Life Goes On

The US and many other countries have activated numerous sanctions against Russia.  The people who are being hurt by those sanctions are not the oligarchs or Vladimir Putin.  They all have their money well hidden.  The general population of Russia is taking the brunt of these actions.  When I was in Russia in 1993, the exchange rate was 1250 to 1.  That meant that one American dollar bought 1250 rubles.  The impact was visible when we walked into grocery stores and saw one loaf of bread and one box of cereal on bare shelves.  People on the street were doing whatever they could just to get enough food to eat.  Some had set up makeshift grills on street corners and were selling who knows what.  Others were selling vodka by the shot from a bottle they had somehow gotten.  When we flew into the airport in Rostov after midnight, we were surrounded by people who had cars who wanted us to "rent" them to take us to our destination.  Our dele...

I just finished writing a sermon from Matthew 8 about the faith of the Roman Centurio in Capernaum.  Here was a pagan who had more faith than the "Chosen People" who lived in the area.  Here was a man of authority approaching one over whom he was given authority by Rome.  It would have been understandable if he had demanded that Jesus heal his servant.  Instead he approached Jesus humbly. (Luke said that he didn't even come himself, but some Jews came on his behalf.)  He called Jesus "Lord", which acknowledged His position, and he even said, "You can do this with just a word and not even have to come to my house."  Jesus was amazed. He had never encountered such faith even among the Jews.  As a matter of fact He had admonished those closest to Him on several occasions for their "little faith".  However, Jesus did teach that little faith could be effective faith.  He said that one with faith as small as a mustard seed could move a tree or a mo...

My wife and I have a vacation club membership that we mostly use as a meeting place with our family over holidays.  We met there the week following Christmas.  We arrived on Sunday afternoon and made arrangements for the others who were coming in later.  About 3:15 a.m. my wife got up to go to the bathroom without turning on the lights.  She fell into the shower backwards (4th fall in a month) and was in extreme pain.  I got her back into bed, and later up again to go to the bathroom.  The second time I got her back into bed, the pain was extreme, so I called 911.  Long story short, she was transported to hospital where an MRI revealed a fractured T 12 vertebrae.  A surgical procedure was planned for Wednesday.  All went well, however her pain has never completely subsided.  She had some immediate therapy that afternoon and again on Friday.  She was released from the hospital on Friday and we drove 2 hours to our home.  Now we ...

 As we continue to adjust almost daily to the new "normal" of covid 19, I'm beginning to feel like I'm in exile in a foreign land.  Increasingly our government is impinging on our "space".  Gradually our freedoms are being eroded.  If we complain, those in power only tighten the demands on us just like the Egyptian taskmasters did to the Israelites.  What can we do to change our situation? I remember attending a school board meeting once intending to speak on an issue that was on the docket.  The meeting dragged on and on, dealing with one mundane matter after the other.  When we reached 10 p.m. and they still had not opened the floor for those of us who came to speak, I realized that no matter what we might say, they had already decided what they would do.  Our input would make absolutely no difference even if we stayed long enough to voice it.  That is somewhat like the feeling I have now.  Our government, which is supposedly "of the p...

I'm noticing a disturbing trend, not only in our nation, but in our local church.  There is a leadership void and as with any void, it will be filled by those who are either not equipped to lead or who have a personal agenda to promote.  The old saying of there being "Too many chiefs and not enough Indians" which refers to everyone wanting to lead and no one willing to do the work is no longer true.  More and more people want to serve, but don't want to lead.  It reminds me a bit of Moses.  He did want to deliver the Jews from bondage, but when his first attempt ended badly, he withdrew for 40 years and then had to be drafted by God to be the leader of the Exodus.  The problem with a lack of leadership is that anarchy prevails.  That means that everyone does his own thing.  When that happens there is no synergy, and the organization is limited to the ability of the individual rather than the combined ability of the group.  Recently I have dea...

During the pandemic more and more of us have surrendered control of our lives to so-called "experts" in the fields of medicine, entertainment and government.  We no longer decide what we will or will not do until we have read the latest article or watched the most recent video of some "talking head" seeking to frighten us into submission.  Many have become dependent on the government to supply their financial needs rather than getting out and working.  We have become like sheep who can't determine when, where and what to eat or where to rest in safety.  The time has come for us to wake up, stand up and retake charge of our lives. The only Shepherd we should follow is the Good Shepherd, Jesus.  As we follow Him we can be assured of adequate food, safe water, right paths and life without fear.  Being a part of His flock means surrendering to His daily guidance and direction. Secular government leaders, medical "experts" and celebrities are not interested...

Many people, whether committed Christians or not, have just celebrated Easter; Resurrection Day.  The question, especially for Christians is...now what?  What are you going to do differently because Christ is alive, ascended and coming again?  The first disciples had specific instructions to Go to Galilee and wait for Jesus.  Then He told them to wait for the Promise (Holy Spirit).  Then they turned the world upside down. In our case, the Holy Spirit has come.  All believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  Yet our world is in chaos.  Many of our churches are declining both in impact and in membership.  For the first time in many years there are fewer church members in America than non-church members.  Many churches have become "holy huddles" for the saved rather than Lighthouses to attract and direct the lost to safe harbor in Jesus. Do you have friends or family members who are lost? Are you actively seeking to share the Gospel with th...

The Apostle Paul was more than just a missionary.  He was the author of the bulk of the New Testament, and he was a prophet.  We are seeing at least two of his prophesies coming true today.  The first is found in Romans 1: 18-32.  I'm not going to type it all in this post, but I strongly encourage you to read it in your own Bible.  The bottom line of this passage though is that we are seeing these things happening daily in the headlines and through radio and TV news casts.  I will print vv28-32.  "And because they did not think is worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right.  They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil greed and wickedness.  They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice.  They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.  Alt...

Over and over we keep hearing politicians and medical personnel saying "follow the science" when talking about covid 19.  I find it interesting that they are not making the same application when dealing with gender confusion and with abortion.  If we "follow the science" in either of these areas we find that scientifically there are two biological genders and that babies in the womb are real people.  It appears that the bottom line for them is what is going to enable them to push their agenda on the public. The Apostle Paul clearly stated in Romans 1 that there would be a degradation of society as we move toward the "Day of the LORD".  In vv 18-19 he wrote, "For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth , since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them."  So it is not a matter of not knowing, but it is a ma...

Many people are distressed because of covid-19 and the tumultuous political climate in America.  Everyday I read of the increasing numbers of people who are dealing with depression and the rise in suicides in our country.  People are losing jobs and some are losing their homes.  There is no doubt that we are in troubling times. All of this makes me aware that people have forgotten that God exists and knows everything that is going on.  What we don't know is how He will use the situation to accomplish His purposes.  In America we have been under God's protection and blessing for so long that we have taken it for granted. Let's get real for a moment.  Over the past 50 + years America has taken the Bible and Prayer out of schools and now most public venues.  We have also passed laws that have resulted in the death of over 60 million unborn babies.  We have elected officials who's morals would have disqualified them in the earlier days of our country....

I started 2021 with a bang, and I'm not talking about fireworks.  On Jan. 1, 2021, after several days of a hacking cough, backaches, and generally feeling "blah", my wife convinced me to go the the emergency room.  Because of some on-going heart issues and the fact that I had pneumonia a few years back prompted us to go and get me checked out.  Long story, short, because we had been to Epcot with our daughter and her family a few days earlier, they did a covid 19 text and it came back positive.  My primary symptoms have been cough, aches, and extreme fatigue.  The coughs and the aches have subsided, but the fatigue continues.  The day after I was diagnosed, my wife could not stand without leaning on something.  I could not get her out of the house and into the car so we had to call EMS to pick her up and take her to ER.  I could only wait at home.  Finally, a few hours later she called and told me that she also tested positive, and I could co...

Especially during the pandemic, the so-called news industry plays with words in order to increase anxiety in their listeners & watchers.  Words and phrases like "dire", "disastrous", "might", "could be", "likely", "possibly", etc. enables them to say something without saying something.  And then there is any news that relates to  President Trump.  Expect to hear "baseless", "false", "without evidence" and "untrue" .  In this way they can present their bias without seeming to be biased.  Words are powerful and the news industry knows it.  Data is often misleading.  For example, while deaths due to Corona Virus 19 are claimed to be rising at alarming rates, deaths rates from things like heart attacks, cancer, diabetes, etc  are decreasing.  It doesn't take an Einstein to see that the death numbers are just being shifted so that Covid remains the scary ghost in the closet.  This ben...

Many years ago there was a TV game show entitled "Truth or Consequences" .  The idea behind it was that if a contestant did not tell the truth in response to questions asked them, then there were immediate consequences that made up the balance of the show.  Perhaps we should hold our politicians to that same standard.  Tell us the truth or there will be immediate consequences.  Unfortunately, the way our system is set up consequences can only occur every 2 to 4 years.  In the meantime they are free to continue to mangle the truth.  In order for us to decipher the truth, we must turn to the one source of truth...the Bible. Regardless of what politicians tell us, things are going to get worse instead of better.  In Paul's 2nd letter to Timothy chapter 3:1-5 he wrote "But know this: hard times will come in the last days.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unlovi...

Tune in to almost any network news program and you will be hit broadside with a plethora of headline words designed to scare you.  Words like "horrific" and "terrible" along with phrases like "out of control" , "no possible solution" or "no end in sight" are all designed to frighten you toward the conclusion the network would like you to adopt.  Their conclusion is that you have no hope. The driving force behind the covid 19 pandemic is FEAR.  If enough people decide that they have no hope, then they will buy in to whatever the government or the "health industry" tells them.   For the Christ follower this goes against everything the Gospel teaches.  Jesus came to set us free from fear.  The Apostle John reminds us that "perfect love drives out fear"  (1 John 4:18.)  In FDR's first inaugural address he uttered the classic line, "we have nothing to fear but fear itself."  Often fear or dread is what I...

I love the story of Elisha and his servant who were in the city of Dothan.  In 2 Kings 6:15-17 the servant got up early and went out and saw that the city was surrounded by troops who had been sent to capture Elisha.  The servant ran back inside the house and told Elisha what he had seen and then asked, "Oh, my master, what are we to do?"   Elisha replied, "Don't be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them."   I can only imagine the look on the servant's face.  Then Elisha prayed "Lord, please open his eyes and let him see."    "So the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." We are in a time when it is easy to be like the servant.  We look around and see the enemy of corona virus and the enemy of corrupt politicians and violent hate groups surrounding us.  It is easy to despair.  However, if our eyes were to be opened as when Eli...

Last night I had one of those rare instances where I actually had a mental conversation with God.  As with many my age, I frequently wake up in the middle of the night, perhaps several times.  On one of those instances last night I was thinking about the upcoming Prayer Meeting the next day.  As I thought about this, I also thought of how some people always address their prayer to the Father while others pray to Jesus.  Mentally I said to God, "To whom should we pray?"  Amazingly enough I got an instant answer.  In my mind God clearly said, "It depends on what you're asking for."  That thought had never entered my mind, so I asked God to elaborate on it...and He did.  "If you are asking for protection, provision or blessing" God said, "ask Me.  But If you are asking for redemption, healing or guidance, ask Jesus who died for your redemption, who was known as The Great Physician and who said that He was the Good Shepherd.  However, if y...

Oh how I wish for political candidates who can run on the strengths of their platform rather on slamming their opponents.  More than ever before we must pray our way into the voting booth and seek the  LORD's direction as we vote.  The sooner we recognize that God can use whomever he chooses to accomplish his plan for our country, the better. Currently I'm reading the book "Cities of Prayer".  Revealed in the book is the FACT that there is a wide-spread prayer movement in numerous cities in America.  The city of Austin, TX has been covered 24/7/365 in prayer by churches in the area for several years.  Among other miraculous results of such prayer was the breaking of a multi-year drought in a matter of months after focused prayer by churches united to pray for the city.  Not only was the drought broken, but the water supply was totally replenished in just a few weeks.  There are numerous other accounts of God's miraculous intervention in the cities...

If you have watched many cop shows on TV you perhaps have heard the line, "Assume the position".  In that context it means to turn away, with your hands visible, spread your feet apart and prepare to be searched.  Today I want to borrow the expression and make a different application.  America is in trouble.  There are only two possible outcomes for our nation.  Either we will experience a third "great awakening" (spiritual) or we will face annihilation.  If you've read the Bible very carefully you'll note that America is not mentioned.  While I can't give you a definite reason for that, I can presume that either America is assimilated into another nation or she is annihilated.   That being said, it is time for Christ followers to "assume the position" of prayer.  By that I'm not indicating a certain posture.  I'm merely saying we need to get serious before God and cry out for him to intervene in our nation.  The first two "gre...

When I was in college I was a Voice Major in the Church Music department.  One of the worst things that can happen to a Voice Major is to lose their voice.  We learned to gargle warm salt water, drink certain teas and other methods of keeping our voices clear.  As a pastor, my voice is my primary tool.  Regardless of how much I have studied and prepared, if my voice doesn't work the message does not get out. Today I exercised my right to vote in the primary election for my county and state.  That was my "voice".  I may never get to address the President, Governor, or state or national congresses in person, but I can express my desires through my vote.  Even though my candidates may not win, my voice has been heard.  You've heard the old expression "Use it or lose it" I'm sure.  That certainly applies in this case.  Whatever you do, don't lose your voice by neglecting to vote. Another way your "voice" is expressed is through your prayers ...

I'm writing this morning from my daughter and son in law's house in Richmond, VA.  They will be moving this week to Charleston, S.C.  Yesterday was a long day.  I preached in the morning, and then Rae and I took off for the Orlando airport.  We had to drop the car off at a parking garage and take a shuttle to the airport.  Even with all the covid19 considerations we got through security and to our gate with plenty of time to spare.  The flight was on time and we then had a brief layover in Atlanta before the final leg of the trip to Richmond.  We arrived at Richmond on time at 9:50 p.m.  By the time we got to our daughter's house and visited awhile before bed, it was almost midnight. I'm usually up and having my devotions no later than 6:30a.m.  I awoke at 4:30 and decided that was too early.  I awoke again at 6 a.m., but was still very groggy.  As I prepared to get up I sensed God saying to me, "I'll see you at 8:30."  I grate...