Today’s True Story … TRUCK EXCHANGE

Fri-May-1-2020
It’s Humor Day!

A certain preacher named Pastor Bungle was a bit “humor impaired,” but he really wanted to learn how to successfully tell a joke that came out right and everyone laughed. All his attempts had turned out poorly, as he would tell things in the wrong order or mess up the punch line.

He decided to attend a conference where pastors could learn better communication skills and public speaking tips. One speaker’s topic was “Using Humor Effectively.” Pastor Bungle paid close attention. The speaker began his talk with some humor to get the crowd’s attention. He opened by saying, “The best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman that wasn’t my wife!” The crowd was shocked! He followed up by saying, “And that woman was my mother!” – The crowd burst into laughter and the speaker then delivered the rest of his talk, which went over quite well.

The next week, Pastor Bungle decided he would give this humor thing a try, by starting out with the same attention-getting joke he had heard at the conference. Before the service he kept rehearsing the joke in his head. He was nervous.

Stepping up to the microphone he began confidently, “The best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman that wasn’t my wife!” The congregation inhaled half the air in the room! Pastor Bungle was so shaken up by their reaction that he stood there frozen in silence for several seconds, trying to recall the second half of the joke.

He started over. “Yes friends, the best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman that wasn’t my wife!” … Long pause … “And for the life of me, I can’t remember who she was!”

Oops!

Today’s True Story … A new feature about the many people I have met, events I have witnessed, and stories I have heard.

In 2009, I became the host of a national radio program called “The Healing Touch,” which aired on XM & Sirius Satellite Radio, from midnight to 2:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. For the next few years, I spent over 1,000 hours on the air, chatting with people about growing in faith and praying with them about life’s problems. People in our world are so hungry for help from someone who will listen and give them wise biblical answers. The following is a true story from listeners who called in to the live talk show.

TRUCK EXCHANGE

Bubba and Alma received a word from the Lord to find a new trucking job. They were owner-drivers making long hauls. They were told that turning in their truck at the company office would cost them a lot of money, because there was presently no one to take it over. According to their contract, they would have to pay it off in full. But they felt the Lord’s hand in this, as they would get to mentor several people in their hometown, hold a home Bible study, and be a more regular part of their church.

After some prayer and assurance, they went to the office and turned in their keys. They were told to wait for information in the mail about how to pay off their truck. On their way out of the office they met a man coming in who asked if they were the ones with the truck outside. He wanted it! Thank you, Lord. Perfect timing. The company had told them they could lose a lot of money. But God sent the seller and the buyer on the same day at the same time and sold their truck for them before they got out the door! Interestingly, about the man they signed the truck over to … guess his name … hmmm … it was Bubba.

Have a good weekend, including rest, family, and worship,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word is REDEPLOYMENT

Thu-Apr-30-2020

In John 21, after Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared to the disciples for the third time. They were out on a fishing expedition, which was Simon Peter’s idea. Six of the others agreed to go with him, including James, John, and Thomas. Haven’t you always wondered why they did this?

I am thinking that having seen Jesus twice already, they are now more at peace, but having discussions about what’s next. Is he going to show up again? How long should we wait? We can’t just sit around all day every day rehashing the same questions. Should we go back to life as we knew it? It would be good to stick together, but that would be difficult. We surely should tell our story to as many as possible.

So finally, Simon Peter says, “How about we go fishing?” And seven of them head out early the next morning. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. (John 21:4-6)

<<<<< FLASHBACK TO LUKE 5 >>>>>

When Jesus began his ministry, he was walking by the lake and the people crowded around him. So, he got into an empty boat belonging to Simon and asked him to push out. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything …” (I think Simon paused right here, waiting for Jesus to change his mind, but Jesus just looked back at him, and his eyes reached deeply into Simon. So, Simon said …) “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. (Luke 5:1-7)

<<<<< BACK TO JOHN 21 >>>>>

With the nets overloaded, John has a flashback and now realizes it is Jesus. [He] therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. (John 21:7-8)

Would you do that … jump in and start swimming? I sincerely believe that I would! (Tears are coming to my eyes as I think about this.) When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. (v.9) The rest of this passage has many wonderful aspects, but I am going to focus on one … redeployment.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” (v.15) Jesus repeated this two more times, and there are points about why three, and what the words for love are, but my focus is that Jesus is giving Simon Peter a new direction in life.

Did Simon Peter love Jesus? I think that by jumping into the water, he was clearly acting out of his love for him. But there is an interesting twist to what Jesus was really asking. When Jesus asked, “Do you love me more than these?”, I always assumed he meant more than the other disciples. But a Greek scholar whom I like says that the connection between nouns and pronouns in these sentences indicates that Jesus meant “these fish” or “this fishing,” not “these disciples.” Maybe he was looking or pointing at the fish in front of them, or at the boat. Wow. Jesus was asking him if he wanted to go back to his fishing career or take on the mission of feeding Jesus’ sheep.

Why would Simon Peter, or why would we choose redeployment to the mission of Jesus? The motivating qualification that Jesus wanted to know was … “Do you love me more than anything?” There are not qualifications for talent or experience, only how much you love your Savior. And if you were asked three times in a row, would it help you to say “Yes!” more enthusiastically?

I believe ministry is every Christian’s primary career. And we have a secondary job career to earn money to support our missional career of blessing others in the name of Christ … a redeployment from focusing on work to feeding his sheep.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

THE REST OF THE PASSAGE – John 21:10-25

John 21:10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus and Peter

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Today’s Word Is PERCEPTION

Wed-Apr-29-2020

A few years ago, one of my colleagues at the hospital was reading my daily devotional about the word PEACEMAKER. But being in the cardiology department where “heart talk” is common … well, let’s just say that this person mistakenly read the title as “Today’s Word Is P-A-C-E-MAKER.” How funny!

Think about it … sometimes you can “see” something that is not there … and fail to see what really is there. For instance, back in the early 1990’s, while pastoring in Brainerd, I had thick, curly hair … yes I did. It was not natural, but I was getting it permed for a period of six years. Years later, after I was back to my normal short, dark (but greying) hair, I would occasionally run into people from that church in public … and they didn’t even recognize me! I would say, “It’s me … Mark … remember? … your pastor?” And their eyes got wide as it dawned on them that it was really me.

This misperception also happened on the Sunday of Jesus’ resurrection. Several disciples were meeting together in the upper room, trying to sort things out. This included not just the “eleven” disciples, but other close followers. There were reports of angels and resurrection from the women and decisions by Peter and John to go check it out at the tomb.

Somewhere in that confusion, waiting for answers, two of the followers, one of them named Cleopas, decided to get started on the 7-mile journey to their home in Emmaus for the night, not knowing yet if Jesus was really alive. Little did they know that Jesus had two important appearances he wanted to make before he headed to the upper room to see the disciples. First was to see the two Mary’s, and then on toward the road to Emmaus to catch up with the two men on the road, who had left the meeting early, and were dejected. “[They] were talking with each other about all these things … [and] Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:15-16)

I believe we all have those times when we are so shocked, so hurt, so distraught and puzzled, frozen with disbelief at the turn of events, that we cannot for the moment get ourselves to think straight. In this kind of moment, Jesus showed up … unexpectedly. Most of you know the remainder of this story, so instead of repeating it here, I will place it at the bottom of this page. In short, the two men were telling this stranger that they had hoped Jesus was the “One,” so Jesus told them the prophecies and teachings they needed as reminders.

It is so, so, so important for us to know the story, the truth, the Word, as thoroughly as possible. And if we do, just as Jesus came to those two men, the Holy Spirit will come to us to remind us. Let us not be one of those who survives on a-sermon-a-week … or a-class-a-week at church. We must “study” the Word, know the story, the ways of God. Then, the Holy Spirit can use the storehouse in us to lift us up.

When you are struggling, as the two men going to Emmaus were, it is easy to miss what is there or fail to perceive what is real. If something puzzles you or creates doubt in you, it might just be a matter of perception. Someone else might see things differently. Don’t be afraid to ask. And don’t be afraid to believe something spiritual or miraculous in nature (like a resurrection!) when your earthly perception thinks it can’t be true.

And finally, I remind you that this blog has two goals … for God to bless you through me and for God to bless others through you. This is the principle of “blessed to be a blessing!” As well as being blessed today, how can we bless someone else?

What do you do if one of your coworkers, friends, family, or others are distracted by a personal issue, such as despondence or frustration? They might not see the obvious and need you to come alongside them and remind them of God’s story in their lives. Jesus didn’t criticize the disciples for their failed perception. He just spoke truth for a while as they were walking, and finally their eyes were opened.

By the way … I love that moment when the two disciples recognized Jesus at their home while he was “breaking the bread” at their table. I wonder if they immediately thought back to walking with Jesus, and wondered, “How did I not know it was him?” (I’ve said things like that … you have too.) And then the clue they missed came into their minds … but of course … “Our hearts burned within us!” Jesus’ presence was setting us on fire inside … I need to remember that … He was with me and I didn’t perceive it!

May you perceive with clarity!

Chaplain Mark

The Gospel of Mark Mentions the Walk to Emmaus (Just after Jesus sees Mary)

Mark 16:12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

The Walk to Emmaus

Luke 24:13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Today’s Word Is DISCOURAGED

Tue-Apr-28-2020

“Disappointment is inevitable, but discouragement is a choice.” – Dr. Charles Stanley

We have every reason to be disappointed sometimes, as we are human, and disappointment is a natural emotion. But we do not have to let disappointment become discouragement, because faith in God makes discouragement avoidable. Do you believe the Scripture and the promises of God? Then you have a constant source of encouragement from the Holy Spirit, plus more from others who care about you.

The French word for “heart” is “couer,” and this relates directly to the words encourage and discourage.

Encouragement … means having “heart” put into you.

Discouragement … means having “heart” taken out of you.

In the Kingdom of God, no outside force can overpower the Spirit of God that is within you and remove all the “heart” from you. Your heart is Spirit-filled to be motivated and empowered.

But … we do get discouraged sometimes, so why is that? It starts with being disappointed, and that is natural and happens to everyone. But then … we have a choice … am I going to focus on the problem and “allow” (give my permission) for this disappointment to take some “heart” out of me … or will I lean into God and let him put more “heart” into me?

You will overcome a great hindrance to your faith and growth if you will accept the fact that … as Charles Stanley points out … discouragement is a choice. We see the obstacles and get scared, rather than seeing God and taking courage.

As Americans we have been somewhat conditioned to think that we can’t help being the way we are. If you think about it, this is equivalent to giving up control of ourselves and letting the world and circumstances turn us into what they want to. Yes, we have basic personality characteristics which remain with us throughout life. But the truth is that regardless of what we are like today, we can change by submitting ourselves to God and allowing him to transform us. God does his part and we do ours.

We can undergo this transformation by not choosing discouragement at times of disappointment. Jesus endured far greater disappointment and suffering than we ever could. So, think of him, as the Scripture says …

“For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” (Hebrews 12:3)

In times of disappointment we can catch ourselves and make a declaration  … “I may be disappointed by what has happened, but I will not get discouraged, because my God is bigger than my problems.”

Look around. Sometimes you can see the discouragement in someone’s eyes or body language, hear it in their tone of voice, or sense it in their attitude or conversation. My tendency earlier in life was to think that the way to help them was to solve their problem so the disappointment goes away, and the discouragement is avoided. But if we are always fixing the problem, they are not learning how to keep disappointment from becoming discouragement. They are learning that God is not the solution, the “fix” is the solution.

This is not to say that I should never help anyone. But I do have a responsibility to ask myself, “Am I pointing people toward Christ or toward me?” Is there someone who needs your encouragement today? Take the time. Put some “heart” into them.

Have a blessed day!

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word is BLAME

Mon-Apr-27-2020

I have ministered to many, many people who are looking for someone or something to blame for the difficulties they are going through. We often want to tell this person the wonderful verse from Jeremiah 29:11 that says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Many people know this verse and are encouraged by it. It sounds like it is especially addressed to someone who is not prospering or has been harmed, or perhaps someone who feels like the future holds no hope. By this verse we are reminded that God is not the one who is the perpetrator of the terrible things that happen in our lives. I am thankful that I did not grow up blaming God for things, but some people have developed the tendency to accuse him of doing them harm. These are the ones who resent this verse. It seems to them to be a false promise.

Perhaps they feel as though they have been lied to. They do not see prosperity or a hopeful future. Rather, based on their terrible lot in life, they have become weary of relying on hope, and now would rather get a secondary satisfaction out of finding someone to blame.

If you are one of those, I suspect it is because you may have had more than your share of difficulties, tragedies, and abusive or harmful circumstances. It seems unfair and maybe you direct the blame toward God simply because you can’t think of anyone else to take it out on. After all, he’s the great “fixer,” isn’t he?

The path to overcoming this resentment involves reinterpreting our expectations of what life is meant to be like. We must admit that no person will escape difficulty at some time. And at those points, would we be willing to let someone comfort us, even though they do not fix the problem? If we cannot release our problem in exchange for warmth and acceptance, this is an admission that all of life is about “me” and essentially a declaration that I cannot be satisfied, since life will never go perfectly for me or anyone. I am thus waiting for the impossible.

Jeremiah 29:11 is not about a formula for success by which we become happy when good things finally start to happen. It is more about a relationship with a loving God who meets us in the middle of the ups and downs of life and walks us through them. The hope and the future of which God speaks is that of being loved and accepted. This is hope … that I will make it. I don’t have to know “how” I will make it, but only that God will never forsake or abandon me. At those times when we may feel disappointed or even abandoned, the Scripture says this,

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. (Jeremiah 29:12-14)

This is describing the Captivity of the Jews in Babylon. The great truth is that God heard their cry and came to them. No nation, no evil, no bad thing can keep us in its grasp forever when we belong to God. We keep seeking him “with all our heart.” Notice that the promise to restore their “fortune” is not so much about wealth, but rather he said we would “bring them back” to their original place with God.

Did God put you in the places of difficulty or “captivity”? So it seems, by this Scripture. But remember, the Old Testament is a story of learning what God is like, and we learn by experience. Would reading an explanation of restoration teach us well enough? Not for me. It is by being in the place of captivity, feeling the despair, longing for being home and at rest that I learn by experiencing, internalizing, and claiming the beauty and victory of restoration and peace.

This is God’s plan for a hope and a future, that he goes with us into our wildernesses, allows our pain and struggle to teach us, and then restores that which was lost.

I cannot blame God for letting me learn the hard way. And I thank him that the great gift of his presence is my hope and my future.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s True Story … TEMPORARY SHOES

Fri-Apr-24-2020

A wealthy tycoon made arrangements with his attorney that at his death, all his fortune would be converted to gold bars and buried with him so he could take it to heaven.

Eventually the day came, and he arrived at the Pearly Gates with a huge moving truck. St. Peter said, “OK. This is unusual. What’s in the truck?”

The doors to the truck were swung open revealing thousands of gold bars, and St. Peter exclaimed, “Pavement! Thank you!”

Just a reminder that there are lots of “things” we accumulate in this life that have no eternal value. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Today’s True Story … a new feature about the many people I have met, events I have witnessed, and stories I have heard.

In 2009, I became the host of a national radio program called “The Healing Touch,” which aired on XM & Sirius Satellite Radio, from midnight to 2:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. Using six incoming 800 lines, I chatted with people across North America about growing in faith and prayed with them about life’s problems. The following is a true story from listeners who called in to the live talk show.

TEMPORARY SHOES

Billie went shopping with her husband David, and they found a close-out bin with a pair of great shoes that fit David perfectly. He didn’t come shopping for shoes, and really didn’t need another pair, but they couldn’t pass up the deal. The next day, he went to work and wore them all day … best feeling shoes in a long time, name brand, first class, what a bargain. Then there was the man walking down the road as David drove home from work … a man wearing only one shoe. David stopped and the man explained his other shoe fell apart. David took his off and they fit the man perfectly. It made the man cry, and David drove away, the former owner of a temporary pair of bargain shoes. A God-designed encounter.

Have a safe and healthy weekend,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is IMITATION

Thu-Apr-23-2020

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” (1st Thessalonians 1:6-7)

The tough things that you go through are often made easier by observing someone else who has handled such a situation very well. It causes us to think, “If they can do it, I can do it.”

The new converts in the city of Thessalonica must have liked how the Apostle Paul handled life. He was passionate about what he was doing, and seemed to have an extra portion of emotional, physical, and spiritual energy. To observe such a person is very inspiring. “Whatever potion he is taking, I want some!” Of course, that potion was the love of God so deeply infused into Paul’s being that he was confident in who he was and what he wanted to do for the Lord.

When Paul commended those folks for imitating him, it wasn’t a selfish moment of bragging, he was rather explaining the principle of how God passes on his gifts of love, joy, peace, and hope. And the result of imitating someone who demonstrates those fruits is that you begin to bear fruit yourself.

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. (2nd Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Apparently, it was working because Paul said to them, “You have become a model …” It is both thrilling and humbling to think that someone would look at your life and be inspired, and to want what you have. Not the wanting of material things, but of the zest, determination, and blessed “state of being” that defines who you are, or rather who you have become.

Imitation in the manufacturing world often refers to things that are fake or cheap, not the real thing. But in the human world, imitation is a large part of how we learn. Imitation has been called a form of flattery, but its higher purpose in the spiritual realm is to be the Gospel model by which we learn to live, to be our best selves, and pass that on to others.

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7)

Whom do you desire to imitate? Maybe a pastor, teacher, coach, classmate, co-worker, church member, parent, or grandparent.

And are there people who are inspired at what they see in you, and want to imitate you? I hope so.

Blessed to be a blessing,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is AFRAID

Wed-Apr-22-2020

The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

These are rhetorical questions … meaning you should know the answer without having to be told! Whom shall I fear? The obvious answer is no one. Of whom shall I be afraid? No one, of course.

Well, wait a minute … There is this phrase in the Scripture about the fear of the Lord. It means to respect and revere him. The old Bob Dylan song says … “It may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody.” The fear of the Lord means that he is the one you serve, and that you therefore have no fear of the devil. Fear of the Lord is a good thing.

In order for you to answer that you fear no one … you will have to be able to say that you fear, respect, submit to the Lord. If not, you’re on your own, and you definitely have a lot to fear in this life without God’s protection. In other words, fear God alone, or suffer with the fears of everything else. Charles Swindoll once said that as he got older, he came to be unafraid of anyone, their opinions, their criticism, and their attitude of superiority, all because of his fear of the Lord.

When God is your light, your salvation, your stronghold. … you won’t have to be afraid of anything or anyone. It is a life-changing transition to move from fear-based to faith-based living. Fear-based living creates a sense of being unprotected. There are constant thoughts about what might go wrong.

Fear is a sign of unbelief. Remember the disciples in the boat? And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26) Notice he did not say “no faith,” he said, “little faith.” Do not panic and think that having areas of little faith or of unbelief indicates you are not saved. Many Bible characters, and many people today, have degrees or moments of unbelief. It does not necessarily mean the opposite of salvation. It may just indicate an area of your life in which you need God’s help to cast out some darkness and let God’s light come in. The father of a boy possessed with demons asked Jesus for help. Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) And Jesus immediately cast them out. I have said the same thing that father said a number of times in my life.

As for fear, if the Bible says, “Do not fear,” then fear is sometimes not just an emotion, but a choice we make, and we are told not to choose it. Fear freezes your growth. Fear robs you of blessings. Fear keeps you from blessing others. Fear invites the enemy to control areas of your life.

When these areas of fear are overcome, you will live with greater confidence. Your faith rises up to remind you that nothing can destroy you, no matter how bad it might seem. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35,37)

Faith-based living, “fear-less” living involves a trust in what the Apostle Paul said … “my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

There are TV commercials and movie lines that talk about “no fear,” but they are more about striking back at an unfair world. This promotes an attitude of defiance, self-protection, and pride. When the Scripture says, “no fear,” it is about fully trusting and living at peace with God. That has a much different feel to it than boasting about “no fear.” You can experience that you are no longer afraid of what anyone or anything can do to you. We can again make that declaration today … or if you have never done so, declare it for the first time … I am not afraid; I will not live in fear.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is PERSISTENCE

Tue-Apr-21-2020

I believe the best quote about persistence that I ever heard came from legendary baseball player Babe Ruth, who once said, “It’s hard to beat a man who never gives up.”

Trainers, coaches, and developers of athletes can tell you that there is only one way to really find out how much of something you are capable of doing, and that is to do as much as you can, and then do one more. This is an act of the will in which one decides to ignore obstacles and keep going.

Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers pro football team, and many other successful people used this principle. Lombardi once said … “The difference between a successful person and others is not lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”

Many people become great successes through persistence. Thomas Edison, inventor of over 1,000 patented items, including the phonograph, electric light, and movie camera, said it this way … “Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Have you seen the movie “Facing the Giants”? The high school football coach wanted to test one of his players on his persistence. He asked the young man if he could crawl on all fours to the 30-yard line? “Yes.” How about if I put this guy on your back, could you still do it? “Yes.” How about to the 50-yard line? “I think I can.”

So, the coach blind-folded him, had the other player sit on his back, and he started crawling. Other players cheered him on. “Keep going.” “You can do it.” “Just a little more to go.” The young man did not realize that he had gone well past the 50-yard line. By the time he got to the 5-yard line, they were telling him, “Just a few yards to go.” And he made it and collapsed. Boy, was he astonished when he removed the blindfold and discovered he went all 100 yards!

England needed to survive World War II, so Prime Minister Winston Churchill said this in a speech of encouragement … “Never give up! Never give up! Never give up!”

This principle has a role in the Christian life. The Apostle Paul was pretty persistent. He got beat up and thrown out of town once; they thought he was dead. But he laid there awhile, got up, and went right back into town. (Acts 14:19) He was a man on a mission! Here’s what he said about persistence: “… but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – (Philippians 3:13-14)

There are two advantages that we as Christians have as we practice persistence. One is the purpose we are seeking to achieve. It is a God mission we are on! And the second is that the Power of the Holy Spirit is at work in us. We do not have to rely on our strength alone. Sometimes we accomplish more than we could imagine because we know God puts his power at work in us.

The Apostle Paul once prayed for an infirmity or limitation to be taken away. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2nd Corinthians 12:8-9b)

Steven Curtis Chapman sang this song, based on that Scripture … “His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on. Raised in His power, the weak become strong. His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.”

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is SERVANT

Mon-Apr-20-2020

On the evening of Jesus’ Last Supper with the disciples, one thing he did was to get down on the floor with a basin of water and a towel and wash the disciples’ feet.

Jesus … rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself about. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. (John 13:3-5)

But why would Jesus take time out during this final Passover meal to do this? Before I answer that, how about this question – what comes to your mind as the most important thing Jesus said or taught that night? Maybe … I am the way, the truth, the life … or I am the vine, you are the branches … or when I go I will send the Holy Spirit to you … or this is my body, this is my blood … or oh so many other things that were said that night. It would be foolish to try to rank them.

However, here’s one idea about the extreme importance of Jesus washing their feet that night. Above all, they did not expect Jesus to be on the floor doing this. But Jesus was doing this not just to teach a lesson, but to illustrate it. Actually, he had been teaching it over and over already, and apparently not getting through. Frankly, if the disciples did not shed their fixation on seeking greatness, their roles in the Church would be diminished, and the model of humility and servanthood for all believers might suffer.

Fixation? Well, there is this story … And they came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. (Mark 9:33-34)

The fact that they kept silent instead of answering tells us that they already knew this was the wrong attitude. In Matthew 18:4, Jesus told them, “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” And on another occasion, Jesus talked to them about servanthood with these words, “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11)

And to top it off, this issue was still going on at the Last Supper, during which, “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.” (Luke 22:24)

 I believe Jesus decided to teach servanthood in an unforgettable way, by getting down low to serve, doing the worst job, the most demeaning act, humbling himself even to the point of what others considered humiliating … as if to say, this is what you must do if you are going to imitate your Savior and Lord. Dr. Charles Swindoll once said, “The disciples fought over the crown; they did not fight over the towel.”

But Jesus had to make it “crystal clear,” essentially saying this, “No more talk about who is greatest. And if such thoughts of self-importance ever come to your mind, then remember me washing your feet. How are you, the disciples, going to teach the world how to be humble, without practicing it yourselves?”

What a surprise when Jesus did this, each one’s feet individually. Don’t you think he looked up into their eyes with his unforgettable look of compassion? I am sure he had a way of looking at you with love that penetrated to the core of your being. I believe Jesus wanted this moment to be permanently imprinted in their minds. Any time they would recall that amazing evening, there would be this image of the humility of Jesus as he cleaned their feet.

When Jesus came to Simon Peter … bless his heart … he couldn’t take it at first. He was the disciple that tried so hard to get it right … bless his heart. And he just had to ask why, and  Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you shall understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, ” If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” (John 13:7-8)

Well, Jesus said that Peter would understand later what this act of servanthood was about. And it came to pass the next day there was an even greater humiliation, the innocent Jesus carrying his own cross, agonizing from a crown of thorns, being stripped of his clothes, nailed to the cross, and mocked as he died.

There is a significance to all this in the life of every believer, as well as in the life of the Church. There is no humiliation we could suffer greater than that of our Savior.

What does all this mean? There will be a few in our world who will suffer physical harm, persecution, and death for their faith. But the vast majority of us will face other sorts of decisions about being a faithful and humble servant. Will I be kind to someone who doesn’t deserve it? Will I, as a church leader, sit in the floor with the children? Will I, at my job, receive insults graciously without seeking retribution? If there is a messy spill to clean up, will I be the first to say, “I’ll get that”? This is about an attitude and a way of life.

This sounds to the world like it would make for a miserable life, but actually quite the opposite is true. It will become a great joy to be the servant of others. Jesus washed the disciples’ feet that night to show you and me how it is done, and to remind us to seek the towel of servanthood rather than the crown of greatness.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark