Category: Uncategorized

Dear Friends,

This Sunday we celebrate the First Sunday in Lent. The forty days (not including Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to Easter is a spiritual season during which we prepare ourselves for the joy of the coming Easter. The forty days of Lent are symbolic of the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted by Satan.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:1-4, 10 (NIV)

“Following Church traditions, many choose prayer and fasting as a way to come to a deeper appreciation of the sacrifices Jesus made to pave the way for our salvation. Fasting is biblical, being mentioned in the following verses:

Exodus 34:28                       Jeremiah 36:6-9                  Matthew 4:2
Numbers 29:7                      Daniel 9:3                             Matthew 6:17-18
1 Samuel 7:6                        Joel 1:14                                Matthew 9:14-15
Psalm 35:13                         Joel 2:12-15                         Luke 2:37
Psalm 69:10                         Jonah 3:1-5                          Luke 5:33-35
Psalm 109:24                       Zechariah 7:5                       Luke 18:12
Isaiah 58:3-6                        Zechariah 8:19                    Acts 13:2-3
Jeremiah 14:12                                                                    Acts 14:23

The only time that fasting is commanded is in Numbers 29:7, where fasting is one of the offerings listed for the Day of Atonement.

In the Scriptures, fasting is closely tied with prayer and repentance. When we voluntarily give up something for Lent, the goal is to switch our focus from earthly pleasures to the joy that we will inherit because of Jesus sacrifice on the cross.

As far back as I can remember, my mother made it a habit of giving up ice cream for Lent. As a young boy that seemed pretty extreme — giving up brussel sprouts was more like it.

Over the years, I’ve heard of people giving up certain foods, their favorite television or radio program, or even taking a hiatus from playing a favorite game or sport. One friend shared how she gave up Starbucks and used the money she saved as a special offering for the homeless.

Others, as an act of repentance and renewal, choose to give up bad habits. They concentrate on not doing the “Do Nots.”

““Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” Exodus 23:2

“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,” Ephesians 4:26

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices”
Colossians 3:9

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” Colossians 3:19

Unfortunately, a lot of what passes for fasting is actually more of a physical or mental fitness exercise. If our goal in fasting is to lose weight or save money, we may have missed the point. The focus in fasting should be on God, not on ourselves.

In Isaiah, we learn that the Israelites earned God’s displeasure by doing the “right thing” for the “wrong reasons”.

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ (The Israelites expected a quid pro quo.)

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Isaiah 58:3-4, 5b

Continuing in Isaiah, we see that God responds to hearts that are lovong and compassionate.

“’Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.’”
Isaiah 58:6

When we fast, we humble ourselves and show God that we love him. It’s not what we say that matters, it’s what we do. “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

This year, I won’t be giving up brussel sprouts. Instead, I will be praying that God will show me what he desires from me. After all, it’s not what we give up that matters; it’s that we are willing to humble ourselves and give over control of our lives to God.

Scripture for the Week: “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”  Joel 2:12

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

The word apologetics is taken from a Greek word that denotes a defense of the faith. It is the religious discipline that gives clear, truthful answers to questions about the Christian faith.

The Apostle Peter was speaking of apologetics when he wrote, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)

You may not have thought about it, but you are an apologist. C.S. Lewis said, “It is not a question of whether we engage in apologetics or not, but what kind of apologetic we are giving when the opportunity comes by.”

It’s a sad truth that many students who have been raised in Christian homes arrive at college poorly equipped to face an inevitable onslaught of cynicism. Since one’s beliefs about the origins of life are at the very core of a Christian worldview, secular humanists do everything they can to erode faith in the authority of the Bible.

Faced with immense peer pressure and “authorities” that regurgitate scientific theories and anecdotal evidence as if they are gospel, how can impressionable youth hope to defend the Gospel? As parents and grandparents, we have the opportunity to better equip our loved ones for the challenges they will face in school.

 A few years ago I volunteered with Reasons to Believe — a ministry devoted to integrating science and faith and to demonstrating how the latest science affirms our faith in the God of the Bible. Rather than being intimidated by the arguments of the “intelligentsia,” Dr. Hugh Ross and his associates develop responses that ultimately lead to the conclusion, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

I must confess; I feel grossly inadequate when I try to understand, let alone discuss, some of the concepts I was exposed to at RTB. However, since our beliefs about the origins of life form the foundation of our Christian worldview, I want to share a few thoughts about the “anthropic principle.”

The anthropic principle states that, rather than being a product of random chance, the universe appears “designed” for the sake of human life. The prophet Isaiah put it this way, “It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.” Isaiah 45:12

If there is proof that the universe was designed, it follows that there must be a designer. We read about that designer in Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

So where’s the proof? What follows on the next page is a summary of some of the evidence for design that I found on the Reasons to Believe website. If you don’t want to read the entire article, I suggest you focus on one incontrovertible fact — based on the scientific evidence, “the odds that any given planet in the universe would possess the necessary conditions to support intelligent physical life are less than one in a number so large it might as well be infinity (10¹⁷³⁾“

“If he is able to place the stars in their sockets and spread the sky like a curtain, do you think it is remotely possible that God is able to guide your life?”—Max Lucado

A century of research confirms what the Psalmist knew in his heart, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1

Verse for the week:
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 2 Timothy 2:24-25(NLT)

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ

Meet the Designer

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”  John 1:1-3

In 1961, astronomers acknowledged just two characteristics of the universe as “fine-tuned” to make physical life possible. The more obvious one was the ratio of the gravitational force constant to the electromagnetic force constant. It cannot differ from its value by any more than one part in 10⁴⁰ (one part in ten thousand trillion trillion trillion) without eliminating the possibility for life. Today, the number of known cosmic characteristics recognized as fine-tuned for life—any conceivable kind of physical life—stands at thirty-eight. Of these, the most sensitive is the space energy density (the self-stretching property of the universe). Its value cannot vary by more than one part in 10¹²⁰ and still allow for the kinds of stars and planets physical life requires.

Evidence of specific preparation for human existence shows up in the characteristics of the solar system, as well. In the early 1960s astronomers could identify just a few solar system characteristics that required fine-tuning for human life to be possible. By the end of 2001, astronomers had identified more than 150 finely-tuned characteristics. In the 1960s the odds that any given planet in the universe would possess the necessary conditions to support intelligent physical life were shown to be less than one in ten thousand. In 2001 those odds shrank to less than one in a number so large it might as well be infinity (10¹⁷³).

An account of scientific evidence in support of the anthropic principle fills several books. The authors’ religious beliefs run the gamut from agnosticism to deism to theism, but virtually every research astronomer alive today agrees that the universe manifests exquisite fine-tuning for life.

This devotional was inspired by a message Christian apologist
Ravi Zacharias presented at Saddleback Church.

Dear Friends,

Do you ever have times when you feel like something is missing from your life? Maybe it’s better health or wealth, or something or someone that you think will make you feel complete —a missing piece that stands between you and a heart at peace.

Speaking in John 14:27a (NIV), Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” Jesus was telling his disciples that he was offering a blessing that went far beyond anything the world could offer.

How do we make the peace that Jesus offers an essential piece in this puzzle we call life? Try as we might, there are times when it’s hard to follow the Apostle Paul’s advice as paraphrased in the message Bible:

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6-7

Life happens, and when our petitions and praises don’t yield the outcome we desire, the last thing we want to hear is someone quoting Romans 8:28 (NIV): “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^] have been called according to his purpose.”

How can we offer comfort to someone who feels that the peace Jesus offers is somehow slipping away? What can we say when their world is in pieces?

In Second Corinthians 1:3-4 we read, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Sometimes the best way to offer comfort is to just listen. If we must speak, we can speak to God and let others listen in as we offer our prayers for them. We may not be able to supply the piece that is missing from their life, but with God’s help we can share the peace that we have known in the Lord.

“The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of the pain, thanking God during the trials, trusting Him when we are tempted to lose hope, and loving Him when he seems so distant and far away. At my lowest, God is my hope. At my darkest, God is my light. At my weakest, God is my strength. At my saddest, God is my comforter.” — Author unknown

Verse for the Week: Ephesians 3:16-17 (NLT)
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ

What is happiness?

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. Clap, Clap.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. Clap, Clap.
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, Clap your hands. Clap, Clap.

I wonder how many people are truly happy. Too often, we measure happiness based on where we are in relation to others. I may be perfectly happy driving my Saturn until my neighbor drives up in his BMW. You may be very comfortable living in a one bedroom apartment until a relative tells you about their new four bedroom house.

 Did our condition change? Or did our perception of our condition change? Unfortunately, as long as we measure happiness based on how we compare to others, we will never know consistent happiness. But, there is a happiness – a spiritual joy- that is available to those who have a right relationship with God. Solomon wrote about this in Ecclesiastes: “God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him.” Ecclesiastes 2:26

 So happiness comes when our lives are pleasing to God. But what makes lives that are pleasing to God?

