Politically Incorrect

I am tired of all the politically correct messages espoused by the media and so many celebrities. I stand here today politically incorrect.

There are not many gods and many different ways to heaven. There is one God and only one exclusive way to salvation. John 14:6 (NASB) 
⁶  Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. I understand to believe this makes me and countless other preachers and Christians intolerant. We might be labeled as bigots. Jesus is tolerant of all who come to Him in faith and repentance of their sins seeking Him for salvation. Any person who does do this will not go to heaven no matter what the experts and elites say.

Gay used to b e a word that meant light hearted, carefree and happy. Now people use the word to refer to homosexuals. No matter how homosexuals protest or Hollywood pushes the homosexual agenda, homosexuals still make up the overwhelming minority of the population. On top of this and more importantly, God still considers homosexuality a sin. Homosexuals can be forgiven, saved and delivered. Homosexuality has always been a sin and it will always be a sin in the eyes of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NASB) 

⁹  Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
¹⁰  nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. You will notice homosexuality is not the only sin listed in those verses but you will also notice it is a sin that is listed. This is not hate speech. The love of Christ compels that homosexuals find true freedom in Him and the salvation of their souls. 

There is a big push saying black lives matter. There is even a sitcom called blackish.  I am tired of all the media push that promotes and emphasizes racial division. What would happen if I grabbed a sign and marched the streets saying "WHITE LIVES MATTER." How much backlash would I get if I preached a sermon or started a sitcom called "WHITISH." Yes, there has been and still is racism in our country. I cannot be held hostage by what racists and white supremacist did in the past and are still doing today.  I grew up with many black people in east Texas. My best friend in fourth grade was black. I took a picture with eleven black guys at my senior prom. I was the only white guy invited. I invited back teammates to my home to eat pregame meals before football games. Those guys were my friends. I am proud my boys have befriended "people of color' as the politically correct say it. We have had back guys spend the night in my house and go on vacation with us. I have served two churches where African Americans attended. I loved and still love it.There are good and wholesome white people just as well as sorry wicked white people. The same can be said for black or brown people too. THE ONLY COLOR THAT SHOULD MATTER IS RED. All races of people are sinners and need the blood of Jesus to make them right before God. That is the only color that matters. Romans 5:8-10 (NASB) 

⁸  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
⁹  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
¹⁰  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

The politically correct say women have the right choose whether to bring their babies to full term and birth or to terminate the pregnancy. I agree women have a right to choose. They have to right to choose to keep their skirts down and their zippers up until they are married. I know as sure as I write this some will cry foul and scream what about cases of rape. I simply point you to a guy named James Robison. Google his story. See how God has used his life even though he is a product of rape. There are no mistakes with God. He can bring something beautiful out of something tragic and horrible.He creates life. It begins at conception no matter what a judge or politician says. Psalm 139:13-16 (NASB) 

¹³  For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.
¹⁴  I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵  My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
¹⁶  Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

On God's word I proudly stand no matter how incorrect it may seem to the rest of society. I take my place with many others who wear the badge of politically incorrect. Jesus of all people is not politically correct. You never see him in scripture holding his thumb to the prevailing political winds of the day to appease the crowds. He was and still is truth. May we stand with Him no matter what the issues might be.

 

Empty

I remember the day vividly. My friend and I were going to grab breakfast not far from his office. We went in his Tahoe. Suddenly the motor began to sputter and then died. When my friend looked down while trying to restart it he found the problem. The gas tank was empty.

I had to get out and help push the Tahoe a couple of blocks to the nearest gas station. I vowed then and there to never ride with him again without checking his gas gauge. Later that came to mean something more for the two of us as we used those words to check on our spiritual condition.

There are many people living life on the fumes of spiritual, emotional and physical reserves. They are empty. Empty in what they have left to offer people. Empty means being filed with nothing and having no value or purpose. Such people are not filled with the all God has to offer. They may know these things in their head and they may have actually experienced these things in their past but they are empty now. They see themselves as having no value or purpose.

Empty people are tired people, wounded people, depleted people and generally hopeless people. None of these things match what God wants for people. Instead God offers strength and rest for weary people. Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB) 
²⁸  "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
²⁹  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
³⁰  "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."For the wounded souls God offers healing and wholeness.  Psalm 34:18 (NASB)
¹⁸  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. And for depleted people God offers revival though His word.  Psalm 119:156 (NASB)
¹⁵⁶  Great are Your mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your ordinances. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE WITH GOD FOR REFRESHING.  Psalm 31:24 (NASB)
²⁴  Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD.

Empty people do not have to remain empty. Just like my friend refueled his car so can God refuel us for the journey. He revives us according to His word if we steadily and diligently feed our souls with those savory truths. He renews our hearts in Him as we slow down and meditate on His greatness. He refreshes our souls as we learn to enjoy down times and Sabbaths with Him. 

For all those living on empty right now I encourage you to slow down, rest and allow God to recover your soul with life. Slow down from the rat race and allow God to heal what needs healing and to revive your soul spiritually. 

If you do not do these things it is only a matter of time before you run out of gas and break down just like my friend and I ran out of gas on the side of the road. God has all the resources necessary to fill all the empty places of your life. Then you can live life full, full of faith, full of devotion for God and full of ministry to offer those around you. 

This Is Life

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NASB)
¹⁹  "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,
²⁰  by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

This is life; love the Lord, obey His voice and hold fast to Him. I think of how many times I have not heeded these truths. Many times I have gotten off track. I allowed affection for other things to supplant my love for God. I listened to my voice and the voice of others around me more than I listened to God. I did not always hold fast to Him as I depended on my own resources many times to get me through tough stretches. 

I read this passage yesterday and had to ask myself some tough questions. Do I really love the Lord? Do I listen to His voice so I will obey? Do I really hold fast to Him in all seasons?

I know I have the capacity to love God more than I do. That must be a lifelong quest. To continually increase in my affections for Him. Not only that but to love Him most. Matthew 22:36-38 (NASB) 
³⁶  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
³⁷  And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
³⁸  "This is the great and foremost commandment.  Revelation 2:2-5 (NASB)
²  'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;
³  and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary.
⁴  'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
⁵  'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

We are called to truly love God supremely. To not do so is sin. Love for God is supposed to be our first love. Not second or third or further down the list. We are not to love anything or anyone more than we love God. So much of Christian living and service is done out of a sense of duty more than delight from loving the Lord. If we love the Lord we will want to please Him and we will want to know Him better. 

We are also called to obey His voice. That means we are supposed to listen attentively. Are we listening? Do we keep an ear turned and tuned toward heaven day in and day out. Are we looking for and expecting Him to speak to us. He still speaks today. He speaks through His word. I wonder if we are truly listening. Then following through on what He commands is a whole other matter. Many know what they are supposed to do but just do not want to do it. God demands our obedience. 1 Samuel 15:21-22 (NASB) 

²¹  "But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
²²  Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 

All our worship, Bible study and giving without obedience is not impressive to the Lord. He expects us to comply with His commands and to submit to His authority. 

Finally, we are called to hold fast to Him. That means to cling to Him, to follow closely to Him and to remain stuck to Him. This speaks to passionate and deep communion with Him. We have to remain dependent upon Him. We have to remain in hot pursuit of Him for all of our days. We have to stay stuck to Him through every season of life. 

All of this is really living. Many people are alive physically but dead spiritually and emotionally. God intends for us to experience so much more. In fact, Jesus offers us abundant life or, put another way, life to the full. That is living. That is the life we hope for. That is the life we were meant for. 

My All For Jesus

Jesus I want to give You my all,
For You to bravely stand very tall,
You O Lord are worthy of my best,
In devotion and service to bless,
Those You put along my path way,
Giving me words of witness to say,
All for You Jesus my deepest desire,
All for You Jesus is what You require,
 I lay my life at your feet and throne,
All for You and no longer my own.

Nine Decades

She lived a little over nine decades. She enjoyed marriage to her soul mate for five decades. After he died she endured two more decades without him. Those were difficult years. Lonely years. Soul wrenching agonizing years. Especially the first three years. Life consisted of trips to the post office, grocery store and her church. She did not read nor watch television. She did work in the yard. Most days were spent alone. Most days were endured in grieving.

Her husband was her best friend. She remained married longer than I have been alive. For five decades they enjoyed birthday celebrations, holidays, and anniversaries. There were days filled with laughter and difficult days after the doctor diagnosed him with lung cancer. He fought bravely but in the end, like so many others, cancer eventually won and he lost the battle.

So began the journey of two decades without her best friend. So began two long decades with a broken heart, tears in her eyes and a hole in her soul. She pressed on bravely. Eventually she moved into an assisted living facility close to her only daughter where she lived for the last fifteen years.

She was quiet. What did she experienced in nine decades. Pearl Harbor, WW II, the assassination of JFK, Vietnam, inflation, the energy crisis, Watergate, Desert Storm, 911, the War on Terror and countless other trials. For nine decades she pressed ahead.

She survived the death of her parents and three brothers in addition to her husband. Her nine decades were not always easy. She endured her pain privately telling few except the Lord. She remained private most of her life. She suffered silently.

Few people expect to live to be 93. I think I read recently the average life span for a man in the U.S. is around 77 and a little longer for women. To live an additional 16 years past that brings joys and sorrows. Part of the sorrow is when you begin outliving so many people you loved. Parents. Siblings, Spouses. Friends. Even pastors. New pastors arrive on the scene who never knew the elderly in their prime years. At times the aging and ailing can fall through the cracks.

For such people here is still hope. Psalm 71:18 (NASB) 
¹⁸  And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. 

The word forsake in that verse means to fail and abandon. Even though she endured two decades without her husband she was never alone. God did not abandon her in her grief. Not even for one minute of those last two decades of her life. 

All around me I see people I love growing older and grayer. I know God will not forsake them in their twilight years. Even if the last for nine decades. 

The Truth

I preached and wrote the truth and it offended,
Love once offered now no longer is extended,
Hard truth found in the pages of the Bible,
Truth down through the years proven reliable,
Truth to comfort, exhort as well as to convict,
Truth to guide, counsel and future to predict,
Truth that cuts the heart down to the soul,
Truth to make the broken healed and whole,
Yet truth is not always welcomed by people,
Even those sitting under the church steeples,
Pastors and Prophets have all been rejected,
Due to hard truth when preached and detected,
God's truth is truth for all times and all ages,
No matter how the crowds reject and rages.

Don't Be Who You Are

Many voices cry out for conformity. The message is heard loud and clear, "Don't be who you are. Don't act the way you do. Don't believe what you believe. Don't stand for what you stand for." That is the message unless all the above fall into the acceptable politically correct point of view. The elite try to  conform humanity into a mindless mass of paganism

When a person is told over and over not to be who they are or not to act like they act, confusion sets in. Such people can lose their way and not even remember who they are. When criticized incessantly and told to change this, not to be like that and to conform to this pattern it is hard to be yourself. It is hard to remember who you are. It only worsens if you are a devoted follower of Jesus. When every message received tells you being yourself is not good enough things get out of balance.

People constantly try to reinvent themselves. They pattern their lives after celebrities and the successful and popular. If people cannot be who they really are they are only copies of someone else. This is not authentic. It is fake. Our world is filled with fake people. God made people unique. He created originals. Unique in personality, passion and giftedness.

Let me be a voice proclaiming a different message. Be who God created you to be. Do what God created you to do even if it makes others uncomfortable because you do not conform. Believe what God calls you to believe even if others mock you for it. Act the way God instructs you to act even if it out of step with the rest of the crowd. Stand for what God calls you to stand for even if others have bowed down to peer pressure. Speak the truth God calls you to speak even if it offends  people. . Live the way God calls you to live even if it unpopular. Be who God called you to be and not a cheap imitation of someone else. Ephesians 2:10 (NASB) 
¹⁰  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

The only person worthy of imitating whole heartedly is Jesus Christ. Isn't that what the term "Christian" really means; little Christ or like Christ. Be who you are in Christ and don't apologize for it.

Questions About Kermit

Lord,

I come to You today with many questions about Kermit? Why did I have over a dozen dreams about a small west Texas town I know so little about? What are You doing in that town? What if anything does it have to do with me? What do You have on Your mind for that town? Why do You keep bringing Kermit to my mind and heart?

I have more questions than I have answers. You keep bringing Kermit to my mind and heart. I do not know what if anything You want me to do. You obviously have something on Your mind for that town. I believe You want to do a great work there.

So I have to ask You for further revelation and clarification of what burden You have for Kermit. I know You care about the lost souls in that town. I know You desire to revive churches in that town. I also believe You hear the prayers of the remnant in Kermit. You have heard the prayers of faithful pastors, youth pastors, deacons, Sunday School teachers and faithful church members for decades. You have heard all those prayers. They live on in Your mind and heart.

There are so many questions I do not know the answers. You know everything. Is there something in Kermit, TX You are calling me to do. I have a desire to hold a revival there but the doors are shut at this point. I am willing but I certainly cannot do that on my own.

I plead with You to show me where You are working. I ask You for more insight into what You have on Your mind. I ask You to bring it all together to accomplish Your purposes. I am willing to obey You if I know what You want. I confess that right now I don't know.

I ask You to breathe fresh life into Your churches there. I ask You to give pastors a new burden and vision for Kermit. I ask You to send the convicting power of Your Spirit to lost souls all over town and draw them to Jesus. I ask You to stir more people to prayer all over Kermit. I also plead with You to allow those praying people to see the fruit of their prayers.

In Jesus name, amen.

Sour Milk

I am not necessarily a creature of habit. I get bored doing the same things over and over again day in and day out. I get bored eating the same food everyday. So from time to time I change the routine. Like the way I drive to the office. I like driving the back roads.

On one of those backroads is a depilated house. The white paint is chipped and fading off the wood siding. The porch is sagging and close to falling in completely. The roof has holes in it. The front door is gone and the windows are broken.

I've often thought about how excited the original owners of that home must have been as the house got built and they moved in. I wonder how many happy memories were made in that place. I wonder how many joyous occasions were shared in that home. At one time that house was a home for some family. I don't know what happened over the years. Maybe the family moved to a lager home. Maybe the owners died and the children did not have use for the home but left it on the family land.

Whatever happened that home is dilapidated. It is beyond repair. It made me think of a verse. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NASB) 
¹⁶  Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
¹⁷  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

The word decaying in that verse means "spoiled, corrupted,  destroyed." Our bodies are slowly decaying. When we are young we do not think about this. We think we will live forever. At 49 I cannot do things like I used to. I cannot lift as much weight, run as fast or endure as long. My joints ache after physical exertion. I can tell my body is slowly decaying much like that house has done over time. 

I still fight the effects of aging. I still exercise. I watch what I eat. I try to get enough sleep. Deep down I know the truth. No matter what I do this body will eventually decay. Just like that dilapidated house eventually I will die. This outer shell will wear out. That is the curse of life on planet earth. People die. Animals die. Plants die. Trees die. 

Likewise anything we create or buy also breakdown over time. How many vehicles have you owned. How many remodeling projects have you overseen. How many new sets of clothes have you needed to buy. Machines break down. Materials wear out. 

What is the point. While we can enjoy life on this planet we must never fail into the trap of believing that things down here are not decaying. WE WERE CREATED FOR ANOTHER WORLD. A world where nothing decays. A world where nothing dilapidates. A world beyond anything we can imagine. 

It all reminds me of that only song, This World Is Not My Home. It is not. Life down here from time to time tastes just like a glass of milk I had on Saturday. I went out to the refrigerator to get a fresh gallon of milk. I opened the carton and poured the ice cold milk. One gulp and I knew something was not right. It did not taste right. I looked in the glass and noticed a thick film on the sides of the glass that did not look normal. I pulled the gallon out and looked at the expiration date. The milk expired eleven days prior. Spoiled and sour milk. Such happens in life down here. 

I am thankful to God for every reminder that I should never get too comfortable with life down here and forget God created me for another world. I should never fall for the deception that comfort and possessions down here can provide the ultimate happiness I long for. That true joy can only come from God. 

I am thankful for lessons learned from looking at a dilapidated house. While we should be thankful for blessings in life, we should also remember houses, clothes, vehicles and even our health will decay over time. Yes, we can enjoy them but we also need to remember that they will not last forever. Every sour experience in life is a reminder that this world is not our home. We were created for another world. 

When Despair Does Not Disappear

What do you do when despair settles in? Everybody deals with despair from time to time. The bills increase while the income does not keep pace. The visit to the doctor reveals health issues and more challenges. The normal everyday trials of life mount such as car and home repairs, issues at work, relational issues, spiritual dryness as well as fatigue.

Despair can be defined simply as a loss of hope or hopelessness. How many woke up today with no hope. They have tried all the things to cope with despair but nothing has brought the long sought after relief. They have read the Bible but in their despair the words on the pages have not brought long lasting relief. Prayer seems like an empty exercise for those drowning in despair. They cry out for help and desperately reach for the life line of hope but what do they do when that line does not come.

There are many living in deep despair. They have learned to hide it publicly even from their families. In private the despair clouds everything in confusion. They press through each day dutifully but not delightfully. They sink deeper and deeper into a private despair they cannot shake or ignore or share with others. Daily the despair stacks layer on top of layer of more hopelessness.

Disappointment after disappointment multiplies the hopelessness. Well meaning Christians and pastors, that act like they have all the answers,  do not help. Advice like "pray a little harder,"  "you just need more faith," or "read your Bible more," do not help. When all this advice has been heeded and the despair does not end what then?

What do people do when the despair does not disappear but resurfaces everyday? Prolonged despair can leave people desperate for relief. Any kind of relief. Even destructive relief. Alcohol, drugs, sexual immorality and experimental religious beliefs. Desperate people are especially vulnerable to the deceptive tricks of Satan. Temporary pleasure does not make despair disappear. Despair might get shoved to the back of the mind for temporary pleasure and relief but when these end the despair returns.

Some choose medication. I am not a medical expert and there are certain situations when medication is necessary. Other times medication can be an artificial way to cope. Even with medication the despair does not really disappear but is only dulled temporarily.

Is there any hope? I can only think of one. For Jesus to show up. Jesus shows up. He showed up for the leper. [Matt 8:1-3] He showed up for the demoniac. [Mark 5:1-24] He showed up for the woman suffering for twelve long years without hope. [Mark 5: 25-34] He showed up for Jairus when all hope waned. [Mark 5:35-43] He also showed up for Lazarus. [John 11:1-44] My hope and bet is that He will show up for those in despair sooner or later.

Open Gates

I got to enjoy a rare privilege yesterday. I hung up my pastor hat for half of the day ad drove to meet a beloved friend and rancher to help him. No, I di d not don a ten gallon stetson. I did wear jeans and boots and felt at home in them and out in rural America. We spent the day feeding cows. I received a first rate education in agriculture. We talked about heifers, first calf heifers, steers and cows. We even looked in on a lame bull. He was my favorite. When I see a bull I think of raw power, strength and toughness. We dropped feed from a feed truck, put out some mineral and sat out round bales of hay. Well what I really say i in honesty s my friend did all that. I had one job all day. I opened the gates.

I got in and out to open gates to pastures and hay lots. I've had a little experience with this in the past helping another rancher friend of mine. Thanks Jimmy for teaching me to open gates. We spent four hours driving the bumpy pastures of his cattle operation he shares with his dad, brother and nephew.

My friend traded in his slacks, ties and office for life in the country. He asked me once, "Do you think you could do this everyday?" I loved it, though, I know so little about it. I replied, "Yes. I love being outdoors. I could do this if I could still preach too." To cap the day we ate a barbecue lunch. I felt like  areal cattle rustler for a bit.

After lunch I drove back home to study and once again sat in my familiar seat to teach God's word to the flock entrusted to me. I joked with my friend as we bounced along in one of his pastures that I would probably write something about the day. I also commented that if I did that kind of work I would never run out of writing material.

Here is my take away from yesterday morning. Open gates. I am not exaggerating when I say all I did  was open gates. Any farmer or rancher knows the value of having someone along to open the gates. That saves a lot of time. We joked about how the real cowboys out of a threesome in the truck would be the one smart enough to sit in the middle so he did not have drove or on the passenger seat so he did not have to open all the gates. We all need God to go along with us and before us to open gates.

The dictionary defines a gate as a movable barrier, usually on hinges, closing an opening in a fence,wall, or other enclosure.

2.

an opening permitting passage through an enclosure.

All of us face barriers. We all face enclosures that keep us from God wants us. We must trust God in those times to open the gates. There is not a closed gate in this world God cannot open. He can open gates to closed countries for missionaries and the promotion of the gospel. He can open closed gates for new jobs. He can open financial closed gates through miraculous provision. He specializes in opening closed gates for spiritual breakthroughs and deliverance. He opens the gates for revival to breakout and spread. He opens the gates for divine appointments. He opens the gates for scholarships. He can even open gates to bring partnerships and strategic relationships together for His purposes. 

Like I said earlier. There is not a closed gate God cannot open. Look around you. What barriers are in your way. Where we see a barrier God sees a gate. Hallelujah! What seems like a dead end to us is an open door opportunity for God. God has the opening in sight and at hand to get you where He wants you to be. This makes me want to shout! In fact, I just did out loud. There are no fenced in shut off places with God. If He wills you to get there and there seems to be no way for that happen trust Him to open the gate. Trust Him to provide a gate. Trust Him make an opening permitting passage. 

I would not trade those brief few hours trying my hand at ranching. I am an expert at opening gates if you need help. Only once did my friend have to get out to help me with a gate I had trouble opening. Not bad for a bonafide city slicker. What I learned yesterday as God inspired these thoughts is priceless. I praise and exalt His holy name because He still opens gates. 

I Wish I Could Come To Church

Sitting perched high atop the bleachers at a basketball game last night a little child approached me. That little one wore a huge snaggle toothed smile. I have known this child for years. The next words startled me. That precious youngster said, "I wish I could come to church." At first I thought I misunderstood. The message was repeated.

The interpretation of that message came through crystal clear. This child has attended our church from time to time in the past. They are eager to learn and would come more often but the parents do not come consistently. Because the parents do not come this child is not able to come either. Out of the mouth of babes.

It got me to thinking. How many other little boys and girls feel the same way. They love Jesus. They truly enjoy coming to church to learn. They want to learn more about the Bible. Yet, the parents have a different set of priorities. The parents make excuses. They are too tired or too busy. When it comes to other activities they are not too tired or too busy.

I bet there are millions of children who really want to come to church but do not have anyone to bring them. In the old days parents would at least drop children off at church. You don't see it nearly as much today but churches used to send vans and buses out to pick children up to bring them to church. While a few churches still do this they are in the minority.

Why do parents keep their children from coming to church when the children wish they could come? It breaks my heart how many children do not see spiritual things as a priority. Parents will teach their children to cook, clean, hunt, fish, make a bed, do homework, read and work. Why do they not teach their children about Jesus, about the Bible and about the need for salvation. I just read recently where the overwhelming majority of people who trust Christ for salvation do so before they are 13 years old. With every passing year a child is withheld from spiritual things  the chances decrease they will hear the gospel and be saved.

Matthew 19:13-15 (NASB)
¹³  Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
¹⁴  But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
¹⁵  After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

The word hinder means to "restrain, prevent." Parents do this every week around the nation. They prevent their children from coming to Jesus. They even go so far as to restrain their prodigy from coming. 

Just as Jesus rebuked the disciples I can hear Him rebuking lazy and apathetic parents who hinder their children from coming to Jesus. 

Last night as the little tyke walked away I replied, "So do I. I wish you could come to church too." Shame on every parent who keeps their children from coming to Jesus and His house. Sadly many of these same parents were raised as children coming to church. Their parents took them but it is not a priority now that they are adults. I wonder what those parents would have done if they had been there with me in the stands last and heard what their child said to me. I am sure they would have squirmed in discomfort and it would have been deserved. 

Our Rights

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

These words are taken straight from the U.S. Constitution and are the unalienable rights of every U.S. citizen. We are all created equal regardless of economic status or skin color. We were created equal by God our Creator. We all have a right to live. We have to right to live in freedom. We also have the right to pursue happiness. 

These are our rights. We deserve the right to live out our days in long and peaceful living. We have the right to live in freedom from oppressive government, from enemies foreign and domestic and from terrorism. We also have the right to pursue happiness. Whether that happiness be found in the simple pleasures of a meal, or a good time with family and friends, or in indulging in recreation and entertainment. 

Our constitution guarantees us these rights as citizens of the sovereign nation of these United States of America. Hold up a minute. Those may be our rights as citizens but many of us also have our citizenship in Heaven. We live under a different code of conduct and a different system of rights. 1 Peter 2:9-11 (NASB) 
⁹  But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
¹⁰  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
¹¹  Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

In essence, those redeemed by the blood of Jesus are aliens in this world. We are strangers here. As the old hymn goes, "This world is not my home I am just passing through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue." 

As followers of Jesus what are our rights? Do we still have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Not according to scripture. Our only right is the right to deserve the wrath of God for all eternity for our sins. We deserve death. We deserve bondage for all eternity in hell. We deserve eternal torment and misery for everlasting time. Those are our rights and deservedly so. 

O but Jesus rescued me and you. We did not deserve it. We could never in a thousand life times have earned it. He dealt with us in mercy. He brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light. When we experienced that our rights changed. 

Paul put it this way.  Galatians 6:14 (NASB)
¹⁴  But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 

Because of what Jesus did on the cross for us, our boasting and exulting should forever be in the cross. On that cross we know Jesus nailed our sins. We are also called to nail our lives to the cross in surrender and submission to His will and purposes. DEAD MEN AND WOMEN NO LONGER HAVE ANY RIGHTS. We are people of God's own possession. When you possess something you can do whatever you please with it. 

Galatians 2:20 (NASB)
²⁰  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 

What are our rights in Christ. We have the right to be crucified with Him. We have the right to surrender our wills to His, our desires to His and our futures to Him. Jesus has the right and authority to do anything in our lives and anything with our lives as He desires without having to ask our permission first. 

Matthew 16:24 (NASB)
²⁴  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "

We have the right to deny ourselves even the smallest pleasures. He has the right to call us away from food for periods of fasting. He has the right to call us away from sleep for praying. He has the right to call us away from prosperity into a life of sacrifice. 

We also have the right to take up our cross. That might call for a little suffering along life's way. Just ask Adoniram Judson, William Carey and Hudson Taylor. Ask Joni Erickson Tada. Ask David Brainerd. Ask Charles Spurgeon and Charles Simeon. Ask Amy Carmichael. As Charles Simeon once said, "We must not mind a little suffering for Christ's sake."

We also have the right to follow Christ's leadership wherever He calls us to follow Him. On any 

given day and at any given hour the call of Christ might come for each of us to drop what we are dong and to follow Him. That is our right. To hold all our plans loosely in favor of His is not only our right, but our responsibility. 

It is so easy for us to lose this perspective thinking we are entitled to certain things. My entitlements were nailed to the cross and in their place I received the grace and mercy of Jesus. My rights and allegiance are yielded to Him to do with me as He pleases. The same is true for every child of God. 

 

A Prayer For The Hurting

My heart is heavy ad filled with sadness,
The burdens of others stolen my gladness,
One is deeply shattered and brokenhearted,
Another with broken dreams long departed,
Some facing their own financial destitution,
Some struggling with sin's foul pollution,
Some living a lie tired of all the deceiving,
A few not whole from deep seated grieving,
O Lord, I plead for Your help to all needing,
With wounded souls battered and bleeding,
I ask You my God Sovereign and in control,
To guard over the hurt on Your daily patrols.

The Man Upstairs

I'm not on a Peyton Manning bashing session but after endorsing his desire to go and drink a lot of Budweiser he then wanted to thank the "the man upstairs."It is my intention to set the record straight for Manning and every glib celebrity who says the same thing in the spotlight. He is not the first to use this phrase. He probably will not be the last to say the same thing.

I'm bothered by this on several levels. First and foremost it shows no respect, no fear and no reverence for the Lord what-so-ever. God is not a man upstairs. Jesus the God man was present at creation. Colossians 1:13-17 (NASB) 
¹³  For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
¹⁴  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
¹⁵  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
¹⁶  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
¹⁷  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Jesus is the God-man. I do not think Manning was thinking this when he referred to God as the man upstairs. Jesus is fully God. Read the whole first chapter of Colossians for more. Yes, He also lived fully as a man. He still was and still is God.   Not just a man. He is Jesus, Lord of all, Savior, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, The Lamb of God and The Alpha and Omega. The name of Jesus is above every other name. At His name every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB) 

⁹  For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
¹⁰  so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹  and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is not upstairs. He is not living on the second floor of an apartment complex. He is not residing on the second floor of a home. He is everywhere. He rules over not just the earth but the heavens and the universe as well. 

Jesus is bigger than a football player, a football career and even the Super Bowl. One day Peyton Manning will be nothing but an afterthought. He will appear every now and then like Joe Namath delivering the Lombardi Trophy to the platform last night. JESUS WILL REIGN FOREVER. HE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. 

In the day of judgement Peyton will discover a very different Jesus than the cliche of the man upstairs. He will discover a Righteous Judge very unimpressed with his football stats, MVP's and millions of dollars. On that day the only hope Peyton Manning or any other lost person will have is if he repented of his sins and wholly cast his faith on Jesus alone for salvation. Jesus is no childhood chum. He is no passing casual acquaintance. JESUS IS LORD. HE IS LORD OF ALL. Not the man upstairs. 

On The Biggest Stage

Last night on the biggest stage imaginable Peyton Manning delivered a strong message. He told the world that after kissing his wife he intended go out and drink a lot of beer after the big game. He specifically mentioned drinking Budweiser.

I remember as a youngster watching Dallas Cowboys legend Roger Staubach in the Superbowl. I idolized him as a child. I wore his jersey, kept his trading cards and pretended to be him on the playground with my friends. I hung on his every word. I cannot imagine how I would have embraced his message on any topic with such a young and impressionable mind. I do not ever recall him ever endorsing beer especially publicly.

Manning has always carried himself with class during his career. Of all the things to endorse on the biggest stage why alcohol? Why tell the world after the game he would go out and drink a lot of beer. While I cannot cite Bible passages stating drinking beer is a sin I can sure make a case that getting drunk is a sin.

I can also paint the other side of the picture of the devastation of alcohol. How many heard Manning last night and justified their getting plastered drunk and then driving home after a Super Bowl party. Did anyone have a drunk driving accident? Did any drunks get enraged because their team lost and took it all out on kids and their spouses or girl friends.

I can testify first hand what alcohol can do a family. My alcoholic father was abused as a child by an alcoholic father. He in turn became a violently abusive a husband. That alcoholic father was unfaithful and eventually got murdered by another man. Two young boys were left growing up in a harsh world without a father.

On the biggest stage Manning gave his support to an industry that has destroyed more than one life. If Manning did it for the money he received to endorse Budweiser that is shameful. He has made multiple millions. Did he really need more to endorse drinking beer.

On the biggest stage he could have endorsed anything. Vehicles, insurance, Coke, Pepsi or family. He chose beer. That will be my last impression of Manning whether he retires or not. It will not be all the passing touchdowns, the five MVP's or the two Super Bowl victories. It will be him endorsing beer on the biggest stage of his life. As the Sheriff possibly prepares to ride off into the sunset I shudder to think of all the young fans who will follow his example in drinking a lot of beer. How many alcoholics were chained further to the Devil's brew last night. How many young people will plan another pasture party and more young lives will be lost because they drank a lot of beer.

I may stand in a minority but on the biggest stage the biggest message of all time is Jesus. I can't help but wonder what Tim Tebow would have said on the biggest stage. I am confident it would not have been the endorsement of beer.

The Glorious Pursuit

"I must secure more time for private devotions. I have been living far too public for me. The shortening of private devotions starves the soul. It grows lean and faint." - William Wilberforce

"We have almost forgotten that God is a person and, as such, can be cultivated as any person can. It is inherent in the personality to be able to know other personalities, but full knowledge of one personality by another cannot be achieved in one encounter. It is only after long and loving mental intercourse that the full possibilities of both can be explored. For now begins the glorious pursuit, the heart's happy exploration of the infinite riches of the Godhead. That is where we begin., I say, but where we stop no man has yet discovered, for there in the awful and mysterious depths of the Triune God neither limit nor end." - A.W. Tower

Throughout the ages many have explored and pursued God more deeply than the rest of us. A.W. Tozer was such a man. He often sprawled out on the floor of his small study in Chicago lost in private wordless worship for hours on end. Tower walked with God. He made God the ultimate pursuit of his life and others came to Tozer to drink deeply from that oasis. He penned the classic book The Pursuit of God out of his own private pursuit of God. This was not theory but real practical experience for a man who desired nothing on earth more than God.

There is not a more glorious pursuit on this planet than the pursuit of God. Not winning the Superbowl later on today. Not achieving success. Not wining Olympic medals as Jesse Owens did decades ago. Not growing a business. Not achieving academic prowess.

Psalm 73:25 (NASB)
²⁵  Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 

Besides God can you and I truly say we desire nothing on earth. The word desire means "to take delight in or find pleasure in." We delight in hundreds of things more than God. We find pleasure in many things other than God. This explains the superficiality of our walks with God and the shallowness in many churches today. Sadly it also explains the lack of depth coming from many pulpits. How can preachers publicly proclaim deep truths they have never experienced for themselves. 

We are a shallow people spiritually. Many of us can't even say as Wilberforce did that our devotions are shortened.The honest confession of the masses might be our devotions are non existent. Do we seek God? Do we pursue God? Do we have any hunger or any thirst for God and the things of God? If the answer is no something is very wrong. Are such people truly saved. If so, repentance and return to the Lord are necessary. 

Each of us will expand our days in the pursuit of something. The average life span of a female in the U.S. is 81 years. The average life span for a male in the U.S. 76 years. I did the math subtracting my current age from the average life span. If I live that long I have about 27 years left. 

27 years. What will I do with those 27 years. There is nothing more glorious I could do over the next near three decades than to pursue knowing God. If He is my glorious pursuit I will be a better husband, father and eventually grandfather. I will become a more faithful pastor, preacher, prophet and poet. I will have a never ending supply of fresh material to write about with depth and substance. I will not merely become an echo of other men. 

I want to know God for myself. I want to sit at the feet of masters like Tozer, George Mueller, John Hyde, Rees Howells, E.M. Bounds, Leonard Ravenhill and a host of others as I have done over the years. I don't want to be satisfied with living off second hand experiences. I want to encounter God for myself and feed the souls of others entrusted to my care. 

All of this begins with the glorious pursuit of seeking God. There is no higher calling. There is no greater ambition. There is no greater privilege. Like Tozer wrote, "That is where we begin., I say, but where we stop no man has yet discovered, for there in the awful and mysterious depths of the Triune God neither limit nor end." -

Heartless Prayers

When is the last time you prayed? I am not asking when was the last time you made supplications with heartless words? I am not asking when you last offered up wishful thoughts. I'm asking when you last offered up true fervent heartfelt prayers. When did you last sit down before the Lord and really pray? To have a heart to heart talk with the Lord.

A lot of praying these days is heartless. We are more concerned with the eloquence of our prayers when praying in public than praying raw honest prayers from the gut of our emotions. We do the same when praying in private offering up meaningless cliches instead of faith ignited pleas. We need more real raw honest heartfelt conversations with the Lord.

We are so timid in our praying. We have been invited to come before the Lord with confidence and boldness. There are prayer promises to claim. There are mountains to see God move. There are lost souls to see saved. Just this morning I got told by a lady that she would never attend church. NEVER! Will I offer up weak, timid, and mealy mouthed prayers on her behalf or pray with boldness and confidence for her salvation.

Hebrews 4:16 (NASB) 
¹⁶  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Heartless praying is producing heartless believers, heartless worship and fewer heart transformations.  You know what report I keep getting from people about church. It is lifeless and people have communicated to me they are starving spiritually. It is not that the Bible is not getting preached. It is more that it is not getting preached with a demonstration of the Spirit and power. 

Could this be attributed to the heartless praying of pastors and those in the pews. When did you last attend a prayer meeting where heartfelt praying took place. When did you last hear a heartfelt or offer a heartfelt prayer in family devotion or a worship service. 

Heartless praying will never turn the tide of evil in the nation. Heartless praying will never turn heathen hearts to Christ. God listens and answers fervent praying. Impassioned praying. Faith filled praying. 

I fear far more than I want to admit it my prayers have often been heartless. I mouthed the words but they were not ignited by faith. Much of my praying lately has felt pretty heartless. The mouthing of all the right words but no heartfelt faith behind them. Disillusioned and discouraged praying many  times have characterize my life. 

What is worse is that many times I've not felt like praying. Over the years I have to confess I have lost heart on more than one unanswered prayer. At least unanswered in the way I wanted. This is sin. There is no excuse fir offering up heartless prayers. In fact, I would submit heartless praying is not truly praying at all. May we put away heartless praying for good. May we talk to God like a child talking to his father. May we do away with vain repetitions and empty cliches. 

Matthew 6:7-8 (NASB) 

⁷  "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
⁸  "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Tell The Old Gospel Story

So many perish in everlasting damnation flames,
And so very few in the soul winning hall of fame,
Many pew sitters continue silent and tight lipped,
While lost souls headlong into eternal hell slipped,
Where is the burden in the church for the lost souls,
Instead of power trips and manipulation for control,
We are no longer rescuing the lost and the perishing,
Souls Jesus died to redeem He's jealously cherishing,
O that the saved would once again tell the old old story,
O Jesus' death and His triumphant resurrection to glory,
O that the church would once more send the gospel light,
And like old Paul to keep fighting the good gospel fight.

We Just Don't Care

On the same day there were two funerals. One funeral more of a graveside service than a funeral. No family or no friends in attendance. A pauper who lived as a beggar and died alone. Nobody noticed or cared.

The other funeral a big fancy ordeal. Lots of mourners gathered for this powerful and influential man. There was standing room only at the service. Many tears were shed and many stories of success were shared. Soon the mourners departed the cemetery.

That is not where the story ends. O, that is all the story that could be seen with the naked eye. Much happened invisible except in the spiritual realm. The pauper was escorted to Heaven while the rich man went to Hell.

Little is known about the beggar except that he was comforted in Heaven. We know more about the rich man. We know he suffered, he was tormented and agonized. Never-ending torture. Eternal agony. He pleaded for mercy but it was too late for mercy. He rejected mercy.

Ironically he pleaded for Lazarus to be sent to his brothers to warn them of the impending doom looming ahead for the lost and wicked. He wanted a solemn testimony about the reality of Heaven and Hell to be presented as a warning to his brothers.

Everyday people die. Funerals are conducted nearly every day. I attended two just last week for two older men. Not everyone goes to HeavenPraise the Lord those two men did because of their saving faith in Jesus Christ. Many perish into the eternal and unquenchable flames of Hell. Few do anything about it. Few Christians give words of warning or witness. 95% of Christians never witness and never lead anyone to faith in Christ. NEVER.

The question is why? Many excuses can be offered but it really comes down to one of two things. Either we do not believe the reality of Hell. I don't think that is true for most mainstream Christians. I think the second reason cuts more closely to home. WE JUST DON'T CARE! We don't care enough to risk speaking the truth. We don't care enough to risk offending people. We don't care enough that they will perish. We don't care enough to have those uncomfortable conversations. We just don't care. All over the nation many perish because the people in the pews just do not care.

At The End Of The Rope

How many are at the end of their rope,
In despair losing faith and losing hope,
How many are desperate in their need,
For help and relief they cry and plead,
There is no way out no seeming escape,
Wounded, bruised, heart deeply scraped,
Is there hope for those facing the end,
Grace, mercy and help Yours to lend,
You, O Lord, Helper of the broken heart,
Many need You to grant a refreshing start,
You hold the keys to every closed door,
At the end of the rope please help Lord.

Hump Day

It is Wednesday also known as hump day. For the past 28 years that has meant preparing a Bible study for students or adults for me. I will do so later tonight. Wednesday means midweek worship.

Of all the services I have preached over the years the Wednesday night crowd for adults has always been the smallest. I have taught fewer than half a dozen up to several dozen. For the past year and a half I  taught through the books of I and II Samuel. verse by verse. Many times I wished the crowds were bigger because the timeless truths of those books impacted me so deeply I wanted others to experience the same.

If we can make it through the day we will be on the downside of the work week and school week. It is on the downhill side closing in on the weekend. Some of you are already tired. It has already been a busy week. My guess is that you have already forgotten the sermon from Sunday. It seems to me a midweek Bible study is the medicine often needed to encourage and nourish us spiritually to finish the work week.

I know it is not easy to attend a midweek Bible study. Once you get home from work and prepare dinner it is easier to sit in the easy chair and relax. The last thing you feel like doing is getting back out for the evening. I can only pray that for those who do choose to do so God feeds your soul and rewards your efforts.

Like a marathoner or cyclist who gets water along the way or fruit to boost energy levels, so does a midweek Bible study boost the soul. We are so close to losing Wednesday nights to school programs, practices and activities. In a large part we are losing Sundays to select sports and recreation. I am advocating that Wednesday Bible study is worth fighting for. I know the crowds will most likely never be large but it is my honest conviction people need to have their souls fed on hump day.

So later this morning I will open my Bible to begin study for a new series. I will pray for God to give inspiration and revelation of truth. I will trust God for anointing to deliver that truth. In the end, I will trust that for those who choose to attend a midweek Bible study the reward will be worth the effort as they hear from God.

Blank Page

I'm sitting here staring at a blank screen. I've been staring at it for some time. Blank. This could go in a thousand different directions. A blog to comfort the afflicted or to afflict the comfortable. There are problems to be solved, truths to be discovered, promises to claim, challenges to overcome and new thoughts to explore. Right now there is just a blank screen.

It is like waking up to a blank day. While we have plans and appointments none of us really know what will happen today. It is a day never lived before. Surely there will be reasons to laugh today and maybe even occasions to cry. Our faith will be challenged today. We will encounter others that need encouragement. We may also need some encouraging ourselves.

On the blank page of this day there will be opportunities to commune with God. There will be times for private worship as well as corporate worship. There will be time for prayer. Time for Bible reading and meditations.

As much as we may hate it, the blank page of today may prove another day we have to wait. Wait on God to intervene. Wait on God to speak. Wait on God to open doors. Wait on Him to move the mountain. Wait on the prayers to get answered. Wait for God's perfect timing. Wait for the phone to ring with a job offer or the letter to come with rejection of a job offer. Wait for reconciliation of the marriage. Wait for for the doctor's report. Wait in line.

Today is a blank page to work to get better at something. To perfect your craft. To labor at a job you have done so many days before but you still give your best effort. To use critical thinking to solve a problem. To let the creative juices flow in drawing, writing, painting or building.

On the blank page of this day there will be opportunities to express love and to receive love. There will be many chances to tell people how much they mean to you. There will be times to express gratitude to God and to the ones He has put in your life as family and friends.

On the blank page of this day you can either make a difference or squander the day. You can purpose steps toward God or away from Him. You can honor the Lord with your actions and attitude or dishonor Him in the same fashion.

Today is a blank page. What will you do with this day. How will you write out life on this day?

Lord, Please Send Revival

Marriages are fast falling apart,
Leaving families broken in heart,
The moral fabric of this nation,
Unraveling in sinful degradation,
Abuse of every form runs unchecked,
While the righteous so few can detect,
Churches filled with hypocrites in pews,
Living as pagans on the evening news,
Same sex marriage now legal abounds,
The shame of sin no longer astounds,
Sin not shunned but willingly embraced,
The holiness of the church now defaced,
How much further can we keep falling,
And from repentance we keep stalling,
Lord, I plead for more mercy undeserved,
From judgment and wrath now reserved,
For the end of days and the climatic end,
Until then I plea for revival You to send.

Lord, I Was Just Wondering

Lord, I was just sitting and wondering,
When the adversity will quit thundering,
Wondering when confusion will cease,
When the pain will eventually ease,
Wondering about those suffering so,
Wounded by life and brought very low,
Wondering about those wrecked by pain,
 Weary from the never-ending strain,
I was just wondering how it will end,
What lies just around the next bend,
I was wondering when help will come,
I remember Your only begotten Son,
That heaven awaits all the redeemed,
Joy unending for those You esteem,
No longer wondering finally at peace,
One day all these troubles will cease.

The Longest Hours

Sometimes the night proves to be the longest hours,
When sleep escapes me elusively for many hours,
In those long frustrating sleep deprived dark nights,
When slumber flees out of my reach and out of sight,
Those long night hours are wearisome so very lonely,
Alone with my many thoughts and Your presence only,
In the fitful and futile late night watches You are there,
My anxious thoughts and each of my burden to bear,
When slumber eludes and my anxious thoughts invade,
When my answered prayers continue long to be delayed,
When my faith sinks back like the receding evening tide,
I know You are still here - at hand standing by my side,
These night watches bring fears, haunts, and frustration,
One little talk with You eases my mind in joyful elation,
Please help me not to dread the longest hours of no sleep,
Knowing You are also awake my soul to watch and keep.

Preaching With A Wounded Heart

This blog is intended for pastors. Specifically for pastors who struggle preaching each Sunday and Wednesday night with a broken, wounded and downtrodden heart.

All people get a wounded heart from time to time. The ordinary tasks of life still have to be done no matter how damaged the heart is emotionally. Life goes on. Breakfast has to be cooked. Dishes still have to be washed. Duties at work must still be performed no matter how broken and defective the heart feels. These are tough enough to do but they are not preaching.

Preaching at its essence is heart work. Heart work  that is first done in the preacher and then passed to the hearts of the listeners. When the preacher's heart is wounded the heart work of preaching is suffocatingly difficult. The teacher's wounded heart feels all it can do is bleed rather than giving people hope and comfort.

How many preachers have awakened early on a Sunday morning in the emotional depths of despair and could see no possible way they could ever get up in front of people and preach. The heart feels empty. It can feel like there is nothing in the spiritual and emotional tank to give anyone. The wounded heart feels numb to the truth. It is still truth in the mind but it does not feel so true in the wounded heart.

The source of the wounds in a preacher's hearts are varied. It could be unrelenting criticism form the parishioners. The wounding might come from personal battles with sin, from dysfunctional family dynamics, from empty pews and from unanswered prayers. These only scratch the surface of the many things that wound preacher's hearts.

Brothers, how many of you are preaching with a wounded heart and nobody seems to notice or care. The thought of another sermon presses heavy against you and seems unbearable. To stand before the very people that have assassinated your character all over town but now sit in the pews ready to scrutinize every word you say is suffocating. To look out at a sea of faces that have betrayed you, gossiped about you and that stare at you with menacing eyes filled with hatred makes you want to lay your Bible down and walk away forever.

O brothers of the wounded heart you are not alone. Others have preached with wounded hearts. Let me give you just two examples. Charles H. Spurgeon was criticized by other preachers, the newspapers and some of the leading theologians of his day. Not only that but he had an invalid wife and suffered from gout as well as two other diseases. He pressed on preaching in that Metropolitan pulpit for over 30 years. Even when he did not feel like it. Even when his heart was wounded.

Let me introduce you to another wounded pastor. Charles Simeon. His flock did not want him to be the pastor. They despises him so much the pew holders locked their pews refusing to let the attenders have a place to sit in worship services. Those that attended the services had to stand. This lasted for twelve long years. Yet, Simeon persevered in that church for over 50 years. He kept preaching with a wounded heart and eventually won the people over.

Be encouraged God gives strength to preach even with a wounded heart. Two simple scriptures for strength and comfort tonight by another preacher who knew preaching with a wounded heart.

Galatians 6:9 (NASB)
⁹  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.


Philippians 4:13 (NASB)
¹³  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.


Paul kept preaching with a wounded heart. So did Spurgeon and Simeon. I have done it numerous times. With God's enabling I know you can too.

Commitment to Follow Jesus

Anything: Acts 20:24, Matt 16:24

Anywhere: Matt 28:19-20, Acts 1:8

Anytime: Is 6:8, Rom 12:1

Our commitment to follow Jesus.