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!