Stay Strong

'And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.'
                                                                   ~ Isaiah 2:4

As I live out my days in the 'land of not-quite-right,' the desert is a reminder of the desolation of the human soul when it is in rebellion against God.

The dry land without vegetation makes me wonder how the desert foxes, birds and other animals survive in a region comparable to the dry, lifeless bones described by the Prophet Ezekiel.
We see the soulless and Godless production of our political structures, the entertainment people seek to fill their lives with in a numbing and dumbing manner, and in our relationships which remain on a superficial level as love is replaced by lust and man disregards his neighbor.
Things certainly can look bleak through foggy eyes.

We also find that it wasn't much different in Biblical times.

Yet, as THE avenue of God's Word in that time, the Prophets absolutely insist that the world will not end in universal defeat, but in joy, peace and satisfaction.
That may be the reason we are given so many miracles during our lives; both minor and major miracles remind us all of our hope.

Need I remind you of the horrid cancer I had?
Or of when I could feel something, over a period of months, changing within my body?
Or of being declared a 'dead man walking' with mere months to live, only to be sitting here writing these words 6 years after my expected death, but cancer free?

Miracles still happen.
Any Christian who believes the miracles of Scripture went out with the Apostles and the closing of the Canon, are simply wrong.
First, it doesn't make any sense Scripturally.
Secondly, I would say if a person did not believe in a true, God-wrought miracle; we're not talking for the slap-stick, huckster, showy things broadcast on television, but a real miracle brought by God; I would say that person understands neither the Word of God nor the Power of God.
In short, they are in danger of becoming a modern-day Sadducee.
But I digress.

The point of the matter is similar to our time, people are filled with fear; while at the same time having a mysterious hope within us.
The political upheaval caused by the last American election by those on the left, was that

anything less than actions of fear?
I would argue terrorists only seem angry; in reality, they are afraid.
But within the Christian, though fear is all around us, we have a mysterious hope; something we can't quite put our fingers on, but we know that it is there.

When I was sick, I knew this hope so well; it came to life in my life.
Somehow, I knew everything was going to be alright; live or die.
As a result, I was at peace, maybe a greater peace than I had ever known in my life.
For the Christian who is walking by faith, remaining strong, resisting temptation, and relying on the Lord...they have this same hope and peace.

The Prophet Malachi is the last of the Old Testament Canon; after he speaks, God would remain silent for 400 years and not speak to His people.
But the day came when God would speak again, first through John the Baptist and then finally, ultimately through His Son.
All of which, along with every Prophet and Apostle, promise something new in the next world.

In ministry I have seen my share of tragedy and turmoil.
Yet, the message from God is consistent and confident; a time is coming when there is no fear, no false brothers, no betrayal, no cancer, no infants dying, no more tears; in fact, no death at all.
It will be a time when armies cease to wage war; soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines all turning our weapons of war into farming tools.
At that time, God will not speak through something or someone; He will no longer be hidden and speak to us Himself.

With that said, it can be rightly determined that human history, the time in which we live, is a time of transition to something greater and NOT an end unto itself.

But what about today; right now?

Because right now infants do die, false brothers do betray Christians and overthrow pastors, cancer does claim lives, and wars do rage.
Are we, you and I, expected to wait until we die or Christ returns to be satisfied in our desire for the presence of God?
Again, it seems, not-quite-right.

We are not alone in this question.
Once the Prophets died off and God fell silent, the Ancient Israelites began to ask the same questions.
Historically, when the Old Testament canon closed, it seemed to them that Judaism was in vain and their God was in hiding.
Neither was true.

We must remember, as God stayed silent between Malachi's death and the arrival of John the Baptist, His people endured 400 years of silence.
What we feel today when we think God is silent or that He has left us alone is generally very mild compared to the time frame of the Ancient Jews.

Interestingly enough, we beg for God to come near; but when He does approach, the light is so bright we are often scorched.
Throughout the Bible, we see humans respond to God's nearness in fear; creating a greater distance spiritually without fostering faith with a few exceptions.

We become disappointed when God seems distant; times when we begin to lack faith or waver in our hope.
But what could not be achieved through power displays and the voices of the Prophets, it would be won and secured through the suffering of Christ.

In Jesus' suffering and ultimate reconciliation, God has provided the way to draw near to us; yet, we must also draw near to Him.
This street runs both ways.

You and I don't have to be perfect Christians; it's never going to happen anyway.
Our perfection will come in the next world, this too achieved through the suffering of Christ on the Cross.
Our guilt, removed.
Our distance, bridged.
Our hope, secured.

So, walk confidently Christian, in humility.
Share grace with those you can; pray without ceasing with joy in your heart.

