The Call

I just talked to my wife, Tracy, in Iquitos, Peru. This is her second medical mission trip to Peru. The mission team will be in Lima tomorrow and HOME ON SATURDAY!!! They have been on a living on a river boat on the Amazon on a medical and dental mission for the last week. Several people were treated medically and over 60 trusted Christ as their Savior. They have been fishing today and Dianne Woody caught a large piranha that somehow bit Craig Burke. I am pleased to report that all are doing well. (except the piranha)

On her trip, a young couple asked her to explain how you know that God wants to use you in ministry. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall hearing my wife share her heart on what it means to be “Called by God”. I am sure that she was a true encouragement to them as she is to all who know her. If anyone has a true sense of calling and the determination and passion to do the will of God, it is my wife. We have been married almost 24 years and our love for each other and our sense of “Call” grows stronger each year. Even though we are separated by many miles tonight, she has caused me to spend this evening thinking about our journey together in the Lord.

I will not tell her story or ours in ministry because that is a story that we must do together. I will try to explain some of what it means to be “called” by God. This is not a researched or exhaustive explanation. This is just a few words from my heart at midnight attempting to give God the praise for where I am and why I am who I am.

My calling from God was certainly not an audible voice or a flash of light across the sky. I have proven over the years that I could probably ignore something seen or heard. A calling from God is more than a feeling or an experience. Many different people experience the call of God on their life in different ways. The way that one experiences the call of God is not as important as the reality that it is God that is calling and equipping you for a life of partnership in His purpose. For me, the “Call of God” is reality that must have its roots in a “life changing experience” that is consistent with the Word of God. It is a call to a life with the grip of God holding me as the Spirit of God guides me to live a life that is no longer mine. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20, NIV) It is a reality that is not to be explained for validation or even acceptance from a watching world. It must be “lived” in order to understand God’s validation. It is a process that begins with a relationship with God that grows and produces fruit. Often the fruit is just the faithful assurance that you are in the will of God. Jeremiah needed that same assurance as God revealed this reality to him:

Jer 1:4-8

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. (KJV)

The Apostle Paul understood this reality in the midst of his deepest valleys of life. That is why he was able to say, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencies of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (2 Cor 4:7-11, KJV)

The recognition of the call of God in life to serve Him is not a matter for boasting but rather a motivation toward humility. It is not about what you have, it is about who has you and that what He does with you is more important than you could ever be. That is why Paul also said, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Cor 2:1-5, KJV)

So for tonight I say, “To God be the Glory, great things He has done.”

Get out of the cage and serve one another.

Today I read a story that reminds me of the restricted lives that some of us live in the midst of great freedom. Are you enjoying the full freedom of the gifts of God that are provided by his grace?

Many years ago the Denver Zoo underwent a major renovation. There was a polar bear which arrived at the zoo before a natural environment was ready for it. The cage where the bear temporarily lived was just big enough that the polar bear could take three nice, swinging steps in one direction, whirl and take three steps in the other direction, back and forth. The polar bear spent many months in that particular cage with bars that restricted its behavior. Eventually a natural environment was built around this cage, on-site. When it was finally completed, the cage was removed from around the polar bear. Guess what happened? That's right. It still paced back and forth as if the cage were still there.

There are many people who are simply pacing back and forth in life. They have no idea that Christ has removed the cage of our estrangement from God. If only they would receive him and believe on his name, their lives would be turned upside down. They would be new people with a whole new perspective on life. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Rom 8:15,KJV)

In our freedom we must use our time wisely. Galatians 5:13-14 reminds us of the way that we should use our freedom: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:13-14, NIV)

The "Bucket List" of Summer

The past few weeks of the summer has seemed as if I were working on my own “bucket list” of sorts. You know what I mean. Doing all that you can do to take advantage of every second of time before schedule and seasonal restraints bring life back to that much needed routine that keeps all of us sane. This time of the year, most every year, I ask myself two questions, “What have I learned from all that I have been able to do?” The next question is, “Have I done what really matters most?”

In the past few weeks I have reinforced some truths that I hold dear and try to live by. First of all, I am thankful for time away with my family wherever we are. I joke as much as others about getting the kids back in school and getting life back to normal but nothing compares to spending time with family. At the beach I remembered the gift of occasional relaxation combined with heat and sand. Then we were off to New York City to celebrate my son’s high school graduation. A well deserved gift. Ray is living life daily with Aspergers Syndrome. He graduated high school with a 3.5, which is much better than me and I didn’t have any excuses. In New York, I was reminded that no matter how big and bright it gets in Time Square, my family is brighter to me than anything in this world. And yes, Ray had a great time.

