Look to the Book

Eternity Now!

2008-07-21T09:26:00.001-07:00

Life after death has always fascinated humankind. For example, “Christian Book Distributors”, an online bookstore, has more than 2813 books on its website that have to do with heaven, hell or life after death. From the Egyptians with their pyramids and mummies, to all the movies and books that our culture produces, we want to know what is to come.

1 Corinthians 15 gives us some answers, sort of anyway. In this chapter, we are told that life after death is real (verses 20-28). We are assured that our physical death will not be the end of us and that our Spirits will live on. “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (verses 51-52).

Now, the Bible does not answer all our questions about death. For example, it never tells us where heaven will be, what our new heavenly bodies will look like, or even exactly what we will be doing in heaven. In fact, the Bible’s discussion of life after death has less to do with “curiosity” and answering all of our questions as it does with “motivation”. When the Biblical writers think about eternity, they see it as a reason to live a different kind of life here.

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (verse 58).

Old time preachers used to say, “Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people”. In other words, this is our time to get ready.

“One day I am going to die and most of what preoccupies me and drains me will recede into nothingness. But the dead in Christ will rise” – John Ortberg.

If we are living in God’s kingdom now, we will continue to live in that kingdom in eternity.

Seeing is not Believing

2008-06-24T09:50:00.001-07:00

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day made one huge mistake: one that is still being made. See if you can spot it in this passage about Jesus’ crucifixion.

“In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. ‘He saved others’, they said, ‘but he can't save himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.’ Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him” (Mark 15:31-32)

Did you see it? The mistake is found in the phrase, “Let this Christ… come down… that we may see and believe”.

The old phrase says that “seeing is believing” and that is exactly what the people of Christ’s day demanded. They wanted proof. They wanted to “see” before they “believed”. Unfortunately, God’s kingdom does not work that way. In fact, the Spiritual order is “believe and then see”.

In John 11, when Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead, he states, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (Verse 40). Believe and then see.

In another place Jesus tells us to, “Seek first his (God’s) kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). If you “believe”, you will “see” the blessings that will follow.

Now, it may sound like a technicality to say that the Biblical pattern is to “believe and then see” but, in fact, it is absolutely essential to keep that order. If we turn that around and demand to “see before we believe”, as the people in Christ’s time did, then we will never get started. There are some things in this world that can only be proven by trying them.

Waiting for absolute proof will not work. Faith always requires us to “believe” and then “see” what happens.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).

Why we do what we Do

2008-06-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

When my girls were little, we forced them to read for at least 15 minutes every night. In fact, it was part of their homework for school. At the time, they did not necessarily like to read, because, like any new skill, it was difficult. If we had let them, they probably would have skipped their reading times altogether.

Strangely enough, now that they are older, I often find my girls curled up on their beds reading!

What happened there? How did reading go from something that we had to force them to do, to being something that they freely choose to do? Well, they found out how much fun reading is and how they can benefit from it. In short, they discovered the “joy of reading”.

There is a tremendous difference in reading because you are forced to and reading because you want to and that difference has to do with “motivation”. They have stopped “reading” and have become “readers”.

I believe that there is a spiritual correlation here. Sometimes people go to church, or do “good things” because they think that they “should”. In other words, the actions are done to keep other people, or even God, happy. That is ok for a little while, but as we mature, things should change. Spiritual maturity begins when we are no longer doing things because we are “forced to” but because we “want to”.

Galatians 5:22-23 says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. This is not a checklist of things to do. It is, however, a list of qualities that will naturally develop in us when we begin to discover how good it is to listen to God.

You see, we cannot force ourselves to be Spiritual people, but, with God’s help, we can grow into the blessings that the Spirit brings.

Why not give it a try? You may even find that you like it.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).

This is the Day: Psalm 118

2008-06-09T13:30:00.000-07:00

If you know anything from Psalm 118, if may be this verse, “This is the Day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (verse 24).

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes need a reminder to “rejoice”. It can become very easy to focus on the things that are wrong or stressful in my life and sometimes I forget to see the good things. I have ruined many good days simply because I have not had the right focus. The question then is, “How do I rejoice in this day?” The rest of Psalm 118 gives us some good ideas.

