A Personal Touch

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong —  that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.

Romans 1:11-15

 

Sometimes we take the technology that makes our modern world move for granted.  In an age of blogging and social media, there is a tendency to loose that "human touch".  Consider the words Paul uses in the text above.

 

- He longs to see the Roman Christians.

 

- He planned to come to them.

 

- He is eager to preach the gospel to the Romans.

 

But alas... what do we find Paul doing?  Writing 15 more chapters of a letter.

 

Brethren, we should take every opportunity afforded to us to connect with people, but never loose that human touch.

7 things

A scoundrel and villain,

who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

who winks with his eye,

signals with his feet

and motions with his fingers,

who plots evil with deceit in his heart—

he always stirs up dissension.

Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;

he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

 

There are six things the Lord hates,

seven that are detestable to him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked schemes,

feet that are quick to rush into evil,

a false witness who pours out lies

and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Proverbs 6:12 - 19

 

Proverbs is a book full of opposition.  By that I mean, Solomon (and others) write in such a way that two opposing ways of life or ideas are pitted together to prove or enhance a point.  Consider this from Proverbs 13 =

 

A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. (Verse 1)

 

But that is not what we began with is it?  What Proverbs 6:12 - 19 does is lays out the characteristics of evil people.

 

One perspective is from man.

 

The other, from the heart of the Lord.

 

There is no misunderstanding what the Lord is seeking to communicate:  There are 7 things that are detestable to Him.

 

No room for doubt... no discussion.

 

Praise the Lord for clearly telling us (and in this case showing us) what does not please Him.

Don't focus on the waves

"Today don't focus on the waves.  Focus on the One who can walk on them."

 

I saw this come across one of the feeds I subscribe to.  How often do we focus on our circumstances and not the One who allowed those circumstances in to our lives?  Next time you are faced with a difficult situation, a hard choice, or simply the unknown:

• Ask the Lord for guidance.

---  and  ---

• Trust His leading.

Worship is at its purest, when we are trusting Christ with all we have.

 

"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

John 4:23 - 24

The Main Thing

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:6 - 8

 

My intention is not to mine this passage, but to simply bring the following to your attention:

 

1. Paul is tired, and ready to go be with the Lord.  But notice that he even sees his death as a sacrifice to the Lord.

 

2. Paul sees his service as exactly that... service. He has finished the race... effort... work. 

 

3. Despite all his heartache and persecution, Paul has kept the faith.

 

and the observation we all need to see!

 

4. There is a crown of righteousness for all those who have LONGED FOR JESUS' APPEARING!

 

Are you living with a view to the second coming of Christ?

To daddy with love

The other day my oldest daughter (Dannia) drew me a bunny.  She thought of her daddy and wanted to make me something that she takes pleasure in... bunnies.  What did I say?  "Thank you baby... this is wonderful!" and it is.  She took time out of her day to draw me something. 

 

I can't but help think of the Lord's commands to His church:

 

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

 

and...

 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23 and 24

 

Being a father has really impacted my understanding of the Fatherhood of God.  With what we have seen above, are you seeking to please your Father with and in everything you do?

 

 

Why do we even buy them toys?

My kids having a great time amusing themselves (and us)!

Stirring the Pot

Hatred stirs up dissension,

but love covers over all wrongs.

Proverbs 10:12

 

It doesn't matter how you try to mask it. 

 

It doesn't matter how you try to hide it. 

 

You know the moment you walk in a home if the cookies have been burnt.  For the moment, forget my love for cookies.  There is something about the smell of burnt cookies that makes the face squirm.  That smell causes an almost instantaneous... and unfavorable reaction.

 

Like the smell of burnt cookies, hatred causes some rather unwholesome effects.  Among them are stirring up dissension.  One of the seven things the Lord hates in Proverbs 6:16 - 19 is "a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."

 

While one man in this proverb is seeking to destroy, another is seeking to encourage and restore for, "love covers over all wrongs."

 

When faced with the choice, always choose restoration over destruction.  That is what God the Father chose in sending His Son.

A message from the ants.

Go to the ant, you sluggard;

consider its ways and be wise!

It has no commander,

no overseer or ruler,

yet it stores its provisions in summer

and gathers its food at harvest.

Proverbs 6:6 - 8

 

Instinct?  Survival skills?  Lessons his mommy taught him? 

 

The ant gathers what it needs for the journey. 

 

There is no formal decree.  The ants act.

 

There are no pronouncements from the upper echelons of ant-dom.  The ants act.

 

So... let's consider there ways and be wise.

 

Jesus said:

 

My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.

John 4:34 - 38

 

Will you consider the ways of the ant?  Will you labor in the field and serve your King?

 

Words

When words are many, sin is not absent,

but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 10:19

 

The first time I read this I was deeply convicted by my "free speech".  I used to speak just about everything that was on my mind.  This often got me into a lot of trouble (as I'm sure anyone with chronic foot-in-mouth disease can attest.)  As I grew in Christ I found myself saying less and less.  One day, after being convicted of this yet again, I prayed, "Lord.  Please afford me the wisdom to know when I should remain silent." The Lord did not respond... as if to say, "Follow this example."

 

But simply remaining silent does not ALWAYS benefit.  Ephesians 4:29 says:

 

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

 

...and just a few lines down in Proverbs we read:

 

The lips of the righteous know what is fitting,

but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

Proverbs 10:32

 

This is more than tact.  The righteous know that there are words, innuendos, and topics that are not appropriate, ever.

 

There is a story of a preacher who was visiting a family in the church he served.  The father said, "I have a really great joke for you.  I'll tell you as soon as the children leave the room."  The preacher replied, "then maybe you should not tell it."

 

Brethren... "live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."  Galatians 5:16

Paralyzed by Grace

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Exodus 14:10 - 14

Have you ever been gripped with fear? How about paralysed with fear? Have you ever looked at your situation and felt helpless... hopeless? This is exactly what the Israelites felt when they saw the Egyptian army advancing.

No weapons...

No training...

No idea where they were to go...

Helpless...

Hopeless... (or were they?)

What these dear people forgot was the One who delivered them with a strong arm. They forgot the Lord.

They focused on how small they were against such a threat instead on how small their threat was to THEIR HUGE GOD!

Please do not miss the significance of this....

It was the Lord who was going to win this battle... not the Israelites. True... the Israelites would be the recipients of the blessings... but the battle belonged to the Lord.

I don't know what you are going through at this very moment... but you can take comfort in knowing these three things:

1. Jesus is bigger than your problem.

2. He is constantly fighting for and interceding for God's people.

3. You are safe in the will of God.

Jesus came to set the captives free and sometimes freedom can be scary.

When you think life has gained the upper hand and you feel overwhelmed, take this counsel from the book of Hebrews:

"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Hebrews 12:1 - 3

To be or not to be

Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,

for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

Proverbs 3:31 - 32

 

The first time I read this I thought, "Why on earth would I envy a violent man?"  That very thing... violence... is not something I want to be known for.  But isn't that what society at large magnifies?  What news stories do station producers seem to gravitate to?  What movies are blockbusters?  What sporting events get the most attention?

 

Now, before you come to any conclusions, let me state this rather frankly:

 

There is nothing inherently wrong with watching the news, going to the movies, or sports.

 

That is not what the Scriptures are saying here.  Solomon wants his children (and by application... us) to be characterized by and known for their uprightness.  The believer should be known for their meekness and humility... not anger or violence.

 

Consider a handful of qualifications for the overseer (elder):

 

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

1 Timothy 3:1 - 3

 

While it is true that everyone will not be an overseer (elder), that does not mean that these things should be absent from your life.

 

Please consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:3 - 12 as He opens the famed Sermon on the Mount. (Click on the verse if you don't have a Bible handy.)

 

Remember the BEATITUDES are exactly those... things believers should BE.

 

May the Lord bless you as you seek His will.

Suffering and the Will of God

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.

2 Timothy 1:8 - 9

 

Yes you read that right... "join with me in suffering for the gospel".  Paul wrote a letter of instruction and encouragement to his young protege that included the words, "join with me in suffering for the gospel". 

 

I don't know about you, but I do not look forward to suffering.  That's not accurate... I also know that you don;t either.  Jesus, remember, prayed:

 

"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Matthew 26:39

 

If you remember, Jesus prayed this three times (Matthew 26:42 - 44).

 

Being a Christian does not mean all your problems go away.  In fact, it seems as if new issues arise because of our testimony for Christ.  But more so for leaders.

 

Paul is writing to his young disciple and exhorting him to join in Christ's sufferings for the Gospel.  Why?

 

"[God] has saved us and called us to a holy life."

 

There is so much we could unpack from this passage.  But think on this last point:

 

It is God's purpose in saving people to conform them to the image of Jesus... and that includes suffering.

"not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace."

 

Think on these things... it might change the way you see your circumstances.

The Value of Wisdom

Consider carefully the following passage from Proverbs.

 

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,

the man who gains understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver

and yields better returns than gold.

She is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her.

Proverbs 3:13 - 15

 

Notice the way Solomon, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit conveys the worth of wisdom.  Please do not make the mistake that some have made in thinking that wisdom is solely a feminine trait.  Solomon was one of the wisest men in history.  In referring to wisdom as a female, he is drawing the readers' attention to the worth of a godly wife.  Later in this same Book, God instructs the human author to pen:

 

A wife of noble character who can find? 

She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her 

and lacks nothing of value.

Proverbs 31:10 - 11

 

Make no mistake about it... wisdom is worth it's weight in gold.  Ask Solomon... better yet:

 

Study what he wrote about the value of wisdom.

On our way to the Hood.

The Hood.

Here are a few pictures from our trip to the Hood.

(Mt. Hood)

Dani and the Izz

On the way to the Hood.

Dani and the kiddos making a snowboy.

Leading the Leadable.

After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Exodus 13:20 - 22

 

Imagine the sight as you and your fellow nation did something you never experienced... and never would again.

 

Imagine the awe as you followed a towering pillar of cloud during the day.

 

Imagine the heat the pillar of fire gave off at night.

 

What an amazing lesson for the children... what a great lesson for everyone.

 

It wasn't enough for the Lord to deliver Israel from the cruel bondage of Egypt.  It wasn't enough to (later) institute laws governing a nation that did not know how to govern itself.  The Lord led them:

 

He led them spiritually through His anointed leaders.

 

He led them morally through the issuing of the Law.

 

He led them physically in the pillars day and night.

