Are there any Fleeing Felons out There?

For more than 20 years, I was an administrator of federal welfare programs. During Clinton's administration, Congress passed legislation that no fleeing felon could receive welfare benefits. [a ‘fleeing felon’ is one who has a warrant out for his arrest because he has committed a crime.] So every welfare application in America had to include this question: “Are you a fleeing felon?” In the years that followed, I don’t know of any fleeing felons, in all 50 states, that ever answered that question “yes.”

Last week, I wrote about Paul’s command to “flee” temptation (1 Tim 2:22). Today it occurred to me that we were all, at one time, felons—having committed ‘crimes’ against God. And at one time we were all “fleeing” from the punishment for our sin. But God loved us while we were yet felons. Jesus became a felon like us and ‘did the time’, so we would no longer need to flee; thus, we are now free & forgiven felons.

In the just-mentioned passage, Paul says we should “flee” temptation and “follow” Jesus. But of course, before you can “follow” Jesus, you must be a forgiven felon. And after you follow Jesus, you must flee your former felonious acts. So while we were once “fleeing felons,” we have become “faithful followers” who are now fleeing from anything that made us felons in the first place.

"It's the End of the World as We Know It"

R.E.M., allegedly one of the greatest rock bands of all time, announced yesterday they are ending their 31-year career. The reason this news item caught my attention is because of the “eye-grabbing” title of the article in today’s Mercury News: “The end of the world as we know it” (the title of one of their most well known songs).  Apparently, the author was trying to make the not-so-subtle connection that the world will never be the same without R.E.M.

The title holds more meaning than you might imagine at first. Our world is constantly changing. People change jobs or schools; people get married or divorced; people’s morals change; people get old; people die and people are born! Every day it is the end of the world as we know it.

But through our ever-changing world, God is at work behind the scene to break us of our addictions to people and possessions. Through the normal course of life, we are increasingly aware that we can only truly possess that which is eternal.  But in all honesty, most of us are afraid of losing our people and possessions—these are the things that define us.

In his book “The Pursuit of God,” A. W. Tozer has a chapter called, “The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing.” What is the secret of obtaining this blessing? It is this: “having everything, but possessing nothing” and “having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (John 17:10; 2 Cor. 6:10).

Are you Unprofitable?

It occurred to me the other day how ironic it is that churches are called “non-profit" organizations. What a gross mis-characterization!  If there is any place on earth that is profitable, it is a good Bible-teaching church.  I guess it all depends on how you define "profit!"

Paul said “All Scripture is inspired by God and [is] profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). And as if to underscore the materialistic, inside-out, upside-down values of our culture, Paul says: “godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Then, the third (and only other) time this word is used, Paul says believers “will devote themselves to doing good [because] these things are profitable…” (Tit. 3:8).

What greater indication is there of a maligned Christian culture: even the sovereign USA characterizes our churches as "non-profits"—unprofitable! Wow! Do they have it wrong!

In These Confusing Times

Are you confused about the economy? You should be. On the front page of today’s financial section, a bold headline declared: “Job Market Expected to Expand.” Then on page two, another bold headline shouted: “Worries about More Job Layoffs.” There you have it: one day, unemployment is coming down more slowly than expected, and the next, the pace appears to be quickening. Confusion reigns!

But, our “God is not a God of confusion, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Confusion comes of the devil, because there is no truth in him. He is a liar, and will always try to confuse, deceive, and mislead us. We must be alert to his strategy. You can be sure that in this financially worrisome season, Satan is working overtime to get us to focus on troubling situations, so to keep us from remembering that God is greater than our circumstances, and forgetting Jesus’ words: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

In these confusing times, you can be sure that there is no unemployment among Satan and his minions. Yes, they are fully employed in stirring up confusion and unbelief. Let us, therefore, make it our occupation to be fully employed in things above (Col. 3:2).

Comfort Food

The most basic of human needs is nourishment, i.e., food and water. And a vast majority of Earth’s population struggle every day to get enough of it to stay alive. All the while, obesity in the U.S. has become an increasingly large problem (pun intended). According to a recent report, the amount of food Americans eat has been increasing since the 1970s. Why? Simply this: ‘wealthy’ (relatively speaking) Americans eat for comfort, not for nourishment. Comfort eating has always been one of the greatest saboteurs of well-being!

