Breaking the Silence

Wow, it's been too long since my last blog entry. 28 months to be exact. It was time for me to revisit my blog and share some thoughts on this page. Before my silence, this was a great place for me to come and share my heart in writing.

Our world is changing before our eyes. The world we had at the time of my last blog post in February of 2018 is far different than the one we are living in today. Global pandemic. Rioting. There is a shaking going on. Everything that can be shaken is being shaken. Our churches. Our economy. Our government. Our media. Our healthcare. Our entertainment. Our education. Our military. Our police. Everything is being shaken.

For those of us who are Christians, we know that this shaking must take place for the end to arrive, for the return of Jesus. As I read of this shaking in Scripture, it is clear that this is part of the process of separating the true followers of Christ from the fakers. The spirit of the anti-christ is at work in bringing chaos and fear to all humanity. All of this shaking will either solidify the faith of the people of God or they will fall away.

God is allowing this in order that the Church of Jesus Christ will rise up as one in solidarity, for one final push in the Great Commission. The harvest is ripe. The world is looking for answers. Now is the time for the kingdom of God to advance. It is time for disciples to set aside our petty disagreements and conspiracy theories. It is the time to put our hand to the plow and get to the work of loving our neighbors. The world is waiting. The world is watching. The world is listening. Now is the time to break the silence.

Dr. Billy Graham, a Man of Inspiration

On February 21, 2018, Heaven gained a champion, Dr. Billy Graham. For me personally, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I am inspired as I consider his life. I love this quote, from the man himself, that I have seen and read countless times in the last 48 hours, "Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God."

Twenty four years ago, I had the privilege of being a part of the counseling team for one of Dr. Graham's crusades here in Atlanta. I was still in high school, but God led me to be a part of the counselor training a month before the crusade, and then to be prepared each night of the crusade to meet teens at the alter who were ready to meet Jesus. I remember thinking, "What is so great about this man that he is able to draw thousands of people, to fill our Georgia Dome, to hear him preach?" Throughout this crusade, I realized that this man was simply being used by God. He was empowered by the Holy Spirit. He had a firm but sincere way of communicating the gospel. Every night of that crusade, the Scripture and the stories were different, but the gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed clearly, and many rushed to the front to surrender their lives to Jesus. I remember praying with several teens that week, who went down to the alter, and were weeping in conviction and ready to follow Jesus.

Dr. Graham is inspiring. There are many things that personally inspire me as I remember the life of this champion. I want to share with you three that stand out to me above the rest.

First of all, I am inspired by Dr. Graham's integrity. He was the same man in private as he was in public. He is the most recognizable preacher in all of history, but his biggest accomplishment, in my opinion, was his outstanding Christ-like character. People who knew him the best describe him as humble and genuine. In the words of his long time song leader, Cliff Barrows, "He practiced what he preached."

One mark of a man of integrity is the willingness to admit when he has done wrong. Over the years, Dr. Graham made his share of mistakes, and some of them were in the public eye. Instead of shrinking back or covering them up, he owned up to them and made public confession. This is godliness.

Dr. Graham sought every day to pursue purity. Back in the 1940's, he and other Christian leaders gathered in Modesto, California to lay out what is known as the "Billy Graham Rule". He shares in his book, Just As I Am, “We all knew of evangelists who had fallen into immorality while separated from their families by travel. We pledged among ourselves to avoid any situation that would have even the appearance of compromise or suspicion. From that day on, I did not travel, meet or eat alone with a woman other than my wife.”

Over the years, this passion for purity served Dr. Graham well in avoiding major pitfalls that would have derailed his life and ministry. In 1943, he married Ruth and they enjoyed 64 years of faithful marriage. They raised 5 children together. Dr. Graham has said that his ministry would be impossible without Ruth. What a beautiful example of integrity, character and faithfulness.

Secondly, I am inspired by Dr. Graham's passion for the gospel. He preached Jesus Christ without reservation to millions. So many Christians buckle at the knees at the thought of sharing their faith. It is reported that Dr. Graham preached to over 215 million people in 185 different countries. I have read recently that approximately 1 million people were born again in Jesus Christ because of his proclamation of the gospel. That is significant kingdom ministry.

Dr. Graham had a way of explaining the truth of the gospel in a way that engaged everyone. He was anointed by the Holy Spirit. His messages were so convicting that even atheists would be found running to the alter to be saved. I cannot imagine the scores of people in Heaven because of Dr. Billy Graham. I have a feeling he is bombarded with people coming to him in Heaven saying, "Thank you".

His life verse, that could be found pinned on the walls of his home, is Galatians 6:14. It says, "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

Lastly, I am inspired by Dr. Graham's love for all people. He worked hard to end segregation. He fought for civil rights. In the 1950's, Dr. Graham was scheduled to lead a crusade in the South, and when he got inside the stadium, he noticed that there were sections roped off based on the color of skin. He said, "No more of this!", and then went to the head usher and told him to take down the ropes. The usher refused and so Dr. Graham took down the ropes himself.

This stance that Dr. Graham took in taking down the ropes led to a friendship with the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They developed such a close friendship that Dr. Graham would call Dr. King by his nickname, Mike. At one point during their relationship, Dr. Graham would bail Dr. King out of jail following protests in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Graham lived by the position that he preached many times, “There is no excuse ever for hatred. There is no excuse, ever, for bigotry and intolerance and prejudice. We are to love as God loves us.” Dr. Graham spoke clearly that the Bible has no truth that promotes segregation. Graham helped tear down the walls of segregation. What an example for us today.

Dr. Billy Graham was an incredible example for each of us. His legacy will continue to inspire those who know him. These are the areas of his life that inspire me. What is it about him that inspires you? I would love to read your thoughts in the section below. My prayer is that Jesus will continue to shine His light and pour out His love, to bring salvation to the lost, as we remember the life of Dr. Billy Graham.

Quoted Book: Just As I Am, Billy Graham, Harper Collins Publishing, New York, 1997.

God Invites Us to Spend Time in His Presence

“Then God said to Moses, ‘Come up to the Lord.’” Exodus 24:1



God’s invitation to come is different than any other persons invitation we will ever receive. We may come up with all kinds of excuses to reject someone's invitation to do what they want, but when God invites us to come, this is categorically different. When God invites us to come, it is as if a king is inviting a pauper to dine at his fancy banquet table to enjoy the choicest of foods. Hello, it’s a no-brainer!

What an incredible opportunity this was for Moses! He had already experienced the burning bush. He had seen God bring plagues to the people of Egypt and deliver the Israelites. He had seen God bring water from a rock and manna from heaven. Here, God is inviting Moses to spend some one-on-one time in His presence. No one in the Old Testament had more meetings with the Lord than Moses.

We, as followers of Christ, because of His provision, can experience His manifest presence every single day. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” The invitation is always open for us to come, to experience His presence.

We read in Exodus 24:15 that when Moses went up to be with the Lord, the glory of God settled there. To the Israelites at the bottom of the mountain, the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire. It says that Moses stayed on that mountain for 40 days and nights. 

God wants to reveal Himself to you. God wants to say to you, as He said to Moses long ago, “Come up to the Lord.” God is saying, “Seek Me. Spend time with Me. Encounter Me. Linger here. Experience My manifest presence.”

Quenching Our Thirst

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.” Isaiah 55:1

This particular invitation to come, in Isaiah 55:1, is to find complete satisfaction in Christ. Isaiah uses the idea of being spiritually thirsty and finding the replenishment for that thirst in Christ. Just as Gatorade prides themselves in quenching one’s thirst, only Christ can completely satisfy the dehydration of our souls.

The temptation we face in this is receiving our satisfaction from other sources. Those satisfied with the things of the world see no need for Christ, and therefore do not thirst. Places such as wealth, addictions, social media, other relationships, and the list goes on and on. These means will only lead to emptiness and ultimately an unsatisfied soul.

Jesus said in John 7:37, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

Come to Christ today. He invites you. He is the Living Water. His streams make glad the city of God. His waters bring salvation. His waters bring forgiveness. His waters bring healing. His waters bring deliverance. His waters bring love. His waters bring revival.

Come Repent

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

In this Scripture, Isaiah is addressing the nation of Israel, and in the same way, he declares this to all sinners throughout time and humanity. This is a call to repentance, to come clean. It is an invitation to be honest about our sinfulness, to repent, and to allow Christ to bring forgiveness and healing.

Isaiah begins this chapter by calling out the Israelites for their sinful ways. He says in verse 4 that they were a “sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord.” As horrible as that sounds, the reality is that we have all done this, we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. We have all done things that separate us from a holy God. We have committed sin that the prophet, in verse 18, likens to the colors scarlet and crimson. This, most likely, is referring to murder and the blood that was on the hands of the Israelites. You have probably never committed murder, but we have all been stained by sin.

The good news is, we don’t need to live there. Christ died to set us free once and for all. Jesus poured out His blood that we might be set free. As the Holy Spirit moves in our lives, as we repent of our sins, Christ then takes our horrible sin and forgives and purifies us and makes us clean. Isaiah says, “we shall be as white as snow and like wool.”

I used to live in Minnesota, and one thing I loved about living there was getting to enjoy the snow. Some of you can look out the window right now and see snow on the ground. In Minnesota, we certainly had a lot of snow, and because of the cold temperatures, it stayed around much longer than anyone would want, but looking outside at the ground covered with white snow was always a beautiful sight.

In this verse, God tells us that through the transaction of our repentance and His forgiveness, Christ makes us as pure and as white as that freshly fallen snow. What a beautiful picture of God's forgiveness! Though our sins be like scarlet and crimson, God says, I will get rid of all that, I will take it away, and I will wash you white as snow.

Take time now to welcome the Holy Spirit and His conviction. Then, repent of all known sin and receive the forgiveness of Christ. Praise God for being our Redeemer and Forgiver of sins!

A Dangerous Little Prayer

I was reading Philemon this morning. Yes, Philemon is a part of the inspired word of God and yes, it is possible for the Holy Spirit to draw you into it's verses. Smile. The average Bible reader will quickly read from Titus to Hebrews. This morning as I was reading this book, one of the shortest in the Bible, and the Lord stopped me in my tracks as I read verse 6. Paul prays a dangerous little prayer as recorded here. The NIV reads, "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith." In this context, Paul is writing this to and sharing his prayer for Philemon, Apphia and Acrhippus. Paul is praying that they will share with pre-believers what Jesus has done for them through His death and resurrection. However, this morning it was as if the Lord was telling me through a mega-phone, "Fred, that one is for you to pray for yourself."

Over the years I have been a seasonal evangelist. I will go through spurts of being on mission with Jesus as being His witness, and then I will have weeks where I will go without even speaking the name of Jesus in public. I have trained countless students in how to share their faith and I have led countless people to Christ, but I sometimes go weeks without sharing my faith. Yes, I have admitted here that even as a pastor, I have not been faithful in being consistent salt and light. That needs to change.

Friends, let's face it, our world is a wreck. There are signs everywhere that match up with what Scripture tells us are the last days before Jesus comes back. Whenever we consider end times prophecy, it should always fuel our efforts to reach our neighbor for Christ. There are people all around us who are not ready for the return of Christ. I am asking the Lord to give me urgency in my witness where God has planted me.

I want to be active in sharing my faith. There are too many excuses that I come up with for not being active. I need to surrender my pride. I also need to realize that being turned down by someone who doesn't want to hear about Jesus is better than not saying anything at all. Life should never be too busy to stop and share the love of Jesus with someone.

I am relying on God to empower my witness. May I develop a burning desire to see people cross from death to life. I may not have the gift of evangelism, but I do have a mandate from Jesus to go into all the world and make disciples. As I seek to reach my neighbors, may the Lord give discernment, tenacity and boldness. May I see through the eyes of Jesus as I encounter people every day. May God motivate each of us to reach a lost world for Jesus as the time of His second coming gets closer.

A Tribute To My Dad

I'm probably writing this because I'm not able to talk with my Dad on this Father's Day. He is serving the Lord, by mentoring Christians in prayer, on the other side of the world. My Dad is my hero. Let me explain.

Growing up as a pastor's kid, my Dad had many demands on his time. He had sermons to prepare and preach, elder meetings to attend, visits to the hospital, counseling appointments, outside speaking engagements and countless other church needs that pulled for his attention. Even with all of this, he prioritized time with his family. Not only did he prioritize time with us, but he told and showed us that we (his family) were the most important people in his life.

My Dad led me to our Heavenly Father. From as far back as I can remember, my Dad taught our family the Bible and had us praying for specific requests. I can remember learning Psalm 1 in the third grade. Our family was on summer vacation in Maine. My Dad and I went fishing by canoe out in a lake and parked at a secluded island. It was there that we opened God's Word and memorized it together. I learned from watching my Dad get excited about the Word. I remember my Dad introducing the little red book of prayer to our family at supper time. We recorded the prayers we prayed and then went back and recorded how we saw the Lord work. God used this practice to grow my faith as we logged many answers to prayer. My Dad modeled a consistent love for Jesus.

My Dad spent time with me. I never felt as if my Dad was too busy for me. I loved the time my Dad spent playing sports with me. I remember as a kid, Dad taught me how to run about 10 different patterns as wide receiver in football while he played quarterback. Guess who would take over the neighborhood football games? You got that right. Dad and I connected for more touchdowns than Montana and Rice. I pitched a couple seasons in little league baseball and guess who was my catcher when I practiced? There were several baseball games that I started the game thinking that my Dad was in a meeting at church, and then I would look over to the stands and see him sitting there. He showed up and was there for me. As a young adult, I began to get into golf. Up until this point, we couldn't stand golf. I started to really enjoy the sport. Instead of boycotting my new interest, my Dad saw it as an opportunity to spend time with his son. He signed up for swing lessons to become a better golfer. Since then, we have golfed together on more courses than I can count, playing golf in Scotland, Hawaii, Utah, Michigan and in other states where we have lived. Golf has been a platform for us to share life together.

My Dad loves my Mom. This was the best example for me as a child. Little did I know how important it was for my Dad to love my Mom as much as he did. I realize now why that was so important. He was showing me what marriage looked like. He modeled commitment, devotion and sacrifice in leading and loving my Mom.

My Dad is a source of wisdom. God has given my Dad much discernment. This has been a blessing for me especially since leaving home. Whenever I have faced and prayed through decisions, I have always enjoyed hearing my Dad's perspective. He knows how to cut away the fat and get to the heart of the issue. I trust his advice because I know it comes out of his deep relationship with God.

Dad, thank you for leading me. Thank you for spending time with me. Thank you for being my mentor, golf buddy, coach and friend.  I am the Dad that I am today partly because of your example and the rest because of God's work in me. I love you Dad.

Lessons learned from watching my sister battle cancer

By way of background, I received a phone call last July from my Mom telling me that my sister, Andrea, had cancer.  I had never heard news of this magnitude, outside of finding out when three of my grandparents each passed away. My heart sunk. Of all things, I was on a service project at a cemetery. 

My mind began to race in a million directions. I thought of the seriousness of this disease and how difficult it would be for my sister. I was thinking of all the people I have known over the years who have had cancer. Some beat it and some didn't.

That night, I was able to talk with my sister for the first time following her diagnosis. I realized that this would not be your typical battle with cancer. All the worry that I had, the anxiety that I had laid at Jesus feet, was exchanged with peace and replaced with encouragement. Andrea was confident. I could hear the smile in her voice. It was obvious that God was at work in my sister's life.

Every phone call since that first one, for the last 6 months, have been similar. I have never heard my sister complain once. She has stayed positive through this entire fight. I had the opportunity to spend three special days with her over Christmas. I savored every moment. All of the feelings that she communicated over the phone were magnified in person. She literally radiated joy. She was at peace. She was totally content with her life and where the Lord was taking her.

As I have observed my sister's battle with cancer, I have learned three major lessons. There are others, but these are the biggies. These lessons have been learned from afar because she lives in Texas and I'm in Minnesota. These lessons have been learned over the phone, through Facetime, and in the few days we spent together in December.

The first lesson that I have learned from watching my sister is that strength isn't manufactured. There have been times in my life when I have needed strength. Strength to make a major decision. Strength to speak in public. Strength to endure a year and a half of living with parents with three small children. These are all well and good, however, it pales in comparison with having a terminal disease and undergoing the rigors of chemotherapy with a smile. A smile is the outer expression of an inner strength, peace and joy. This strength isn't something that she just musters up or pulls out of a hat. This strength comes from her relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. Isaiah 41:10 says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Andrea has always had a close relationship with Jesus. As far back as I can remember, I found Andrea in her room spending time with Jesus reading her Bible or praying. That time spent fueling the flame of her walk with God is reaping a harvest of righteousness and inner-strength that very few people in this world have. Jesus is living in Andrea and giving her strength.

Secondly, I have seen James 1:3 come to life. In a nutshell, this verse tells us that trials bring perseverance and perseverance brings faith. I have taught this verse many times, but have never understood it until this year. This is obviously a trial in Andrea's life. Cancer is not a walk in the park. The same can be said of chemo. Instead of Andrea going into depression or drowning in her sorrows and bad news, Andrea has done the opposite. She has asked the Lord to be glorified in her life through this battle. Her prayer since day one has been, "Lord, whatever you want to do in me, have your way." The Lord is our healer and we have been praying for that, but He is also our sanctifier and many times those two attributes go hand in hand. Andrea has had her faith built and has grown deeper in her love of Jesus through this season. God has taught me the value of enduring trial as a faith builder.

Thirdly, I have learned that nothing should come in between our relationship with Jesus. The verse that our family has rallied around during the last six months is Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." That is an incredible truth and has brought so much hope to our family. The flip side of that verse would be that we, as followers of Christ, should not allow anything to get in the way of our love for Him. There are many things that could create a wedge and drive us away. I have counseled people in ministry over the years who have allowed cancer to drive them away from the Lord. It has been incredible for me to observe my sister growing closer to Jesus even in the midst of this fight. She has not allowed this horrible disease to keep her from all that is hers through faith in Jesus Christ. I have been challenged to not allow my circumstances to stand in the way of pressing into Jesus.

I want to encourage you. If you find yourself in the midst of a fight, don't give up. God has a plan. Isaiah 55:8 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord." God knew from the day Andrea was born that she would face this battle. This didn't catch Him by surprise. He has a perfect plan for Andrea and He has a perfect plan for you. Trust in Him. Our only hope in this world is Jesus Christ. Do you believe that?

Longings

Last week, I had a lot of time to sit, think, pray and spend time with Jesus. I was deer hunting. Considering I didn't see many deer, I had a lot of solitude and idle time because I wasn't looking at deer through binoculars, or getting my gun ready to pull the trigger, or even following a blood trail through the woods. When you sit, in the middle of the woods, it is very easy to connect with God and hear His voice. There are no distractions. It is peaceful. It is quiet. This is a formula for personal renewal.

As I sat in the stand, the Lord quickened my heart with His word from Psalm 42:1. Of all things, this happens to be a passage that speaks of deer. The verse says, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, my God." As I sat and reflected about this verse, there was one principle the Lord was teaching me.

I sat and considered the analogy of this verse. Since taking up deer hunting, I have learned a lot about the habits of these animals. Deer get up from their bedding to eat and drink. They will move for miles in order to fulfill their need of hunger and thirst. Deer are known to settle down near a river because water is a necessity to keep them going. Out of all the analogies the Psalmist could have used here, he used the deer and their longing for hydration.

The Psalmist used this analogy as a description for his own personal longing for the Lord. The Lord used this verse, in my heart, as a barometer for my own passion and longing for Jesus. One of the litmus tests for a person's passion for Jesus can be found in how they treat corporate worship in singing. Is worship a time to read the lyrics to a song or is worship a time to give our all and to exalt the name of Jesus? Is worship a time to day dream about Sunday lunch or do we long for the manifest presence of God? There are many things in this life that can get a person excited in anticipation. I was reminded of the anticipation I was having in waiting for a deer to walk out in front of my stand. I wanted so badly to see a large buck come out. The Lord inspired the question in me, "Do I anticipate being in the presence of the Lord just as much?" This was a convicting question.

God was challenging me to anticipate meeting Jesus each and every day, and especially on Sunday. The description the Psalmist uses is a longing. We all long for something. Some fill that longing with the wrong things such as money, sports, popularity, sex or alcohol. The only Person who can satisfy the longing we all have deep down inside of us is Jesus Christ.

Jesus, in a conversation with the woman at the well, talks about the satisfaction we receive from Him in John 4:14. Jesus says, "Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus is the living water. Anytime we come into His presence, He will satisfy every longing that we have.

Do you long for His presence?  Do you long for more of Jesus in your life? May we take the example of the deer as we seek to satisfy the longing that we have. Only Jesus can truly satisfy. Seek Him. Spend time with Him. Receive Him. Live for Him. 

My View of Halloween

I have never been a big fan of Halloween. When I was a child, our family was always cautious in going to neighbors homes, because in south Florida, where I spent my elementary years, there were always news reports of people finding razor blades in their chocolate bars. We would dress up and go to a few neighbors homes. However, beyond this threat, was the awareness that I had as a young boy of the evil that accompanies Halloween.

The decorations alone for Halloween are enough to make me throw up in my mouth a little.  Most decorations are centered around death and the devil. There is a house, here in central Minnesota, that leaves their Halloween decorations up all year. They have tombstones, skeletons, witches, ghosts and other demonic figures.  Fortunately, we only pass by their house 9 or 10 times a year. But, when we do, I can't help but cringe and look the other way.

As a follower of Christ I have the belief that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers of this world" (Ephesians 6:12). I don't want to expose myself or my family to anything that could allow the enemy to have a foothold in our lives. There is a spiritual battle going on for us, especially if you are a follower of Christ.  If you have decided to follow Christ, this battle will be greater because the enemy will do anything in his power to bring you down. We must stand guard and protect our minds and hearts in Christ Jesus.

I am also against anything that causes anyone to be afraid. So much of this holiday is about making people scream: dressing up as goblins, haunted houses and people jumping out of bushes is totally scary. The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear." We also learn from the same chapter that God is love. What this passage tells me is that Jesus and fear do not operate in the same room.

My impression of Halloween is that it reflects our culture.  Over time this holiday has decayed.  Our standards and morals and values have been lowered because what was forbidden 20 years ago is tolerated today.  We have allowed a little yeast to sneak into the bread of our society.  Unfortunately, what is happening is we are becoming desensitized to evil things.  And what happens as a result is that we push the presence of God out of our lives.

Someone asked me yesterday, "What is your view of Halloween?"  I want to finish this post by sharing my answer. I would say that there are two extremes of people in what they do on October 31: There are those who will sit in their houses, with their lights off and boycott the day.  Then, there are those who will have decorations up, as I mentioned before, and may even go so far as to sacrifice animals (yes this happens). I definitely fall somewhere in the middle and leaning more towards the first extreme. I am all about redeeming anything for the cause of Christ. How will we reach people if we don't go out into the darkness? If we were to withdraw whenever the enemy makes an appearance, we wouldn't be able to go anywhere. Instead, Jesus calls us to be the light of the world. Tonight, is a great opportunity to let our lights shine before others.

Tonight, I look forward to joining others in our church for a Trunk or Treat. This is one event on our church's calendar when we know we will have un-churched people in attendance. I guarantee you, we are not having an occult experience. However, we will be representing our church and Jesus by reaching out to our community, through providing a safe environment for entire families to come play games and get candy. I will also be taking my kids to visit my neighbors. It's one of the few opportunities to go to a neighbors door without it being totally awkward. We will also be meeting those who come to our front door in search of candy.

This is not my favorite day of the year, because of all the darkness that surrounds it, however, it's also not my least favorite because of the opportunity it presents us to represent JESUS.

Strength comes from Jesus

Challenges in life have their way of creating a variety of emotions. When we experience a crisis, it can cause a person to get stressed, angry, perplexed, hurt, sad and this list barely scratches the surface. Many people will experience the lows of life and turn to the wrong places to satisfy the longing of their souls. The weight of bad news or the stress will cause the average person to crumble.

As you read in my most recent post, last week, our family found ourselves in the middle of a crisis. My sister discovered that she has lymphoma cancer. 

Our family has handled this news fairly well and it is simply because of our faith in Jesus Christ. I don't want to minimize what my sister has been diagnosed with. The reality is that God is in complete control. We rest in His sovereignty and perfect plan. The Psalmist wrote in chapter 46:1, "He is our refuge and strength, our ever present help in times of trouble." If He leads you to it, He will lead you through it. This understanding comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

When a person invites Jesus into their lives, they receive an eternal inheritance. This person goes from having nothing to having everything. From being an orphan to having a family. Colossians 1:21-22 says, "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."

Then, it says in Hebrews 4:15, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness." Because of what Jesus went through for us, He is able to minister to us in our hurt. When we are in need of strength and encouragement, Jesus is able to be our supply. He gives strength to the weary. Those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength.

One Week After the Boston Marathon

It's sad to think of all the tragedies that our country has experienced this last year. It started last Summer with the mass shooting in a movie theater in Aurora, CO. Then, last December, we were saddened by the news of the elementary school shooting in Newtown, PA. Then, most recently, one week ago today, we received word that two bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, leaving many people severely injured.  Each of these were heinous crimes committed by people living in darkness.

In previous blog posts, I have addressed the sovereignty of God and why He allows these thing to happen, so I won't spend time with that here. I simply want to address the fact that our world needs Jesus. I am most certain that none of these tragedies would have happened if the murderers were living in Christ. Jesus makes all the difference. He is the answer.

Jesus words in John 10:10 are very clear, "The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Those who align themselves with the thief will walk in darkness. There are many false religions in the world that lead down a path of destruction. Verse nine in that chapter says that those who trust in Christ will be saved. When we make the decision to follow Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit, who will radically change our heart and minds. We will no longer walk in the darkness of sin and death. We will step into the light of Jesus which inspires us to greatness. The blinders come off of our eyes and enable us to see the world as God sees it. We are changed people. The work of the Holy Spirit will bring about the fruit of the spirit which is: love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Our world is decaying before us. As followers, we know that the world will become a more and more dark and sinful place. We need an awakening. We need revival. We need followers of Jesus who are willing to be salt and light in their workplace. People who are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let's reach our neighbors for Christ. Who knows, we may have Tsarnaev's living next door to us.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."