The Best of 2012: "In the spirit of Luke, Part 2"

Wouldn't it be great to be able to read the Bible with the same sense of credibility as was written?

What was written in the previous entry actually took place; others who were there can (and will) verify the events; it's accurate.

Every time I read the story, it brings back vivid images of the day's events and how it all went down, and I have to confess that I am moved deeply every time -- it's that real. Why can't we read each chapter, each phrase, of the Bible and have the same appreciation and experience?

First, in my own reading of the Bible, there's always been a sense that it's a storybook with history that's so far removed from today that it's seemed more like philosophy. We know, however, that the persons, places, timeline, and history are consistent with the writings of other secular sources that verify that the Bible is accurate.

Second, I had to ask myself, "Do I really believe that the Bible is true?" We know, absolutely, of the dramatic changes in the lives of the disciples while they were with Jesus, and especially after Jesus spent time teaching them before the ascension. We also know that the disiples were tortured and met horrible deaths for their faith, yet would not budge on what they witnessed. Today, we continue to see lives changed as the Holy Spirit pursues and redirects people toward God through faith in Jesus Christ. What we're experiencing is Biblical - it's just difficult to see it in our own lives sometimes.

Last, I believe we can read the Bible with the same impact through study and gaining perspective on historical events. The Life Application Study Bible and any commentary provide excellent detailed information that help expand our understanding of the people, events, and times we read about. The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel is an excellent resource as well as he takes us through some critical thinking to who Jesus was/is.

Best of 2012: "The Postage Virgin"

Here's another recent post from 2012 that generated a ton of discussion - ENJOY!

While at the UPS Store mailing a package, a kid (19 I found out later) came in with his mom to mail an enevelope. As the conversation between the teen and the cashier developed, it became obvious that he had absolutely no idea what postage was, what the difference between envelopes was, and that postage was to pay for mailing and delivery of the package.

"How much for this one?" the young man asked as he held up a letter-sized envelope. "Forty four cents," the cashier answered. "What about this one?" the teen asked, holding up a five-by-eight inch bubble-lined envelope. "Sixty eight," the cashier stated. "But that one was forty four," the teen responded. "That one's bigger and has padding, so you can put more into it. It's larger and might be heavier, so it's more."

The boy looked toward his mom standing next to me, his gaze saying, "Is this true?" without saying a word.

I gave his mom a look like, what gives? and she said, "All he does is text and Tweet and Facebook and email and spend all his time on his gaming so he's never needed to mail anything." Without thinking, I blurted out, "Oh, so he's a postage virgin," realizing immediately that I should have chosen my words more carefully or just kept my mouth shut.

"Yes, I suppose so!" mom exclaimed. This was her son's first experience purchasing a stamp and envelope. At 19 years old! Snail mail was totally foreign to the kid.

How it is for those who have never heard the Gospel.

As followers of Christ, we are commanded to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).

The first thing that came to mind after I blurted out the "virgin" comment, was what the Apostle Paul said in Romans: "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" (10:14-15)

Last weekend, we heard a great true-life story about a man that was skeptical about Christ. But while helping a neighbor with a fencing project, the Gospel was shared with him during the project. A few months later, the skeptic declared Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was baptised with his wife.

What if the Gospel hadn't been shared during the neighbor's time together? What if the neighbor had decided to not speak up for fear of embarassment? Or to avoid the subject altogether? That the man was a "lost cause?"

We must always remember that our choices to act, or not to act, have eternal consequences. Could we also start making disciples of all neighborhoods? I think so!

What can you (I) do to deepen a friendship or serve someone, being a great example of a Christ follower?

Is our fear of rejection or embarassment greater than our love for Christ? If so, what are the eternal consequences?

Best of 2012: "In the spirit of Luke's writings"

Have you ever wondered if the Holy Spirit was more powerful back in the days of the early church? If you say He's chosen to be "inactive" or is waiting for some future day to make a resurgence, I have to disagree. He is always present, always working in those who believe.

I thought I'd take a stab at writing about an event in Nicaragua as if it was written by one of the Biblical writers, like Luke. Luke was a physician, so a man of science. He's a man who would want accuracy versus rumors. He wanted facts. So, in the spirit of Luke (as I beg forgiveness if this is a sleight), here's a telling of a real event in our present day that happened on our Nicaragua trip.

One day, some foreigners (who were followers of Christ) went to a town called Christo Rey to feed the poor, care for children, help the sick, and have fellowship with other believers working there. Before they began serving those in the town, the foreigners listened to those living among the poor, telling of the many miracles God had done for them in their town.

The pastor said many more miracles were done than he said, and all the brothers and sisters in Christ thanked God and praised His name.

When it was time for the foreigners to eat, they walked toward a bus to take shelter from the heat. On the way, the foreigners were met by four unbelievers who did not approve of them being in their town. One of the townsmen made a threat against one man’s life, saying, “You won’t leave here alive.”

After the foreigners ate together, they gathered to serve more people and rejoiced in the fellowship they had.

When the time came for the foreigners to leave the town, eleven men gathered in a small room, joining together in a bold prayer for protection. Several men prayed alternately. One man was moved with compassion for the townsmen that had threatened them, and prayed, “Father in heaven, we pray for our protection, but even more, we pray that you would change the hearts of the men who threatened us. Bless them, for we have nothing to hold against them. We are here to serve you.”

The foreigners left Christo Rey soon afterward and had no trouble leaving the town. Later, the foreigners discussed their safety, deciding that they would return to the town the following day as there were more women, widows, and children who were poor to serve.

The next day, they returned to the town again. But three of the strongest foreign men stayed behind at their encampment to perform tasks that God had prepared for them in advance. The three strongest men’s purpose was to provide guidance and fellowship with other brothers during the day while the others returned to the town to serve the poor. The foreigners served many people and enjoyed their time feeding, teaching, and playing with the children.

Shortly after the midday meal, God sent a storm, providing rain for the crops and flooding the fields. The rain and wind were so strong that the foreigners and poor took shelter in the same small room that the men prayed in the day before, and remained there until the rain stopped.

The foreigners began their journey quickly to return to their encampment, but their bus became bound by the mud from the rain that was sent for the crops and flooded the fields.

Recognizing the trouble, the men began to collect branches to place under the tires. Many who lived in the town recognized the foreigners as brothers and sisters in Christ who had served them earlier and had provided care for their children, so they came to help.

The more everyone pushed, the more bound the bus became, being stuck in the mud, and many became tired and began to lose hope. Some of the men laid their hands on the bus, praying to God for help and to show his power to his flock and any unbelievers who were near by. Other men commanded the bus to move using the name of God.

When it seemed that all hope was lost, the command was given to abandon the bus so that the foreigners could walk out of the town before nightfall.

The foreigners and the townspeople came together to pray to God in faith. When the men pushed again, they took on new strength! The bus began to move when many people worked together, all believing that God would help. Even the men who threatened the foreigners were helping.

The bus was freed from the mud and everyone present rejoiced, thanking God for the rain for the crops and for his display of love and fellowship in having the foreigners and townspeople work together to free the bus.

When the foreigners returned to their encampment, the three strongest men were filled with compassion for their friends and welcomed them, helping them get clean and washing their feet.

“We should have never left you alone!” said the three strongest men. “We would have been able to serve the poor in that town and helped you get out of the mud! And we missed seeing the storm and God's answer to your prayer!”

That evening, the foreigners met together for fellowship and to discuss God’s word. Everyone told of the wondrous displays of God’s love, His grace, and of the faith of the people. The men realized that the three strongest men stayed behind to lead others in their journey with Christ, and that God had not sent them to the town so that He would demonstrate his power through answering the townspeople’s prayers.

Many more miracles were done during the time the foreigners were visiting and serving, more than are recorded here. The foreigners knew that the Holy Spirit was with them, guiding and protecting them throughout their entire journey.

Whenever the foreigners gathered, they praised God and told others about the wonders they witnessed on their journey.

Best of 2012: "It seemed like a good idea at the time..."

...but what would follow surely got my attention. Thinking back, this could have ended badly. Tragically really.

We were out for a nice, but chilly, walk along the river in Stillwater, talking over our plans for the next few weeks. Elvis was with us, and because of his being cooped up inside lately, he was pulling the leash and raring to go.

As we approached a grassy area, Elvis spyed a flock of gulls, his head remaining still while the rest of his body swayed as he walked. I felt him pull gradually harder and heard him wheeze slightly as his collar tightened his throat.

"Bird!" I yelled, letting go of the leash. Elvis was off like a shot out of a gun. It was beautiful to watch his lean, muscular body sprinting toward the flock.

The gulls scattered and took flight toward the river. Elvis gave chase, made it to the water's edge and leapt in to swim after an injured gull that could only swim. He closed in while the gull squawk with terror.

Kimberly ran toward Elvis yelling, "No! Elvis! No!"

Elvis closed in on the gull as Kimberly and I ran toward the water. Everything from that point on seemed like it was all in slow motion.

I saw Elvis's mouth open wide, ready to catch the screaming gull only inches away from death. Suddenly, Kimberly yelled again and Elvis turned his head toward her and began swimming back to us. He was struggling in the cold water. He's awesome in the water. Today though, he sputtered from the excitement and cold water.

Elvis made it back to the barrier, but was still a good 3 feet below us and his head sank beneath the water. I could tell he was cold and tired fighting the waves. I got on my belly on the sidewalk as Kimberly tried to reach.

Grabbing his neck just as he was about to give up, I pulled Elvis out enough so he could get his footing. Suddenly, the fear in his eyes left him, in effect saying, "Did you see that? I almost had the bird!"

Thinking back, how many times have we jumped in the cold water to go after some desire or other false comfort, only to have God call our names just as we're about to take a chomp of sin? Clearly, if Elvis had caught the bird, he would have been too far out to make it back. K and I would have been crushed by a great outing turned tragic.

I think of when I turned to Christ. After losing my dad to a massive heart attack, I turned to sin as a way to dull the pain; to "live life to the fullest." Only I was deceived. There was no life. Just death ahead.

Then there was God's voice, calling me back to true life where I could discover that Christ pulled me out of the frigid water.

We know what real love is because Christ gave his life for us (1John 3:16) and each of us has a story where God sent Christ to save us from ourselves, which would lead to certain death.

Take time to thank God for his saving grace.