July 15, 2018 Sunday

“14 ¶  Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” 15  Others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.” 16  But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!” 17  For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. 18  For John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19  Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20  for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21  Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. 22  And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23  He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24  So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!” 25  Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26  And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. 27  Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, 28  brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29  When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.” (Mark 6:14-29 NKJV)

            There is a saying “many of us are only 18 inches from being a true Christian.” Surprisingly Herod seems to be one of those! Herod arrests John the baptizer because of the statements against him and his wife but then John is imprisoned Herod listens to him and is somewhat changed by the message.

            The heart and the brain are approximately 18 inches from each other and that is the source of the saying. Some things we believe with our heart and they are more fleeting and tend to be of an emotional nature. Some things we believe with our brain and while they are calculated and possibly more secure they are lifeless.

            The fullness of being a Christian is when our heart and our mind fully believe in Jesus Christ and our knowledge and our emotions come together. In this way our knowledge and emotions strengthen each other and actually can balance each other. Without such a balance it is so easy for our faith in Jesus to either die or become perverted!

            Herod is as some would say “the proof of the puddin”! Herod arrests John because he does not like John’s public statements but then goes and listens to John who he has arrested! Here we see a true picture of a person who is divided heart and mind and Herod is 18 inches from being anything.

            Here we see the result of those 18 inches of difference. Herod throws a party and when his “daughter-in-law” dances his emotions overcome his knowledge and he makes a preposterous promise. For this one dance Herod offers her chest less than half of his kingdom! This would probably put her in the running for highest-paid actress.

            But the price she requests is more than he has offered for she does not get half of his kingdom but all of his soul! Herod literally sells his soul for a song and a dance. Some may say it was too late for Herod by this time but if Herod was going into the jail to listen to John’s message and enjoying it the door was still open for Herod.

            The price of those 18 inches between heart and mind usually will be an eternal price! For a while we may lose our head through our emotions knowledge that does not guide our emotions lets us lose our way.

            Do you have the balance in those 18 inches between heart and mind? Does God’s message sound good to but does not change who you are? Do your emotions override God’s truth?

July 14, 2018 Saturday

“1 ¶  « A Song of Ascents. » Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. 2  Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He has mercy on us. 3  Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 4  Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scorn of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud.” (Psalm 123:1-4 NKJV)

            Here is another of the song of ascents which are opportunities for us to look up and to ascend through worship to the dwelling place of God! I wonder how much of our troubles come from looking down and stumbling over our own feet?

            The psalmist declares their eyes will be lifted up and look not at their troubles and suffering but to God who can deliver them and studied their feet. For God is our sure foundation, strong place we can stand upon and will guide our paths through the Holy Spirit.

            The psalmist reminds us we are totally dependent on God’s mercy. God’s mercy is not just a nice thing for us to have but is essential for life and enables us to live abundantly! God’s mercy doesn’t just save us from the troubles in our life by God’s mercy saves us so we can be saved from the troubles in our life!

            God’s mercy stands as a direct contradiction of how the world treats people. Our world is so full of abuse, neglect, murder, rape, slavery and more other horrific things that there is not time or room to expound upon. The world orders about and takes but Jesus obeyed the Father and served even his enemies!

            The world to be little’s and destroys while God lifts and builds up.  Because of the impact of sin upon creation the world has fallen from blessing to cursing, from glorifying God to humiliating God and from being part of the people of God to killing them!

            We really should not be surprised when Christians are laughed at or scorned nor even when they are murdered. For the world is fallen and works against God’s reign because it does not want to be under God’s reign again!  While fallen creation and the evil one cannot hope to take on God they seek to hurt God by harming those who are most precious to him!

            Do you struggle with the cost of being a Christian? Do you expect because you are a Christian most people will like you? Are you willing to give your life for Jesus who gave his life for you?

July 13, 2018 Friday

“9  Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. 10  So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.” (2Samuel 5:9-10 NKJV)

            Where is your stronghold? David discovered his stronghold, a place where he felt safe and could develop his strengths. This stronghold became such a part of David that it became known as the city of David.

            Each of us needs a stronghold in their life where they can find peace and hope and they can take time to work through things in their own lives as they grow in their relationship with God. God tells us to be still and to know he is God! We all need a place where we feel at peace enough so we can be still.

            Ironically this place may not be peaceful in itself! The small nation of Israel was surrounded by enemies much as it is today. At times for us when we are in the midst of trouble, suffering and loss we are most likely to be still and able to hear God’s voice.

            If we wait to hear God’s voice at our stronghold we then can prepare and train ourselves to be ready either to defend ourselves or to go for us and recover territory for God.

            From his stronghold reaches out and extends the territory he claims for God. It is not that David’s stronghold is made larger but because David has a stronghold he can reach farther out led by the Holy Spirit and empowered by God!

            But then David does a very interesting thing. After extending the territory he resides in David strengthens the territory already held! So David moves forward extending his territory but then David strengthens and consolidates this new territory.

            It is very important to understand that no matter how large or strong this territory is every defense and offense must still come from his stronghold the city of David. If David seeks to use the territory as a stronghold he will fail! The only way David can even hold his territory is by using his stronghold as a place to grow and strengthen his relationship with God!

            Where is the place where you feel safe and still enough to know God? Is your stronghold the place where God can guide your dreams, visions and plans? Have you lost your stronghold either within your new territory or by not strengthening and consolidating the new territories?

July 12, 2018 Thursday

“1 ¶  Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. 2  “Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” 3  Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel. 4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5  In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.” (2Samuel 5:1-5 NKJV)

            As a young man serving as a shepherd in the field David was anointed by Samuel to be king. Over the last couple hundred years many Bible “scholars” have declared that David was just a myth of Israelite history. As usual archaeology has proved the “scholars” wrong!

            For thousands of years people have sought to dehumanize the people of the Bible and to turn the true stories of the Bible into childhood tales or fantasies. Scientist who cannot believe in creation can believe that the earth was seeded by extraterrestrials!?!

            All the tribes of Israel gathered have brought and proclaimed David is their “bone and flesh”. The story of David becoming King of Israel is not a mythological story but is a story of flesh and bone.

            The elders remember that David under King Saul their enemies and brought victory to Israel! They also remember God’s call upon David to be the ruler and shepherd of God’s people.

            David was to not be a king in the world’s view of that position but God called David to be a shepherd leader which David defined so wonderfully in Psalm 23. David was called to be responsible for and to the people of Israel rather than as a leader ordering rather than guiding.

            This model of the king as a shepherd would come to fulfillment through Jesus Christ the son of David! The shepherd that David wanted to be and needed for himself came to fruition in Jesus Christ!

            David would initiate a covenant between Israel and himself “before God” and later Jesus would initiate the new covenant between God and humanity!

            Do you see Jesus as your shepherd? Do you understand what it means to be a shepherd? If Jesus is your shepherd are you willing to treat Christians as a shepherd rather than as King?

I did a lot this morning and sort of overworked myself. The rest of the day was very hard because of the pain and weariness. Bonnie and I had our devotion and time of prayer. Many Christians in Nigeria were killed and we continue to pray for the many brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer every day. It troubles me so that so many of my brothers and sisters are suffering but it also troubles me for those who will have to to stand before the face of God for killing his children!

July 11, 2018 Wednesday

“2  I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3  And I know such a man — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows —  4  how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5  Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6  For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. 7  And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2Corinthians 12:2-10 NKJV)

            Humility is one of the hardest things for us as human beings whether we are Christians or not. As people we must choose between accepting humility or receiving humiliation.  We must make this choice every day.

            Paul had an incredibly amazing experience which like the book of Revelation and Daniel is so heavenly amazing to be beyond human speech to describe. For how can we as human beings still struggling with sin describe the holiness and glory of heaven?

            To keep Paul humble God allows a messenger of satan to be a “thorn in the flesh”. What is this thorn in the flesh? Could it be we are not told what this thorn was so each of us can connect to our own thorn in the flesh? If we truly want to grow close to God we will struggle with our humility as we experience God’s presence deeper. God will try to keep us humble even if it takes a thorn in the flesh from satan!

            Paul asked God to take away this thorn three times (could the three times be a representation of the Trinity?) But God’s response is not to remove the thorn but to tell Paul God’s grace is sufficient to see Paul through this experience!

            Even more amazing God tells Paul when he is weak there is a perfect opportunity for God’s strength to be displayed! God is at his best when we are at our weakest, God reveals his great strength and power through our weaknesses. We may use the excuse we are unqualified or unable to serve God but that is just the person God can use the most!

            If you are going through times of struggle, suffering or persecution and wonder why God does not remove that thorn know God is preparing you to be open and ready for God’s power to work through you. In your weakness and your pain you can experience God’s mercy and power more than you ever have before!

            Are you seeking to grow in your experience with God? If God does not answer your prayer the way you want do you believe God doesn’t care? Are you willing to serve God no matter what thorn you have in your life?

As I write this some may think I do not understand what they are going through. For 32 years I served in the pastoral ministry. Over those years my health was so bad that three times they were ready to put me on disability. The third time was the charm as the pain was so great that when I preached I would throw up and since there was no place to go I would have to swallow it. The pain got even more intense and I started to lose feeling in my hands and feet so my wife Bonnie would have to drive me around. At first I had hoped to make it too June which is appointment time. As it got worse I hoped to make it till Easter. Then those over me told me I needed to go on disability at the end of March but I did not even make it till then. Even with many medicines I still am in incredible pain and often overcome by weariness. As it started to get worse twice I prostrated myself at the altar at First Jefferson United Methodists Church and asked God to please heal me so I could serve him in the pastoral ministry. But God’s answer was I am not going to heal you from this but through this! Since leaving the pastoral ministry I attend worship at Asbury United Methodist Church and send cards to shut-ins from both churches and disabled or shut in ministers. In spite of the thorn in my flesh God continues to use me to bless others! It is my prayer through my dependence upon God I can make God smile!

July 10, 2018 Tuesday

“1 ¶  « A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. » Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain. 2  Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King. 3  God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge. 4  For behold, the kings assembled, They passed by together. 5  They saw it, and so they marveled; They were troubled, they hastened away. 6  Fear took hold of them there, And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, 7  As when You break the ships of Tarshish With an east wind. 8 ¶  As we have heard, So we have seen In the city of the LORD of hosts, In the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah 9  We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, In the midst of Your temple. 10  According to Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. 11  Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments. 12  Walk about Zion, And go all around her. Count her towers; 13  Mark well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces; That you may tell it to the generation following. 14  For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.” (Psalm 48:1-14 NKJV)

            Psalm 48 is called a Psalm of the sons of Korah.  According to the Online Bible “Korah is the son of Izhar, grandson of Kohath, great grandson of Levi and leader of the rebellion of the Israelites against Moses and Aaron while in the wilderness; punished and died by an earthquake and flames of fire.”

            The psalmist begins by declaring the greatness of God and deserving of all praise! God according to the psalmist dwells in Jerusalem on the holy mountain which is where the temple is. God also dwells within the entire city of Jerusalem and this causes fear in the kings and nations around Israel.

            Israel celebrates God’s presence and goodness which acts as a barrier and a buffer against the nations that surround Israel. Israel must remain faithful to God to pass the promise and blessing of God onto the next generation.

            As long as each generation passes on their faith in God and their worship of God they can depend God will forever be with them! Only by their unfaithfulness will the presence of God leave the temple, Jerusalem and the nation of Israel!

            But unlike Israel God’s presence dwells in us for we are now the temple of God and if we are not faithful God will withdraw from us! But notice the mercy of God in that he gave Jerusalem generations to return before judgment came!

            When you read the story of the people of Israel do you learn from it? Do you celebrate God’s presence in your life and by praising God? Do you appreciate the awesome mercy of God who forgives all our sin and deals with those who repent kindly and mercifully?

July 9, 2018 Monday

“1 ¶  And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” 2  Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. 3  And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. 4  “For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ 5  “As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse — for they are a rebellious house — yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.” (Ezekiel 2:1-5 NKJV)

            Often when we think of Ezekiel we think of the song “Ezekiel saw the Wheel” but in this second chapter we see Ezekiel as a prophet speaking to a rebellious people. It is interesting many nations who conquered Israel would consider them stiff-necked and rebellious!

            Ezekiel is called the “son of man” a term which Jesus used for himself and others used for him. The position of son of man was given to Ezekiel by God and when the spirit entered Ezekiel he was able to stand not just at that moment but the many years he prophesied.

            Ezekiel was given the un-enviable task of calling such a rebellious and stiff-necked people back to God. Ezekiel has to go forth knowing that in reality he is to show Israel God cares enough to send a prophet!

            It is interesting to notice Ezekiel knew and understood his call when the spirit entered into him. Just as in the days of the apostles, when they received the Holy Spirit you could see the dramatic change in their lives and in their ability to minister.

            We too need the Holy Spirit if we are to hear God’s call upon our lives and be able to minister to the world that has sinned against God. We live in a world made up largely of people who are as this passage says impudent and stubborn!

            Christians are called to share with them they are rebellious and full of sin so some will hear and come to God while others will remain rebellious. Like Ezekiel we are to cry out to the people of this world not just their sin but the hope they have through Jesus Christ!

            We can quickly become despondent if we are more interested in numbers than in souls. But as prophets we are called first to be faithful to God, to care about the souls of the people Jesus died for and to share the hope of God’s love and forgiveness!

            We are called to judge sin not by our standards but by the standards of the Bible and to hate sin but love the sinner. For us to hate sinners is to hate the very people Jesus died for! To do so is to move from being a prophet to being an accuser and that is the role of satan!

            Have you received the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit? Do you love those who are rebellious against God as God loves them? Are you willing to go from being an accuser to being a prophet?

I was able to go to the men’s breakfast on Saturday and then to attend worship and Sunday school! God is so good to enable me to worship with God’s people and to be able to spend time with people. As a pastor I understood the loneliness and separation most shut-ins have. Some are forgotten by the people they have served and fellowshipped with. If you know someone who is a shut-in take time to call them or send a card. As the body of Christ we are called to reach out to those who need the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ but we are also called to remember and minister to those who are no longer able to serve.