thoughts for today

What Used to Be

2011-10-28T11:26:00.002-04:00

When the Israelites, who had been exiled to Babylon, were allowed by Cyrus, king of Persia, to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of God, there was much joy. This was, after all, the fulfillment of the prophecy Jeremiah spoke during the years just prior to the exile and that Isaiah spoke 150-200 years earlier when God even called Cyrus by name.

What strikes me about all this is what happens after the foundation for the temple is laid. Most of the people shout for joy. But some of the old men, who remembered the previous temple, wept. They could not rejoice in God's faithfulness, their freedom, their return home, the new temple because it didn't measure up to what used to be.

How like that are we today? We revel in the past and don't rejoice in the new things God is doing. Maybe what God is doing does not fit well with our traditions. Maybe it's not our idea of what God should be doing - or how He should be doing it.

How many churches fail because the neighborhood, the demographics, of their location change but the church does not embrace it's neighbors with the gospel of Jesus Christ? We'll just shut the doors rather than do a new thing with new people, telling them, in essence, to "go to hell".

How many times does someone in a church say we've never done that before? Rather than reason to quit, it should be reason to celebrate. God is at work. He even says through Isaiah, "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:19)

The rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple was a new beginning for the people of Israel. Maybe it wasn't as grand as before but God was working in their midst. We should always shout for joy when we see God at work around us. We should embrace it and not grieve the new thing He's doing because God's perception, God's purposes just might be a lot different than ours. Ya think?!

Life Can Be Hard

2011-10-25T08:45:00.000-04:00

My Pastor, Perry Noble, started a new series last Sunday on The Life of Job - A Story of Hope. There is a lot of anticipation that God is going to do some amazing things in the lives of hurting people.

Life can be hard. Just because I am a follower of Jesus Christ doesn't mean I get a free pass on the trouble, the anxieties, the worries of this world. But because of Jesus Christ and his death, burial and resurrection, I have victory over all that comes my way. And - as an aside - Jesus was in the very center of God's will for His life when He was nailed to the cross. He didn't get a pass on trouble and pain!

A lot of times we forget that, as believers, this world is not our home. Our lives are just a vapor, a mist, that is only here for a snap of the fingers. Our lives seem so long but on the scale of eternity, the time is nothing really.

However, the pain we feel over broken relationships and broken dreams and disasters and sickness and death and hardships and all the other stuff of life is very real. Often that pain is so intense because we are focusing on ourselves. In the moment of great hurt, we tend to focus on our loss, our pain. Sometimes we focus on anger and assigning blame to the one who hurt us or maybe even to God.

But God wants so much more for us. God comforts us in our pain and our sorrow so that we can then comfort others. If we allow Him to, He will use our circumstances as a testimony of His faithfulness. If we look beyond human wisdom to the wisdom of God, we will know, as Job did, "...that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God." (Job 19:25-26)

Learning to focus on Jesus during times of great hurt will enable us to not only endure but to thrive.

The Way of Love

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking lately about something my pastor said a few months ago - you can't say you love someone if you are not willing to talk to them about their relationship with Jesus, even if it is awkward or uncomfortable. So how much DO I love those around me - family, friends, neighbors? Often not very well.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13

Is the church of Jesus Christ characterized by love? Do we love the congregation down the street? "By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another." (John 13:35) Do we love the downtrodden, the broken, the addicted in our communities? And what about those on the fast track to job and financial success? "Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:23) Are we motivated to pray for and help, rather than criticize, someone who falls into sin? "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." (1Corinthians 10:12) "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness." (Galatians 6:1)

Jesus, help me to love the way You love. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Open my eyes, my ears, my heart to family and friends and acquaintances who desperately need You and then share Your love with them. Amen.

Wasted Years

2011-10-13T11:03:00.001-04:00

I have often thought of my wasted years as those years when I was living in rebellion and wandering as a prodigal, living life the way I wanted to. That is not an incorrect assessment because those were years that I wasted. Not only was my relationship with Christ wasted during those years but the relationship with my family as well. My parents and brother loved me through it all but I didn't allow that love to flow toward me or back toward them because of my sin.

I am so grateful that Jesus Christ never abandoned me. During those years in the wasteland He protected me in so many ways. But what I have begun to think about now is the waste found in the years since I returned home to my Father and Jesus. What am I doing today that will be burned up in the fire as wasted?

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, "Now if anyone builds on the foundation [of Jesus Christ] with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each one's work will become manifest, for the Day [of Judgement] will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire."

Gold, silver and precious stone will survive the fire; wood, hay, and straw will be burned up. So what types of things will survive? Love, for sure. Love God, love others. Jesus said these are the greatest commandments. (Mark 12:30-31)

Right attitudes. "...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) Doing the right things for the wrong reasons can cause them to be lost. (Matthew 23:1-3)

Proper use of resources given to me by God. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) Am I generous with time, money and other resources? Do I allow them to multiply and build the kingdom of God by wise use? Or do I horde them out of fear? (Matthew 25:14-30)

I need to search my heart - and ask God to as well - to show me any areas I need to work on as I live this life in preparation for eternity. "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24)

Thankfulness

2011-10-12T15:17:00.000-04:00

One of the things I'm really working toward with God is being more thankful. Rather than always asking Him for something just taking time to say "Thank You!"

Not being thankful is taking God's grace and provision for granted. I have so much and too often I fail to acknowledge that all I have comes from God. So what DO I have that I need to be thankful for?

My family - my son, daughter-in-law, grandson and granddaughter. We have a great relationship and are able to share life together.
My health - I don't take any medications for any conditions and at age 63 that is a gift straight from God.
My car - 14 years old but still chugging along - and it was free when I got in back in 2005.
My home - small townhouse that I bought in 2007. The bank stills owns more of it than I do but it is the only debt I have. Good neighborhood, good location, cheaper than rent.
My friends - I have friends that I get to go places with, laugh with, cry with. They enrich my life in so many ways.
America - I don't ever want to take for granted that I live in a free country. Of course it's not perfect but to have been born in this country, to me, is a huge blessing.
My church - God led me to the greatest church ever. Through my church He has allowed me to participate in life change with countless numbers of people.
My salvation - This is the greatest gift of all. To think that God loves me, ME! so much that He sacrificed His Son to pay the penalty for my sins. It overwhelms me every time I think about it!
My life - Waking up each morning, taking another breath, is a precious gift. One day I will leave this earth to be with Jesus for eternity but until that time, I will be thankful for each new day.
Food and water - I live where food prices are reasonable and the water is good and plentiful. There have been droughts and we have been told not to water lawns or wash cars but always have water for drinking, cooking, bathing.
Indoor plumbing and electricity - I love being able to flip a switch to have lights or air conditioning or heat. And if you've ever used an outhouse or port-a-potty, being able to flush a toilet is great.
Sunshine and rain - we need both and God controls them so I will be thankful for each.
Seasons - I love season change. Leaves are beginning to change now as the days get shorter and cooler. Each season has it's own reasons to be enjoyed. Spring of course is the time of renewal and Easter; flowers bloom, grass is green, trees get new leaves, the air begins to warm. Summer is hot but that makes for great times at the pool or the lake. Trees provide needed shade. It's also the main vacation time so life often moves at a slower pace with picnics and cookouts and long days. Autumn is cool relief from the heat of summer. Leaves begin to change colors and fall from the trees. Halloween and Thanksgiving are celebrated. Winter is Christmas and New Year's and maybe even snow. The bright green of evergreens can be seen in contrast to the stark brown trunks and limbs of those trees bare of leaves. And as we've had just enough of the cold, short days here comes Spring again.

There is so very much to be thankful for and I don't ever want to miss the opportunity to thank God for blessing me with so much.

Hope

2011-10-11T15:13:00.000-04:00

Hope is something we all want; something we all need. Loss of hope can lead to depression and even suicide. What do we put our hope in?

Money/retirement funds - where does hope go when the stock market crashes or the job ends?

Government - where does hope go if the elected officials don't live up to their promises?

House - where does hope go if the house loses it's value?

Spouse/family - where does hope go if the marriage ends or the kids are rebellious or somebody dies?

Friends - where does hope go if a friend betrays us?

Health - where does hope go if health fails, if a debilitating or terminal illness is diagnosed?

Everything on earth is temporary. Everything. Therefore, nothing on earth can supply hope. The Bible says in Proverbs 11:7, "Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all their power comes to nothing." And in Psalm 33:17 "A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all it's great strength it cannot save." We don't rely on horses these days - unless it's horsepower under the hood of a car - but you can substitute any of the list above for "horse".

So, if I can't put my hope in money or friends or my spouse or my health, what is there? There is the only one hope, a sure hope, a never ending hope for all mankind. That hope is God. Throughout the Old Testament the writers speak of the hope found only in God. This is especially true in Job and in the Psalms. "Yet if you devote your heart to [God] and stretch out your hands to him...You will be secure because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety." (Job 11:13-18) Psalm 119 has many references to "hope in your laws", "hope in your word", "you have given me hope".

The prophet Isaiah said, "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." And Jeremiah tells us, "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."

Paul in Romans 15:13 calls God the God of hope and tells us hope comes from the Holy Spirit when he prays, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

To know God, through Christ Jesus, is to know the only hope of the world. "remember that at that time you were separate from Christ...without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:12-13)

No Condemnation

2011-10-10T10:09:00.000-04:00

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2)

From the moment we are born, we are all condemned to death. Because of Adam's sin, God said, "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:19)

So this frail, finite earthly body will die; it will return to dust. Because of sin. And I am a sinner. By God's standards. Man's standards don't count, only God's, because...well, HE IS GOD! And I am not.

Sin is what brought the condemnation of death. Paul tells us "those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:5-6)

Death or life and peace. Sounds like a no-brainer to me. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him." (John 3:16-17)

God has done everything necessary to make us right with Him by sending His Son. Jesus did all the work for our salvation on a cross in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. Jesus was condemned to death to pay the price for all the sins for all mankind for all time. But praise be to God, Jesus did not stay dead. He was raised to life in three days and "if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11)

Life Can Be Hard

2011-10-06T11:19:00.000-04:00

Sometimes life overwhelms us. A friend or family member dies. Someone close to us is living a dangerous or addictive life. A marriage ends. A child gets sick - really sick - or maybe I do. A job is lost. Life can be hard.

I can remember hearing Christians say things that might make one think if you're following Christ nothing bad should ever happen to you. Perhaps you don't have enough faith. Perhaps you have un-confessed sin in your life. The reality is Jesus said that we WILL have tribulation in this world.

"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33) So what do we do when our world crashes down around us? We turn to Jesus. Does that mean that the child will get well or the friend will give up the addiction or a new job will be found today? Not necessarily.

Jesus didn't say I will take away all your tribulation but I will give you peace. Peace is not complacency; not an "Oh, well, there's nothing that can be done" attitude. Peace is a realization the God is in control. Yes, we still pray. Yes, we still speak words of encouragement. Yes, we still go about living and doing what God has called us to do. But we remember God's love toward us, understanding that His love is perfect and "perfect love casts out fear". (1 John 4:18)

The apostle Paul said, "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5)

So when life is hard - as it will be for all of us at some time - know that God is building character and hope in Him for those of us who are His children. "But to all who did receive [Jesus], who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12) The best question to ask when life is hard is have I received Jesus so that I may know His peace and God's love.

Romans

2011-10-04T09:12:00.000-04:00

I never tire of reading the Bible. Even though I have read it from cover to cover numerous times and some books, like Romans, again and again and again, God's word is always fresh, always new, always alive. That's one of those God things that I don't understand - the Bible being alive (Hebrews 4:12) - but that I believe it because I have experienced it in my life.

Part of what I love about Romans is God's plan of salvation made extremely clear.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23) As my pastor would say, the Greek word for all means...all. If you are a person, you are part of "all". Doesn't matter who you are, what you do, where in the world you live, rich or poor, "good" or "bad" - ALL of us fall short of God's perfection.

"but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Since we are all sinners, God's love is poured out for all of us - everyone, every where. Christ died for all humanity. God loves us and sent Jesus to bear our punishment for our sins. He wants us so much He did everything necessary to make us right with Him.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Death or life? That is the question before each of us and a choice has to be made.

"because if you confess with your mouth 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) God did not make this complicated. No pilgrimages to make, no service to perform, no steps to climb. Believe and confess."For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:10)

"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13) EVERYONE - no matter our age, our race, our economic status, our nationality; no matter how heinous or trivial our sins by human standards. Everyone who can confess Jesus is Lord will be saved.

I am so grateful to this loving God who pulled me up out of the mire of sin, the pit of despair and set my feet on solid ground. The way to God is simple - but there is only ONE way. That's what throws so many people off. They want THEIR way, not God's way. Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:13-14)

God Is Not Like Me

2011-09-28T09:22:00.001-04:00

I have a really hard time, sometimes, thinking about God. God gives Himself human attributes - hands, voice, emotions, etc - throughout the Bible. Jesus even said, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9) But of course, we have no physical description of Jesus. It's not about His humanness but about His heart, His compassion, His love.

If I try to picture God, I want to make Him a better version of the best people I know, like Billy Graham or Mother Teresa. But bringing God down to human terms diminishes Him. (God is NOT like me.) The Bible tells us God lives in unapproachable light.(1 Timothy 6:15-16) He can't be compared to anyone.(Isaiah 40:25-26) He is everlasting and never grows tired.(Isaiah 40:28) His thoughts and ways are different than mine.(Isaiah 55:9) He created everything.(Isaiah 42:5)

I just can't grasp infinite, all holy, all wise, all knowing, all loving, all powerful, all merciful which God is, because I am finite and sinful. So because God is NOT like me, He needed some way for me to understand Him so He communicates with me in terms I can grasp. Sometimes that makes me think God is like me but He is not.

I have heard people say I couldn't love a God who sends people to Hell. Well, He doesn't. Send people to Hell. We send ourselves when we reject His offer of salvation. Heaven is His home and if I want to live there I need to follow the house rule (only one) which is salvation through Jesus Christ alone. My parents always had house rules that I was expected to obey as part of the family so why would I think God is cruel if He does the same thing.

God gives us opportunity to do what He asks. When the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for 430 years, God said it's time for them to go back home. Each time Moses came to Pharaoh with the demand to let the people go, he also gave God's consequence if Pharaoh didn't comply. Pharaoh's heart was hard so he would not comply. And because God never lies, He did what He said He would do.

When Jonah was told to go to the people of Ninevah and preach a message of repent or be destroyed, he didn't want to do it. He feared and hated these people so much that he wanted them to be destroyed. And because God never lies, when Jonah eventually preached the message and they repented, God spared them. (God was NOT like Jonah!)

Then someone might say but what about those who never hear of Jesus. I don't know but I do know that God is perfect and His justice is perfect. (God is NOT like me.) In Romans 1:18-22 Paul writes that man is without excuse. I guess my biggest problem is that sometimes I think God owes me something - like an explanation. He only owes me death because of my sin, because of my arrogance, because of my disregard of Him. But He has promised life to those who do things His way, those who accept His terms.

Once my heart was hard toward God. I wanted to live my life, my way. What a sad existence! What an empty futile life! There is more...so much more...to be found in a life fully surrendered to God.

"Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand." St Augustine

Passover Lamb

2011-09-27T09:13:00.000-04:00

I don't know how many times I have read the story of Jesus' crucifixion and the last supper just before Jesus and the disciples left for the garden of Gethsemane to pray. While in that garden the Jews came to arrest Jesus and so began the road to His death and my life.

Whenever I think about this event, I always think of Easter. But this time I thought about the Passover. Jesus's death could have taken place any time of the year. But God chose to have these events unfold during Passover.

Passover was initiated by God as He was using Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God told them from now on, this month will "be the first month of the year for you." They were to take a lamb "without blemish, a male a year old" to be sacrificed. After killing the lamb they were to "take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses." God was about to pass through the land of Egypt to strike all the firstborn in the land. But He told His people, "when I see the blood, I will pass over you , and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt." (Exodus 12:1-20)

John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God. And not just any lamb - but the Lamb "who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) So during the Passover, during this time of celebrating God's goodness, His rescue from death, His salvation from the tyranny of the Egyptians, God sent HIS Lamb. His perfect, sinless Son to be MY Passover lamb.

When God sees the blood of HIS lamb surrounding me, He passes over my sin, my guilt, my shame to rescue me from certain death. How could He love me so much? I don't know. But I do know that I am grateful and humbled and an in awe of my God who would provide for me the Lamb needed to save me.

Amazing Day

2011-09-26T09:29:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, Sunday, September 25,2011, was an amazing day at NewSpring. As we wrapped up the Revelation series, Perry called people go public with their faith in Christ by being baptized by immersion after salvation.

Perry told us how he was baptized twice, once as an 8 year old and again as a teenager, because he'd prayed a prayer in church as a 5 year old and had been told he was saved. When he was about 19, he actually met Jesus and asked Him to take over his life and so he was baptized a third time.

At the end of the service, people were asked to take their next step of baptism if that was what God was leading them to do. In Greenville 253 people were baptized. All campuses together saw 1442 people get dunked after they answered the question, "Who is your Lord and Savior?" with "Jesus Christ".

I am really in awe of such a gracious and loving God who would stir the hearts of so many people to get their relationship with Jesus in line with His teaching. Even more amazing to me is that He lets me be part of what HE is doing! Thank You, thank You, thank You!

Hearing

2011-09-22T11:56:00.000-04:00

Mark tells us that Jesus spoke in parables "as they were able to hear it." Mark 4:33-34

Sometimes I am not able to hear God speak to me because I am not dealing - or don't want to deal - with what He is talking about. The thing I have to be careful about is wondering why others are not hearing God.

Maybe God has already dealt with me on a particular sin in my life and I'm beyond that now. So then I wonder why someone else is not beyond it. I mean, God's word is so clear, how can anyone not know what they are doing is not pleasing to God. Surely God is dealing with them about it. Surely they hear the truth preached on Sunday. Surely they see it in Scripture.

Maybe not. Maybe that person is not ABLE to hear. Maybe they have other issues going on in their lives that Jesus needs to deal with first.

I just need to be kind and loving as I speak truth into lives as Jesus directs. Not everyone reads their Bible daily. Not everyone seeks out Christian counsel. Not everyone is ready to deal with sin in their lives. Not everyone wants to please Jesus above themselves or other people. Maybe they are just beginning their walk with Jesus or perhaps they think salvation is the end of the journey rather than the beginning.

As I "work out [my] own salvation with fear and trembling" striving for the "holiness without which no one will see God", I need never to forget that this has been a long journey and often a struggle with recurring sin and doubt, with times of impulsiveness and an unwillingness to let God lead me. Others may be where I once was so I just might be the voice God uses to help them to hear his truth. But if I speak without love, I am not going to speak well.

Afraid

2011-09-20T08:25:00.000-04:00

How many times am I afraid to do what Jesus asks me to do? How many times am I like the disciples in Mark 4:35-41?

Jesus had been teaching and said let's go over there. Going over there meant getting in a boat and going across the lake. This in itself was not a problem for these guys. Several of them were fishermen and were used to handling a boat.

But then a storm came along. It was no longer easy. In fact the waves were so high the water was crashing into the boat and filling it with water. I can understand their fear, their uncertainty that they would be okay. They even went so far as to awaken Jesus and say don't you care?!

Hmmm...have I ever made that accusation against Jesus. I'm going along doing what I am supposed to be doing and trouble arises. Don't you care, Jesus? Why is this happening to me, Jesus? Where are You, Jesus? If I'm following You shouldn't it be smooth sailing with calm seas?

Jesus was right there with the disciples in the boat. He got up and calmed the wind and the waves. But He asked a very important question, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And that is the question He still asks whenever I am afraid. Afraid of the diagnosis the doctor gives. Afraid of the financial crisis that may be looming. Afraid of what the future may or may not hold. Have you no faith?

It's easy to have faith when all is sunshine and roses. But real faith is tested in the storms - when the waves are crashing all around. Jesus was right there in the boat with the disciples as they were doing what He had asked them to do. And yet they were afraid. Jesus is always in my "boat" as well. He has promised never to leave or forsake me. I should never be afraid with Jesus by my side.

Celebrate

2011-09-19T09:22:00.000-04:00

Yesterday at NewSpring, Perry spent some time helping us celebrate what God has done over the past year in and through NewSpring Church. Some of the statistics are amazing. But of course it has nothing to do with us and everything to do with God. Although celebrating the past is good, anticipating what God will do in the future is just, or maybe more, important.

This morning I began to think about Jesus and how and why He chooses people and/or churches to bless. We know that He chose Judas to be one of His twelve closest companions and that Judas was in charge of the money for the group. But we also know that Jesus knew that Judas was a thief and that Judas would betray Him. But still Jesus chose him.

Jesus chose Simon Peter who would declare boldly "You are the Christ!" and "Even if I must die with You, I will not deny You!" But Peter did deny Him, just as Jesus said he would. Peter was hot-headed and impulsive but Jesus chose him anyway.

The disciples had their flaws. Thomas the doubter. Nathaniel the skeptic. James and John the glory seekers. Yet Jesus chose them. Jesus knows that we are flawed by sin but if we allow Him to work in our hearts and lives, we can be completely new creations.

There are many people who think THEY have to clean themselves up; they have to get their act together before they can come to Jesus. And what is even worse is people who profess Christ who look at someone and think he/she is not redeemable so we don't even attempt to introduce them to Jesus. We don't want their messy lives to make a mess of our pretty churches.

Maybe that is one of the reasons Jesus is blessing NewSpring Church. We welcome those with messy lives; those who live like non-Christians because they don't have a clue about who Christ is. But they come to NewSpring and hear the gospel and Jesus transforms their lives. HE cleans them up. HE helps them get their act together. Just as He did for me and countless numbers of others through out history. Example: our opening song yesterday was "Glory Train" by Ozzie Osborne. A guy attending in Charleston said he came with all sorts of walls up. Walked in and heard Glory Train and the walls came down. After hearing the gospel preached, he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ who performed the miracle of raising this man from the dead - along with 79 others yesterday at NewSpring.

So the celebration is not about NewSpring but about Jesus and life change. People who were dead and are now alive. And our anticipation is that Jesus will continue to raise people to new life until He returns.

Sad, Sad, Sad

2011-09-13T21:35:00.000-04:00

When I read about the Pharisees and their reaction to Jesus, it just makes me sad. Jesus healed a man's withered hand by simply saying, "Stretch out your hand...But the Pharisees went out and conspired against [Jesus], how to destroy Him." (Matthew 12:9-14)

Later, after Jesus healed a demon possessed man, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons." (Matthew 12:22-24)

As Jesus was telling parables one day, the chief priests and the Pharisees knew He was talking about them but they "were seeking to arrest Him." (Matthew 21:33-46)

And that doesn't count all the times they tried to trick Him with their questions about taxes and divorce and the resurrection and fasting and cleansing and the Sabbath. How could they do that when Jesus was right in front of them? It's just sad that they were so blind to who He really is!

But haven't I done those same things? How about before I surrendered to Christ? Didn't I sneer at His followers and think it was all rather dull and stupid?

And even now...do I ever worry when Jesus has said not to? (Matthew 6:25-34) Do I ever doubt His ability to see me through tough times? Do I refuse to tell others about Him because they might not like me any more or think I'm weird? Do my words and my thoughts and actions always line up; or do I say one thing and do another? Do I sometimes try to earn God's love by being "good"? Do I ever pat myself on the back for MY accomplishments rather than giving Jesus all the glory? Do I ever encounter someone and say, with pride, thank you that I am not like them rather than recognizing that I used to BE them and it is only by the grace of God that I am no longer them?

Hmmm. Could be very easy to take up the roll of Pharisee. It could be me that Jesus shakes HIS head over saying sad, sad, sad. Building a good relationship is hard work and even more so when it involves always denying myself. The Christian life goes against everything our society tells us, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 16:24-25) That's why I must spend time with Jesus each day. At the end of life I don't want Jesus to call me a hypocrite or deny me because I denied Him. I want my Master to say "well done!"

Miracles

2011-09-12T21:40:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday I spent 13 hours on my feet at the NewSpring Leadership Conference (NLC) in Anderson, SC. This was a most amazing day. I arrived at 6 AM and soon met up with the Facilities Cleaning Crew. Heather and I volunteered for the women's bathroom downstairs just outside the main auditorium. Our job was to clean counters, sinks and toilets, refill paper towel and toilet paper holders, and empty trash after each 15 minute break (one an hour). While the facilities were in use, we wiped up water and soap that dribbled onto the counters from hand washing.

While the ladies stood in line, I was able to engage the women in small talk about the day and their church back home. I believe everyone I spoke to lived east of the Mississippi River except one pastor's wife from England. I was glad to meet her because the church her husband and she lead is one that we - NewSpring - help support.

When I finished the last cleanup and walked out the door at 6:50 PM, I was worn out! I didn't get to hear the speakers but I will listen when the podcasts go up in a week or so. The men who spoke are some of the most innovative leaders in the Church today.

One woman, late in the day, heard me make the comment that I have never experienced anything like NewSpring. We began to talk and she asked why I thought God was doing so many great things in and through this particular church.

I gave her several reasons. Our pastor, Perry Noble, is very open about the struggles he has faced, the sins that he has overcome, and the counseling he has to help him stay the course; he's a regular guy who has been touched by God. Perry always tells us what the Bible says and is very direct in telling us what we need to do to be obedient to Christ. We are told over and over, invite your friends - invite, invite, invite - so we do and unbelievers come and hear the gospel and Jesus saves them. Perry tells us every week, last week was good but this week is going to be better. This breeds an anticipation that God is going to show up and He is going to do amazing things that only He can do.

As I was reading in Matthew this morning I read about Jesus being rejected in His hometown of Nazareth. The Bible says that Jesus "did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief." Then I read a great blog post by Pastor Steven Furtick entitled, "Jesus: What You See Is What You Get" on this same passage.

Too many times people in churches all across America don't expect Jesus to show up in powerful ways on Sunday - or any other day for that matter. So He doesn't. Not because He can't but because the people don't anticipate it. I don't ever want to get beyond the awe, the wonder that comes from encountering Jesus. I don't ever want to just go through the motions; I want to fully engage, fully anticipate that He will do something amazing in my life or lives of those around me. Miracles still happen!

Authority of Christ

2011-09-07T14:14:00.001-04:00

One of the things that struck the people of Jesus' day as He talked to them was the authority with which He spoke. During the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:37), Jesus spoke of His fulfillment of the law. (Matthew 5:17-18). Then he began to speak about the law...murder, you have heard...but I say to you (Matthew 5:21-26); adultery, you have heard...but I say to you (Matthew 5:27-30); divorce, you have heard...but I say to you (Matthew 5:31-32); lying, you have heard...but I say to you (Matthew 5:33-37); retaliation, you have heard...but I say to you (Matthew 5:38-42); enemies, you have heard...but I say to you (Matthew 5:43-48). He went on to talk about giving to the needy, and attitudes in prayer and fasting with the admonition of "I say to you." (Matthew 6:1-19)

Here was a teacher, a Rabbi, who was not just reading the law to them but actually expanding the law to get to the heart of God. No one had ever done that before. "...the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." (Matthew 7:28-29)

You just know it when you meet a person with authority; a school principal, a police office, a judge. If we read the Bible we will certainly learn of Jesus' authority. He had authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:10, Luke 5:24), to drive out impure spirits (Luke 4:36), to judge (John 5:27), to lay down His life and to take it up again (John 10:18), to give eternal life (John 17:2).

Some of Jesus' last words were "All authority in heaven and on earth have been given to Me. Go, therefore..." The church leaders of Jesus day were not willing to submit to His authority although they recognized the miracles He was doing even asking "Who gave You authority to do this?" (Mark 11:28)

When we recognize the authority of Jesus, it requires a response. Will I trust, submit and obey or question, deny and defy? Just as defying the authority of those around us can have dire consequences so can denying and defying the authority of Jesus. Only those consequences are for eternity.

Change

2011-09-02T11:01:00.000-04:00

A lot of people don't like change. They always drive the same way to and from work or school or church. They eat lunch at the same place every weekend. They go to the same vacation spot every year. They sit in the same seat at church every week. A lot of people live by routine and are most comfortable with sameness.

I happen to like a certain amount of change. I drive different routes to and from work and church. Not every day but a couple of times a week. I especially like driving different routes home because it's OK if it takes me 10 or 15 minutes longer. I go to services at church at different times and sit in different places so I can I see different people.

I've changed jobs 4 times in 7 years (doing things I'd never done before) but only after 37 years at the same job. I changed churches but only after 23 years at the same church. I have found these changes to stimulating and definitely guided by the hand of God. Sometimes I wonder what I would be doing if I had been more attentive to God and the changes He asked me to make that I resisted long years ago.

As a follower of Jesus Christ my relationship with Him should always be growing, always changing, always seeing and hearing and understanding more about Him. If I'm not growing, not changing, I am stagnant. When I think of stagnant I see a stinking pond of scummy water. Maybe there is life there but it is not obvious to anyone. No one wants to jump in and swim around. My life in Christ is to be characterized by flowing rivers of living water. (John 7:38) Flowing rivers are moving and changing.

My church likes change as well. In fact one of our core values is growing things change. Since I've been at NewSpring during the last 3 years, our logo, our stated core values, our color scheme, the number of campuses, the number of people we serve, the way we celebrate Mother's Day, the location for the summer youth trip - all these have changed. We are growing so change is inevitable.

Just recently at the Greenville campus the Campus Pastor, the Discipleship Director, the Student Pastor, and the Audio Director changed. These changes did not come about because people left NewSpring or got fired or anything like that. Not at all. A couple were new hires but NewSpring is changing so the staff is constantly evaluated to be sure their gifts and talents are being utilized to the fullest so they are moving around. Well, except the former Student Pastor; Davey and Amanda are going to Indianapolis to plant a church.

The one thing that NEVER changes at NewSpring is the message of Jesus Christ alone for salvation. "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

What does the Lord Require

2011-09-01T10:27:00.003-04:00

"With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? will the Lord be please with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my trangression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:6-8)

As I read these verses from Micah this morning I was reminded again that God is not after my performance but after my heart.

This could read, shall I come before him with my perfect attendance at church or my list of volunteer service or my daily Bible reading plan? Saying, in essence, see the sacrifices and the offerings I am giving to You. See all the good things I am doing in Your name.

And Jesus would answer, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength. AND love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:30-31) That is a heart issue.

Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God - heart issues. Sure there are a couple of action verbs there but they are rooted in the heart, not the feet or hands.

Jesus even went so far as to say, "On that day, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' " (Matthew 7:22-23)

Why did He not know them? Because their HEART did not belong to Him. (Mark 7:6) Do I know that my heart belongs to Jesus? Yes, I do. How? First, because I have seen the changes He has made in my life, the wants and desires and speech and thinking and attitudes. But mostly because Jesus is enough. He sustains me and encourages me and guides me and comforts me and teaches me. No matter what this world throws at me - good or bad, Jesus is enough for each day. "Give us this day our daily bread." Jesus is the bread of life for me.

Fall on Your Face

2011-08-31T15:51:00.000-04:00

I have often heard people say when I get to Heaven I'm going to tell God a thing or two. Or I'm going to ask Him why this happened or that happened. I say - no you won't.

My first knee-jerk response is that if your attitude toward the Lord God Almighty, Creator of all things, the only wise God is so demanding of your rights and so much in disregard of His power and His right to do as He pleases, you may not get to Heaven at all.

When Ezekiel had his vision of the 4 living creatures and the wheels, he stood in wonder and amazement at what he saw. Ezekiel then describes what he calls the "likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it I fell on my face." (Ezekiel 1:22-28). We see it again in Ezekiel 3:23 as well as Revelation 7:11 and 11:16.

Paul tells Timothy that God dwells in "unapproachable light". (1 Timothy 6:15-16) God owes us nothing except damnation. But in His great love He has made a way for us to approach Him through His Son Jesus Christ. I am overwhelmed by that.

Rather than demanding an audience to voice my grievances, I want to fall with my face to the floor in humble submission and gratitude that He chose me to be part of His family. I don't understand why things happen or don't happen as they do and so I will be the first to admit that I am not God. I don't need my questions answered because I know that God does no wrong. And there are some things I just won't understand this side of eternity.(1 Corinthians 13:12).

A Generous Heart

2011-08-30T21:06:00.000-04:00

When Moses told the children of Israel about the contributions need for the construction of the Tabernacle, he said, "Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord's contribution: gold, silver and bronze; blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, and goatskins; acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece." (Exodus 35:5-9)

The people gave so much that the craftsmen in charge of making everything told Moses to tell the people to stop bringing their offerings because "the people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do." (Exodus 36:4-5) They kept a record of what was used and it turned out to be over 1 ton of gold, about 3 1/2 tons of silver and 3 tons of bronze. (Exodus 38:24-31) Plus all the "soft" goods and precious stones.

Reading this made me wonder what it would be like if ALL God's people had a generous heart today. There are many very generous people in churches across the globe but statistically only 5% to 7% of "church" people tithe and that is down to around 4% with the economic downturn.

Imagine what would happen if 10% or 15% of God's children would tithe. Or what if 50% to 75% tithed. Can you even conceive of EVERYONE who claims Christ giving a mere 10% of their income to God's house? How would our country be different? Would we need less government intervention? Would God's Church take up their role to care for the poor and the widows and the orphans? Would we end hunger and homelessness in our neighborhoods or our country or even the world?

And what if we went beyond the tithe to New Testament giving which was much more generous than tithing? Unfortunately in America, we love our money and our stuff and our comfort. All too often we upgrade to a new data plan on our phones before we upgrade our giving to God's work.

"What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul." (Mark 8:36) It really is all about our hearts. Surrendering everything to Jesus including our money. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21).

Jealous God

2011-08-29T11:56:00.000-04:00

When Moses went up on Mount Sinai to meet with God, Aaron and the children of Israel got restless and decided that Moses must not be coming back. The people came to Aaron and asked him to make them a god to worship so he gathered their gold, put it in the fire and fashioned a calf. This was put on an altar and the people began to worship it.

God sent Moses back down the mountain. Moses in his anger broke the tablets God had written on. God in His anger said they should leave but He wouldn't go with them because He would destroy them all. But Moses interceded with God on behalf of the Israelites and God said He would go with them. So Moses goes back up the mountain with new tablets so God can write the words again.

While Moses was on the mountain this time, God revealed a new name for Himself. He was telling Moses when the people came into the land of promise, God would drive out all the people living there. The children of Israel were to make no covenants with those people and they were to "tear down altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God) (Exodus 34:13-14)

It's easy to see the "other god" when it is a golden calf or an altar or something like that. But what about in our day and age. Oh, we still see gods - little carved statues and tapestries in store windows or restaurants but do we recognize other gods in our own lives. Maybe it is money or perhaps our work or our children. Maybe it is that favorite TV show that we watch instead of spending time with God - when we haven't even thought of Him all day, until just now, but we just can't miss the next episode.

Whatever it is, God is jealous for His children. His jealousy is not an evil, manipulative jealousy but one of great love. He does not want His children to suffer the pain or loss that comes from turning away from Him. He knows way better than we do the agony and destructiveness of sin - it cost Him the the pain and death of Jesus on the cross - and He longs for us to walk closely to Him. The fact that God is jealous for me to worship Him alone gives me great comfort and strength to face whatever comes my way.

Sex in the Church

2011-08-29T11:15:00.000-04:00

I am so proud of my pastor, Perry Noble, and his willingness to speak God's truth even when he knows he will get a lot of angry feedback. Yesterday's message, "Sex in the Church - part one" was a powerful message on the need to follow God's plans for marriage and for sex.

1. A Godly Man - a man who loves Jesus and has surrendered his life to Him

2. A Godly Woman - a woman who loves Jesus and has surrendered her life to Him

3. Marriage - defined by God as a man and a woman; government nor culture can change that definition

4. Sex - for procreation, enjoyment and intimacy

Putting sex before marriage negates the "godly" in the equation because it means the person is not willing to fully submit to Jesus and deny their own fleshly desires.

Next Sunday he will be speaking about specific issues affecting people in the church including pornography and homosexuality. These are not politically correct issues to address but God's love extends to all sinners who are willing to repent and surrender to Jesus as Lord. And there are people in just about every church who struggle with these and other sexual issues. The Church just usually chooses not to "offend" people with what God's word says.

Praying for Pastor P with more fervency this week as he prepares for "Sex in the Church - part two."

Holiness

2011-08-25T09:11:00.000-04:00

One of the things I like about reading the Old Testament is seeing the holiness of God. Sometimes I forget who God really is. Jesus taught us to think of God as Father (Matthew 6:9), and even more intimately as daddy (Mark 14:36, Galatians 4:6). Jesus calls believers friends (John 15:15) and Paul assures us of our adoption into the family of God (Ephesians 1:5).

God didn't want the children of Israel to forget who He really is. So as God gives instruction to Moses about Aaron and his sons, about the altar and the sacrifices, about the incense and anointing oil, He tells Moses they are holy, it is holy, it shall become holy or it is most holy to the Lord. Not just anyone could approach God because He is so holy. (Exodus 29-30) Later they will be taught that God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24)

Jesus changed the need for sacrifice when He died on the cross (Revelation 1:5) and the curtain in the temple was torn (Mark 15:37-39). Direct access to God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son with the help of the Holy Spirit was given to all who have called on the name of the Lord. However, the majestic holiness of our God and Father, the consuming fire jealous God, was not diminished one bit. He may be Daddy but He is still God and as such demands attitudes and a lifestyle of respect and a sense of awe that He would even stoop down to earth to concern Himself with us.

The Bible tells us "be holy, as I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16 Leviticus 19:2). It also tells us to strive for holiness "without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14) Since God is the picture of holiness, I need to understand - by reading the Old Testament - what holiness looks like. Everything that was set aside for God's purposes was redeemed and made holy. The same is true for me. I have been redeemed and set aside for God's purposes by the cross of Jesus Christ. So I must act and think and speak and live in such a way that holiness becomes a natural part of my life. How? Read the Bible and do what it says!

God is in the Details

2011-08-23T21:38:00.000-04:00

I'm reading now about God's conversation with Moses on Mount Sinai about the tabernacle and it's furnishings. (Exodus 25-27). God was very detailed in His descriptions of how His dwelling was to be made. Not only did He give Moses a verbal/written description, He also gave Him a picture. God wanted to be sure His house met His specifications so no detail was left unmentioned.

God cares about every detail of my life as well. However He doesn't give me a detailed picture of where to live or work or what car to buy or whom to marry. If I seek Him, He will speak to me about the issues of my life. He will guide me to make right decisions. He has already given each person who claims Jesus Christ as Savior a guiding light in the person of the Holy Spirit. Coupled with the Bible the Holy Spirit will guide me to go and do and be just who God created me to be.

There is great joy in doing life God's way!

What Now

2011-08-22T12:26:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a huge day at NewSpring. For weeks we have been encouraged to invite our friends to church on August 21. So August 21 finally came and we had around 18,000 people attend one of our 14 services in 5 locations through out South Carolina. We saw 490 people cross over from death to life by surrendering their hearts and their lives to Jesus. To commemorate the day of their spiritual birth, we put a hospital bracelet on each person's arm with "DOB 8/21/11" and the scripture Perry emphasized John 3:3.

They also were given a Bible and a Bible reading plan plus some other information. We got their pertinent details so we can follow up with them. We want to be sure they are baptized. We want to get them involved in a small group to be discipled in their new faith. We want them to becomes owners of NewSpring. We want them to continue to walk in the victory that is theirs through the cross of Christ.

But this morning as I was thinking about yesterday and praying for these who made decisions, I wondered how many would leave the hospital bracelet on to wear to school or work today. Would each boldly proclaim on Monday what Jesus did in their life on Sunday? It also made me think about my responsibility to them. I will contact some of the 86 from the Greenville campus who surrendered to Christ, to talk about next steps and to encourage them.

Beyond this, though, I should also boldly proclaim what Jesus is doing in my life right now as well as how He rescued me from death and a meaningless life to live an abundantly joyful life because of His great love and sacrifice, knowing that I will spend all eternity in the presence of Jesus. Jesus is always at work around me. If He is not doing something in my life now, I certainly can not pour into the lives of others. I must make time to seek God in the Bible and in prayer so that I might see Him in my circumstances, my family, my friends so I can proclaim His love and faithfulness to others.

Ten Commandments

2011-08-19T12:10:00.000-04:00

As I was reading the ten commandments in Exodus 20, I began to think about all the controversy that surrounds the public placement of these in schools and courthouses. And of course that leads to thinking about crosses and manger scenes and other religious symbols placed in public (as in taxpayer paid for) places.

I just don't understand why some people get so angry and speak so rudely about these issues. These are folks who claim to be followers of Jesus, who happened to say a lot about loving our enemies and nothing that I can find about fighting them or the government. Jesus, in fact, upped the ante by saying not only do not murder, but do not hurl anger and insults!

You'd almost think they think God needs a defender - as if He is not powerful enough to defend Himself. Or maybe they think if someone reads the list and sees that God said don't murder, steal or lie, with which they agree, then they will just naturally decided to submit to the other seven. Or that seeing a manger scene on the courthouse lawn will cause someone to fall in love with Jesus. It just doesn't happen that way.

The USA is not a Christian country and will not be changed by a list on a wall in a courthouse or school room or by a cross or manger scene in anyone's yard - public or private. Those who lead our government can not save us from disaster or heal us of our wrongs. Change happens when I speak to people one on one about Jesus, inviting them to church, loving them as Jesus does. Then Jesus does what only He can do...He changes individual hearts and lives through His grace and mercy.

Bread for Today

2011-08-17T15:33:00.000-04:00

After the children of Israel had been in the wilderness for a few weeks after being rescued from slavery, they began to grumble about the food they no longer had access to. They were missing Egypt and beginning to long to be there again, ready to go backward rather than forward.

I'm like that sometimes. There's nothing wrong with remembering what God has done in the past. In fact He encouraged the Israelites to build memorials and to hold feasts and to tell their children about what God had done for them - to sing His praises to the next generation. Remembering the past is one thing; longing for the past is another thing altogether.

I should never long for the good ole days with God but look forward with great anticipation toward what God is going to do now. God does not stop working in the world; He does not grow stagnant. If God is not doing something active in my life or the life of those around me, then the problem is with me or them, not God.

At the same time God does not want us to obsess over the future. Dreaming big dreams, praying big prayers, anticipating that God will do big things is great as long as I never forget that only God knows what tomorrow will bring. We have to trust Him for today AND tomorrow. When the Israelites went out in the mornings to gather the bread from Heaven, they were to take only enough for one day. If they tried to keep some over night it rotted - unless they were told to keep it. Jesus taught this same concept in the prayer He taught the disciples, "Give us this day our daily bread".

And besides, because I belong to Jesus my future is assured. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39

Pharaoh and Me

2011-08-16T08:04:00.000-04:00

As I'm reading in Exodus about God and Moses and Pharaoh, I am reminded that there have been times in my life when I was a lot like Pharaoh.

Each time Moses and Aaron would come to Pharaoh and announce a plague his heart was hard. When the plague came and the country was devastated by it, Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron to plead with God to take it away. But once the crisis was gone, Pharaoh's heart was hardened again.

During my years as a prodigal daughter, I would periodically go to church - but only when I was in trouble of some sort. I would plead with God to fix my situation and even make some promises that I probably knew I wouldn't keep. Time and time again, God came to my rescue. Time and time again, I turned away from God to do my own thing.

The Bible tells us that the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart so that "you may know that I am the Lord." After the eighth plague, Pharaoh went so far as to say "I have sinned." But it still took two more plagues and the death of all the firstborn of Egypt for Pharaoh to listen to God and let the people of Israel leave. God's purpose in this was to make it known that "the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel" and that "My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt" and that "on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgement."

Some people would say that God was cruel or unloving or unjust in hardening Pharaoh's heart. But God never does anything that does not accomplish His purposes. I don't know if God was hardening my heart during those years in the wilderness of sin. But knowing me and my strong-willed heart, I probably never would have fully submitted to Jesus as Lord if I had not been allowed to get to the very brink of death. God didn't just want me to attend church or give up the drugs and alcohol and sex, He wanted me to be wholeheartedly, devotedly His. And He knew that I was not ready to fully submit to Him when I would go back to church for a few weeks or months. He knew exactly what it would take to make me surrender.

So perhaps He did harden my heart so that I would not just go through the motions. If so, then hardening my heart is the most loving thing He could have ever done for me.

A Life of Ease

2011-08-15T11:46:00.000-04:00

I don't know where followers of Jesus Christ get the idea that following Him means life will be easy. Maybe it's the televangelists, I don't know. Following Jesus means listening to His voice and doing what He says. But doing what He says does not always lead to a life of ease or comfort.

When Moses was called by God to go to Pharaoh to secure the release of the Israelites, He did what God asked him to do. The result? Pharaoh made the work harder for the Israelites, calling them lazy, which made the Israelites angry at Moses. (Exodus 5)

Then the plagues start and all indication is that the first three affected the Israelites as well as the Egyptians because it is not until the 4th plague that God says He will make a difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites. (Exodus 8:22-23) And He makes this separation, "that you may know that I am the Lord."

Things do not always go well for us when we do what Jesus asks. But it will always be right. It's a lot easier to manifest the fruit of the Spirit when there is no adversity, no difficult people, no trying circumstances but perhaps He is calling me to be His witness of love and grace and mercy and perseverance and hope and joy to those around me, despite my circumstances. Maybe that is why He doesn't give me a new job. Or why I have a contentious neighbor. Or why I'm "stuck" where I am.

He is more than my Savior, He is LORD. So...am I a believer or doubter; worshiper or complainer; obedient or disobedient? My actions, my thoughts, my response to my circumstances SHOW my answer to those questions to the world. Which leads me to ask do my Sunday and my Monday answer the same way?

Fails to Do Right

2011-08-13T08:16:00.000-04:00

"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:17

Too much of the time we focus on the sins we commit. Or we pat ourselves on the back because we don't do THAT - whatever "that" is. But we need always to remember that failure to do what Jesus has told us to do is sin. Disobedience can be as much what we DON'T do right as it is what we DO do wrong.

Maybe Jesus is telling me to speak to that person about Him. Or to stop to help the old woman with the broken down car. Or to get out of that relationship. Or to lead a Bible study group. Or to move. Or to downsize my house or car. Or to start giving more money to His Church. Or to volunteer with the homeless or helpless or hungry. Or to pray more for my pastor. Or to work harder to make my marriage grow better with the passing years.

Jesus is always speaking to His children through the Holy Spirit that indwells us. Am I listening? Am I obeying? Or am I making excuses why I can't? What my friend is hearing from God and is enthusiastic about may not be what He wants ME to do. I need to be in tune with God to hear what I should do. Jesus will not ask anyone to do anything that He will not empower them to do. But He does ask us to do things we think are impossible so that He can be glorified.

So turn off the music, the computer, the radio, leave Facebook and twitter for few hours and pick up the Bible and read. Take time to ask God what He would have YOU do - then listen to His answer and just do it.

Desires of Your Heart

2011-08-11T09:37:00.000-04:00

At times I've heard people comment I prayed about something and it didn't happen. Didn't God say He would give me the desires of my heart?

Hmmm...did He say that? Well, yes He did but there is a qualifier. The verse is Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Sometimes the attitude seems to be I gave my heart to Jesus now He MUST give me what I want. No! I must DELIGHT in the Lord. What does that mean?

It means Jesus needs to be enough; salvation needs to be enough. It means I want to know more and more about Jesus. It means I will spend time with Him every day. It means I will focus on what He wants for my life rather than what I think I want for my life.

James said it this way, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." James 4:3. God does delight in giving His children good gifts but more than anything He wants our hearts to be His. When we delight ourselves in Him, the desires of our hearts become His desires for us and He graciously gives us all we desire.

Rock n Roll Church

2011-08-10T15:20:00.000-04:00

Today at Mobile Meals in Spartanburg I ran into a husband/wife delivery team who go to the church my parents attended and where I grew up and met Jesus. They are probably in their mid 80's.

We had not seen each other since funerals for my immediate family, the last one being 2006, so we talked a little bit and I had opportunity to tell them where I now go to church. The man, Billy, said he hoped it was not a rock and roll church. And I said, actually it is.

He leaned over and said I know a couple of people who probably would not be happy, one being your daddy. I said as respectfully and lovingly as I could that now that daddy is in heaven he would be thrilled that I am part of a church that is making heaven more crowded.

I am now 63 and I do not want to do "church" the same way I did when I was growing up. It was fine for the 1950's but it will not reach many of this generation or the next. The gospel message NEVER changes but our methods for delivering that message should change to reach a city full of dying people. I have never experienced a move of God like I have since being part of NewSpring. Thousands of people are being told every week of the loving sacrifice of Jesus and scores are accepting that message as Truth, confessing and repenting of sins and surrendering their lives to Jesus.

The service each week in NOT about me and my preferences but about Jesus and having a place where people look forward to bringing their non believing family, co-workers and neighbors, knowing they will enjoy the experience as well as hear about the saving grace of Jesus. Pastor P often says, Jesus was not boring and His church should not be either. To which I say, AMEN!!

From the Same Mouth

2011-08-10T08:59:00.000-04:00

"With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." James 3:9-10

There have been times I've caught myself saying something unkind about a person or maybe a group of people and God has speared my heart with conviction of sin. In the verse prior to those above, James says, "no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

How easy it is for us to tear down those we don't like or those we disagree with. As the political season heats up, the posturing for position in the polls begins, and the desire to win takes over the reaction of many who profess to be followers of Jesus will be to denigrate those who are on the "wrong" side, meaning the side the person speaking is not for.

Or what about all the debate over illegal immigrants. Do we hate a whole race of people, forgetting that they are made in the image of God? Do we tag them with labels that are demeaning - not having met or talked with any of them - lumping the legals and illegals all together?

Or what about the single mom with the unruly kids? Do we try to help or just shake our heads and talk about what a terrible mom she is?

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. How untrue that is! Words are powerful and there are no take-backs. Once said the words are in our minds and can shape our lives for good or bad. My mom used to say if you can't say something nice, don't say anything when I was tattling on my brother or complaining about the kid down the street.

Sure there are times when sin needs to be confronted or a person needs to be talked to about an issue but that is done on a personal level with someone we have a relationship with. To make brash, broad statements about someone's competence, intelligence or purposes is to have an untamed tongue. How can we worship Jesus on Sunday and on Monday be spewing all sorts of trash about someone? James says it ought not to be.

Good Works

2011-08-09T09:03:00.000-04:00

"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." James 2:26

Over the years as I've talked with people about what happens after you die, just about everyone believes there is Heaven and not many want to actually think there is Hell. If I ask why would God admit you to Heaven, I get a multitude of "good works" answers, even from many professing to be Christian. I read my Bible, I go to church, I pray - from those who are "Christian" or I take care of the earth, I help build houses for the poor, I try to do the right thing, from those who are not.

It's often hard to get the name of Jesus out of people. Why? Because they have not experienced the saving grace, the amazing mercy, the undeniable change that comes from repenting of sin and surrendering to Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Bible is very clear that we are not saved by our good works but by believing in Jesus Christ. (John 3:16, John 1:12, Mark 1:15, Luke 8:12, John 6:40, Ephesians 3:8-9, John 14:6)

But as James says in the passage above, Jesus gave us the example as he washed the disciples' feet. (John 13:1-17) He instructed us to serve people to show how much we love Him. His love for us overflows in our love for others so that the Father might be glorified. We don't go around doing a bunch of stuff so God will take notice of us but so others will take notice of God which means we must also speak up about why we do what we do. Never be ashamed to speak the name of Jesus and give Him the credit for who you are and what you are doing.

Theology Refresh: Francis Chan

2011-08-09T08:14:00.000-04:00

Theology Refresh: Francis Chan

This is a great link from the Desiring God website which is John Piper's ministry. You can download the podcast to hear a 15 minute talk with David Mathis and Francis Chan on the sovereignty of God. David Mathis, who happens to be from my hometown, works for John Piper. Francis Chan is a speaker, author and former pastor of a church in California.

Understanding God's sovereignty is key to understanding all the issues of life that we all face and being able to KNOW that God is right there in the midst of it.

I hope you will take time to listen today.

Trials

2011-08-08T11:39:00.000-04:00

"Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, when you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort..." James 1:2

Enveloped in trials of any sort. That sounds painful. That sounds overwhelming. And I do not know many who consider trials joyfully. Our first response is usually how do I get out of this or how do I make it go away or how do I solve this problem. That's because we look at our problems (our trials) from our perspective. We are hurting or afraid or discouraged or sad because we are in the midst of something we really can't do anything about.

But that just may be God's sole purpose in having us there in the first place...for us to give up control, to realize that we can do nothing, to make us rely on Jesus rather than ourselves. "Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing." James 1:3-4

The trials of life are meant to give me an unwavering faith in God. A faith that KNOWS He is watching over me. He is still my Father. He still loves me. He still cares for me. He wants me to have no holes in my faith, no doubts. He wants me to be perfectly and fully developed to the image of Christ.

Faith

2011-08-05T09:26:00.000-04:00

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

This week my friend Patti Bailey died from the cancer that was diagnosed just a few months ago. I last spoke to her about 2 weeks ago. She was weak because she had just completed her first round chemo after a full series of radiation treatments but was still upbeat and expecting this treatment to provide a cure for her cancer. So to say I was shocked to get the call that she had died is an understatement.

However, because of the faith Patti had - and I share with her - she IS cured and in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at this moment. Paul said, "for we walk by faith, not sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:7-8

So now Patti is at home with the Lord. She no longer suffers the pains of illness. She no longer wonders what it is like to see Jesus. She no longer ponders eternity; she is there. Do I have any actual proof? No, but I do have faith. And because of my faith, I believe even when I can not prove something is true. "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 Patti has been rewarded with a home in heaven.

Do I believe I will see Patti again? Absolutely! And not only Patti but my mom and dad and brother and other family and friends who have gone before and are in the presence of Christ because they confessed Him as Lord. "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Forgiveness of Sins

2011-08-03T16:54:00.000-04:00

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Hebrews 9:22

Many people find the cross of Jesus Christ offensive because of its cruelty and because of the thought of someone else being punished for my wrongdoing. But it was absolutely necessary.

When God gave the law to Moses, the requirements for animal sacrifice and the sprinkling of the blood was spelled out in great detail.(Leviticus 4) But before that, God required the Passover lamb be slain and the blood spread on the doorposts so that the death angel would recognize and spare God's people when He fulfilled His last plague so that Pharaoh would release the Israelites from slavery. (Exodus12:1-32) But before that when Adam and Eve sinned against God and they recognized they were naked and were ashamed, God killed an animal to take away their shame by clothing them.(Genesis 3:1-21)

Jesus is called the Lamb of God, and His death for our salvation was planned from the beginning of time.(John 1:29; Revelation 7:10; John 10:18; Matthew 26:54; John 1:1-3,14;) So the cruelty of the cross was necessary to satisfy the wrath of God for the sins of the world. The shedding of blood was necessary to meet God's requirement for purification.

But it is God's great love and mercy that sent Jesus - the perfect Lamb of God, without stain or blemish - to endure God's wrath for me.(Romans 5:8) God's wrath would destroy me in a nanosecond. And I certainly could never be good enough to save myself. So without Jesus, there is no hope. But God did not want to leave us without hope. He lavished His great love on us with the gift of His son.(Ephesians 2:11-13)

Hebrews 7:21-28

2011-08-02T19:45:00.000-04:00

I love this passage from Hebrews. Just think about what God says here through this writer about Jesus, our high priest. And to top it all off God says I will not change my mind.

21. but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'"

22. This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
23. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,
24. but he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever.
25. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
28. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

It Is Impossible for God to Lie

2011-08-01T10:28:00.000-04:00

God provided the Bible for us so that we could know more about Him and His interaction with mankind. The Bible is full of stories of God's faithfulness, His love, His provision, His salvation.

When we read of God's purposes and His actions on our behalf and fail to believe it, we, in essence, call God a liar. But the writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 6:18 that "it is impossible for God to lie." Of course we see this in the Bible long before this letter was written.

We see it through out the Old Testament as God sends His word through the prophets. God speaks of salvation and judgement, birth and death, prosperity and famine. He names names and places and times and events and they all happen just as He said.

In New Testament times the people who encountered Jesus called Him Rabbi or teacher or prophet. But Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:6) Not one truth or some truth but THE truth. Something is either true or it's not. Jesus said I AM the truth. So, do I believe what He says or do I call Him a liar? And if I believe what He says, do I live it? Do I proclaim it?

Child vs Mature

2011-07-30T18:35:00.000-04:00

I don't want to be a child all my life. I am glad I am a grown up who can drive a car and take care of myself and make important decisions. As I age I may become a child again but hopefully that won't happen - or at least not soon.

So why would I want to remain a child in my spiritual life? I've heard people remark about a church or pastor, I just wasn't being fed. They are not talking about a Wednesday night supper or Sunday dinner on the grounds but about being fed the Word of God. Now maybe that preacher doesn't preach from the Bible but I doubt it. And these are people who have been in church for years, claiming Christianity for years.

Why in the world would a grown up want to be fed? With actual food that's for young children or very old or sick individuals. Why should I expect the pastor to be my main source of nourishment from the Word of God? I have six days in the week to sit down with Jesus and the Bible to learn what He would have me do; how He would have me live; what truths He wants me to learn. Preaching on Sunday should be a reinforcement of all that I am learning on my own time. But of course, the preacher does play an important role in my understanding of Scripture. He is another - not the only - way I hear from God.

Maybe the person not being fed has not prepared his/her heart to hear from God or doesn't have a deep expectation of meeting with Jesus during the Sunday service. Maybe this person doesn't participate in corporate worship by singing AND praying AND giving tithes.

Or maybe, just maybe, God is stirring them to be a feeder of young believers. Bet they never thought about that. In Hebrews 5:12-14, the writer talks about those who ought to be mature but are still seeking milk like a child. Still going to the same Bible studies but never becoming a teacher who shares God's truth with others. They ought to be discerning, mature believers by now rather than seeking to be fed all the time.

Teaching may mean taking on a major responsibility to nurture young believers (regardless of age) in a group setting but it might also mean sharing truth with your children or a neighbor or a co-worker.

Gauntlet 2011 Part Two

2011-07-30T11:28:00.000-04:00

What an amazing God we serve through the most amazing church on the planet! I didn't go to the Gauntlet so my information comes from twitter, vimeo and Facebook updates.

The annual youth trip to Daytona Beach had 1350 students, 450 adult small group leaders, and 100 support people. Forty buses carried people from 5 campuses, leaving early Monday morning. There were 130 kids who surrendered their lives to Jesus and 287 who publicly declared "Jesus is my Lord and Savior" and got dunked in the ocean at sunrise on Thursday. WooHoo!!

One of the things I like is the way the leadership strives to focus on Jesus and focus on building friendships. It starts at the very beginning by putting the guys and girls on separate buses. The trip is about Jesus - as is everything NewSpring does.

They stayed at the Daytona Hilton which is NOT a shabby place. They had morning and evening worship and teaching times - with big screens and lights and live band - everything the kids are used to at NewSpring. Pastor Perry even led worship for one session. In between times they had personal devotional time as well as small group discussion time. But of course, you're at the beach so there has to be play time as well. Nate thought it was cool that Perry and Charisse rode the slingshot.

I got to go with Holly and Bella, Nate's mom and sister, to pick up Nate when he got home Friday evening and he just couldn't stop talking about all he heard and learned. He told us about Jonah. He read us Bible passages he's going to memorize. He talked about wanting to read all the New Testament. (He read Mark, Ephesians and started on Timothy while there. He read John and Acts before he left.) He talked about idols in his life - cell phone (texting), video games and computer time. He talked about being asked to pray for his bus, up front, over the microphone and was excited to do it.

Thank you, NewSpring, for taking this child - he just turned twelve 2 weeks ago - and helping him get excited about Jesus and the Bible by presenting the Truth in a way that captures his attention and helps him to understand how great our God is.

Core Values

2011-07-29T21:27:00.000-04:00

For the last two days I've been thinking a lot about NewSpring's core values and how I measure up personally. This is not brag about Nancy time but just an assessment of what God is doing in and through my life. This one is really just for me.

1. Growing people change - I read and study God's word daily. As I think about the launch of the Spartanburg campus, I see "stretch me" time; do things not done before. Change seems harder to recognize the longer I walk with Jesus.

2. I can't do life alone - in a small group and actively involved with my family and the teams I serve on at church. I could easily be a hermit and sit in a chair and read all day long. Perfectly content to be with me and my cat and a book.

3. Saved people serve people - take my grandson to Greenville each week for FUSE; serve on 3 teams through the church, volunteer with Mobile Meals. Content to be a background person; taking out the trash works for me. How does that tie in with my desire to be a hermit?

4. I can't out give God - at least a tithe is a firm discipline of mine as is giving generously to others as God provides direction and resources. Saving is great but hoarding is a sin.

5. Found people find people - always inviting; praying that the Spartanburg campus will get positive response from those I invite. Be bold and don't worry about the response, just keep inviting.

Obedience Through Suffering

2011-07-29T08:02:00.000-04:00

"In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered." Hebrews 5:7-8

Who wants to suffer? Nobody that I know. Jesus didn't. The Bible tells us that the night of His arrest just before His beatings and crucifixion, Jesus prayed, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me. And being in an agony, He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood dropping to the ground." Luke 22:42-44

Jesus certainly understands our pain when we suffer. But the passage in Hebrews says He learned obedience through His suffering. And how did He learn that? By praying, "Nevertheless, not My will but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42) We are told an angel came and strengthened Him. For us that strengthening comes through the Comforter,or Helper, the Holy Spirit. (John 16:7)

The question for us is are we able to say, like Jesus, nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done? Are we able to continue to believe God is good even when we don't see it? Are we willing to surrender our hurts, our emotions, our fears, our doubts to the sovereignty of God? Is it easy? No! But obedience and a deeper relationship with Jesus is the result..."that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death," (Philippians 3:10)

Exhort One Another

2011-07-28T19:43:00.000-04:00

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:13

Exhort means to give urgent advice, recommendations or warnings. Pastor Perry and Brad Cooper have been doing that all week at the Gauntlet. Perry does that on Sundays in his messages. But what about me? Am I to give urgent warnings about the deceitfulness of sin? Should I expect someone to warn me? Absolutely!

But that doesn't mean I'm to stand on a street corner with bullhorn screaming at random people about the wrath of God. This verse is about believers warning other believers. I can do that through small group conversations as we talk about life. I can do that one on one with people I know and love. I can do that with strangers if they tell me about a sinful lifestyle. (And that does happen to me!) However, anything I say must be tempered by the love of God and the knowledge that I once walked that path but God, in His mercy, turned me around and set me free.

We see the results of the deceitfulness of sin in the family of God when a believer succumbs to sexual temptation and destroys his marriage and/or ministry. When the lust for more stuff causes believers to be deeply in debt. When the lure of a "power play" at work causes a believer to lie or sacrifice the family for the job. When we begin to accept the world's standards as our own. And once our heart is set on something we're trapped in sin. "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown bring forth death. DO NOT BE DECEIVED, my beloved brothers." James 1:14-16 (emphasis mine)

So we do have a responsibility to "speak the truth in love" to each other. To help each other through the rough spots. To point out the deceitfulness of sin. But always reminding each other of Christ's great love and forgiveness.

Gauntlet 2011

2011-07-28T08:51:00.000-04:00

It is Thursday morning, day 4 of Gauntlet 2011, and I continue to be involved with the Gauntlet from afar. My grandson, Nate, is on his first Gauntlet trip and I can not wait to hear, first hand, what God has done in his life.

I am so thankful for all the technology - twitter and vimeo and iphones and instagrams - that gives me an ongoing glimpse of all God is doing in Daytona Beach. Many prayers have been answered so far with about 125 kids saying yes to Jesus. Around 287 were baptized this morning in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Hopefully one of then was one of Nate's roomies, Chad, who surrendered his life to Jesus 2 or 3 weeks ago at FUSE.

In addition to the salvations, many kids are confessing sins and letting go of idols in their lives. I am blown away again and again by those who lead the youth at NewSpring Church. They don't mince any words, don't sugar coat the Gospel but at the same time have great fun together. (Nate is on the right in the "Second Chance" t-shirt.)

Jesus said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." John 12:32 Jesus was speaking of His death, burial and resurrection and today, thousands of years later, when the truth of Jesus Christ is spoken boldly, HE draws people to Himself. Heaven will be more crowded because students went to the Gauntlet, met Jesus, and their lives are forever changed. Thank You, Jesus, for being "the same yesterday, today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

The Next Verse

2011-07-27T21:30:00.000-04:00

Sometimes when I read my Bible I come across a very familiar verse. Perhaps I have it underlined or maybe I have even memorized it. It is a verse full of truth that I should not ever forget. But then I read the next verse and think, have I ever read that before?

That happened to me tonight as I was reading Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper then any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." That is such a great verse, spoken often from pulpits across the world. And it was proved to me to be living and active as I read the next verse and was pierced with a knowledge that I sometimes try to suppress.

Hebrews 4:13 says, "And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." That gets a whew! Naked and exposed! Give an account! Those are hard - but true - words just as those in the previous verse. Unfortunately, we don't hear too much preaching on that. Maybe we need more.

The knowledge that God KNOWS everything about me including my thoughts and "secret" sins - the anger, the unforgiveness, the attitude, and will ask me to account for EVERYTHING should spur me to daily, perhaps hourly would be better, realign myself with Jesus. To take "captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

God's Superior Son

2011-07-26T22:42:00.000-04:00

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs." Hebrews 1:1-4

These verses really speak to my heart to build faith that nothing is impossible with God. To know Jesus is to know the power that created the universe. To know Jesus is to see God - for Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the EXACT imprint of [God's] nature. To know Jesus is know purification from sins. To know Jesus is to hear God speak.

What powerfully majestic verses pointing to a powerfully majestic Savior.

I Will Go With You

2011-07-25T19:33:00.000-04:00

When Jacob (now Israel) was old and feeble, he learned his favorite son, Joseph, was still alive and well and living in Egypt. Not only living there but prospering!

When Joseph was 17 years old, his angry, jealous brothers sold him into slavery. When he was 30, he became second in command with only Pharaoh being greater. Thirteen years is a long time to be a slave, to be in prison, to be forgotten. But what did Joseph say when finally reunited with his brothers? "...for God sent me before you to preserve life. And God sent me before you... So it was not you who sent me here but God." (Genesis 45:5-8)

Joseph sent for his father so he could take care of him during this awful famine. All of this was to fulfill what God told Abram in Genesis 15:13-14. Now as Israel prepares to leave his home, God tells him, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again." (Genesis 46:3-4)

I wonder where we got the mistaken idea that to be blessed by God means to have life easy. It should be enough to know that God goes with us. Joseph was very aware of God's purpose and presence with him although he was not pleased with his circumstance.

Jacob knew that he was leaving the land that had been promised to Abraham and to Isaac and to him. He must have wondered if he would ever come back to the land of God's promise. So God reminded him that HE is in control. He will go with him - and for Jacob that was enough. He packed his bags and left.

I don't know too many people who like change. Especially when the change is not our idea. And it requires something drastic on our part. But God WILL go with us wherever He sends us. Even if it's not "fun" it WILL be right because God is in it!

It's Gauntlet Time

2011-07-25T06:07:00.000-04:00

I am so excited for my grandson, Nate. He should be at the TD Convention Center now, checking in for his first trip to the Gauntlet. This is the annual (and only) youth trip NewSpring has each year. There are about 280 students and 100 adults going from Greenville (about 1300 students and 500 or so adults total who will be loading up at each campus) and heading to Daytona for a week of Bible study, music, Jesus, sun and fun.

Nate is going to have a blast. He will make new friends, get closer to the ones he already has, learn more about Jesus, play at the beach, laugh, sing, read his Bible, get a little homesick and probably not enough sleep. I hope I hear "can't wait to do that again next year" as soon as he gets home.

The "theme" for the week at the Gauntlet is AWAKENING. Praying them up for God to move among the students and adults in amazing ways.

WOW! I Mean WOW!

2011-07-23T00:22:00.000-04:00

That's the best I can do after the Volunteer Vision Event we had Friday night at all NewSpring campuses. And I just HAVE to brag on God and all He is doing. Perry brought a powerful word from the Lord. I especially like his comparison of the streams of water flowing from the temple in Ezekiel 47 with rivers of living water that will flow out of believers. (John 7:37-38) What we are seeing at NewSpring is that river of water flowing out because we believe Jesus will do what He says He will do which is to make dead people alive.

Perry's philosophy from the very beginning eleven years ago has been "Listen to God and do what He says!" Perry is always the first to say we don't know what we are doing; we are just listening to God and then doing what He says. So we are out of space for children and youth in Anderson after building new facilities a few years ago. Columbia campus is already out of space. Charleston is setting attendance records. Florence is exploding. Greenville has gone from 1900 to over 2500 per week in the last year. But it's not just attendance. We are seeing hundreds of people surrender their lives to Jesus. It is so much FUN to watch God work these miracles week after week.

And God just keeps pouring out His blessing on this body of believers. The excitement, the anticipation, the reach our cities (and the world) attitude is electric. Tonight Perry announced 3 new locations for campuses to be started in 2012. SPARTANBURG - WooHoo!! Myrtle Beach and Greenwood. Of course we always list our campuses in alphabetical order so Spartanburg will be at the end of the list but it is first in MY list because it is my home.

This is a bittersweet announcement because I am so actively involved in the Greenville campus and have been since day one, three years ago, and will miss those I serve with and love so very much. But this is an "it's not about me" moment because I know lots of lost people in Spartanburg who will not make the 30+ minute drive to Greenville. NOW THEY WILL HAVE NO EXCUSE. God's gonna get at least some of them into His kingdom!

For the last two Sundays Perry's been saying we were going to start two campuses but if someone would give $2,000,000 (two million dollars) we would start a 3rd campus. On Monday of this week Perry got a call from someone saying you have the money...so in addition to Myrtle Beach and Spartanburg, we got to add Greenwood. Our God is so awesome!!

I am just overwhelmed that God allows me to be part of what He is doing all around South Carolina and the world through NewSpring. We also help support churches/ministers in Ukraine, the UK, Israel, and Kenya. People from all over the world are showing up in Anderson, SC to encounter God. There were two pastors from South Africa at the Vision Event. Last Sunday there were a couple of people from Switzerland who had been watching online and wanted to find out more. It is mind boggling! God is just so amazing.

Help me, Lord, to hear Your voice; to listen and then do what You say! Help me to be the conduit for the rivers of living water to my friends who are dead and don't even know it.

I Am Not Worthy

2011-07-22T11:20:00.000-04:00

"I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that You have shown to Your servant..." Genesis 32:10

When I read Jacob's words this morning, I was reminded once again of God's great, great love for me. He didn't have to save me. He didn't have to take my heart of stone and exchange it for a heart of flesh. He didn't have to cast my sins away. He didn't have to give me hope and a future. He didn't have to provide for my needs. He didn't have to draw me back when I wandered away.

He didn't HAVE to do anything on my behalf but He did. I am overwhelmed and in awe of God's great love for me expressed in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus left all the splendor of Heaven to become like me so that I could know Him and know the Father.

I am just dust - but dust that God used to create a person He cherishes. I don't know whether to leap for joy or fall on my face in worship. Well, really, both are completely appropriate and necessary to express my love and gratitude to God.

What Goes Around Comes Around

2011-07-21T10:40:00.000-04:00

Most people believe that is true. If you do good things, good things happen to/for you. If you do bad things, bad things happen to/for you.

We find an example of that is the life of Jacob. (Genesis 25-30) When Rebecca gave birth to the twins, Jacob and Esau, Jacob came out second and was grasping the heal of his brother. Jacob means "He takes by the heel" OR "He cheats". Interesting that Jacob is named "he cheats" because that is just what he does.

These boys were nothing alike. Esau was red and hairy at birth and grew up to be a hunter and outdoorsman - a man's man. Jacob was more fair and smooth skinned and hung around the tents - a mama's boy. As their father, Isaac, was nearing death and at his mother's insistence and coaching, Jacob cheated Esau out of his blessing. Jacob dressed in Esau's clothes, wrapped goat skins around his arms and neck, and actually told his blind daddy, "I am Esau, your firstborn" so that he could get the blessing that traditionally went to the firstborn.

When Jacob ran away to find a wife (and to keep Esau from killing him), he was dealt the same treatment. His father-in-law promised him Rebecca but gave him Leah as his wife. Jacob went to Laban and asked, "Why have you deceived me?" The cheater becomes the cheated. Laban promised Jacob all the spotted, speckled, mottled and black goats and sheep, then removed them from Jacob's herds so they wouldn't breed. What goes around comes around! Serves him right! That's what we would say.

But God had different ideas. Before the twins were born, God had told Rebecca "the older shall serve the younger." Jacob will soon be humbled before the Lord - and his brother, Esau. All of this is part of the preparation for Jacob to become Israel, to fulfill the covenant with his grandfather Abraham and with his father Isaac and eventually with him that all the nations will be blessed through their offspring.

Because of that blessing to the nations, because of Jesus Christ, what goes around does NOT come around for those who believe on His name. My sins are not counted against me. They are canceled and I never have to suffer the penalty that should be mine. How good is my God who loves me so much to take care my future before I was even born!

Names of God

2011-07-20T15:30:00.000-04:00

One of the things I like about reading in Genesis is how often God reveals Himself with a different name. In ancient cultures, and maybe some still today, names were important because they spoke to the character of the person.

In Genesis 1:1 the name is God. By Genesis 2:4 He is LORD God. The Hebrew for LORD is the proper name, or the unspeakable name, that we translate Yahweh or Jehovah. Then in Genesis 14:18, Melchizedek is identified as "priest of God Most High." A little further along in the story, Hagar says, "You are a God who sees me" (Genesis 16:13) when she was in the desert running away from Sarai and God came to speak to her. The well at that place was named "the well of the Living One who sees me."

When God talks to Abram to give him the covenant of circumcision, God says, "I am God Almighty." (Genesis 17:1) After Isaac is born and Abraham makes a treaty with Abimelech, we are told Abraham "called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God." (Genesis 21:33)

These are the obvious names of God - but 6 of them over the course of time. As God reveals Himself to us we also have many names for Him but we usually think of them as actions, not names. Faithful, true, merciful, gracious, provider, healer, comforter and more. God is all that He is. He can not be anything else. So to know Him as Faithful is to recognize Him by that name. To acknowledge Him as Healer takes us to a deeper understanding of the healing only He can bring to us.

There are times when I wish we had more descriptive words in our language to speak to who God is so that we could better distinguish between the Living One and all the other gods of the world.

Don't Deny It

2011-07-18T10:35:00.000-04:00

The Lord visited Abraham when Abraham was nearing 100 years old and Abe's wife, Sarah, was about 90, to tell them that "I will surely return to you about this time next year and Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Genesis 18:10)

Sarah is standing in the door of the tent and she laughs, thinking I'm so old and my husband is so old, and I've wanted a child for so long and now, NOW, he tells me I'm going to have a child. I can see her standing there kind of shaking her head in disbelief. And of course she thought she was unseen and unheard. But the Lord new what she was thinking and confronted Abraham about it saying, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:13-14) Sarah tried to deny it, saying wasn't me - I didn't laugh. But the Lord said oh, yes you did!

How many times have I done that? Committed some sin and then tried to deny it or rationalize it. Or what about unbelief? Denying God's ability to do what He says He will do. The Bible is full of promises that God will fulfill on my behalf if I will not deny his willingness and ability to fulfill it.

We would never come right out and admit that we don't believe God but we show it to Him by the attitude of our hearts, the fear and worry in our lives, our unwillingness to do our part of God's "if, then" promises. One of my favorites is in the Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 6:25-33. This story ends with [If you] seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, [then] all these things will be added to you."

It's not always easy to believe God because we don't know what will happen tomorrow. But we must believe that God will not allow anything in our lives that is outside His purpose and is always used by God for our good. We are refined by trials. Trials hurt but the end product is spectacular! (1Peter 1:6-9)

God's Covenants

2011-07-16T16:04:00.000-04:00

In the very first chapters of Genesis, God has made a couple of covenants. He made one with the Noah, his sons and all living creatures of the earth. (Genesis 9:8-17). After many years have passed God makes the first covenant with Abram. (Genesis 15:17-21)

Covenants are legally binding agreements between two people. What I particularly like about God's covenants is that He initiates them and takes on the responsibility of keeping them. Because He is perfect and can not lie, He then becomes faithful to the covenant even when people are not. (2 Timothy 2:13) Like the bow in the clouds when it rains. That's been going on for 6000 or so years.

When the people of God break the covenant, they do reap the consequences of their sin. But God renews the covenant over and over by saying return to me, by offering salvation and renewal. Even until the last days, the ark of His covenant is in the temple of God. (Revelation 11:19)

The covenant I live under is a later one given to Abraham (Acts 3:24-26) and the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-33) because Jesus is the fulfillment of both. (Luke 22:19-20) How comforting it is to know that God made a covenant with me through Jesus for salvation that can not be broken. (Joel 2:32; Romans 10:12-13)

Open Letter to My Son

2011-07-16T14:35:00.000-04:00

Jeremy,

I was not the best influence for you for many years of your life. My emotional struggles as a single mom led me down paths that I wish I could erase for me and for you but that is not possible. I do ask that you forgive me for all the ways I failed you during some pretty dark days - and nights.

I thank God for the influence of Granddaddy on your life. His gruff exterior covered a heart full of love for you. I am also grateful for Richard and Sharon and the way they took you into their family when you and Andrew became such good friends. They helped you to see what a normal family with a mom and a dad should look like. That you have turned out to be a man who loves and cares for his family is more their influence than mine.

You have overcome many obstacles without a hint of bitterness or anger. You are a man full of grace and forgiveness. I see the love you have for Holly and your children; your patience; your interest in them as individuals; your desire to teach and correct and to be the leader that your family needs. I am grateful that you gave your heart to Jesus years ago and have let Him turn you away from the destructive paths you walked for a few years and back to His paths. "'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.'" Jeremiah 29:11

You work so hard to provide for your family plus you are going to school and you are volunteering at church. You and Holly together are striving to teach your children to love Jesus and to provide them opportunities to learn and grow and just have fun. I don't know how you do it all.

I love you and I am so proud of you.

Mom

Choices

2011-07-15T11:20:00.000-04:00

The choices we make today can have tremendous impact on our lives way down the road. No one knows this better than me. The problem with my choices long years ago is that most of them were wrong. In some ways I am still seeing the consequences of those choices as is my adult son.

Too often I thought only about me - what I wanted, what I needed, what would make me happy - without any thought of how those things might impact me or my child. He walked a lot of the same paths I did much to my horror. I remember once his telling me, in the midst of an argument about his choices, something like I had had my fun so I shouldn't try to keep him from having his. Of course the fun, and it was for a time, was destructive in so many ways.

Lot, Abram's nephew, made choices that impacted his life in serious ways. When he and Abram got too rich, with herds too big to keep together, Abram told Lot to choose first where he would settle and Abram would go the other direction. So Lot chose to pitch his tents near Sodom. He made this choice for selfish reason - it was more fertile than the other land. He wanted the best for himself.

Not long after, though, the Kings of the area waged war and Lot and his family and all his stuff were carried off as spoils of war. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And he was there because of a selfish choice. But Uncle Abram came to the rescue. Of course this wasn't the last time bad things would happen to Lot because of his choice to live near Sodom.

In my life, in my family, I am praying for God to break the curse of bad choices, to break the curse of a rebellious spirit, so that my grandchildren can walk close to God all their lives. Nate is making a great start, thanks to his small group leaders at FUSE and to Perry's teaching on Sunday mornings and our time to talk as we travel back and forth. Bella is also learning to love Jesus in KidSpring. She is memorizing scripture and learning Bible stories and how to apply them in her life.

My choice to follow God's leading to NewSpring has had so many good consequences I can hardly contain my joy and my gratitude to God that He would continue to lead me to HIS paths. His love overwhelms me!!

A Good Read

2011-07-13T09:15:00.000-04:00

I love reading. Mostly I love reading murder mysteries. Not really gory stuff but stories that have lots of twists and turns and unexpected outcomes. Recently I've found some stories by female authors that have comedic characters and I find myself at times laughing out loud as the "sleuth" tries to figure out what happened. I just love a good read.

So I have started reading in Genesis this week as my Bible study time. It is certainly a good read. It's full of intrigue and drama, spectacular moments with God, the best of human beings and the worst, and lots of thought provoking moments. What makes it so special, though, is it's real, not something made up from human imagination but God's communication to me of His interaction with mankind.

I recently read about Noah and the flood. I wonder what it was like to be shut up in a huge floating zoo for a year with only 8 people. I wonder what it felt like finally to be able to open the door and smell fresh, clean air. I wonder what they thought at being, not only the only 8 people in the ship, but the only 8 people in the world. I wonder what it would be like to live 950 years as Noah did. I wonder if Noah had ever had wine before or if the drunken episode we read about was his first encounter with fruit of the vine. I wonder what it felt like to have his first steak or roast duck. I wonder what it was like to see the first rainbow - and the second. It really is a good read.

The one thing I don't have to wonder about is how Noah felt at being found righteous and selected for salvation from the flood. I, too, have experienced God's grace and mercy and salvation. Although God found no righteousness in me, He gave me the righteousness of His Son so I can walk with Him.

Man, the Bible is not just a good read, it's the BEST read!

Sin

2011-07-12T23:22:00.000-04:00

Sin is a word many people don't want to hear. Even in church circles we don't always use "sin" to describe our behavior when our behavior is just plain wrong. We want to live with a lot of gray areas so we say we missed the mark or turned away from God or were rebellious or ran from God - all of which are true. Those are certainly good descriptions of what the word sin means but I also think those terms have less sting to them.

God Himself calls our wrong behavior sin. The first time the word appears in Scripture is Genesis 4:7. God is speaking to Cain about the offering he brought to God which God did not accept. Cain was angry with his brother and probably with God as well. "The Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.'" (Genesis 4:6-7) God told Cain you must rule over [sin]. You can't rule over something if you won't admit that it's there. Cain certainly did not rule over sin and ended up murdering his brother.

The Bible tells us "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Until we admit we are sinners destined for God's wrath, God's punishment, for our sins, we really can not accept the free gift of salvation offered through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We can't repent of sin if we don't call sin, sin.

Sometimes when we refuse to submit God will allow us to pursue our sins. (Psalm 81:11-13, Acts 7:41-42, Romans 1:24-25) I've been there, done that, and it is a scary place to be. It is when I take the attitude of David when his sin of adultery and murder was exposed that I can experience the grace and mercy of God whose love is beyond measure. (Psalm 51)

Precepts vs Preferences

2011-07-11T19:50:00.000-04:00

Pastor Perry preached a great sermon yesterday as he continued the On the Farm series by answering questions people ask the staff.

One of the questions he answered was about whether multi-site campuses are biblical which led him to talk about the differences between God's precepts/commands and our preferences. In the Bible God commands believers to take the gospel to the world but He doesn't tell us how to do it so the "how" is a preference. The senior management team (or elders) at NewSpring obey the command to "go", God is honored, and the gospel is preached to lots and lots of people through the multi-site concept we use.

God doesn't have a big, one size fits all approach to ministry. Peter stayed pretty much in Jerusalem; Paul traveled all over the middle East ending up in Rome. Paul traveled by various methods; Phillip got "beamed up" to a new location. God didn't use the same methods all the time so there is no reason for us to use the same methods. Whether there is one church location or 50 under the same leadership doesn't matter.

Perry shared some statistics about attendance growth and salvations but what struck me was when he said more people attend the satellite campuses and watch the preaching on a big screen than actually see him preaching live. (He wasn't live on any campus this week.) We have no expectation of meeting the pastor or shaking his hand or talking to him between services but rather interact with our own campus pastor and staff who challenge us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Perry is one of the greatest preachers I have ever heard but NewSpring would go on even if he wasn't there.

Thinking about preferences got me thinking about convictions. God has given me some convictions about money - like not spending it on a smart phone (which I want) or cable TV (which I don't) - so that I can use that money to impact lives. But that doesn't mean that is the right thing for everyone. The convictions God puts on my heart are mine and no one else's. There is no reason not to talk about my convictions but I should never expect others to live by them. That applies to a lot of things in the Church like music style, Bible translation, clothes to wear and the number of services to have.

Perspective

2011-07-09T08:27:00.000-04:00

I find it interesting as I read about Paul in Acts and his confrontations with the Jewish leaders that they accuse him of stirring up trouble and causing riots. It is true that there were often riots when he spoke in the towns and synagogues but it was the Jews, not Paul, stirring up the trouble.

They disagreed with his teaching and were jealous of his influence so they followed him from town to town and told lies and called his motives into question so that the people would be inflamed with fear and anger. From the Jews perspective it was all Paul's fault. THEY were the righteous ones, the guardians of God's law. They could not accept that God just might be doing something new, something that would take power from them and give salvation and freedom to all people who would believe in the name of Jesus Christ.

The saddest part of that is it still goes on today. In the Church Jesus established to carry the gospel to the world traditions have become more important than revelation. Status quo more important than change. Comfort of the saints more dear than reaching the lost. And then there those that wants to throw Truth out the window and just include everyone with no repentance of sin.

The Church = people, not a denomination or group that meets together in a building on Sunday. People, me. I am the Church, I am a saint. What about my perspective of the people I know and encounter on a regular basis. Do I just let them go along as they are? Do I speak to them of Jesus? Do I just assume they will be saved "some day"? Do I put aside my prejudices to include those who are different than me? What about my religious traditions, my comfort? Am I open to God turning it all upside down? Am I ever jealous of someone else who reaps visible rewards while I don't?

Too often we want to box God in and say things like God wouldn't do that! I've said that myself. How presumptuous!! But that is the perspective the Jews had. Although they knew God was going to send the Messiah, He wouldn't be from Nazareth and He certainly wouldn't be a "nobody" - an child born out of wedlock, a "sinner" who broke the rules to reach the people.

I guess the problem with perspective is mine is pretty flawed unless I am seeking God's wisdom daily. Even then I still need to keep God out of the box. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thought than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

Is Jesus My Treasure

2011-07-07T09:26:00.000-04:00

I've listened to three days of interviews with John Piper on Family Life Today. Piper reminds me a lot of T W Hunt whom I first encountered in 1997 when studying the Mind of Christ.

Anyway, Piper had a lot of good things to say but the one that really stuck with me was Jesus as Treasure. He said most people can easily say Jesus is Savior and Jesus is Lord - but what does that mean to them. Piper likes to ask is Jesus my Treasure?

Is He? Do I treasure Jesus above everything else? Do I treasure Jesus above family, friends, job, home, car, money, security, reputation, food, exercise, health? Do I treasure Jesus more than what He does? Do I treasure Him because He is the Treasure that will never fail?

Those are hard questions for me. As I've thought about it, I'm not sure I could honestly say yes, Jesus is my treasure - but I know that I want to be able to say that. I'm nearer to that reality now than I was 10 years ago. Maybe it's just because I'm getting older - or maybe not.

One of the stories Piper told was of a couple who retired in their 50's to spend the rest of their days playing softball and picking up seashells on the beaches of Florida. So just getting older does not mean wiser. What a waste of their days as they are getting closer to meeting Jesus face to face.

Hopefully I am not wasting my days in my retirement. I am volunteering about 12 hours a week plus pouring a lot of Jesus into my grandson during our time each week as we eat supper together and I drive him the 35 minutes to and from FUSE.

Treasuring Jesus above all else requires a lot of knowing who Jesus really is. I am getting to know Him more as I read my Bible every day, allowing Jesus to reveal Himself to me. Part of the treasure that is Jesus is His faithfulness and He said if I seek Him, I will find Him. (Matthew 7:7-8) That's also why the Bible is not a "read it once" book. I've been reading the Bible for years and EVERY time I read, God gives me an "a-ha" moment. Sometimes it's a very little thing and sometimes it's huge but God is always ready for me to receive and to find and to open His truth for me.

Respect

2011-07-06T16:14:00.001-04:00

One of the things that bothers me about some Christians is there lack of respect for people who are not believers in Jesus Christ. Sometimes they ignore non-believers. Sometimes they are rude. Sometimes they make fun. Sometimes they argue. I believe my best friends should NOT be unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14) but I certainly believe relationships should be built so there is opportunity to share the gospel. (Acts 1:8) There is no reason for me to be friends with unbelievers if I don't plan to tell them about Jesus at some point. But the command from Jesus is clear that I must be His witness.

I like Paul's approach. In Acts we see several accounts of him going to the synagogue and REASONING with the Jews. He goes to Athens and although "his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols", he addresses the people with respect and talks about their idols and especially the one "to the unknown god". He tells them he knows this one they call unknown and proceeds to tell them about the Creator and ends with Jesus. He even quotes one of their poets. (Acts 17:17-31) Some of the people believed but most did not. However, Paul left the gathering with opportunity to speak again.

Paul did get angry at times, especially with the Jews because they refused to believe. But the most important thing to Paul was telling the people about Jesus. When Paul went to Ephesus, he spoke in the synagogue for three months until the Jews began to "speak evil of the Way". Then Paul left the synagogue for another place and continued to preach for two years so that "all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks". (Acts 19:8-10)

I don't ever want to forget that I was once an unbeliever. I was once on the path to hell. I was once ignorant of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. I don't want to forget what it was like - the fear, the emptiness, the uncertainty of the future. Help me, Jesus, to always remember you died for the world! Your grace is sufficient for the vilest of sinners like me! Give me opportunity - and boldness - to share Your love and Your grace with a hurting, dying world.

No Doubting

2011-07-05T08:03:00.000-04:00

In James 1:5-8, James tells us we can pray for wisdom and God will give it. Then he goes on to talk about asking in faith and not doubting. "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Does that apply to all my prayers, not just those for wisdom? No doubting is hard. I hear the diagnosis from the doctor; my spouse has left; the job has been terminated; my child is belligerent; there is trouble on the horizon. Will God come through? Will He even hear me? What if He doesn't respond the way I want?

Even the disciples were doubting in the early days. In Acts 12 we read the story of James being killed and Paul imprisoned "but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church." So an angel came and got Paul out of prison without a guard even waking up. When Paul went to the place where the disciples were and Rhoda told them Paul was at the door, they said to her "You are out of your mind." She couldn't convince them and Peter kept on knocking and finally...finally they open the door and "they were amazed."

How like that am I? I pray for something but don't really expect God to do anything, not really. And when He does do something, I am amazed. Sounds like doubting to me. Building faith is not easy. I MUST go through things that I can not control if I am going to learn to have faith in God. He is ALWAYS in control. I have to learn that He sees things I do not see. He sees outcomes I can not even imagine. He has a plan that I might not understand.

The disciples had been witnesses to Jesus' resurrection from the dead! And then they doubted God could get Peter out of prison? I am so thankful that God gives me examples of real people with real problems and real doubts so that I can know I'm not so different from them. And then I can believe He will act on my behalf as well.

Wimps

2011-07-02T13:59:00.000-04:00

I'm reading through Acts these days and I have decided that modern day Christians, at least in America - and including me, are pretty much wimps. Especially when you think about the suffering and persecution the early church endured and that is endured by countless thousands across the globe today who worship Jesus with the threat of imprisonment, torture or even death hanging over their heads.

It seems we are always praying for God to protect us from the storms of life. When the apostles were threatened by the religious leaders, they didn't pray for protection from the authorities but for boldness to continue to speak. When the apostles were arrested and then miraculously released from prison, they went right back to the temple to teach the people. When the apostles were beaten, they went away rejoicing.

In America we are fortunate to have the freedom to worship Jesus without fear although we are losing our ability to openly speak His name and share His teachings outside the walls of church buildings. Jesus is not a politically correct figure. He says there is right and there is wrong. He says there is absolute truth. He says we will be held accountable for our relationship, or lack of it, with Him. And that is not welcomed in a country where everyone wants to do whatever they please, where we all have "rights".

But that is even more reason to speak the name of Jesus with boldness. The apostles spoke as eyewitnesses to Jesus and His resurrection. Today we speak as witnesses to the life change Jesus makes in our lives individually. All Jesus asks us to do is speak up when He prompts us. But what if "they" think I'm a fanatic. What if "they" won't let their children play with my children anymore. What if I lose my job. What if I go to prison. What if I'm put to death.

I don't face the persecution that many in the world face. I don't want to be a wimp with the life Jesus has given to me. So how hard is it, really, to speak to a neighbor or co-worker when Jesus whispers tell him/her about me.

A Glimpse of Heaven

2011-07-01T13:54:00.000-04:00

I have not read the books "90 Minutes in Heaven" or "Heaven Is Real" and have not had any trips to heaven and back myself so I don't know what will be like. There are some descriptions in the Bible but I don't think it really matters what it looks like. What will matter is I will be in the presence of Jesus and will worship Him forever.

My glimpse of heaven occurred a few years ago when I had the opportunity to go to Kenya on the first of many mission trips undertaken by NewSpring Church in partnership with 410 Bridge. We had been told that each of us should be prepared, during Sunday church services, to share our favorite Bible verse and tell a little bit about why it is our favorite.

I was prepared with one of my favorite verses from Romans, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you might overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." But as I sat there watching the Kenyans from different tribes - who used to be enemies - dressed in their colorful native dress singing and dancing and worshiping Jesus along side 12 or 15 very white people; when I heard the translators speaking in 3 or 4 different languages; when I saw the joy and heard the testimonies in spite of the very deep poverty; I was overwhelmed with God's grace and mercy. I thought of how God loves THE WORLD; Jesus died for the entire world!

And I had my glimpse of heaven. My Bible verse changed to Revelation 7:9-10. Every nation, all tribes and people and languages. I am too often isolated and insulated from the world and I forget how great the love of God is. To be halfway around the world with people who don't look like me, don't talk like me, don't eat what I eat, don't dress like I dress but LOVE Jesus just as much as I do caused me to weep tears of gratitude for the greatness of God.

All this came flooding back as I was reading in Acts 2 about the coming of the Holy Spirit. God gave them that day, I think, a glimpse of heaven. "And at this sound the multitude came together and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language...we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."

Help me, Lord God, to remember Your love, Your salvation is for ALL people including the drug addict and the prostitute; the bank CEO and the PTA chairman; the welfare mom and the soccer mom; the native born and the illegal immigrant. Take away my prejudices, my hardness of heart so that I might reach out to increase Your kingdom and help make heaven a little more crowded.

The Missing Link

2011-06-30T10:35:00.000-04:00

This is not some scientific treatise on the origins of man but rather the missing link in my life in my relationship with God. That missing link is prayer.

It's not that I don't pray because I do. Prayer is just hard. I don't know why that is. Well, maybe I do. There is great power in prayer. So the enemy tries to distract me, to take away my focus. But I voice thank yous to God for all sorts of things and I pray for those whose names and faces cross my mind. Some form of prayer crosses my mind or my lips every day but concentrated, intentional prayer is not something I engage in on a regular basis.

Prayer doesn't have to be on my knees or with tears or with anguish of soul but sometimes it should be. Maybe I'm just too casual in my relationship with God. Kneeling in submission before a king or ruler is not something an American child learns. We're taught to grab hold of what we want, go for the gold, fight for our rights, pull ourselves up. But that doesn't work with the sovereign Lord, the King of kings, the Creator of the universe.

He doesn't ask me to grovel at His feet; He is my Father and His love for me is boundless. But He does expect me to honor Him above any human level of honor. He expects me to talk (pray) with Him - not TO Him all the time but WITH Him - giving Him opportunity to speak to me. He wants to encourage, strengthen, comfort, guide, support and care for me as only a father - a perfect Father - can. He wants me to live my life in complete trust of His grace and mercy and goodness toward me no matter what my circumstance may be.

The greatest part of the missing link of prayer for me is a lack of urgency, a sense of there's not much time. There is a complacency in me toward those I know who don't know Jesus. What else could it be if I am not willing to stand in the gap for them? If I am not willing to cry out with anguish of heart for God to save them?

Let No One Deceive You

2011-06-29T00:55:00.000-04:00

Some of the things Paul wrote in his second letter to the Thessalonians in the mid AD 50's are very similar to the Revelation from Jesus to John when he was exiled on Patmos around AD 95 and even in Daniel written around 600 BC. Some who are skeptics of the Bible and not followers of Jesus Christ like to point out the few instances, taken out of context, that might be called discrepancies. But for those who really read and study the Bible, the similarities, the repeated truths, the prophecies and their fulfillment, all point to the Spirit of God leading the writers. Makes it completely trustworthy to me!

In 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul is telling the believers not to be deceived by those who claim Jesus Christ has come again. He goes on to talk about the "man of lawlessness" and the "mystery of lawlessness...already at work". He tells us "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the power of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." (vs 8-9)

The deception will be by great miracles and events that will make the world think this is the Messiah. That is why it is so necessary to study God's word, to know what God teaches, to be on guard for those who want to lead people away from the truth of Jesus to the false hope of men or money or prayer cloths.

Jesus still performs great miracles today. He still heals the sick. He still intervenes financially in the lives of believers. He still takes people from death to life. But this lawless one will do these things to bring glory to himself, not glory to Jesus.

One of the things I love so much about Pastor Perry is his insistence to turn every sermon, every thought, to Jesus, and only Jesus. We are being prepared to stand firm. "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by the spoken word or by our letter." (vs 15) But Sunday morning is not enough. I must take initiative to study, take time to read, take time to pray seeking God's wisdom to know God's truth so that no one deceives me.

My Prayer for America

2011-06-27T11:02:00.000-04:00

"Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we might be saved!" Psalm 80:3

In no way do I believe that God broke His covenant with Israel as His chosen people and made America that chosen people and chosen land. When Jesus returns it will not be to New York or Los Angeles or even middle America, it will be to Jerusalem.

But I do believe that the blessings of God were upon this land for many, many years because we were faithful in proclaiming His name AND living by His precepts. I recently watched a PBS special on the Palomar Observatory and George Hale who was the brain child behind it. When the 200" telescope - the largest in the world at that time - was used for the first time in 1949, the reporter said the stars in God's universe were more numerous that the grains of sand on all the beaches of earth. There was an understanding at that time that there is a Creator behind it all. But not anymore.

One of the interesting things about Psalm 80 is the progression of desperation for God to hear and to act. The psalmist starts out praying "O God;" then he goes to "O God of hosts;"(verse 7) and finally "O Lord God of hosts!" with an exclamation mark. America is in a desperate situation; we are in need of the exclamation mark, so I pray "Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let Your face shine, that we might be saved!" Psalm 80:19

Did God Make Him That Way?

2011-06-25T17:33:00.000-04:00

I read a post by worship leader in Nashville who was talking about his friend who is homosexual. The friend said I've always felt this way. The worship leader asked did God make him that way.

The issue of homosexuality is going to be THE next big thing the Church will have to deal with. Some denominations have already said it's okay to ordain ministers and elders who are practicing homosexuals (meaning they are actively involved in a sexual relationship) and will perform marriages between same sex partners in states where it is now legal. When the Bible speaks of marriage or marrying, it is always between a man and a woman, so marriage between same sex partners is never OK.

So, did God make him - and others - that way? I don't know and don't presume to have the answers. Some would say absolutely not. But God does not create just "perfect" people. Some are born mentally or physically challenged. Some are emotionally challenged. Why not sexually challenged?

I do know that God says unequivocally that "to lie with a man as a woman" is an abomination. Leviticus 18:22 I know that Paul calls homosexuality a sin - as is drunkenness, gluttony, adultery, murder, gossip, lying - but it is no worse that any other sin because ALL sin is an affront to a holy God. I also know that God says He makes a way out for every temptation that confronts us.

So what about the sexually challenged. I think that could include those like Tiger Woods and Arnold Schwarzenegger who claim to have a sexual addiction for women, not just those with same sex attractions. The thing is Jesus Christ can change all that. In fact I would go so far as to say that ONLY Jesus Christ can change those desires. My friend McKrae Game started a ministry to homosexuals after Jesus changed his life and rescued him from homosexuality.

A lot of people just don't want to change. They don't want to hear that there is healing. They don't want to admit they are a sinner in need of a Savior. They don't want to live a celibate life. Although I am heterosexual, I am single and because I follow Jesus Christ I maintain sexual purity. Jesus took me away from a VERY promiscuous lifestyle (addiction?) and I thank Him every day for that.

Anyone - heterosexual or homosexual - can maintain sexual purity by saying no, by denying themselves, grabbing hold of the way out of temptation, but without Jesus it is almost impossible . However, we are not animals that can not control our sexual urges or impulses. Many just don't want to. Even a long term relationship, without following God's principles for marriage and sexual purity, is a train wreck waiting to happen. If not in this life, then the next.

So our responsibility, as Christ followers, is not to separate ourselves from those who desperately need Jesus; not to point fingers and tell them how sinful they are, but to show the love and the grace that can be found in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus wants to rescue the hurting, the sick, the dying. The whole reason He came to earth was to die for ALL sinners, to be the sacrifice to cancel EVERY sin.

Be Doers of the Word

2011-06-24T16:58:00.000-04:00

One of the first Bible verses I remember learning as a child was James 1:22 "Be doers of the word and not hearers only." James has a lot to say about living out our faith. He even goes so far as to say "faith without works is dead." Paul also addresses this when he says we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works".

My pastor also preaches this. He often tells us "just read the Bible and do what it says." He encourages us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. If God lays a burden on my heart - say a neighbor who needs groceries - it is my responsibility to get those groceries, not call the church office and tell the church they need to do something. We see this same story in James 2:15-16.

But this is not just a New Testament church thing. This is the very heart of God. Back in the days of Isaiah, God was telling the Israelites that they didn't understand fasting. They were setting aside a day to humble themselves, bowing down like a reed, covering themselves in sackcloth and ashes. But God said this is not what I desire. "Is not this the fast that I chose: to loose the bonds of wickedness...to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your houses; when you see the naked, to cover him..." Isaiah 58:6-7

Too many people in church today are like those Israelites, they are consumers putting on a good show for God. They show up on Sunday to sing the songs and listen to the sermon and then leave with never a thought of doing anything about what they heard, no thought of serving Jesus by serving others. I find that really sad because they are missing so much joy and so much connection with God.

Impossible Faith

2011-06-23T22:57:00.000-04:00

I found two references in the Bible where the words faith and impossible are used together. Sometimes I run into people who claim to have faith but life seems impossible for them. Their circumstance seems to them to be beyond God's ability to handle. Or maybe they want something to happen and God says NO! and they won't take no for an answer.

I've been guilty myself in years past of trying to favorably arrange my circumstances or influence people to do what I want them to. There's nothing wrong with being proactive about a situation or letting people know what I want but when it becomes manipulation, I have a real problem. When I decide this needs to happen NOW so I just forget all about the counsel of God and forge full steam ahead, forgetting to wait for God's direction and God's timing, I end up in trouble and heartache.

Too often we confuse feelings with faith. I will not always feel that God is near but my faith tells me He is. I may not feel like He hears my prayers but my faith tells me He does. I may not feel joyful but my faith tells me I can rejoice always. I may not feel like a princess but my faith tells me I am a child of the King.

Some of that seems like impossible faith but Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:20, "if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you." Jesus speaks of moving a mountain. Maybe it's an emotional mountain or a relational mountain or a mountain of debt. Whatever that mountain may be with just a little faith, it can be moved, conquered, overcome.

But there is another "impossible faith". God tells us in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please [God], for whoever would draw near to [Him] MUST believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him." (emphasis mine). Not only must I believe in God, I must believe that He is looking out for me. That He has plans for me - good plans. That He wants to set me up for success. And if I believe that then surrender of me and my plans is the only option.

Nate's Best FUSE Ever

2011-06-23T21:34:00.000-04:00

When Nate got in the car on Wednesday night after FUSE, he said this was the best night ever! I said so tell me what made it so great. And he said...I got to lead my small group!

Now Nate is 11 years old. I know lots of adults who would not think being asked on the spur of the moment to lead the group of 10 or so with the regular leaders sitting around listening something to be excited about. LOTS of people would be so intimidated they might never come back. Not Nate. He was ecstatic!

And this Grandma? I was thanking Jesus as Nate told me all about it. Thanking Jesus for the work He is doing in Nate's life. Thanking Jesus for his small group leaders who see potential in him. Thanking Jesus that Nate found it exciting and wants to do it again.

Next Wednesday, he will be representing the 6th grade in reciting from memory Psalm 23. This will be in the main ballroom at CFC and they are encouraging the kids to invite lots of friends. The leadership is praying for 400-500 students to come.

I can hardly contain my excitement as I think about where this might lead Nate in the future. Now that I think about it, it was MY best FUSE ever too!

Eternity

2011-06-21T09:21:00.000-04:00

I wish I had a sharper mind, or maybe a deeper mind. I read things in Scripture and sometimes I just can't get my mind around it. One of those things is eternity.

Although I believe it, I just can't quite grasp that God is. Just is - always in the present. Before there was time God is there."In the beginning God..." (Genesis 1:1) After time ends, God is there. "And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.'" (Revelation 21:6)

And He is omniscient so He is the only real "know it all". He IS the beginning and the end so He sees it all. We often can't see beyond today. Especially when we are in a pit of despair for some reason. That is even more reason to surrender daily to Jesus as Lord. We don't know what tomorrow holds but Jesus does. He has promised to work all the circumstances of our lives - good and bad - into something that is for our ultimate good and for His glory. "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son..." (Romans 8:28-29)

My brother, David, was one who really believed this. I was the black sheep of the family, my brother the "good" guy. But David was the one who got sick and suffered physically for 20+ years, As he was dying we were talking one day and I expressed my doubts about why David had to suffer and not me. I DESERVED to be sick and dying. I was the one who had told God to go away and leave me alone. (Thank you, Jesus, for not doing that!) David said maybe it was just that God knew he could handle it. And he did with much grace. He glorified God in all he did. He never complained. He never doubted God's love. He never gave up. He kept serving and giving and worshiping God every day. Hundreds came to his funeral and several met Jesus there. So even in death he was glorifying God.

One great thing to me about eternity is I will be united with my brother and Mama and Daddy who have all gone before me to be with Jesus. And we will worship Jesus forever. "But nothing unclean will ever enter it...but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever." (Revelation 21:27, 22:5)

Have Mercy, O God

2011-06-20T11:57:00.000-04:00

This morning as I was praying I asked God to have mercy on our country. I'd just turned off the news after seeing stories about fires in Arizona and Texas, floods where the Missouri River has broken through the levee, drought in South Georgia. And of course the destructive tornadoes of last month are still fresh on my mind.

But then I thought why should God have mercy on us as a nation? All those disasters cause talk of mother nature by every reporter. Every time I hear that when I'm around my grandchildren I remind them there is no mother nature only Father God. NBC, during the US Open golf championship yesterday, aired a patriotic tribute with kids saying the Pledge of Allegiance and conveniently cut out "under God, indivisible" from the pledge, not once but twice! You can see the You Tube video here. I also heard that New York is poised to become the 6th state to allow same sex marriages.

No wonder our country seems not to be blessed. However, I am so grateful that God IS blessing His Church and specifically NewSpring. Many are coming to faith in Jesus Christ. People are giving generously, volunteering joyfully, inviting friends faithfully, living out the core values we are taught. And it's not just NewSpring but other churches around the country who are faithfully preaching the Gospel are seeing Jesus Christ work in amazing ways.

Perhaps we need things to get really bad before most will understand that they can not put their faith in money or government or rights. It breaks my heart to see our country continually pushing God out but what I know is that He is STILL in control. No matter how hard we push. No matter what laws may be passed. No matter how far down we go. God is ALWAYS in control and there is always hope, there is always Jesus.

Tough Times

2011-06-18T08:40:00.001-04:00

Christians are known to occasionally question why the rich seem to get richer and the poor, poorer. Why those who don't acknowledge Jesus Christ - or even God in general - seem to prosper while those who strive to live for Jesus seem to struggle.

This is not a new problem, not new a thought. "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind." Psalm 73:3,5

Too often we have the mistaken view that surrendering to Christ should turn earth into heaven, but it doesn't. James tells us to "count it pure joy" when the tough times come because it brings opportunity for our faith to be tested and thus to persevere. Jesus tell us "in this world you will have trouble". Why do we believe Him when He says He is our only Savior but don't believe Him when He says life will be tough?

Christ followers will lose their jobs and get cancer and have wayward children. We are not immune to the trials the rest of the world faces. But how we face them - count it pure joy - can be a strong testimony to those around us of the presence of Jesus in our lives. Jesus said we would have trouble in this world but also that we can have peace in Him. Paul reminds us of that in Philippians 4:6-7. "Do not be anxious...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

We have a choice when the tough times come - we can get angry with Jesus or trust Him completely. The Psalmist said, "When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward You." but then "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:21-22,26

Preventive Maintenance

2011-06-17T21:03:00.000-04:00

Today I had work done on my car. I have 90k miles on it and hope to drive it another 90k miles so I took it in for some preventive maintenance. Timing belt, water pump, fuel filter, check all the hoses and belts and fluids, repair a door lock. It was rather expensive but necessary if I want to keep my car in good shape.

As I thought about the car I also thought about my life - keeping it in good shape. I have to admit I don't do much preventive maintenance for my body with diet and exercise. But my doctor says I have good genes.

I also need preventive maintenance for my soul. Surrendering to Christ is just the beginning of the journey. I don't want to stumble. I don't want to fall. I don't want to miss the "well done!" If I want to finish well, I need to maintain my relationship with Jesus over the long haul. So I read my Bible regularly. I go to church weekly. I work to take my thoughts captive to Christ. I confess my sins. I worship God wherever I am - and not just on Sunday. I seek to walk in obedience so that my faith is strengthened.

It's so easy to slip away from the high calling of God. So easy to become entangled in the thought patterns of the world. So easy to become complacent in my relationship with God. So easy to let something go that really needs to be done to maintain a right relationship with Christ.

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." Jude 24-25

Enough Already

2011-06-17T07:53:00.000-04:00

I am so tired of hearing about now former congressman Anthony Weiner. He resigned yesterday after a series of inappropriate text messages to 6 or 7 women. He said "I apologize", which is not the same as "I was wrong, please forgive me" (or even better, "I have sinned"), as he resigned. So now I say, let it go.

I guess old Arnold Schwarzenegger is glad Weiner came along. Seems to have made everyone forget about his infidelity and marriage problems. Today the news is more like a soap opera. I can remember a time when I would occasionally watch soaps. You could watch one day and then come back a month later and it was the same stuff - you hadn't missed much. What did Solomon say? "There's nothing new under the sun."

I wonder why the "news" is so filled with the lurid details of people's downfalls. What makes these stories the top item for so many days? Is it really news? Is it the public's right to know? I think we enjoy pointing fingers and talking about how bad someone else is so we don't have to think about how bad we are.

Oh, but I would never do what they did! Maybe not. But we are all sinners. We might not be well known enough for our sins to be plastered all over the TV but they were plastered all over Jesus Christ. Our sins might not be "big" enough to garner any attention but they drove nails into Jesus' hands and feet.

These guys are public figures so they should expect public scrutiny. There are, and should be, consequences for their behavior. But the time comes when enough is enough.

No Retirement

2011-06-15T15:18:00.000-04:00

I am semi-retired these days. I was fully retired until gas prices began to soar so I went back to work part time. But even in my full retirement, I immediately began to volunteer my time and abilities to my church and to Mobile Meals.

I was already volunteering at church on Sunday as part of the production team and the prayer team. Now I am part of the care team as well doing week day follow up for people who contact the church for prayer or resources. I knew before I retired that I needed to do something useful so I didn't wait long to get started.

The thing is I could be perfectly content to sit in my chair and read books all day and play on the computer and talk to my cat and probably have very little interaction with people on a regular basis. I am perfectly content to be alone. I am content to eat alone and travel alone and go to the movies alone or just stay home alone. But I know that is not good for me - or for anyone. God made us for community.

Granted I do want to be with my grandchildren. I enjoy interacting with them and helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus. Nate and I will be going for a late lunch/early supper in about an hour before we head to Greenville for him to participate in FUSE.

God teaches that we are to be about His work even into our old age. Psalm 71:18 says, "So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to another generation, Your power to all those to come."

So even though I may be retired from gainful employment, I will never retire from serving God and serving others as long as God allows me the mental capacity to do so. Physical capacity doesn't matter because even from a wheelchair or a hospital bed, prayers of intercession can be offered on behalf of others. So no retirement for me!

Made Alive with Christ

2011-06-14T08:18:00.001-04:00

"You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14 (NLT)

Those verses just absolutely overwhelm me. I can hardly read them without tears of joy at all God did for me through Christ Jesus.

No one, NO ONE, deserves salvation. Not the best of us or the worst of us. We all deserve the wrath of God, eternal punishment and eternal separation from God because of our sins.

Yet He loves us...no, He loves ME! Personally. He knows me as Nancy. He knows where I live and work and volunteer. He knows when I praise Him and when I ignore Him. He knows when I have a heart full of love and when my heart is hard.

He saw me when I was dead in my sins and loved me...2000 years before I was born, He loved me. Before the beginning of time He loved me. And He sent His son to die for me, for ME. I am overwhelmed by His love. And His forgiveness.

And not only the sins, but the sinful nature in me that drives me to sin, He took that out of my life and replaced it with His Spirit so I can be alive in Christ Jesus. No one knows what it means to truly live until they have surrendered to the death of their own life and taken up the life of Christ. All because of what He did on the cross. God nailed my sins to the cross. Jesus Christ bore the penalty on HIS body - so I wouldn't have to, so that God would cancel the record of charges against me.

But not just me, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son..." Every person has the opportunity to know the love of God, to live a life made alive by Jesus Christ.

Seek the Things That Are Above

2011-06-13T09:39:00.000-04:00

More than once in the Bible we are told, as Christ followers, to put aside our earthly desires, to set our minds on things above, to seek first the kingdom of God, to put on the new self in Christ, old things have passed away.

How hard is that!?! How can you put aside earthly desires when there is a boss to work for and bills to pay and children to raise and the car breaks down and the vacation is coming up and the economy sinks again and gas and food prices rise and ads everywhere entice me to buy, buy, buy?

Living the Christian life is not easy and nobody ever said it would be - except maybe a televangelist. But the Bible does not give any indication that it will be easy. Quite the opposite, in fact. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble..." But Jesus also gave the answer to the trouble we will face. He said, "I have overcome the world!" and "In me you will have peace."

I have walked with Jesus many years now but I am still learning so much about this Christian life. One of the things that I have been learning - way too slowly - is that if I do focus on pleasing God, seeking Him through the Bible and prayer, He really will meet all my needs. He might not meet them the way I think He should, but He meets them nonetheless. And He does this as He changes my mind about what is important to me and what is not important so that I don't miss the "wants" because I don't want them anymore.

God is able "to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think..." When He doesn't seem to be doing that in my life, it is because my vision of God is too small. My faith in His word is too weak. My mind is filled with doubts about His willingness to provide. My wants overshadow my needs. My hearts desire is not His hearts desire for me. The only way to change all this is to "seek the things that are above."

On The Farm

2011-06-12T20:02:00.000-04:00

At NewSpring we are currently in a series called On the Farm. Last week and this week Perry's message was "I want 10 things for every owner at NewSpring Church." At NewSpring we don't have members, we have owners because members have rights but owners have responsibilities.

No one will get them all right all the time because walking with Christ is a life-long journey with ups and downs but this is a good list for any Christ follower to seriously contemplate before God.

Perry said I want every owner of NewSpring Church:

1. to understand salvation in a Biblical context, knowing that they have been made right with God through Jesus Christ. (1 John 5:12-13, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

2. to truly learn how to find their identity in Christ. (Colossians 1:15-17, Philippians 3:7-14, Galatians 2:20)

3. to have a right relationship with others (Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 6:14-15, 1 John 2:9-11)

4. to love God's Church and be fully bought in to her potential (Matthew 16:13-18, Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:22; 3:10; 3:20-21)

5. to know about and discover their spiritual gift and use it to impact God's Kingdom (1 Corinthians 12:1; 12:7, 1 Peter 4:10)

6. to know how to lead someone to Christ and feel the calling/responsibility to do so (2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:48, John 20:21, Acts 1:8, Romans 1:16)

7. to learn how to recognize and follow the voice of God by reading the Bible on a daily basis (Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Isaiah 45:18-19)

8. to have godly dating relationships, godly marriages and strive to raise children who have a heart for Jesus (2 Corinthians 6:14, Ephesians 5: 22-33; 6:1-4. Colossians 3:18-21, 1 Peter 3:1-7, Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

9. to steward their money in a Biblical way, putting God first, living within their means and embracing generosity as a core value in their life (Malachi 3:10, Proverbs 3:9-10, 1 Corinthians 6:1-2, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Psalm 37:25-26, 1 Timothy 6:17-19)

10. to feel the freedom to admit their weaknesses and confess AND repent of sin without feeling judged and condemned (Isaiah 1:18, 1 John 1:9, James 5:16, Romans 8:1)

Thankfulness in Every Situation

2011-06-11T09:43:00.000-04:00

This morning I got up and noticed it had rained overnight. So I said a great big Thank You! to God because I have been praying for rain.

I recently went back to work 8 hours a week and said a big Thank You! to God because I'd taken my need for extra income - gas prices, you know - to Him in prayer. I didn't want to go back to work. I actually asked God if He would allow me to spend $1 on a lottery ticket and make it pay off. (I know God doesn't do that but I share all my thoughts with Him - out loud.) The next day I had an email from a former client asking me to come work for him. So I thanked God for the job and the extra money.

Those are easy thank you's. But in Philippians 4:6 Paul writes, "...do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Thanksgiving in EVERY situation, God?! Now that is definitely NOT easy!

Does He expect me to be thankful for the illness or the job loss or the divorce? That seems rather cruel and God is love so that can't be it. Although we may at some point be thankful for the painful situation, when we are in the midst of it we just can't be. But we can always express thankfulness to God that He is in control. Thankfulness that His love endures forever. Thankfulness that He walks with us through the hard times. Thankfulness that He knows how and when this pain will go away. Thankfulness that He sees a bigger picture than we do. Thankfulness that He never leaves us.

Being thankful definitely brings me closer to God and allows my faith to grow. And it must really please the heart of God because when I do this "The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 This situation becomes manageable because God pours out His peace on my heart and mind so that I can get through EVERY situation no matter how painful or scary or hard. HE will see me through! And THAT deserves a big Thank You! to God.

To Die Is Gain

2011-06-09T10:18:00.000-04:00

At FUSE, the current sermon series is Psalm 23. Last night on the way home Nate was memorizing this Psalm. I just love it that he is encouraged to memorize scripture and to apply it to his life.

I don't remember what brought it up but on the way to FUSE the subject of dying came up. We talked about how no one wants to die. As people we always have dreams for the future, things we want to do, places we want to go. But we don't have to be afraid of dying because it will actually be better and we won't miss the stuff we didn't get to do.

Then when Nate was repeating Psalm 23 out loud in the car going home, we were able to talk more about not fearing death because "You are with me."

This morning I read Paul's letter to the Philippians. In 1:21 he states, "...to die is gain." But he prefaces that with "to live is Christ." I love the consistency of the Bible. David states he has no fear of the shadow of death because God is with him. Paul says to die is gain because Jesus Christ is not just an integral part of his life but IS his life. Both these men could make these bold statements because they had surrendered their lives to Jesus.

I want to be around for a long time so I can see Nate and Bella grow up. I look forward to taking Bella to FUSE one day and talking to her about the things of God as I do with Nate now. I look forward to what God is going to do in both their lives; to see Nate grown and serving God and perhaps raising a son of his own. To see Bella grow into the beautiful princess of the King of kings. To see her serve Jesus and perhaps a loving husband and family.

But despite all I want to do, to die is truly gain because I know Christ. To finally be in the presence of God for all eternity; to be done with the struggles of life and to just worship Jesus forever...how could that not be considered gain.

Qualified for Service

2011-06-08T16:23:00.000-04:00

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13

I heard a pastor say Jesus does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called. How many times do members of the Church shy away from serving Jesus by saying oh, I couldn't do that. Or I don't have any training for that. In some ways I think the higher education of pastors and other ministers does a disservice to the Church.

I am NOT against higher education or studying church history or learning Greek or Hebrew or any of the things taught at seminaries around the world. I have taken a few seminary courses myself and find those courses can be helpful in understanding the Bible and the Church. But sometimes I think we have created a culture of Church people who use lack of education as an excuse not to do things Jesus asks us to do.

If you look at the disciples, you find men who were "uneducated, common men". Jesus didn't go to the synagogue and call the best students or the most favored rabbis. He went to the seashore and called fishermen. And to the marketplace to get a tax collector. He brought together that tax collector, Matthew, who worked for the Roman rulers and Simon the Zealot who worked for the overthrow of Roman rule; enemies in their former lives. There were the brothers James and John whom Jesus nicknamed Sons of Thunder and Thomas who became known for doubting the resurrection and Judas who would eventually betray Jesus.

This was a rag-tag bunch of men. But they "had been with Jesus" and were willing to be taught by Him and therefore turned Jerusalem and the surrounding territories upside down. Even Paul who was very educated declared I count it all nothing except for knowing Christ.

So why do we, today, have churches that won't hire a pastor who doesn't have a doctorate? Or staff members who have not been to seminary? Why do we put such value on the education of our ministers? EVERYONE who has surrendered to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is a minister of the gospel. None of the education matters when I get down to telling my story; relating how Jesus changed my life. EVERYONE of us has the same teachings available that the original twelve disciples had. If they can change the world so can we! We are qualified for service because Jesus called us and He equips us.

The Rebellious Dwell in a Parched Land

2011-06-07T09:04:00.000-04:00

When I ran into this phrase at the end of verse 6 in Psalm 68, it struck a chord with me. America has become a rebellious land. God has been so gracious to us over the years; He has blessed this nation in so many ways. But 40 years or so ago, we began, as a nation, to turn away from God.

We began to clamor for our rights to do whatever we desire. We began to relegate God to Sunday mornings in church only and to determine He had no place in business or government or our Monday - Saturday lives. As a result we have legal abortions, legal gambling in most states, overcrowded prisons, high violent crime rates, pornography everywhere, marriage redefined as a union between two people in a committed relationship - no matter their gender. We also have unprecedented greed that leads to financial collapse on a personal and national level because we spend money we don't have to buy things we don't need or we steal money from people who trust us. (Think Madoff, etc.)

And then think about all the natural disasters happening around America this year. Tornadoes in Massachusetts where they thought a tornado was impossible; they were only to happen is the south and Midwest - and boy have they happened, hundreds of them with hundreds of fatalities! Floods all along the Mississippi and Missouri River basins. Winter snowstorms that have some parts of the Rockies under 800 inches of snow. It's gotta melt and the water's gotta go somewhere. A huge wildfire going in Arizona. Earthquakes in California. Dead birds by the hundreds and dead fish by the thousands all across the country. Here in South Carolina we are two weeks into heat that is running 10-15 degrees above normal and the beginnings of drought conditions. And when you add in all the disasters around the world, it is astonishing to think about.

We are dwelling in a parched land. Maybe not literally parched because some have way too much water. But we are in a land that is parched in spirit. Parched from the lack of Living Water. We push God away and push God away and then scream at Him for abandoning us, for allowing death and disaster to come upon us.

We need to pray for revival - revival for ourselves and for our land. We need to be about the business of God, sharing the Living Water, the life giving water that is Jesus Christ, to friends, neighbors, business associates parched by sin. People who are hopeless and dying without Jesus.

The Whole Armor of God

2011-06-06T11:09:00.000-04:00

When a policeman goes to work, he puts on a whole lot of stuff. Some of it we can see and some of it we can't. He has his uniform that includes a hat, shirt, pants and shoes - all the regulations require. He also carries a badge that identifies him as a policeman. Underneath his shirt he has his bulletproof vest. Around his waist he has a belt that holds his pistol, mace, a stun gun, a baton, and probably other things.

A policeman would not ever think of going to work without putting on all of his uniform. I've been told the belt is pretty heavy and the vest can be hot. But the policeman wouldn't "mix and match" his uniform and gear and decided I will wear this and not that; I will carry this equipment but not that equipment. Wearing it all is important for battles he may face and for keeping him safe.

The same is true for the followers of Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 6:10-12, Paul instructs us about the battles we will face. He reminds us that our battles are not against people - not against our neighbors or our boss or even the politicians - but are spiritual in nature. Just like the policeman, we have a uniform to wear. Wearing it all is important for the battles we face and for keeping us safe.

Paul lists 6 pieces of armor: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the Gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Too many people only put on the helmet. They are saved and they believe that is all they have to do. Then they wonder why the Christian life isn't working for them, why they don't seem to be overcoming their sins or their struggles. They never step out in faith, they don't read the word of God, they don't know Truth, they don't walk with integrity, they don't share the Good News of Jesus - the whole armor is missing.

No where in the Bible do I find a life of ease or a life free of struggle for God's people, at least not until the end of time when God makes all things new. God promised the children of Israel a land flowing with milk and honey but when they finally got there, they had to fight for each city, each territory. They same is true for us. God has given us the free gift of His Son but until He takes us home, we must fight battles. But He has supplied all the armor we need to stand firm in the battle, to stand firm to the very end, if we will just put it on.

Love vs Exposing Sin

2011-06-04T09:20:00.000-04:00

Often people who are caught up in a sinful lifestyle will throw out the "you're judging me" card if their sin is exposed. Too often in the church, sins are not corrected at all. We are told, however, in Ephesians 5:11 that the shameful deeds of darkness are to be exposed.

But at the very beginning of the chapter, Paul tells us to "walk in love, as Christ loved us". Part of loving someone far from God is helping them come to know Christ. Part of loving a fellow believer is correcting sin when we know of it. There is, though, a fine line between judgement and correction - and that line is love.

Part of lovingly speaking to someone about a sinful lifestyle is to remember that I was once the same way. And not only was I once, I am still a sinner who is in need of correction from time to time. The longer I walk with God I hope I will recognize His correction through Scripture and will be wise and not need human intervention. But no one is immune to sin - human intervention may be necessary in the life of any believer at some time.

Those who need to know and understand the love and grace of Jesus Christ need to be in church. They need to know they are loved by God and by His Church. When they do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, they can not be expected to live as a Christ follower should live. They are dead in their sins but while they are still sinners, Christ died for them.

It's when a person claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ, claims to be saved, but is living with a boyfriend or having sex with a fiancée or is getting drunk every weekend or some other destructive behavior - and doesn't try to hide the fact so that the lifestyle is clearly seen and known - then the Church must intervene. I love this story from a couple at NewSpring and a small group that loved them. When Christ is honored and truth is spoken in love, HE changes people and corrects the sinful lifestyle.

God's Power Toward Us

2011-06-02T10:02:00.000-04:00

I wonder sometimes why the journey toward faith is so long and hard. It would be nice if we were "grown ups" in faith as soon as we acknowledged our sin and asked Jesus to forgive us.

In Ephesians Paul talks about "the immeasurable greatness of [God's] power toward us who believe" - the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of God. This same power was used to raise us from the dead..."you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked. But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when were were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ...and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus"

Sometimes when I remember the struggles I had with overcoming the sins in my life, I wish it hadn't been so hard to believe God's promises and to walk in His ways. I wanted desperately to live a life pleasing to God but would find myself slipping back into thoughts and actions that were part of my old life. Part of it is the battle "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." The enemy doesn't easily let go. It is imperative that I remember that God's power is greater. I don't have to give in to the desires of my flesh.

We all have choices to make all day long. We can choose right or we can choose wrong. We can choose to live for this moment or we can choose to live for eternity. We can choose to please ourselves or we can choose to please God.

Long years ago there was a comedian named Flip Wilson who played a character named Geraldine who often said, "The devil made me do it!" We like that cop out. We don't want to take responsibility. When Adam and Eve sinned back in the Garden of Eden, Adam blamed Eve (and God), and Eve blamed the serpent. From the beginning of time we have claimed to be a victim; claimed "It's not my fault!" But it is.

What great hope there is in knowing that God loves us, Jesus saves us and the Holy Spirit empowers us to live a life that glorifies God by helping us make right choices. God's great power brings life and victory but we must choose to walk in it.

Enemies

2011-05-31T08:34:00.000-04:00

As I read through the Psalms, there is a lot of talk about enemies...the enemies of David or the enemies of Israel. For a long time I would sort of skip over the part about enemies thinking I don't have any real enemies. Not any people telling lies about me or trying to destroy me or coming at me with spears.

But then one day something clicked (don't you like it when God reveals something new to ya!) and I thought I DO have an enemy who is in fact telling lies about me and trying to destroy me and sends flaming arrows my way. His name is Satan or the devil or the evil one.

God tells me that Satan is a liar and the accuser of Christ followers. He also tells me Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may destroy. This evil one also slings flaming darts at me.

So now when I read the Psalms I don't skim or skip over all the "beat up the enemy" stuff. Unlike David or the Israelites who were waiting on God to rout their enemies, God has already done that for me. I can read these passages knowing that my God has rescued me. His strength is sufficient. I am not waiting for some future event because my rescue has already occurred. Now I say thank You, Jesus, that You have already fought these battles for me. You have already defeated my greatest enemy. I am already victorious and do not have to fear the enemy because he has NO power over me.

Nothing Changes

2011-05-30T10:00:00.000-04:00

Christians as a group seem to be at a loss when they are confronted by the sins of mankind. I don't know why we should think lost people would act any "better" in this day and age than in times past. Without Jesus Christ taking up residence in a person's life, nothing changes from generation to generation.

Granted there was a time in my childhood when there did not seem to be as much violence or perversion but that doesn't necessarily means it wasn't there. We just didn't hear about it as much or as often. The sins of man were not plastered all over the newspapers and the TV. There was no "Inside Edition" or "TMZ" to broadcast - in real time and living color - the downfall of Hollywood celebrities; no "live, breaking news" to tell us of the abuse of a child; no internet to entice us with instant anything.

But the Bible confirms for us that people never really change. Paul, in his writings in the first century after Jesus' resurrection, speaks of homosexuals, drunkards, murders, adulterers, prostitutes and other sins (like the acceptable church sin of gossip). You can go all the way back to Abraham, more than 2000 years before Jesus. The story of his nephew Lot is full of the perversions of men - and women. So much so that God sent His angels to save Lot before He destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Or even further back than that to the days of Noah. Or even further back than that to the Garden of Eden when man and woman decided to do what THEY wanted instead of what God said.

The Bible is full of stories of greed and lying and lust and murder and adultery and idolatry. Real people, real sins. But contrary to the signs by one church that shout "God hates you", God's love for us is so great, so perfect, so intense that He made a way for us to break loose from the chains of sin. He made a way for us to be cleansed from ALL unrighteousness. That way is Jesus Christ. That way is the way of suffering. That way is the way of the cross.

We should be offended by the sins of mankind but that should remind us that we were once lost as well. It should fill us with a desire to tell the Good News as often as we can, to shout GOD LOVES YOU, not God hates you. Even if we don't carry a sign to a rally our attitudes and actions toward the lost will shout one or the other - love or hate.

Freedom

2011-05-28T19:56:00.000-04:00

Over this Memorial Day weekend we are reminded again of the sacrifices military men and women have made through out the years as they fought battles all around the world to help keep us free. Their time and energy, their family life, and in some cases their bodies and their very lives have been given up to protect our shores and our way of life.

I am so thankful for those who take up the challenge to put themselves in harm's way. There have been times when the call to arms was mandatory but other times as in this day, those who go, go willingly and voluntarily. So a very special debt of gratitude goes out to them.

But life even in America can be a life of slavery and a life devoid of freedom for those who do not surrender to Jesus Christ. Americans rant and rave about their rights...the right to choose abortion, the right to marry someone of the same sex, the right to push and shove their way to the top, the right to live any way they want to.

Our country was founded with a Bill of Rights for the people. But none of those makes a person free. The Bible says that those who "do their own thing" are actually living in slavery to lust and greed and a whole host of sins. Just because someone doesn't recognize their behavior as sin doesn't make it any less so. And sin entangles us in a web that we can't break out of on our own.

It is only in the cross of Christ and faith in Jesus that I find true freedom. Freedom to live life in the glow of God's love, knowing that the Creator of the universe is my daddy, my "Abba, Father." Freedom to have all the hurts and fears and emptiness and loneliness and greed and lust and anger and despair and...whatever bad thing has a grip on me, replaced with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

FSKO 2011

2011-05-26T20:52:00.000-04:00

My grandson got to go to his first FUSE Summer Kick Off on Wednesday night as part of the NewSpring student ministries. He is so pumped to be part of all that is happening there. This year was even bigger and better than last year!

More than 3100 students showed up - regular attenders and their friends - across 4 campuses and 469 of those were in Greenville. In all the fun and games and give aways, the message is always Jesus. NewSpring ALWAYS preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why else would anyone do anything through the church? Fun and games can be had in lots of places but only the Church has the message of Life. And new life was in abundance. Dan Lian preached from the prodigal son on God's love for us. One thing he said that stuck with me was if you could cut God's arm, He would bleed love. The visual I got was the spear piercing Jesus side as He hung on the cross and blood and water flowing out. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

I haven't seen the final numbers on salvations but I know it will be high. God is doing a mighty work in the lives of students all around South Carolina. I am so glad I am part of a church that places a high value on the next generation. If every kid that attends is impacted like my grandson, God will use the next generation in ways we can't even imagine now! And most exciting for me is to see what He does in the life of my grandson.

Do I Trust God?

2011-05-26T20:23:00.001-04:00

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid." Psalm 56:3-4

Can I honestly say I trust God? It's easy to trust when life is good. But what about when life is falling apart; when life no longer seems to make sense?

When I lose my job. When my spouse leaves. When my mom dies. When my child gets arrested. When the doctor says "cancer". When a lie is told about me. When a friend repeats a confidence. When someone takes credit for something I did or places blame for something I didn't do.

In all the circumstances of life, I must trust God. That does not mean that my circumstances will suddenly get better. It doesn't mean all my problems will disappear. It doesn't mean life will be all sweetness and light.

It does mean that God will never leave me. It does means that I can have peace in the midst of turmoil. It does mean that I will grow in my faith. It does mean that I will learn obedience through the suffering. It does mean I don't have to be afraid of what tomorrow might bring.

I don't know many people today, including me, who "consider it pure joy" when tough times come as James said. Or who recognize that the "thorn in my flesh" is there to make me more like Christ in humbleness. But if I really believe God loves me; if I really believe God works in every situation for His glory and my best; if I really believe my home is not here on earth but in heaven with my true Father, maybe I COULD face anything with joy and thankfulness.

My pastor often says something like if you can trust God with your eternity, surely you can trust him with your here and now - with my health and finances and relationships and all the days I have left on this planet. We are told repeatedly in Matthew 6 not to worry. Easier said than done but when done, oh what peace floods my soul.

Traditions

2011-05-25T15:06:00.000-04:00

As I was reading in Galatians this morning, Paul is reminding the people of Galatia that works of the law do not save. Even Peter was admonished by Paul when he behaved one way with the Gentiles but another when the Jews showed up. Wanted to live up to THEIR traditions!

Sometimes when I read those things I have a tendency to think why didn't they get it? Especially the Jews. But then I thought about the 1400 - 1500 years of the law that they had lived under and how hard it would be to give up all that tradition. Even though they had been looking for the Messiah, they didn't want a Messiah that actually changed their view of God or life or their position in society.

How like the church in America today! How many churches bicker over music styles or leadership styles or English translations of the Bible. How hard it is for some churches not to do things "the way we've always done them" even as the numbers in attendance dwindle. How cloaked in "holy huddles" are some churches that new people are not even wanted. How many churches steadfastly refuse to step into the 21st century by using technology to reach the next generation.

There is nothing wrong with traditions; we need to know our roots. And there is no gospel to preach except Jesus Christ, crucified and raised from the dead. But if we hold to our irrelevant traditions at the expense of reaching a dying world with the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ, I do not believe we will hear "Well, done" when we stand before Him one day. Jesus turned the religious world on its head 2000 years ago and I see Him still working that way today.

Nate's Graduation

2011-05-25T14:29:00.000-04:00

Well, an era has passed in Spartanburg City Schools. Nate is part of the last 6th grade at Pine Street School as the city school district changes the way they've always done school. Beginning next year District 7 will move 6th graders to the Junior High/Middle School level and shift 9th graders to the high school.

His graduation ceremony was long to say the least. I actually left before it ended having been there for 2 hours - for 6th graders!! There were awards in 7 different categories and one teacher, visual arts I think, gave out so many, I wondered if there was anyone who didn't get an award. Well, Nate didn't but that's OK.

The guest speaker was the football coach at the local college. He was great. He kept everyone's attention and had the kids participating in what he was saying. What struck a chord with me was his story of himself as a young man in Ohio working as a garbage collector. Although he didn't intend to always be a garbage man, he had plans and dreams, he was the best garbage man he could be. One day in a neighborhood on his route all the garbage cans had been knocked over. He picked up all the trash that had been scattered and put it in the hopper of the truck. Then he heard a crack and was struck by something. When he turned around he saw a boy, about 12 or 13, pulling a gun back in the window of his house. The police were called because the boy had shot him with a pellet gun. Mike, the coach, didn't press charges but wanted to know why the boy shot him. The boy said, "He's only a garbage man."

I thought about the times Nate had been upset because kids at his school made fun of him because his clothes weren't the right label or because of the brand of skateboard he had or because he didn't have a cell phone as a 2nd grader or because he doesn't have a Nook or an iPad or an iPhone now. The saddest part to me is the kids learn to consider what you have to be more important than who you are from their parents.

The coach went on to talk about what's inside is more important than how you look on the outside. He talked about God given gifts and talents and blessings on his life from his Savior. I wanted to stand up and cheer!

Nate didn't get any awards, any pieces of paper, to say his teachers think he's special but that doesn't mean he's not special. Parents told his dad after a trip to Barrier Island a couple of months ago that Nate was one of the nicest kids on the trip, always polite, always going out of his way to include those who were not being included. His small group leader at church told me yesterday that Nate is the neatest kid he knows; he has a maturity and understanding of God's word and a hunger to know God that the other kids in the group don't have.

Nate's got plenty of stuff, just not the stuff that matters to his school mates. He might not have any awards for a scrapbook. But I would much, much, much rather Nate have character built on the word of God. I am so proud of Nate and can't wait to see what God has in store for him!

Bring Your Tithe

2011-05-24T09:04:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday Robert Morris was with us again at NewSpring as he continued his teaching on tithing and firstfruits. One of the comments he made that I had not thought about was the difference in bringing the tithe and giving the tithe. In the 9 or 10 references in the Old Testament to tithing, the term is always bring.

Why is that important? Because the tithe is returning to God what is rightfully His. You can't "give" someone something that already belongs to him. Lots of people quibble over the tithe and in fact most who claim to be Christian do not ~~give~~ bring anywhere near a tenth of their gross income back to God.

As I was reading Psalm 50 this morning I came across, "For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills..." God owns everything! And if I have accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, as my Lord and my Savior, God owns me.

My brother had a chronic illness for 20 years. The last 2 years of his life he was on disability but he still tithed. The disability was not enough to pay his bills anyway and he was so thankful that God allowed him to live for 20 years when he'd been told by the doctors he'd live 3 to 5. All during those last two years, God stirred the hearts of friends and fellow believers and just when the mortgage or the power bill or something was due, a check would show up in his mailbox. God was ALWAYS faithful to take care of my brother's financial needs.

Tithing is not about money; it is all about thankfulness. It's a matter of the heart. I tithe because I recognize that God supplies it all - money, life, health, family, home - EVERYTHING I am or have is because of God. The last verse of Psalm 50 states, "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly, I will show the salvation of God!"