Christian life

Jesus and the super blood moon

Posted on by Bob Mathews

The writer of Hebrews admonishes disenchanted and/or distracted believers of his day with these words: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” – 12:2.  “Looking unto” means “to look away, as from one thing to see another; then, to concentrate the gaze upon.”  That sums up his entire message: do not give your best look to Moses or the Law or anything less than Jesus.  He is superior to all and in a class of his own.  Regardless of where you are looking, look from that to Him so you may see the glorious Christ for all He is and means.

You may remember the “super blood moon” that took place around January 20 of 2019.  It was an exceptional celestial event. Lunar eclipses are not rare but, with this one, the moon was closer to us than normal, making the effect more spectacular. I always try to get Ethan and Cassi in on things of that nature. (Living so close to Lake Greeson is a blessing in such times. No light distortion allows a very clear view at night.)

If/when we can really zero in on Jesus and see Him for all He is, it can be a game-changer.

 But in order to see the blood moon, we had to deliberately turn away from typical school and home obligations. We looked away from the usual to concentrate upon the unusual. We took our eyes off the commonplace in order to focus upon the spectacular. And concentration was the key, because the blood moon was a fleeting event. A remarkable and memorable experience, enjoyed only because we chose to look from the routine to the rare.

That is the intention of the Hebrews’ author: to redirect focus in life from the less worthy to the One most worthy. If/when we can really zero in on Jesus and see Him for all He is, it can be a game-changer. If/when I really “look unto” (concentrate upon) Jesus, it will affect how I deal with situations, choices, relationships, myself, values, ups and downs, God, and everything else about life. Along with that, I will more genuinely appreciate all that is good and lovely about a human created in God’s image, who is also being remade into the image of Christ. And, the deeper, richer aspects of life — peace, joy, happiness, love, hope, courage, purity, forgiveness, compassion – will find more room to bear fruit.

When I truly see Him, I will see all else in a different light. That is, if/when I find myself intentionally and consistently “looking unto Jesus.” The super blood moon was a special thing for Ethan and Cassi to witness. I am so glad they did not miss seeing it. I hope you did not miss seeing it. But I really hope you do not miss seeing Jesus.

robert

 

Fear and Faith-1

Posted on by Bob Mathews

Psychologists say we are born with two basic fears: falling and loud noise. But it doesn’t take us long to develop a lot more of them. Fear has 1,000 shapes and sizes. And, it can either work for or against us.

Let’s zero in on how that applies to living as believers in Christ. Fear can work FOR me when it motivates me toward faith and fidelity in the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; Ecclesiastes 12:13). Unfortunately, fear also can work AGAINST me. Check out Peter in Matthew 16:21f. Why was this disciple so adamant toward the Lord? Well, look at the context. Peter did not go into a meltdown because he was afraid for Jesus. Peter was afraid for Peter! In I Samuel 17,  the people of the Lord were being defeated, not by the Philistine army but by their fear of Goliath. It took only one teenager with faith (David) to show that God is a dragon slayer. Jehovah used a child to teach adults what He really wanted from them. Seems like He did the same thing a couple thousand years later?!

It took only one teenager with faith (David) to show that God is a dragon slayer.

Now, I want to think about churches and those who are to be spiritual leaders. Joshua faced a huge task when he assumed the reins from Moses. It would be his frightful responsibility to finish what Moses had started: getting an entire nation settled into the land of promise. But Joshua was a battle-tested leader. He could handle it. No problems!  Really? Hear the word of Jehovah at the outset of this great undertaking: “…do not be afraid, nor be dismayed…” (Joshua 1:9). Who brought up fear? God did! God knew that even the strongest can become rattled in the face of great undertakings.

How many times has fear triumphed over faith in our churches and pulpits? It can be a controlling and crippling adversary. In my personal life and as an evangelist, faith always has added while fear always has subtracted. Faith has made me more while fear has made me less. I have seen the many things faith can do and the many things fear can undo, both with myself and the church of God. All this considered, certain fears keep cropping up among those who lead God’s people. Here they are (and we may revisit this):

  • fear of failure
  • fear of criticism
  • fear of change
  • fear of who will be in charge
  • fear that people will not follow
  • fear of finances
  • fear of offending others
  • fear of power brokers
  • fear of inadequacy
  • fear of responsibility

Now, none of these fears has the right to decide the future of any enterprise of the Lord. But any will compete with faith to have the say-so. And such things never end with a tie! Do I need to mentally circle which is trying to control me?

Look again at Joshua 1:9 and notice how Jehovah sandwiched His word about fear. He said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage”   –  “for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  And what is meant by “God is with you?”  The idea is that God will be with Joshua as an active participant in the execution of His purposes. The same thing is said in His great commission in Matthew 28:20.  “I am with you always.” Hmmm. Now, would that not also be His word to leaders in our times?

Where God guides, He also provides. He always has. He always will. And He will do it with those who trust (have faith) in Him. I don’t need to know all the answers or outcomes, but I need to know HIM. And the more I know Him, the easier it is to trust Him. Where am I in this thing of fear and faith? Where are we?

One thing for sure: we know what time it is. This is our time for faith not fear.

robert

Things that influence a first time visitor

Posted on by Bob Mathews

Many factors influence a visitor’s perception of a church. The following things influence a person before they visit a church, or whether they return. Every item can help or hinder their decision about whether or not to darken the door again. See what you think.

  1. Website and/or Facebook. Its presentation and general content. Its mission statement and indicators of church life/activity. In other words, how we talk about ourselves. This includes any blogs which indicate the church’s spirit and kind of thinking.
  2. Signage. (A sign was seen which said “Merry Christmas” on one side and “Turn or Burn” on the other side?!)
  3. Printed material available in the foyer. What kind, quality, and variety? Is it easily accessible?
  4. Greeters/Ushers. Who they are and how they present themselves. What information do they offer the guest?
  5. What others have told this person about your church.
  6. Coffee. (Don’t underestimate this.)
  7. Friendly gestures.
  8. The person who invited them.
  9. They are listened to.
  10. How they are talked about when in attendance.
  11. Advertising, especially in a small community. (And is the church what it advertises itself to be?)
  12. Presence (visibility) in community life.
  13. Children. How many and what place do they seem to have in congregational life?
  14. Facility.
  15. What you believe and how we express it.
  16. A person from your church helped them in some way.
  17. The preacher

Stumbled onto this in my files. What do you think?

robert

Abortion is WRONG (psychologically) – 2

Posted on by Bob Mathews

We previously noted that abortion is wrong because of the painful and long-term PSYCHOLOGICAL effect it can have upon the woman involved.  With that in mind, consider the issue of GUILT. Guilt has a normal and healthy function within the human heart. (We are speaking of actual guilt, in contrast to false guilt feelings – another very important thing to understand, but not here.) A rightly functioning conscience will blow the whistle when violated. Sometimes conscience will prevent one from aborting.
But too often, that is not the case.

Consider the person who made such a drastic choice, and continues to live with guilt and remorse because of it. There may have been no guilt during the actual event, but now there has been time to think, regret, grieve. The pain and permanence of that decision hover overhead like a dark cloud.  Nobody mentioned the emotional overload that can follow. What can be said or done about that?

The most important thing to know is that one can be FORGIVEN. The apostle Paul assures that all transgressions (sins) are forgiven in Christ – Colossians 2:13. It has been said that, if Jesus’ death on the cross did not cleanse all sin, then it did not cleanse one sin. Think on that. And that includes the “unforgivable.” The need for forgiveness is very real in every human heart. The certainty of forgiveness is equally real. Nothing addresses guilt and self-hate as does the amazing grace of God in Christ. If I turn my wrong turns over to Him, He will forgive me and help me to forgive myself.

Being forgiven is not the same as being healed…I won’t FEEL forgiven but I still AM forgiven.

That brings up the second aspect of psychological abortion-recovery. Being forgiven is not the same as being healed. I may have trouble forgiving myself!  Sin has consequences. King David of the Bible committed grievous sinS, and thought the whole episode to be a done deal. But the harvest he reaped was very bitter for a very long time. He buried four sons because of those sinful choices! The 32nd Psalm reveals David’s anguish of heart and loss of health during the time he refused to come to terms with his wrongfulness. Post-abortion emotional suffering can have the same effects or worse.

The good news is that the king came to terms with his wrongness toward both God and man – Psalms 32 & 51. And, the even better news is that the Lord fully forgave David and later used him mightily in His kingdom plans. After dying 1,o00 times because of his short-sighted decisions, David found life again in the God of beginning-again!

Where the wandering and painful path of my grieving intersects the Interstate of God’s forgiveness, healing begins. And it does so from the outside in! That is, emotional healing starts with knowing the eternal forgiving love of God for me – I John 4:10. As I lay claim to (believe) that, emotional healing begins on the inside of me.  Now, it may take time. Relapses into doubt and regret may occur. I won’t FEEL forgiven but I still AM forgiven. The feeling will follow the fact, as railroad cars follow the engine.

These words are no bandaid. The post-abortion bleeding heart needs a tourniquet. In all this about one of the heart’s most wearisome burdens, I thought it critical to spotlight a very present hope for those who hurt over the past. If this is you or someone you can perhaps help, memorize the truth of Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

robert

Abortion is WRONG – #1

Posted on by Bob Mathews

Following Sunday’s talk about unborn life, a couple of you inquired about my skipping the slide enumerating the many aspects of abortion’s wrongness.  Keep in mind that  we are talking about the legalized extermination of 60,000,000+ unborn lives!  People!  Think about the myriad of ways that kind of destruction can affect a participant, or, for that matter, an entire culture.  (By comparison, we are rightly horrified and nauseated by the slaughter of 4-6 million innocent Jews by Nazi Germany.  Now, you and I are discussing 60 million+ abortions to this point in the U.S., and the slaughter of 46 million EVERY YEAR throughout the world!)

Under the following heading, I outline some of the ways in which abortion on demand is so very wrong. (Of course, that, labeling a thing as “wrong” is automatically a red flag in our times.)  Well, Jesus warned us to expect that and more – John 3:19,20.  See what you think.

Abortion on demand is WRONG:

Theologically  –  because it militates against the very power and purpose of God Who is the Creator and Giver of every life.  It is wrong in how it treats the God Who is doing the making and shaping work of Psalm 139.  Abortion is theologically wrong.

We are talking about the legalized extermination of 60,000,000+ unborn lives!

Morally –  because it jettisons both Scripture and good conscience in exchange for a quick fix.  “Moral” relates to “right and wrong.”  But we increasingly don’t care about that – Isaiah 5:20.  We just want a quick fix for our temporary problem.  Its all about ME:  my situation, dilemma, family embarrassment, financial circumstance, ambitions, MY LIFE, on and on.  Situation ethics always makes it about how I FEEL, not what is right and wrong.   Hey, have I ever wondered how abortion FEELS to that little unborn one?  The very fact of life-taking is enough for God to judge us.  Add to that the suffering and pain inflicted upon the defenseless.  How can we THINK of it, much less go through with it?  Google “fetal pain,” and, along with that, view the results of various abortion procedures.  Do that for yourself.  Quick fix, my eye!  Why, we give more dignity and protection to sea turtle eggs!  Abortion is morally wrong.

Psychologically  –  because it can trigger immense emotional trauma within the lives of those who have made the choice.  Abortion is not just a physical thing, such as sneezing.  There is an EMOTIONAL side to it.  In the nation of Finland, suicide occurs three times as often among women who have aborted.  What do you make of that?  And, look into post-abortion depression.  With that, look at post traumatic stress syndrome and notice the similarity in effects.  Did you know that those who have had abortions are more likely to be under psychiatric treatment, experience adverse personality changes, admit to usage of alcohol or tranquilizers, and have greater social isolation?  And does it not break your heart when a woman still sobs every year when the “birthday” of her aborted child rolls around?  This is a side effect which Planned Parenthood and abortionists (and most public school “family life” curricula) dare not mention.  Why not?  Abortion is psychologically wrong.

There is more to all this.

robert

 

 

 

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

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“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me; bless His holy name…and forget none of His benefits.” Psalm 103:1-2

This time of the year reminds us of a word – thanksgiving, or the giving of thanks. What a wonderful word, idea, and thing to do. We have been so blessed, been given so much; more than we deserve and actually, for many of us, more than we need.

How blessed we are to live in a place where we fret more about our choices than we do with our wants.

There will probably be a lot of leftovers this next week. But how blessed we are to live in a place where we fret more about our choices than we do with our wants.

However; more importantly, are those blessings that are not physical, but are spiritual in nature. One of the great Psalms is 103. Notice the words that David uses to describe His blessings and benefits. “He pardons, heals, redeems, crowns, satisfies, renews, removes, and performs. He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, merciful, and understands.” WOW!!!!

No wonder David starts out and finishes by saying, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” So, what is it that you were fretting about? In another scripture, David said, “Fretting, only leads to evildoing.”

O Lord, please remind me how blessed I am.

Are you religious or are you converted?

Posted on by Bob Mathews

In spite of its frantic pursuit of religion, America has never been less spiritual. Jesus came into a world that was very religious, if not Jewish, then pagan. Jesus did not come to establish a new religion, but to convert the world, because while they were religious, they were not saved.

Religion is from within, redemption (conversion) is from above. Religion brings one to worship, conversion brings one to God. Religion is a response to the void within man, conversion is a response to the voice of God. Religion can restructure your life, conversion can restart your life. Religion may get you thru life, conversion will get you to heaven. While religion might affect your diet, conversion will affect your destiny.

Where is your name?

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Did you ever carve your name or initials on a tree or write your name on a building or on a bridge? I have seen names on trains as they travel across the country, in bathrooms, just about any place where a person can write a name. Names are important and we like to see our names and hear our names. We don’t like, “hey you”. That is why I always look for a person’s badge to see if their name is there, so I can call them by their name and then later try to recall it. In the Old Testament, the temple was not really the dwelling place of Jehovah but the place where His name was.

When Jesus sent out the apostles he told them they could do a lot of different signs to confirm the word and when they returned they were rejoicing that they had been able to do those very things. It is interesting that Jesus told them, “don’t rejoice over these things, but rejoice because your name is written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Paul spoke of certain people whose names were written in heaven (Phil. 4:1-4).

The most important thing that you can experience is having your name written by God in the book of life. But the only way that can happen is if we are following His word, being faithful in obeying His word. He said that He will tell some people in the judgment, “I have never known you” and that is after claim they knew him (Matthew 7:21-23). Paul was very confident about the fact that the Lord knows those that are His (2 Tim 2: 19).

Where is your name written, on a tree, on a building “in lights” or in the book of life in heaven? The only way you are going to enter into heaven is if your name is there in the book of life (Rev. 21:11-15). My prayer is that “when the roll is called up yonder, we will be there.”

I do!

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Those two words are the words that end the taking of an oath in court, but more importantly, at the end of the oath that you take at your wedding. You were probably asked, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Do you take                 to be your lawful wedded husband; do you take                 to be your lawful wedded wife?”

When you became a Christian you were asked if you believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and you said, “I Do.”

In the wedding, it was for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death parts you. And to this you said, “I Do!” You did not have to (unless there was a shotgun behind you), but you did because you wanted to. Hopefully, because you loved that woman or man.

There is another oath you have taken if you are a Christian. When you became a Christian you were asked if you believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and you said, “I Do.” When you were baptized you were saying, “I DO want Jesus to be my Lord and Master, my Savior and King,” and that was not just on Sunday, but it was everyday in every way, because you wanted to be joined to Christ. Even though you became a member of His church, you did not do it to become a member of the church; hopefully, you did it because you fell in love with the man called Jesus and you wanted to be joined to Him and follow Him in good times, as well as bad times, and that is the oath you took.

How are you doing on your wedding oaths—both to your physical wedding partner and to your spiritual groom?

Oh be careful little tongue what you say

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Jesus, said, “every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for in the day of Judgment.” (Matthew 11:36 NASB). Paul said “let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth”.

An innocent word spoken maybe in fun to the speaker, can become a wound to the hearer. According to James the tongue is a very small part of the body but can be tamed by no one and can cause enormous damage. I know that you don’t have to be evil or have an ugly heart to say words that are not beneficial but are damaging. Peter said that he would not deny the Lord, yet later he would deny him with cursings, yet Jesus knew his heart and would allow him to have the keys to the kingdom.

It behooves each of us to try to make the words that we speak like “apples of gold in settings of silver” (Prov. 25:11), that they are “words of grace as seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6) The only words that we should speak are words “good for edification according to the need of the moment so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

My prayer is that God will help me to always make the words of my mouth not only be acceptable to Him, but also to those who hear.