that has ever occurred on American soil.  All across the nation, people are remembering and commemorating this solemn day.  There are families who will again mourn the loss of loved ones.  There are civic and religious organizations that will hold ceremonies honoring those who fought courageously to save those in peril while grieving all those who fell.  I join the masses in thanking all of those who serve as firefighters, peace officers, military and medical personnel for giving of yourselves for the sake of our freedom and safety.

I thank God that he has granted me the opportunity to live in the greatest nation known to man.  I pray earnestly that we, as a nation, will allow Him back into our lives; our classrooms, our courtrooms, our government offices.  I pray that we will realize that it is He who has provided this nation to us and that unless we, as a people, regard Him as holy and sovereign, He will cease to protect us.  May we ever honor Him and desire Him and seek His face.

God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

 

The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord lift His countenance upon you,
And give you peace, and give you peace,
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious unto you, be gracious,
The Lord be gracious, gracious unto you.
Amen.

Waiting on God

Several years ago, Garth Brooks recorded a song called Unanswered Prayers.  The premise to the song was that, as a teenager, he had prayed that God would grant him his wish to marry his high school sweetheart.  After meeting the girl again many years later, he realized that God’s “unanswered prayer” turned out to be a tremendous blessing.

The words to the chorus are:

Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers.

To this day, my mom gets frustrated by that song because, as she says, “God always answers prayers.”  She is absolutely right.  God does always answer prayers.  However, I think Garth Brooks got it mostly right.  What we might sometimes consider an unanswered prayer, is in reality a prayer answered “no”.

I also believe that sometimes when you think God says no, He is really saying, “wait.”  The biggest problem with waiting is that it could be years before you realize that God was telling you to wait.  All this time you thought God had told you a definite no and it takes the fulfillment of His true answer before you realize that He had intended for you to wait.

I am not a patient person so I don’t like waiting.  However, when you realize that God has been saying, “Wait, because I have a blessing for you coming a little later,” that blessing always turns out to be bigger and more wonderful than you could have ever imagined.  God has a way of rewarding patience. On the other hand, He also has a way of letting you know that that decision you made without waiting on Him was definitely the wrong decision.

It’s hard to accept that God does not work on our timetable.  Sometimes we have to play a waiting game which can be extremely difficult especially considering that God does not just come down to have a heart-to-heart talk.  I believe the proverb writer said it best,

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
– Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

It’s no fun to wait.  It’s no fun when you feel like you are playing a guessing game with God regarding His will for your life.  It would be so much easier if God would just come down and talk to you face to face.  Of course, that’s where faith comes in.  At some point, you must realize that when you trust in the Lord, you cannot go wrong.

And, I believe that the saying is right, “Some of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers you have to wait on.”

Jesus Goes to School

School started this week.  A friend of mine took his son to Kindergarten for the first time on Monday.  The boy was very excited about his first day of school.  He told his father that he was going to play and have fun and learn about Jesus at school.  Sadly, the boy’s dad had to tell him that he would not get to learn about Jesus at school.  When the boy asked why, the dad had to tell him that schools were not allowed to teach about Jesus.  It was a sobering moment in the life of that family.

I am so very proud that my friends have raised their children to know and love Jesus.  As pre-schoolers, their kids were enrolled in Christian daycare and they have always attended Bible classes and worship services regularly.  I have no doubt that they have also worked hard to instill a daily prayer life and Bible reading to their young children.  It is a great blessing to know that these kids are being raised by parents who model and exemplify Christ in their lives.

Unfortunately, God and His Word have been stripped out of our public schools.  We could get into a big conversation about how horrible that is or how that needs to change, but it is what it is.  Sometimes you have to work with what you’ve got.  As such, I want to reiterate how excited I am that my friends have chosen to make Christ the center of their family.  Our kids do not have to learn about Jesus at school.  Yes, it would be wonderful if that were the case.  But, what is more important is that our kids see Christ modeled at home and that we teach our kids the Word of God.

It is very easy to place the blame for our children not following Christ when they grow up on the fact that they were taught neither Bible nor biblical principles in public school.  And, there could certainly be some validity to that statement.  Far more impactful, however, is the emphasis that families place on Christ on a day to day basis.  The greatest teacher that a child will ever know is that of his/her parents. 

It would be a wonderful world if our public schools read from the Bible everyday and if our science classes taught creation rather than evolution.  It would be great if health classes taught about purity in marriage rather than safe sex.  It would be terrific if math classes taught that a tenth of everything we made belonged to God.  But they don’t.  Instead, those lessons are left up to parents.  It is our responsibility to teach our children to be faithful, godly men and women. 

It’s time to step up to the plate.  Satan has worked a masterful plan by taking God out of our schools but I’ve read the end of the Book…God Wins!  Parents, teach your kids the truth.  Read to them and pray with them daily.  May they understand God’s infinite love and may they be followers of Christ because their greatest teachers modeled Him daily…in spite of what the world says.

By the way, when you teach your child about Jesus, He goes to school every day and sits in those classrooms.  The influence of a child who carries Jesus in his/her heart is far reaching.  Teach your children to walk to each class hand in hand with Christ and the Word of God will be spread despite the laws of our government!

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  ⁵ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.—Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NIV

 

Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
—Proverbs 22:6 NIV

Dead Yet Alive

I am currently reading The Circle Series by Ted Dekker.  I highly recommend this most excellent series of Christian fiction.  Dekker paints a beautiful word picture of what takes place though baptism. (I promise to not divulge too much of the story line.)

The story is told of two tribes of people: Desert Dwellers (or the Horde) who follow the ways of the world, and the Forest People who follow the ways of Elyon (God).  The Horde have smelly, flaky, diseased skin and are afraid of water.  The Forest People have good skin and bathe every day in Elyon’s water so that they do not become like the Horde.  If the Forest People go a day without bathing, then their skin begins to crack and become pasty white.  If they go too long without bathing, they will lose their mind and become like the Horde. 

When the Horde kills the Christ-figure (ahh, I’m not going to tell you who that is) by drowning him in the lake, the water turns red and no longer cleanses the Forest People.  The Forest People then begin to think like the Horde and their skin becomes diseased like the Horde.  The two tribes blend their customs and start to co-exist. 

The main character of the story, Thomas, realizes that in order to be free from the disease, he must die in the same manner as the Christ-figure.  He dives into the blood-stained lake and breathes deep the red water.  He dies in that water but he then is given life and comes out of the water a new creature, one who will never again feel the effects of the disease.

What amazing symbolism!  When one breathes water into the lungs it causes drowning.  However, the word breath comes from the Greek word “pneuma” which means spirit.  When Thomas breathed the water, he died to the life that he had always known.  However, in the same instant, he breathed the spirit of God into his lungs which brought him new life – a life that was free from the disease which is sin.

When we realize that we must follow Christ even into His death and we enter the waters of baptism, we literally die to the sins of this world.  We are raised out of those waters new creatures – each who is free from the disease of this world.  We have breathed in the spirit of God and it now resides in us forever!  What a wonderful gift we have been given through the death of Christ!

 “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:3-4 NIV)

This Little Light of Mine

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…”  Everyone knows that these lyrics belong to one of the most loved children’s songs, but have you really thought about the words?  They have great significance in the life of a Christian.  In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:16 NIV)  God intends for us to be light in a world of darkness.  Everywhere we go, whether it be the grocery store, school, the movie theater or a car lot, our light should shine for Christ.  People all around us are watching our actions.  When we live our lives as Christ has called us, we are noticed and Christ is glorified.

Another verse of this song states, “Don’t let Satan blow it out…”  Satan is always there and he is watching and waiting to strike.  One of Satan’s best weapons is discouragement.  He will do his very best to wear us down.  As we are out sharing the gospel of Christ, not everyone is receptive and sometimes it is even dangerous depending on where we are in the world.  Satan will use every tool that he has to discourage us so that we will give up spreading the good news of Christ.  Over and over in the New Testament, Paul was persecuted and imprisoned for spreading the Gospel but he continually overcame Satan’s hurdles and continued to preach and to encourage others.

A final thought:  Paul said, “…do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord…” (2 Tim 1:8 NIV)  “Hide it under a bushel?  NO!  I’m gonna let it shine, all the time, let it shine!”