Jesus Came...good thing He didn't stay

"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."(Colossians 1:27)

I often think of how awesome it was for the disciples to be able to hangout with, eat with, spend their days and nights with, Jesus in his human form. 

They were able to talk with Him, walk with Him and even hug Him. They could hear His voice, his laughing, His teaching and His singing. 

They knew the color of His eyes, hair and beard. the look of His face, the shape of His nose, if he had an under-bite or over-bite. The smell of His clothes. If he snored or not. They knew the physical Jesus like no one else, because He was Immanuel, "God with us" (Matt 1:23). God became a physical man in the flesh to know us and for us to know Him and most importantly, to be our perfect sacrifice to end all sacrifices.  

But Jesus said it best, "...it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7). Jesus knew that Him being accessible physically walking beside us in a fleshly body was great and all, but Him living in us would be glorious. 

 Immanuel is great and I praise God He came to provide The Way, but God in us is much better than God with us and Jesus knew that, and that was His plan all along. To stay with all believers, not just a few. To give us power that we didn't have alone. To live through us in a way that would bring Him glory and save all that would believe. I'm very glad that He came...but I'm also very glad that He didn't stay. 

Vern

Aged to Perfection, with an everlasting lifetime guarantee

"They still bear fruit in old age..." 

(Psalms 92:14)

One of the things that I get from my dad, is the love of watching shows like "American Pickers".  I like it when they go to a location and find very old and rare items. It's amazing what they come across. Many times the owner of the item has no idea the value of the item that they have thrown to the side in a dilapidated, old outbuilding. 

But the Pickers come in, find an item and either make it a piece to be set on a shelf so others can admire it or, and this is what I love the most on this show, they take the item and put it back to work in what it was made for. Now that is awesome to me. 

Like those items, our senior adults are often cast aside or set on a shelf to be admired for their past usefulness. But, did God intend for it to be that way? No. We can retire from secular work, but when it comes to serving our Lord, we should never retire. 

The Bible speaks a great deal about how useful older people are and when they are mature in the faith, the glory and wisdom they hold is priceless.

In  Proverbs 16:31 it says, "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life."

Job 12:12 states, "Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days."

Psalms 92:14 tells us that "They (the rightious) still bear fruit in old age..."

And Psalm 71:18 lets us know that we can be used for God's serves in old age, "So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come." 

Not only is the gray hair, some seniors so desperately try to cover up, a crown to show their wisdom and glory, but they are to be sharing Jesus and His work in their lives with the younger generations. They are not just meant to be relics of past spiritual adventures and great works, they are to continue allowing God to work through them as they bestow that God given wisdom to the young.

I honestly believe that one of the main reasons that our society is plummeting is due to the lack of teaching and discipling of the younger generations by the older. The young need to see real and mature Christian lives, being lived out for the glory of God, not a bunch of pew warmers. 

Now I understand that many seniors may be physically unable to do as they use to, but when we serve at any age, we are to do what we can, God knows your limitations and will not send you to do what He doesn't give you the strength and ability to do. 

I minister along side Mrs. Laverne Champion in the Calhoun County Jail. She is in her late 80's, but still working for the lives of those who need Christ. She has been in this ministry for over 50 years. She is an inspiration to me and many others. She hasn't retired from God's work. Those inmates, hang on her every word and her every word is about the everlasting Father.

So continue to be useful for God. Continue to serve Him with your life. His plans are great and His tools, have an eternal lifetime guarantee. 

Vern

Look Up

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalms 8:3-4)

This time of year is one that I love. The air seems so fresh and cool and the trees are starting to change colors. But there is one problem...it's dark when I leave for work and soon it will be dark when I get off. Makes it tough to get motivated to do anything. But this morning when I walked out, I looked up, and WOW!!! The stars were so visible that you could even see those stars that are not always visible. The sky was full. I mean FULL! It was so beautiful, that I almost couldn't even get in the car, I just stood there, looking up. It was so amazing that I wanted to just call in and say I'll be a little late,  then lay back in the yard astonished at the glory of our almighty God.

Psalms 8:3-4 really says what I felt this morning, 

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

Crazy!! God, the creator of all those stars wants to have a real relationship with me. He stopped me at my car, as I was about to start another day of running and working in the world, and softly said, "Look up". 

Look up and feel the stress release. Look up and find peace that's just above you in the darkness of the world. Look up and see the beauty of His creation, so often missed. Look up and see Him. Look up and see that though He is more powerful than you could possible imagine, He created the beauty of this world with you in mind. 

Take time on a clear morning or night to just lay back on the ground and "look up", take in all the amazing wonder of the only true God, who loves you. 

Vern

Good Ol Boy

"The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)

I'm from the South, home of the "good ol' boys", where you will often hear, "He's cheated on his wife, but he's a good ol' boy and all." Or "He treats people like junk, but he's a good ol' boy". The term good ol' boy seems to cover most all of a man's bad actions if people like him. We have this odd deal in the south that you can live how you want and still be good. 

Like most country songs, they make out that you can have a relationship with God and live how you want , like, "5 card poker on Saturday night, church on Sunday morning." Or maybe, "The boys 'round here Drinking that ice cold beer...The boys 'round here Sending up a prayer to the man upstairs" or my favorite "If I could have a beer with Jesus". In the "Bible Belt" we seem to think that all is good if you just treat people right. If you are a good ol' boy. Get drunk, raise a little cane, have sex with your girlfriend on the creek bank, go to church on Sunday and come Monday, it'll be alright. But is that true? 

Luke 6 tells us that a bad heart produces bad and a good heart produces good, and that there is no way that a good heart produces bad. Meaning, that when a man or woman lives a lifestyle that is ungodly, no matter how nice they are or well liked, their hearts are bad. Now I do know some people who's lives are ungodly, but they honestly are as good as gold. But the thing is, that God isn't interested in gold. He paves the streets with it. 

I do want you to know that I'm not writing this out of a "better than thou" mindset or an "I do nothing wrong" attitude. I just believe that the South has painted a terrible picture for those that are lost, that our actions and lifestyle don't matter. That we can be a child of God and live how we want. That is as far from the truth as you can get. Will you be perfect after salvation? No. But you will be different. If there is no difference, there is no true salvation. 

Also realize that I'm not saying that if someone doesn't act or look saved, then they are not. I am saying that if that person is truly saved, then sooner or later they will start to look and act saved. Will they still stumble? At times, yes. But you can't be comfortable in sin with the Holy Spirit living in you. 

So what do I want others to see in me? Not a good ol' boy...but the good ol' Lord and savior Jesus Christ. 

Vern

Gungor

"Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:45-47)

Here is the article that has me a hair bit bothered...but know that I do not put a lot of stock in any person...especially in the entertainment community, call it Christian or not. Know that I truly like the song, "Beautiful Things". Also is Michael Gungor saved? I have no idea, that is between him and God, not him and Vern. But all that said here is the article: 

"Why Are People So Upset About What Gungor Said?" 

I guess what bothers me most about Michael Gungor's blog is that he was so cocky when he stated that, "No REASONABLE PERSON takes the Bible literally." That he doesn't believe the Bible's view on creation, Adam and Eve or the flood is real or literal, but just a mythical story. I must not be reasonable.

He goes on to say "I use this analogy often, as Christians we tend to act like we have a belief system that is like a bubble: It is fragile and easily popped if anything even touches any part of it. We think we have to protect our bubble."

No Michael...it's not that at all, it's that when we don't as "Christians" take scripture as truth, how do we say that the gospel is true? If Moses states that the earth was created in 6 days, when he states after each day of creation, "...And there was evening and there was morning, the (blank) day." This was said after each day filling in the blank with 1-6, why can't we believe that? Why is that so hard for some to understand? Why do we struggle with God, who is all powerful, creating the world in 6 ordinary days? I believe it is that some have more faith in human knowledge, what they call "science" than they do God. They do not want to look foolish in front of their "smart", "highly educated", worldly peers, when those are the very ones that God was talking about when He said, "Claiming to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22)

The article above leaves out this quote from Gungor, “I guess I’ll have to come out of the closet and admit… I don’t believe in a literal six-day creation,” he wrote. “Genesis is a poem if I’ve ever seen one.”

Genesis is a "poem"? Really?? So does that mean I can say that the book of John is a poem? 

Also didn't Jesus speak of the creation and the flood? Yes and many many other events in Genesis that He spoke of as historical facts. Here is an article on that:

"Did Jesus Say He Created In Six Literal Days"

Gungor went on to say:

“You can still love God and love people and read those early Genesis stories as myth with some important things to teach us. Know that if you create these dichotomies where we force people to either fall into the camp of scientifically blind biblical literalism or a camp where they totally write off the Bible as a complete lie, you’re going to rob a lot of people of some of the richness that the Bible offers.” 

I believe he has missed a lot of the Bible, and their is plenty of scientific evidence if he wasn't too lazy to seek it out. 

The reason we have these "dichotomies" is because of people who take scripture and treat it like a novel by their favorite author, as Gungor has.

We don't force people into different camps, scripture/God does.  Jesus clearly states in John 5, 

"Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:45-47)

If we believe that Genesis is nothing more than a "poem", when Jesus spoke as if it was historical fact, then we stand against Jesus' spoken words. If Gungor had an old earth view only, we can argue that, don't know where people get it, but I can live with that. But to state that Genesis is a  fairy tail...that is what makes me have to speakout. 

Now this is my opinion and mine only, let's say Vernology. 

But I do not believe that if a person can call the book of Genesis a "poem" or fictional, that that person should teach anyone God's word. If you can't see the first as truth, then how can you on the rest?

I honestly believe Michael Gungor should stick to writing songs and not portraying himself as a mouthpiece of God. 

Should people attack him with threats of burning in hell? NO!! But can we strongly disagree with him? Yes. And I do. 

Vern

There's No Place Like Home

"...My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." (Philippians 1:23)

I remember when I was young and on a trip with our church youth group. We went to Florida for a retreat. We had worship, played games, spent time on the beach, met new people, just had a great time. But I often longed for home. My own bed, my moms cooking, the comfort of knowing that my dad had the doors locked and we were safe and secure. My family was there and I missed my friends in the neighborhood. I was having fun and enjoyed the beach, but I  wanted to be home. As Dorothy would say...there's no place like home. 

It was basically the same deal with Paul during his life after his conversion. Though he loved the people and serving his savior in reclaiming the lost, he longed for home. He knew he was needed here, that there were so many people who needed to hear the saving power of the good news of Jesus Christ, but he longed to be home. Home with his Friends and family. Home in the safety and security of his Father's house...Heaven. 

I find myself, as I get older and more spiritually mature, deeply longing for my Father's home. It's not that I have a death wish or that I am miserable here, but I long for the safety and security of my Father's house. I hear people  often say that being here (on earth) is better than the alternative, but with that, I'd have to argue. For a believer we know that nothing could be better than being in the unhindered, sinless presents of our Heavenly Father. The thought of it makes me long for home. 

Vern

Are You Ready

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

I was watching Stossel one night and they were talking about freezing people in order for them to live and never have to die. It's called Cryogenics, now, that made me sound smart. First time I ever heard about Cryogenics was on the movie "Demolition Man" starring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes back in 1993. You remember, Simon Phoenix (Snipes) was a violent criminal who was frozen...it was the new way to imprison criminals.  But some bad guys in the government thawed him out. Then they had to thaw out the typical rough and tough, 80's cop John Spartan (Stallone) because due to the lack of crime in the future the new cops couldn't handle the wild and insane Simon Phoenix. Now that may have taken away the intelligent look that I had earlier. But anyway...back to Stossel. 

John Stossel asked a question to open the segment on Cryogenics, "Are you ready to live forever?" What a great question. We often as Christians ask people "If you died today, would you go to Heaven?" But Stossel's question was much better. 

A lot of people see dying as the end. It's not at all the end, but just the very beginning of eternity. We were all created to live forever, but due to sin, our bodies will die. But the real us, our souls, what makes us think, laugh, cry and sing will live on. When our bodies lay deep in the ground, we will be either  dancing and singing in Heaven or agonizing and screaming in Hades. But for sure, we will all be in one of the two places. 

So think about that question again, really think about it, "Are you ready to live forever?" You can know for sure. 1 John 5:13 says, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." Do you want to know? If so, Jesus says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). It's all a matter of turning to Jesus in repentance and making Him your Lord and in turn making you ready to live forever. 

Vern

Salt Life

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." (Matthew 5:13)

Recently I saw two stories on Facebook, both caught my attention. One was about the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry and the other about a high school graduate by the name of Brooks Hamby. The two stories made me think about our Republic and the downward spiral that we are in. 

The first story was on Governor Rick Perry, who because of  some strong backlash from the homosexual community, crawfished on his stance on homosexuality. He stated that he neither condoned or condemned the homosexual lifestyle. He went on to say that "we are all God's children".  Which was cleared up in that article with the verse in John 1:12, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." Also 1 John 3:10, "By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother." It's sad that a man who is supposed to be a mature Christian could make the mistake of calling people who reject God's word and live in a lifestyle of sin , child of God.

The second story was on the graduate, Brooks Hamby, who was the salutatorian at his high school graduation ceremony. His speech was rejected by school officials 3 times due to the mention of his Christian faith. Brooks went on stage at his graduation to give his speech. In a very respectful way gave it, including the mention of his speech being turned down numerous times due to the mention of his faith. He went on to quote this verse, "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." (Matthew 5:13)

When I look at these two stories and the verse that Mr Hamby quoted, it stands as a stark reminder of the condition that our nation is in. Our politicians are scared. They are for the most part backing off of moral issues hoping to get elected. They are going with the flow to not offend any potential voters.  While the young people are standing, exhausted at the wishy washy leadership they have before them. School officials striking down a speech that speaks of someone's faith because they are too lazy to check the rights of a student. Politicians squirming when asked tough questions. Church going adults who ride the pew like a cowboy rides a horse. Parents who talk the talk but don't put one foot in front of the other to walk the walk. What's wrong with our nation? The leaders of all sorts, are leading by example...a bad example. 

It is very encouraging to see young people like Brooks Hamby who are not afraid to speak out and doing it in a respectful way. Reminds me of another verse, "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12) I pray that revival comes to America and it may very well start with the young. 

Vern 

That Ain't My Daddy

"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god." 

(Isaiah 44:6)

It's funny what my dad had to put up with because of his name. It's a somewhat common name, Charles Mason. You would think that would be easy enough. But there have been numerous times that we would be somewhere and he would have to leave his name and the person would say his name back with a surprised tone to their voice. Kind of like this:

Dad: "We would like to get a seat."

Hostess: "What's your name?"

Dad: "Charles Mason."

Hostess: "Charles Manson!!!!!????"

Dad: "No! Charles Mason!"

Yep, my dad has a name that is very close to the name of one of the most evil men ever to walk the face of the  earth. A murdering. brainwashing psychopath  named Charles Manson. It's amazing how a little letter like an "N" will confuse people. 

But my earthly dad isn't the only one people have confused with someone evil. My Heavenly Father is often confused with false gods. Back in 2003 George W. Bush made a statement that Muslims and Christians worshipped the same God. Many others have made this same mistake. For some reason people make a statement without looking at the background of Allah and the truth of who God is. 

Allah was a false moon god, one of many worshiped in Mecca. Long story short Muhammad's sect wanted only Allah worshiped and killed those who did not believe that Allah the moon god was the only god. That is where the crescent moon and sword symbol comes from. 

God as He stated of Himself in Isaiah, is the first and the last. There are no other gods...He is it. He is not Allah, He is not Zeus, Poseidon or Baal. He is The great I Am. The one and only God not to be confused with any of the world's false gods. 

Vern

Christian No More

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

(Ephesians 4:30)

I was reading an article about a "Christian" heavy metal band (As I Lay Dying), who's lead singer stated that, he had become an atheist and that their band was just using Christianity to sell music. He went on to say something that really caught my attention, and I quote: "I actually wasn’t the first guy in 'As I Lay Dying' to stop being a Christian. In fact, I think I was the third." Did you catch that? Please tell me you did. He stated that he "stopped being a Christian", like it was just something you do or act like. That's like saying, "I stopped being Caucasian". 

So many people today think that Christianity is nothing more than a normal religion. That it's like becoming a Buddhist or a Muslim & that it is nothing more than making up your mind and just doing it or not doing it. 

Christianity, though many misuse the name, isn't a religion. Now it is in the world's eyes as in how beliefs are grouped up with other religions, but it is not like other religions; it is a personal relationship. The word religion itself, is defined as "a system of beliefs". But unlike religion where you follow rules and regulations, and do certain things to be saved, if there is salvation in that specific  religion, or to appease the god of your religion, Christianity is much different. When you repent and turn to Christ for salvation, at that point and time the Holy Spirit seals you, never to leave you (Romans 11:29). It's not something you just decide not to be. 

Can you fall away? Yes. That would be backsliding. Can you lose your salvation? No. Again, if you are truly saved, God will not take it away (Again Romans 11:29). 

Often you will hear people say "I tried Christianity and it didn't work" or like the heavy metal guy above, "I stopped being a Christian", but truth be known, they never truly accepted Jesus. They never were "born again" as Jesus stated in Matthew 3.  Once you are born again, Ephesians 4:30 says that you are "sealed" by the Holy Spirit. The greatest verse on this assurance of salvation is John 10:28, where Jesus states: "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." Jesus, our savior, God in flesh says that once we are saved, truly saved, then we are saved eternally. That sums it up. He made the rules, it's His world, His universe...heck His everything. He should know. 

So is Christianity just something I can just stop? No. And honestly the real question is: when the Holy Spirit truly lives in you, why would you want to? 

Vern

Awe Full

"Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe..." (Acts 2:1)

When was the last time that you attended a church service, and was filled with a sense of awe? 

Not from a good sermon, a song you really enjoy or an amazing performance by a talented choir. But an awe of who God is, and what He has done. 

You ever wondered how we can enter a church service and leave the same as we came in? Usually it's that way for most in the American church today. Your membership may be growing because the music is suitable to those who attend. Your pastor maybe a great orator. You may have a cool youth minister. You may have great fellowship. Your church maybe the hottest thing on the church scene at that moment. But for some reason, when you leave a service, life is life. Oh the service is awesome and really gets your blood pumping...but when you leave...what is there? 

The New Testament church, the first church, had no problem with being filled with awe. But why were they? They were so amazed that the Holy Spirit, God, would live in them, would save them after what they had done to Him. They were in awe of His love, mercy and grace. So much so they turned the world upside down. 

Vance Havner tells about a missionary who was in a foreign country leading a church service. After the service was over the people didn't leave. The missionary said, "The service is over you can all go home and go to bed". But the people responded, "You just told us that God loves this world so much that He died for it, so that we could live forever!! We can't go home and go to sleep!" Mr. Havner said that those people couldn't sleep after hearing the gospel, but we in America go to sleep while listening to it. 

Where is our sense of awe? What has happened to it? Is our churches, with our million dollar buildings, padded pews, gyms...I mean "family life centers", highly educated staff and nice choirs not enough to cause awe? No! They are not enough...and often times are the reason for our lack of awe. We have gotten so use to being catered to & entertained...that if our pastor said, we are not having choir today or coffee and snacks, we are just going to pray and have Bible study, you would have a slim crowd in attendance. 

I've been as guilty as anyone in the way I had attended church. It is easy for it to become a routine or a habit. But it's not meant to be that way. The first church was in awe of who God was and what He had done for them despite how they had treated Him. They were in awe of the way they felt, the way He was changing them. The love they had for one another. They were in awe of God. 

We need and must have revival in our own lives. Don't wait for others to do it, get alone with God yourself and seek revival in your own heart. Put a fire back into your Christian life, by allowing Christ to live through you. Be the spark that your church family needs to see, so that they too will become on fire for God.  Make your worship full of awe.

Vern

A Handful of Wind

"I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind."

(Ecclesiastes 1:14)

It is happening again, a group of youth that I have watched grow up are now in cap and gown, tassels  ready to change sides as they take that step from youth to the real world of adulthood. I couldn't make it to graduation or the parties last night, sitting in the doc's office this morning. But I love them dearly. 

Growing up is not all it's cracked up to be, I will never understand why kids rush to adulthood, but so did I...and like it or not, we all gotta do it. You know, becoming an adult is a lot easier when you take the experience filled wisdom of those that have gone before. The Best person to take wisdom from is the man who God called the wisest man to ever live, King Solomon. 

King Solomon was very rich and had everything he could ever want, at his fingertips. And from his very mouth stated that he had tried it all. He could travel to any place he wanted. Have any woman he wanted. Eat any food he wanted. Had gold, silver, exotic animals, amazing homes, parties, etc... He had it all...but what he said was, "I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind." No matter what he experienced or owned, it was all a waste and didn't provide true happiness. 

What Solomon did, is something billions of people have done throughout the ages. Work hard to accomplish their dreams, only to find out that it is lonely at the top or that what they thought would fulfill that empty feeling, caused it to become worse. Some have even stated, after accomplishing the goal of greatness, "So this is it?" Solomon found that happiness doesn't come from accomplishments or things, but only from God. Chasing dreams is great if you are chasing God's dreams. 

See God has a plan for you. He had it set and ready to go, before you were born. He knows your makeup, what you truly enjoy and what will bring true joy to your life. He wants to make you greater than your human dreams ever could. He wants you to feel complete, fulfilled and accomplished. And He knows what will truly make you feel that you have a purpose in this life. So before you say, "This is what I want to do with my life." Why not say, "God, what do You want me to do with this life You have given me?" 

I pray for all those who graduated this year and ask that God would guide them in the direction of His plans for their lives. That they would obey Him wherever He leads. 

I love you guys, 

Vern

Prison Light

 "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world..." (Philippians 2:14-15) 

Philippians 2:14-15 stays before me all the time. I have had it in my work truck, on my desk & now as my screen saver on my phone. I want this passage on my mind at all times, because it's needed. In a world that is saturated with grumbling and complaining, it's hard not to be drug into it yourself...and I often am. 

It seems like we all love to complain about something we have to do. Your boss at work gave you a project that is, as you say, "beneath you". Your teacher gave you homework on a 3 day weekend, "Who does she think she is?!!" At the last minute you were asked to keep the 3 year olds at church and you just did it last week!! Any of this sound familiar? Does to me. It's easy to get caught up in the drama of complaining when there is a job to do. 

Paul tells us how to handle these issues in Philippians 2 and he was in a situation that would make Mother Teresa grumble...he was unjustly imprisoned. Paul was sitting in a rat & flea infested cell. There were no toilets, no running water and no bathing area. Filth was the norm. In this "five star resort" you dinned on Maggot  filled food, if you were lucky enough to get it. All in all it was a bad place. But even in that situation Paul wrote about not grumbling or disputing. He said that if we would do all things, what we like and didn't like without grumbling or disputing, we would "shine light lights", in a dark world. 

I took a group of Royal Ambassadors from grades 4th-6th on a camping trip years ago. One of the things we talked about was being lights in a dark world. We all sat down in a big circle then shut off all the lights we had there, it was pitch black. You couldn't see your hand in front of your faces. Each one of the boys had an unlit candle. I talked about the darkness of the world as we sat in complete darkness. The boys were not at all liking the darkness.  Between you and me..,neither was I. 

I went on to talk about what happens when someone comes to Christ and becomes a light, then lit my candle. The look on all their slightly eliminated faces was priceless and they all seemed to scoot closer to me, they were being drawn to the light. Then I told them that, that light grows when we share it and I lit the boy's candle to the right of me. Then he shared a lit with the next and on and on. Before long all the boys candles were lit and the darkness seemed to flee. 

When we Shine like lights in this dark world by being different in the way of our attitude in uncomfortable times, it is contagious.  People want to know why we are different. At that time we can share a lit with them, we can give them the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

This world is indeed very very dark. But we are the lights. We are the lights that Christ illuminates to draw the world to Himself. The lights that those sitting in the darkness long to see and move toward. So many are preaching a "give up on the world" sermon that it's too far gone. But I say NO!! Don't give up, but stand up and reach those who are in the darkness and be the light that draws them to Christ. Be lights in the midst of this crooked and twisted generation. 

Vern

If the Stone Stayed

"And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus."

 (Luke 24:2-3)

Good Friday is such a wonderful time, when we reflect on the death of our savior Jesus. Who set aside riches in Heaven to become a man so that He could suffer and die, an excruciating death on a cruel cross, taking the wrath of God upon Himself for us all. 

I would imagine that most sane people who are not followers of Christ, can't imagine a group of people being so happy about the brutal beatings and death of such a nice man. They surly wonder what kind of sickos we Christians are. We post pics of the crucifixion on our Facebook and talk about a "Good Friday"? "What's so good about Good Friday?" they may ask. To that I would reply, nothing at all...without the resurrection.

Without the resurrection, Good Friday would be nothing more than an evil act, by evil men, in the murder of a merely, good man. 

If not for the miraculous happenings in a tomb dug out of stone in a remote garden in the Middle East, Good Friday would cease to be...good. 

If the stone would have stayed, there would be no Good Friday. 

If the stone would have stayed, there would be no joy filled Easter Sunday singing. 

If the stone would have stayed, there would be no words of hope to preach. 

But most importantly, if the stone would have stayed, there would be no Holy Spirit sent to fill our bodies, to change us from the inside out. No helper, no strength, no joy, no guarantee of an eternity in Heaven. 

Stone sealed...no salvation. 

Why is Good Friday, good? Because it was the start of my resurrection through Jesus Christ my Lord!! 

Do you have that hope? Do you have new life? You can: Romans 10:9-13. Place your faith in Jesus and understand Good Friday, why Jesus was raised and a life of wonderful purpose. 

Vern 

Who's It For?

"Father forgive them, for they know not what they do"

(Luke 23:34)

These words still amaze me every time I read them,  "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do". Jesus' bloody, beaten, ripped, swollen body...hanging, nailed to a rough wooden cross.   Splinters digging into his back...large, sharp, nail-like thorns driven into his bruised head. Gasping for every breath... He breathes out the words of intercessory prayer..."forgive them". 

Who is this prayer for? It's for the lowest of the low. 

It was for the Pharisees who constantly tested Jesus at every turn. The Pharisees who falsely accused Him, beat Him, plucked His beard from His face, spit on Him and mocked Him. The Pharisees who rallied the crowd to kill the Son of God. 

It was for Herod, who just wanted to see a few magic tricks from the Messiah. 

It was for Pilate who sentenced Him and then washed his hands of the Truth. 

It was for the soldiers who mocked and beat Him to shreds; the soldiers who laughed and clothed him with a purple robe that stuck to his bloody back.  The soldiers who crushed a crown of thorns onto his head. The soldiers who made him carry the instrument of his death on his back to the place he would be killed. The soldiers that drove nails into his hands and feet and a spear through his side.  The soldiers who gambled for his clothes at His feet while He died.

It was for the thief that hurled obscenities at him while joining in with the mocking crowd. 

It was for all the evil people who surrounded Calvary that day.  It was for the evil people before that day...and after that day. It was for the murderer, the child molester, the terrorist.  It was for the most vile people of this world. 

"No, No, No!!" We shout, "Not for them! Not for the ones who hurt the innocent!!" But it is; it is for them. The forgiveness that Jesus offered was for them and still is for them. God loved the world so much that He allowed His Son to take my place, your place, their place; no matter what we all have done...so that we do not have to perish, so that we all can have eternal life...if we only turn to Him. 

Instead of us hating that God would extend forgiveness to evil people, we should rejoice.  Without Him doing that, we would have no chance ourselves. We are all of the same heart, with the same nature. He died and arose to offer us a new nature...His.  

The offer to repent stands.  His prayer is given for the meanest to the sweetest, the richest to the poorest, to every nation, every people..."forgive them". When we repent and turn to Him, that is just what He does....forgives us of all our unrighteousness. 

Vern