Call on the Lord and be saved

I was reading Pslam 18 today and one sentence by the author David caught my eye.

He writes: “I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies."

This statement jarred by heart and mind in a couple of ways. First, I think it is extremely important to point out that David doesn’t say that if he calls upon the Lord, he will be or might be or hope to be “saved from my enemies.” He says “I am,” which infers an instantaneous action.

Secondly, and this is for those who are suffering, I think we need to define what enemies David is talking about. Throughout the Psalms, there are verses that talk about the Lord saving his people from their enemies who are seeking to destroy them.

Is he talking about enemies in a literal sense? Yes. In 1^st and 2^nd Samuel, you find several examples of David’s enemies. One involves his own soldiers talking about stoning him over their great distress.

But he also is talking about it in a figurative sense, such as Psalm 22 in which David describes strong bulls and roaring lions surrounding him.

I think these are the same enemies we often face – demonic forces that attempt to infiltrate our lives, diminish the sovereignty of God and poke holes in His story the way Satan did to Adam and Eve.

That, I believe, is why David says “I am” in Psalm 18. He is talking about the unseen enemies that God immediately halts when he did and when we do call to the Lord -- who is worthy of praise.

The worldly enemies may still come, sometimes because it is a consequence of our sin (going to jail for committing a crime) and sometimes because of God’s plan.

In closing, I think the best way to illustrate this is the story of husband and wife missionary team, Martin and Gracia Burnham.

A decade ago, they heeded God’s call to take the gospel to the people in the Philippines and were taken captive and held by rebel soldiers for a little more than one year.

And when the country’s military division went in to rescue the hostages, Martin was caught in the crossfire and died. Gracia was shot in the leg and survived.

Throughout their ordeal, they were able to somewhat document the time they were held. And much of what I’ve read reflects a faith in Jesus that also reflects the Psalmist’s statement.

They were not were saved from their literal enemies, but they had confidence that the Lord had already saved them from the spiritual enemies that could have put their faith in question with statements like, “If God is for you, why are these people against you?” Or, “Would a God of love put you through this?”

Martin, sensing the end of their captivity was near (by death or by rescue), told his wife that they needed to go out faithfully. “Let’s serve him all the way with gladness,” he said.

He could say that because they had called upon the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and they could say, “We are saved from our enemies.”

When faith is all you have

During the Christmas holiday, my wife and I have delivered the news to our families that another grandchild is coming.

The reception was subdued enthusiasm, which, in all fairness, was ours too.

We weren’t planning for a third child. We have our hands full with our 5-year-old son and 22-month-old daughter. And I know people say there is never a good time financially to have children, but this is really not a good time financially for us to have another child.

To be brutally honest, the pill failed us and now we are probably staring the most difficult challenge of our lives in the face: Do we trust God with our finances?

We would have said yes before we found out about No. 3. But this exciting news made both us take a step back and evaluate how deeply we were trusting in the Lord in this area of our lives.

Money is one of those things that Christians have the most difficulty in letting the Lord have control over. I can’t blame them. We work hard to provide for our families, and we get pressured into making sure we have enough stuff, the right cars and the right vacations. So, we tend to flinch when God calls us to give more to our local church or another ministry that is serving people.

Not long before we found out about the pregnancy (on Black Friday of all days), I toured a space in downtown Huntington with some other members of our church that will soon become our new home. During that tour, it was mentioned by our elders that to meet the vision of taking the next step for our church, giving would have to increase.

I immediately felt convicted that we have not been giving in proportion to what God is providing, despite the bills we are paying. I felt like we needed to double our usual monthly gift. And I still feel that way.

What I’m saying through all this is that it’s gonna take faith in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ for us to confidently navigate these next seven months and beyond.

And, to be honest, we’re excited about it. After the initial shock wore off, we realized that first and foremost, God wanted us to be pregnant or the pill would have worked like it has in the past.

Secondly, God must have an awesome plan for us 2012. He knows that our current finances can’t support another baby, so we’re excited to see how He’s going to provide for us.

Thankfully, scripture is full of verses to fuel our faith. Just read a few of them and see if God’s words don’t lift you up:

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:2-5)

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145: 18-19)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Your father knows what you need before you ask him. So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today's trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:8b, 31-34)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:6-8)

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.' So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?' (Hebrews 13: 5-6)

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)

God knows what we need, according to Matthew 6, and we are to ask in faith, without doubt, according to James 1.

We’re placing our hope in the Lord. In the book “Manna,” the author talks about learning to live on God’s daily bread one day at a time, having the kind of faith that does not question whether God will provide tomorrow. We must rely on Him and His daily provision and not put our hope in storing up wealth that can disappear in an instant.

So, please pray for us, that we will walk by faith and not by sight on this journey that is ahead of us. And I will pray for you, who are reading, that your faith might be strengthened through our example.

There’s always grace

I was listening to a sermon by Steven Furtick, who leads Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C.

And he made a very important point that I think sometimes can get overlooked, especially when we are going through difficult times in our lives.

Furtick says that while God’s plan for our lives might include seasons of heartache, sickness or struggles, his love and grace continue.

When life seems like a constant struggle and you aren’t sure where God’s blessings are, remember the grace and forgiveness he has extended to you through his son, Jesus.

And, because we’re sinners until the day we die, we are always in need of his grace. So, everyday, we can boldly go to the cross of Jesus and ask for forgiveness in his name.

In Romans 4:7-8, Paul tells us when our lawless deeds are forgiven, we are truly blessed. In verse 8 he says, “Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

On those days when life seems hard and I’m not sure what God is doing, when the dark clouds will clear, I have to remember that I’m still being blessed.

I think that’s why Christians in third-world countries are such a model for faith. For they truly have nothing, yet they rejoice daily in knowing they are forgiven through Jesus.

A couple years ago, I was listening to an interview with Dan Haseltine, the lead singer for Christian rock band Jars of Clay. They head up a ministry called Blood: Water Mission, which he founded in 2002 after a trip to Africa. He said the two things they need is clean blood and clean water. They have worked to raise money and support to build wells throughout continent.

In his interview, he was asked what they tell the people there about Jesus. And he said they don’t have to tell them anything. Their faith, Haseltine said, is an inspiration to them.

Pastor and author John Piper said being a Christian in the U.S. is probably the hardest place to live because we have so much stuff we don’t recognize the blessings God has given us.

When we lose our jobs, our homes, our stuff, we cry out to God, asking him what he’s doing. Maybe he just wants to remind us of the true blessing of forgiveness that are fresh and new and already paid for by the blood of Jesus.

Stop and thank him today for his endless grace that will flow freely to his people forever.

Good enough?

In the news business, there are a few things that drive me nuts: horribly-written press releases, getting a “no comment” and friends and family members of a criminal who swear he or she was a good person.

Even if I wasn’t a Christian, I’d go nuts over this because the argument is, even though so and so was caught stealing or busted selling drugs; or, like the recent case in Huntington, a man with a slew of drinking and driving citations who drove while intoxicated and without a license in a vehicle that was illegally registered, crossed the center line and slammed into a vehicle. Not only did he die, but a 14-year-old in the other vehicle did as well.

His family’s response: he was a good person.

Recently, our church asked some questions to some students at Marshall about heaven and hell: if they believe in it and how to get there.

Most answers were chalked up to somehow doing more good than bad.

If that’s true, that means we’re somehow dependent upon our own abilities to do more good than bad or to avoid doing bad in some way.

That also means there must be some value to good and bad deeds. If you love your family, how much is that worth? Because Jesus reports in the gospels that even sinners and tax collectors love their own families.

Let’s just say you are charitable with your money. How much weight does that carry on God’s scale? What is a lie worth? Is it worse than murder?

Paul writes in Romans that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.”

What we find extensively in scripture is that God hates sin, all sin. He doesn’t somehow favor the man who only looked at pornography over the man who actually committed adultery.

Both have sinned against Him.

If you put your good deeds up against God’s glory, the scale will never tip in your favor. But, when you put your trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, the grace extended to you is eternal and satisfies the perfect standard of God.

A letter of hope

I haven’t blogged in a few weeks, mostly because I haven’t felt God inspire me to write about anything in particular.

However, the Lord moved on my heart this week.

I was listening to a sports radio show, and the host was talking about seeing firsthand the ‘rock star’ lifestyle that athletes live. He alluded that although he doesn’t condone extra-marital affairs and having children with multiple women, that’s just the way it is.

“If you think your favorite athlete wouldn’t do that, you’re kidding yourself,” he said.

The segment really resonated with the book I’m currently reading, “The Resolution for Men,” written by the directors of the latest Sherwood Baptist movie “Courageous.”

I’m only in the third chapter, but the directors, who also are pastors, authors, husbands and fathers, make a direct correlation of fatherless children (whether by divorce, abandonment or mom not knowing who the dad is) to teenage suicide, drug abuse, not finishing high school and going to prison.

They weren’t just making it up, either. They were citing respected research.

I wrote about this topic more than a month ago after seeing “Courageous,” so I won’t write the same message about the need to stop being a good enough father and striving to be a godly father.

But I will say that early on in the book they point out that there is a group of men – some single, some married, some fathers, some grandfathers – who recognize that God is calling them to lead their wives and children in a manner that glorifies Him.

Before you even open the first page of the book, the authors warn the reader that the book is not for the faint of heart and meant for men who will resolve to follow God’s call to be men of Biblical integrity.

After taking a deep breath and saying a short prayer, I turned to the first page of chapter one. At that moment, I was resolving to put good enough aside and go for more.

And as I read that first chapter, I felt encouraged that there are men, strong men, who are leading their homes; who are instilling Biblical values in their children; who are serving in their churches and communities; who are living for the Jesus not just at home but also at their workplaces.

A couple verses from Proverbs really stick out about the qualities of these men.

“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out,” from 10:9; and “A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth,” from 17:24.

These also are the type of men described in Deuteronomy 6:6-9, which says “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”

These also are the type of men that other men should look to as earthly examples. I am extremely thankful for the men in my life who I can look at and see integrity, leadership and the love of Jesus and scripture.

There also are men in my life who aren’t fulfilling their role as God has called them. Most of these men are good men: they are faithful to their wives and love their children. But they don’t realize that being a Biblical leader means being a faithful follower of Christ.

As I grow in faith and continue to surround myself with men of God, I feel a weight on my heart to lovingly approach those men in my life who haven’t seen Jesus for what He is: the savior who was born some 2,000 years ago, having left heaven; lived a perfect life; was crucified; died on the cross to bear the sins of all mankind; and was raised from the dead by our Father in heaven.

All who believe in this truth for the forgiveness of their sins will have eternal life and it will radically change the rest of the days, weeks, months or years you have on earth.

I pray that it also radically changes the way they see the role God has given them as a man.

What a story

I remember being a kid and writing a story about becoming a baseball player. I never finished it, but I always I envisioned it would end with me playing right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

But no matter what kind of awesome ending I wrote, it would never compare to God’s story.

I’m currently reading “Disciple” by Bill Clem, with a group of guys from my church. What Clem makes very clear very quickly is that all of this is God’s story and he has created us to play a part in it.

The other thing Clem makes very clear is that the story includes a hero, Jesus, who has been at the heart of it all since the creation of the world.

Our world, however, has ingrained in us that life is our story and we are the central character.

There is a big problem with that.

First, if we are left to write our own story, it will be boring.

“God’s story is mind-blowing because it is a compelling real story in which we are all playing a part,” Clem writes. “Lives, as amazing as they are, can never be a crowing achievement when lived within their own frame.”

The second thing that crushes the idea that we are the authors is when our spouses leave us, our children die from cancer or we get a pink slip at work.

How many of us would write that into our stories? As a husband and father and employee, my story would end with my wife and I rocking on a porch of a cabin in Tennessee, with our children and grandchildren pulling up the driveway to visit us.

Will that be the end of my story? Maybe. But if I die in a car accident this afternoon or my kids are diagnosed with some debilitating disease next week, how can I claim I am still authoring my own story?

When we lay down our pen and paper, fall to our knees and recognize God’s authorship in our lives, we can view life’s most unexpected hardships much differently.

Will there still be pain and heartache? Of course. But if we trust scripture, we see that God’s story ends with victory for all those who have put their faith in him and his son, Jesus.

Ah, Jesus, sweet Jesus, the hero of God’s story and our lives. Why is Jesus the hero and not me? We need a savior who can redeem us and put us in the family of God, so when our lives come to an end on earth, they can continue in his presence in heaven.

And we can’t do that on our own. We can’t do enough good to outweigh our bad. We need a hero.

Please consider the awesomeness that comes with playing a part in God’s story and the sweeping feeling of having a real-life hero be the savior of your life.

Why is life so hard?

The one question I hear a lot is “why is life so hard?”

Well, why is it hard? Why is that it that no matter how hard we try, how much we do, easy seems further away than when we started?

My answer is I don’t know. I don’t know why you lost your job, why you were diagnosed with cancer, why you can’t have children or why your spouse left.

What I can point to is the Bible. Not as some book that answers those questions, but as God-breathed words that gives us assurance that He knows our troubles, our pains and our questions.

The most frustrating thing I see going on in the church is this prosperity gospel. I will not judge those preachers, but to see someone like Joel Osteen stand in front of millions of people and say you aren’t experiencing Christ fully if you accept sickness, poverty and relational strife.
Jesus never once uttered that you wouldn’t be poor, wouldn’t be sick or wouldn’t have relationship issues.

His promise is that one day, in heaven, those things will pass away for those who trust in him as the one who put the sins of the world on his shoulders and died on the cross for us all so that we can have a true, personal relationship with God.

When life is hard, and it will be, the question shouldn’t be why. Rather, it should be what is God trying to teach me? How will God be glorified through this? How can I go through this in a way that shows other people that I love Jesus?

There’s a song by Jars of Clay called “Work.” I love the chorus, which says, “I have no fear of drowning. It’s the breathing that’s taking all this work.”

For those of us in Christ, the fear of death is gone because our true home is in heaven. But life is going to be tough.

Hebrews 10:22 says “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

Do you believe that today? Do you believe that God is faithful? And if you do, do you know what that means?

I want you to know that God’s faithfulness has nothing to do with making our lives easier and everything to do with his own glory. God has created us to make much of him. Not because he needs the attention, but because he loves us.

Perfect joy is found in his son, Jesus, but we let the difficult circumstances of life to drown that joy out.

I love in the movie, Facing the Giants, when the real coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, Mike Richt, says “Well, in God’s word, he said 365 different times ‘Do not fear.’ Now if he says it that many times, you know he’s serious about it.”

That means each day of the year, we have a different piece of scripture that tells us not to fear.

Today, take heart in 1 Peter 3:14, which says, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened.”

I pray that God would comfort your hearts today, because I know that someone reading this is going through something they don’t understand. I’m right there with you, wondering the very same things you are.

And I’m praying for you to have the same peace I’m asking God to cover me with.

I leave you with Psalm 18:2-6, and pray your heart is comforted in his love.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

“I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.

“In my distress, I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple, he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.”

America’s God

I want to give you the biggest insight into America’s current economic problems: money has become our god.

Greed has become the sin of choice, though it is masked as capitalism and financial achievement.

Last Friday, protesters set up an Occupy Huntington movement, similar to what is happening across the country. It’s been a week and they are still there.

They say it’s not about money, but at the heart, it is. It’s about wanting a fair and balanced system. But that’s not likely to happen because the sin of greed is as powerful as a drug addiction.

Case in point, the CEO of Gannett (newspaper chain) recently retired, taking with him a roughly $20 million retirement package – at the same time that the company is laying off reporters and issuing furloughs.

But Gannett’s story is more the norm than the exception.

What about the banks who were signing foreclosure notices so fast and incompetently, they signed notices for people who either weren’t behind in payments or had already paid off their homes.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:24 that “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

America has stopped serving God and is clearly serving money.

Josh Perry, pastor at Crew Church in Huntington, once said there isn’t a worldwide food shortage. The problem is distribution.

Our first problem is money has become our god. Our second problem is distribution. Each Saturday, Bikers for Christ and volunteers from several area churches meet at Harris Riverfront Park – rain or shine, warm or cold – and serve breakfast to the homeless. At least 100 come through the line each week. People also donate clothing for the homeless to pick through. The most important thing they do is pray for and with them.

I don’t know all those people, but I can almost guarantee they all don’t have the financial means to buy all the food that is served. But when they pool together, they are able to accomplish a mission that Lord calls important throughout the Bible.

Consider these verses from scripture:

Proverbs 19:17 When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord--and he pays wonderful interest on your loan!

Proverbs 14:31 Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God.

1 John 3:17-19 But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won't help him--how can God's love be within him ? Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God's side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord.

1 Tim. 6:17-19 Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven--it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.

Can we fix the economy? Sure, but not by government bailouts, not by bank reform and not by who is in the White House.

The only way to help America is by trusting in the one and true living God, who in his ‘wealth’ made a great sacrifice by sending his son, Jesus, to live a perfect life among us, then die on the cross an innocent man. Jesus became our bailout from our sinful and unrighteous hearts. He is our savior that gave it all so that one day we may share eternity with him in heaven.

To store up treasures in anything but that is to place a higher value on the things only a fallen world could give. Things that will not last.

This isn’t a call to sell all you have and give it away or quit your job to avoid being greedy. God has given you talents to be used to provide for your family and to help those who are less fortunate.

This is a call to glorify the creator and not the creation and to focus on Jesus, who lives and reigns forever.

Step it up, fathers

I recently saw the movie “Courageous,” the latest film by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga.

This movie challenges fathers to be the husbands and dads that God called them to be.

This really got me thinking about the job I’m doing, and I left the theater realizing that being a good enough father is not acceptable. I can do better. I must do better.

So how do we, as dads, do that? First, I think we need to realize what’s at stake. I recently attended a forum on the truancy problems here in West Virginia – although it’s a problem nationwide.

Two things I found out. One, truants aren’t high school kids who miss a half a year then drop out. Truancy often starts in elementary school because parents aren’t doing their jobs.

Second thing I learned is that in WV, 8 out of 10 prison inmates were truant at some point during their educational years.

Guess what? That 80 percent prison rate is about the same for those who grew up without a father either in the home or in their lives.

Let me be the first to say that I’m among the 20 percent. Parents divorced when I was 16, didn’t have much depth to the relationship with my dad until years later. Thankfully, our relationship is good now.

Most of you reading this aren’t a father who has bolted, although you may have had a dad like that. But just because we’re there, it begs the question of how well are we doing it. I think the quality and quantity balance is out of whack in some homes.

Jesus reminds us in the book of Matthew that our father in heaven knows our needs and not to worry about what we will eat or what we will wear.

God promised to provide our basic needs. Beyond that, his promise is that he’ll be with us each day of our lives.

It is best summed up in Deuteronomy 6 not only how to lead our families but the fruits of leading our families if we do it God's way.

“These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

"Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

"Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

Why aren’t many of us dads fathering like that? We are working careers and often asking our wives to work careers to provide food and clothing… and vacations, and video game systems and cell phones and cars for our children. We sure are providing a lot, but we’re working such long, hard hours that the quality of time in the evenings and weekends may be suffering.

In “Don’t Waste Your Life” by author and pastor John Piper, he makes a specific point about how we are spending our time at home. If we define spending quality time with our children as everyone sitting around the television eating dinner and watching a movie – as happens in my home way too often – we are wasting precious time as dads.

Not that we have to spend our evenings reading the Bible for 4 hours with our kids. But is there time dedicated to prayer and scripture? Do we help our children, especially the young ones, understand who God the father is and who Jesus the savior is?

Do we dance with our daughters, play baseball in the backyard with our sons or pack a lunch and eat at the park with our families?

Do we engage our middle and high school children in conversations about their lives and the issues they are facing?

Do we sacrifice our children’s dance recitals, concerts and art exhibits to work overtime or extra shifts we don’t financially need?

We know that children of absentee fathers are more likely to become addicted to drugs and alcohol, skip school, drop out, commit a crime, join a gang and end up in prison.

I love my children and am committed to them and my wife. But if I don’t father and husband like God demonstrates and commands in scripture, then I’m taking a risk that my son and daughter will learn to grow up by the world’s standards and not by God’s standards.

That’s a risk I’m not willing to take.

We Need a Savior, part 1

I can already hear the mouse buttons that will click off this blog post after I write what I’m about to write. But if you’ll stay with me, I hope to show you why you and I need a savior.

Paul writes in Romans 1:28-32 how truly sinful and vile mankind, you and me, are. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

That’s us. We are sinful. You say, ‘wait a minute, I’ve never murdered anyone and I’m not evil. I’m a good person.’

Let me ask you then, by whose standards? Your own, your roommate, your mom? Here’s the problem with that. And I’ll give you the C.S. Lewis explanation he makes in “Mere Christianity.”

“…We have failed to practice ourselves the kind of behavior we expect from other people.”

If we live by our own moral standard, as the world seems to say you can, then you can say to yourself, it’s OK to cheat on my income taxes because it’s my money anyways. But when someone cheats you out of money, you want revenge.

That’s what C.S. Lewis is talking about. He goes on to say that we “believe in decency so much, we feel the rule of law pressing on us so, that we cannot bear to face the fact that we are breaking it, and consequently, we try to shift the responsibility.”

So we cheat the IRS and say it’s OK because the government’s corrupt. We get cheated at the flea market and pay too much (when we should have known better anyways) and we blame them for not being honest.

To really get at the heart of this argument – please stay with me – I have to paraphrase Lewis once again. Early in the first chapter, he makes the strong argument that if mankind evolved from apes, then we, in our inner core, would still be in the survival of the fittest mode.

Yet, somewhere inside – not taught to us at school or by mom and dad – is an instinct of right and wrong. Male lions will fight to the death to become the new leader of the pack. They don’t see that as wrong.

When a job in management opens at your work, you and your coworkers don’t fight to the death to see who gets promoted. Just not right.

Yes, there were and maybe still are cultures that practice such barbaric rights of passage or rituals.

But the main point is, somewhere in our heart is a moral compass for which we cannot explain. Even those who commit crimes know it is wrong. As Paul states three times in chapter 1 of Romans, when we keep exchanging God for the world, he will give us over to the world.

The only explanation is that there is a God who created us with some sort of knowledge of right and wrong.

“We know that men find themselves under a moral law which they did not make and cannot quite forget even when they try and which they know they ought to obey,” Lewis writes in chapter 4 of “Mere Christianity.”

So, we know two things: First, there is some sort of moral law within us. And second, as much as we try, we can’t keep even the basics of the right and wrong that is somehow placed in our heart.

Some of you who are still reading might look back at list of sinfulness that makes a pretty wretched rap sheet and think to yourself, ‘I haven’t done that.’

If you’ve watched pornography or had sex out of marriage, there’s sexual immorality; if you’ve ever been jealous of someone else’s success or possessions, there’s greed and envy; are you gossiper, because that’s on the list; has pride made you think yourself great; would your friends and relatives say you’ve ever been untrustworthy or unloving; have you forgiven those who have wronged you?

There are some things listed in that early section of Romans 1 that sound like big words, but when you look them up, you realize it’s the very attitude and actions we profess each day.

Soak this in. Pray about. Ask God to open your heart and reveal if this is really who you are.

If God reveals your sinfulness to you, don’t wait for the next blog. Open a Bible or go to www.biblegateway.com and read through Romans or simply turn to John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, He gave his only begotten son (Jesus, to die on the cross), that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”

A Risk Worth Taking

We’re a culture of risk takers. In fact, this country was built by men and women who took risks.

They sailed across an ocean some thought would lead to falling off the face of the earth. They fled England to start a country built on freedom. And they ventured west to expand the nation.

Today’s risk takers, however, are far less to be celebrated. Men and women are taking risks with multiple sex partners. They’re taking risks with prescription medication. They’re taking risks by watching pornography or having adulterous affairs.

There are some risk takers in our world who have it right. They are preaching the name of Jesus Christ and risking quite a lot. In some countries, Christians are being killed for spreading the gospel. It’s that important to them.

What about us? What are we risking to share the gospel? In this country, you’re not really risking your life. Perhaps your job, maybe some friends you shouldn’t be hanging out with anyways. But the big risk in our day? Our pride. We don’t want to look or feel stupid.

I’ll be the first one to stand up and say, ‘That’s me." I’m afraid of being rejected, being seen as not credible, and being laughed off.

Of all the sins I have committed, it’s failing to share the gospel that bothers me most. Why am I so afraid? I can open the Bible to almost any point and see men and women risking their lives to tell others about God and Jesus and the redemptive blood that was shed on the cross so we could have eternal life.

The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:16, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.” I think he’s saying, if you have trusted the gospel and you know the gospel, and it’s changed your life, why wouldn’t you want to share it?

There are real risk takers all throughout scripture. There was Ester, who said, “If I perish, then I perish.”

Then you had Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who would not bow down to a graven image as commanded by Nebuchadnezzar. The king threatened them and said that if they did not worship the image, they would be thrown into the fiery furnace.

Their answer: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up,” (Daniel 3:16-18).

Author and pastor John Piper writes in “Don’t Waste Your Life” that this was sheer risk. They believed God would deliver them, but even if God chose not to, they weren’t bowing down to an idol.

In 2 Samuel 10: 12, it says, “Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.”

Take note of the second part, “May the Lord do what seems good to him.”

Remember, it’s all about his glory not ours.

Paul recognized that truth and wrote about it the book of Acts. In Acts 20:23, he writes that the Holy Spirit “testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me."

He recounts in 2 Corinthians what he endured to share the good news of Jesus: “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”

And you and I are afraid of being embarrassed? Are you kidding me?

Piper said Paul had two choices: waste his life or live with risk. And he answered this choice clearly: "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God," (Acts 20:24).

I want to remind you that Jesus warned us of being persecuted in his name. In Luke 21:16, Jesus says, “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.” And, in John 15:20, Jesus says, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

To become a Christian some 2,000 years ago, by believing that Jesus was the messiah, died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead by God was to put your life at risk.

We can, in the United States, make this life-saving decision without such threat. So let’s not waste our lives.

God, help us not be ashamed of the gospel, so much so that we want to share it with our friends and family and co-workers and the woman taking our order at the drive-thru.

Take away our fear and anxiety and mostly our pride. Help us see that our time here is short and that today could be our only chance to share how Jesus has changed our lives.

I pray we do this for your glory and in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Is Jesus Enough?

Our pastor at Crew Church in Huntington often says that we preach the saving message of the gospel of Jesus every week because people need to know that He is the one thing that is never ending, never changing and ever fulfilling.

“When children die, when you lose your job, or when you get cancer,” Pastor Josh Perry says while lifting up his Bible, “you’ve got something to hold on to.”

This takes me to the Old Testament where we find Job – a man of God who has been blessed many times over with a large family, servants, livestock and land.

Satan challenges God, saying that Job is so faithful because he has been so blessed. He tells the Lord that if it is all taken away, Job will curse God.

So, in a series of what we might call unfortunate events, his livestock was stolen, his servants were killed and his children were crushed when a mighty wind blew in the house.

After all this, Job’s response is one of awe and example. He proclaims that the Lord has given and the Lord has taken away. But blessed be the name of the Lord.

A favorite Christian song of mine boasts that message with “Every blessing you pour out, I’ll turn back to praise. And when the darkness closes in, still I will say, blessed be the name of the Lord.”

It wasn’t until this summer when I read Job that I found the song’s inspiration. I had previously thought it was from Psalms, by an author who was going through a tough time. But then I read that the song’s origins come from Job 1:20, from a man who has just lost everything.

For Job, the Lord was enough.

Fast forward to Philippians 4:10-13. The Apostle Paul is thanking those who have prayed for him and making a bold statement that despite his need, he has learned “to be content whatever the circumstances.”

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty,” Paul writes. “I have learned the secret of being content in any situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether in plenty or in want.”

Then, in the famous verse 13, Paul reveals the secret is that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.

Paul boldly states that Jesus is enough.

Fast forward 2,000 years to you and me, here and now. Life is hard. Life is unfair. Jobs are tough to find. We’ve got students loans bearing down on us. We’ve got marriages collapsing under adultery and pornography. We’ve got children stricken with cancer. We’ve got investment accounts losing value. We've got crime fueled by drug addictions.

With all that happening around you, what are you holding on to? What is the source of your strength? I will boldly say that any source other than Jesus is a finite resource.

We think oil will last forever, but someday, our grandchildren or great-grandchildren will have to deal with the serious prospect of a world without a major oil supply. That’s why we’re pushing renewable energy.

Energy that won’t deplete, that’s as constant as the sun.

For me, that’s Jesus. He is the SON.

I’m not going to sit here and say that I’ve faced all those hardships and screamed “Jesus is enough!”

There have been some rough patches for us. A pregnancy that involved many complications, hospital stays and a premature birth; witnessing my son have a febrile seizure caused by a spiking fever and holding his limp body in my arms until an ambulance arrived and then an evening in the hospital; personal attacks and job loss; and the everyday headaches of life – flat tires, hot water tank bursting and even the diagnosis of a major food allergy that makes it difficult to eat out and expensive to purchase the right foods.

Thankfully, my family has chosen to say Jesus is enough.

The truth is, Jesus has to be enough. God made each and every one of us with a missing piece in our hearts that only Christ can fill. And it’s a piece that bridges the gap for us to commune with our Father in heaven. It’s a savior that makes it possible for all our sins to be forgiven. And it’s a relationship that brings eternal life in heaven with all those who have trusted Jesus and his death on the cross.

I invite you to pray on that today. Feel free to email me at wpr7573@yahoo.com if you have any questions or want someone to pray for you.

I may or may not know you, but I love you. I love you because Jesus, with nails in his hands and feet and a crown of thorns on his head, looked at me with all my junk and said, “I love you this much.”

That has to be enough.
If you don’t know Him, I’d love to invite you to Crew Church on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m., at the old high school on 8th Street and 9th Avenue.

Hide and Seek

In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, God seeks out Adam after he and Eve ate the apple from the forbidden tree and try to hide their nakedness.

God calls out, “Where are you?” But he knew exactly where Adam and Eve were. I think God is making a statement here more than He’s asking a question.

God is sovereign, meaning He knows all and directs the whole plan. What Adam and Eve did is the same thing people have been doing – you and I have done – for a long time. We try to hide our sin from God.

It reminds me of playing hide and seek with my children. They try to hide, but in their innocence, they don’t realize I can see their feet sticking out of the blanket or see them under the table.

I think God’s ‘question’ is like me as a dad saying, “Are you hiding under the table?” knowing full well I can see them there.

But it’s in that simple metaphor that we realize that we’re the little kids hiding under the table. We think that because God can’t see our face and we can’t see His, He doesn’t know where we are.

Some of us will try and hide our sin for a long time. We sweep it under the rug a little at a time. No one will notice – at first. Slowly a bump forms under the rug that we try to nonchalantly stomp down. But in no time, there’s a pretty noticeable growth. People may pretend not to see it and we may act like it’s not there. But it’s visible to everyone.

The thing about God is He sees into our hearts. The little rug in our chest has a huge lump of sin and guilt that we have accumulated over the years of our lives. Not only is God not impressed by our feeble attempts to hide it, but many of your closest friends and family members know it’s there too because it has changed our attitude and personality.

But here’s the great news. We don’t have to hide from anyone. Not our spouses, our parents or our friends. And most of all, we don’t have to -- or make some silly attempt to – hide from God.

This God in heaven knows everything about you and me and says I still love you and still wants a personal relationship with you – despite it all. But we have to respond. It’s not just a simple yes. It’s an acknowledgment of who the entire Bible is about: Jesus.

Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth as a man; lived a perfect life and was tortured and nailed on a cross because people hated him for the message he brought – a message that saves lives.

Jesus said then and continues to say now that HE is the only way to receive passage to heaven to fellowship with the Father. You have to receive Him and acknowledge the sacrifice of His life as payment for your sins. You repent, meaning you ask the Holy Spirit to take hold of you to turn your life in a His direction.

It’s a new direction that doesn’t bring promises of health or wealth or a comfortable life. But it is a direction that gives you something to hold on to when your health fails, your wealth dries up and life becomes painful and uncomfortable.

When you have Jesus, you can rest on His promise to carry your burdens and to be with you until the end of time.

With a God who loves us that much, you’ll never want to hide again.

Jesus, take away our fear

When we sit back and reflect on the things we pray about, it can seem kind of silly.

It’s not that our Father in heaven doesn’t want us to pray, but consider the things we pray about: a vehicle or home purchase, good weather for vacation and job prospects.

I don’t think that we’re wrong in praying for those things. But often times, I think we lose sight of the truly important things we should be praying for and also reflecting on what God has already blessed us with.

If you are buying a new home or vehicle, have you thanked Jesus for the financial means to even be considering such a purchase? If you are going on vacation, have you thanked Jesus for having a job that provides paid vacation? If you are looking for a job, have you thanked Jesus for providing you the skills and ability to even work?

Our family went through a personal attack this year, which led to job loss and financial struggles. One option was to pursue work else where, meaning the possibility of moving away was put on the table. But God spoke clearly to me in April that we were staying in Huntington and He even spoke to my heart that my wife was going to work for the county school system.

In the midst of that good news, the Lord also said we were going to have to trust Him through a time of uncertainty. You see, getting into the school system requires being a substitute first. That means you don’t know when you are going to work.

Fast forward to early August, and I could feel the pressure of what we were about to encounter weighing on me. I asked myself if a meager but steady paycheck from her working at a local day care center was better than taking a chance with the school system.

I realized what I was really asking was if that small and steady paycheck was better than trusting God.

I started praying about the situation, but I stopped mid-prayer. The Holy Spirit was moving me to pray about something completely different. I asked God to take away my fear.

Last week, on a drive to Cincinnati, I was driving through a rural area and could only get a few stations. One station I picked up was a sermon. I didn’t hear it all, but what I did hear was very powerful.

In Matthew 6, Jesus says not to worry about what you will eat or what you will wear. And the pastor delivering the message said we have to consider who Jesus was saying this to. These were folks whose primary concern each day was what they would eat and what they would wear.

Would the harvest be enough to last through the winter? Would they have enough wool to make clothing? Would they sell enough crops to be able to afford linen to make clothing?

They didn’t have the dollar menu, and there was no outlet store to get cheap clothing. But Jesus tells them not to worry.

It’s not bad to pray about cars and houses; we should be asking for the Lord’s discernment in all matters. But be sure to thank God for the blessings He has given you. Keep in mind the basic necessities He provides us each and every day.

And when you pray, consider if you'd be better served asking Him to take away your fear?

Start of NFL season prompts self assessment

I remember very vividly, and painfully, as the Pittsburgh Steelers lost AFC Championship games to the San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos and those blasted New England Patriots.

Growing up just outside the Steel City, black and gold easily becomes your two favorite colors. And, as teenager and college student, those losses hurt.

When the Steelers won Super Bowl XL in February 2006, it was exciting. And it was great to see them win a second a couple years later.

But I’ll tell ya, something is different. Will I watch the games? Sure. Will I root the team from my couch, dressed in a Steelers t-shirt? Yep. Will it matter if they win or lose? Nope.

As my faith in Christ grows, many things I used to be passionate about have dropped way down on my priority list.

On Sunday, Crew pastor Josh Perry went to Psalm 63, which shows Christians what it truly means to live for the Lord.

David writes, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.”

This psalm convicted me to look in the mirror and ask myself if I am earnestly seeking God; if I am thirsting for Him to quench my dry throat; if I consider His love better than life; if I will be satisfied in Him; if I am clinging to Him alone.

Ten years ago, especially this time of year, I can honestly say I was earnestly seeking Sunday afternoon kickoff. I was thirsting for touchdowns. A Super Bowl victory was better than life. And I was clinging to my Terrible Towel.

Five years ago, I was seeking kickoff, but attending church first. I thirsted for God’s message, with a side of football. The Steelers won a Super Bowl, but it wasn’t better than life. And the Terrible Towel was pinned up on the wall instead of waving in my hand (or chewed on during those tense football moments).

In 2011, I watched with excitement as the Steelers faced the Packers in the Super Bowl. But when they lost, I didn’t pout. I didn’t cry (as I did when they lost to Dallas in 1995). I was satisfied with the team’s accomplishments.

As I reflect on my attitude that day, I realize that I’m not who I was 10 years ago.

Today, I listen to a sermon at Crew without looking at my watch. I thirst for post-church gospel community. Jesus is better than life. And I know that I must cling to Him.

Whether you root for the division champion Steelers (again in 2011), the first pick in the 2012 draft Bengals or Marshall’s Thundering Herd, if you would say that you have indeed put your trust in Jesus as your savior, there needs to be some self evaluation this time of year.

It’s easy to put God first from 9 a.m. to noon; however, sadly, it seems to be just as easy to come home and swap your Bible for the favorite team’s jersey.

As much we enjoy sports – football, baseball, hockey and even soccer – they don’t and will never fill the hole in our hearts that was specifically designed to only fit Jesus.

As John Piper is reminding me in his book “Don’t Waste Your Life,” the apostle Paul counted every thing as a loss compared to knowing Christ and Him crucified. Paul even said death was a gain because he knew he would be and is spending eternity with Jesus.

As much as we like football, if we don’t give Christ our full attention, we’ll miss out on opportunities to tell of His glory.

I don’t think we should swear off watching football to sit and read scripture from noon to 11 p.m. each Sunday and pray unceasing every Monday night and some Thursdays late in the season.

We should use football as a means to share the Gospel. God says everything works for His glory.

Besides, can you think of a better way to spend those long TV timeouts?

Losing a game we shouldn’t be playing

A billboard stood for the longest time along Interstate 64 near Charleston, W. Va., that read “Heaven or Hell? You Choose?”

Every time I saw it, it made me angry because that’s not what the church Jesus came to earth to establish is supposed to be about.

The Christian church is losing an advertising battle with McDonald’s, Apple and Walmart – the list goes on and on.

But it’s a battle we’re not even supposed to be engaged in.

Jesus didn’t say go to the ends of the earth and put up billboards. He commanded us to take the good news to the ends of the earth ourselves – by telling people.

An owner of a small family auto dealer told me last week that they don’t rely on advertising. He said word of mouth still works.

I think most business owners would agree that word of mouth has and always will be the best way to grow its customer base.

Well, the Christian base is only going to grow if we go and tell.

If we don’t go and spread the life-saving, transforming news of Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins and His resurrection to defeat death; if we don’t tell people that putting your faith in Him and recognizing He lived a life we could never live and died a gruesome, unjust death that we rightly deserve; that God will look on Him and pardon us when we accept Jesus as our savior; then we’re allowing billboards like the one I described to lead the way.

And guess what, if you aren’t a Christian and don’t understand that Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life” and that “no one comes to the Father except through (Him),” and you see a sign that says “Heaven or Hell? You Choose,” you’re going to choose heaven because it is better than the alternative.

But you can’t just choose heaven. It doesn’t work that way. That sign and the cutesy message boards outside churches don’t and can’t tell why each of us so desperately needs Jesus.

If we rely on billboards and signs and, to an extent, 30-second commercials on Christian radio, to present the Christian faith, we’re going to loose out to the iPhone, DirecTV’s NFL package, Ford, Cheerio’s and any number of other companies that convince millions of people each day that they NEED their product.

I want to make it very clear that not every billboard, not every church message board and not every Christian radio public service announcement is bad. The problem is allowing that to replace our job as Christians to go and tell.

Pastor and author John Piper said the U.S. is the hardest country to be a Christian in. Why? Because there are so many things that can become our idols. A good friend of mine told me this week it’s also because Americans are so spoiled that it’s difficult to convince them they need anything – let alone a Jesus they can’t see, touch or add as a Facebook friend.

Last week at Crew Church, Greg Lucas -- a respected man in our community not only for being a police officer but also for the way he lives out his faith – talked about missions. He said if we don’t go, they won’t know.

So, are we going to rely on the message boards outside church to lure in the unsaved with some catchy phrase like, “Board broken. Come inside for the message.” Or are we going to go and tell them about Jesus and what He’s done in our lives.

Seeing and hearing about how our lives are changed is what will draw them to Him. That’s how they’ll know and that’s how we reflect His glory to the world.

We're wasting our lives

As I grow in my faith in Jesus Christ, I’ve found myself in the past 12 months yearning to read – the Bible and books by respected Christian authors.

Two that I’m currently reading now have really spurred me to share my thoughts.

They are “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper and “It’s Not About Me” by Max Lucado.

I’m not through either book, but it hasn’t taken me long to realize how connected the themes of these two books are.

I’m wasting my life if I’m striving to make it all about me.

What makes this statement hard to digest for many people is that Christian and non-Christian parents are raising their children that way, and the world reaffirms the notion that life somehow revolves around each individual, supporting each person’s strive for personal greatness.

“Why is that wasteful?” some of you may ask. I like how Lucado illustrates it. If an orchestra was full of musicians who wanted it to be all about them, they would ignore the maestro and the music wouldn’t sound very melodious.

Think about that and ask yourself why the world looks the way it does. We’ve got millions of people looking out only for themselves, not caring about who they step on or how their actions affect other people as they pursue their own dreams and ambitions at all costs.

It’s really millions of people wasting their lives chasing something they may never get. And even if they do reach some goal – whether status, profession, wealth – it’s all finite. You die and it’s gone. Your money can’t buy a first-class ticket to wherever you think you go after death. Your title doesn’t go with you.

Should we all give up pursuits and just live in a one big commune? No. Men and women need to pursue respectable careers that will support their families and children. But it’s how they do it and live it out that needs to change.

How does that look? How do we not waste our lives? We’ve got to first recognize that there is a maestro. We’re in God’s orchestra and we’re called to put our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

How do you not waste your life? I don’t make much of me. You don’t make much of you. We make much of Jesus.

And I know what you’re thinking. Christianity appears divisive, pushing people apart more than together.

While I won’t disagree that this happens, you have to look at why and where this is taking place. The answer is in churches that aren’t preaching the Bible. In churches that aren’t emphasizing the importance of spending time in prayer and Bible reading.

If I may take Lucado’s orchestra illustration a step further. We as Christians may be in God’s orchestra by putting our faith in Jesus. But are we trying to play the same music?

I don’t mean what we’re singing during worship. I mean, do we, as Christ’s body, have the same sheet music in front of us? Are we practicing our instruments and studying the sheet music – reading scripture and learning sound doctrine – so that when the orchestra plays, it produces a beautiful melody?

Here’s the bottom line. I don’t want to waste my life. And if I focus on making much of Jesus in everything I do – work, school, athletics, fantasy football, family, money, relationships – not only will I not waste my life, but I know will leave a lasting impact.