Words to Live By

“It is small; it is localized; we caught it early” are the words you want to hear from the surgeon who will be removing your tumor. (Praise God, we heard those words yesterday!) “We are praying for you; we love you; you have made a difference in our lives” are the words you want to hear from your friends when in crisis. With each note, each promise to pray, and each testimony to God’s faithfulness, I hear the Lord’s voice. “How delightful is a timely word” (Prov. 15:23).

But as comforting as those words are, it is THE WORD that anchor my soul in this time of trial—the Word of hope and promise, and faithfulness (Hebrews 6:19). From centuries past, the Psalmist declares, “… in faithfulness You have afflicted me. O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, according to Your word... may Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight” (Psalm 119:6-77).

In perplexing circumstances, Paul’s timely and timeless words come to mind: “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works… and encouraging one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). These are words to live by.

How Much does a Tumor Weigh?

Every year about this time, it seems I write, metaphorically, about losing that Christmas weight gain. This year, personally, I have no such concern. Shortly into the Holiday season, I started being sick and losing weight. Since Altha and I were in the middle of selling our California home and moving to Arizona, I decided to put off seeing a doctor until after the move. Accordingly, I found a new internist in Arizona who gave me lots of tests. By that time, I had lost about 15 pounds. Within days, I learned that I had a tumor in my pancreas. Long story short, I have pancreatic cancer. And since that first doctor appointment, I’ve lost another 10 pounds.

But beyond telling you, my friends, of this present affliction, and requesting your petitions on our family’s behalf, I do have a spiritual analogy (does that surprise anyone?).

In the physical world, losing all our weight will result in death. Even so, in God’s economy, losing “all things” results in the loss of our self.  But in doing so, we gain Christ. When Paul was afflicted and perplexed, he was never crushed or driven driven to despair—having learned this: the greater the weight of affliction, the greater the weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:8, 17).

As I begin this uncertain health journey, I have no doubt there will be many circumstances that will bring me face to face with this all important question, “What must I lose to gain Christ?” And, am I really, as I have said so many times in this blog, “dying to live the abundant life?” I am sure I will have much to share, as I am able, in future posts.  God bless you all in this year of new things.

The End of the World or a World without End!

All this talk about the end of the world should have all serious Bible students reviewing the Scriptures. But they won't find the words “end of the world.” Why? Because the world has already ended.

Yes, you heard me right. The world is over, done, deceased. Because of the cross, Paul said the world had been crucified to him, and he to the world (Gal. 6:14). You see, the end happened at Calvary when Jesus said “It is finished.” In an instant, He died to this world—and the world's influence was dead to Him. John says “as He is so are we in this world” (1 Jn 4:17). That day the world ended for you and me too—the day Jesus destroyed the power of the devil, of death, and of sin (Heb. 2:14; Rom 6:6).

But of course there is yet an ‘end’ we are waiting for. Peter says, we are  looking for the coming day when Jesus will set the heavens on fire, the elements will melt away, and a new heaven and earth will be formed (2 Pet 3:12-13). So when someone accuses you of being a doomsdayer. Tell them you are not waiting for the ‘end of the world’ but for a ‘world without end’ (Eph. 3:21). 

“For unto us a child is born, a son is given. And the government will be on his shoulders...
[And] of the increase of His government and peace there will be NO END” (Isa 9:7). 

Merry Christmas to you all from me and Altha!

When Anxiety Looms, Faith Blooms

The mainstream media is warning of dire consequences of a fiscal disaster if our leaders are unable to overcome bipartisan bickering and  pass a budget. Though no one can see what is on the other side of the cliff, they are imagining it to be pretty bleak.

Thus, our Father’s promise to protect and provide for us has never seemed more comforting—rescuing us from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10) and meeting all our needs in the mean time (Matt. 6:31-33).

When the believers in the early churches were facing insecure times, Paul counseled them to “fix your 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) Remembering that this world is temporary is one of the ways our hearts and minds will be protected from anxiety (Phil. 4:8).

Can’t you almost hear the Lord saying to us, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Is. 41:10).

There oughta be a law

The slayings of 20 children and 6 adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School have reignited the debate on gun control—specifically, a ban on assault weapons. Whenever innocent people are affected by some terrible tragedy, politicians and citizens alike say, “There oughta be a law.”

Coincidentally, also in today’s USA is an article about curbing drunkenness in Britian by legislating higher prices, assuming drinkers will drink less. We may agree that there oughta be a law, but we know that no law can change a heart: drinkers drink and killers kill.

And finally, another article in today's paper reports that mass killings (where 4 or more are killed) in America are now happening every two weeks. Is the increased violence the sign of the end times called the “power of lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:7)?  If so, no man-made law will stop it.  Only God can do that when he put His law in our minds and writes it on our hearts" (Jer 31:33).

An Unused Gift on the Top Shelf

Have you noticed that when tragedy occurs, like that at Sandy Hook, faith shows up?  Crises bring it out. In their helplessness, people turn to God. But where is faith the rest of the time?

Have you ever given a gift to a close friend, sibling, or parent that you never saw him or her using until one day you happen to notice it on the top shelf of their closet—unopened and unused? You tried to hide your disappointed. But I wonder if this is not how many Christians deal with God’s most precious gift to them—the gift of faith (Eph. 2:8). God is no less disappointed (Heb. 11:6) that we put His gift, metaphorically speaking, on a top shelf—unused!

During one life-threatening crisis, the Disciples panicked and cried  out to Jesus. After calming things, he asked, "Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:24-25). Then on another helpless occasion, they asked the Lord to increase their faith! But the Lord responded by saying even the smallest faith, if used, could produce great things (Luke 17:5-6). In other words, if we were using the gift of faith, He would never have to say “Where is your faith,” or “What did you do with the faith I already gave you?”

A Hard Question at Sandy Hook

After the Sandy Hook school shootings, on “Yahoo Answers,” one woman writes: “Why did God allow this sort of devastation? I don't believe in Him after this.” The ‘why’ question is as old as time. In the Bible, it was asked by Job and the Psalmists; and in our time, by those who witnessed two World Wars, the Holocaust, genocides, famines, AIDS, and senseless carnage of 9/11, Columbine, Virginia State, Aurora, and now, Sandy Hook.

Yes, indeed, the single most troubling question today is, “If God knows everything, why did He allow this tragedy in Sandy Hook to happen?” Though innumerable tomes have been written on the subject, the simple answer to this question is, “We don’t know.” But, then, what do we know?

First, we know that we “now we see things imperfectly... but some day we will see everything clearly. All that we know now is incomplete, but then we will know everything completely, just as God knows” (1 Cor 13:12). And second, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Ro 8:28). For those who do not know these things, it's not surprising they will be angry with God. But here's another hard question. Why does the same suffering that causes one person to reject God cause another to seek Him? Pray that those who are asking hard questions today will find Him.

Christmas Presence in the Mall

Black Friday is appropriately named—it’s the gross over-commercialization of Christmas. But it’s only a symbol of the larger problem. The eternal spirit of Christmas has become temporal and material. The secularization of Christmas—now called a holiday—re-focuses the most celebrated Christian day of the year from rejoicing in God’s Presence to celebrating man’s presents.  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name 'Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us’” (Matt 1:23).

As I was reflecting on the impoverished condition of Christmas in our nation—trees, lights, pretty paper, Santa Claus, elves, etc.—I was sent the following YouTube video. Right in the middle of a large mall in ‘Anywhere America’ a group of Christians begins singing the songs of Christmas, of Christ, of good news. As you will see, right in the midst of busy shoppers purchasing passing presents, God’s surpassing Presence prevails. Please take a moment to watch it. You won’t be disappointed.

“Christmas Flash Mob by Journey of Faith at South Bay Galleria”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnt7euRF5Pg

12/12/12

Yesterday was 12/12/12. And a record number of people wanted to be married on that date, as though there was something magical about 3 twelves. 

According to Biblical numerologist E.W. Bullinger, the number 12 in the Bible signifies perfect government. It’s the product of 3, the Trinity, and 4, the number of the Earth; thus symbolizing the perfect order that exists when God is working through His people to direct human affairs, i.e. 12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles of the Church. Whenever Jesus does return to rule the earth, maybe it will be on a twelfth.

Of course the 12th is followed by the 13th!! Significantly, Bullinger says the number 13 speaks of human effort and self-will. One Old Testament example of the number 13 is quite revealing. In Genesis 16, the son that God has promised to Abraham, Isaac, was born thirteen years after Ishmael’s birth by Hagar. What better picture of failed human effort and the grace of God’s promises.

It seems to me these numbers symbolize two ways of living. We can either live each day as if it were the twelfth—under God’s direction. Or we can make our own way, hoping each day will be a lucky 13th. Hmmm…Might that be what it means to “number our days?” (Ps. 90:12).

A School for False Prophets?

Jesus warned there would be false teachers and false prophets in the latter days. Now, incredulously, a school for training prophets in Tel Aviv has just been announced. “The Cain and Able School of Prophets” claims it will prepare the next generation of Jewish foretellers—the first since the time of Jesus. Can this be for real?

First of all, with a name like “Cain and Able” (Cain’s brother, whom he killed, was Abel, not Able) the school’s credibility seems a bit suspect. Of course it’s a pun on Abel’s name, but for what purpose? Are they going to make people as bad as Cain into ‘able’ prophets?

And second, if the name doesn’t reveal it as a con, the curriculum will. For a tuition fee of $52, the program of study will include face reading, dream interpretation, the study of angels, and ways to achieve divine spirit—all in just 10 one-hour lectures. Each graduate will receive a prophet's diploma.

The Bible indicates that a wave of false prophets will rise up at the end of this age!  And Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matt 7:16). And now it seems you may also know them by their diplomas.

Is Government Coveting our Money?

Every working American has federal, state, local, Social Security and Medicare taxes taken out of his/her paycheck. But did you know there are more than 40 other taxes we pay? To name a few: unemployment and workers compensation tax, sales, property, and utility taxes, gas taxes, and even taxes for dog licenses. The average American spends 46-58% of his or her income on taxes!

I read an interesting article yesterday that our government is guilty of breaking the 10th commandment: “You must not covet your neighbor's house… or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” And then Moses goes on to say, “You shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, who hate covetousness, to be your rulers.” (Ex. 20:17; 18:21) Clearly, God did not want coveters ruling over the people, taking what is not theirs.

I worked for the federal government for 25 years. And every year when the budgets were prepared, I watched with disgust as our Agency competed with other agencies to get more money than it got the year before—whether they needed it or not. It was nothing less than unbridled greed. Paul said the end-times would be characterized by men who are exceedingly greedy (1 Tim 3:1-2a) Is government over-taxation another sign of the times?

Are you vacationing in Las Vegas or Laodicea this year?

Last year I received a glossy brochure from an Evangelical Christian school raising funds through a silent auction. The grand prize was a weekend in Las Vegas! Last week I received a sleek brochure from an international radio ministry, announcing a Caribbean cruise. While the brochure, replete with children on water slides, young adults windsurfing, diners dressed in tuxedos, was aimed at those with discretionary income, it seemed oddly out of touch with the mood of the day.

Trips to Las Vegas? Caribbean cruises? Didn't Jesus become poor for our sake? (2 Co 8:9).  Didn't He model austerity? I have no doubt these ministries mean well. But I keep thinking the words “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?” (Gal. 3:1).

Might I be so bold to suggest that our ‘first-class’ lifestyles are uncomfortably close to those described of the church at Laodicea: “You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Rev. 3:17). I know these are harsh words. But these are harsh times, as Thomas Paine said, “these are the times that test men’s souls.” Many believe a time of great testing is about to come upon the church.

Born this Way

This week Washington became the ninth state to legalize same-sex marriage, furthering the debate over civil rights for gays. Last year, Lady Gaga's popular song "Born this Way" underscored the controvery over whether someone is born gay.  Personally, if a research scientist discovers a ‘gay’ gene tomorrow, I won’t be concerned. Why?—because we are all born with unique behavioral predispositions—it’s called flesh; and it causes us to sin.

For example, I was not born happy; I am, by nature, melancholic. Moreover, I am impatient, self-centered, prone to outbursts, unforgiving, and critical. These traits are natural to me, requiring no effort to perform. I was born ‘born this way.’

And I didn’t know how I would ever overcome being ‘born this way’ until I truly understood what it meant to be ‘born again.’ The Bible says everyone who is born of God is marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—all reflections of our genetic relation to Jesus. Yes, we have all been born with unwanted predispositions. But born again, we have a new start. “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person; the old life is gone; a new life has begun” (2 Cor. 5:17). But take it from me; when you decide you will no longer live the way you were born (Eph 4:17), and endeavor to live life as your “new self” (Eph. 4:24), you will experience severe growing pains!

Commotion will Spoil Your Appetite for Communion

In my college days I loved to cook dinner parties for my friends. I’ll never forget the time a coed arrived announcing she had just eaten a can of Spaghetti-O’s and was not very hungry. When she was a child I guess her mother never told her that eating before dinner would “spoil your appetite!”

I think one of the consequences of our fast-paced, commotion-filled, life-styles is how it spoils our appetite for communion with God—“If you [can] hear my voice [over the din] and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (Rev 3:20). I think if you took a survey on Sunday morning at almost any church, you would be surprised at the number of people who show up spent from a week of activities. And church becomes just one more—not a place of refreshing communion as it should be.

After one time of great commotion (John the Baptist had just been beheaded), the Disciples came to Jesus, reporting everything that had happened. Everything was so chaotic they hadn’t even taken time to eat. So Jesus said, “Come away to a secluded place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). Sounds like a good idea, doesan’t it? I think I’ll schedule it in for next week.

Sensational

In 2009 Obama and Congress passed a stimulus bill of $830 billion. That was preceded, you may recall, by a 2008 loan of $700 billion (TARP) to stimulate the sluggish economy. And did you know that Obama is now asking for another stimulus bill of $500 billion in this year’s proposed budget?

But it isn’t just government trying to stimulate us. If you watch CNN or Fox cable news, you are familiar with the banners at the bottom of the screen that say “Breaking News” and “News Alert”—messages intended to stimulate our interest enough to keep us watching. And have you noticed that if there is no exciting news to report on, they sensationalize almost anything?!

As I reflected on yesterday's post about earthly stimulants, I realized how fundamental it is to human behavior. God created sensual human beings, who, with their senses, would be able to appreciate His glory (Ps 19; Rom 1:20). But it was the senses that Satan used to spoil the human race, when Eve succumbed to the serpent’s sensational suggestions. And he's still trying to fool us into following our fickle feelings. Which is why Paul says “walk by faith, not by sight [senses]” (2 Co 5:7). Wouldn't that be sensational?!

Soldiers find Purpose in Afghanistan

An article in Sunday's paper tells of a different struggle facing American soldiers returning from war: a loss of purpose and camaraderie. One soldier says, “When I was in Afghanistan as a platoon commander, I had a task; I had a purpose; every day I knew what I was going to do.” Now he says boredom is his greatest fear.

It’s a law of natural life: men seek stimulation because men need stimulation. But there is either the stimulation of the flesh or the inspiration/motivation of the Spirit. Without the latter, there will be an endless search for new and exciting activities and relationships to satisfy the flesh—to find something worth living for.

As committed Christ-followers, we are engaged in a battle—and we find our purpose and solidarity in serving our King. When we are living “kingdom life,” we are anything but bored. Rather, we enjoy a sense of urgency—just like soldiers, a warfare mentality—which is more than enough stimulation for even the most vigorous among us! Is this not what Christ demanded (Matt. 16:19) and Paul restated (2 Co 10:5; Eph 6:12)? So then, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds… encouraging one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25).

Driving over a Cliff

All this talk about the ‘fiscal cliff’ brings to mind a story I used to use in counseling.

A wealthy man interviews 3 men for the position of limousine driver, taking each to a high mountain road, posing the question: “How close do you think you can drive to the edge of this road without going over the cliff?” The first one says,“Oh, I could get within 2 feet of the edge of the road without going over.” The second one says, “Oh, I think I could get within a foot of the edge.” But the third one responds, “Are you kidding, I wouldn’t go anywhere near the edge of this cliff!” To which, the wealthy man replies, “You’re hired!”

The “Driving over a Cliff” threat is bringing out the machismo in Wash. D.C.—a political game of Chicken. How close each party is willing to go to the edge is yet to be determined. Of course there is a loaded spiritual analogy too. The second we start thinking about how close we can get to temptation without actually sinning, we're already over the cliff. Listen to the wisdom of Solomon: “Don't follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don't go that way. Turn away and keep moving” (Proverbs 4:14-15).

The “Half-Man” finds Wholeness

19-year old Angus T. Jones, the “Half Man” part of “Two and a Half Men,” has found God and no longer wants to be on the show: “Please stop watching it; please stop filling your head with filth,” he says. Angus stands to lose a lot for taking this stand (at $300,000 an episode, he is the highest paid child actor in TV history).

Angus now sees the show as evil: “A lot of people don't like to think about how deceptive the enemy is. He's been doing this a lot longer than any of us have been around. So we can't play around. There's no playing around when it comes to eternity. The name of the game is compromise. According to the Bible, when that happens, we're no longer standing for anything. We're no longer on the side of the truth.”

Knowing how Hollywood treats conservative Christians, Angus is in for a rough ride, and it will take a real man to stand his ground against the wave of criticism. Ironically, having been the “half-man” on a show co-starring 2 childish men, Angus is the one now acting like a “whole man.” (see 1 Cor. 6:13)

A Life without Twinkies, Ding Dong’s and Ho Ho’s

A declining consumer market and a bakers strike may result in the demise of ‘Hostess Brands, Inc.’ which makes cream-filled cupcakes, fruit pies, Wonder Bread, Ho Ho’s, Ding Dongs and Twinkies.

The Twinkie is not just a snack food; it is a cultural icon. Some of you may not remember when, in the early 80’s, Dan White was acquitted of the murder of SF Mayor George Moscone. The defense attorney was able to persuade 12 intelligent adults that too much sugar had made him temporarily insane—to this day, infamously known as the “Twinkie Defense.”

I cannot help but see the Twinkie as a symbol for our nutritionally-deprived culture—both physically and spiritually. Having grown accustomed to a diet of empty earthly values, metaphorically speaking, most Americans seek a sugar high instead of higher things. The brouhaha over Hostess’ collapse is sufficient evidence that our 21st century idols are as empty as white bread or as fleeting as a caffeine rush. How sad that people, like survivors on a stranded island, cling to such things. If you’re feeling depressed about the loss of Twinkies, perhaps you should reflect on the Apostle John’s words, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

“Life of Pi”—Faith is a House with Many Rooms

Knowing nothing more about it than what we saw on the trailers (and its PG rating), Altha and I saw the movie “Life of Pi” this weekend. It turned out to be a vehicle for postmodern theology. As the title character battles to survive on a life raft from India to Mexico, he also struggles to believe in God in the midst of his suffering.

The story begins in India where Pi develops a zeal for religion. Declaring that “faith is a house with many rooms,” Pi integrates Allah and the Christ easily into his Hindu faith, even thanking Krishna and Vishnu for bringing Christ into his life.  When he cries out to God in desperation, “I give myself to you,” it is not clear to which god he is praying. To most god seekers in our universalistic culture, it wont matter. Whom you have faith in is less important than that you have ‘it’.

Ironically, Pi's atheistic father captures the error of this thinking when he tells the young Pi that believing in everything is “the same thing as not believing anything at all.” And that statement may be the only ‘truth’ you’ll find in the “Life of Pi.”

Is the Afterlife Just an Afterthought?

Thanksgiving is over; Christmas will be here and gone before we know it. Life moves on; time flies…

The Bible tells us that our days on earth are short: "We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace" (1 Chron 29:15 NLT).

Paul says we all will give an account for our time on earth—whether we were storing up things ‘in time,’ or saving up ‘eternal’ treasures. The measure of our worth will not be our cleverness, charisma or competence, but our character.

Paul compares building a character to building a house (1 Cor 3). Either we’re building a house of eternal worth or a house that will perish with time. Someone has said the Lord inspects our house by walking through it and throwing matches. Will the house you are building survive the test of holy fire? Sadly, too many believers live as though life on this earth is all there is. And the afterlife is just an afterthought.

Gratitude without God?

When Congress passed legislation making Thanksgiving an official holiday, was it an attempt to codify feelings, i.e., ‘you must be thankful?’ No. Congress was only affirming thankfulness as a national core value, an expression of America’s Judeo-Christian heritage.

Does that mean non-Christians can’t be thankful? Well, of course not. But last century’s paradigm shift from a God-centered worldview to a man-centered one has secularized Thanksgiving far beyond a Pilgrim’s paradigm. The Pilgrims who celebrated that first Thanksgiving believed everything they had came from God, a gratitude built on a foundation of belief in God's Providence.

Of course the ungodly can be thankful. But unlike them, hopefully, you and I are like the original pilgrims who knew they were on a journey to something/someplace far greater than the things of this world. Thus, while our gratitude is rooted in the eternal, the natural man knows only situation and luck. Jonathon Edwards says “true gratitude or thankfulness … arises from a foundation of love to God whereas a natural gratitude has no such antecedent foundation.” Let us be thankful for what we have. But let us be more grateful for what awaits us.

The Rejection Test

With the advent of the Holiday season, family gatherings will produce warm feelings and memories for many.  But for some others, they will arouse unpleasant feelings, often of rejection.

As disciples of Jesus, we are students who never stop learning. And one of God’s methods for showing us what we’ve learned is to give us tests (sometimes pop quizzes). These tests show us what is in our hearts.

One of the most important tests that you will ever take is the “rejection” test. If you look at the patriarchs and prophets, you will see that every one of them was rejected. And of Jesus, Isaiah said, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised...” (53:3).

So, the rejection test is mandatory if we are going to identify with Jesus. Through the greatest injustice ever known to man Jesus endured and overcame. And through the worst wrongs committed against us, our character will be proven (Rom. 3:5).  But, God will not give us the 'rejection' test until He knows we are ready for it.  And passing it is a mark of true maturity.

Israel/Hamas War: Is Armageddon near?

In 1967, when I was a college freshman, the Arab-Israeli War, aka, the 'Six-Day War' made us think Armageddon was near. Since then, increased wars in the region have decreased our attention—until now. With the escalation of war between Israel and Hamas now accompanied by the support of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, weapons from Iran, and the instability in Syria, one wonders. Is Armageddon close?

But before we start heading for our underground bunkers, let’s put this in perspective. The Bible says the last days will see paradigm shifts that eradicate a biblical worldview. First, mankind will change from lovers of God to lovers of self (2 Tim. 3:1-4). Second, the Church will experience a great falling away (2 Tim. 4:3-4). And third, Society will see a moral devolution like the days of Noah (Luke 17:26).

Though the events of the Middle East do intensify end-time assertions, we should remember that “wars and rumors of wars” are only a small part of 'last days' prophecy. More important is the bigger picture—not another war in the Middle East. Keep your eyes on the paradigm shifts that will prepare the way for the Antichrist and a new world order. Armageddon will follow.

He Can’t Stop Thinking about You

“O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar… How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. How vast is the sum of them. If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 139: 2-3, 17-18).

I read a commentary on this verse that struck me. If you live to be 75 years old, you will live 2.3 billion seconds. And since there are trillions upon trillions of grains of sand, that means there will never be a moment in time when you are not on His mind! In other words, He can’t stop thinking about you.

And not only that, His thoughts are perpetually positive. The New Kings James version translates Jeremiah 29:11 this way: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Hard Changes Ahead

Some of the pundits are saying that Barak Obama won the election because people are afraid of change. Did the President convince 52% of the electorate that they should not “trade horses in midstream’? That phrase was Abraham Lincoln's slogan in the 1864 presidential campaign! Three decades later, the phrase “Let Well Enough Alone” got President William McKinley elected for a second term. And, considering how Democrats demonized Romney, perhaps their slogan should have been: “Better to trust the devil you know than the devil you don’t.”

Given a choice, people more often choose the status quo, preferring a known path to an uncertain one. Someone called it the “tyranny of the familiar.” In the discipline of psychology, there is a word for this phenomenon: “resistance.” Thus, no counselor is ever surprised by his patient’s resistance to changing even the worst behaviors.

The question a serious disciple will ask is ‘how do I overcome my resistance?’ The short answer: by the power of the Word and the Holy Spirit—“renewing of the mind” (Rom 12:2). If you are facing a hard change in your life, be assured the Holy Spirit will facilitate it. Hannah Whitall Smith says, “He turns hard things into easy... not that He puts easy things in the place of the hard, but He actually changes the hard thing into an easy one.” Think about it. The path of least resistance is a straight one. “In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:6).

Was Petraeus Poisoned by Power?

General Petraeus joins the list of proud, powerful men who thought they were entitled to anything and invulnerable to its consequences, e.g., Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Elliot Spitzer.  Of course it doesn't always lead to adultery. Currently, three other 4-star generals are under investigation for taking government resources for personal use. Nor is it limited to government leaders. Anyone in a position of authority—policemen, doctors, teachers, clergymen—can abuse it.

As a student of human behavior, it appears to me that a culture that values self-esteem as ours does is a breeding ground for such entitlement—even in Christian leaders. Remember the warning by Paul that in the latter days, men would be lovers of self (2 Tim 3:2)? When God gave the Promised Land to the Israelites, He knew they would be vulnerable to the pride of success.

Thus He warned: “Beware that in your plenty you do not forget your God… For when you have become prosperous and have built fine homes to live in… be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you... and did it all so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy’… Remember the Lord is the one who gives you power to be successful” (Deut. 8:11-17, edited).

Are You Ready for the Rapture?

Yesterday I compared “disaster preparedness” to “rapture readiness.” And then today, the lead story in USA Today reads, “For 'preppers,' every day could be doomsday.” Preppers (or survivalists) are those who are actively preparing for emergencies as well as possible disruptions in social or political order, stockpiling food and water and medical supplies in order to be self-sufficient.  Many 'preppers' build safe houses in remote places or underground.

A retired deputy sheriff from Virginia says his Christian faith drives him to be prepared and to encourage others to do the same. Although he is not certain the end is near, he says "we watch and pray," convinced that being prepared is being responsibile. But concern for apocalyptic destruction is not just for passionate ‘preppers.’ Nine out of 10 Americans expect a world disaster to occur in the next 25 years. Even so, 56% of them say they're not prepared.

While I find the “Survivalist Movement” interesting, I am not convinced that current conditions warrant moving to the mountains of Idaho to grow corn and raise chickens. The Bible says planet earth is doomed for destruction. But it also says Jesus will return before then. And all that really matters is that I am ready for Him.  Being prepared is being responsible!

Where are the Watchmen of our times?

Did you know 2010 was the worst year for natural disasters in 100 years: heat waves, floods, volcanoes, typhoons, blizzards, landslides, droughts, and earthquakes (remember Haiti? 250,000 killed). Then the year 2011 was the worst for tornadoes in 100 years (remember Joplin, Mo.). And Japan suffered the worst earthquake/tsunami in its recorded history. And 2012 will be known as the year of droughts, floods and fires, and Sandy, who finished off the hurricane season with an unparalleled wallop on the North Atlantic.

These natural disasters are often referred to by the media as the fury of “Mother Nature.” Insurance companies, who are a bit more sophisticated, label them ‘Acts of God.’ Yet, no intelligent earthling would actually see them as divine events. Should we? Is God trying to get our attention?

Because of modern technology, FEMA can warn people to get ready (except earthquakes).  Is God warning us to get ready for end times? Are our church leaders warning us to get ready? Ezekiel spoke of watchman who saw the sword coming, but did not blow the trumpet so that the people would be warned, and the sword came and took them away (33:6). Where are the watchmen of our times? “You must keep watch, and be on the alert, for you do not know the day or hour of My return” (Matt 25:13).

Forgiveness: Pay it Forward

Is there anything harder than having to forgive someone who does not apologize, or even admit that what they did hurt us? Or, isn’t it aggravating when the offender begins his or her apology with the word “IF”—if I have offended you”—signaling that they are less sorry about what they did than having to apologize.

Unilateral forgiveness is hard. But since we are awash in God's love and acceptance, we have more than enough of His love to extend to another. Hence, we forgive people whether they are sorry or not, whether they apologize or not.  Forgiveness is the ‘currency’ of God’s economy of love. As God spent His love on us, so can we on others, paying it forward. Thus the offending person’s actions or reactions become, objectively, irrelevant.

And lest some very hurt person should read this and sink into despair, be encouraged: forgiveness is not a feeling; it’s a choice and an act of faith. Yes, it may be the hardest thing you ever do, but when your faith is tested in this way, you will become perfectly secure in God’s love and acceptance.