Monthly Archives: January 2008

Before You or Your Kids Say, “I Do.”

Leave a comment

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”1

A Daily Encounter reader writes, “My son is seeing a young woman who is trying to force him to marry right away even though they hardly know each other. Is there any way I can advise him?”

As your son is legally an adult, there isn’t much you can do unless he seeks your counsel. If he were my son and asked for my counsel and is a Christian, the following is what I would do:

1. I would encourage him to pray earnestly for God’s direction and especially that God would reveal to him the truth, both about himself and about his lady friend, and their relationship. When physical attraction and/or need is strong, couples are very often blind to reality, marry before they really know each other, and alas too late discover they made a big mistake. However, when seeing the truth before marriage, at least the one earnestly seeking the truth knows what he/she needs to do.

2. I would urge him to receive the best possible pre-marriage counseling with his potential life partner as this is an excellent way to see the truth about each other and to see if they are well suited for each other or otherwise.

3. I would warn him that anyone who is pushing to get married too soon and before receiving adequate pre-marriage counseling is either very needy and over-dependent and/or hiding a character weakness—possibly a serious one—and wants to hook a partner before his/her flaws are discovered.

4. If my son is a Christian and his lady friend is not—based on God’s Word I would let him know that this is a big NO-NO. As God’s word wisely advises, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”2 For a healthy and strong relationship it is very important that both are emotionally mature and spiritually in harmony with each another.

5. Above all, I would encourage my son to earnestly seek God’s guidance regarding this relationship and to make sure he and his potential spouse pray together regularly and put God first in both their personal life and relationship should they decide to, or not to, marry. If they don’t do this before marriage, it isn’t too likely they will do it afterwards.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a fine Christian example to my children so that they, seeing my life, will want you to be first in their life and always seek your guidance and seek to live in harmony with your will. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV).
2. 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV).

<:))))><

Judgment Day Is Coming

Leave a comment

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”1

In a sermon Matt Woodley shared how, “On the first day teaching his class of 250 college freshmen, R. C. Sproul carefully explained the assignment of three term papers. Each paper was due on the last day of September, October, and November. Sproul clearly stated there would be no extensions (except for medical reasons). At the end of September 225 students dutifully turned in their papers, while 25 remorseful students quaked in fear. ‘We’re so sorry,’ they said. ‘We didn’t make the proper adjustments from high school to college, but we promise to do better next time.’ He bowed to their pleas for mercy, gave them an extension, but warned them not to be late next month.

“At the end of October rolled around, 200 students turned in their papers, while 50 students showed up empty-handed. ‘Oh, please,’ they begged, ‘it was homecoming weekend, and we ran out of time.’ Sproul relented once more but warned them, ‘This is it. No excuses next time. You will get an F.’

“The end of November came and only 100 students turned in their papers. The rest told Sproul, ‘We’ll get it in soon.’

“‘Sorry,’ Sproul replied. ‘It’s too late now. You get an F.’

“The students howled in protest, ‘That’s not fair!’

“’Okay,’ Sproul replied, ‘you want justice, do you? Here’s what’s just: you’ll get an F for all three papers that were late. That was the rule, right?’

“’The students had quickly taken my mercy for granted,’ Sproul later reflected. ‘They assumed it. When justice suddenly fell, they were unprepared for it. It came as a shock, and they were outraged.’”2

God has clearly put every Christian on notice that every one of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of how we have lived our life here on earth.1 And for those who have never received Jesus as their Savior they will stand before God at the Great White Judgment Throne of God and be judged for their sins and will have to pay the just penalty thereof because they never accepted Jesus as their Savior and asked for and accepted God’s forgiveness.

As God’s Word says, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”3

Whatever you do, don’t ignore God’s warning and don’t take God’s mercy for granted. “Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation.’”4 If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior and asked God for forgiveness for all your sins, I urge you, dear reader, to do that today.

For help click on the Know God button below or go to: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for your Word that tells me what I need to do to have my sins forgiven; and thank you for giving Jesus, your Son, to pay the penalty for all my sins through his death on the cross. And thank you for giving me a clear warning that ‘As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.’5 letting me know that it is imperative that I make things right with you today as it is too late after I die. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV).
2. Matt Woodley, in the sermon “The Grieving Heart of
God,” http://www.preachingtoday.com/48566
3. See Revelation 20:12-15.
4. 2. Corinthians 6:2 (NASV).
5. Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV).

<:))))><

The Tyranny of the Urgent

Leave a comment

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”1

I don’t know what it is like for you (though I am confident that the same is true for you) but oftentimes it seems as if my life is controlled by the tyranny of the urgent. That is, there never seems to be a day when something unexpected comes up that needs attention … something is broken around the house … a friend is in need … and with all my computer, email and web work there is a never-ending flow of problems that need fixing.

As I have said to friends, as long as you own a home there always seems to be something that needs fixing. In the last two weeks we have had a refrigerator break down, a water line break, and have had more computer problems than I can count. All these issues are very time consuming and make it difficult to keep up with one’s work load. But that’s life and these things can become very stressful if we allow them to.

Besides the suggestions for coping with stress in last Friday’s Daily Encounter, every day I like to remind myself of, and daily thank God for, all the incredible blessings in my life. I constantly thank God that as a child my parents took me to a church and Sunday school where I heard and accepted the gospel. I thank God for health and strength and the ability to work hard, for a roof over my head, a comfortable bed to sleep in, for hot and cold running water, a great church, loving friends, for the incredible opportunity of being able to publish the gospel worldwide, and most of all for a loving wife and family and for the wonderful privilege of being a part of God’s family through no merit of my own. And I know that all of these blessings from God are only the tip of the tip of the iceberg of God’s never ending blessings.

Living with an attitude of gratitude turns my problems into challenges and makes them infinitely small in comparison to all the blessings I daily experience.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please open my eyes so that I can clearly see all the incredible blessings you have so freely given to me and may I always have a grateful heart for these. For one more blessing I pray: and that is that you will give me an eternal attitude of gratitude. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV).

<:))))><

I Hate Religion

Leave a comment

“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.”1

In younger days, when I was in youth ministry, one of my main ministries was to teach RI (Religious Instruction) in the public high schools in Adelaide, South Australia. In every new class I would write in large letters across the class room board, “I hate religion.”

“Man, in this class, you’ll get shot,” gasped one student in amazement.

“But I’m sold on real Christianity,” I responded.

“Well, what’s the difference?” several chorused.

“Let me explain,” I replied.

True, Christianity is considered a religion but in reality it is profoundly different than man-made religions.

According to Webster’s New World Dictionary religion comes from the Latin religare (re meaning “back” and ligare meaning “to bind”). In other words religion means “to bind back.”

In a real sense religion is “back to bondage” that is applicable to most, if not all, man-made religions—so many of which enslave one in bondage to extreme legalistic rules and regulations with little or no personal freedoms. In another sense religion (man-made religion) is man’s search for God through man-made ways such as good works and/or religiously adhering to certain rules, rituals and regulations.

On the other hand, authentic Christianity is God’s search for lost mankind by giving his Son, Jesus, to come to earth as a babe and then die on the cruel Roman cross to pay the penalty for your sins and mine. Authentic Christianity, more than anything else in the world, has given mankind (and especially womankind) freedom. Just compare I’lam to Christianity and keep in mind that Islam is a man-made religion founded by Mohammed while Christianity was founded by Jesus, Son of the living God.

Our sin has separated us from a holy God and as such it is impossible for mankind to save himself. All his efforts to devise his own way to God are doomed to failure. We can only find and know God by following his way and that is by believing that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died to save us from our sins and sin’s devastating consequences, which is eternal separation from a holy and Just God. As Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”2

To be sure you are a real Christian and not just a religious person be sure to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian—without having to be religious,” click on the Know God button below or on http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you so loved the world (me) that you gave your Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty for all my sins so I could be freely forgiven by you and given your gift of eternal life to be with you in Heaven forever after my life on earth is finished. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV).
2. John 14:6 (NIV).