If we turn to the “Beatitudes” — found in the fifth chapter of Matthew — we get a surprising look at the types of people whom Jesus says are made happy (blessed). The Beatitudes change the focus from what we must do, or what we must possess, to what we must become to find happiness.

The Beatitudes describes the process through which we open our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit. We all start out as sinners. It’s only through the work of the Spirit that we can change our lives and find true happiness.

Jesus showed us the starting point for this process when he said, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit.” Being poor in spirit involves a surrender of our pride and our self-sufficiency. It involves recognizing that there is nothing we can do to earn a spot on God’s roster. It’s all about the gift of salvation that flows from God’s grace. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Next Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” Normally, when people read this verse they think of mourning, such as when a loved one dies. But Christian commentaries point us toward the sense of loss felt by someone who is so troubled by the sin they see in their personal life and in society that it actually grieves them.

There is an eternal difference between confessing sin and repenting of sin. The one who is truly repentant grieves over their sin. In this broken state, the Holy Spirit, the comforter, comes along side reminding them that there is forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

The next beatitude often causes men a problem: ^“Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” I have to admit – when I hear the word meek – the first thought that comes to my mind is that puny little cartoon mouse with the whiny voice.

But meek doesn’t mean weak. A better definition for meekness is “power under control.” When Jesus bore our sins on the cross, he could have called down thousands of angels to save him. But he meekly submitted to the will of the Father. That was power under control. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we too could learn from Christ’s example and be humble, patient, and strong in God’s power?

Continuing in the Beatitudes, Jesus next spoke of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Here Jesus is talking about a hunger and thirst for righteousness that cannot be satisfied with normal portions. If he were speaking to today’s society, Jesus might have said, “Blessed are those who get their satisfaction from me rather than from the things of the world.” When our drive to know God becomes as strong as an addiction – Jesus tells us we will be satisfied.

Throughout the Beatitudes, the emphasis is on seeking God’s righteousness. As we read in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

As I wrote this message, I kept asking myself, “am I poor in spirit? Do I mourn over sin? Am I meek? Do I hunger and thirst for righteousness? Am I seeking God’s kingdom?

We are all works in progress, but I am convinced that the joy that we presently get from our relationship with the Lord is but a whisper of what he has waiting for us. When we open our lives to the leading of the Holy Spirit, he will push us toward that day when will be truly happy —and we’ll show it in our lives – Clap, Clap Clap!

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ

 

Dear Friends,

“God says, ‘Be still and know that I am God. I will be praised in all the nations.
    I will be praised throughout the earth.’” Psalm 46:10 (ICB)

When Bonnie’s friend Barb showed her a ring she wears to remind her to “Be still,” Bonnie decided that was just the type of reminder she needed. She found a couple of rings that she liked at the Rejoice Christian bookstore in Mission Viejo, but when the sales clerks couldn’t help her decide on one of the two she liked, she bought both of them.

A couple of days later, she was visiting with a friend who has been going through a rough patch. After praying with her, Bonnie showed her the rings she was wearing and offered to give her one of them. When she placed it on her friend’s ring finger, it was too tight — so tight that they had to use soap to get it off. Next, they put it on her pinky finger. It fit perfectly.

As they looked at the rings, “Bonnie exclaimed, “Wow! You’ve got God wrapped around your little finger.”

Think about that. As a child of God, you do indeed have God wrapped around your little finger. “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what
we are!” 1 John 3:1 (NLT)

I love to spoil my grandchildren; each of them has me wrapped around their little finger. And yet, my spoiling is nothing compared to how God loves to spoil us. “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11

 “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5

It gave God great pleasure to adopt us into his family, and we surely wouldn’t want to spoil God’s pleasure by taking his love for granted. We show our gratitude when we praise him. “His presence within us is God’s guarantee that he really will give us all that he promised; … and that he guarantees to bring us to himself. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.”  Ephesians 1:14

 I must confess; there are far too many times when I forget to praise God from whom all blessings flow. Perhaps I need a pinky ring to remind me to be still and then praise the God who spoils me.

Unfortunately, I can’t snatch Bonnie’s second “Be still” ring. It ended up on the pinky of another lady who had been going through a very troubling week…!

Verse for the week: Psalm 47:6
“Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises!”

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