Ten-thirty at night. We just pulled in to the driveway of our son’s home in a quiet residential area. Well, that’s what we thought. A police car pulled up right behind us. We went to his car to assure him we were visiting. He surprised us by saying they had just had a report of an intruder who had accosted a twelve-year-old girl who was home alone. She screamed and he fled so she was not harmed. He asked us to report any suspicious persons in the neighborhood. It was not the first situation in the past week.
We were travelling with another son and his wife hurried the children into the house. It kept us on edge all week concerned about the kids playing outside even during daylight.
Welcome to the real world, right? On an international scale, terrorism has a grip on this world. It seems that not a day goes by without something in the news about another killing, bombing, or attempt of some kind of terror by one group or another. People live in fear of leaving their homes to go about a normal life. We must all be on guard for suspicious activities. That’s why it’s called terrorism.
Another threat of terrorism is that there is the danger of becoming complacent. We hear of threats and our government sets a different color code to try to emphasize how much of a threat there is. They are trying to convince us that the threat is real. There is a constant reminder of what terrorists have done in the past and have the capability of doing again. But we become used to that and many don’t pay much attention to it.
God doesn’t have a color-coded system that changes to tell of different levels of danger from Satan. That threat is real and has been the same since the Garden of Eden. The threat level is always at the highest warning. He is the conceiver of sin and the father of lies and brings death to all who let their guard down.
There is another terror that stalks our world. First Peter 5:8 says, “Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack.”
I don’t know about you but if I knew there was a lion sneaking around my neighborhood, I would take it seriously.
There is a greater terror than radical militant organizations or prowlers. There is a greater terror than a hungry lion stalking me. Don’t underestimate this enemy. He is more of a threat than anything else in this world.
Yet, there is an even greater terror than Satan. God has power over that evil one. James says the demons tremble at their knowledge of God. And Hebrews 10:31 says, “It is a fearful thing to fall in to the hands of the living God.” Paul sums it up in 2 Corinthians 5:11, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;…”
Terrorism threatens our society; even our very lives. Satan is a terrorist whose evil threatens our very soul. God, however, is a terror to Satan’s evil. God is protector of those who follow Him. That’s what His word tells us in 1 Peter 3:12-15, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good? But and if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are you: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Into The Unknown
Today I stood on the shore of the longest river in the United States - the Missouri. Once again I had the sensation of looking at history. It’s impossible for me to be close to history without thinking about it.
On this occasion, I stood at a point that had a memorial to Merriwether Lewis and William Clark. They, by direction of Thomas Jefferson, set out to explore the length of the Missouri River to find the best route to the west. They set out on August 31, 1803 … into the unknown. They are American heroes because they faced the unknown and overcame obstacles. They kept on going. They helped form our nation by opening up the way for others to follow. True, others had to face hardships when they travelled west. And many died without seeing their dreams come true. But perhaps their children did. Or others who, encouraged by their example, set out on the same journey. We discussed with our grandchildren that those men - Lewis and Clark - had travelled by that very spot where we stood.
Ever felt like you’ve ‘set out’ facing the unknown. Perhaps we all do - every day. It’s called life.
We study the Bible reading the stories of great heroes of faith who ‘set out into the unknown’ beginning with Adam and Eve. The whole Garden of Eden was, of course, new to them but when they had to leave that wonderful place, they had to face the world with all the unknowns.
Read Hebrews 11 again. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and the Israelites, Esther, the prophets - all of these well-known people are known because they faced the unknown. What makes them heroes of faith is that they faced the unknown and overcame obstacles. Yes, some of them never saw the end of their journey, but by the faith they had in their God, they knew it was worth the effort.
We need to pass on to our children and grandchildren the stories of men like Lewis and Clark and others who literally gave their lives to blaze the trails and show the way for others to travel.
We must also constantly remind ourselves - and our children and grandchildren - of those great characters who trusted God and blazed the trails of faith to show us that following God is worth the effort.
As Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7,8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Why could he say this? He tells us in chapter 1, verse 12, “for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
People are heroes because they go beyond what is expected, to do what is necessary. And they don’t quit. Being faithful to God means we don’t quit. You see you never set out with God facing the unknown. He has told us what is in store, just as He told the Israelites - and all the others - about the reward awaiting the faithful.
Trust Him. Launch out...so others can follow.
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
On this occasion, I stood at a point that had a memorial to Merriwether Lewis and William Clark. They, by direction of Thomas Jefferson, set out to explore the length of the Missouri River to find the best route to the west. They set out on August 31, 1803 … into the unknown. They are American heroes because they faced the unknown and overcame obstacles. They kept on going. They helped form our nation by opening up the way for others to follow. True, others had to face hardships when they travelled west. And many died without seeing their dreams come true. But perhaps their children did. Or others who, encouraged by their example, set out on the same journey. We discussed with our grandchildren that those men - Lewis and Clark - had travelled by that very spot where we stood.
Ever felt like you’ve ‘set out’ facing the unknown. Perhaps we all do - every day. It’s called life.
We study the Bible reading the stories of great heroes of faith who ‘set out into the unknown’ beginning with Adam and Eve. The whole Garden of Eden was, of course, new to them but when they had to leave that wonderful place, they had to face the world with all the unknowns.
Read Hebrews 11 again. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and the Israelites, Esther, the prophets - all of these well-known people are known because they faced the unknown. What makes them heroes of faith is that they faced the unknown and overcame obstacles. Yes, some of them never saw the end of their journey, but by the faith they had in their God, they knew it was worth the effort.
We need to pass on to our children and grandchildren the stories of men like Lewis and Clark and others who literally gave their lives to blaze the trails and show the way for others to travel.
We must also constantly remind ourselves - and our children and grandchildren - of those great characters who trusted God and blazed the trails of faith to show us that following God is worth the effort.
As Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7,8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Why could he say this? He tells us in chapter 1, verse 12, “for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
People are heroes because they go beyond what is expected, to do what is necessary. And they don’t quit. Being faithful to God means we don’t quit. You see you never set out with God facing the unknown. He has told us what is in store, just as He told the Israelites - and all the others - about the reward awaiting the faithful.
Trust Him. Launch out...so others can follow.
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The Power of Positive Thinking
Norman Vincent Peale was known for writing and speaking about the power of positive thinking. The following is an excellent approach to this type of thinking. I hope you will benefit from it. - tl
THINK ON THESE THINGS…
(John Mark Ministries)
(John Mark Ministries)
“It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments, the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of the solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours, I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. And so I choose...
“I CHOOSE LOVE… No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today, I will love God and what God loves.
“I CHOOSE PEACE… I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
“I CHOOSE PATIENCE… I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Rather than complaining that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
“I CHOOSE KINDNESS… I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone; kind to the rich, for they are afraid; and kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
“I CHOOSE GOODNESS… I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will see the good in others when it is hard to find. I will confess before I will accuse.
“I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS… Today, I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife (or husband - tl) will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father (or mother - tl) will fail to come home.
“I CHOOSE GENTLENESS… Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
“I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL… I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal.
“LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL… the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22,23. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek God’s face. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.”
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Close Encounters
Sunday was a day of close encounters. No, I’m not talking about UFOs or extraterrestrial beings (well, sorta). I’m talking about the encounters each had who was present for our worship service. Here’s what we ‘encountered.’
We encountered an atmosphere of praise. Just think a moment of lifting our voices in praise to our God as we sang for and about Him and encouraged one another. Think of the praise we offered to God.
We encountered each other in fellowship. Isn't it marvelous to greet one another in the love of Christ knowing we all belong to the same family? Isn’t it a tremendous thing to share together in communing with God and Jesus in partaking of the Lord’s Supper?
We encountered challenges. At least, I hope each of us was presented with a challenge to make sure our lives reflect the message of Jesus. I hope we were each challenged to evaluate our lives to make sure we are living acceptably to our Father. I hope we were challenged by the lessons in the Bible classes. I hope we were challenged to make sure our lives are messages of the fullness of Christ in us and not a message of emptiness.
We encountered ourselves. Each time we enter God’s house to worship Him, we should be taking a very close look at ourselves as Paul admonishes us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 when he writes, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (ESV)
We encountered the future. Yes, each time we gather for worship, we are looking to the future. We are anticipating the time when our Savior will return for His faithful servants. Paul reminds us of the Lord’s intentions in the Lord’s Supper that we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26) We are anticipating a home with our Father in heaven. We are preparing for that future by showing our God that we love and honor Him.
Each time we come together to worship God, we have ‘close encounters.’ Isn't it great to come together for those encounters? You see, it wasn’t just this last Sunday that we had those encounters. That happens every Sunday as Christians gather to worship and share in fellowship with God and one another. Don’t miss out on those encounters in the Family of God? Cherish the opportunity to be strengthened.
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
We encountered an atmosphere of praise. Just think a moment of lifting our voices in praise to our God as we sang for and about Him and encouraged one another. Think of the praise we offered to God.
We encountered each other in fellowship. Isn't it marvelous to greet one another in the love of Christ knowing we all belong to the same family? Isn’t it a tremendous thing to share together in communing with God and Jesus in partaking of the Lord’s Supper?
We encountered challenges. At least, I hope each of us was presented with a challenge to make sure our lives reflect the message of Jesus. I hope we were each challenged to evaluate our lives to make sure we are living acceptably to our Father. I hope we were challenged by the lessons in the Bible classes. I hope we were challenged to make sure our lives are messages of the fullness of Christ in us and not a message of emptiness.
We encountered ourselves. Each time we enter God’s house to worship Him, we should be taking a very close look at ourselves as Paul admonishes us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 when he writes, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (ESV)
We encountered the future. Yes, each time we gather for worship, we are looking to the future. We are anticipating the time when our Savior will return for His faithful servants. Paul reminds us of the Lord’s intentions in the Lord’s Supper that we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26) We are anticipating a home with our Father in heaven. We are preparing for that future by showing our God that we love and honor Him.
Each time we come together to worship God, we have ‘close encounters.’ Isn't it great to come together for those encounters? You see, it wasn’t just this last Sunday that we had those encounters. That happens every Sunday as Christians gather to worship and share in fellowship with God and one another. Don’t miss out on those encounters in the Family of God? Cherish the opportunity to be strengthened.
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Sincerity
It is of utmost importance to be sincere to please God. However, sincerity alone is a very dangerous crutch to rely on.
Jesus said we must love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind in Luke 10:27. This is sincere love. Yet, this love leads us further on, for Jesus also said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) If we have sincere love for God and Christ we will want to know what we are to do.
The Bereans in Acts 17:10, 11 “searched the scriptures daily” to know the truth. They were sincere in wanting to please God. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 to “prove all things, hold fast to that which is good.” If we are really sincere, we will continually study God’s word and our ways to make sure our sincerity is not blind.
Jesus speaks of some who were sincere in Matthew 7:21-23 and yet says, “Not everyone that says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father in heaven.” “...I will profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me…”
In Matthew 15:1-9 the scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples did not observe the “traditions of the elders” because they didn’t wash their hands before eating. Jesus answered, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” and then continues, “In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Tradition may be sincere, but it is not necessarily what God wants.
God’s Word, according to 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, is “profitable for doctrine (what to teach), for reproof (to tell us when we do wrong), for correction (how to correct the wrong), for instruction in righteousness (to tell us how to live to please God): that the man of God may be perfect (or, complete), thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” If we are thoroughly furnished by God’s word, do we need more?
John 12:46-48 says the Word will judge us in the last day. So, we must depend only on God’s word if we are to be able to distinguish between being sincere and what God expects. If a person sincerely wants to do Bible things in Bible ways, then he cannot depend upon the traditions of men. “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.” says God’s word (I Thessalonians 5:21).
Service to God must be sincere, but sincerity based on anything other than scripturally sound doctrine is vain and cannot be pleasing to God.
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
Jesus said we must love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind in Luke 10:27. This is sincere love. Yet, this love leads us further on, for Jesus also said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) If we have sincere love for God and Christ we will want to know what we are to do.
The Bereans in Acts 17:10, 11 “searched the scriptures daily” to know the truth. They were sincere in wanting to please God. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 to “prove all things, hold fast to that which is good.” If we are really sincere, we will continually study God’s word and our ways to make sure our sincerity is not blind.
Jesus speaks of some who were sincere in Matthew 7:21-23 and yet says, “Not everyone that says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father in heaven.” “...I will profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me…”
In Matthew 15:1-9 the scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples did not observe the “traditions of the elders” because they didn’t wash their hands before eating. Jesus answered, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” and then continues, “In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Tradition may be sincere, but it is not necessarily what God wants.
God’s Word, according to 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, is “profitable for doctrine (what to teach), for reproof (to tell us when we do wrong), for correction (how to correct the wrong), for instruction in righteousness (to tell us how to live to please God): that the man of God may be perfect (or, complete), thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” If we are thoroughly furnished by God’s word, do we need more?
John 12:46-48 says the Word will judge us in the last day. So, we must depend only on God’s word if we are to be able to distinguish between being sincere and what God expects. If a person sincerely wants to do Bible things in Bible ways, then he cannot depend upon the traditions of men. “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.” says God’s word (I Thessalonians 5:21).
Service to God must be sincere, but sincerity based on anything other than scripturally sound doctrine is vain and cannot be pleasing to God.
See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.
Love, Tony
