Often we hear that Christianity is many things and it is tied to many people. When we think of who is representative of the Christian faith, Protestants will point to Billy Graham; Catholics to the Pope.
If asked to describe a Christian or the Church, a non-believer is likely to use words like, 'judgmental,' 'hypocritical,' 'political,' and even 'self-righteous.'
In fact, there is only one person with whom the Christian faith is defined within - Jesus Christ.
Scripture: Heb 12:2
"...Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;"
What this tells us is that whatever else people may identify with the Christian faith, there is no escaping that Christianity is in Jesus. It was not founded by a well-meaning guru. Christianity is defined in Jesus as the followers of Himself.
With that said, faith is the key to the life a Christian leads.
Without faith, the Bible tells us that it is impossible to please God - and this is true. But there is more to it on a more practical approach.
Without faith, there would be no approaching God for salvation - for, we would not believe God existed.
Without faith, there would be no forgiveness, no deliverance, no salvation, no communion with God and certainly no spiritual life at all in any way.
There may be a formality, there may be a ritual without faith; but there would not be a relationship with God Himself without faith.
Faith is very simple; yet, it is very difficult to define.
There is only one place in the entire Bible where faith is defined - Hebrews 11:1. It says:
'Now faith is the assurance of things hope for, the conviction of things not seen.'
That is the brief definition and this definition is more of a functional statement more than a practical way of life lived before God. It speaks of the operation of faith; not what faith is in its essence.
Faith is a very abstract idea; so, the writers of the Bible will describe faith, talk of faith, direct us to faith - but when it gets to the point of defining faith, instead of a definition, the Bible will point us to a great man or woman of God.
This is something I can understand because in trying to describe/discuss faith, I have found I would rather exercise faith than try to define it. It is much easier to show someone a picture of the Grand Canyon than it is to describe its vastness - and so it is with faith.
When I was very sick and dying, I never lost faith in God and I never doubted what He could do. Whether or not God would, should or should not heal me, that wasn't my call and I didn't worry about it.
As things unfold in my life, things I cannot control; I don't really worry about it, not because I don't care about it but rather, it is because in faith I have found rest in His peaceful presence.
You see, faith is the least self-regarding of any virtue we may have. Faith does not see itself, but rather the object upon which it is fixed.
By it's nature, faith should be barely conscious of its own existence; similar to a human eye. Our eye does not see itself, but it is filled with whatever it gazes upon. In doing so, the one with faith pays no attention to himself.
Faith looks out, not inward. Faith lives because faith is alive.
And it is alive because it is found only in a Living God.
There are several great things about faith in God through Jesus Christ.
The first is the faithful themselves.
If you have never read Hebrews 11, I would invite you to do so because the cast of characters are more likely to fit a list of men and women at the county jail. You have murderers, adulterers, men who turned their backs on God and women who gave themselves to every man who asked.
Of the faithful in the Bible - their sins are never covered up and God never white-washed what they did; and still, God saved them for Himself and loved them just as He loves you and I and all who will come to Him in the simplicity of faith.
The second thing I love about the faith in God through Christ is what it is dependent on.
God never, not once, made salvation dependent on anything but Himself.
God never saved people because of a new moon, a holy day or a Sabbath. He still doesn't.
The Christian is not closer to Christ on Easter than any other day; no, we are in Christ by faith every day equally because His presence is everywhere equally.
Jesus Christ sits on the throne of our hearts on all days at all times.
Contrary to popular belief, the Christian faith is not dependent on the Christian. The Christian faith is dependent on Christ.
If my faith was dependent on me, it would fail; but my faith will never fail because its fulfillment is in Jesus alone.
The final thing I absolutely love about the faith we have in God through Christ is the Body.
In the New Testament, Christians are called 'the body of Christ.' We are instructed that every person within the Body has a different purpose and a different ministry. And when all are functioning within the Body as we are supposed to in the will of God - an amazing thing happens.
That amazing thing is called Unity.
If you have 100 pianos all tuned to the same tuning fork, it would mean those 100 pianos are also tuned perfectly with one another. When the Body of Christ is in tune individually with the Holy Spirit, we are also in tune with one another.
It's an amazing thing about having faith; we are all different and yet we are one because of the power of the Holy Spirit and the Lordship of Christ.
And as the Body is stronger in Christ, the members are healthier within the Church we serve.
Take my advice, never over complicate faith in the Lord; life is too short for that - just rest in Him and find His peace. It's not complicated, it is simple; believe, trust, obey.
Until next time, go win one for the good guys.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
The Unchanging Presence of God
The Greatest Truth of the Ages - God never changes; He is Immutable.
And this may be the most difficult thing for us to understand because humans are in a constant cycle of change throughout our lives.
In the weeks and months since my healing, I have struggled with many issues.
I have joked about the fact when a person is dying, people are much nicer and friendlier toward them. Well, the friendliness and niceties have pretty much ceased and an unfortunate thing has happened - life returned to normal.
Another issue I have had is that when I woke up and knew that I had been healed and would live for many more years - I awoke with a new vigor, a renewed sense of purpose; a reignited fire for God.
Sadly, not everyone shares my enthusiasm; in fact, the once raging fire is becoming smoldering embers very quickly.
It is as if - 'Well, its over now so we can all go back to living and doing what we were doing before.'
And if this is the case, the entire purpose behind the healing hand of God is gone and forgotten. It breaks a grown man's heart to think that a spiritual experience with God by so many has been ended because the goal has been achieved.
Maybe I should feel lucky and blessed; most stop growing in their experience with the Lord immediately after the day they're baptized.
God's work in redemption and in physical healing is to simply undo what man has done. If He chooses to redeem or to heal and restore anew - a person must ask what the purpose behind such an event is from God's perspective.
I have seen and read books about healing, books about salvation, books about preaching, books about the Bible, books about God, books about Christianity and books about every moral/ethical issue that exists - all from the 'Christian' perspective.
And I have come to one conclusion about it all - We have too many scribes.
Yes, we have too many people writing about experience and knowledge of God and not enough people teaching what it means to have an experience with God and experiencing God themselves. Very few have heard of the truisms of saints of old, such as the explanatory purpose of our existence from Augustine of Hippo:
'Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.'
That's right - God has formed us for Himself, for His pleasure, for His usage and for His service among His Body in His Creation.
In the modern church today, many have claimed to have knowledge of God, but His presence is lacking from their lives. God's presence in our lives is not a mystical, emotional feeling. God's presence is a conscious experience which occurs through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Truth of His Holy Word.
And the truth is that our world is perishing while the Church is famished for want of His presence.
No, today we survive on junk food in the Body of Christ.
We make meals on the sugar highs of want 'feels good' to our senses or desires; moving from fad to fad, like drunks in a fog not knowing where we are going next.
We feast on the overloaded carbohydrates of 'programs' which make our church pews swell like our mid-section, but does little to nourish the spirit.
We dine at the table of greed - constantly wanting more and more; while we are gluttonous for things, objects and image - we have very little to show for what Christ has already given us.
Yes, today we are perishing, starving to death because we do not have the Bread of Life in our presence and we are dying for our lack of knowledge of God.
One of the greatest images from the Old Testament with implications toward the New Testament and Christ is the fact that God was behind a veil in the Temple. When Christ died, the curtain which separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the Temple, split from top to bottom.
This was a sign from God that the His presence was now open to all people who would come to Him by faith in His Son.
Despite this fact, a tragedy of the modern church is that we have covered God again, placing Him behind a veil and keeping Him hidden.
Whether by legalism or by stupidity and ignorance; to many who claim Jesus as their Savior, He is a hidden, not a revealed, Lord.
No longer do we hear sermons about the doctrine of suffering, or teachings on humility.
Instead, we let self-righteousness be promoted, while self-sufficiency is glorified as faith.
We see an overwhelming measure of self-confidence and self-love all too common in the spirit and actions of church and denominational leaders.
These things are generally promoted under the guise of presenting Christ as a 'regular guy.'
And it has become so common to become involved in such sacrilege, no one notices because many have never really seen a person with or had themselves an experience with the Living God.
I pray as you read these words, from wherever in the world you may be, you do not see this through anger or despair, but as a call to a return to the holiness and passion for our Living Lord.
What has happened in our age is that we have neglected righteousness in Christ, we have ignored His deliverance and have opted to veil the real for what is only real in the moment.
This veil can only be removed by a spiritual experience with God.
Friend, there are many today who say morality changes and that we shouldn't 'judge' those who believe differently even if they are trying to destroy the Christian faith - but I beg to differ. Recently, I lost a friend over the false issue of 'Marriage Equality,' being told that this person just knew it was right because it felt right.
It didn't matter what God had said in His Word, only a personal thought by a human mattered as to the authority of the issue.
We are either with the Lord or we stand opposed to the Lord; there can be no gray areas or questionable morality/integrity in the Kingdom.
Yet, our self-righteousness is but one veil which hides the living God, His eternal moral Law and His Son from our presence.
You see, God is immutable - He never changes.
To change a person would need to go from better to worse OR from worse to better. God cannot do either of these because He is PERFECT in every way.
If it would be possible for God to change, He would be less than God. In fact, He would be no better than humanity who is constantly changing.
Therefore, if God does not change, neither can His Word - for it too is eternal.
Regardless of what our personal issue is in our lives - homosexual issues, divorce, stifled faith, hypocritical challenges toward you, gossip or something much worse - there is only way to remove these veils that cover God from your life.
That One way is to have a personal, real, true experience with Christ; it has always been this way.
What split the veil of the Temple so many years ago is the same thing that must be used to split the veils that cover God in our lives and allow sin and ourselves to rule. It is the power of Christ's death and also His resurrecting power.
Without Question - the Cross is as rough as it is deadly; but the Cross is also effective in what it does. To have an experience with Christ, we must go to the Cross and at the Cross someone must die. In effect, we must die daily, giving over the worst of who we are and allowing Him to come to life within us.
This is possible because on the Cross, the victim doesn't stay there forever.
There is a time, a time after death when a resurrection must take place; and when it does, the pain is forgotten of losing what we once were and is replaced by an unspeakable joy.
Remember, the cure to any spiritual problem is a true experience with the Lord Jesus Christ who lives within us; He is immutable but He will change your life if you let Him.
Until next time, try to win one for the good guys.
And this may be the most difficult thing for us to understand because humans are in a constant cycle of change throughout our lives.
In the weeks and months since my healing, I have struggled with many issues.
I have joked about the fact when a person is dying, people are much nicer and friendlier toward them. Well, the friendliness and niceties have pretty much ceased and an unfortunate thing has happened - life returned to normal.
Another issue I have had is that when I woke up and knew that I had been healed and would live for many more years - I awoke with a new vigor, a renewed sense of purpose; a reignited fire for God.
Sadly, not everyone shares my enthusiasm; in fact, the once raging fire is becoming smoldering embers very quickly.
It is as if - 'Well, its over now so we can all go back to living and doing what we were doing before.'
And if this is the case, the entire purpose behind the healing hand of God is gone and forgotten. It breaks a grown man's heart to think that a spiritual experience with God by so many has been ended because the goal has been achieved.
Maybe I should feel lucky and blessed; most stop growing in their experience with the Lord immediately after the day they're baptized.
God's work in redemption and in physical healing is to simply undo what man has done. If He chooses to redeem or to heal and restore anew - a person must ask what the purpose behind such an event is from God's perspective.
I have seen and read books about healing, books about salvation, books about preaching, books about the Bible, books about God, books about Christianity and books about every moral/ethical issue that exists - all from the 'Christian' perspective.
And I have come to one conclusion about it all - We have too many scribes.
Yes, we have too many people writing about experience and knowledge of God and not enough people teaching what it means to have an experience with God and experiencing God themselves. Very few have heard of the truisms of saints of old, such as the explanatory purpose of our existence from Augustine of Hippo:
'Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.'
That's right - God has formed us for Himself, for His pleasure, for His usage and for His service among His Body in His Creation.
In the modern church today, many have claimed to have knowledge of God, but His presence is lacking from their lives. God's presence in our lives is not a mystical, emotional feeling. God's presence is a conscious experience which occurs through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Truth of His Holy Word.
And the truth is that our world is perishing while the Church is famished for want of His presence.
No, today we survive on junk food in the Body of Christ.
We make meals on the sugar highs of want 'feels good' to our senses or desires; moving from fad to fad, like drunks in a fog not knowing where we are going next.
We feast on the overloaded carbohydrates of 'programs' which make our church pews swell like our mid-section, but does little to nourish the spirit.
We dine at the table of greed - constantly wanting more and more; while we are gluttonous for things, objects and image - we have very little to show for what Christ has already given us.
Yes, today we are perishing, starving to death because we do not have the Bread of Life in our presence and we are dying for our lack of knowledge of God.
One of the greatest images from the Old Testament with implications toward the New Testament and Christ is the fact that God was behind a veil in the Temple. When Christ died, the curtain which separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the Temple, split from top to bottom.
This was a sign from God that the His presence was now open to all people who would come to Him by faith in His Son.
Despite this fact, a tragedy of the modern church is that we have covered God again, placing Him behind a veil and keeping Him hidden.
Whether by legalism or by stupidity and ignorance; to many who claim Jesus as their Savior, He is a hidden, not a revealed, Lord.
No longer do we hear sermons about the doctrine of suffering, or teachings on humility.
Instead, we let self-righteousness be promoted, while self-sufficiency is glorified as faith.
We see an overwhelming measure of self-confidence and self-love all too common in the spirit and actions of church and denominational leaders.
These things are generally promoted under the guise of presenting Christ as a 'regular guy.'
And it has become so common to become involved in such sacrilege, no one notices because many have never really seen a person with or had themselves an experience with the Living God.
I pray as you read these words, from wherever in the world you may be, you do not see this through anger or despair, but as a call to a return to the holiness and passion for our Living Lord.
What has happened in our age is that we have neglected righteousness in Christ, we have ignored His deliverance and have opted to veil the real for what is only real in the moment.
This veil can only be removed by a spiritual experience with God.
Friend, there are many today who say morality changes and that we shouldn't 'judge' those who believe differently even if they are trying to destroy the Christian faith - but I beg to differ. Recently, I lost a friend over the false issue of 'Marriage Equality,' being told that this person just knew it was right because it felt right.
It didn't matter what God had said in His Word, only a personal thought by a human mattered as to the authority of the issue.
We are either with the Lord or we stand opposed to the Lord; there can be no gray areas or questionable morality/integrity in the Kingdom.
Yet, our self-righteousness is but one veil which hides the living God, His eternal moral Law and His Son from our presence.
You see, God is immutable - He never changes.
To change a person would need to go from better to worse OR from worse to better. God cannot do either of these because He is PERFECT in every way.
If it would be possible for God to change, He would be less than God. In fact, He would be no better than humanity who is constantly changing.
Therefore, if God does not change, neither can His Word - for it too is eternal.
Regardless of what our personal issue is in our lives - homosexual issues, divorce, stifled faith, hypocritical challenges toward you, gossip or something much worse - there is only way to remove these veils that cover God from your life.
That One way is to have a personal, real, true experience with Christ; it has always been this way.
What split the veil of the Temple so many years ago is the same thing that must be used to split the veils that cover God in our lives and allow sin and ourselves to rule. It is the power of Christ's death and also His resurrecting power.
Without Question - the Cross is as rough as it is deadly; but the Cross is also effective in what it does. To have an experience with Christ, we must go to the Cross and at the Cross someone must die. In effect, we must die daily, giving over the worst of who we are and allowing Him to come to life within us.
This is possible because on the Cross, the victim doesn't stay there forever.
There is a time, a time after death when a resurrection must take place; and when it does, the pain is forgotten of losing what we once were and is replaced by an unspeakable joy.
Remember, the cure to any spiritual problem is a true experience with the Lord Jesus Christ who lives within us; He is immutable but He will change your life if you let Him.
Until next time, try to win one for the good guys.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Three Months Free
After speaking into existence a perfect Creation, disobedience to God introduced sin into the world; sin in return, introduced complications into life - all of which have the potential to ruin the man who first disobeyed and his descendants.
So, in fact, we could actually say that all which happens, we have done it to ourselves.
Three months ago I was taken into my second major surgery concerning cancer. When I woke up, I had a chest tube in my side, new incision wounds and a doctor or a nurse standing over me smiling - which was odd to see in my groggy state of mind.
The reason he was smiling became very clear as he spoke - I was the highlight of the week, I was found to be cancer free.
And it is this word, 'Free' which I have found to be the most interesting in recent weeks.
In my experience, most Americans do not realize what the meaning of the word 'free' actually is; instead, we have an idea that says, 'if we are truly free, then I can do whatever I choose without being judged, without consequence and without remorse.'
Whatever that is, it is NOT freedom.
This definition is not the definition of freedom but of one who is a slave to their own passion, their own desires; one who has never really mastered their soul because their soul has never found its Master.
In recent years I have been around the globe and seen many cultures and have been privileged to meet many good men and women from those places.
Without being too specific, whether I was in Europe or in Southwest Asia - I found three things to be universally true among all those whom I have met:
#1 - Take away the stereotypes and the average person is very similar to myself regardless of what color they might be, what language they have spoken or from what race they originate.
#2 - Very few people in other countries understand the American concept of being 'free' politically, religiously, in speech or in the press.
In most places, political parties are heavily controlled, speech must be guarded by the private citizen and the state religion should be followed if any are to be followed at all.
The converse is also true - Americans who have not experienced it cannot understand the society and culture of other places in the world.
#3 - Every person I have met who was a Christian, although the culture may be different, has understood what it means to have true freedom of the soul.
God has allowed me to kneel and pray with former enemies in the person of Russian brothers; He has allowed me to lead Filipinos to His grace.
God has allowed me to baptize in the desert and to give altar calls in the Eiffel region of Europe.
And in all these places and more, in all the people - when the Holy Spirit of God revealed Christ to them, there was a freedom which can only be experienced by surrender.
You see, in surrender to God's call to salvation or God's call on our lives, the individual finds a freedom that commands, a freedom that compels us to follow, a freedom that rejoices in servanthood.
It is a freedom that Adam sought, a freedom which Christ bought and a freedom which all desire from our birth in this world.
In God's economy of the world, things seem twisted and backwards to us because our nature has been corrupted. God's Mastery of our soul brings liberation and our servanthood to His will brings freedom in our lives.
In Him, we are no longer slaves to the world, slaves to passion, slaves to desires; no, we become free in our surrender. Surrender to God brings freedom and in His freedom, we and all things we give to Him become eternally secure.
Abraham is called the Father of the Faithful, and rightly so. The twelfth chapter of Genesis in the Bible begins his story, the crux of which is his faith.
Like Abraham, we stumble in life and we will make misguided decisions; but that does not mean we have fallen from grace, it only means we have made a mistake.
And like Abraham, we too must learn of God's security in our surrender to freedom.
Scripture: Gen 12:1
Now the LORD said to Abram,
"Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father's house,
To the land which I will show you;
And Abraham went.
Abraham surrendered himself to the will of God by faith and traveled to the 'Promised Land;' yet, he did not know where he was going when the journey began.
The same is true for our lives - we do not know where God will take us when our journey begins. Yet, in confidence we can trust Him knowing our surrender will take us to a great many places in life.
In the modern era of the Church, we have many substitutes for simple faith. This could be our greatest error for there is no substitute for faith.
Anytime we substitute something for faith, we also substitute something else for God and enshrine it on the thrones or our hearts.
Deep, long valleys, tragedy at times, soul poverty and the forsaking/surrendering of all things - this is what builds our knowledge of God and grows our faith in Him.
It is here that we begin to understand the freedom of being a child of God.
Years after Abraham answered the call of God to leave his homeland, years after he was promised to have descendants as numerous as the stars, years after he was told in him all the world would be blessed; God asked for the most prized possession of Abraham - his own son, Isaac.
Isaac was the delight of Abraham's heart as my son is in my life; Isaac was the delight of the heart, not the idol of his heart.
God instructed Abraham to kill Isaac as a sacrifice.
This instruction was painful, but Abraham was going to go through with it.
God stopped Abraham and provided a substitute for the sacrifice which gives us a beautiful image of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus. But the point of the passage is the fact that God's rule in Abraham's heart was unchallenged.
And in our lives, God is to have no rival.
In Him, all things are secure - Our trust, our faith, our gifts, even and especially our own children. These things are on loan to us but in our surrender to God and our giving to Him all that we have and all that we are, these things are eternally secure.
These truths - surrender in life brings freedom; surrender to God brings security; these seem odd because it is the opposite of the world system in which we live. But remember, the world system has been corrupted.
So to rightly see this system as God would have us to see it - it must be by faith.
These truths cannot be learned by rote as you would a popular song; they must be learned by life experiences given to us at the foot of the Cross and by trusting the hand of God in faith.
The greatest of these truths is the truth of salvation given by God's grace through the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot promise you material wealth, physical health or warm fuzzies the rest of your life.
But if you trust Him by faith, I can promise you on the authority of His Word, your surrender will release the greatest freedom your life will ever know.
Until next time, go win one for the good guys.
So, in fact, we could actually say that all which happens, we have done it to ourselves.
Three months ago I was taken into my second major surgery concerning cancer. When I woke up, I had a chest tube in my side, new incision wounds and a doctor or a nurse standing over me smiling - which was odd to see in my groggy state of mind.
The reason he was smiling became very clear as he spoke - I was the highlight of the week, I was found to be cancer free.
And it is this word, 'Free' which I have found to be the most interesting in recent weeks.
In my experience, most Americans do not realize what the meaning of the word 'free' actually is; instead, we have an idea that says, 'if we are truly free, then I can do whatever I choose without being judged, without consequence and without remorse.'
Whatever that is, it is NOT freedom.
This definition is not the definition of freedom but of one who is a slave to their own passion, their own desires; one who has never really mastered their soul because their soul has never found its Master.
In recent years I have been around the globe and seen many cultures and have been privileged to meet many good men and women from those places.
Without being too specific, whether I was in Europe or in Southwest Asia - I found three things to be universally true among all those whom I have met:
#1 - Take away the stereotypes and the average person is very similar to myself regardless of what color they might be, what language they have spoken or from what race they originate.
#2 - Very few people in other countries understand the American concept of being 'free' politically, religiously, in speech or in the press.
In most places, political parties are heavily controlled, speech must be guarded by the private citizen and the state religion should be followed if any are to be followed at all.
The converse is also true - Americans who have not experienced it cannot understand the society and culture of other places in the world.
#3 - Every person I have met who was a Christian, although the culture may be different, has understood what it means to have true freedom of the soul.
God has allowed me to kneel and pray with former enemies in the person of Russian brothers; He has allowed me to lead Filipinos to His grace.
God has allowed me to baptize in the desert and to give altar calls in the Eiffel region of Europe.
And in all these places and more, in all the people - when the Holy Spirit of God revealed Christ to them, there was a freedom which can only be experienced by surrender.
You see, in surrender to God's call to salvation or God's call on our lives, the individual finds a freedom that commands, a freedom that compels us to follow, a freedom that rejoices in servanthood.
It is a freedom that Adam sought, a freedom which Christ bought and a freedom which all desire from our birth in this world.
In God's economy of the world, things seem twisted and backwards to us because our nature has been corrupted. God's Mastery of our soul brings liberation and our servanthood to His will brings freedom in our lives.
In Him, we are no longer slaves to the world, slaves to passion, slaves to desires; no, we become free in our surrender. Surrender to God brings freedom and in His freedom, we and all things we give to Him become eternally secure.
Abraham is called the Father of the Faithful, and rightly so. The twelfth chapter of Genesis in the Bible begins his story, the crux of which is his faith.
Like Abraham, we stumble in life and we will make misguided decisions; but that does not mean we have fallen from grace, it only means we have made a mistake.
And like Abraham, we too must learn of God's security in our surrender to freedom.
Scripture: Gen 12:1
Now the LORD said to Abram,
"Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father's house,
To the land which I will show you;
And Abraham went.
Abraham surrendered himself to the will of God by faith and traveled to the 'Promised Land;' yet, he did not know where he was going when the journey began.
The same is true for our lives - we do not know where God will take us when our journey begins. Yet, in confidence we can trust Him knowing our surrender will take us to a great many places in life.
In the modern era of the Church, we have many substitutes for simple faith. This could be our greatest error for there is no substitute for faith.
Anytime we substitute something for faith, we also substitute something else for God and enshrine it on the thrones or our hearts.
Deep, long valleys, tragedy at times, soul poverty and the forsaking/surrendering of all things - this is what builds our knowledge of God and grows our faith in Him.
It is here that we begin to understand the freedom of being a child of God.
Years after Abraham answered the call of God to leave his homeland, years after he was promised to have descendants as numerous as the stars, years after he was told in him all the world would be blessed; God asked for the most prized possession of Abraham - his own son, Isaac.
Isaac was the delight of Abraham's heart as my son is in my life; Isaac was the delight of the heart, not the idol of his heart.
God instructed Abraham to kill Isaac as a sacrifice.
This instruction was painful, but Abraham was going to go through with it.
God stopped Abraham and provided a substitute for the sacrifice which gives us a beautiful image of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus. But the point of the passage is the fact that God's rule in Abraham's heart was unchallenged.
And in our lives, God is to have no rival.
In Him, all things are secure - Our trust, our faith, our gifts, even and especially our own children. These things are on loan to us but in our surrender to God and our giving to Him all that we have and all that we are, these things are eternally secure.
These truths - surrender in life brings freedom; surrender to God brings security; these seem odd because it is the opposite of the world system in which we live. But remember, the world system has been corrupted.
So to rightly see this system as God would have us to see it - it must be by faith.
These truths cannot be learned by rote as you would a popular song; they must be learned by life experiences given to us at the foot of the Cross and by trusting the hand of God in faith.
The greatest of these truths is the truth of salvation given by God's grace through the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot promise you material wealth, physical health or warm fuzzies the rest of your life.
But if you trust Him by faith, I can promise you on the authority of His Word, your surrender will release the greatest freedom your life will ever know.
Until next time, go win one for the good guys.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Easter From a Different View
Tomorrow millions will celebrate Resurrection Day.
Therefore, given the time of year, I have republished the following blog from a time past.
It is one of my favorites. Enjoy.
And, Happy Easter.
Over the years I have read many, many books. A long time ago, a person gave me an idea that has led to this post. I don't remember the author nor the book; but I do remember the idea.
And while the idea is another's, the thought behind the print is my own.
This is Easter...from a slightly different point of view.
Room full.
Disciples present - I am the greatest.
Towel. Basin.
Feet washed - perfect humility.
Table set. All there.
Judas dipped. John leaned.
All wondered - Is it I?
Judas gone.
This is my Body - Broken.
This is my Blood - Shed.
For you - New Covenant.
Mount Olives. Garden Grove - Ancient Gethsemane.
Sleepy Disciples.
Torches. Company. Friend?
Kiss.
Betrayal.
Seizing. Slicing. Healing.
Led Away - Peter followed.
Courtyard. Trial. High Priest.
Blasphemy.
I don't know the man.
Cock. Crowed. Thrice.
Eye Contact.
Peter Wept.
Innocent Blood - Betrayed.
Silver Pieces - Scattered.
Temple. Potter's Field.
Judas Hanged.
Romans. Pilate. No Fault.
What is Truth?
Scourged.
Barabbas offered. Accepted.
Hands Washed.
Crucify Him.
Simon Pressed. Cross Carried.
Lifted Up - This is the King of the Jews.
Behold, your Mother.
It is Finished.
Serpent's Head Crushed.
Joseph. Body. Wrapped.
New Tomb.
Death.
Silence.
Sabbath.
Sunday.
Day Break - New World Dawning.
Women. Spices.
Tomb. Open.
Tomb. Empty.
Alive!
Second Chance.
New Hope.
Jesus Alive!
Until Next time, try to win one for the good guys.
Therefore, given the time of year, I have republished the following blog from a time past.
It is one of my favorites. Enjoy.
And, Happy Easter.
Over the years I have read many, many books. A long time ago, a person gave me an idea that has led to this post. I don't remember the author nor the book; but I do remember the idea.
And while the idea is another's, the thought behind the print is my own.
This is Easter...from a slightly different point of view.
Room full.
Disciples present - I am the greatest.
Towel. Basin.
Feet washed - perfect humility.
Table set. All there.
Judas dipped. John leaned.
All wondered - Is it I?
Judas gone.
This is my Body - Broken.
This is my Blood - Shed.
For you - New Covenant.
Mount Olives. Garden Grove - Ancient Gethsemane.
Sleepy Disciples.
Torches. Company. Friend?
Kiss.
Betrayal.
Seizing. Slicing. Healing.
Led Away - Peter followed.
Courtyard. Trial. High Priest.
Blasphemy.
I don't know the man.
Cock. Crowed. Thrice.
Eye Contact.
Peter Wept.
Innocent Blood - Betrayed.
Silver Pieces - Scattered.
Temple. Potter's Field.
Judas Hanged.
Romans. Pilate. No Fault.
What is Truth?
Scourged.
Barabbas offered. Accepted.
Hands Washed.
Crucify Him.
Simon Pressed. Cross Carried.
Lifted Up - This is the King of the Jews.
Behold, your Mother.
It is Finished.
Serpent's Head Crushed.
Joseph. Body. Wrapped.
New Tomb.
Death.
Silence.
Sabbath.
Sunday.
Day Break - New World Dawning.
Women. Spices.
Tomb. Open.
Tomb. Empty.
Alive!
Second Chance.
New Hope.
Jesus Alive!
Until Next time, try to win one for the good guys.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Temporary
Early in ministry I was a chaplain at the University of Louisville Hospital; it was a trauma hospital, right in the middle of Louisville, KY.
For some reason, at least one person died every week that I worked and I only worked two-three days a week.
Some weeks, a person died every shift.
So, I think it''s safe to say that early on in ministry I became very comfortable in dealing with death and dying.
This became very important later in life; just a few months ago I was dying and I was very comfortable with it. But I soon realized a fact that is almost universally true - people are not as comfortable with death as I am.
Most people cope with death by avoiding it and all things dealing with death altogether.
Think about it in modern terms.
It use to be people died at home; today, they usually die secluded away in a private hospital room.
In the past, family would gather around and watch their loved one suffer until they gave up the ghost; today, we have removed pain from the equation with modern drugs which 'make them comfortable.'
And when we die, we are no longer buried in a gray-looking, depressing grave yard full of headstones; today, IF we are buried, it is in a place as beautiful as a city park. If we are cremated, our ashes are placed in a gorgeous urn or scattered and forgotten.
We do all we can do displace the thought of death from our minds.
And it is this thought which brings me to EASTER, which I refer to as the greatest day in the history of mankind.
You see, Easter brought a new word into the vocabulary when we speak of pain, of suffering and even of death.
That new word is: Temporary.
Whatever anguish we may feel, whatever pain we may go through, regardless to the amount of suffering you or I might experience as we die - it will not last.
Our final hope and joy is in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ; because He has risen, the believer will also rise.
One of the greatest thoughts of all history is knowing that a Christian's death is temporary.
When I woke up from my second surgery, I was soon overjoyed at the fact that I had been healed by the hand of God. I was so happy for all those who had prayed for me worldwide - people would actually get to see a real, bonafide miracle in their midst.
I was thrilled at the extended time I was going to have with my children; I had asked to be healed mostly for their sake. I didn't want to die and their little hearts turn against God.
And this might sound horrible, but I was also a little happy knowing that me not dying spited a few people. :)
But for me, once I knew I was going to live - I was a little disappointed.
Now, that might sound odd to a person who isn't dying or hasn't suffered, but it does make sense to those who have.
When I was dying, as I prayed there was a peacefulness that I cannot describe.
The reason was because I realized I was soon going to meet God in person; the Holy Spirit filled my heart with a peaceful joy over the matter.
It was time to meet the Lord I have served with my life.
And that was really nifty-cool.
My Easter gift was to see God in person and Christ in flesh.
But that didn't happen!
I'm OK with it now, but over the last few months, I have struggled with it.
Not because I wanted to die; but that I wanted to live with Christ.
And why wouldn't any Christian want to be alive with Christ?
John 14:6
The simple truth is that we'd be crazy as Christians to go through life as we do if this life is all that there is. If what we know ends in our own death - we're dumber than a box of rocks.
But we know that this is not all there is; there is more in this life than the average person knows and there is a wonderful world awaiting us in the afterlife.
Apart from Easter, apart of the resurrection to life, apart from the next life, apart from the spiritual rebirth we experience, apart from a new start and a recreated earth - God would be less than powerful, less than loving and He may even be considered cruel.
But what kind of God would be satisfied with a world filled with suffering and laden with death? Not the Lord I serve; that is why He has provided us with the hope and joy of the resurrection, beginning with His Son and extended to all who believe on Him by faith..
The entire Bible stakes God's integrity on His ability to restore creation to its original state of perfection. And part of that restoration is raising to life all those who have believed on Him.
On the morning of the first Easter Sunday, it was announced 'CHRISTOS ANESTI' - which means, 'Christ is Risen.'
Have you ever taken these words Christ is Risen, into consideration for your life?
What does it mean to you personally and to the world if Christ has truly risen?
What would it mean to you if your loved ones would rise again as Christ rose?
What would it mean to you, right now, wherever you may be, to get up and look outside and see in the street, or front yard, or in your driveway or in a parking lot at work - what would it mean to you if there stood your loved ones that you have lost to death?
What would seeing them live again mean to you?
That image is exactly what the disciples encountered on Resurrection Day.
Not only is that the image the encountered, it is also true that they caught a glimpse of the future for themselves. They too would share in a resurrected body with the Lord and it is this fact that encouraged them in the remaining years of their lives as they ministered and died the martyr's death (except John).
They died the way that they lived - in the hope and joy of the gospel and the future resurrection.
The truth is that all people, die the way that they have lived.
A recently read a story about a black minister who was dying; to him, he viewed it as merely heading home.When he did die, his church grieved, but it seemed only an interruption in their friendship; a set back but only for a while.
In the minister and his church was instilled the grand hope of the resurrection to life; it is a hope beyond this world.
All people die the way that they have lived, but if we really believe in the resurrection, truly believe that we will be raised to life - then heaven should effect more than how we die.
The Resurrection should have and affect as to how we live.
What we need to learn is that our time on Earth is a proving ground; what makes it difficult for believers is that we are trying to live life under a rebel flag.
We try to live for God, we try to be faithful; but the rebellion of the world and the sinfulness of man make it difficult.
Yet, if we succeed in our service and devotion, we will hear the words every believer longs to hear ring in their ears, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'
One thing I can promise you - in eternity, you and I will not be impressed by the importance of life on earth; but rather, we will be shocked at the smallness of it.
1 Cor 15:51-58
Life on this earth is Temporary; just as death is for the believer in Christ.
And that's all the more reason to go win one for the good guys.
Happy Easter 2013!
For some reason, at least one person died every week that I worked and I only worked two-three days a week.
Some weeks, a person died every shift.
So, I think it''s safe to say that early on in ministry I became very comfortable in dealing with death and dying.
This became very important later in life; just a few months ago I was dying and I was very comfortable with it. But I soon realized a fact that is almost universally true - people are not as comfortable with death as I am.
Most people cope with death by avoiding it and all things dealing with death altogether.
Think about it in modern terms.
It use to be people died at home; today, they usually die secluded away in a private hospital room.
In the past, family would gather around and watch their loved one suffer until they gave up the ghost; today, we have removed pain from the equation with modern drugs which 'make them comfortable.'
And when we die, we are no longer buried in a gray-looking, depressing grave yard full of headstones; today, IF we are buried, it is in a place as beautiful as a city park. If we are cremated, our ashes are placed in a gorgeous urn or scattered and forgotten.
We do all we can do displace the thought of death from our minds.
And it is this thought which brings me to EASTER, which I refer to as the greatest day in the history of mankind.
You see, Easter brought a new word into the vocabulary when we speak of pain, of suffering and even of death.
That new word is: Temporary.
Whatever anguish we may feel, whatever pain we may go through, regardless to the amount of suffering you or I might experience as we die - it will not last.
Our final hope and joy is in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ; because He has risen, the believer will also rise.
One of the greatest thoughts of all history is knowing that a Christian's death is temporary.
When I woke up from my second surgery, I was soon overjoyed at the fact that I had been healed by the hand of God. I was so happy for all those who had prayed for me worldwide - people would actually get to see a real, bonafide miracle in their midst.
I was thrilled at the extended time I was going to have with my children; I had asked to be healed mostly for their sake. I didn't want to die and their little hearts turn against God.
And this might sound horrible, but I was also a little happy knowing that me not dying spited a few people. :)
But for me, once I knew I was going to live - I was a little disappointed.
Now, that might sound odd to a person who isn't dying or hasn't suffered, but it does make sense to those who have.
When I was dying, as I prayed there was a peacefulness that I cannot describe.
The reason was because I realized I was soon going to meet God in person; the Holy Spirit filled my heart with a peaceful joy over the matter.
It was time to meet the Lord I have served with my life.
And that was really nifty-cool.
My Easter gift was to see God in person and Christ in flesh.
But that didn't happen!
I'm OK with it now, but over the last few months, I have struggled with it.
Not because I wanted to die; but that I wanted to live with Christ.
And why wouldn't any Christian want to be alive with Christ?
John 14:6
6 Jesus said* to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
The simple truth is that we'd be crazy as Christians to go through life as we do if this life is all that there is. If what we know ends in our own death - we're dumber than a box of rocks.
But we know that this is not all there is; there is more in this life than the average person knows and there is a wonderful world awaiting us in the afterlife.
Apart from Easter, apart of the resurrection to life, apart from the next life, apart from the spiritual rebirth we experience, apart from a new start and a recreated earth - God would be less than powerful, less than loving and He may even be considered cruel.
But what kind of God would be satisfied with a world filled with suffering and laden with death? Not the Lord I serve; that is why He has provided us with the hope and joy of the resurrection, beginning with His Son and extended to all who believe on Him by faith..
The entire Bible stakes God's integrity on His ability to restore creation to its original state of perfection. And part of that restoration is raising to life all those who have believed on Him.
On the morning of the first Easter Sunday, it was announced 'CHRISTOS ANESTI' - which means, 'Christ is Risen.'
Have you ever taken these words Christ is Risen, into consideration for your life?
What does it mean to you personally and to the world if Christ has truly risen?
What would it mean to you if your loved ones would rise again as Christ rose?
What would it mean to you, right now, wherever you may be, to get up and look outside and see in the street, or front yard, or in your driveway or in a parking lot at work - what would it mean to you if there stood your loved ones that you have lost to death?
What would seeing them live again mean to you?
That image is exactly what the disciples encountered on Resurrection Day.
Not only is that the image the encountered, it is also true that they caught a glimpse of the future for themselves. They too would share in a resurrected body with the Lord and it is this fact that encouraged them in the remaining years of their lives as they ministered and died the martyr's death (except John).
They died the way that they lived - in the hope and joy of the gospel and the future resurrection.
The truth is that all people, die the way that they have lived.
A recently read a story about a black minister who was dying; to him, he viewed it as merely heading home.When he did die, his church grieved, but it seemed only an interruption in their friendship; a set back but only for a while.
In the minister and his church was instilled the grand hope of the resurrection to life; it is a hope beyond this world.
All people die the way that they have lived, but if we really believe in the resurrection, truly believe that we will be raised to life - then heaven should effect more than how we die.
The Resurrection should have and affect as to how we live.
What we need to learn is that our time on Earth is a proving ground; what makes it difficult for believers is that we are trying to live life under a rebel flag.
We try to live for God, we try to be faithful; but the rebellion of the world and the sinfulness of man make it difficult.
Yet, if we succeed in our service and devotion, we will hear the words every believer longs to hear ring in their ears, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'
One thing I can promise you - in eternity, you and I will not be impressed by the importance of life on earth; but rather, we will be shocked at the smallness of it.
1 Cor 15:51-58
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable , and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Life on this earth is Temporary; just as death is for the believer in Christ.
And that's all the more reason to go win one for the good guys.
Happy Easter 2013!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Sin of the Church
God is a person.
God is not a thing or an object, He is a person.
Like any person, God has a personality; He can be offended and pleased just as you or I may be. And like every person you know, you can know God but that relationship filled with such knowledge cannot be achieved in one simple encounter.
Once an individual human being decides to engage God - their spirit comes to life; quickening what was once dead. This is not an end, but rather a beginning - it is a new life, a new person and a new creation through the grace of God.
The great sin of the church is that we do not encourage our people to pursue a further knowledge of the God they claim to worship.
We are far too satisfied with the very basics of faith without engaging in a deeper knowledge of the One who brought us to life by His Spirit.
The impulse within the heart of man to seek after God originates with God Himself.
Many times men stop seeking after God after their initial encounter with God; but why?
It could very well be that it is the church itself, the Body of Christ in the world, who tells the seeker they no longer need to seek God because they have spiritually 'arrived.'
The man may be 'saved' but he is not thirsty for the Living Water of God; in fact, he is usually taught to be satisfied with very little.
And this is the great sin of the church.
Instead of discipleship, we now accept the fact that people may exercise faith without any change in their moral behavior. In fact, not only do we accept this - we enable it to happen.
For example, when was the last time you heard Church discipline being exercised for adultery? And if it did happen, how bad was the church criticized because they seemed 'unloving?'
We as the Church have allowed ourselves to be bullied by those not of our faith, in the name of our faith, to the point where we tend not to exercise our faith because we are afraid of what people will say about us.
The result is that we have churches full of people who have been taught to 'believe' but have never repented of past sin.
They may have 'received' Christ but there isn't any special love for Him, His People or His Holiness.
The very fact that someone has come to Christ means that God has moved in their heart to draw them near to Him. When Christ is received by the individual, this is not to be the end of the relationship, but a grand beginning.
One of the things that marked Holy men and women of the past is the fact that they desired to know more of God personally. In fact, Moses used his knowledge and relationship with God as an argument for knowing Him better. That situation ended with God passing by Moses as he was hid in the cleft of the rock.
In modern times, it seems that we have become trapped with this 'accept Him' mentality where the acceptance of God's existence is all that is needed; so, we stop there.
If this is true, then you have indeed found God and there is no more need to seek after Him.
If this is true, then there is no reason for us to believe that the Church is important.
If this is true, then there is no need to heed the words of Jesus when He said, 'Follow Me.'
The truth is that what is really needed is a growing relationship with God, just as you have a growing relationship with your spouse, your parents, your children and your friends.
Again, God is a person; He is able to be known to others but full knowledge of Him cannot take place with one simple encounter any more than one encounter with one female makes you want to marry them.
With God, as with people there is a relationship to be cultivated. The lack of cultivation of this relationship between the believer and His God is the sin of the Church.
Instead of cultivation of this relationship, instead of Christ, we now have programs.
Instead of discipleship, we have methods and activities.
Instead of solid repentance, we have good works.
And none of these things can satisfy our hearts the way Christ can because it was God who created the impulse within you to desire a relationship with Him in the first place.
Nothing will be able to fill the hole in your heart except Christ.
Too often, we fail to teach this; some don't even realize this universal truth.
Instead, they are given shallow inner experiences where spiritual revival should be taking place.
They are given hollow worship which demonstrates a bare minimal knowledge of God.
And the peace of God we so speak of from pulpits every week - it remains unknown because to have the peace of God in your heart, you must believe on the Son of God in your life.
As we approach Palm Sunday, we remember the shouts of 'Hosanna' from so long ago; hailing Christ as the King of the Jews. The Palm branches that were waved were a symbol of Jewish nationalism - they were right, He was truly their King.
But today, for all who believe, He is our King as well.
And this King, who died for you and lives for you - desires to know you. Not as a subject in a Kingdom, but as a servant and worker for the Most High God.
God is a person - continue to seek Him and you will know Him.
Until next time, try to win one for the good guys.
God is not a thing or an object, He is a person.
Like any person, God has a personality; He can be offended and pleased just as you or I may be. And like every person you know, you can know God but that relationship filled with such knowledge cannot be achieved in one simple encounter.
Once an individual human being decides to engage God - their spirit comes to life; quickening what was once dead. This is not an end, but rather a beginning - it is a new life, a new person and a new creation through the grace of God.
The great sin of the church is that we do not encourage our people to pursue a further knowledge of the God they claim to worship.
We are far too satisfied with the very basics of faith without engaging in a deeper knowledge of the One who brought us to life by His Spirit.
The impulse within the heart of man to seek after God originates with God Himself.
Many times men stop seeking after God after their initial encounter with God; but why?
It could very well be that it is the church itself, the Body of Christ in the world, who tells the seeker they no longer need to seek God because they have spiritually 'arrived.'
The man may be 'saved' but he is not thirsty for the Living Water of God; in fact, he is usually taught to be satisfied with very little.
And this is the great sin of the church.
Instead of discipleship, we now accept the fact that people may exercise faith without any change in their moral behavior. In fact, not only do we accept this - we enable it to happen.
For example, when was the last time you heard Church discipline being exercised for adultery? And if it did happen, how bad was the church criticized because they seemed 'unloving?'
We as the Church have allowed ourselves to be bullied by those not of our faith, in the name of our faith, to the point where we tend not to exercise our faith because we are afraid of what people will say about us.
The result is that we have churches full of people who have been taught to 'believe' but have never repented of past sin.
They may have 'received' Christ but there isn't any special love for Him, His People or His Holiness.
The very fact that someone has come to Christ means that God has moved in their heart to draw them near to Him. When Christ is received by the individual, this is not to be the end of the relationship, but a grand beginning.
One of the things that marked Holy men and women of the past is the fact that they desired to know more of God personally. In fact, Moses used his knowledge and relationship with God as an argument for knowing Him better. That situation ended with God passing by Moses as he was hid in the cleft of the rock.
In modern times, it seems that we have become trapped with this 'accept Him' mentality where the acceptance of God's existence is all that is needed; so, we stop there.
If this is true, then you have indeed found God and there is no more need to seek after Him.
If this is true, then there is no reason for us to believe that the Church is important.
If this is true, then there is no need to heed the words of Jesus when He said, 'Follow Me.'
The truth is that what is really needed is a growing relationship with God, just as you have a growing relationship with your spouse, your parents, your children and your friends.
Again, God is a person; He is able to be known to others but full knowledge of Him cannot take place with one simple encounter any more than one encounter with one female makes you want to marry them.
With God, as with people there is a relationship to be cultivated. The lack of cultivation of this relationship between the believer and His God is the sin of the Church.
Instead of cultivation of this relationship, instead of Christ, we now have programs.
Instead of discipleship, we have methods and activities.
Instead of solid repentance, we have good works.
And none of these things can satisfy our hearts the way Christ can because it was God who created the impulse within you to desire a relationship with Him in the first place.
Nothing will be able to fill the hole in your heart except Christ.
Too often, we fail to teach this; some don't even realize this universal truth.
Instead, they are given shallow inner experiences where spiritual revival should be taking place.
They are given hollow worship which demonstrates a bare minimal knowledge of God.
And the peace of God we so speak of from pulpits every week - it remains unknown because to have the peace of God in your heart, you must believe on the Son of God in your life.
As we approach Palm Sunday, we remember the shouts of 'Hosanna' from so long ago; hailing Christ as the King of the Jews. The Palm branches that were waved were a symbol of Jewish nationalism - they were right, He was truly their King.
But today, for all who believe, He is our King as well.
And this King, who died for you and lives for you - desires to know you. Not as a subject in a Kingdom, but as a servant and worker for the Most High God.
God is a person - continue to seek Him and you will know Him.
Until next time, try to win one for the good guys.
Monday, March 18, 2013
The Spouses Who Bring Hope
Of all the people who suffer, it is our spouses who bare a horrible burden and may never speak of it. The truth is that whether it is terminal cancer or some other type of illness that is terminal, 70% of marriage dissolve within the first year when their partner has been diagnosed.
Only a handful survive and are intact after two years.
The spouse of a person that is terminal must strike a careful balance, but it has been my experience that illness only magnifies what is already present in the marriage.
I read a story about a man who was dying - he was from the Northeast.
The man and his wife, were pretty much at each other's throat and sniped at each other during the stays in the hospital.
He would say things to her such as 'you didn't use to do...' or 'you use to dress a certain way...'
These were comments showing his disapproval and desire for things to return to how they once were.
Instead of attempting to allow him to relive happier times as his date with deity approached, his wife returned the volley of fire with her own comments - only they were much more sharp.
She would say things referring to his impending death and wishing aloud that he would 'go ahead and get it over with.'
She would also wonder aloud about the future by asking who would want a widow with an 8 and 10 year old pair of boys.
In our marriages, when we are dying, or a tragedy strikes - it only magnifies what is already present. Whatever lies under the surface will come to the surface and will be multiplied greatly.
The truth about a person who is dying is that healing, as I have been healed, is only one resolution to the sickness. The other resolution which is far more common, is death.
And for those of us who are healed, the simple fact is that we have only delayed our impending death.
It is still coming - God just stayed the execution date for a little while.
When I was dying and was expected to die - the greatest support I had was definitely my wife. I realize not everybody is as blessed as I am in this arena, but I would say that the most important support role is in our spouses.
Certainly my family played a role, my mother larger than my siblings.
My wife's family didn't really play any role at all - truthfully, they haven't contacted me and haven't spoken with me since I was diagnosed or since I've been healed. Which I do find odd.
Our church was a fantastic support; although the state convention were slackers.
And the Air Force, both Guard and Active Duty brothers and sisters - they were great and still support Chaplain Jack.
But overall, it was my wife who played the largest role of support. And that's how it should be.
In the palm of our spouses truly is the will to live for the one who suffers.
The situation I described above with the man and his wife - why in the world would a man desire to live with his wife making comments such as this? (If he'd actually lived, he'd probably left her.)
But, on the other hand, we must also be cautious of the other extreme - too much 'helping.'
The spouses of terminal patients must strike an unfamiliar balance between 'helping' their loved one and 'helping' too much to the point where the person feels a loss of control.
The person you love who is terminal does not get to eat when they want, they do not get to sleep when they want, if in a hospital - other people remove fluids from their body without permission and give them pills they 'must' take.
Your loved one already has lost a ton of control in their life; if you love them, be careful not to add to the emotional and psychological pain.
It is a delicate balance; it is a hard balance - but you may bring more hope in these small things through your actions than anybody else because you are closer to them than anyone else.
And you would be surprised how far a little shot of hope will go to a person who is going to die.
Drug companies use double blind drug tests. If doctors know which drug is the placebo and which is the real drug, it will skew the results. The reason is because of the power of human hope. Without thinking, doctors will naturally and unknowingly skew the results because they will believe the patient will recover.
The human hope factor is real and it is effective.
If you are the spouse of a terminal patient - you, in your actions, words and projections can bring more healing in hope than you can ever realize.
Today, you have been given another day of life with the one you love; be thankful for this day because it does bring hope for tomorrow.
One man rightly stated:
"I do not look upon each day as another day closer to death, but as another day of life, to be appreciated and enjoyed."
If you can see yourself as a person who is ministering to the one you love, the hope you bring to their hearts and minds will lead them to living another day 'to be appreciated and enjoyed.'
While modern Christianity has an emphasis on 'what can you do for me' in this instant, I would point you to a greater hope beyond what you and I can bring - it is the hope of the resurrection.
In our age, we have become ashamed of speaking of immortality, the rewards to come and the resurrection to life - but what greater hope is there to man who's body has deteriorated because of cancer, or to a couple who lost their infant child, or of a brain-damaged teenager?
What greater hope is there than restoration to things how they ought to be?
There is none.
Jesus Christ is the greatest hope you and I could have in this life or in the next.
As you, the spouse of the person who is terminal provides hope; pray that you will not be timid to speak of the eternal hope in Christ.
Hope of eternal healing and perfection after death is a worth hope for all people.
Until next time, try to win one for the good guys.
Only a handful survive and are intact after two years.
The spouse of a person that is terminal must strike a careful balance, but it has been my experience that illness only magnifies what is already present in the marriage.
I read a story about a man who was dying - he was from the Northeast.
The man and his wife, were pretty much at each other's throat and sniped at each other during the stays in the hospital.
He would say things to her such as 'you didn't use to do...' or 'you use to dress a certain way...'
These were comments showing his disapproval and desire for things to return to how they once were.
Instead of attempting to allow him to relive happier times as his date with deity approached, his wife returned the volley of fire with her own comments - only they were much more sharp.
She would say things referring to his impending death and wishing aloud that he would 'go ahead and get it over with.'
She would also wonder aloud about the future by asking who would want a widow with an 8 and 10 year old pair of boys.
In our marriages, when we are dying, or a tragedy strikes - it only magnifies what is already present. Whatever lies under the surface will come to the surface and will be multiplied greatly.
The truth about a person who is dying is that healing, as I have been healed, is only one resolution to the sickness. The other resolution which is far more common, is death.
And for those of us who are healed, the simple fact is that we have only delayed our impending death.
It is still coming - God just stayed the execution date for a little while.
When I was dying and was expected to die - the greatest support I had was definitely my wife. I realize not everybody is as blessed as I am in this arena, but I would say that the most important support role is in our spouses.
Certainly my family played a role, my mother larger than my siblings.
My wife's family didn't really play any role at all - truthfully, they haven't contacted me and haven't spoken with me since I was diagnosed or since I've been healed. Which I do find odd.
Our church was a fantastic support; although the state convention were slackers.
And the Air Force, both Guard and Active Duty brothers and sisters - they were great and still support Chaplain Jack.
But overall, it was my wife who played the largest role of support. And that's how it should be.
In the palm of our spouses truly is the will to live for the one who suffers.
The situation I described above with the man and his wife - why in the world would a man desire to live with his wife making comments such as this? (If he'd actually lived, he'd probably left her.)
But, on the other hand, we must also be cautious of the other extreme - too much 'helping.'
The spouses of terminal patients must strike an unfamiliar balance between 'helping' their loved one and 'helping' too much to the point where the person feels a loss of control.
The person you love who is terminal does not get to eat when they want, they do not get to sleep when they want, if in a hospital - other people remove fluids from their body without permission and give them pills they 'must' take.
Your loved one already has lost a ton of control in their life; if you love them, be careful not to add to the emotional and psychological pain.
It is a delicate balance; it is a hard balance - but you may bring more hope in these small things through your actions than anybody else because you are closer to them than anyone else.
And you would be surprised how far a little shot of hope will go to a person who is going to die.
Drug companies use double blind drug tests. If doctors know which drug is the placebo and which is the real drug, it will skew the results. The reason is because of the power of human hope. Without thinking, doctors will naturally and unknowingly skew the results because they will believe the patient will recover.
The human hope factor is real and it is effective.
If you are the spouse of a terminal patient - you, in your actions, words and projections can bring more healing in hope than you can ever realize.
Today, you have been given another day of life with the one you love; be thankful for this day because it does bring hope for tomorrow.
One man rightly stated:
"I do not look upon each day as another day closer to death, but as another day of life, to be appreciated and enjoyed."
If you can see yourself as a person who is ministering to the one you love, the hope you bring to their hearts and minds will lead them to living another day 'to be appreciated and enjoyed.'
While modern Christianity has an emphasis on 'what can you do for me' in this instant, I would point you to a greater hope beyond what you and I can bring - it is the hope of the resurrection.
In our age, we have become ashamed of speaking of immortality, the rewards to come and the resurrection to life - but what greater hope is there to man who's body has deteriorated because of cancer, or to a couple who lost their infant child, or of a brain-damaged teenager?
What greater hope is there than restoration to things how they ought to be?
There is none.
Jesus Christ is the greatest hope you and I could have in this life or in the next.
As you, the spouse of the person who is terminal provides hope; pray that you will not be timid to speak of the eternal hope in Christ.
Hope of eternal healing and perfection after death is a worth hope for all people.
Until next time, try to win one for the good guys.
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