A Divine Appointment in the Lobby of the Best Western

A month ago I received an email from a pastor in Belize who had found my blog post about the hardship of Belize pastors, entitled “The Pastors’ Graveyard.” I was shocked that he found my unknown blog and hugely blessed by an encouraging email from him. His name stuck in my mind: Pastor Love. Since we were coming to Belize City, I knew we might have opportunity to meet, but was uncertain if it would fit “my” schedule. I put him on my list of people to call. Then on Saturday afternoon, only minutes after we had checked into the Best Western Hotel in Belize City, Altha and I spontaneously decided to take a taxi downtown to an Indian restaurant. When we entered the lobby I saw two men at the desk, and wondered if one of them might be our taxi driver—neither was. In fact, the taxi driver was 15 minutes late. But one of the men approached us and said “Are you Dr. Greg?” “Yes,” I said, quite amazed. And before I could even ask “and who are you?” he said “I am Pastor Love.” He recognized me from my picture on my blog profile. He explained that he was checking his friend into a room at the hotel, and that he had not planned to be there for another two hours, but his plans had suddenly changed. We had a beautiful connection while we waited for that “late” taxi! And made plans to meet the next morning when we had another beautiful, divine time of mutual encouragement. It was so obvious God had arranged our meeting.

What a great lesson this was in God's sovereignty, to the smallest detail. I thought we were making the decision to take a taxi to dinner. I thought something was out of order when the taxi driver was late. Pastor Love probably thought he was the one who spontaneously changed the time of their check-in! But all along, God was setting up a divine appointment, 2,000 miles away from our home in the lobby of the Best Western Hotel in Belize City.

Twists and Turns

Before Altha and I left for Belize, I wrote asking that you pray we would follow the Lord through every twist and turn, allowing Him to make our path straight. How could I have known we would indeed experience ‘twists and turns’ in the form of a hurricane? On our last trip to Belize, in June, we were accompanied by the first almost-hurricane of the season, Alex—a tropical storm. But now we have seen the real thing—Belize City, its primary target. And there we were. That was last night (Sunday).

On Monday morning (today) Belize City awoke to a muddle of fallen trees, broken branches, downed power lines, and puddles the size of Olympic swimming pools—but, by God’s grace, not much flooding. Two of the missionaries we intended to meet today had several inches of water in their homes—so much for our plans! The other missionary (a church planter) was unavailable. He called from the local supermarket saying he had just purchased several cases of Top Ramen noodles and was heading across town to feed his church people—all of whom, I suppose, had no power to cook (they must have a generator at the church).

How will all these twists and turns affect our Christian brothers and sisters—and us? We are holding fast to God’s promise that He “twists and turns” [Greg’s translation] all things for good to those who love Him (we do) and are called according to his purpose (we are). So, if we are acknowledging Him in all our ways (we are), He will make our paths straight—there are no twisted paths in God's kingdom!

Follow the Leader to Belize

Tomorrow morning, Altha and I will leave for our 3rd missionary trip to Belize. Though our itinerary is set, we are quite aware that we must follow His lead.

On the surface, it sounds so simple: Jesus is the leader; we are the followers. But following is not passive participation—it is a discipline: intentional and deliberate. Have you ever been driving behind someone, following them to an unknown place—unfamiliar to you, and become separated? Eventually, they stopped and waited until you caught up. In this experience there is a valuable lesson about being a follower: you must follow closely behind the one who leads you. If too much distance is permitted between you and the one who knows the way, you may wind up lost.

On the night that Peter denied knowing Jesus, Mark says Peter was following “at a distance” (14:54). But following Jesus “at a distance” implies more than physical detachment. It implies a distance in relationship. If we are to be good followers of Jesus, we must stay close to Him—Jesus called it ‘abiding.’ Solomon said, “acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight (Prob. 3:6).

As we return to Belize, pray that we will be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit at each twist and turn—resulting in a straight path! On our return we’ll be able to share the many wonderful ways that God led us.

Are You Carrying a Weapon?

This may surprise some of you, but I always carry a weapon with me. And when Altha and I go through customs in Belize this Saturday (on our third missionary trip), they will ask us: “Are you carrying any weapons?” So I suppose we’ll have to tell them the truth: “Yes, we are armed!”

