“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” 1 Timothy 6:17

Years ago, when asked by one of my scouts, “What is the meaning of life?” I came up with this little ditty:

The eye is on the tater

the moon is in the sky

the tail is on the gator

and the geese are flying high

That just popped out of my mouth, and I remembered it. These many years later, as I was reflecting on the beautiful sunset last night, it popped back into my head. On the surface, it seems silly and even pointless. Except that potatoes, the moon, gators and geese didn’t just happen by accident. They, like me, share a creator. God made all things for me to enjoy. And HIM to adore!

Looking at creation, it’s a wonder to me that most don’t see the point! As complex as tides, seasons, weather and human life are, most prefer to believe it all born of chance! Looking out my window I see the beautiful flowers that my wife sweat over in planting them. All just to make our yard look ‘pretty.’ I love the flowers. But I love my wife more. And my God who made both… even more!

Romans 1 and Joshua 7 were written to show the delicate balance of life as it relates to all of us. The disbelief and actions of one, can lead to the falling away of many, when God and His intentions are not placed and heralded at the top of my ‘important’ list. As the flowers bring me joy, that joy spreads to my household. Bitterness and anger have the ability to do the very same thing.

Today’s verse shows that God made us for Himself. But that He lavished us with SO many blessings from HIS heart. Thinking ahead to the New Earth, where we will someday live, I note it will be a place without thorns, dander, mosquitoes and disappointment. It’s fun for me to try to imagine living, and marveling with God who has endless ideas to show His love, and the creative ability to pull it off.

As Friday turns into the weekend, and spring is turning into summer, it just seems appropriate to reflect, remember and bath in the lavished blessings God has given me to enjoy. That includes people, who He wants me to share His-story with. Are YOU spreading the Joy of Jesus with those around you? Do you appear to others as a rose or a reptile? Only YOU and I can decide.

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10

“It’d been a while since we’d eaten there. It IS one of our favorite places to eat! NO place makes nachos like THAT place. You’ve been a good boy for so long, what could it hurt? Besides, you both deserve it… enjoy! You’ve gotten through it before so… just stop worrying and go for it!” 6 little sentences, coupled with feeling and desires… and I was off!

It was that time of day… dinnertime. We had just worked out at the gym, something that neither of us likes to do, and we were both hungry. We were only a mile and a half from the restaurant anyway and, sweating as we were, we both felt like we deserved a treat. So nachos at our favorite place came to mind. The problem is, my stomach can’t handle them.

Katie has a cast iron stomach. The hotter and spicier the food for her, the better. Since my bride loves those nachos, I had hatched the plan, brushed past the objections with little difficulty, and presented the idea to her! She beamed! “Are you sure you can handle it though,” she asked. “For you honey… absolutely!” was my immediate response. HAAAAA!

Desire and self deceit are a marriage born in hell. Sadly, I have the ability to talk myself into almost anything I REALLY desire badly. Sometimes it takes longer for desire to get the job done, but the stronger the desire, the stronger and tougher the battle will be. Replace ‘nachos’ with a personal favorite thing that God calls a sin and… well… all the worse.

I paid the price for the nacho thing! It took about 2 hours before my stomach turned into a ball of acid indigestion. Popping antacids like candy, I was smart enough NOT to make a vow to never do THAT again, since it would only make me out to be a liar. But I did wonder what was wrong with me. To do what I do, even though I know I shouldn’t… (Romans 7)

I thank God for Jesus Christ.. who paid for ALL my sin. The closer I walk with Him, the more clearly I see that HIS way is the best. And then do it! How do YOU deal with desire and temptation? Has Jesus rescued YOU?

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Philippians 2:1-2

The hurt I felt was very real. Which proved something beyond evolutionary theory, because I wasn’t the one most affected by what happened. Someone I love was. Being human, and feeling the pain second-hand, the natural urge to become angry and DO something about it seemed even more justified. But the decision was not mine to make. So I learned a lesson at another’s expense.

