Line Upon Line

I know the power a motion picture has to change a person's life. Jesus Christ became real to me in 1973, as I watched the film version of the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar".

But at the same time God was using "Superstar" to capture my heart, others were criticizing and demonizing the movie.

Writer Julene Snyder recalls the controversy: "Of course, religious sorts had kittens over the whole thing from the start. Devout Christians howled in protest at Webber and Rice's blasphemous gospel, which puts Judas squarely at center stage and doesn't include the Resurrection. (Which is, after all, sort of the point of Christianity.) When the show opened on Broadway in 1971, religious groups protested en masse. A pamphlet put out by the Faith Free Presbyterian Church in Greenville, S.C., cautions the faithful to keep their distance from JCS:

"'Jesus Christ Superstar' is a conscious blasphemy against Christ... If you do not wish to fill your mind with Satan's evil misrepresentation of the Son of God, you should avoid 'Jesus Christ Superstar'... Tim Rice plainly stated that he did not believe that Jesus Christ was God... His opera constantly drives home this denial of the Son of God. He has Mary Magdalene say, 'He's a man, he's just a man.'"

Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher wrote, "What's one man's poison, signior, is another's meat or drink." In my case, what was one man's 'blasphemous cinematic creation,' was my salvation.

Go figure.

Once again, there is a firestorm of controversy raging over a movie about Jesus. This time, it's Mel Gibson's soon-to-be-released, "The Passion of The Christ." Those who consider his presentation of Christ’s suffering as “anti-Semitic” have generated much of the heat. Now, it's not like Mr. Gibson just "made stuff up" to offend folks. His intention was to create a biblically accurate portrayal of the last 12 hours of Christ's life -- one faithful to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Nevertheless, the accusations fly. The following is a statement from "The Passion of The Christ" website:

"A report from the Anti-Defamation League, based on comments on an ad-hoc committee of both Jews and Christians, stated that it may inspire feelings of anti-Semitism. Paul Lauer, spokesman for Gibson's Icon Productions, states that 'Mel abhors anti-Semitism. In no way does his faith endorse hatred or bigotry or anti-Semitism or blame the Jews for the death of Christ.'"

Any thinking Christian knows that each individual -- whether Jew, Gentile, barbarian, or "whatever" -- bears personal responsibility for the crucifixion of Christ. It wasn't the Jews that killed Jesus -- it was our sin. James Caviezel, who plays the role of Jesus in Gibson's movie, expressed this well, saying, "We are all culpable for the death of Christ. My sins, your sins put him on that cross."

The personal attacks Gibson is experiencing are referred to by the apostle Paul as "the fellowship of His (Christ's) sufferings" -- something every follower of Christ must endure. I'm confident Mel will survive the controversy. I'm also convinced that many lives will be changed for time and eternity, when God shines the light of Christ on their hearts, as they sit in darkened movie theatres around the world and watch this film.

CBN has put together The Passion of The Christ Special Feature website, with a wealth of information, stories, and web links. You might like to read this Agape Press review by Thomas Minarik, Gibson's 'Passion': The Greatest Story Ever Told, Like You've Never Seen It Before. NewsMax.com has posted a number of interesting articles related to this film, also.

"The Passion of The Christ" opens February 25, Ash Wednesday.

think on these things...

Isaiah 53:1-12 (NLT)
Who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal his saving power? My servant grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected-a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!

All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins-that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave.

But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord's plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.

John 10:14-18 (NLT)
"I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there will be one flock with one shepherd. The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again. No one can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command."

P.S. Yes, I know the theology of "Jesus Christ Superstar" was flawed. It just goes to show that God can use imperfect things to deliver His life-changing message. I'm living proof of that fact!

I've received Os Hillman's email devotional, TGIF Today God is First, for a few years, and have been blessed time and time again. The following was Os' devotional for January 27th. It really ministered to me, so I asked Os for permission to share it here with you.

Seeing the Works of God
by Os Hillman

"Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord...." Psalm 107:23-24a

When you were a child, perhaps you may have gone to the ocean for a vacation. I recall wading out until the waves began crashing on my knees. As long as I could stand firm, the waves were of no concern to me. However, as I moved farther and farther into the ocean, I had less control over my ability to stand. Sometimes the current was so strong it moved me down the beach, and I even lost my bearings at times. But I have never gone so far into the ocean that I was not able to control the situation.

Sometimes God takes us into such deep waters that we lose control of the situation, and we have no choice but to fully trust in His care for us. This is doing business in great waters. It is in these great waters that we see the works of God.

The Scriptures tell us that the disciples testified of what they saw and heard. It was the power behind the gospel, not the words themselves, which changed the world. The power wasn't seen until circumstances got to the point that there were no alternatives but God. Sometimes God has to take us into the deep water in order to give us the privilege to see His works.

Sometimes God takes us into the deep waters of life for an extended time. Joseph was taken into deep waters of adversity for 17 years. Rejection by his brothers, enslavement to Pharaoh, and imprisonment were the deep waters for Joseph. During those deep waters, he experienced dreams, a special anointing of his gifts to administrate, and great wisdom beyond his years. The deep water was preparation for a task that was so great he never could have imagined it. He was to see God's works more clearly than anyone in his generation. God had too much at stake for a 30-year-old to mess it up. So, God took Joseph through the deep waters of preparation to ensure that he would survive what he was about to face. Pride normally engulfs such young servants who have such access to power at such a young age.

If God chooses to take us into deep waters, it is for a reason. The greater the calling, the deeper the water. Trust in His knowledge that your deep waters are preparation to see the works of God in your life.
________________________________________

Marketplace Leaders was founded by Os Hillman in 1996 to help men and women identify and fulfill their God-given calling by applying biblical faith to their life and work. Os and Angie Hillman conduct workshops, speak to churches and business groups, write and teach, consult with businesses and ministries. Os began this new call after a 20-year career in marketing and advertising, owning and operating his own ad agency. In addition to working with individuals, Os and Angie work with other workplace ministries through a separate division, the International Coalition of Workplace Ministries which holds annual summits for other workplace ministries, business leaders and pastors. Thus, the goal of Marketplace Leaders is to help every man and woman fulfill God’s calling upon their life. Os is the author of the popular TGIF Today God Is First, a daily email subscription that is read by thousands throughout the world.

I encourage you to visit Os Hillman's website, Marketplace Leaders, and sign up to receive his free email devotional, TGIF Today God is First.

"I surrendered unto Him all there was of me -- everything! Then for the first time I realized what it meant to have real power."
-- Kathryn Kuhlman

think on these things...

2 Corinthians 12:6-10 (NLT)
I have plenty to boast about and would be no fool in doing it, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it. I don't want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message, even though I have received wonderful revelations from God. But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

"Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly."
-- Ignatius

"When you've been reduced to nothing, God can use you for something."
-- RG

Here's a nifty idea -- Post-it Brand Software Notes for your PC desktop (sorry, no Mac).

You can create your own notes with pictures and hyperlinks...stick notes on your computer desktop as a visual reminder...add alarms to your notes so you don't forget whatever it was that you didn't want to forget...and more!

You can try the "Lite" version for FREE! I'd say that's a pretty good deal.

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." Dale Carnegie

think on these things...

Romans 4:18-21 (Williams New Testament)
Abraham, building on hope in spite of hopeless circumstances, had faith, and so he actually became the father of many nations, just as it had been told him, "So numberless shall your descendants be." Because he never weakened in faith, he calmly contemplated his own vital powers as worn out (for he was about one hundred years old) and the inability of Sarah to bear a child, and yet he never staggered in doubt at the promise of God but grew powerful in faith, because he gave the glory to God in full assurance that He was able to do what He had promised.

Psalm 31:24 (NLT)
So be strong and take courage, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Romans 15:13 (NKJV)
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

One of the most recognizable advertising promotions in recent memory is Nike's "Just Do It!" campaign.

But, did you know a similar call to action was issued 2000 years ago at a wedding reception in Cana of Galilee?

Jesus, his disciples, and his mother, Mary, were present at a wedding supper, when the supply of wine ran out. Mary knew her son could meet the need of the moment, and enlisted the help of some of the servants. She told them,

"Whatever He says to you, DO IT" (John 2:5).

When the servants followed Jesus' instructions, a miracle took place, and the water became wine.

Like those servants, we should be quick to obey Jesus. Instead of studying the matter, taking polls, gaining a consensus, or thinking up excuses, we should simply do what the Lord tells us to do -- no whining allowed!

Christ's Lordship is demonstrated and His power is released when we obey Him. It's not enough to hear the words of Jesus -- we must act on them, too. The familiar chorus of a great hymn of the faith reminds us of this important truth:

"Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Want to see miracles? Whatever He says to you, JUST DO IT!

think on these things...

Luke 6:46 (NKJV)
"But why do you call Me `Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?"

James 1:22-25 (NKJV)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

When I read the following story by Chuck Colson, I wanted to pass it along so you could read it, too. (Yes, I know that the Christmas season is over -- but I figured as long as the guy on the corner still has his Christmas lights up, it would be okay.)

January 6, 2004

At the Foot of the Cross - A Story You Haven't Heard
Chuck Colson

Angel Tree, our Prison Fellowship program for prisoners' children, is one of the great unheralded volunteer outreaches in America. Over the Christmas holidays these past few weeks, approximately 100,000 volunteers delivered Angel Tree gifts to more than 525,000 children of inmates.

You didn't read about this in the newspapers, nor would I expect that you should. It's not really that newsworthy that Christians help people in need. But there are two of our volunteers, who delivered forty presents, that I think you should have read about but didn't. For reasons best known to themselves, the media ignored the fact that two of the volunteers were President and Mrs. George Bush. And they delivered gifts to forty inner-city kids in a church basement three days before Christmas.

President and Mrs. Bush arrived at three-o'clock, Monday, December 22, at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Now, presidents don't move anywhere without a great deal of fuss. The police were out, the roads blocked, and Secret Service were roaming around the church. And when the president arrived, he was accompanied not only by his own team, but also by a pool of reporters, forty or so members of the press. For ten minutes they popped their flashbulbs, scribbled their notes, and then were ushered out.

I remember from my days with President Nixon what photo opportunities are: Get the picture and leave. So I thought the Bushes would shortly depart, but they didn't. They stayed long after the cameras were gone to greet every child, to have their picture taken with them, their mothers, and their grandmothers, to talk with them, and to ask questions. Though the press didn't report it, I noticed that both the president and Mrs. Bush talked to the Hispanic children in Spanish.

Just before the president left, I introduced him to Al Lawrence, a member of our staff. I told the president that I had met Al more than twenty years ago in a prison. Jesus had got hold of Al's life, and he's been working for us ever since. Then I told the president that Al's son was now a freshman at Yale. At that point the president stopped, exclaimed, "We're both Yale parents," and threw his arms around Al Lawrence-an African-American ex-offender being embraced by the president of the United States in a church basement. The ground is indeed level at the foot of the cross. I tell you this story because it's a wonderful Christmas story, and you probably haven't heard it. With all those reporters who crowded into that basement, the visit resulted in almost universal media silence.

I suppose there are many explanations for this, but I'll offer mine. The president is a Christian who really cares for "the least of these," who does this not for photo ops, but because he's genuine. That is something that his detractors in the media simply can't handle. Conservatives caring for the poor? Never. It dashes the stereotypes.

But surely Christians ought to be rejoicing that the most powerful man in the world and his wife, a couple of days before Christmas, had a wonderful visit with the most powerless people in our society.

After all, that echoes the Christmas message, doesn't it? The most powerful came to be with the least powerful to give us hope.

____________________________________

From BreakPoint, January 6, 2004, reprinted with permission of Prison Fellowship, P.O. Box 17500, Washington, DC, 20041-7500.

BreakPoint is a program of The Wilberforce Forum, a division of Prison Fellowship Ministries. Our mission is to develop and communicate Christian worldview messages that offer a critique of contemporary culture and encourage and equip the church to think and live Christianly. BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on today’s news and trends via radio, interactive media, and print. Chuck Colson’s daily BreakPoint commentary airs each weekday on over 1,000 outlets with an estimated listening audience of 1 million people. The BreakPoint Web site and BreakPoint WorldView Magazine feature Colson’s commentaries as well as feature articles by other established and up-and-coming writers to equip readers with a biblical perspective on a variety of issues and topics.

Do you remember Love Song, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Chuck Girard, Dallas Holm, Annie Herring, Andre Crouch, Randy Stonehill, Larry Norman, Barry McGuire, Don Francisco, or Honeytree?

Are we ringing any bells, here?

Well, how about Petra, Russ Taff, Jamie Owens Collins, Reba Rambo, Phil Keaggy, Evie, Farrell and Farrell, Leon Patillo, The Imperials, Keith Green, or Don Francisco?

Or maybe Edwin Hawkins, Chico Holiday, Mylon LeVevre, David Meece, or Gary S. Paxton?

Well, if you recognized any of those names, here's another name you need to know -- Dave Hollandsworth. Dave put together One-Way.com, a website that recalls the early history of contemporary Christian music, and the "Jesus People" that made it happen.

Dave says, "The idea for this site started as a wild thought back in 1995. This thing called the World Wide Web was the new buzzword all over the world. As I surfed around I realized that there wasn't much to be found about the Jesus movement, its history and music. Then and there, I decided that I would put together a site dedicated to this music and the artists who created it. Call it a historical, pictorial, musical archive of a very special time in Christian history.... We can learn much from history and I believe it's important we not forget the roots of what is now known as "contemporary Christian music."

This site will bring back memories for some of you. It sure brought back some for me!

Maranatha!

Many things are worth living for -- only a few worth dying for.

think on these things...

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." -- from the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." -- Theodore Roosevelt, "Citizenship in a Republic," Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Revelation 12:9-11 (NKJV)
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

"If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Love is creative and redemptive. Love builds up and unites; hate tears down and destroys. The aftermath of the 'fight with fire' method which you suggest is bitterness and chaos, the aftermath of the love method is reconciliation and creation of the beloved community. Physical force can repress, restrain, coerce, destroy, but it cannot create and organize anything permanent; only love can do that. Yes, love--which means understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill, even for one's enemies--is the solution to the race problem."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr., 1957

think on these things...

Matthew 5:44-48 (NKJV)
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

In his book, "Of God and Men," A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) wrote, "Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. It wears us out by multiplying distractions and beats us down by destroying our solitude, where otherwise we might drink and renew our strength before going out to face the world again."

I believe the devil spends most of his days and nights devising ways to keep human beings from the life-giving presence of God.

John Bunyan (1628-1688), British preacher and author, painted an extraordinary word picture of the devil's ruse in his literary classic, "The Pilgrim's Progress." Bunyan's main character, Christian, had to pass through "Vanity Fair," as he journeyed to the Celestial City. "Vanity Fair" was a carnival of sorts, erected for the senses and the soul -- a display of worldly pleasures and amusements designed to capture the traveler's attention, occupy his time, and consume his wealth. Of this fair, Bunyan wrote:

"Then I saw in my dream, that when they were got out of the wilderness, they presently saw a town before them, and the name of that town is Vanity; and at the town there is a fair kept, called Vanity Fair: it is kept all the year long. It beareth the name of Vanity Fair because the town where it is kept is lighter than vanity; and, also because all that is there sold, or that cometh thither, is vanity. As is the saying of the wise, "all that cometh is vanity."

"This fair is no new-erected business, but a thing of ancient standing; I will show you the original of it.

"Almost five thousand years agone, there were pilgrims walking to the Celestial City, as these two honest persons are: and Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion, with their companions, perceiving by the path that the pilgrims made, that their way to the city lay through this town of Vanity, they contrived here to set up a fair; a fair wherein, should be sold all sorts of vanity, and that it should last all the year long: therefore at this fair are all such merchandise sold, as houses, lands, trades, places, honours, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts, as whores, bawds, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and what not.

"And, moreover, at this fair there is at all times to be seen juggling cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves, and rogues, and that of every kind.

"Here are to be seen, too, and that for nothing, thefts, murders, adulteries, false swearers, and that of a blood-red colour.

"And as in other fairs of less moment, there are the several rows and streets, under their proper names, where such and such wares are vended; so here likewise you have the proper places, rows, streets, (viz. countries and kingdoms), where the wares of this fair are soonest to be found. Here is the Britain Row, the French Row, the Italian Row, the Spanish Row, the German Row, where several sorts of vanities are to be sold...

"Now, as I said, the way to the Celestial City lies just through this town where this lusty fair is kept; and he that will go to the city, and yet not go through this town, must needs go out of the world. [1 Cor. 5:10] The Prince of princes himself, when here, went through this town to his own country, and that upon a fair day too; yea, and as I think, it was Beelzebub, the chief lord of this fair, that invited him to buy of his vanities; yea, would have made him lord of the fair, would he but have done him reverence as he went through the town. ea, because he was such a person of honour, Beelzebub had him from street to street, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a little time, that he might, if possible, allure the Blessed One to cheapen and buy some of his vanities; but he had no mind to the merchandise, and therefore left the town, without laying out so much as one farthing upon these vanities. This fair, therefore, is an ancient thing, of long standing, and a very great fair."


John Bunyan saw a diabolic system designed with one end in mind -- to divert our attention from the pursuit of God.

I pray that God will help you overcome every worldly diversion and distraction, so you can hear His voice clearly, and follow Him faithfully.

think on these things...

1 John 2:12-17 (NLT)
I am writing to you, my dear children, because your sins have been forgiven because of Jesus. I am writing to you who are mature because you know Christ, the one who is from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young because you have won your battle with Satan. I have written to you, children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you who are mature because you know Christ, the one who is from the beginning. I have written to you who are young because you are strong with God's word living in your hearts, and you have won your battle with Satan. Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.

2 Corinthians 4:3 (NLT)
Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don't understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Proverbs 3:13-15 (NKJV)
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.

"The people I feel sorry for are those who insist on continuing to do what they have always done but want the results to be different from what they have always been."
-- Thomas Sowell

Some people experience the "same old, same old" their whole life long, because they refuse to move when God says to move. I wonder how much of God's blessing we miss, because we're not willing to venture out into the unknown and walk by faith.

think on these things...

Genesis 12:1-4 (NLT)
Then the Lord told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you." So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him...

Hebrews 11:8-10 (NKJV)
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Here's a little utility to keep your computer clock in sync. Atomic Clock Sync works great, and it's FREE! This program requires Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98, 95 or NT 4.

I am convinced that the increasingly hateful political rhetoric in this nation presents more of a threat to the security and future of the United States than any foreign terrorist.

think on these things...

Matthew 12:25 (NKJV)
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand."

Titus 3:1-8 (NLT)
Remind your people to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not speak evil of anyone, and they must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us. But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. He declared us not guilty because of his great kindness. And now we know that we will inherit eternal life. These things I have told you are all true. I want you to insist on them so that everyone who trusts in God will be careful to do good deeds all the time. These things are good and beneficial for everyone.

This is an age when people who are contributing nothing to society gain fame and fortune by denouncing those who are contributing something, because those who are contributing something are not doing so the way idle on-lookers would wish, or in a way that those ignorant of the process would consider right. -- Thomas Sowell

"We have met the enemy and he is us." -- Pogo

"When someone we love is having difficulty and is giving us a bad time, it's better to explore the cause than to criticize the action."
-- Zig Ziglar

think on these things...

1 Corinthians 13:4,5,7 (NLT)
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Galatians 5:25,26 (NLT)
If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.

"We need to be as patient with others as God has been with us." -- RG

In his book, "Mere Christianity," C. S. Lewis expressed his thoughts about the purpose of the Church:

"It's easy to think that the church has a lot of different objects -- education, building, missions, holding services....The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, and even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other purpose."

I remember one day when I was an instructor at RHEMA Bible Training Center, Kenneth Hagin walked into an office where 4 or 5 teachers had gathered for one of our afternoon theological discussions. He was visibly troubled, which was unusual for him. He said he'd just heard a preacher on the radio criticizing him and all those 'faith teachers.' The preacher said, "all those guys are trying to do is raise up a bunch of little Jesuses."

Brother Hagin said, "Well, what are we supposed to do, raise up a bunch of little devils -- people that act and talk like their father, the devil?"

Good point.

But many sincere Christians believe nobody can be like Jesus.

On the contrary -- that's God's plan for all His children -- that we be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, His Son. As we learn of Him, yield our hearts and lives to Him, and seek to obey and follow Him, we will become more like Him. When we do, the Son of God will be manifest in and through us, and the world will see His glory! That's God's plan for His Church and His people.

It's about time we got with the program, don't you think?

think on these things...

Romans 8:29 (NLT)
For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)
And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.

Luke 6:40 (NKJV)
"A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher."

"If you're not going on to perfection, what are you going on to?" -- an unknown Methodist preacher from somewhere in Middle Georgia, as told to retired Air Force pilot, Buck West, as told to me by him (did you follow that?)

Stanley King, age 60, died while fishing the River Thames in Windsor, England.

Cause of death? Drowning.

When Stanley hooked a 3 1/2-pound barbel, he somehow got tangled up in his line and the fish pulled him into the water. A friend heard two splashes, and then he heard Stanley crying out, "I've gone in." And Stanley was no more.

If Mr. King hadn't gotten all tangled up, he'd probably be with us today.

I wonder how many Christians have been dragged to their death because they became entangled in sin or the things of this world.

James 1:14 (NLT) says, "Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires." Satan uses that "lure" to draw us away from God. We need to be careful not to get hooked by the lusts of the flesh, the things of this world, or religious hypocrisy -- all of which could lead to our demise (See Romans 8:1-13).

I wonder what Stanley's last thoughts were as he was being pulled underneath the water to his death by that fish. It would be quite a shock to realize that one had been gotten by the very thing he thought he'd got.

Did you get that?

I pray you do.

think on these things...

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

2 Peter 2:20,21 (NKJV)
For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

1 Peter 5:8,9 (NLT)
Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith.

Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

The arrival of a new year offers each of us an opportunity to stop and consider where we've been and where we're going.

As for me, I want to be a better person, a better Christian, a better husband, a better father, a better writer, a better communicator -- well, I just want to be better this year than I was last year! But getting better won't happen by just 'wishing it' so. I'll have to take steps toward 'better.'

Chinese philosopher, Lao-tzu (604 BC - 531 BC) said, "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." That's exactly how 42-year-old Nancy Samuelson of Lincoln, Nebraska, walked around the world -- one step, one day, one lunch hour at a time.

It took her 16 years, 4 months, 25 days and 55 pairs of tennis shoes to walk the 24,902 miles. But she equaled the distance of the Earth's circumference by circling a walking trail near her workplace. One can hardly imagine walking that distance, but Nancy proved it's possible -- all she did was start walking and keep walking!

Where do you want to go? What dream is in your heart? What is God calling you to?

Start taking steps today toward that divine destination. Start walking, keep walking, and one day you will arrive!

think on these things...

Deuteronomy 2:1-3 (NLT)
"Then we turned around and set out across the wilderness toward the Red Sea, just as the Lord had instructed me, and we wandered around Mount Seir for a long time. Then at last the Lord said to me, 'You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn northward.'"

"Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was."
-- Robert Louis Stevenson

"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
-- William Jennings Bryan