Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Why was the stone over Jesus' tomb rolled away? He was already gone. A mere stone cannot keep the resurrected Lord from escaping the throws of death. No, He didn't need the stone rolled away. But we did. It was for our benefit. That bolder was dislodged and the grave open so we could look in and see that Jesus was gone.
The angel told the first lookers; "If you're looking for death, you won't find it here. Jesus, who was crucified is not here, He is risen! When we look into a dead situation we can trust God that He has the power to bring resurrection out of it. I believe that He wants us to look at death and see life. He wants us to understand that "all things" really do "work together for good for those who love Him".
Really, the whole cross event(death, burial, resurrection of Christ) was for our benefit. God does not need us. He is perfect! He needs nothing. From creation to redemption God did it all for us. He isn't missing anything. But, since He is love, He has done it all to love us and to show us that love.
Somewhere in eons past--in a time before time--God made a decision that His nature--His character would be love. He is a giving God. That's who He is. He gives because that is what He does. He doesn't need to give, He just gives. He doesn't need our praise and thanksgiving, it just comes naturally to Him when we realize that the stone was rolled away for our benefit.
Hallelujah!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
something big
Then Jesus shouted out again and released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus' resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
The roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, "This man truly was the Son of God!" __Matthew 27:50-55
It is very difficult to explain and understand all that occurred on the cross but, for sure, it was something big. It was so big that a gigantic earthquake took place which changed religion and death forever. And that's awfully big!
That earthquake caused the curtain in the sanctuary to tear in two. Religion would never be the same! The curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple and the rest of the world, That room was where the art of the covenant sat and it was here only the High Priest could go and Him only once a year. God's presence was so strong there that bells were tied to the priest's robe so people could hear them ringing and know he had not died in the Lord's presence. A rope was tied to his leg so if he did die, the priest could be pulled out without anyone else going in and risking their own lives.
Before this event religion was, well...religion. It was not personal as much as it was propositional. Do everythng just the right way, say the right words and hope it mattered to the deity. The breakdown of the religious barriers was the breakdown of the barriers to knowing God. Jesus' sacrificial death for us opened up the free access to have a personal relationship with God It's no longer about how I am doing, it's about how He is doing and He's doing just great! "What a friend we have in Jesus" cause when we are with Him we are talking to God, being forgiven, an receiving the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Just to prove that death was no longer the same, a bunch of dead saints' rotting remains raised up with full bodies. What an earthquake! The Roman soldiers were terrified by this. Death is as certain as taxes but now it doesn't seem to have the punch it once had. Death is the debt we all must pay but the big thing Jesus did on the cross was pay that debt for us. That earthquake and the disruption of death is a demonstration that proves death has lost its power. Now thats big.
I suggest we believe it and accept it so we can be called Children of God and live eternally with Him forever,.
The roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, "This man truly was the Son of God!" __Matthew 27:50-55
It is very difficult to explain and understand all that occurred on the cross but, for sure, it was something big. It was so big that a gigantic earthquake took place which changed religion and death forever. And that's awfully big!
That earthquake caused the curtain in the sanctuary to tear in two. Religion would never be the same! The curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple and the rest of the world, That room was where the art of the covenant sat and it was here only the High Priest could go and Him only once a year. God's presence was so strong there that bells were tied to the priest's robe so people could hear them ringing and know he had not died in the Lord's presence. A rope was tied to his leg so if he did die, the priest could be pulled out without anyone else going in and risking their own lives.
Before this event religion was, well...religion. It was not personal as much as it was propositional. Do everythng just the right way, say the right words and hope it mattered to the deity. The breakdown of the religious barriers was the breakdown of the barriers to knowing God. Jesus' sacrificial death for us opened up the free access to have a personal relationship with God It's no longer about how I am doing, it's about how He is doing and He's doing just great! "What a friend we have in Jesus" cause when we are with Him we are talking to God, being forgiven, an receiving the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Just to prove that death was no longer the same, a bunch of dead saints' rotting remains raised up with full bodies. What an earthquake! The Roman soldiers were terrified by this. Death is as certain as taxes but now it doesn't seem to have the punch it once had. Death is the debt we all must pay but the big thing Jesus did on the cross was pay that debt for us. That earthquake and the disruption of death is a demonstration that proves death has lost its power. Now thats big.
