Month: June 2008

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12

I’ve witnessed some pretty awesome things in my life; skies filled with parachutes over Panama, sunsets in Kuwait, an M1 tanks firing the main gun, early morning flights over the North Georgia mountains, a demo charge sending debris 100’s of feet in the sky, and the beaches of the Solomon Islands. But there is nothing more awesome than our God. I have seen miracles of healing and reconciliation. I have seen His crushing judgment on those who would practice evil. I have seen Him rise up the down trodden from the ashes. Our God is awesome God, He reigns from heaven above! Worship Him for He is worthy. SP297

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

One of the toughest transitions I’ve ever had to make was going from enlistedman to Non-Commissioned Officer. I went from follower to leader, from carefree to the burden of responsibility, from one looking up to one being looked up to. It was a challenging transformation. It meant a different relationship with my peers and my leaders. I could no longer do some of the things I could as a private. I now had to set the example. I took on greater responsibility for technical and tactical knowledge. I had to shed the old enlisted ways and take on the new NCO ways. In like manner we do the same as we go from an unregenerate person of the world to a child of God. We have new values, responsibilities, and even new authority. Live up to those stripes. SP296

The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. Isaiah 57:1-2

The bad news carried on the airwaves. A plane carrying soldiers from the 101st had crashed in Gander. Initially, we had no report of who was on the aircraft. But three of the Company Commanders in the Battalion were very close friends of mine and the odds were high at least one of them was on that plane. In time, I discovered Brian had perished in the crash. Brian was an energetic young West Pointer with loads of potential. He was a man of God who had committed his life to the mission field while deployed to the Sinai. Why would God take such a talented young disciple in the infancy of his service? The answer may never be clear, but my wife found the verse above in her quiet time and it was great comfort to me. Perhaps God was bringing him home early to protect him from some evil. Even in our deepest grief we can be certain that God is in control and has a plan. SP295

Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
(Luke 2:46)

The two most important skills of a disciple, listening and asking questions. At 12 years old Jesus was listening and asking questions in the temple. As He did so intently as a child, He would expect the same of His disciples later (Mk 4.3,9-10). Carefully listening is the first step of faith in Jesus. Not allowing all our presuppositions to plug our ears but straining to take in all that He says. The next is having the spiritual hunger and thirst to ask questions. To be inquisitive, investigate, to be humble enough to say to God and others, “I don’t understand.” God loves a seeker. (1 Chron 28.9) Listen and ask questions. FJ12b

They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. Sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. “For he who is not against us is for us. “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
(Mark 9:33-41)

If we are in the business of training young leaders there will be mistakes. How do we treat young men who make mistakes in their zeal for Jesus? Here’s how Jesus did it.

“But there is such a thing also as honest scrupulosity, and it is more common than many imagine. There is a certain tendency to intolerant exaction, and to severity in judging, in the unripe stage of every earnest life. For the conscience of a young disciple is like a fire of green logs, which smokes first before it burns with a clear blaze. And a Christian whose conscience is in this state must be treated as we treat a dull fire: he must be borne with, that is, till his conscience clear itself of bitter, cloudy smoke, and become a pure, genial, warm flame of zeal tempered by charity.” A. B. Bruce “The Training of the Twelve”

Who has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. 2 Timothy 1:9

I received an Army Commendation Medal for my service in Korea but I’m not sure why. First, I never wanted to go to Korea and after a year deferment, thinking the Army had forgotten, I was finally sent to the “Land of the Morning Calm.” Once I got to Korea, I didn’t quit sniveling about being there until I was on the plane coming home. The only reason I was in the ROK was because my Army and Country wanted me there and I decided it would be best to follow orders. It was my duty. And there I was getting an award for something I didn’t want to do in the first place. Sometimes serving God is a lot like that. We are blessed simply by being a part of His purpose. There are times we may go kicking and screaming. Sometimes we don’t even do the best job we could. And yet because it’s His purpose we end up reaping the benefits. We’d probably live a lot longer if we’d just relax and go with the flow, God’s flow that is. SP294

Read Luke 2.41-50

Joseph and Mary leave Jerusalem at the conclusion of the Feast of the Passover and head home. “…After spending the full number of days…” they had met their religious obligation. But “the boy Jesus stayed behind.” A full day into their trek home His parents realize He was missing. Another three days of searching reveled He had never left the Temple. His parents may have been done performing their religious duties, but He had only begun. His response to His emotionally drained parents was matter of fact, “…Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” (Lk 2:49) When the prescribed days were finished, Jesus wasn’t. Are we just paying our dues or does our relationship with the Father cause us to linger? Is being with Jesus more than fulfilling an obligation? FJ12a

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Isaiah 55:2

One of the things I loved about the Ranger Battalion was that we could always expect a great meal in the mess hall when we returned from a deployment. Sometimes we had steak, sometimes steak and shrimp; sometimes we even had steak and lobster. What a feast! I would eat until I almost bust. God invites us to do the same at His table. He bids us to come and eat spiritual food that is free and plenty. He has laid out a delicious smorgasbord of spiritual food and all we have to do is come help ourselves to the feast. Where is this fantastic culinary fair? It’s in His Word. “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.” (Jeremiah 15:16) SP293

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

I served in the Army for 29 years and wear no combat patch. And yet I have been at war 24/7 since December 23, 1979 when I received Christ as my Lord and Savior. Daily battles with the evil one and his darkness. Some days intense, others mild but always the struggle to Pray and read my Bible. Always a battle to believe that God can do all things. Always a struggle to share the life giving message with souls that are lost. Always a battle to train up other faithful men who will teach others also. But what is the cost of quitting, or surrender? To war then, to war! Brothers and sisters are you surprised at the strife you encounter in living out your faith, don’t be. You are in the great conflict. It’s for the souls of men and your reward to come. But know this first of all; the victory already belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. So fight on! Read, Pray, Obey, Share and Trust! And we will all drink deep in His victorious glory when the battle is done. SP292

Read Matthew 2.19-23

Joseph and Mary were hiding in Egypt until Herod died, why? Couldn’t God have just taken him out earlier? They were afraid to live in Judea because Herod’s son was the new ruler, interesting. Couldn’t God have protected them? The angel warned them and they end up in Galilee, why? Couldn’t they have raised Jesus anywhere? Nope. All these so called obstacles served as bumpers to accomplish the Father’s ultimate purposes. In the end they channelize Jesus and His parents into fulfilling prophesy. “He shall be called a Nazarene.” Nazareth becomes the city where Jesus grows up according to the sovereign plan of God. Recently, I was told I most likely have Multiple Scorsese (MS). I have two choices. I can see it as a great tragedy and worry myself sick about this sickness. Or I can embrace it as God’s sovereign will for my life and look for the blessings that come with it. I’d rather trust God than get bitter. What are the “obstacles” you see in your life? Embrace these circumstances as bumpers to channel you into the Father’s will. FJ10