August 25, 2023

Eternity in My Heart

The scripture reminds us that with much knowledge comes much pain. I’m not the sharpest tool in the box but I do sense some dis-ease in my heart and my spirit. In the old days, we called it ennui or anomie. Today it is called weariness of the soul. Living in this transient and temporal world can be costly to oneself. And there can be a cumulative effect. The reason for my weariness is that I know that somehow there is something more to have and somewhere better to be. It is a longing I yearn for. It is a vacuum I cannot fill. It is an itch that I cannot scratch. It is called eternity and it is in my heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11.) It is a spiritual destination, a form of existence, and a sensation that I cannot experience fully here but I will there. It is a place of multiple degrees of dimensions that I can only dream about in a limited way. As C.S. Lewis insightfully reminds us, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." —Romans 15:13   Serving Him with you Until He comes for us. Fred

August 18, 2023

A Light Lunch, a Heavy Topic

Last week I had lunch with a friend of mine. We were early and the only ones in the restaurant. Our waitress, a young bubbly 22-year-old lady came over. Being the observant kind of guy I am, I inquired if all of those piercings she had hurt. She said, “No,” and began to tell me about them as well as a variety of colorful tattoos. I asked what one tattoo meant. She said, “Hold on tight.” She told me that it reminded her to hold on to what matters when life hurts. I asked what mattered to her and what did she hold on to. She said her family, her dog, and her friends. I mentioned that all of those things are temporal, and did she have anything that was transcendent to hold on to. She said, "No." Of course, that led us into a discussion about God. She said she believed there was a god but did not feel comfortable about religion. She also told me she used to go to a Bible church but did not like the hypocrisy and religious stuff. I gave her a fist bump on that one but told her to focus on Jesus. When I asked her what her name was, she said it was Hannah. I commented that Hannah is a Bible name, which she knew.  I asked her what her favorite book in the Bible was. She said it was the book of Esther. I told her that I bet Esther had markings, maybe even tattoos. She smiled and thought that might be true. After my friend paid the bill for lunch, and we were leaving, I reminded Hannah that it was okay to run from hypocrisy and religion. But I told her to hold on to Jesus. I imagine you know some people like Hannah; confused, uncertain, holding on to things that are good but not the best. Let me invite you to read Acts 17 and see how the Apostle Paul talked to those in the synagogue, those in the marketplace, and those on the hill of the philosophers, and told them about Jesus. There was plenty of religion and I bet some hypocrisy as well. But Paul told them all to hold on to Jesus. Who will you tell this week? Redeem the time for the days are evil. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us. Fred

August 11, 2023

Be Anxious for Nothing, But by Prayer…..

Anxiety is a matter of constriction. Just as angina is a constriction of the heart so anxiety is a constriction in our soul. Whereas fear is often about something that is known, anxiety is often about that which is unknown or non-specific in its origin. We don't know why, but we know we are feeling ill at ease. This dis-ease has a cumulative impact that although it is incremental in its increase, the effects are often more impactful than we realize. Our world, vis-a-vis culture, is squeezing our view of truth and morality. We must speak the truth in love as we demonstrate a spiritual balance of grace and truth in our lives. The world will try to cancel us because they do not wish to be convicted of sin. The devil is squeezing our vision of reality, trying to focus us on this world instead of living for the world of the future. We must resist the devil and he will flee from us. We must see the city, the country, and the kingdom of God, which at this moment is invisible but is very real. (Hebrews 11, 12:28) My flesh can respond to this double squeeze by becoming anxious about what I cannot see and fearful because of what I do see. If I allow it, my flesh will squeeze my faith and constrict my spiritual growth. We must realize: Faith is believing the invisible. But it is also vital to remember: Faith is not about everything turning out okay. Faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us. Fred

August 4, 2023

No wonder the world is not impressed with Christians or the Church.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I teach Ethics, and each week I am offered a variety of ethical challenges to the church from the culture. This week, however, one stands out as utterly ridiculous and it comes from the church. The American Christian church this week is being seen as either shameful or totally hypocritical in the eyes of the watching world. I’m sure many of you have heard and perhaps watched the video of the South Carolina 13th Annual Prayer Breakfast and of the South Carolina Congresswoman, Nancy Mace, who welcomed people to the event and introduced Senator Tim Scott. Unfortunately, the congresswoman made a few impromptu comments as to how difficult it was for her to be on time to the prayer breakfast. She said her delay was because of her fiancé earlier in the morning, requesting her to stay in bed. She reminded him that she’d be back later and that there would be plenty of time for “that” later that night. It did not seem to cross her mind that telling the audience about her fornication in the midst of introducing the prayer breakfast was a bit, shall we say--- incongruent. Evidently this woman is a Christian and she gave her testimony later in the morning to the audience. She attends an evangelical church which is reported to be the same church that Senator Scott attends. The world has every right to poke fun and make jokes at us if not ridicule and condemn us for our hypocrisy. (One wonders if the Babylon Bee will make comment.) It Is well known that fornication as well as cohabitation have increased due to the progressive impulse and the moral revolution that has taken place in our country. But when the church exhibits such stupidity or hypocrisy is it any wonder that the world is not really interested in our message? I’m sure the congresswoman is not stupid nor a hypocrite; biblically untaught and spiritually immature in her faith I have no doubt. But the world looks at her and us as no different than they are and certainly not in need of a moral lecture or a spiritual experience. Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” We tend to be very good lawyers when it comes to our own sin, but very good judges when it comes to the sins of others. We dare not become a circular firing squad, but we must speak with grace and truth, speaking the truth in love. Therefore, we also must seek to live a life of holiness, for as Paul exhorts the ancient church of Rome, he also exhorts the modern church in America. “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (Romans 13:14) The Lord Jesus Christ offers to the world the forgiveness of sin and the free gift of eternal life; a love that can never be earned and a love that can never be lost; a new relationship. The Lord Jesus Christ offers to His church forgiveness of sins and a new depth of fellowship. The grace of God provides both. We must remember: Christians are not better than "them." We just know Him. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us. Fred