The first thing to notice is the phrase “Give thanks” (verse 1). Over the last few years, I have come to believe that thankfulness (or the lack thereof) is a “Spiritual indicator”. It shows that we know who is in charge and that we trust God to provide what we need.

Next, the Psalm reminds us “His (God’s) love endures forever”. We need to get that picture in our mind because that is what God is like. He loves us forever.

Verse 3 then says, “In my anguish I cried to the Lord and he answered”. Answered prayer is another reason to rejoice and be glad. We have help. We have hope. We have a direct connection to one who can change things for us. If that is the case, it is no wonder the Psalmist asks, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (ver 6).

When we focus our eyes on our help and our blessings instead of our problems, then we will have a good place to start rejoicing each day.

In the News

2008-06-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

Here are two stories that made the news this week.

First: A motorist in Montreal came across a car that had gone into the ditch and rolled. Fearing that someone was seriously injured, the passerby stopped his car and got out to offer assistance. When he did that, four people emerged from the rolled vehicle, ran up to the highway and stole his car.

Second: On April 26, 2008, the Western Oregon women’s softball team was playing against Central Washington University. During the course of the game, Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky hit the first homerun of her college career. She was so excited that she missed touching first base, so her coach yelled for her to turn around.

As Sara turned to go back, she blew out her right knee. Crying, she tried to crawl back to the base. Her teammates came to help her, but the umpires informed them that if they touched her, she would be called out. They also told them that if they put in a pinch runner, the homerun would be disallowed and it would be counted as a single. That is when it happened.

Central Washington’s first baseman, Mallory Holtman, asked, “What if I help her?” The umpires said that was fine so Holtman and teammate Liz Wallace carried Tucholsky to each base and helped her touch each one of them with her foot, counting the homerun against their own team. Central Washington went on to lose the game and was knocked out of the playoffs.

Afterwards, when asked why she helped an opposing player, Holtman said, “She hit the homerun. It should count. It was only fair”.

I am a little surprised that those stories made the news, because the “moral component” is the only thing that makes them noteworthy. Interestingly, in spite of our “Politically correct – anything goes” society, people still recognize right and wrong when they see it.

Therefore, maybe the Bible is not so out of touch when it reminds us to, “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).

A Good Place to Start

2008-05-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

The church in the city of Corinth was a mess. People were fighting with one another. Some were taking others to court. Sin and dissension had crept in so far that they could not even agree on what their worship times should look like. They even fought during a friendly meal that they called “The love feast” (ironic huh?).

It is no wonder then that as we read the letters that we call 1 and 2 Corinthians, we see the apostle Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, trying to sort out one issue after another. The surprising part, though, is the problem that Paul deals with first.

In the first ten verses of 1 Corinthians chapter one, the name of Jesus is used ten times. In these verses, Paul reminds them that they have been “called by Christ” (verse 2) and they have received “grace” and “mercy” from Christ (verses 3 and 4). He underlines the fact that Jesus is the one who will keep them “strong to the end” and that he is the one who makes them “blameless” in God’s sight. In fact, he tells them that the only hope that they have of finding unity and agreement is for each and every one of them to be focused on and following Christ. “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1:10).

Before he deals with their specific problems, he refers them back to Christ. Before he attempts to fix anything else, he reminds them of who they all should be following. As he talks about the divisions and the things that are tearing that church apart, ten times in ten verses he mentions the name and the purpose of Jesus.

Could that be a message to us? Could it be that if we all really focused on Christ, many of our other issues would automatically disappear? If church was not about “getting my way” but “following Christ’s way”, would things be different?

It is certainly worth a try!

The Bible is like…

2008-05-12T12:41:00.001-07:00

Over the years, people have often compared the Bible to a map or an instruction book, because it is something that gives you information and tells you how to get home.

While I understand that, I have two problems with those analogies. First, maps and instruction books are boring! You only use them when you are lost or in trouble and you do not use them every day. Secondly, the Bible never calls itself a “map” or an “instruction book”. It does, however, give us some other, much more useful, pictures.

1. The Bible is a Light. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). Lights are powerful. They allow us to see and understand what is around us and, strangely enough, they give us courage!

My Grandparents used to live about four blocks from our house and the quickest way to get there was to cut through a cemetery. I was never scared of the cemetery in the daytime, but nighttime was a different story. The lack of light made the journey more difficult and much scarier.

2. The Bible is a story. Stories are inspiring and they touch us in ways that other things simply cannot. If you have ever cried during a movie, you know the power of a story.

After crossing the Jordan River on dry ground, the men are commanded to pick up twelve stones from the riverbed and make a monument out of them. Then God says, “In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord” (Joshua 4:6-7). It was important for God’s people to know and pass on the story of how God looked after them.

My point is that the Bible is not a boring, academic book that should only be referred to in times of trouble. Rather, it is a powerful, living, life changing story that gives us light, help and understanding (1 Peter 1:22-23; Hebrews 4:12-13).

If we change the way we think about the Bible, maybe we will read it differently.

Not worth the Fight

2008-05-05T12:48:00.001-07:00

It was supposed to be a day to remember and it was, for all the wrong reasons.

Two 10-year-old best friends convinced their dads to take them to a soccer game at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The big attraction was soccer star David Beckham. The boys talked about the day, dreamt about it and even made a sign for Beckham.

After the game, Beckham walked over to where the two boys were sitting, removed his jersey and threw it over the fence to them. Eric Kerr’s son was holding the sign and Wilfred Ho’s son who caught the jersey. That is where the trouble started.

The Kerrs claim that Beckham saw the sign and intended their boy to have the jersey. The Hos claim that their son caught it, so it belongs to him.

On April 10, the Hos received a letter from the Kerrs’ attorney demanding the return of the shirt. In turn, the Hos attorney responded that they were the rightful owners and that they were not giving the shirt up. The case is now headed to court and the one time best friends do not speak to one another anymore.

Sadly, that story is not unusual. Too often, we let little things ruin the big, important things. We sacrifice people and relationships because of things and positions. Pride, selfishness, greed, and many other ungodly attitudes get in the way of maintaining healthy, strong relationships. Too often, we “Win the battle, but lose the war”.

No matter who wins the David Beckham jersey battle, the Kerrs and the Hos have lost the war because they have lost their friendship.

Here is a radical idea: “Why not rather just be wronged?” That was Paul’s advice to the church in Corinth. In fact, that same verse says, “The very fact that you have lawsuits (and all kinds of other fights) among you means that you have been completely defeated already” (1 Cor. 5:8). Some things are just not worth the cost of the fight.

It is important not to let “little things” become “big things”.

Time To Jump

2008-04-28T13:01:00.001-07:00

My oldest daughter was just finishing swimming lessons when I walked up to the windows at the pool. Out on the diving board was a little boy, maybe 5 years old and he looked nervous. His instructor was in the water below the diving board encouraging him to jump. The long line of kids who were waiting for their turn on the diving board were telling him to jump. However, the little boy just stood there shaking.

Over the years, I have seen many people in the same position in regards to their faith. They have read and studied themselves into the position where they have a decision to make. They have to decide whether to “jump” or not.

Part of the problem here is that logic can only take you so far. I can argue for God’s existence from lots of different things, but I cannot prove that he exists. At least not in terms of being able to show him to you right now. At some point, the message of the gospel requires a leap of faith.

The Apostle Paul says it this way, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Note that while Paul admits that the message may sound strange to those on the outside, he also states that the same message is the power of God to those who believe! In other words, once you take the leap of faith, you find out how good it is. You find the power of God.

I am not sure what you have been thinking about lately. Maybe you are wondering if you should be following God. Maybe you are thinking that you need to start doing a specific thing, or maybe stop doing something. Whatever the case, may I encourage you to take the leap of faith and see what God can do? You may find his power and his life.

Back to the little boy on the diving board: he finally did jump in and after that they could not get him off the diving board! He found out it was fun!

Sometimes you do not know what things are like until you try them!

What Good is it?

2008-03-31T15:10:00.001-07:00

Have you ever experienced “Jet lag”? I have, once, on a trip to

Israel

Our plane left Toronto at 6 am and, after 14 hours in the air, we landed just outside Tel Aviv at around 8 am their time. I had not slept on the plane (I did not want to miss anything) and so when we got on the tour bus that morning I was tired!

One of my most vivid memories of that first day is simply trying to force my eyes open. As the bus rocked slowly back and forth down the road, the nice, warm sun shone in the window. To make matters worse, my friend Bill was sound asleep and snoring loudly. The first day of that trip was a bit of a blur for a while. It is hard to stay awake and alert when everything around you is encouraging you to relax and sleep through the important stuff.

Unfortunately, I sometimes find myself going through life as if I am sitting on that bus. I am on the journey of a lifetime and yet I can hardly stay awake. My days go by and I really do not know where I am going or why I am here. In other words, I sometimes just float along and do what everyone else does, because that is the easy thing to do.

Recently, though, I have received a couple of “wake up calls”, one of which is a verse that I cannot stop thinking about. Jesus asked, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 9:36).

Jesus warns us that it is entirely possible for someone to be a huge success in one sense and yet be living a life that is not worth living in God’s eyes.

I think it is time for me to wake up and make sure that I am living by God’s priorities. How about you?

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33)

An Oldie but a Goodie

2008-03-17T13:00:00.001-07:00

Old things can be valuable (no, I am not just saying that because I am starting to “get up there”). Take, for example, the old idea of “God’s grace”.

By definition, “Grace” is “unmerited favor” or “unearned kindness” and it is one of the words that the New Testament writers frequently use when describing God. John 1:16 tells us that, “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another”. A short list of those blessings would include things like forgiveness, salvation, new life, repentance, God’s love and Christ himself. In various scriptures, those concepts are tied to the word “grace”.

Recovering that old concept of “God’s grace” changes how we see him. Our God is not out to get us, or exclude us. In fact, God’s gracious disposition is one of the best blessings that we have.

Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” The “if” in that sentence could be translated “because”. The context of the entire Roman letter indicates that God is for us. He is on our side. He has provided everything that we need for spiritual health. Through Christ’s death, burial and resurrection he has broken down the wall of sin that kept us from him (Ephesians 2:13-15). Therefore, my spiritual life does not rest on my being perfect. It rests on a God who is gracious, kind and forgiving enough to send his son to die for me, even before I knew that I needed it (Ephesians 2:1-10). All I have to do is to respond to his offer (Romans 6:1-4).

While we should take seriously our responsibility to follow God and do what he says, never forget that our hope rests in God’s grace! In fact, it is the only hope we have.

“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:21)

Worth a Thousand Words

2008-02-26T09:39:00.000-08:00

When trying to understand a concept, sometimes a comparison or a visual can be very helpful. The inspired writers of the New Testament used that technique a great deal, especially when talking about the people of God.

For example, Paul says that we are the “family” or the “household of God” (1 Timothy 3:15). A household in those days included everyone; mother, father, children, aunts, uncles, cousins and even those who worked for the family. It was a broad and inclusive idea. Everyone had a place and everyone belonged.

Continuing that idea of belonging is the concept that we are “the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12-20). Just as in our physical bodies, each part contributes to the whole and makes things better. In God’s kingdom, there are no unnecessary parts. Everyone has a place.

Other word pictures stress the closeness that we have with God and his son. Revelation 19:7-9 tells us that we are “the bride of Christ”. Now that is something! God chooses the closest human relationship that we have, that of a husband and wife, to describe his relationship with us. Think about that for a while.

Other more common pictures are that of “Sheep with their shepherd” (John 10) or a “Father with his child” (Galatians 4:4-7). Both of those pictures are images of protection, provision and care.

We are also called “God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Fields are used to grow certain things. Buildings are built with a specific purpose in mind (you build barns differently than houses because they have a different job). This reminds us that we have certain things to contribute and certain purposes to live out. As Paul said, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

These pictures remind us that we have a good message to share. They are positive and each of them speaks about how much God loves us.

Fortunately, the pictures say it all.

Making things better

2008-02-19T09:28:00.000-08:00

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows…Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:7-9).

This passage is often quoted to teach the importance of focusing on spiritual things, but I believe that these verses teach other lessons as well.

For example, notice that effort is often required before the reward is seen. Oddly, many people seem to think that blessings should come without requiring anything from them beforehand. In reality, it does not work that way.

In marriage counseling, couples are often told to “act as if you are in love”. Why? Well, when each person takes responsibility to “Go first” and to treat the other with love, then that attitude will likely grow in the relationship. However, if both sit back and wait for the other to treat them well, nothing good happens. This “Go first” principle applies in any relationship. You can often improve things by going first and doing the things that you wish others would do. If you wait for everyone else to treat you properly first, you may be waiting a long time.

Note, too, that we are encouraged to keep trying. Farmers in New Testament times did not sow seeds as farmers do today. Back then, the farmer would “broadcast” the seed by throwing handfuls of it everywhere. He sowed generously and expected some of it to do something good (see 1 Corinthians 9:6-11). I like that picture! Our job is not to try once and then quit if nothing happens. We are to go about doing the good we can do, day in and day out, trusting that God will give us a good result in “the proper time”. As someone once noted, “The only thing that can hinder our harvest is letting ourselves grow weary”.

While there are no guarantees, in most cases you can make things better by simply going first and living out the love of God.

The Christian Dress Code

2008-02-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

The Bible college I attended had a “Sunday morning dress code” (Guys had to wear a shirt and tie and the girls had to wear dresses or skirts). Considering the range of backgrounds and opinions about what constituted “acceptable attire”, the dress code was appropriate and necessary.

Did you know that the Bible specifies a “Christian dress code” that applies, not just to Sunday morning, but every day of the week?

As you may suspect, this dress code does not have to do with physical clothing. Instead, it is focused on our attitudes, actions and how we represent Christ.

A quick tour through the New Testament yields an entire list of things that are to “Put on”. That list includes things like: truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the word of God, prayer, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love and a quiet spirit (see Ephesians 6:11-17; Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Peter 2-4).

Fortunately, as with most things in the word of God, this transformation does not rest on my own strength or goodness. You see, the first thing that we are told to “put on” will help us with all the others. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).

When we are “clothed with Christ” then we have the power to change. As Paul says, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

This is not about earning salvation. Rather it is about showing, on the outside, the change that is taking place on the inside. As Jesus said, “A good tree bears good fruit” (Matthew 7:16-20).

We immediately recognize a police officer, a firefighter or an astronaut when we see them because of what they wear. When people look at the attitudes that you “wear” each day, will they know that you are a Christian? Will they see Christ?

In this case, our “Sunday best” is not just for Sunday.

“Well… maybe… but”

2008-02-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

Here is a strange question for you: If Jesus dropped by and told you to do some very specific things, would you do them?

I do not know what your response would be (I mean after you woke up from passing out at the sight of Jesus), but I do know this: The first time Jesus was here, he heard lots of excuses.

Just for interest’s sake, I made an “Excuses tour” of gospels last week and noted every excuse that people used in order to get out of doing what they were asked to do. Some said that it was too difficult (Mark 10: 17-22). Others said that they would do it later (Luke 9:57-62). Others said “yes”, but later found reasons not to bother (Luke 14:16-20). One decided that his business was more important than listening to God (Luke 12:13-21). Still others wanted “just a little more proof” that Jesus was the Son of God (Mark 15:29-32). I could fill this whole article with excuses.

Then John records that, “Many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’” (John 6:60). Notice that the message was not “hard to understand". They clearly understood what they were to do. The problem was that it was “hard to accept”. That is likely the issue for most of us.

You see, in various ways, God is going to ask us to do certain things, or to stop doing certain things. If we are listening at all, we are going to be challenged in a thousand different ways.

At each of those points, our response will be either faithful following or excuses and missed opportunities.

As James reminds us, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins” (4:17).

So, what is God asking you to do? Are you doing it?

The Message

2008-01-28T11:33:00.000-08:00

In grade 10, my high school basketball team won the city championship and it was a big deal. They had a big reception for us. We all got championship medals. Our picture was in the paper. In fact, our picture still hangs in the gym at Peacock High School in Moose Jaw.

Now, guess how minutes I played in that championship game.

The answer is “none”.

I did not play a second (I was in grade 10 in a school of 800 + kids so I was not anywhere near being the best player), but I still got the medal. I celebrated on the court after the game. I can say that I was on the winning team. My teammates did all the work, but I was part of it.

Believe it or not, that story is a good starting point for understanding the message of the Bible. Read these verses and see if you see the correlation.

“He himself (Jesus) bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

Did you see it? Jesus did what we could never do for ourselves. He paid for our sins on the cross and we ended up getting his righteousness. Our salvation is not based on being good, going to church or a thousand other things that we sometimes talk about. Ultimately, we are saved because Jesus won the victory for us.

That hope was not just “a message” of the early church; it was “the message”. Paul writes, “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).

If we ever think that we can “Get beyond the cross” to something more important, we are wrong! There was, and is, no bigger message!

If we are on Christ’s team, one day we will get to celebrate a victory that he alone has won for us.

What are you teaching?

2007-12-09T06:58:00.002-08:00

Throughout the forty years that Moses led God’s people in the desert, it seems that they were rarely happy. In fact, the two words that the Bible most often uses to describe their attitudes are “grumbled” or “complained”. Now notice the word that describes them in the passage below.

“Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!" (Verses 2-5).

The sad part: The people still had not learned anything about God! For forty years, they complained, cried, and thought that they were going to die. Every time they were in need, God provided, yet here they are still complaining and still worrying!

Even worse than that though is the fact that this is now the second generation of God’s people to do this. The people have raised their children to be fearful, worrying complainers too. Rather than teaching trust, thankfulness and reliance on God, the parents taught their kids to be just like them.

So, what are we teaching our children? Are we teaching them that every little thing is a huge problem, or are we teaching them to trust God? Are we teaching them to fret or to pray? Are we seeing our many blessings or only our few problems?

Are you leaving a legacy of faith or fear?

“The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:5-7).

Following the Cloud

2007-12-09T06:58:00.001-08:00

When the Israelites lived in tents and did not have a land to call their own, the Lord commanded them to build him a special tent called the “Tabernacle”. This was to be God’s dwelling place among his people. When the tabernacle was complete, a cloud filled it as a sign that the Lord’s Spirit was with them.

With that background, read this passage and see if you get the point.

“On the day the tabernacle, the tent of testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it… and at night it looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. At the Lord's command, the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. At the Lord's command they encamped, and at the Lord's command they set out. They obeyed the Lord's order” (Numbers 9:15-23).

The point: “God’s people follow God!”

Now that may seem sort of obvious, but it is not. Many who call themselves “followers of God” actually do whatever they want or whatever they think is best. God is not so much their leader, but a consultant that they go to when they need help.

This passage reminds us that really following God requires that we listen to him, have patience and trust that he knows where we are going.

That is not always easy, but, in the end, it is always best.

Are you being led by God?

A Good Funeral

2007-11-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

As I write this article, it is Monday morning and I am getting ready to go to a funeral. As I think about the day ahead, I am not anticipating a sad day. There will be sadness in it, some tears will be shed for sure, but this will be a day of celebration.

For as long as I have known them, and for many years before that, George and his wife Doris have been faithful followers of Christ. Their faith was not just something that they talked about or something that they had in name only. Rather, it was something that influenced how they lived, what they valued and how they saw their entire lives.

George was not a very vocal man, but he was influential. His home was always open to anyone who needed a meal or a place to stay. In fact, that is how I first met them. When I was an intern, preaching in the town of Wawota, I stayed with George and Doris. When our Bible camp needed a place to go for a hayride, George and Doris were the first to volunteer their farm. Generous, kind and faithful are words that come to my mind today as I remember him.

George’s children were with him during his final few days, but even that time was marked with joy and hope. They believe that there is more to this life than what we see. This life only lasts a short time. It is “like a mist” (James 4:14), but we are not living for this life. We believe that there is more to come and another home beyond this one.

I am reminded today that I want to live my life with God’s priorities guiding me, so that when my time comes, people can celebrate my life with joy and hope as well.

“Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

It is God’s Business

2007-11-13T07:31:00.001-08:00

During his time in the desert, Moses had seen many things, but he had never seen anything like this. Off in the distance he could see a fire burning in a bush, but the bush was not being burned up. Moses decided to go and have a closer look and that is when he heard it: the voice of God.

“The Lord said, ‘I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them…’” (Exodus 3:7-8a). That message changed the life of Moses and, if we really listen, it can change our lives too.

You see, God is in the rescue business. He saved his people when they were slaves in Egypt and he can save us too.

Now, you may be thinking, “Well, that is nice, but I do not need to be saved from anything”, but the Bible would disagree. From God’s point of view, we are as much slaves as God’s people back then were. The only difference is that our slavery is to things like sin, self and stuff.

The good news is that God saved his people because he was “concerned about their suffering” (verse 7). Their salvation was based solely on the fact that God loved them and chose to save them. The Israelites did nothing to earn their freedom. It was given to them simply as a gift from God.

To Christians, that message sounds like this: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:3-5).

That offer of freedom, love, joy and hope still stands for anyone who would like to receive it, because it is based on God’s love, not our worthiness.

I am glad that God is still in the rescue business.

The Whole Will of God

2007-11-05T13:54:00.000-08:00

While on the internet last night, I came across a review of the new CD by the Christian band “Casting Crowns”, so I decided to have a look.

The review was brutal! I have rarely, if ever, seen anyone who has disliked a CD as much as this reviewer did. He did not like the songs, the music, the lead singer’s voice or anything else about it.

Interestingly, his main complaint was that the CD was “too preachy”. He thought that the lyrics were too serious, too pointed and too demanding. The album made him think too much.

“Casting Crowns” is one of my favorite bands because their lyrics are deep and their songs are challenging. Don’t get me wrong, I like fun, joyful, fluffy songs, but I listen to “Casting Crowns” because their songs say something that is based on the word of God.

I guess I should not be surprised by the fact that someone does not want to hear what the Bible has to say. Two thousand years ago, the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote to a young preacher named Timothy to warn him of a similar problem. “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).

What is the remedy to this problem? Paul states it very clearly: “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (verse 2).

I do not always like what the word says. Sometimes it demands things from me that are difficult or even against my nature, but that is ok.

We are still better off when we know, teach and follow “the whole will of God” (Acts 20:27) and not just the parts that we like.

Caution: Do not Reverse!

2007-10-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

The first chapter of the New Testament letter of First Peter has a very simple outline. The first twelve verses are all about what God, in his mercy and grace, has done for us. Phrases in this section include words like, “mercy… new birth… living hope… inheritance… heaven… God’s power… rejoice… Jesus… salvation” (verses 1-12). The focus in this section of the letter is entirely on what God has done for us.

The second section focuses on our response to God. It contains phrases like, “Prepare your minds for action… obedient children… be holy… purified… love one another deeply from the heart” (verses 13-25).

It is absolutely essential to get those two sections in the proper order. First, God has given you the gift of salvation, forgiveness and hope through the death of his son Jesus. Then, in response to God’s love, you live a different life.

We make a huge mistake when we turn this teaching around and do not honor the order in which it is presented. Too many times, I have heard people say, “When I get my life sorted out, then I will come to church”. That is futile! You will never get your life together enough on your own to deserve the blessing of God! We live by Christian standards not to make God love us, but in response to the fact that he already does. That order is all important.

It is sort of like hooking up booster cables on your car. Connecting “positive to positive” is absolutely essential if you want the process to work. Turning those cables around will give you a very different result.

The wrong order says, “Be good enough to earn God’s love”. The Biblical order says, “In response to what God has already done for us, we trying to live in a way that honours him”.

Keeping that order straight is essential to hearing the real message of God’s word.

Walking or Hiding?

2007-10-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

They say, “Familiarity breeds contempt”. It is also true that, “Familiarity breeds misunderstanding”. That is especially true of the Bible where we often misinterpret and miss the point of the familiar stories.

For example, what is the point of the story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)? The common answer is “Disobedience is punished”. They were told not to eat from that tree, they did eat from it and God was not happy.

While those details are technically correct, that is not the point of the story! The bottom line of the story is actually “The seriousness of losing your relationship with God”.

At one point, they walked and talked with God in the garden. After they disobeyed it says, “The man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden… and they hid from the Lord” (Genesis 3:8). Later it says that, “The Lord banished them from the Garden of Eden” (3:23) and placed a guard at the gate to keep them out. The tragedy and the point was not that they disobeyed the rules, but that their disobedience cost them their relationship with God.

The rest of the Bible, then, is about God restoring that relationship. Think about the Ten Commandments. They are rules about relationships with God and with others. The Old Testament sacrifices were about creating a way to be in relationship with God. The tabernacle and the temple were given as places to come and meet with God. Jesus, of course, is the ultimate symbol of how far God will go to restore that lost relationship. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

We do not inherit Adam’s sin, but we have all broken our relationship with God because of our own sinfulness (Romans 3:23). We have lost a relationship that we vitally need both now and in eternity.

The good news is that God has done all he can to invite you back home and back into relationship with him again.

The ball is now in our court. Will we walk with him or continue hiding from his love?

The Light Shines On

2007-10-16T10:41:00.001-07:00

It is not often that one arrives at the cemetery 35 years after the funeral, but this past Thanksgiving Sunday, that is exactly what my wife’s family did.

Sara’s Grandma, Faye, died of Multiple Sclerosis in the early 1970s. In an effort to help other families avoid living through a similar tragedy, the family donated her body to the University of Saskatchewan so that they could do research regarding this disease. A funeral was held and a memorial stone was placed in a cemetery in Kansas.

This past year, however, the family found out that the University had buried Faye in Woodlawn cemetery in Saskatoon and so plans were made to place a stone on her actual grave. To be honest, I did not want to go. I mean, it was 35 years ago! Sure, Saskatoon is the actual spot, but, in reality, what difference does that make? It is just a plot of ground. Why would we bother driving up there just to stand around another stone?

Well, I am glad that I went, because we did more than just “stand around another stone”. In that cemetery, 35 years after her death, Sara and I met her Grandma Faye. Not physically, of course, but, in a very real way, we became acquainted with someone neither one of us had ever met and we were encouraged.

As each of her children told stories about their mom, we learned of her life, her attitude, her joy and, most of all, her faith in God. We laughed. Some cried. All were strengthened by being there. Strangely, more than half of the 30 people at the cemetery were simply friends who wanted to come and honour Faye’s life. Thirty five years later, people still remembered her and wanted to tell their story about who she was and how she had helped them.

The Bible says, “Encourage one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25) and that is exactly what Faye did in her life and, somehow, continues to do today. Obviously, our influence lives on long after we depart.

Initially, I only went because I am part of the family. After having been there, I would not have missed it!

Without ever having met her, Faye reminded me that a life lived in the light of Lord is certainly a life worth living.

Football and Faith

2007-10-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a friend of mine, I attended the recent “Athletes in Action” supper that was held in town. Saskatchewan Roughriders Kerry Joseph and Wes Cates as well as defensive line coach Ron Estay came to talk about their faith and about how God has blessed them.

One of the things that impressed me was the fact that these guys did not have to be here. In fact, I asked Wes, “How many hours of community service do the Riders require you to do?” His answer, “None! We do not have to do anything if we do not want to. They encourage us to get involved in the community, but we are not required to”.

These three men gave up their day off to drive down here, speak at the supper and drive home again. Why would they bother doing that?

Kerry Joseph answered that question by saying (and I am paraphrasing here), “As football players, we have some influence on others. People look up to us and listen to us, so I have decided to use that for good. If being a football player gives me an opportunity to speak to others, then I am going to use it to speak about God”.

He went on to point out that everyone one of us, regardless of what we do, can influence someone else. Each of us is a role model and an example to someone. The question that Kerry left with us is, “How are you using that influence? Are you using it for God?”

So, what do your co-workers see in you? What priorities are you teaching your children? Do others see the joy of the Lord in you? What legacy are you leaving?

I was impressed that these men would choose to spend their free time to encourage others to think about their relationship with God. It made me think, “I need to be doing the same thing”.

Maybe our example of faithfulness can encourage others too.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).