The Danger of Sadness

There are people who contend that one of the true marks of holiness is being dour and sullen.  The more miserable and brooding you are, the more you show spiritual maturity.

I remember when I was growing up there was a woman in our church who wore all black, no makeup, and would often get agitated with my friends and myself for things like running or laughing inside the church.  

One time she demanded that an usher take us to our parents.  My friend asked the usher, “Why is sister Sue so grumpy?”  The usher got very serious. “Boys, she’s not grumpy, she’s very holy.”  What’s silly, is that when we heard this we actually got scared.

Silly, but not funny

Pope Francis has affected a lot of people with his profound kindness and joyfulness.  While he was in the US this past September he visited people and places often overlooked; leaving them encouraged and filled with the hope that God loves them.  

While there are many people who are profoundly impressed by Pope Francis, there are many who do not share his views, even some who are hostile towards him.  An example of this occurred after the Pope tweeted…

A Christian is never bored or sad. Rather, the one who loves Christ is full of joy and radiates joy. (June 30, 2013)

Judging from the responses to this statement you would’ve thought the Pope had said that Jesus was the antichrist and Lucifer was his brother.  Thousands of people tweeted things like…

“What gives him the right to talk like this?!!!”
“This is not a proper attitude for the Holy Father”

However some of the sharpest criticisms of the Pope’s tweet came from the evangelical community. Not only tweets that fired back at him, but also blogs and online magazines lit up in disapproval.  Here’s one example,

The assumption that we can necessarily “flourish and thrive” and “become more and more everything” on this side of heaven seems a disappointing setup for any believer. (Jennifer Boardman, The Debbie Downers of Christianity, Christianity Today, Aug. 2013)

While I would certainly agree that anything on “this side of heaven” pales in comparison with what is coming, the idea that Christians should be less-than happy until heaven is what I take umbrage with.

Real Christians should be joyful

Life is full of challenges and difficulties, and Christians are not immune from them.  But what makes life with Christ different is that we now have God’s power available to us no matter what we face.  It’s His power that gives us the hope of victory and the certainty of life. It’s also God’s power that creates joyfulness in us independent of, and even in spite of, circumstances.

The joy that God gives is an important part of our faith in Him. His joy is a spiritual fruit confirming our faith (Gal. 5:22). His joy even becomes strength for us (Neh. 8:10).  In fact, being joyful is God’s will for our lives (1 Thess. 5:16-18).

Joyfulness may not stop kids from running or talking in church, and there will always be people who like looking, talking, acting, even writing drab; but a smile that radiates from a joyful heart will have an impact unlike anything else!

image

Maybe Even When You See a Seagull

image

At the top of my legal pad I wrote: 

The most important factor in our testimony is thankfulness

Those words brought to my mind a story I read a few years ago. It was about the thankfulness of an old man that caused him to visit a pier every Friday night with a large bucket of shrimp. Seagulls would flock around him and he would feed them from his hands.

Many years before…

In October 1942, the legendary Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was on a mission in a B-17 to deliver an important message to General Douglas MacArthur in New Guinea.  But somewhere over the South Pacific the Flying Fortress became lost beyond the reach of radio. Fuel began to run dangerously low eventually forcing them to ditch the plane in the ocean.  Stranded on the ocean for nearly a month, Captain Eddie and his crew fought the elements to survive.

They spent many sleepless nights recoiling as giant sharks rammed their raft, but of all their enemies at sea one proved most formidable: starvation. Eight days out, their rations were long gone or destroyed by the salt water. It would take a miracle to sustain them, and a miracle occurred. 

Captain Rickenbacker’s own words record the moment

One of our crew, Captain William Cherry, read from the Bible and then prayed, and then we sang a hymn. There was some talk, but it tapered off in the oppressive heat. With my hat pulled down over my eyes to keep out some of the glare, I dozed off.  Then something landed on my head. I knew that it was a seagull.  No one said a word, but peering out from under my hat brim without moving my head, I could see the expression on their faces. They were staring at that gull. The gull meant food if I could catch it.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Captain Eddie caught the gull. Its flesh was eaten. Its intestines were used for bait to catch fish. The survivors were sustained and their hopes renewed because a lone seagull.

Captain Rickenbacker never forgot

Every Friday evening at sunset until his death in 1973, you could find Captain Eddie Rickenbacker out on a pier on a lonely stretch of coast in eastern Florida with a bucket filled with shrimp.  He fed the seagulls as an expression of thanks for the one who gave his life to save his.

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20)

How much has God done for you?  How many times has He proven faithful and showered your life with His blessings?  Then give Him thanks!  Tell about what He’s done and what He means to you.  Do it at sunset, and at sunrise.  Do it on a pier, and in your house.  Wherever you go, maybe even when you see a seagull, be thankful to God!

The Giving God

I’ve heard it said a thousand times, “We need to pray more.” (I’ve probably said it myself a thousand times). While I would agree, we do need to pray more, I’m increasingly convinced that the reason we don’t pray more isn’t because we are sinful, rebellious, or even lazy.

The reason we don’t pray more is because we misunderstand God

Even for people who understand faith, asking God for something often gives rise to different kinds of doubt. One may say, “I am so insignificant”; another, “I am so sinful”; another, “I am so hard-hearted”; and another, “I am so undeserving.” 

What’s scary is that every one of these doubts are true. And if God’s response to our prayer was based on whether or not we deserve or qualify for it, we might as well forget it.  Which really explains our prayerlessness. 

But it’s not about us…it’s about God!

Jesus’ half brother James gives us a dramatic insight to our prayers and how God responds to them. He tells us…


If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (1:5)

Then James makes an even stronger statement about God… 


Every good thing, and every gift is from God, who gives relentlessly, without
reproaching us, both to the good and evil, the grateful and the ungrateful. There is no variation in the Father of lights who gives without reproach. Whatever things you have you have received; and you’ve received them from one ultimate source, the Father of lights. (1:7, expanded)

In other words God is not just a God who happens to give. He is defined by his giving as the God who gives. 

What an encouraging title, “The Giving God" 

He is the God who is accustomed to give, who is known amongst men and ages as "The Giver”! And that there may be the utmost encouragement he gives to all.  He gives limitlessly.  He never tires of giving.

Through this insight to God’s character, we discover that God actually longs to have great things asked of Him.

Go to little men for little things. Go to a great man to do a great thing.  But God, Creator of all things, may be asked for the largest gifts, since no giving can possibly render Him unable. 

God is so delighted to have us ask, that he would have us be more ashamed of not coming to him with our needs than for any other fault or sin.

I think we need to pray more.

image

They Saw Something

image

If you and I compared the people who have had the most impact on our lives, there’s one thing they would have in common: they saw something in us that we didn’t see. It’s this type of influence that can change a person’s life.

To see beyond “what is” to “what could be”

People who claim to be prophets often scare me. Not so much because of what they are saying, but how they say it.  There is usually King James English words thrown into a really intoned sounding voice that loses me at the start.

Vision into a person’s future should not be some spooky clairvoyant thing, but a simple product of faith.  It’s the kind of faith that causes one to trust what God has said about, and what He has promised to, His people. It’s looking at a person through the lens of God’s Word with confidence.  

And this kind of confidence does not have to be brash, aggressive, or loud.  But it does need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.  God’s Spirit will give you the right thing to say, at the right time, for the right person, but it should never make you self-assured.  

God is going to use you now

The persons who impacted your life were examples of what God wants to do through you.  They were your tutors of spiritual things that cannot be learned in the natural.  And by their obedience to speak what they saw into your life, you now can effect change in other people’s lives.

You may not think you’re capable, but you are.  You’ve been selected for this duty.  And you’re not alone.


Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. (Ephesians 3:20)

The same Holy Spirit that led that person to speak into your life those words that redirected your steps, encouraged your heart, strengthened your resolve, and brought about life-saving change is the same Spirit who dwells in you. Trust Him to show you the good things that are in store for that person. Then speak what He’s showing you.  

Skip the King James.

image

Being Offended

image

There’s a glass-enclosed biosphere near Tucson, Arizona called “Biosphere 2.” Four men and four women volunteered for the two-year isolation experiment. All were accomplished scientists.  All had undergone psychological testing and preparation.  All had entered the biosphere fully briefed on the rigors they would face while sealed off from the outside world.  Yet, within a matter of two months the eight “bionauts” had split into two groups, and during the final months of the experiment these two groups refused to speak to each other.

Being offended by somebody is bound to happen

“It is inevitable that offense will happen” -Jesus (Luke 17:1)

There are three possibilities: 1) We’ve been offended; 2) We’ve been the offender; 3) or most likely, we’ve been both!  The fact is that when we’ve been offended, often we become offenders.

But offense can be very subtle, and yet it will begin to affect every aspect of our lives.  This is why the Bible is so emphatic that wherever and whenever an offense has taken place, it must be dealt with quickly. The writer of Hebrews tells us why…


Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. (Hebrews 12:15) 

The first reason we are told to be on guard for bitterness or offence in our lives is because it will “take root.” This means that if not dealt with, the hurt of the offense will settle into our lives for the long-term, and subsequently cause other problems.

But the “root” doesn’t go away easy


An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. (Proverbs 18:19 NIV)

The picture of an offended person being like a “fortified city” is a picture of place that is prepared to prevail in war. An offended person is complete with defense mechanisms and offensive strategies to protect their offense.

Note that it says “a brother”. The reason for this is because offense almost always comes from those closest to us, from those whom we have become vulnerable with. 

The truth is that we tend to be verbally careless with those who we know well. The saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt” is true.  It’s this unexpected breach of trust causes us to place guards to prevent it from ever happening again.

We are told to “speak the truth in love” to each other (Eph. 4:15).  But this must be balanced by the fact that “in the multitude of words sin is not lacking.” (Prv. 10:19a). We are told “the wounds of a friend are trustworthy” (Prv. 27:6).  But this must be balanced with requirement to “bear with the scruples” (idiosyncrasies) of others (Rom. 15:1).

The power of agreement

The reason for these admonitions to deal with offense swiftly and correctly is because of the potential of our unity.  There is power of the agreement of two people who know Jesus.


If any two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:19, 20)

This is why one of the greatest strategies of the Enemy is to create disunity, division, and offense between us.  He knows that if you and I come into agreement about anything, it will happen. He also knows that this kind of agreement brings Jesus right into the situation. 

This is something the Biosphere folks need to hear about.

From Prison to Praise

Praise and worship has often been misunderstood as the musical prelude to the sermon, rather than one of the most powerful tools God has given His people to establish His kingdom in their lives.

But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. (Psalms 22:3, NKJV)

In other words, wherever God’s people come together to worship, we become a habitation for His presence. God comes to dwell where His people worship, and where that happens, all the power of His kingdom is present.  The Lord’s Prayer begins with this kind of worship… 

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven… (Matthew 6:9, 10, NKJV) 

As we worship God we are reaching into the invisible realm and welcoming the entry of His divine authority, rulership, and power.

There’s a story in Acts 16 about how the Apostle Paul and his traveling companion Silas had been beaten and thrown in jail for casting an evil spirit out of a slave girl who had been harassing them. Even though they were suffering for something they had done that was right, they were not whining or complaining. They weren’t saying things like, “Oh, God, where were you when we needed you?”  Instead we are told…

At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25, NKJV) 

They had been severely beaten. Their legs were chained in stocks. And they were thrown into the dungeon, the deepest part of the prison.  But even at this most hopeless time, Paul and Silas made the decision to praise God in the midst of it…


Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. (Acts 16:26, NKJV) 

As we give God praise and worship in the middle of our situation—especially when it’s a rough one, or an ugly one—it opens up an entry for God to move in our situation, and other’s.  And when God becomes a part of our situations, no matter how bad they are, that situation has to change. 

What’s holding you bound right now? What is the prison you’re dealing with? If you’re in the midnight hour right now, and you feel like something has chained you up, begin to praise God!


Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. (Psalm 100:4–5, NLT)

My prayer is that any bondages, hindrances, setbacks, discouragements, etc. in your life will be broken off of you by the power of God as you enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise!

image

Politicians, Actors, and Cats

image

There are lots of things in our lives that are complicated. Politics, Hollywood, and cats are just a few complicated things that come to mind. They are fickle, moody, and unpredictable.

Many people would say that God is complicated.  You can’t see him. He has no beginning. He’s defined in all sorts of ways. There are 12,143 words in the Bible, which contain hundreds of doctrines that are argued and debated.

But God’s not complicated

Last week I came across a book entitled, “23 Ways to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit.”  I laughed to myself because I had just been studying the story of the Apostle Paul coming to the city of Ephesus.  He found some followers of Christ there and asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit. They responded that they had not.  Paul laid hands on them and prayed for them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  Seems he skipped a few steps.

Our doctrine of Christ teaches us that Jesus was all man, yet all God. His name, “Emmanuel” means, “God with us.”  Jesus said, “if you seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” So God is revealed in the simple and down to earth person of Jesus Christ.  

But we make God complicated

Ask someone how he or she is doing in his or her walk with the Lord and you will often hear, “I need to pray more. I need to read the Bible more. I need to get more involved at church.”  Very few Christians will say they are just simply enjoying their fellowship with Jesus.

The Apostle Paul knew this over-complicating the things of God would create problems. So he wrote,


But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
(2 Corinthians 11:3) 

I firmly believe there is a strategy of Hell to “add” things to our faith.  Conditions. Rules.  Qualifications.  Procedures.  Levels.  These all leave people with the feeling that they can never quite measure up.  But Jesus declared from the cross,

“It is finished!”

That means everything that was needed to know God, to enjoy Him, and to have a relationship with Him was completely taken care of by Jesus Christ at the cross. It’s not complicated, fickle, or conditional, because God isn’t. 

This is why so few politicians, actors, and cats are Christians.

Full Gospel?

Back in the 70’s my grandpa was pretty active in a group called, “The Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship.” He once took me to one of their meetings. I was only about 10 years old, but I can distinctly remember a room full of men with their hands raised and tears in their eyes.  Even as a kid I could tell there was something special going on.  I’ll never forget what I felt.

I could sense God was there…

There’s a distinct atmosphere when God’s Spirit moves in a group of people.  It’s unforgettable, and it wrecks you for ordinary religious activities. There’s a refreshing and uplifting that is life changing.  

The term “Full Gospel” simply refers to that belief that the Holy Spirit is still doing everything He was doing in the New Testament. Seems simple enough, right? 

Partially-Full-Gospel

There are many Christians, if not the majority in America, who firmly believe that the Holy Spirit has ceased doing certain things.  They assert that the canonization of the New Testament, and the end of the apostolic age, signaled a conclusion to most of the supernatural and miraculous works of the Holy Spirit.

While we banter and fuss over different views regarding the Holy Spirit, he’s pouring himself out on people all over the world.  Places where they may never have heard the label “full gospel,” are experiencing miraculous and supernatural things. Healings, deliverances, and many other works of the Holy Spirit are happening!  

When the Spirit comes


And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness…And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:31, 33)

If anything is needed in our lives, and churches, it’s a shaking by God’s Spirit.  A shaking that rattles things loose that shouldn’t be there, and replaces them with a filling of God’s power. At the very least it will cause our hands to go up and our mouths to give praise.  But when the Holy Spirit comes we will be affected in a unforgettable way.

Just ask the 10 year old kid who went with his grandpa to a Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship meeting back in the day!

God’s Math Class

Are you good at math? I can vividly remember my first algebra class in junior high.  The teacher drew on the chalkboard…

“x = ?” 

And then in a very unenthusiastic monotone voice he said, “Algebra is about finding out what x is worth.” My friend turned to me and said, “I think we’re going to hate this class.” He was right. It wasn’t too long before things got pretty confusing.

That experience left me not liking math and lacking confidence when came to it. But 15 years later while earning my Private Pilot’s License, during the training process I discovered that math could actually be fun and very useful. What was the difference? Besides having an amazing instructor, I was doing something I loved.

The right combination

In algebra “x” (the variable) can only be determined by correctly factoring the constant terms in the equation/expression.  

When you land an airplane (and not crash it) you must get three things in perfect order: airspeed, line-up, glideslope. 

My phone, my computer, my house, and many other things I own require a security code to be entered.  If you don’t know it, or forget it, they won’t open.  You could even have all the right numbers, but they must be entered in the right combination.

God has told us that He will bless our finances when the correct combination for our giving is followed. The first tenth of all our increase belong to him.  Then the giving of other offerings follows after this.  This combination is essential. You could give offerings, but if the tithe is skipped, God will not bless that.

God has a math class

There are certain ideas about money taught in the church that have become so hotly contested that people feel much the way I did after that math class—confused and not liking the subject.

Some would argue that tithing is not a New Covenant principle. There are those who teach tithing as a formula to get wealth. In contrast, there are others who teach poverty as a way to prove holiness.  Correct understanding about money, giving, generosity, and faith have become difficult to grasp. 

But I can see God writing on a chalkboard, 

cheerful giving + generosity = financial blessing

And then in a very enthusiastic voice saying, “I want you to understand this, because if you get this combination correct, you’ll find that money can actually be fun and very useful in my Kingdom.”

I think we’re going to love this class!