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Dear Friends,

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)

The Apostle Paul challenges us to examine ourselves to see if our faith is genuine. Over the next few weeks, we are going to use Galatians 5:22-23 as our guide as we examine our walk with Christ. No need to pack your bags for a guilt trip; This will be a journey to find ways we can draw even nearer to God – “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8 (NASB)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Did you happen to notice that the expression is FRUIT of the Spirit, not FRUITS of the Spirit? Once the Holy Spirit indwells us, we get the whole “fruit salad,” i.e., love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. How much our lives exhibit each of these characteristics can serve as a barometer of how we are doing with our Christian walk.

Are we loving? Are we Joyful? Are we at peace? If we try to rate ourselves on these three, we probably will find that our rating depends on how patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled we are. Love, joy, and peace are the product of a spirit-guided life, and sometimes we need to recalibrate our guidance system.

Let start our journey by looking at PATIENCE.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV): “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens,” and since that time is often not our time, we can feel disappointed, discouraged, defeated, or angry. We may feel our strength drained from us as we push toward a result that seems to be on a treadmill, racing faster than we can run after it. “What is God waiting for?” We may wonder.

Perhaps, He is waiting to see if we have patience. James 1:2-4: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

“Lacking in nothing?” you may ask. “Hello! I’m not getting what I want.”

“Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.” ― David G. Allen

Maybe God wants to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20 (b))

He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

When we learn to wait on the Lord, we can find ourselves revitalized – thankful for what we have, rather than for what we lack.

Of course, patience involves more than timing; it involves people. Truth be told, most of us would be perfectly patient if it weren’t for people. Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher put it well: “I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.” The antidote: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3 (NIV).

In the book, The Love Dare, Steven Kendrick writes, “Patience gives your spouse permission to be human. It understands that everyone fails. When a mistake is made, it chooses to give them more time that they deserve to correct it. It gives you the ability to hold on during the rough times in your relationship rather than bailing out under the pressure.”

Indeed, everyone fails. “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

The fruit of patience: “Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:16 (NIV)

The path to patience begins within. “Have patience with all things but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being. You are perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist. And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that.” ― Saint Francis de Sales

Verse of the week: Psalm 27:14: “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

Ad litem (Latin “for the suit”) is a term used in law to refer to the appointment by a court of one party to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party—for instance, a child or an incapacitated adult—who is deemed incapable of representing him or herself.¹ While an Ad Litem works primarily with abused children, there is an ad litem (or advocate) who represents another group that is incapable of representing itself – US.

One day we will all stand trial: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10.

Since only a fool has himself for a lawyer, it is a blessing that we will have a special advocate standing beside us, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1,2

Imagine the scene: You stand before the bar as Satan, the accuser, points his finger at you and indicts you with the verse, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.

Jesus, your “Ad litem,” doesn’t object as the accuser cites Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NIV): “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

“People who know me would testify that I am a good person,”you whisper; although you know that works isn’t a defense. The Accuser hears your comment and snarls at you as he quotes Matthew 12:36,” But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”

You recall times when you judged others, and the words from Romans 14:10 come to mind: “You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.”

Jesus smiles at you, then he walks forward and takes his seat behind the bench. The accuser turns red with anger as he shouts, “God will bring everything into judgement!”

Jesus stuns the accuser with words from John 5:22 and Revelation 21:6, “…the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son – I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”

Turning to you, Jesus asks, “What is your plea?”

“I throw myself on the mercy of the court.”

You kneel, and humbly claim as yours the words from the Apostle Paul in Galatians 3:20: ^“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

As our imaginary trial draws to a close, Jesus might then paraphrase Psalm 103:12, “as far as the east is from the west, so far {have I} removed your transgressions from you” “By grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:5 (b)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, hat saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now, I see.

Verse for the week: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here.” Galatians 2:20

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ

 

¹ Wikipedia

Dear Friends,

Jesus loves me! This I know,                    Yes, Jesus loves me!
For the Bible tells me so.                          Yes, Jesus loves me!
Little ones to Him belong;                         Yes, Jesus loves me!
They are weak, but He is strong.              The Bible tells me so.

Do I really know that Jesus loves me?

Sometimes things are so familiar that we miss the truth that they are meant for us. For instance, when we hear “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” do we accept that we are part of the world that Christ died for, or do we secretly wish that God would help us internalize that life-giving truth?

