End Times ?

At the movies, on TV, in magazines, everywhere…people are talking about the end of the world.  I’m not a Bible scholar but it seems scripture wrote today’s world news thousands of years ago.  Prophecy is being fulfilled right before our eyes.  My kids would say I have been preaching the “End is Near” since I first became a believer 35 years ago. 

We could argue that during the time of the fall of Rome, the early church thought they were living in the end times.  Yet Jesus gives us many clues about what we can expect to see happen across the globe before He returns.  You can read these passages in the books of Daniel, Ezekiel, the gospels, and the entire book of Revelation.

 CNN Headline News is beginning to line up with scripture. 

However, there are a few ways to think about end times.  For instance, we are all assigned a time to live and a time to die.  We have no guarantee what tomorrow may bring.  If Jesus comes back today, tomorrow, or sometime in the distant future is not the question we should ask ourselves.  We need to live each day as though it were our last.

I think the times we live in are a sign of the return of our Savior…”yet he is patient with us not wanting any to perish.”  2 Peter 3: 9.  I believe we need to be alert and care about the future of this generation and those to come if Jesus tarries.

In the absence of a specific timetable, and world events falling into chaos, how should we live?  The Bible has plenty to say on the subject.  One verse in particular jumped out at me.

1.)  Communicate God’s word as if we are running out of time.  2 Tim. 4:1-4

Let’s face facts! Eventually, the harvest will be ripe and prophecy will be fulfilled.  Although we do not know the day or hour, Jesus will return when we least expect him, as in the days of Noah. 

I put together a youtube trailer to spread the word to any who might have lost their way or for those who do not take the words of God seriously.  Please check this out and share it with others.

 

God’s Truth Only Marches On in Your Boots!

An astounding Newsweek editorial a few years ago titled “The Future be Damned” is a piercing observation of Americans living for today and avoiding all thought of tomorrow.  This attitude is filtering into the fabric of the next generation.  The author concludes, “We won’t endure small hurts today to avoid larger hurts tomorrow, and we know it.  Self-deception has become a way of life.”  Is this America’s epitaph?

It’s hard to believe we are entering another voting season to elect the President of the United Stated.  The candidates are lining up to answer our questions as to why they are the right person for a tremendously difficult job.  You don’t need a PhD to realize our country is on the brink of collapse and we need strong leadership to guide our nation into a safe port.

The focus right now is on jobs.  God’s strategy to transform society includes the development of economic stability. In the book of Deuteronomy ( 28:12)  He told Israel if they obeyed Him, they would be a lender to other nations and never a borrower.  Since we serve a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever we can claim that same promise for our great nation.

In my opinion, there are three “R’s” we should include in our cluttered minds to prepare for the upcoming selection process.

• Repent:  “No matter how fervently we pray,” warns Chuck Colson, “the Lord will not grant renewal to a nation that does not honor Him.  First we must repent.”  Powerful words we must take seriously. Society needs to “turn around” and shift out focus back to God who gives us the gift of life and liberty.

• Regroup:  Our instant push-button mentalities need an adjustment.  We should focus on the rebuilding of our nation.  The most valuable things in life-such as faith, honesty, moral character; things worthy to build our lives; things worthy to build or rebuild a nation-do not come instantly.  Change begins in our own lives, our families, wherever we are.

• Refocus: Each voter should take responsibility and fully engage in the process.  Don’t just take someone else’s word on a candidate's character and platform.  Think for yourselves.  Proverbs 14:15 comes to mind when I think about accountability.  “The simple believe every word; but the prudent man looks well to his future.”

Personally, I believe we are in an hour of crisis, nationally and spiritually.
Each one us is writing the script of America’s future today.  Our words, actions, and decisions will make a difference for good or ill.  We all play a part and bear the consequences for the future.  History is rolling up like a scroll.  Don’t be deceived!   


Part of text borrowed from Charles Crismier and Dr. Tony Evens

Be A Herald In The Marketplace

I spent the last few days at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference.  A fantastic line up of authors, speakers, editors and agents presided over the four day yearly event. I had the pleasure of having lunch with a Hollywood Superstar, Ted Baehr, who taught scriptwriting. Our workshops and continuing classes ran from early morning till late at night. Talk about information overload! However, one theme drove the heartbeat of the faculty.

It is time to get out of our comfortable Sunday pews and take the gospel message into the streets. 

I love this challenge of being a herald, a God ordained messenger, but where do I begin?  We brainstormed some options to take serving at soup kitchens to the next level. Since we all love to be entertained the new troubadours might want to add a little skit or funny poem to the menu to catch a few fish. One girl in our group suggested taking your home group to the next Ghost Tour in the city cemetery and prepare a monologue or poem about salvation. A creative teen could help you give it a beat.  I know this sounds a little weird and crazy but many people are suspicious of church, clergy, and Christians but will relax and enjoy something a little different.

We have to take a new approach and be salt and light to a generation that has been given a lot of mixed messages about God.  People need to see us without our religious face.  I can’t sing, dance, juggle or swallow swords but I broke out of my usual quiet shell and acted in a little drama we performed in front of the class.  For me that was huge.  I came out of my comfort zone because if I really want to be an effective witness I have to care enough to be uncomfortable.

Ted Baehr, the Chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission had some sobering statistics we need to take seriously.

•  Good News Publication noted that 50 years ago, 70 percent of children had heard the gospel and were familiar with the Bible.  Today that number is 4 percent!
•  In the United States we are experiencing an unprecedented 22 percent decline in Christianity among children and teenagers. (George Barna)
•  Christians have increasingly been adopting spiritual views that come from Islam, Wicca, secular humanism, eastern religions and other sources.

Why…..because for the past 20 years we have seen the nation’s spiritual views slowly become less aligned with the Bible.  I don’t know about you but I want to see these statistics reverse.  If you have done something out of the ordinary to reach people for Christ please post and let us know, together we are a mighty army!
Watch how this little poem captivates the listener….

Slugs, Aphids and Weeds…Oh My!

I’m a lot like my mother. She believed fruit and veggies were intended to be purchased at the market, frozen or in cans. I grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs thinking gardening was something that died out with the pioneers.

 Then I moved to Amish Country.

I learned it was unthinkable not to have a vegetable garden. Over the years I’ve grown to love gardening (for about a month). I enjoy surface digging, with gloved hands, a pink handled spade and plants that look half grown immediately. However, after numerous failed attempts to grow anything remotely eatable I realized a bumper crop was all about preparing the soil.

This is where the husband comes in handy. He unleashes the big guns, his rotary tilling beast. He and the monster begin by breaking up the hard ground and removing rocks, roots, and debris. I watch (from inside the house) as he spreads the compost. Then he tills again to make sure everything is all mixed together and the soil is rich with the proper ph. When the preparation is finished we plant the seeds.

For the first month or so I am diligent about watering and weed control. My plants look like soldiers in perfect formation. Then it happens. Mutiny! My perfect rows seem to join forces with a multitude of rebel weeds! Under the sweltering sun I begin the process of carefully separating the fragile plants from the thistle.

It’s amazing how weeds can grow anywhere! They come up through cracks in the cement, they tangle around trees, and they raise their thorny heads in dry or wet soil. These little demons will propagate if it rains or shines. Not so with good seed.

If you want to yield a harvest after your investment of time and effort, you have to prepare the ground and be vigilant to protect it from predators. In the parable of the sower Jesus warns us about infertile hearts. He illustrates the point by showing us four types of soil.

Jesus sows the seed, like your pastor who teaches the word each Sunday morning. The seed scatters through the congregation. Some will land in hard hearts where the hearer is not really interested in what God has to say. This person has already shut out the truth and prefers the world’s ideas on how to live a full life. Before long the enemy of our souls makes sure they can’t understand or retain what they hear.

Some seed penetrates hearts that are rocky. These are surface diggers clearing just enough dirt to cover the seed. Rocks represent falling into temptation and unconfused sin. This becomes a dry bed that produces shallow, legalistic or lukewarm Christians. Because these plants get little spiritual moisture fruit bearing dies away.

If your heart is thorny you accept the seed, and get off to a good start, by the cares of the world become so distracting you backslide. The world’s treasures are more important than the things of God. Life’s predators, (worries, riches and lusts) eat the fruit before it has a chance to mature.

The good soil is the prepared heart. There is some effort involved when you become a disciple of Jesus. You need to care for the seed that is sown within you. We can’t leave church on Sunday and forget what was sown by Tuesday. Each day we need to weed out sin and clear the rocks and thistle that litter our lives. If we are lax in our effort we will be overrun with aphids, slugs, and predators that will rob us of a good harvest.

I remember struggling through all three imperfect loams. I went through seasons of disinterest, hanging onto sin, and backsliding far from my church family. Thankfully, someone told me I needed to do more than scratch the surface; I needed to get serious about making Jesus the Lord of my life. The good news is we don’t have to continue growing weeds and rocks in dry unproductive soil. Once I made that decision the Holy Spirit began tilling.



Good soil is a heart yielded to God. If we want a massive harvest and abundant lives we need to patiently and carefully work toward developing the fruit of the spirit in our lives. The parable of the sower asks us all a question. What type of soil are you growing in?

Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-23

Mark 4:1-20

Luke 8:1-15

Engine Trouble

Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.

Summer is on the horizon and I have been exercising and dieting for months.  Let’s face it.  If you are breathing and over thirty, you’re working out.  I got on the scale expecting to see unbelievable progress.  After all, I had cut back calories, upped my cardio, and changed my routine.  I even secretly tried Zumba!

I had been waiting, patiently, for the little needle to drop for days.  Just a pound would have made my day.  The dang thing would not budge.  Instead of keeping my emotions in check, I flipped out and ate everything in sight.  I knew I was in trouble when I realized I was eating Doritos with whipped cream.

The husband has really bad timing.  Just as I was forcing the hundredth salty, sweet temptation into my mouth, he walked into the kitchen.  “Honey, what’s wrong?  You’re going to ruin all you’re hard work.”

I felt my lips curl into a snarl.  I felt rabid!  I faced him with beady red eyes.  “Get Out!”  I growled.  Fortunately, he’s smart.  He turned and left the scene in a flash.  That instant brought me back to my senses.  I put the tasty (yuck) delicacies away and waited for my emotional motor to slow down.

Once I regained control, I realized I needed a tune up.  For a few weeks, my internal trouble light was flashing, “Check engine!”  I ignored it.  Although my performance was low, and it took a lot more effort for me to get things done, I deliberately shunned the warning.  It’s funny how the little things can bring our lives to a screeching stop.

I was doing all the right things.  My prayer time was on track. My personal life was great.  The family was intact.  I should have been getting enough fuel and fluids to make my engine purr.  The funny thing was I felt clueless as to why my think tank was not running smoothly.  I had to take myself to the “Master Mechanic” and wait for the answer to my problem.

Sometimes, I need something close to shock therapy to hear the truth.  My eating tantrum represented one more thing I had to wait to see change. The truth was I had lots of unanswered prayer floating around and nothing was happening.  I let my mind get so caught up in what I wanted, when I wanted it, and how I wanted it, I lost focus on why I wanted it.

The why part of dieting and exercise was obvious, too much junk in the trunk! My lack of speed had a lot to do with trying to accelerate on a road loaded with stop signs.  No matter what I tried, the only lane open was slow and steady. It was like The Fast and the Furious meets Herbie.  

When I let God use His instrument of truth to check my internal code, I saw the problem.  I had been trying in subtle ways to manipulate God to speed things up. His clock does not operate on FIOS.  Inside, I was impatient, frustrated, angry, and fearful. I bought into the lie that the results I want to experience in life should be instant and easy.  I was stripping my gears and getting nowhere.

Jesus spent thirty years waiting to begin a three-year ministry.  We don’t know much about that time except that during the waiting process… “He increased in strength, wisdom, and favor with God and man.”  (Luke 2:52)

We need to idle our engines when the answers we seek are a long time coming.  Waiting is really a time of transition.  God tells us to be patient because something important is at stake. He knows our beginning and our end.  We need to trust His timing and seek His will in each situation we face in life.

How many parents are still waiting after years of prayer to see their lost child return to Christ?  You need to know you are not alone.  Many faithful prayer warriors are waiting for jobs, or reconciliation in a broken relationship. He is there to help you through.  Some of God’s faithful are waiting for healing.  Jesus will dry your eyes and calm the storm.  Are you lost and confused?  He will light the way.   We are all waiting for something.  He is standing with us!

Let’s trust God and learn from Jesus to wait faithfully, obediently and patiently.  God promises..  “As I wait for the Lord I will renew my strength and power; I shall mount up on wings like an eagle; I shall run and not be weary, I shall walk and not faint or become tired.   –Isaiah 40:31

    

  

  

    

Resurrection: Fact or Fiction ?

A foolish person says in his heart, “There is no God.”

What does it take for you to believe something out of the realm of possibility?  Most of us need to see some hard evidence before we lend credibility to the incredible.  This is true when we speak of a loving God who sent his Son into the world to be tortured, mocked, and executed by a vicious regime of unbelievers. 

The Biblical account of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion makes us cringe at the brutality of humanity.  Passion Week forces us to look at betrayal, social pressure, and apathy with a finger pointed at our own rebellious heart.  Rejection, fear, and abandonment jump off the page as we identify with the innocent man.

More shocking than the horror of Christ’s undeniable death is His miraculous resurrection. How can we grasp this event? Some people argue the disciples stole Jesus’ body.  We read of an empty tomb behind a massive stone.  Twenty huge men would have to push the stone aside. Besides this feat of strength they had to be quiet enough not to wake the Roman guards, the fighting machines of their day.  There are 200 known eyewitnesses over 40-day periods who say they saw the resurrected Christ. Can we water down this phenomenon with baskets and bunnies? 

“The Lord looked down from heaven and saw all men. All have sinned and gone their own way.”

The cross is not a sacrifice God needs in order to love us, but one we need to be reconciled to Him. 

1.) In this the love of God is shown: He sent His Son into the world that we might live through Him. 
2.) This is love: not that we loved God, but He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sin.
3.) And we ourselves have seen and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

What happens when we accept God’s gift of love?  We meet the resurrected Son of God who continues to transform lives 2011 years later!

Bible verses taken from 1 John 4: 9, 10, 14
Psalm 14;1, 2
Romans 3:10
Portions of text from James Kennedy, and Chip Ingram

  

Where The Rubber Meets The Road

Spring has sprung and so has my desire to get back on my Harley. The husband and I took our bikes out of the garage and started cleaning and polishing our iron horses. I’m always excited preparing for the first ride of the season. While cleaning my saddlebags I found an old brochure of Yellowstone National Park that reminded me of last year’s meltdown on the Beartooth.

Most people agree the scenic mountain road that runs from the Chief Joseph's Highway in Wyoming and travels to Red Lodge Montana is the most beautiful ride in the United States. The 67-mile highway soars to dizzying heights. On any summer day temperatures can range from 70 degrees to below freezing during a sudden snow storm. Besides having an opportunity to see Grizzlies, elk, and mountain lion the landscape is an endless display of Mother Nature at her best. Snow covered mountains, granite peaks, and glacier lakes astound you.

We love the Beartooth Pass because of the steep zigzags and switchbacks that make for a thrilling, unpredictable adventure. We based camped in Cody and this was our first ride of the season. I consider myself a veteran on the road having about 50,000 plus miles under my belt. Even with all that road time, I broke the cardinal rule. I lost focus. I looked down, down, down the side of the mountain and brought on a mental breakdown.

One minute I was maneuvering the switchbacks like a pro and the next I was overcompensating each hairpin turn like a student. A huge fifth wheel roared behind me breathing down my neck. Now I lost my concentration and my nerve. This narrow stretch of winding highway has no shoulder or pull offs. My husband was ahead of me blissfully unaware of my panic attack.

I began to pray….hard. Instead of the surge of faith I expected I got a paralyzing hand cramp. There was no way I could force my fingers to open. My clutch hand would not move. I felt the painful sensation of muscles locking my fist into a tight knot. My bike was in second gear and the engine was screaming for third. I was powerless. Now I was unfocused, panicked, and desperate. I rode this way for what seemed like a million miles. As we came around a steep curve there was an overlook station.

Somehow, I parked the bike. I sat on the curb, 11,000 feet above sea level, wondering if I ever wanted to ride again. My heart was racing and my mind was frozen in fear. My husband could not fathom how I could be in such a state of alarm. I had done this ride many times over the years. It should have been a joy ride.

We hung around for a while as I guzzled water like a camel in case I was dehydrated. The spasms continued to come and go. I looked over the cliff. The next few miles were a continuous series of tight switchbacks, hairpin turns, and zigzags. We had another forty minutes to Red Lodge Montana, and then we had to turn back around and do the highway from the opposite direction to get back to our campsite. How was I going to finish this ride?

Could I trust my ability and training to navigate these curves safely and more importantly, did I really believe God would protect me? I knew this battle was in my mind. I needed to take control of the “what ifs” that were running rampant in my thoughts. I talk a lot about faith in the Creator so this was my chance to put my words into action. I was afraid but decided to trust even as my hand throbbed in pain.

Unbelievably, the spasm turned out to be an answer to prayer. God stretched my faith, a lesson I would need on the way back. We made it to Red Lodge, had lunch, and headed home. As we came close to a region known as “Top of the World” dark clouds settled over the Beartooth. We knew what was coming and we were heading right into it.

I rode the curves in the pouring rain. Lightning and thunder flashed over our heads. My clutch hand worked but I could barely see a few feet ahead of me. I was freezing and the road was dark and slippery. God’s remedy for fear worked! This time faith kept me steady. We made it back to our destination- wet, and cold. That night we sat in the warmth and security of our R.V., laughed about my misadventure, and made plans for our next excursion into the wilderness.

The hand cramp reminds me that life is unpredictable. There are no guarantees, just the next series of hairpin turns and sweeping arcs. God is teaching me that there will be times in my life when I’ll be powerless to switch gears. It won’t matter how well trained, self disciplined, or knowledgeable I’ve become. The only thing that will get me through is faith.

My advice as you ride the shifting roads of life…..

     Keep your focus
     Don’t panic
     Keep moving
     Trust God

Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you will react to it.

(Quote by Chuck Swindall)

Touched By A Stranger

The drifter blew into our lives like a gypsy wind.  He came out of nowhere, appearing outside our barn like an act of magic.  His yellow eyes were hypnotic and mischievous.  You could tell by his playful gait that he was alive with youth and enthusiasm.  The hobo pranced up to me confident I would fall for his irresistible charm.  It was as if he could read my mind.  Black cats had always been my favorite.  It was early October and enchantment was in the air.

Our dog, Swamp Thing, charged at the stranger expecting to show his superiority.  The vagabond stood his ground and gave the mutt a few well-placed swats to the snout.  Amazingly, the brute sat quietly and allowed the stranger to rub up against him. They formed an immediate bond. I decided to name our bohemian visitor Van Helsing, after my favorite vampire hunter.  It seemed appropriate to expect him to defend the farm from Wererats and Vampire cats.

The problem was I promised my husband not to take in another stray.  Luckily, like a snake charmer the vagrant won his heart as well.  At first, I fed him at the barn, trying to keep my emotional distance. I had been through this before.  Strays come and go frequently on the farm.  I was a little mystified since the full details of Van Helsing’s past were a mystery.  I couldn’t imagine someone getting rid of such a friendly cat. 

As the weeks went by his food dish ended up on the side porch, next to the kitchen.  His once sleek form got rounder and his coat was lush and beautiful.  When I walked the dog, the cat followed.  They were a macabre duo, the dog white as snow and the cat black as pitch.  Every so often Van would stop and roll over so I could rub his fat belly.

Although allergies made it impossible for our family to keep a cat inside the house my husband broke his own rule.   He made a spot in the basement to keep our new friend safe from the frigid December nights.  His make shift caravan was complete with a thick red cushion for the gypsy prince to sleep on. 

True to his wandering nature, Van Helsing was unpredictable.  Sometimes we would call him and he would run from the midnight shadows and into the warmth.  Other times he was gone for a day or two at a time looking for adventure.  Each time he was away, we wondered if we would ever see him again. 

One night he came home with a gash on his ear and a bite on his neck (true story).  We assumed it was a catfight and administered Neosporin to the injuries.  As the weeks went by, he stayed away longer and lost weight.  When he came home one freezing night in January the left side of his face was swollen.  We called our Vet and got him the first available appointment.

That night he crept slowly into his hideout beaten by his enemies.  I tried tempting his appetite with tuna but he had no desire for food.  I gently put him on the cushion thinking he would be fine after some rest. The next morning he could not find the strength to get up.  I sat with him, completely horrified at the prospect of him dying.  I cried and prayed he would make it to the Vets.  I wanted to believe there was an antidote.

Before sunset, one of God’s little creatures died on his red pillow as quickly as he appeared.  Some unseen virus stole the wanderers’ life prematurely. We had a little ceremony to commemorate his short life with my grandson and the dog.  Neither seemed to feel the same loss we did.  Afterward we buried him by the barn where we found him.  I like to imagine him running through vast fields in the October sun.  I see him playing with lions and lambs in a beautiful wilderness where there is no disease, death, or decay.

I was raised a Catholic and the Nuns were firm believers that animals have no souls and would not be in heaven.  I disagree.  Watch this video and make your own decision. 

 

      

Happily Everlasting

When you put the words love and everlasting in the same sentence, it comes off as an oxymoron.  Both verbs are difficult to define, or fully understand.  The term love covers the pasta we ate for dinner, our new droid, or the fresh romance we are starting.  Everlasting and Happily Ever After are the things of Fairy Tales.

We are accustomed to warranties, guarantees, default contracts, and prenups.  With our revolving door affection our computers, flat screens, and significant others barely last a year before they launch the new models and we are on to the next thing.  Besides, nothing on this earth lasts forever.

When God tells us He loves us with an everlasting love, we might be tempted to shrug it off since contracts and hearts can be easily broken. Our limited understanding tends to humanize God. If he writes us off because we have messed-up year after year, that’s understandable. However, if He rides out the storms of life right along with us as we entertain our personal demons it just doesn’t make sense!  Who am I that God would care?

 Here are a few facts about Everlasting Love we can count on….

·    God reaches out to us unconditionally.  He loves us before we can honestly love Him.  The Lord has appeared to me saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love: with kindness I continue my faithfulness to you.”  Jeremiah 31:3

·    No matter how far from shore the choppy waters of temptation has left you, nothing you have done, or will do, can separate you from the love of God.  “Neither death nor life nor angels or demons….will be able to separate us from the love of Christ.”  Romans 8: 38-39

·    He gave everything to open the way for us to accept His Everlasting Love.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life.”  John 3:16


   When we enter into this contract, we will live Happily Everlasting...

  

Reach for the Prize

Forget what lies behind. I love January. It’s time for our yearly do-over list. The idea of another chance empowers me to reach for the stars. Who doesn’t like to imagine what it would be like to really accomplish their personal goals and get everything right for a change. I made my resolutions, along with the rest of the world, and predictably, my top priorities fell right in line with most people.

I intend to spend quality time with family, lose that same 20 pounds, get out of debt, get more involved, finish my novel, go on a mission’s trip….you get the picture. I really wish God would wave a magic wand over my life and make everything fall into place just as I command.

As I prayed about this whole New Year’s thing, I felt convicted to pay more attention to what God has actually called me to do and accomplish for His Kingdom as the year plays out. Like…be obedient to His leading even when it interferes with my workout, or my writing, or my multitude of plans. I seem to have a long list of demands I expect God to help me achieve.

Reach forward to what lies ahead. I’ve decided to alter my list and deliberately seek God’s priorities. Instead of taking my side excursions into the Land of Hopes and Dreams, I think I’ll try it God’s way, and walk into the Promised Land. I hope that when the ball drops to ring in 2012, I will have accomplished something that will bring me closer to His purpose and that stubborn 20 pounds won’t feel so heavy after all.

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind, reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3: 13-14