Pastor's Ponderings

Do You Know Christmas?

2010-12-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

Christmas is under attack today. One of the most frequent charges is that it is pagan or that it arose from pagan sources. CHRISTMAS IS NOT PAGAN, NOR DID IT ARISE FROM PAGAN SOURCES. The Christmas festival originated early in the fourth century from an internal theological need to emphasize the physical birth of Christ as the focal point of divine incarnation

Apparently, Christmas was not observed in the first three centuries after Christ. There is no hint of such celebration in the New Testament or in early church literature. It is true that certain Christmas customs and even the date, December 25, are of pre-Christian origin. But we must distinguish between our Christmas customs, which are from many sources, and the basic essence of Christmas, which is distinctly Christian.

Jewish people observed death anniversaries, but never birthdays. From the first century, Easter was observed by followers of Christ, but not until the fourth century was there an annual observance of His birth. Christmas apparently originated in the Eastern Church among Christian groups known as "Adoptionists," who believed Christ's baptism was the point at which Christ became divine: i.e. was adopted as the Son of God. The first Christmas was intended to commemorate the Christ-event, but placed that event at Christ's baptism. This observance was placed on January 6. The Adoptionists did not attach any particular importance to the physical birth of Christ, but placed high value on His baptism, which they called epiphany, meaning “to appear.” In their theology, it was the time when God appeared. Ina different form, this emphasis has been retained in our modern Epiphany on January 6 and in our traditional twelve days of Christmas, which end on that day.

This annual observance of the Christ-event rapidly spread to the Western Church, where it underwent two very significant changes. More orthodox western Christians changed the meaning to emphasize not Christ’s baptism, but His birth, which they regarded as the true incarnation. They also changed the date from January 6 to December 25. Two important reasons for these changes were: 1) Theological; Biblical truth firmly holds that Christ’s physical birth marked the incarnation. They had tried to emphasize this theology in connection with the January 6 observance but found that date indelibly connected with heresy. To continue with the January 6 Epiphany would have endangered orthodox Christianity in the West, a Christology only recently hammered out at the Council of Nicea in 35 A.D. 2) Practical; from remote antiquity, there had been in Western Europe a mid-winter festival called Brumalia, which was observed on December 25. It was connected with sun-worship. There were candles and bonfires to aid in the birth or rebirth of the sun god. Other features included feasting, decorations, and the exchange of gifts.

In the dark winters of northern Europe, such mid-winter gaiety and rejoicing seems almost a psychological necessity, and it was immensely popular. Serious problems arose when Christians participated in the Brumalia festival, for they reverted, if only for a few days, to pagan customs and associations. In the second century, the strict Christian teacher, Tertullian, had simply forbidden Christians to participate, but the popularity of the festival and its social and cultural ties were too strong, and Christians did participate. Then came one of the boldest and most courageous efforts of the early church; the church took over the mid-winter festival and Christianized it! This effort was in keeping with the goal of the church to see all of society redeemed. Already Christians had an important annual observance, Christmas, and they needed another date for it other than January 6. Obviously the effort to redeem December 25 was never completely successful.

Christmas, properly understood, has nothing to do with a date. It commemorates a fact. The exact date of the birth of Christ is relatively unimportant, but the historic fact of His birth is vital. The primary motivation for Christmas was theological. Early Christians felt a need to express their convictions about the incarnation. How better to do this than with an emphasis on the reality of His physical birth? The impulse to celebrate Christ’s birth did not come from outside, but was a consequence of theological reflection on the fact of redemption. The fact that Christmas came to be set on December 25, the date of an earlier festival, and that several customs of the earlier festival have survived, are purely incidental and secondary. The essence of Christmas is Christian.

At least twice, Christian leaders have tried to destroy this mid-winter festival or to prohibit Christian participation. Tertullian is representative of leaders in the early church who took this stance. Devout seventeenth century Puritans passed laws outlawing Christmas both in England and in colonial America. There is some reason to believe our Puritan forefathers rather deliberately planned a mid-winter harvest festival, which we now know as Thanksgiving as a substitute for the more “popish” Christmas. THERE ARE GOOD REASONS FOR RETAINING CHRISTMAS. Christians still face the very same theological necessity that first called Christmas into existence- the need to emphasize the incarnation. Christmas is of tremendous practical advantage, and the church would forfeit this only to its great hurt. At Christmas, the minds of millions are turned, if only briefly and imperfectly, to a focal point of the Christian religion.