Allow me to explain. The weapon I am referring to is "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). In Matthew 4:4 & 7 we see how Jesus used this weapon when refuting the temptations of the devil. Jesus responds, "It is written" and "It is also written."

Jesus resisted Satan’s lies by using the actual words of Scripture—the truth! He did not rely on his own ability to outwit or out-talk the devil. And He was fully prepared for this moment, having read and memorized the Scriptural texts—the written Word(s) of God. Jesus demonstrated that Satan is not rebuffed by cleverness or erudite theological arguments. Our weapon against him is the Bible. Jesus had spent 30 years learning how to use this weapon. If this was true for Jesus, how much more for you and me. When Satan comes along, will you be carrying a weapon?

What has happened to TV families over the past 60 years?

Tom Bosley, the gentle father of Richie Cunningham on the '70s sitcom Happy Days, died yesterday, right on the heels of another loss, that of iconic TV parent, Barbara Billingsley, of Leave It to Beaver. Their deaths cause me to reflect on the changes in TV families in my lifetime.

I remember the day my dad brought our first television home. It was very small: a 12-inch round screen. My first recollections are of "Howdy Doody," "Lone Ranger," "Mickey Mouse Club," and family sitcoms: "Leave it to Beaver," "Father Knows Best," “My Three Sons,” “The Donna Reed Show,” and "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriett." These families were loving, close-knit, with children who were well-behaved and respectful. Fathers were always available and mothers were nurturing. They were safe. But in the 80’s, all that began to change. TV fathers were either absent (“One Day at a Time”) or foolish (“Married with Children”), with sassy smart-alecky children. The days of the classic family sitcom with wholesome advertisements have been replaced with reality television and noxious commercials.

As I look at the evolution of TV it amazes me at just how far this technology has come in 60 years. From very tiny, snowy, hard to see, black and white tubes to 60+ inch plasma, flat screen, high definition and digital via satellite! But tantamount to the technical incline is the moral decline. The real shame is not that the good old days of television are gone. The tragedy is how TV has become a vehicle for influencing moral corruption: surely what Paul meant when he said "For it is a shame even to speak of those things... because the days are evil." (Eph. 5:12,16).

Stimulus Package: Stimulate Now; Pay Later

By now the word ‘stimulus’ is etched into the American psyche, albeit with mixed reaction. How affective it will be in stimulating a sluggish economy remains to be seen! But the debt it has incurred is quite apparent. Of course the logic behind stimulus spending is that it will generate jobs, income and tax revenues to pay the debt. In short, stimulate now; pay later.

The temptation toward stimulation is as old as Adam and Eve. One of the most famous (infamous) examples of a self-made stimulus was David’s moral failure on an uneventful Saturday afternoon—resulting in death and despair. But the most celebrated example of stimulus is that of Abraham and Sarah who, growing tired of waiting for God’s promised child, conspired to speed things up, a stimulus that resulted in the birth of Ishmael, whose ancestors—the Arabs—are the bane of their existence to this day.

The current stimulation strategy has a lesson for us. Let’s face it; it is natural for us to look for stimulation during slow times. The temptation to make something happen increases the longer we wait. Nonetheless, our self-made stimulus packages incur a debt that will have to be reckoned with later. You may stimulate now, but there is always payback (Gal. 6:7).

But thank God, that even though our sinful impulses may carry natural consequences ('Ishmaels'), God will not leave us in debt: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all [the debt of] unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).

God Doesn't Live in a Warehouse

Yesterday, millions of Christians attended church services, held in buildings that are often called houses of worship. But unfortunately, we often refer to them as the “house of God”—an appellation caused by improperly comparing our places of worship to the Old Testament Temple where God’s Presence was, in point of fact, manifested. But in the New Covenant, you and I have become the house of God—“Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you…” (2 Cor. 6:19).

But knowing that a building cannot contain the Spirit of God has not prevented centuries of Christians from erecting grand cathedrals to house religious services. All the more curious that the current trend, at least in America, is to house our Christian worship services in ‘converted’ warehouses where we think nothing of taking a cup of coffee and a pastry into the worship service—an anathema when I grew up. You had too much respect for the building, even if you knew God didn't really live there!

This begs the question: how much respect do you have for the real house of God—your body? The eyes through which you are reading this page right now are the windows to the house of God. And your ears, its sound system. And everything your hands do, everywhere your feet go are happening in the sanctuary where God dwells. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship (Rom. 12:1).

Is There Enough Evidence to Convict You?

As I read the “Open Doors” e-newsletters I receive each month http://www.opendoorsusa.org/ (about persecuted believers) I am painfully reminded that all over the world my brothers and sisters in Christ are put on trial for being a Christian—some imprisoned, others executed. That’s something none of us wants to think about. I can tell you, quite frankly, I do not look forward to receiving these Open Doors updates. It's painful, but I know I must not forget those who are suffering for Jesus: in ways I can't (don't even want to) imagine.

But what if we were in such a circumstance? What if you were taken before the Court to determine if you are ‘one of them.’ Other than your own testimony, would the judge examine your life—your conduct, your affiliations, your lifestyle— and say, “there isn’t enough evidence to convict you”?

Has anyone in your workplace or neighborhood acted surprised when they found out you were a Christian? There should be evidence/proof— that Christ is living in us. Jesus called it "fruit" (John 15)—confirmation that you are indeed a Spirit-filled Christian. “By this My Father is glorified: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8).

What Really Saved the Miners!

What you probably won’t read on the front page of today’s newspaper is that while the trapped miners in Chile waited for their rescue, they were listening to recordings of sermons, Bible studies and Christian music, thanks to the efforts of Chilean engineer Igor Bravo, a member of First Baptist Church of Santiago. Bravo realized that though the miners' physical needs were being met, their spiritual needs had been overlooked. So he called his pastor for help. They engaged the support of Radio Harmonia, a Christian broadcasting station in Santiago, which was able to provide MP3 files of pastor Adrian Rogers' sermons and Bible studies in Spanish along with Christian music.

Then Bravo sent down 33 New Testaments, and miner José Henríquez, began leading Bible studies for the miners each evening. The Bible study started out with 5 men and ended with 20 participants. Bravo said the other miners called Henriquez The Pastor. Only three of the 33 trapped miners were evangelical Christians but since that time, two more have made professions of faith in Jesus.

For days, weeks and months to come, news commentators and pundits will be telling the stories of the 33 men who survived 69 days nearly a half-mile below the earth—I am confident a made-for-TV movie is already in the works! Sociologists and psychologists will study them for the next 10 or 20 years, trying to discover what it is in the human psyche that allowed them to survive emotionally and psychologically. But we know the true story—the presence of Jesus illuminated the darkest hours of those miners’ lives.

Overcoming Unbelief

The disciples spent three years in the presence of Jesus: God in the flesh. They sat under His teaching and lived with Him daily—studying His perfection. And yet, even though they had come to believe that He was the Christ, on their last night together, they ran into a wall of fear and unbelief.

All of us who believe in Jesus have what-I-call “pockets” of unbelief! In fact, it is one of Satan’s primary strategies to keep our pockets full of unbelief—“Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News” (2 Cor. 4:4a). Satan wants to keep "believers" from fully believing!

When Jesus encountered a boy possessed by a spirit, the boy’s father asked Jesus “Do something if you can." Noting the father’s doubt, Jesus said “What do you mean, `If I can'? Anything is possible if a person believes." And the father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:22-24 NLT). And here is the real problem we “believers” deal with. We do believe but, still, we have doubts—pockets of unbelief. In these areas of unbelief we should pray “Lord, help me in my unbelief.” Though the Ephesian Christians were already great believers, still Paul prayed for God to open their eyes (unblind them) and to give them revelation in order to believe, even more, in the incredible greatness of God’s power (1:19).

“Should Christians Practice Yoga?”

Last week Yahoo's news division created a brouhaha when it published a blog post by Dr. Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, “Should Christians Practice Yoga?" Mohler wrote "the stretching and meditative discipline derived from Eastern religions is not a Christian pathway to God," dismissing the idea that "the body is a vehicle for reaching consciousness with the divine."

After the release of his article, Dr. Mohler said: I received hundreds of emails calling me insane, incompetent, stupid, vile, fundamentalist, and perverted—all from individuals claiming to be Christian, but offering no biblical argument for their view point… One comment came from a woman who had opened a Christian Yoga studio, saying: ‘what I found is that it opened my spirit.’ Another said ‘I get much more out of yoga and meditation than I ever get out of a sermon in church.’

These commenters, while sincere in their commitment to this physical and mental discipline practiced by Hindus, Buddhists and Jainists, seem to have no idea how unbiblical it is. Paul could have been speaking of the “discipline” of Yoga when he wrote: “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world… These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires” (Col. 2:20, 23).

Not Following the Recipe is a Recipe for Disaster

Last year we ‘inherited’ a few dozen cook books from an elderly woman who was downsizing! They are still sitting in our storage shed. Why? Because I don’t like following recipes. Last year, a movie about cooking, “Julie and Julia” detailed the story of a writer, named Julie, who aspired to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child's cookbook in 365 days, and then blog about her success. As Julie tries to replicate Julia’s recipes, she follows them to the letter—the slightest mistake causes her to toss it and start over.

That would never work for me. If cooking isn't a creative adventure, it isn't satisfying. By adding a little of this and a little of that I create something uniquely mine. Now I hope you won’t think this is contrived, but I think we are increasingly seeing people use the Bible this way. As it becomes more difficult to reconcile Biblical standards with our sensual culture, people add a little of what they like and take away what they don't, creating something that tastes good to them: a recipe for disaster.

You might say that God doesn't trust us in the kitchen: ‘too many cooks spoil the soup,’ that sort of thing. God’s Word is full of recipes—some the plans of ambitious, self-serving men and women which led to disaster; others recipes for success. I am glad God has given us clear instructions for living. Just imagine if God’s instructions were so random we could never know what to expect. But thank God His Word is a recipe for success: a lamp unto my feel and a light unto my path (Ps. 119:105). “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching [no longer follow the recipe]. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3 NLT).

America's Four Gods

In 2008, a group of sociologists from Baylor University conducted a survey asking Americans how they picture God. This week, they published their findings in a book, “America’s Four Gods,” thus categorizing peoples' views: The Authoritative God--who is both engaged in the world and judgmental; The Benevolent God--who loves and helps us in spite of our failings; The Critical God--who catalogs our sins for future punishment; and The Distant God--who stands apart from the world He created.

While the folly of dissecting God's character is obvious, the assumptions drawn from the survey were not entirely wrong. The Researchers concluded that these four conceptions of God form the basis of our worldviews and are among the most powerful predictors of how we feel about issues in American life. The Bible affirms this truth: what we believe determines how we live (Prov. 23:7; 27:19).

We all suffer from distorted views of God as a result of our histories, life experiences, and Bible knowledge (or lack thereof), passed down to us from our parents or significant authority figures, God’s appointed representatives, as it were, until we are mature enough to develop a relationship with God. The obvious problem is this: they could not perfectly represent Him. If you struggle with a particular aspect of God’s character—mercy, justice, love, etc.—ask God to reveal the root of the lie; and then ask God to show Himself to you. “This is the new covenant I will make… says the LORD… I will be their God, and they will be my people… for they shall all know me” (Jer. 31:34-35).

How Should Christians live in a pagan society?

Due to their brevity, my comments in yesterday’s blog on ‘Bikini Baristas’ fell short of adequately addressing the many-faceted issue. It is not easy to find the balance between our calling to be salt & light in a sinful world while conveying Jesus’ heart of compassion. This has been brought to our attention (quite painfully) by the current case before the Supreme Court: "Snyder v. Phelps." Rev. Phelps and his church hold what-can-only-be-called 'mean-spirited' protests at funerals of soldiers for no other reason than their tie to the military where homosexuals are allowed to serve (the soldiers whose funerals have been protested were not gay), with signs that read “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.”

Following is an excerpt from an article by John MacArthur on How Christians ought to live in a pagan society.

The church will really change society for the better only when individual believers make their chief concern their own spiritual maturity, which means living in a way that honors God's commands and glorifies His name. Such a concern inherently includes a firm grasp on Scripture and an understanding that its primary mandate to us is to know Christ and proclaim His gospel. A godly attitude coupled with godly living makes the saving message of the gospel credible to the unsaved. If we claim to be saved but still convey proud, unloving attitudes toward the lost, our preaching and teaching—no matter how doctrinally orthodox or politically savvy and persuasive—will be ignored or rejected.

Should We Express Outrage at Bikini Baristas in Fremont?

Did you know there is a drive-through coffee store in Fremont with bikini baristas? (No, I have not been there!) This entrepreneurial innovation which began in Seattle has now come to California.

In our increasingly sensual culture, how should we respond as we see these things happening? Is your first thought to start a petition to ban all such establishments from your city? Or is it about these poor girls who are marketing their bodies to sell coffee? When the Pharisees wanted Jesus to stone the woman caught in adultery, Jesus didn’t line up with public outrage, but with personal compassion. Or when everyone else rejected the outcast woman who came to the well alone, Jesus offered forgiveness and compassion.

Paul said: “Don't you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don't you care? Can't you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin?” (Rom. 2:4 NLT) Paul entreats us to put on a heart of compassion, kindness and forbearance (Col. 3:12). Assuredly, we will be challenged to find ways to express the compassion of Jesus while remaining "salty" in a sinful world. But maybe this is the way to change our society. By influencing people through love and kindness—thus changing the world, one person at a time. [Note: next Saturday, my wife and daughter are participating in an AIDS walkathon sponsored by Westgate Church. Now there's a creative way to show the compassion of Jesus.]

For Your Pleasure

In the beginning when God created the world, sparkling with divine energy, bursting with unlimited expansion, He was pleased. On the seventh day, He stopped and looked around at all He had done, and said, “It is good.” And we see that God takes pleasure in His creation, including us: “The Lord is pleased only with those who worship him and trust his love” (Psalm 147:11).

We exist for His glory, purpose, and delight (Acts 17:28; Proverbs 8:30). Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is what we were created for. Eric Liddell, Christian missionary and Olympic athlete said: “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

Standing in opposition to God’s pleasure are the world's pleasures. But they only last for a moment, and leave us with an emptiness the just makes us want more (Hebrews 11:25). Why are we so easily enticed by such empty pleasures? The simple answer is this: God wants us to find our pleasure in Him, but if we do not, we will look elsewhere. So our pleasure-seeking is really an inherent hunger for God. Living a life that is pleasing to God has its own great reward, not only in time, but for eternity. “In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11). So let us, like Paul, make it our ambition to discern what is pleasing to the Lord (2 Cor. 5:9; Eph. 5:10) and do it!

Do You Feel Like God is Taking Things Away?

“A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life” (John 10:10). As many times as I have read and taught this verse, I never fully appreciated how Jesus contrasts Himself with a thief! Some say the word thief in this verse refers to false shepherds who come with selfish motives. Others say it refers to Satan: a thief and murder. Either way contrasts taking and giving. Why? When people experience loss, they see it negatively—as God taking away something they loved.

When someone dies, people will say, “The Lord took him." When someone loses a job, people may say, "Well, the Lord gives; the Lord takes away." And some Christians cynically speak of the church offering as the church or preacher taking their money! Many people reluctantly give themselves to God because of this false view that He is taking away their freedom.

Remember how the Hebrews reacted right after they had crossed over the Red Sea? They sang and danced with great joy because God had given them freedom. But within days, they were complaining that God had taken away their leeks and onion. Like the Israelites, we are tempted to see God’s actions in a negative light. If you are currently struggling with feelings that God has taken away something from you, ask Him to reveal His true nature to you. The more you get to know Him as a giver of good things (James 1:17) the more you will be able to see the abundant life He has given, and is giving, you.

Something to Chew On

After WWII, automation accelerated. And by the mid-50’s we were imagining the day when ‘robots’ would make our lives much easier—and simpler. In my childish mind, I visualized robots walking around our homes, doing our work. We could never have imagined that these robots would be little computer chips automating everything from cars to toasters. But we did believe 'it' would make our lives simpler.

But the ‘digital’ age has not made life simpler. With the ability to do more, we do more—'multi-tasking.' The governing “value” of the day is speed—fast is good; slow is bad. My generation valued immediate gratification more than any preceding one. Now a ‘new’ generation—the ‘Millennials’—is addicted to speed.

Time is yet to tell how this new ‘value’ of speed will affect the spiritual principles of endurance, patience, longsuffering. God never serves ‘fast food.’ Serious students of the Bible know it takes much time to read and study, pray and meditate until the Word can be digested. Many have become accustomed to the 'fast food' of Internet ‘devotionals’ (one-minute meditations; word for the day) that enter through our web portals every morning. Consumption takes only minutes. Then we rush out the door at break-neck speed, with barely another thought about the 'word' or 'thought' of the day.

I hope my “Dying to Live” devotional postings have not become anyone’s “instant” devotions. My purpose is to give you something to think on; and however brief, to chew on throughout the day. Start chewing!