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.