A Christian friend of mine has undergone an unpleasant divorce, one they didn't want. For some, dwindling bank account looks worrysome in the face of rising gas prices. Tensions in the Middle East are near the boiling point. Perhaps you have a child who has made some bad decisions in life: I am reminded of Carol Kent, a Christian speaker whose son is serving a life sentence for murder. Or perhaps you are a missionary worried about difficulties getting onto the field: you've been traveling to churches for two years and have only been able to raise a third of your support. Or, perhaps you're a Christian imprisoned in a country like China, Vietnam or Cuba. I am also reminded of a good friend of mine, Andy Knight, who survived a horrific fire and is working to get a church started in the Hartford, Conn. area.
What does Scripture tell us about our heartaches? The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:18: "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Bottom line: it will be worth it all.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Pastors and Politics
Recently, Republican presidential candidate John McCain rejected Pastor John Hagee's endorsement of him. Hagee, who pastors San Antonio megachurch Cornerstone Church, said the endorsement was as an individual and not as a pastor. Apparently, McCain took issue to some of Hagee's comments regarding the Catholic church and the Holocaust. Hard to say. Bottom line is, McCain's people determined that Hagee's comments were simply bad for business.
Hagee, meanwhile, has announced his withdrawal of his endorsement for the Arizona senator.
The un-endorsement is fitting, since Hagee should not have given it in the first place.
I'm not saying it because I'm an independent conservative who has problems with McCain, but rather for these reasons: a pastor's job is three-fold: to evangelize (i.e., preach the Gospel), to edify or encourage other believers through discipleship and to teach the Bible. If anything gets in the way of these, they need to be halted.
Hagee, meanwhile, has announced his withdrawal of his endorsement for the Arizona senator.
The un-endorsement is fitting, since Hagee should not have given it in the first place.
I'm not saying it because I'm an independent conservative who has problems with McCain, but rather for these reasons: a pastor's job is three-fold: to evangelize (i.e., preach the Gospel), to edify or encourage other believers through discipleship and to teach the Bible. If anything gets in the way of these, they need to be halted.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Feeling frustrated in your walk? You might be onto something
It's easy to get discouraged in the Christian walk. I know that happens to me periodically. If you get the chance, check out Bruce Carroll's song "Something Good is Bound to Happen." Basically, the song talks about how the devil doesn't bother the inactive Christians. If you find a lot of things seeming to go wrong, it's possible the devil sees just how much you can do for God and is doing everything he can to hinder you. It's something to ponder and get encouragement from.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Horrible dream about hell
A few nights ago I had one of those dreams that made me so glad I'm a Christian who will never have to experience eternal punishment. In the dream (which, thankfully, I knew was a dream), I died and went to hell. I came face-to-face with this man who apparently was Satan. I remember soemthing about a red face, yellow eyes and horns. I turned away from him and in every direction I turned I came face-to-face with an absolutely hideous creature. The ugliness I saw terrified me, in a way that told me there was zero hope.
It makes me wonder what it's like for people who die and go to hell. I can imagine they find themselves praying someone will revive them while others will quickly pray the sinner's prayer in a vain hope that it's not too late.
As far as hell/lake of fire, here's what I know: It's an eternal assault on your five senses; you'll spend all of eternity reliving all the countless opportunities you had to escape; you grapple with unbelievable, unrelenting agony from extreme heat, thirst, pressure and suffocation.
In other words, hell is as terrible as heaven is wonderful. Do whatever you can to avoid eternal punishment.
It makes me wonder what it's like for people who die and go to hell. I can imagine they find themselves praying someone will revive them while others will quickly pray the sinner's prayer in a vain hope that it's not too late.
As far as hell/lake of fire, here's what I know: It's an eternal assault on your five senses; you'll spend all of eternity reliving all the countless opportunities you had to escape; you grapple with unbelievable, unrelenting agony from extreme heat, thirst, pressure and suffocation.
In other words, hell is as terrible as heaven is wonderful. Do whatever you can to avoid eternal punishment.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Pray for Huang Chuncai
He's a Chinese man who recently received the second of what will be many operations. Doctors are working to remove facial tumors (which originally weighed an astonishing 23 kilograms, or about 50.7 pounds). For Huang, the tumors have been growing since he was a child; he's in his early thirties now. My understanding is that doctors in China removed 13 kilograms in the first operation and have removed more of the tumors in the second operation. Once all the tumors are removed, the next step for Huang will be facial reconstructive surgery. The tumors have stretched out his face, knocked out his teeth and have even blocked one of his eyes.
This link is a recent one. CAUTION: The images are very graphic. If you have a weak stomach, you might want to skip this. I post this because this man's plight needs attention. May God work His way in Huang's crisis.
This link is a recent one. CAUTION: The images are very graphic. If you have a weak stomach, you might want to skip this. I post this because this man's plight needs attention. May God work His way in Huang's crisis.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Discouragement—it’s hardly a new concept
Feeling discouraged? I know I do. There’s plenty for me to feel discouraged about: finances, my career, my family, the place I live, wondering if I’m really making a difference in God’s universe, and so on. Life is like a race where many of us from time to time have felt like quitting.
But if you think you’re alone in your discouragement, think again.
Moses in Numbers 11 was discouraged, even getting frustrated at one point about being in charge of the Israelites and asking God to relieve him of his command. Elijah, that great prophet who brought down fire from heaven to defeat the false prophets of Baal, was discouraged in 1 Kings 19 to the point to where he wanted God to end his life.
Remember Galatians 6:9: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
But if you think you’re alone in your discouragement, think again.
Moses in Numbers 11 was discouraged, even getting frustrated at one point about being in charge of the Israelites and asking God to relieve him of his command. Elijah, that great prophet who brought down fire from heaven to defeat the false prophets of Baal, was discouraged in 1 Kings 19 to the point to where he wanted God to end his life.
Remember Galatians 6:9: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Anger and bitterness--they're not worth it
Lately I’ve dealt with anger and bitterness. Anger over the injustice and stupidity I see in the world. Bitterness I’ve felt against that those that have wronged me over the years.
Andy Knight, a good friend of mine from college, said something about bitterness that really made me stop and consider my ways: “Try not to be bitter. It’s highly over rated.”
When you consider what Andy’s been through, it’s an extremely telling statement.
Andy is the survivor of a fire that put third and fourth-degree burns over much of his body. He also pastors in New England, one of the most spiritually-challenging areas of the country.
When I think of Andy’s words, it really puts anger and bitterness into perspective; it’s also a very strong encouragement to not allow these two to get a stranglehold on my own life.
Paul encourages us in Ephesians 4:26-27 to not sin through our anger and to not allow the sun to go down on our wrath (meaning that we should resolve an issue of contention before the completion of the day); by failing to do this, we are allowing the devil to subtly work in our lives. Furthermore, Paul writes in verse 31, we are to get rid of anger.
James writes in James 1:19-20 that it’s imperative to be slow to anger, since our anger does not bring about the type of righteous life God wants for us.
As far as bitterness go, Paul tells us, again, in Ephesians 4:31, to get rid of it. We also read in Hebrews 12:14-17:
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
“looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
“lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
“For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”
Bottom line: if you allow anger and bitterness to govern your life, you as a Christian are cheating yourself out of the type of walk with God that God so desperately wants for you.
Andy Knight, a good friend of mine from college, said something about bitterness that really made me stop and consider my ways: “Try not to be bitter. It’s highly over rated.”
When you consider what Andy’s been through, it’s an extremely telling statement.
Andy is the survivor of a fire that put third and fourth-degree burns over much of his body. He also pastors in New England, one of the most spiritually-challenging areas of the country.
When I think of Andy’s words, it really puts anger and bitterness into perspective; it’s also a very strong encouragement to not allow these two to get a stranglehold on my own life.
Paul encourages us in Ephesians 4:26-27 to not sin through our anger and to not allow the sun to go down on our wrath (meaning that we should resolve an issue of contention before the completion of the day); by failing to do this, we are allowing the devil to subtly work in our lives. Furthermore, Paul writes in verse 31, we are to get rid of anger.
James writes in James 1:19-20 that it’s imperative to be slow to anger, since our anger does not bring about the type of righteous life God wants for us.
As far as bitterness go, Paul tells us, again, in Ephesians 4:31, to get rid of it. We also read in Hebrews 12:14-17:
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
“looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
“lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
“For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”
Bottom line: if you allow anger and bitterness to govern your life, you as a Christian are cheating yourself out of the type of walk with God that God so desperately wants for you.
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