Jesus Breaks Social Barriers to Build Bridges for All Men

Posted on September 9, 2018 by admin

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

I recently heard Trey Gowdy speaking about the book he co-authored with Tim Scott, Unified: How Our Unlikely Friendship Gives Us Hope for a Divided Country.  Trey gave a great illustration of Jesus that we can all follow as the great bridge builder between all men breaking down every social barrier of the time to bring us salvation.  I read his book and am in agreement that despite our differences, we share so many things in common and have hope because of the things we share in common.  However, I liked the point he made about Jesus in his sermon and it was not emphasized in his book.  So I wanted to study more on how Jesus bridged mankind by breaking with the social barriers that we still struggle with today.

Sin in the hearts of mankind has always divided the world and today is no different.  Mankind disregards the majority of common values and ideas that we share and has identified and leveraged the differences between men to create polarizing division.  Common throughout history, we continue to identify and divide ourselves by gender, race, religion, nationality, wealth and class, political party, and every difference that we can find to separate us.  Seeking to preserve our kind and elevate self, men have segregated, conquered, enslaved and massacred those of different race, ethnicity, religion, culture or ideas.  This has been repeated over many millennia and continues around the world and in our cities, schools and neighborhoods this very day.

However, our success on earth and as individuals, families, peoples, nations and even as a species is dependent on being united.  As individuals we will never be united on every idea, issue or topic, but we find peace and make progress as we find unity and build consensus on major topics of truth and extend grace on the minor issues that divide us.  United we will stand and divided we will fall. 

Jesus came into this world with a radical message of truth to unify all peoples.  This common truth for all mankind is the catalyst giving us common ground and common purpose to overcome any difference that may divide us.  In delivering this radical message, Jesus stepped right in between every gender, race, religious, ethnic, class and political division.  He was an equal offender and did not withhold the truth to any audience.  Identifying and illustrating the truth in His message, he spared no one in calling out the wickedness in their heart, culture, thoughts and ways.  At the same time, he tore down walls of sin that divided mankind and mankind from God and was the greatest builder of bridges of peace and love between mankind and mankind and God.   

What was Jesus’ message to the world?

Mark 1:14-15 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

  1. The time is fulfilled references the time appointed by God for sending the Messiah.  Daniel 9:24-27.  The time is now.
  2. The “kingdom” is not referring to a place where the king reigns, but is referencing the fulfillment of the prophecies when we move from an era of the kingdom of sin and condemnation under the law reigns to an era of time where the kingdom of saving grace is established through Jesus as the Messiah reigns.  His blood sacrifice has conquered sin and provided a new covenant and a world where the Holy Spirit has been given as a helper to those that believe.
  3. Repent means to express sincere regret or remorse from our sins
  4. Believe in the gospel. The gospel is the “good news” that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of the messiah’s grace reigns.  Paul emphasizes Jesus’ good news in Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” 

Not only is Jesus’ message world changing and life changing good news for all mankind, but the truth of Jesus’s message is not exclusive to any people, race, religion or class. During a time when the people of the world were greatly divided and classified by families, tribes, villages, nations, religions, race, and gender Jesus entered the scene to love all people in a radical way that radically crushed the barriers of social norms to deliver his message of love, repentance and salvation through Him as Messiah. In His life and ministry, Jesus was the greatest builder of bridges between mankind.  All those social barriers that we struggle with today were bridged by Jesus.

Jesus breaks down social barriers as the greatest bridge builder

All People

Jesus offers His grace and salvation to all people.  Luke 2:10  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people: for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Men and women:

Jesus bridges the gender gap between men and women.  During the time of Jesus, women held a low place in society.  Yet Jesus broke these social norms by speaking with women (Luke 7:11-17), healing women(Luke 8:43-48 and 3:12) and even elevating women by referring to them as “daughters of Abraham”(Luke 13:16).  Breaking from the traditions of His day that rabbis did not teach women, Jesus taught women (Luke 10:38-42) and included women as disciples.(Matthew 12:46-50)  In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) and Martha at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:25) , it was clear that women received Jesus’ self-revelation.  Jesus broke the cultural barriers of gender and recognized women.    

Race and ethnicity

The Jewish people considered Samaritans as foreigners who were a mixed race and despised them as the worst of the human race.  Yet Jesus uses the Samaritan man in his parable about a man who fell among robbers on his journey from Jerusalem to Jericho as an example for us to follow and give mercy.  Luke 10:30 – 37.

Political parties

The Roman government ruled the region, but allowed the Jewish Pharisees and Sadducees to operate and maintain order among the jewish people.  The Pharisees and Sadducees were the educated, religious political class of the day and, of all people, possessed the training and knowledge of the law and covenant, but mostly missed the Messiah because of their pride.  Jesus actively debated delivered truth to the religious and political class.  Read of Jesus’ debate with the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 22:23-46 and Matthew 8:5-13, the story of Roman Centurion.

Sinner

Thinking they might test Jesus, the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery.  “The law of Moses commanded us to stone such women”, but Jesus famously drew in the sand and said “He who is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”.  After the crowd left Jesus offers His grace.  John 8:1-11

The Rich, the Poor, and the Sick

Luke 19:1-10, “And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.”  Jesus calls him down from the sycamore tree and goes to his house.  The people grumbled because Jesus had gone the house of a sinner.  Zaccheus repents and receives salvation.  Jesus certainly interacted with the poor in health, material possessions and poor in spirit.  There are many illustrations of Jesus healing and offering salvation to the poor because of their faith.  After John the Baptist was imprisoned and was struggling to reconcile his position with the faith he had in Jesus as the Messiah he asked “Are you the expected one or should we look for someone else?”  And Jesus replies, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” John 11:2-6

Heaven and earth

Jesus bridges heaven and earth.  Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:1-10 that we were dead in our sins, but because of God’s mercy and great love made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Jesus leaves no room for other paths to heaven in John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”.

Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth?

