2010

As we come to the beginning of a new year and a new decade, we often wish we could turn over a new leaf or have a fresh start. No doubt about it, there have been certain things we have said or done in this past year that we now regret.

Wouldn't it be great to just start over again? In reality, as a Christian you can have a fresh start. The new year is still a blank slate. There are opportunities ahead of you. You decide which path you are going to walk in this coming year. "Thus says the LORD: 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls'" (Jeremiah 6:16). You decide what your priorities are going to be. You decide which direction you are going to take every day.

Maybe you need a fresh start in this coming year. Here is a great opportunity to claim one. We don't know what the new year is going to bring. We don't know what problems we are going to encounter. We don't know what changes are going to come. We don't know what blessings the Lord has in store for us. But whatever the new year holds, we don't have to be afraid because Jesus Christ is going to be waiting there for us.

I like the words of that wonderful woman of God, Corrie ten Boom, who said, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

God is in control of your future. He is ready to bless you in 2010.

Happy New Year

OUR CHRIST EVE SERVICE

Last night, I read this to the children during our eleventh annual Christmas Eve Service at Gatetree.

It was the night before Christmas and a beautiful young girl and a devoted carpenter had been traveling to his hometown. Now the beautiful young girl was going to have a baby and in order to get to the devoted carpenter’s hometown, she had to ride on the back of a donkey for 3 days and 3 nights. She became so tired she could barely hold her head up.

When they got to his hometown, there was no place for them to stay. Back then, there weren’t hotels on every corner—so the carpenter remembered a place where the animals stayed. It wasn’t clean and it wasn’t even made for people—but it was the best he could do for her.

So the devoted carpenter made a soft place for the beautiful young girl to lay—right next to the mother goat and her three little ones. While she lay there, she knew it was time for her baby to be born—right there in that place where the animals stayed.

Not far from there—some sheep herders were working in the field—making sure all their sheep were safe and ready to move out when the morning’s sun arose. And while they sat there listening to the silence of the country side, they were almost knocked over by what they saw. It was a great angel in front of them, shining so brightly that they almost had to look away. But they didn’t.

And chills ran up and down their necks as the great angel began to speak. The great angel said, “Don’t be afraid because I am here to tell you something that will make you very happy. Right now, not far from here, God has come down for a visit.” Well the sheep herders couldn’t believe their ears—God—the one who made the universe and everything in it—down here?

And the great angel said, “YES! And unbelievable as it may seem, tonight, God is a baby. And he’s lying in a trough, in a place where the animals stay. He’s come here as a gift to you and to the entire world.”

AND SUDDENLY—the whole sky seem to suddenly appear as an explosion of light—as if the moon had blown up right in front of their eyes. They’d never seen anything like that.

And then there were thousands of angels that began to sing—like a giant rock concert in the sky. And the great angel, with his volume turned all the way up, began to sing “It’s time to celebrate; God has come to earth for a visit because God can do anything He wants to do—and this is what He wants to do.” It was INCREDIBLE!

Well, as all of this was happening—the baby (who was God come to earth) lay fast asleep in the arms of the beautiful young girl.

And the cows he created—watched him sleep. Up rafters, the doves he’s covered with wings—watched him sleep. And the donkey who carried him to this place—watched him sleep. And sitting close by—the devoted carpenter watched him sleep.

And as he watched—the devoted carpenter thought to himself, “The world will never be the same because God has come down for a visit.”

WHO ARE WHO'S?

My wife, Mary Ann, loves Dr. Seuss's story, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." So every year, she watches the the program...and I watch her. I don't know which of us enjoys it the most. You know the story--the main character discovers that no matter what happens, Christmas can not be stopped. Even the Whos (whatever they were) understood that the reason for Christmas was not found in gifts, parties or decorations. Christmas is a celebration that takes place in the heart.

Many who celebrate Christmas believe the significance stops at the birth of Jesus Christ. However, the season's significance transcends the mere fact that Jesus was born. Furthermore, it is not just that Jesus was born a virgin, lived a virtuous life or died an agonizing and sacrificial death. What makes Christ's birth so significant is the awesome reality that Jesus conquered death.

The significance of the resurrection as it relates to Christmas cannot be stressed enough. When Jesus walked on earth He claimed to be God in the flesh. Had He died and remained in the grave, His claims would have been dismissed. However, an empty tomb and subsequent appearances to His followers validated his "outrageous" pronouncements.

What makes Christmas so very significant, so special, is Easter.

The Grinch learned that Christmas cannot be stopped. It is not a celebration dependent on symbols or external motivation. It is a celebration of the heart.

While the populace may bury the Gospel truth under gifts, trees, tinsel and lights, the fact remains that the reason for the season is a crucified and risen Savior.

May our hearts be enlarged this year in order to accommodate the whole Christmas story -- which includes the cross and the empty tomb.

CHRISTMAS TREES

QUESTION: Should Christians celebrate Jesus birth with Christmas trees?

ANSWER: Some Christians object on the basis that at one time or another, mankind has worship practically everything in creation—including trees. Today they even hug them. I see absolutely nothing wrong with the traditional Christmas tree.

It is believed that Boniface, English missionary to Germany in the eighth century, instituted the first Christmas tree. He supposedly replaced sacrifices to the god Odin's sacred oak with a fir tree adorned in tribute to Christ. Other accounts claim that Martin Luther introduced the Christmas tree lighted with candles.

However, even if a pagan background were clearly established, that wouldn't mean we could not enjoy the use of a Christmas tree.

Most people do not even know about this religious superstition. Similarly, few know anything about the worship of trees. When a child pulls a large present out from under the Christmas tree and unwraps a present, no one views that object as an idol. Nor do we view the Christmas tree to be some kind of gift god. We understand the difference between a toy and an idol just as clearly as we understand the difference between an idol and a Christmas tree.

There is no connection between the worship of idols and the use of Christmas trees. We should not be anxious about baseless arguments against Christmas decorations. Rather, we should be focused on the Christ of Christmas and giving all diligence to remembering the real reason for the season.

CHRISTMAS QUESTIONS

Over the next few days, I want to address some of the most common questions Christians ask regarding the celebration of Christmas. I hope they are helpful for you.

Why December 25?

QUESTION: Why do we celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th? Doesn’t it have something to do with paganism?

ANSWER: December 25 is the traditional anniversary of the birth of Christ, but most scholars are unsure about the true date for Christ's birth.

The decision to celebrate Christmas on December 25 was made sometime during the fourth century by church bishops in Rome. They had a specific reason for doing so.

Having turned long ago from worshiping the one true God and creator of all things, many early cultures in the Roman empire had fallen into sun worship. Recognizing their dependence on the sun's yearly course in the heavens, they held feasts around the winter solstice in December when the days are shortest. As part of their festivals, they built bonfires to give the sun god strength and bring him back to life again. When it became apparent that the days were growing longer, there would be great rejoicing.

The church leaders in Rome decided to celebrate Christ's birth during the winter solstice in an attempt to Christianize these popular pagan celebrations. For the most part their efforts failed to make the people conform, and the heathen festivities continued. Today we find ourselves left with a bizarre marriage of pagan and Christian elements that characterizes our modern celebration of Christmas.

Regardless of the pagan background of so many December traditions, and whether or not Jesus was born on December 25th, our goal is still to turn the eyes of all men upon the true Creator and Christ of Christmas. The light of the world has come. And the Christmas season and celebration presents the church with a wonderful opportunity to preach the good news--that men can be made righteous and have peace with God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." (Matthew 1:23)

I read a recent statistic stating that the percentage of Christians believing in the virgin birth of Jesus is dropping. I had to read the article twice for it to really sink in. The most glaring statement was one from a mainline, Christian religious leader who said, "In our church, we don't make a big deal out of these kinds of things. Instead, people want to hear about hope and happiness instead of theological paradoxes."

This past Sunday, I preached a message on the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ. You can listen to the message on the Gatetree webpage.

It really is an amazing thing to think about the mysterious moment when God became a man. Jesus Christ—God the Son—was born in a manger. He went from the throne of heaven to a feeding trough. He went from the presence of angels to a cave filled with animals. He who is larger than the universe became an embryo. He who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young virgin.

Some people have a hard time believing in the Virgin Birth. If you believe the Bible, you have to believe in the Virgin Birth. The Bible teaches that God Almighty was supernaturally conceived in the womb of a virgin (see Matthew 1:23). This makes sense if you think about it. If God had chosen to, He could have sent Jesus to this earth as a fully grown, yet sinless human being. A shaft of light could have come out from heaven with Jesus descending to the ground as an adult man. But if Jesus came to us in that way, who could have related to Him as a person, as a part of the human race? God also could have had Jesus come into the world through two ordinary human beings—but still with a divine nature. But then most of us would have doubted His divinity. That's why the Incarnation makes sense.

This coming Sunday I will preach “The Power of a Name.” If you’re in the neighborhood of Gatetree, we’d be delighted if you would drop in for worship at 10:45 AM. I hope to see you then.

FOR HE IS GOOD

At this time of year, we tend put a lot of emphasis on Christmas. That is because merchants are pushing us in that direction, wanting us to believe that Christmas is all about trimming the tree, buying presents, and so on. In the process of all this, we can very easily forget the beautiful holiday called Thanksgiving.

Originally established as a holiday by President George Washington in 1789, Thanksgiving was initially a religious holiday and, more to the point, a Christian holiday. The first Thanksgiving was different than ours today. It lasted three days, during which the pilgrims feasted with their Indian guests.

Of course, our Thanksgiving is also about gathering with friends and family and having a feast. But sometimes at this particular time of year, we can forget about how thankful we ought to be. We need to never forget that God has blessed us to live in the United States of America, which is, in my opinion, the greatest country on the face of this earth. We have so many privileges here.

We have a lot to give thanks for, and certainly the Bible urges us to give thanks to the Lord. We are told in Psalm 106:1, "Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."

Sometimes worship and thanksgiving can be a sacrifice, because we are down or depressed or things aren't going all that well for us. Maybe hardship or tragedy has hit our lives in some way and we don't want to thank God. But the Bible doesn't say, "Give thanks to the Lord, because you feel good." It says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!"

THE REAL MEANING

Judging from the trends in most popular preaching today, the question of what Scripture means has taken a back seat to the question of what it means “to me.” The difference may seem insignificant at first. However, the obsession with the applicability of Scripture reflects a fundamental flaw—many Christians have adopted practicality as the ultimate judge of the worth of God’s Word. Many preachers find themselves pressured to be buried with passages that overtly relate to daily living, and ignore those that don’t.

Early in my ministry, I made a conscious, basic commitment to biblical preaching. My first priority has always been to answer the question, “What does this passage mean?” After I’ve explained as clearly and accurately as possible the meaning of a passage, then I call people to obedience through application in their own lives. I’ve often said, “It doesn’t make any difference what it means to you or to me—all that counts is what it means to God.” The Bible speaks for itself to the human heart; it is not my role as a preacher to try to tailor the message.

The heart of all that is really practical is bound up in the teaching of the Bible. We don’t make the Bible relevant; it is inherently so, simply because it is God’s Word. And after all, how can anything God says be irrelevant?

MONDAY MORNING THINKING

I feel completely inadequate to be a pastor. Maybe you can relate.

As pastors, many of us expend great effort covering our insecurities. I do. It may look like I have it together (or not.) Leading a church, I must possess talent, creativity, and spiritual energy, right? People sometimes compliment my leadership, my wisdom, and my preaching. They don't know I combat a feeling that failure's just one bad decision away – constantly.

I've always battled insecurity, especially as a pastor. My first church business meeting…disaster. The chairman of the pastor search committee was also the chairman of the deacon body. He brought a recommendation to the church that was very unpopular, and frankly, I didn’t think much of it either. Before I knew it, I had sided with the people. I will never get the expression on his face out of my mind. He was crushed and hurt. He obviously felt betrayed. After several years, I now realize that his recommendation was right on target—it would have saved our church from a lot of troubled moments (ultimately we represented his resolution and it passed.) Unfortunately, it was after he had moved to another city.

Did I mention I feel completely inadequate?

Why do I feel this way? First, I don't feel I know enough. I wasn't a Christian until college. I had never read the Bible. In a college Bible class, I was asked to name Pilate's wife. I responded with, "I think it was CO-Pilate." He didn't laugh. Humiliating.

Didn't you learn anything in seminary, Tom? Nope. Didn’t go until well into my forties and graduated after I turned fifty.

I also don't feel I'm good enough. Respectable pastors are righteous. No bad words, bad thoughts, anger, jealousy – just faith, peace, and Christ-likeness. The pastors I admire have everything together. They're eloquent, proper, and spiritually mature.

Then there's me.

I'll ashamedly admit I've used a bad word. Not just any bad word – a really, really bad word. We came home to discover that our roof was leaking and water was saturating our brand new carpet. Frantically, I began grabbing waste baskets trying to catch the stream. Just as I thought I had it solved, I discovered two more leaks in our bedroom, in the closet, clothes and carpet were dripping this time.

Before I realized it, a word formed mentally – and rapidly escaped. My whole person participated. Pastors never say that word. How could God's love – and such filth – flow from the same mouth?

I've also made too many mistakes. The things I don't want to do, I do. Jealous, proud, doubtful, critical, gossipy, competitive – and there's more. And before I know it, I've forgotten that God's grace and power can forgive every mistake, correct every flaw.

I was discussing my feelings with a pastor/mentor of mine. Out of his sage wisdom he said, “Holland, there are 2 things you need to remember;

• First, don't believe everything your fans say about you. Some believe their pastor can do no wrong. Sure, they love you, but they can't help you improve. They may even tempt you in the wrong direction. Don't believe your positive press because you’re not that good.

• Second, don't believe your critics. The more you accomplish, the more you'll attract harsh criticism. Wisdom involves contemplating constructive criticism, but focusing exclusively on negative press eventually makes you defensive. Other people's opinions about you don't matter. It’s only what God thinks about you that really matters. Don't listen exclusively to your fans or to your critics.

And finally, he said, “The best piece of advice I can offer is this—spend time with Jesus. He’ll tell you what you need to hear.”

Great wisdom, don’t you think?

I'M THANKFUL FOR THE CHURCH

The local church in America gets a bad rap. And in many ways, the negative news is warranted. You’ve seen the status-quo statistics. You’ve read about the moral failures of many church leaders. We certainly don’t need to have our proverbial heads in the sand about the state of the church.

But it’s time to give thanks for the church.

It’s time to look at what is good about the local church. We don’t need to deny the reality of the problems, but we do need to stop wallowing in the negative and move forward.

For These Things I Am Thankful

I am thankful that God’s Word is preached faithfully each week in local churches. Lives are transformed. Sinners are convicted. Christians are encouraged. Disciples are made.

I am thankful that sacrificial ministry takes place every day through the ministry of local churches.

I am thankful that local church members give sacrificially, not only for the ministries of the church locally, but for mission work throughout the world.

My Gratitude is Personal

I grew up in church. The first Sunday of my life was spent in a church bed-baby crib. I was in Sunday School every Sunday, sang in the choir and loved Vacation Bible School. I led the music in my first revival service when I was seventeen and preached my first message at 20.

For these things, and so much more, I am thankful for the local church.

Keeping a Balanced Perspective

There is one viewpoint that refuses to acknowledge any serious problems in the local church. Though all the evidence is overwhelming, reality means little to these people. Protection of the status quo is paramount.

Then there is the perspective that readily sees and acknowledges the problems in the local church, but is too pessimistic to see anything positive. I’m not crazy about being around folks such as this.

The healthy perspective, however, sees both the problems and the possibilities. It recognizes the struggles of the local church, but also sees God still working. It is a perspective of realistic hope.

