What's the truth? Here’s something to think about. In our modern, fast-paced, stop for nothing society, not many people in America today are pondering this philosophical question.
I believe truth applied in love and compassion can solve many of this nation’s most vexing problems and struggles. The divorce rate is sky-high. Truth can help. The youth of America are struggling with identity. Truth offers solutions. The national debt threatens the future of America. Truth offers hope. High unemployment continues to dash dreams and lifestyles. Truth has answers. An easy, comfortable retirement seems like a distant dream for many. Truth shouts from above. Immoral behavior seems to be rising like a tempest in society. Truth shines a light into the darkness. Worry and anxiety consume many. Truth speaks like a trumpet.
As more and more people learn about the “other side” of Jon Cash, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to talk to people throughout Hampton Roads about the Lord, Christianity, and my personal testimony about how God changed my life. As my conversation steers through the often times choppy waters of “religious talk”, I have found some people are uncomfortable talking about “truth”. Many ask me, “What is truth?” Others sometimes say, “Well, that’s your truth!” I have some good people say to me, “What is true for you is not true to me,” or “Your truth is not my truth”.
So the question has to be raised, “Is truth relative or is it absolute?” Is it possible for something to be true for one but false for others? If there are two people staring at a blue block and one sees it as blue and another sees it as green, is the person who sees green lying or possibly color blind? Obviously, blue is blue and there is no way of making it green unless you blend it with some yellow. But a person who is color-blind is incapable of seeing the proper color. Truth, in particular the truths that the Bible teaches, are clear as day to those who humble themselves before God and are open to His ways. Yet, those who have pride ruling their hearts are “blinded” by that pride to the beauty of absolute truth that God teaches through Scripture.
I know that some people reading this may think I’m sounding somewhat judgmental. I am not qualified to judge anybody. My job as a minister is to point people toward the Truth, the Judge, and the Savior of all mankind. The Bible clearly teaches that God hides His truth and the deep secrets of the Kingdom of God from those who are haughty of heart. It also teaches that those who come to Him with meekness and an open spirit will be filled with truth, and it’s that truth that will set them free!
Is the Hampton Coliseum located in Hampton? The simple answer is “yes.” What if somebody came to you and told you that it was in Newport News? Would you argue with them? Would you yank out your map and show them their error? Maybe you would Google it and show them the satellite picture. If you really wanted to make your point, you might drive them straight there and defiantly point to the name on the sign. Yet, no matter what you do, nothing can convince them that the Coliseum is in Hampton. Why am I making this silly analogy? Truth can only be found with the Author of truth. Truth, by its very definition, is founded and sustained by God. Societies come and go. Mankind lives on earth a short time and then returns to the dust of the earth. Our lives and experiences do not determine truth for us but rather reveal our willingness to embrace His truths or discard them as archaic or outdated or even judgmental. History teaches that cultures do one of three things regarding truth.
1. A culture can embrace the truths of God and create a just society based on God’s laws through a thoughtful interpretation of the scriptures. Most of our founding fathers were Christians and proved this was possible through the divinely inspired documents of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.
2. A society can embrace partial truth and create a society where the laws of the land may or may not be just based on the leaders currently in office. People living in this culture have varied beliefs and there is much division and disagreements about religion, truth, and God’s place in society. I believe we live in this type of culture today. For many, truth is relative and not absolute.
3. A nation can completely turn its back on God and His truth. Nazi Germany did this to the destruction of millions of innocent lives. The former Soviet Union kicked God out of the country through their Communist system of lies and propaganda. Tens of millions were murdered as a result. When God and truth are eradicated from a nation, evil prospers and spreads like a wildfire.
America has transitioned from the first society after the War of Independence to the second society today. Jesus Christ said, “A kingdom divided amongst itself cannot stand.” We live today in a country divided by religion and politics. There are those who seek the truth and find life and there are those who don’t seek truth and find emptiness. Truth seems to be a dividing line among the masses with the two sides taking their places and drawing lines in the sand. While there have always been disagreements about how to run the country and what is right and wrong, those arguments today have been enflamed by the passion on both sides who believe they are correct in their thinking. Truth is absolute and I believe the source of all truth is found in the Old and New Testaments in the Bible. What other book or document claims to be authored by God Himself?
I love to people watch. I can sit back for an hour at a mall and just watch people as they walk by. I love to watch their faces and in particular, look into their eyes. I was recently at the Peninsula Town Center waiting for my son to finish some indoor skateboarding. After getting bored in the shop I decided to sit outside in the cold and watch people. And that’s when it hit me. How many of these people are really happy with their lives? Their steps seemed busy, their faces were downcast and sullen and smiles were few and far between. I wondered if more people in America had faith in God, would we see more smiles?
I know that faith brings more joy into your life. Faith brings more meaning into your walk on earth. ’m convinced that faith makes a heart that was hard and angry shine with excitement about their future.
What is faith? In particular, what does it mean to have faith in God? Over the past decade of ministry, I have found a profound lack of understanding among church and un-churched folk about the real definition and as importantly, the application of faith in their lives.
Let’s start with what faith is not. Faith is not an intellectual understanding of God. Anybody can understand God with their minds but never have the kind of faith that pleases the Lord. If you doubt this premise, ask yourself this question. Do the demons in the spirit world know about God? Do they understand who He is? Of course, the answer is a resounding, “Yes.” No theologian would ever suggest that demons are going to go to heaven. In Nazi Germany, most residents knew who Hitler was and most (but certainly not all) knew his tactics were wrong and evil; yet some chose to follow him and others chose not to and often times paid for it with their lives. Those who placed their faith in Hitler joined the cause for world domination.
Faith is not church attendance. Church attendance results from our faith or leads us to faith in God but it is not faith. Many people running from true faith wind up in church without ever finding the kind of faith that can move mountains, the kind of faith that can radically change a life, and the type of faith that can bring peace and joy through the worst of storms. Billy Graham stated years ago that he feared more than 50% of people in church fell into this category.
Faith is not a feeling. Faith can affect our feelings but the raw theological meaning of faith is far greater than the momentary feelings that can change like the wind. I believe Americans can place way too much stock on feelings. In marriages today, some that “lose that loving feeling” simply cut the cords and get a divorce. Love is not a feeling but a choice. Love is a commitment when the feelings and honeymoon are a distant memory. Faith and love are powerful connecting forces that can radically alter our way of thinking and the way we act.
Imagine you are driving in a car on a foreign road with no cars in sight. You come upon a rickety bridge and slam on the brakes. You get out of the car and carefully examine the structure. Should you cross or turn around? Is it strong enough to hold your car? Do you want to take the chance? Because you value your life and you are not sure, you simply turn around and find another way to your destination. You see, you didn’t have faith in the bridge. Faith is the motivating factor behind what you do in your life. It is the life-force in your heart that determines what decisions you make for you and your family’s future.
At its core, faith from your heart, spirit and soul is what makes you who you are. Your faith is what causes you to act a certain way, marry who you marry, vote for who your trust, and spend money the way you choose. In essence, faith is an action verb. It’s the very nerve-center of who you are as a human being. Faith is not invisible. What you do defines your faith.
Faith in God is an attitude of the heart. Faith in God means trusting God. You place your undying love and gratitude in the Lord’s hands. I love Carrie Underwood’s music. Her song, “Jesus Take The Wheel” is one of my favorite songs. I view it as a spiritual song. You can use the link to hear the song. Faith is allowing the Lord to take the wheel of your life and direct your paths across every bridge, no matter the condition, that He wants you to cross!
America is changing. Society is changing. Of course, change can be good or bad depending on what is changing and the impact that those changes are having on America’s security, her families, and her future on the world stage. I came upon some statistics the other day that shocked me. Barna is a Christian-based research group that compiles statistics on the church in America. Here’s a link to its website. The sobering statistics below relate to men.
· From 1990 to 2003, church attendance on the part of men dropped from 40percent to 28 percent. · Since 1991, all indictators of spiritual maturity in men have declined. Those indicators include church attendance, Bible reading, participation in missions, and giving. · Only 1 in 12 men in the church are involved in active discipleship. · Less than 10 percent of churches offer anything to help men grow in their spiritual lives. · Couples are divorcing at the same rates as nonbelievers. · Most men know only enough about God to be disappointed in Him · 90 percent of men will have their children leave church before they graduate from high school. · 50 percent of men will have a significant problem with pornography. · 40 percent will get divorces, affecting one million children a year. · Only 10 percent will have a Biblical worldview (Meaning thinking like Jesus thinks.)
These statistics paint a glum picture. The church in America today is under assault by a barrage of forces from outside the church including political correctness, the secularized media, rampant materialism, Hollywood movies and music glorifying immorality, and a persuasive American nihilistic culture bent on abolishing the laws of God that have guided us for more than 200 years. There is also a concerted effort from heretics within the church walls to ignore, water down, or change the Word of God, place entertainment of the congregants above sound Biblical teaching, and to place building projects at a higher priority than helping the poor and needy.
Many in America today are simply abandoning the church. Some don’t see church attendance as having any relevance to their lives. Others are so busy with their lives that church just doesn’t make it on their schedules anymore. Many know that church attendance, Bible study, and other spiritual endeavours are good for them yet other priorities simply strangle out the time needed to get to know God better.
I believe that America needs God more than ever! When the Lord came into my heart 23 years ago, He changed everything about me. Before my conversion experience, I was depressed, after, I was joyful. Before, I had no purpose in life except to look for ways to have fun. After turning my life over to the Lord, my purpose was to please God and tell others about Him. Before becoming a Christian, I had no idea what would happen to me when I died, after coming to the Lord, I am convinced I will spend eternity with Him in heaven. Before my conversion, my life was craziness and chaos, afterward, I received a peace that transcends any human understanding.
Are some leaving the church because the church has problems? Sure. The church is full of imperfect people who make mistakes. Some cite the hypocrisy in the church while others don’t like to hear a pastor ask for donations and still others simply are uncomfortable hearing messages from the Bible that make them feel guilty. For as many reasons somebody can list for not going to church, I want to offer a short list of positive aspects of church attendance.
Six Reasons to Attend Church
1. Church attendance gives you a chance to learn more about God. 2. Church attendance can lead you to a life full of joy, peace and purpose. 3. Being involved with a group of believers can help you grow spiritually and encourage you when life turns tough. 4. Getting involved with an organization that helps people winds up helping you too. 5. You will get to know others who can commit to pray for you and support you and your family. 6. If you have children, you can be a positive influence on them by teaching them about their Creator. Ultimately, you are responsible for teaching your children right from wrong and there is no better place to do that then church.
One of the biggest problems I see today on the spiritual landscape across America is the loss of understanding of who God is and how He blesses His people. The Barna report makes it clear that the majority of men across America do not understand who God really is and why church attendance is critical to their emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Hosea 4:6 makes all of this clear.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
America’s decreasing lack of knowledge of God is directly related to America’s increasing social problems and ills. If we want God’s blessings, we must get to know Him better and then obey Him in our lives. The problems are also present in Evangelical Churches too. Barna reports that…
- 40 percent of those in Evangelical churches believed that the Bible was not totally accurate. - 37 percent believed that Jesus committed sins when He lived on the earth - 62 percent thought the Holy Spirit is a symbol of God’s presence and not a living entity. - 40 percent believed there are some sins that God will not forgive. - 51 percent mistakenly believe that if a person does enough good deeds, he will earn a place in heaven. - 57 percent believed that the Devil isn’t a living being, but rather a symbol of evil. - When asked what goals have they set for their lives, not one stated a spiritual goal. - Only 8 percent tithe and 16 percent give nothing.
I hope and pray that I am wrong. I hope these numbers turn around. I pray that our country will turn from the cultural relativism that’s clogging the spiritual veins of our great republic and return to the Bible. Will it happen? Only God knows. I do know this: God wants to see America turn back to Him and He will be waiting with open arms as in the story of the prodigal son. Right now though, the son seems to be drifting far away from his daddy. I hope that son sees how much better he had it at home!
A week doesn’t go by when somebody doesn’t ask me why God allows all of the evil in the world. A reader of my Facebook page just sent this question to me. He was wasn’t trying to pick an argument or question the existence of God. He simply could not understand why “God would allow little children to be hurt so terribly by rapists, murderers and the likes.”
First, it breaks the heart of God to see such evil in the world. You may wonder why, if He is all powerful and all-seeing, He wouldn’t stop this from happening. It’s a good question that I hope I can try and answer in a way that reveals the nature of God, the nature of good and evil, and the purpose behind our existence on this earth in the first place.
I want to start with the definition of love. By its very nature, love is a choice we make. For many of my readers, you are married and are raising a family. You chose your spouse. You were not (at least I hope not!) forced to marry the individual that shares your home with you. By your free will, you chose to marry them and commit your life to them through thick and thin. Your choice to love is yours alone, and your choice to not love is yours alone. You cannot force another to love you because love is a choice.
When God created mankind, His desire was to create spiritual beings in human bodies who could have a relationship with Him. This separates mankind from the rest of the animal kingdom. We have a spirit and soul that have the ability to determine right and wrong. In other words, human beings were made “in the image of God.”
God’s plan was to create a race that had the ability to love Him and communicate withHim. God is a relational Being who desires fellowship and love. Since love can’t be forced on another individual, God had to create a system on earth that offered choices for His creation. If Adam and Eve chose God, it would then be a free-will decision to offer themselves to Him by the choice they made. Hence, God placed a tree in the Garden of Eden. This tree was placed there to test the allegiance of His creation and provide them with the choice to obey Him and show their love and devotion toward Him, or to disobey Him and show their lack of love.
If God had not placed the tree in the midst of paradise, He would not have given them the choice that love commands. He didn’t want a bunch of mind-numbed robots worshipping Him because they had to; but rather, He wanted a species of creatures worshipping Him and loving Him because they chose to.
Unfortunately, Adam and Eve made a very bad choice by disobeying their Creator. Because of their disobedience, God disciplined them by removing them from paradise and sending them out into a harsh world to till the land and live life far removed from the ease and bliss of Eden. Their poor choice was the opening salvo of a spiritual war that has consumed the planet since the beginning of time. Their decision allowed evil into the world that will not disappear until Jesus Christ comes for His Second Coming.
I know that this may sound like religious mumbo-jumbo to those who have never read the Bible or believed the words inside it. I understand! Yet, I know of no other story that offers mankind a more rational explanation for the world that we have inherited.
Why is evil is so prevalent? Evil is a choice that mankind makes just as love is. Without the choice to follow a road of good or evil, we have essentially become creatures forced into a relationship with their Creator. Forced love is not love at all but rather a kind of slavery to another, be it a man or a God.
Over the years of ministry, I have encountered hundreds of individuals who have testified that God allowed whatever evil that occurred in their lives to occur to bring them to a point in their lives where they turned their hearts over to Him. In short, a holy, perfect God allows much of the evil around us to bring us to a point where we turn to Him. If we lived in a perfect world, I doubt most of us, including myself, would turn to Him to bring us the peace and joy that He alone can provide on a consistent basis. In other words, He can take the evil of the world and turn it on its head, changing it to good for those who place their faith and trust in Him.
I have ministered to victims of various crimes who attest that God made them stronger individuals through the tragedy. Many of these people go on to minister to others who have experienced the same type of tragedies in their lives. We have not been placed on this earth to simply pursue pleasure for ourselves, but rather we have been strategically placed it to make a simple choice. Love God and honor Him with our lives and serve Him and others through acts of love a service, or to choose to live our lives the way we want and focus on our own wants and desires. Life is a test. God is testing us to see whom we will serve, Him or ourselves. Good and evil are choices we make each day in our lives. Without that foundational choice, the test from above couldn’t exist.
The Bible teaches that if anybody causes a child to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone wrapped around their necks and be tossed into the sea. God takes sin and evil seriously, and He will, in His time and place, judge every deed of mankind. God’s justice may seem nonexistent to the finite mind of man. His justice may be delayed but it is coming. Why is He waiting? Because the Bible teaches that He wishes not a soul perish, no not one. His patience may be interpreted by some as a lack of love or caring, yet I believe His patience is long suffering because of His deep love for each of us, even those who commit unspeakable crimes. God’s greatest desire is to see as many people as possible with Him one day in heaven. However, according to the Bible, we must choose Him to make that happen!
A month doesn’t go by without another story accusing a politician of some form of corruption. It seems that more and more leaders are risking their political careers by doing things that are either unethical or illegal. Both political parties have their villains. Through the years, Democrats and Republicans have seen their share of men and women who have fallen from grace.
The purpose of this blog is to try and figure out what goes wrong. How could otherwise fine men and women with decades of public service fall so quick and so hard? Do they think that they wouldn’t get caught? Often, money and power are the contributing factors to this mess.
The tragedy here goes beyond the life and career of a few individuals. It extends to their immediate families who may be visiting them in jail for years to come. It tarnishes the image of the United States of America and forces many Americans to be suspicious of their leaders. This leads to division in a time when national unity is so very needed. It sends the unmistakable image to many that politicians are all corrupt and are only in it for themselves. With the political rhetoric on both sides of the aisle boiling over in Washington, is our country turning into the same type of machine that rules countries like Nigeria?
Happily, I believe the answer is a resounding “NO!” In Nigeria, many of the politicians are corrupt and they get away with it. I visited Nigeria in March. I was shocked by the level of bribery and corruption at every level of society. I asked my host why the trash piles along the roadside hadn’t been picked up.
He tried to force a smile but instead shook his head. “The government pays the trash service of Nigeria to clean up this mess but it doesn’t get done,” he began.
I stared out the window of our car. “Then why doesn’t it get picked up?” I asked.
“Because the government official who doles out the money to the contractor keeps half of it for himself, and the other half goes to the contractor,” he explained with a casual indifference.
“Can’t the contractor at least get part of the job done?” I wondered as a burned up car passed my view.
“The contractor takes the money, yes,” he began, “but then he decides to not do the work. It’s a racquet. Since they are all in bed together, nobody turns in the other person.”
“What about the courts and judges, can’t they do something about it?” I wondered.
He shook his head. “They are in on it! All of them!”
When the darkness of political corruption comes into the light, there are still enough good men and women who desire justice to do something about it. For the most part, our court system and media have the power and the will to call the powerful on the carpet when bribery or extortion is suspected. Americans still demand justice. Lady Liberty is blindfolded for a reason. There is nobody, from the President of the United States down to the State Delegate who is above the law.
The Good Book teaches that “pride comes before the fall.” Pride is an insidious serpent to the hearts of men. No, you can’t legislate a law against pride, yet pride and arrogance is at the root of political corruption, but most of the sins that we commit. Pride tells us that we deserve it. Pride whispers to us that we won’t get caught, that everybody does it. Pride often shouts to us that we are so important that the infraction that we are ready to commit is no big deal. Pride leads us down a slippery slope of deceit that can land us in jail here on earth, and much worse in the afterlife.
The Bible teaches that Satan, the great deceiver and enemy of our souls, was once the most beautiful and powerful angel that God created. Over time, Satan, who was created like mankind with a free will to love God or discard Him, chose to ditch His Creator. Once pride entered the Devil’s heart, he decided that he wanted to be like God. He desired the worship and prestige that only God deserves. He figured, being the most beautiful and most powerful of the created spirits, that he was uniquely qualified to challenge God’s authority. Pride did this and it resulted in a war in heaven! Of course, God won the war and quickly kicked out Satan and the one-third of angels that followed his lead. Today, we call those angels demons, and they are active on earth today warring for the minds and souls of men and women across planet earth.
His most subtle temptation is pride. The book of Psalms 10:4 beautifully states, “In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all of his thoughts there is no room for God.” A few years ago, wristbands began to pop up all across the country with the initials, “W.W.J.D.” What would Jesus do? Pride takes that question and throws it to the curb. Pride erases God from the equation and replaces it with selfish ambition and vain living. Pride takes our God-given conscience and turns it off.
Is there “room for God” in your life? The Lord has a unique way of humbling man when he steps outside the boundaries of His moral law. He doesn’t do it because He is mean and vicious and is trying to get even, but rather to get our attention and lead us to a point in our lives where we begin to make room for Him in our lives. Godly discipline is meant to restore our souls and bring us life. Too many today have no room for God in their lives. America is inching closer to corruption on God’s moral compass.
Yet, I still believe there is hope for the future. I am praying for a revival in America. God wants the best for us and will do what is necessary (no matter how difficult it might seem to us at the time) to restore America to the place she once possessed. God is a God of second chances. I pray that we as Americans will make room for Him in our lives and take that chance the Lord is offering us. Time is running out.
I must admit, I don’t do resolutions. I think they are silly. And I don’t think they work. Why am I being so harsh? Because when I was a younger man, I tried them and discovered I was weak and didn’t have the willpower to last more than a day or two. So, I quit them in my 20s and have not attempted them since. Now that I am older, (and I hope little wiser), I do believe there is a place for resolutions if they are realistic and attainable.
I know some of you are going to try to lose weight, and others are going to try to find more time for family. Many of you married folk with kids will try to carve out more date nights, while some will attempt to give up some bad habit. Some will try to bring more peace and joy in their lives. I can imagine there are more than a few out there who want more purpose in their lives; a reason for living. Fear and depression could be taunting you and you want to get rid of that beast.
This is a link to the United States Government website for the top 10 resolutions that Americans are making. I like all of those things. They are worthy endeavors that can bring a higher quality of life. But what if I told you there is a resolution that you could make that would help you knock out much of the entire list? Did you ever consider asking God to help you tackle some of these monsters? Do you think He would listen? Do you think He cares? Do you believe He can do it? Do you think He wants to help? The Bible teaches that He has the hair on our heads numbered. It teaches that He cares for and watches over the sparrow. God desires to help but He limits Himself and the power that He will display by our faith. Faith in Him and His power is the key that unlocks a Pandora of power from the Creator of the world.
Think about it this way. You are driving toward the City Park in Newport News. It’s that time of year again when the Newport News City Park Festival of Lights is ready to go. You pull up to the entrance of the park and everything is dark. As you go through the park, you realize somebody forgot to plug in the hundreds of thousands of lights that dazzle the eyes. This is life without faith. This is life without the power of God intimately working in your heart.
Do you want the power? Do you want the dazzle? Do you want to see God move? Get the faith and the light of God will explode around you!
Now, back to the resolutions. Have you considered making some time for God? You may wonder what that would look like? It’s rather simple. I learned 20 years ago that the time I spend with God is THE most important time of my day. I challenge my readers, religious and non-religious, to take a test and prove me wrong…or hopefully right.
Carve out 30 minutes of your day and dedicate it to getting to know God better. What would this look like? First, find a peaceful place in your house away from the craziness. For me, that would probably be up the ladder in the attic. Second, choose a time of day when you will not be interrupted by others. Third, clear your heart and mind and focus on God and not yourself.
At this point you have some choices to make. Do you want to talk to God or have Him talk to you? I recommend a little of both. Some days it might be you doing most of the talking (this is called prayer). Other days you may need God to do most of the talking (this is called Bible reading). This is where the rubber meets the road. Prayer and Bible study are the single most important things you can do to grow spiritually. This is why Christians call their walk with God a relationship. Communication is the key to any successful relationship. When you stop talking, you grow apart, and you lose touch with one another.
I believe that many in America today and right here on the Peninsula we have slowly grown away from God. To be honest with you, it’s difficult not to grow away from God in our materialistic society. We don’t communicate much anymore except in those desperate times when we cry out to Him for emergency assistance. God doesn’t want to be our “genie in the sky” but rather a close confidante and friend. I have learned from many years in the ministry that the most important thing God wants from me is my heart. He wants me. He doesn’t want me to go through the motions of my religion but rather to have a deep, intimate fellowship with Him through our communication on a daily basis.
My New Year’s Resolution is to spend more time with God. I will spend more time in the Bible learning about Him. I will spend more time in prayer talking to Him. Yes, I probably do some complaining; don’t we all. But I want to spend more time thanking Him for all the blessings in life that I take for granted. I will absolutely allow Him to speak to my heart through the reading of the Bible. The Bible says in John 1:1 that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
A friend of mine many years ago told me that when I open the Bible and read it, it’s as if the Lord were sitting down beside me and talking to me. That’s what the above verse means. I figure that the more time I give Him, the better that I will get to know Him. As I get to know Him better, more of those lights are going to pop on. I love Christmas lights, especially when I don’t have to put them up!
So let’s create a loftier goal as we head into 2011. Let’s not just focus on one or two things in our lives, but every aspect of our being. Let’s begin to search the spiritual side of our existence and begin to consider that the unseen world of God is real and vibrant and just waiting to be discovered.
As we diligently seek God and His ways and truths, I bet a funny thing will happen. Many of those resolutions that you have been focusing upon will be forgotten as you get to know your Creator a little better. And a very peculiar, unforeseen result of your time with God will unfold in your life. Some of those resolutions that you have been dodging you for years will suddenly be kept. But it will not be you doing it, but rather the power of God working through you. This is faith. Learn it…live it…love it!
The Bible tell us how the earth was created by God and describes how the first humans appeared. Some believe we evolved from apes or other assorted wildlife over the course of millions and billions of years. I once believed the “science” of evolution too until I converted to Christianity.
Don’t get me wrong. I am a scientist and I personally know dozens of scientists with degrees much higher and loftier than mine who believe the biblical account of creation over the pseudo-science of evolution. I know there are those who wouldn’t even say creation science is “pseudo-science” but is “wacko-science“. I understand your point, but we will have to agree to disagree. I have a degree in atmospheric science and minors in math, chemistry, and physics, yet I believe the creation account in Genesis that says we all descended from a common ancestral mother and father. God named them Adam and Eve. Even if you don’t believe the biblical account of our creation, humor me with your time as I delve into the first marriage relationship on planet earth.
Genesis 2:18 says, “The Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Up until this moment, Adam was alone, busy taking care of the Garden of Eden and naming all of the animals that God had created. God immediately recognized that none of the animals were “suitable” for him. In other words, God saw the loneliness in Adam’s heart and wanted to bless him with a wife, a helper who would stand by his side through thick and thin. This is why the marriage vows in Christian marriage include “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
God wanted to create a relationship on earth that would model the same type of relationship that He wants with each human being, a love relationship of honor, integrity and trust. Today, fewer and fewer people are choosing marriage. Take a look at this data of young adults from the Population Reference Bureau. www.prb.org/Articles/2010/usmarriagedecline.aspx. In the past 10 years, there has been more than a 10 percent decline in marriage. I believe marriage vows are becoming rarer because society is becoming more centered on “self” rather than “others.”
Marriage is not just a contract between two people, but a biblical covenant designed and ordained by God. His desire was to see Adam and Eve as helpmates who placed the interest of the others before themselves. His will for “Mary and Steve” is the same. Focus on the needs and wants of the other person and you might be surprised that your needs and wants will be met too. It might not happen immediately but you are more likely to get your desires when you place your spouse before yourself.
With the national divorce hovering around 50 percent for Christians and non-Christian households, there is a great need for all of us to examine our hearts and try to figure out ways that we can get along through the relational storms that are sure to come.
One of the best tactics we can use to strengthen a marriage is found in the creation story. Genesis 3:1 says “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
You may not believe in Satan but think of any enemy that wants to destroy your relationship or marriage. Nine out of ten times they will come to you when your partner is absent. You are alone and unguarded in your spirit. You are lonely and feel left out. You are angry and want revenge. Maybe you are sad and wanting company.
The bottom line is this: temptations that destroy marriages and relationships come to us when we are not “together”; physically or emotionally. The team is broken up and the fortress of love is left defenseless for a moment. This is what the devil did to Eve. She was alone; Adam is nowhere to be found. Adam had told her about the tree in the middle of the Garden. He told her what God said, “but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
Satan would not have dreamed of appearing to both of them when they were together. His strategy is divide and conquer. Whether it’s a marriage, a family, a church, a region, or the country itself, he wants to sow seeds of discontent and half-truths to destroy the relationships that make us happy and are vital to our welfare. Jesus said, “A kingdom divided amongst itself cannot stand.” Intentionally deciding to “stay together” with your time, emotions, spirit, and physical bodies will do wonders for your marriage.
I’m sure you know the rest of the story. The snake lied to her and she bit, hook, line and sinker! Lies are like a cancer that will poison our marriages and friendships. Cancer doesn’t go away, it needs to be treated with the utmost diligence and speed to try to eradicate it and contain it’s spread before it’s too late.
The consequence of believing the lie was brutal for Adam and Eve. They were kicked out of the garden of Eden and told to go into a different type of world where they would have to work and sweat for everything that would sustain them. Their heaven on earth was over. You may be “Mary and Steve” and are reading this article, and most likely, separately. Your “heaven on earth” marriage fast mutated into a “Mars and Venus” drudgery of an existence.
Remember, after Adam and Eve sinned, God immediately came from heaven and entered the Garden of Eden. Why did He do this? I believe He wanted to restore their relationship with one another and with Him. He wants to fix things! Our choice is simple; keep doing the same things that don’t work and expect a different result or go to God for the help He desperately wants to give.
Do you remember the rest of the story? God confronted both of them about their disobedience. Genesis 3:12-13 says, “The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’”
The key to successful relationships is found in the tragedy in the Garden of Eden. Adam decided to blame the woman and God for his mistake. Eve decided to blame the serpent. Neither one wanted to take responsibility for their actions and say, “the buck stops here.” God judged their defiance exceptionally hard and kicked them out of the Garden.
What if they had come clean and admitted their mistake? Maybe God would have forgiven them and we would all still be living in that paradise. Nobody knows for sure but I do know this: To maintain healthy relationships and marriages, we must place the other person before ourselves. We must admit when we have made a mistake and promise to do better the next time. Trust me…I’m a recovering weatherman, and I know all about mistakes. Blaming others for our own problems and pain is a sure way to the death and destruction of your marriage, your sanity, and your relationship with your Creator.
Humility is the secret ingredient to relationships. It’s so secret, few have considered it, and fewer have practiced it. Jesus was so humble that He left the beauty and splendor of heaven and started His life in a small town in Israel, laying as an infant in a dirty cattle trough, that today, we romantically refer to as a manger. That is beauty and that is splendor at its finest!
Note to Readers: The names and the location have been changed for this story.
She couldn’t believe it! This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t. It was impossible and nobody would believe her.
What would her mother and father say? She had been raised in a well respected, moral home. She could hear her mother’s cries in the back of her mind when she told her the truth. She could feel the icy stare of her father who had the right to disown her.
What would her fiancée do? “Dump her,” she thought, “Or worse.” The law was the law. She could easily be arrested and sentenced to death.
Her parents would disown her, the love of her life turn his back on her, and the townsfolk gnash their teeth at her wild-eyed explanation. She would be the talk of the town. The gossip would grow like a tidal wave and sweep her away.
Life was over for her and she was only15. All of her hopes and dreams of a quite life in the country, a wonderful, loving husband by her side and plenty of little munchkins pulling at her apron were all a bitter, distant memory that would haunt her the rest of her life. She sighed deeply, “If they let me live.”
Samantha’s fears were strangling her faith. She saw what she saw and nobody could tell her differently. The light was real. She didn’t just see it, she felt it from the depths of her soul. The shadowy form wasn’t a ghost; it was peaceful and friendly. The words she knew she heard were audible. Her mind raced. Her heart ached. “It wasn’t a dream! It wasn’t a dream!”
What was she to do? Tell the truth and be doubly shamed or lie and be shamed? It would be only months, maybe weeks before the bulge gave her away. She was in a no win situation and only an act of God could save her from the public humiliation and scorn that was sure to fire her way.
A soft knock on her bedroom door startled her. “Yes?”
“Can I come in?,” said her mother, Amanda, worried over Samantha’s lack of appetite and sudden seclusion.
“Yeah,” sighed Samantha at a barely audible tone.
Amanda opened the door and saw tears cascading down her daughter’s reddened cheeks. She sat on the bed and hugged her. “You’ve got to tell me what’s going on."
Samantha glanced in the mirror at herself ever careful to not look her mother in the eyes. “Have I ever lied to you mother?” she sobbed, her petite hands trembling as they unsuccessfully swatted at her tears.
Amanda grabbed her hand. She stared at her daughter with a mixture of compassion and perplexity. “Of course not honey. What ever it is…God can work it out. You’ve just got to trust him dear.”
Samantha softly chuckled as she rolled her eyes toward heaven. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”
Her mother forced Samantha to look at her. “Did Bill try something with you?” Her soothing voice quickly turned bitter. “I know you guys are engaged but if he laid one hand on you then I’ll…”
“No mom!” interrupted Samantha.
Her weeping became violent as she struggled to breath. Suddenly, two men appeared at the door to her bedroom. It was her father and her fiancée. Neither had ever seen her like this. Bill rushed to her side and tried to touch her. She dashed away from his outstretched hands and ran to her father’s side. For the moment, she was at peace. As she held her father tightly, she fondly remember the times when she was a little girl, holding daddy’s hand on the sofa as they would listen to the breeze rustle through the windows of their home. She pictured her father coming home from work with his arms open wide at the door. She would jump in them and close her eyes and dream about her prince charming. Life was perfect. The world was a wonderful place. Dreams were real and couldn’t be stolen by cold hard realty. Until now.
Samantha opened her swollen eyes and looked at her mother and fiancée. She didn’t know how to say it. There wasn’t any good way. She forced a deep breath and muttered, “I’m pregnant!
Nobody said a word. The air in the room turned cold. Their stares turned colder. The silence was deafening, and deadly to her soul. She sniffled and continued as a slight smile flashed on her face. “But an angel told me it is God’s son, and that I‘m highly favored before God.”
Her mother drooped over the bed and cried. Her father stormed out of the bedroom and rushed out the front door. Bill stood over her and stared at her in disbelief. The righteous anger building inside of him was more than he could take.
“You’ve cheated on me and have brought shame on this entire family!” His words were calibrated for maximum pain. “And you have the gall to say that God made your pregnant!” He ran out of the bedroom as Samantha fell to the floor weeping. “We’re through!” he shouted as he slammed the door shut.
Samantha is really the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Even though she was one of the most blessed people in the Bible, she had difficult times in her life.
Eventually, Joseph would need an angel to come to him and inform him of Mary’s sincerity. Without the angel‘s visitation, Joseph had planned to quietly leave the relationship The family learned the truth and accepted Mary once again back into their home.
There were many people in her village that looked down on her and judged her as an unwed teenage girl. If enforced, the penalty could be as harsh as death by stoning. She would be known by many as the fornicator who blamed God for her “sin”.
This is the Christmas Story through the eyes of Mary.
The next time you go through a storm in life, ask God to bless you through it instead of get you out of it.
Mary had no idea of the impact her faith would have on the lives of billions of people. None of us know the impact our faith will have on untold numbers of people either.
1. Focus on God’s gift and not your gifts: God’s gifts are often times taken for granted. Fresh air for the lungs, birds merrily singing during sunrise, and a passing smile from a stranger are some of His gifts. Ask any patient dying in the hospital about some of God’s gifts and they will inevitably lament about good health and more time on earth. It’s time we open our eyes to the wonders around us and begin to re-adjust our attitudes about life. The greatest Christmas I can recall had nothing to do with any gift I received but rather a gift I gave my mother. I will never forget her glowing eyes as she ripped away the wrapping and opened the box containing the sweater that took me months to save for. We have the power to give life with our actions or take it away. Joy is found with the giving of life and is the perfect way to celebrate the season when we celebrate the beginning of the greatest life to ever walk this earth.
2. Make your gifts instead of purchasing them: This works miracles for all involved. There is a great deal of satisfaction in spending time making a special gift for somebody else. Anybody can snap a finger and push a button on the computer and days later, a box appears at your door. For most people, it’s not the price tag on the gift that really matters but the thought and time involved. Money can not buy happiness and it can’t buy the perfect gift. The best gifts come from the heart and take time to either make or thoughtfully considered for that special person. My wife loves it when I make my own goofy birthday cards because it adds an element of myself that money cannot capture. Ask yourself the things you remember most about Christmas. For most of us, it’s the time with family, caroling in the neighborhood or snuggling on the couch to a holiday movie. Christmas is not about gifts, it’s about giving.
3. Attend a Christmas Eve Service: No matter your denomination or even your religious affiliation, experiencing the sights and sounds of a Christmas Eve service at one of the hundreds of churches on the peninsula is a must. Even if you do not normally do “the church thing”, take the time to understand the spiritual significance of the birth of the greatest gift to grace this planet. Prepare your heart ahead of time by clearing it from the clutter of the day. Open your heart to the message and try to clear your mind of all the anxiety and worry that seems to accompany the “happiest time of the year”. If you have kids, show them you are excited about the opportunity to worship the Lord in a country where we still have the freedom to do so. That kind of excitement is contagious.
4. Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” as a family: The American Film Institute rated this movie the number one American inspirational film of all time. The lead character was planning suicide on the Eve of Christmas when an angel came to his rescue and showed him all the lives that he had touched over the years. There will not be a dry eye among your family by the time the credits roll on this classic 1946 film. The soul-stirring message is as relevant today as it was the sixty-four years ago when it was created. Our lives have a purpose. Heaven is watching. The lives we touch today can boomerang and touch generations to come. Bring an extra box of tissues, snuggle on the couch, grab some popcorn (or chocolate in my case), and lose yourself in this timeless tale of the holiday season. It’s time well spent.
5. Read the Christmas story straight from the original source: The Bible. Dust off the Bible and turn to the beginning of one of the gospels. Slowly read the Christmas story with the family gathered around. If you have a fireplace, add some extra wood to it, turn on some classic holiday music, and enjoy the story about the birth of Christ, the most significant event in human history up until that point in time. Make sure you have a Bible that you can understand. There’s nothing worse (especially for the kids) than reading a Bible that contains English that is difficult to comprehend. This only turns the younger generation off to spiritual matters. There are parts to the story that you might not have known. Did you know that the three wise men risked their lives after meeting baby Jesus? Did you know about the conspiracy to kill Jesus as a baby? How about the public shame Mary, the mother of Jesus, must have experienced when she found out she was pregnant out of wedlock? The intrigue, suspense, and miracles will surprise you if you take the time to delve into the story of stories.
6. Commit to spending less time preparing for the big day: I must admit this is very appealing to me. As I write this, it is being strongly suggested to me by my wife Tina, who is the director of the Christmas decoration team at my house, to get up the outside lights. I have a dozen tightly packed boxes in the attic just waiting for me to unpack them and place them all around the outside of my house. I don’t do things half way…don’t believe in it! The airport has called several times complaining about my house being mistaken by pilots for runway lights. But as my kids get older and my body ages not as gracefully as I would like, the drudgery of eight to 10 hours of ladders that wiggle, lights that don’t work, and extension cords that don’t reach have gotten to me. And the icing on the cake last year was the reaction of my then eight year old son Caleb when I pulled him away from his video game to show him the pretty lights. He used to clap his hands together and jump up and down and yell, “That’s pretty daddy! You’re the best!” Last year, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Great dad, can I go back in and finish my game.” If preparing for Christmas stresses you out, don’t do so much! Commit to fewer lights outside, less stuff inside the house, maybe fewer parties. Enjoy the holiday and get a spiritual booster shot from it, don’t dread it and wish it away.
7. Take the family to Williamsburg: We live in one of the premiere vacation playgrounds in the States. With the Atlantic Ocean just to our east, the Chesapeake Bay outside our backdoor, and historic Williamsburg a few minutes west, residents of the peninsula have a unique opportunity to enjoy a vacation without driving for days on end or being strip-searched at the airport. Why not head to Williamsburg just before sunset and park in the Colonial section of town? Confiscate the kids iPods, cell phones and hand-held video games and “force” them to walk among the ageless buildings. The lights are spectacular, the decorations first class, and the food to die for. Erase everything occupying your mind and cherish the timeless classic beauty that surrounds you. Tell the kids about our history, the constitution, the men who risked their lives to be free from England. Tie it into the Christmas story and have some fantastic family time away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. You have the power to make it happen! Christmas was meant to be enjoyed!
My second favorite season is autumn. Of course, those who know me realize my first is Winter because I'm a snow nut. Yes, I proudly wore my snowflake on TV taunting snow haters (I call them Snow Communists). I love fall because of the drop in temperatures and humidity after a long Hampton Road's summer. I love seeing the kids go back to school so they can learn and be productive members of society. (O.K. That was a lie! If I heard my nine-year-old boy whine one more time that he's bored, I'll scream. He stopped that once I showed him how to operate a lawn mower and rake.)
I really love to see the leaves change color. November is prime season for fall colors on the peninsula and a drive on the Colonial Parkway is a must for residents of the region. Since I believe that God created the earth to project His power and might, I also believe that creation points us to the Creator. And that gets me to my point. Why is that before a leaf withers and dies it shines so brightly? What causes it to turn a bright yellow or red before it falls to the earth. Yes, I know the scientific principle involved but how about the spiritual principle?
Leaves are like people. You see, human beings need to give up what they want and refocus their attention on the needs of others. The greatest joy a person can experience is not serving themselves but rather serve others. The spiritual principle is to die to self and be born anew to a different life; a life designed by God to serve Him and his creation (people). Baptism shows this truth. When a person is dunked in the baptismal waters, the biblical truth is they never come up! They drown...dead...and are born again with a fresh new purpose in their lives.
When a leave is nearing death, the most beautiful part of it suddenly appears out of nowhere. Scientifically, the colors were always there yet they couldn’t appear until it neared the death cycle. And we all marvel at the colors. When a person dies to self, the best part of them shines with a brilliance that gets people to stand up and take notice. This is the desire of God. He wants His creation, be it the mountains or ocean, the butterflies or the bees, the autumn leaves, or the apple of His eye, human beings, to point people to Him and His wonderful creative power.
Do you want to see this truth revealed in politics? Take a look at this Washington Post electoral map sometime and see who voted conservative and who voted liberal. Now look at a Pew Forum list of states and their church attendance. You can see how voting lines up with church attendance. If you live in the city, you are more likely to vote liberal and not attend church while those who live in the country are more likely to vote conservative and attend church regularly. You may be wondering what's the point? The Bible certainly lines up with those who are conservative in their social, moral beliefs. People who live in the country see God's power because they live and breath within His environment. Since they spend more time closer to nature and God, they are more likely to follow Him. In the city, urbanites are surrounded by what man created leading them to more readily dismiss God and His omnipotent hand. Of course, this is a generalization that is not specific to any individual.
If you find yourself straying from God and have not recently considered the spiritual truths that nature affords us all, get away for a day and take a road trip outside the urban congestion.
1. Go to Williamsburg and experience the natural surroundings that our Founding Fathers witnessed as they began formulating the greatest plan for limited government the world has ever seen.
2. Drive the Colonial Parkway from Yorktown all the way to its dramatic ending along the James River.
3. When you drive this road…try a novel approach. Go slower than the posted speed limit, suck in the scenery as if you are taking your first deep breath in years, and take your watch and cell phone and toss them in the trunk.
Before God can open our eyes to see Him, we must get rid of the distractions that keep us from looking.