<:))))><

Why Stress is Stressful

Leave a comment

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”1

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, “How heavy is this glass of water?” Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

He continued, “And that’s the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.

“As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.

“So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don’t carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you’re carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.”

It is well know that too much stress is a “killer.” Writing in Eternity magazine some time ago Fred Stansberry talks about “stress-related diseases such as cancer, arthritis, heart and respiratory diseases, migraines, allergies and a host of other psychological and physiological dysfunctions which are increasing at an alarming rate in our Western culture.”

Stress is pretty much common to us all in today’s pressure-cooker world. It is our responsibility, however, to do what we can to lessen the stress factors in our life wherever possible. To do this the following tips can help.

Write down all your cares and worries. Put them in order of priority and eliminate those that aren’t important.

1. Know what your limit is and limit yourself to what
you can handle.
2. With stress comes pent-up feelings. Learn how
to express these creatively and get them off
your chest.
3. Accept the fact that some things can’t be changed.
4. Limit major life changes to as few as possible
in any one year.
5. Resolve all resentments immediately.
6. Make time for rest and relaxation … get
sufficient sleep.
7. Watch your diet and eating habits.
8. Maintain a regular physical exercise program.
9. Ultimately, however, we need to learn to trust our
life to God in all circumstances.

For a more in depth answer to “Turning Stress into Success” go to: http://tinyurl.com/7q6lw, and to test your level of stress go to: http://tinyurl.com/2p2fb7

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to accept the fact that I am neither superman nor superwoman and limit myself to what I can do and do well. And help me to ‘change the things I can change and accept (with grace and patience) the things I cannot change’ and trust my life to you in all circumstances. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV).

<:))))><

Blessings in Disguise

Leave a comment

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect [mature] and complete, needing nothing.”1

In much younger days I was the South Australian director of a youth ministry. Most of my ministry was teaching Religious Instruction (RI) classes in the public high schools. This was done through local churches. In one night the major denominations voted to withdraw from teaching RI in the schools. Their vote eliminated at least 90% of my work. I turned in my resignation but the board enforced my contract that required three months notice if I were ever to quit.

I thought they were being far less than reasonable. I had a job but no work. For something to do I started writing … and have been writing ever since.

Out of what seemed to be a very disappointing experience the work that I am doing today—over 30 years later—has grown far beyond what I could have ever dreamed possible. What happened to me back then was one of the best blessings of my life.

I have read how, during the Great Depression, Wallace Johnson, a dynamic Christian, was fired from his job at a saw mill. To Wallace and his wife this was a devastating loss. So what did Wallace do? He mortgaged his house and went into the building business. Within five years he was a multi-millionaire and was the founder of Holiday Inn.

Wallace said, “If I could locate the man who fired me I would sincerely thank him for what he did. At the time it happened, I didn’t understand why I was fired. Later I saw that it was God’s unerring and wondrous plan to get me into the ways of his choosing.”

So, dear reader, are you going through a rough time—a time of loss or disappointment? If so, be sure to ask God what this painful experience is seeking to teach you and prepare you for so that you can become a more fruitful Christian and servant of the Lord.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, in all of life’s painful experiences please help me see that there is always some lesson you are seeking to teach me to help me become a more mature and fruitful Christian and a more effective witness of your saving power. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. James 1:2-4 (NLT).

<:))))><

Peace, Peace

Leave a comment

Hear the Word of God: “For you know very well that the day of the Lord [Christ’s second coming to earth] will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”1

The Personnel Journal reported this incredible statistic: since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than eight percent of the time! In its study, the periodical discovered that of 3530 years of recorded history, only 286 years saw peace. Moreover, in excess of 8000 peace treaties were made—and broken.2

I have read that one of the fastest growing religions today is the I’lamic faith. M’slims would have us believe that theirs is a religion of peace and all the while their radicals are on a slaughter rampage throughout various parts of the world. While it is not politically correct to say so, but the reality is that the world today is not in a clash of cultures between I’lam and the West but in a religious war whose attackers don’t wear a uniform, hide behind innocent civilians including children, and use our freedoms to expand and ultimately either kill or subdue us into their strict control of their legalist religious laws—and in so doing take away our freedom! That is, they are using our freedom to take away our freedom.

I recall an old pastor friend saying that all of the signs that Jesus and the Bible predicted that would precede Christ’s second coming to earth have actually been happening since he was here on earth—but today they are all standing up at once!

Jesus is coming again. That is just as certain as was his first coming some 2000 years ago. What if it were today? Would you be ready? Or would you be left behind? For help to be sure you are ready to meet Jesus face to face click on the “Know God” button or link below or on http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you have promised in your Word, the Bible, that Jesus is coming again to take to Heaven all his true followers. Please help me to be sure that I am ready for his possible soon return. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (NIV).
2. Today In The Word, June, 1988, p.33.
Moody Bible Institute.

<:))))><

In the Stands or on the Field

Leave a comment

“So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect [mature] in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.”1

Joseph Stowell, former president of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, said, “I love going to Chicago’s Wrigley Field for a baseball game—sitting in the stands, downing a great hot dog, and cheering the Cubs on to victory!

“Unfortunately, Christianity has become a lot like professional sports. As a friend of mine has observed, there are nine guys on the baseball field doing all the work and thousands in the stands just watching. And as you probably know, that’s not God’s game plan for His people. He wants us to climb out of the stands, get out on the field, and join the team.

“If you are wondering what good you can do on the field, wonder no more. What about your financial resources? Jesus can take your ’silver and gold’ and use it to accomplish great things for His glory.

“But more than just getting out your checkbook, you have gifts you can contribute. God has given each of us gifts that can help advance His kingdom. Whether it’s teaching, encouraging, serving, showing hospitality, or extending mercy, the productive use of each gift can yield great dividends. Let’s follow the example of Paul who tirelessly served on God’s field for the joy of being used by Him.”2

I still remember well one of my grade school teachers who constantly emphasized the importance of being an active participant in life—not just a watcher. Great teaching. As Joe Stowell said, “Believe me, it’s far more rewarding to be on the field than to sit in the stands.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you use ordinary people to accomplish your work on earth. I am available. Please use me to be a part of your plans and what you are doing in the world today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Colossians 1:28-29 (NLT).
2. Cited on KneEmail.
kneemail-subscribe@welovegod.org

<:))))><

True Success

Leave a comment

God’s instructions to Joshua: “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. 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.”1

“A hundred years ago, Ralph Waldo Emerson noted three qualities he deemed marks of true success: the ability to discern and appreciate beauty, the ability to see the best in others, and a commitment to leaving the world a better place.”2

Emerson didn’t say that success is in becoming a powerful politician, a wealthy business man or woman, a popular movie star, sportsman/woman, an outstanding speaker—or even the pastor or leader of a mega church. Nor did he say it had anything to do with physical beauty or material possessions. This is not to say that there is anything wrong, in and of themselves, with any or all of the above, but if this is our definition or measure of success, it has fallen far short of success in the eyes of God.

God’s measure of success is, first of all, in studying and meditating on his Word, the Bible, so we know what it teaches, and second, in obeying all of God’s laws and living in harmony with his will. As God promised Joshua and the people of ancient Israel, if they did this they would become prosperous and successful. Keep in mind, too, being a prosperous person has little if anything to do with material prosperity, but rather it has to do with knowing and obeying God’s Word and living in harmony with his will. Also, having the qualities Emerson described above would also make one very prosperous.

