Monday, July 23, 2007

Just a Band-Aid

A little girl came to her dad crying because she had gotten a splinter in her finger. As she held it crying for help he took her into the bathroom, dug the tweezers out of the drawer, laid out the tube of antiseptic ointment, some alcohol, and a Band-Aid.

As the little girl looked at all the stuff laid out on the counter, she didn’t like what she saw. It all looked a little too painful, involving more than she imagined. She said, “Daddy, I just want the Band-Aid.”

Are we like that with Jesus? We come to Him with our sin and all we really want is a Band-Aid not a cure. Just cover it up. I mean we do talk about the covering of Jesus’ blood. Doesn’t it say somewhere in the Bible that love covers a multitude of sins? (1 Peter 4:8)

Sin not only needs to be forgiven. It needs to be removed, rooted out, like the splinter. If it is just covered over, like the splinter, it will cause infection, swelling, pain, and maybe even cause more serious consequences. That infection from a small splinter can spread through an entire body and cause serious sickness and possibly even death. It needs more than a Band-Aid!

When the woman who had been caught by her friends in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus He declared that He did not condemn her, but then He said, “Go, and sin no more.”

So we need to ask for more than just covering, we need the splinter removed. That which causes infection and pain. The forgiveness from the Lord comes quickly, immediately. He covers the sin and Jeremiah says He “will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34)

So the covering that really makes a difference begins with exposing, rooting out, uncovering.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want more than a Band-Aid. I want to expose the sin, the failure to You so it can be removed. Then the Band-Aid can do more than just temporarily cover the sin until it becomes inflamed requiring more attention. It can promote real healing and recovery from the effects of sin.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

The Past, A Rudder or an Anchor

Some people are not able to enjoy the present or prepare for tomorrow because they are still living in the past. Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe has put it like this: "Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?' You do not move ahead by constantly looking in a rear view mirror. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor to drag you down. We must learn from the past but not live in the past." Or as Thomas Holdcroft once put it, "The past is a guide post, not a hitching post."

Why do we find it so easy to live in the past? The past is an easy place to live because there are no surprises there. It takes no faith to live in the past. The Hebrew writer reminds us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6)

When does a moment, a space in time become “the past?” One second is present and in the same second one second has become a part of our past forever, set in stone never to be changed. It is what it is and will never be anything different. Some of those seconds represent successes and some represent failures. Whatever they were they will always be. We can do nothing to change them, but we do control what we do with them. They can be a dark room where we live in pain, wallow in pity, retreat to the room of regret, or they can be launching pads for the future. We choose whether our pain will paralyze us or propel us. We choose whether our successes will become secrets to future victories or the ropes that tie us to ground like a helium balloon straining against it ropes to soar to places unknown.

One of the most often quoted passages of Scripture in these daily devotional thoughts is Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV). “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Paul is simply saying, “Yesterday I did not reach all my goals, perfect my life, or obtain everything I hoped for, but I won’t let that hold me back. I have to shake all that off and move ahead.” (Lewis paraphrase) I enjoy the game of golf. I think I like it because it is so much like life. It is 90% mental and 10% physical. The percentages are just random numbers I chose. There is nothing scientific about their selection, but what I do know is that a major factor in the success of any golfer is their mental state, their mindset. Physical conditioning can help and improve your game, but you can be in the best shape physically and in a bad mental state. The physical cannot overcome the power of the mental attitude. But the mental attitude can overcome physical limitations or lack of conditioning. When you make a bad shot, miss the fairway, miss the green, miss an easy putt you have to shake it off and move on to the next hole. If you let the mistake, the wrong choice of club, the wrong read of the putt get into your head you are defeated. You often see a professional golfer after hitting a bad shot stop immediately and swing at the air. He is at that moment putting the bad swing behind him and swinging the club in the way he should have fixing that image in his mind instead of the bad swing that resulted in a wayward shot missing the target.

There are many wonderful things in our pasts as well. It is okay, even advisable to go there and experience the gratitude the memories bring to our hearts. or to fix the image of “that swing” in our minds to use it on the next shot. Just remember that the past is a rudder to guide us not an anchor to hold us back.

Prayer: Father God, thank You for memory. If You wanted me to ignore my past completely You would not have given me the gift of memory. Help me to use the gift of memory to guide me to accomplish great things for You today not to stop me from taking the steps of faith I need to take. Help me to bless someone else today. In the name of Jesus. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Monday, June 25, 2007

Lead By Washing Feet

Hans Finzel wrote a book called “The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make.” The number one mistake, according to Finzel, is what he calls “The Top-down Attitude.” He says this is “the military model of barking orders to weak underlings.” He calls it the “leadership sin of top-down autocratic arrogance.”

The best example of servant leadership is Jesus Christ. “It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” John 13:1 (NIV) He then proceeded to wash their feet. The first key to effective leadership that John gives us is to love those we serve. It almost seems that we are taught in the world to do the opposite. How can you “order” people around that you love? That’s the way too many view leadership... “ordering people around” or “overpowering people” to get them to do what you want.

Jesus led by serving. Now, some have tried to make a doctrine out of washing feet. This is the only time the Bible tells us about Jesus washing the disciples feet. It is okay if we want to wash each others feet to symbolize our love for those we serve with, but it is not necessary. The principle Jesus was teaching was “servant leadership.” We lead with the influence of love not strength and power.

Power in fact can be dangerous. It can even be the end of those who don’t understand the difference in power and authority. My friend, Dr. Richard Exley, wrote in one of his earliest works, “Perils of Power,” speaking of several great ministers who had fallen into sinful ways, “Are these evil men, charlatans? Hardly. They are good men, godly men, who suddenly found themselves the stewards of tremendous power.” The Biblical example Exley gives is King Saul, Israel’s first king. Remember how when he was first anointed that they had to find him as he hid “among the stuff?” (1 Samuel 10:22) He was the epitomy of humility. But from that, after being presented with the power of leadership, he became a paranoid and jealous man who tried to kill anyone who seemed to be in line to replace him.

What is the difference in power and authority? James Hunter writes in his book “The Servant,” “Leadership is ultimately rooted in our will. Not forcing our will on others, but demonstrating our will to serve.”

There is a big difference in leading through power and leading through authority. We all have those whether employees, those who work under us as managers, our children, etc. that we can force to do what we want them to do just because we have the power to make them. There are very few people who like to be forced to do anything. Eventually this kind of “power driven leadership” destroys relationships.

Authority is different than power. Power is something you have and force on people. Authority is something you gain –– it’s given to you by the people you lead. How do you get authority from those you lead? Through service and sacrifice. When people see that you have their best interests at heart, when they see you are willing to sacrifice and serve them they will be willing to follow. That’s servant leadership, that’s authority.

The most classic example of a modern servant leader was Sam Walton. He despised corporate fat cats. He could, and would, handle the cash register as well as stock the shelves in any of his Wal-Mart stores. He drove an old, rusty, dented pickup not to prove a point but because it still had plenty of good mileage left in it. He told his staff on more than one occasion that "if American management is going to say to their workers that we’’re all in this together, they’’re going to have to stop this foolishness of paying themselves $3 million and $4 million bonuses every year and riding around every where in limos and corporate jets like they’’re so much better than everybody else."

So, the greatest privilege we have in life, the most powerful thing we can do is to serve others. It’s what Jesus did and it’s what He wants from us. So... go wash some feet today! I think you know what I really mean.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us today to be like You, to love like You, to lead like You. Help us be submitted to those we serve because they love us and we love them. And bless us with people who serve us because they know by our example that we love them and it is safe for them to love us. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Friday, June 22, 2007

A Work in Progress

You may read this and previous devotions on my blog at come2lifechurch.blogspot.com.

Many years ago Bill Gaither wrote a song that was popular among all, but seemed to feature children often in its presentation. It was just cute to hear children sing “He Still Workin’ on Me.” The song asked for patience while God finished His work in our lives. It was cute for kids but important for all of us to realize that no matter how long we have been, as they used to say, “in the way, He’s still working on us. I saw a bumper sticker a while back that said, “Be patient with me. God’s not finished with me yet.”

1 Corinthians 1:8 (NCV) Jesus will keep you strong until the end so that there will be no wrong in you on the day our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

Philippians 1:6 (NCV) God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.

Two things jump out at me from those Scriptures. What kind of work is He doing? “A good work.” Not just any work... a good work. Paul said in Ephesians that God has prepared in advance “good works” for us to do, and He is doing a “good work” in us.

The second thing is when will it be finished? “When Christ comes again.”

I was talking with one of my board members at our meeting last night. They have just returned from a vacation trip to South Dakota. He was telling us about Mount Rushmore and how magnificent it is. Then he talked about the carving of Crazy Horse, a famous Indian. The entire Mount Rushmore carving of four presidents could fit on the face of the Crazy Horse work. It is still a work in progress. They just recently revealed the first fifty years of work and are working on the next fifty years. It has taken more than fifty years just to form the head. The family is committed to finish the work no matter how long it takes.

God is committed to finish His work in us, but don’t get discouraged if you still see flaws and unfinished parts. We live in a day of fast food, quick fixes, extreme makeovers where houses are removed and new ones erected in seven days, but this makeover of our lives takes a lifetime.

1 John 3:2 (NCV) Dear friends, now we are children of God, and we have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like him, because we will see him as he really is.

So be patient with me, and I’ll be patient with you, and we will all trust in Jesus who will make us perfect when He comes again. What a day! It will be sooner than we think. Next month ( the last four Sundays in July) I will be teaching on prophetic themes reminding us that this is the shortest life we will ever live. There is another one coming and if we die in Christ or leave in the Rapture it will be a perfect one.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your commitment to work on me and for Your patience with me in the process. I know I haven’t always been the most cooperative subject, but help me to be more submitted to Your design for my life. Make me a blessing in the process as well. I am not just a lifeless statue, but a living work. I want my living to be for You and to please You. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Integrity... Is it still important?

The story of Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt is always exciting. Remember after he had survived all the challenges and sat comfortably on the throne his brothers came asking for help for they were starving in their country. They did not recognize Joseph so he decided to test them and had their money put back in their sacks without their knowledge. When they discovered the money their father told them to return it but double the amount. Genesis 43:12 (NIV) “Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.”

“Perhaps it was a mistake.” Have you ever been given too much change? If we are short changed we are quick to let it be known and expect it to be made right. But are we as quick to notify of being given too much? Is it easy to walk away and think, “Oh well, they should have been smarter or more careful. It’s the price you pay.” Several weeks ago I was ordering at a fast food establishment. I ordered a chocolate shake and was charged on my bill for a chocolate cookie. I immediately noted that to the lady waiting on me. She seemed shocked that I would say anything. Surprised at honesty?! What a shame! She gave me the shake at the price of a cookie, but it bothered me that she was surprised by honesty.

We are fast coming upon Presidential elections once again in America. They seem to come around much faster than they used to. There was a time when the central focus of political campaigns was whether or not the candidate had integrity or not. Lincoln ran on this platform in 1860 and 1864. Theodore Roosevelt did the same almost fifty years later. But now, a century since Teddy, the fact that a man or woman has shown less than sparkling character during the course of their personal lives seems to be of little importance in a more “pragmatically focused” world.

To quote a former president caught in gross immorality, “our personal lives are none of the nation’s business.” (Bill Clinton, 1998.) I would vehemently disagree! Issues like whether or not you have cheated on your spouse or faithfully served your country in the military or, for that matter, believe in God, have been relegated to the scrap heap and called time-worn and irrelevant ideas that are no longer applicable to our times. By the way, if you ever have wondered what common thread tied Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt in such a way as to be the faces depicted on Mt. Rushmore, you need look no farther than this: each man led a life of integrity.)

Honesty and integrity should be something we can expect in a presidential candidate and everyone else as well. Ted Engstrom gives the following definition of integrity, “Simply put, Integrity is doing what you said you would do.”

Integrity means you keep your promises. When you promised to be faithful to your mate, integrity says you’ll stay with that person no matter what -- for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. If you promised the Lord that you would give Him the glory, integrity means you keep on doing that whether you’re reduced to nothing or exalted to the highest pinnacle on earth. If you promised a friend that you would return a call, integrity means you return it. If you promised your child that you would spend Saturday together, integrity means you keep that appointment. A promise is a holy thing, whether made to a chairman of the board -- or to a child.

In a world that seems to have given up on values that made us what we are let us be counter culture, go against the grain, live with integrity in all our lives. Don’t even think gray. It’s black and white, right and wrong. If there is a question then go to the side of honesty and integrity.

Prayer: Father God, You have never failed to keep a promise. Help me to live a life of integrity that brings honor to Your name. Even when at the moment it seems that integrity costs me something give me to courage to be honest in the confidence that in the end it will be greatly rewarded. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Are You Courageous?

Eddie Rickenbacker said, “Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are afraid.”

Too often we think courage is the absence of fear. John Wayne said it this way, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”

Theologian Karl Barth said, “Courage is fear that has said it prayers.”

In the first chapter of Joshua the young man is hearing God speak to him. He is reminded that Moses is dead and it is now his responsibility to lead this people across the Jordan River to the land promised to them. His mind had to speed back forty years when he along with 11 others had spied out the land. He wanted to go then. He was ready then. It was different then... Moses was leading. Today he is leading. It’s different when you are following and when you are leading. But good leaders are always those who have first been good followers of great leaders.

Here’s the Biblical account...

Joshua 1:2-11 Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them — to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates — all the Hittite country — to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'" NIV

You have to face fear with courage today. You have followed fearless leaders, but today it will be your turn to lead with courage. You have been prepared for this day... you are ready. Step up, stand up, and move forward. Here’s God word to us today. “I will give you every place where you set your foot.” Some people have so little, accomplish so little in life because they are paralyzed by fear and never take a step. Take one, then two, then three. Every step increases your possession, your success. God can only give us what we in faith and courage step up for. He has great plans for us. Ephesians 2:10 (MSG) “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, infuse me with unusual courage today. I do not ask You to remove fear but give courage to run past my fears. I ask for faith to walk, to possess what You have already ordered for my life today. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Thursday, June 14, 2007

How are You in Adversity?

You may read this and previous devotions on my blog at come2lifechurch.blogspot.com.

"Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity." — Lou Holtz

“People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity.” — John Adams

Adversity... a word, an experience that most of us avoid as much as possible. Yet, in life all of us face adversity in varying degrees at different times. I don’t know why some have more and some have less, but it seems to me the people who are the strongest, most successful, and most influential in our world are those that have come through adversity. Few of the wealthy people, successful business people of today had their wealth or success “handed to them on a silver platter.” A great number of their stories or “rags to riches” stories. They had to come through adversity. And even if they come from wealthy families they go through their own personal adversities to get where they are.

The Children of Israel could have left Egypt and traveled straight to the Promised Land without having to cross the Jordan River. It would have been less than half the distance of the journey they took. Does God just take pleasure in watching us in our struggles? Does He gain some kind of sick satisfaction in watching our pain? No! I believe He simply understands the power of adversity to shape us into what we need to be to accomplish His dream for our lives.

C. S. Lewis describes the role of suffering in the life of the believer as “soul-making.” It is the shaping of the Christian with the hammer and chisel of adversity. Lewis also said “God whispers to us in our pleasures; speaks in our consciences; but shouts in our pains.”

Some of you are in the heat of the deepest adversity of your life right now. Don’t despair. Don’t give up or give in to the temptation to take a shortcut. Stay in the fire until you have been forged and made strong and durable.

It is in adversity that our faith, our belief system is solidified. Until your faith, your beliefs have been tested they are just ideas, words, thoughts, but after testing they are proven principles.

UCLA alumni and fans made UCLA football coach Pepper Rodgers’s life miserable during a season when his Bruins got off to a horrible start. Nobody in Southern California would hang out with him. "My dog was my only true friend," Rodgers said of that year. "I told my wife that every man needs at least two good friends. She bought me another dog."

Rodgers can be rigid in the face of adversity. When his players at UCLA were having difficulty adapting to the wishbone offense he’d installed and the school’s alumni demanded that he adopt another system, Rodgers didn’t budge. “The wishbone,” he said, "is like Christianity. If you believe in it only until something goes wrong, you didn’t believe in it in the first place."

There are some interesting facts about the sisal plant from which is made tough sisal twine. It grows in Yucatan, Mexico, in hard stony soil. Some Americans visited the area and decided that there might be good money to be made in growing it in richer soil under better conditions. So they started a sisal plantation in Florida where the plant found life no longer a struggle for survival and grew to enormous size. The business promised tremendous returns until the time came for reaping. It was then that the leaf from which fibre vital for the twine comes collapsed into a soft pulp. The tough fibre-quality was missing. They learned then that the sisal plant acquired its toughness by its battle with adverse circumstances - the wind, the heat and the barren soil. God doesn’’t take pleasure in allowing the blasts of adversity to trouble His people but in His mercy and wisdom knows just what is necessary to foster the growth of spiritual character.

So, hang in there, hold on, hang tough, tie another knot in the rope, just don’t give up because of adversity, but rather expect adversity to be the making of a man or woman of God shaped to be great, shaped by adversity in the hands of a loving Lord. Don’t chase adversity, look for trouble, but when it comes and it is not of our own doing embrace it and get through it.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess that I don’t always willingly submit to Your work in my life with a gracious and grateful attitude. I complain far too much. Help me to see the incredible blessings of life, even adversity, and trust you to shape me and forge until I become what You have dreamed. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

What Are You Afraid Of?