Disregard those who try to produce fear within your spirit.
Because, my friend, there is a greater day coming when we will enjoy His everlasting peace.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

As He Is

"We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us."

                                                                                 ~ C. S. Lewis

Prayer is a funny thing.
Not funny 'ha ha,' but funny as in odd, different.

In prayer, a person may speak freely with the Sovereign Lord of the Universe, without reservation, hinderance or hesitation - though we rarely come to Him as we should or say what truly needs to be said from our hearts.

Psalm 139 teaches us that God knows our words before they are even our words; He knows them when they are mere thoughts.

And maybe, just maybe, our thoughts are our real prayers; for, in the words of Jesus, 'As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.'

The truth of life is that humans tend to remain shallow at one level of our relationships; we tend to keep people at a distance, a controllable distance from our true thoughts and feelings.
The same would happen with God in our spiritual life if He could not read our thoughts and know our hearts.
We would keep God in a comfortable place for us; but real spiritual growth happens at times when we tend to be uncomfortable, challenged.

In reality, unless we are fully honest with God or a friend, or a spouse; that relationship never deepens.
Instead, we will go through the motions of a relationship, but the relationship will only remain superficial.
The challenge for every Christian is to trust God with what He already knows about us.

But there is a problem.

The problem is that we often see God as someone we should cower before, instead of seeing Him as a person like Jesus.
We forget that it was Jesus who is the 'perfect image' of God the Father.
We lose sight of the fact that it was Jesus who willing sought the greatest offenders.

We need to be reminded that He alone is worthy of our trust.

In the military, Chaplains are identified by their occupational badge; each showing the broad faith group to which they belong.
A Christian has a Cross, a Muslim a Crescent, a Rabbi wears the Tablets; but it is the Eastern Religions who are represented by a Wheel, a Prayer Wheel.
Buddhist Temples have a large version of these prayer wheels; they constantly turn this wheel believe that the gods will respond to the requests.

This may seem odd and extremely foreign to Christians, but the reality is that we view things very similar when it comes to prayer.
In the Christian world, people believe if they do something, anything of value or contribution with the Church, or if we give more in the offering, then by all means God is obligated to respond.
We lessen the very meaning of prayer in doing so because we have based God's response on a transaction rather than a personal relationship.
And it is that personal relationship which He desires most with us.

Every person who comes to God in prayer, comes to Him with preconceived notions that we've learned throughout our lives; unfortunately, most of our notions are wrong, being formed by our experiences, popular psychology instead of Scriptural authority.
In the words of Jedi Master Yoda, 'We must unlearn what we have learned.'

For all the things which God is, God is not a cosmic kill-joy.
God is not a judgmental, Super-cop waiting to nail you to the wall.
Yet, God is to be revered, loved and praised for His graciousness rather than feared on trembling knees; although He is fearful in a Holy way.

There are those who were abused by the biological fathers in life; for them the Fatherhood of God is skewed and their notion deviates from the true love and grace of God the Father.
Others have been taught that God is a ruling Autocrat, rather than a benevolent dictator with your eternal destiny and good in His heart.
Still others, maybe most, see faith as a spiritual bargaining chip with God because nothing in life is free; therefore, why should grace be free.

And yet, when all is considered, we are left with the image of Christ we are given in Scripture.
A man who sought out the hurting, touched those shunned by society, gave grace freely to the greatest offender and called the most unordinary people to do extraordinary things in His name.
Amazingly, while Jesus was on earth, not one person asked Him what God was like; they asked Him many things and could have asked Him anything they wished.
But they never asked Him what God was like; they could see that He is the 'perfect image' of the Father.

With this said, maybe Christians ought to get rid of the images we have about God and find the person the image is supposed to represent.
His name is Jesus.

Until next time, go win one for the good guys.

God Still Speaks

Since the dawning of the church age, there are times when Christians, Churches or even entire denominations have wanted God to act in a personal, constant, up-close way.

Personally, I would argue that He does.

Yet, those that fail to see the movements of God in the world point to the Nation of Israel from long ago wanting that kind of experience with God.

But the history of Israel which has been recorded tells me that I should not want this.

The reason - there are great disadvantages. 

The first and foremost is the loss of personal freedom; the freedom the Apostle Paul so boldly proclaimed and was continually praising God for giving it to Christians by grace.

In ancient Israel, however, there was nothing outside of God's laws and rules.

And amazingly, the closer God came to the people; the further the people withdrew.

To think we modern, educated, sophisticated Christians living under grace would do any different than our forefathers, is to remain in blissful ignorance of the reality we are presented in Scripture.

In our day and age, Christians tend to believe that everyone would follow a God who made Himself obvious.

Certainly, millions would come to faith if only the world was set straight and fairness was universal.

But Scripture tells us otherwise.