It’s one thing to be wronged or hurt yourself. Having been through countless unfair and painful experiences from people, I’ve learned to adapt and move on. But when someone I love is hurt, the “make it better” in me rises to almost super-hero status. I’m compelled to make it right and, if possible, take the pain away from the one I love. Even God has proved, that is not always possible.

Paul used the ‘if…then’ argument to make HIS argument about the Love of God toward ME… found in Christ. When I chose Jesus Christ to be my Savior and to live in my heart, I was IMMEDIATELY made God’s child. But like a child, I am required to learn what it means to act and live out that ‘right.’ Three steps forward and 2 steps back is the way Chuck Swindoll explained Christian Growth.

Looking at my life I must ask myself, “in Christ, have I been encouraged? Comforted? Have I experienced fellowship and compassion from Him and His people?” Knowing that I have, I am then persuaded to have the same attitude, love, spirit and purpose as He does through His Church. Jesus is saying, through Paul, ‘if you’ve gotten love… show love!” Paybacks and getting even are out!

When my loved one was wronged, I was taught, by watching, to NOT throw stones back at the one that did the hurting. Living in a VERY hurtful world, that is a decision that needs to be made by me every minute! Are YOU growing forward into the image of Jesus and ‘loving’ instead of trying to get even? Even God had the right to simply kill me in my sin. But He chose to Love me instead.

Love…. It’s a choice! 

–Katie sent this to me because it wowed her.  It did me too.  So I’m passing it on.-

Live Courageously

Today’s inspiration comes from: The Overcomers by Matt Chandler

Editor’s note: Matt Chandler’s new book, The Overcomers, challenges us to walk in the victory and courage Christ gives us. Even in a world of anxiety, stress, conflict, and great offense, we can live confidently in God’s omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence.

If you and I are going to be Overcomers and live courageously in this mess, it’d be helpful to understand some of it. After we see ultimate reality in Revelation 4–5, in Revelation 6 we get more help seeing behind all the mess. We get some good news about how we can endure and stand with confidence in light of all this pain — the pain of others and our pain as well.

When it comes to suffering, we see several things in the Scriptures that form a paradox we should hold in tension as finite, created beings seeking to understand an infinite and eternal God. The first is that God is good (Mark 10:18), all the works of His hands are faithful and just (Psalm 111:7), and there is no darkness in Him at all (1 John 1:5).

God is. It’s not something He has or does; it’s who He is. God doesn’t do evil; He does love.

Excluding Satan and demons, who were made in the beginning good, it might be helpful for you to think of evil, not as an action or a substance that flows from a source, but rather the result of fractured relationships. It’s first and foremost a broken relationship with our Creator, then with ourselves, with others, and ultimately with the world itself.

God isn’t the creator of evil; He’s the creator of beauty, goodness, and truth. Evil, suffering, and death are the result of sin and humankind’s rebellion against their Creator, which fractured the cosmos. That isn’t to say that every specific thing we endure is our fault. The cosmos is fractured at both the macro and micro levels. Some suffering, maybe most suffering, flows from this reality. The cosmos is broken. It isn’t functioning as it was designed.

We can know from the Scriptures that God isn’t the author of evil but the source of beauty, goodness, and truth.

With that said, here comes the paradox: God — in His sovereign reign over all things — holds all evil on a leash, including Satan, demons, and the brokenness that leads to sin and suffering. Nothing, not even the brokenness of the cosmos, is without boundaries and limits. Evil and suffering are not omnipotent. They don’t have the final say or authority. There’s more in this part of our paradox, but we need to talk about judo to help us understand.

There is a purpose to [suffering], and if faced rightly, it can drive us like a nail deep into the love of God and into more stability and spiritual power than you can imagine.

In the martial art of judo, the goal is to use the momentum and strength of your opponent against them. To use their energy and output to ultimately defeat them. Not only does God set boundaries and limits on evil and suffering, but He uses evil and suffering against evil and suffering.

For almost thirty years, I’ve watched as followers of Jesus have been diagnosed with illness, killed in tragic accidents, and on the receiving end of terrible tragedies. Yet, in almost every case, the peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7) does its work, and those people begin to minister to others who are hurting. Where evil tries to destroy, God turns it on its head. He sovereignly redeems the suffering of His people by exposing idols, growing their faith and dependence, and granting them His presence in unique and beautiful ways.

Here is our paradox: God is sovereign over all things. God is good. God isn’t the author or cause of evil, yet when evil happens, regardless of cause, God can work things for our good and take the destructive hope of evil and redeem it.

I love this quote by Tim Keller: Christianity teaches that, contra (opposed to) fatalism, suffering is overwhelming; contra Buddhism, suffering is real; contra karma, suffering is often unfair; but contra secularism, suffering is meaningful. There is a purpose to it, and if faced rightly, it can drive us like a nail deep into the love of God and into more stability and spiritual power than you can imagine.¹

Having pastored for more than twenty years, I have hundreds of questions about what I’ve just written. I’m sure you do too. These questions can haunt me at times. The “where was God…” or “why would God…” questions from people have felt almost too weighty for me to bear on more than one occasion. I don’t just think of these massive questions theoretically and divorced from their humanity. These questions involve actual faces and real tears. The questions are cried or screamed or whimpered into the heavens. How are we to make sense of it all?

The Scriptures don’t seem to be interested in answering all our questions. In the last five chapters of the book of Job, we see there are things we, as finite, created beings, won’t be able to comprehend that God, in His infinite power and wisdom, can. He is good.

Look to Jesus. Watch Him as He reveals the Kingdom of God.

See His power over disease and death, His restoring power over tragedy and loss, His tears for the world’s brokenness, and His power to do something about it. This is the Kingdom expanding in every direction, whether we see it or not.

This is why darkness and pain are thrashing about. They’re losing ground. They are trying to make one last stand in a cosmic war that has already been won.

1. Tim Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (New York: Penguin Books, 2015).

Excerpted with permission from The Overcomers by Matt Chandler, copyright Matt Chandler.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:20

Driving past the place where a Junk Guy often hangs out, I saw he was there. I remembered I had an old pool water heater I needed to get rid of and that he would probably love to have it. When I asked him if he would, he was exceptionally excited. But he had no gas in his vehicle. I gave him some money and asked him to meet me in an hour. He needed money, I needed my junk gone.

When I saw him later, he agreed to follow me to the house to remove my junk. Luckily my neighbor was outside and generously helped load the heavy item on the man’s trailer. Junk Guy was happy, I was happy… heck.. even my neighbor Rick was happy. It was then I asked Junk Guy… “Hey… are you a JESUS Guy as well?” Laughing he said, “Nah… I never went for that stuff!”

Since he was laughing, I laughed back and said… “but hey man… you’re just a dirt-bag sinner destined for the lake of Fire! Jesus came and died for your sins so that YOU don’t HAVE to go there.” He laughed some more, and I saw he was smiling… but serious. I realized that there was no sense, trying to make sense, to a guy who was more joyful about keeping and collecting junk than giving it to Jesus.

Jesus took His love for me and you VERY seriously. SO seriously, in fact, that when He saw Calvary approaching… He came anyway. Today’s Bible verse is a favorite of mine because most folks don’t really get what Jesus is saying. He and His Dad have a junk collecting business too. In fact, they are so serious about it, they don’t mind if I join their junk collecting business for my own selfish reasons!

“Lay up for YOURSELVES!” Get that? The Trinity is so dizzily in love with me, that they’ll gladly marry me into their family forever… even if I agree to join them for the treasure I’ll get! As long as my heart is all in… that’s all they want! Looking at my junky life as a kid, I was smart enough to realize that no junk I have is worth more than God’s treasures. How about you? Are YOU giving Jesus YOUR junk?

“…everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:32-34

Age brings perks. And one perk Katie and I enjoy is earning dining rewards cards. That gives us the ability to eat out for not much more than if we cooked a meal at home. Sunday we were in a restaurant. When the waiter came to serve us, he was wearing a rather large cross earring. I asked him his name, he said “Seth.” “Ohhhh… good Bible name!” I said. He took our order and left.

While Seth proceeded to wait on us, I sat and waited for Him to return to our table. I had a spiritual nudge and couldn’t wait to follow through. “So Seth, are ye a JESUS guy?” I asked. He mumbled the non-committing “well I believe in God” statement. “No, No,” I said. “Do you believe in Jesus Christ and are you sure you’re going to Heaven when you die?” He said, “Well, no one can know for sure!”

Moving on I said, “I know I’M going to heaven!” Then I asked, “why are you wearing a copy of the horrific, torture device that killed Jesus, from your ear?” Standing a few feet away, I asked him to step closer to hear God’s message. “I’m going to guess that you are a Christian, and that you go to church regularly… am I right?” “Yes sir.” He replied. “Now listen to me son, and learn this.” I said.

Today’s Bible verse was what I told him, then asked, “tell me true, have you invited Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior.” He said “Yes.” I asked, “why are you scared or ashamed?” That caught his attention. He hadn’t realized that being non committal about Jesus was really an act of disobedience! I encouraged him to be proud and stand up for Christ, even if someone belittles him.

Seth was the age where I was when I learned this same verse. The relationship I have with Him can only grow and thrive when I walk and talk with, and about Him. He wants me to be a WITNESS standing out FOR Him. Not hiding out, like someone in a witness protection program. Are YOU a bold witness for Jesus Christ? Do you share the Good News of Christ with those around you?

If the Cross fits you… wear and share it!

“Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down.” 1 Kings 18:30

“Can you fix it?” I asked Jack. Assuring me it wouldn’t be a problem, since he had all the tools necessary at his shop at home, he took the broken altar piece from the pulpit, and took it home.

The pulpit I preach from every week has some very unique history. In 1974 my father, a Methodist pastor, purchased a closed church in the mountains of Pennsylvania. That church had been built in 1905, with $5000 coming in donation from Andrew Carnegie, the railroad and steel philanthropist. Bringing it to Florida in 1980, it’s been the preaching center for our church ever since. But it broke!

There is no way to know how many sermons and teachings have been given from that pulpit. But if it could talk, I’m sure it would provide some rich history. Just like I can, from my 57 years of being a follower of Jesus Christ. I am NOT the same guy I was on the day I met Him. What I’ve learned from Jesus and his people has only served to make my life rich and full. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

1 Kings 18 is a great chapter in the Bible. It tells of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal and Asherah. The count was 850 to 1, Elijah being the lone prophet of God. When it was over, fire blasted down from heaven and consumed EVERYTHING. Even the 40 gallons of water Elijah had dumped over the sacrifice before it was his turn. Read about it if you haven’t heard it before.

I’ve had the privilege of standing on top of Mt. Carmel and seeing the very site where this showdown took place. Just over the ridge, the mountain opens up and looks over the HUGE valley of Megiddo… the future location of the final battle of Armageddon. I find it interesting that before He took his turn to call on his God, Elijah took the time to repair the broken down altar of God that lay in ruins.

Sometimes I feel like that old pulpit. Old and in need of repair. Having Jesus in my life doesn’t guarantee everything will be fine. In fact, having Jesus in my heart makes me more of a target to satan and the world. But no matter the odds, Jesus has NEVER failed to get me through a valley. So everyday, I start my day at the altar at my table, where Jesus and I hang out to load up on His Word.

Do YOU spend daily time with Jesus and His Word? What kind of stories can YOU tell about YOUR Savior? Is your altar strong and well used? Or does it need a little repair?   Does the altar alter YOU?  Only YOU can choose to make way for the Savior to lead your life.   Will you? And thanks Jack, for being a Pulpit Repairman. 