A few months ago Bonnie was longing to hear God’s voice. “I know he loves everybody else, she confessed, “but I want to know that he lovers ME.”

A few days later we attended a church service. The pastor approached the pulpit, paused for moment then began, “Someone here tonight wants to know that God loves them. I’m here to tell you that he does! You may leave now.”

Bonnie turned to me with her radiant smile and asked, “Should we go?”

It gets even better. This past Sunday our neighbors knocked on our door, excited to tell us about something that happened during their church service.

“Our head pastor was on vacation, so the assistant pastor gave the sermon,” our neighbor explained. He began to tell us that he had had a very troubling week, and he started to question God’s love. ‘Then’, he said, ‘I saw a white Prius with a license plate that completely changed my attitude.’

’The two video screens on each side of the platform were filled with the image of a license plate. ‘To anyone else, the license plate offered the message, Jesus loves ewe (you). To me,’ the pastor explained, it was far more meaningful… my initials are E.W.E. I was reminded that Jesus loves Edward W. Ewart.’”

Stories from the Bible confirm that God communicates in a myriad of ways. First, He communicates with us through nature. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” Psalm 19:1.

He has been reported to make personal visits: “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.’” Genesis 17:1.

God caught Moses attention when “the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.” God got Pharaoh’s attention with plagues.

God allowed Gideon to test him with dew on a fleece: “Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” Judges 6:39

God spoke through his prophets to Saul and to David, and used writing on a wall with King Belshazzar – “Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace.”Daniel 5:5.

Then there are dreams. “The Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 1 kings 3:5. Dreams are prominent in the lives of Joseph, Daniel, Job, and Joseph -the earthly father of Jesus – and Pontius Pilot.

Caution: Several scriptures warn against placing too much trust in dreams. A vivid dream may be likely the result of a bad burrito as a message from God. “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.” Ecclesiastes 5:7.

Angels serve as God’s messengers. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them…” Luke 2:8-9.

Of course, God speaks to us through his Holy Word. You can tune into God daily by reading the Bible. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

The most mysterious way God communicates with Christians is through the power of the Holy Spirit acting within us. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13

God surely speaks in a myriad of ways. We believe He even may use a license plate, a letter, or an e-mail to tell someone who needs to know for sure, “GOD LOVES YOU!”

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

The original copy of the Declaration of Independence resides at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Written by a committee of five representatives of the Second Continental Congress, with Thomas Jefferson as its principle author, the Declaration proclaimed the legal separation of the original thirteen colonies from Great Britain.

Writing about the significance of Independence Day, John Adams wrote, “It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.” As we celebrate our independence, let’s take to heart President Adams’ words and acknowledge our dependence as a nation on God.

Our nation is celebrating its 239^th birthday and some, may be wondering if old age is starting to catch up with her. Some rejoice, while others despair about the direction our country may be headed; but one of our favorite authors, Max Lucado, offered these encouraging thoughts, “We have no need to despair. What we need is a good dose of this scripture:

‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:6-7

“…The headlines may announce decisions of the Supreme Court, but the actions of our Supreme God are unaltered. God is still God and his word is still sure. His sovereign grace never changes. Everything else may change. But He doesn’t.”

This is good advice as we consider what independence means to our country. It is also good advice as we consider what independence means to us as individuals. To a teenager, independence may mean breaking free from the controls of parents. To someone mid-career, it may mean reaching a level of competence that allows independent thoughts and actions. To a ninety year old, it may mean still be able to drive.

As we age, one of the greatest fears we may face is loss of independence. Most of us waltz merrily through life believing we are the master of our fate, until an unforeseen illness, a financial set back, or an accident limits our ability to live as we choose. Accepting dependency on another can be a difficult pill to swallow.

During a recent trip to San Diego, we had occasion to take a trolley to Old Town. As we boarded the trolley, a young man rose from his seat and offered it to us. For a moment, we weren’t sure what to do. Bonnie and I are healthy and in relatively good shape. Should we declare our independence by declining his offer, or should we offer him the opportunity to serve by taking a seat? We chose to sit down and to thank him for his kindness.

True independence can only be found in dependence on God. God knows what is best for our nation and he knows the plans he has for each of us. Take comfort in these words from Isaiah: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4.

Blessings,

Your superannuated friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

This past week we wept over the tragedy that took place at the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. That was a shocking example of prejudice morphing into unquestionable evil. In the wake of Charleston, let’s examine our hearts to see if any seeds of prejudice threaten our walk with Christ.

Surprisingly, the word prejudice is not in the Bible; however, the Bible is full of examples of what we would call prejudice. The open hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans and between the Jews and the gentiles became the backdrop for several of Jesus’ parables.

It’s natural to notice differences between people. It’s how we react to the differences that can lead to sin. Jesus was raised in a culture where the Samaritans were considered to be second-class citizens, but he rejected the norm and related to the Samaritans in love.

Whenever we generalize and allow the sins of a few to color our opinions of an entire group of people, we are setting ourselves up for Judgment. An abundance of verses in the Bible warn us to avoid prejudice.

In Romans 14:10 we read, “You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.”

And in James, Chapter 2 “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.”

Then there is Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Allow me share a personal story about how seeds of prejudice were sown in my life, and what it took to repair the damage. Let me begin by mentioning that I grew up in the predominantly Afro-American Anacostia section of Washington, D.C.. On April 4, 1968, I left my home and drove towards Arlington, Virginia where I was planning to have supper. My drive took me down Pennsylvania Avenue and across the Sousa Bridge. After taking a slight left on Potomac Avenue, I slowed as a man, obviously under the influence, stumbled into the roadway and fell. I pulled over, got out of my car, and helped him to the curb. Seemingly out of nowhere, a crowd of fifteen or twenty angry people surrounded me. Someone shouted, “He tried to run that man over!” Another screamed, “I saw it, let’s teach him a lesson.”

From the midst of the crowd a middle aged African-American cab driver emerged. “That’s not so! I saw him actually helping our brother.” Then, the cab driver turned toward me and in a soft voice asked, “Boy, don’t you know what’s happened?”

I started to explain, “I was helping…” He interrupted me. “No man – get the Hell outta here – NOW!  Somebody just shot Dr. King.”

Somehow I managed to get back into my car and drive away. Less than an hour later buildings in that area were in flames.

I canceled my supper plans and instead went to a hill in Arlington that overlooked Washington. The skyline was aglow from fires that had been ignited around the city. I can’t use the exact words I used. Suffice it to say they were vulgar and hateful. “This is my city, I screamed! I will never forgive THEM!”

That cab driver didn’t stereotype me. He didn’t care about the color of my skin; he saw me as another human being in trouble. His actions probably saved my life that evening. Sadly,I did not show the same kind of compassion for those who, in their anger, had burned “my” city.When it comes to prejudice, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

Looking at life through a prism of prejudice can lock us in a prison of negativity. Pulling down a flag or changing a law won’t automatically change people’s hearts; in fact, it may harden them.  The question facing each of us is, “What can I do to clean out any seeds of prejudice I find in my heart?”

As a start, we each can pray that God will change our focus from what separates us to what we have in common. God made us all, and any advantage we have is a gift from God.

“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” 1 Corinthians 4:7

Next, we can try to live the Great Commandment. When Jesus told us, “…thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” he didn’t qualify it. He said, “Love thy neighbor,” and we are all neighbors in God’s eyes. It’s easy to love someone who is like you, but our commitment to Christ can be measured by how we treat everyone else.

How we speak about others also makes a difference. The Apostle James warned us, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. James 3:9.

The Apostle Paul encouraged us to build up each other, rather than tear each other down: “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:19 

“Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” Psalm 141:3

Next, look for a hero. For a long time, the people who set the fires in D.C. were the first ones who came to mind when I thought about blacks. When I finally replaced the arsonists in my mind’s eye with Jim Williams, a compassionate, Christian gentleman – who just happened to be African-American – I saw what the love of Christ is really about.  The bitterness and fear that fueled my prejudice evaporated in the intensity of Jim’s Christian love.

Jim was also the one who taught me the healing power of a smile and (where appropriate) a hug. When you lower your barriers and hug someone, you show them that you accept them as they are.  We cannot cleanse our hearts and begin the process of reconciliation alone. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will give us all a spirit of forgiveness. In Colossians 3:13 we read, “Make allowances for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember that Christ first forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

Removing the seeds of prejudice is difficult because they are often surrounded by pain or fear birthed by experience. In our minds, an offense by a few can lead us to diminish the value of many. The Christians at Emmanuel A.M.E Church have shown us that we have a choice when we are offended. They reminded us that red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in his sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world – and so can we.

Quotation for the week: Viktor Frankl, a survivor of Nazi death camps, noted in his book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” that there are at core only two types of people — decent and indecent.”

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