Admittedly, much of the folklore and many of the customs surrounding Christmas are of pre-Christian origin, but this does not mean they are necessarily anti-Christian. Let us not confuse Christmas with the tinsel that surrounds its observance. Christmas properly understood and observed, is distinctly Christian.

Frozen, Rusted, Chained, or Melted

2010-06-14T20:36:00.001-07:00

I came across this article in SBC Life the other day and thought you might enjoy it. It was written by Charles Lowry and entitled Frozen, Rusted, Chained, or Melted...

When a young girl arrived home from school and told her mom that she was the smartest student in the class that day, her mom asked how that happened. "We wrote on the blackboard," the girl said proudly, "and I was the only one in the class that could read my writing." It is natural to look at life from our point-of-view. A chicken and an elephant were locked in a cage together, and the chicken told the elephant that they needed a few rules. The first was that they not step on each other. We, like the chicken, look at rules and decisions in a way that will best benefit us.

A teenager being interviewed for a job at a movie theatre was asked what he would do if there was a fire at the theatre. The boy said not to worry; he would get out alright. That is not what the boss had in mind. The boss was thinking that he needed someone to care for others. This is what God expected when He established the church. Many of our churches have adopted the chicken point-of-view. It is usually not a doctrinal problem---we don't know enough theology to argue about that---it is a people problem.

Some want it this way, others want it another way, and still others want it another way. How many Baptists does it take to change a light bulb? Just one because all he has to do is hold the bulb as the world revolves around him. We spend our lives looking for ways to disagree.

Our nature is to put others down to build ourselves up. An egotist is a man that spends so much time talking about himself that you have no time to talk about yourself. I will never forget a man I had in marriage couseling. I told him that he and his wife needed to be of one mind. He wanted to know which mind? Mine or hers? That is our problem. Which mind? Theirs or mine? That's the chicken point of view. The Bible says, "Let this mind be in you which is in Christ Jesus." That "mind" was able to forget about Himself so that we still remember two thousand years later.

I don't know anything about pianos but I am told that two pianos should not be tuned to each other. Instead, we tune each piano to the tuning fork. The pianos then would be tuned the same because they were tuned to the same tuning fork. You and I will never agree on all things, but if we can find the one purpose that we agree upon, we will not be in cross purposes. That's our job as churches and as a denomination. We should be in tune with the Mind of Christ. We can't be frozen together in formalism, rusted together by ritualism, or even chained together by conservatism. We have to be melted together by the love of Christ.

A couple adopting a child from an orphanage was drawn to one little boy and told him of all the things that they would give him---clothes, toys, and a nice new house. Nothing seemed to appeal to him, and they finally asked him what he really wanted. He replied that he just wanted someone to love him. that's what our world wants and needs.

Blest Be the Tie That Binds

2010-02-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

For over two hundred years, Christian people, with their hearts full of emotion, have sung, Blest Be the Tie That Binds. At SHBC, oftentimes tearfully, we have sung this lovely hymn at the close of our Lord's Supper Service.

The song began in tears. Dr John Fawcett was the beloved pastor of a small church in Wainsgate, England. In 1772 he received a "call" to become the pastor of a large church in London. He accepted the call from this prestigious church in the capital city of England and preached his farewell sermon to a congregation of crushed and sorrowing parishioners.

The scheduled day of departure arrived. Outside the parsonage, the waiting wagons were loaded up with books, furniture, and other goods of the pastor and his wife. Finally all preparations were complete, and the pastor and his wife were ready to depart. The members of the congregation, who had truly become like "family" to the Fawcetts, gathered around the couple. In a sincere outpouring of affection and emotion, and with eyes full of tears, the people begged them to stay.

The pastor's wife looked at him and with quivering voice said, "Oh John, John I cannot bear this."

"Neither can I," exclaimed the good pastor, "and we will not go. Unload the wagons and put everything as it was before."

The pastor's decision brought shouts of joy and thanksgiving from all present. The whole congregation joined in a great spontaneous celebration

In commemoration of this touching event, Dr. John Fawcett wrote the words of this hymn:
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.

What a wonderful tie there is that binds us together in Christian love. I have had the privilege to build relationships with Christians from all over the world, and always there has been that wonderful "oneness."
Blest be the tie that binds.

Could Have Been You.

2010-02-10T19:03:00.000-08:00

I must apologize again for my inconsistency in posting to my blog. I would like to say I've just been to busy, but should always find the time to communicate with you guys. Even to say I didn't have anything to say would be a stretch. Simply because I live life. And even if life is not enough there is always my friend who sticks closer than a brother, or my Heavenly Father, or His word. I suppose the best excuse is no excuse. Therefore, I simply ask your forgiveness. Having said that let's move on.

I was pondering just yesterday some of my favorite Biblical characters. I came across one that I have always loved. He's the one children sing about, Zacchaeus, you know the "wee little man". I thought about how a lot of us are a lot like Zacchaeus. For instance, he was rich. Now, maybe we are not rich with material possessions but, we feel kind of rich with ourselves. Sometimes we think "we are all that". We think we have got it all together and under control or at least that's the persona we portray, all the while we are empty and desolate on the inside. Nothing seems to satisfy, something is always lacking.

Zacchaeus was small in stature. I'm sure he heard all of his life about his "shortcomings". Ridiculed and harassed by those around him. We may not be short but in our eyes we're not very significant. We assume that our place in life is always relegated to the background. No one notices us and in the midst of a crowd we feel alone. The room may be full but within ourselves we are alone.

He was also an outcast. He was a tax collector which meant he worked for the Roman government. The Jewish people did not care for Rome and liked their taxes even less. It would be safe to say they liked tax collectors even less than that. He had no social life outside of what would take place with his family. He was not allowed in the Temple because he was considered unclean. The only interaction he had was when he tallied the amount and collected the tax. He was an outcast. At times don't we feel this way? Our friends seem to have forgotten who we are, our acquaintances never acknowledge our presence, and even our family seems to have turned their back. And, we feel like an outcast.

So, here is Zacchaeus empty, alone, and an outcast. He's run ahead of the crowd in order to see Jesus. He's climbed the tree in order to see Jesus. He listens intently as the Savior calls him by name. At that moment the empty alone outcast becomes Zacchaeus the host of the only begotten Son of God. His life is changed dramatically.

Christ will do the same for you. He's calling your name. In the midst of your despair, detachment, and degradation He's calling you by name. He is just what Zacchaeus needed and He is just what we need. Listen, He's calling your name.

Personal Evangelism

2010-02-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

Used by permission of the author, Dr. Charles Kelly, President of The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

I will never forget the first time I went to First Baptist church of Dallas, Texas. I was thrilled over the opportunity to visit this legendary congregation while I was in Dallas for a weekend. It was awesome! The choir loft stretched from one side of the balcony across the platform, to the balcony on the other side. they had a full symphony orchestra. I had never seen anything like that in church before. The music was so dynamic that I wondered why they did not install seat belts in the pews to keep people from floating off during the praise time. We got to the time of the sermon, and Dr. Criswell stood up and said, "I 'm going to do something that I have never done before." I was thrilled because that meant my only visit to the church would be an historical occasion! And then Criswell said, "I am going to read the church budget." I'm thinking, "No, he won't". And at that 11 o'clock Sunday morning service, being carried live on television and radio, Dr. Criswell opened a folder, put on his glasses, and read line by line through the church budget. For 3o minutes, he read the church budget.

By the time he finished, I was bored almost to tears. In fact, I was more than bored. I was mad at his waste of a opportunity to preach the gospel and call people to salvation! To my surprise, he indicated that a invitation would be extended in spite of the unusual nature of his "message". I thought we would surely beat the Methodists and Catholics to the cafeteria today. He closed his file folder, took off his glasses, put them in his pocket, and began the invitation.

Twenty minutes later people were still responding--coming down the aisles, coming from the back, and coming from the balcony. I said to myself, "I'm going to get a copy of that budget for my next revival". I envisioned a whole new approach to evangelism: budget revivals!

The invitation was finally over, and Criswell began introducing people who had made their decisions for Christ to the congregation. "Oh, glory, glory, Tom come stand here,lad. This is Tom. Some of you may recognize Tom. He is a sportscaster on one of our local stations and now he comes giving his life to Jesus. Oh, glory Bob, Mary--come and stand with Tom You don't recognize Bob or Mary, but they are on the other side of those cameras showing Tom, this good looking lad, and they have been telling Tom about Jesus. Now Tom comes to be saved."

On and on he went, introducing each one who made a decision that day. In most cases, he pointed out somebody in the congregation who had been witnessing to them. Slowly it dawned on me. The secret to First Baptist, Dallas, was more than the man behind the pulpit; it was the people in the pews telling the people they knew about Jesus. The secret to every great church is not just a great pastor. It is a great congregation who leaves church each week to go and tell the people they know about Jesus.

Part of the reason personal evangelism has not permeated the life of the church is because the typical church has lost sight of her mission.

The Good Samaritan

2009-06-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

It is so hard to remember that, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). We need to be reminded of this fact all the time. It is a lesson that keeps eluding us because it goes against everything in human nature.

Somehow, there is a subtle, sneaky way our minds work to create an inner attitude that says it's better to be a "receiver" than a giver. This certainly not a new idea. It's as old as self-centeredness, which means that it's as old as humanity itself. And, of course, the world around us blasts us with the same message every hour of everyday. It is taken for granted by most people that whatever brings pleasure or possessions to them is automatically good. But contradicting all that is the "obvious." Jesus says: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

You know? I truly believe the Good Samaritan was a very happy man. He was a "giver." As a Samaritan, he was hated and despised and considered "inferior" by the Jews of his day. But when a Jew who had been mugged and robbed was found lying by the side of the road in a pool of his own blood, it was the despised Samaritan who came to his rescue.

Two Jewish leaders passed by this badly injured man before the Good Samaritan arrived. But they were to preoccupied with their religious responsibilities to stop and help this dying man. Besides, the mugged man was a pathetic and disturbing sight. And this was a dangerous, high-crime area. The only prudent thing to do was to keep on moving and get out of there as quickly as possible.

But the Samaritan had a deeper urge than prudence. Ignoring his own personal safety, he poured wine on the open wounds of the injured man. He then soothed the pain with oil and covered the wounds with cloth, probably torn from his own garments. The Samaritan was covered with grime and blood as he lifted the man onto his donkey. Holding the man on the donkey, he walked along side him to the nearest inn, where he stayed and ministered to him through the night. In the morning, he paid for the man's expenses and left only after promising to pay for any further expenses that might be incurred (Luke 10:30-35).

What a beautiful morning it must have been to the Samaritan. I'm sure there must have been a peaceful look on his face as he rode along. Sure, he'd blown his "schedule" by making this unplanned stop. But the Good Samaritan was not behind schedule. He was right on schedule. He was right on time.

Somewhere, somehow, sometime this "outcast" Samaritan had discovered that "joy was an inside job." He had learned and remembered one of life's most vital and most elusive truths: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

Modern Day Atlas

2009-06-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

The other night I awoke about two A.M. Couldn't sleep. My mind was spinning. I was mulling over all the problems of the church, all the problems the people were facing in their personal lives, all the things I should have done already, and all the things I still needed to do, all the annoying little things that people do and say. All, all, all....no use. No sleep. I rolled from one side to the other, wrestled with my pillow, and kicked the covers. Finally somewhere around dawn, I dozed off just in time for the alarm to wake me up.

As I headed to the office I was still at it, thrashing away frantically at ALL! I gripped the steering wheel sternly. My chest felt tight. My body was taut. I was physically in the car and even managing to drive somehow, but my mind was all over the place. Here it was a lovely sunny day and I was trying to be a modern day Atlas. I was carrying the cares and concerns of MY world on my shoulders. I was a weary wooden warrior of worry.

Then a thought hit me. Hey! What are you trying to do run the universe? Remember you didn't create it and God didn't assign you the task! So stop trying to play Mr. Atlas. Do you think that God has no stake in YOUR world or in YOUR life? Do you think God is unaware of all these problems? After all, God has seen problems and people come and go. But the sun still rises in the East and sets in the West, and life still goes on . . . new problems and new people.

As I drove along, the bigger my thoughts about God became, and the smaller my problems became. Before I reached the office I was driving with one hand, leaning back in the seat, singing outloud, and enjoying the drive.

Many times we miss so much when we trust only in our own mind and muscle. Tell me the absolute truth: Are you enjoying this day? Or are you so wrapped up in self-pity, worry and feverish activity that you can not feel the sunshine, see the stars, hear the laughter of children, or know the presence of God?

Can I give you two words of advice? Stop it! Remember God has a stake in YOUR life. He wants you to relax and enjoy this day. And tonight, when you go to bed; say a prayer, put your head down on the pillow, and go to sleep. Peter said it this way, ". . . casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

God will take care of the universe while you are asleep. After all He has been doing it for a long long time.

The Test

2009-06-08T18:30:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago I went to my orthopedic doctor for a bum knee. We decided surgery was the best option. Because of other health issues I had to "be cleared" for surgery by my primary care doctor. She required an echocardiogram before she would "clear" me for surgery. Test results...not good. I was then told I needed to undergo the "Stress Test." After much discussion I agreed to the procedure. Test results...not good.

I was told I had a severe blockage in my arteries. I felt fine, with the exception of my knee, but my heart was a ticking time bomb. I never would have guessed it.

The stress test made the difference. After receiving the results I was in stunned silence. I couldn’t believe it. I was a little plump but not overweight. I played golf and basketball. I swam a little and took the stairs, sometimes, during hospital visits. I wasn’t the picture of perfect health, but heart disease? How could this happen to me?

Eventually, I accepted the truth and prepared myself for by-pass surgery. I used the word eventually, but this process lasted about one week. As I worked myself through this quagmire of disbelief, a spiritual message began to emerge.

The stress test made the difference. Our spiritual lives must be strong enough to face the stress test because the stresses of life will surely come; the stresses of loneliness, temptation, of rejection, fear of death, fear of life, of ruptured relationships, of sickness, of pain, and of disillusionment. These stresses can be just too much for a weak spiritual heart, but they are inevitable for all of us. We must all ultimately face the stress test of life no matter how easily and comfortably things seem to be riding along at the present.

Kind of like the guy in the Bible who knew that the storms would be coming, and therefore, built his house upon a rock. We too must build our own lives with the inescapable storms always in mind. The stress test is always on the horizon, and a phony faith will never pass the test. Remember, a person’s faith is no stronger than his hardest test.

The Apostle Paul was able to pass the stress test. Listen to him, “…I have learned how to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-12 NASB).

Are you ready for the stress test?

Road Trip Lessons

2009-05-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

Well it’s been a while. Probably sometime around September of ’08 since I last wrote. I could offer all of the common excuses and reasons but honestly I just didn’t. I hope you will accept my apology and return often. You could even leave me a comment or two just to let me know you’ve been by.
This past January Karen and I took “the boys”: Justin, Samuel, Jathan, and Alex to what is lovingly called “the country.” Justin was looking for burial sites of his ancestors. He located some as far back as five generations. We slept at Grandpa and Grandma’s old place. We then ate breakfast with kinfolk at the Crossroads Café. It was a good trip for us all.
I learned a few lessons on that road trip. Most of them taught to me by my grandsons. Lessons like ranch dressing and ketchup mixed together makes a good dipping sauce for chicken nuggets. If you eat your ice cream first then you don’t have to eat extra dinner to get the sweet taste out of your mouth. Lastly, the stars in the sky burned out last year and their light is just now getting to earth so we can see it. Pivotal life changing lessons learned at the hands of two ten year olds and one six year old.
There was one other lesson I learned at the hands of my heavenly Father which stirred my heart. They, my children and my grandchildren, are my legacy. They are what I will leave behind. Who they are and what they become will be partly who I am. They will have habits and ways like their Dad and “Mets.” Some of my personality traits will show up in them. And small snippets of me will be prominent in their lives.
This brings me to the second part of the lesson. I am their heritage. Therefore, it is very important what I live before them for that is what they will inherit. The lessons I teach will help to mold them into the adult they will become.
My friend this is not just my lesson, but yours as well. Living a Godly life before those who come behind us will be the greatest inheritance we could leave. For our children and grandchildren to know that we loved and served Jesus would be a foundation upon which a great legacy could be built. Let’s be careful where our footsteps lead because someone is always following. God bless! Have a great week!

Pastor Mike

At the Savior's Feet

2008-09-08T15:31:00.000-07:00

It has been said that life is a kitchen full of preparations that has a tendency to distract the "Martha" in all of us. It is my prayer that we come out of the kitchen for just a few minutes to sit at the Savior's feet.

Life always finds a way to keep us busy. Busy with good "things," even busy with necessary "things," but yet busy with "things" that keep us from the Savior. We become like Martha moving from task to task, meeting needs here and there, helping in any way possible. All the while hearing the words, "...you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed."

Jesus says something extraordinary about what Mary did; it would become a permanent part of her life; it would count for eternity. Quite a promise! "Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her."

That's why she understood what the disciples were slow to grasp. That's why when they were arguing over their greatness in the Kingdom, she was again at the Savior's feet. That's why she anointed Him with costly perfume. That's why she said with her tears...I love You and good-bye.

May we find ourselves at the Savior's feet. May each intimate moment spent with Him give us clear vision of who He is, and may we love Him a little more deeply than we did before we sat down.

2008-08-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

I recently read of an event that happened a few years ago involving the Enterprise, a 90,000 ton nuclear powered aircraft carrier. It seems the carrier got stuck in the mud on its way into port in San Francisco Bay. The majestic 1,123 foot vessel with a crew of over 5,000 ran aground just over a thousand yards from shore.

Thousands of relatives and friends watched in disbelief as the great ship lurched to a complete halt and then refused to budge. Only a thousand yards from the carrier, people watched eagerly and helplessly as the tugboats were called in to drag the Enterprise from the sand bar. The tugs pushed and pulled in all directions. There was shouting of orders and much scurrying about. More tugboats were brought in to "gang up" on the huge ship. They tried everything. After five grueling hours, the ship was still stuck.

The crowd of relatives and friends on the dock looked on this spectacle with increasing frustration and anger. How could such a thing happen? Why couldn't they free the ship? Tension was mounting both on the ship and on the shore. Then, when everybody was at the end of their rope; when everything humanly possible had been done, help came from another source... the tide!

As the high tide began to gradually roll in, it lifted the huge ship right out of the mud where it had been stuck for hours, resisting all human effort to free it. The silent and powerful lift of the tide- with no help from man- solved the problem.

How many times do we find ourselves stuck in the mud and muck of life? We push and pull, we strain and struggle, we wrack our brains. Yet, despite all our mighty efforts, we are still stuck.

However, when God's spiritual tide comes in, we are powerfully and effortlessly lifted free to sail on again. There are times when we need to recall the words of Moses, "... stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord..." (Exodus 14:13). Maybe we need to remember the words penned by Zechariah, "... not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lords of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).

Lord, help me to quit struggling. Help me to learn to trust in Your tide.

Need a towel?

2008-07-28T06:24:00.001-07:00

The Master Teacher once taught a lesson twenty-four feet long. His disciples had been jockeying for position and nursing their egos, and Jesus had devoted teaching time to this issue. Yet, even in the Upper Room on the eve of the cross, the little band was out of sorts. Quietly rising from the table, Jesus brought the murmurings to a halt by removing His outer garments- and began washing their feet; all twenty-four of them. This was a customary act of hospitality in biblical times, when transportation was by sandal clad feet along dusty roadways. Servants usually performed the task, but to the embarrassment of the Twelve, Jesus took that role upon Himself.

When He came to Peter, He met resistance. Was it shame, defiance, or pride? Only Peter and Jesus know for sure. But Jesus responded firmly, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” With typical rashness, Peter said, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus replied, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet to be completely clean” (John 13:8-10). Having finished the twenty-four feet, Jesus rose, replaced His robe, and resumed His seat at the head of the table.

The author Robert J. Morgan writes, “His words to Peter indicate there was more to His actions than met the foot. In one twenty-minute lesson, Jesus encapsulated His entire mission. This foot washing was a miniaturized version of His Passion. Just as a drop of water contains all the life of a pond, this one act of our Lord was a microcosm of His whole ministry.”

What a mission it was! The Almighty Son, arrayed in splendor, rose from His heavenly place, laid aside His garments of glory, took the form of a servant, descended to Earth, and humbly cleansed His squabbling, sinful children. He washes us from soul-destroying sin (head, hands, and heart) as well as from the daily “dust on our feet” that can strain our fellowship with God. Then He arose, replaced His regalia, and resumed His place of honor on heaven’s throne.
The Teacher’s lesson- our daily acts of humility, washing one another’s feet- not only reflect His loving heart; they emulate His redemptive mission. “I have given you an example,” He said, “that you should do as I have done to you” (John 8:15).

Need a towel?

A Personal gospel.

2008-07-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

The ball game was great! The home team won. The sermon was relevant and many in the crowd responded. The concert was on target and loud. We left early, it had been a long day.

On the way home we stopped by McDonald's for a small, late evening, before bedtime snack. I had opened my wallet to pay for the Mighty Kids meals and two grilled chicken wraps, I'm sure you know which one was mine.

There he was. He was dirty and unshaven. His clothes were ragged, torn, and a few sizes to big. And he smelled. He was the epitome of life on the streets. I stared for a moment into the empty eyes that seemed to have lost any glimmer of hope. After returning my gaze he lowered his head as if he were ashamed.

My mind rewound to just an hour before. I found myself in a beautiful stadium of lights. There was beautiful green grass and all the glitz and glamour that goes with the game. I was surrounded by children, teenagers, and adults all dressed in nice clothes and sipping soda from bottomless cups. I heard the Gospel presented and watched as many responded. Trucks, cars, SUVs, church buses and vans, all air conditioned, headed for the nearest eatery for a late evening snack. It had been a great day!

Now, I'm at McDonald's. As a preacher of the Gospel I'm confronted with my personal gospel. I picked up my change and my order and made my way to our table. I've got a wonderful wife. As soon as I sat down she said, "I wonder if he's hungry." I responded, "I'll find out."

Excuse me sir, are you hungry? Yes sir I am. What do you want? A double cheeseburger and two apple pies. Give me a double cheeseburger meal and two apple pies. You want anything else? No sir. Can I ask you a personal question? Yes sir. Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Yes sir, I sure do. What you have been given has been given to you in His name. Yes sir. The lady behind the counter said, "Thank you so much!"

It's going to happen. Somewhere, sometime, somehow. You're going to be confronted with your personal gospel. No words, no theology lesson. Only your actions. I pray you'll live it out! It's great!

I'll Do It Tomorrow

2008-06-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

I went to the doctor today. During the check-up everything went great! Blood pressure was normal, sugar levels were in check, and cholesterol was down. I sat on the end of the exam table beaming and swinging my feet like a five year old.

Then the bombshell, "your sugar levels are down and you're not putting on weight, which is good, but..." Can we pause right there? I really don't like it when someone begins a new subject in a conversation with a compliment. It usually means you're not going to like what's coming. Let's continue, " ...I would like for you to lose twenty pounds."

I thought, "twenty pounds!!" Do you know how many miles it takes to make twenty pounds? About how many salads make twenty pounds? How many hamburgers are left behind in the name of twenty pounds?

I replied with a defensive grin and a profound statement of a chunky french fry-less individual, "you're right, and my plan is to lose the weight when I get back from vacation. That will be a better time to start." Doc simply crossed her arms and replied, "There is no better time."

You all understand my dilemma. We all know it well. It is the terrible urge to put off until tomorrow the difficult things we know we ought to be doing today. It is always convenient and comforting to think that there is a better time coming in the future.

How often have we all tried pushing today's tough decisions into uncertain tomorrows? "I am going to lose weight right after my vacation." "I am going to quit smoking right after I finish this pack." "I am going to quit drinking right after New Years." "I am going to become regular in church starting next month." "I will be back in church this coming week." "One of these days I am going to become a Christian." Et cetera. Et cetera. Out there somewhere, someday, somehow I am going to do what I know God wants me to do right now.

The truth is nobody ever actually started a diet, quit smoking, or turned over a new leaf tomorrow. Think about it! Today is always the only possible "day of decision."

The Bible affirms it: "Now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). "This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

Our relationship with God must be in the "todays," not the "tomorrows." There is no better time!

Problem With Rationalizations

2008-05-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried to rationalize sin? If you have, take heart, you are in good company.

Take for example, Aaron, the first High Priest of Israel. He was the one chosen by God to be the speaker for the stutterer, Moses. He was not only the spokesman, but was also “second in command” in Moses’ absence.

Moses went to the Mount to get the Ten Commandments from God. While he was on this sacred and prolonged mission there was funny business going on in the Israelite camp. Where, by the way, Aaron was now in charge. The people were getting restless, not only because Moses had been gone a while, they were getting a “hankering” for a false god and all the sensuousness that went along with it.

Aaron, who apparently got caught up in the same spirit, went along with this pagan urge and even became the man in charge of it. He organized and motivated the people to gather up their golden earrings and other gold ornaments. They gathered together a huge haul of gold and the man in charge orchestrated a huge bonfire to melt the gold. The man in charge then took the gold and fashioned it into an enormous golden calf.

The people, who were already clamoring for such a god, were told by Aaron, the man in charge, that this golden calf was their new god. He called for a time of worship and revelry to the new god.

About this time, Moses came back from the Mount and saw what was going on. He immediately hurled the engraved tablets to the ground. Hot with anger, Moses yelled at Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you brought so great a sin upon them” (Exodus 32:21, NKJV).

Okay, here comes the rationalization, and try to keep a straight face as you hear his answer. “Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know these people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, make us gods that shall go before us; as for Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what become of him. And I said to them, whoever has any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out” (Exodus 32:22-24, NKJV).

So you see, rationalizing sin is nothing new and remains ‘til this day: “I committed adultery because my spouse did not meet my needs.” “I divorced my husband because he was too controlling.” “I have to cheat in my business because if you don’t cheat, you don’t stay in business.” “I rob banks because my parents didn’t discipline me.” And on and on go the rationalizations. Rationalizing sin is a sure fire recipe for spiritual defeat. It is an absolute block to spiritual victory.

The prodigal son, one of my favorite Bible characters, had a real recovery because he had a real confession. He said to his father, “I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:21, NKJV).

In our heart of hearts we know that rationalizing sin is phony and a put-on. A phony self can never experience a real blessing.

Don't Get Burned

2008-05-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

The other day, while at the doctor's office, I came across this ad in a magazine. There was this picture of a Roman gladiator in big trouble. Somehow, he had dropped his sword. The enraged lion, seeing it's opportunity, is in mid-lunge with jaws wide open. The crowd in the Colosseum is on it's feet, watching in horror as the panic-stricken gladiator tries to flee. The caption reads: Sometimes you can afford to come in second, sometimes you can't.

I thought about the Psalmist, David, when he wrote the words, "lead us not into temptation..." I'm confident that David knew something the gladiator didn't. Our most important strategy for defeating the roaring lion is to stay out of the arena.

Sometimes we play so close to the fires of temptation we can't help but get burned. Our greatest defense against sin is to stay out of the arena. Do not place ourselves in situations where our weaknesses will be allowed to come to the forefront. For if we do we will be devoured by the lion.

Pastor Mike

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VBS June 1-6, 6:00 PM-8:30 PM

My Shepherd

2008-04-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman was traveling through the Highlands of Scotland when he met a young boy tending sheep. Always ready to witness for the Lord, Dr. Chapman asked the boy, "Do you know how to recite the Twenty-third Psalm?" The timid little boy admitted that he did not, so Chapman taught him the first five words of the Psalm, "The Lord is my shepherd." To help the little boy remember these wonderful words, Chapman had the boy hold up his hand, and he assigned one word to each finger, beginning with the thumb: "The-Lord-is-my-shepherd."

Months later, Dr. Chapman was in the same area of the Highlands again, so he decided to stop by and visit the shepherd boy. Not finding him out in the hills with the sheep, Dr. Chapman inquired at a nearby hut, where he found the boy's mother. She had tragic news. While out tending the sheep, the boy had been caught in a terrible blizzard and lost his life. Tearfully, the mother told Chapman about the way the young boy had treasured the five words of the Twenty-third Psalm, especially the way he had held his fourth finger and repeated the word, "my." He would often say these words of comfort, and holding onto his fourth finger, he would emphasize, "My shepherd, My shepherd." She continued, "When they found his body in the deep snow, his two hands were sticking out. He was clasping his fourth finger! We knew what that meant."

In a world of blizzards, we must have a personal relationship with our Shepherd-Lord. Christ is indeed the Good Shepherd, but unless He is "my" shepherd, it does me no good whatsoever. I cannot face the blizzards of life unless He is my shepherd. I need a personal shepherd for my personal blizzards. I must be able to say "I know whom I have believed" (2 Timothy 1:12).

"The Lord is my shepherd" (Psalm 23:1).

One Shoe

2008-04-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

It was one of those July afternoons in Mobile. It felt as if the parking lot was sticking to the soles of my shoes. My main objective was the cool air just the other side of the sliding glass doors.

Just ahead I noticed a child's sandal lying on the sun-baked asphalt. My first reaction was to simply step over the shoe and continue my quest for the coolness just around the corner. Instead, I stopped, picked up the little shoe, and hurried on. Once inside I turned my discovery over to the lady at the desk and began my hospital visits.

As I walked the halls my mind started to wonder. The style was definitely a girl's. Who is she? Is she a blonde or brunette, or maybe a redhead? Is she thin or chubby? What is the color of her eyes. How old is she? What kind of parents does she have? Where is she now? How did she happen to lose her sandal?

I did not have an answer to any of these questions. All I could do was wonder. All I had was one lonely sandal in a scorching Mobile parking lot. But as I walked and wondered I was reminded of how Jesus talked about a child when He told us how we must enter the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus says, "I assure you, unless you are converted and become and like children you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3; HCSB)

The "weakness" of a child is somehow very powerful. A child demonstrates the power to wonder, the power to forgive and forget, the power to show genuine and refreshing innocence. A child is full of trust. Jesus says to gain entrance into heaven demands the same spirit as that of a trusting child. You see, no one enters the Kingdom of heaven walking tall. No, one must enter in trusting humility on their knees. We must each become as a little child.

As I exited the elevator I observed a smiling loving mother putting a small sandal on her daughter. My heart laughed and my soul smiled. Oh yeah! She was a redhead.