The Blessing of Incarceration?

Excuse me, Greg, did you mean to say “incarnation?” No, I meant “incarceration!”

According to Open Doors, an organization that reports on persecution around the world, police blocked more than 500 worshippers of Beijing’s Shouwang Church from leaving their homes to attend an outdoor Easter service—36 of them were detained by police and their pastor is currently under house arrest. [China is ranked 16th on Open Doors World Watch List of nations where Christians are persecuted.]

Last week, Pastor Tianming sent the following email to his 1,000-member church: “We pray especially for those brothers and sisters who in the past week or two have already been forced to move or leave their jobs. We ask God to remember the price they have paid for holding on to their faith and ask him to take care of their families and their daily life needs.”

"God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for a great reward awaits you in heaven” (Mathew 5:11-12 NLT, NKJ). You already knew about the blessing of the incarnation—our brothers and sisters in China now know the blessing of incarceration!

David Wilkerson Goes Home

Today I awoke to the news that David Wilkerson, one of the greatest men of faith in our time, went home to be with the Lord yesterday.  He died from injuries sustained in a car accident in East Texas.  His wife Gwen is still in critical condition.

In this blog, I have quoted from David Wilkerson more than any other contemporary Christian author/pastor. David has been an inspiration and encouragement to me for almost 50 years, since I read his book “The Cross and the Switchblade.” From that beginning, David established Teen Challenge, a ministry that now provides hope for nearly 24,000 men and women around the world who are experiencing powerful deliverance from alcohol and substance abuse through Jesus Christ.

In 1972, he established World Challenge, a ministry dedicated to serving the needs of the poor around the globe. In 1987, he founded Times Square Church in New York City. David Wilkerson authored more than 30 books, including one that is extremely relevant to us, “America’s Last Call,” in which David insightfully points out the signs that God’s judgment on America is imminent.

George Wood, Superintendent of the Assemblies of God said: “Today, the Kingdom of God has lost a giant of the faith. His life touched millions. He was godly, humble and represented everything that is best in a spiritual leader.” David Wilkerson was a father in the faith to many. Today we have lost one of our ‘fathers.’

The Answer is Not Blowing in the Wind

From the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic, people are on tornado watch today. By all accounts, this is the worst tornado season in recorded history. And the worst of it all may be yet to come since tornado season doesn’t reach its peak until May.

Severe storms find their parallel in human trial and tribulation that blow through our lives, often leaving us feeling destroyed. Our faith seems tested beyond what we can endure. It is at these times, we must stand firm in our faith (1 Cor. 16:13; 1 Thess. 3:8). But unless we are grounded in the Word, really believing what God says, we will “be tossed and blown about” (Eph. 4:14) when the trials come.

We must have a telescopic vision, magnifying Jesus who can make everything ‘good’ (Ro. 8:28). We must keep looking to our future hope when Jesus “will wipe every tear from [our] eyes,” when there will be “no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.. [when] all these things are gone forever" (Rev. 21:4). People of faith will not be blown off track when things don’t make sense. Listen to what David Wilkerson says today:

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.” Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.

How will our story read?

Last year I attended a memorial service for the wife of a friend. Since I didn’t know her very well, I paid close attention to what people said about her. In all, probably a dozen people took the ‘mic’ and shared how her life impacted them. I had met her once and knew her to be a Christian, but, surprisingly, no one spoke about the impact of her spiritual life. I hope it was just an awful omission. But it did make me think: ‘what would people say about me?’ And would some tell a different story than others?

If “it is no longer I who live, but Christ is living in me” (Gal. 2:20), then shouldn’t my life story be more about Jesus than me, about how His life impacted others through me? If I am being conformed to the image of Jesus (Rom. 8:29), shouldn’t my character be indistinguishable from His?

As if eulogizing the Corinthians, Paul said “you are living letters… written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God” (2 Cor. 3:2). When I wrote my father’s eulogy last year, I chose to focus on the impact of his spiritual life on his family and friends. To me, that’s the ‘real’ story.

Again, I must ask myself ‘how will my story read?’ One thing for sure is that I want my family and friends to tell the ‘same’ story—that is, I hate to think that I made a positive impact with some and a negative one with others. Thank God, I’m not finished yet. There is still time to write my story.

Will they be watching Jesus on YouTube?

Yesterday in an interview with ABC News Reporter Christiane Amanpour, Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s oldest son, said he thinks the second coming of Jesus Christ could be a social media event captured by millions of mobile phones, explaining, “The Bible says that Christ will come on the clouds and every eye is going to see it.”

I have always thought that Christ’s visibility to the whole world at once would just be a rather supernatural event. But Graham finds a ‘natural’ explanation for it! Just think of it! Everyone will be taking pictures with their cell phones and sending them throughout the entire world by picture and video messaging, which will be watched on YouTube, and shared on Face book, and "tweeps" tweeting it in real time.  Graham seems to be suggesting not only that Jesus' return is imminent, but that the phenomenon of social media is one more proof that everything is getting in place for the world’s greatest event! 

What Makes it "Good" Friday?

In Jesus’ day, death on a cross was cruel and brutal—the worst way to die. No one would have worn a cross as a piece of jewelry anymore than we would consider wearing a tiny emblem of a coffin around our neck!

More than two thousand years before Christ’s death on a cross, Abraham was circumcised; it was an external sign of his covenant with God. Did Abraham know it foreshadowed the work of the Cross? I think he did.  Because some 400 years later, the Old Testament writers called  it a “circumcision of the heart (Deut. 10:16; Romans 2:29). They knew the covenant with God was entered by death—that’s what the sacrificial ceremonies were all about. But on some level, they also knew that it meant death to the treasures of one’s heart.

How many people who call themselves Christians wear the cross on the outside but have never known what it is to have a new heart and a new spirit (Ez. 36:26)because of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Romans 6:4,6,11): the New Covenant? Jesus bore the Cross. Now we wear a Cross. Today is Good Friday. Why is it “good?” Because… if Jesus had not been bearing the Cross, we couldn’t be wearing one.

"Don’t take life so seriously"

Altha and I saw the movie “Soul Surfer” last weekend—a film that unapologetically presents a Christian world view. Teen-ager Bethany Hamilton’s faith in Jesus sustains her after losing her arm in a shark attack! I have since seen the “real” Bethany interviewed on TV—a serious champion surfer who is just as serious about Jesus.

The phrase “don’t take life so seriously” seems to be the 21st century American mantra (Is anyone really taking the National Debt seriously?) And according to a recent survey (2011) by researcher George Barna, American Christians are not taking God too seriously. Only 14% of professing Christians say their relationship with God is their highest life priority.

And anyone who tries to warn of judgment on America, like David Wilkerson, in his book "America's Last Call," is viewed as a doomsayer.  Most people just don't want to hear it.  "You're taking this all too seriously," they say.

 Leonard Ravenhill once said: "Many people criticize me for being too serious. But do they really think that on Judgment Day, Christ will chastise me, saying, 'Leonard, you took me too seriously?"

The Perfect Storm

A perfect storm is an expression to describe weather conditions that happen to hit at a region’s most vulnerable area, resulting in the worst possible damage. The term is also used (metaphorically) to describe an event where a rare combination of circumstances will aggravate a situation drastically.

I read a letter in the Mercury’s Editorials this morning describing current conditions in America this way: “We are facing a perfect storm of an aging population affecting both Social Security and Medicare, unpaid war expenditures, declining oil supplies, and increased tax burden for the middle class and wealthy.” And I can immediately think of many more present conditions that could be added to that mix.

Today David Wilkerson wrote: “Beloved, if we’re going to face the coming storm, then we need to be prepared so nothing disturbs our spirit. And the only way to do that is to spend time in the Father’s presence beholding His face. We have to be shut in with Him—on our knees, practicing His presence, seeking Him—until we’re thoroughly persuaded He’s at our right hand.”

I have set the Lord always before me; because You are at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad; my flesh also will rest in hope. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16: 8-11 abbreviated).

Lord, Help Me Forget the Things I shouldn’t Remember

As Altha and I advance into our 60’s we seem to be commenting more frequently on what-we-think-is our increasing forgetfulness—the telltale signs of ‘aging.’ But then I remember how forgetful our children were as teen-agers and even as young adults.

But as feeble as our minds (at any age) may be, it seems all of us (at every age)have an amazing ability to remember things we would be better off forgetting—like, all the hurts, disappointments, betrayals, and grievances of our past. Isn’t it remarkable! You can forget where you parked your car at the mall 30 minutes ago, but when it comes to perceived injury, slight, or infraction, your memory never fails you?

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony (Col. 3:12-14).

Happy Birthday McDonald’s

Yes, it’s true. McDonald’s opened its first fast food restaurant on this day in 1955. A regular burger was 15 cents. Fifty-six years later, the same burger (well, not the ‘same’ one) is nearly $2. That said, if you are wise about saving money for the future, you are also shrewd enough to know you have to earn enough interest on that money to keep up with inflation. In a half-century, that $2 burger will be $26.

But of course you know I’m not talking about protecting your earthly interests! In God’s economy, whatever you invest in (it’s called sowing) will give you a guaranteed return of at least 30-fold (30, 60, 100 fold, Mark 4:8) which would mean that $2 “hamburger” is now worth $60. In “kingdom” economy, you will always ‘earn’ much more than you invest. “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:29) As much as the sacrifice involved of divesting yourself of earthly treasures is great, the reward of investing in God’s kingdom is greater.

People my age worry about the future—that they will run out of money before they run out of life! I think we should rather be worried that we will run out of time before we’ve finished investing!

Don’t be Like a Rubber Band

As I have stated many times in this blog, God wants us to set our mind on the things above and not on things of earth. And in order to do that, He puts us through trials that cause us to look to Him for strength, perspective, and comfort. My friend Zac Poonen compares this to the stretching of a rubber band. Like a rubber band, our spirit is stretched to focus on eternal things. But unfortunately, once the trial is over, our mind, like the rubber-band relaxes to its normal position, our spirit relaxes, and our minds spring back to the things of earth.

In the 1970s, the word “détente” was used in a political reference to the general easing of relations between the Soviet Union and the United States: during the Cold War. The French word détente originally meant the releasing of crossbow strings—two warriors relaxing their bow strings. But in our war against sin and Satan, our bow strings should never be relaxed. We should allow all circumstances to keep us taut—meaning “not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit” (Romans 12:11), alert, ever ready for an enemy who is constantly on the prowl to catch us (1 Peter 5:8).

“Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to die”

As I read the USA front page article on the deficit reduction, this quote nearly jumped off the page. You can understand why. No true believer could fail to see the spiritual analogy! People want to balance the budget, but they don’t want to give up anything to do so. Unfortunately, there are born-again believers who want "the spiritual blessings in the heavenlies" (Eph. 1:3, 20), but are unwilling to give up (die to) treasures on earth.

On one occasion a wealthy young man came to Jesus asking how to get to Heaven, and Jesus told him “go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Mat. 19:21). And though the young man wanted to go to Heaven, he was unwilling to give up anything (die) to do so. Seeing a teachable moment, Jesus told the Disciples “everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will have eternal life” (Mat. 19:29).

Jesus' first followers found themselves facing economic hardships because they decided to follow Him. But we are told they “accepted joyfully the seizure of their property” (Heb. 10:34). I don’t know if you and I will ever have to endure such persecution in our life time. But before that happens, it should be a settled issue: to gain Heaven, we are willing to give up (die to) our treasures on earth.

Leave It at the Cross

Through many years of counseling, I know that wounded people often wear their wound like a name tag, i.e., “this is who I am.” They are paralyzed by this “I-am-wounded” identity. Mark tells a story about a paralyzed man’s friends who brought him to Jesus. Unable to get in the front door, they removed the roof and dropped him down.  Jesus’ initial response was: “My son, your sins are forgiven” (2:5). But he was still paralyzed. Then to demonstrate that He had authority to forgive sins, Jesus healed the paralytic, saying “rise up, take up your bed and go home” (2:11).

In this story, the man’s “bed” represents his wound—and the 'place' of spiritual paralysis. But it was not Jesus’ intention for him be a forgiven but remain wounded. How can a spiritually crippled person express the fullness of Jesus? After Jesus saves you, he wants you to “pick up your bed” of failure [overcome it] and walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4).

Easter will be here in less than two weeks. Let us remember that while you and I were wounded BY our transgressions, Jesus was wounded FOR our transgressions. In other words, Jesus took our “wound” on Himself. Then He took our wound into the grave, and left it there. And when He was were raised up, we too were raised. And now He says, “My son, you are forgiven; now rise up; take up your bed [don't be paralyzed anymore] and walk.”

Contentment in Chaos

The number 11 in Bible numerology means disorder and chaos (as in “9/11”). Not to spook you out, but less than four months into 2011, the world has already witnessed unprecedented chaos in North Africa, the Middle East, and extreme natural catastrophes, including of course, the devastating earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan—the latter followed by a tsunami that killed 25,000 and damaged several of Japan’s nuclear reactors with as yet unknown consequence.

According to Shaddy Soliman, pastor of Every Nation Church in Florida and co-author of “Islam and Terrorism,” the symbol of 11 is beginning to manifest: “We’re seeing history-making events unfold before our eyes… Fasten your seat belts, because we haven’t seen the best of it yet. But the good news is that 12 is the number of order and perfection.”

While I can’t be sure “order” is around the corner, of this I am sure. The good news for believers is that even in difficult times we can be safe, blessed, content and full of peace by trusting that God is good, and has good things planned for us. "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome" (Jeremiah 29:11).

"Love Wins"

Rob Bell, pastor of a 10,000-member church in Grand Rapids, has written a book that is stirring controversy among Evangelicals. It is called Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.

