A World Without Heroes

When I was younger, I had this fixation on Heroes.
Of Super Heroes - I like many of them but Batman, the Dark Knight and Caped Crusader was my personal favorite. The reason is because Batman is the only Super Hero without a Super Power. He had only his intellect and will power to win the day.

Of military Heroes - Audie Murphy, the most decorated man in the history of the United States; Alvin York, the Christian who didn't want to go to war, but became the most decorated man of WWI. General Robert E. Lee, a man who worked military miracles against all odds.
But I would be amiss if I didn't include some of the people in our churches; men who went to Europe or the Pacific in the 1940's and saved the world.
Men who went to Korea, engaged the Chinese Communists and kept South Korea free.
Men who went to Vietnam, doing all their country asked; only to be vilified by draft dodging hippies who went to Canada or College.
Men who served in relative peace around the world, standing eyeball to eyeball with the communists; ultimately winning the Cold War.
Men who, after their service, came home and built a life, a family and a home; keeping the country on the right path by just being good citizens and good Christians.
Yes, these people are real American Heroes.

In the 1980's, there was a men's cologne called 'Hero;' it was and is my personal favorite although production ceased years ago. But Hero cologne did have one thing going for it - it had the best commercial of any cologne or aftershave I have ever seen.
Firemen rescuing dogs from a blaze. Policemen getting the bad guy. These men on the screen made you feel good about the true heroes in our society. Though it didn't do much for sales, it was impressive.

But tonight, in this hour, I don't need a hero; I need a miracle.

You see, cancer is not only a life-stealer, it is a joy-stealer and a hope-stealer. It is a natural depressant to a Christian's spiritual life.
As it spreads or is discovered in more areas of your body than what was first known, the more joy and hope is taken away from you. Such is my case.
And it has become abundantly clear to me - the only way I am going to walk away from this disease is if God touches my life and heals my body with His power.

Doctors are good; they've been given to us as a resource by God's grace and we should use them. But doctors and their knowledge can only go so far.
Nutrition and the knowledge of prevention is truly a gift; we understand so much more now than ever before. But again - it is only going to take us so far.
Modern drugs, modern medicine in general - should be used to their utmost advantage - but they will sometimes fail.
The one thing that never fails is the power of God Himself; more than any other time in my life, I need God to expose His grace and demonstrate His power through my life.
I cannot fathom survival happening any other way.
Not for me. Not with cancer. Not to the degree at which this battle must be fought.

It may sound like a worn out cliche but it is true - it's all in the hands of God now.

And maybe that is one of our problems in this life - not allowing all aspects of our hearts and lives to be in His hands at all times.
Maybe that's why we suffer so much and fail so often.
If God never fails and we often do, then maybe we're not walking as we should be walking. Maybe we're not giving over to Him what He desires. Maybe our spirits aren't in line with His Spirit and our free will isn't in tune with His Sovereign will.

Someone several weeks ago said that I was 'a miracle in the making.' If they are right, which I hope that they are, I certainly pray that God begins to show the steps in that miracle fairly soon. The roller coaster of emotions is affecting my hope and destroying my joy.
This isn't an issue of faith; my faith is solid.
It's an issue of being broken and wanting to be fixed.

In Matthew 9 there are several miracles recorded that Christ performed. In some of them, He heals according to the person's faith. In others, the person healed had no faith whatsoever, nor did anyone else; He just healed them.
In one He forgives sins, another He heals the a woman as she touches Him in a crowd, in  yet another Jesus heals a blind man by a simple touch of the eyes.

All this teaches us a couple of things about God's healing power.
First of all - God still heals; I'm sort of old fashioned in believing in the all-powerful Most High God and that includes miracles.

Secondly, in every case, each person healed was at the end of their proverbial rope. One man restricted to a pallet; two were blind; a woman was bleeding for over a decade and one young girl was dead.
In each case, they had nowhere to turn; except to Jesus.
Friend, that is exactly where I am at in this hour - I have nowhere to go for healing except to God Himself. Yes, the doctors will do what they are trained to do; but in the end, I will be healed and cured by the power of God or I won't be healed at all.
I am at the end of my rope, praying He ties a knot in it and pulls me through.

Thirdly, with each of the people He healed - all of them were to glorify God and reveal to them who He was so that they, and others, would come to Him in saving faith.
If God chooses to heal my body, I know it will not be forgotten and will be greatly spoken of by every person I know and who knows this situation - others will come to Him in saving faith because of what He has done through me.
I have had this happen before - God using me and the ministry He has given me to glorify Himself and bring people to saving faith. Friend, I can honestly say that there is no greater honor than to be used in this manner.
I am praying that He will heal my body and do it one more time.

On this point, I am torn. In one sense I feel selfish because my life will be spared and it will greatly benefit me. But in another sense, I know I won't be spared because of anything I have done, or because I'm a nice guy, or even because I'm a preacher.
If God heals me it will be for His glory and for others to come to Him by faith - I'm OK with this because that's all I want as well.

Through this entire struggle with cancer, I have never been angry. I have been discouraged, I have not understood why it was  happening or how it could happen without any detection for so long; but mostly, I've been disappointed.
Disappointed that my children may not have their father like so many other children do at key points in their lives.
Disappointed for my wife - she has been so solid with this struggle in support and love; but she didn't ask for this, yet she is enduring it with me.
And I've been disappointed that God hasn't shown Himself in the way I expected through this situation as of yet.
But Scripture promises the believer ultimately will not be disappointed in Him and His ways aren't my ways - which is a good thing.

There's one more thing I have learned as we have gone through this situation - in dark times God begins to reveal some things that were not known previously.
He will reveal things about Himself to the one in the situation. He will reveal things about the person to himself. He will reveal things about that person in the dark time to other people.
If the struggle, the trial, the dark time had never come - none of these things would have ever been revealed or known. That's the silver lining in the dark cloud.

In a few days, my adrenal gland will be removed; what happens next is uncertain at this time. As I go into the surgery, I will probably awake to one less gland and minus a spleen - they found 'nodules' in the spleen today and they have to do something with it as well.
Whether these tumors are harboring cancer cells and are malignant  or if they are benign- nobody knows and will not know until they are outside my body and under a microscope.
If the adrenal tumor is cancerous, they have given me little hope. They've given me very little hope anyway, but this would reduce my chances from years to months.

So, for me - I don't need a hero to save the day; I need a miracle by the hand of God.

And if you are in a situation right now and need a miracle - whether with your family, your spouse, your job, your health or your church; you need to do what I'm doing.
That means you have to trust the Living God with all you have within you and if He delivers in your situation as I expect Him to deliver me in mine, when it's over - tell the story and tell it well.

Heroes are appropriately admired; miracles send shock waves of praise throughout the universe while God is to be lifted in an adoration of worship.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

We Are Soldiers

If any church had a messed up situation, it was the Corinthians. They had things going on in their church that would make a sailor blush with shame; but they were young and ignorant in the faith - so, the Apostle Paul did what any good teacher would do - he sought to teach them.

And it is to the Corinthians that the Apostle Paul penned these words after speaking of the freedom we have been given in Christ:
'Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not give up.'
      - 2 Corinthians 4:1

I don't know how it is with others who have been diagnosed with cancer, I can only speak for myself. Personally, though a time is coming when we mount up with 'wings as eagles' and 'run and not grow weary' that time is not now.
My faith is weary and tired; yet, I have received mercy and this ministry and cannot give up.

I have a friend on another continent who is a strong believer; that person suffers from lupus. She keeps the faith, works as a private contractor and has a family. She does well - but she once shared with me that she struggles every day to get out of bed and not give up.

There was a time, not too long ago, that I felt like throwing in the towel in a particular ministry. But I didn't give up though I felt I had failed...I'll return to this in a little while.

Truthfully, the one group of people who often get weary and do not give up, do not surrender; the group of people who keep doing their job - it's the United States Armed Forces.
The Apostle Paul used many analogies in comparison to the Christian life; to the young pastor Timothy, twice he used the analogy of being a soldier. Paul was right - every believer is a soldier in the Army of God and we do not give up or surrender.

There are three things that make a soldier, a solder; this is especially true with the Lord Jesus Christ.

1) ALLEGIANCE.
- Every soldier swears allegiance to someone or some thing.
- The United States is different than any other nation in this regard. In England, they swear allegiance to the King or Queen. In the old Soviet Union, their allegiance was to the communist party. In Nazi Germany, their allegiance was to the Fueror. In other countries, the oath is given to the government.
This is not the case with the American military.
- We swear our allegiance to one thing, and one thing only; it is not the government, it is not a person, it is not a political party - our allegiance is to a document, the Constitution.
- When we take the oath we take it to the greatest set of ideals on Earth since God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and its second clause is this: '...to support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'
This is our allegiance.
And with our allegiance comes rights, benefits and honors.

- The Soldier in the Army of God gives allegiance to a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. This comes in the form of a confession of truth by faith in humility. There is no other way to swear allegiance to God; it must be done through confession in the name of Christ.
- With this confession of faith and allegiance to Christ, the soldier receives the right to be called a child of God, the benefit of grace given through His shed blood and the honor of glorifying Him.

2) MISSION.
- No soldier, sailor, airman or marine has any purpose in the fight unless they have been given a mission. If you take away the mission, the purpose for that military man ceases to exist.
Now, every branch and every unit has a different mission; but the soldier of Christ's mission is two-fold:
To Make Disciples and Win the War.

- The first mission given to the soldier of Christ is to make disciples and it was given to us on the last day Jesus stood on the earth.
Surrounded by the eleven faithful apostles, just before the ascension, Jesus said, 'Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost....'

- Friend, that is our mission - to make disciples. The command is not to 'GO', the command is to make disciples. The truth is that Christians have gone and went so far and so long that the Great Commission is no longer pursued with an evangelical fervency; but rather it has become a worn-out catch phrase in the hearts of too many believers in our time.
- While we should solidify our calling to missions world wide, while we should support with all our hearts disaster relief, while we should seek to help the poor, the needy, the hurting and the elderly - the Christian must always do these ministries with the mission of making disciples in their mind.
- And quite frankly, disciples are better made in the place where you are a resident than in the place where you are a tourist.

- Once a disciple is made, then comes the second part of our mission as soldiers of Christ - Win the War.
- Many years ago, one lone warrior struggled up a hill one last time, to fight the ultimate battle of the ages. And then He died.
- Yet, in His death, the great shock and awe of God's victory rattled the universe in a manner never seen before or since - the war was over and Christ had won.
- But the sad truth is that there are still battles being waged in the lives of believers everyday simply because our enemy does not know he is defeated. And any person who has been in combat will tell you that the most dangerous enemy is the one who is beaten and does not know it for they will continue to charge you with reckless aggression.
- So, how do we win these battles? The truth is that many Christians are using the wrong weapons to fight these battles and they are becoming casulties at an alarming rate.
God told us through the prophet, 'Not by strength, not by might, but by My Spirit...'

That's how you win the war - through a daily battle of spiritual warfare in prayer, fasting and the blessed fellowship of believers who are called alongside you with the Holy Spirit of God.

** But there is a third thing that makes a solider, a soldier...

3) LOYALTY.
- Personally, I wouldn't give you a wooden nickel for a person who I had to serve with that wasn't loyal to the cause or the unit.

- In the Christian world, loyalty to the end for the Lord Jesus Christ is called the 'Perseverance of the Saints.' It means only those who are truly saved will persevere until the end.
It is these who will run and not grow weary; it is these who will mount up with wings as eagles; it is these who will be loyal to the Son of God, the Word of God and the People of God no matter what.

- We will do this, though we are tired. We will do it when things are dark and seem futile. We will do this, not because we have to, but because we have received God's wonderful mercy and we understand what it is like to need grace and mercy without anything to offer in return.

- That is why the true Christian does not give up - not when our spouses treat us badly, not when our church leaders seem wrong, not when our bosses act like morons; and we don't give up when we are stricken with sickness or even death.
We are Soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

- When I began this writing, I stated that there was a time in ministry when I wanted to give up but I didn't. That time was in 2011, a little over a year ago.
- I had been activated and sent to Spangdahlem, Germany with the 52nd Fighter Wing, as one of the Protestant Chaplains as the active duty chaplains rotated in and out to their new assignments.
- For 10 weeks, I preached every Sunday and I gave an altar call every time; but nobody even budged. I couldn't even get a child to stir in the balcony.

This was disheartening and disappointing because I had seen the Spirit of God move to every place I was sent, but it just wasn't happening - I felt defeated, almost as if the entire activation had been a waste of time.

- I never gave up  - I kept ministering as best I could, when I could; preaching week after week.
- On the very last Sunday I was there, the congregation came alive; I preached longer than I ever have before or since. When the altar call finally came, it was as if God opened up the floodgates. One after another walked the aisle.
Married couples came who were struggling.
Single men came to receive the Lord.
Wives came to pray for their husbands who were in Afghanistan.
And there were countless others who came; all of which was God being faithful in what He had promised through the ministry He has given me.

- The point is, when we do not give up on what the Lord is doing - He completes what He started. I know as well as you that it is hard at times.
It is hard when it seems you are alone and struggling.
It is hard when you don't know what God is doing in or through your life.
It is hard when your job stinks, your spouse is mad at you, your bills are piling up and your kids act like heathens.

But friend, as you grow tired, do not give up, whether you are in sickness or in health, for He who began a work in you is faithful to complete it.

You are engaged in the battle now (all Christians are), but you can only see one part of the battlefield where you stand.
Let Him, the One who can see the battlefield from Creation to the Second Coming guide your steps as you never give up for your work is for His glory.
We are Soldiers.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

Headstone Ponderings

Several years ago, I was blessed to have visited a place nicknamed, 'The Town too Tough to Die' - Tombstone, Arizona.
There were three memorable things about Tombstone. The first is that I was with my father, who has since passed away. The second was one of the restaurants - 'The OK Cafe,' owning a play on words from the one event which made the town famous: The OK Corral.
The third is a cemetery located just on the edge of town.

In this old cemetery, the people of that era had a knack for putting odd and even amusing writings on the headstones. The one which stands out in my mind gives the name of the man who died, it has the date, and then it apologetically states, 'Hanged by Mistake.'
That has to be one of the biggest 'Oops moments' in history. But I digress.

When you have been told you have a life threatening disease as I have, you tend to think about things that you normally wouldn't think about - one of which is what I would like to see on my own headstone. This may sound odd or even morbid, but let me explain.

I have thought about my family, the church, people I know and friends - I am certain the world will carry on just fine without me. Though for some it will take time and there may be many tears shed at my passing, soon after a death things return to normal for most people.
That's not good or bad, that is just the way things are in life.
And if you think about it too long, it does get depressing.

So, in my 'different' sense of humor, I began to think about what might be put on my headstone.

'Father & Husband' is one I have seen many times, and this is admirable and honorable - especially since our society seems to constantly trash the traditional role and importance of a father and husband.

'Veteran' is always a good one; it speaks of honor, duty and sacrifice during a person's life.

'Man of Extreme Intelligence' crossed my mind, mostly just to make people chuckle after I am gone. Yet, in future generations, someone may pass by my grave and think I was so stuck on myself that I had to carry it into eternity with me. So, this one will never do.

'Beloved.' Although this is a simple word, it does speak volumes for I am beloved by my wife and children; more importantly, I am one of God's beloved children.

But if I could pick the one phrase to place on my headstone, if it could be true, the phrase I would want more than any would be - 'He was a Man of God.'

As I read through Scripture, many men have been given the title of 'The Man of God.' Let me tell you about a few of them.

Moses
He was born to Hebrew parents, raised in an Egyptian palace, tried to hide the fact that he murdered a man in a passionate rage - but God always uncovers sin. As a result, Moses spent 40 years on the backside of the wilderness hiding out.
Yet, no person can hide from the true call of God on their life; as the Lord appeared to him in the Burning Bush, Moses removed the sandals from his feet and God removed any thought of Moses staying in the desert.
He returned to Egypt, led the people out of bondage, received and established the Law, the priesthood, the entire religious system of the Nation of Israel and died as a servant of the Lord.
In short, He was a Man of God.

David
Much can be said of David, the great king of Isreal.
King David was said to have been a man after God's own heart; yet, this is not what we remember of David. We mostly remember his one great sin with Bathsheeba - adultery and murder of her husband.
But long before David let his eyes get steamy watching her take a bath on the roof top, his heart searched for God and truly loved the Lord.
And if you read Psalm 51, you will find that David's repentance before God for what he had done, was as real as the heart which beats within your chest at this moment.
No, David wasn't perfect - but God has never required perfection from us; He requires our faith in redemption for Christ is perfect.
He was a Man of God.

Elisha
He is one of my favorite Biblical figures.
In fact, Elisha had but one title throughout the Old Testament histories - 'The Man of God.'
So, what made him the man of God? He did much, but it was what he did first which percipitated all other acts which followed.
As Elisha's mentor Elijah was about to be taken to heaven, Elijah asked him what he could give to him. Elisha answered that he wanted a 'double portion of the Spirit which rests on you.'
Elija responded that he had asked for a difficult thing - but it was this very thing Elisha received.
Throughout his life he ministered for the Lord; he prophesized, he preached, he performed miracles; yet, if he had not asked rightly in the first thing the others would not have come to pass.
He was a Man of God.

And there are others, many of whom we don't even know their names but we would classify them as men of God.
In Hebrews 11, it speaks of many men of faith by name; yet, in the later verses of that chapter it speaks of men who, for the name of Christ, were tortured, stabbed with swords, beaten, stoned and some were even sawed in two.
Of them, the Bible declares that these were men 'of whom the world was not worthy.'
Yes, these unnamed saints were truly Men of God.

As I read of these men, I know deep down that I don't have within me what they had - they possessed something special, something intangible, something only the Holy Spirit gives to believers. And yet, I am reminded of a few other people in Hebrews 11.

- Abraham - This man is called the Father of the Faithful, but he also had a tongue that had trouble telling the truth at times. Twice he lied about his wife's age; twice he was chastized. Still, Abraham is revered as a man of true faithfulness and servant of the Most High God.

- Rahab - Everytime she is mentioned in the Old Testament and even in Hebrews, her name appears this way, 'Rahab, the harolt.'
That's right, this woman of God was once a woman of ill-repute; it is believed she was a high-priced prostitute in the city of Jericho.
But that isn't the end of Rahab's story.
This woman accepted Joshua's spies by faith, was spared in the battle with her family, incorporated into the people of God and would become the great-great grand mother of King David and an ancestor to the Lord Jesus Christ.

- Jacob - If there ever was a shady character, it would have to be Jacob; whose very name means 'deceiver.' He couldn't even get along with his twin brother in the womb.
Jacob once deceived his own brother of his birthright and then had the gall to deceived his own father to receive the blessing Esua was to receive as the firstborn.
And one night, Jacob wrestled with the Lord until dawn; when it was over, he was injured and walked with a limp the rest of his life - but he also walked differently in a spiritual sense.
Though Jacob would have one of the most checkered lives of any Biblical figure, he would be the man who gave birth to the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Do you get the point of this short history lesson?

None of these men or women had it within themselves to be men or women of God.
They weren't sages. They weren't religious geniuses. They weren't even good, decent people at some points in their lives; some you would even expect to meet in a county jail.
But who they were wasn't all that they were meant to be - and neither am I nor are you.

Christians are a ragtag group at best. We reflect today the same things these Biblical figures demostrated. The Bible NEVER cleans up any of the people it speaks of - it leaves them just how they are, which is human.
These men and women did not embody super-sainthood, they did not breathe different air than you or I; these men and women were normal, human beings who fell short, who sinned, who dishonored God and still, they became great men and women who loved and served the Lord.

So, what is it that made a prostitute, a murderer, a liar, a deceiver and an adulterer men and women of God?
Well, it is the same thing that makes us men and women of God today.

These men and women were not 'great' in and of themselves; neither are you or I. What made these men and women wonderful saints of God is what they allowed the Lord to do with their hearts and lives after they had trusted Him by faith.
And friend, God wants to do the same with you.

The truth is that no person can earn the title 'Man of God,' it is something God makes you to be and conforms your heart to become.
And the title 'Man of God' is not nearly as important as another title, the first title any Christian becomes when they receive Christ by faith - 'Child of God.'

Before any of us can become all that God desires us to become through His grace with the power of the Holy Spirit, we must first become children of God by trusting Him by faith.
Another way of putting it - we have to become one of the good guys; for the good guys are His children by adoption in the faith.

Soon I will travel to the Cleveland Clinic once again; they will begin doing all they can to prolong or even save my life.
Remember - all healing either comes from the hand of God through the Holy Spirit or through the hand of God in the knowledge He has allowed the medical profession to have.

While I feel as if I am engaging the unknown, I know that God knows what is happening and what will happen, even if I don't. And that's good enough for me.

I expect by faith that I will make a full recovery; I believe God is moving even now.
But if this entire situation turns out otherwise, I don't expect to see "He was a Man of God" on my headstone from heaven.
No, it may be better to have the first thing I was in the faith placed there for it will forever be a true witness - 'He IS a Child of God.'

Until next time, win one for the Good Guys.

The Good Guys

It was 3 1/2 years ago that I developed the phrase; it seemed appropriate at the time and I've been using it ever since.

On Easter Sunday in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), I had just completed a sunrise service in the chapel tent. I remember looking around at that particular congregation on that morning - men and women in all stages of life, of all different colors, of various nationalities, a general's wife was present as was a newly enlisted airman on their first overseas duty, all from different walks of life and all of them worshipping the risen Lord.

It was a wonderful service and I remember walking away from the tent looking at the clear sky and thinking, 'This was exactly what the Kingdom will be like.'
And it will.

That thought passed through my head as did the 11 men and women I had baptized that weekend; reportedly more people than any one chaplain had ever baptized at that airbase. Joy and thankfulness overwhelmed my heart.

It was then, with all these thoughts rushing through my head, when the national call to prayer for Muslims began to echo throughout the land over the Saudi loudspeakers.
It was at this point I had another thought and the phrase came into being.
I thought, 'I might be standing in the land of Islam, but God's people just gave them one big shot in the jaw for the Good Guys.'

Ever since that day, every time someone is led to Christ as their Savior or I baptize a new believer, I turn to the people who are around us and say, 'And that's one more, for the good guys.' The 'good guys' being Christians who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Even though believers are the 'Good Guys' in this lost and fallen world, sometimes it doesn't feel that way. Sometimes it can be so hard emotionally, spiritually and even physically - like when you're sick with a disease - that we are tempted to change our course, attempt to reverse the direction of the tide in our lives and just switch sides.
But deep down the true Christian knows that this is not the solution.
And it is in these times that a believer must turn to the one solid, stabilizing thing that adjusts our minds: The Word of God.

You see, Scripture speaks for itself and declares that all words contained within it are 'God-breathed;' since God is perfect and cannot breathe error - all Scripture is more than a holy hunch; it is trustworthy and a true word for our lives.
Scripture with the guiding of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, will bring the most down-trodden child of God into a realm of joy unspeakable.
Scripture provides hope where there is no hope; it is a bedrock of truth in an untruthful world and a certain word in uncertain times.

Tonight, in the Word of God I stumbled across a passage that many believers have read and learned; it is a verse given to us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul. And while it is familiar, I don't think it comes into our personal reality until we have truly understood what it is like to suffer physically or struggle spiritually.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.'
       - Romans 8:18

As Paul wrote these words, he knew what it meant to suffer in his life - as did the Christians to whom he was writing. When a person is suffering, the intent and meaning of his words come alive in their heart and life.

Adrian Rogers said it was likely that the Apostle Paul was 'the greatest Christian who ever lived.' I concur. Yet, Paul was not immune from the tragedies which beset us in our fallen world.
For his faith, Paul was beaten, imprisoned, ship wrecked, tormented, persecuted by those he wanted to reach and evidently, he suffered from very poor eyesight. Eventually, Paul was martyred in Rome - church tradition teaches he was beheaded.

It seems Paul, as he journeyed to Rome after appealing to Caesar during a trial, knew how his life would end. And yet, he was able to say that his suffering couldn't compare to the glory that would be revealed.

In my struggle with cancer, by faith I truly believe the glory that will be revealed for God through this disease will be great. I do not know how it will happen, just that it will happen.
Yet, it is not the glory which will be revealed that bothers me; it is the suffering which must be endured for God's glory to shine through.

And I believe this is the place where most Christians are located when they encounter a time of suffering and trial in their lives.

So, what do we do about the reality of a greater glory being revealed in our present suffering?
What are we to do if we are enduring a time of suffering and how do those of who are enduring suffering act in an attempt to reveal our faith in this 'greater glory' that will be revealed?

First, we are to live the truth we say we believe.
If you truly believe the promises and words of the inspired authors of the Bible, then live by faith according to what you have been taught in Scripture.
Make no mistake about it - at times, that is very hard to do.
The greater glory in your suffering is the fact that other people will see truth made real through your life. It will strengthen those who are already believers and it will draw those who do not yet believe to the Lord which you serve.

Have you ever heard that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink?
Friend, our job as Christians isn't to make or force people to drink the Water of Life; our responsibility is to make them thirsty.
Seeing you in your time of suffering living the truth you believe will make them thirsty.

Secondly, know that it is OK to ask questions of God.
This is not questioning God's goodness or His love or His compassion or any other characteristic which He owns; this is asking God about the things that you do not understand in your situation.
Isn't that what the disciples did?

Many Christians believe it is NEVER right to question anything when it comes to God; friend, nothing could be further from the truth because God wants His children to have an understanding of what is going on and what He is doing.
The only way you are going to gain that understanding is to ask.

For example, how does a 39 year-old who has never smoked, become a stage four lung cancer patient who is told there is no cure?
Certainly I don't understand this - but I know that God does.
I also believe that when this is over in my life and I walk away from this disease, I will understand why this has happened.

Finally, remember to always trust in dark times what you have learned in the light.
It has been said that faith is like film; it must be developed in the dark to be seen in the light. And it is true.

Think about your own life - when has your faith grown the most? Was it when things were roses and sunshine, or was it after you went through a horrible time of suffering and darkness?
Most likely, it was after a time of suffering.
But your faith that was developed, your closer walk with Christ that occurred, the revealing of truths about your faith - these things would have never happened if you had never experienced that time of suffering you had in your time of darkness.

Remember - don't doubt in the dark what you have learned in the light.

And do you realize what our greatest light is in this dark world?
It is the light given by God to us in the Scriptures we call the Bible. Again, it is a certain word in uncertain times.

Years ago in the days of week-long revivals and camp meetings held in open fields, there was a preacher who had come to a rural town to speak at one of these meetings. He was to stay in a cottage located along a small path near a cliff owned by a member in a local church who was sponsoring the campaign.
After the meeting concluded, it was very dark and he didn't know the way.
The church member who owned the cottage, lit a bundle of pine branches and handed it to the preacher and said, 'Take this, its light will see you home.'
The evangelist asked, 'What if the winds come and extinguish the light? What if a storm comes and puts out the light? What if the branches burn out before I get there? How will I find the way?'
The man said, 'Take the light and it will see you home.'

And I say to you, the Bible is our light in dark times; in this day and this hour.
I realize the winds of skepticism and doubt are blowing, threatening to extinguish its light.
I know the Bible may look old-fashioned and outdated next to the psychedelic flashing lights of this age.
And I know there are storms in your life that may tempt you to lay the light of the Bible aside and find your own way through your trial.

But if you will grasp onto the Word of God and hold on to its truths with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength - IT WILL LEAD YOU HOME.

Until next time, win one for the Good Guys.

Timing

Anybody who has ever told a half-way decent joke knows that timing is everything. It doesn't matter if its slap-stick humor, physical humor or a simple one-liner; timing is a must if you are going to get the desired reaction.

Timing is also crucial in relationships - timing can mean the difference between lightening and a harmless lightening bug.
Timing with apologies means the difference between hearts restored and divisions increased if one is insincere.
Timing with children can mean the difference between a child developing a complex and a child succeeding later in life.
Timing within the church can mean the difference in moving forward with God's mission or division within the local body causing all to circle the same mountain over and over again.

Nowhere is timing more important than the individual Christian waiting on the right time, the right place, the right circumstances within the will of God for our lives.

This week in my struggle with Cancer, I was to have a surgery where a biopsy was taken of a lymph gland and possibly half of my left lung removed. It may not sound like it, but having half of a lung removed from my body is the best possible scenario for my circumstance.
Yet, this was not to be - not at this time.

With tests being performed and completed, difficulties set in and was postponed. In the mean time, God is working visibly.
Attitudes are changing about my condition from medical experts.
Ideas are being circulated that were once forsaken or overlooked.
Procedures, once thought unlikely and needless, are quickly becoming not only possible, but likely.
And all the while, I feel better - stronger and healthier than I have for weeks.

All of that to say, with God - all things are possible; yet, as wee seek God's will, we must be patient and wait on His right time, right circumstances and His Sovereign will.
And that can be one of the greatest challenges in our lives when we face terrible circumstances.

You see, anytime we are in a dark situation, we want God to swoop in and solve all of our problems; we want Him to act on our behalf as we pray for His mercy.
What we often fail to realize is that our time table as to how we want things done isn't always how He chooses to accomplish the task.
We also fail to realize what we want isn't always what God desires or how He desires the outcome to happen.
Let me give you an example.

When I first learned of how sick I was and many times since then - many have told me that they KNOW God wouldn't allow this to happen. They KNOW I have more to do on earth. They KNOW I will be healed.
What I'd like to know is how they KNOW these things.

Here's what I KNOW - I know God has given my great blessings in my life.
I know He responds to the believer's prayer, whether it is about healing or something else.
I know that anything that touches me has passed through Him to me by His Sovereign will.

Here's what I believe:
I believe God is moving right now and that He is doing something I cannot fully understand at this time. I beleive it will end in my healing.
I believe I have more to do for His Kingdom.
I also believe how God chooses to do what He is going to do in my life, it is already happening.

But for these things to happen, we must be very cautious. The caution is that we do not get ahead of ourselves and try to for our will upon God; but to wait on His will to work and be patient so that we can become a part of His will on this earth.
One of the greatest dangers in our lives as Christians is try to 'force' God's will.

Many years ago, the great man of faith named Abraham was told by God that his children would be more numerous than the grains of sand on the sea shore. His wife Sarah was promised the same.
They waited...and waited...but they didn't wait long enough.
Instead, they tried to force God's will as they grew older. Sarah offered her handmaid to Abraham as a concubine; they would have a child together named Ishmael.
Later, Abraham and Sarah had a son named Isaac.
From that day to this day, the offspring of Abraham, Ishamael and Isaac with their descendents, have laid down in sorrow at night and risen to violence in the day light.

And this was all because one man attempted to force God's will in his life. Our great danger is that we do not do the same thing.
Remember this - whenever we attempt to force God's will in our lives to our benefit, it will always end in disaster. Our responsibility is patience as we maintain the faithful trust in our Sovereign Lord.

What has happened to me this week - some would say was a few missteps or miscalculations. I say it is God's hand keeping me safe so that His will is accomplished for His greater glory later on.
And the very same thing is true in your life, but we must all be patient and look for those small things that seem like conincidence and see them for what they really are - God silently and throughly moving in our lives as we faithfully trust Him.

Until next time, stay faithful and patient; try to win one for the good guys.

I'm Asking

I have believed for years that prayer should come with a warning label like medicine - 'USE ONLY AS DIRECTED.'
If the bottle says take one pill a day and you take all 30 at one time, it will probably hurt you or even kill you. Prayer can be damaging to a believer's spiritual life if they don't know what God has said about praying in the life of a believer.

Many Christians pray and do not see their prayers immediately answered or answered how they believe it should be answered and they give up hope or think God is angry with them. This isn't true at all.
God answers prayers in one of three ways: 'yes,' 'no,' or 'yes, but not right now.'

The truth is this - there are at least 10 requirements in Scripture to answered prayer. Another truth is that most Christians do not follow these precepts and their prayers fall short.

Let me give you an example.
One of the precepts for answered prayers is to ask for something that can be answered; yet, I have heard prayers for years from good, Godly men and women that there is no way they could ever know if it was answered. Prayers such as, 'God, bless all the children in Africa.'
Well, did He do it?
There's no way to ever know the answer.

Other requirements include praying in Jesus' name, and praying with the right motives in the heart. The late Dr. Adrian Rogers once said that the only prayers that reach heaven are the prayers that begin in heaven. That means that we need to be praying the will of God in all matters we bring before the throne.
There are other precepts to answered prayer, but I will not go into further detail at this time. I only want to point out one; it is one that is very important to every Christian's life.

'You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.'
     - The Apostle James 4: 2c-3.

A man once said that Jesus Christ went more willingly to the Cross than Christians go to the throne of Grace; he was correct. We often try to handle matters ourselves when they rightly belong to God.
And often when we do go to God in prayer, we don't go with the right heart motives; desiring a change in our situation rather than a change in character or spiritual solution.

In my personal situation with Cancer - I have the right motive; for Jesus to be glorified through the outcome. I pray rightly - only in Jesus' name. I am a blood-bought beleiver. I attempt to pray for God's will regardless of the situation every time; even if the outcome is not what I personally desire.
So, what is left?
The Apostle James tells me 'asking.'

On this, don't try to make the faith too complicated - every Christian needs to ask and ask rightly for God to move in our lives for His will to be accomplished and for Him to be glorified.
So, this night, I am asking for what I want in the right spirit as a public prayer through this blog.

1) I am asking for 12 more years of life.
- I know having cancer has greatly reduced my life expectancy; but I don't know if complete healing is God's will, although I want complete healing more than anything right now.
I do want to be healed whether through God's miraculous touch or through the knowledge God has given in modern medicine. All healing, however it comes in our lives, originates with Almighty God.
- I don't want to seem presumptous or trying to inflict my desires on God's soverieng plan. So, if my life must end, I want at least 12 years of life if I cannot have complete healing in my body.
- To be sure, I want to live for a very long time and play with my grandchildren one day; but if this is not in God's plan for my life - I want 12 years of life by His grace.
The reasons for this follow.

2) I am asking to share what I have to give.
- God has blessed me throughout my life with incredible learning and has given me so many tools to minister to people in His name. I want to share what He has blessed me with so that more will come to know Him the way I know Him - as a friend and as my Savior and Lord.
- When you have cancer at such a young age, you have a sense of injustice about your condition. I know God is holy and just; it's that I just don't understand at this time. Right now, in my heart, I feel that I have so much more to share, more people to win for His glory, more sermons to preach and more work to do for the Kingdom.
- If I am given a second breath of life, in those 12 years or longer, as God gracefully grants, I plan to do all that I can to exhaust what I have to contribute to the Kigndom so that He will be honored and glorified.

3) I am asking for my children to be spared the pain of my passing.
- I have two children. My son is much like me, even at his early age. He is serious, with a hidden, sneaky humorous side. He has the pure faith of a child; he also has a very tender heart.
- If I were to die, he would be crushed - just as I was crushed at my father's passing. But the difference is that I was in my 30's; my son is only 9. I fear that his thirst for God and knowledge of Him will be hindered if I die.
- As for my daughter, she has a joyful blessedness about her. It is a happiness that is full of love and comes from the pure heart of a child.
- If I was to die, I fear that the joy she knows will vanish for her love for me as her father is second to none.
- The one good thing about it is that both are young Christians; if Iwas to pass, I am certain they would one day recover because they too, have the hope that is in Christ.
In short, I don't want my death to hinder their young faith or their young walk with their Lord.

4) I am asking for my wife to be spared the anguish that would come from my passing.
- I use to tell people my wife was an angel - always up in the air harping about something.
But there's no truth in the statement whatsoever. The real truth is that I have a diamond; a woman who shines above all others.
- Her compassion is from the Holy Spirit, her love is from God, her concern is true; as she takes care of me, she glows even while it hurts her to see me suffer.
- I cannot bare the thought of what my passing from this life into eternal life would do to her emotionally. It hurts me to even begin to think of how she would hurt.
That's why I'm asking for this one.

5) I am asking for an extension on life for my Church.
- Every pastor has a special spot in their heart for the church they serve; yet, I doubt many pastors have the relationship I have with West Ripley.
- Now everybody knows that God's work in a local church is greater than any one person, one pastor or one era of ministry. But I don't think I have finished all that the Lord has sent me there to do with His people or His ministry at our church.
- The upshot is that I want to finish what I have started; and I want to finish well for His glory.

The basis for what I am asking is to further the glory of God, although I fully realize God's glory may be achieved through the alternative. I may not understand it, but I am willing to accept it.

The Word of God tells us to ask, ask our hearts desire before the throne of grace.
I am asking for my heart desire without remorse and without wrong motives for myself - ultimately, my desires are all about the Lord.

If you are a believer, I would encourage you to go 'boldly before the throne of grace' and to go often. If you do, I believe God will open your world to the wonderful power and blessing He has for your life.
But be warned, if you are not a Christian - even if you ask, know that you have no right to ask nor do you have any expectation of your prayer being answered.
Now, God may answer because of His unlimited mercy; but He's not obligated and you shouldn't expect it.

Friend, there is a way to fix that problem; the solution is to accept Jesus Christ as your savior. He doesn't care if you are coming to Him because you are scared, or if you are fearful, or if you have rejected Him in the past.
What Jesus cares about is you for no other reason than He loves you.

He has been waiting your entire life for you to come to Him. He was there the day you were born. He saw you take your first steps, He has watched you through the pains of life, the trials you've faced, the fires that burned you. He has seen your unbelief and when you were hurt by others. He stood patiently by as you rejected Him.
Now, let me tell you a little secret - NONE OF THAT MATTERS.

God is wanting to forget about all the sins, all the mistakes and all the wrong decisions you have made. He wants you to make the right one about Him right now.
You may not understand what I'm talking about or grasp how this is possible. Friend, I don't always understand it either - I just know that it is true and if you do trust Him, He will reveal it to you as well.

Tonight, I am asking these things I have mentioned because they are important to me. But I am also asking that those who read these words accept Christ. And not only that you would accept the Lord, but that He would make your life come alive for Him - regardless of what stage of life you may be in.
The reason is because I want others to have what I have, to know what I know and to be able to expect what I expect from God.

"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.'  - James 4:8

So, what are you asking for?
Ask first for Christ to come into your heart first; only then will your heart desires be more for Him and less about yourself. And that is when you will know what to pray about your situation in life right now.
Draw near to Him.

Until next time, try to win one for the good guys.

Hope & Tragedy

Many years ago I was involved in a theatre company; that's what you call a group of people who perform plays and shows on a mainstage. Throughout my college days I was nearly always cast in strong roles, usually the lead, in various performances - some were musicals, some were mysteries, most were dramas; but there was only one comedy.

I learned much during those years and every character I portrayed on the stage, once the show was over and the set was torn down - I always felt that I had known the character as a person. That may seem odd, but it is a common feeling among actors even today, on every level of the arts.

There is one symbol that is universal for theatre; the masks of Comedy & Tragedy. A smiling mask and a mask with a frown; always together, yet always worlds apart from one another. They are depicted in portraits in art galleries, painted on walls in the Arts buildings of colleges; they are found in ancient depictions and in the modern era.
Together, they are to emulate in one symbol the range of skill and emotion a good production displays on stage. As theatre emulates life, Comedy & Tragedy emulate the stage.

But life isn't always summed up in comedy or tragedy; it is more described through Hope and Tragedy.

As I walked the maze of corridors in the world famous Cleveland Clinic seeking treatment today, around every corner, in every waiting room and patient room, in every doctor's office and at every table in the extensive hospital - I found Hope & Tragedy sitting side-by-side with one another in the form of other human beings.
The people come from every walk of life - wealth, poverty, and those somewhere between the two.
They come from nearly every nation on earth - evidenced by the word 'welcome' written on a sign in the main lobby in 40 different languages.
They come from various cultures - women with faces covered with a veil, men with baggy pants and 'bling.'
They come with different faiths - Amish are present, as are Muslims, Catholics, Hindus, Buddahists, Christians and countless other faiths few see in their regular walk of life.
Yet all come with one purpose - seeking hope amid tragedy, in the endurance of suffering.

Some find it, some do not.

Today, words spoken centuries ago by a man named Habakkuk spoke to me amid Hope & Tragedy. He once prayed:
'O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years,
In the midst of the years make it known...'
          - Habakkuk 3:2a

Although these words were about a different situation in a different time, it became clear that this has been the prayer that I have been praying most of the time in recent weeks.
For all practical purposes, as much as I hate to admit it, I am a middle aged man; more than anything I want for God Himself to revive His work through me in the midst of my years.
And I believe, right now as I write these words, that God has been working and moving in a way that I cannot rightly explain at this time. Like this situation I am in - I cannot understand what He is doing, but I know He is doing something - for me, that is enough. I do not need to understand; I need to trust and that is something I can do, although it may be imperfect at times.

Today, I sat in a room with women losing their hair from chemotherapy. I saw spouses caring for one another though their prime had long past; yet their love was abundant for one another. I met a foreign man from a Muslim country boldly proclaim his Christian faith to me without shame. I witnessed the compassion of God through doctors and nurses.
In short, I saw the best of what humanity offers; yet, what humanity offers will never be good enough.

On this day, I was given a glimmer of hope in an unlikely circumstance. I was given what all people seek when they come to this place in the midst of tragedy in their lives.
But what I was given, what all seek, will never be enough to satisfy the sickness that is underneath the skin.
Yet, there is a cure and there is a greater hope; it is the hope of all mankind, though some do not know it because they don't know Him - His name is Jesus.

Friend, we are all terminal and we are all sick; we have a cancer within us, a cancer that eats away at our hope, our joy, our lives, our emotions and our minds. Eventually, this cancer will be the most deadly because its reach extends beyond this life into the next; this cancer each of us has is the sin which resides within in our hearts.
No doctor can cure this cancer; no nurse can provide aid.
It takes a humble Galilean carpenter to cure this sickness; then He will help you rebuild your life.

Like many others, I have a glimmer of hope tonight; not entirely from earthly doctors but originating from God, both physically and spiritually. Many seek what I have but there is only one way to find this hope I now speak of - it is through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

And if you will trust Him with your heart and life, on the authority of God's Word I can promise you that when He begins this work within you, He will not fail in accomplishing it.
You may have failed at many things in life; you may have made a career of making the wrong decisions and bad choices in your life - but not all decisions and choices are as important as other ones.
The decision as to what you must do with the cancerous sin in your heart is the most important decision you will ever make on this earth.
And God has chosen to leave this decision entirely up to you.
Choose wisely.

Until next time, get this one thing right with God and then try to win one for the good guys.