Digging in the Dirt

Over the last couple of weeks the elective that I have been involved co- facilitating called Is The Bible Reliable?led by Stephen B.Meyer, has been really fun. We have been examining the evidence that has been unearthed by digs in the middle east that even the hardest skeptic, has to admit , the Bible at the very least is reliable in its listing of cities and geographical areas that are mentioned. The same for the people mentioned .Moses is in Egypt ,not a mythical place like Asgard . Abraham lived the city of Ur , which we know existed.

It is so cool to challenge peoples perceptions that the Bible is removed from real life events. Anyone who reads the Old Testament ,has to be struck with the difference between its narratives and other religious mythologies at the time. One thing if you knew you were writing fiction , it would make real sense not to make references to real cities and people groups. Why? Because one can dig to see if what is written lines up with external evidences . Well we are 3 weeks in and guess what , we are seeing a very clear line of evidence that shows the Bible to be a amazing historical accurate document.

It may not convince a hardcore skeptic who understands , to say the word of God is true , it puts them under its moral and truth claims. But it can give us the inroad to present the gospel of Christ. To proclaim Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to awaken the dead to life.

So I love digging in the dirt , what about you?

Jason Gray "For the First Time Again" music and lyrics

Jason Gray is fast becoming one of my favourite artist. This song is a great reminder that we need the gospel everyday . That there is never a day we do not need Jesus and His cleansing fountain  that cleanses and renews.

The Gospel in Life

The gospel is preaching Jesus born of a virgin,living a sinless life (the God-man) and Him crucified for our sins and His resurrection on the third day showing what He did justifies.It is all those things and the responsibility of all to acknowledge ones sin before God,our need of Jesus ,repenting ,turning and trusting in the work of Christ.This work is of God alone but after it does not stop. What God has started , He will see it through in His people to the end . It has to to have an effect on ones world view  and life.

Granted at times we all feel its one step forward , three back but over a long stretch , one will and should see growth in how the gospel is shaping and conforming us to the image of Christ.

So as I was reading a news feeds today , I came across a story . A story that made me so sad , that it made stop and say to myself , this is a story that should make us so passionate with a heart that wants to share the gospel.

The story is gut wrenching sad . A little boy only 11 took his life thanks to being bullied. But the background fills in the details of why this young boy's heart was so hurting and lost that he felt he add no other recourse. First he lost his mom to cancer 3 years ago. Then just over a year ago was diagnosed with MS. So with  dealing with grief , now on top of that a disease that would rob him of much and eventually lead to a early death than a normal life span, was added to his plate . But the thing ,according to his dad that took the spark from his eye was the mugging at the hands of a punk in upper middle school. He had his Dad's i-phone , to listen to music and call home to see when supper was and stay in touch.This malcontent jumped him , plowed his face to the ground with force and broke his teeth. Then he was assigned a "protector" the rest of the year at his school  but was then called on to testify in a upcoming hearing against the young offender. Going back to school , his "protector" had moved on to high school and all the while this punks bodies began bullying him . Taunting and threatening him. Even the moron who did this evil cowardly  act , still had contact apparently (although he was under a restraining order -laugh now about this useless law). With the stress, the anxiety and the overwhelming battle with MS , this young boy put a bag around his head and suffocated himself in his bedroom. His Dad found him in the morning.

The gospel could have had life saving and real rubber hits the road impact in this sad tale. With all this young boy had gone through , what if the truth of Christ had impacted  this whole family's life. It could have caused a pause and a hope that simply does not exist apart from Christ and being reconciled to God.The gospel story would have brought good news in a dark place, light amid the storm clouds and an anchor amid the crushing waves that can sweep one away in this fallen world. Would the bullying still occur , yes , but in Jesus we have a great high priest that sympathizes with us. Jesus would understand this young boys struggle with being wrongly beaten , taunted and feeling forsaken.

But ultimately , the gospel could have pointed this whole situation to when everything sad will come untrue. The hope is not in this life or situations but on the hope that God is making all things new and will finish what He started when Jesus comes again. I'm not saying that life would have been easy or without  real ,profound struggles but the gospel changes how we see suffering,illness,pain,life and death.

The gospel has real , salt and earth implications . Its not just a pie in the sky thing but it gives feet to real living and real life situations. Its not some abstract thing that has no bearing on what happens even on a play ground.

So does this not fire your passion to share the good news . We should be , just so we can see people reconciled to God through Christ and escape the wrath to come. But in that great truth , real lives are changed and transformed. So my prayer for this Dad is that God will bring the gospel into his life and Jesus will become his Lord and Saviour . Bringing healing to a hurting heart. Even for the "punk" who played a huge role in this spiral down of this young boy , that he would be convicted of his sin and how he hurt in his evil act and repent before the day of judgement. The case is getting thrown out , and perhaps this young man is laughing or relieved but there is a higher court and unless he repents and trust in Christ , seeks forgiveness from this boys family , then he will not escape from this act.

But the gospel of Jesus Christ can do amazing things , for when God gets a hold of someone , the whole of life will be impacted for His glory .Nuff said.

For Better or Worse

There are certain times when statements are made by so called public leaders in the Christian world that get much press just because of who they are . Even though they would not in no way speak for the majority. Pat Robertson is one who has risen to prominence .Even though he is older and not as relevant as he once was, he has had a knack for saying some pretty outrageous in the past. Just Google him and you will know what I mean . But his latest blunder was so offensive , it made many truly righteously angry.

He basically said a man or woman could divorce a spouse if the other got Alzeimers once in was in its late stages. He rationalized it this way, since it is a type of living death , and the surviving spouse will be lonely and may need true companionship , divorce and remarriage would be allowed. Really , and this man calls himself a minister of the gospel.

How does this teaching harmonize with laying you life down for a friend , to be a servant , to love , to sacrifice and care for those who cannot care for themselves. At the heart of the gospel is the fact Jesus loves us even when we are weak,helpless and broken. He does not cast us off once He has gathered us into His flock. Sure we may at times be disciplined but His hand holds us firm . It is God that keeps the covenant of grace.

What about taking up your cross and following Jesus . How does casting off one who you made a covenant agreement to love and cherish , in health and sickness till death due you part, jive with the gospel call in your life. How can one , as a Husband sync this obscene teaching with Paul's command to husbands in Ephesians to love their wives as Christ love the Church and gave Himself for her .If we are to mirror that same kind of love in will cost us our all.

Why stop there. What about those who have been in accidents and have been severely handicapped or how about cancer that rob a person of so much . The statement made by Robertson was one of most anti-gospel statement ever out of his mouth.

The true gospel that takes hold of a persons life when faced with something like Alzeimers even though it will not be easy , will give us a chance to mirror the love of God , found only in Jesus Christ , to the person one may be called to serve and lay down ones life. Its not done out of duty but love and grace.

When I stood before the Lord almost 24 years ago and pledged to love my wife , no matter what , I mean't it . Love is more than a feeling , it is a action and walking away because one has a been afflicted by any disease is cowardly and shows one true heart. Nuff said.

Why I Love The Duke

I don't know where the Duke stood with the Lord but the fact in this little segment , on a huge national TV show he talks of teaching his little girl the Lord's prayer , the Psalms , to have respect for her country , honour the military who serve to protect ,shows how far we have come when Hollywood is dominated by liberal humanist or tree huggers who reject the Bible totally.I doubt this would ever happen today. Now all we get is Scientology wing nuts like Cruise and Will Smith . Who , in my humble opinion are not worthy to carry John's boots. Nuff said.

The Dangers of Wealth

[4] Do not toil to acquire wealth;
be discerning enough to desist.
[5] When your eyes light on it, it is gone,
for suddenly it sprouts wings,
flying like an eagle toward heaven.
(Proverbs 23:4-5 ESV)

Over the last couple of years with the financial collapse and many losing homes,jobs and in a instant , had there retirement stocks either nearly vanish or shrink before their eyes, the whole world has been in a economic whirlwind.

If one confesses Christ , this world and its possessions , its push to tell you must need this , get that and acquire this to be successful should be things we reject. Our contentment  ,our hope,our rock and future should be anchored in the riches He freely gives us in Christ. Money is a great gift from God and it is His , not ours. If we see money as His then how we handle it should reflect that.

We will give freely , not become obsessed with what we don't have and be thankful for what we do have. If we are blessed with more , we should serve God and our neighbour , with doing good. We come into the world naked and we live with nothing. Why hold and hoard. For as Solomon said , wealth and thinking your on your way can be gone in a second.

Bottom line , the only true riches one can ever have is the gift of God's grace in saving faith in Jesus Christ. He is the true treasure that cannot be taken away or diminished.

God is Faithful

Is it not amazing to know it is God that will complete the work He has started in us. Even when we stumble,doubt and go through the valley of the shadow of death , God is with us. Jesus promised He would not leave us nor forsake us. That the Holy Spirit is conforming us to the image of Christ , living in us . Amazing is it not.