Welcome Back

 It was good to be back with my home Bible study group tonight. People were glad to have me back. And everyone loved the cookies that I made. It was good to be with familiar folks in a familiar place. 

The Bible to me is like a well worn coat. It is still warm and it still sheds the rain. It is not brand new by any measure. But it still is valuable and it still works and it is still a lamp to my path.

Tonight we talked about vision. How vision is what keeps us on track and pursuing God's will. God still has a voice and He still speaks to those with ears to hear.

"And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: this is the way, Walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

So, let God be true, and let every man be a liar. Amen!

My God Is Helping Me.

 To God be the glory, great things He has done.

One month ago I landed in the hospital with congestive heart failure. A virus had weakened my heart and caused an occasional erratic heartbeat. I was in the hospital for 6 days.

Today I found that the meds I have been taking are working and my heart is stronger than it was. But beyond the meds, the prayers of the saints have helped me and helped the doctors taking care of me and I am on the mend.

Who knows what the future holds. But I know who holds my future.

Clearing Out the Cobwebs of my Mind

 The problem with expository preaching is it seems that the only thing God can do is save our souls. He used to heal. He used to work. But now, once you are saved, you are on your own.

There are things worse than dying. We are so afraid of dying. We try so hard not to die or to let out loved ones die. We have to have special legal papers signed to prevent heroic measures being taken. And then they don't want to obey your wishes.

By the time you need a medical alert device it's too late. It's like old cell phones. We carry them for emergencies, but trouble happens when you are out of service range. 

As we get older, our list of friends gets shorter. 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It's time for God to act!

Finding out that people are praying for you is very humbling. That people far away would remember you and take time to mention you to the Lord is wonderful. I do not deserve it, but it helps.

Do pastors preach about the early days because they are not sure about what is next or what will God do looking forward? We need our pastors to conserve our gains, but to never lose sight of what is down the road in front of us. To see what eye has not seen. To think about what men never think about. 

That's all for now. God bless us, everyone!

The Fall and Rise of a Good Man

 "For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity." Prov. 24:16

I have been through some things in life that might have derailed or sunk another person. But I am still here. Better men than me have committed professional suicide while achieving success. But I am still here. Enemies who slandered me or lied about me are long gone. But I am still here.

Our text gives us some insight into this matter. Those who survive the trials and troubles of life are righteous. Those who fail in the day of adversity are wicked. I guess I was looking up to men who turned out to be wicked. I guess those who forsake the faith of their fathers are just wicked at the core.

It is he who endures to the end who will be saved in the end. The flash in the pan will only live in the dusty volumes of history. Not so the righteous.

"...In the volume of the book it is written of me..." Heb.10:7

I'm still here!

A Balanced Life

 We live in such an image based society that places an inordinate amount of emphasis on food. We have to have the best quality of food. It has to be fresh, free range, non GMO. and did I mention fresh? People obsess about the food that they eat. Others with limited knowledge or food options eat junk food and fast food. Meanwhile factory food manufacturers create food that is unhealthy for anyone.

When I was in the hospital, friends talked to me about food more than the doctors did. What to eat, what to avoid, home remedies, natural remedies. The doctors told me to limit my fluids and my salt intake. That's all.

Jesus brings food into balance. Remember, it was God who gave them manna to eat. Not fresh, not fast, but enough to sustain them. He gave us understanding about food in Matthew chapter 15.

" So Jesus said, are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?" Mat.15:16-17

Actually, being obsessed with food is not new nor is it unique to this generation. First century Roman citizens also were carried away with food. The apostle Paul had to correct their excesses.

"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you weeping, that they are the enemies of  the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame-who set their minds on earthly things." Phil.3:18-19

It is possible to make your body your god. To be so focused on diet, nutrition, fitness, and health, that you neglect the hidden man of the heart and you become an idolater, focusing on empty things like your body and your image. When food is the focus, Christ is not.

The answer is to repent and to find balance in life. 

"Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing." Luke12:23

Never Alone

 I went through some of the hardest times of my life feeling ignored and isolated and alone. Since I have moved I rarely feel that way anymore. I have a loving daughter who takes good care of me. I have pastors who are available to talk or to pray or even to visit. I have friends who I can call and talk to when I just need to talk to someone. And I have a lady friend who is willing to talk to me often.

I know that the Lord has promised to never leave us of forsake us and to go with us to the end of the age. But, sometimes you need a real person to talk to or to laugh with. I have that here in abundance.

Sorrow Into Joy

The Story of Leah and Jacob has several layers to explore. One of those layers is the story of Leah and her desire to win the affection of her husband. This story is found in Genesis chapter 29, verses 31-35.

In verse 32 it says after Reuben was born, now my husband will love me. But he didn't. In verse 34 it says this time my husband will be attached to me. And back in verse 32 it tells us that Leah recognized that she was unloved. But in verse 35 Leah's focus has changed. Now, instead of looking for love, she begins to look to God. Verse 35 says, now I will praise the Lord.

When life isn't going your way, look to the Lord. When people treat you badly or ignore you, look to the Lord. When you face defeat and disappointment, look to the Lord.

The moment Leah stopped trying to make it happen, she felt peace, and she stopped trying. Verse 35 says that she stopped bearing.

Leave your choices and the direction of your life in the Lord's hands and He will turn your sorrow into joy!

One more thought. God saw, God knew, and God opened Leah's womb to bear children, but it says that Rachel, the beautiful one, was barren. God judges righteous judgements. Same house, same husband, different outcomes.

 

Wings

"So I said, Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest." Psalm 55:6

We all have times when it seems like the cares and troubles of life weigh us down. We ask for help, we seek rest and relief. We grow weary in well doing. And in these times it is natural to seek relief from the stresses of life. David in these words expresses his desire to allowed to get away for what was troubling him.

Why did David only ask for doves wings? Was his faith in God weak? Did his faith not believe that nothing is too hard for the Lord? David was not trying to quit, just rest. His faith then was very small at this time.

God does not promise to only give us wings like a dove, but He promises to give us wings like an eagle!

"But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like an eagle, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isa.40:31

We can face anything when we have eagles wings!

One more thought on wings. What does this verse say to you?

"But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings." Mal.4:2

When the woman with an issue of blood wanted to touch the hem of His garment, she felt the healing in His wings. We can touch the hem of His garment today!

A New Chance to Keep the Next Generation

 Back in the nineties, the Prescott church was filled with young people who were the children of us who were early converts in Prescott. They were on-fire teenagers, eagerly pursuing all that God had for them. It was before we as a Fellowship began valuing church kids as people worth sending out. But as these kids grew up, they began to drift away from the faith. In spite of our efforts to keep them, we lost almost a whole generation.

We have teens here that are a great asset and who hold great potential. We also have pastors who can relate to them and who care about them and who bring the weight of pastoral ministry to bear upon them. Maybe our church will not lose this generation like Prescott did.

We still keep powering on in spite of gains or losses.

My Latest Field of Expertise

 When Kathy died I became kind of a de-facto  expert on loss and grieving. I experienced grief and I also studied grief and loss. I never set out to become an expert on grieving, but I became one.

Now that I have heart failure, I find that I may become quite conversant on things related to heart failure. I want to know what I am up against. I want to know what to do and how to do it. I want to understand what is happening to me. And I want to be able to minister to those also experiencing heart failure.

One thing that I have learned is that illness is isolating. It is easy to feel all alone or unique in your condition. But you are not alone. Illness is common across humanity. They have been treating heart failure for many years now. And, there are health workers out there who want to help you through this phase of life.

God did not bring us this far just to abandon us. Jesus promised to go with us to the end of the age. He is an ever present help in our hour of need. Hallelujah!

Unreliable Friends

One thing that I have encountered living here is how easily my friends say call me any time, and how hard it is to get them to call me or even to answer when I call them. It doesn't seem to bother them. They rarely say sorry or have a valid excuse. But all that I know is, when I need to talk to a friend, there are at least two of them that it is hard to get ahold of.

I forgive them. 

Weddings Cause thoughts On Marriage.

 We had a wedding this morning. Here are a few thoughts on marriage.

1. Marriage is a commitment. When you get married you get a marriage license from the state or county. It records your marriage and is a legal document. Then you say vows before your pastor, your church, and God. After the excitement and fun of getting married and starting out in life as a couple, it is your commitment to marriage, especially your marriage, that will give you the mental and moral power to stay married. Marriage is first and foremost a commitment.

2. Marriage is an adjustment. Marriage is two selfish people living under one roof. Conflicts will arise over simple things. He doesn't put the toilet seat down, she squeezes the toothpaste in the middle. It's not infidelity or criminal activity. But conflict will land you in pastor's office for counseling. You learn in marriage how to be a couple and not just a selfish single person. Marriage will make you grow, and mature, and develop into who God meant for you to be. Marriage is full of changes. Marriage is an adjustment.

3. Marriage is an adventure. Marriage will take you places that you never thought about before. Marriage will challenge you to find solutions and to fix problems and to solve puzzles. Marriage is rarely exciting. Marriage is not edge of your seat thrilling. But marriage is like a good story, it makes you excited to turn the page to see what happens next. Love develops in marriage. You will experience great joy, and great sorrow, in marriage. Marriage is an adventure.

Marriage is not about sex alone. Marriages build on the physical will dissolve in a short time. Marriage is not about image or pictures on social media. Marriage is an exclusive club with only two members. You will have children. But long after your children have grown up and moved on, you will still have a marriage. You can stay married till death do you part. It's not easy, but it can be done. God wants your marriage to succeed more than you do. He will help you find, and then keep, a spouse.

The Local Church

 "Thus says the Lord God: indeed, I myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day." Ezek.34:11-12

The local church is unique in God's structure. A group of converts with a pastor who ministers to them on a regular basis. A structure within which the local church can grow and thrive. God Himself set it up this way.

" And He himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Eph.4:11-12

So the church is God's idea from the beginning. It is the means for ministry, for evangelism, for discipleship, and for church planting. 

I want you to see in the text how God is an active part of the local church. He Himself seeks out the scattered sheep. He Himself delivers them. He is the good shepherd who is actively searching and helping and delivering people so that they can be a part of a local church.

Note the idea of being scattered on a dark and cloudy day. Troubles come to life. Clouds obscure the sun. We go through dark periods of life. And that is where God is at work. Even when we cannot see or feel Him, He is there, working to bring us back where we belong. He is among the scattered sheep.

You may have a good pastor or a negligent pastor. But You serve a faithful God. Hallelujah!

My Valentines Memory

When your spouse dies, your life changes in so many ways. Things that you used to do as a couple are now off limits to you as a widow. People who used to welcome you as a couple now ignore you as a widow. One of the things that we used to do as a couple was participate in the annual marriage retreat in Prescott. The church subsidizes the dinner and hotel stay and good ministry was always brought in to minister to the married couples.  When my wife of 40 years died, that door was shut to me and it remains shut where I live now. I could teach a marriage seminar. But I cannot attend one any more.

After Kathy died, my friend in Prescott, being sensitive to me and to the Holy Spirit, used to take me out to dinner on Valentines night. His wife was almost every Valentines day working out of town, so he would pick me up and we would have dinner together. Often he would drop me off and go to the seminar anyway, but not always. He did this for at least four years in a row, maybe five.

To this day I do not think that he understands the profound impact he had on my life. His generosity and act of love preserved me and saved me from many lonely nights when I could not attend the marriage seminar. I'm forever grateful to God for stirring up my friend's heart to minister to me. I called him this week to again thank him for his kindness to me.

A Call To Pray

 One thing about prayer is that anyone can pray. You can be at home or at work or driving or shopping and you can pray. Pray without ceasing is our calling. There is personal prayer, there is corporate prayer. But whether you pray alone or in church you can pray. God hears the cry of the needy and the sigh of the desperate. We can come by the new and living way. God is not unjust to forget us in our hour of need.

So pray. Morning, noon, or night. Seek and you will find.

You Bless, I Bless

 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, this is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. So they shall put my name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." Num.6:23-27

The Lord told Aaron, you bless them, and as you bless them, I will bless them. There is a direct connection between a pastor and his church. It is not a formula, or just a routine here. There is a transference of spirit going on when a pastor blesses his church. He gives them more than a sermon or wise counsel. He gives them God's grace and peace and presence. When a pastor ministers, he is giving the people exactly what they need from God.

Pray for our pastors. Ask God to fill them with the grace of ministry. Ask God to fill them with the Holy Spirit, so that they can give some of that to us.

A Dream

In my dream last night, I was laying in bed, struggling to live. There was a huge battle raging all around me. Just when I thought that all hope was lost, suddenly a great light burst into the room and I looked up to see one of my pastors leaping into the fray. The focus of the battle momentarily turned to focus on pastor. Just then, while the enemy's head was turned, pastor thrust out his hand to touch me on my chest. As he laid his hand upon me I heard him say, Jesus heals the broken hearted! I woke up expecting to see my room in disarray but it was just dark. 

Not every dream is a God dream. But in my struggle with heart failure, this dream was significant. In the middle of the night someone was praying for me. I am grateful for those who remember me to God in prayer.

The Booth Brothers - It Is No Secret (Live)

Overcoming Fears

 Do the thing that you fear, and the death of fear is certain. So said some wise old saint years ago. I have been afraid to drive since getting out of the hospital. I was on a 48 hour no drive restriction at first. But my internal fears kept me off the road for 5 days after that. Until today. I needed a few things from the grocery store and I was about to text my daughter my list when I thought, now might be a good time to do it myself. So I prayed, and I went, and I bought my things, and drove home. All with no problem. Thank God!

That bridge is now crossed. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me! That is one fear, overcome.

Prayer Request

 I avoided a health scare recently. I have a prayer request. I am asking Jesus to heal my broken heart. The medicine may work in time. Surgery may be necessary. But a healed heart is at the top of my list. Thank you.

Stomach, Food, Sex, and God

 "Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."1Cor.6:13

I read this verse and I wondered what the apostle was talking about. It made no sense to me. The words do not seem to be inspired or God-breathed. So I did a little study and I came up with something that made it make sense to me. Paul is quoting popular culture here. Evidently this was slang that that generation used, And, looking at the context, it made me wonder if it was not slang for sex. Like, if you only want the milk, don't buy the whole cow. Paul was using popular culture to illustrate a spiritual point about sexual purity.

Paul also talks about the power of appetite to bring us into slavery to sin. Lusting for anything is unlawful, even if it is not inherently evil in itself. Food is good. Sex in marriage is good. Money is good. But lusting after the good can make it evil.

In verse 11 we get an idea of Paul' audience. He is addressing the new converts in Corinth. Newly saved, newly forgiven, newly washed, newly Spirit-filled. He was trying to steer them away from the world to serve the Lord only. People just coming out of darkness into God's glorious light.  And evidently he used a phrase they all would be familiar with.

The key is to discover what thing are not just good, but also helpful. What things can we consume that will draw us closer to God.

Final Thoughts on Marriage

Some final thoughts on marriage. For now. 

Couples, when first married, are in the honeymoon stage. It's all about love and romance. It is a very exciting time of your marriage. Enjoy it, because it doesn't last long. Maybe two years. Next come the child raising years. Depending on how many children you end up having, this could last 20, 30, or 40 years. You will spend this time raising children and preparing them for life out on their own. If you do a good job you will not have to bail them out of jail or visit them in prison. There is plenty of help for couples and families up to this point in marriage. The key is to stay married until your nest is empty.

The golden years are the forgotten years in marriage. Perhaps because people do not stay married anymore. No one knows what to do in the golden years of marriage so they advise these couples to rekindle the fire that they had as newlyweds. Ask grandma and grandpa to act like newlyweds. It could be the richest and most satisfying time of your marriage if you stay healthy long enough to enjoy it.

Marriage is a wonderful thing. Everyone should try it.

Marriage Ministry

 Last night they had ministry for the married couples at church. Casey Mammon ministered. He talked about raising children instead of talking about marriage. This is an important subject, but not for the keynote address of a marriage focused event.

They do marriage ministry different here than I am accustomed to. Just one more thing that causes me to adapt and adjust and to change my mind about.

The trick to ministering on marriage is to realize that it is not a one size fits all topic. You have young and old, newly weds and married a long time. Do you focus on one aspect and ignore the rest?

Pastor Mitchell once did the service at the marriage retreat on how to stay married for 50 years. A genius move. Older folks could relate and appreciate it. It gave younger folks something to strive towards.

Pray for our married couples. The hope of the world rests on their shoulders.

Not Yet

 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." Mat.24:6

"All these are the beginning of sorrows." Mat.24:8

Every time someone in Jerusalem sneezes some pastor will be quick to declare that the end is near. Let there be shooting in Gaza and it's time for the Rapture now!

I do believe in the pre-tribulation rapture. That Jesus will come to take us out of a deteriorating situation. Noah and his family entered the ark with wet feet. We may see some trouble before we are taken away.

Note how the Lord says that the end is not yet. He further says that all of these things are the beginning of sorrows, not the end. It is not the end just because some folks in society have lost their minds.

I believe that everything that was said in Matthew 24 will happen just as it is said. The fulfillment will match the prophecy perfectly. The time to get ready is now.

So, whether the world is at war, or calling peace, Jesus will come when the Father sends Him. And not one moment sooner.

The Broken Heart

As I studied about the healing of a broken heart, I discovered and interesting thought. In the Hebrew the word broken is the word sabar. In the Greek it is the word syntribo. They have the same meaning in English. Literally it means to break, to destroy, or to crush. It is a word that implies violence and destructive force. 

We can all experience a broken heart. Things happen in life that crush us. Death or loss or even betrayal can leave us with a broken heart. Divorce is so obvious as to be almost forgotten.

"Hands that used to hold now sign the papers. Lips that used to kiss now say goodbye." This lyric that I heard in a song speaks of this damage in divorce.

Identifying what breaks a heart is fairly easy. Finding how to fix a broken heart is harder. It is only hard because it is a work of God not human effort to do this. Part of Jesus' mission was to heal the broken hearted. Part of the ministry of the church is to provide an arena where Jesus can heal broken hearts today.

The word heal means healed. It means to be free. Jesus doesn't just but a bandage on it and send you away. It is the Greek word iaomai. It means to heal, to be healed, to be free.

Faith opens the possibilities of what the Lord can do for us. All we have to do is ask, and believe. If God can raise people from the dead, your shattered and destroyed heart is able to be healed today. Amen.

Sleep

 A long time ago, pastor Greg in Prescott preached a message on sleep. He was for it, by the way. But it revealed that sleep is a valuable thing. God cares about whether you get enough sleep. 

"It is vain  for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep." Ps.127:2

Some people want to sleep and they cannot sleep. Some people think that sleep is overrated and is a waste of valuable time. Some people need 8 or more hours of sleep per night, while others get by on 4 or less. My intent is not to tell you the scientific facts or the moral implications about how much or how little you sleep. My point is to tell you that if you are too busy to sleep, then you are too busy period.

Insomnia is not unique to the modern world. It is a human condition. God is our creator and sustainer and He is aware of all the things that trouble us  in life. He helps us in every facet of life no matter how big or how small.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Mat.10:29-31

Thank God that He does not slumber or sleep so that He can watch over us while we sleep!

Prayer Warriors

 I found out through my recent health dilemma that there are people praying for me literally all over the world. This is a humbling experience. It's just me, not a big celebrity all star preacher. But they indeed had prayed and some continued to pray for my recovery.

I have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Not cardiac arrest or a heart attack. My heart cannot pump hard enough to clear out all of the fluids that my body produces. I was swollen, short of breath, foggy headed, and I could not get my shoes on.

I went to a clinic where I received the diagnosis and from there went to a hospital where I have been for the past seven days. I was cleared to go home today, but I wonder if it was too soon. I am much better now than I was, but it is still not right completely.

If you are a prayer warrior, please lift me up before the throne of grace. So that I might obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Amen!

Healing the Broken Hearted.

 Recently I was in bed, trying to sleep, and extremely troubled by the situation that I was in. I was facing some procedures to see what was happening in my heart. I was praying, and I was worried. I thought about canceling the procedure. But, as I lay there battered by worry a voice came to my heart. It reminded me that Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. It was like someone threw a light switch. A weight seemed to lift off of me immediately. The assurance came that the test would find no flaws. Once the procedure was finished I was informed that my major arteries were clear of all obstructions and that no corrective steps needed to be taken. I was pleasantly surprised.  You might ask, how troubled were you? I was bothered enough to seek counsel and prayer from a hospital chaplain. He helped me at 3am.

"He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

Healing the broken hearted is not just about emotional healing from heartbreak. It also applies to actually healing a damaged heart muscle. Like mine! Jesus came into the world to do this today. 

"The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the broken hearted..." Luke 4:18

Has God anointed you to bring this kind of ministry to people like me?