June 22, 2017

"Follow God’s example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father. Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ’s love for you was like sweet perfume to him. Let there be no sex sin, impurity or greed among you. Let no one be able to accuse you of any such things. Dirty stories, foul talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, remind each other of God’s goodness, and be thankful.You can be sure of this: The Kingdom of Christ and of God will never belong to anyone who is impure or greedy, for a greedy person is really an idol worshiper—he loves and worships the good things of this life more than God. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the terrible wrath of God is upon all those who do them. Don’t even associate with such people. For though once your heart was full of darkness, now it is full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it! Because of this light within you, you should do only what is good and right and true." Ephesians 5:1-9

Although Ben is a close relative of mine our stories couldn't be more different.

I made a decision to follow Christ at seven years old, surrendered to His Lordship at fourteen and answered the call to full-time ministry at 18. By the age of 22 I was leading a Wesleyan Church in Princeton, Illinois.

Did I have lapses in my spiritual walk?

Sure.

Did I make some unwise decisions in my teen years?

Of course I did.

But did I develop harmful sinful habits?

No, I didn't.

Unlike Ben, I resisted temptations to try smoking or get involved with drinking alcohol. Those were habits I never developed. I have never smoked and never started drinking. 

I had some unstable people in my life who were alcoholics and I got an up close look at the futility brought on by that addiction and the pain it inflicts on others. That cured me of any desire to get involved with alcohol.

God gave me the wisdom to surround myself with like-minded godly people. I stayed active in church, youth group, youth camps, youth rallies and a Campus Life group in my high school. Playing high school baseball and basketball helped keep me busy, physically fit and personally disciplined. And being accepted by the "in crowd" at high school was not a high priority for me. I liked everyone and most people liked me.

In college I was a spiritual leader on campus, a leader in student government, a leader in my class, played soccer in the Fall, basketball in the Winter and baseball in the Spring.

I know what you are thinking, "You were one boring kid."

Pretty much.

It's a solid resume' but not the spectacular testimony people clamor to hear. No one will want to write a book or make a movie about my story.

But, unlike Ben, I came through high school and college without harmful habits I had to overcome. So, overcoming harmful habits was not much of a struggle for me. I'm thankful for that!

Don't get me wrong, I have some bad habits. I bite my fingernails. I don't get enough sleep. I tend to drive too fast. I don't call my mother often enough.

My struggle has been consistently developing helpful and holy habits. It is a daily challenge to carve out a quiet time in the Word and prayer. It requires daily discipline to walk in the Spirit. Making time to read a good book each week is not always easy. Its a struggle to get into the gym several times a week to stay fit. Developing friendships with men who don't know Jesus is an ongoing challenge. Scheduling time to visit or meet regularly with other Christians requires constant attention. For many years I blocked out a day each month to go away somewhere and spend a day with God. I am finding that hard to maintain recently.

So defeating harmful habits is essential for every believer who is devoted to following God. If God has changed your heart your habits need to reflect that!

A holy heart must be demonstrated by holy habits.

God can change your heart but only you can change your habits.

Are you still battling a harmful habit?

What is your plan for overcoming that habit?

Who is helping you and who is holding you accountable?

We're in this battle together SO LET'S WIN IT!

We must repeal our harmful habits and replace them with holy habits - beginning today!

June 21, 2017

"And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy—the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you." Romans 12:1-2

Michael Frost writes in "Surprise the World", "The links between our (inner) spirituality and our (outward) action are far greater that man believe. In fact, Jesus and the New Testament writers saw a powerful integration of faith and action, so much so that they found it impossible to separate them. In fact, to separate a person from his or her actions can be very dangerous."

Swiss psychiatrist, Carl once said, "You are what you do, not what you say you'll do."

As Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."

If you transfer that concept to faith. You can make the case that faith is not an act, a single choice, or even a system of belief; it is a habit!

Habits are hard to change because they are hardwired into the default setting that is our sinful nature. The selfish attitudes, appetites and actions that arise from the evil nature lend themselves to habitual and harmful tendencies.

Habits are connected to our emotions, our desires and our needs. Those connections give habits a powerful hold on us. But since our sinful nature is self-destructive and habits are connected to the sinful nature it is clear to see why habits can be destructive.

In the Scripture reference above, Paul shares the powerful news with the Christians in Rome that God in Christ has changed their hearts. God through the Holy Spirit is transforming their minds. Now it is up to them to draw on their relationship with Christ to help them change their habits.

The Bible is clear that God does what only He can do by changing your heart but He also expects you to do what only you can do and change your habits.

Since your heart is changed and your mind renewed what are you doing to change your habits?