The controversy centers on the doctrine of Heaven and Hell. Questioning conventional interpretation, Rob asks: "Will only a few select people make it into Heaven [while]billions of people burn forever in hell? And if that's the case, how do you become one of the few? Does it really make sense that God is a loving, kind, compassionate God who wants to know people in a personal way, but if they reject this relationship with Jesus, they will be sent to Hell where God will eternally punish them forever?" Bell arrives at the conclusion that, in the end, love wins.

Now, let me say I have no issue with people asking hard theological questions—especially when it comes to exploring the character of God. And not having read his book, I don’t know exactly what he means by “love wins.” But if Rob Bell wants to investigate the limits of God’s love, he need look no further than the Cross upon which Jesus died to save men from sin, death, and yes, Hell. I believe an alternate title for Rob’s book should be “Love Won”.

THE PRESENT MADNESS by David Wilkerson

I am shocked by the present madness of the world. Government leaders are under God’s judicial blindness. You cannot explain the blindness of so many politicians and leaders. They grope about like the blind leading the blind. It seems like all restraint is being cast aside and a moral madness has hardened multitudes.

Seeing all this madness makes me rejoice all the more that Christ Jesus has quickened those of us who were dead in trespasses and sin. I rejoice that those who once walked according to the course of this world—who were under the spirit of the prince of the power of the air and the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience—who once fulfilled all desires of the flesh and of the mind, even dead in sins—are now raised from the dead, quickened by the Spirit—sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  Today, as you grieve over the present madness, give God praise that you have been saved out of it all. God be praised!

______________________________________________________
As I [Greg] reflected on David's article today, the Lord brought to my mind the following verse:  “He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live” (Galatians 1:4).

Donating Blood—the Gift of Life

My mother is slowly recovering from hip-replacement surgery; and after determining she was anemic, the doctor gave her a unit (pint) of blood. As I watched the plastic bag of blood draining into her veins, I was kind of amazed to think that the life of someone else was entering her body. The Red Cross slogan “Donating Blood: the Gift of Life” became more real to me.

I couldn’t help but think of Jesus’ words “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life… for my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him" (John 6:53-57).

Centuries earlier God told Noah not to drink the blood of an animal—which would be the equivalent of drinking in its life. Against that backdrop, when Jesus said "Drink my blood,” He shocked the devout Jews! But Jesus didn’t speak those words for their shock value, but to teach a radical life-changing truth. In effect, saying if you drink my blood, my life will enter you! Not until after His death would the disciples be able to comprehend the truth He spoke about that day. Two thousand years later, we are still trying to fully apprehend this wonderful truth—“it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20)—we really do live by the life of another.

Moderate Muslims or Moderate Christians

A Pakistani Christian woman Asia Noreen was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death by hanging—the first woman ever sentenced to death under Pakistan's sharia blasphemy laws. She denied that Muhammad was a prophet. Even if she wins her appeal and is released from prison, a Pakistani Imam has issued a Fatwa against her—anyone killing her will be paid $6,000.

Salmaan Taseer, the Governor of Punjab and an outspoken critic of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, spoke in defense of Asia Noreen. After declaring that she should be pardoned, he was assassinated by his body guard. Then Pakistan's Minister of Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian in the Pakistani Cabinet, was assassinated two months later because of his vocal opposition to the blasphemy laws.

Author Nonie Darwish who wrote “Now They Call me Infidel” and “Why I Renounced Jihad” says “the term “moderate Muslim” was created in the West. In the Muslim world there is nothing called moderate or radical Muslims or moderate or radical mosques. You are either a Muslim or not. What the West terms as Moderate Muslims are really just those who do not take their religion very seriously and do not follow Sharia Law.” In other words, they are Muslim in name only, probably not unlike a “moderate” Christian—one who doesn’t take the Bible or relationship with Jesus too seriously.  "Moderate" Muslims or "moderate" Christians: both are oxymorons!

If you pray “Thy will be done,” you will always get your way

YES, the title of my post today is an April Fools Day joke. Now let’s get serious about the subject.

In one of my spiritual formation classes, my assignment is to say the Lord’s Prayer every day. It serves me well. Through its simplicity, I hear the Father say: “Greg, do you really mean it when you pray ‘Thy will be done?’” It's not easy to pray this way. If anyone thinks it is, he has not yet plumbed the depths of “self” within his own heart.

Praying “Thy will be done,” can be perilous—to your self-life! Yesterday, my elderly mother fell and broke her hip; and immediately God’s will for my day was set in motion. After surgery, her long, hard rehabilitation process will begin. My first thought was of her pain. But I have to confess that my second thought was: “How will this affect ‘my’ life and ‘my’ plans?”

Then the Spirit reminded me of my prayer. It wasn’t “My will be done,” but “Thy will be done.” It's not easy to pray, "do whatever you want” when you know that if God has His way, you may not get yours.