And as another has said, “Judge your success not only by what you’ve become, but by what others have become because of you.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please open the eyes of my understanding so that I will fully grasp the meaning and impact of all your laws and principles for successful and prosperous living and the good sense to obey and live in harmony with all of these. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Joshua 1:7-8 (NIV).
2. R. Robert Cueni, Sermons on the Gospel
Readings, Series I, Cycle C, CSS Publishing
Company.

<:))))><

What Christianity Did for Women

Leave a comment

“Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?’ (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’ … [Later] his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman….”1

Alvin Schmidt, in an article on an Assisted News Service report, asks, “What would be the status of women be in the Western world today had God not entered the world in the flesh of his Son Jesus Christ? One way to answer this question is to look at the low status women still have in I’lamic countries. In Saudi Arabia, for instance, women are not even permitted to drive automobiles, and in the Koran a man is commanded to beat his wives physically if they are disobedient (Sura 4:34).

“When one looks back in history before and at the time of Christ, women, similar to I’lamic countries today, also had very little freedom and dignity. They were seen as evil, inferior, unclean, unequal, and kept silent. Numerous statements in ancient literature attest to this biased cultural perception….

“Reflecting Greek culture,” Homer (eighth century B.C.) wrote, “One cannot trust women” (The Odyssey). The Greek playwright Euripides (d. 406 B.C.) said, “Women were the best devisers of evil” (Medea). Tacitus the first-century Roman pictured women as dominating and cruel (Annals). Among the Hebrews, Jesus son of Sirach (second century B.C.) stated, “From a woman sin had its beginning and because of her we all die” (Ecclesiastus).2

“Women were seen as inferior, unclean, unequal, but it was Jesus and the early Christians, in opposition to the accepted norms of the day and those of ancient tradition, who accepted women as equal and gave them dignity. Jesus ministered to women; he asked a despised Samaritan woman—of all people—to give him a drink of water; he taught women theological truths; and among his closest friends (in equal standing with his men friends) were women. Furthermore, he solidly rebuked the religious Pharisees who attempted to get Jesus to condemn the woman caught in adultery by saying that the man who had never sinned could be the one to cast the first stone at her. And Jesus appeared to women first following his resurrection.

“As apostolic Christianity spread, it gave women freedom and dignity unknown to the ancient world. It did this not only by baptizing and admitting women to the Lord’s Supper—equal to men—but it also gave them leadership roles. St. Paul notes that Apphia ‘our sister’ was a leader in a house church in Colossae (Philemon 2). In Laodicea there was Nympha who had ‘a church in her house’ (Colossians 4:15), and in Ephesus, Priscilla was one of Paul’s fellow workers (Romans 16:3). Phoebe was a key female leader in the church in Cenchreae, where she was a deacon (not deaconess) and a leading officer (Romans 16:1-2). Paul also said Euodia and Syntyche labored with him in the gospel … and the rest of my fellow workers’ (Philippians 4:2-3).

“Christ’s influence had numerous other effects that benefited women. Unlike the pagan Greco-Romans, the early Christians valued baby girls as much as boys. St. Paul commanded husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25).”3

How sad that our secular world fails to see this profound truth as well as numerous other blessings that especially the Western world has gained because of the impact of Jesus and Christianity.4

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, how can I ever thank you for the incredible blessings that have been granted, especially to those of us fortunate enough to have been born in the Western world, that have come as a result of sending your Son, Jesus, to be the Savior of the world, and because of the profound impact Christianity has had on the world. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1 John 4: 6-10; 27 (NIV).
2. © Alvin J. Schmidt, Ph.D., “Christianity Gave Women Freedom and Dignity, Assist News Service (ANS), www.assistnews.net. Get the full story at: www.assistnews.net/stories/2007/s07080019.htm.
3. Ibid.
4.See Alvin Schmidt’s book The Great Divide: the Failure of I’lam and the Triumph of the West (Regina Orthodox Press, 2004).

<:))))><