What are you doing to make sure your habits reflect the changes that have happened in your heart?

What do you need to do?

When will you do it?

What are you waiting for?

Who will you choose to hold you accountable?

June 20, 2017

"But someone may well argue, “You say the way to God is by faith alone, plus nothing; well, I say that good works are important too, for without good works you can’t prove whether you have faith or not; but anyone can see that I have faith by the way I act.” James 2:18

Isn't it true when someone mentions the word "habit" your first thoughts go toward your bad habits?

There's no doubt bad habits are powerful and can be destructive. Perhaps you are struggling with a harmful habit as you read this.

Fill the blank in this sentence, "My life would be easier if I could break this ________ habit."

If you can acknowledge the power of a negative habit maybe you could appreciate the power of a positive habit.

By definition a habit is a regular tendency or practice that has become so ingrained in your subconsciousness that you do it without thinking.

Now, remember, it could be a bad habit or a good habit. Both can be very powerful but bad habits seem easier to form and harder to break than good habits.

Bad habits are like a bag of potato chips or a box of Paul's donuts, they are easy to pick up but hard to put down.

In the verse above, James gives some insights into how to put those bad habits down. He gives you a two-part solution.

First, let God change your heart. The word "faith" appears three times in this rather short verse. Faith in Jesus Christ to save you from your sin and transform your mind IS the key. Nothing short of this supernatural work of God through Christ will have the power to deliver you from your bad habits. The worst habit of all is sinning and change begins there! Faith is trusting God to do what you are not able to do.

Have you placed your faith in Christ to save you from your sin? Are you trusting Him for a spiritual transformation?

Second, you must demonstrate the change in your heart through dramatic changes in your habits! Only God can change your heart but He will leave it to you to change your habits.

So, if you have been praying for God to change your habits and waiting for it to happen. Change that habit first! You can ask Him to help you but it is your responsibility to make those changes.

Conquering bad habits starts with a change of heart but then requires a partnership with God.

All this week and in my message on Sunday I will share some practical Biblical help on breaking bad habits and making helpful ones.

June 19, 2017

"But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD." Genesis 6:8


If it were easy being a good dad, everyone would be doing it.


Noah qualifies as a good dad. I think you could put him in the great dad category.


That begs the question, "What defines a great dad?"


Here's my answer based on what I know of the Bible and from what I see of Noah:

1) He pleased God.

That's what it means to find "favor" with God. He was a great earthly father because he pleased his Heavenly Father. How? By being "righteous, blameless and walked with God".

2) He prayed

Where does it say that? How did he know about building the ark? God gave Noah a detailed description on how to build something he had never seen before - a boat!

3) He persevered

For over 100 years he worked on constructing the ark. Every day for more than a century he got up and went to work on this ship of salvation.

4) He protected his family

Obviously, he delivered his family from the flood waters, but more importantly, he protected them spiritually from the moral corruption of that day.

5) He provided for his family.

As a responsible bread-winner, Noah made sure his wife and children had what they needed.

Noah is in the Hall of Faith listed in Hebrews 11. Rightly so! But he also ranks high on the Hall of Fathers. He became a great father by pleasing His Heavenly Father!

How about you? Have you found favor with God? Are you pleasing your Heavenly father by being righteous, by being blameless, and by walking with Him?

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! June 18, 2017

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." Ephesians 6:4

Every golfer dreams of being able to play in the U.S. Open golf tournament. Only the best players in the world get to tee it up on some the greatest courses in the world for a chance to become a U.S. Open Champion and secure a place in golf history.

Winning a U.S. Open not only places a player among golf's elite but allows him to carry the title of U.S. Open Champion for the rest of his life.

Phil Mickelson has won five major golf championships. He has won three Masters' Championships, a PGA Championship and British Open Championship. The one major championship that has eluded him is the U.S. Open and he desperately wants to win one. Phil is in his late fortys and the clock is running down on his opportunities to win that coveted title.

As much as he desires to win an Open and be known as a U.S. Open Champion for the rest of his life, and you can be sure that he does! The title he treasures more is the title of "FATHER".

That explains why Phil Mickelson is not playing in the U.S. Open for the first time in 24 years. Phil withdrew from this years U.S. Open to attend the High School graduation of his daughter. She is the Valedictorian of her high school class and was scheduled to deliver the graduation speech to her class at their commencement exercised. Graduating at the top of her class indicates she is a very intelligent and industrious young lady and Phil wanted to honor that sort of effort by making sure he was there for her graduation. And he was, which means he was not in Erin, Wisconsin playing in the U. S. Open.

Phil gave up something that means a great deal to him in order to show his daughter that she means a great deal more! It's hard to comprehend how much that will mean to her. She will always remember the year her dad passed up on playing in the U.S. Open to come to her graduation.

What a wonderful example of fatherhood by this world-famous golfer!

Avid golfers will always remember the year Phil pulled out of the U. S. Open and there will be those who will be critical of Phil for choosing not tp be there.

But there will also be a young lady who will always remember that her dad, Phil Mickelson, was there when she graduated with honors!

Well played, Phil!

Great form!

What are you willing to sacrifice today to show your child how much he/she means to you?

Happy Father's Day!

June 17, 2017

"He (Jesus) answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:39-40

"Three days and three nights in a fish's belly? Are you kidding me?"

You have to admit the story of Jonah sounds a bit far-fetched. He ran from God's will and was thrown overboard during a vicious storm. When he was thrown overboard he was swallowed by a "great fish" where he remained for three days and nights. That unfortunate event was enough to convince him to obey God. Once he made that decision, the gigantic fish spit him up onto dry land - exactly where he needed to be.

Wow! Happens all the time, right?

I believe it because I believe God's Word and I know God is well able to do something like this. In this case, I believe it because Jesus refers to the story of Jonah as a true story. Even his adversaries believed the story of Jonah even though they didn't believe Jesus.

A second objection that skeptics offer to challenge the inerrancy of the Scriptures is this one, "Could Jonah REALLY have survived in the belly of a fish?"

Actually, yes! There a several reports of mariners in the modern era who have been swallowed by whales yet survived the ordeal. It's been documented that there would be enough oxygen within the whale's body for a human to survive for three days. Those are the natural facts, but Jonah's survival was supernatural!

Those who ridicule the story of Jonah and point to it as evidence to discredit the Bible offer no objective or logical argument. Neither do they offer any contrary evidence. All they bring to the table is their anti-supernatural bias. From that standpoint alone, our argument is just as valid as theirs because we have as much right to an opinion as they do.

However, we do have some evidence to support our claims. Chief among the evidence is the fact that Jesus twice is documented as referring to Jonah (Matthew 12 and Luke 11). He is not pointing to Jonah as a fairy-tale, but as fact.

If you don't take the supernatural out of play, you can easily believe that God could create a "great fish" especially designed for the task, He could put the fish where it needed to be and turn it into transportation to deliver to the shore near Nineveh.

God created all the other sea creatures, He could certainly have done this.

Incidentally, the miracle of Jonah and the fish was the next to last miracle that happened in the Old Testament.

What was the last miracle?

The final miracle of the Old Testament was what happened when Jonah went to the wicked city of Nineveh and preached - the entire city repented and was converted! Talk about supernatural!

It is easier to prove that the Jonah event did happen than it is to prove otherwise! So, if someone tells you this sounds "fishy" - don't take the bait!

So Called "Errors" of Scripture #1

"Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4

I am glad that Jesus said "every word". I am also glad that He didn't say, "Man does not live on bread alone but on almost every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Apparently, Jesus believed in the inerrancy of the Word. Evidently He was confident that the Word of God was inspired and reliable.

Alex McFarland, in his book "The Ten Most Common Objections to Christianity" says, "Biblical writers use phrases such as 'Thus saith the Lord' or "The word of the Lord came to me saying.....' at least 600 times. In total, there are around 3,000 references of the Bible as a whole, or at least a part of it, as being the Word of God. Keep in mind that none of the writers collaborated on their works. This wasn't a Bible Boys Club where everyone brainstormed book ideas. There were years - sometimes centuries - between writers. Yet it is obvious that each scribe understood the divine interpretation behind other books."

Who would recognize divine inspiration more than one who had experienced it himself?

So, why do some doubt its inspiration? Why are there those who claim it is filled with errors? What are their objections?

Let me deal with some of the so called "errors" of Scripture.

• So called error one: Because the Bible doesn't tell us where Cain found his wife, it is suspect.

Skeptics sometimes raise the topic of Cain's wife (Gen. 4:17). So, where did Cain's wife come from? Were there other races of people that the Bible fails to mention? Did aliens come down from a far away galaxy and mingle with humans? Huh? What about that, huh?

What do you say we start with the obvious? Cain married one of his sisters.

But doesn't that violate the biblical commandment against incest? Huh? How about that, huh?

No! The command from Moses that prohibited marrying a close relative did not come until at least 400 years later.

Interesting how these skeptics who often want to under mind the Scriptures in order to banish the foundations of absolute morality, suddenly become moral guardians when it suits their purposes.

"Every promise in the book is mine, every page, every verse every line......."