It Hurts to Laugh...

First of all, thank you for the compliments on the new look of this blog page…I did make the changes and while I have absolutely no sense of what is ascetically appealing, I was ready for a change. Secondly, concerning yesterday’s cartoon. Some obviously think I do a better job of picking a blog template & colors than I do picking cartoons! Well I thought it was hilarious…but unfortunately true! Too many church folks think the sun rises and sets in their pew and if they do not get their way, it’s their life-long mission to disrupt the church. I’ve said this before, “It’s not about you!” Many forget Jesus also addressed the same problem when Peter wasn't getting his way in Matthew 16:23 and he was very to the point. “Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." We should all memorize that verse (Matthew 16:23) and ask God to bring it to our mind the next time we don’t get our way. Now, I do not want anyone to think I am defending preachers, they make mistakes too…besides, it’s not about them either. Fact is, it’s about GOD and it’s ONLY about God! If we (whatever our calling might be) do not have in mind the things of God, we are a stumbling block to Jesus and his redeeming work here on earth. If we are not for Him…working together with one common purpose to point people to Jesus…we are working against Him. I do not know how that could be said any simpler…now relax and laugh…that cartoon’s really funny...and brutally honest!

Ouch!

This is too good…when I’m done laughing (and crying) we’ll talk!

For Heaven’s Sake by Mike Morgan

Health = Change

Recently Shane Bishop (pastor of Christ UMC, Fairview Hts.) made the following post: “Healthy things grow. Growth produces change. Change brings discontinuity. How we deal with discontinuity is our most powerful Christian witness.” As I read that statement, two things rushed into my mind. First, Why do we all profess health yet resist change? I mean, in the natural order of things that statement is dead on…health leads to growth and growth leads to change…that is the way God planned it. But too often we claim to be healthy (people/families/churches/communities, whether we are or not) and we do not want to change…even to the point we sabatoge change…and that isn’t healthy! What’s that all about and isn’t that a powerful Christian witness? Secondly, I am not sure change always brings discontinuity…or that should be our mindset. There is always that potental, but to say always is more a statement on how we do not trust/follow the Holy Spirit than on our perception of reality. Now, I realize that is very similar to what Shane is saying, but let me add this. If we are in tune with the Holy Spirit we will not see change as resulting in discontinuity…in the Spirit we see change as the natural progression of God’s plan for our lives, our church, our families, our witness…as opportunity to glorify God. As I see it, health, growth, & change are all gifts from God. How we utilize them for His glory is our witness...and yes, it is powerful!

Go Cubs...I mean Jesus!

People amaze me…the things they say and do. Most of you know I am not a big sports fan, but I do enjoy watching an occasional game. The Cardinals have been on a winning streak but recently have fallen from grace and to make it worse, the Cubs beat them! I love it…not because I’m a die hard Cubs fan, but because of the reaction of my Cardinal fan friends. Recently I posted how silent all the Cardinal fans were and you should have read the postings. Now, none of this really matters…in fact it doesn’t matter at all, but I find it remarkable that some believers raise such a ruckus over a baseball game and remain indifferent about their Savior. What if…what if people got excited about Jesus? What if they cheered and focused on Him for hours at a time? What if they memorized His stats and…oh my…what if they did the wave in church??? Actually, none of those things matter either because Jesus never asks us to do those things…but He does ask us to be in a genuine relationship with Him and to be His witnesses. As I watch people, my prophetic word is that many people (religious and heathen alike) will be surprised when Jesus returns…but until then, if the Cubs beat the Cards just one more time, I’ll have enough sermon examples to last until I retire!

It's God on the Line...He's Calling You

I’ve been trying to catch up since returning from church camp…the worse thing about leaving is coming back to the mess left behind. Regardless, I can now see the top of my desk in some select spots and wanted to offer you something to ponder. Hanging over the altar in the tabernacle at Beulah Camp is a sign that reads, “God calls sinners to repentance and believers to entire sanctification.” We church folk often realize the importance of repentance and we do a great job of reminding non-church folks of their need for repentance…some think that is our primary purpose in life, but just as important is sanctification and I am sorry to say many struggle with that. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 reads, “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” I’ve said this before, but once saved God has a job for us…if he did not we would instantly be taken home! God wants us to grow in our faith and witness to the Savior. We only do this by becoming sanctified (that is a fancy church word for becoming holy). This does not mean we become perfect, or just better than anyone else, it means we are more Christ-like than we were before…we are changed in such a way that others notice the change in us. So what about you? God has called…has your life changed since you made him your Lord & Savior…or are you just playing Christian?

God At Work!

This has been a good week at JHA…no real problems, the heat has been one of the biggest and we are told relief is coming. But aside from any issues are the blessings on receives when we find ourselves in the presence of God. Beulah campground is a special place when it comes to finding God here. It’s sort of like Bethel where Jacob had the dream of the angels descending and ascending (Genesis 28) and when he awoken, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place.” The same is said of Beulah, and God has been present and busy this year at JHA! We’ve had wonderful worship and classes and with several kids giving their lives to Christ and even more re-dedicating their lives, but last night God moved in a mighty way. To a visitor it probably didn’t seem like much, but a young man, who's been extremely bashful and reclusive, performed a short skit just before workship…by himself! I am not sure I remember the context or content of the skit…I was bowled over (as was every other adult here) that he got up in front of the assembly and did it. Then to see the joy on his face afterwards as about a dozen other kids congratulated him! Yeah, God is at work here and he’s doing big things! I'll likely forget the messages...I wish I wouldn't, but I'll never forget what he did in that boy!

Hotter!

Okay, did it say it was hot here…well, I got hotter Wednesday! Not only the temperatures, which are brutal, but it’s summer in southern Illinois and we’d likely whine if it were cold. However, the spiritual temperature has risen also. Tuesday I shared that the question Josh brought to us was “What do we do with Jesus?”, the most important question we will ever face. Today he offered us what he says is the second most important question: "What do we do with temptation?" As Josh shared, we all face temptation and will continue to face temptation… regardless of how good, dedicated, or religious you might be…but what do you do with that? Do you surrender to it or do you fight it? God has offered us armor and a weapon to fight temptation with…God has even promised us His strength to fight temptation…so why do so many surrender to it? (on a side note, I find it interesting that those who will surrender to temptation are the same ones who resist surrendering to Jesus as Lord of their lives…but then they are directly related!). Can’t wait to see what today brings; weather forcast is HOT…so is the spiritual forcast!

Hot, Hot, Hot!

Can anyone say hot? If you were with us at Beulah Junior High Alive camp you would know what it is to feel hot. I am not sure what the temp is…or for that matter what the humity level is…but it’s hot. In fact, the spiritual ferver is also been turned up. Josh Mandrel has challenged the kids to make a decision about Jesus Christ, and reminded them that to postpone that decision is in fact a decision! I am not sure what God has in store for us this week, we started with storms on Monday night…big storms (thank God there were no campers here!) and now the heat is on! Pray for us…all 101 youth and adults on the campground…pray that God will move in the hearts of all here so that decisions, whatever they are, are made for Jesus Christ. Hope to have more soon.

God's Been Busy!

What a great weekend…it might have had everything! Great worship with communion…had a baptism…took the youth to Dairy Dee…and had a prayer walk at Lancaster. God was very busy here yesterday (except the Dairy Dee thing...that might have been me and not God)! Since then I’ve been packing for church camp, and I am almost ready...almost. Actually, Jill has been doing much more packing than I have, but I’ve been loading all that she has packed (and one would think we will be gone a month!). I love church camp, especially the junior high age. I have told some before that the junior high kids still listen when I growl, but the truth is they are searching for God and what God wants of them, and are very receptive of God's will. I truly doubt that I have ever witnessed any more attentive people (of any age) than junior high kids when an engaging speaker is sharing God’s word with them. This year at Beulah JHA we have Josh Mandrell as our guest speaker. Josh loves the Lord and has a great ability to speak to kids of all ages. Harvest is back, and I am sure there will be a few surprises as well. So…keep us in your prayers. Pray that Josh and our crew might find kids searching and be able to offer them the life-giving news of Jesus Christ that will change their lives. Pray God continues to have a busy week!

Gotta Start Listening to Jill

Whew…got ahold of some old v8 juice late Wednesday and it fermented in my tummy overnight…as you might imagine, Thursday was an explosive day and just feeling better today. Moral of the story is listen to Jill when she tells you not to drink something that was opened (several) weeks ago (tummy rumbling). But now, God has blessed me with peaches…surely the forbidden fruit that God designed for himself (sorry apple loves, but the Bible doesn’t identify the fruit)! And when it comes to peaches, Southern Illinois peaches are tops…makes me think the Garden of Eden might be closer than most think. Tuesday afternoon on our way back from the mission trip at Cobden, I broke my first and most important rule (to never, NEVER go shopping on a mission trip) and I took the group shopping at Flamm Orchards. Kind of a tradition now, something the Sesser bunch started. What a treat…I had a peach sundae, half-peck of peaches, and a treat fit for royalty alone: peach salsa! This evening as my tummy echos with rumbles from yesterday and the girls (all three) are couped up inside because of the rain, searching for that proverbial line to cross, God has allowed me to escape to paradise with a bowl of peach salsa and chips. Oh yeah! God is so good…all the time!

What Will Today Bring?

I wonder what opportunities today will bring…I’ve already been arguing with Bella about ‘girl’ and ‘boy’ pencils (don’t ask) and trying to wake up Anna so we can get going…must have had a long day yesterday. Soon it’s off to The Sign of the Kingdom to help with food distribution then meet with Sumner pastors for prayer…but back to my original question, I wonder what opportunities I will find today…or what opportunities will find me? Remember though, not all opportunities are equal. In Romans 7:8 Paul says, “But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire.” This is not a commentary of the misconstrued interpretation of the Law, but rather a reminder that evil offers us opportunities also. In fact, it seems satan is working overtime, because they are everywhere! (Good place to jump in with doctrine on free will, but I’ll refrain.) Still, with the Spirit of God living in us and guiding us, the opportunities for good and for God are so much more apparent (and desired). So, what opportunities will be presented to you and I today…I think the more important question is, what are we going to do with them?

Here I Am Lord, Bless Me!

So here I sit at my computer in the Casa Bethel at Jesus es el Senor UMC near Cobden, IL, preparing a lesson for Tuesday. It’s just after 9pm and with me are a couple of girls who are having severe withdrawl pains from lack of internet service…and a few women so dedicated to sharing the love of God with children that they’re preparing crafts for tomorrow at this late hour, after spending all of last week at Beulah’s VBS. As we work, I am reminded of Jesus’ words from Matthew 25, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” I know the kids here at Jesus es el Senor would never be considered the “least” in our world, in fact I suspect they would tell you how blessed they are. But, I also think they lack the blessings that you and I possess (and take for granted). Especially since I find myself doubly blessed on this trip…blessed by the fellowship I’ve experienced with this group and I am confident I’ll be blessed by helping and teaching kids tomorrow. Now, here’s why I mention all of this to everyone at Beulah. All of you need to experinece these blessings too, so we are going to offer several opportunities for you to be blessed next year. Coming to Cobden, going to Love Packages, going to the reservation in South Datoka, even going to the Depot in Baldwin, LA. God is, as I write, preparing several chances for us to be blessed…it is up to us to seize the opportunities. Begin now praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Not everyone should go everywhere, but everyone should go somewhere.

Back...and Slicker Than Ever!

This is not much of a post, but I am trying to get around to leave for Cobden with a group and just realized I did not post yesterday…when I was going to start again. Oh well, I will get back in the grove soon. VBS is over…whew! Church camp is ready to go…and what I’ve forgotten doesn’t matter. Annett (our German daughter) is here visiting for a couple of weeks. Now some of us are off to Cobden to help tutor children at Jesus es el Senor UMC. God is so good, and the summer is racing by! For those at Beulah yesterday, did you feel the presence of the Spirit? It was a wonderful service. Hope some who are not involved in VBS got a taste of what goes on…it’s not just loud music and running…God shows up and changes lives! That is because God’s true, comforting, life-changing, surprising word is for everyone (LET’S GO!).