I suggest we believe it and accept it so we can be called Children of God and live eternally with Him forever,.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
doing without
We had a major catastrophe at our church last week! Our projector broke down. I had to lead our Wednesday night Bible study without power point. And on Sunday we had to sing from our hymnals instead of from the screen. It is amazing that the Lord showed up anyway. We had two very good services and did not seem to miss the technology.
It is interesting to me that churches(and people) start to depend on things that really aren't that important in the overall scheme of things. Technology is great and it can be used to reach people for Christ but we do not worship it. We worship the Lord Jesus Christ who must be present for a church to really attract people. The gospel got along just fine before computers, projectors, the internet, pianos, organs, hymnals, pews, pulpits, and even the printing press. It is good to have the latest stuff in proclaiming the gospel but we should remember that the Spirit and the Word operate in a different realm. God is what counts. We absolutely need Him!
It is interesting to me that churches(and people) start to depend on things that really aren't that important in the overall scheme of things. Technology is great and it can be used to reach people for Christ but we do not worship it. We worship the Lord Jesus Christ who must be present for a church to really attract people. The gospel got along just fine before computers, projectors, the internet, pianos, organs, hymnals, pews, pulpits, and even the printing press. It is good to have the latest stuff in proclaiming the gospel but we should remember that the Spirit and the Word operate in a different realm. God is what counts. We absolutely need Him!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
compromise on abortion
They say that politics is the art of compromise. If so, how do you compromise on issues that seem so black and white? Abortion rights is one of those issues that has very little room to give. The only uncertainties that I can see are in the early days after conception. When a woman's egg is fertilized it becomes a zygote and travels to the uterus where it becomes a Blastocyst and attaches to the uterus. After about 3 weeks the blastocyst has become an embryo and the baby has the beginnings of all his or her organs, systems, and brain activity, So we know there is human life after about 3 weeks but can differ about what point prior to becoming an embryo human life exists. There is some room for compromise during that 3 week time of early pregnancy,
Is there compromise for cases where you know the child will be severely handicapped? We all know children with Downs Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, and other severe cases of birth defects who were permitted to live and had much to give to those who loved them. Just because a child will not be "normal" should not disqualify that person from life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Who are we to say that this child of God should not be born? Though I am against allowing abortion for reasons of severe handicap, I might compromise on the issue if I felt such an exception would result in more stringent laws preventing the vast majority of abortions.
There is also the issue pregnancy as a result of rape or incest. Tragic as those events are it must be recognized that such babies are lives also. They deserve to live. But again, I might be willing to compromise and allow abortion for cases of rape or incest if I could get all other abortions outlawed. Abortion for rape, incest, or severe handicap is only less than 5% of all procedures done.
Lets get busy and do what we can to limit all abortions and outlaw some.
These battles are fought on political fronts and political tactics must be used. We must make some compromises in order to keep public opinion on our side. We may never get back to the pre-1972 years but we can save thousands of lives. It is already happening. Time Magazine recently had a cover story that talked about all the small victories the pro-life forces are having. Pro-choice is on the run! The right to choose abortion is a terrible thing. What choice does the unborn baby have? We have the high moral ground. Lets win some battles that will eventually lead to the end of the war. But we will have to make some compromises along the way. And we may never get all we want. But many babies will be spared murder.
Is there compromise for cases where you know the child will be severely handicapped? We all know children with Downs Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, and other severe cases of birth defects who were permitted to live and had much to give to those who loved them. Just because a child will not be "normal" should not disqualify that person from life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Who are we to say that this child of God should not be born? Though I am against allowing abortion for reasons of severe handicap, I might compromise on the issue if I felt such an exception would result in more stringent laws preventing the vast majority of abortions.
There is also the issue pregnancy as a result of rape or incest. Tragic as those events are it must be recognized that such babies are lives also. They deserve to live. But again, I might be willing to compromise and allow abortion for cases of rape or incest if I could get all other abortions outlawed. Abortion for rape, incest, or severe handicap is only less than 5% of all procedures done.
Lets get busy and do what we can to limit all abortions and outlaw some.
These battles are fought on political fronts and political tactics must be used. We must make some compromises in order to keep public opinion on our side. We may never get back to the pre-1972 years but we can save thousands of lives. It is already happening. Time Magazine recently had a cover story that talked about all the small victories the pro-life forces are having. Pro-choice is on the run! The right to choose abortion is a terrible thing. What choice does the unborn baby have? We have the high moral ground. Lets win some battles that will eventually lead to the end of the war. But we will have to make some compromises along the way. And we may never get all we want. But many babies will be spared murder.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
He's Got the Whole World
note: Thirteen times in the Old Testament there is a phrase mentioning "creeping things." Apparently, there is a debate as to whether these "creeping things" are insects or small mammals like squirrels or mice. The NLT describes them as animals that "scurry along the ground." I'll take that one.
I'm driving along in my car and a cute little animal with a furry tail darts into the middle of the road just in front of me. He/she makes an amazingly quick move one way, then another and disappears to one side of the the road. I sit out on my deck and watch these same creatures frolicking in the trees. Two squirrels chasing one another, first one way then the other. They seem to switch directions so fast and seem to be either incredibly stupid or stupidly daring as they scurry on the road in front of speeding cars and chase each other on tree branches.
God made the squirrels.
God made squirrels and mentions that fact six times in the first 8 chapters of Genesis.
God makes lots of things and He made the squirrels.
Sometimes a life can turn on a dime. I have had a wreak while scurrying to work. I have injured a limb while scurrying on the racquetball court. I have scurried my way to bad decisions which have turned out to be exactly what God did not want to do.
God made the squirrels and He made me.
He made us all and there must be a purpose for everything. The Lord has a plan for the squirrel and He has a plan for you and for me.
God made me and He is lovingly able to take my bad decisions and use them to accomplish His purpose.
And He made the squirrels. I don't know why------------but He does.
I'm driving along in my car and a cute little animal with a furry tail darts into the middle of the road just in front of me. He/she makes an amazingly quick move one way, then another and disappears to one side of the the road. I sit out on my deck and watch these same creatures frolicking in the trees. Two squirrels chasing one another, first one way then the other. They seem to switch directions so fast and seem to be either incredibly stupid or stupidly daring as they scurry on the road in front of speeding cars and chase each other on tree branches.
God made the squirrels.
God made squirrels and mentions that fact six times in the first 8 chapters of Genesis.
God makes lots of things and He made the squirrels.
Sometimes a life can turn on a dime. I have had a wreak while scurrying to work. I have injured a limb while scurrying on the racquetball court. I have scurried my way to bad decisions which have turned out to be exactly what God did not want to do.
God made the squirrels and He made me.
He made us all and there must be a purpose for everything. The Lord has a plan for the squirrel and He has a plan for you and for me.
God made me and He is lovingly able to take my bad decisions and use them to accomplish His purpose.
And He made the squirrels. I don't know why------------but He does.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
When You Don't Hear From God
There are times in our lives when we don't seem to be hearing from the Lord. We don't sense His presence and all out communication appears to be one-way. We want to ask, "Where are You, Lord?" We may even begin to doubt His existence! The Bible reminds us that such times will happen in our lives. The last book written in the Old Testament is Malachi. At the end of that book(and the end of the OT as well) we read these words: "...the Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture...Look, I am sending the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers."(Mal. 4:2,5,6) And then silence. As far as we know, God's people did not hear from God for 400 years. They must have been wondering if the promises of God were real, or if they had heard correctly, or even if they were making up the whole thing.
Then finally, four centuries later, came these words: "The good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God..."
Now, all of a sudden, the people were not simply hearing from God through the prophets, they were hearing directly from Him.(Heb. 1:1,2, Jn. 1:!,!4) God was here! He was here in the flesh!
I am preaching to myself when I tell you that you should not fret over the times in your lives when you do not seem to be hearing from the Lord. It is true that such times should put you on your knees, bring you to the altar, and cause you to ask God if there is "any wicked way in me"(Ps. 139:24) But sometimes the Lord is just allowing a time of testing so you can trust Him and not your feelings.
The time of silence will come to an end. His promises are "yes and amen" in Christ. there will be a time of a renewed awareness of God and what He is saying to you. The good news will come alive again and Jesus will be more real to you than ever. And you will "go free, leaping with joy."
Then finally, four centuries later, came these words: "The good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God..."
Now, all of a sudden, the people were not simply hearing from God through the prophets, they were hearing directly from Him.(Heb. 1:1,2, Jn. 1:!,!4) God was here! He was here in the flesh!
I am preaching to myself when I tell you that you should not fret over the times in your lives when you do not seem to be hearing from the Lord. It is true that such times should put you on your knees, bring you to the altar, and cause you to ask God if there is "any wicked way in me"(Ps. 139:24) But sometimes the Lord is just allowing a time of testing so you can trust Him and not your feelings.
The time of silence will come to an end. His promises are "yes and amen" in Christ. there will be a time of a renewed awareness of God and what He is saying to you. The good news will come alive again and Jesus will be more real to you than ever. And you will "go free, leaping with joy."
Monday, December 24, 2012
Christmas Day December 25
If this is not the 25th please go over to the right side of this page and click on the appropriate date.
Read: Luke 2:15-20 Key verse: "And when they had seen Him, they told others what the angel had said about this child." vs. 17
If you are reading this on Christmas Day you probably have already opened your gifts, been to church, and had a big meal. It is still Christmas but Christmas is over. After all the anticipation and excitement of Advent and the arrival of December 24 and 25 it normal to have a let down. Feelings come and go--our joy is not based on them. The important thing is that we have experienced the celebration of Christ's birth once more and we have a story to tell.
When the shepherds had heard about the birth of the Savior they said, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem and see this child that the Lord has told us about!" It is important to not just hear about Christ but to meet Him as well. After their visit they went and told others about this amazing event. When you really encounter Christ you cannot hold it in--you want to share the good news that Son of God has come. "And all who heard wondered about what the shepherds had said." This end of the Christmas story is really the beginning. The rest of our life should be spent spreading this good news. We should feel that we have to do it, not because we are commanded to(although we are commanded to), but because we want to share it. The gospel is too great for us not to want others to know it!
The real end of the Christmas story is that "the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard." All that God does for us brings Him great glory. Our lives should focus on honoring Jesus with our praises in worship and our telling/doing the good news in our service to others.
Of course the Christmas story really has no end. It is an eternal truth that the eternal One entered history and changed us for Him and forever. We can have the privilege to bring Christmas to the world every day of the rest of our lives and then in heaven we will glorify and praise Him into all eternity. Halleluj
Read: Luke 2:15-20 Key verse: "And when they had seen Him, they told others what the angel had said about this child." vs. 17
If you are reading this on Christmas Day you probably have already opened your gifts, been to church, and had a big meal. It is still Christmas but Christmas is over. After all the anticipation and excitement of Advent and the arrival of December 24 and 25 it normal to have a let down. Feelings come and go--our joy is not based on them. The important thing is that we have experienced the celebration of Christ's birth once more and we have a story to tell.
When the shepherds had heard about the birth of the Savior they said, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem and see this child that the Lord has told us about!" It is important to not just hear about Christ but to meet Him as well. After their visit they went and told others about this amazing event. When you really encounter Christ you cannot hold it in--you want to share the good news that Son of God has come. "And all who heard wondered about what the shepherds had said." This end of the Christmas story is really the beginning. The rest of our life should be spent spreading this good news. We should feel that we have to do it, not because we are commanded to(although we are commanded to), but because we want to share it. The gospel is too great for us not to want others to know it!
The real end of the Christmas story is that "the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard." All that God does for us brings Him great glory. Our lives should focus on honoring Jesus with our praises in worship and our telling/doing the good news in our service to others.
Of course the Christmas story really has no end. It is an eternal truth that the eternal One entered history and changed us for Him and forever. We can have the privilege to bring Christmas to the world every day of the rest of our lives and then in heaven we will glorify and praise Him into all eternity. Halleluj
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