Living in a perfect world?

One of the things that I have noticed lately is how media projects an image of perfection. We see ads about having the perfect abs or legs or total body. We are bombarded with scenes of happy families enjoying all the creature comforts this world has to offer. Perfect teeth, perfect hair, perfect clothes, perfect home, perfect car, etc. But is this reality?
Over the years of ministry that God has allowed me to be involved in I sometimes see the other side of what the advertiser often portrays. I see individuals and families at the lowest points of their lives, wondering where the next meal or job will come from. Sometimes our circumstances are directly related to our own choices. I am afraid that all we see is the "perfect" side of life and for most of us it's just not reality.
Life is difficult and sometimes ugly. Teenage girls are constantly seeing ads of perfect beauty that is really unattainable. So, what's the answer or cure for all this superficial beauty and lie of perfection? Jesus Christ.
Jesus said that as believers we would have trouble in this world but not to lose heart, He has overcome the world. Nothing is perfect here. The standard we live by ought to come from the word of God and not "Vanity Fair". The reality is that everything in the world is fading away and one day will be destroyed. Cars will breakdown and rust, clothes will go out of style and deteriorate, flawless skin will one day get wrinkles, bodies will wear out. We were not made to live forever here but in heaven with the Lord. The choices we make here will determine our eternal destiny. Today is the day of salvation. If you hear His voice turn to Christ in repentance and faith. The result will be a changed life for here and now and for eternity.
We are not living in a perfect world. The world to come,the one in heaven, is perfect. So, which one do you want?

The Long Cold Winter

This winter has been one for the record book. We have had snow on the ground for weeks and went through several weeks of sub-zero wind chills. After a while, one day of 30 degree weather and a little sunshine is truly a blessing.
Life is like this. There are seasons we go through and depending on your age you will find that your life is in winter, spring, summer or fall. Solomon, in the wisdom that God gave him, commented that "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:" (Ecc 3)and then he list those things that we have all gone through.
Some of you might find yourself in the winter season where things seem cold and unpleasant. Some might be in the spring where things are new and growing. Still others might be in summer where it's hot and sticky or some find themselves in the fall season as some things come to an end.
I want you to know that whatever season you are in, God is sovereign and is in control of it all. When the wind is blowing -30 or the sun is beating down 100+, the God who created all things cares about you and your life. He wants our life to bring Him glory. No matter the circumstances, we may be in, He deserves the glory because He is God. He is Creator, Sustainer, Provider, Defender, Author and Perfecter of our faith, Holy, Righteous, Omnipresent, Omniscience, and Omnipotent.
I want to encourage you and me that no matter what we face the Lord is worthy of our praise, so let's give it to Him.
When I think of this winter season I remind myself of this statement...and it came to pass. Blessings

A Noble and Good Heart

Today I spoke at the Salina Christian Academy. I tried to communicate the Parable of the Sower to kids 3 years old to High School. Do you know how difficult that is? Fortunately they were in separate groups.
This parable is found in Matthew 13 and Luke 8. The relation between a seed like the wheat seed and the Seed spoken of in this parable, which is the Word of God, is really amazing.
The wheat seed has within it's shell everything needed to produce a harvest 30, 60 or even 100 fold. The Word of God contains everything we need for life and godliness (1 Peter). The Bible lacks nothing in the way of producing fruit and a harvest in the life a believer, the one who hears, understands, retains and preservers - the good soil. All it needs is good soil in which to grow and thrive.
The other thing I have learned about wheat is that is must be sown by itself, with no other crop and especially it cannot be grown with weeds. The wheat just can't compete. The weeds always win over the wheat. The weeds choke it out, taking all the moisture and the needed nutrients for the wheat to grow. As hard as it is to believe the seed, the Word of God, will be choked out by the thorny ground. The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches will choke out the word in that person's life and they never go on to maturity. As strong as the Word of God is it can't compete. This is why Jesus instructed us that we can only have one master. It will be either money or God.
What kind of soil are you? I hope that today you are good soil, that you have a good and noble heart for the Word of God to plant and that the roots will go deep in your life and you will allow God to produce a harvest in your life through His Word.

The Hand of God

Outside my window, of my office, there is a 3 foot snow drift. Snow drifts are both beautiful and dangerous. When they form in your yard they are beautiful as they are formed by the wind into long flowing arches of whiteness. They are dangerous when that same wind whips drifts across roads making it perilous to drive.
The wind is a maker of snow drifts but they are random, ill placed and sometimes dangerous. God's hand on our lives is different. There is purpose, intentionality and a reason for us being where we are. I am reminded of the Old Testament use of the clay and Potter.
Isa 64:8 Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Jer 18:6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

This is a wonderful reality for the believer to know that God is at work in your life on purpose with a purpose. Let Him form you by and to His will.

Hope in the midst of grief

Grief is a real emotion. To be sad or have sorrow is something the Lord demonstrated to us at the death of his good friend Lazarus. We all have grieved the loss of a relationship or at rejection. Most of us have grieved over the death of someone we cared about and loved deeply. In my experience, people deal with or express their grief in various ways. Some are quiet, some are more vocal in expressing their grief with crying, or fits of anger, frustration and questions of why. People grieve in many ways and I try to let them grieve however it may express itself.
For those who are followers of Christ there is a difference in how we ought to grieve. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Paul states "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope." For the believer who is left behind we are to grieve but we are to grieve with hope. Hope of what? Hope in this sense is a confident expectation of what the Lord will do. Our hope is in Christ whether we live or die. His promises are true and we wait in eager expectation to see all of them fulfilled. God never abandons those who belong to him. So like the Apostle Paul who said in Philippians 1:20-21 "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Grieving is never easy and there are not "pat" answers to it. We must look to the Lord and his word whenever we face these difficult situations.

My first real blog

Today I embark on a journey that I hope some will take with me. I am a husband, father, grandfather, and Pastor. My life is probably much like yours in the fact that sometimes things are going well and then other times they aren't. I hope to share life and more importantly what God is doing in my life in an attempt to display His glory, learn more of what His Word says and encourage those who might read this blog.
I don't promise to write something everyday but I do expect to write often.
"And it came to pass..." These words have encouraged me over the years and so I hope to encourage you in your life. I won't be selling any books I've written, because I haven't written any, yet. Nor will I be posting a website with my name as the address. I'm just a guy, on a journey following Jesus, that wants to share thoughts, experiences and struggles with anyone who will be willing to read this blog.