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

For the past year I’ve subscribed to a music service to the tune of $82. Divided over 12 payments, I don’t even notice the $6.83 each month. I really do appreciate the music and listen to it every time I get in my vehicle. The other day I received notification that the payment was now going to go to $23.66 per month! That’s $284 per year! A sum I would substantially notice. So I called them.

Now it isn’t like I’m poor or can’t afford the monthly payment. It’s more about principle. With so many different services out there, plus the free music on the radio, spending 4 times more for the same thing just seemed ridiculously ‘out of whack.’ Getting a representative on the phone, I asked them to please cancel my service. Five minutes later, he extended my old contract another year.

Being a salesman for most of my working career, I never appreciated the idea of charging different amounts for the same thing. Sadly, most of the sales world subscribes to the notion of ‘get as much as you can!’ To me, that is simply called ‘cheating.’ When I look to God for what HE thinks about it, I came up with this verse that, to me, has a double meaning.

Starting out in life, I was a very selfish kid. I always took the last or biggest cookie, always making my way to be first in line at the church dinner. It wasn’t until after I started walking with Jesus that He tapped me on my heart and laid out a NEW plan for my giving. I have learned that 1. when I give, to and through Him, he ALWAYS gives back much more. And that 2. my attitude in giving is like a mirror.

Over time I have learned that when God takes what I give Him, he ALWAYS multiplies it to my benefit! Only LOVE does that. So… when it comes to giving, we give our hearts to Him first, and then ask Him what He wants us to give. There have been some very interesting moments over the years. But we have never ‘lost’ a dime! In fact, we have reaped FAR more than we have sown.

Jesus died to pay for my sins (ALL OF THEM) ONCE FOR ALL! When I received Him as Lord, I actually did a life swap… mine for His. Which is an AMAZING contract that I’ll never understand. I get ALL of HIM… for the disgustingly low price of all of ME! I’m not a dummy. I realize I made out HUGE in that deal! Have YOU signed the contract with Jesus? Are YOU becoming a bigger giver than a taker? Do YOU ‘get it?’

“But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.” Romans 7:8

“No Ice Cream for YOU, mister!” Those weren’t the exact words on my medical order. But that’s what my brain heard. Preparing for a blood test, I was very clearly told… ‘FASTING is REQUIRED! No food or water 12 hours before they draw blood.’ The Doctor wants to check for any signs of bad things happening to me… like too much cholesterol or sugar. But something bad DID happen!

The desire wasn’t even shifty or sneaky. In fact, it didn’t even wait for the “12 hour before” mark. I started getting this hankering for some salted caramel, fudge and pecan covered ice cream about 18 hours before! And it was RELENTLESS! The craziest part is, I rarely ever eat the stuff anymore. But last night, I just happened to see some in the back of the freezer! Seeing it, made for WAR!

I can’t think of many more powerful words than “DON’T!” Sharp parents and teachers know to avoid that negative word as much as possible. “Don’t look,” or “Don’t touch” are almost guaranteed to produce the desire TO ‘look’ or ‘touch.’ It’s just a natural law that comes along with inherited sinful blood. God wrote the ‘don’t’ commands, and rebellious man ‘DID!’ It’s a bad law!

It was a victorious night. I was able to fight off the urge and not ‘give in’ to the temptation to scarf down a bowl of that rich, gooey evil. But I don’t feel victorious. Because I wanted it so badly just proves Jesus saying that ‘if I lusted after it in my heart, I’m just as guilty as if I had.’ And while there may be no sign of foul play in my test results, I feel a little guilty, as if I’d given in and eaten it all.

Thank God for Jesus and Grace! Because, while the ‘DO NOT’ rules actually make me WANT to… Jesus paid for ALL of my guilt. Even when it simply lies in the form of a rebellious thought. That Jesus can overcome even my craziest desires makes me want to serve Him even more. Are all of YOUR thoughts and deeds removed by the blood of Jesus? Are you rejoicing in His Grace?

I think… after my blood test, I’m going to get some ice cream!!!