So Jesus is the great bridge builder between all mankind, but He makes clear in John 14:6 that there is but one bridge to salvation.  All men come to the salvation bridge that Jesus offers and all must answer the question Who is Jesus?  Jesus is the great bridge builder, but also divides all men by those who believe in His gospel and those who reject His gospel.  These are the words of Jesus.  Luke 12: 49-53 49 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

All are brought to the bridge and are welcome to receive salvation.  Make no mistake, Jesus understands that the pride in the hearts of men will get in the way and God’s gospel message of repentance and faith in Jesus as the messiah will divide men.  This is an individual decision every person must reconcile.  Let me close bring us back to Jesus’ message in Mark 1:14-15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 

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Free Indeed – What and Why I believe

Posted on July 11, 2018 by admin

Harvest Moon

1 Peter 3:15:  But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Recently I attended a professional engineering society breakfast with about 10 people in attendance.  This is a casual monthly meeting at IHOP where we network and discuss industry news.  This particular meeting was around the Christmas holidays and I was talking with my table neighbor when I another conversation across the table erupted and one of the men joked about the insanity of Christians whose leader teaches of “eating his flesh and drinking his blood”.  It was quickly quieted by the leader as he tried to subtly signal to this guy without me or others noticing that I might be offended, the “Christian” in the group.  This is not a group of unintelligent drop outs, but accomplished professional engineers who are very bright and enjoy a strong debate.  It was not the place for a debate, but I find that this type of mocking of Christianity popular in every area of society.  It is pervasive in social media where anyone that stands for a conservative idea is an easy target.  You find the people who follow Christ targeted almost as sport in entertainment, news and politics.  Mocking Christianity has caught on to become a new bully sport.  Usually it is a cheap shot aimed to discredit the person as unintelligent or ignorant for believing in such a ridiculous farce.  As with most bullying, rare do you see the Christian put up a fight or engage in a strong counter argument presented.  Is it because Christians are generally peacemakers and do not stir up conflict?  Or is this because they really are shallow in their faith and have not thoughtfully considered and debated the counter arguments even for themselves?  Have they not studied the Word of God and gained the knowledge to defend the basic principals of their faith? 

The apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy tells us that society will embrace self serving ideas and we will be mocked and persecuted for our faith.  We have a faith that we have believed as Truth since our childhood and have trusted in the scriptures to proclaim this Truth.  But, the Scriptures are given to us by God and are useful in teaching, correcting and training in righteousness.  At the time Paul was writing these very words Christians were burning on posts in the streets as “Roman Candles”.

2 Timothy 3:1-17 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also. 10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

We are instructed to know the Scripture and use it to teach, admonish, correct and train ourselves so that we will be able to defend the Scriptures we believe as Truth in the society we live and to the marketplace of ideas. 

Who is our adversary?

Knowing who is our adversary is such an important point in the debate of ideas.  In many circumstances a spirited debate is not the way you will be engaged.  More likely you will be engaged with mocking and persecution as a direct personal attack.  The attack will be framed that you are unintelligent, stupid, ignorant, weak, shallow or any such terms that are attached to the person.  In this case it seems natural and obvious to engage and counter attack the person.  Don’t fall into this trap that will surely lead to the lowest common denominator of name calling exposing the worst in all involved. 

In the case of a good spirited debate or a personal attack we must recognize that our adversary is evil itself. The first step to engage a debate or mount a defense is to separate the person from the source of the attack.  We are defending what and why we believe as Truth in a debate against our adversary, satan, who defends a position we propose not to be truth.  We don’t forget the person that we are debating, but respect them with love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control.  We position and thoughtfully debate arguments in the light of Truth provided in the Scriptures. 

Ephesians 6:10 – 20 “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The foundation of our argument is Scripture. 

We regard Scripture as the inerrant Word of God, as Truth and the final authority.  It should be questioned.  How can we build our argument solely on the Scripture that was written by man as truth?  If you have not tested this faith for yourself and believe in your whole heart that the Bible is the inspired Word of God then the foundation of which you stand is weak and will crumble when challenged.  The factual historicity and accounts of the Bible have been challenged for millennia.  The account of creation and positions of “old earth and new earth” have been debated.  The evolution of species can be demonstrated and the thought that man was not created in the image of God but evolved from apes could be argued, but impossible to prove.  The timelines and historicity have been confirmed.  Parallel secular historic records and writings outside of the Bible have been compared and found to be accurate.  The crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Christ has been the most tested and proven account in all of history.  To the amount that you are willing to bet your eternal salvation you must test the authenticity and truth of the Scriptures.  This testing will be different for every person.  Some like Lee Strobel, attorney and author of The Case for Christ or Hugh Ross, www.reasons.org ,noted Christian apologist and astrophysicist have dedicated their life to exploring history and science to test the scriptures. Many others have simply heard and believed the basics of Scripture that have been shared orally or in simple writings as enough to bet their eternal salvation. www.peacewithgod.net

God loves you and has a plan for you.

John 3:16 “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, [Jesus Christ], that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”

Man is sinful and separated from God

Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God sent His son to die for our sins

Romans 5:8  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

I Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”

Through Prayer we can invite God into our lives and be saved from an eternal separation from God.

Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;”

John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me”

For the individual who has considered this simple message, accepted this as Truth, and has bet their eternal salvation as fact may not be understood by those earnestly seeking an analytical dialogue, but should be respected for their simple faith and their basic argument that they just know in their heart that it is True.  They may be mocked for their lack of knowledge to engage in a debate with those who worship knowledge.  In all cases, the simple faith and those that pursue the highest intellectual debates all end in the same place.  A leap of faith.  Faith is the assurance of things not fully known.  It is “at the end of the road of knowledge” and is the one element still required by every man.

Hebrews 11:1 – 2 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval.  3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

Debaters can take sections of scripture and build an opposing and, at times, convincing arguments in an effort to discredit Scripture as Truth.  If you can be convinced that portions of the scripture are not true then the foundation of your faith in Scripture as Truth itself is fragile and is where we need to pursue reconciliation of our doubts.  It is healthy to test your doubts, read the Scripture and personally hold it up to what you see and experience.  For me personally, this is why I am writing.  I may have started with a simple faith, but by nature want to question why?  I want to understand and be able to articulate why I believe what I believe. To this end I may have started with a simple faith, but have continually tested this faith to find it secure. 

I believe in God, the creator of heaven and earth. 

Why do I believe in the existence of God? He is self-evident in the universe I live.  When I observe the world, I see a created order.  I see the simple beauty of the stars, moon and sun.  This simple experience of observation inspires the question “Who created this?”  I observe the effects of the cycles and seasons of our planet.  Who designed the cycle of water to evaporate, rain, cleanse, nourish, be filtered, stored and process repeated to sustain life and cleanse our planet?   I experience and have tested the physical laws of nature.  Natural science and math display a perfect order and repeatability.  We have a close friend who, tragically, recently lost their son.  At the funeral we got a glimpse into the mind of this amazingly bright young man who studied mathematics, explored the depths and complexity of math problems, and proclaimed as evidence for his faith in God the infinite beauty of the dependable and perfect order of mathematics.  This is way beyond me, but helps me by association to have a greater appreciation for evidence supporting an architect in the created universe.  Are the laws of nature, the principles that govern our physical world just a “cosmic coincidence”?  They exist because they exist? Or does it make more sense that they were created by design?  I do not see “nature” as the thing to be worshiped, but see the “nature” of a creative God that designed and established natural order to the world and universe that we live in.  I find agreement with Norman Geisler in his statement, “I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist”

Second – I believe that the Bible is the trustworthy Word of God

There are many angles that I could choose to debate that the scriptures are the divinely inspired word of God delivered to men to record the origin, history, revelation of the character of God and His plan for the redemption of man.  I am not sure who originally penned the quote “Truth and time go hand in hand” but even those of us that have lived a few decades see that over time the true truth of any matter is eventually revealed.  The Bible makes distinctive claims of truth.  We test the truth by comparing it to reality.  Physical evidence such as archeological findings and extra-biblical manuscripts that support the timeline, events, persons and historical narrative that the Bible proclaims.  Considering the Bible was written over many centuries and by many authors, the theology and worldview proclaimed by the authors is consistent and coherent.  The morals and worldview of civilizations, nations, cultures and peoples have evolved over time, but the principles and worldview of the Bible have remained consistent.  The principles and worldview have stood the test of thousands of years for being logical, reasonable and true even though they often were disregarded because of current excepted cultural beliefs.  Evident in our recent U.S. civil rights history, the claims of the Bible ring true even as our culture prevented equal rights for various classes of citizens.  In 2018 the consistent teachings of the Bible are contrary to many of our accepted cultural norms, but I believe over time again will come full circle and reveal Gods Word and instruction on how we are to live as everlasting and true truth.

Jesus is the central character for all of the Bible, both old testament and new testament. 

Matthew 5:17  Jesus says “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

If the life and teaching of Jesus can be authenticated this gives the greatest support for the truth of the whole Bible.  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all testify to the life and ministry of Jesus.  There testimony has been proven to be consistent and accurate to the life and account of Jesus’ life.  There has been no life or event more documented, analyzed, challenged and supported by multiple writings, personal accounts, historic records and physical evidence than the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  The evidence is overwhelming that new testament documentation of Jesus life and ministry are true.  If the life and teachings of Jesus are true there is no greater support for the entire Bible as Jesus is the fulfillment of all the prophecies and promises of the Bible.  For more:  Read Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ

Third – I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and was crucified, buried and raised from the dead to sit at the right hand of God the Father.

The cornerstone of the Bible and all of the Christian faith is Jesus’ defeat of death through the resurrection.  The apostle Paul says its clearly

1 Corinthians 15:13-19 “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”

Man has forever sought to be reconciled with his creator and all the religions of the world have been built upon a path of redemption to live with God in heaven.  The old testament establishes that God created the world, provided the law that condemned man for his sin and demonstrates the cost of that sin through the blood sacrifice. From the creation of the universe when God established the stars and the moons he created the seasons and signs that point to a plan for redemption. 

Before God created the universe and and stars He had a plan to create man in His own image and in His great wisdom gave man free will to choose HIm.  He meticulously laid out the stars and the sun and moons and ordained the cycle of new moons that mark the months and seasons.  God instructed Moses to assemble the people on appointed days marked by the calendar He created to celebrate His provision and establish a plan of redemption.   

Leviticus 23:1-2  “The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.”

The Hebrew word for “feasts” (moadim) literally means “appointed times.” God has carefully planned and orchestrated the timing and sequence of each of these seven feasts to reveal to us a special story. The seven annual feasts of Israel were spread over seven months of the Jewish calendar, at set times appointed by God. They are still celebrated by observant Jews today. But for both Jews and non-Jews who have placed their faith in Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, these special days demonstrate the work of redemption through God’s Son.

The first four of the seven feasts occur during the springtime (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Weeks), and they all have already been fulfilled by Christ in the New Testament. The final three holidays (Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles) occur during the fall, all within a short fifteen-day period.

Many Bible scholars and commentators believe that these fall feasts have not yet been fulfilled by Jesus. However, the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13) for all believers in Jesus Christ is that they most assuredly will be fulfilled. As the four spring feasts were fulfilled literally and right on the actual feast day in connection with Christ’s first coming, these three fall feasts, it is believed by many, will likewise be fulfilled literally in connection to the Lord’s second coming.

In a nutshell, here is the prophetic significance of each of the seven Levitical feasts of Israel:

1) Passover (Leviticus 23:5) – Pointed to the Messiah as our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) whose blood would be shed for our sins. Jesus was crucified during the time that the Passover was observed (Mark 14:12). Christ is a “lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19) because His life was completely free from sin (Hebrews 4:15). As the first Passover marked the Hebrews’ release from Egyptian slavery, so the death of Christ marks our release from the slavery of sin (Romans 8:2).

2) Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6) – Pointed to the Messiah’s sinless life (as leaven is a picture of sin in the Bible), making Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus’ body was in the grave during the first days of this feast, like a kernel of wheat planted and waiting to burst forth as the bread of life.

3) First Fruits (Leviticus 23:10) – Pointed to the Messiah’s resurrection as the first fruits of the righteous. Jesus was resurrected on this very day, which is one of the reasons that Paul refers to him in 1 Corinthians 15:20 as the “first fruits from the dead.”

4) Weeks or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16) – Occurred fifty days after the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and pointed to the great harvest of souls and the gift of the Holy Spirit for both Jew and Gentile, who would be brought into the kingdom of God during the Church Age (see Acts 2). The Church was actually established on this day when God poured out His Holy Spirit and 3,000 Jews responded to Peter’s great sermon and his first proclamation of the gospel.

5) Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24) – The first of the fall feasts. Many believe this day points to the Rapture of the Church when the Messiah Jesus will appear in the heavens as He comes for His bride, the Church. The Rapture is always associated in Scripture with the blowing of a loud trumpet (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:52).

6) Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27) – Many believe this prophetically points to the day of the Second Coming of Jesus when He will return to earth. That will be the Day of Atonement for the Jewish remnant when they “look upon Him whom they have pierced,” repent of their sins, and receive Him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10 and Romans 11:1-6, 25-36).

7) Tabernacles or Booths (Leviticus 23:34) – Many scholars believe that this feast day points to the Lord’s promise that He will once again “tabernacle” with His people when He returns to reign over all the world (Micah 4:1-7).

As Paul concludes in the last chapter and verse of his epic letter to the Romans he references this “mystery that has been kept secret”, but is now revealed.  We know the secret!  We know the final answer to God’s plan to redeem man to Himself.  It is not just for a select race, but for all nations for the purpose of bringing glory to Jesus. 

Romans 16:25-27  “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”

I believe that the Holy Spirit resides in those who trust in Jesus as God’s redemption plan for man and trust Him as our Lord and Savior.

The prophet Joel gives us the promise of the Spirit.  Joel 2:28-32 “It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind: And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions, even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.  I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire and columns of smoke.  The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.  And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered:”

I believe that this occurred to the Apostles after the crucifixion as Jesus appeared to his followers in the upper room instructing them Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  On the day of Pentecost according to the prophecy of Joel, the Holy Spirit was delivered to the Apostles.  When the crowds heard what Peter and the Apostles had to say they exclaimed “What shall we do?”  Acts 2:38 “Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit still resides in those to have trusted Jesus as their Savior today.  As described by the Apostle Paul:

1 Corinthians 12: 4-13 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

I believe the Holy Spirit is working today through all the gifts given to the body of Christ (His Church) in all the world to demonstrate His power for the common good.   1 Corinthians 14:1 says “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts”  In my life experience I have witnessed many of these spiritual gifts.  In my life I have also earnestly prayed in faith for faith, wisdom, knowledge, healing miracles, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits tongues in various causes that the Holy Spirit would act through me.  In many cases my prayers were answered and in many instances my prayers were not answered.  I continue to trust that the power of the Holy Spirit lives in me and will continue to act and pray in faith that the power of the Spirit that resides in me can always choose to act according to His will for the common good.  I am challenged daily to put this faith in action and know that the Spirit is not likely to work through me if I do not exercise my faith in taking action. 

I believe Jesus will someday return in fulfillment of the prophetic feasts and I will live with Him as my savior and King for eternity. 

God in His great and creative wisdom created the universe, stars, moon, earth and man in His own image.  In His sovereignty He chose Abraham and his descendants to be His own.  The beauty and order of His creation testifies of a brilliant Creator.  The fact that God exists is self evident and we are with out excuse.  God spoke through many men to communicate His law, His instruction and His plans for forgiveness.  The Scriptures written by many men over thousands of years are divinely inspired and provide a consistent and coherent message.  He used his perfect order and cycles of the moon to appoint times to celebrate His provision.  God instructed Moses to assemble the people at these times and provided a path to save all mankind through them.  All of the Bible and the appointed times unveil a great mystery which is an ultimate plan of redemption for all mankind.  Jesus is the completion of the old testament, He is the first fruit, the passover lamb that rescues us from our sin and eternal separation from our Creator.  As promised in the scriptures, I believe He will return to reign and will “tabernacle” or live with those who have chosen to believe in Him as their perfect sacrifice and Savior. 

John 14:6  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The secret to the great mystery is revealed, we know God’s plan for redemption. God Almighty has revealed Himself and His character to us.  He has given us His Word as Truth and the instruction and authority to live our lives.  Follow the Truth and He will guide you through today and will set you free. 

John 8:31-36 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free? 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be FREE INDEED.

So then how shall I live today?

(See https://jeffreyapplegate.com/2018/01/13/2018-and-lifetime-resolution/)

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Life’s Secret Revealed

Posted on April 1, 2018 by admin

John 11:25 Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,”

It is early in the morning on Easter Sunday 2018.  Several scriptures from my studies have been bouncing around in my head over the past weeks.  They have come together in a powerful way in preparation and reflection on the great gift we have been given.  I put these thoughts to writing for you and hope that you will be inspired and challenged to take courage, act boldly, and live life fully in the knowledge of this truth.

First, the author of Hebrews has again reminded me of who Jesus really is and the perfect fulfillment of the scripture and plan of God.

Hebrews 1:1-4 “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.  And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the work of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.”

Note the very first word from whom the message originates, “God”.  This introduction of Jesus begins with the authority of God almighty.  God has appointed Jesus as heir of all things.  It references Jesus as the co-creator of the world. (reference John 1:1 -2).  He is the “radiance” of God’s glory and the “exact representation of His nature”.  He holds all things together through His power.  He has purified our sins and sits at the right hand of God.  Jesus is above the angels.  Hebrews continues to establish that Jesus is fully God, but can also uniquely relate to us.  Because of this he is our perfect high priest.  Hebrews 4:14-16 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”

Second, I see Jesus in the context of God’s plan to permanently redeem man from his sin.  In the last chapter of Romans the apostle Paul is completing his letter to the Roman church and recognizing all those who had helped him and concludes with Romans 16:25 “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.” 

It might be easy to cruise through this last chapter of recognitions and miss the powerful “punchline” delivered in the concluding verse of the last chapter to the Romans.  Paul states that their faith has been established on the good news he has taught and according to the preaching of Jesus Christ.  Paul refers to the great mystery that has been kept secret for long ages past.  Since the creation of man God has had a plan for man.  Through the writings of the prophets and according to Gods command He has NOW made this eternal mystery known to all nations.  What is this eternal mystery?  Through the sacrifice of God’s own Son and His defeat of death, God has delivered His redemption plan for man.  Paul has unpacked through his writings to the Romans and recorded for all men in such a powerful way.  Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  If you want to taste the power of Paul’s gospel listen to John Piper recite this one great chapter.  I promise you will not be disappointed.   John Piper Romans 8

We know the answer to life’s mystery.  The revelation of God’s redemption plan for all mankind is such good news that it cannot be overstated!  The thought is so awesome.  I am overwhelmed to really comprehend and consume this truth.  So what do we do?  How does it change the decisions I make, the things I say, the plans I make?  I like one of the statements from Focus on the Family’s Truth Project, “If we really believe that what we believe is really real it should have a profound impact on everything we think, say and do.  My friend, Brett Moody, shared a thought of being in heaven and telling ghost stories with those who lived before Jesus.  “Holy ghost stories” of what it was like to live with the Holy spirit in our life.  We know the secret to this mystery of ages and have the spirit of the living of God residing in us.  This truth provides liberty to many of life’s fears that capture us. So I leave you with the question that has been confronting me all week.

So how do we then live our life?

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Summer’s South Texas Deer Hunt With The Girls

Posted on January 13, 2018 by admin

I have always enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hunter in high school and college, but as the career and then family came along hunting was one of the hobbies that became a casualty.  The experience of waking early in the morning and hearing the earth and it’s inhabitants wake for the day or sitting in a blind as the sun sets and hearing the night come to life are experiences that I have enjoyed sharing with my children.  Mostly we have become avid fishers, but we have had an occasional duck hunt, dove hunt, hog or deer hunt.  The boys never really took to the early morning cold, but Summer was always up for the adventure.  One afternoon my friend Kenny and I were dove hunting along a fence line and Summer was about 6 years old.  She would spot the dove coming in and when we would shoot them Summer would go out and retrieve the dove from the field.  I can still picture her holding up a dove in each hand above her head in the field with a big smile, “I got two!”.

Summer (7yrs.) spotting a hog

I also recall sitting in a blind at dusk with Summer when I had lost the ability to see and suggested we go in.  Summer wanted to wait a little longer and her young eyes could see the back of a hog in the distance above the top of the grass.  There was no way I could have seen that hog, but it did move a few deer our way and about 15 minutes later a doe walked under the blind. I drew my arrow on her and followed her all to and from the blind, but did not shoot.  Summer was bumping my side whispering “shoot, shoot”.  I did not shoot that time.  We only had a few occasions to hunt together, but I always enjoy our time together.

I did not get to join Summer on this fine hunt.  She was invited to go with a friend to celebrate her birthday and a couple other girl friends.

Summer’s Hunting Buddies

They went to their south Texas ranch and after proving Summer’s marksmanship from the truck and on the range she got to hunt Saturday morning and evening.  In the morning she was so excited to send us a photo of her first doe.  That evening she got a hog and her first buck.  What a life experience.

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2018 and Lifetime Resolution

Posted on January 13, 2018 by admin

Friday Morning Mens Bible Study

The 2018 new year celebrations have come and gone without giving much thought to a new years resolution.  However this week while preparing to lead my Friday morning mens Bible study on Romans 8, I could not escape the challenge to set a personal new years resolution based on the inspiration of the text.  The more I have reflected on this challenge the more I see this as a resolution for my life, a challenge to the men who joined me in this study, and all who read this to consider for their new year resolution.  Romans 8 is arguably the greatest chapter in all the Bible.

Following the dismal reality in chapter 7, Paul tells us that the law has jurisdiction over us (v1), our sinful passions are aroused by the law(v5), sin becomes alive and we are dead(v10), we wrestle with the conflict of two natures (v15), wretched men are we(v24) and ending with the question “who will set me free from this body of death?(v24).  Romans 8:1 answers this dismal reality for those who believe in Jesus with the ASTOUNDING proclamation and greatest news that all of humanity could ever receive in Romans 8:1!

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

There is a law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus that trumps and sets us free from the law of sin resulting in death.  Galatians 3:13 explains “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us.”  Jesus became a mediator, a substitute, a redeemer, the Son of God came into the world to bear our sin and become our condemnation – something the law and the sheep and goats and bulls and washings could never do.  There is now no condemnation for those who are in this great condemnation-bearer, Jesus Christ.  For those who believe in Jesus what a great perspective to begin the new year and great perspective to frame the remainder of LIFE that is in front of us.

Paul tells us in verse 6 “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”  Paul goes on to illustrate the permanence of this transformation proclaiming in verses 9 – 17 that if the Spirit lives in you, the power of Him who raised Jesus from the dead to conquer sin dwells in you and that you have been adopted as a child of the almighty God.  Verse 16 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”  We live in a world that is governed by the flesh and as such we will be persecuted and will suffer as we live out our life according to the Spirit and Truth that conflict with the evolving cultural definition of relative truths that follow the desires of the flesh.

So what does the mind set on the Spirit look like?  “Life and Peace.”  Paul explains later in Romans 13:8 “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”  We are to recognize the incredible love that God has for us and to realize and become saturated with that love in our life so that we can reflect God’s love back to Him and our neighbor. (family, friends, co-workers, communities and people where we work and live)  How do we set our mind on the Spirit?  Paul instructs us in Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Even though we live in the midst of a world infected by sin we are to be different  and shine as a light of hope to the world because we have set our minds on things of the Spirit.

My new resolution for this year and for my life:  Set my mind on the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16  Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 

Colossians 3:2  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

I will work to train my mind to remember that I am not of the flesh.  I will work to exchange selfish desires and a mind set on uncertainties and troubles for the promise of life and peace.  I admit this will be difficult and that I will fail often. I will have to remind myself that the Spirit Himself testifies that I am a child of the Almighty God and be confident of God’s great love for me that when I follow the truth of Jesus I will experience Life and Peace.  I will seek daily to choose joy, be bold in my convictions and live fully so that people will see a difference in me and know that it is the Spirit that lives in me.   I live in a fallen world and will experience persecution and sufferings, but know that there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus and nothing will separate me from the love of Christ.  (Romans 8:35-39)

This is my challenge to myself, to the men in my Friday morning study and to all those who read this post.

p.s.  I also resolve to lose a few pounds.

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Summer in El Salvador

Posted on July 29, 2017 by admin

Summer catches a Big Daddy wave

The American Christian culture has failed to give fathers a structure, ceremony or rite of passage to recognize when their boys become men and when their girls become a woman.  The Latin culture marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood with the Quinceanera at age 15. The Jewish culture marks the age when boys become accountable for their actions at age 13 with a Bar Mitzvah celebration. In my family I have taken the opportunity to recognize my children’s established practice of making good choices and firm ability to be independent and responsible for themselves at age 15 to 16 by taking them on a trip to a destination of their choosing with me.  For Drew, we went skiing in Aspen Colorado and I introduced him to some of my closest friends.  For Ben, we joined a close college friend and his son in the Bob Marshall Wilderness near Glacier National Park Montana to backpack and fish for a week. This week, I just returned from my trip with Summer to San Salvador.

Summer wanted to find a place that she could concentrate on learning to become more proficient at surfing.  I wanted to celebrate her good choices and enjoy an adventure together.  What I did not expect was the blessing I would receive.  We spent 5 days together in a foreign country with no technology, no other family or friends, just the two of us.  We set our alarm to get up at 5:30 a.m. and surfed from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m.. We then waited for high tide in the afternoon and surfed from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  The rest of the day we shared our meals together, watched the surf together, read, stretched, walked the beach, visited and rested for the next morning of surfing.  We were warmly welcomed by the other few guests, received much needed encouragement and shared our brief adventure with an eclectic group of people from all over the world.

The old guy even caught a few

We looked forward to learning to surf, but found the entire experience so much more.  The friends we made and the conversations we shared were encouraging.  Summer and I shared extended time at meals and between meals with very little distraction.  How different this is from our frantic schedules, hectic and busy lives in Houston.  I dare to say that it is not uncommon that a father could live their entire life without spending an extended time alone with their children.  If your children have yet to reach 16 or if they are already grown and have families, I would encourage you to plan an extended time one on one to give them your blessing.  I set out to give my blessing to Summer, but I was the one who was so richly blessed.  That she would spend time with me and that we could share this adventure together.  Thank you Summer for blessing me.

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Reflecting on a Life of Psalms

Posted on July 28, 2017 by admin

The Psalms are a collection of hymns and prayers that have been collected and passed down by God’s people from generation to generation.  They span one thousand years from time of Babylonian captivity in 1490 BC to Days of Ezra in 444 BC.  Many were written by David, but there were several authors including Moses, Solomon and Ezra.  The Psalms have served to lead worship, express lament to God for difficult circumstances, to express thanksgiving to God for His provision and His character, to celebrate victory, to lift up God’s laws and celebrate His wisdom.  These have encouraged and inspired God’s people for over 3500 years.  As I was preparing to teach on Psalm 146 I reviewed many of the verses in Psalms that I had underlined over the last 20 years in one of my Bibles.  As I read and reflected on each Psalm, many brought me back to the circumstances that the specific verse of a psalm ministered, encourage or inspired me at just the right time.  As I am sure they have done for generations of people and are why they are so treasured, If I were to knit the verses that I underlined in my Bible for the past 20 years they would create a storyline of life experiences that make up who I am today. 

Today, take a few moments to go through your Bible, review and reflect on your underlines and notes in the margin.  Be reminded of the richness, wisdom, encouragement, love and perfect timing that God’s word has provided for you and your family. 

I typed a few of the verses underlined in my Bibles and know they will provide encouragement to you today and will continue to be an encouragement to others for generations to come. 

Praise the Lord! 

Some of my favorite Psalms:

Psalm 1:  2-3  But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night and he will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yield its fruit in season and its leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does he prospers

Psalm 8:3 – 9 When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; what is man that you take thought of him, and the son of man that you care for him?  Yet you have made him a little lower than God, and you crown him with glory and majesty!  You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the fires of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.  O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 19:1  the heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands

Psalm 19: 8-11 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgements of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.  They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 

Psalms 19:14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my Hear be acceptable in thy sight O Lord

Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He “makes me lie down” in green pastures: He leads me beside quite waters.  He restores my soul. 

Psalm 25:2 O my God, in You I trust.

Psalm 25:4  Make me know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.  Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation, For You I wait all the day.

Psalm 27:1  The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the defense of my life, whom shall I dread?

Psalm 27: 7-8 The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and He helps me.  My heart leaps for Joy, and with my song I will praise him. 

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord.  Be strong and let your heart take courage, yes wait for the Lord

Psalm 28:7  The lord is my strength and my shield My heart trusts in Him and I am helped   Therefore my heart exults

Psalm 31:4  But as for me, I trust in you O Lord

Psalm 32:8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance

Psalm 34:8 – O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.   Verse 18:  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit

Psalm 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear, thought the earth should change and thought the mountains slip into the heart of the sea

Psalm 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue your and you will honor me.

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Psalm 56:3-4  When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.  In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.

Psalm 57:2  I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me aHe will send from heaven and save me.

Psalm 62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly be shaken

Psalm 63:1-4  O God, Your are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;  My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water, Thus I have seen you in the sanctuary, to see your power and your glory.  Because your lovingkindness is better than life My lips will praise You.  So I will bless You as long as I live I will lift up my hands in your name.

Psalm 78:4  But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord and His strength and His wonderous works that He has done.

Psalm 78:6-7  That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children.  That they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God But keep His commandments.

Psalm 84:11 – 12 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; not good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  O lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You.

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may present to you a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 91:2  I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust

Psalms 119:9 – 11.  How can a young man keep his way pure?  Thy word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against thee.

Psalm 94:19  When my anxious thoughts multiply within me your consolations delight delight my soul

Psalm 119:71  It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.

Psalm 119:90  Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations

Psalm 119:105  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path

Psalm 119:114  You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for your word.

Psalm 119:33 Establish my footsteps in Your work, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.

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The Power of Eye Contact

Posted on April 17, 2017 by admin
Eye Contact
Matthew 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body.”

 

My wife Julie and most of my friends have been required to use reading glasses for more than 10 years and at 51, somehow, I have escaped.  However, recently when I look at the type in my bible it is fuzzy and requires adjustments in my focus to read the text.  My favorite Christmas gift has been bright LED flashlights so I can see the small things I am working on.  I thought I was cheating time, but it has caught me.  To my dismay, I visited the eye doctor and she confirmed my condition and changed my prescription so that one contact helps for reading and the other for distance.  I am adjusting to switching from eye to eye depending on what I am looking at, but expect it will become automatic.

Following the exam she asked me if I had any questions and she probably did not expect what I have been chewing on the last couple weeks.  She was using sophisticated instruments to look into my eye, but following the exam I looked her in the eye and asked her the question I had been thinking about that had little to do with my eyes.  Have you ever noticed that you can’t make eye contact with someone unless you person to person.  I had been watching speakers on video and noticed that no matter how directly they looked in the lens of the camera I could not make the connection that you get in person.  You cannot make eye contact with a photograph.  I enjoy using Facetime to communicate with our son, Drew, at Auburn University, but the eye to eye contact is not the same as in person.  There is a deep personal connection that happens when you make human to human live eye contact.  Eye contact can communicate respect, interest, sincerity, appreciation, understanding, warning, empathy or any one of thousands of human emotions with a brief glance.

For all my career I have been in a sales or relationship building capacity.  I have flown across the country and across the world to share a meal and have a personal face to face meeting.  I make this effort to convince my customer or vendor that I am worthy of their trust to fulfill an important responsibility that they must accomplish.  Whether you as selling a one-time consumer purchase on Amazon or selling a custom-built piece of machinery, trust has been established.  There is a person behind every transaction and people buy from people they trust.  We have a customer that recently awarded us business based on the trust of a personal referral.  We have accepted a significant responsibility to co-develop a new technology that involves technical risk, close collaboration and a financial risk of such a large endeavor.  I am driving three hours to have a meeting with their owner so I can look him in the eye.  I want to know if I can trust him and I want him to know he can trust me.  Somehow, I will look him in the eye and I will know.  It will only take a moment and we will shake hands and may share lunch, but it is the eye to eye contact that will reach beyond the physical and give us a sense of trust and confidence necessary to go through the challenges we will encounter on this journey.

What is it that is so powerful with human to human eye contact where in a brief moment you can instantly sear a connection between the souls of two individuals?  It does not happen over the phone, internet, photograph or Facetime.  It is more than identifying life.  I can look into the eye of any animal and instantly know if there is life inside.  If you look into the eye of a fish, snake, squirrel, horse, chicken there is no connection other than a recognition of predator or not a predator and an appropriate reaction.  I have read that the only other animal that can read human emotion is the domesticated dog and there is no doubt that I can communicate with my dog, Cooper, by just eye contact.  Evidently clinicians have been able to measure an increase in the amount of oxytocin upon recognition.  This is the same hormone that bonds a mother and infant.  Maybe this is why dogs can be so effective and therapeutic to humans.

As I surfed the internet reading about the power of eye contact I came across an experiment that demonstrates the power of human to human eye contact.  We don’t need to know each other or even speak the same language.  Take a moment and experience the power and emotional connection that comes from eye contact.

So what does the bible tell us about eye contact?  The most famous story is told by Luke about Peter denying that he was one of the followers of Jesus.  Luke 22:60-61 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.”  Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.  The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”  Can you imagine the guilt and shame that pierced the soul of Peter at that moment?  In a brief glance, the eyes communicate painful betrayal and loss.  Do you think that experience changed Peter?  Do you think the guilt that Peter felt may have been a motivating factor to become the bold and fearless disciple and church leader that ended with him defending his faith to his death?

In Mark 5 we are told the story of the bleeding woman who was healed by touching His garments.  Mark 5:30 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?”  And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’  And He looked around to see the woman who had done this.  But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell-down before Him and told Him the whole truth.  And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”  It does not specifically say that there was eye contact, but I can see Jesus scanning the crowd until he locked in on the woman eye to eye.  What did the woman feel when Jesus turned to the crowd to see her?  Clearly she knew she had an encounter with the Lord and fell on her face to worship Him and tell Him the “whole truth.”  What do you think she told him?  Do you think she wanted to know Him better and for Him to know her?  After she was healed and Jesus looked into her eyes she opened up to Jesus and confessed the “whole truth”.  Do you think she felt His mercy, grace and love for her in His eyes?

The bible tells the stories of many personal encounters with Jesus.  In John 4 we hear the story of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at a well.  He asks the woman for a drink and tells her that those that drink of this water will thirst again; but the water that Jesus gives provides eternal life.  At some-point I can see her look into the eyes of Jesus.  What did she experience as she connected eyes with Jesus?  Luke 19:5 tells us that Jesus was passing through Jericho and spotted Zacchaeus in a tree.  He made eye contact with Zacchaeus and then called him by name.  What will it feel like when Jesus makes eye contact with you and calls you by name?  Mark 5 tells us of Jesus’ encounter with a demon possessed man.  In verse 6 “When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”  When the demon saw Jesus he recognized him from far away and feared Him.  Think about all the encounters that Jesus had with others Mary, His disciples, John the Baptist, the leper, the lame man, Pilot, the thief on the cross and many more.

So what can we learn from the power of eye contact?  We know that when we connect with people through our eyes we communicate at a deeper level.  For children who probably interact more with an LCD than face to face we teach them to have a firm handshake and look others in the eye.  Engage others in a personal way and look them in the eye.  It will serve you well.  When people connected with the eyes of Jesus it changed their world. Personally we can reflect on what it will be like for us to look in the eyes of Jesus.  For those of us that believe Jesus as our Savior we have the Holy Spirit living in us.  When we connect with other people who do they see?  What do we communicate?

May your life be enriched and may you bless others by recognizing the deep communication power that you have to connect through your eyes.

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Happiness

Posted on January 14, 2017 by admin

BE HAPPY!

I am just starting Randy Alcorn’s book Happiness with my Friday morning men’s group and thought I would organize and preserve some of my thoughts that were useful to me and hope can be useful for you.  The timing for this study is good because our family has been enduring a struggle that is beyond our ability to control.  We are weary in our fight and sadness tends to creep in at times to overtake us.  As I prepared for this study I asked myself the question, what is Happiness?  Happiness is being content in your circumstances.

First be reminded God commands us to be happy.  Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  Naturally we find some happiness in the things that God has created for us to enjoy.  These include social relationships, hobbies, leisure activities, “stuff”, food, wine or the many things that we pursue to be content and experience happiness.  In Deuteronomy 27:47-48 Moses tells us “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst in nakedness, and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.”  That is a pretty strong admonition. They had an abundance of all things, yet they were not glad in heart because they did not find their happiness in God Himself.  When we pursue the created things we are never completely satisfied, but always end with wanting more.  I am reminded of John D Rockefeller’s quote when asked how much is enough?  and his reply, just a little more.  Satan uses the good things God has created for our enjoyment to divert our satisfaction from God and deceive us in putting our trust in the created things for ultimate happiness.  The end of this pursuit is at best discontent and often lead to tragedy and destruction.  We misdirect our attention to the things God has provided for us to enjoy, but miss the ultimate source that supplies happiness.  John Piper in his many books encourage us to find our ultimate happiness in God Himself.  He famously quotes “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him”.  When we pursue God Himself for our satisfaction, enjoy a trusted relationship with Him, take pleasure in His creation with the knowledge that He created this all for our enjoyment, and trust that the trials we endure are for our benefit and His glory we find ultimate contentment or happiness.

Can we be happy in difficult circumstances? Paul goes on in chapter 4 of Philippians to give us the answer.  Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and and going hungry, both having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  This was something Paul “learned”.  Paul learned and practiced through a lifetime of experiences to recognize God in every circumstance and to realize and to trust Him in and through every circumstance.  For those that love God and trust in Him he uses the good, the difficult, and even tragic circumstances for good and His glory.   For those that love God and trust in Him find the strength to do all things.

Ecclesiastes 7:14:  When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other.

During the past 5 years I have often questioned why God was allowing me to experience some of life’s challenges.  As I trusted in Him, put my faith in Him and determined to be content I also have learned and can strongly testify that God is good and uses times of abundance and experiences of suffering need for His glory and I am content in Him.  I currently reside in the midst of a very difficult and challenging circumstance that I do not understand, but through my life I have learned and do choose happiness and contentment in trusting Him.

I believe Joy is this deep seated contentment internalized to the point that we are saturated through and through.  Joy overcomes sorrow that we will all endure.  Joy is the result of traveling through and experiencing Gods great blessings, challenges and even tragic circumstances that result in learning and practicing to trust in Him and finding our satisfaction in Him alone.  It is joy that overflows and is attractive to others.  It is joy that testifies to our happiness in the midst of our circumstances and gives us the privilege to share with others the love for God and the satisfaction that He along can provide.

It is my prayer for you that you will also lean into God during the times of abundance and suffering need.  It is my prayer that you will recognize His love for you in all of life’s circumstances of blessing and trials.  It is my prayer that you will realize this truth in your life and let it saturate you through and through so that you can reflect His love back to Him and to reflect His love to others that have been entrusted to us.  It is my prayer that you will choose and experience happiness and joy in all of life’s circumstances.

Psalm 68:3 – “But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.”

2 Corinthians 7:13 – By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.

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Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 4, 2016 by admin

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord"

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”

My Christmas came early on Saturday night December 3.  Second Baptist invited the singing group Veritas to give a concert for worship.  Their music along with the orchestra and choir was moving, powerful, amazing and stirred the soul.  As I serve in the new member ministry I have the great privilege to be a small part of confirming people’s faith in Jesus.  There is no doubt the highlight of my celebration of the Christmas season came this evening.  There can be no better reminder of the incredible gift of grace and mercy we all have been given through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  What an amazing gift and reason to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

I often arrive at Christmas hurried and miss the opportunity to truly contemplate the enormity of God’s gift of redemption.  Tonight I was stopped in my tracks by the powerful music that resonated in my soul.  Following that time of worship I received another special gift and high privilege of being a very small part of confirming Wilson’s acceptance of Jesus as his Savior.  Christmas came early this year.  Celebrating the “Good News of Great Joy for All the People”.  Merry Christmas!

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