What To Say When God Changes Course In Your Life

“We walk by faith and not by sight.” –  2 Corinthians 5:7

 

I am certain you have heard it or read it. Any idea what it means? I guess we should look at the substance of faith to gain some perspective … Faith is a supernatural trust in things hoped for … and confidence in things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)  When you apply faith to how you live your life, it is no longer a platitude or something that happens to somebody else. It gets personal. You think you are on one course, you commit to where you are and what you are doing and then, the Captain of the ship says,  “Heading to 270 degrees (West)! full steam ahead”  What!  That is not in “your” plan.  You had your course charted out … travelling on a course of 090 degrees (East) … you are comfortable with it .. and maybe at some point you would just sit at anchor for a while.  Confusion or doubt may overcome you at that point, because we don’t understand the why or how or don’t we want to understand. Or maybe I misunderstood the order .. or maybe the Captain wants me to go in that direction next week .. you know, later, when it is more convenient for everyone.  When I can afford it financially or when it won’t inconvenience anyone.  It’s the common temptation to choose what is humanly reasonable over what we are spiritually responsible to do. The temptation to say “no” to God and want to follow our own plan is common.  I have seen it in my own life and in the lives of many other Christians who receive orders to change course.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  – 1 Corinthians 10:13

I am writing about a radical faith … not a misdirected one.  The world will tell you that you are misdirected if what you do does not make any sense to them.  If they can think of another way to do something that is less intrusive on others.  When God speaks, you must obey . .even in the face of the opposition of human convention. You might be thinking .. what does this have to do with me?  God has not asked me to go to Africa, or even Florida to help the people there.  Maybe not.  But He has asked you to change the course of your life.  To go in a new direction.  To obey His commands.  And what might those be?  To love Him above all, to love others, to abandon your devotion to the things of this world. (Matthew 22:37-39) To lay your life down. (Romans 12:1-2)  Pick up your cross daily and follow Jesus.  (Luke 9:23) So how is that going for you?  My wife and I are living what I call the “extreme” Christian life.  In the past 18 years we have done things in response to God’s redirection that frankly make people thankful they are not us.  Few are called to follow the course that He has set for us.  I do not say that pridefully.  We have said “Yes Lord to Your will and to Your way” and moved out smartly.  He has been the source of our strength ..the provider of what we needed it when we needed it.  He is the Captain and we are part of the crew.  He will do the same in your life but perhaps in a different context, if you will only say “yes” and then step out in faith.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with your being right where you are so long as God has put you  there and your are faithful to obeying His orders.  Are you?  Then rejoice and praise the Lord! And if not .. repent!.”

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:11-13

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

A Promise Kept - A Ministry To Fulfill

Some of you may recall a 4 part post I did recently about Chaplain Hank Austin. Last night I was on a Zoom call with his children.  They wanted to hear more about the story of the impact Chaplain Austin had on our family. And more, it was an opportunity to fulfill a promise I had made to my mom in 2001, to find him and thank him for sharing the Gospel with her husband, Don Pierson, my step dad and spiritual father. (That is a picture of Don in Korea pasted by my mom in the Bible Chaplain Austin gave him) Chaplain Austin had passed in 1997. Twenty years later, my sister, Candie, found a reference to one of his children on Facebook, Dave Austin.  She contacted me and suggested that I try to connect with him – which I did. And through that I made connection with his whole family.

They wanted to hear more about the impact their dad had for the kingdom of God through that meeting on a hill in Korea in 1951.  As I shared with them, I could see a family resemblance – both physically and by their personalities.  It was through that Zoom call that I got to, in directly, meet Hank Austin. His image was cast into his children. I thanked the family and kept my promise. Which caused me to think of the family resemblance that we Christians are to have as sons and daughters of the Creator God.

 “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” – Genesis 1:26-27

Have you given much thought to that? When God created mankind, He created us in His image. Nothing else was created in His image. Mankind was to rule over the rest of earthly creation – that was and is God’s intent for us.  But that rule was to be in the context of our relationship with Him – not independent of Him. But you know what comes next – things changed. Mankind rejected God’s plan and went his own way. But ….

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” – John 3:16-17

God had a plan – not a plan B – but a plan that defies anything His creation or Satan might do to thwart it. Our sin did not surprise God, although because of His love for us, I am certain that He was saddened for us. Just like with your children when they choose to go a way that will only lead to their harm and heartache.  Do you feel it? That is what love and wanting the best for you children feels like and I suspect the God, whose love surpasses anything we might imagine, felt the same. 

So placing our faith in Jesus – the Reconciler – the Restorer – reestablished the relationship that sin had severed. We have been adopted into the family of God. And God is doing a work in us. Conforming us into the image of His faithful Son – Jesus. We cannot reflect Jesus apart from walking in harmony the Spirit of God.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” – Romans 8:29-30

The world needs to see Jesus and the way it does is through the Body of Christ – you and me. What a great privilege and responsibility that is. We are to be salt and light. We must be so careful to not lose our saltiness through compromise with the very world for we have been given the ministry of reconciliation.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Walking In The Way My Way

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.’ So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, ‘Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?’ Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly,’” – Numbers 20:7-11

You know who Moses was of course.  Called by God to be the leader of the nation of Israel. He led the nation of Israel out of Egypt from bondage to the land of Canaan and freedom. Yet for one thing, God would not let him finish what he had started. Because he struck the rock twice and did not speak to it as the Lord had told him, Moses was not allowed to enter the Land.   

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’” – Numbers 20:12

If you notice in the previous verses, not only did Moses not obey the directions God gave him, but he did not give God the credit for the water – indirectly giving credit to Aaron and himself.  A big price to pay – after all the acts of faith demonstrated by Moses in the past.  Does that mean the Moses missed heaven? What would you conclude from the following verses.

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” – Matthew 17:1-4

God did not tell Moses that he would never be in the land, but that he would not be the one to lead them into the land.  And if Moses was with Jesus and Elijah then Moses had not been rejected by God, the Father.  The point here is that there may be consequences for our disobedience even if we are forgiven of our sin. Another example I can think of is King Saul. The Lord, through Samuel, gave King Saul specific direction, but King Saul listened to the people and his own heart. For that King Saul lost his anointing as king.

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” – 1 Samuel 15:22

We are faced with the same choices every day. Walking and doing in God’s way or my way. Do I listen to God or to the world. Do I think I know what is better than the Creator God? Do we really imagine that there will be no consequence for our disobedience or do we think that we can sin so that grace can abound?  (Romans 6:1-2)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.’” – Proverbs 3:5-8

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Trying To Be Good Enough

“Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ So Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.’” – Luke 18:18-19

I am sure you are familiar with these verses – the man known as the rich young ruler was, I think, trying to show respect to Jesus. But Jesus, knowing the young man’s heart knew there was more to it than that.  The young man thought that he was a good person because he did enough good things to deserve to have eternal life.  We want to be good and most likely have decided what good enough is. What is good enough as a Christian – as a born again Believer. So Jesus says – God the Father is the definition of good and the source of all good.  The good that any of us,  a product of our flesh is works an imitation of that goodness, but is not the “real deal”.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:8-10

Created for good works that find their source through faith in Jesus and fulfilling what God the Father has purposed for us.  So we don’t get to decide what is the good we should do, God does.  There is nothing that has eternal value the is derived from our flesh. The good that we do must be derived from a pure heart and clean hands, meaning we must be right before God. Surrendering our will to God is not an easy thing.  Our old nature resists that submission. We want to “hang on to” a few things from our old life and find some sort of justification to convince ourselves that it is “OK”. But it is not. 

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:8-9

Those thoughts are not something that we just decide we will do, but is a product of our pursuit of God by faith. The reason I write about these things is that I know that living rightly as a Christian is a challenge. Knowing what my life should be like and what my life is like are most often not the same. So I have a choice. I can say “what’s the use – this is too hard” – or I can say “Lord I continue to prove that there is nothing good in me – that You are the source of all good – I cannot live the life You have called me to through self-effort.  Lord I, once again, surrender my heart and my will to You.”

When people like me write something for people like you to read and consider, it is a mistake to think that I am any different than you, our struggle is the same.  The point here is that none of us should be satisfied with being “good enough”.  That our righteousness is found in Jesus – eternal life by faith – anything good is from the Father -  the power to life our new life is through the Spirit.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.’” – Proverbs 3:5-8

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

I Surrender All

 

“present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2

I served in Vietnam with the Military Assistance Command – Vietnam (MAC-V) as a radio operator. Soldiers assigned to MAC-V were military advisors to the Vietnamese Regular Army and Popular Forces (think Guard and Reserve).  The Viet Cong were what was known as insurgents or communist guerilla fighters. A repatriation program called “Chieu Hoi” or open arms was started, simply, in an effort to encourage these local fighters to surrender, turn in their weapons and return to their homes. Raising their hands in surrender and turning away from their life or resistance.  (I might add that all of that was to no avail since in 1975 the war ended and the communists took over South Vietnam.) At any rate, when I think of Romans 12, the picture of hands raised comes to mind. And I say to the Lord – Chieu Hoi. 

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” – 1 John 2:15-17

To offer myself as a living sacrifice means to give up your devotion to what you were formally devoted to – the things of the world. That is an act of the will. It is not a “one and done” act. Certainly our salvation is …. Born again … (John 3) Jesus did not say you must be born again and again and again .. or you must be born again but you can become unborn. (that is all I will say about eternal security this morning!)  But we must be alert to the constant temptation to embrace that which we had once abandoned. The temptation is not so much “in your face” but is more insidious, “frog in the pot” temptation. It is more, as they would say in Haiti – “ti pa tipa” (literally –  small footed) it is an idiom for “step by step”.

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.” – Isaiah 30:21

You must be on the alert which means you must train your mind – you must be spiritually alert so you will recognize the dangers.  Some of the Viet Cong that were repatriated through the Chieu Hoi program became what were known as “Kit Carson Scouts” and would lead patrols to alert friendly forces to dangers along the way.  As we would walk along a trail in the jungles, the Scout would point to a place on the ground and tell us to walk around it – it was a booby trap – like an IED today. That is, in a way, what the Spirit does for us. If we are willing to pay attention to the warning and not think that we are capable of moving our new life on our own without any help. Suffice it to say that the trails of this life are littered with wounded Christians who stepped where they shouldn’t.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.’” – Proverbs 3:5-8

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Life The Way God Intended

“Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” – Mark 1:14-55

I heard someone say that “the kingdom of God is life the way that God intended it to be.” If I insert that phrase in the scripture from Mark it would read, “The time is fulfilled, and t life the way that God intended it to be is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” So what is life the way God intended it to be? I suppose we would have to go back to the Garden. Mankind in harmony with the Creator God and with each other. That sounds a little like the 2 greatest commandment doesn’t it? (Matthew 22:37-39)  And if we have indeed repented and believed in the Gospel. And what is the Gospel?

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen” – 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

And what must you believe?

“if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ….. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” – Romans 10:9-11, 13

How can anyone believe it?

“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.’” – Matthew 16:13-17

The truth of the Gospel is a spiritual revelation.  I cannot convince anyone into heaven – salvation is by faith and the seed of faith is spiritual not natural.  There are a number of very large religions that will acknowledge that Jesus was a great teacher – even a profit – but stop short of saying that He is the Son of God.  That would unhinge their faith – what they and generations before them have believed.  It is only the revelation of God by His Spirit and the Gospel that some might believe and be saved.

And what is our role in the Gospel? We are ministers of reconciliation – man to God – ambassadors for Christ. Representatives in a foreign land making known who Jesus is and what He has done. Not just with words but by the way we live our lives.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

We live in a dark time in the history of our nation and the world.  We don’t need louder voices – we need louder lives. Lives that shout out our faith and God’s love for mankind.  Some religions’ solution is to have a theocracy – and be ruthless in its administration.  Man’s solution for establishing the kingdom of God on earth. Purifying the nation so that no other practice will be tolerated. But the kingdom of God emanates from a changed heart and is a witness to a world that has but one destination – eternal separation from its Creator.

To be faithful to our calling, we must live our message.  Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song called, “The Change”. I thought I would share a couple of verses.

“Well I got myself a T-shirt that says what I believe. I got letters on my bracelet to serve as my ID. I got the necklace and the key chain And almost everything a good Christian needs, yeah

I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator door. And a welcome mat to bless you before you walk across my floor. I got a Jesus bumper sticker And the outline of a fish stuck on my car

And even though this stuff's all well and good, yeah I cannot help but ask myself--

What about the change What about the difference What about the grace What about forgiveness What about a life that's showing I'm undergoing the change.”

It is not about what we say or look like – but how we live and treat other people – and that reflects what we believe and our love for God. Living our lives the way God intended. Giving people a little glimpse of heaven.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Holding Court In Our Hearts

 

“they said to Him [Jesus], ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ … So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’… Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’” – John 8:4-5,7,9-11

I am certain that you are familiar with this story about the woman caught in adultery. Putting it in context – why did God, the Father, send God, the Son?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” – John 3:16-20

Do you see what was happening in the case of the woman? The men were asking Jesus to condemn her when Jesus had come to save her (and them). They didn’t believe He was the Son of God, the Messiah. They were guilty themselves and their deeds were exposed.  They wanted grace and mercy but were not willing to give it.  Jesus called the woman to repentance and faith where she found forgiveness and reconciliation.  And that is what we, as Christians, have been called to do.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

We have not been given the ministry of condemnation but of reconciliation – calling sinners to repentance – pointing them to Jesus. Knowing that “all have sinned” and there are “none righteous, no not one” When asked to cast the first stone, we all would have to walk away – there but for the grace of God go I. It is in our old nature to be quick to condemn others – the speck and the beam (Matthew 7:3-5). There is a worldly system for the judgement and punishment of law breakers. But what I am speaking to is our holding court in our hearts and condemning others when it is not our place to judge. We have not been given a seat on the Bench – there is only one Judge – but, rather, we are called to be advocates for Jesus – the call the world to repentance – to go and sin no more.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Deciding On And Choosing What Is Important

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” – Ephesians 5:16-17

How we spend our time. What we decide what we will and will not do in our lifetime.  We only have so many minutes, hours, days and years don’t we.  President Dwight D. Eisenhower used a method of categorizing events or demands on his time that we now call the Eisenhower Matrix. Stephen Covey has mentioned the framework, in his book “The 7 habits of highly effective people”, as The Time Management Matrix. My point is that everything we do or don’t do has two factors associated with them, its importance and its urgency. For example you are standing in the road and a semi-truck is rapidly approaching when you receive a text message. Do you get off the road or do you answer the text message first? The text message says it is important.

So where is the Spiritual application? We must first decide what is important and then decide what is urgent – what must be acted upon now – without delay. What is not important can wait. So how do I know what is important? As a Christian – God has made it clear.

“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” – Matthew 22:35-40

This is the context for what we put in each of those squares. The framework if you will. That same idea was given to Moses as the 10 commandments – the first 4 have to do with God’s place in our lives and decisions – the last 6 have to do with how we treat others.  Here is another hint about how we are to prioritize what we do – what we give preference to – what influences our choices every day.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”– 1 John 2:15-17

Giving preference to the things in the world is much like wanting to answer the text message. Choosing what seems urgent but is not important. For many people – many Christians – the urgent not important dominates their lives.  They have no perspective to distinguish between the important and not important – that requires spiritual perspective – spiritual awareness – but their spiritual sensitivity has been dulled because of their love for the things of the world and its dominance over their love for the important things.  How about you?

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

An Attitude of Gratitude

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 7:24-25, 8:1-2

The context of these verses is Paul reflecting on his struggle with the old and new nature and the realization that by faith in Jesus he is and we are free from condemnation for our sin. If you are anything like me, you don’t think about that very often if at all. If you are like me, you continue to struggle with temptation – with sin. It is at that very point of struggle that I should be mindful of the fact that I have been saved but grace through faith and not works.  That is not to say that I should therefore be content and not worry about sin – but be thankful that I do not have to face the temptation alone.  That God has made a way to escape – if I will only take it.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

We are supernaturally equipped to live our new lives. Something to be thankful for and to live rightly. With respect to knowing sin when you see it or perhaps feel it approaching – the answer is simple.

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”– James 4:17

How do I know what is good? We have the Word of God and the Spirit of God – our Helper – the Spirit of Truth – in us, to remind us of what is “good” and what is not. For that we should be thankful. Yet, it is up to us yield to His leading.  People have told me that I have wisdom and some seek my advice. The thing is, my advice means nothing if they are not willing to follow it.  I have quoted John Newton a number of times, but it bears repeating. 

“I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am..” – John Newton

That is the understanding that I want to embrace for my life. Thinking about John Newton’s life and, in turn, my own causes me to well up with gratitude and to want to live a life faithful to God’s calling and my salvation.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Rooted and Grounded In Our Faith

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” – Colossians 2:6-7

My wife was given three pieces – cuttings – from a plant some time back. They look like something that you would rake up and throw away after using a weed trimmer.  But she planted them in the ground, just as they were. What happened next was nothing short of miraculous.  Instead of withering to nothing – they grew roots and from the roots began to grow and multiply. That would have never happened had they not been planted in the soil.  So it is with us. We must be planted – rooted in the Word and faith.  There is a supernatural – miraculous transformation that can and will take place. Reading the Word – hearing the Word and living in obedience to what we read and hear is like being planted in rich soil. The result is miraculous. We become something glorious – growing and multiplying – like that plant.

Some Christians are satisfied with “making the team” and then content to sit on the bench. Never getting in the game – just watching from the bench. Making the team was enough for them – but the Lord has intended so much more for those of us who are called by His name.

“Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”– Matthew 13:3-9

I know that you have read or at least heard that parable, perhaps many times.  We are the seed. We need to be careful that we are not content with the stony or thorny ground. Choose the good ground. Making that choice is something we must make every day.

“Blessed is the man [person] 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.” – Psalm 1:1-3

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Making An Eternal Difference

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” – Colossians 2:6-7

Have you ever thought of yourself as someone who can make an eternal difference? Most of us tend to live lives managing our sin and don’t look much beyond that. But the way we live – how we behave – treat others – reflect the image of Christ wherever we happen to be and any point in time – it has an eternal consequence.  We were watching a sermon yesterday morning and the preacher was using Colossians for his scriptural reference. He talked about Epaphras.  Epaphras is one of about 3200 people named in the Bible. We don’t know much about him except that he loved the people in the church of Colossae (Co-loss-eye) and sought Paul out to help encourage them in their faith.  Aside from that he is just a name referenced.

God has a plan for each of us. Do find that hard to imagine? I have been a part of a number of Christian ventures – even led some of them – been recognized for my contribution – but most often it was not me that actually did what was done. It was other – unnamed – people. People who loved God and loved people.  People who were willing to set their lives aside for the good of others. People who, perhaps, did not understand their eternal contribution in the lives of others. Years ago, a friend said to me, “Charley, I finally figured you out. You get things started and then walk away.” My place has been to lead, to inspire, to organize other Christians for the benefit of those in need and for the glory of God. 

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all ….. one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 12:7,11

We all have a role in God’s plan for mankind.  If you read on in chapter 12 you will see that one roll is not more important than another.  It doesn’t do anything to help people for me to be gifted in the way God has gifted me, if there are not others willing to exercise their gifts in response to the exercising of mine.  And all of us are dependent upon the Spirit of God to accomplish our parts in God’s plan and purposes.  Notoriety is not, or should not be, the goal. Even to get an honorable mention like Paul gave Epaphras. Like the unknown soldiers – serving to the point of sacrificing their lives.  Our sacrifices are for the glory of God and the good of others.  Our lives should not be wasted because we have chosen to hide our light under a bushel basket – to clutch our salvation close to our breasts, unwilling to share it with the world.  We have been saved for much more than spending eternity with God in heaven.  Each of us has a purpose – a role to play – in this life that has eternal consequences for others.  I don’t pretend to understand why God would choose to use us – but He does. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Part 4 - The Rest Of The Story

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;” – Luke 4:18

Our family believes that Chaplain Austin planted an eternal seed in our dad’s heart on that summer day in Korea. The seed that took nearly 20 years to germinate.  The Bible our dad received from Chaplain Austin has held a place of prominence in our family’s home from the day our parents received Christ until today.  Some time after our dad went to be with the Lord, my mom asked if I could find some information about the Chaplain who had signed the Bible. She wanted to thank him for his ministry and to tell him about our family.  Unfortunately our attempts to contact Chaplain Austin or his family have been unsuccessful.  My wife’s uncle, retired Navy, was able to get an excerpt from Chaplain Austin’s service record and two citations Chaplain Austin received for heroism during WWII and Korea. Chaplain Austin received the Navy Commendation Medal with combat “V” for actions on Iwo Jima.  He received the Bronze Star with combat “V” for actions in Korea.  The “V” is for valor or exceptional bravery in battle.  This is an excerpt from his medal citation for service on Iwo Jima.

“Navy Commendation Medal w/ Combat (V), Iwo Jima Chaplain with Marine Amphibious corps landing force Iwo Jima 19 Feb thru 23 March, 1945.Unceasing endeavor to help and comfort wounded and dying men regardless of creed or color.  Constant source of inspiration.  Visited men at their duty stations day and night regardless of the hazards.  Actions in keeping with the highest standards.”

He also received the Bronze Star with combat “V” for actions in Korea. This is an excerpt from his medal citation.

“Bronze Star with Combat (V), 1st MAR Div, Korea. For meritorious achievement with Marine Infantry Battalion in Korea From 10 March 1951 to 4 April 1951 displayed outstanding courage and devotion to duty ministering to the spiritual needs of the men.  Frequently exposing himself to intense mortar, artillery, automatic weapons and small arms fire without regard for his personal safety.  Moved fearlessly. Gave aid and comfort to the wounded and dying.”

His Navy records indicate that he conducted the first Protestant service on Mt Suribachi at Iwo Jima the day the flag was raised, 23 Feb 1945.  Hank Austin was what I call a “warrior priest” willing to put himself, un-armed, in harms’ way in obedience to God’s call on his life and the pursuit of ministry to lay his life down for his calling.   

He served in the Navy for 26 years and retired as a Navy Captain or Full Colonel (Air Force, Army, Marines) As an ordained Baptist minister he had an incredible opportunity to bring comfort and encouragement to men and women who look death in the face every day.

“No greater love has one man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13 

The calling you and I have received from God may not find us on a battlefield but we are in no less of a conflict. We are in a spiritual battle – every day.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” – Ephesians 6:12

As such – we are to “walk the line of life’s foxholes” encouraging the saints and sharing the Gospel with the lost – planting and watering knowing that it is God who will bring the increase.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Part 3 - The Seed Watered And The Increase Brought

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;” – Luke 4:18

Soon after dad and mom decided to seek God together, they started attending a church just down the road from their house.  And one Sunday morning in April 1969, through the prompting of the words of the pastor and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, they prayed to receive Jesus as Lord. They were no longer blind to the Truth.

Dad passed in November 1999.  The very nature of his memorial service was a testimony to his faithfulness in his walk with the Lord.  Jesus was praised and God was glorified.  More than two hundred people came to honor him and more importantly his ministry that had made a permanent mark on their lives.  He and mom led Bible studies for teenagers in their home and in church. They shared the Gospel with anyone who would listen.  They showed great compassion for others - even strangers. Don Pierson, the Marine and man of God was laid to rest with full military honors.  As the rifle volleys echoed across the field and the lonely sound of TAPs was played by the Marine bugler, our family was reminded of his service and dedication to his country and to his Lord.  All seven of Don and Arlene’s children and five of their children’s spouses have accepted Christ as a direct result of their conversion and ministry. Rick, the youngest son, has been a pastor in Chicago area for about 40 years.  He received his Master in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and received his Doctorate from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.  Rick’s oldest son is also a pastor in the Chicago area and had served as a missionary in Venezuela. Don’s middle son, Don Jr., served as director of Child Evangelism Fellowship in Peoria for a number of years and is now, after retiring as a vice-president of  an major orthotics company is serving as a church administrator.  Don’s wife is a Christian counselor. The oldest son, Charley, attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, served as a Promise Keepers State Manager for Alabama and Mississippi in the mid 1990’s. He is an ordained as a minister of the Gospel. He and wife his founded a disaster relief ministry (Pathfinder Mission)– serving in Mississippi, Haiti, and Texas since 2005.  Charley’s wife is a Bible Study Fellowship group leader.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” – John 1:12

To be continued – tomorrow – Part 4: The Rest of the Story

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Part 2 - The Sower Casts The Seed

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase..” – 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Chaplain Austin moved from one fox hole to another fox hole. Crouching as he moved to keep a low profile.  He spoke words of encouragement to the battle weary men. As he looked into the weary eyes of these young Marines, he thought, “they are too young to have seen so much death.”  His mind took him back to a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean called Iwo Jima,  remembering that he had seen that same look in the eyes of other young Marines as they had fought their way across that island.  This was not Hank’s first rodeo! Then, as now, Hank knew most of the men would be having thoughts about God and wondering about heaven (something called foxhole religion when death is all around you) and perhaps wishing for home.  As he approached the next foxhole on the line, I can imagine that the words of the Apostle Paul were on his mind.  Like Paul, he was planting seeds and watering where the seed had already been sown in the hearts of some of these young men.  He knew that for some, this might be the last dawn they would ever see and the last chance they would ever have.

The young Marine had just finished cleaning and re-assembling his M-1 rifle.  I imagine the conversation went something like this. Hank asked, “What’s your name son?”  “PFC Pierson, Chaplain.”  “Where you from?” “Peoria, IL, Chaplain.  Ever been there?”  Hank was from Philadelphia, PA, although the Navy had taken him all over the world, but Peoria was a place where he had never been and didn’t think it was likely he would ever go there.  Hank and PFC Pierson chatted for a few more minutes about the chow, about news from home, and about the past few days they had spent on that mountain.  Looking intently into the young Marine’s eyes, Hank asked him if he had thought much about heaven and if he were to die on this mountain, did he think he would be going there.  PFC Pierson stared at the bottom of his fox hole for what seemed like minutes, then he looked up at the Chaplain and said, “I hope so.”  Hank reached into his ruck sack and pulled out a small Bible, opened it up to the Gospel of John, 1st Chapter.  Showing the words to the PFC, he read verse 12 (But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.)  He said, “There is a way you can know for sure, son. That’s by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.”

Taking his pen, Hank wrote an inscription in the front of the Bible and handed it to him.  Hank said, “Keep this Bible with you.  I encourage you to read it.  I will be praying for you.”  And with that, Hank moved on to the next fox hole. As he walked away, he prayed, “Lord your word does not return to you void, let it do its work in that Marine.”  Dad watched the Chaplain move off, he read the inscription in the Bible and put it in the left pocket of his blouse (a Marine’s shirt).  Perhaps he thought, “Maybe this will bring me some luck.”  What Dad didn’t know was that his encounter with Hank Austin would bring him more than luck. More than all his other experiences in Korea combined it would shape his life, the lives of his children and of those in future generations for eternity.

Dad carried the Bible in his left breast pocket, right under the Marine Corps Globe and Anchor, for the rest of the time he was in Korea.  Then the day finally came – the fighting was done and dad was going home. He carefully packed his gear in his sea bag, placing the Bible under the top flap.  As he placed the Bible in his sea bag, his mind went back to that day at the Hwach’on Reservoir and Chaplain Hank Austin.  He read the inscription in the front flap, secured the clasp on his sea bag and left Korea. Arriving in California, he was released from active duty and returned to Peoria to get on with his life. Not too long after he met my mom.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” – John 1:12

To be continued – tomorrow – Part 3: The Seed Watered

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone