The Good American

On the way home from church yesterday, my son Andrew was telling me about his class at church. It is fun to see how a little mind works and what details stick out in this memory. Without knowing what the story was ahead of time, it was very hard to know what Bible story had been taught.

His description was as follows: We learned about the man that was beat with a bat and then thrown into a pit. Then the Levi came by and saw that he had blood and said "Oh yuck. He has blood." Then he walked away. Then another guy came by and said, "Oh no, he has blood" and he walked away from the pit. Finally the good American came and helped him. He did this because he was American and he was good.

Of course, the story is supposed to be the Good Samaritan and although he got some of the details wrong, I'm glad that he loves hearing Bible stories and is always excited to share what he has learned with me.

Tired?

Have you ever felt like there was way too much going on all at once in your life? I sure have. Sometimes, with the responsibilities of parenthood, work, ministry, and marriage relationship you can feel a little worn-out just trying to keep up. With all the things that make one tired, I can't think of anything that works harder against alertness than travel. By the time we have settled into our seats on the plane, I am already fighting sleep (and usually losing).

Reading in the Gospel of John chapter 4, I find that Christ also got tired from travelling. That in itself is amazing to me. Think of it, Christ (the creator of the universe) got tired during His travels. He truly was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin. I find even more amazement in how Christ coped with his fatigue.

So often, my response is to find an isolated place and try to get some rest. That is not at all what Christ did. the Bible tells us in verse 6 "Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour." To completely understand what is happening here, you need to study the oriental culture. Much like many cultures throughout the world still today, the well was a central part of the town. It was the place where all would go for water. It was a place that the women would go to daily for the water needs of their household, as they washed dishes, clothes, cooked and cleaned.

To sum it up in a few words, Christ went to the place where people gathered when he was wearied. He chose rather than to seek out some obscure, remote location for rest to follow the leading of the Spirit and go where someone was going to need spiritual water.

The passage also says that "he must needs go through Samaria". Christ never did anything on accident. He always had a purpose in the steps he took. He went that way and rested there (at the well) because He knew there was a need coming His way.

As I go through the day, I am praying that (even when tired and weak) that I will allow God to speak and guide me to the place where there is a need. Christ did this and a lady was saved along with countless others. Later in the passage, it tells us that "they (the men of the city) went out of the city and came unto Him." In the end, many believed because of the word of the woman and many more for the word of Christ.

It's okay to be tired, just don't let your tired keep you from doing something for God.

The Vision of a Child

Mark 9:35-37 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

Luke 18:16-17 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.



Beginning on January 15,1945 and for the next 27 years on both radio and television, Art Linkletter reminded us that kids have a unique perspective on things (One that would be good for us to adopt many times). Kids have a unique ability to cut through the hype and fancy layers and get to the root of the issue.

Yesterday, while playing with my kids (Andrew and Renee) my son presented me with just such a moment. He and Renee were drawing with chalk on the patio and called me to come look at what they had produced. Looking at my son's drawings, I guessed at what they were but got it wrong. My son informed me that it was "sad balloons". Jackie and I asked him why they were sad and he replied that they were sad "because no one had told them about Jesus yet".

Even though the theology might be a little off (balloons being saved), I'm glad the message has resonated in his heart that without Christ there is and can be no joy. We teach them Bible verses and sing Bible songs about joy only coming through a relationship with Christ. How precious and innocent a statement.

I believe that we, too, would benefit from such a viewpoint. Without Christ, there can be no peace or joy. This doesn't only apply to salvation and eternal peace, but also to our daily walk with God. If we, as believers, attempt to live as if God is not Lord in our lives, the best we can hope for is unhappiness.

Thank God for a simple child-like faith and an equally simple point of view.

Doing right brings its own reward

Two months ago, while out doorknocking, we were able to witness to a young mother named Esmeralda. She was wonderfully saved that next week along with her husband. A few weeks ago, she let us know that she is trying to bring her son, Jose Antonio, here from Mexico. He is 12 years old and has early signs of Leukemia.

The family is very poor and didn't have the money needed to bring him here. So, we took an offering to help her in our evening service. To God be the glory, the amount raised was enough to help bring him here. He arrived last week.

Three days ago, Esmeralda noticed that her other son (Christian, pictured at left) was not looking well. She took him to a clinic and they told her that he was having liver problems. He had been the recipient of a liver transplant 3 years ago. It seems that the liver is now trying to reject his body. (Please pray for him and Jose Antonio. Neither of them are saved yet but both are asking a lot of questions.)

While meeting with the family at the hospital this evening, the doctor asked her if she has any family in the area that can be a support system for her and her family during this time. She initially answered "no" but then changed her answer and said this, "My church is my family. They are more like a family to me than my real family is. When I needed help getting my son here, my family didn't do anything to help but my church family did. This IS my family." What a wonderful testimony of God's grace at work in her life.

I'm so glad that the Lord led us to knock on her door and introduce her to the Saviour. I am so glad that she sees our church as her family. I'm so thankful that God has given her a place to belong.

I wonder, what she would be doing right now without God?
How would she be dealing with this situation?

When you do right and show and share the love of God, it truly does bring its own reward.

John 13: 15 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

In my reading this week, I came across a very familiar passage and noticed something new. I love it when the Lord does this. His Word truly is alive, quick and powerful.

In Daniel 1:8 (you would probably think that I would mention something about purposing in your heart, but I'm not going to this time), we read that Daniel "requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself". We see, in this phrase, that humility and submissiveness of Daniel. When many of us might exercise our mouth and say something we later will wish we hadn't, Daniel (realizing that there is a correct way to do these things) requested permission to not defile himself.

