Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Best Sermon in the World

Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Of all the systems of morality, ancient and modern, which have come under my observation, none appear so pure to me as that of Jesus."

I believe the president was referring to the Sermon on the Mount, which he loved very deeply.

Charles L. Allen wrote, "It takes only fifteen minutes to read the greatest sermon ever preached--and when you have finished it, you will have read a complete summary of all that Jesus taught."

We recently published The Sermon on the Mount, a Pure Gold Classic, by John Wesley. I highly recommend this work in which we find these words: "The more we are filled with the life of God, the more tenderly we become concerned for those who are still without God in the world. We are concerned because we know they are still dead in trespasses and sin. This concern for others will not lose its reward. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

When we look closely at the Sermon on the Mount, I believe we see the Torah in all its fulfillment and we need both the Torah and the Messiah to lead a holy life.

I like what John Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson, "The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount contain my religion."

Monday, November 29, 2010

Hebrew Roots

In his new book, Temple Treasures, Steven Fuson writes, "It is a new day in God. We are anointed to reestablish the divine order of God so that His people today can experience the court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies in their pure state. Let the confusions of the past fall aside as the pattern burns bright with fiery clarity. Let God reveal His temple treasures in majestic glory and power."

I believe we are living in an age when God wants to reveal so many things to His people. We must remain open to all He has in store for us. This includes understanding our Hebrew roots. Every passage in the Bible can be interpreted literally, spiritually, and prophetically. This, of course, includes the Torah and all of the Old Testament.

There are treasures in the Torah that point us to Jesus Christ--Yeshua Hamaschiach--the Messiah, who lives within us. In fact, He is one of the treasures of the Temple, for we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus dwells within us. All power in Heaven and on Earth is found in Him and He lives within us. I believe this means that His power is available to us all the time.

Moses' tabernacle was a shadow and a likeness of heavenly things. It was a pattern of things to come. Let God reveal His mysteries to you, as you delve into the treasures of the Temple and the Torah.

The scarlet thread that holds all the Bible together is the blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanses us from all sin. David Davis writes, "As we enter into the fullness of the mystery of the 'one new man' of Jew and Gentile, those who long to sing Heaven's new song cry out together: 'You have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation'" (Revelation 5:9).

Let's rediscover our Hebrew roots. There is so much to learn from them.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, which is perhaps one of the nicest holiday of the year because its focus should be on gratitude, family togetherness, and faith. However, all too often the focus of the holiday may be placed on less-important things--food, football, and sometimes even strife and complaining.

We need to remember something about how this national holiday began. Many people trace it back to the Pilgrims' first year in the New World. However, the truth may be that it actually began in St. Augustine, Florida, a few decades earlier. Whatever the case, Thanksgiving is a celebration of the blessings God has bestowed upon us.

H.U. Westermayer wrote, "The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have ever been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." What were these brave people thankful for? I'm sure at least a part of it was the fact that God had guided them safely to the New World where they could enjoy freedom of religion--a liberty that had been denied to them in England.

We still enjoy that liberty and several others for which we should be deeply grateful, and we should show our gratitude by the way we live. President John F. Kennedy said, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." W. J. Cameron writes, "Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action."

I like what William Jennings Bryan said about Thanksgiving Day: "On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence."

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Blessings

In Dr. John D. Garr's book, Blessings for Family and Friends, we learn of seven reasons why we should bless our families and friends through prayer:

1. You fulfill the instructions in the Word of God for blessing.
2. You establish and promote a culture and lifestyle of blessing.
3. You maintain a positive, "Good News" mind-set by blessing.
4. You manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit through blessing.
5. You confirm your dependence on God as your source.
6. You reinforce to yourself and to others that God's Word works.
7. You are always blessed even more when you bless others.

Did you know that the Bible is a book of prayers, and that out of 667 recorded prayers, there are 454 recorded answers?

As we enter this Thanksgiving season, let's remember to bless our homes and families. "God, our maker, doth provide for our wants [needs] to be supplied; come to Go's own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home" (From "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.")

Take the hands of those you love, look directly into their eyes, and speak the Word of God over them. Give them your personal blessing.

Remember these words: "God is the God of blessing. He always has been, and He always will be. He will never change: he will never compromise His covenant faithfulness that is ever manifest in the blissings He brings to His children. He will never stop blessing His children!" (From Dr. Garr's book, cited above.)

You can be the conduit through which God's blessing flows out to those you love.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Does God Ever Change His Mind?

Isaiah warned King Hezekiah that he would soon die and that he needed to get his affairs in order. He said, "Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live."

Sobering words, to be sure.

E.M. Bounds (in The Classic Collection on Prayer published by Bridge-Logos Foundation, Inc.) writes, "What can set aside or reverse that divine decree of Heaven? Hezekiah had never been in a condition so insurmountable, with a decree so direct and definite from God. Can prayer change the purposes of God? Can prayer snatch from the jaws of death one who has been decreed to die? Can prayer save a man from an incurable sickness? These were the questions that his faith now had to deal with. But his faith does not pause one moment. His faith is not staggered one minute at the sudden and definite news conveyed to him by the Lord's prophet. No such questions that modern unbelief or disbelief would raise are started in his mind. At once he gives himself to prayer. Immediately, without delay, he applies to God who issued the edict. To whom else could he go? Cannot God change His own purposes if He chooses?"

So, Hezekiah prayed, "I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight." Hezekiah then began to cry.

Bounds writes, "Hezekiah had hardly finished his prayer, and Isaiah was just about to go home when God gave him another message for Hezekiah, this time one more pleasant and encouraging. The mighty force of prayer had affected God, and had changed His edict and reversed Him in His purpose concening Hezekiah. What is there that prayer cannot do? What is there that a praying person cannot accomplish through prayer?"

As a result of Hezekiah's prayer, God healed him and gave him an additional fifteen years of life! There is great power in prayer. We know that prayer changes things, but did it change God's mind in this case? Our God knows the end from the beginning, so I doubt that He changed His mind, but He did use this situation as an opportunity to show His people the importance of prayer and faith.

Tennyson wrote, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of."

Let us pray, pray, pray, pray. Let us believe, believe, believe, believe. Let us receive, receive, receive, receive.

Our God hears and answers prayer.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Surpassing Greatness of Knowing Christ Jesus as Lord

Paul writes, "I consider everything to be loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8).

In Morning by Morning (a Pure Gold Classic published by Bridge-Logos), Spurgeon writes, "I must know Him, not as the visionary dreams of Him, but as the Word reveals Him. I must know His natures, divine and human. I must know His offices, attributes, works, shame, and glory. I must meditate upon Him until I 'have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.'"

When we really know Christ Jesus as Lord, we will love Him in the way Spurgeon describes. Our knowledge of Him, according to Spurgeon, must be:

  • An intelligent knowledge
  • An affectionate knowledge
  • A satisfying knowledge
  • An exciting knowledge
  • A happy knowledge
Spurgeon writes, "This knowledge of Christ Jesus will be a most happy one. In fact, it'll be so elevating that sometimes it will completely bear me up above all trials, doubts, and sorrows, and will fling about me the immortality of the ever-living Savior, and gird me with the golden-belt of His joy. Sit today at Jesus' feet and learn about Him."

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Do You Know the Shepherd?

To be a courageous Christian is to have confidence in God. Paul writes, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). Yes, with Him and through Him we can do all things, but without Him, it is impossible to accomplish great things. Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

How do we learn to abide in Christ? It is accomplished through worship, prayer, fellowship, and getting into the Word of God on a daily basis. God's Word provides the believer with hope, as we learn to trust in all His promises.

We must get to know God intimately and personally. The great Bible teacher Dr. Alexander Maclaren said that everything he knew was due to one habit: spending an hour each day alone with God. On of his assistants wrote, "He read it [the Bible that was spread open on his lap as he prayed] as a child would read a letter from an absent father, or a loving heart would drink in words of a loved one from far away."

Yes, to know God and abide in Christ, you have to spend time in the secret place. An old chorus says, "Shut in with God in the secret place; there in the Spirit beholding His face, gaining new power to run in life's race, I long to be shut in with God."

Bob Gass, in his Bridge-Logos book, A Fresh Word for Today, writes, "One night, a famous orator recited the 23rd Psalm to a packed house and great applause. Afterwards, he spotted his vicar in the crowd and called him to say a word. To their surprise, he too recited the 23rd Psalm. But when he was through, there was silence. People dried their tears all over the audience. At this point, the orator stood beside his pastor and simply said, "The difference is, I know the 23rd Psalm--but He knows the Shepherd."

Do you know the Shepherd? Really know Him?

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Quiet Time in the Morning

In the morning, when the world is waking up and the rush of life has not begun, is a good time to draw close to God. He has been speaking to me about this lately through the Scriptures and a book I'm reading: E.M. Bounds--the Classic Collection on Prayer--a Bridge-Logos Pure Gold Classic.

Robert Murray McCheyne wrote, "I ought to pray before seeing anyone. Often when I sleep long, or meet with others early, it is eleven or twelve o'clock before I begin secret prayer. This is a wretched system. It is unscriptural. Christ arose before day and went into a solitary place. David says, 'Early will I seek thee'; 'Thou shalt early hear my voice.' Family prayer loses much of its power and sweetness, and I can do no good to those who come to seek from me. The conscience feels guilty, the soul unfed, the lamp not trimmed. Then when in secret prayer the soul is often out of tune, I feel it is far better to begin with God--to see His face first, to get my soul near him before it is near another."

Intimacy with God is so important. It's what He wants from us. When we look at some of the prayer habits of Christian leaders, we realize how prayer influenced their ministries:

Charles Simeon devoted the hours from four till eight in the morning to God.

John Wesley spent two hours per day in prayer. He began at four in the morning.

Martin Luther said, "If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day."

Bishop Asbury said, "I propose to rise at four o'clock as often as I can and spend two hours in prayer and meditation."

Samuel Rutherford rose at three in the morning to meet God in prayer.

John Welch, a holy Scottish preacher, thought the day ill-spent if he did not spend eight or ten hours in prayer.

I could cite several others, but the above review is enough to convict me of my sin of omission. I need to spend more time in prayer, so I resolve to get up earlier in order to meet with God.

When God awakens me in the middle of the night, that is time for prayer, too.

The Bible says, "Draw night to God, and he will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8).

Monday, October 11, 2010

Two Phobias

A new word was coined recently; it is "Islamaphobia"--the fear of Islam and its followers.
Certainly it is possible to be afraid of those things we may not know much about, such as a religion that is different from our own.

Wouldn't it be great if our fear would drive us to learn more about what we fear? I believe this is one way people are treated for various phobias that may develop in life--to approach the fear step by step until we totally vanquish it.

I know many Islamic people, and I do not fear them. Of course, terrrorists are a different matter altogether. What should our response to terrorists be? (By the way, Islamists are not the only terrorists in the world. In fact, I believe we can find them in every religious group.)

Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:44-45). I wonder what an impact it would have on current world conditions if we practiced what Jesus preached?

Would it change the way we view homosexuals as well? There is another word that has come forth in recent decades. It is "homophobia." It is probably a misnomer, because I think an analysis of the word would suggest that it means, "fear of the same," not "fear of homosexuals."

Whatever the case, many do seem to fear homosexuals. Consequently, like many Islamists, they are bullied, ridiculed, insulted, hated, and sometimes hurt or even killed. I know many homosexuals, and I certainly am not afraid of them. Sometimes I wish they could change, but they tell me they can't. The Bible suggests otherwise, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

People tend to punish differences that they perceive in others, whether those differences involve skin color, religion, sexual orientation, or other things. This response comes from fear, which I believe is essentially a fear of the unknown.

Isn't our job to love and preach the Gospel? People of all backgrounds tend to respond to sincere love. "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that whichy is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Romans 12:9).

God's perfect love casts out all fear, including Islamaphobia and homophobia. (See 1 John 4:18.)

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Christ Is God's Everything for You

This afternoon (at 2:00) I will have the privilege of interviewing Harold J. Chadwick on my blog radio show, "We're Talking Books." I consider Harold to be a personal friend--a brother who possesses great wisdom and compassion. His new book is entitled, "Christ Is God's Everything for You."

Harold writes, "The Gospel of Jesus Christ is intended by God to bring joy, peace, righteousness, and rest to all those who believe in His Son. Christ is the fulfillment of the glorious promise made to Abraham--the promise of the Spirit and eternal justification by faith that the Old Covenant prophets and saints looked for in faith but never received. It was the promise whereby those who had struggled to live righteously under the burden of the 613 laws of the Old Covenant, would be made righteous by an imputation of righteousness by God because of the sacrificial death of Christ on their behalf."

Harold loves Jesus, knows the Bible, and walks closely with the Lord. He is now an octogenarian, but his wit, wisdom, and youthful outlook remain steady. One night in my home, as he shared the Scriptures with us, I felt a great sense of peace and the presence of the Lord. I expect we will experience the same in my interview with him today.

Is Christ God's everything for you? Have you accepted Him as your personal Savior and Lord? Do you have an intimate relationship with Him? Harold writes, "All the things that God has for us in this life are contained in Christ, and all things that God has for us through the endless ages of eternity are also contained in Christ, for He himself is all of those things. In Heaven as on Earth, there is nothing for us outside of Christ. He is God's everything for us here and will be God's everything for us there!"

Friday, October 1, 2010

Thomas Merton

In my last week of service with the U.S. Army I went to Bardstown, Kentucky, for a retreat at the Trappist Monastery--the Abbey of Gethsemani. This is where Thomas Merton spent a good portion of his life. I was there when he was there.

I appreciate the insights he left behind in his many books, most of which I've read. Many people seem to have problems with him, but I think we can derive much from his wisdom.

For example, he said, "Anyone who imagines he can simply begin meditating without praying for the desire and the grace to do so, will soon give up."

Meditation and contemplation were important elements in his life, and they should be in ours too.

He wrote the following about the spiritual life: "The spiritual life is first of all a life. It is not merely something to be known and studied, it is to be lived. Like all life, it grows sick and dies when it is uprooted from its proper element. . . . We live as spiritual [people] when we live as [people] seeking God. If we are to become spiritual, we must remain [human]. And if there were not evidence of this everywhere in theology, the Mystery of the Incarnation itself would be ample proof of it. . . .Jesus lived the ordinary life of the men of His time, in order to sanctify the ordinary lives of men of all time. If we want to be spiritual, then, let us first of all live our lives. Let us not fear the responsibilities and the inevitable distractions of the work appointed for us by the will of God. Let us embrace reality and thus find ourselves immersed in the life-giving will and wisdom of God which surrounds us everywhere.
This reminds me of some of the things Saint Francis said. It also reminds me of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's words: "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."

Merton wrote, "Anyone who imagines he can simply begin meditating without praying for the desire and the grace to do so, will soon give up." I'm sure he's write about this. We need to seek God's grace for every aspect of our physical and spiritual lives.

Trappists in those days greatly fascinated me. They had a vow of silence that only permitted them to use a sign language that they had developed. They used their voices to sing and to praise God, not to judge others or speak negatively.

I need to be more like them, and I'm sure spending more time in prayer, meditation, and contemplation, as Merton did, will help me with this.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Our Teacher and Counselor

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8, NASB).

God is our teacher and our counselor, and His eye is always upon us. We must be open to His instruction, teaching, and counsel--all of which are declared in His Word.

Here is how Paul Tournier put it, "God guides us, despite our uncertainties and our vagueness, even through our failings and mistakes. He often starts us off to the left, only to bring us up in the end to the right; or else He brings us back to the right, after a long detour, because we started off by mistake to the left in the belief we were obeying Him. He leads us step by step, from event to event. Only afterwards, as we look back over the way we have come and reconsider certain important moments in our lives in the light of all that has followed them, or when we survey the whole progress of our lives, do we experience the feeling of having been led without knowing it, the feeling that God has mysteriously guided us."

How true this is. When we survey our lives, we see how the hand of God has steered our course, and we begin to understand how much He loves us. He is the God who is always there. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He loves us with an everlasting love, and He takes good care of us, because we are His property.

Thomas Merton said, "We must learn to realize that the love of God seeks us in every situation, and seeks our good."

How true. He cares about you, and you can cast all your cares upon Him. He will lead you and guide you, and His eye is always upon you.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Sources of Irritation

What do you do when someone or something gets under your skin? Are you able to let it go, forgive, and get on with your life? Or do you stew about it until it affects your entire life?

Here's what I do: I envision helium-filled baloons!

I release these "helium-filled baloons" into the sky with the name of the offending person or the situation on it. I simply let them go heavenward.

I watch them lift into the sky and then vanish, and I imagine that my source of irritation has vanished with them.

This is a letting-go-and-letting-God process. It's not easy, but it is practical.

Spurgeon wrote, "The tender heart of Jesus waits to hear your griefs, so tell Him now."

Thursday, August 19, 2010

In Everything Give Thanks

I believe the year was 1969. I was attending the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International Convention at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. It was a wonderful time of infilling as I sat under the ministry of such notables as Kathryn Kuhlman and Merlin Carothers.

Carothers was still a chaplain in the U.S. Army at that time, and his book, Prison to Praise, had just been released by Logos International Fellowship (our predecessor). The publisher of the book was Dan Malachuk, who was also a prominent figure at the convention.

I remember Merlin's teaching so well. It was very simple, yet direct. He spoke on this verse: "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV). He told of many soldiers and their families that he had counseled to thank God for what they were going through, including divorce, sickness, depression, etc.

I remember Terry Law writing about the death of his wife, a loss so great that he was thrown into the deepest depression. (It happened while Terry was ministering in Europe, and he could not understand why God would let something so terrible happen.) He went to his mentor, Oral Roberts, who told him to go home, get on his knees, and begin praising God. He did this for a long time until the spiritual breakthrough he needed finally came.

We are told to give thanks in everything, not necessarily for everything. Such a positive attitude and response to negative circumstances, no matter what they are, is more than medicinal in its effects.

Can you do this in your present circumstances. Are you able to thank God in spite of the situation. Begin praising Him, for He promises to inhabit your praises. An attitude of gratitude sweetens every bitter situation.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Upheavals Everywhere

I'm starting to dislike reading the daily newspaper and listening to news broadcasts on radio and TV. I suspect many people feel the same way. I actually find this surprising, because I used to be rather a news "junkie," if you will, and political science was a study I always enjoyed.

Certainly there are all kinds of upheavals taking place all over the world these days. Disturbing news, to say the least. Many of these are coming in the form of violent natural disasters that appear to be more intense than usual, and they are coming in various forms--earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, wildfires, intense heat, etc.

Many do not believe in global warming, but I think there's plenty of evidence to support it--ice islands in the sea that have broken off from glaciers, islands that are being engulfed, wildfires that are caused by intense heat. (Russia, for example, has been going through a heat wave that is hotter than anything they've experienced in the last millennium.)

When God told us to take authority over this planet, I'm quite sure He did not want us to pollute the water and the air, to spill oil into the beautiful seas (such as the Gulf of Mexico), to strip mine the beautiful mountains of Appalachia, or to cut down so many trees. I think He may be judging us for the poor way we've maintained His creation.

I also see human upheavals everywhere. There seems to be so much hate in our world. People are angry, and their anger flares up in unpredictable ways. People are killing babies and abusing children. Road rage and other rants are commonplace. On-the-job shootings seem to happen on a near-weekly basis. Religious hatred and bigotry are showing there ugly heads once more, as they have throughout world history.

It is time for a change, for a transition, for a spiritual awakening. We need to remember that things are not all that important. Money is not the reason for living.

Paul wrote, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Galatians 5:6, NIV). Where is there faith and love in mob violence and terrorism? We don't fight terrorism with hate and terrorism. Doesn't the Bible say we are to overcome evil with good?

It's all about love, and I think until we learn that lesson, we are doomed to more of the same. But my biggest concern is that "the same" will turn into a monster that is uglier and more horrendous than any of us have ever imagined.

Jesus said (and this is the Supreme Commandment): "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35, NIV).

Friday, August 13, 2010

Jesus

This morning I met the author of a book that is entitled, The Jesus Book, which I am now reading. As its title would suggest, it is a book that is simply about Jesus.

There can be no better topic in the world, and it may well be that many Christians have lost sight of the importance of maintaining a close and personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The author of The Jesus Book is Michael Koulianos, and he writes, "Loving Jesus is life's greatest achievement. It is a never-ending experience that will change you forever. Jesus does not just help us find our destination, He is the destination."

The Bible says that Jesus is: ". . . the way, the truth, and the life" and no one can come to the Father unless they do so through Him. (See John 14:6.) He is the way, and He is the destination. He is everything that is important in life.

I'm glad that Michael is calling us back to Jesus. Without Him we can do nothing, but through Him we can do all things.

I remember so vividly the day when I first gave my heart to Jesus Christ. I invited Him to come into my heart and sup with me. He wants to have fellowship with you and me. He lives within us, and as we draw near to Him, He draws near to us.

I love Jesus, and I know He loves me. Jesus loves you, as well, so be sure to open your heart to Him, listen for His voice, and act upon what He tells you. He will direct you in all your ways.

Michael Koulianos says, "It is so simple. Please, never make it more complicated than 'love.' In your darkest moments, whisper His Name and He will be there. Only say, 'Jesus, I love you.'"

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Smashing Through Death's Door

On August 12, 2010, I will be interviewing Marshall Alexander, author of Smashing Through Death's Door, a new book released by Bridge-Logos Foundation. The interview will take place on my weekly blog-radio show, "We're Talking Books."

Marshall's book is very exciting. Ray Comfort writes, "Many people have been as close to death as marshall and they have lived to tell the story, but I believe this one is different. It is different because of what happened leading up to the crash. It is different because of his amazing attitude, and more importantly, the reason for that attitude. I would love to tell you what happened, but I will leave that up to him--in the hope that this book will be more than just another life-and-death drama."

The crash to which Ray refers took place when Marshall was flying a small plane. This is how he describes the moments leading up to the crash: "You are all alone. You're in complete darkness. It is virtually silent, except for the sound of the rushing air. You have maybe ten moments and the it's over. You're just thinking about your imminent death. . . .I made the emergency call to Eugene [Oregon] tower, indicating I would be crashing in the wilderness. I asked them to tell my wife I love her. . . ."

Marshall smashed through death's door and he was forever changed. The following quotes mean a great deal to him:

  • God does not change, but He does move.
  • Do not limit God. All things are possible with Him. What man can't do, God can.
  • The sun is always shining above the storm.
  • God does not make mistakes!
  • Are the things your are living for worth Christ dying for?
  • It is not the circumstances of life that shape you; it is your response to the circumstances that shapes you.
As you can see, Marshall Alexander is a wise man, and I'm looking forward to chatting with him tomorrow.

"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4, NKJV).

Friday, August 6, 2010

More Things Are Wrought by Prayer Than This World Dreams of. . . .

One of my favorite poems on prayer was written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson:

More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.
Wherefore, let thy voice rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are men better than sheep or goats that nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer both for themselves and those who call them friends?
For so the whole round earth is every way bound by gold chains about the feet of God.

Your prayers are heard. Your prayers are answered.

Here is a prayer God always answers, "Yes, Lord."

I spent a portion of my last week in the U.S. Army on a retreat at a Trappist monastery near Bardstown, KY. (I was a soldier at Fort Knox at the time.)

As you may know, the Trappists are a very strict order of monks within the Roman Catholic Church. At that time (1965) they observed a vow of silence. I still remember the wonderful sense of peace and calm I experienced there.

One Trappist monk wrote these words about prayer: "There are two main pitfalls on the road to mastery of the art of prayer. If a person gets what he asks for, his humility is in danger. If he fails to get what he asks for, he is apt to lose confidence. Indeed, no matter whether prayer seems to be succeeding or failing, humility and confidence are two virtues which are absolutely essential."

The Bible says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16, NIV).

God is waiting, dear friends.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

God's Special Promises Are for You

Charles G. Finney writes, "When God has specially promised the thing, we are bound to believe we shall receive it when we pray for it. You have no right to put in an 'if,' and say, 'Lord, if it be Thy will, give the Thy Holy Spirit.' This is to insult God. To put an 'if' in God's promise when God has put none there is tantamount to charging God with being insincere. It is like saying, 'O God, if Thou art in earnest in making these promises, grant us the blessing we pray for."

God is in earnest about all His promises. His promises can never fail. What He says He will do, He will do.

The Bible is a book that is filled with divine promises. Each one is yours to believe and receive. God is the great promise-keeper, and you can be a promise-reaper.

How do we receive God's promises? It is by faith alone. Paul writes, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 1:20, NIV).

Monday, June 14, 2010

Making Your Mark for Christ

Soon we will be at the ICRS Convention in St. Louis (June 28-30, 2012). One of the new books we will be showing in our booth (1811) is a new one by Skip Heitzig. It is entitled, God Print--Making Your Mark for Christ. A "God print" is like your fingerprint or voice print; it is your unique way of making an imprint for Christ in the world.

We must ever remember that "Only one life 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last." Pastor Skip Heitzig reminds us that the journey from fear to faith is based on what Christ has done for us.

His insightful book is based on the life of Abraham--a life that overflowed with adventure, crisis, fear, faith, and most importantly, God. Paul said that Abraham was the "father of all who believe."

Your God Print is a lasting legacy that you will leave behind after you go to Heaven. Do you want to make a lasting impression on the world? Skip shows you how to make your mark for Christ in the world.

Franklin Graham has written this about God Print: "Skip turns the spotlight on the Bible, something missing in many of our Christian books today. He hits the mark when he outlines the life of Abraham and distinctly describes the Godprint that was placed upon Abraham's heart. Skip's biblical perspective shows that while Christians battle the flesh throughout life, we can learn by looking back on past mistakes that help us grow deeper in Christ. This book will leave an imprint on your life."

Get a copy and learn how to leave your Godprint on the world!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Two New Books

Two of our new Bridge-Logos books for this summer are Infusion by Jack Redmond and Jewels From E.M. Bounds, a Pure Gold Classic. Both are outstanding books, and I'd like to take this opportunity to recommend them highly to you.

Jack Redmond is the Director of Youth Ministry for Christ Church in Montclair, NJ. He founded Fourth Generation Ministries and co-founded Generation Holy Youth Coalition. His book gives a fresh perspective on being infused by the power of God and bringing the infusion of His presence to the world.

Here is a quotation from his book: "God's Word is teaching us that we must grow up in our salvation. It is not only an experience, but also a growth process. As we mature in our faith, salvation becomes more real. It begins to affect every aspect of our lives. Our thinking, emotions, actions, and outlook change to become more Christ-like. We begin to view the world as Christ does. We learn to love and forgive and to walk in the authority that brings change wherever we go. But first we have to grow up. We grow faster when we are surrounded by others who are also growing and encouraging us along the way."

Jewels From E.M. Bounds was prepared by E.M. Bounds scholar Dr. Darrel King. It contains never-before-published teachings from the "prophet of prayer," such as the following:

"Faith is brought into leadership by secret prayer. Long, habitual, closeted interviews with God are the sunny seasons for the growth of faith; interviews in which God's searching eye and light discover all the hidden hindrances to faith; interviews in which God reveals himself so faith is mightily strengthened. God's true leadership does more to strengthen its faith than to do anything else. It seeks this one element of power, this secret of spiritual success, at the sacrifice of other things. It keeps its eye fixed not on place or plans, but on God. The leadership of faith has no alliance with ambition, they are eternal foes. Ambition may give leadership in the Church, has done it, does do it, but faith has no part in this leadership. Faith is debauched by its touch; God is not in the leadership of ambition."

Interviews with God! A great concept, indeed, and this is only one of the jewels from E.M Bounds.

May you be infused with God's power as you contemplate and appropriate the jewels from God's Word.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Healing for Today

Yesterday afternoon (May 20, 2010) it was my honor to interview Paul Teske, author of Healing for Today, on my blogradio broadcast "We're Talking Books."

Paul's book is very inspirational, informative, and interesting. He shares his own personal testimony of having been miraculously healed of a stroke, testimonies of other healings he has witnessed, and teaching about healing that includes the following:

  • Jesus' healing ministry, then and now
  • The role of faith in healing
  • Imparting the gift of healing
  • How to pray
  • How to keep a healing
This is a new book on healing--one that opens new windows of insight into this vital topic. In the near future Paul will be interviewed on several well-known television programs, including James Robison's "Life Today" program. God is using him to bring the message of healing to people around the world, and I highly recommend his book to you.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Do We Live in an Uncivil Society?

The word "uncivil" means "not civilized; barbarous; not civil or courteous; ill-mannered." One of its synonyms is "rude."

Does the above definition describe modern-day society? It does seem as if rudeness abounds, that's for sure. There are barbaric pirates and uncivilized terrorists in our midst.

What do we do when we encounter an ill-mannered individual? Do we wonder why he or she is acting that way?

An attorney Adam Mersereau has written a newly published Bridge-Logos book entitled, Uncivil Society. The subtitle for this book is: "Government's War Against God and the Plight of the Christian Citizen."

In this very poignant and timely book Adam deals with several timely topics, including:

  • The West's Rejection of Truth
  • The Futile Search for a Truthless Morality
  • Government and the Fall
  • The Separation of Church and State
  • Divine Limits on Government Authority
  • New Roles for Church and State
  • A New View of the Individual
  • New Definitions for Life and Marriage
  • The Plight of the Christian in a Hostile Society

Adam writes, "When the Christian learns to live in accordance with God's truth for the sake of the truth, and for no other reason, he reaches the greatest possible glory outside of heaven--greater than any victory this fallen world can offer. There is glory in standing for the truth, even when we see no cultural change for the better. There is glory in witnessing for Christ, even when our witness is met with contempt. The moment the Christian apprehends this truth is the moment his feet become most firmly planted on the rock. This is when he becomes able to take his stand, a living sacrifice, immovable, regardless of what hardships may come. This is when he joins with Christ in storing up the unseen spoils of the eternal victory Christ won on the Cross. This is the Christian's finest and dearest privilege: To render to God the heartfelt obedience that He rightfully asks. No government can extinguist such a flame.

"Western culture may change with every wind of false doctrine, but the Christian's calling will never change. Our joy is to stand firm on the side of truth--against lies, against sin, against Satan--come what may. We cannot undo the Fall, but we can, by God's grace, point others to Christ and His glory. This is not our final home. To the extent we cannot change it, we must learn to overcome it, and to teach others that if Christ is their Savior, they can overcome it, too.

"Then one awful and glorious day, when the trumpet sounds and Christ returns to gather His people, to separate the sheep from the goats, to establish His throne among men, and to make all things new--the government will be upon His shoulder."

What a glorious day that will be.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Trouble Brings Us to Jesus

A good friend of mine, Mr. Seabury Oliver, often said, "It's trouble that brings us to Jesus." He knew, because he had experienced many troubles and hardships.

John Newton wrote, "Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come; 'tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home."

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for us in every trouble, toil, and snare. Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Paul wrote, "We glory in triubulations also" (Romans 5:3). Why would he say such a thing? He gives the answer in the next line: ". . . knowing that tribulation worketh patience" (Romans 5:3).

Yes, trouble brings us to Jesus and tribulation is a part of life in this world. Though these things are true, we must ever remember these words: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39).

It's the amazing grace of Jesus Christ that makes us more than conquerors even when we are in the midst of tribulation, troubles, and snares.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

It's All Love

Love is the core of the Christian life. The truth is that it's all love, from beginning to end, because God is love and love is the most excellent way of life.

Without love, we could not have anything in life that's worthwhile. Years ago, I spoke with a friend of mine who was dying. I asked her, "If you knew this was the last day of your life, what would you do?"

She said, "I'd sit on the couch and hug my two sons."

The cross of Jesus Christ represents love in its fullest expression. Its vertical beam points to the love God has for us and the love we have for Him. The horizontal beam speaks to us of the love we must have for one another.

Yes, it's all love, and the relationships in our lives are the most important part of our lives. Loving God, family, friends, neighbors, and even our enemies is what it's all about.

Here are some good quotes about love:

"Where there is love there is no sin."

"Love can hope where reason would despair" (George, Baron Lyttelton)

"How shall I do to love? Believe. How shall I do to believe? Love" (Robert Leighton).

"Love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10).

"Love is strong as death" (Song of Solomon 8:6).

"Love sought is good, but given unsought is better" (William Shakespeare).

"There is a land of the living and a land of the dead, and the bridge is love" (Thornton Wilder).

Let us remember that love is the supreme commandment.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Another New Book

Let me tell you about another new book that was recently published by Bridge-Logos Foundation. It is by my friend, who is the Senior Editor of our company, Harold J. Chadwick. The title is Christ Is God's Everything for You. It's a beautiful trade-size paperback that sells at only $13.99, and I highly recommend it to you.

Harold writes, "But this one thing you can know for a certainty, everything that God has prepared for you from before the foundation of the Earth is eternally yours in Christ Jesus, who is God's everything for you!"

Is Christ the center of your life? If so, you are among the most blessed people on the Earth, for He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Everything consists in Him. Let Him be your Lord and Savior.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Thinking Like God Does

The Rev. Keith C. Powell has written a liberating new book for Bridge-Logos Foundation. It is entitled, The Power of God Thinking. Though this title is a bit ambiguous in that it could refer to the power that is unleashed when God thinks (creative power) or the power that comes to us when we think as God thinks. This book is about the latter meaning, and it is written in a very user-friendly way.

Keith writes, "God-thinking is as much about deliberately abandoning wrong thinking as it is about adopting or putting the things of God on top.

"In his book The Power of Positive Thinking Norman Vincent Peale wrote, "If your thinking is wrong, it is wrong and not right and can never be right so long as it is wrong. If it is wrong in the essence, it is bound to be wrong in the result.'

"It is this very kind of thinking--wrong thinking--that keeps you from getting what is rightfully yours in Christ. the Word of God is filled with references to the way you think and points to the importance it plays in the outcome of your life. 'The thoughts of the righteous are right' (Proverbs 12:5)."

May you discover the power of God-thinking in your life today, as you let His words become your thoughts.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

City of Refuge

Today on "We're Talking Books" I'll be interviewing Ashley King, the author of a new novel that was recently released by Bridge-Logos Foundation. This is a well-written and compelling book.

It's title, City of Refuge, comes from Numbers 35:11, which says, "When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there" (NASB).

Alex began searchin for a "city of refuge"--a place of forgiveness and acceptance--after he was in a fatal accident that he felt responsible for. So many lives were affected by the crash, and this book reveals the feelings and experiences of each character in ways that literally grab the reader's attention.

City of Refuge is a page-turner that is filled with stirring emotions, gripping intrigue, and amazing insights into the human condition. Ashley King is an excellent novelist whose writing is intense, thrilling, and moving. You will readily identify with each of her fascination characters and their thoughts, experiences, and feelings.

I heartily endorse this book and hope you will add it to your summer reading fare.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Dare to Dream

Last Thursday it was my privilege to interview Trish Porter, author of Rekindle Your Dreams, on our blogtalk radio show, "We're Talking Books." It was a fantastic interview.

Trish is a 1988 U.S. Olympian. After a neck injury she stopped competing for many years. Nonetheless, she continued to dream about being a successful competitor. She became the mother of two children and then decided to rekindle her dream. This resulted in a blaze of success, for Trish became the world record-holder in the high jump for 40-44 year olds. She has won seven U.S. National Masters Championships and three World Masters Championship titles. Trish greatly enjoys competing throughout the world and inspiring other women wherever she goes.

In her very inspiring book, Trish puts forth an acronym that can be applied to our lives in many different ways. It is based on the word DREAMS.

Dare to Dream
Realize the Benefits to Yourself and Others
Eliminate the Excuses
Action Plan
Make It Happen
Say Thanks

This acronym and Trish's story show that it is possible to rekindle your dreams, and her book shows you how to do so through practical steps.

Monday, April 19, 2010

The God of Jacob Is Our Refuge

A new book that was published by Bridge-Logos Foundation concludes with these words: "Several years ago I was praying at one of my 'secret places' on Mount Carmel, about two hundred meters down a path from the place where the Lord dramatically visited me in the rental car in the 1980s. I was actually standing on the roof of an abandoned British machine-gun bunker from bygone Mandate days. The concrete bunker is built into a promontory on Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean. On this beautiful clear spring morning, I watched Israeli guided missile cruisers slowly patrolling the Haifa coast and port. Three military helicopters flew by, evidently returning from guarding the Lebanese border. I was struck by the contrast of the bunker, helicopters, and the warships against the legendary beauty of Carmel cloaked with multi-colored spring wildflowers and the shimmering emerald sea stretched out before me. I sensed that I was observing the calm before the storm. The still, small voice of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge' (Psalm 46:10-11).

This excerpt is taken from The Elijah Legacy by David Davis, the founder and senior pastor of Kehilat HaCarmel (Carmel Assembly) on Mount Carmel in Israel.

We must continually pray for the peace of Jerusalem, realizing that the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Is Anything Too Hard for God?

The title question on this post comes from a question in the Bible that God asked in Jeremiah 32:27: "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"

This, of course, is a rhetorical question that really doesn't require an answer, for we all know that nothing is impossible with God.

When we were in Tulsa last week one of our best-selling books was written by Ms Kathryn Kuhlman. It is entitled, Nothing Is Impossible With God. Though Ms Kuhlman is no longer here on Earth, this book continues to sell amazingly well.

I think this has to do both with her anointing as a healing evangelist and the dramatic truth the title of the book conveys. As David Wilkerson points out in his foreword to this dynamic book, "Over and over again she [Kathryn Kuhlman] cried, 'Dear God, unless you anoint me and touch me I am nothing. I am worthless when the flesh gets in the way. You get all the glory or I cannot go out there and minister. I won't move without you.'"

It is the Lord's touch and anointing that bring success to any endeavor and help us to understand that nothing is impossible with God, absolutely nothing is too hard for Him.

David Wilkerson concludes his tribute to Ms Kuhlman this way: "Her living and her dying brought glory to God."

Remember, all things are possible with God. The only thing God can't do is fail.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Empowered 21

Last week Steve Becker and I were in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We were selling our Bridge-Logos books in the Mabee Center of Oral Roberts University in connection with "Empowered 21"--an international gathering of Pentecostal/charismatic Christians who were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the charismatic renewal.

Whether the renewal actually began at that time or not, it was in 1960 that Father Dennis Bennett, rector of an Episcopal church in Van Nuys, California, received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. This experience was reported in both "Time" and "Newsweek" magazines, so the news traveled all over the world.

It was a pleasure for me to be able to spend time with his widow, Rita Bennett, while we were in Tulsa. She is a very special lady. Bridge-Logos Foundation has several books by Dennis and Rita Bennett. Those powerful titles are:

I highly recommend all of the above books. They are chock-full of spiritual insights and wisdom.

It was also good to see several other of our authors there, including John Mason, Jack Hayford, and Grant McClung.

Though the focus was on the members of the Renewal passing the torch to the younger generation, Jentezen Franklin reminded us that the "old pillars" need to get moving, too, and that in unity we can work together to build God's kingdom on earth.

Praise God for this opportunity to experience His presence in such dynamic ways.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

The Indwelling Christ--My Best Friend

When I was thirteen I knew Jesus was knocking on the door of my heart. I opened the door and asked Him to come in. He has been living within me ever since. This is what the Lord said in the Revelation: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20, NASB).

One time when I was in England, I visited St. Paul's Cathedral in London. One of the paintings that hangs on the wall of this sanctuary is a picture of Jesus standing at a cottage door and knocking. The interesting thing is that there is no knob on the outside of the door; it has to be opened from the inside. As a boy, I felt Jesus knocking on the door of my heart. It was like the pounding of a drum.

When I opened the door I experienced the Lord Jesus Christ entering my life in a fullness that I never knew could be possible. Truly, it was the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.

Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us. He promised to be with us until the end of the age, and He is with me still in spite of the mistakes I've made and the sins I've committed.

He is now my best friend--a true friend who is closer than a brother--my best friend, indeed. He walks with me and talks with me. The fellowship we enjoy is so wonderful and awesome.

The Bible says, "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). That blessed friend is Jesus Christ.

If you have never invited Him into your life, I encourage you to do so now. This is how Solomon described this: "He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love" (Song of Solomon 2:4, NASB).

Jesus wants to know you and have communion with you. He loves you with an everlasting love.

There is no friend so great as Jesus.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

New Books at Bridge-Logos Foundation

Next week Steve Becker and I will be going to Tulsa to show our books at Empowered 21. Some of the exciting new releases we'll be showing and selling are:

  • Elijah Legacy by David Davis--a book for those who are interested in the end times and who want to learn how to become prophetic intercessors whose prayers will result in people's hearts turning back to God. This book is about a restoration of the prophetic, the Elisha Generation, the forerunner-finisher anointing, the double portion, confronting the Jezebel spirit, the rise and fall of Islam, and the end-time harvest. What a comprehensive book. (David Davis is the pastor of Kehilat HaCarmel on Mount Carmel in Israel.)
  • The Extinction of Evolution by Darek Isaacs. This book teaches about the fallacies of evolution via both fiction and non-fiction. The fictional part involves letters that come from the celllar of Dr. Iman Oxidant; the letters reveal the motives behind evolutionary theories, atheists, and evolutionists. Learn about the mind set from which evolution and atheism were born. (Darek Isaacs is an author, film producer, and speaker. He is the President and Founder of Watchmen 33, an orgainzation that confirms the authority of the Bible.)
  • The Power of God Thinking by Keith C. Powell. Through this book the reader will learn how to line up his or her thoughts with God's (as they are revealed in His Word) and discover and entirely new way to think. (Keith C. Powell is the founder and pastor of Crown of Life Ministries.)
  • Christ Is God's Everything for You by Harold J. Chadwick. This very Christocentric book is for everyone who wants to know Jesus better. It shows how He is the fulfillment of every spiritual blessing for your life. This book will take readers into the very heart of the Christian faith. (Harold J. Chadwick is the Senior Editor for Bridge-Logos Foundation.)
  • Luther Gold (compiled by Ray Comfort). The reader of this book will experience a greater level of faith, and a strong desire to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Ray Comfort is the best-selling author of more than fifty books and founder of Living Waters ministry.)
  • Jake's Fortune by Ray Comfort with Anna Jackson. This is a Western novel that deals with so many aspects of the human condition, including murder, romance, greed, and faith. This is an exciting novel.
  • City of Refuge by Ashley King. This is a very compelling novel that will bring hope and inspiration to every reader. It is good for both adults and young people. (Ashley King is a graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She lives on a miniature farm in southern Ohio.)
  • God Print by Skip Heitzig. This book introduces readers to a fresh approach in self-examination, leadership, and outreach in the context of biblical truth. Learn how to leave a lasting God Print upon the world. (Skip Heitzig is the pastor of Calvary of Albuquerque and the author of numerous books.)
  • Uncivil Society--Government's War Against God and the Plight of the Christian Citizen by Adam G. Mersereau. This timely book show the reader what his/her biblical responsibilities are and how to live in an "uncivil society." (Adam Mersereau is an attorney and a former officer in the United States Marine Corps.)
  • Dragons or Dinosaurs? Creation or Evolution? by Darek Isaacs. How do dragon legends fit in with the Bible? Could they be one and the same? Darek offers intriguing answers to these provocative questions. (Darek Isaacs maintains that the great mysteries of human existence are answered only through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.)
  • Rekindle Your Dreams by Trish Porter. This book by an Olympic champion shows the reader that it is possible to rekindle your dreams, as Trish Porter's life aptly demonstrates. Learn how to realize your desires, become successful, and live your dreams.
  • Spurgeon on Prayer by Charles H. Spurgeon. This is a Pure Gold Classic. Learn about prayer from the Prince of Preachers, who spent a great deal of time in his prayer closet and daily sought the Lord. He believed that God hears and answers prayer. (Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a British Baptist pastor who served at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London.)
I am very excited about the ministry potential of these new books. Great opportunities for summer reading here!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Holy Week

Though every week should be holy, to be sure, this week is regarded by many Christians as "Holy Week," because this is a week that commemorates the last week of our Lord's life on Earth--Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday.

On that first Palm Sunday the people, including children, shouted, "Hosanna in the highest!" They spread palms along the road and honored the King of kings as He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. "From Olivet they followed 'mid and exultant crowd, the victor palm branch waving, and the chanting clear and loud, the Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state, nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait" (From "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna").

They adored this man, who had brought such hope to the hearts of people, but then things began to change.

After this triumphal entry, things began to grow darker for our Lord. "Go to dark Gethsemane, you that fel the tempter's power, your Redeemer's conflict see; watch with him one bitter hour; turn not from his griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ to pray" (From "Go to Dark Gethsemane").

I wonder what it would have been like to have been in the Garden with Jesus? What was it like for the disciples at the Last Supper in the Upper Room? "An upper room with evening lamps a shine, the twelve disciples, and the table spread; now in our turn Christ bids us pour the wine, and in remembrance bless and break the bread" (From "An Upper Room With Evening Lamps").

Jesus could find no one to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He ate His last supper with His followers, but He knew one of them would betray Him into the hands of those who wanted to kill Him.

After taking Him away, they dressed Him in a purple robe and a crown of thorns. They placed a reed in His right hand. He was mocked, scourged, spit upon, derided, and defamed. He bore all our sins and woes. Beneath a darkened sky, He hung upon a tree, and, as the African-American spiritual tells us, "He never said a mumbalin' word."

They nailed Him to a tree, and the Lamb of God was slain for the sins of the world. Behold the Lamb of God!

Jesus died that we might live--abundant and eternal life to give. It is ours if we will but believe. Only receive and only believe--all things are possible; only believe.

"Low in the grave He lay--Jesus my Savior, waiting the coming day--Jesus my Lord!" Death could not hold Him down. Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph over His foes! His battle ended there, as death was overcome.

"Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood,
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

"Lifted up was He to die,
'It is finished,' was His cry;
Now in Heaven exalted high,
Hallelujah! What a Savior!"

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is in the law. but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

On Sunday we will celebrate these glorious truths. It is known as Easter, but perhaps a better name would be Resurrection Sunday. Happy Resurrection Sunday, everyone!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Our Inheritance in Christ

We are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. This means that we have received the same inheritance He has. Paul writes, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).

Every spiritual blessing is already ours. All we have to do is appropriate and receive those blessings that our loving Father has provided for us. Isn't this exciting news?

The Apostle Peter writes, "His divine power has given us everything we need" (2 Peter 1:3, NIV). Everything we need! This is our inheritance as the adopted children of God, who cry, "Abba, Father."

Paul puts it this way, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

What is our inheritance as believers?
  • All spiritual blessings
  • Everything we need
  • The supply of all that we need
The list is much longer than the above three entries suggest. Each one of them entails a multitude of separate blessings that are ours.

Jesus said, "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him" (Matthew 6:8). He also said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. . . . how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:7-11).

It's all our in Christ Jesus, and more. The Bible says, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or thin, according to his power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end" (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Will you receive your inheritance today?

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Spirit of Violence

I am very much concerned about something: It seems as if a spirit of violence is permeating the American culture at this time. It is even appearing is some segments of Christianity.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9). If peacemakers are called the children of God, what are people who stir up violence called?

The Bible says the following about wrath and violence:
  •  "Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous" (Proverbs 27:4).
  •  "Do violence to no man" (Luke 3:14).
  •  "Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually they are gathered for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man" (Psalm 140:1-4)
  •  "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:20).
These and many other similar passages are scriptural admonitions worth remembering in our present time.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:29-32).

Further, Paul says in Galatians: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).

That's a very strong statement, indeed. Then Paul goes on to contrast the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

Help us, Father, get beyond the division, strife, bitterness, and hatred that are manifested in the lives of so many today. Help people to realize that the answer is to be found only in the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Taming Your Tongue and Fine-tuning Your Ears

We're surrounded by negativity in our world today. It's on the news, at the workplace, on emails we receive, in the utterances of politicians, in newspapers and magazines, on radio and television, and in general conversations at home and in the marketplace. There is great power in the words we say. In fact, the Bible says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruits thereof" (Proverbs 18:21). As you know, some of those fruits are bitter, and they can be very destructive in people's lives.

I remember overhearing something a fellow-teacher I worked with at an elementary school said. She thrust the results of a standardized test in the face of one of our students and hatefully uttered these stinging and condemning words, "See, Richard, this proves it. You are stupid!" I wonder if Richard still experiences the biting condemnation of those words now, some thirty years later.

What does the Bible have to say about the way in which we should use our tongues?

  • We should not engage in flattery. "The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things" (Psalms 12:3).
  • We should keep our tongue from evil (including every negative comment): "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile" (1 Peter 3:10).
  • How we use our tongues plays a role in our health. "There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health" (Proverbs 12:18).
  • A wholesome tongue is a tree of life. "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit" (Proverbs 15:4).
The Scriptures abound with references to the use of our tongues and with warnings about misusing them. The following usages are condemned unequivocally: backbiting, lying, slandering, using a multitude of words, deceitfulness, speaking guile, flattery, hypocrisy, swearing, taking God's name in vain, etc.

Instead, we are enjoined to speak the truth in love, tame our tongues, ask God to put a watch before our lips, to rejoice evermore, to use our tongues to tell others about Jesus, to pray, and to praise the Lord.

Clearly, the way we use our tongues is a serious business, indeed. Do we use our tongues to build others up or to tear them down? To give glory to God or to glorify ourselves? To encourage others or to discourage them? To plant positive or negative seeds? Do we use our tongues as tools of blessing or criticism?

We also need to be careful about what we listen to. What goes into the ear, finds its way to the heart, and what goes into the heart, comes out in one's life. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

Do you remember the children's chorus: "Be careful, little ears, what you hear? The Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful, little ears, what you hear"?

As adults, we need to reflect on these truths, as well. In the mid-eighteenth century a group of Methodist men, including John Wesley, signed the following covenant (which Bob Gass writes about in the Bridge-Logos devotional, entitled Best of the Word for Today):

  • That we will not listen to, or willingly inquire after ill concerning one another
  • That if we do hear any ill of each other, we will not believe it
  • That as soon as possible, we will communicate what we hear by speaking or writing to the person concerned
  • That until we have done this, we will not write or speak a syllable of it to any other person
  • That neither will we mention it after we have done this, to any other person
  • That we will not make any exception to any of these rules, unless we think ourselves absolutely obliged, and then only in conference.
We would be well-advised to post these commitments in a prominent place in order to remind ourselves to "speak no evil, hear not evil, and see no evil." Certainly these rules are important ones to follow at home, at work, in church, and in every group in which we participate.

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

A mother came into the room of her little girl who had been sick and noticed that she was sitting up in bed crying. She said, "What's wrong, honey?"

On the wall across from the foot of the little girl's bed was a mirror. On the wall above the headboard of her bed was a picture of Jesus.

The little girl said, "Mommy, when I see myself I can't see Jesus." (She had been used to seeing the picture of Jesus reflected in the mirror on the opposite wall as she was lying in bed. However, when she sat up, the reflection changed, obliterating the picture of Jesus and replacing it with her own reflection. This was very upsetting to her.)

It's so true--when we see ourselves we can't see Jesus, and this should upset us as well.

The chorus advises us to: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace."

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher [the pioneer and perfecter] of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Let's turn away from sin, worries of all kinds, the situations we see around us, the troubles that beset us, and let us turn our eyes upon Jesus who loves us with an everlasting love.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Jesus' Prayer in His Hour of Trial

As we approach Good Friday, it is important to note how important prayer was to our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

Matthew writes, "Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed" (Matthew 26:19).

Prayer was so important to Jesus, because it was His direct-line access to his Father in Heaven. It is the same with us. Jeremiah writes, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3).

In Morning by Morning by Charles H. Spurgeon (a Pure Gold Classic that is published by Bridge-Logos Foundation) we read, "There are several instructive features in our Savior's prayer in His hour of trial," then he goes on to list and discuss each one (referring to Matthew 26:39):

  • It was a lonely prayer. We need to be alone with the Lord every day. Such solitude is practically and spiritually helpful to us.
  • It was a humble prayer. We must humble ourselves before the Lord at all times by realizing who we are and who He is. In prayer, we are kneeling before the throne of the Most High God.
  • It was a filial prayer. We have been adopted into the royal family of Almighty God. We are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, and we need to cry out, "Abba, Father."
  • It was a persevering prayer. We must ". . .contine in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."
  • It was a prayer of resignation. We need to resign ourselves to the Father's will through absolute surrender and death to self.

Spurgeon writes, "Yield, and God yields. Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best. Be content to leave your prayer in His hands. He knows when to give, how to give, what to give, and what to withhold."

Friday, March 19, 2010

The Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Cardinal Virtues

In The Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross (a Pure Gold Classic published by Bridge-Logos Foundation) we learn about the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Cardinal Virtues.

Saint John of the Cross opens the book with a discussion of the Seven Deadly Sins, ". . .which the soul must overcome in order to enter into spiritual renewal and learn to walk in the Seven Cardinal Virtues through union with love--the love of God."

The Seven Deadly Sins are:
  • Lust (luxuria)
  • Gluttony (gula)
  • Greed and avarice (avarita)
  • Sloth (acedia)
  • Wrath and intense anger (ira)
  • Envy (invidia)
  • Pride (superbia)
These seven sins are mortal in the sense that they kill our relationship with God and our hope of eternal life with Him. "All of the Seven Deadly Sins must be pruged from a believer's life if he or she is to find the way to union with love in God, as Saint John of the Cross points out so clearly in his writings. He shows how each of us has our 'besetting sins' that must be dealt with before we can make any spiritual progress" (From Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross.)

Once we've gone through the "dark night of the soul" and have rid ourselves of the sins listed above, we are ready to enjoy the Seven Cardinal Virtues, as listed below:

  • Faith
  • Hope
  • Love
  • Fortitude
  • Justice
  • Prudence
  • Temperance
"As the soul perseveres, however, it finds its way to the place of peace, tranquility, and joy--total union with its heavenly Beloved, and this is the goal that Saint John of the Cross puts forth for every seeker."

May you find than place in your life through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Death to Self

This is a rather heavy topic--death to self--yet, it's the only way to fruitful living. Years ago, Logos produced a book by Earl Jabay that was entitled The Kingdom of Self. In this book, Earl told us that we need to overthrow the kingdom of self and replace it with the Kingdom of God. Obviously, this requires death to self.

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:24-25). As with the corn of wheat, we must die [to self] in order to become fruitful.

The Apostle Paul put it this way: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, put Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

How does one die to the self-life? It is accomplished at least in part by letting the life of Christ well up within us and take over everything. This, of course, will require the annihilation of self-pity, self-defense, self-centeredness, and every form of selfishness. It is a matter of absolute surrender of everything to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Andrew Murray wrote, "Notice how Christ uses that word deny twice. He said to Peter the first time, "Deny self." He said to Peter the second time, "Thou wilt deny me." It is either of the two. There is no choice for us; we must either deny self or deny Christ. There are two great powers fighting each other--the self-nature in the power of sin, and Christ in the power of God. Either of these must rule within us.

"Self made the devil. He was an angel of God, but he wanted to exalt self. He became a devil in hell. Self was the cause of the Fall of man. Eve wanted something for herself, and so our first parents fell into all the wretchedness of sin. We, their children, have inherited an awful nature of sin" (From Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray, published as a Pure Gold Classic by Bridge-Logos Foundation).

Which kingdom do you serve? Are you in bondage to the kingdom of self, or are you crucified with Christ? Are you denying yourself or denying Christ?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm on your face,
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

I love the gentle optimism and strong faith that this Irish blessing conveys. Here's another one:

A Wish for a Friend

Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers--
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours--
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through.

Happiness, laughter, and friendship--some of the best things in life. St. Patrick used the shamrock as an object lesson when he taught about the Holy Trinity.

From St. Patrick's Breastplate

Christ be with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ in me
Christ beneath me
Christ above me
Christ on my right
Christ on my left
Christ where I lie
Christ where I sit
Christ where I arise
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me
Salvation is of the Lord

This reminds me of the gospel chorus: "Christ in me; Yes, it's Christ in me; Every day, as I go my way; It is Christ in me."

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days,
And warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
With joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
Bring the best to you and yours!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The One Needful Thing

One of my favorite stories in the New Testament tells what happened when Jesus was visiting in the home of Mary and Martha. It goes like this: "Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42).

What is "that good part"? What is the one needful thing? It involves sitting at the Master's feet, fellowshiping with Him, and learning His Word.

Luke paints a vivid contrast between the two sisters. Martha was busy, frustrated, worried, and quite possibly jealous. Mary, on the other hand, was peaceful and happy. What accounts for the difference? Taking time to be with Jesus. That is "the one needful thing."

Hannah Whitall Smith writes, "Die, then, that you may live. Lose your own life that you may find Christ's life. The caterpillar can only enter into the butterfly's kingdom by dying to its caterpillar life, and emerging into the resurrection life of the butterfly; and just so can we also only enter into the kingdom of God by the way of a death out of the kingdom of self, and an emergence into the resurrection life of Christ. Let everything go, then, that belongs to the natural; all your own notions, and plans, and ways, and thoughts; and accept in their stead God's plans, and ways, and thoughts. Do this faithfully and do it persistently, and you shall come at last to sit on His throne, and to reign with Him in an interior kingdom which shall break in pieces and consume all other kingdoms, and shall stand for ever and ever" (From The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith--a Pure Gold Classic published by Bridge-Logos Foundation.)

Monday, March 15, 2010

What Really Counts?

The older I get the more I realize that I've wasted a good part of my life on trivial matters--matters of little concern or importance. I believe the Apostle Paul hits the nail on the head when he says, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Galatians 5:6, NIV).

This goes right along with what the Great Apostle said in 1 Corinthians 13: "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV). Paul introduced this chapter with these words: "And now I will show you the most excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31, NIV).

Yes, love is the only thing that counts, the most excellent way, and the greatest of the Christian attributes. In fact, it is the mark of a true Christian. Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35, NIV).

The relationships in our lives should be very precious to us. We need to love one another. Without love, we are like "a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1, NIV). Who wants to be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal?

Let us remember these words today: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8, NIV).

For a fuller treatment of this vitally important topic, please read our Pure Gold Classic--The Greatest Thing in the World by Henry Drummond.

Friday, March 12, 2010

In the World, but Not of It

As I become aware of all that is taking place in our world today, I realize more and more how fortunate we are to be in the world, but not of it. Indeed, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God, not this kingdom of darkness.

As members of the Kingdom of God, we should be following the words of Jesus, who said, "Ye are the salt of the earth. . . .Ye are the light of the world, a city that is set on an hill cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:13-14).

The saltier we become, the thirstier other will be, and we will be able to help them quench their thirst with the rivers of living water that flow from us. To quench the darkness in our world today we need to shine as lights.

"This little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine.'

When Art Katz, a former Logos author, was a young hippie hitchiking through Germany in the sixties, a man who picked him up simply said, "You know, all the problems in our world would be solved if we simply followed one command of Jesus." Art asked, "What was that?" The German said, "Follow me." Art said it was as if those words penetrated his heart and set off an explosion.

It's true--if we followed Jesus in all things, particularly with regard to His supreme commandment to love God and others, everything would change. Instead of this, however, we get caught up in the ways of this world.

There are a lot of angry Christians today who are not reflecting the love of Jesus when it comes to politics, the economy, etc. Instead of shining as lights and walking in love, they contribute to the darkness and hate around them.

Let's follow Jesus, remembering that though we're in the world, we're not of it. What we really need is an heaven-born spiritual revival that will sweep our world clean. It's time to return to our first love and let our light shine wherever we are.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

The Creation

The late professor and botanist Edwin Conklin very perceptively stated, "The probability of life originating from accident is comparable to the probability of an unabridged dictionary resulting from an explosion in a printing shop." I like this very apt comparison.

When noted atheist Richard Dawkins was asked by Ben Stein how he thought mankind came to be, the atheist speculated that we might have come from some species of alien life. (See the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.") I think Dawkins' response requires more faith than believing the account of creation we find in the Bible. (See Genesis 1-3.)

Here at Bridge-Logos Foundation we have several books that deal with this important topic, including a new one entitled The Extinction of Evolution by Darek Isaacs. I highly recommend this cleverly written treatment of the subject.

We also have several books on this subject by Ray Comfort, including God Doesn't Believe in Atheists, How to Know God Exists, and Intelligent Design Versus Evolution. I personally recommend and heartily endorse these excellent works by one of the leading Christian apologists of our time.

In the near future we will be releasing another book by Darek Isaacs. It is entitled Dragons or Dinosaurs? This informative book shows how dinosaurs and dragons may be one in the same and answers the question, "Did men live in the time of dinosaurs?"

Anything as well-ordered as our universe and our planet must have had a Creator--the Master Designer of All Things. I don't think there can be much doubt about this.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

There Is Power in the Blood

Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote, "There is no motive for holiness so great as that which streams from the veins of Christ. And 'precious,' unspeakably precious, is this blood, because it has an overcoming power. 'They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.' How could they do otherwise? Those who fight with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, fight with a weapon that cannot know defeat. By trusting the power of Jesus' blood, we will always conquer!" (From Morning by Morning by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a Pure Gold Classic from Bridge-Logos Foundation.)

The blood of Christ redeems us from sin. ("But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin"--1 John 1:7.)

The blood of Christ atones for our sins. ("And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement"--Romans 4:11.)

The blood of Christ heals us. ("But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed"--Isaiah 53:5).

The blood of Christ preserves us and protects us. ("For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you"--Exodus 12:23).

The blood of Christ sanctifies us. ("Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate"--Hebrews 13:12).

The blood of Christ give us overcoming power. ("And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death"--Revelation 12:11).

Praise God for the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Would you be free from your burden of sin? There's power in the blood. There's wonderful power in the blood.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Harold Hill--How to Live Like a King's Kid

I got to know Harold Hill fairly well in the early seventies, and I loved his sense of humor. He was an engineer and recovering alcoholic who found new life, hope, and blessing in the Lord Jesus Christ. God blessed Harold with many miracles.

He wrote several Christian books, including How to Live Like a King's Kid and From Goo to You by the Way of the Zoo. Like him, his books are unique and inspiring, and they often reflect the sense of humor that was Harold's hallmark.

I would like to encourage you to read How to Live Like a King's Kid. It is still published by Bridge-Logos Foundation. Take a look at some of the chapter titles in this how-to book: How to Succeed in Everything; How to Stop Drinking; How to Get Out of Quick-mud; How to Start Over; How to Stop Gambling; How to Get More for Your Money; How to Get Rid of an Aching Back; How to Fail at Witnessing; etc. Wow! It's actually 28 how-to books in one.

Here is a quote from the book that is worthy of our attention: "I've learned that one of the most important things to learn if we want to live like King's kids is to trust the King with every problem, every fault, every sin, every impossible thing in our lives. He--and He alone--can make us fit for His Kingdom. As long as we keep trying to do anything by our own willpower, keeping the glory for ourselves, we are doomed to stay in our own puny kingdom of wretchedness and defeat. But King's kids loose everything to the King, and He sets them free to enter the gates of His Kingdom of Heaven."

Remember, a King's kid is either a prince or a princess in God's royal family--a joint-heir with Jesus--a knight in the Lord's army.

I thank God that I knew Harold Hill. He showed us how to live the life of a King's kid.

Monday, March 8, 2010

The Lord Is My Shepherd

The first line of Psalm 23 contains at least three metaphors. Two are stated and one is implied. The first is found in the word "lord." A lord, as you know, is a nobleman--one who has great power and authority, a ruler, and a master. This is an appropriate figure of speech in reference to the Lord Jesus Christ, to be sure.

The second metaphor is seen in the word "shepherd." A shepherd, as you know, takes care of his sheep by protecting them, providing for them, leading them, giving the food, water, and shelter. What an apt metaphor this is for our Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd of the sheep.

The implied metaphor would be found in the truth that if God is our Shepherd, then we must be sheep. What are the behaviors and mannerisms of sheep? They need a leader. They need protection. They need to be taken care of. Some would even say they're not very bright! We are sheep, indeed, and thank God we have a Shepherd who takes care of us.

Because He does, we never suffer want. Paul writes, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). His grace is sufficient for us.

Take time today to meditate on these words that were written by David: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; they rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23).

Are you a helpless sheep? Is the Lord your Shepherd? What does this Psalm mean to you?

Friday, March 5, 2010

Ask, Seek, Knock--ASK

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray He provided them with a model prayer that is sometimes known as the Lord's Prayer. It's a model prayer in that it reveals the components of Christian prayer in a few words. Those components include the following:
  • Adoration
  • Confession.
  • Thanksgiving
  • Supplication
Did you notice that this outline forms an acronym? It is ACTS, and that is the name of one of the most powerful books in the New Testament.

There's another acronym that relates to prayer as well:

  • Ask
  • Seek
  • Knock
Notice the word "ask" that is formed by the initial letters of each of the words. This takes us to a prayer promise that Jesus gave us:  "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Luke 11:9-10).

Have you been asking, seeking, and knocking? As you do so, you will learn that God will make a way for you even when it seems as if there is no way. He is the Way-maker in our lives.

Tennyson wrote, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." I wholeheartedly agree with him. This is especially true when we learn to pray according to the will of God, which is fully revealed in His Word. The Bible says, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (1 John 5:14-15).

One of our Bridge-Logos authors, Pastor Jack Hayford, writes, "The only point of confusion lies in a misunderstanding of the verb 'ask.' Its tense in Greek conveys the idea of continual asking. But that is not a command to ask repeatedly for the same thing in order to force God into action. The continuality which Jesus wants is in ceaseless petitioning. In other words, you need never hesitate to ask for something just because you asked for something else earlier. Any hint that heaven "gets too busy" with earlier requests to have either time or supply for the next is pure folly.

"Here's the message of the parable: 1. You have a friend in the Heavenly Father. He's on your side, and available anytime, in every circumstance. 2. Boldness is your privilege. Your assignment is to ask; His commitment is to give--as much as you need.

"This is the beginning: 'Seeking' and 'knocking' are further steps as one walks the pathway of prayer. But we need to get started, and this is probably the greatest need facing us today: too many hesitate to pray. they hesitate through a sense of unworthiness, a feeling of distance from deity, a wondering about God's will in the matter, a concern over 'if it's okay,' and uncertainty of how much to ask for, a fear that God won't hear.

"Jesus strikes the death blow to such hesitancy: ask. Ask with unabashed forwardness; ask with shameless boldness! He commands. And when you do, He clearly teaches, "Your friend, My Father, will rise to the occasion and see that everything you need is provided." (Taken from Prayer Is Invading the Impossible by Jack Hayford. Published by Bridge-Logos Foundation in Alachua, Florida.)