It's Time to Pray

I don’t think we can even begin to imagine the blessings that God would be willing to pour out upon a people who truly seek Him and pray for His will to be done. The Bible is loaded with prayer promises, such as Jesus taught: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7). 

And since God is all-wise, all-powerful, loving, faithful, merciful and gracious, His will in every situation is always for the best – for our good and for His glory.  

So why is it that we don’t pray more persistently and more passionately for His will to be done? I am convinced that individual lives, families, communities, states and nations would be much stronger and healthier if we would call upon the name of the Lord. Perhaps we’re facing such perilous times because we have not asked God for help. 

Rev. Billy Graham once said, “Heaven is full of answers to prayers for which no one ever bothered to ask.” 

It’s time to start asking. Let me invite you to come out and pray on Thursday, May 1, at 12:00 noon on the west lawn of the Menard County Courthouse for the National Day of Prayer. Let us call upon the Lord, asking for His help and healing. 

I want to share with you a prayer written by Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Billy Graham and 2014 Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. May these words reflect our own hearts’ desire for our Father’s will to be done: 

Lord of the Universe. Lord of this planet. Lord of the nations. Lord of our hearts. 

On this National Day of Prayer, we look to You…

In the darkness, You are our Light. 

In the storm, You are our Anchor. 

In our weakness, You are our Strength. 

In our grief, You are our Comfort. 

In our despair, You are our Hope. 

In our confusion, You are our Wisdom. 

In time of terrorism, You are our Shield. 

In time of war, You are our Peace. 

In times of uncertainty, You are the Rock on which we stand. 

We make our prayer to You using the words of the prophet Daniel: 

“O Lord, You are the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments. You are merciful and forgiving. You are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame because we have sinned against You, and done wrong. We have turned away from Your commands and principles. We have turned away from You.” 

Yet You have promised in 2 Chronicles 7, that if we–a people identified with You–would humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways, then You would hear our prayer, forgive our sin and heal our land. 

So we choose to stop pointing our finger at the sins of others, and examine our own hearts and lives. We choose to acknowledge our own sin–our neglect and defiance and ignorance and even rejection of You. This day we choose to repent. 

In response to our heartfelt repentance, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Father of Jesus Christ, in keeping with all Your righteous acts and according to Your promise, turn away Your anger and Your wrath from the United States of America. Hear the prayers and petitions offered to You on this National Day of Prayer, as we give You our full attention. Give ear, our God, and hear; open Your eyes and see. We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy. 

For the glory of Your Name hear our prayer, forgive our sin, and heal our land. 

We ask this in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ who offers us salvation from Your judgment, forgiveness for our sin, and reconciliation with You through His own blood shed on the Cross. Amen.

Jesus - our only hope of glory

A 16-year-old sophomore in Pennsylvania calmly walks into school and stabs 21 people. Another fatal shooting spree at Fort Hood leaves four dead and 14 wounded.  Some madman opens fire on a Jewish community center and an assisted living facility killing three. Every day there’s breaking news of another spree of violence. 

Then there’s the alarming problem of increased human trafficking (slavery) not just in a few third-world countries somewhere else, but right here in our nation. There are gambling addictions, drug and alcohol addictions, pornography addictions and who knows what other addictions that are destroying lives and tearing families apart. 

There seems to be an unquenchable thirst for sexual immorality, impurity, lust, jealousy, quarreling, selfish ambition, dissension, anger, hatred and falsehood that has seeped into and taken over our cultural mentality, and it’s crumbling our foundations and rotting out the very walls that have held this nation together, strong and secure. 

We are in a mess. What in the world is going on?! 

Could it be that we’re simply suffering the effects of what happens when a culture becomes godless and jettisons biblical values? When sin goes unchecked and people do whatever seems right in their own eyes? When we reject the ways of the Lord and applaud the ways of the wicked? That is why – more than ever – we need to return to the hope of the gospel of Christ Jesus. And we’d better do it sooner than later. 

Don’t expect Washington to get it all figured out and straightened up. Neither laws nor politicians can change the wickedness of men’s hearts. Don’t wait for Hollywood to recognize the moral poison it’s spewing out and decide to clean up its act. The media wouldn’t even produce the kind of garbage they do if viewers weren’t craving it. Don’t think higher education holds the key to getting the ship back on course. Many of our nation’s leading universities are awash in atheistic thought and immorality. 

What we need is Jesus. In the words of Christian rock band Petra: “When will this world see that we need Jesus? If we open our eyes we will all realize that He loves us.” He is our truly only hope. Without Christ, we’re done. We’re sunk. If we don’t repent and get right with God through Jesus, we’re only going to see the chaos and confusion and violence and immorality escalate exponentially to our grave destruction. 

It’s only by God’s patient, loving grace that we’re not already feeling the full brunt of His displeasure. But if we continue to flaunt our sin in His face, it surely won’t be long until we are completely undone by His judgment. 

Church, I’m calling us to get on our knees and humbly seek the Lord and turn from our own sins first and foremost. How can we expect God to bless and heal our land if we’re not seeking His face and following His ways? How can we possibly expect the lost to come to Jesus if they don’t see Jesus living in us? 

And I’m calling us, church, to rise up and proclaim the gospel of Christ Jesus. Pastors, lead the charge for the sake of the kingdom! Don’t compromise the truth at the risk of offending someone in your congregation, but unleash the Word of God in all of its grand and glorious and life-changing power. Call your people to repentance and holiness in Christ. Tell them they’ve spent enough time already doing what pagans choose to do, and plead with them to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires, and to walk in step with the Holy Spirit in the light of God’s life-giving Word. 

This Sunday – Easter Sunday – is the perfect time to proclaim the meaning of the cross and the power of the resurrection. The world needs Jesus, our only hope of glory. 

I Will Embrace the Cross

 In case you haven’t received an official invitation yet, let me invite you to join us at the First Baptist Church this coming Sunday morning, April 13, at 10:45 as our choir presents the Easter cantata, “I Will Embrace the Cross.” Yes, it’s only Palm Sunday, but the message still sings. So, if you don’t already attend a Christ-centered church that preaches the gospel in all its grand and glorious truth, we’d love for you to be our guest.

We’ve had a good time learning the songs in this musical. The energy of celebration and worship in a few of the numbers has even led some of our altos to raise theirs hands in the air, which is a bold expression of praise for many Baptists.

We are typically hands-in-pocket singers, perhaps daring occasionally to tap fingers on the pew, maybe do some light clapping along or even uttering a sporadic “Amen” if a particular song grips us in a special way. So if you see us raising the roof you’ll know the Spirit’s moving!

You’ll also hear in this cantata some deeper, personally reflective songs that God has used to draw us to worship with grateful and sincere hearts. There is one called “Your Blood Covers It All” which powerfully reminds us that what Jesus did for us on the cross covers “all my sins, all my shame, all my secrets, all my chains.”

How can we think about the suffering Jesus endured for us without being moved to brokenness and repentance? How can we ever question His love for us, His unceasing mercies or overflowing grace? How can we possibly choose the paths of sin when Christ has given us new joy, new peace, new satisfaction and new life?

This is the good news of which we sing. This is the simple, yet life-changing gospel message that we want the world to hear. The apostle Paul says it this way:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for ours sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5).

Paul never got over what Jesus did for him. Paul knew that he was unworthy to be called an apostle. He was a self-described “chief of sinners.” He was a blasphemer, persecutor and violent opponent of the church. But all that changed when the grace of the Lord shone into the midst of his darkness, because Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and transform them into trophies of His grace.

Like Paul. Like the thief on the cross and the tax-collecting thief Zacchaeus. Like the immoral woman at the well, and the “woman of the city,” and the woman caught in the act of adultery. Like the demon-possessed and the blind and the lepers and the lame who believed in Him. Like you and like me and like whosoever believes in Jesus for salvation, turning away from sin and turning in faith to the One whose blood shed on the cross offers forgiveness and mercy and everlasting life and eternal joy.

Friend, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). That’s why we sing! That’s why we celebrate! Jesus has saved us and changed us so that we’re no longer walking in darkness, but by following the One who is the light of the world, by taking up our cross to follow, we’re walking in the light of life!

Why not come to Christ today? Don’t wait. Don’t keep making excuses. Don’t let your past keep you in darkness. The blazing light of heaven’s glory is shining for you now. His blood covers all your sin, and the His victory over death has been won. It’s time to follow Jesus and declare with Him, “I Will Embrace the Cross.”

Studying for Transformation

 I realized three years ago that I’m not really smarter than a 5^th grader. Tyler was then learning things in school that I could not remember ever knowing. I must have been absent the day they learned which composer wrote the “1812 Overture” or which ancient city-states were involved in The Peloponnesian War.

You probably know these answers without Googling, but attending Lincoln Elementary School in Robinson, I’m more likely to remember the scores to our kickball games at recess than remembering how to figure out answers to questions like: “If a fraction has a common denominator of 5, what must the numerator be to make it a unit fraction?” I also recall that in 5^th grade I received the only paddling I ever got in school, but that’s a story for another article. 

Tyler’s now in 8^th grade, and after watching a portion of a recent junior high scholar bowl match, I’m definitely out of my league. See how you do on some of these (a sample of junior high questions, but not necessarily from that tournament). 

• Sunlight causes the potato to turn green and produce what poison?
• What body does the moon Triton orbit? 
• Who carved Stone Mountain, but is better known for his work on Mt. Rushmore?

I think I must have missed some days in 8^th grade, as well. But I do know that our boys basketball team made it to the 8AA IESA State Championship Game with an undefeated record, where we lost in overtime to Dixmoor Rosa Parks. I had a front row bench seat for the whole season, being among the “Minute Men” who got to play the final minute of most games because we were often ahead by a safe margin. It was a memorable year on the basketball floor; I just didn’t really learn much in the classroom.

There are so many things I wish I would have paid more attention to in school. I would especially love to know more history and world geography. I never got into science, but now I wish I could talk intelligently on that level. I took two years of German in high school, but it’s one of those use it or lose it skills, and since I’ve never been to Germany or have any occasion to use it, it’s gone. If I’d have taken Spanish I would surely have more opportunity to keep that language fresh. 

By the way, how did you do with the questions above? Here are the answers to the 5th grade questions: 

• The "1812 Overture" was written by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. 
• The Pelopponisian Ward was primarily a conflict between Athens and Sparta.
• If a fraction has a common denominator of 5, the number 1 must be the numerator to make it a unit fraction. 

And for you 8th grade scholar bowl challengers, here you go:

• Sunlight causes the potato to turn green and produces the poison Solonin. 
• The moon Triton orbits Neptune.
• Gutzon Borglum was the man who sculpted Mt. Rushmore.

It’s never too late to learn, I know. I could spend time studying any or all of these subjects. But my passion for the past 15 years has been studying the Bible. I’m nowhere near where I want to be in my understanding of the Scripture. In fact, the more I learn the more I realize how much more there is to know. But I love digging into the Word of God and seeing what’s there. Not just for the sake of information, but for transformation. 

The Bible is unlike any other book. It is living and active, convicting and challenging, exposing and encouraging. Far from being a dusty old collection of myths or fairy tales, the Bible is more relevant today than every latest self-help best-seller on the market. It is truth. It is enduring. It is unchanging. The Word of God stands forever. 

It is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. It brings heaven’s blessings to those who follow in its ways. It revives the soul, makes the simple wise, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, warns against sin and leads us to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. God uses it to prepare and equip His people for doing every good work. 

Let me encourage you, friend, to read, study, meditate upon, memorize, pray through, and follow the teachings of God’s Word. You may not become a scholar bowl champion, but you will celebrate with thanks to God for the victory that is ours through our Lord Jesus Christ! 

Are You Ready?

 I admit it. I am one of those people who went to the store right before the winter storm came and got some milk and other essentials, like ingredients for tacos. Don’t give me that look; you were there, too. Everybody was.

That’s all right, though. I mean, you never know. This winter weather has been pretty unpredictable. I’m just thankful we have a grocery store in town. And while our church, along with several others, was cancelled Sunday morning, guess who was open? County Market.

I hope you don’t think less of our commitment to come together for worship, when County Market opens up for business while we close for the day. But it was the wise decision for us to make, and I’m sure they felt staying open was the wise decision for them. After coming in early to the church building Sunday morning to survey the situation and make some phone calls, I also stopped at the store for some donuts on the way home. I’m glad they were open. Yeah, I’m one of those people.

Okay, so a friend posted a picture on Facebook that showed some lady with a full shopping cart ready to unload groceries in her car in a snowstorm. The caption read: “People: Tell them bad weather is coming, and they prepare! Tell them Jesus is coming, and they do nothing.” And I thought that’s about the way it is.

We believe the weatherman when he says the storm is coming, but do you believe the preacherman when he says Christ is coming? 

"Well, when’s He coming?” you ask. Good question.

Here’s the answer. “Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2). In others words – rather, in Jesus’ own words, He said: “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44).

The point, obviously, is that we don’t know when He’s coming, which means we must always be prepared. There is no radar that can track His movements and forecast His arrival. It would be foolish to even try, though some fools have attempted to predict dates of His second coming, and failed.

But we can see the signs and know that the time is drawing near. Some of these signs, as Jesus says in Matthew 24 include: many who claim themselves to be Christ and deceive many people; wars and rumors of war; nation rising against nation, kingdoms against kingdoms; famines and earthquakes in various place; extreme persecution and hatred of Christians; many who will turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other; many false prophets appearing and deceiving people; increase of wickedness; the love of most will grow cold; and the preaching of the gospel to the whole world.

You know what? It looks like we’d better start paying attention to the signs.

Friend, I urge you to get ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus. I’m not talking about getting an extra gallon of milk or some taco sauce, either. I’m not talking about making sure you’ve got enough gas in your car or seeing that the generator’s working.

I’m urging you to get on your knees before a holy and righteous God and plead for His mercy. I’m telling you to recognize that because of your sin, you need the salvation that Christ Jesus alone offers to rescue you from the coming storm of God’s wrath and judgment. I’m warning you to repent from your sin and believe in Jesus, who died on the cross in your place, so that you will not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus is coming, and He’s coming soon. Are you ready?

Following the Star

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” – Matthew 2:1-2

Was there any chance the journey of the magi would end without finding the King of kings? I say no way. 

God had given these wise men a sign from heaven – a brilliant star – to guide their journey. He had given them a desire in their heart to come and worship the King. And when they put feet to their faith in pursuit of the One worthy of their treasures, the Lord magnificently rewarded their quest. 

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” - Matthew 2:10-11 

Do you know, friend, that when you seek the Lord with all your heart, you will find Him? And when you find Him you’ll, too, rejoice with great joy, worshiping Him as King and offering your treasures in glad and grateful adoration. 

When king David neared the end of his life, his gave this charge to his son, Solomon: 

“Know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him he will cast you off forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9). 

God will not hide himself from those who truly seek him. He is not elusive. He will not lead you astray. He will not leave you with regret. He will not disappoint. 

But He will reward your earnest, seeking faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). 

He delights to reveal Himself to those who seek Him with longing hearts. To those who cry out to Him in brokenness, in despair, in trouble, He is never far away. To those who refuse to be satisfied with a superficial knowledge of the Savior or ritualistic religion, and are willing to pursue Him wholeheartedly, the Lord is pleased to grant greater revelations of His glory than most men will ever know. 

Do you need a star to help guide your way to Jesus? Seek Him through the Bible and it will glow for you. Seek Him in the church and the light will shine. Seek Him in prayer through the power of the Holy Spirit and you will discover His glory radiating in brilliant display. Keep following the star and you’ll soon find the joy of worshipping the King of kings. 

The Wonder of the Impossible

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be called holy – the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God. – Luke 1:34-37

Let’s leave room for the wonder of the impossible this Christmas, and see what miracles God has in store.

Not the wonder of how Santa gets down the chimney to put gifts under the tree. Not the wonder of how reindeer know how to fly. Not the wonder of, “How in the world am I going to pay for all this stuff?” And not the wonder of, “What on earth was I thinking when I invited all these people over for dinner?”

Leaving room for the wonder means letting God be God. Let’s face it: we don’t often understand the ways of God. We don’t always know how He does what He does or even why He does it. But that’s okay. Since we can trust that He is perfectly good, we don’t have to know all the details of His plans. It’s okay to leave room for God to accomplish His will in any way He wants, through whomever He chooses, using whatever means He desires. Mary certainly did. So did Elizabeth.

For truly there is nothing impossible with God. If He can create life through a virgin womb, He can certainly create a way for you where there seems to be no way. If He can open the womb of a barren woman to conceive, He can open up a way for you through the most impossible circumstances you face.

Your lonely heart is not impossible for God to comfort. Your addiction is not impossible for God to break. Your broken marriage is not impossible for God to fix. Your illness is not impossible for God to heal. Your sin is not impossible for Him to forgive. Whatever you’re facing today that seems impossible to you is not too difficult for God.

“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17).

Turn in faith to the Lord God this Christmas through Jesus, and in wonder watch Him do the impossible.

And if you don’t have a church home, let me invite you to join us this Sunday morning at 10:45 at the First Baptist Church in Petersburg for a Christmas worship celebration. Then on Christmas Eve, next Tuesday, we’ll gather for a special Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 9:00 p.m. We’d love to welcome you!

The Great Nevertheless

It’s “The Great Nevertheless.” It is the heart of the Christmas season and, indeed, of life itself. It is the remedy for the deepest miseries we face; the cure for the darkest of despairs. And it just may be the Christmas miracle you need this year.

In the days of Isaiah the prophet, in the 8^th century B.C., the people of Israel were just about as rebellious against God as they could be. The Lord had blessed them in such abundance with His goodness and mercy that they should have been forever loyal to Him. He promised His very presence among them, that He would be their sanctuary, their strength, their Savior. But rather than turn to Him in faith, they turned their back in spite.

They were looking to make unholy alliances with the wicked Assyrians for their protection, when they should have been trusting in the mighty hand of God. They were seeking the fortune-tellers, mediums and spiritists for direction and guidance when they should have been consulting the wisdom of God. They did not regard the Lord as holy. They did not have a reverential fear of Him. They did not wait upon the Lord nor trust in Him. They failed to recognized the signs and wonders that He had done in their midst, and they ignored the promises He made in His Word.

Hmmm. It’s a good thing we’re not following that path today, huh?

Instead of walking in His light, they were stumbling over the Living Stone, and the Lord said they would fall and be broken in His judgment against them for their sin. They would be ensnared and captured. They would wander through the land dejected and hungry, and when they become famished they would become enraged and curse their God and King. They would look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness, and the gloom of anguish. And they would be thrust into utter darkness.

The situation could not have been more dire. Perhaps, friend, you’re in a situation today that could not be darker. Whether by your own sinful desires and decisions, or by circumstances far beyond your control, maybe you find yourself facing the deepest gloom of anguish you’ve ever known.

Let me introduce you to “The Great Nevertheless.” After Isaiah spells out the case against Israel, he then offers them a hope of grace and glory that is yet to come that would shatter the shadows of gloom forever – a hope offered to you, as well:

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress...The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned…” (Isaiah 9:1-2).

There it is, the great “Nevertheless.” God gives His people a promise that He will shine a light upon them so great that it will dispel the darkness and distress eternally. And He would do it by sending forth a child to be born, His very own Son, Jesus, the Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us. And the darkness wouldn’t stand a chance. 

Christmas is all about the coming of Jesus Christ from heaven to earth, bringing salvation to mankind, turning our darkness into light, our anguish into glory, our sorrow into joy, our oppression into freedom, our terror into triumph and defeat into victory. 

It’s a message of hope and salvation, this great “Nevertheless.” That though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though weeping may endure for the night, joy comes in the morning. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

If you’re in need of a Christmas miracle this year, trust in Christ as your sanctuary, your strength, your salvation – and you’ll be walking in the light of life. 

Welcome, October!

Last week I said that The Observer ought to cover the PORTA football team, and, lo and behold, I bought a copy of the paper and right there on the front page was a great write-up of the game. I didn’t see a byline, but to whomever wrote that article – nice job! 

October has always been my favorite month. On the sports front you’ve got football season in full swing, post-season baseball (yes, Cubs fans, there is baseball in October), and even basketball practices get started. Sorry, hockey fans, I’ve tried to like your sport but I just can’t. It’s a good time to be a sports fan. 

Weatherwise, I enjoy the cooler mornings and warmer afternoons, and the transformation of the leaves into beautiful fall colors always highlights the season. “For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy” (Psalm 92:4). There’s even some good motorcycle riding left in October. 

Then there’s the fact that my birthday is in October, the 12^th to be exact. I suppose everyone’s favorite month is the one in which their birthday falls. Maybe I’m just a kid, but I secretly still enjoy the special attention. However, with my youngest son’s birthday coming just two days after mine, much of that attention over the past nine years has been diverted to Toby. Oh, well. I’m going to stop counting pretty soon anyway. 

And to top off October, I’ve found out that along with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, National Book Month, National CyberSecurity Awareness Month and National Bullying Prevention Month, among a host of others, this is also Pastor Appreciation Month. 

A couple of weeks ago I came home to find two long-bearded thugs in my garage messing around with my motorcycle. Listen, if there’s anything you don’t do, you don’t mess around with another man’s wife and you don’t even think about touching his motorcycle. But before I could show them my best Karate Kid “Crane Kick,” it turns out the intruders were installing a new windshield on my bike. The whole operation, as I understand, was even being financed by a couple of tough gangs in town that like to refer to themselves as “Senior Men” and “The Ladies” Sunday School classes. 

I would say the whole thing smells fishy to me, but not as fishy as the Jay Leno line someone posted on Facebook recently: “The National Aquarium in Washington is going to close. But don’t worry. If you’re in D.C. and you still want to smell something fishy, stop by the White House. They’ve gone from ‘Change you can believe in’ to ‘Changing the story until you believe it.’” Oh, the things I could say about the state of our political absurdity and chaos. America voted for change, and we’re sure getting it. 

Last week I got a letter in the mail from my current health insurance provider stating that the new law (Obamacare) requires that I have maternity benefits. Talk about change! All I know is that if my wife finds out that I’m pregnant, heads are gonna roll!

If I could change anything about October it would be our culture’s fascination with the dead, our appetite for fright and enjoyment of all the ghosts and goblins and witches and wickedness we see around Halloween. Clearly for a Christian, we are called to walk in the light of Christ Jesus and have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness. And yes, I’m talking about the horror movies and TV shows portraying (and glorifying) all sorts of violence, gore and death. I’m talking about haunted houses that feast on terrifying young and old with evil images, scary scenes and the dread of darkness.

“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Christ Jesus has called His followers out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46). You’re not walking in the light when you’re walking through dark haunted houses, watching horror movies or reading books about zombies.

There is so much more, so much that’s better and true and good and wholesome and hope-filled and peaceful and life-giving when we’re living by the light of Christ Jesus and shining out that light into the darkness of the world. And let me offer my appreciation to my fellow pastors who preach that word of the gospel. May the Lord bless you and His church as you stay faithful in the work! Enjoy October!

 

"Smarter than my Dad"

“…and that’s the day I got smarter than my Dad,” Toby grinned as he talked with me about what he was going to tell his friends at school. Unfortunately, I could hardly disagree with him. 

After all, when he pointed out the nail in the front driver’s side tire, it really was a bonehead move for me to pull it out. And that against my 8-year-old’s counsel to leave it in. I’m not sure what I expected to happen. Maybe that it would not have actually pierced the inner tube or that perhaps it would not leak, miraculously. Hey, if Jesus can stop the wind from blowing on the sea, surely He could stop the air from leaking from my tire.

All I know is that nails do not belong in tires, and I wanted it gone. Of course, the hissing that immediately followed my blunder quickly deflated my pride and served as confirmation to Toby that he just got smarter than his Dad. 

At least I can still beat him in arm wrestling. Wish I could say the same about my 13-year-old. We usually end in a draw, but I should note that he always wants to take me on when my right arm is already physically exhausted from playing the guitar or writing newspaper articles or strenuous texting. I think they must be beefing him up in football. 

Speaking of football, the PORTA Junior High teams are doing well. If you missed the home games, you’ll have to travel to catch the last couple away, but it might be worth the trip. The 8^th graders are undefeated (as of this writing) so far this year, having gone 8-0 last year. They have some great players on the team, but the coaches have really drilled the fundamentals of the game into them, taught them well, praised them enough but not too much, and have been tough on them when needed. Go watch a game and you’ll see how well they execute. 

Then, speaking of football (again), was last Friday night’s homecoming game not one of the most thrilling high school football games you’ve ever seen? Big plays, clutch catches, blocked kicks, fumble recovery, Manning-like offense for Auburn, an AP-like running game for the Bluejays, overtime, an extra point through the uprights for the win. You name it, this game had everything but defense as PORTA electrified the home crowd with a 56-55 overtime win. Great job, Bluejays! Go take down the Bullets this weekend!

The Springfield paper had a nice write-up of the game in Sunday’s Sports section. They reported Jesse Setzer carried for 359 rushing yards breaking the school record set in 1988 by Bart Jones. The article also noted the Auburn QB threw 7 touchdown passes – also a school record. I’m one of those guys who will watch a game and then want to read about it in the paper the next day. I even like box scores. Weird, huh?

Somebody ought to cover the football team for The Observer. Even if you get the news nearly a week later, I think people would be interested in reading about our high school sports, wouldn’t they? I would so do it, too, if I weren’t already busy messing with car tires and arm wrestling with my boys.

Amy might write this one up in her journal. I thought it would be good for the boys to learn how to change a tire, so I had them come out to the garage with me, to learn from the master. Space will thankfully spare me from embarrassing myself here, but let’s just say it didn’t go as well as I would have hoped. Big thanks to Bill Hodges for bailing me out! I probably should have had Toby walk me through it since he’s smarter than me.

Finally, a biker’s wave goes out to the guys who rode their motorcycles for Bike to Church Sunday last week! Even had one pedal in to church. Next step, we need to get a group together and ride! Just want to let everyone know, even bikers, there is room at the cross for all who turn in faith to Christ Jesus. Hope to see you Sunday!