John Ortberg in his book- “If You Want To Walk On Water You’’ve Got To Get Out Of The Boat” notes this about fear:

“The single command in Scripture that occurs more often than any other - God’s most frequently repeated instruction - is formulated in two words: Fear Not. Do not be afraid. Be strong and courageous. You can trust me. Fear not. Why does God command us not to fear? Fear does not seem like the most serious vice in the world. It never made the list of the Seven Deadly Sins. No one ever receives church discipline for being afraid. SO why does God tell human beings to stop being afraid more often than he tells them anything else? My hunch is that the reason God says ‘Fear Not’ so much is not that he wants us to be spared emotional discomfort. In fact, usually he says it to people to do something that is going to lead them into greater fear anyway. I think God says, ‘fear not’ so often because fear is the number one reason human beings are tempted to avoid doing what God asks them to do (117,118).

In the September 21, 2001 San Francisco Chronicle, the headline read, "Freedom and Fear Are at War." The truth is fear is at war with many aspects of life, not just with freedom. Fear wars against our health. Fear wars against making good decisions. Fear wars against obedience to God. Fear interferes with all of life.

Paul Harvey tells the story of a famous thief from the 1800s. His name stirred fear. He terrorized the Wells Fargo stage line for thirteen years, roaring like a tornado in and out of the Sierra Nevada’’s, spooking the most rugged frontiersmen. In journals from San Francisco to New York, his name became synonymous with the danger of the frontier.

During his reign of terror, he is credited with robbing twenty-nine different stagecoach crews. And he did it all without firing a shot. His weapon was his reputation. His ammunition was intimidation. A hood hid his face. No victim ever saw him. No artist ever sketched his features. No sheriff could ever track his trail. He never fired a shot or took a hostage. He didn’t have to. His presence was enough to paralyze.

Black Bart. A hooded bandit armed with a deadly weapon. What was his deadly weapon? One word, it was FEAR! Black Bart, as it turns out, wasn’t anything to be afraid of. When the hood came off, there was nothing to fear. When the authorities finally tracked down the thief, they didn’t find a bloodthirsty bandit from Death Valley. They found a mild-mannered druggist from Decatur, Illinois. The man the papers pictured storming through the mountains on horseback was, in reality, so afraid of horses he rode to and from his robberies in a buggy. He was Charles E. Boles –– the bandit who never once fired a shot, because he never once loaded his gun. — Paul Harvey’’s The Rest of the Story; (New York, NY: Bantam, 1977) Page 117

Just like Black Bart’s unloaded gun most fear has no real power only perceived power. Like the mother who decided she would put the fear of a speeding ticket in the speeding drivers going past a local elementary school. Every morning she would park her car in front of the elementary school and point her black hair dryer - shaped like a radar gun, out of the window at speeding cars. The effect was dramatic as drivers slowed down fearing they might receive a speeding ticket.

What are you afraid of? Afraid to take that step into a new career or business? Afraid to take the plunge and make the commitment to get married? Afraid to try something new? Afraid to commit to Jesus Christ because you are afraid you will fail at living a Christian life? What are you afraid?

Dr. E. Stanley Jones was an Evangelical Methodist missionary to India. He said, “I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath--these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely--these are my native air. A John Hopkins University doctor says, "We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact." But I, who am simple of mind, think I know; We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality.”

There is only one fear I can find that we are told to possess. Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Oh, by the way (or btw in today’s new language), if you are afraid to commit to Jesus Christ because you fear you can’t live the Christian life... stop worrying about it because you are right. You can’t live the Christian life, at least not alone. All Jesus asks is that we trust Him. He has promised to never leave us alone and then He gave us the church family. So go ahead and face that fear... TODAY!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for allowing fear to drive my life. Today I commit my life to You and purpose to do Your will and take the opportunities that You bring to my life because I know that I am not alone... I have You as my friend and partner. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Are You Accepted?

Romans 15:7 (NIV) Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

A child psychologist told about a boy brought to him for treatment who was labeled "incorrigible." The child was supposed to be "uncontrollable." He was moody, and at first wouldn't even talk to the doctor. There simply seemed to be no "handle" with which to take hold of him. The boy's own father, said, "This is the only child I've ever seen who doesn't have a single likeable trait, not a single one."

Hearing the father’s statement the doctor realized this was his starting point. He started looking for something he could approve. He found several things. The boy liked to carve and he did it well. At home he had carved up the furniture and been punished for it. The doctor bought him a carving set, a set of carving knives, and some soft wood. He also gave him some suggestions about how to use them, and didn't hold back his approval. "You know, Jimmy," he said, "you can carve out things better than any boy I ever knew."

To make a long story short, the doctor soon found other things he could approve, and one day Jimmy surprised everyone by cleaning up his own room without being asked. When the doctor asked him why he did it, Jimmy answered, "I thought you would like that."

Acceptance changes lives. You and I have seen it happen in other situations with adults as well as young people. This is the strength of 12 Step Groups and other support groups. When people feel accepted, they find the power to change.

It’s a wonderful thing to be accepted. That is what Jesus did for us. He has accepted us with all our flaws and blemishes so that He could transform us through His love.

Ephesians 1:5-6 (KJV) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

You may be rejected by many in this world, but you are “accepted in the beloved.” You may have been rejected by those closest to you, but you are “accepted in the beloved.” Your mother or father may have rejected you, but you are “accepted in the beloved.” Your spouse may have rejected, but you are “accepted in the beloved.” When you feel discouraged or the rejection comes crashing down on you just stop and say, “I am accepted in the beloved.” Of course “the beloved” is Jesus Christ. Consequently, I no longer strive to do what is right to avoid hell but to please Jesus. I spent a lot of my life just trying to avoid hell. It is so much more fulfilling to live to please Jesus (and avoid hell in the process). One day we will stand before Him and hear Him say, “Well done” and we can reply, “I thought You’d like that.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want my life to bring pleasure to You. I want You to be pleased with what I do. Thank You for accepting me not because I changed, but so that You could change me. I love You and live to please You because you accepted me when I was not a pleasure. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Monday, June 11, 2007

Are You a Producer?

The pressure is on in our world today to be producers. You have quotas to meet weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly. Sometimes your job depends on the numbers you produce. Pastors even feel this in ministry. It’s just the atmosphere of our world. Everybody wants production. That’s what we get paid for. My Friend, Pastor Vic Schober, does a devotional he calls God’s Favored. Today’s was from John 15:16. He got me to thinking about this.

Maybe this production things is not just the way of our world. Jesus talked in this entire 15th chapter of John about bearing fruit. Sometimes in the Bible we get so wrapped up in spiritual meanings that we forget that Jesus was very interested in our daily lives. I know the primary purpose for each of us is to accomplish the great commission of reaching the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But even in that “production” is not our responsibility just “proclamation” through our word, lives, and relationships. So what is this fruit? Of course it is the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Certainly we know that when we produce more of these qualities in our lives it impacts every relationship we have in life in a very positive way.

The fruit of the spirit is comprised of attitudes that will impact our daily lives as well. They will cause us to produce, to be successful at whatever we do in life. We all know that connections in life are important to our production as well. It is often said, “It’s not so much what you know, but who you know.” I heard a story from many years ago about a young man who wanted to be a stock broker and financial investor. He tried and tried to get an interview with Mr. Rothchild a prominent and very successful investor and financier of that day. He was in fact one of the richest men in the world. The young man was persistent in asking for an interview to get a job with Mr. Rothchild. One day Mr. Rothchild came out of his office and said to the young man, “Let’s go for a walk.” He put his arm around the shoulder of the young man and they walked through Wall Street Stock Exchange while they chatted. It took a few minutes and they returned and said “goodbye.” It wasn’t long until the young man’s phone began ringing with offers... because they had seen him with “the master.”

John 15:16 (NIV) says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

Be connected to Jesus, get connected to Jesus. He is the key to everything we have and need in life. You may have many good connections in life, but the first and most important is Jesus. He wants you to be successful in life. In John 15:8 He says it is to His Father’s glory that we bear MUCH fruit.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, today make me a producer of the fruit of spirit and a producer in my business. I want to bring glory to You in all I do in life. Thank You for choosing me to partner with You. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Friday, June 8, 2007

What is Your Vision?

"If you don’t have a vision, then your reality will always be determined by other’s perceptions." -- Melanee Addison

The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Here are a couple of other translations of that verse.

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.” Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)

“When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.” Proverbs 29:18 (NLT)

Vision is a big word in our world today. It is a word very common in the church and in business. People are drawn to people with vision. People who have a picture of what they want for their life, their company, their business, their country, etc. Right now we are trying to determine the vision of the plethora of candidates we have on both sides of the aisle for President of the United States. Everybody needs a vision to be successful in life.

Let’s take a closer look at the above verse. The King James rendering says that we “perish” without vision. That’s strong language... but not too strong because it is true. The NIV says vision brings restraint (another word would be discipline) to our lives. The New Living Translation says that vision is “divine guidance” and brings restraint to our lives or “keeps us from running wild.”

The primary purpose of the Scripture here is to communicate that we all need a personal revelation of God that we know leads to a personal relationship with Him leading us to know and keep the spiritual laws He has set in motion. Living outside those laws brings pain and destruction. If you don’t know Jesus Christ now is the time. Invite Him into your life today with His vision for your life and begin living by His laws designed to cause you to succeed in life.

Vision is also a sense of purpose, a knowing where you are headed and a picture of what it will look like when you arrive. Viktor Frankl was an Austrian psychologist who survived the death camps of Nazi Germany. Frankl made a startling discovery about why some survived the horrible conditions and some did not.

He looked at several factors - health, vitality, family structure, intelligence, survival skills. Finally he concluded that none of these factors was primarily responsible. The single most significant factor, he realized, was a sense of future vision - the impelling conviction of those who were to survive that they had a mission to perform, some important work left to do.

Survivors of POW camps in Vietnam and elsewhere have reported similar experiences: a compelling, future-oriented vision is the primary force that kept many of them alive.

A vision, a sense of purpose beyond today is necessary for success in any venture in life. When you have no vision you are scattered, running in too many directions, instead of focused and disciplined. People who are poor financial manager have no vision for their lives so they spend all they make and then some and have little to show for it.

Here’s what I know. God has a vision for my life and your life. If we will simply ask Him to reveal it to us He will. It begins by accepting His vision that we be in right relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Turn to Romans 10:9,10 today. Acknowledge Jesus’ power to save, repent of your sins, and invite Him into your life today. Then begin to open your heart to know what He wants for you in this life as you prepare for the life to come. But remember that vision without action is only a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to know and develop, with Your guidance, a vision for my life. Help me to understand that I have purpose in life and to live out that purpose with Your help. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Renew Your Mind

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:1-3 (NIV)

“...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It did not say “transformed by some supernatural force” or “transformed by someone who loves you” or “transformed by changing jobs” or “transformed by losing weight” and the list could go on and on. We all know people who have changed jobs and for a while they were different, but then they fell back into the same patterns as before or people who lost a great amount of weight and for a while they were different but then you see them a year or a few years later and they are like they were. The reason is that they only changed what they DID for a while and never changed the way they THINK... the renewing of the mind.

The word “renew” in that Scripture is from a Greek word that means literally “to renovate.” The word for “transformed” is “metamorphoo” from which we get our word “metamorphosis.” Metamorphosis is what takes place when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. It is transformed from a wooly, creepy, worm that crawls at a snail’s pace to a beautiful butterfly, brilliant with color, flitting around with such speed they are difficult to catch. That’s transformation!

Yet Paul says that we can be transformed, be so changed that the new hardly resembles to old, by renewing, renovating our minds. Now, there is both the act of our will and the help of the Holy Spirit involved here. The Holy Spirit helps us, but He waits for us to by an act of the will begin to change the way we think. Some of you getting this spend way too much time berating yourselves for your mistakes. “I am so stupid” or “How could I be so stupid to to that or think that or allow this to happen?” or “I am just not smart enough” or “I am just not pretty enough” or “I am just not quick enough.” Well... you get the point. Stop that! Renovate your mind. Fill it with God’s word. Fill it with uplifting conversation. Fill it with thoughts of who you are in Christ. Stop hanging out with people that talk negatively all the time. Renovate! Renovate!

“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT)

I am amazed at how often the Bible tells us to do things that we ask God to do for us. He will help us through the power of the Holy Spirit, but there are just some things we must do. Notice in the Scripture above, “Throw off” and “Let the Spirit” and “Put on.” Admonitions from the Holy Bible that all depend on our action and our decisions. What needs to change in your mind, your thinking?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the powerful help of the Holy Spirit to aid me, but I realize today that His help only follows by actions and decisions. Today, I decide to be a stronger, better person in my life. I am changing, renovating my mind... the way I think and the attitudes I have. I anticipate Your supernatural participation as I become what and who God has planned for me to be. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Monday, June 4, 2007

Strength for the Storms

It seems these days in DFW it rains everyday. Is this the South Central United States or have we moved to the Northwest? Somedays I feel lost. But we all no that in August we’ll be ever so grateful for the rains we have had in surplus. It’s just that it seems right now the storms will never stop.

Life feels that way sometimes doesn’t it. We wonder, “Will they ever stop?” Mark Twain and a friend walked outside one day in the rain. The friend said, “You think it will stop?” Mark Twain replied, “It always does.”

It’s true about the storms of life too. They never last forever. I am one who sleeps well and often do not even know about storms when they come in the night until the next morning. Jesus slept in storms too. In Gospel of Mark chapter 4 the story is told of Jesus sleeping in the back part of the ship and a storm blew in. The disciples were afraid and woke Him, saying, “Don’t you care that we are about to perish?”

Now, why would they wake Him except because they believed He could do something about the storm? It becomes apparent that was not their expectation at all when after He did still the storm the Bible says, “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’" Mark 4:39-41 (NIV)

They were afraid in the storm and now they were terrified because Jesus stilled the storm. Tough bunch to please weren’t they! The truth is that Jesus is with us in all the storms of our life.

My friend Richard Exley wrote a book titled “Strength for the Storms.” He’s written many books but this one is at top or at least near the top of my favorites. I think it is because we all have storms no matter who we are. Richard writes in his book, “There are some who believe that God sends the storms in our lives, but I cannot conceive of our loving heavenly Father doing something like that. Perhaps He allows them to come. For certain, He redeems them—that is, He touches them with His Spirit, transforming them into instruments of grace that work for our eternal benefit. Of course this does not make the troubles we suffer painless, but it does give our pain purpose. Now instead of viewing pain as an enemy to be overcome, we see it as an ally.”

The storms blow and we see the damage, but He takes the rain and fills the lakes so that in the drought we have water we need. Jesus redeems our pain and turns it to good. Whatever storm you are in just remember it will stop, it always does and begin to look for the hand of God redeeming your storm.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me strength for the storms of life and faith to see Your blessed hand at work making them something blessed and profitable in my life. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Am I a Good Introduction to Jesus?

C. S. Lewis has gotten new notoriety in recent years with some of his works making it to the big screen. He is a brilliant mind and yet so simple in some of his wisdom. He said, "The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sunhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it." — Lewis, C.S.

Let’s go from the mind of a man who may well have been a genius to that of a child who asked, “Mommy, the preacher’s sermon this morning confused me.”

The mother said,“Oh! Why is that?”

The girl replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?”

“Yes, that’s true,” the Mother replied.

“He also said that God lives in us. Is that true, too?”

Again the mother replied, “Yes.”

“Well,” said the little girl. “If God is bigger than us and he lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?”

I like a child’s honest, literal interpretation of life. If God lives in us, then there’s no way of keeping him from “showing through.” That’s the essence of Christian living- living in such a way that people around us will see God in our lives. The Apostle Paul said it this way, “You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3:3 (NIV)

I have often said that in personal evangelism initially people are not impressed with the Scripture we can quote. That may even turn them off initially. The question in their mind is, “If this is so great how has it made a difference in your life?” If they are a stranger we need to tell them. If they are a co-worker they should have already seen it. Then affirm it with Scripture, but first we are the letter, the introduction.

At one time I was and itinerant speaker/evangelist. Often I would introduce myself to new pastors and areas of the country by having friends that knew me well send a letter of introduction ahead then I would call them or write them. Doing it this way, they were not just being presented with someone they were totally unfamiliar with, but they had been introduced to me by someone they knew already. We are those letters of introduction to Christ.

It’s quite a responsibility, isn’t it?!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to be a good introduction to Your love and saving power. I know I am not perfect, but I can be genuine, real so that others will not be turned away with hypocrisy, but be attracted to You because You show through in my life. Help me today to show someone the way to You. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Amazing Grace

I grew up in the church hearing “Amazing Grace.” Yet, it seemed we lived under a cloud of never being quite good enough. We sang “amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me” but then heard about all the things we had to do and certainly should not do to avoid being “a wretch.” Don’t go there, don’t do that, don’t say that, don’t think that, don’t drink that, don’t wear that, don’t look like that. We were always hoping, but never sure that we were good enough, holy enough. I now know the answer to that question. I will never be good enough or holy enough, but I am loved enough by a loving God to be saved from my sinful self and live in fellowship with Jesus becoming more like Him daily until one day when He comes back for us we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is.

The novelist, A. J. Cronin, tells a story from his own experience as a doctor that illustrates the wonder of the gift of grace. The Adams family at the close of the Second World War decided to open their home to a little refugee boy with the difficult name of Paul Piotrostanalzi. The Adams had two daughters and a son named Sammy. Sammy and Paul became inseparable friends, but little Paul was a difficult child, and often disobeyed Mr. and Mrs. Adams.

One day, Paul went swimming in some contaminated water. He became very ill with a high fever, and the doctor suggested he sleep in an attic bedroom to protect others from catching his sickness. But little Sammy missed his friend Paul so much that one night he crept up the attic stairs and into bed with Paul. Paul’s hot, feverish breath fell on Sammy all night. In the morning, Sammy, never a strong child, became deathly ill. Paul recovered his health, but Sammy died within three days. It was a terrible tragedy for the Adams family.

A year later Dr. Cronin decided to pay a call on the Adams family. But as he pulled into their driveway, he was amazed and then angry as he saw Paul, the refugee boy, working in the garden with Mr. Adams. He got out of his car and angrily approached Mr. Adams. "What’s this Paul Pio........ “ he stumbled over his name and then said, “whatever his name is, doing here after what he did to your family?"

Mr. Adams looked at the doctor and then said quietly, "Dr. Cronin, you won’t have any more trouble with Paul’s name. You see, he’s Paul Adams now. We’’ve adopted him."

That is a wonderful story of costly grace.

Someone said, “Our worst days are never so bad that we are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And our best days are never so good that we are beyond the need of God’s grace.”

It really is Amazing Grace!

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus for the amazing grace of God that You made available to me through Your sacrificial death on the cross. Help me live holy not to earn Your grace, but to honor Your grace. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

How to Faith It

"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact." -- William James

I have often said that faith is very misunderstood. Most people think that faith is some kind of extraordinary power to believe for the impossible or miraculous. Faith is not some mysterious power it is simply WHAT we believe. The exception to this might be “faith” as the gift of the Holy Spirit, but even this gift is a gift of confidence in what we believe or need to believe for.

The writer of Hebrews said, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

The King James version says it like this, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

The Greek word for “substance” is “hupostasis.” It is the compound of two words that mean literally “to place under.” It is simply the foundation, what is underneath. What the Word is saying in very simple terms is that everything begins, has as its foundation FAITH. Before it will happen we have to believe it. The opening quote from William James (whether or not he realized it) is just a restatement of Scriptural truth... “your belief will help create the fact.”

Now, the truth is that all of life is about believing. We all have faith for something. We cannot choose to have no faith. We are always believing and creating. While we cannot choose to believe or not believe, to have faith or no faith... we can choose what we believe. That is the power that we have. We can believe for success or for failure. We can believe for blessing or to be cursed. We make those choices in life.

We give life to beliefs by what we speak. The Bible says “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”(Lewis paraphrase).

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45 (NIV)

Paul talks about the opposing forces that live within him in Romans 7. We are all like that. Darkness and light, good and evil are in us all. Some say that “you can have what you say,” but the truth is that we only give life to what we have by what we say. Good and evil are like glowing embers buried within us waiting for just a breath of oxygen to spring to life in burning flames. We get to choose which embers get the breath.

So here’s a thought. If I don’t verbalize it, if I refuse to talk about it then it will die for lack of oxygen. It’s like fire. It’s there but if I cut off its supply of oxygen it will die. That fire that is negative, destructive, expecting failure needs you to speak it, give it life. We usually try to talk it to death. That just gives it more fuel to live longer. Starve it to death by choosing to believe for good, blessings, success, and the good things of God. Breathe life into those!

Remember we are made in the likeness of God. God in the beginning had a thought, a belief and spoke. At His words everything came into being from nothing.

Prayer for today: Lord Jesus, “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalms 141:3 (NIV) AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Friday, May 25, 2007

Spiritual Synergism

Several years ago a new breed of horses was tested in Canada. Researchers found that one horse could pull an eight-ton load. When they teamed two horses together they anticipated that the horses would pull 16 or 18 tons. To their surprise they pulled a 30-ton load.

This is the principle of synergism. Synergism states that two or more objects working together can produce a greater effect than the objects working independently of each other. This is why the church is important and it’s important that you be connected with a church. Each of us multiplies our strength, abilities, and talents when we “get harnessed” with a local church to serve the Kingdom of God.

Being a Christian is not just about getting oneself to heaven. It’s about getting others there as well. Alone we can only do so much. Alone what one can give financially can accomplish limited good, but when we come together and pool our resources a church can make a big impact. Then when churches link arms in a fellowship of churches that impact is multiplied again.

It is the power of agreement.

Matthew 18:19 (NIV) "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”

Matthew 18:20 (NIV) “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV) “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday on the church calendar. The day we celebrate the birth of the New Testament church. There was a key to everything that happened that day. Something created a synergism that day that caused incredible things to happen. Notice the words of Acts. 2.

Acts 2:1 (NIV) “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.”

“Together in one place.” The spiritual synergism that was created that day released supernatural power. Two key elements are here. Sometimes people say things like, “We’ll be with you in spirit.” That’s the “together” of Acts 2:1, but the other aspect is “in one place.” Others will be in the same place but their spirits, their thoughts, their mind is somewhere else. Bodily in the same room, but, as my mom used to say, “Their mind is in Georgia.”

Sunday worship is more than a weekly ritual we observe with Sunday being the Christian sabbath. It is an opportunity for us to gather together in one place and thereby release the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit among us causing miraculous things to happen.

If you consider LIFEchurch your church family, or If you are in the area of LIFEchurch and not already faithfully connected to a Bible believing, Great Commission church come this Sunday and worship with us. Let’s see what can happen on Pentecost Sunday (or any Sunday for that matter) when we all come “together in one place.” In the “Extreme Makeover...God Edition...Master Planned Living” message series this week I will be teaching “Living the Empowered Life.”

We’d love to see you at LIFEchurch, but be sure and connect with genuine believers somewhere and expect the supernatural as you agree with other believers.

But this works on Monday and Tuesday and every other day of the week too. Find a friend at work that you can agree with. A neighbor in the neighborhood to agree with. Families in agreement are powerful. Just don’t try to go it alone. We need each other.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the power of the Holy Spirit released in the Church on that Pentecost some two thousand years ago. I know that power is still available today, and I desire to have it working in my life. Give me spiritual connections in my life so that I do not stand alone, but multiply my strength with that of others in do Your work. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Thursday, May 24, 2007

The Will of God

Knowing God’s perfect will for our lives may be the most difficult challenge we will take on in life. But following God’s will is not always equivalent to knowing His will (at least not knowing all the details). Let that sink into your heart for a moment.

Often we dig in and wait for God to lay out the plan in detail before us before we are willing to take a step. It is not stubbornness that causes us to do this, but simply that we feel so much more secure if we have all the details, every turn, every stop along the way, every road laid out before us. We live in the day of job descriptions. We don’t want to take a job without having a detailed description of what is expected of us then we proceed to do the job according to the description (and please don’t ask me to do anything else).

As I read in the Bible I see that there are many more examples of following God’s will without knowing every detail than there are examples of having every detail laid out in advance.

Abraham followed God’s directions without knowing what the destination was. God simply said, “When you get there I will tell you.

Hannah waited for God’s perfect timing without knowing when.

Mary expected a miracle without knowing how.

Joseph trusted God’s purpose without knowing why circumstances happened the way they did.

Most often when we ask God for His will He tells us, “For today go here or there, do this or that then tomorrow I’ll give you more.” I have written on more than a few graduation cards and gift books Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” It didn’t say He would immediately give the ultimate destination; just a path at a time.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, show me today what I should do to please and honor You, and take me one step, one day closer to the ultimate destination of Your will for me. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

When are You Too Old?

What is the age that you are too old to realize your dreams? If you haven’t accomplished your goals or reached your dreams by ???? it too late? How would you fill in the age blank? Well, let’s see there was Moses that was 80 when God called him to lead Israel out of Egypt. God spent eighty years getting him ready for forty years of service. Abraham was 75 when he made the biggest change of his life pulling up stakes and starting on a journey not knowing the destination, but just day by day listening to God’s voice to let him know when he’d arrived. He was 100 when Isaac was born. Isaac was the son of promise the son of his dreams.

Today we hear people as young as their 50s, 40s, sometimes even their 30s filled with regrets that they didn’t do this or that or accomplish this dream or that goal. Our country’s custom of retirement has limited our mental ability to dream until we lay down and die. How old is too old? When is it no longer possible to accomplish the things we have set out to do? Some of you are saying, “All the examples you gave are thousands of years ago. Find me one today.” Okay, here’s one from today. Let me tell you about Mae Laborde. She’s appeared on a recent episode of MADtv playing Vanna White (of Wheel of Fortune fame) forty years in the future. You may have seen her in commercials for Lexus or Chase Bank or as a cheerleader on ESPN. She’s 97 years old, and she’s one of the hottest properties in Hollywood today.

No, it’s not unusual to be nearing 100-years-old and be popular in Hollywood. Bob Hope, George Burns and Gloria Stuart are just a few who can lay claim to that. But what makes Mae more than just a little special is she’s only been acting for four years —— she didn’t get her Screen Actor’s Guild card until she was 93! Thank you Mae for proving once again it’s never too late to live your dream!

I knew a missionary couple who served several decades as missionaries in remote parts of the world. They retired and after they came home, attended college to finish their degrees in their 80s. When is it too late to realize your dreams?

I heard somewhere that dreaming in your sleep is necessary to live. I don’t know for sure about that one, but I do know that Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” The proverb writer is simply saying, “When you stop dreaming, you stop living.” So how old is too old to dream and realize your dreams? Your too old to live when you think your too old too dream. We are in control of that moment in our lives. Ever notice how many people reach retirement age and soon die? It’s because they stop dreaming.

God never stops dreaming for you. He has a plan, a dream for you (Jeremiah 29:11) so embrace it, whatever your age, and dream on. But don’t just live in a world of dreams, but let your dreams begin to live. I spoke at a memorial service last Saturday. I talked about Four Things I Know. The first of the four is that Death is everyone’s Destiny. Hebrews 9:27 (NIV) reminds us that “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” But we don’t have to stop living before we die.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of life. Help me to live everyday to the full, bringing honor and glory to Your name. You said in John 10:10 that You came to bring us life and life to the full. I want to fulfill Your dream for my life. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Thursday, May 17, 2007

The Secret

The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work. —Oprah Winfrey

Now, if you have been around LIFEchurch you know that while I have a high respect for Oprah Winfrey, and believe she is a good woman with great leadership skills who is maybe one of the greatest givers of all time her theology is messed up. I get concerned about the gullible people who hear her say that there are many ways to God that include all the religions of the world. That is dooming many who believe her to an eternity in hell because there is only one way to God... Jesus Christ.

Anyway, I say that just so you will know that I don’t promote everything she says because I believe she got it right on one issue. So, there you have it. That said... she has it right on the issue of work and success in this life. There is a book out called “The Secret.” It has drawn national attention. I have not read the book in its entirety, but from the excerpts I have gotten by emails, on the web, etc. I can tell that for the most part the principles promoted are simple, basic life principles. They are even Biblical principles. There are many motivational speakers and books out there that teach these principles, but they are communicated in a way that anyone of any religion can benefit. And they work because they are God’s law. They are like the law of gravity. It works whether I believe in God or not. If I go up, I must come down. Things like hard work, a positive attitude, integrity, and honesty will move one to success in life. You can become rich, have nice houses, a big retirement, lots of money to spend on very nice things, and live the “good life” even if you don’t believe there is a God.

Hard work will get you just about anywhere you want to go in life... except a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

I believe in living successful lives. I even believe that it is God’s will that we be successful and prosper while we live on this earth. But we must never forget that this is the shortest part of our existence no matter how many years we may live on this earth. Jesus talked about success oriented people spending their lives winning in the world, but forgetting the most important thing. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36 (NIV)

So you see, you can be successful, give away millions... even billions, bless people on every hand, be respected as a giving, compassionate, caring, and successful person; and still miss the most important “secret” of life.

“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” —Jesus Christ

If you have questions about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, drop me an email or visit us at LIFEchurch.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for all the blessings in my life, but most of all thank you for eternal life, life beyond this life that will surpass any level of “success” I may experience here. Help me not to get so comfortable here and enjoy what I have now so much that I lose the anticipation for heaven. AMEN

If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus pray this simple prayer:

Lord Jesus, I am sinner that needs a Savior. You are the only one that can save my from my sins. Forgive me right now for every sin in my life. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe that You gave Your life on the cross for me. I believe that You died, but God raised You from the dead and You live today. I confess my sins to You now and accept the gift of salvation that You freely offer. Thank you for saving me and guide me to a church where I can grow in my new found faith. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

The Power of Imagination

Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”

What is imagination? According to “The American College Dictionary” it is “the action of forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses; the power of reproducing images stored in the memory under the suggestion of associated images; or of recombining former experiences in the creation of new images different from any known by experience.”

Sounds like a complicated way of defining what my teachers used to accuse me of in school... daydreaming. In other words dreaming while you are awake. A friend of mine, Pastor Vic Schober, likes to do what he calls “imagineering.” This whole concept is very important in the pages of Scripture. Dreams were big in the Bible. Great experiences begin with a dream. Sometimes it is a dream while sleeping or what was called a “vision,” a dream while awake. We see those kind of things as supernatural events, God giving someone a dream or a vision. But the truth is that every dream or vision, whether we perceive it as a supernatural event of God giving it sovereignly and purposefully to someone or a dream that we just sit down and choose to think about, is supernatural because they bring things that do not exist into being.

Joseph’s dreams became the reality of his life. He interpreted dreams for others that predicted their future reality. Daniel’s Seventy Weeks Vision of end time events is a dream that is unfolding before us on a daily basis. Daniel interpreted dreams for others that became a reality in their lives.

I checked Naves Topical Bible and found 26 instances of dreams in the Bible. Then I checked for “vision” and found pages and pages of examples from Scripture. The book of Revelation in its entirety is a vision.

The mind is a powerful thing. I have to be careful here or some will think we are getting weird, getting into mind over matter or other creepy things. But just think (put your mind into action) with me for a moment. In the beginning God made man. The Bible said He created man in His own image. Now, God is a spirit so we can’t see a physical form. What was He referring to when He said in Genesis 1:27 “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them.”?

He couldn’t mean that physically we look like God. Sorry to disappoint some of you that may think you look like a god. Image... the word is the root of “imagination.” According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance the Hebrew word translated as “image” is “tselem” and means “to shade; a phantom, i.e. an illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol.” We are the result of God’s imagination, God’s creativity. In fact, everything in creation was the result of God’s imagination at work. Doesn’t this give more reality to “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he?” Or Paul’s admonition instructing us to think on good things in Philippians 4:8?

Imagination is not just the power of man’s mind. It is the power of God in man’s mind. So everything that we have experienced, every new thing that is invented, every amazing medical miracle, every trip into outer space, and on and on it could go... is really the result of the creative nature of God imagining through us. God said of the people building the tower of Babel, “Nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” (Genesis 11:6) The old King James Version actually says, “now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have IMAGINED to do.” (emphasis mine)

So do some dreaming today. Change your future with the God given power of dreaming, seeing what is not yet present to the senses.

Prayer: Lord Jesus help me today to discipline my mind to think on those things that You dream for me, the plans You declare You have for me. You desire good for me, success for me, blessing for me. You said that you came that I could experience life to the full. Help me to become everything You have imagined for me. Make me a dreamer like Joseph. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

What is the Profit?

Many of you who readthis daily devotion are business people. In the business world the pressure is on us to show a profit. I even feel that in the church. The pressure is on to show increase. Increase in attendance, increase in income, increase in outreach and ministry, and on an on it goes. In business you must show increase or profit in sales, in productivity, in efficiency, in the bottom line, and on and on it goes for you. As a parent you need to show increase in weight and growth when they are infants (we reach a point in life where profit is decrease), progress in activity from playing with their feet to crawling, to pulling up, to walking, to running, to riding a bicycle, to driving a car (that’s scary!). Then, as they grow increase in responsibility, in good grades (there’s the TAKS test you know), then finally, graduation. The point is that profit is a part of all our lives in some way. It looks different in every case but it is profit nonetheless.

We generally think of profit in some quantifiable form. It has to fit on a graph somehow, but here’s a different perspective on profit...

“Showing a profit means touching something and leaving it better than you found it.” —Jim Rohn

The Bible actually has some things to say about profit too...

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:23 (NIV)

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 (NIV)

Sometimes we get to intent on “counting beans” and forget the profit of our changed life and changing other lives. This story illustrates this struggle for us...

The young man was feeling very proud of himself. As a brand-new college graduate he had taken the C.P.A. Exams and passed with flying colors. Now he was a full-fledged Certified Public Accountant.

His father had been an immigrant to the U.S., & now owned his own little business. Filled with self-importance, the young man began to criticize his father’s way of keeping books. He said, “Dad, you don’t even know how much profit you’ve made. Over here in this drawer is your accounts receivable. Over there are your receipts, and you keep all your money in the cash register. You don’t have any idea how much you’ve made.”

The father answered, “Son, when I came to this country the only thing I owned was a pair of pants. Now, your brother is a doctor, your sister is an art teacher, and you are a C.P.A. Your mother and I own our home. We have a car, and we own this little business. Now add that up, subtract the pants, and all the rest is profit.”

I believe if we consistently touch people, business, products, an office environment, a neighborhood, a community, etc. it will produce profit in our lives. Profit in satisfaction and contentment of heart. Profit in calmer more serene homes and offices. Profit in safer, more productive communities. And, yes, more quantifiable produce in our lives, more money in the bank, more money flowing through our hands to bless others. It’s just a thought to chew on.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for touching me and leaving me better than You found me. Help me to carry that legacy into the world where I live and serve. Help me today and everyday to touch something, someone and leave it better than I found it.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Monday, May 14, 2007

Wish You Were Smarter?

In her article “Why Smart People Make Bad Moves,” Yahoo! Financial columnist Laura Rowley examines a recent study from Ohio State University on the relationship between a person’s IQ and his or her financial situation. She summarizes the study this way: “Smart people can be boneheads when it comes to accumulating wealth, and the average Joe can become the millionaire next door.”

According to the study each point increase in IQ test scores raised income by between $234 and $616 per year. But this didn’t protect higher IQ people from financial woes. In fact, higher IQ people had just as high, if not higher rates of late bills, maxed-out credit cards, and even bankruptcies. The bottom line: Just because you’re smart doesn’t mean you’re smart in using your smartness.

I guess that’s the difference between knowledge and wisdom. God spoke that in Scripture a long time ago: “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (I Corinthians 1:25). A question comes to my mind. Solomon was the wisest man ever and he was very wealthy too. Wonder what his IQ was?

According to Rowley, here are some reasons why your average next-door neighbor might be a millionaire while you sit in your living room paying off your maxed-out Visa bill.

They Make Their Own Rules: Rowley quotes Loral Langemeier, author of The Millionaire Maker: “Many wealthy people didn’t do well in school; it was too structured for them. But they’re creative, intuitive, and have street smarts——they understand how things work, and how to get business done.”

They Get Knocked Down, But They Get Up Again:’ “It’s hustle,” says real estate magnate Barbara Corcoran in Rowley’s article. “Hustle is being too stupid to know that you should lay low when you keep getting slammed.”

They Succeed Through Social Intelligence: Another characteristic of average people who become millionaires is that they surround themselves with teams that compensate for their weaknesses.

They Take More Risks and, Consequently, Reap More Rewards: People with average brains may be more naive and willing to jump in——start a business or make an investment——than their high-IQ counterparts, who ponder every angle and know too much about the potential downsides of a proposition to take a risk. Highly intelligent people are many times more adverse to risk.

So if you’re reading this today thinking about how smart you are…… get over yourself. It really doesn’t qualify you to do better things than your “sub-genius” friends.

And, if you’re reading this today wishing you werea bit smarter…… be encouraged that there are many things other than your IQ and training that figure into a successful, fruit-‘producing lives. The bottom line is that God is in charge. And being in charge He has put into the mix the laws of sowing and reaping. Just good old farmer’s common sense. What ever you plant... that is what you will get. You will get more than you plant back and the more you plant to more you harvest. You have to be patient after you plant because it takes a while for the seed to grow. They work for anyone no matter what their IQ is. God honors faith and faithfulness in our lives.

Galatians 6:7 “...a man reaps what he sow.” 2 Corinthians 9:6 “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for today’s opportunities. Give me the real wisdom to know what to do in every situation that will bring honor to Your name and blessing to my life. I trust You to know what is best so give me ears to hear Your voice above the noise in the world I work and live in. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Thursday, May 10, 2007

The Blessing of Pain

Pain is not necessarily a bad thing. None of us really go around looking for opportunities to experience pain either physical, emotional, or otherwise. In fact, many people do everything they can to avoid pain or mask pain they are experiencing. Much of the drug use and alcohol abuse in the world today is to cover pain... physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. People going through terrific pain in life will escape for a while through the artificial euphoria induced by drugs (illegal or prescription) or alcohol.

Proverbs actually describes the masking of pain by drinking wine. “Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. ‘They hit me,’ you will say, ‘but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?’" Proverbs 23:31-35 (NIV)

The truth is that God has given us pain as a warning sign, an alarm for us to pay attention to and discover the cause of the pain. It is a call to UNCOVER the cause of pain not COVERUP up the pain.

In, "Where Is God When It Hurts" Philip Yancey tells the story of NBA basketball player Bob Gross. He insisted on playing in a key game despite a badly injured ankle. Knowing that Gross was an important part of the game, the team doctor injected Marcaine, a strong painkiller into three different places of his foot. Gross started the game, but after a few minutes, as he was battling for a rebound, a loud snap! could be heard throughout the arena. Gross, oblivious to the break, ran up and down the court twice more, then crumpled to the floor. He felt no pain, and yet a bone had broken in his ankle. By overriding pain’’s warning system with the anesthetic, the doctor had caused permanent damage and ended the basketball career of Bob Gross. This doctor failed his profession. He had been trained to heal the cause of pain, but instead chose to cover it up causing irreparable damage.

Bob Gross brought his pain to a doctor and received what he wanted (please stop the pain so I can play) instead of what he needed (instructions to get off the foot so he wouldn’t further injure the ankle and proper support until it healed, followed by therapy to strengthen the ankle and minimize the risk of further injury). Here’s what I know... we can bring all our pain to Jesus and always be assured that we will receive what we need not just what we want. The pain may not go away instantly, but if we will take the counsel of the Word and others Jesus places in our lives to help us we will find the cause of the pain, treat it, eliminate it, and return to life healed and restored. Sometimes because of the pain of sin we have to sit out a few games. That’s not fun, but better a few games than the rest of our life.

So, don’t curse the pain in your life. Listen to it. It’s trying to save you more pain and possible even your life. Then there is a time coming when there will be no more pain. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4 (NIV)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for not listening to the pain in my life and bringing it to the Great Physician. I bring You my pain today to know its source and its cure. My heart and my ears are open to hear Your counsel to me. Thank you for Your faithfulness. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Behold and Beware

Someone said, “The two great words of antiquity are behold and beware. Behold the possibilities and beware the temptations and dangers.”

One of the great “beholds” of the Bible is in John 1:29 and 36. John the Baptist saw Jesus walking by and he stood and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” The next day he saw him again and He stood and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

The word simply means “look,” “be aware,” “don’t miss this moment.” It almost as if one is saying, “This is an opportunity of a lifetime... don’t miss it.” John wanted them to know that this was not just another man walking by. This was Divinity in flesh, and He was going to change everything.

The other word is “beware.” In the Bible you hear things like “Beware of false prophets” or “beware of the scribes” or “beware of the dogs.” It is a word of caution. It means, as well as “behold” does, to see it and not to miss it, but “behold” says, “Don’t miss it so you can embrace it” and “beware” says, “Don’t miss it so you can avoid it.”

One has to do with opportunities and the other with opposition that wants to keep you from the opportunities. We all have unlimited opportunities in life. We just don’t behold them. I challenge you today to look up and see, “behold” the opportunities that God places before you today. Opportunity is not always obvious. Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” It doesn’t often just jump out and grab your attention. You have to be on the alert, ready to see it.

On the other hand temptation jumps out in front of us to trip us up, to blind us to the opportunities. Did you ever ask yourself why opportunity knocks once but temptations bangs on the door constantly? I am not sure I have the answer but it sure is true.

Truthfully, opportunity and danger are pretty close. The concept of “crisis” in Chinese is represented by two words, "danger" and "opportunity." When we manage the crisis of our lives following the example of Jesus Christ, we are able to turn the dangers and disasters of life into opportunities to fulfill the will of God.

While we don’t embrace temptation or danger, when we are in the fire of temptation and danger we embrace (behold) God who can turn every crisis into an opportunity to bring glory to His name. So behold and beware today.

Zig Ziglar tells the story of boy that went with his mother to the old general store. He liked to sneak away from his mother and when no one was looking he would dip his finger into the large barrel of molasses.

The storekeeper caught him doing this and decided to teach the boy a lesson. He picked up the boy by his britches and dunked him head first into the barrel of molasses and then set him out on the front porch of the store. But instead of crying the boy was out there praying, ““God, give me the tongue to equal this opportunity.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me faith equal to the opportunities You will place before me today. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear the blessings and strength to resist the temptations that come to blind me to and keep me from the opportunities to bring honor and glory to Your name. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Friday, May 4, 2007

The NIKE Principle

ACTION (def.) energetic activity, an exertion of power or force; a change in organs, tisssues, or cells leading to performance of a function, as in muscular contraction; something done, an act or deed.

This thought of action is what Nike had in mind with it’s now internationally recognized slogan “Just Do It.” Take action.

In one of James Allen's lesser known books, "Byways of Blessedness", he devotes the entire first chapter to beginnings. He writes, "Most beginnings are small, and appear trivial and insignificant, but in reality they are the most important things in life."

Ideas are practically worthless ink on paper until some action is taken to put it into motion. A plan never becomes valuable until action is taken. Without a beginning they will someday be filed in the “round file” and be lost to the world. We often talk as James Allen did of “small beginnings.” Truthfully there are no small or large, significant or insignificant beginnings, important or unimportant beginnings. There are just beginnings, and every accomplishment in life, no matter where we place them on man’s scale of greatness or importance, is the result of initial ACTION. The greatest of plans can be the greatest failure if no action it taken. Yet, even incomplete or what seems to be insignificant plans result in great success because someone was willing to take action. Too often we procrastinate. The definition of procrastinate is to delay action.

When Jeff Bezos decided to start Amazon.com, he left his job on the East Coast and headed to Washington State. He had his wife drive him and their belongings across the country so that he could stay on the phone constantly; convincing potential investors and vendors why Amazon would be a success.

Even the smallest of actions can lead to great success. Sir Isaac Newton's principle that a "body at rest tends to remain at rest and a body in motion tends to remain in motion," definitely applies to the action principle. Once you've taken the first step (even a baby step), the next steps seem easier to take.

But there is another principle that is important to success in life. It is FOCUS. Have you ever been in conversation with someone, and they took off in a different direction on another story or topic? Then they paused to say, “But I digress.” Often in life we take action, we start moving, but then someone where along the way “we digress.” The definition of digress is “to deviate or wander away from the main purpose in speaking or writing.” Since digress applies to speaking and writing “detour” would be the better word for our purpose today. We start, we take action and head down the path of the plan but take a detour. We have to focus on the plan, the purpose and stick with it.

Some of you that read these everyday are saying, “Okay, okay but don’t just give me a motivational talk. Where the Scripture?” Here it is... Philippians 3:13-14 “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Paul uses a couple of words here that are important. DO speaks of action. Not one thing I talk about, plan for, write down, but DO... take action. ONE thing speaks of focus. Not a dozen I dabble in, but ONE thing I DO. Let’s try that. Find the one thing that could make the most difference and DO IT.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You have a plan and purpose for my life. Give me wisdom to know what that plan and purpose is, give me the strength and courage to take action, and a resolve to focus on Your priorities for my life. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Can we accomplish The Great Commission?

Jesus said, "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18 (NIV)

I hear a lot today about the growth of Islam in the world. Things like it is the fastest growing religion on the earth. They are more in number than Christians and they may be growing faster than they ever have, but they are not the fastest growing religion. They are a force to be contended with in the world today, BUT THEY ARE NOT the strongest, fastest growing religion in the world. That is a lie the enemy has spread to discourage and cause fear among God’s people, His true church.

I did some research some time ago on the internet concerning world missions and the evangelical Christian church. Here are some facts they should bless and challenge you. Jesus told us to reach the entire world, make disciples in every nation, baptize them, and teach them Biblical truth. (Matthew 28:19-20) Wow! That’s a huge task, but keep in mind that God would never give us an imperative that’s impossible! It is possible! We will do it! In fact, through the power of the Holy Spirit we are doing it! Read the following statistics gathered from the internet.

Christianity is the single fastest growing religion in the world. For example, in AD 100 there were 360 non-believers for every believer. Today, there are only nine non-believers for every believer, and only four of those non-believers are from unreached people groups.

Considering the growth rate of the world’s religious blocks, Christianity is by far the fastest-growing religion in the world today. The total population of the world increases by 1.72% annually. The world’s religions growth percentiles are as follows: Buddhists 1.7%, Nominal Christians 2.2%, Hindus 2.3%, Muslims 2.7%, Non-religious 2.8%, Great Commision, Bible-believing Christians 6.9%.

More Muslims in Iran have come to Christ since 1980 than in the previous 1000 years combined. Before Khomeini’s revolution in 1979 there were about 2,000 Iranian believers. After years of intensified persecution, there are now more than 15,000.

There’s a seminary in Indonesia where to graduate you have to do all the schoolwork plus start a whole church plus see at least 15 Muslims come to faith in Jesus Christ. In the past 6 years, these students have started more than 600 churches and seen 40,000 Muslims find new life in Christ.

The number of people who are being personally presented the plan of salvation every day is now over 250,000. This does not include television ministries that it would be impossible to accurately count. Pray for today’s quarter million plus. May they respond to the call of Christ.

Every day now the average number added to the body of Christ worldwide averages nearly 200,000. 3,500 new churches are opening every week worldwide.

In recent years, the best-selling book in Japan has been the Bible. In a government survey, Japanese citizens were asked to name the greatest religious leader in history. Sixty-seven percent replied, “Jesus Christ.”

In 1900, Korea had no Protestant Church; it was deemed “impossible to penetrate.” Today, six new churches open every day in South Korea, and it is site of nine of the world’s largest churches – some with more than 800,000 members. Today Korea is more than 30% Christian with 7,000 churches in Seoul alone. Millions of Buddhists have come to Christ.

In North America, 85 million copies of the New International Version of the Bible have been sold in the past 15 years; and 42 percent of its purchasers read the Bible every day. Every week 34 percent of the American population reads the Bible outside of church – that’s 75 million weekly exposed to the Word that “will not return void”. On an average day Americans will buy 35,932 Bibles.

The largest face to face meeting of human beings in all of history is a prayer meeting in Yoido Plaza in Seoul, Korea where 2.7 million people came together.

Every 14 days another translation of the New Testament is begun in a new language. If we’re still here, at least some portion of the Bible will be translated into every language on earth by the year 2020.

God chosen to allow us to be the channel though which the Gospel is communicated to the world. What an amazing thing. While the numbers look great the harvest is still very huge. There are yet billions that have not heard. So here’s the truth... We don’t have a harvest problem. We have a laborer problem. Jesus said to PRAY for LABORERS to be sent into the fields of the lost to harvest them for the church. (Matthew 9:38)

Prayer: Lord Jesus , I pray for those who will be presented the Good News today. I pray their hearts will be fertile ground for the seed of the Gospel and that they will come into the great family of the Church You are building. I pray for workers in the churches of the world to carry the Gospel seed and gather the harvest, and I give myself to be one of those workers. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Reputation and Character

Historians tell us that in ancient times, brick makers, engravers, and other artisans and craftsmen used a symbol to mark their creations. It was known as their “character.” The value of the work was determined by the skill and care with which the work was done. Every single brick, every piece of pottery, every painting, every piece of jewelry, every creation of their hands had their “character” on it so it was important that each one reflect the quality claimed by the creator. The character became well known and highly respected when the quality of the work was high. It is the equivalent of our “brands” in today’s world. There was a time when a “brand” indicated the quality and durability of merchandise. Certain brands had certain marks of quality and they were trusted because they had been proven through the years. However, through the years ownership of the companies changed and the values of leadership changed so the quality of those products changed. It is the character of the person that determines the quality of what they produce in life.

When speak of our lives the ownership change should be to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Instead of diminishing quality, as in the case of some brands, there should be increasing quality in our lives and what we produce through our lives. The level of our work should be the best. The brand of “Christian” should speak of high quality, high moral values, high respect for authority, and high dependability.

Sometimes we speak of this as “reputation.” A good reputation is a valuable thing, but it is character that sustains you throughout your life. William Hersey Davis gives some great insights into the difference in character and reputation. He wrote:

“The circumstances amid which you live determine your reputation . . . The truth you believe determines your character . . . Reputation is what you are supposed to be; Character is what you are . . . Reputation is the photograph; Character is the face . . . Reputation comes over one from without; Character grows up from within . . . Reputation is what you have when you come to a new community; Character is what you have when you go away . . . Your reputation is made in a moment; Your character is built in a lifetime . . . Your reputation is learned in an hour; Your character does not come to light for a year . . . Reputation grows like a mushroom; Character lasts like eternity . . . Reputation makes you rich or makes you poor; Character makes you happy or makes you miserable . . . Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone; Character is what the angels say about you before the throne of God.”

“We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

Our hope and our future are in our character not our reputation. Reputations may change because they are largely the opinion of others, but character is who we are inside. That eventually manifests itself outwardly. Reputation does not determine our character, but character will ultimately determine our reputation.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, if there are any blemishes on my character I ask You to reveal them to me today. I want to carry the brand of “Christian” not so that I can be proud, but so that You can be proud. I don’t want to do anything to blemish the name of Jesus before the world. Help me develop deeper, stronger character every day that I serve and live for You. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger