 Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:1-10 NKJV I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. [3] Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. [4] I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. [5] They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. [6] This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. [7] The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. [8] Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! [9] Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. [10] The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
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 Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-7 NKJV
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, [2] To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. [3] I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, [4] greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, [5] when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. [6] Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [7] For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. As a spiritual father, the Apostle Paul took the job of making disciples seriously. We get a glimpse of Paul’s commitment to raising up the next generation of disciples in the advice that he gave to Timothy. In this text, Paul challenges Timothy to raise his level of human effort. (This Pauline challenge lands in the middle of a theological quagmire. Where does the sufficiency of God end, and the effort of human flesh begin? Even asking the question is a problem in some theological circles) Let me try to bring some clarity to the question. The gift of God was “in” Timothy. We know from what Jesus told us, that the Holy Spirit was living “in” Timothy. What this means is that everything Timothy would ever need, in terms of his spiritual life, was already resident in Timothy. What would it take to “stir up” the gift of God in Timothy’s life? It would take human effort on the part of Timothy. While synergism is considered heretical by some followers of John Calvin (when it comes to the miracle of salvation), synergism (which is man cooperating with God) is necessary in becoming a disciple of Christ. It starts with Jesus’ call: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34b NKJV) Jesus is calling the person, who wants to be His disciple, to take action. “Deny yourself.” “Take up your cross.” “Follow Me.” These are actions that the Holy Spirit empowers us to undertake, and actions that we choose to take. God is living in us by the Holy Spirit, and obviously, we are living in the body that is defined as “us.” What an interesting composite are the followers of Christ. Earthen vessels filled with the power of the Almighty Creator. How does a follower of Christ access the power of God? They flip on the switch. They “stir up” the gift of God. They are being diligent. They are drawing close to God. What is my point? The sufficiency of God makes your spiritual life possible. God’s side of the spiritual equation is complete. Now it is your turn. God will give you the strength to pick up your cross, but it is up to you to make the decision to do so. The power to live the life God has called you to is already living in you…time for YOU to get stirring! Author’s Note: I believe that we are saved by grace through faith. Salvation is a work of God. So, I’m not injecting synergism into the salvation conversation. However, most of our preaching is synergistic in that “we” are constantly calling people to take action. You can call it whatever you want to call it, but “praying the sinner’s prayer,” “committing to read through the Bible,” “volunteering to teach a Bible Study,” “creating time for a daily quiet time…” All of these actions are a result of human choice.  "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Matt 6:5-8 (NKJV)
In the movie, "The Hollow Man," (A movie that I would highly NOT recommend) Kevin Bacon makes a blood chilling statement as a man who happens to be invisible: "It's amazing what you can do... when you don't have to look at yourself in the mirror any more." No doubt, it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to fully understand ourselves. We seem to have a fuzzy notion of who we are and are sometimes compelled by internal forces that we do not comprehend. Not only do we have secrets, in many respects we are a mystery to most of the people who know us. That brings us to God--who is in middle of our secret places. He understands us--fully comprehends what makes us tick--knows what we have need of before we ask or possibly know to ask. He is the mirror that reveals the real essence of who we are. How can we become self-actualized and begin to understand the complexity that is us? Well, a good place to start is to set up a time and a place to meet with God. Jesus suggests that we find a place where we can be sequestered alone with God. A place where we can shut the door, turn off our smart phone and spend some uninterrupted time alone with our Creator. What happens in that quiet time alone with God is between you and God; however, you will find that God is indeed a transforming power that is unmatched by any other in the known universe. Indeed, the time spent alone with God is time well spent! Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I need you to continue to remind me of my great need to meet You in the secret place. The place of communion, where I am grafted into a place of Your provision and forever changed by Your mighty provision. Lord, come into my heart--unlock all the hidden places and bring the cleansing of Your blood to bear. Thank you for being there for me and for caring even in those times when I seem a hopeless case. Your love makes the difference! Amen"  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. Psalms 91:1-6 (NKJV)
I was raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho--which was recently ranked as the 18th coldest city in the United States. Dad turned the thermostat down at night, which made scrunching down under the covers a glorious event. In the mornings, Dad would turn up the furnace and warm air would blast up through the vents. Behind the stereo system in the living room was such a vent on the floor. I would sneak up to that secret spot every morning, cover the vent with a blanket, and bask in the ensuing heat wave. I would have liked to have stayed there forever. Safe...warm...satisfied...peaceful...happy... Then real life occurred. I found out that the world is not safe, warm, satisfied, peaceful or happy! I don't think that it takes a genius I.Q. to look at the happenings of our little planet and to accurately conclude that something went wrong. Too much violence--too much conflict--too much greed--too much laziness--too much exploitation--too much foolishness--too much self-destructive behavior--too much abuse--too much tragedy. It's OK...it really is, because (as a Believer) this world is not our home. So, what do I do in the meantime? I need to go and dwell in the "secret place" where God is. I need to abide under His shadow surrounded by the warmth of His presence. Please understand, I'm not dwelling in this secret place to "run away" from my responsibilities or to deny the reality of the world's true nature. "No," I go to this place of refuge to be strengthened and to be filled with courage, so that when I do out into the darkness, I will be absolutely unafraid. That in the midst of all that is crazy and wrong in our world--inside of me--in a secret place--God and I continue to have fellowship; and I face the world...safe...warm...satisfied...peaceful, and happy! Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, it is good to know You--it is good to be one of Your children--it is good to hear Your voice and feel Your touch. No wonder Your Word declares: 'Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.' You are the difference between victory and defeat. The difference between being lost and belonging. The difference between joy and sorrow. The difference between purpose and confusion. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"  Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" So, David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore, I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor." 2 Sam 6:20-22 (NKJV)
Are you inhibited by what other people might think? I am sad to admit that in my case it might be true... (Talk about finding it hard to be transparent) IT IS TRUE! Herein is the problem; it is difficult, if not impossible, to be an effective leader if you are always worried about what people might think. A spiritual leader is not called to be a politician, trying to make decisions based on how it affects one's popularity. A spiritual leader is called to be obedient and to lead as God instructs them. When the Ark of the Covenant was being returned to King David's hometown, he, in a moment of great passion, threw his inhibitions aside and danced before the Ark. It was quite a spectacle as David cast off his clothes and danced with reckless abandon. As the parade came to an end, David was met by the disapproval of his wife, Michal. Her words dripped with sarcasm: "How glorious was the king of Israel today..." LESSON NUMBER ONE: If you step out in uninhibited faith--you will face criticism from some. David responded to his wife's critique: "I will be even more undignified than this and will be humble in my own sight." LESSON NUMBER TWO: When you step out and lead, realize that it may only be the first step of doing more of the same. You may be even more undignified--and mortify your critics. However, there are two benefits that overshadow all else: The fruit of humility is given a great opportunity to grow in our lives. Secondly, God is glorified through our acts of obedience and passion. We need to continually weigh the question: Are we trying to please man or God? Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You know my heart and so You are already aware of my need to be liked and accepted by others. It seems to be a driving force in my life; and yet, I want to see Your Church experience revival. Please bring a new courage to my heart, so that I find the where-with-all to step out of my comfort zone and lead by example. May my passion for You break through the inhibitions that tie me down and hold me back. I want to be a useful vessel and walk in obedience. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen" Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:15-21 NASB95 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, [16] making the most of your time, because the days are evil. [17] So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. [18] And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, [19] speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; [20] always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; [21] and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.  Scripture Reading: James 3:1-2 (NKJV)
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Recently, I have run into quite a large number of God’s sheep who have been on a long sojourn looking for a “new” church. When I build up enough relationship to ask them the difficult question of what motivated them to look for a new place to worship God, I generally hear stories of how they were somehow disenfranchised and disillusioned by their previous church experience. Very often the finger is pointed at a pastor. “Yikes!!” As a pastor myself, the first thought in my head is I wonder how many people have been driven away through the years, because of my poor behavior or lack of wisdom. You must understand, I have been the pastor where people left looking for greener pastures. What role did I play in their decision? James tells us that being a teacher or a spiritual leader in the Church is not a position to be taken lightly! As a teacher/pastor I should expect a stricter judgment…from God. Double “Yikes!!!” I need to ask myself some serious questions: “Am I really called by God to be a spiritual leader?” “What is my responsibility to the people God places under my care?” “Should I have pursued another career?” Very often the offense that blows someone out the back door deals with things spoken. My mouth has the potential to be a real source of offense and emotional pain. Sometimes I’m just being defensive and reacting to a criticism or unkind word—however, flinging back unkind words is simply fighting fire with fire. If the goal is to burn down the work of God this is a brilliant strategy; however, if building the Kingdom of God is of great worth, it is time to tame the tongue! As I honestly look into the mirror, I can honestly tell you that this pastor is flawed. Knowing that I shall receive a stricter judgment I pray that I will respond to God’s flock with a much larger dose of mercy and a double load of grace. After-all, all things being equal, God has not given me what I deserve…Bless His Holy Name! Questions to Consider:
 Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:9-14 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.
I was a teenager, a long time ago. I was sure that the trumpet was about to sound, and that Jesus was climbing on a white horse and preparing to descend. There was chaos in the Middle East—an explosion of “End-Times” prophecy in the Church—songs, such as Larry Norman’s “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” gaining popularity…surely the Lord was about to come back! I had some church friends who were lamenting the fact that with Christ’s eminent return they would not get to experience marriage or have a family. They were concerned about future events that have not happened as of yet. So, Jesus has not yet returned. Most of us got married. We had children and now take vacations with our grandchildren. That said, it just could be that we are living in the Last Days. No bold predictions here. No great prophetic insight. No clear word from the Lord. Not trying to scare people straight. Not even trying to anticipate what is to come. Still, there is this nagging feeling that we are facing difficult times ahead; a time where Christians will be out of step with the New World Order constructed of political correctness and humanist ideals. I am not of a survivalist mindset, but when they begin to hand out the equivalent of “yellow stars” to those who claim Christ…I might head for the hills. The Lord has clearly stated why He is waiting to return. He is waiting until that moment when the Gospel has reached every tongue, tribe and nation; and that the maximum amount of people will have been “saved.” As for the 2nd Advent of Christ? It will happen…and it just could be that it will happen soon. In the meantime, I have a mission to complete and a race to run. I want to have oil in my lamp—my hand to the plow—my eyes on Jesus—becoming less, while He becomes more—loving God, neighbors, family, brothers and sisters in Christ, enemies… Doing my part to hasten His return. Questions to Consider:
 Scripture Reading: Acts 3:1-8 (NKJV)
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God. It has been said that "Most Christians live their lives like practical atheists." At first glance it seems to be a shocking statement. My immediate response is to form an argument to disprove this hypothesis. But the longer I consider the statement, the greater the conviction that this idea might be true...sad, but true. What does it mean to live like a practical atheist? It simply means that we live as if God is disconnected from the reality of our everyday life. As if God is disinterested in the mundane goings-on of our daily routine. I sometimes wish that life was as mundane as I suppose it to be, but then, just as I'm about to rest in that peaceful place of boredom, a crisis of sorts comes out of seeming nowhere and lands in the middle of my security. Suddenly, I'm faced with a situation that requires the intervention of God. I can no longer act like a practical atheist...there are no solutions found in a place of disbelief and separation from the Creator of all. In those lucid moments, where mundane caves into the reality created by crisis, I shed the skins of the practical atheist and embrace the truth of "what I have" in Christ Jesus. Peter and John where challenged by a beggar who had been lame from birth. The beggar asked for what one would expect a beggar to ask. The beggar asked for a temporary solace--a mundane solution for the symptoms of a greater problem. What was the most the beggar could hope for? Enough silver and gold to feed himself for the day? Enough silver and gold to feed himself for a month or a year? What if the beggar could play the lottery and win enough wealth to feed and house himself and his family for life? Could it get any better than that? Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." That was certainly unexpected... The supernatural workings of God are always unexpected to the practical atheist. The beggar was healed, and he walked around testing his new legs, leaping and praising God. Mundane was just destroyed by the power of God! Believers in Christ may not always have silver and gold, but the Word of God declares: "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." If we can lay aside our disbelief for a moment, there is a spiritual mantel that declares that "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." The impossible becomes possible. As Believers in Christ, that is what we have...it is our spiritual birthright! Questions to Consider:
 Do you feel like “we” are losing our country? Do you feel as if our country is in a pattern of moral decline? Are you worried about the direction our country is headed? A recent poll had over 75% of Americans saying that they feel our country is headed in the wrong direction. I would agree with that sentiment and affirm, we are indeed headed into darkness.
The Apostle Paul talked about the “last days.” 2 Timothy 3:1-9 NKJV But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: [2] For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, [4] traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! [6] For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, [7] always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. [8] Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; [9] but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. Paul sounds as if he is describing life as we know it today in the United States. It is a shame when Paul’s description of behavior sounds like much of the political leadership of our time. Indeed, most Americans have little to no confidence in the politics of our time, as well as most of our public institutions. The question is: “What should we do about it?” (Both as individuals and as a corporate body of Believers) I believe that we should be doing two things: Firstly, we need to understand that the prophetic words of the Bible will come true. They are God inspired and will come to pass. So, according to God’s Word, the last days will be perilous. It is a fact, and yet there is hope. Jonah was sent to the wicked city of Nineveh to declare God’s judgment against them. After Jonah “ran away” from his mission and was unceremoniously set back on the path of obedience; he delivered God’s words to Nineveh. An unexpected thing happened. The city believed that God’s judgment was coming and from the King on down, they repented. Secondly, we need to realize that judgment begins in the house of God. What does that mean? It means that we need to make sure that our house is in order. We need to be uncompromised by the world in which we live. We need to be living examples of 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Our call to action:
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