 

God may not be leading you through the wilderness... He may not walk ahead of you in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night... but you can be sure of this:

 

He wants to lead you through whatever you are going through.

 

Friends... follow the deliverer.

 

My little Chicken :)

REMEMBRANCE

When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month: For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord. Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders.  On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.' This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.

Exodus 13:5 - 10

 

What was the point of the annual observances?  What was the point of the ritual?

 

REMEMBRANCE

 

What has the Lord delivered you from?  What has He delivered you to?

 

How are you honoring Him and remembering that deliverance?

 

Shalom.

Repetition

"Repetition," it has been said, "is the mother of learning."  Actually, what was said was: repetitio est mater studiorum (Latin: repetition is the mother of learning).  At any rate, the truth is that the best way to remember is to make repetitions of the learned material, even in slightly different and/or enhanced ways.

 

See if you can spot what God is trying to communicate through the following texts:

 

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

Judges 17:6 

 

In those days Israel had no king.

Judges 18:1

 

In those days Israel had no king.

Judges 19:1

 

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

Judges 21:25

 

That's right.  Where there is no law, people gravitate to following their own desires.  Left unchecked, this can lead to a very bad situation.  Consider Proverbs 29:18:

 

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.

 

Notice the subtlety of the message of this proverb.  While it is true that when people do not follow the Word (and therefore the will) of God, they seek their own desires, it is equally true that those who do follow the Word (and therefore the will) of God are blessed because of it.

 

How many times does Jesus have to teach His people this simple lesson:

 

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:4 - 5

 

Brethren... remain in Him.

Walk... or Run?

Sonship = Heirship

Last Sunday we looked at OUR CHANGE IN POSITION and ended on this note:

 

So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Galatians 4:7

 

I am still praying through and pondering the ramifications and implications of this verse.  We are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6) and, as if that weren't enough, we have been made heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

 

We closed the service by challenging folks to read through the whole New Testament to discover the promises made to the believer in Jesus Christ and those things that belong to His co-heirs.  It only takes 15 hours, at a "normal reading pace" to read the entire New Testament.  What a solid investment that would be for every believer.

 

If you are an heir... why not find out what belongs to you?

 

A Change of Seasons

Solomon was one of the wisest men in all of history.  Jesus even acknowledged God's blessing of wisdom on King Solomon (Luke 11:31).  He was a man of great talent, great ambition, and was greatly tempted.  Read what he wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 8

 

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 

 

Notice that there is a time and a place for all things.  Certainly every moment is the right time to offer thanks to the Lord for His greatness.  And yet when it comes to some of the more troubling things in life, you will also notice that they have their times too.

 

But take heart!  How does one of the richest and wisest men to live conclude?  What are his thoughts on the chief end of man?

 

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

 

Blessings to you as you follow the Lord's leading... whatever your season.

 

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW "God's Eye View"

Do you think your perception of a circumstance would change if you knew the whole picture? Tommy Tenney challenges his readers to worship their way to God's side and rest in Him in his book God's Eye View.

Probably the hardest hitting section of this book is found in the 8th chapter where the author, speaking of God's provision of a ram in stead of Issac on the mountain, writes:

Abraham's problem and God's solution were coming up the same mountain, but the problem couldn't be see the solution until it paid the price to reach the top.... Only God could see both sides of the mountain. (p. 147)

I have been blessed to have read so many thought provoking and challenging books that I can recommend to those who are serious about deepening their relationship with Christ. God's Eye View is another one of those books.

(Even if you do not read God's Eye View let me encourage you trust the One who sees both sides of the mountain you are climbing.)

Where are all the children?

I love my kids.  Every parent who loves their child(ren) knows the horror of thinking, even for a moment, that they went missing.  I can say from first hand experience that this is one of the most horrific times in a parent's life.

 

WHERE IS MY CHILD?

 

What follows the realization that you do not know where they are is a deep sense of shame and what I can only call adrenaline fueled panic.  Fortunately for most of us, this feeling lasts only a minute and we find our kid(s) playing or wondering or whatever they where doing the moment before we lost track.

 

Next week at Bethany Baptist Church we will be looking at our change in position... from slave to son.  Until then, consider the following:

 

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:16 - 20

 

Jesus knows where you are... even if you feel like you are all alone.

 

 

Untitled

He who works his land will have abundant food,

but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

 

A faithful man will be richly blessed,

but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

 

Proverbs 28:19-20

 

There is a difference between those who amass wealth because they are good businessmen and those who cheat the system for a buck.  There is a difference between a person who will waste his resources chasing fantasies and the person who invests for his or her future.

 

This is one of the principles of Sowing and Reaping:  You reap in a different season than you sow.

 

Plain and simple.

HIStory

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

 

Proverbs 29:18

 

I am amazed from time to time as I read what is going on in other countries.  Chavez is ruining Venezuela... there are some in the Middle East that are trying to eradicate others... and not to be outdone

 

I am so thankful that God has left us a revelation... a written account of History from an eternal perspective with Jesus as the central figure towering over human affairs. 

 

When it gets hard... when it seems like the world is spiraling out of control... take heart.  Jesus wins!

 

And those found in Him win too.

 

Shalom.

 

Who are you?

"Be yourself, everyone else is taken."
            -- Author unknown (to me anyway)

 

I came across this quote months ago and it has really been weighing on me.  Where would the world be today if some of the great thinkers of the past had not been who they were?

 

Einstein…

 

Hemmingway…

 

Curie…

 

America's founding fathers…

 

The truth is that everyone has a sense of what they want others to do and be.  But in the end, we must all submit to the leading of the Lord in our lives and not make apologies for it.

 

To put it another way:

 

I have a very, very clear vision for my children.  There are things I would like them to achieve.  But I can not allow my vision… my idea of what the Johnson kids should be and do to cloud the vision Jesus has for them.  

 

Trust me… His vision is better.

The Tongue

Do you see a man who speaks in haste?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 29:20

 

Young (and old alike) folk need to listen very closely to this.  It is safe to say that most of us have been caught off guard by a question or felt compelled to react in some rash way to thus and such an issue.... but listen to what Proverbs is telling us.

 

Rest on it.

 

Think it through.

 

You certainly do not want to be like... 

 

An angry man stirs up dissension,

and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

Proverbs 29:22

 

The point is... if you see yourself getting backed into a corner or entering a setting that is likely going to make you react in a negative way... watch out.

 

 

 

A Healthy Baby

My youngest daughter is getting chunky... that is a good thing. Doctors (generally) say that babies should drink whole milk. Apparently, the high fat content is good for her developing brain and the chunkiness shouldn't be too big a deal due to her high metabolism. (babies have a higher metabolism adults do)

This is nothing new. We have been down this road three times before. It dawned on me this morning though that while a higher fat diet is essential for a baby... it can be fatal (or at least problematic) in adults. So what's the difference? The Apostle Peter writes:

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation...
1 Peter 2:2-3

A baby's body is designed to digest milk. In fact, a newborn can not ate anything else. Today we have baby formula, which is a great attempt at trying to duplicate breast-milk.

So how long should my baby drink ONLY milk?

Consider the words of the author to the Hebrews:

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14

Izzy just cut her first set of teeth and she is sporting them well. (Imagine Sunny from A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS... only darker.) Even though she has some serious toothage she can not handle a steak. Which is good. Did you know that she would actually be malnourished if she ate what you and I ate? It's true. Her body is not designed for it, it has yet to mature to the point be needing other foods.

Likewise, you and I would be in serious trouble if we ONLY ate what babies eat.

So what's the point?

Paul, in writing to a once disobedient church in Corinth, says:

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2

Let me say this as frankly as I can:

If you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus... you MUST move past the simple milk of the Word.

I have met Christians that have been babes in Christ for years (even decades!). There are also folks out there that are not content with staying babes and mature rather quickly.

The point is not to compare one another... the point is to grow. And rest assured that Gos is pleased when we mature in Christ.

Remember that all Scripture is profitable... even the milk.

Shalom.


(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

The Heart of the Matter

As water reflects a face,

so a man's heart reflects the man.

Proverbs 27:19

 

Someone once said, "You spill what you are filled with."  One of the things Christians are called upon to do is to die daily to our desires.  That is not hard... apart from the Lord's work in the heart... it is impossible.

 

Here is a simple question every believer should ask of him or her self: Do I reflect the character of Christ more and more in my life?

 

If the answer is "No.", then you may want to spend some time at the feet of Jesus learning what it means to "be conformed to His image" (Romans 8:28 - 30)

 

Rest

Man has to suffer. When he has no real afflictions, he invents some.

-- Jose Marti --

 

 I came across this quote the other day.

 

There are some folks that NEED trouble in there lives.  They have no peace... not because Christ is not willing to grant it, but they are not willing to recieve it.

 

No news to to is not good news for them.

 

Jesus has triumphed over death, hell, and Satan.  He ever lives to make intercession for us.

 

If you find that you are restless, find your rest in Him.

Soft hearts

Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord,

but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

 

Proverbs 28:14

 

You know... the more I walk with Jesus... the more I find this to be true.

 

Friends, when you harden your heart to the things of the Lord, you are asking for trouble.

 

Jesus never said the path was easy... but it is rewarding.

Quality -vs- Quantity

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet

than a house full of feasting, with strife.

 

Proverbs 17:1

 

The next time you are put into a position of quality -vs- quantity... remember this verse.

 

I can sympathise with both of these:

 

1. When Daniela and I got married, we did not have much.  By the grace of God we were not lacking much, but we certainly did not have a house full of feasting.  Life was simple and we were content.
2. I have also been in homes where there was abundance... but no joy.

One of the things Scripture does It brings things into perspective.

 

So you have to ask yourself... would I rather have it all without joy or less with greater joy.

 

Think on these things.

 

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

Audience with a ruler...

Many seek an audience with a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that man gets justice.

Proverbs 29:26

 

I have, on several occasions, wanted to take my case to the manager of such and such store.  When I receive bad service (or no service) or purchase a defective product, I want justice.  I want the RIGHT THING to be done.

 

Let me share with you a deeply personal story that I trust will help communicate what Proverbs 29:26 is saying.

 

As most people who know me know, my wife is from Venezuela.  She and I met in Miami, FL.  Shortly after we were married, we filed for her citizenship.  I do not know what the requirements and policies are now, but for us it was a very lengthy and costly endure.  (As a side note, it really is humbling when you consider what some people do to earn the citizenship many take for granted.)

 

During one of our visits to INS (they have since changed their name I think), we were asked to wait in the waiting room.  Waiting in a waiting room is fine and proper... but we waited... and waited... and waited.  After an hour of waiting I asked if there was a problem.  I was told, "Please have a seat sir, you will be seen when it is your turn."  We arrived at 10:00 am and saw dozens of people come in after us, get seen before us, and leave; all the while we waited in the drab waiting room.  We waited a total of 6 hours in that waiting room before the clerk responded to my hourly pleas to find out if something had happened to our file. 

 

As it turns out, our case file (literally a file folder) fell behind a piece of furniture and the person we needed to see did not even know we were there.  We were upset to say the least.  What should have taken two hours total turned into an all day adventure.  I won't even get into the whole "passport photo" ordeal that followed.  Need I say I wanted to speak to this person's boss?  What would you have done in my place?

 

Well... we saw the agent, had our interview and proceeded to the next phase of the naturalization process.  We didn't talk to the clerk's boss... nor did we make a stink about the whole thing.  We were not Christians at the time.  I thought that the "highest court in the land" for this issue was the INS office.  You know what... I was wrong.

 

As I mature in my faith, as I come to know Christ in a fuller way, I am so thankful that the Savior of my soul is also the Lord God of creation.  Friends, it is in Christ that we are fulfilled and it is He who works out justice on this planet. Romans 12:19 says very pointedly:

 

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

 

Friends, take heart that the Lord Jesus has it all under control and He will exact justice... if not now... when the final curtain is drawn.  It is my prayer that we all find our rest in Him.

 

Shalom.

Thankful?

The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:

The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.

Proverbs 29:13

 

I was thinking about this last night... not that I am a poor man, nor am I an oppressor (at least i hope I'm not.)

 

But consider who stands between these two poles... everyone else.

 

All of us have this in common, the Lord provides for us all.

 

The question is, are you thankful?

Tomorrow?

The Book of Proverbs is a book of practical wisdom and is still relevant.

 

Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Proverbs 27:1blog

 

What a timely word for the Word.

 

It was almost 1,000 years after these words were penned that the Lord Jesus Christ said:

 

". . . do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:34

 

Proverbs cautions us to be ever mindful that the Lord is in control of tomorrow as well as today, therefore we should be thankful for what we have today.  Jesus calls us to bare in mind that the Father knows what we need, even before we do!  Both texts, along with the rest of the Scriptures, call us to trust the Lord with our whole being.

 

Shalom.

It sure has been a while...

It sure has been a while since I last wrote something.

As I reflect on how busy this week has been, I am so very thankful
that it has been full of productive activity.

Study

Prayer

Discipleship

Counseling

Mentoring

Meetings

Fellowship

The time I have spent with the Fab 5.

It sure has been a very busy season.

I say all that to say this:

I am so thankful that I have a heavenly Father that is never too busy
for me.

That is so comforting.

When was the last time you took time out to sit at His feet and spend
time with Him?

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

Queen of the Mountain

This morning we go West(er). My youngest, The Izz, climbed the stairs herself. That's great.
Here is the reason I share this picture:
She climbed the stairs so when she got to me I could pick her up.
This got me thinking, was climbing the stairs fun? ... Scary?Maybe. But her desire to be with dad was more powerful than her fear.

Let us have the same goal... to get as close as we can to Jesus, even if it means facing our fear.


(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

Send me???

What an amazing time this morning at the men's meeting.

Good night... There was a lot of food! And it was good too. One of
the other elders spoke about our certainty of faith and how this hope
energized the first century church. He challanged us to see ourselves
as missionaries to our friends and communities and then reminded us
that God is not done with the church. The implication being that there
is still so much work to be done.

What a great morning... and something for all of us to ponder:

Do I see myself as a missionary?

(sent from a spellcheckless device)

Words on the page

I was thinking about reading today.

 

I read... a lot.

 

In fact I think I read more in three months than I did during my High School years combined. 

 

Reading comes with the territory.  There are theology books and sociology books.  Science books and just plain weird books.  There are articles online and offline.  There is a lot out there to read.

 

But you know what?  In everything I have read this year so far only one Book has changed my life.  Sure... there are things that folks have written that make us ponder or even rethink the way we do or do not do something.  But the Bible is the only book that has the ability to cut to the very heart and weed out all the impurities and instills hope.

 

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

 

Let me challenge you to take this claim seriously and if you have never read through the Bible... begin that journey today.  You will be better for it.

 

You have His Word.

We went a pickin'

That's right.

 

Yesterday I took the FAB 5 (+ 1) to a u-pick fruit place. It was great!

 

I am terribly allergic to bees and they were out too, so I spent most of the time talking to one of the guys who ran the farm. I asked a lot of questions and he had a lot of answers.

 

"So... how long does it take to get fruit once you planted an apple seed?" I asked thinking it was a short time.

 

"Oh," my guide started, "about three years they start. But round about the fifth year... they start really producing."

 

Wow!  What a great illustration our Lord leaves us with. Notice a few things here:

• Apples only come from apple trees.

• It takes several years for the tree to mature to the point that it  

is fruit bearing.

• The purpose of planting the seed is to produce fruit.

• once the tree is bearing fruit, the return is exponential.

 

John 15:5 says:

 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

 

 

Mommy and the Izz

Comfort in the character of God

It has been hectic... hasn't it?

 

The world is changing - fast. So fast, in fact, that few of us have the ability to keep up. The world of business is sped up by the tech world which seems to have pole vaulted past a sane speed of innovation.

 

All of this means (at least) one thing.  We need to spend every moment with our Lord.

 

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

 

It doesn't mean that we should stand like statues all day... that would make us unproductive. Static is something God is not too pleased with us being. Nor does it mean that we should sit quietly in a dark room "waiting for that still small voice".  No, what God is saying to us through His Word is that He is in control.  He has the power to right the wrongs and heal the hurts.

 

Is there anxiety?  Be still and know that He is God and in control.

 

Is there trouble?  Be still and know that He is God and He cares for  

you.

 

Is there cause for concern?  Be still and know that He is God and He  

will provide.

 

Why can we take refuge in Him?

 

Because He is God.

 

Multnomah This Morning

One of the elders and I headed to Multnomah University for their annual ministry expo this morning. We were there representing Bethany  

Baptist.

 

Here are a few things that challenged me today:

 

- It was a huge encouragement to see so many young (and not so young) folks seeking to serve the Lord in their areas of gifting and training.

 

- We met a lot of young folks who wanted to serve the Lord, but don't know where/how yet. That is great... a somewhat un-nerving and, simultaneously, exhilarating time of asking the Lord for direction. Simply awesome.

 

- I got the chance to see a bigger picture of what Jesus is doing in the greater Portland area.  He is calling a people unto Himself... it is exciting.

 

- Probably the biggest "amen"'s of the morning where:

•The young guy leading a group of students on campus with VOICE OF THE MARTYRS. (A fantastic organization helping the persecuted and underground church worldwide.)

• The church planter two booths down from us. We had some sweet fellowship and he was just a great guy get to know.

 

All in all, we had several folks stop by and have two people interested in BBC. That is great... but here is something that is greater:

 

Jesus Christ not only loves the church, He provides for her. And that fact alone should challenge us to serve Him with greater passion.

 

 

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

 

Just thinking

I serve a great God and in His grace, He has chosen to allow me to
serve Him as an under-shepherd of a local church.

I was just thinking about who I was before Jesus saved me and how
things are now.

Praise His name for His matchless grace!

How has God been working in and through you?

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

Book Review

I just finished reading Meatball Sunday by Seth Godin.  Let me say this up front... it is no wonder that the guy has his own action figure!  But who is Seth Godin and why on earth would a pastor read a book on marketing? Let me answer those two questions with one simple answer: 

 

I think Seth Godin is one of the best and innovative Sociologists of our day and if you relate with people, commune with people, or are a person who likes people, it would be a good idea for you to at least hear what they  (Sociologists) have to say.

 

The age old question in the goods and serves industry is one of quality verse quantity.  Seth argues that this is now a moot point.  I won't go in to detail, though he does... shameless plug, but he lays out rather succinctly the reasons for the shift.  It is called NEW MARKETING, and if you don't think it affects you, you're wrong.

 

"But I am not in the goods and services industry!"... wrong.  You are more involved than you could possibly imagine. 

 

Those in the business world (and my church planting buddies around the globe) should pay close attention to the following from Seth's "intro":

This is a book about the right question.  Not "How do we use the cool new tools to support our existing structure" but "How do we become an organization that thrives because of New Marketing?" (p xii)

Simply:  you can not put new wine in old wineskins.  Now, when Jesus said that He was talking about the nature of the Gospel as opposed to the Law (we will examine this in our study of Galatians). But make no mistake about it... times have changed... people have not... but the way people think and socialize most certainly has. Hence New Marketing... and it explains why more churches are beefing up their websites and lots of pastors (myself included) use facebook and Twitter to minister to people. [I started using these tools because that's where folks did a lot of interaction... Seth's book helps to explain why.] 

So what is New Marketing?  In a nutshell, New Marketing is a more focused marketing.  In an age where you do not have to put up with being interrupted by commercials thanks to TIVO and web-based commercial free Network TV... advertising must take on a new form... one that embraces customer feedback and believes in the products they sell.  More than that, in an day when everyone has an opinion and every opinion has a way to be heard, it's a good idea to listen to those voices.

Here's the fundamental shift that I hope every marketer [and might I add, every customer] will understand:  For the first time ever, blogs convert readers and viewers into writers.  (p 77)

It's true.  You are reading proof of it right now.  If you don't think that is significant (for both customer and business alike) consider this:

Every business has a group of customers so motivated, so satisfied, and so connected that they want to tell the rest of the world about you and what you do.  Your challenge is to give them a megaphone.  (p 84)

 

I am in NO WAY calling the church a business, but this same principle applied, in part, on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.  The Apostle Paul also understood this (2 Timothy 2:2).  There is a segment of every community, family, or clan that is more vocal about this or that issue.  What Seth is proposing is that,while these voices may have gone unheard decades ago because of a lack of attention, today they have tremendous value. 

 

Ok... one more quote... THE QUOTE!

Here's the lesson: "Go big or stay home" is bad advice.  There are no fairy godmothers.  If you want to thrive, you need to do two things:

make something worth talking about

make it easy to talk about " (p 184-185)

 

And there it is.  BE REMARKABLE!  Not just good... not ok... Be remarkable. 

 

I don't know how that last quote applies to your world, but I know how it applies to mine.

 

Jesus Christ is someone worth talking about and the more I know Him... the easier it is to talk about Him.

 

(As you can probably tell... I recommend this book.)

 

Are you man enough?

What does Paul mean when he says:

 

Husbands... love your wives as Christ loved the church.... (Ephesians 5:25)

 

Think about some of the implications of this verse:

 

1. Jesus loved the church before it was founded.  (He died for HER)
2. Jesus loves the church now and intercedes for her.  (He lives for HER)
3. Jesus loves the church so much that He will one day come to claim His bride.  (He longs for HER)
4. Jesus loves the church so much that He will never leave her nor forsake her.  (He loves HER)

Husbands, those are some tall orders from our King.

 

Are you man enough?

Ninios a a A'Pork

Go a A'Pork (pt 2)

Daddy a Sammy go a A'pork

My wife's grandmother is flying into Portland from S. Florida today.
All week my son has been saying "Daddy a Sammy go a A'pork." For those
who do not speak Sammy-ease, it translates to something like this:

Daddy and I are going to the Airport.

(This is a big deal... in light of my son's near obsession with
airplanes.)

Anyway, I find it absolutely amazing that he can stay so focused... so
singleminded in what his objective is. He wants to go to the airport
with his daddy. Clear... concise... simple.

Much the same way, our Lord laid His plan for the church out for all
to see. It is clear, concise, and simple:

Preach the Gospel and make disciples. (Matthew 28 and elsewhere)

We are about to begin a detailedp study of the book of Galatians next
week. In this book we will see (among other things) what happens when
this clear, concise, and simple directive is compromised.

This is not only a shameless plug for our study of Galatians, but a
call to stay focused on the goal.

Shalom.

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

Book Review

I recently finished Building Leaders the West Point Way by Retired Major General Joseph P. Franklin. I will just come out and say it: it is hard to get past the fact that the guy is full of himself.  But if you can look past the lapses of humility, you just might go through an entire highlighter... I know I did.  There are some real pearls in this volume, no question about it.  In fact, the chapter on honor is worth the price of the book alone.

 

Talking about honor Franklin write: "Think about it: in order to live a life with meaning and purpose... you have to acknowledge and accept that you are not the center of the universe." (p 39)

 

In his masterful chapter on duty, the author states: "Warfare changed, people changed, the world changed, and culture changed.  But [West Point] didn't.  That was a huge mistake."

 

Though not his intent, Franklin offers the church a well thought out rational for discipleship in his chapter on courage: "War is terrifying, gruesome business, and no one walks through it unscathed.  But I found that the training I had received gave me the tools to act when and how I needed to."

 

All in all, this is an outstanding work.  Franklin tackles ten characteristics / traits of an effective leader:

1. Duty
2. Honor
3. Faith
4. Courage
5. Perseverance
6. Confidence
7. Approachability
8. Adaptability
9. Compassion
10. Vision

I would not be doing you justice if I did not bring to your attention what Franklin constantly reinforces... these ten characteristics are not independent.  They, much like the military he serves, are very much INTERDEPENDENT. 

 

Having said all that, I would recommend this book to anyone who has any influence over people.  You might be thinking, "I have influence over people...".  Great!  I'll see you at the bookstore.

 

 

Attention

Not all days are the same. (obviously)  Almost every day of the week I leave the house before my family wakes up.  Today was no exception.

 

After a great early meeting I stayed at the office.  I decided to take a break and head on over to the house for a cup of coffee and some family time.  

 

As I was walking out the door I said, "Bye." in my normal inside voice, which as many of you know is not that different from my outside voice.  What I heard coming back at me was a barrage of "bye daddy"s.  As I walked back to the office I couldn't but help think of the millions of people at any given moment talking to God the Father.

 

It should bring you great comfort in knowing that He always has the time.

 

Shalom.

 

A bigger plate?

There is a saying that you might have heard.  It goes something like this:

 

"God will never put more on your plate than you can eat."

 

If I were to take a guess, I'd have to say that this comes from 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says:

 

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

 

I challenge you to consider what the text actually says... God will not allow you to be TEMPTED beyond what you can endure. 

 

He will allow circumstances to weigh on you... He allowed the stoning of Stephen.  And what did we see result?  The spread of the Gospel and the advancement of the glory of God through His church.  Paul suffered from his "thorn in the flesh" which proved to be the means God used to drive Paul into a deeper relationship with Himself.

 

I think a contemporary of mine was right on target when he wrote:

 

It does not imply that God won't let you be stressed beyond what you can bear. Or challenged beyond your ability. Or pushed beyond your threshold. In reality, God gives you more than you can bear all the time. On purpose. It's only when you can't bear the load that the strength of Christ kicks in…and He becomes everything you need and more.

 

He's got it.

 

Brethren there is so much we can say about tempting and trials but remember that the trials you go through are temporary, but the goal is to refine you and produce in you Godly and permanent change.

 

Stand your ground

As a man, I have an innate desire to create... or tackle a bear... or scale a mountain.... Ok, maybe not mountain climbing.  (He says knowing perfectly well that he's afraid heights)

 

The truth is that everyone I know wants to be known for something. A great dad. A missionary to their community. An employee that honors Jesus by honoring her boss. These are all good things and I certainly do not want to diminish the importance of them. But if you are like me there is something inside you that says, "I must he different. I must stand out in a crowd."  But the gospel compels us, however, to look at ourselves differently.

 

We must come to the point where we say, along with John the Baptist, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)

 

This does not mean that we cower down when we need to stand up.  It means that the world needs to see less of us and more of Jesus in us.

 

Think on these things.

 

Shalom

 

Our will be done?

During this morning's devotions I was struck with the notion that so many times I want my will to be done. That is, unfortunately,
natural. But what does God want? I think anyone who is honest with the Biblical record will come to the conclusion that God is in charge.

Jesus taught us how to pray in Mathew 6:9 - 15. The centerpiece of the lesson is in verse 10: "Your will be done." Jesus said in John 6:38 that His will it to do the will of the Father who sent Him.

But there's the issue... there is the problem. I want to compromise... I want to barter with God. I want there to be some give and take in this whole, "Whose will will be done?" But that is not on the table is it?

You see friends, the simple truth of the matter is this:

God doesn't have to use any of us.

That He does work in and through His people is an act of grace and should be greeted with a sense of awe on ours.

I came across this quote today:

Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame. (Erica Jong)

I hope, like Jesus, we can all say from a heart that yearns for God:

Thy will be done.

Book Review

I have a confession.  I go through cycles of devouring books for weeks and then spending several weeks reading practically nothing outside of the Bible.  Confessions of a Reformissional Rev. by Mark Driscoll is rather on the shortish side (just under 200 pages).  But do not let its brevity fool you, Driscoll packs a lot of content into such a short volume. 

 

I'm just going to come out and say this:  I am not only a fan of Marshill Church in Seattle, but as a young passionate pastor-teacher, I was jealous of their success for a long time.  I repented of this a long time ago but the fact remains… God uses cracked vessels (and praise His Name for that!)

 

One of the reasons the Lord has seen fit to bless the work at Marshill is their senior leader.  God is allowing Mark Driscoll to lead and influence an entire generation of conservative and passionate evangelical Christians.  The reason is simple:  Mark is a broken record.  He honestly believes in the Jesus of the Bible and is both passionately in love with his Savior and, at the same time, scared of offending his God and King.  Here is a short except from page 144:

 

In the end, I realized that every person, every dollar, and every other resource belonged to Jesus and that he did not give us those treasures to bury them.

 

This book, though peppered with less than appropriate jesting, details the short history of one of the fastest and influential churches in America.  Mark really lays his heart out for the world to see and I honestly believe that the church at large is better for it.  If you are a church planter, you need to read this book.  If you are an experienced pastor in an established church, you need to read this book.  If you find yourself somewhere in the middle… do yourself a favor and read this book.

 

As in normally the case with well written prose that honors the Lord, I am sorry to say that I only have two thumbs to put up in favor of this book.  But once you read it, there will be two more.

 

Shalom.

Book Review

I just finished 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley and let me say this upfront: The guys at North Point Ministries really have their act together.

 

To be frank, I put off reading this book after reading the table of contents. The long narrative section was a real turn off for me and delayed my reading for months.  I am so glad i decided to revisit this book!  If you decide to pick it up, you will share my gladness.  Here are the 7 Practices... just in case you were wondering:

 

1.  Clarify the Win

 

2.  Think Steps, Not Programs

 

3.  Narrow the Focus

 

4.  Teach Less for More

 

5.  Listen to Outsiders

 

6.  Replace Yourself

 

7.  Work On It

 

Now, I have to warn you... this book is LOADED with baseball analogies, but don;t let that frighten you if you are not a baseball fan.  The content is explained and non-baseballic illustrations are plentiful.

 

I think the opening words of Andy's epilogue not only capture the essence of this short work, but say everything I want to say about it:

 

Your ministry is perfectly designed to achieve the results you are currently getting.

 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who takes ministry seriously.  And anyone who does not take ministry seriously needs to read this book twice.

 

 

Too busy to blog?

Have you ever felt like you were too busy to do the things you
normally do... and some of the things you take pleasure in doing?

I really enjoy writing and blogging. This week has proved to be busier
than I anticipated. I haven't had the time to write very much... in
fact, I am writing this while riding my stationary bike in my living
room.

It's easyto say "I haven't had the time to write to you." but what
about your prayer life? Do you find yourself thinking "I am too busy
to pray?" !!!

Something to think about.

Your never too busy to stop and seek the Lord's leadership, humble
yourself in repentance, or praise Him in prayer.

Shalom

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

I got one...

Well...

Looks like I got virus on my laptop. It was only a matter of time
before it happened. The Lord has blessed me with pc health for many
years.

But I was thinking about something. But before I tell you what I was
thinking, I need to tell you where I was thinking it.

This week is VBS week at Bethany Baptist and much of our campus looks
like 1st century Rome. Because I couldn't do my normal studing on my
computer, I decided to head over to the church library. As I passed
the Roman handywork, I could not but help feel overjoyed!

"but you computer, the one you use all day everyday, is messed up."

Yes, it is. But not only is God still on the throne, He has chosen to
bless His people. I am a very blessed man.

There is an old hymn that came to mind not that long ago:

Count your blessings name them one by one. . .

Why not try to count them an, as the hymn writer says, see what the
Lord has done.

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)