Complacency

“‘Isaac’s Storm’ is a very interesting book about the hurricane that wiped out Galveston in 1900. One of the main plot lines of the book is about how everyone was convinced that a hurricane could never strike Galveston, even as one approached. The author vividly describes how as the streets began to flood people went about their business as if nothing was wrong. Children played in the water, men gathered for breakfast at the local diner, and no one fled from the storm that was about to strike.  Some didn’t worry because Issac Cline, the national weather service officer in Galveston, assured them it would not be a severe storm. Other’s simply believed that Galveston was invincible. Some thought that since they had never seen a hurricane strike Galveston one never would. So for a number of reasons, people assured themselves nothing bad would happen. And as a result over 6,000 people died one September day in 1900” (Steve Hanchet, citing "Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History," by Erik Larson and Isaac Monroe Cline).
Jesus faced a similar kind of complacency in His day regarding the coming “flood” of judgment on His people.  “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:37–39).
In our modern day of instant communication with every corner of the world, it seems that we get a daily dose of bad news.  We are always being warned of one danger or another.  In such a situation, it is easy to become numb to all the prophets of doom. But Jesus is different.  When He warns us, we had better listen closely.  He issues no false alarms.  He makes no idle threats.  Hear Him and live!

God loves you!

Mike

Gray Hair

What causes gray hair?  A recent Yahoo! article shares some of the science behind graying.  We learn that “...gray hair is simply a part of the normal aging process, and the rate you go silver is genetically predetermined. Going gray is not associated with earlier mortality, and premature graying is not, generally speaking, a sign of a illness or ill health in younger adults. There are, however, some specific health conditions, such as vitiligo(an autoimmune disorder that causes uneven pigmentation) associated with gray or white hair, but for most of us, going gray is just a fact of life...Hair color comes from the pigment melanin, which has two hues, blackish brown and reddish yellow—the amount and mix of each determines your individual shade. Hair without any melanin is pure white. The pigment is produced in cells called melanocytes, located at the base of the hair follicle. The melanocytes inject pigment into the hair. At some point in everyone's lifetime, these cells slow down and eventually stop producing color all together in what's called apoptosis, or genetically predetermined demise. Scientists have yet to identify the exact mechanism by which melanocyte cell death occurs...In 2011, L'Oreal announced it was in the early stages of developing a pill that would prevent melanin reduction, but at this point, there is still no silver bullet to keep away the grays” (Sarah B. Weir, shine.yahoo,com, 10-1-12).
Graying is a normal part of the passing of time in our lives.  We can try to hide it but we cannot mask the reality associated with it.  We are ALL getting older.  For the child of God, getting older should not be a reason for fear or despair.  In fact, we learn from the Scriptures that, for those seeking to live godly lives, gray hair is a badge of honor.  “A gray head is a crown of glory; it is found in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31).  “The glory of young men is their strength, and the honor of old men is their gray hair” (Proverbs 20:29)
God loves you!
Mike

Take A Deep Breath...

As the presidential election enters the home stretch, I am hearing more believers hyperventilating over the possibility that their candidate might not be elected.  If you listen to some, you get the impression that it will be the end of civilization as we know it.  Some of my Christian friends on social media are resorting to the same kind of name-calling, mud-slinging, and crude joking that has characterized so much of the campaigning to this point.  In the midst of the hysteria, may I remind us of a few things?

• 1. Our earthly citizenship is not the highest priority.  We are citizens of a heavenly realm (Philippians 3:20).

• 2. Our King rules over a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly kingdom (John 18:36).
• 3. God’s command to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44) applies even to political enemies.
• 4. God doesn’t promise to protect our standard of living or way of life. He does tell us to expect persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).
• 5. Our hope for the future isn’t grounded in ANY particular human governmental system.  Our hope is in God and His Son Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 4:10; 1:1).

If you have the opportunity to participate in choosing your governmental leaders, then be thankful for that.  If you are free to give voice to your beliefs and opinions, do so in a godly way.  Do what you can to make the world around you a better place.  But don’t give into despair if things don’t go your way.  Remember that most believers throughout history have lived and worked under far worse situations than we are experiencing.
Regardless of who is in the White House, in Congress, or the Senate, the King of the universe is still on His throne.  He will see us through the worst that this world can devise against us in His way and on His time.

God loves you!

Mike

How Big Is Your God?

I am so thankful that I serve a God who can defend Himself.  When someone speaks evil of my God, I don’t have to personally resort to the destruction of the blasphemer’s life or property.  God doesn’t need me to have His back.  My God is perfectly capable of standing up for Himself and dealing with offenders if that is what is needed.  Only an impotent God would need me to fight His battles
I’m reminded of the time when God called upon Gideon to deliver Israel from foreign oppression (Judges 6).  He is reluctant to accept the role, but he finally accepts.  The first matter of business for Gideon was to destroy an altar to a false god that belonged to his father, Joash.  He knew there would be repercussions for such an act against the false religion of his own people but he forged ahead anyway, carrying out the deed under the cover of darkness.
The next morning, the destroyed altar was discovered.  Immediately, passions were fanned into flame and Gideon was found to be the culprit.  The angry mob confronts Joash and demands the death of Gideon.  To his credit, Joash stands up to the blood-thirsty defenders of Baal and challenges the “manhood” of their god: “But Joash said to all who stood against him, ‘Will you contend for Baal, or will you deliver him?  Whoever will plead for him shall be put to death by morning.  If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has torn down his altar’” (Judges 6:31).
Does it bother me when someone takes God’s name in vain?  Sure.  Should I share my displeasure with those who blaspheme God and mock His ways?  Yes.  Should I stand up for my beliefs?  Of course.  But beyond that, my God can handle His own detractors.  Rather than exacting my own revenge, I’ll let God dispense whatever wrath is needed (Romans 12:19).  It’s only impotent gods who need human defenders.  My God is big enough to contend for Himself!

God loves you!
Mike

Time Is Filled With Swift Transition

“One evening, a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events.  The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shooting at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.  The grandfather replied, ‘Well, let me think a minute.  I was born before television, ball-point pens, penicillin, Pizza Hut, polio shots, McDonalds, frozen foods, instant coffee, Xerox, pantyhose, contact lenses, air conditioners, Frisbees, dishwashers, credit cards, clothes dryers, laser beams, and space travel.’  He continued, ‘When I was a boy, ice cream cones and sodas were a nickel.  A nickel would buy enough stamps to mail a letter and two postcards.  You could buy a new Chevy coupe for $600.00 and gas was 11 cents a gallon.’  You probably think this grandfather is a very old man.  If so, you are in for a shock.  This man would be only 69 years old” (House to House, Heart to Heart, vol. 17, no. 4).
Time has a way of marching on regardless of whether we are paying attention or not.  And it progresses faster than most of us are willing to admit.  When James, the brother of the Lord, was counseling his readers regarding the importance of including the will of the Lord in their plans for tomorrow, he reminds them that their lives “...are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).  As King David rejoiced over the generosity of those who donated for the construction of the temple, he praised God as the ultimate source of the bounty (1 Chronicles 29:10-16).  As part of his thankfulness to God, he admits that he and his people are merely “...sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on earth are like a shadow...” (vs. 15).
In light of such a reality, Paul’s admonition in Ephesians is vital.  “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but wise, making the most of your time...” (5:15-16).  Are we using our limited time wisely?

God loves you!

Mike

Radical Surgery

“And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire...And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than having your two feet, to be cast into hell...And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED” (Mark 9:43–48 NASB).

I like the illustration Timothy Keller uses to explain what Jesus is saying.  “Sinful behavior (the reference to hand and foot) and sinful desires (the reference to the eye) are like a fire that has broken out in your living room.  Let’s say a cushion on your couch has ignited.  You cannot just sit there and say, “Well, the whole house isn’t burning -- it’s just a cushion.”  If you don’t do something immediately and decisively about the cushion, the whole house will be engulfed.  Fire is never satisfied.  It can’t be allowed to smolder; it can’t be confined to a corner.  It will overtake you eventually.  Sin is the same way: It never stays in its place.  It always leads to separation from God, which results in intense suffering, first in this life and then in the next.  The Bible calls that hell.  That’s why Jesus uses the dramatic image of amputation.  There can be no compromises.  We must do anything we can to avoid it...” (Timothy Keller, “King’s Cross, pp. 75-76).

Those who play with fire will eventually get burned (Proverbs 6:27).  Those who dabble with sinful desires and behaviors will eventually pay a far greater price than intended.  What seems harmless in the beginning soon becomes a monster.  That is why radical surgery is needed.  Put out the fire before it can spread.

God loves you!

Mike

Gripe, Gripe, Gripe

“Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn’t belong.”  I don’t know the source of this quote.  It came to me as part of a list of catchy one-liners without any attribution.  Perhaps they are all from that great philosopher and author named “Anonymous.”  But regardless of the source, the sentiment it expresses is so very true.
It’s so easy to complain about our own congregation, isn’t it?  “The church isn’t doing enough.”  “The people are too friendly.”  “The people are not friendly enough.”  “The youth group is too small.”  “The youth group is too large.”  “The church needs to have more ministry opportunities.”  “The church is running me ragged with too many programs.”  “We are spending too much.”  “We are not spending enough.”  “I’m leaving if they ________.”  “I’m leaving if they don’t ________.”  “The church isn’t meeting my needs.”  On and on the list goes.
I hate to burst our rose-colored bubble, but there are no perfect congregations.  The church down the road might seem to be perfect, but that’s just because we are on the outside looking in.  The imperfections only become evident when we rub shoulders and egos with those who are part of the group and they rub shoulders and egos with us.  As long as a congregation is made up of imperfect people, it will function imperfectly.  And even if there was a perfect church, the moment I joined, it would become imperfect.
Instead of searching for the perfect church that doesn’t exist or complaining about the imperfections our current group, let me suggest that we all work together at improvement.  It’s easy to point out problems.  It’s much more work to become part of the solution to the problems.  Am I saying that a congregation shouldn’t be criticized?  No.  Every group has room for improvement.  But I am saying that if we are going to complain, we should also be willing to pitch in and contribute to a solution.
Thank God for imperfect churches.  They are the only places where I can fit in.  

God loves you!

Mike