The Bible says in Proverbs 15:1-2 "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grevious words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness."

Again in Proverbs 13:3 "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction."

Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying "it is better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

The words that we use and the way in which we use them are VERY important. I imagine that if Daniel had gone to the prince and demanded anything, he would have been rejected and possibly would have lost his life. But he went in with graceful "speech seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6) and the Lord gave him favor with the prince.

I wonder how often the Lord plans to give me favor with others and I go charging in like a bull in a china shop demanding what I desire. This passage proves the point that it does matter how you do something. Even someone with great intentions and right desires will not get as far as someone who goes forward with the right attitude. Don't give up your principles and convictions, but at the same time, don't be a jerk about it. So often, I fear that we have forgotten to be graceful in our speech.

To be able to control our words and our testimony, we must be Spirit led. To walk outside of the leading of the Spirit and try to be Christ-like is, at best, an effort in futility. Romans 8:8 "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."

The key to having the right talk is not to have the right positive mental attitude but rather to have the right influence in your life, the leading of the Holy Spirit of God.

A Successful Church

Last week, my son, Andrew was playing GO FISH with my daughter, Renee, and I and he was quite upset that he was not able to win each game we played. He would giggle and get all excited each time he would collect the cards he was looking for, but each time someone would take one of his cards he would begin to pout and (a couple of times) cry. I asked him what was wrong and he replied, "Dad, I want to win. I don't like to lose." He has such a competitive drive.

None of us likes to lose at anything we do. We all want to be winners. Those that have the most success are often lifted up and given places and positions of prestige and honor because we are a people who hate to lose.

Our desire to be successful should never be confined to only our secular life. We ought always to strive to "run well" so that we may obtain a crown in Heaven. The following characteristics are some of those found in every successful church and, since the church is made up of people, in every successful Christian. May each of us, the Lord helping us, be successful in our Christian life.

Ten Characteristics of a successful church

1. Unity Acts 2:1
A local church ought to be completely different from a secular organization through its spirit of Unity. The United States of America has an expression printed on all the currency it produces, E pluribus unum, which means "out of many, one". This should be the motto of every successful church. God takes each of our individual abilities, talents, and personalities and makes one cohesive body for His glory. (1 Cor. 12)

2. Faithfulness Acts 2:1
This was not a Mystical gathering, but it was a time when the people of God left their homes and with a purpose gathered together in a specific place. We cannot be successful, nor can our church be successful, if we are not in our place. Any body that is missing a part is referred to as handicapped. We handicap our local body of believers when we are not in our place. Hebrews 10:25

3. Power Acts 2:4
A church’s power does not come from its methods, nor its men, nor its organizations, but from the power of the Holy Spirit. Without God, the best plans and intentions are all for naught.

4. Preaching Acts 2:14
It is not the preacher, nor his sermon, nor his eloquence, but the Holy Spirit that makes the sermon live and produce fruit. God uses the "foolishness of preaching" to call men unto Himself. 1 Cor. 1:21

5. Salvation decisions Acts 2:41
These people saved in this passage were not saved because the disciples spoke in tongues, but because they heard the Gospel in their own language in which they were born. The power was not in their speech, but in the simplicity of the Gospel. I Cor. 15:3-4

6. Baptisms Acts 2:41
Notice that baptisms occurred immediately.

7. Bible study Acts 2:42
The successful, growing church will be actively invovled in teaching and studying the Word of God. This is something that not only should be done in the church, but also in the homes of the believers. 2 Timothy 2:15

8. The Lord’s Supper Acts 2:42
This is the second ordenance of the church. The Lord's Supper has no part in our salvation. The Lord's Supper is only for those who have already been saved and scripturally baptized.

9. Offerings Acts 2:45
The Jews practiced the tithe, but now we find that those members of the church were giving above and beyond the tithe. This gift was between the individual and the Lord, it was not given by command but according to the desire of each believer.

10. Personal evangelism (Soulwinning)
People were saved. It was not only the preaching of the Gospel from the pulpit, but also the people of the church were testifying and winning souls. This is still God's plan. We are sent out to go door to door, person to person. The decision to receive Christ as Saviour is an individual one. Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:18-20

I have been reading a wonderful book "the Master's Indwelling" by Andrew Murray. In the few weeks now that I have spent on it, I have received many wonderful reminders of God's great work in my life through His indwelling. I have often wondered why some Christians live as if God is not really there, while others practice the presence and leading of Christ every day. The Scripture tells us that we are to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly. We are also to do everything on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Col. 3:16-17) I really appreciate what Mr. Murray said about knowing God. I hope this will be a blessing to you as well.

"What can be the reason that so many of God’s beloved children complain continually: “My circumstances separate me from God; my trials, my temptations, my character, my temper, my friends, my enemies, anything can come between my God and me?” Is God not able so to take possession that He can be nearer to me than anything in the world? Must riches or poverty, joy or sorrow, have a power over me that my God has not? No. But why, then, do God’s children so often complain that their circumstances separate them from Him? There can be but one answer, “They do not know their God.” If there is trouble or feebleness in the Church of God, it is because of this. We do not know the God we have. That is why in addition to the promise, “I will be thy God,” the promise is so often added, “And ye shall know that I am your God.” If I know that, not through man’s teaching, not with my mind or my imagination; but if I know that, in the living evidence which God gives in my heart, then I know that the divine presence of my God will be so wonderful, and my God Himself will be so beautiful, and so near, that I can live all my days and years a conqueror through Him that loved me. Is not that the life which we need?"

God has been so gracious to me. How much greater ought to be my desire to know Him. This must be the prayer of my life, that I may know my God.