Learning How To Do It Better

Today is going to be a busy day. We have a couple coming in to teach us how to do things better. You would think that after 30+ years in various types of ministry, that we should pretty well have it down by now. But, that is by no means the case. Someone coined a phrase that fits here very well - "The more you know, the more you know you don't know". We should never get the idea that we know all that there is to know about anything. We should never get the idea that we have done all that we can for the Lord. Even the Apostle Paul said that he had not yet arrived. One thing that I have learned over the years is that sometimes you have to be reminded of what you already do know. Both Peter and Jude, in their writings, said "I put you in remembrance of these things...". It wasn't that the people didn't know, it was that they had forgotten. I am sure that we will learn some new material that will be invaluable to us. But, I am also quite sure that they will simply remind us to do the things that we already know to do. On one particular day, after Jesus had returned from His time of prayer, the disciples made a request of Him. They said "Lord, teach us to pray". Not how to pray, just to pray. Jesus had already taught them how to pray during His "Sermon on the Mount" in Matt 5-7. My prayer is that we will go away today with a greater motivation to do what we know God wants us to do. And to be able to do it better. How about you? Do you want to be better?

Expecting Victory

As I write this on Thursday, I am anxiously awaiting a big game tonight. I am a big time sports fan and especially love college sports, football in particular. Tonight, my favorite team, the OK Sooners take on the Florida Gators for the National Championship. I will be seated in front of my TV, in my recliner, ready to enjoy every moment of what should be a thrilling game. There are a couple of things to consider about this event. The first is that if we do come out on top, I will be able to say "We are the best in college football for this year". We? Wait a minute. I'm not out there playing, I'm sitting in my recliner. But, I get to reap the spoils of victory because I have aligned myself with the team. Paul says in Romans 8:37 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us". It was Jesus Christ who died on the Cross of Calvary and defeated the last enemy, which is death, yet we reap the spoils of victory. We receive eternal life without ever having to lift a finger in battle. Another point of consideration is that even if they do win, it is just for this year. In only a few months, they will begin training for another season, filled with more battles, trying to repeat as champions. So, how does that apply to us? Even though we know that the final battle has been won, we are still alive and Satan is still on the attack, trying to defeat our testimony and effectiveness for Christ. Once again, we are "more than conquerors" as Jesus fights those battles for us as well. With my Sooners, I can only hope for a victory - with Christ I can expect a victory.

I Am Blessed Beyond Measure

Occasionally, I find that I have once again taken God's blessing for granted. Let me say right away, that I am so very blessed. I was talking with someone a while back and we were discussing how much God has to do with our birth. The question was asked, if God picks our father, our place of birth, our time, etc? Of course, the answer to that is a resounding yes! As I look back in time, there are some periods that are of great interest to me, but I don't think I would have wanted to live back then. You know, a good place to visit, but don't want to live there, kind of time. I also look around and see how bad the world has become, with the sin of man and the horrible conditions that some, in third world countries, have to endure. But, for me, God was so very, very gracious in allowing me to born in what became a Christian family and to be raised by a mother and father who took their kids to church, not sent them. I have often wondered what it would have been like to have been born into a wealthy family, but where would I be today if that were the case? We weren't rich, but the poor folks thought we were and we weren't poor, but the rich folks thought we were. We were in a positi0n to constantly trust God and watch Him work and provide. As I got older, God has blessed me again with a wonderful help meet and two terrific kids, who themselves are striving to follow God's direction for them. There is so much more that I could say, but I think you get the point. As I write this, I realize that only a small handful of people will ever read it. But, it was good for me to say. Are you as blessed as I am? If so, then take a moment a say so.

Following The Map

Over the Christmas holidays, we were able to take a rather long journey to see family. It involved traveling down some roads that we have been on many times before. But, it also involved seeing some new territory. I am one of these people that says "I'm in the southwest part of town and I want to go to the Northeast, so I'll go this way and eventually I will find a road that I know and get to my destination". My wife, on the other hand, wants to look at the map for some unknown reason. Okay, maybe the reason is known, just a little hard to grasp for some of us adventurous types. I know that if I need to go NE that if I go North for a while and East for a while, I will get there - maybe. Unfortunately, that is the way that some people live their life as a Christian. I know that God wants me to grow as His Child and I know that He has a way to do that, but wouldn't it be just as easy to, you know, just head in that direction and see where it takes me? Just like God gave man the insight and ability to develop maps to help us get from one location to another, so He also gave us His Word to guide us along. Even though we have the map in front of us and it tells us where to go, it is nice to be able to see the road signs that help us know we are on the right track. God has also been very gracious to us that He also gives us some signs to reassure us that we are following Him. We are just beginning a New Year, which means that we are just beginning a new journey. Take out God's atlas, the Bible, and allow Him to guide you along the way. Prov 3:5-6 tells us that if we trust in Him, He will direct our paths and in so doing direct us down those paths. Have a nice trip.

Sorry, It Was Broke

Computers are a wonderful thing. Until they decide not to work. We must apologize for the down time the last few days. I'm not sure if we had a bug or if it was a short between the keyboard and the seat. Regardless, we have it fixed. Now, there must be a lesson in there somewhere. Ah, yes, computers are material objects that are made by man. One of those things that we felt was of no use to the average person, who now wonders what he ever did without it. But, since it is made by man, it is prone to falter and fail. Just when you think you need it the most, it goes haywire. And that average person who is using the computer is totally incapable of fixing the problem. We recently looked at the creation on Sunday night and one of the things that we emphasized is that when God finished each day, He said "It is good". Then when He made man and completed His design, He said "It is very good". The point is that what God does is always going to be good. And because man is fallible, what he does is temporal at best. When we have problems in life, it seems only right to go to God and let Him fix it right. But, there we go again, trying to do things our way, and not only do we have something that is broken, but we also have a bad plan to fix it. When your computer goes down - call a specialist. When you life goes down - Call God. He made you and He knows just what to do to get you up and running again.