Hold your ground!

Joshua 24: 15

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Is that the way it is in your home?

Honestly, you’d be surprised how many homes don’t operate that way.

Today we live in a culture, where most parents have less than 15 minutes of meaningful conversations every day with their children.

Over half of all marriages fail, and morality is low and keeps on getting lower.

I think now, more than ever before, it’s time to take a stand for the church and family.

It’s time each house serves the Lord faithfully.

Joshua Chamberlin, Union Colonel was heard saying at Gettysburg, during the civil war… “You are to hold your ground at all costs!!!”

I think it’s time we hold our ground.

I think it’s time to invite Jesus back into the family.

I believe it’s time where Husbands and Wives lead they’re family in prayer during meal time.

And no, I’m not old fashioned—or then again, maybe I am.

Serving the Lord has significant benefits.

Making Him the center of civilization, has worked for decades, and can truly work again…

Have Peace!

Matthew 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Did you know that the only way we can have lasting peace, is in Jesus?

The reason we know that, is because Jesus Himself said so.

What’s robbing you of your inner peace?

Could it be that mounds of trouble, have gotten in the way?

Maybe you feel like Charlie Brown?

Do you remember the times when Lucy would offer to hold the football for Charlie Brown to kick?

Just about the time that Charlie Brown would come running, Lucy would pull the football, and down Charlie Brown would go.

Maybe you feel like that?

Maybe you feel like you just can’t catch a break?

Maybe there are times when you think trouble has surrounded you?

Never underestimate the peace that Jesus can bring in the midst of everyday life.

Just be sure of this my friend, Jesus will never trip you up.

He is there with open arms, ready to receive you this morning.

So what are you waiting for?

Why not run and jump into them right now…

The right kind of anger!

Ecclesiastes 7: 9 (NAS)

Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools.

There were times when my two boys were young, when they seemed to fight about everything.

They would even fight with each other, when it came to simple chores around the house.

Often in my unsettled spirit, I have to admit that anger would often get the best of me.

In the end, guess who looked like the bigger fool?

God never said we shouldn’t get angry, but He did say that anger shouldn’t get the best of us.

There is a right time to be angry—and a wrong time to get angry.

What’s the right time? When the anger is righteous in the eyes of God.

There is a thing, such as righteous anger.

I think what we need to remember most, is that God said we should be slow to anger.

I sure wished I had better control of that emotion, than I sometimes do.

“Father, would You help us not to become angry at the first thing that sets us off?

Help us all today, to be slower to become angry—and help us to be only angry, in a righteous way.

Amen.”

The Secret Place!

Mark 4:10

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.

Seriously, when’s the last time you were truly alone with God?

I mean without your cell phone—kids—spouses—TV—and distractions.

When God gets us alone, we should be totally speechless, and unable to ask a single question.

Those are the moments He uses as teachable moments.

When have you allowed God to teach you anything?

All of us realize how little we know, when we’re in the presence of the Most High.

The people closest to Jesus, are the ones who learn the most.

The people who won’t take time to be alone with God, are the ones who are confused and still struggling with the same struggles that bothered them the year before.

As we journey with God, the only thing He desires to deal with, is our very soul.

The only way to learn and unlock the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, is to take the time to go to the secret place.

Jesus cannot and will not normally teach us anything of real value, until we get alone with Him.

Find some time to shut the world out—and lock God in, and I’ll be willing to bet your life will be filled with powerful revelations from Him…

“Father God, You are rich in mercy. Help us to get alone with You.

The world can’t possibly unlock the riches You’re unable to unlock.

Help us to find that secret, quiet, place and then meet us there, OK?. Amen”

Walking!

Genesis 5: 22

Enoch walked with God 300 years…

I wonder if Enoch ever got bored walking with God all that time?

I mean, did he ever trip or fall and take his eyes off of his traveling companion?

Let’s face it, Enoch was only human.

For some reason, that’s what people often use as an excuse when their walk with God is toilsome.

I took a long late evening stroll last night.

It’s good a way to clear the cob webs out at the end of a tiring and weary day.

I spoke with God the entire time I was walking.

I haven’t been at this walking with God near as long as Enoch did, but I’ve found out it’s not for everyone.

I sometimes think I’d be happier doing something else, but I hope I never have to find that out.

Walking with God has its most exhilarating moments, and many trying moments too.

I’m praying that my life will be marked by taking faith steps with God, just as faithfully as Enoch did.

Two men were walking through the cemetery early one day, and as they passed each other, one man said to the other… “Morning!”

The other man replied… “Nope, just walking my dog…”

I sure hope that when people look at me while walking with my God, they see a joyful, accomplished stroll.

There are way too many people today, who make walking with God, look like it’s just a big waste of time…

Taking God Lightly?

2 Corinthians 7: 1

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

 

I wonder how many people today, truly take God lightly when it comes to, “light” sin? Like there is such a thing.

Do we put other people in place of God, just for the sake of being credible or accepted?

I think we all know the answer to that question.

 

Look at the junk on TV for example.

Let’s take a look at Bart Simpson. Bart is disrespectful of authority and especially his parents and teachers.

Sometimes people are that disrespectful of God—as much as we might not want to admit that.

 

God says that we’re to… “keep the Sabbath Holy”, yet people don’t think anything about adjusting their schedules to keep God at bay.

I happen to know people, that take that command lightly all the time.

 

Giving God the reverence He deserves, means that we in no way take His message lightly.

There are folks who watch movies pretty often, that use God’s name in vane, and think nothing of it.

That’s taking God lightly.

 

We must trust God and revere Him enough to walk with Him in complete obedience.

Even when people ridicule us and oppose us.

 

I believe taking God lightly, is going to back fire one day on a lot of ignorant people.

Just remember this; God will NOT be mocked!! (Galatians 6: 7)

True Disciple

Matthew 16: 24

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Easter is gone, but the call of true discipleship still exists.

Most American followers of Christ, haven’t a worry in the world.

I was amazed to hear that slightly over 40% of all confessed believers in the USA, don’t think it’s necessary to even to go to church on Easter Sunday.

The service at our church yesterday was filled with great power, and that had nothing to do with the Pastor there.

Pastor Saeed Abedini spent his Easter in a hospital prison in Iran.

He was arrested in 2012 for evangelizing on a bus.

He’ll spend the next 8 years in prison, for speaking the name of Jesus in public.

I wonder how many of us, would dare speak the name of Jesus, when we’ve been warned not to?

Pastor Abedini said this from his hospital prison cell;

“But we forget that in order to experience the Resurrection and glory of Christ, we must first experience death with Christ and die to ourselves and our selfish desires.”

I’m not sure that’s what I’d write from my prison cell.

I’d probably be hoping someone would send me an Easter card, with a file inside.

Now that Easter is over, what are your plans in your walk with Jesus?

Does completely dying to self, have anything to do with your future plans?

Grace!

2 Corinthians 12: 9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

The season of Lent is almost complete, and it always feels good to walk this way of suffering with friends.

It started with just offering simple expressions of God’s  blessings, to those within our circle of influence.

It will culminate on Friday night, as we take communion and remember the tremendous sacrifice of Jesus.

Our purpose during Lent, is to imitate the suffering and temptation of Jesus while He spent time in the wilderness.

Just giving up sweets during this time of sacrifice, can often trivialize what Jesus endured for us and the church.

Last night, being with like minded believers for a simple Lenten Service at church, is just what I needed.

It might not have really affected other people the way it did me, but I took this walk of faith exercise seriously this year.

My prayer is that I will take every day, as seriously going forward.

We must with all of our might, allow the simplicity of the Gospel to break through the traditions of man.

Do we really need Lent to break through our self imposed self centeredness? Maybe we do.

I’m so thankful that the grace of God is sufficient for me, as it is for each of you.

It is through 40 days of weakness, that I begin to understand His sufficiency for my life.

Last evening was a good reminder of how much I need Jesus, and His power to rest on me.

Again, I can’t speak for other people, but it sure felt good to be in His presence… 

What's your problem?

Ecclesiastes 7: 20

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.

The Bible is filled with verses that encourage and even give people a shot in the arm—the good kind of shot.

I guess I’m just driven to look for the deep hidden truth in God’s Word, and this is a verse we sometimes miss.

I know deep down inside, that I’m probably a better guy than most.

I think if I even looked for my wife’s opinion of me, she’d probably concur that I’m a pretty OK guy.

The problem with that theory, is that my wife isn’t going to judge me at the end of my life.

God is the One I have to give an account to.

I believe there are many people today, that would confess a Christian heritage.

Most of them would probably even say, they shouldn’t be classified as a sinner.

A.W. Tozier once said….

“Most people don’t want to hear this, but we are not a part of a nice, neat order of creation...we are constantly in rebellion towards God, and that seems to be the order of the day.”

Maybe that’s my problem?

Maybe I read too much of guys like, Tozier and Ravenhill and Spurgeon?

There isn’t a man on earth who ever does right?

Well, at least I have something to shoot for today…God’s righteousness…

Wavering opinions!

1 Kings 18: 21

How long will you waver between two opinions?

When I was a young boy, our family lived on the north side of Oshkosh.

I was with some neighborhood childhood friends and my brother Tim, and Tim decided to venture out into a busy intersection, and stood silently right in the middle of the road.

A semi tractor and trailer almost ran Tim over.

The rest of us stood frozen, in disbelief of what just had happened.

True enough, right in the middle of the road is no place for anyone to be.

Sadly today, that’s where many church goers are—they’re parked in the middle.

Most don’t truly know what they believe in.

Most can’t defend what they believe in.

There are countless Christians today, who refuse to take a stand for obvious Biblical errors in our culture.

I think it’s time to get out of the middle, and take a stand one way or the other.

Do you still vacillate between two opinions?

So is marriage forever according to God? Is it really for better or for worse?

Is marriage defined as being between one man and one woman?

I think it’s time to get out of the middle, and head for a course that’s already been charted long ago…

Living Sacrifice!

Galatians 5: 7

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?

Did you know that 80% of all people who attend church, are really only spectators?

As I looked for books on church involvement the other day, there were several of them available;

“5 Ways To Get Members Involved” – “10 Ways You Can Get Your Church Involved” – “50 Tips On Getting More Involvement In Your Church” – “14 Steps To Get Your Church On Fire”

Wow—that seems so tiring, trying to get people to love and serve Jesus.

It’s really more work than a simple, local Pastor like me, can wrap their arms around.

People actually play the… “catch me if you can”, game in the church.

That’s the problem. Serving and loving Jesus is not a game.

A.W. Tozier once said…. “How injurious to the new convert of Jesus, are the false teachers and carnal Christians.”

A carnal Christian cannot please God, is unable to digest solid spiritual food, and is filled with strife, envy, and division.

Carnal Christians keep the Pastor of a local church, from feeding and shepherding the sheep who really desire loving Jesus.

During this final week of Lent, I truly believe people should come to the end of themselves.

If a person is disillusioned by the church they attend, it might just be the person, and not the church at all.

Paul said to the church in Rome, that they should offer themselves as living sacrifices.

For some reason, that seems to be a missing element of many in the church today.

I guess I never needed to read a book on church involvement. I just realized what Jesus required, and then I went for it… 

Former things!

Isaiah 65: 17

"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Last night we took a drive down memory lane.

We drove through Tustin, WI. and visited the place where my great grandparents lived their entire lives.

The house they lived in is mostly abandoned.  The artesian well in the backyard no longer flows.

I felt a little sad considering that three generations have left this world, and I’m in line to leave it next.

Alice & Jake Ringling are almost totally forgotten by anyone in the Tustin area.

They didn’t have very much, but the one thing they did have, mattered the most.

They had Jesus…

The reason that we won’t remember the former things in God’s Heaven, is because those things won’t matter, compared to being in His presence.

Sometimes we spend way too much time, hanging on to the things that never last.

It’s all part of God’s plan.

I have a feeling that when we all get to Heaven, none of what we desired here, will compare to His riches in glory.

A part from seeing Jesus one day, it’ll be so good to see Jake & Alice too

Desires!

Psalm 73: 25

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

As I consider all the worship songs the church sings, how many within the body of Christ, truly reflect these lyrics;

“My Jesus—my Savior, Lord there is none like you…”

“There is none like You—no one else can touch my heart like You do…”

“Jesus, You’re all that I need…”

“I want to listen more—to Your Spirit’s call…”

I wonder if that truly represents my heart?

I guess as I consider this verse from the book of Psalms, I truly want to pursue God more than I do.

It makes me want to run from sin, and it makes me want to tell others about Jesus.

Let’s face it, the only way people can truly be satisfied in this life, is in communion with the God of the universe.

What does this verse say to you?

Do you sometimes fall into the group of people who live for themselves?

Are there times you completely ignore God?

We’re supposed to be a people who run to the arms of God, and then we are blessed with His eternal riches.

Earth has nothing I desire, besides you? I wish that were really true for me.

I need to make an earnest commitment to enter into His sanctuary every day.

I need to confess my sins, and then completely surrender my heart to Him…

True longings!

Jeremiah 9: 23 – 24

This is what the Lord says:

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,

but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight," declares the Lord.

Most people in America now days, long for a better paying job—a nicer house—or a newer automobile.

Folks today generally have a hard time finding true satisfaction and contentment.

It’s not very often now days, that I meet people that actually long to know and understand God.

Maybe we have gotten our priorities mixed up ever so slightly?

Often times when I’m looking to begin dialog with someone I suspect as being a Christian, it often starts and goes this way;

“Are You a believer?” “Yes, yes I am.”

“Do you believe in the Bible?” “Yes, yes I do.”

“Do you believe in every word found in the Bible?” “Well yes, yes I do.”

“Have you ever taken the time, to read every word in the Bible?” “Well, um, well, no, I guess I haven’t.”

“So then you must be a brand new Christian?” Well, no, um, actually I’ve been going to church for over 20 years.”

“Do you spend more time on your computer, than you do reading the Bible?” “Yes, yes, unfortunately I do”

The fact is, the thing or things we long for the most, is the thing or things we spend the most time with.

The reason that many people don’t know or understand God, is because they just might not long for Him.

Just be sure of this, Jesus said… “Man cannot live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4: 4) 

Taste and see!

Psalm 34: - 8, 10

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

…but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

My wife’s grandmother, Bernice Ashley, and her good friend, Omro native Emma Stanley, were trusted retirement home friends.

Often times at the end of a busy week, they would each take a portion of a “meltaway” candy, and see who could make it last the longest.

I guess sometimes, that was as exciting as life was for them.

It occurred to me just today, that both Bernice and Emma learned the valuable lesson of savoring.

They enjoyed not only the taste and texture of the candy, but they also learned the value of true, quiet friendship.

Did you know that God wants us to savor His presence? Did you know God wants to offer His friendship to us today?

When we spend long, intimate moments with God, He brings to us a satisfying knowledge and friendship.

Father God must look at people who take the time to savor His presence, with wonderful satisfaction.

If we take the time, He will reveal His knowledge, love, holiness and faithfulness to us.

Will you find refuge in the most High God, this day?

Remember, those who truly seek Him, will lack no good thing.

Maybe the reason we’re lacking, is because we’ve not yet learned how to savor

Endure to the end!

Matthew 24: 13 (NKJV)

“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

Jesus was offering a warning to the church, as it had to do with the end of the church age.

His concern was that the church would eventually be lulled to sleep.

That appears to be happening during this modern day.

When I’m asleep, I’m convinced I’m not paying much attention to anything.

I may have a few crazy dreams, but I’m for the most part not cognizant of anything going on around me.

This is what Jesus said would happen to the church in the last days.

Not that we’d be literally asleep, but most people would be so clueless to the things around them.

The church will become insensitive to it’s personal relationship to their Savior.

It will also become increasingly insensitive to the churches responsibilities.

Again, call me a skeptic, but that also appears to be happening to the church.

The pressures of this crazy world seem to be closing in on all of us.

When that happens, all we can think about is survival, and our individual needs.

Many people of the faith today, are just rolling over and falling asleep, because the weight is just too much carry.

Some Christians in an apathetic way, would just as soon that Jesus would come back and get it over with.

That’s a selfish assessment, because the church has a major responsibility—especially in the last days. (See Matthew 28: 19)

Jesus said that the person who stays awake, and doesn’t fall asleep, will endure and be saved.

I’m pretty sure He also said something about the foolish sleeping virgins too…

Champion Endurance

James 1: 3 – 4 (NLT)

For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

I believe that many Christians today think that no hardship should ever come our way.

We all know that the Bible says that we will all go through periodic tests.

It appears to me, that many believers give up way too early.

Something troubling comes our way, maybe even with someone in the church, and we just throw up our hands, and never deal with the real issues.

When that happens in the church, note that we will never establish endurance.

Endurance comes when the going gets tough—not when the sledding is easy.

I know it sure doesn’t look that way right now, but there was a time many years ago, when I was a state champion track sprinter.

I was also many pounds lighter then, than I am right now.

It took time tested inclement weather and poor track conditions, to get ready for the races that really mattered.

It took hours and hours of training and running, and more running, to produce champion endurance.

When the important races came at the end of the year, I was usually ready to win, because I had trained through the hard moments.

It was usually when I hadn’t trained hard, that I ended up with injury, or even sometimes defeat.

All of us get only one chance at this life, walking every day with Christ.

I’ve just decided I’m going to make every second count, so that when troubling times do come, I want to be sure I’m ready for anything…  

Press on!

Romans 15: 4

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

As I travel this unsteady path day by day, the one thing I know I need, is endurance and encouragement.

The Bible tells us that when we have both, we have hope. That’s the outcome.

Who is our teacher? God Himself.

The longer I walk with God, and the more I learn from Him, the more I know that walking with Him day by day, is not for the weak at heart.

Too many people now days, give up long before they have a chance to learn some valuable lessons from God.

Endurance is moving forward, regardless of the hardships in learning.

There are times when God reveals things to me, that I’d just as soon He’d share with someone else.

God never wastes a moment. At times, what God is trying to teach us, may be hard to learn.

There are moments, when God’s truth is meant to encourage me, when in fact it might give me a bad attitude.

The truth can sometimes do that.

I do know this one thing; People are watching me as I travel through teachable moments.

I wonder how often they see me with a willing heart to learn? I wonder how often they see endurance playing out?

Everything that has happened in the spirit realm for all these generations, was to teach us something.

What we do with the information, shows that we have the strength and endurance to walk this walk of faith, or not.

“Father God, thank You for the many teaching provisions you have made for me—even if I’ve been slow to learn.

Thank you too, that I’ve been able to find endurance, especially when I’ve needed it the most. Amen”