It’s amazing that they did it.

Expert fishermen, frustrated by a night with no fish,

probably weren’t in the mood for unsolicited advice from a stranger.

“Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

It didn’t make any SENSE. It didn’t have to.

On this morning, the success of the fishermen didn’t depend on their skill. Their success or failure was determined by their willingness to DO what Jesus SAID.

They tried it. And the catch was HUGE:

“When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”

It’s the SAME way with us. Our success doesn’t depend on luck or skill.

Our success or failure is determined by our willingness to DO what Jesus SAYS – even if it doesn’t make any SENSE. It doesn’t have to.

Have a SUCCESSFUL Wednesday!

We call it “BEING FROM MISSOURI.”

It’s honest Skepticism – and it’s different from Unbelief.

Unbelief is presumptuous. It says -

“Since your claim is untrue, I choose not to believe.”

Honest Skepticism says -

“I want to believe – but I need proof. Show me…”

THOMAS was an honorary resident of Missouri. HE said:

“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

Jesus called Thomas on it:

“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

And predictably, Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus was incredibly GRACIOUS towards Thomas’s honest Skepticism -

As He will be – with YOURS – because the closer you examine truth, the brighter it shines. Jesus welcomes questions. Even from Missouri.

See you Tomorrow!

Great athletes know what COMMITMENT is.

It’s the ability to say “no” to your body.

When muscles burn for rest, lungs burn for air, and throats burn for water – the great athlete denies his or her body and pushes on.

God is looking for the same commitment from his followers.

Romans 12 tells us that God wants us to offer Him our bodies as “living sacrifices.”

But MY idea of sacrifice is different from God’s. I was amazed this morning to read:

“Knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty…” When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Jesus didn’t drink pain killers to relieve His fiery thirst or His unimaginable pain. He drank it – to fulfill Scripture. And then, He died.

My idea of sacrifice doesn’t go that far. When I say “no” to my body – it’s only occasional and temporary. Then I go back to my comfort zone.

Jesus’ comfort zone was to do the Father’s will. Period.

COMMITMENT.

Nothing great is achieved without it.

Jesus said “no” to His body – and meant it.

Can I?

Have a GREAT Monday!

     I have a confession to make.  I cry at movies-right there in the theater or sitting at home, it matters not in whose company.  I bring tissues in my purse so I can, hopefully, quietly blow my nose and wipe my eyes.  But there is one movie that I could never watch in public again and would need a box of tissues to watch it at home.  The film was Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ in 2004.  Of course, I would have to see it on Good Friday! (a glutton for suffering)  The movie theater was sold out and there was not a dry eye in the entire audience.  If you have never seen this movie, see it once.  Also, remember, as dramatic and explicit as the movie is, it only tells half the story. 
    Here was the Son of God, who walked on water; made the blind see;
cleansed lepers; drove out demons in the possessed; healed diseases of all kinds; brought three people back to life after dying; fed thousands supernaturally; whom even the wind and waves obeyed!  Jesus could just as easily have called forth a legion of angels to save him.  Yet, he chose to endure the cross!

He did it for me!…

He did it for you!…

He did it for us all!

     Thinking about the crucifixion brings it all back again, and it still brings tears to my eyes.  Gotta go and get a tissue.  
A very Blessed week to all of you.

 Hezekiah tells the people, regarding the king of Assyria, that “With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles”.

Really?  You mean He will be with us?

Really?  Fight our battles?

Those battles of unemployment, underemployment, drug or alcohol dependency, foreclosure, spousal neglect, child abuse, insecurity, and the list goes on and on.

Those words ring as true for us today as they did when the king of Assyria was threatening to destroy Israel and Judah.  Read the rest of the chapter and find out how the battle goes, but I have one word for you-victory!  It was the kind of victory that no one could credit to the people.  They were facing an army that had never known defeat.  The Assyrians were so confident they were taunting not only the people but their God.

It was not the first time that Israel and Judah won a victory while being seemingly, hopelessly, outnumbered; and it certainly would not be the last supernatural intervention on their behalf.

I love that phrase, “Arm of flesh” referring to the Assyrian army.  The confidence in the Assyrian army was in their might and past victories.  They had no idea who they were fighting against this time.

Where is your confidence?  Do you take confidence from the words of Hezekiah?  Are you trusting the “Arm of flesh”?…  or “the Lord our God”?

See you in church tomorrow!

In John 18 we are faced with Peter’s denial.  It brings to my mind when I read a book by Lloyd C. Douglas in 1960 called “The Robe” about the Roman tribune who was in charge of the crucifixion.  His name was Marcellus in the book, and he is having a conversation with Peter.  Peter is explaining his guilt about the denial which is weighing heavily on his conscience.  But then Marcellus tops his own guilt with the explanation that while Peter denied Jesus, Marcellus had killed him.

I remember thinking at that time, “We cry because we have no shoes until we meet someone who has no feet”.  But now when I think about that conversation, which is only fiction from one writer’s pen after all, I am confronted with another reality.  It is this: WE ALL KILLED JESUS!   He died for our sins, for our sake, for us all.  And we thank God who had the perfect plan and sent His son to earth for this very purpose.  No one is without guilt.  For all have sinned and fallen short…

Let us pray:

“Father, forgive us our denials, our idols, our indifference and open our hearts to your gift of Love and Grace!

Amen!

Have a good and safe weekend.

ROBERT FROST said “Good fences make good neighbors.” Probably. But they don’t make good FAMILIES.

Looking around at all the Christian denominations,

you’d think that God wanted it that way.

Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians – all divided by the “fences” of their core values.

And each denomination, confident of their spiritual superiority – advertise “core values” that have separated them for centuries – issues like music, baptism, and political structure.

Sounds almost spiritual – that is – until you hear Jesus’ core value

of UNITY:

“Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.”

“May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

For sure – there are real core values in Scripture – things like:

Who Jesus is, His literal death and resurrection, Salvation by grace through faith alone.

But it’s a SHORT list. And when non-essentials are tacked-on,

OUR human “core values” usually violate HIS:  

“OUR way of baptizing is the only true baptism.”

JESUS’ response: “May they be brought to complete unity.”

“OUR church government is the only right structure.”

JESUS’ response: “May they be brought to complete unity.”

“OUR music (or lack of it) is the only kind that pleases God.”

JESUS’ response: “May they be brought to complete unity.”

ROBERT FROST was a great poet.

But I don’t think we should make a theologian out of him.

“Fences” may be fine for neighbors; but not for FAMILY.

Have a Fantastic Thursday!

In John 16, Jesus makes His disciples several powerful PROMISES.

His resurrection, the Holy Spirit, answered prayer.

Then, he tells them WHY:

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.

PEACE. Jesus wants us to experience it – so HE tells us the only place we can find it – “in Me.”

He knew we’d be tempted to seek peace where others look for it – “in the world” – In things like financial security, possessions, life insurance, personal comfort, personal achievement. Jesus says don’t buy it. It’s all a big illusion: “In this world you will have trouble.”

But before we become pessimists – Jesus makes the biggest promise of all – “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus doesn’t promise, “I WILL overcome the world.”

That would have been a huge encouragement – and really cool.

But Jesus takes this promise to a new level by making it PAST tense: “I HAVE overcome the world.”  WOW!

Jesus says – “Things are gonna get tough. But I’m removing all the suspense from your struggle. Here’s the outcome: YOU WIN. Because I’ve ALREADY WON!!!

Are you experiencing some tough times in this world?

Financial troubles, loss, uncertainty, disappointment?

Jesus says “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Done Deal.

See you Tomorrow! 

Why is our church so interested in GROWING?

Because, contrary to some Christian thought –

GOD wants us to GROW!

Jesus says:

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit.”

Bearing “Much Fruit” refers to GROWTH in numbers of people.

Jesus didn’t say:

“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of doctrine,

 or fishers of spirituality.”

He said:

“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of MEN.”

Churches that don’t grow sometimes fall into the idea that their smallness is

evidence of spirituality.

Jesus says just the opposite is true.

Jesus says GROWTH happens – only when we are ABIDING in God and DEPENDING on Him:

 “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. apart from me you can do nothing.”

In fact, Jesus says a growing church is the strongest proof that people are truly

following Him:

”This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be

my disciples.”

Why is our church so interested in GROWING?

Because GOD wants us to GROW!

Have a GREAT Tuesday!

“In JESUS’ NAME, amen.”

That’s the sign-off I was taught for prayer.

Our version of “Bye Bye for now, God!”

I asked why I was supposed to say “In JESUS’ NAME, amen.”

Answer: “Because we’re supposed to pray in Jesus’ Name.”

Right. But saying “In JESUS’ NAME” doesn’t mean you’re actually praying In JESUS’ NAME.  

Praying in JESUS’ NAME means you know Him well enough to ask for what HE wants. It’s like being able to order for someone else at a restaurant – you know them well enough to order what they want to eat.

Spend enough time with somebody – and you’ll be able to order dinner “in their name.” Spend enough time with JESUS – and you’ll be able to PRAY “in HIS Name.” And when you do – LOOK OUT!

“I will do whatever you ask in my name,

so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

You may ask me for anything in my name,

and I will do it.”

John 14:13-14

Have a Fantastic Monday!