The local church is God’s instrument for His work. Millions of lives are transformed through the work of churches in America and around the world. I am one of those lives.

For these things, and so much more, I am thankful for the local church.

WHEN BAD LEADS TO GOOD

Chuck Swindoll tells a story about a man who was shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. Seeing that rescue might be a long time in coming, he painstakingly built a little hut to provide himself protection from the elements, and a place to store the few items he had managed to salvage from the wreck.

For weeks, this man lived in this little hut, with only the hot sun and the cold nights to keep him company. But each and every day, he would prayerfully scan the horizon, hoping for the approach of a ship.

But there was nothing.

One evening, after he had been searching for food on the island, he came back to see that his little hut was in flames. He tried to put the fire out, but it was too late. Everything he had in this world had gone up in smoke.

He went to sleep that night, listening to the pounding of the surf, stunned by his own misfortune.

The next morning, he awoke to find a ship anchored off the island—the first ship he had seen since he had been marooned. Still trying to believe his eyes, he heard footsteps and then a human voice, saying, “We saw your smoke signal and we came to rescue you.”

That’s how it happens sometimes. In sovereignty and grace, the worst case scenario somehow becomes the best case scenario.

Sometimes disasters can turn out to be great opportunities for God to work in your life. The Lord is always present with us, always intimately acquainted with our circumstances, and He can take impossible situations and turn them around.

SUNDAY AT GATETREE

On Sunday, we are observing BACK TO CHURCH Sunday. We're inviting hundreds of people to come back to church. If you're in the area, we would be delighted for you to drop in and be the guest of the Gatetree family.

OBAMA SCHOOL SPEECH

I couldn't have said it better http://www.albertmohler.com/blog.php

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

Recently a friend said, "Tom, you've been doing this for more than 40 years. When are you going to hang it up and enjoy life?" The occasion was my 63rd birthday. Don't get me wrong, it isn't that I haven't thought about it. But will Mary Ann and I ever 'hang it up?' Never.

Here's why. One thousand years from now, the GracePointe Church facilities will be no more. Even the materials used to build the structures will have returned to dust. But GracePointe will live on...in heaven. The people we've won to Christ, baptized and discipled will be there along with all of the others from previous churches we've served.

So why not rest with the knowledge of that in our hearts? Because God has planned for more to cross our paths and He intends to use us for their salvation experiences.

Get weary? Maybe. Faint? I think not.

WE SERVE A GREAT GOD

I started this past week with VBS and a really good one at that. Lots of kids and really great workers. Each day saw more and more kids, I could hardly wait until Wednesday VBS Family Night. I was looking forward to meeting the parents of many of our children for the first time. On Wednesday afternoon, it all changed.

I've been suffering from an intestinal infection for the better part of six months. My doctors (2) have been unable to both find the cause or the cure. Beginning last Monday it grew worse until Wednesday afternoon when I became disoriented and dehydrated. Mary Ann took me to the ER where I was admitted immediately. They treated me for the obvious and began a series of tests trying to find the cause of the original problem.

Now it's Sunday, I'm home and doing better. They seemed to have cured the infection without ever knowing what caused it. I'm feeling better and ready to get back to work in a couple of days.

I missed Family night and church today. Here's what happened. The largest family night in the history of the church. Today was equally as wonderful. The people were tired from the week but happy with the results and looking forward to next year.

God brought about a wonderful result to VBS and healed my body. We serve a great God.

GOD IS SO, SO GOOD

I don't often brag about my church but I just have to tell you what God is doing in our midst. After many long months of struggling, in terms of attendance and finances, we have definitely turned the corner. You could really notice beginning last November that something was happening...and it hasn't stopped. Our summer crowds have been nothing short of terrific. And as for finances? Just let me say, "WOW!" It's a testimony to the faithful of God's people and the glory of God.

We haven't had VBS in two years and the last one was not well attended and we struggled to get enough workers. We began VBS '09 today and once again "WOW!" More than one-half of our average Sunday morning attendance is involved as leaders. How uncommon is that? And our enrollment of kids is astounding. I can hardly wait to see what God will do at the decision service.

This is such a great time to be at Gatetree. If you're in the Danville area on Sunday, be our guest on Sunday at 10:45 AM. You'll be glad you did.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

I’ve been using a term recently—Christian consumerism. I’m not using it to describe what Christians buy; rather, it describes the attitude of many of today’s believers in what they want both from Jesus and His church. To be sure, well-meaning church leaders have contributed to this mindset by championing the cause of a seeker-driven philosophy; say what you need to say, do what you need to do, offer what you need to offer to reach seekers. Along the way, followers of Christ have taken note and decided “I want to get in on that.” One of the things this has resulted in is what I refer to as “church shopping.” Instead of seeking a church on the basis of "Where does God want me to be?" it has become “What can this church do for me?”

Larger churches are more capable of dealing with this mindset because of a greater treasure of resources. Smaller churches are often left feeling insignificant and even guilty because often they hear guests (and church members) say, “My kids need more or deserve more than what you can give, we’ve got to go to a bigger church.” Have you heard that? I assure you that we have at Gatetree.

What’s more, it doesn’t stop with shopping for a church; the mindset is even applied to God. Jesus said in Matthew 22 that we are to “Love the Lord with all your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Every preacher proclaims, “We are to love God!” However, it’s what follows that violates the implied meaning of the Scripture. When a so-called preacher says, “We are to love God AND God wants you to be healthy, God wants you to be wealthy, God wants you to be happy, God’s want you to be successful,” and listeners buy in to this message, the result is someone who does not truly love God—they lust God. When you love God, He is the object of your affection. When you lust God, you are the object of your affection.

When you love God, it doesn’t make any different whether you’re happy, healthy, wealthy, successful, or your kids have playmates at church—you get the point? All that matters is knowing God’s will for you life and doing it every day. Remember, it’s all about God and not about you and me.

I suspect I’m going to preach on this…a lot. I know it’s countercultural and not at all popular. But I’m right and you know it.

DEATH OF ICONS

As we all know, three American icons passed into eternity this past week; Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and Billy Mills.

All three experienced unprecedented success in their particular fields of show business. While I have no personal knowledge regarding the spiritual faith of any of them. I only hope they put their faith in Christ.

That is why we all need to share the gospel--because we never know when life on this earth will end.

If you know someone who is not yet a believer, tell them today how to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Because everyone dies.

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock, is dead.

James Brown, the King of Soul, is dead.

Kurt Cobain, the King of Grunge, is dead.

And now Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, is dead.

But Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, is alive forevermore. Let’s tell people that, so they too can live forever.

Jesus said, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18).

This Sunday at Gatetree

With July 4th on Saturday of this week, our patriotic emphasis will be Sunday July 5th. I will be presenting a message titled, "The Healing of America." If you're in the area, we would love to see you there.

SMUGGLED PICTURES

Well they made it out. Pictures I mean. The Iranian government did everything they could to keep the world from seeing the mass rebellion of young Iranian students to their dubious and obviously rigged election.

Now we know Iran's hardline Islamic Basij militiamen killed at least one person and wounded hundreds more just for expressing opposition to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his tyrannical government regime.

These young people have discovered two things; they have no freedom to express themselves and their vote counts for nothing. But what were we expecting?

The whole thing reminds me of the Iranian revolution thirty years ago—with one exception. No longer are the students shouting death to the Great Satan (the U.S.), instead they are shouting “death to the Iranian government.”

Isn’t it great not to be the most hated?

I HURT SO MUCH

I am preaching a memorial service on Saturday. I didn't know the young man but I do know his step-brother. People have arrived from out of town to attend the service and one of the early arrivals is the dad. He and the step-brother stopped by my office yesterday. It was an incredibly sad visit.

The deceased was thirty-two, in what appeared to be perfect health, but the coroner has ruled that he died of natural causes. Quite a shock, right? Dad spoke through his tears and moaned, “I hurt so much. I’m believe in God and I can’t believe He would let this happen to us.”

As I consoled the two men, I thought of something I often say to my church, "God is far more concerned with our character than our comfort."

Right now, as you look at some recent hardship or tragedy that you have gone through, you might well say, “I love God and trust Him, but honestly, I just don't see why God let it happen to me."

Many Christians think that they are somehow exempt from human suffering. But the reality is that inexplicable and heartbreaking things do happen to good and godly people. Christians get cancer, die in auto accidents, lose their jobs, and experience practically all of the problems that people outside of Christ experience.

The example of Job is so valuable here. Job's friends thought that his trials were the result of some bad thing he had done. But they were mistaken. Job did nothing wrong and the story teaches us that bad things do happen to godly people becasue we live in a sinful world.

Scripture also acknowledges that you and I may be surprised by the trials we encounter. The apostle Peter wrote: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12 NIV).

Even so, we frequently are surprised when we encounter painful experiences—problems in our career, with our family, with our kids, or in our marriage—and even death.

Listen, your problems never come a surprise to God. He is aware of your circumstances, and He is also in control, and everything that touches your life must first pass through His permissive hands. But do not fear, He will use it to shape you into the image of Jesus Christ.

And that, my friend, if infinitely better than just living the comfortable life.

LITTLE OLD LADY FROM WHERE?

We may expect that the great saints that God has used over the years will reap huge rewards in heaven. People like Corrie Ten Boom, Jim Elliot, and Billy Graham.

We may also be surprised by the rewards won by "the little old lady from Pasadena"!

Yes, there really was one, and her name was Pearle Goode. When Billy Graham was doing his crusade in Pasadena a few years ago, he attributed the success of these events, going back 56 years, to prayer.

If the Graham team had anything close to a personal intercessor, it was Pearle Goode of Pasadena. For many years, she prayed in secret for Graham until he heard about her and made provision for her to attend his crusades so she could pray on-site.

Goode lived to be 90. At her funeral, Billy's wife, Ruth, paid her this tribute: "Here lie the mortal remains of much of the secret of Bill's ministry."

She did her part

Pearle Goode wasn't a preacher, missionary, or author. She didn't have a hit song on Christian radio. But Pearle did her part, just as surely as Billy Graham did his.

While Billy was out preaching, Pearle was praying. While Billy was doing his part, Pearle was doing hers.

Don't worry about what God has called someone else to do. What has He called you to do?

We all have a part to play in getting the gospel out. Make sure you do yours.

Sunday at Gatetree

Our new message series "Helping Your Friends Through Tough Times" began last Sunday with the message "When Divorce Strikes."

This coming Sunday I will address the subject, "When Your Friend is Drowning in Debt."

If your in Danville, drop in and join us for worship at 10:45 AM. The Gatetree family will be glad you did.

GOD BLESS THE USA

Today is Memorial Day. So as play or relax; as we gather with family and friends, let’s not forget the courageous patriots who have died in service for the greatest country on earth, the United States of America!

Despite our failures and flaws, I still believe that because of our Christian roots, we are the greatest nation in the world.

Our greatness comes from our belief in God’s Word, which gives us the moral compass we need, so we can know right from wrong and good from evil.

In our Memorial Sunday Worship service we sang,“America, America, God shed His grace on thee.” Never has that request been more urgent that today.

God has been gracious to this nation, and I pray that we will turn back to Him like never before. I pray it does not take a national crisis to get our attention.

So today, remember the sacrifices that have been made by the men and women who have given their lives for the freedom we cherish. And remember the Lord who has blessed this nation in an extraordinary way.

SAN DIEGO

We've been in San Diego for eight days and have had a great time. We've beached, seen the zoo, the Wild Animal Park and Sea World. We've also spent several days on the beach. As much fun as it has been, I'm looking forward to getting home tomorrow. Mary Ann and I have never taken this much vacation at one time, but I think I could get used to it.

Sunday at Gatetree

Our Memorial Day Sunday speaker will be Captain John Harris, Chaplain for Travis Air Force Base. Captain Harris is a great speaker and he has a tremedous testimony for the Lord. If you're in the area, drop in at 10:45 AM to hear Captain Harris.

We hope to see you then.

MONDAY JUNE 11

We've had a terrific time visiting with Charles/Sandra, my brother and sister-in-law. They are gracious hosts and make us feel so welcome. We attended their church yesterday, Palmcroft Baptist Church, and had a great time of worship and Bible study. Phoenix has a lot of really wonderful churches much like the Southern California area.

Family

Coming to Phoenix is much like a family reunion. We've all lived apart for most of our lives and now every one lives in Phoenix with the exception of Mary Ann and me. It is great fun when we all get together. My brother and I played golf 3 times and he won all three matches. But I assure you, neither of us is ready for the PGA tour.

Today

We're leaving for San Diego very shortly. Our route will take us through Yuma, AZ, where we spent 7 years serving the First Southern Baptist Church. First Southern was much like Gatetree--a really great church. We'll eat lunch there and do a little sight-seeing before moving on to San Diego. We will stay on Coronado Island in a little motel we've been staying at for nearly 30 years. We always stay in the same room. While there, we'll do the beach (everyday), Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. I confess, San Diego is our favorite of all vacation spots.

That's all for now. I hope you have a great week. More to come in a couple of days.

VACATION

I promised to post our first vacation blog yesterday--sorry for the delay.

A quick recap

Mary Ann and I left Patterson on Wednesday afternoon and drove to Bullhead City, AZ (on the Colorado River.) Our brother-in-law, Mike, has lived there for six years. Mike was married to Mary Ann's siser, Bev, before she died in 2001. It was a nice visit. Bullhead City is famous for one thing--heat. While the full measure of summer heat has not yet arrived, it was still pretty warm at 103.

We left yesterday morning and traveled down along the Colorado River to Lake Havasu City, AZ. LHC is one of my favorite places in the whole world. It is famous for having the original London Bridge and incredible scenry. Mary Ann and I have spent endless hours on that lake and would do it again in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, we could be there just a short time before we had to push on.

We arrived in Phoenix yesterday afternoon around 3:00 to stay with my brother/wife, Charles and Sandra. After a brief rest, the six of us (did I tell you we brought our son/daughter-in-law, Tommy and Ariana?), went to the Mesquite High School in Mesa, AZ for a band concert. Charles/Sandra's grandson played his final concert before he graduates and goes to Northern Arizona University. All the relatives were there and we really had a great time. That brings us up today.

A little history

Mary Ann and I lived in Arizona for nearly 30 years. We met at North Phoenix Baptist Church when she was a student at Grand Canyon University. We were married in 1971, and except for a couple of brief stints in New Mexico and Texas, lived here until 1990. Arizona is in our blood.

Today

Charles and I will play a little golf today. Charles/Sandra live in Sun City (a terrific retirement area on the west side of Phoenix). There are several golf courses in Sun City, but we will play at my favorite--the South Course.. Because I'm playing with Charles, I will pay the grand total of $15 per found. For those of you who are golfers, you know the significance of that. We enjoy playing in the heat of the day (104) as it keeps most of the locals off the course. We wear a good hat, ride in a cart and drink plenty of water. Heaven.

Mary Ann and Sandra will visit and enjoy doing whatever they do when we're playing golf. I think they shop, see grandkids, eat lunch and shop. Mary Ann is holding up to the heat pretty well--she's tough.

Tonight will be capped off with a great dinner at Macayo's Mexican Kitchen. I may be prejudiced, but I think it's the best mexican food in the world. It will be a family gathering. There will be the six of us, plus my brother/wife (Dave/Paulette), Charles' two daughters and their families and Dave's two sons and their families. We have a room reserved and will visit until closing. The best mexican food in the world and family--priceless!

Until tomorrow

We will be in Phoenix until Monday when we drive to San Diego. Tomorrow night we'll go to an Arizona Diamondbacks game and eat once again at Macayo's. Are you seeing a trend? On Sunday we'll attend Charles/Sandra's church Palmcroft Baptist Church

That's all for now. Perhaps a few lines tomorrow. Blessings on you.

PRAYER

We don’t always know what to pray in every given situation. That is when the Holy Spirit will help you, even intercede for you. (Romans 8:25-27)

What is God’s will?

We as humans are always in interested in the here and now, what will benefit us temporarily.

God, however, sees things a bit differently. He is also interested in the “bye and bye” and the eternal.

In other words, God has a bigger plan than my personal happiness in the given moment. He desires my holiness as I am conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

One other thing

I have found that happiness does not come from seeking it, but from seeking God. If you dedicate your life to being happy, it’s doubtful you will ever be.

But if you focus instead on being holy, on being the person God has called you to be, you will find personal happiness as a byproduct of having your priorities in order.

When we get to heaven one day, all of this will make sense!

Vacation

I have started a 17-day vacation and I have never taken off this much time--ever. It just seemed like a good thing to do for Mary Ann and me. We're going to Phoenix to visit my brothers; play a little golf; eat some incredible mexican food; and then over to San Diego for a week on the beach. I guess it is long overdue.

Mary Ann suggested that I blog each day of our vacation. I can't imagine that anyone is interested in those things, but I'll give it a try.

Look for it beginning on Thursday of this week.

REVERENCE FOR RELEVANCE

It seems to me that for some we have lost the “fear of the Lord,” even in the Church.

Perhaps there was a time when the atmosphere in most churches was wound a little tight… and one spoke in whispers…and laughter was rarely heard. But today, many churches, in their attempt to be thought of as “cool” have lost their focus. My question is “Have we traded reverence for relevance?”

For instance, you have the Florida pastor talking in great detail about sexual issues, ranging from programs to have “sex every day for seven days” to more extreme versions in which a Houston pastor speaks very graphically about specific sexual acts from the pulpit.

Look, I have been a pastor for nearly four decades, and I have never had a problem reaching our culture and seeing people come to Christ. I am all for being real and authentic, but I also stand up on the platform to speak God’s Word. Peter wrote, “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God” (1 Peter 4:11 NIV).

Consider the first-century believers who were filled with both joy and the fear of the Lord. “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:46-47 NKJV).

This phrase “gladness and sincerity of heart” literally means “with unaffected joy!” I love it that they were not afraid to express joy in their faith. But there was also a sense or reverence and awe among these believers.

What is the fear of the Lord? It does not mean you should be afraid of God. To fear God means that you have a healthy respect or reverence for Him.

Look, I am all for relevance. We need to make sense to the people we are reaching. But let’s not lower our standard in order to extend our reach.

Let’s not trade reverence for relevance.

I think for us to seek to live godly lives is very relevant, and very different than what this world has to offer. That’s how we will turn our world upside down, instead of the world turning us upside down.

Sunday at Gatetree

I hope you can attend our worship service this coming Sunday (May 3) at 10:45 AM. I will be sharing a message entitled, "How to Transform Your Family--the right way!" If you'd like to hear the other messages in this series, just click onto our website and give it a listen.

I hope to see you Sunday.

THE REAL DEAL

Do you spend a lot of time handling counterfeit money to know what it looks like?" asked Ruth Bell Graham to a man who was in charge of identifying counterfeit money for Scotland Yard.

"No," he replied. "We never touch the stuff. All day long, we just handle the real thing: genuine currency. And when a counterfeit bill comes our way—we can quickly detect it."

As a Christian, you could go nuts trying to keep up with the latest heresies and counterfeit teachings people spread in this world. But if you familiarize yourself with the Word of God and become conversant with it, you will immediately know counterfeit teachings. You will hear someone say something and think, This isn't right. You will know what God's Word truly says and what it doesn't say, because God will give you spiritual discernment.

Spend time today studying the real thing. If ever there was a time we need spiritual discernment, the time is now. In the words of the apostle Paul, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16).

SUNDAY AT GATETREE

Last Sunday we began a new message series entitled "THE ULTIMATE RIDE" and the first message was "Leaving a Lasting Legacy." This is available to you on the Gatetree website. Give it a listen!

This Sunday, I will continue the series with "Transforming Your Family--the wrong way!" If you're in the Danville area at 10:45 AM on Sunday, drop in and you'll ge the best welcome you've ever received at a church. I promise.

Easter 2013

EASTER 2013

Some thoughts on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Easter is for everyone, but it is not about bunnies or brightly colored eggs. It is about Jesus, and it is specifically about Jesus crucified and risen again from the dead. And, it was...

A hard day for the disciples

There was no question about it. Christ had died. If the crucifixion hadn’t killed him, certainly the spear of the Roman soldier would have. The disciples thought it was over. They thought death had finished it.

If they would have thought back, they would have remembered this was the same Lord who had raised people from the dead. He raised the daughter of Jairus. He raised Lazarus after he already was in the process of decomposition.

And, if they would have thought back, they would have remembered that on the day that Lazarus was raised, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25 NKJV).

But it is hard to see through eyes that have been blinded by tears. So the disciples were shocked to find an angel waiting for them with the good news: “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him” (Mark 16:6 NKJV).

They thought He was dead. But He was alive again

Hope for us

Because Jesus has died and has risen again, it means that we as believers do not have to be afraid of death. As 1 Corinthians 15:20 tells us, “But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again” (NLT). Jesus has gone to the other side, He has returned, and He has the keys to death and hell (see Revelation 1:18).

It’s hard for us to accept that our bodies are wearing out. Yet the Bible says we will have new bodies one day: “We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us” (Romans 8:23 NLT).

You see, my body is not the real me. The real me is my soul, my spirit. This body will die. But my soul will live on.

One day, you may open up the newspaper and read that Tom Holland has died. But don’t you believe a word of it, because at the moment you read that I have died, I will be more alive than I have ever been before–in the presence of God. And the same can be said for every believer.

He is the resurrection and the life, and if we believe in Him, though we were dead, yet shall we live.

IT'LL BE ALRIGHT!

We’re less than four months into a troubling year. The stock market is down. The housing market is down. Unemployment is up. As you approach Easter ’09, you may also have seen your 401K take a nosedive. Your home may not be worth as much as it was last year. You may even be out of work…and you’re scared. You’re afraid of an uncertain future. Well my friend, you’re in good company. The Bible tells the story of a time when Jesus' disciples were afraid for their very lives.

Jesus had told them to get into a boat and go over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, and they obeyed. But when they were a considerable distance from land, a fierce storm arose that terrified them. Jesus, who had been on a mountain praying, went to meet the disciples, walking on the water. Thinking He was a ghost, the disciples cried out in fear. So Jesus immediately told them, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14:27).

There are two simple reasons the disciples didn't have to be afraid: First, Jesus would help them weather the storm. And second, He had told them to go to the other side, which meant that they would reach the other side.

Jesus knows where you are at this very moment. He knows what you are experiencing. He is telling you to be courageous, because He is with you and there is a brighter tomorrow for you. Even if you have failed, even if you have made a mistake, it isn't over. It’s all going to be alright.

God has a future for each of us. Jeremiah 29:11, one of my all-time favorite verses, says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." God will complete the work He has begun in your life.

THE REASON

We might wonder how the religious leaders of Jesus' day could be so heartless as to take Him and put Him to such an agonizing death. Where was their compassion? Even if they didn't accept Him as the Messiah, what was behind this hatred toward Him?

We could take the same question and apply it to the broader one of why people reject Jesus Christ without ever taking time to consider His claims. Why is it that people refuse to give at least a fair hearing to the message of the gospel? Jesus said, "Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil" (John 3:19).

Someone may say, "The reason I am not a Christian is because I disagree with this or I have problems with that." According to Jesus, the real reason is that their deeds are evil. They don't want to come into the light, where their deeds will be exposed. Everything else is nothing more than an excuse people hide behind.

I am not saying that people do not have legitimate questions to ask. I am not saying people do not grapple with some of these truths. What I am saying is that when people are true seekers of God and they are presented with the answers to their questions, they will believe.

REAL VALUE

I went to the doctor’s office this week. Turns out I have shingles—pretty painful but not life-threatening. I’ll survive.

While I was waiting in the office, I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation between two mothers of small children. They were discussing new methodologies for raising the esteem level in their kids. It sounded like a combination of the cookie-cutter philosophy of Dr. Phil and Oprah—a mile wide and not even an inch deep.

It caused me to think, is low self-esteem really the problem with people today? I don’t believe so. In fact, I think we need to have a proper understanding of the way things really are. Apart from Jesus Christ, we have no value whatsoever. But when Christ comes into our lives, He places His value within us. And now with a new confidence and boldness we have something to offer, because He has made us persons of value.

A great writer can write on an ordinary piece of paper and suddenly it is valuable. A great artist can take a canvas and make a beautiful painting on it that is priceless. It isn't the paper that's valuable, or the canvas. It's what is written on the paper or painted on the canvas.

The Apostle Paul knew that the value of the work he was doing for the Lord was not due to his own ability, but due to the power of God at work in him. He wrote to the church in Corinth, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).

God wrote His name on you when you gave your life to Christ. He invested Himself in you. That's why you can make a difference. God wants to use you, and He has a place for you—a part for you to play, a call for you to answer.

This Sunday at Gatetree

I will continue in our Easter message series this week with "The Seven Last Sayings of Jesus." I hope you will be able to join with us on Sunday at 10:45 AM. You'll be glad you did.

THE DRAWBRIDGE

I heard a true story about a man who operated a drawbridge. At a certain time every afternoon, he raised the bridge for a ferryboat to go by, and then lowered it in time for a passenger train to cross over. He performed this task precisely, according to the clock.

One day, he brought his son to work so he could watch. As his father raised the bridge, the boy got excited and wanted to take a closer look. His father realized his son was missing and began looking for him. To his horror, his son had come dangerously close to the bridge's gears. Frantic, he wanted to go rescue him, but if he left the controls, he would not be back in time to lower the bridge for the approaching passenger train.

He faced a dilemma. If he lowered the bridge, his son would be killed. If he left it raised, hundreds of others would die. He knew what he had to do. With tears streaming down his face, he watched the passenger train roll by. On board, two women chatted over tea. Others were reading newspapers. All were totally unaware of what had just transpired. The man cried out, "Don't you realize that I just gave my son for you?" But they just continued on their way.

This story is a picture of what happened at the Cross. God gave up His beloved Son so that we might live. But most people don't give it a second thought. How about you? Are you conscious of the ultimate sacrifice God made on your behalf? Will you be sure to thank Him?

This Week at Gatetree

We have started our Easter message series “The Final Solution” and this week I will share a message titled, “The Day Jesus Died.” Our Sunday service is at 10:45 AM and the people of Gatetree would be delighted to meet you. I hope you can join with us.

IT'S NOT ABOUT FEELINGS

Last week a recent poll was released stating that almost 15% of Americans say they either have no religion or have left behind organized religion. You know what? I think those numbers are soft and it has been that way for a long time.

Another poll was released this week that I find even more disturbing. There is an alarming ignorance of who God is and what He is like, even among professing Christians. This was shown in recent poll conducted by Barna.

According to the poll, half of Americans who call themselves “Christian” don’t believe that Satan exists and fully one-third are confident that Jesus sinned while on Earth. Further, 25% dismiss the idea that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches.”

The pollster concluded, “Growing numbers of people now serve as their own ‘theologian-in-residence.’ One consequence is that Americans are embracing an unpredictable and contradictory body of beliefs.”

So it’s time to help people change the way they “think.”

God wants us to think and not just feel. The Lord entreats us in Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together” (NKJV), or another translation puts it, “Sit down, let’s argue this out!” (THE MESSAGE)

When you become a follower of Jesus, you do not have to “check your brains at the door.” Christianity is a reasonable, even logical, faith.

That is not to say we don’t need to have great faith to follow Christ, but it is to say the teachings of the Bible quite simply make sense!

What you feel is not the issue

Far too many people, when stating their opinion, will say, “I think,” ”I feel,” ”I believe,” or “My God would never do thus and so.”

We need more “The Bible says,” because then we will learn to think, feel, and believe the right things. This is called theology, and we neglect it at our own peril.

Experience is never to be the basis for theology. Sound theology, however, is the basis for experience.

C.S. Lewis gave this warning years ago: “If you do not listen to theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones!”

We ought, also, to be a people of sound theology without apology. Because what we believe about God will affect the way that we live. As 1 Timothy 4:16 says, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (NIV).

Sunday at Gatetree

Easter is a month away and we begin a new message series this Sunday that I’m calling “The Final Solution.” This series will focus our attention on the events surrounding the cross and the resurrection. The messages will be on our website, but if you’re in the Danville area, you ought to drop in for worship at 10:45 AM. I look forward to meeting you.

HOLES IN THE ROAD

I used to have a blue Volkswagen. One night while driving in a heavy rainstorm, I drove into a hole (25’ x 12’) in the roadway. It was dark and the hole was filled with water—I didn’t see it until I was resting in water 2 ½ feet deep. There was no driving out. I opened my car door, stepped into knee-deep water to discover that my front two tires had blown in addition to significant damage to the suspension. As I walked to the hole’s edge and attempted to climb out—I slipped and found myself sitting in water up to my neck. I felt really stupid and the tow truck guy didn’t help when he asked the obvious, “Hey man, how come you drove in the hole?”

Fact is—life is a lot like that. We’re driving on what seems to be a safe road when “BAM!” Life has opened up a Grand Canyon-sized man hole and we find ourselves in it, unable to drive out without any damage to our car. Truthfully, life does that a lot more than we want to admit. Question is—how do you deal with holes in the road?

Most believers are shocked when the road opens up—we live under the allusion that this shouldn’t be happening to us. We love the Lord, do our best to serve Him faithfully, and it only seems reasonable that He would “steer” us down another road. But no less than the apostle Paul had his share of holes in the road as he followed hard after Christ.

“I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the stormy seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be Christians but are not. I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food. Often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27 NLT).

So how did he climb out of the hole? Three ways; (1) God was with him; (2) He belonged to God; (3) and the third way was the fact that he was doing the will of God.

Essentially, he was “on the job for God.”

God told Paul that he was to testify of Him in Rome (Acts 27), so Paul could keep going with the assurance that God was with him.

We can know this–as long as God has a work for us to do, we will be here to do it. God will preserve us to do it.

And when that work is done, completely done—we will go to heaven. Not too soon and not too late. Right on time.

P.B.P.G.I.N.T.W.M.Y.

30 years ago, a popular conference leader coined the letters “PBPGINTWMY.” It stood for the phrase, “please be patient; God is not through with me yet.” Incorrect grammar aside, the theology is right on.

That is what God is doing with us: Paul tells us, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). God has a purpose for us to fulfill. He has a task for each of us to accomplish.

Although there has never been a person who, through human effort, has achieved salvation, if someone has really found salvation, there should be visible results of that fact.

There are a lot of people today who claim to be Christians, but there is absolutely no evidence in their lives to confirm it. Works don't save a person, but they are good evidence that he or she is saved.

God has created you as His work of art for good works. He has a work for you to do. He has a plan for your life. Are you finding it? Are you moving in that direction? Or, are you wandering through life saying, "I have salvation, so that takes care of that. Now, back to doing what I want to do"?

The wording of Philippians 2:10 is very important. We were "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

As Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate—the man who was judging Him—Jesus said, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above" (John 19:11 NKJV).

In other words, "I am moving toward the goal that I have set, and you are just doing what you are doing because this is what you are supposed to do. My Father has prepared the way for Me."

Your Father has prepared the way for you too. Maybe you are facing a setback right now. Maybe there is a crisis in your life. Maybe it seems as though nothing is ever going to change.

Remember, you are a work in progress. You are under construction.God sees what you can become. You may look at yourself and say, "I don't get it. I don't look like a perfect person. My life doesn't look like a work of beauty."

But God would say, "Just hang on. I’m not through with you yet. You need to be patient, because you are a work in progress. It doesn't happen overnight. In fact, it will take all of your life on this earth and won't be completely finished until you get to heaven."

Then you will see that you indeed are a perfect work of art—God's masterpiece.

This Sunday at Gatetree

Our message series "iTruths for an iPod Generation" has been a success. Lives have been changed and committed to Jesus Christ and His church. I will preach the final message in this series this Sunday (March 8) and I'm calling it "iTell." I hope you will be able to join with us. There's always a friendly welcome at Gatetree. Come and get in on it.

ALMOST... BUT NOT QUITE

Almost is an interesting word that we tend to use with a wide degree of versatility. We sometimes use it when we are delaying something, when we are not quite ready to commit.

But there are certain words that can't be used with almost, like almost pregnant. That doesn't really work. The word almost doesn't work when it comes to sports either. A football team cannot claim that they almost won a bowl game.

Another word that doesn't fit with almost is Christian. Either you are a Christian, or you are not a Christian. You may be well on your way to becoming a Christian. You may be looking into the claims of Christ and investigating them. But that doesn't make you a Christian. Either you are or are not a believer.

The Bible talks about a man that I like to call the Almost Christian, because as the apostle Paul presented the Gospel to him, he said, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian" (Acts 26:28 NKJV). Almost. He was close, but not close enough.

What distinguishes a Christian from a non-Christian or a pseudo-Christian? Our initial thought would be that what you believe determines whether or not you are a Christian. And there is truth to that. But did you know that you can believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that the Bible is the Word of God and not necessarily be a Christian? The Bible says, "Even the demons believe – and tremble!" (James 2:19). Just because I believe the Bible is true and just because I believe Jesus is the Son of God doesn't mean I am a Christian. Intellectual assent isn't all there is. It includes that, but there is more.

It also might surprise you to know that you can pray ritually, keep the Ten Commandments to the best of your ability, attend church on a regular basis, and be baptized and not necessarily be a Christian. If you are a Christian, you ought to do those things. But you can do those things and not necessarily be a Christian. You might be an Almost Christian.

Then what does a person need to do to be a Christian?

First, we must recognize our dier need for Christ. The Bible teaches that prior to becoming a Christian, every person is spiritually blind: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

The next step is to turn from darkness to light. Only God can open our eyes. But only we can turn from darkness to light. God won't do it for you. He has given you a free will. It is up to you to respond and decide. You have to turn from darkness to light. The Bible tells us, "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light" (Romans 13:12).

The problem is there are a lot of people who are trying to live in two worlds. They know what is true. They effectively believe it is true. But they have not turned from darkness to light. And they are Almost Christians.

A person can become a Christian in a flash. It can happen so fast it probably cannot even be measured in human time. Yet some people mistakenly believe they are in the process of converting to Christianity. Either you are a Christian or you are not. You are either converted or you are not.

You cannot live in two worlds. You need to have your eyes opened. But then you need to turn from darkness to light. Make sure you know with certainty where you stand with God. Don't be an Almost Christian.

Sunday at Gatetree

Sunday I will focus on why a person can not lose their salvation in Christ once they have become a true Christian. "iTrust" will answer any questions you may have regarding "once saved, always saved." It is a part of our current series "iTruths for an iPod Generation." If you can join us in person, we would enjoy getting to meet you.

ON THE OFFENSE

This morning I read this passage of Scripture “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)

During the Korean War, a unit known as Baker Company was separated from the regiment, and enemy forces were advancing on them. For several hours, no word came from Baker Company. Finally, radio contact was made, and when asked for a report of their situation, Baker Company replied: "The enemy is to the east of us. The enemy is to the west of us. The enemy is to the south of us. The enemy is to the north of us." Then, after a brief pause, the voice continued, "And this time, we're not going to let them escape."

It seems that way in the life of the believer. The enemy is at every turn. Yet some Christians don't realize that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground. They are oblivious to the fact that a war is raging. And in this war, they are either winning or losing.

In a battle, it's always better to be an aggressor rather than of a defender, because the defender is simply waiting for the enemy's next attack, hoping he will survive. If we, as believers, are always defending, then the devil is in the superior position. But if we are attacking, then we are in the superior position. When the apostle Paul wrote about the armor of God in Ephesians 6, he mentioned one offensive weapon: "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (v. 17).

Make no mistake about it: there is authority and power in the Word of God. God's Word sticks. God's Word breaks through. God's Word impacts. When the enemy has you surrounded, keep him on the defensive with the Word of God.

This Sunday at Gatetree

Our current message series, "iTruths for an iPod Generation" has been one of the most well-received series ever. This Sunday I will focus on why it is important to grow in wisdom and understanding of Scripture. I am calling the message "iGrow." If you're in the Gatetree area, I invite you to join in with us. You'll be glad you did!

ON THE OFFENSE

This morning I read this passage of Scripture “Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)

During the Korean War, a unit known as Baker Company was separated from the regiment, and enemy forces were advancing on them. For several hours, no word came from Baker Company. Finally, radio contact was made, and when asked for a report of their situation, Baker Company replied: "The enemy is to the east of us. The enemy is to the west of us. The enemy is to the south of us. The enemy is to the north of us." Then, after a brief pause, the voice continued, "And this time, we're not going to let them escape."

It seems that way in the life of the believer. The enemy is at every turn. Yet some Christians don't realize that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground. They are oblivious to the fact that a war is raging. And in this war, they are either winning or losing.

In a battle, it's always better to be an aggressor rather than of a defender, because the defender is simply waiting for the enemy's next attack, hoping he will survive. If we, as believers, are always defending, then the devil is in the superior position. But if we are attacking, then we are in the superior position. When the apostle Paul wrote about the armor of God in Ephesians 6, he mentioned one offensive weapon: "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (v. 17).

Make no mistake about it: there is authority and power in the Word of God. God's Word sticks. God's Word breaks through. God's Word impacts. When the enemy has you surrounded, keep him on the defensive with the Word of God.

This Sunday at Gatetree

P.H.E.P.H.

There is a Latin phrase “Post Hoc Ergo Proptor Hoc” that means “after this, because of this,” or “what is happening is the result of what has happened.” That pretty much sums up why there is sin in the world and why people get hurt.

The answer lies in both our greatest blessing and our worst curse: our capacity to make choices. God has given us a free will. Made in God's image, He has given us the freedom to decide how we will act and the ability to make moral choices. This is one asset that sets us apart from animals, but it also is the source of so much pain in our world. People, and that includes all of us, often make selfish, self-centered and evil choices. Whenever that happens, people get hurt.

Sin is ultimately selfishness. I want to do what I want, not what God tells me to do. Unfortunately, sin always hurts others, not just ourselves.

God could have eliminated all evil from our world by simply removing our ability to choose it. He could have made us puppets on strings that He pulls. By taking away our ability to choose it, evil would vanish. But God doesn't want us to be puppets. He wants to be loved and obeyed by creatures who voluntarily choose to do so. Love is not genuine if there is no other option.

The Bible explains the root of evil: "This is the crisis we're in: God's light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness ... because they were not really interested in pleasing God" (John 3:19, Message Translation). We're far more interested in pleasing ourselves.

In a world of free choices, God's will is rarely done! Doing our own will is much more common. Instead of blaming God when hurts come into your life, blame the real source—this world and the evil one who rules it.

In heaven, God's will is done perfectly. That's why there is no sorrow, pain or evil there. But this is earth, a fallen, imperfect place. We must choose to do God's will everyday. It isn't automatic. This is why Jesus told us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

There are many other questions that race through our minds during dark days. But the answers will not come from economists, politicians, or anyone else for that matter. We must look to God and His Word.

We were made for a relationship with God, but He waits for us to choose Him. He is ready to comfort, guide and direct us through our grief. But it's your choice.

This Sunday at Gatetree

We will continue in our message series iTruths for an iPod Generation on Sunday February 15 and I will present a message titled "iJoin," focusing on why it is biblical and essential to have a church family. I hope to see you then.

WHY?

Once again I was asked, “Why is God making me go through all of this? What did I do to deserve this kind of pain?” Have you ever wondered that thought or asked that question?

God tells us in the Book of James (1:2-4) that we can count it all joy when we go through trials and tribulations. He isn’t saying we have to be happy when we suffer a loss. Rather, we can have confidence that a just and loving and merciful Father is working everything out for my good His perfect will.

Have we anchored our hope in the circumstances that surround us? Or have we anchored our hope on nothing less that Jesus' blood and righteousness?

When my Dad died, I quickly discovered how easy it was to become angry with God. I had heard other people voice their anger in tough situations, but I never thought I would.

But slowly … very slowly … I began to realize that my perspective was limited, that I’d placed my hope in an answer to prayer that I insisted was best rather than trusting in the character of God to answer the prayer as He saw best.

I’d hung my hope in the wrong place – until God reminded me that I serve a God of hope, and His hope will not disappoint.

That is what we have to cling to no matter our circumstances. If, for a single moment, we think God isn't in control, then we've lost our focus; and we're making judgments without all the facts.

God is working all things – even the hardest of things – for our good. Put your hope where it belongs: in Jesus. Don’t hope in circumstances, but in the God who holds your future in his hands.

And pray this: “God to pull my eyes from my situation and keep them focused on You. Please fill me with hope and faith.”

This weekend at Gatetree

I will continue with this theme on Sunday February 8, when I preach the message iHurt as a part of the current message series iTruths for an iPod Generation. This is one message you won’t want to miss—if not for you then for someone who is hurting right now.

If you’re in the area, we would be delighted for you to spend your Sunday with us at Gatetree. I hope to see you then.

A COMMON QUESTION

I don’t generally blog in mid-week, but this morning’s Bible passage really spoke to my heart.

A common question is “Why does God appear to bless evil people?” I’ve asked that question myself.

What does the Bible say? “He causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and he sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong." Matthew 5:45 (NCV)

In Matthew 5, Jesus says God causes His blessing to be given to both the evil person and the good person – and that both those who are evil and those who are good go through difficulties.

Whether someone is a believer or unbeliever, evil or good, we all face sickness in our families, natural disasters, and all sorts of other problems.

God doesn’t always protect believers from having to face the same difficulties that unbelievers must face; and He allows unbelievers to experience some of the same benefits that we, as believers, enjoy because we are a part of His creation.

One reason for this: it allows those who don’t know Jesus to see what it really means to know Him. When someone sees a believer finding even a bit of light in the middle of a struggle, it helps those who do believe in Jesus to see who he really is and that He is the light in the darkness.

If an unbeliever sees me going through a struggle in a godly way, and it points that person to faith in Christ, then it makes the struggle all worth while.

COMFORT

I read the following this morning, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer” (2 Corinthians 1:4-7 NLT).

At first blush, that doesn’t seem fair. It seems that when we are in need, when we are facing crisis, the world should just stop what it is doing and think about us. But the reality is that when you are hurting, if you will reach out to someone else who is in pain, you will be replenished and helped.

Jesus said, “If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving–large or small–it will be used to measure what is given back to you” (Luke 6:38 NLT).

I’m sure you know of someone who is in pain right now. Perhaps they have cancer, or have recently lost a loved one, or their marriage has unraveled, or they have lost their job. Go to them and seek to be a friend and encourage them today.

God is in control of your life, and He allows trials to come our way in order to strengthen us spiritually and make us more like Jesus.

Whatever you are facing, know that someone else is facing it too. Perhaps you could share with them some of the things the Lord has shared with you, and “be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Sunday at Gatetree

This Sunday I will share a message iWorship from my message series "iTruths for an iPod Generation." If you're in the Danville area, I encourage you to drop by for our 10:45 morning service. Need a map? Try clicking onto our webpage for helpful directions.

THE GOSPEL TRUTH

Years ago, C.S.Lewis gave this warning: “Listening to incorrect theology will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones.”

If this has ever been a problem in the church, it is certainly now. Paul warned such a day would eventually come, telling Timothy: “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3 NLT).

Friends, the “time” that Scripture spoke of is here. I am shocked to see how people who describe themselves as evangelicals can be so ignorant of what the Bible clearly teaches.

People who believe in Jesus wouldn’t say such outlandish things if they studied their Bibles. That is why we need preaching and teaching from the Scripture.

Right before that verse are these words: “Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with Good teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2 NLT).

That is what we are committed to each day at Gatetree Church. This is what I have committed my very life to, preaching and teaching the truth of the Bible.

Jesus once said, “And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32.)

Our latest Sunday message series is “iTruths for an iPod Generation.” Feel free to click on a give a listen—you can begin enjoying the freedom Jesus has just for you.

K.I.S.S.

The above acronym is very practical—Keep It Simple Stupid! Never was this thought more appropriate than with preaching or sharing the Gospel. Now hold on to that thought.

This morning I read Acts 20:25, “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.”

The word preaching means, “To declare a message as the herald of the king.” The witness tells what has happened to him, but the herald tells what the King tells him to declare. He is a person commissioned and sent with a message, and the preacher must not change that message in any way.

I think we tend to way overcomplicate the message of the gospel. There is a profound power in its utter simplicity.

Often people will comment, “Pastor, you make the Gospel message so simple to understand.”

Exactly. That was my very objective. Not be to be simplistic but simple.

The gospel is so deep that the greatest philosophers pore over its meaning. Yet it is so simple, that even a child can understand it.

Billy Graham was once interviewed by David Frost, the interview who is famous now for the movie Frost/Nixon. In the interview, Billy told Frost that in his presentation of the gospel, he “studied to be simple.”

Generally, we think we ought to study to be complex. Not at all. The gospel is an understandable message, and when that fails to happen, it’s not the fault of the message, but the messenger.

Sometimes, we may be reluctant to share the gospel with others. Or we may feel we need to “soften” certain parts that might offend people. I’m not buying that!

The job of the herald is to proclaim what the King tells him to proclaim. In the same way, the job of the Christian is to preach the gospel.

So today, look for opportunities to “herald” the gospel message. In such a dark world, it really is still “good news!”

And remember to K.I.S.S.

WHERE'S MY JET-PACK?

Well, here it is officially, 2009. I have one question I have been thinking about lately:

Where is my jet-pack?

Let me explain . . .

As a young boy growing up on cartoons, whenever they showed “the future” — and understand that back in the late ’50s, the future was only 30 years away — everyone flew around in jet-packs. You know, George Jetson-style. But here we are, still lumbering about in our cars. Not much has changed.

For a time, especially in the ’50’s and ’60s, there was this utopian dream of a better world. We were told that everything would be better in the future. Now we have lived long enough to know that despite our advances in technology, mankind will always mess things up.

Ah, but one day the future we all long for will come. With new bodies, on a new earth, ruled over by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, I guarantee you we will fly! Boy, I am looking forward to that day.

That is what Jesus taught us to pray for in the Lord’s Prayer, when he instructed us to say, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

Until then, I have a few suggestions for what we need to do—

Live your life well

We want our lives to count during our short time here on planet Earth, especially as we are now officially in 2009. At Gatetree, we are currently in a message series titled “iTruths for an iPod Generation,” which will focus on the basic things all Christians need to know in order to live well in 2009. If you can’t hear the series in person, you can go to our homepage and find it there.

Read through the Bible this year

Having just completed reading the entire Bible in 2008, I’m going to do it again and I suggest you join me.

And finally…don’t look back

Philippians 3:14-16 reads, “Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.”