Why? Paul rebuked people “whose god is their appetite” as those who “set their mind on earthly things” (Phil. 3:19). In other words, Paul points out the eating connection between those whose focus is more on earthly than heavenly. The temptation for comfort and pleasure (or burgers, fries, and milkshakes) is the bane of fallen humanity.

The writer of Hebrews calls Esau “profane” (common or earthly) because he “traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal” (12:16). Think about this. Just as eating lost Esau his birthright, so it was eating that lost Adam His. And when Satan tempted Jesus to eat, it was Jesus’ refusal to eat that won back the kingdom! Metaphorically speaking, it isn’t eating, per se, but forfeiting our relationship with God for immediate gratification of comfort and pleasure (or fast food).

Can you see the other side of suffering?

Unfortunately, many Christians see suffering as a sign that they're out of God's will—that something is wrong. But because we live in a ‘fallen’ world, we suffer. (That’s not to say that we don’t bring suffering on ourselves by our own bad choices.) But Paul gives us this principle of correlation: “All those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12).

Not understanding this, many Christians try to avoid anything that causes them discomfort, even when it could be that God wants them to endure some distress for His sake. It would seem that God is more concerned with our eternal rewards than we are. “If we suffer with Him we will reign with Him;” and to do that, we have “need of endurance” (2 Tim. 4:7; Heb. 10:36).

Now you will probably never be thrown to the lions for your faith or have your head chopped off and put on a platter, but you may be ridiculed by unbelievers. Or, surprisingly, because of your single-mindedness, you may even be misunderstood and maligned by less ardent Christians. But one thing is sure: if you seek to live a godly life, you will become familiar with suffering.

Nevertheless, when you endure, you will share in the same glorious reward as Daniel or John the Baptist or Paul. The Bible assures us that our present sufferings are “producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17).

Frequent Flyers (aka Fleers)

“God knows that Satan is going to be loosed on the earth for his last hour of warfare. And the Lord is going to need well-trained warriors who will prevail over all the powers of hell!” (David Wilkerson)

As Paul’s life was nearing the end, his final words were: “I have fought the good fight” (1 Timothy 4:6-7). No doubt Paul was a well-trained warrior. Years earlier, he explained to the Corinthians that he “disciplined [his] body like an athlete, training it to do what it should” (1 Cor. 9:27). Paul's military strategy is worth taking note of.

Now what I am about to say may seem counter-intuitive to the natural warrior’s battle strategy. But in the same breath, Paul tells Timothy to “flee [run, fly away] the evil desires of youth, and pursue [run, fly to] righteousness, faith, love and peace” (1 Timothy 2:22). Notably, the command to “flee” precedes the command to “fight.” Paul’s strategy: fly away from temptation as fast as you can and fly to the heavenlies from where you will have a proper fighting stance against the enemy.

The next time you are facing severe trials and temptations that threaten to destroy you, remember that God has given you the wings of a dove to fly away! (Ps. 55:6)  God is training up warriors who are also frequent flyers, aka fleers.

If your life was a movie, would it be worth watching?

While my employment with the Federal government may have been my occupation for 25 years, it was never my avocation. So, on the very first day I was eligible to retire (my 60th birthday), I did. Some well-intentioned friends tried to disuade me—“the economy is not doing well,” they reminded me, “and if you stay a few more years, you will have a bigger pension.” But I was convinced there was a better use of my waning years.  I knew God was re-writing the Script.

I thought of the dramatic, action-filled life of David, who died full of years, confident he had done everything God called him to do—a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). I thought of the suffering and triumph of Paul, who in his last years, said “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Tim 4:6 NLT).

Every day of our lives on earth, God has a plan, a script.  Though I am currently investing my time in the lives of my students, I know it is not the final Script.  No doubt there are many new adventures ahead of me. May I remind us all that as we look at the life choices ahead of us that we remember the Jesus is not only the author but the finisher of our life of faith (Heb. 12:2)?  He has already written the Script.  But one day, time will run out, and your life will "flash" before your eyes.  Will it be worth watching?

What do PCs, Typewriters, and Dinosaurs have in Common?

Things are moving too fast. Every year newer, faster digital devices replace the old ones. Sitting at Starbucks, with my 3-year old laptop, next to young people with I-Pads and Tablets makes me feel self-conscious. I imagine they must be thinking, “He’s just an old man; what do you expect?”

The first personal computer I ever bought sits on the book shelf in my library. I just can’t bring myself to throw it out—after all, it's an antique—an original Apple Macintosh (circa, 1984). It’s now a dinosaur, of course. But undoubtedly, the laptop from which I am writing at this very moment will also be a dinosaur in twenty-seven years. It’s only a matter of time before the PC goes the way of typewriters, cassette recorders, and 8-tracks, as the sale of  hand-held mobile devices already outpaces them.  And you can bet the PC's days are numbered by the invention of “gizmos” that Steve Jobs and the like haven’t even dreamed up yet!

So what is my point? Everything in the world is passing away (John 2:17). Everything has a limited existence on this Earth. Nothing lasts forever. Our life on earth is a temporary assignment. “Our days are numbered… we are here on earth for just a little while” (Psalm 39:4; 119:19). Let us, then, “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18).

Customizing Christianity

“I believe in God. I believe the Bible is a good book. And then I believe whatever I want.” And this is how Christian pollster George Barna describes the  American religious ethic in his latest book “Futurecast.”  From 1991 to the present, the percentage of self-proclaimed, born-again Christians who are “unchurched” has gone from 24% to a whopping 37%. One woman who still calls herself a Christian tells how she drifted away from a mainline Protestant church and found peace in the Baha’i tradition along with Native American healing practices.

The bottom line is captured in Barna’s statement, “America is headed for 310 million people with 310 million religions”—customizing Christianity to fit our personal needs. It appears that the state of Christianity in America is not unlike that of Israel during the time of the judges. “In those days there was no king in Israel but every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). Or worse, like Israel’s response to Jeremiah’s cry for repentance: "Don't waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to…" (18:12). Can such an attitude come from a true believer? Let the Bible speak for itself.

“Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused… Even though there is a path before each person that seems right [the way of a fool seems right to him], it ends in death” (Romans 1:21; Proverbs 12:15; 14:12).

No More Unhappy Anniversaries

In yesterday’s Sunday newspaper, the phrase “Unhappy Anniversary” grabbed my attention. Not an article about our 9/11 commemoration, it was about Japan’s 3/11 half-year unhappy anniversary of the tsunami that killed 24,000. Immediately I thought of all the unhappy events this year that will be forever annually commemorated: the Joplin, Missouri Tornado; the senseless mass murder of 84 teenagers in Norway.  “Unhappy Anniversaries"... those dates we hate to remember—untimely deaths; floods, fires—events that changed lives forever.

But Paul’s assuring words remind us that we are not defined by unhappy histories. Rather, our co-death and co-resurrection with Jesus brings us into the ‘newness’ of life (Rom. 6:4). It seems to me that the “newness of life”—a word, by the way, that defies logic—demands that we live in a new reality where God causes all things to work together for good, where history does not control us, and where the hope of a new heaven and a new earth is more real to us than the unhappy one we’re living in.

In fact, when we live in the new reality, outside of time and earthly 'dates', we live in the promise of endless “days” of “goodness, peace, joy” (Rom. 14:17). And finally, reflect on this: “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past, for I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” (Is. 43:18-19)

Remembering 9/11, But Forgetting God

In a few days, Americans all over our country will be commemorating the tenth anniversary of 9/11. In the emotional aftermath of that day, people flocked to religious services like never before, responding to calls for prayer throughout the Nations’ churches, including one at Yankee Stadium attended by thousands. But within a year, church attendance had returned to pre-attack numbers. And now, ten years later, religious apathy is again the norm.

Last week it was announced that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg had decided not to invite clergy of any faith to commemorate the anniversary Sunday at Ground Zero. As of yesterday, his decision remains unchanged despite a letter signed by thousands of Americans urging the Mayor to change his mind.

Here we are commemorating an event that brought the nation closer to God through prayer, but ten years later, in the City where it happened, a prayerless event. So what is going on here? You already know the answer. When things are going bad people turn to God to try to get right with Him.  They go back to church.  But when things pass, they forget and drift away.  Only God knows what it is going to take to bring our Nation to a lasting repentance and genuine return to Jesus.

I Can't Imagine

I’ve been thinking a lot lately—not just randomly, but deliberately—about what God may be calling me to do in the future. It has occurred to me that I have to think out of the box (“my” box), that is, not limited by my own imagination. Shelly Lazarus, former CEO of one of the most prestigious New York advertising firms, says, "If you can think it, you can do it." Normal Vincent Peale said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.”  Is that biblical?  On the other hand, Henry Ford said, “Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right.” Well, I don’t want to think more highly of myself than I should, nor be limited by whether “I” think I can. I want to be thinking what God can do.

The apostle Paul said, God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). Though Jesus defied the laws of nature, cast out demons, restored crippled limbs, healed the blind and deaf, and raised the dead, he proclaimed “whoever believes in me will do even greater things than these” (John 14:12). I don’t know about you, but I can hardly imagine doing greater things than Jesus did. But that’s my problem. I’m limited by “my” thoughts and “my” imagination.

The likely interpretation of Jesus’ words is that while He was limited by time and space, we would take the Gospel to the entire world and where the spiritual realm, called the kingdom of God, would have no end.  No limitations. Jesus knew the power of God would work through us to accomplish these “greater things” and the “good works” He Himself created us to do (Eph. 2:10), We must be vigilant with ourselves not to be limited by what we can think or imagine. We must have higher thoughts (Col. 3:2-3).

The Unpeace of Irene

If I had opportunity to do so last week, I would have commented more timely on the incongruity of a hurricane named “Irene.” Derived from the Greek word for peace (as is the name “Iran”) Irene really is a timely icon for the unpeace of our times.

Every human effort fails to produce ‘world peace.’ We cannot control mankind (genocide, homicide, suicide) anymore than we can control the weather (hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, earthquakes, flooding).  Our world is characterized by job insecurity, financial uncertainty, and geopolitical instability.

In the wake of Irene's terrible unpeace, the phrase “peace, peace, when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14) has never seemed more relevant. It is in the midst of such turmoil that Jesus says, “I bring peace, not as the world gives…”  You see, the peace that Jesus offers is independent of external circumstances.  It is, in fact, even more fully appreciated and enjoyed in times of trouble. And it is, therefore, said to "pass understanding." That is, no one can comprehend that anyone can possess such peace in this world.

Paul was able to 'weather' his own afflictions by fixing his thoughts on God's reality and setting his mind on things above where Jesus is (Phil. 4:8; Col. 3:1-2); thus telling us two important things.  First, peace is not a place but a Person.  And second, peace is an altogether different reality.

Is My Generation the One?

Yesterday, I mentioned that Jesus’ words “this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place” in Matthew 24:34 are very personal to me because my generation ushered in the rebirth of the nation Israel and that my birthday is Israel’s Independence Day, May 14, 1948.

Most scholars believe that Israel’s re-birth was the first major end times sign. If this is so, then people born in 1948 will still be alive when He returns (Matt. 24:34). But sharp Bible students know that one of the other events that must take place before the Lord’s return is the restoration of active Temple worship (Matt. 24:15). And this has not yet happened in “this generation.”

So how close is Israel to building a new Temple and restoring Temple worship? Well, it may be closer than you think. In what is called the “Six days War” of 1967, Israel regained control over Jerusalem. And ever since that time, Orthodox Jews have been praying for the rebuilding of the Temple. And they are so sure this will happen that a number of schools in Israel are already training priests for conducting Temple worship.

Given the prophetic fulfillment of Israel’s restoration, and the increasing labor pains on earth today, it is not unbelievable that the stage is now being set, and if so, the end of the age may be very near. My generation may indeed be the one that sees all this come to pass.

"Labor" Day

Jesus’ words “this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place” in Matthew 24:34 have always felt very personal to me. The rebirth of the nation Israel is one of the end-time events that would take place before His return. And my generation is one to see this prophecy fulfilled. What’s more personal is that I was born on Israel’s Independence Day, May 14, 1948.

Less personal, but very relevant to the fact the end time may occur in “my generation” is the increase of labor pains (Matt. 24:6-8). Although these labor pains do characterize the entire Church age, Jesus said they would become more frequent, more intense as the end approaches—in other words, full head-on labor.

Given the remarkable labor pains on the earth today, is it so unbelievable that the stage is now being set, and the end of the age is near? Whether my generation is the one that sees all this come to pass or not, I can’t be sure. But I do know this: labor pains are on the rise. Labor Day is here, and the "due date" may be closer than we think.

Does Time Fly?

Altha and I have some out-of-state friends coming over on Saturday. I looked on my calendar to see when they were here last. It was over a year ago—Wow! I would have guessed it was only a few months ago! It is a universal adage that, "The older you get, the faster time seems to go." But why?

I went “Googling” for an answer. This is the best explanation I found. When you're five years old, a year is one fifth of your life. Waiting for Christmas, as an example, seems forever. In comparison, when you're 20, a year is only one twentieth of your life, and while the days don't exactly fly by, a year doesn't seem like the eternity it was at five. And by the time you're 50, a year is only one fiftieth of the time you've experienced—thus, a year whips by rapidly. By the way, I’m 63, and since time is going by so fast, I wonder if I will have enough time left to do all the things I would like to do.

Consider Jesus, who only had about three years of ministry on earth—He was never in a hurry. He was enormously busy and often exhausted at the end of a day. But He always seemed to have time to love and minister to people, often spending an extended time with just one person. He saw interruptions in His schedule as God’s opportunities. And at the end of His life on earth, though the world was still full of people with needs, He could pray, “I completed the work You gave me to do” (John 17:4). All that mattered is that Jesus did everything God called Him to do in the time allotted to Him. No matter how fast times seems to be moving, all that matters is that God is giving us all we need of it to do the things HE wants us to do.

A Lightening Rod Issue

A “lightening rod” is an idiom for someone or some issue that is a frequent target of negative reactions. This year’s lightening rod issue in the campaign of Republican candidates trying to get their Party’s nomination is same-sex marriage.

As a now-senior member of society, I can assure you that 20 years ago no one could have imagined a campaign for the office of the Presidency of the United States would include a debate over gay marriage. A budding issue in 2008, it has come to full bloom.

One of the circumstances that brought it to this point of significance is the recent legalization of gay marriage in NY State.  But another incident is even more pointed. Marcus Bachmann, husband of presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann (herself, a lightening rod), is accused of offering reparative therapy (to those who want help changing their same-sex orientation) in his clinic. I use the pejorative word “accuse” because reparative therapy is prohibited by the American Psychological Association, making it even more of a “lightening rod” issue.

But it begs the question: “can people change?” Our answer to that holds the full confidence of Paul’s words: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, and all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). To use a phrase from the 2008 campaign, that is "change you can believe in!"  Wouldn’t it be something if Michelle Bachman were to use that in her next debate?  Talk about a lightening rod!

In the Middle of the Storm, God Speaks and says, "I AM"

Does God speak today? Is He speaking now? Such questions belie the fact that God’s ‘sheep’ are supposed to be able to hear Him (John 10:27). Job says “For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it” (33:14).

As I reflected on the letter to the Hebrews the other day, I noted that the book begins (as does John’s gospel, “in the beginning was the Word”), by declaring that God speaks. Since the time of Adam and Eve, God has been speaking to man (Genesis 3:8, 10); He spoke to and through Moses and Abraham. He spoke through the Prophets.  He spoke to Jesus, and Jesus became the Living Word.

That does not mean, however, that everyone will hear Him. Only those who have ‘ears to hear’ can hear Him (Mark 4:9), which becomes critically important when we realize that Satan speaks too—Peter says He roars like a lion (5:8). And you can be sure he will be roaring about Hurricane Irene—questioning God’s goodness and stirring up resentments. Will God sit by as Satan roars at the world? Not according to King David: “Our God approaches and He is not silent… and a great storm rages around him” (Ps. 50:3). When the Disciples were in the midst of a storm, they heard Jesus: “Do not be afraid: I am here”, literally "I AM" (John 6:20).  Evidently, in the time of storms especially, God speaks.  Can you hear Him?

Sit Down and Take a Stand

I don’t know about you, but I was pretty impressed by four South Carolina Congressmen last month who said (after having prayed together), they could not compromise on a bill to raise taxes. Whether you agree with them or not, you have to respect them for taking a stand—whatever the consequences.

In his commentary on the Letter to the Ephesians, Watchman Nee summarizes the book in his title: “Sit, Walk, Stand,” pointing out that the first 3 chapters speak of the believer’s position: “seated in the heavenlies,” while chapters 4-5 detail the believer’s “walk,” and chapter 6 ends with a challenge to take a “stand” against the enemy of these truths.

In other words, Paul employs a spiritual logic that you cannot stand if you are not sitting in the truth, nor can you stand until you have walked in that truth—without compromise. It used to be considered honorable to take an uncompromising stand on one’s principles. But these days, compromise and tolerance have become the new ethic, and all who are unwilling to compromise are vilified.

At this time in history, God is raising up an army of Christians who are positioned in (seated) and practicing (walking in) the truth, so they might stand firm in the faith until the last day. And there is no room for compromise.

Like an Ostrich

I stuck my head in the sand the other day, and, to my surprise, there were a lot of heads down there.

Amidst the anxiety of an unpredictable stock market, huge budget deficits, feckless leadership, and extreme weather, who is not tempted to just stick their head in the sand and wait it out? But this is not an option for serious believers.

Christ’s disciples are to be alert at all times (Mat. 24:42; 1 Cor. 16:13; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:6; 1 Peter 5:8). As I mentioned the other day, Jesus scolded the Pharisees for not being able to interpret the “signs of the times!” (Matt. 16:3) The times we live in are extraordinarily troubling. The Bible says many will put their heads in the sand, saying 'Peace! Peace' when there is no peace” (Jer. 8:11; Ez. 13:10).

Fear of the unknown, fear of losing control, and fear of having to face some unpleasant things may tempt us to avoidant behavior. But we are called to live “above” the earth’s power, not “under” it! What’s more, we are His messengers of truth and light to all those in darkness (the darkness of having their heads in the sand!).

All Shook Up

I’ll bet you think I’m referring to yesterday’s surprise earthquake on the East Coast. But the idiom “shake up” could refer to any number of things going in the world today: nervous investors unable to trust a shaken stock market; the Congressional shake-up over the failed ‘debit increase’ negotiations; or the shaken lives of Texas farmers by the driest 10-month period in Texas since 1895. And we are still feeling the effects of the shaking up of Japan’s post-tsunami economy. And then there is the summer of discontent in the North African and Middle East countries. And these are but a few of the natural and political catastrophes that have our world all shook up.

To “shake up” means to jostle and toss someone or something back and forth. To “shake someone up” means to shock or upset someone. Oftentimes, a container of liquid needs to be shaken before it can be consumed or used. The idiom is also used in “shaking up” an organization—to make it more effective. But the term isn’t always negative: “shaking up” can be good for a dull relationship.

But one thing is certain. The God of the Universe (the One we are privileged to call our Father) is shaking up things, people, and nations. The reason earthquakes are frightening is that they shake the ground we stand on. What better reminder than yesterday’s startling East Coast quake that we should be standing on firm ground, “firmly rooted and built up in Him and established in our faith” (Col. 2:7), not forgetting God’s promise, "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also. This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain…so we can receive a Kingdom that is unshakable" (Hebrews 12:26-28, edited).

Nuns Find Peace in their Yoga Class

There are so many strange and unprecedented things happening in the world today. As Spirit-filled believers, we should be able to discern the signs of the times, and not as the Pharisees whom Jesus chided for being able to interpret the weather, but not the signs of the times (Matt. 16:3).

The title of this post, taken from an article this morning in the Contra Costa Times, and the cute picture of elderly nuns doing yoga, caught my attention as one of these signs. "This is where I find the most peace," said one Sister, after a recent class. You may argue there is nothing wrong with practicing yoga as a physical exercise. But the fact is that yoga is a spiritual discipline by which the adherent is trained to use the body as a vehicle for achieving consciousness of the divine.

Albert Mohler recently wrote about this: When Christians practice yoga, they must either deny the reality of what yoga represents or fail to see the contradictions between their Christian commitments and their embrace of yoga. The contradictions are not few, nor are they peripheral. Christians are called to look to Christ for all that we need and to obey Christ through obeying his Word. We are not called to escape the consciousness of this world by achieving an elevated state of consciousness, but to follow Christ in the way of faithfulness. Stefanie Syman, author of “The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America” wrote, The embrace of yoga is a symptom of our postmodern spiritual confusion that reaches into the church. And so, the seemingly innocent story of nuns practicing yoga is not so cute after all. It's a sign of the times.

Be Afraid! Be Very Afraid!

This morning’s USA Today Financial Section had two lead articles on “fear”: first, a fear of a second recession due to lower-than-expected July “employment” and “housing” reports, and second, fears of the negative impact of Europe’s spreading debt crisis. Everyone is afraid that the economic recovery is falling short of expectations.

Although we all know that God’s children are coaxed and commanded from the first to the last pages of the Bible “not to fear,” there is at least one strong, notable exception to that rule—a commandment to be afraid. And, no, it’s not the end of the world, or impending judgment on mankind. The Bible says we should be afraid, very afraid, of “falling short” of entering God’s rest—that contentment, composure and calm that belongs only to those who are ‘resting’ in Jesus’ finished work on the Cross (Hebrews 4:1). Falling short of God’s rest (and best) for us is a terrible thing. The NLT states it even more emphatically: “God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.”

No one but you knows whether you are really resting in God—free from anxiety—during these troubling times. But if there is anything we ought to be worried and fearful about, it is falling short of or failing to obtain God’s promise to every believer—finding our rest in Jesus. “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’.” (Matthew 11:28)

Taking Tests

Yesterday as I drove home from SUM Bible College, I thought about the class of 17 freshmen I had just taught—all full of fresh (is that why they’re called freshmen?) unabashed hope and confidence. I couldn’t help wondering "will they all make it to graduation?" And I'll bet they are wondering too!

Everyone begins any new venture with great confidence. But then it is tested. When commencing any new thing, it is normal to begin with some degree of uncertainty: “did I really hear the Lord?” “Do I have what it takes?” That is where our test of faith begins.

We soon learn that natural enthusiasm will not sustain us; only a confidence that is founded in faith that Jesus will take us to the finish line: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished” (Phil. 1:6 NLT).

We are told in Hebrews that all the Israelites were delivered from Egypt, all hoping to enter their Canaan. But many dropped out—losing confidence when the testing of their faith began. For this reason, the writer warns: “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that He has promised” (Hebrews 10:36 NLT). To my students who are reading this, may I say, tests are a normal part of the educational process. (Otherwise, how will you know what you have learned!?) But it isn’t school exams that should be your greatest concern. It is the testing of your faith that counts the most. But don't worry.  God won’t fail you. You never really fail God’s tests; you just keep taking them until you pass!

Repentance from Dead Works and Faith toward God

Turn on the TV or radio and you will see that we have no shortage of talented preachers and charismatic personalities today. Nor are they short on relevance. American churches provide workshops and seminars on every contemporary subject—from homemaking to lovemaking.

But what is the outcome of all these relevant programs? Have our churches produced a vision for holiness? Are we seeing God more clearly? Are we hungrier for righteousness? Are we becoming broken and contrite, humble and lowly? Or are we being built up in our faith or just being affirmed?

Despite all of the Church’s activity, a basic doctrine that is seldom spoken of is “repentance from dead works” (Heb. 6:1). Whatever great things we may do to build people up, if it is not leading them into greater faith, it is just “dead works,” i.e., activities oriented to ‘self.’

Allow me some latitude in my edited translation of Matthew 7:22-23. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not teach people how to make the most of their time through our time-management seminars; and better use of their money through out budget planning discussion groups? Did we not help people feel better about themselves through our ‘weigh down’ workshops? And then will I say to you, I was not to be found in your programs.” In the critical times we are living in, it is imperative that we continually examine our activities to see if they are producing genuine faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).

New Things

I am pleased to tell you that today I will begin a new job. When I retired from my job with the federal government more than three years ago, I could not have imagined this day when I would be teaching at a Bible college. But even at the ripe old age of 63, I am still doing new things. Sometimes I grow tired and wonder why I just don’t stop and rest. But then I am reminded that God is always leading us into new experiences where we can grow—"He makes all things new."  Now that’s a loaded phrase. But I think it means, at least on one level, that God is always growing us and leading us into what-Paul-calls the “newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Right up to our last day on this earth, God will still be leading us into new things.

If we are serious about walking with God, then we must be prepared for Him to guide us into new ways. God will not allow us to be stopped by last week’s failures; nor will He allow us to rest in yesterday’s successes. His path is always into new things. And He will not stop working into us the “newness of life” until all of our “old ways” have really passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17). I know what "new thing" God is doing in my life today.  Are you aware of the “new thing” He is doing in yours?

The Joseph Company

In one of his last teachings, David Wilkerson spoke of the “Joseph Company”—a body of last-day believers who are wholly devoted to the Lord. Just as God prepared Joseph (through isolation and persecution) over a period of twenty years, He is now preparing a Joseph Company that will be responsive to His purposes in these days.

Those who are of the Joseph Company have endured many trials in order to have God’s truth deeply rooted in them that they might give wisdom and revelation to others. Is it possible the Joseph Company are those whom Daniel tells us will be raised up in the last days: “Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many…” (11:33).

If you think it will be exciting to be part of this “Joseph Company,” beware. Daniel goes on to say, “And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution… to be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end” (11:35). Many do not understand all that they are currently going through—they are feeling isolated and persecuted. But if they remain faithful, they just might see that all along God has been preparing them to be part of the Joseph Company!

Even If…

You probably know the story of Daniel’s three friends who were thrown in to the fiery furnace because they would not bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s gods. Their faith is expressed in the phrase “even if.” Even if God did not miraculously rescue them, they would trust Him (Daniel 3:18). I’ve often thought this is one of the greatest faith statements in the Bible.

Sooner or later, we will all face a crisis of faith when everything around seems to be falling apart. We cry out to God for deliverance, but our plea is met with apparent silence. It is then we learn that oftentimes God’s immediate answer is ‘no’ because He has a larger plan, unknown to us. To believe beyond our immediate need requires faith like Daniel’s three friends. The faith that declares God is trustworthy, “even if”…

Just before his death, David Wilkerson said: “Dear saint, very soon you're going to understand your present fiery trials. God is going to bring you into the promise he gave you and suddenly it's all going to make sense. You'll see that He has never forsaken you. He had to take you this way, for He has been training you, preparing you, teaching you to trust him for everything. He has planned a time for you to be used—and that time is just ahead!”

Look What's been Thrown under the Bus

Syncretism, the idea that all religions can be fused into one, is being replaced by Pluralism, a more pragmatic approach because it acknowledges differences but sees them as irrelevant. Pluralism is the ‘equal rights’ of religion. Pluralism promotes tolerance, without which no one in the 21st century will survive.

Pluralism puts Jesus on an equal footing with Buddha, Confucius, and Muhammad. But pluralism requires that we make Christianity more tolerant. Thus, any Scripture that insists on its own primacy must be revised, redacted, reinterpreted or just ignored. Sadly, though, in watering down the Bible, we lose our moral authority to speak out against the new cultural norms of our 21st century—leaving a moral vacuum. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, so eloquently wrote in his blog, “This is what happens when the Bible is thrown under the bus.”

Some are wondering how we should contend for the authority of the Scriptures without appearing intolerant. Why are we even trying to? It’s time to reclaim the authority and supremacy of the Bible and throw pluralism under the bus!