King Solomon was known for his wisdom; obtaining 1,000 wives and concubines along with 1,000 mother-in-laws would tend to argue differently.

While that is a common joke, Solomon was very wise but blundered in his ruling of Israel; for, the nation began to model politically the faults of Solomon personally.

Solomon took Israel to its greatest heights as a nation and people; yet he also led Israel from being a nation dependent on God to a self-sufficient Superpower, losing the vision which God had called upon them in the world to perform.

In spiritual terms, as Israel conquered and ruled, the Kingdom of the World began to trump the Kingdom of God.

As this took place, the success and power which the nation and its people obtained soon eliminated any disappointment they may have had in God but it also eliminated their desire for God as well.

The truth is, even today in our lives, the more we obtain the good gifts of grace, the less likely we are to think of the Giver.

Again, many desire the obvious displays of old; but should we?

Examples from Scripture teaches me differently.

If we yearn for the power of God, such as that of Elijah or Elisha, we are craving the wrong things.

Somewhere, my Charismatic and Pentecostal brethren just felt their heart sink and inch; but please hear me out.

You see, this is not a denial of the gifts of the Spirit; nor is it a rebuke of my brethren who may believe slightly differently than myself.

No, this is an appeal for the Church, the Body of Christ, to desire the right things from God that we may reach our sick and sinful society.

Elijah and his successor Elisha were the exceptions among the prophets; the signs and wonders they performed in their time were truly magnificent.

But these two men were but a blip on the screen of history; truthfully, they had no long term effect.

That shouldn't surprise anyone when you take into consideration the fact that the first time left the sight of the nation of Israel they began to worship a gold calf - and they had just seen the plagues decimate Egypt.

But today, the people of God have been blessed; for, the Holy Spirit came and remains with us, in us and among us.

His whisper, His still, small voice came to the prophets of old and was a preview of our modern era.

As He appeared and would one day enter every child of God, He changed how the faithful view the voice of an all-powerful God.

Please don't misunderstand, Elijah and Elisha were great, powerful men of our Holy God.

But we must also examine the faithfulness of other men, such as Micaiah, who stood against Ahab and his prophets.

You see, after Elisha died, the prophets did not have much of a power display; yet, they were full of the Spirit of God.

Instead of power displays, they turned to preaching the very Word of God itself.

Instead of showing the people the power of God in signs, they spoke the Word of God and His power was known.

The Major Prophets had no power displays; instead of miracles and stunning events, they simply looked out among the people and said, 'Thus says the Lord...'

May I ask a bold question?

Shouldn't God's word be enough for us today if it was enough for Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah?

You see, the preaching prophets do something that the power prophets did not do; they give a voice to our disappointments in life.

At times, they were angry with God, disappointed with His decisions, in a fog as to what He was doing and occasionally despondent. 

Is there any Christian who hasn't felt the same at times?

To be blunt, they asked, 'How can an all-just God permit such an unfair, messed up world?'

My friend, that is a wonderful question.

Have you ever read the Bible and missed the questioning of God by the men who proclaimed Him?

If so, let me give you a small sample:

Isaiah once stated that He was 'truly a God who hides Himself...'

Habakkuk was despondent and removed from understanding in saying, 'justice never prevails.'

As Jeremiah watched Jerusalem fall, the King shackled and blinded after witnessing women cook and eat their own children, he simply concluded that God was 'a warrior powerless to save.'

Does this sound like men who fully understood all that God was doing?

Do they sound like modern televangelists today?

In believing Scripture and these Men of God over what passes for the 'leaders' of Christianity today, I must say that anyone who believes a Christian never suffers and all will be roses and sunshine continually - they are truly an idiot speaking falsehoods contrary to the written Word of God and the experience of the People of God.

For here's the amazing thing about what these Godly men said in ancient times: God talked back.

Then and now, God speaks through His preaching 'prophets,' men of God ordained to carry the Word of God to the masses.

And when God spoke to Ancient Israel, He defended how He ran the world; and God wept because he was being locked out.

He pointed to the Prophets themselves, the very men who questioned His justice and judgments, and presented them as proof of His concern.

He had sent them to speak His Words; the people, however, heard the words but did not listen to the meaning from the Lord.

In short, God was saying to them, 'How can you complain about the silence of God when you have the Prophets as His mouthpiece?'

In a similar manner, how can we complain today that God is aloof, or doesn't care, or is removed; especially when He has given us the Church.

You see, God did not consider 'mere words' as an inferior form of proof of His existence,

His truth, His love or His concern.

Words in fact had a much longer-lasting effect than miracles.

Do you doubt?

Elijah and Elisha effected their generation; the words of David are still be sung in the Psalms today.

Let me ask, which of these have a longer effect, or a broader reach?

It is the written Word of God.

The Prophets inscribed for us a permanent record; just as we do today electronically.

And from the questions and statements made above, God answered and it is recorded for us today.

With Isaiah, God did not argue when He was accused of being hidden; it was true. God had withdrew His presence from the people who rejected Him.

With Jeremiah, God was disgusted with what He saw taking place in Israel; the hands meant to pray and praise Him were covered with innocent blood.

With Ezekiel, God saw Israel's rebellion and they had crossed a line; He simply gave them over to their sins - being carted away to another land.

And Zechariah, God had called out to Israel - but they refused to listen. In response, God withdrew and did the same.

Is God shy to our needs today?

Absolutely not.

God has, however, expressed His deepest feelings to us through His Prophets and Apostles; these accounts are written in His Word.

Through we may wish at times for great displays of power through the unexplainable power which God Himself owns, this is not the answer to strengthening our commitment to the Lord.

And though we don't have the same visible out-workings as our forefathers, God has not withdrawn His presence.

For the Christian has the Holy Spirit within, and this power is the greatest known to man.

At times, it may seem God is absent, that in our fallen and disastrous world He is removed.

That is what the ancients thought; they thought wrong.

Search His Word and you will find God very near; concerning our plight, His face is still streaked with tears.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

Five Years Free

This week marked a full three years since a horrible cancer was removed from my body.
At the time, I was expected to live only a few more months; I looked into the mirror this morning and realized that I might not be the most handsome man in the world, but I look pretty good for a person who is supposed to be a corpse.

There were literally thousands of prayer-warriors lifting voices to the heavens; there were also thousands of others who quietly, mildly and simply asked God for intervention.
At the time, although as it was taking place I said little, I could literally feel something in my body

changing.
With no question in my mind, I know now that God was doing something inside of me; maybe reconstructing. Maybe reversing nature. Maybe something beyond what I can envision.
But I do know that something was taking place that couldn't be described or explained.

And I do know that I walked out of the hospital, ALIVE.

That was five years ago; five...it is the number every cancer patient longs for because when you reach the five year mark, you are declared a survivor and cancer free.

In that time, though some details have faded, there are two things that have remained in the forefront of my mind that I hope to never forget.
One is the true friends that I have; now, this is not to say many weren't concerned, but I mean the deep, true friends - some of whom are reading these words right now - are still my friends and remain very close.

For these, I will ever be thankful and would fight alongside them regardless of the battle.

The second truth is this: God was very evident throughout the entire ordeal; not just within me but around me, through others, through instances in time.
It was very, very clear that His hand was a guiding force from the original thought of calamity, to the diagnosis, through the surgeries and well into recovery within the declaration that cancer was no longer a part of my body.
And with God's presence, came God's greatest gift to humanity - the evidence of His grace.

God has always been present and full of grace; indeed, while humanity lives in a time capsule of linear thought and space, we view time in the same regard.
Yet, God is above and beyond our time and space; His presence is ever availing and His knowledge and works are ever-permanent.
As such, while we think of events in a linear motion; God encircles both ends of our thoughts of time.

But always, He has given grace to those who are in the most need, when they need it, at exactly the right moment.
A few examples from history might be helpful.

What most theologians mark as the worst day in the history of the human race, the Fall of Man, God responded by doling out individual punishments for each player's role in the creation's demise.
Yet, these punishments were also full of grace.
The punishment for humanity was that we will all one day die; yet, God didn't strike down the offending parties immediately, nor did He cut off resources.
Instead, He allowed humanity to live, allowed the deceiver to continue his work, as a Cross appeared on the horizon of the ages to follow.

A generation after the sin in the Garden of Eden came the first murder; worse, it was among the first
parents children.
While Abel's blood cried out from the ground, Cain pleaded that his punishment was too great and that someone would find him and kill him for what he had done.
God's response - a mark was placed on Cain; he would live, but he would live in misery because of the crime he had committed.

In both events, there is a true sense in which God as our Father, truly seemed to struggle with humans as He balanced the learning curve to include a punishment, justice, authority and grace.

A few generations later, mankind had deteriorated so much that Scripture records, "The Lord was grieved (some translations say 'sorry') that He had made man on the Earth, and His heart was filled with pain."

I imagine every parent in history has felt that same type of shock, grief and pain from some action or statement from their children.
We struggle to remember, like God with the first humans, we too must learn to balance justice, punishment and grace.

I can also tell you this shock, grief and pain happens with those who are pastors of churches.
Many times ministers are absolutely dumbfounded at the spiritual immaturity, reckless behavior, and statements made by those who have claimed the Cross as their salvation.
Sometimes, people are as shocking as Cain expecting grace from God.

Yet, as time passed, one found favor in the sight of the Lord; Noah.
After the flood, humanity was given a new start with the Noahic Covenant.
This Covenant is absolutely astonishing in the fact that God is the sole promising agent in the agreement; in fact, God for the first time, places a limit on Himself.
God's Limit?
He promised never to annihilate mankind in this manner again; He in fact, gave a protection to humanity so that humans would not live in constant fear before an all-powerful God.

Now, in each of the above cases, as with my struggle with cancer, God was actively involved.
During that time, my faith did not fail nor falter.
Yet, like those in the time of Noah or Abraham or even John the Baptist; I have found it is not in those times where our faith fails - it is in those times and periods when we hear nothing from God but absolute silence.

If God is not speaking to us, if we feel not His presence, if we have no encouraging word; then, what does God want from us?
When in a struggle and He seems so far away, what does He desire?
The answer: Belief.

And belief in those times when God seems to have withdrawn are painstakingly hard.

Yet, God wants us to believe Him and trust Him when we are in times where there is no real reason to trust or believe.
In this, very well could be the great challenge of modern man; we have been given more reasons to disbelieve than to believe.
- We have witnessed internal church fights and splits among major denominations; these have left behind disgruntled Christians and wounded the faithful.
- We have seen for years, lying political leaders who have thrown oppressive taxes and regulations on the middle class of America, while tossing society into economic chaos and uncertainty.
- We have seen, in recent years, the military evolve from a war fighting/peace continuing necessity to a group used as a nation-wide social experiment, rather than the warrior class they are.

In fact, most won't ask it, so I will: Why should we believe?
We have many reasons not to...but so did the Patriarchs, the Disciples, or the Church Fathers.

With belief, maybe that is the point; we are to believe when the world, others and our environment tell us otherwise.
In Scripture, this is called 'faith.'

A little over five years ago I was told, 'We can prolong your life, but we can't save it.'
Then I was taken to the man who was supposed to become the administer of chemotherapy or radiation (I can't really remember, but that's not important).
There was no direction, no real hope given, and I truly didn't know what was going to happen; but I did know that God was just, that He is good and whatever did happen, I was going to be OK.
As one good friend put it at the time, 'The worst thing that can happen to you is heaven.'

He was right.

I have found that in those times when there seems to be no direction and God seems to be silent; there is still grace and hope.
You see, few remember in their struggles on earth that there was a 400 year gap between the death of Joseph and the Exodus out of Egypt by the Hebrew people.
During that time, God seemed to be silent; but He was not.
God was quietly and Sovereignly working to raise up a man named Moses; it would be through him

that God would speak and lead the faithful.
But God did expect one thing from His people while they could not see what He was doing nor heard His voice: belief.

In the times that there is no direction or guidance (we think), that is the time for trust and belief.
It is far more important in dark times than when we are happy and blessed.
Think about it, when have you grown more spiritually?
Was it when everything was marigolds and maple syrup?
Or was it when times were dark and despair was on the doorstep?
More likely than not, it was in a time of trial or tragedy.

In those times, it is paramount to remember that you think you are receiving nothing but silence from God; but just be patient and wait - God is not silent forever.
Faith is a lot like film, it has to be developed in the dark; therefore, never doubt in the dark what you have learned in the light.

True, we favor joy and victory; but it is in the silence when we grow.

The Jews had a promise, but for 400 years they toiled in slavery though they believed it.
To some, it may have sounded like a fairy tale; a theological insult.
But God wasn't silent forever.

The truth is that the thought of God being silent, or unfair, or hidden from them must have troubled each of them; as it did Abraham, the Prophets, John the Baptist in prison and just as it does each of us today.
We want a power display of reality; a Burning Bush, a Red Sea parting...a man healed of cancer.

While these things do still happen, the power displays of God can do everything but one; it cannot make us trust nor love another person or God.
Love and trust cannot be forced; it is a decision.

So, in actuality, all that we see wrong with the world, sickness in our life, etc...these things are actually a seed bed for true faith and trust.
And it is this faith and trust by which mountains are moved, people are delivered, men are healed of cancer and God's wonderful grace is demonstrated for the world to see.

If a little suffering on our part is all that it takes, we should endure it faithfully.
Just think of what He endured for you and I.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

The Darkest Question of Christianity

The Darkest Question of Christianity is this: Why didn't God do something?

You see, Jesus Christ - God's only Son - was abandoned by His Father and left to die on the Cross.
Jesus died, not of torture; nor did He expire from fatigue.
Jesus Christ died from Asphyxiation. 

One man described it as follows:

- The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Then he would repeat the act, allowing some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place. The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed. The victim is now crucified.

- As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain—the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet.

- As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. Eventually, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.

- Hours of this limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.

The compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, blood into the tissues—the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air.

Finally he can allow his body to die.

All this the Bible records with the simple words, “And they crucified Him.” (Mark 15:24).

~ Adapted from C. Truman Davis, M.D. in The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 8

When Charlemagne, King of the Franks, heard the account of Christ's arrest and crucifixion for the first time, he rattled his sabre and exploded in rage, saying,  "If only I had been there; I would have slain them all with my legions!"

Countless generations of Christians have harbored the same feelings towards the people responsible for the Lord's Crucifixion.

But Charlemagne nor his legions, were there.

You and I weren't there either; nor do we have legions of warriors at our disposal; even Jesus didn't call on the angels for aid.

In fact, the one person who did draw his sword was Peter; this turned out disastrously.

Behind all the raw emotion, behind the outrage.

Behind all the theology and the questions we might have stands the one question towards God Himself - it is the darkest question in the Christian faith.

"Why did God allow it?"

"Why didn't God act?"

Truly, the one person who could have done something was God the Father.

The One who Created the universe and flung the stars in place is far more powerful than earthly warriors; yet, He turned away and never attempted to lift a finger to help His condemned Son.

In those Six Hours that one Friday so long ago which transpired on the Cross at Calvary, the question of 'why' remains.

In one sense, Jesus died due to a vast conspiracy by wicked men; in another sense, Jesus was handed over to His enemies because He was betrayed by one of His close followers.

In another sense, God the Father sent His Son to accomplish this work to save fallen humanity; for we have all handed Him over for far less than 30 pieces of silver.

And in yet another sense, nobody took the life of Jesus Christ, He gave it up willingly for those whom He loved.

Still, why didn't God the Father do something?

As you read the Gospel account of the tragedy of events leading to the Crucifixion of Jesus; there is a yearning in the soul due to the injustices being carried out.

There is a slow crescendo until the point of Christ's death.

But when He dies, though the disciples had fled, the Sanhedrin rejoiced and God turned away; one thing did happen - all of creation seemed to stop and mourn the death of the Son of God.

In the moment He died; Creation shook to its very core.

The Sun darkened, the Earth shook and the dead were raised.

In truth, all of Creation groaned due to the death of the Savior.

But still, the question remains, 'Why didn't God do something?'

Why couldn't He have done...well, anything that would change the course of human history while providing salvation?

Maybe in the question lies the answer.

You see, it is not that God could not have done anything to aid His Son; it is the fact that

He did not do anything.

So, why didn't He do something?

I'm certain most Christians know the Sunday School answers to that question.

"God was fulfilling Prophecy..."

"God was satisfying His judgment..."

"Jesus had to die after being betrayed..."

And all of those, and more theological answers, are true.

But God has been forever more real than a theological answer.

Lest we lose our first love, the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ is far more personal than any theological proof or answer.

There is something very real, very personal in one man dying for another.

In the Crucifixion, it is the God-Man who died in His innocence so that you and I, who are guilty from our birth, could stand with Him in eternity.

And why?

Because of His great love.

How did He choose to do it?

Through His endless grace.

And to offer His grace, forgiveness had to be available.

Forgiveness could only be available if One endured the punishment of our sin.

That One, was Jesus Christ.

In those six hours Jesus was on the Cross, some see Divine Wrath executed on the innocent; and it is there.

Others see the final result of betrayal; this is true as well.

Some see the wickedness to which the human heart can sink; they are right.

But through it all, on the Cross that day, I see the unification of human suffering and divine love in the person of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus died on the Cross, His head may have hung as His spirit left His body; but death had not conquered Him.

On the first day of the week, Christ would triumphantly burst forth from the tomb in which He had been placed; rising from the grave and defeating death itself.

The enemies of the Cross, from the time of the apostles even to the present age, have attempted to destroy its meaning.

The Cross cannot be destroyed, nor its meaning; the Cross cannot be defeated because the Cross itself is defeat.

Only being united with Christ in the likeness of His death can we be certain of being raised with Him in the likeness of the resurrection.

That is why, ‘Jesus and Him crucified’ remains the very heart of the message of the Gospel.

And that, my friend, is why God the Father did not intervene so long ago; that you and might be raised with Him in the Resurrection to Life on that great day to come.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

More than Animals

Philip Yancey once commented that if he was seeking to discredit the Christian Doctrine of Man, he would not go to fossils to argue evolutionary theory.
Instead, he would go to a local High School where daily the offering is a showcase for 'The Human Animal.'


There's some truth in that statement; High School is truly a 'Survival of the Fittest' in many, many ways and forms.

A couple of years ago, I attended an 'all year' reunion at my High School, which has long since closed its doors.

As I scanned the crowd and looked for old friends, it was clear that little had changed in the 20 or so years since I walked the halls of Gauley High.

Those who were "jocks" still walked with a swagger; albeit one with larger stomachs than in years earlier. Those who were once cheerleaders seemed to have taken care of themselves better than most; although when they gathered for a cheer from the old days, it didn't look quite right.

The individuals who were thought of as 'nerds' or 'computer geeks' were still geared towards that direction; yet, they were wealthier and better dressed than most.
And then there were still those who wore an abundance of flannel, which is common in Appalachia; others who were still artistic and still others who seemed to remain loners, even as adults.


The styles had changed; there were no men there with 90's style pegged pants or females with poofy hair held together with a pound of Aquanet.
No, the styles weren't the same at all; but the people were mostly the same.
Some spoke of the same ''wins" from High School, some spoke the same way; others dwelled on a long-forgotten past.
Basically, the conversation was the same as years earlier.


Rarely do people change.
But as I stood there, I realized that I was one of the few who had indeed changed; and changed dramatically.
Most had the same stories as I had from the past; similar adventures of misdeeds and missed chances, but they were not cookie cutter experiences.
No, the paths in our lives were indeed different; but how easily most reverted back into their 'packs' and 'herds;' the places where they found acceptance during their clash to survive.

"Man is not an arithmetical expression; he is a mysterious and puzzling being, and his nature is extreme and contradictory all through."

                                                                                           ~ Dostoevsky


In other words, when God created man, He created man to be more than an animal.
We are not products of an accident or of chance; but unique creations by the powerful hand and mind of God Himself.

While High School may be the place where American teens engage in the 'Survival of the Fittest' for the first time, and we ease into our 'places,' it is not the end of the story.

I truly cannot understand how a grown adult with a family and career would believe that High School was the greatest time in their life...but I digress.

You see, experiencing Christ defies our nature for the simple fact that Christ changes the human heart from what it is, to what it can become in grace through Jesus Himself.
It is Jesus who calls us to be more, to want more that is holy, to be better than we've ever dreamed of being and to accomplish things in this life which we have never dreamed.


In reading Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, the poor are elevated; the persecuted comforted; as are those who are meek and those who mourn.
Jesus, unlike the world, warned against the clear dangers of wealth and power; in essence, He warned against those who possess a 'swag' for whatever reason.


When you look to Jesus, you will find that He valued the very opposite of what society desires; and this includes the people.
The people Jesus took time to fellowship with are the same people you might find anywhere in any town in America, and most of them are still despised - tax collectors, whores, beggars and the infirm.
Jesus taught us that we are more than animals; we are the apex of God's creative mind.

"Nature is cruel; therefore, we may be cruel."

                                                                                      ~ Adolf Hitler


In nature, animals will kill the weak; it is true that in the natural world only the strong survive.
But the Christian is to value the lesser of society and support the weary and tried.
We are not called to the 'Pursuit of Happiness,' as President Jefferson so declared; instead we are to be in pursuit of the Godly service we may provide to our fellow man.


And how we approach issues in life is just as important as how we treat one another; Jesus makes clear that what is expected from His followers will always be different than what is expected from the world.
Have you failed?
Don't cover it up; instead openly admit it, because we have all failed.
Have you been injured by another?
Don't seek revenge, forgive them and move on with your life.
Amassing wealth?
Why? We're to give it away and store up treasures for the next life in Heaven.

These things are hard to do; it is so hard that most will not even attempt them.

For example, how many have gone to their spouses and asked for forgiveness because of a hidden affair. It is rarely done for fear of what the consequences to the failure would be in their life.

It's hard to admit moral failures and spiritual shortcomings.
So, we don't even try; instead settling into an unfamiliar guilt that oppresses our minds and separates our spirits from our Lord.


In science, which is not at odds with Intelligent Design, humanity is classified as 'Homo Sapiens.'
But humans are far more than animals.


As such, we ought to treat each other and ourselves as what we really are - products of an infinite God's creative mind; a God who wishes us to be changed into the men and women He intended us to be from the very beginning, but lost.


I have often argued that the Christian Church has lost millions upon millions because we have failed to live up to the standard Jesus set forth in the Sermon on the Mount.
Unfortunately, we tend to repel people because of our attitudes and actions rather than draw them to the Living Lord.


Often the words which come to mind when describing a Christian is words like, 'Judgmental,' 'Angry,' or 'Hypocrite.'
What if someone said the word 'Christian' and a new vocabulary entered the mind; words like, 'Patience,' 'love,' 'Kindness,' or 'Compassion.'

The effect of these qualities would remain in the hearts and minds of people long after we would have passed from the scene.

These attributes would remain long after the sun, moon and stars have grown cold in the skies.

And in truth, the heart change that comes with Christ's new life, leads to new actions in life; and these new, good works may be the best argument against any egghead's 'evolution of man' theory.

And that is true, regardless of what has happened to you since High School.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

Personal God

Not so long ago I was with a friend on the way to the gym.
A rain storm had just taken place and left behind was a beautiful Rainbow stretching across

the sky.
The Rainbow certainly reveals to the world the Majesty of God; a Creator who but in place a prism by which would activate colors throughout the sky when the right mixture of moisture and sunlight intertwine.

Perhaps, 'Majesty' is an understatement; yet, this is how we often view God Himself.
While true, for God is majestic and Sovereign, the Rainbow also reveals a very personal side of God as well.
The Rainbow was set in the sky of the earth as the Noahic Covenant; God's personal promise never to destroy the earth or its people with a raging flood again.

You can't get much more personal than an eternal promise not to exact judgment through a particular means.
In this case, God's relationship with humanity would be intact throughout the ages; a reminder set amongst the clouds.

Early on, American church children are taught much of the over-arching majesty, concepts and attributes of God; and these are certainly true.
But what is needed in every day life is something much more personal than an omnipotent, invisible Spirit.
We need a God who is personal AND omnipotent; or at least, we need to realize that He is both simultaneously.

In reading Scripture, if a person seeks not to prove a point or look for anything specific, just simply read Scripture; they would soon find among the great doctrines of the faith, among the accounts of the witnesses from the past, they will find a Person.
And the discovery of God as a Person, one who is unique as any person you may know in life, is an event as memorable as any event in your life.

From this discovery, we find that God feels the emotion of love; as well as the mental state of loving which is required from His people toward those whom are unloveable.
We find in Him a Person who demonstrates His frustration, as well as His joy; thunderous anger can emit from Him, as can enormous delight.
And surprisingly, from One who knows all and sees all from eternity past to eternity future, God even seems stunned by the behavior of His Creation at times.

Maybe, just maybe, if we as Christians treated God as a Person who feels and is capable, instead of a 'thing', we would have a better understanding of the relationship He desires to have with us throughout this life and into eternity with Him.

In the Bible, we find that those who related to God best were the very people who treated God just that way - as a Person. As a friend.
The truth is that God has never been a riddle to be solved, a proposition to be considered or a theological doctrine to be debated; God is a Person who is to be experienced and enjoyed in His fullest.

When humans are upset with God, or angry with Him, rarely do we consider to ask 'why?' Why am I upset with God?
We look at our circumstances and wonder why God hasn't acted; but the emotions we feel toward Him aren't even justified.
You see, oftentimes, when a person is angry/upset with God it is because He didn't do what we thought He should do.

But could it be, the individual didn't understand the Personhood of God?
When we are upset with a friend, do we not usually take time to cool down and later approach them with the issue? And when we do, isn't it true that we often learn of things we didn't know about that influenced their behavior, silence or speech?
And if we have misunderstood God in a similar manner, doesn't stand to reason that the problem is more of a relationship problem rather than a faithfulness problem?

And if we have a relationship problem with God, then we must consider the whole situation we are struggling with from God's point of view.

Every page of Scripture contains God's message to a fallen humanity; in every Word, He is revealing Himself a little more.
So, if there is a problem with our understanding of God or in our relationship with God, and God has already revealed Himself, who are we really upset with?

In life, we relate to most people through roles established through our relationships; our relationship with God is no different.
Yet, with God, sometimes our misconceptions play into our awkwardness with Him; our sin, our mistakes, our errors in life - each of these contribute to an uneasiness in our relationship with Him.
If not reconciled, we grow further away from Him, much like a spouse growing apart from their partner because issues within their heart was never addressed.
But in all our relationships, we do not value the external features nor treasure temporary gifts; instead, we look to the person underneath the externals of life.
The same should also be true in our relationship with God.

When we pray, it is true that we are speaking with the Creator of the entire Universe; One who surpasses all understanding and wisdom of the human mind.
In His presence, it is understandable how easy it is to fall silent.

God's realm is above and beyond our time and space; His thoughts being greater than ours.
As a consequence, this would logically mean that God has literally all the time in the world for each and every person who speaks to Him through His Son and by faith.
For, He is not bound by our limitations of time and space.

Jesus too, adds to the equation of God being personal.

While one cannot get any more personal than dying for you so that you may spend eternity with Him; it is also true that God gave His Son for each person who will believe.
In the incarnation, God came near; He is, after all, Immanuel.

And Jesus Himself even changed how we are to view our relationship with God in changing how we are to pray - closely, intimately, frankly, honestly.
In other words, speak to Him like a friend.

Until next time, go win one for the good guys.