Second, some of the guys in the church gave me the opportunity to spend a couple of days with them hiking the Appalachian Trail. Yes, that is what I said. Walking and Walking and Walking … For an out of shape middle aged guy that doesn’t like to admit that he is an out of shape middle age guy, I remembered stuff that I already knew but needed to think about again. Real friends recognize when you struggle and they wait patiently until you can continue with them. Often they will let you lead in an effort to let you set an acceptable pace that you can LIVE with. Yes, a friend will even lighten your load until you are able to continue and keep up with some that are almost half your age. So, I am grateful to have lessons of friendship reinforced.

Ending my “bucket list” of the summer with white water rafting was truly the way to go. Seeing God’s handy work and power first hand and spending time with young people in the church was truly a blessing. So yes indeed, I have been reminded of the lessons of the importance of ...
1. Family 2. Friends 3. Faith in the ever-present power of God.

Finally, that important question…“Have I done what really matters most?” Have I shared my faith with others? It would be a shame to have learned and remembered lessons that cause life to have meaning if I did nothing to help others have true meaning in life. The prophet Jeremiah said it like this, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” (Jer 8:20, KJV) In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul stresses this same point to Timothy in 2 Tim 4:21, “Do thy diligence to come before winter.” Paul knew that his time on earth was almost over so, in the 4th chapter of 2 Timothy, he gave Timothy some things to do before winter came. Timothy was encouraged to come to the Word of God and learn. He was encouraged to come back together with true friends. Paul also encouraged Timothy to come and see him for one last time. “Come before winter!!!”

Summer is almost over. Have we done what is really important?

Don't Worry About It

The Apostle Paul loved the people of the church of Philippi. He wanted to help them win the battle with worry. There are many people in life today consumed with WORRY. Worry will kill you fast, destroy your witness and erode your character. Paul learned a lot about worry in Philippi. Paul’s call from God to reach out to the people of Macedonia must have been a shock to Paul. He tried to go every where except there and there were no opportunities. But God had a plan. Paul had no idea that this plan would include being arrested for being effective as an instrument of the Lord. I love the message of Acts 16.

Acts 16:9-35 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us. Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; "and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe." Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, "Let those men go."

Pictured above are the ruins of the Jail at Philippi and the place where the Jailer and Lydia were baptised.

In this story in Acts, instead of worry, Paul chose to sing and praise God as he made his request. God honored his prayers and revealed why he was in the circumstances that led to his distress. His proper dealing with worry made an impact on the people of Philippi and Paul was able to gain an audience with the most influential people in town and established a church that was one of Paul’s favorite churches. I am sure when they read Philippians 4:6-7 they remembered how Paul dealt with worry.

Phil 4:6‑7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Is your life consumed with WORRY? "Worry, like a rocking chair," said Vance Havner, "will give you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere." Or as somebody else has said, "Worry is the advance interest you pay on troubles that seldom come." According to Ken Anderson, nine times out of ten, the worrying about something does more damage to the one who worries than the thing he or she is worrying about. Anderson continues, "Modern medical research has proved that worry breaks down resistance to disease. More than that, it diseases the nervous system—particularly that of the digestive organs and of the heart." Concern is needed to keep us on track with our responsibilities, but worry, like stress, is a killer.

An examination of 500 patients in a British clinic showed that more than one‑third of their visual problems were caused by emotional tension. And a survey of some 5,000 university students showed that worriers get the lowest grades. The word "worry" comes from an old Anglo‑Saxon word meaning to strangle or to choke. While we need to be attentive to life's concerns, worrying about them "chokes" the joy out of life. Worrying is like driving a car with one foot on the accelerator and the other foot on the brake. One antidote for worry is trust and trust is a choice. When things aren't going well, keep praying this prayer until the storm passes, "Dear God, I choose to trust you in this situation no matter how I feel." Learning to pray about the causes of our worry and not just the symptoms is a major key in learning to win over worry.

All the water in the world

However hard it tried,

Could never, never sink a ship

Unless it got inside.

All the hardships of this world,

Might wear you pretty thin,

But they won't hurt you, one least bit

Unless you let them in.

Anonymous

Finding Security In An Insecure World

There was once a man driving down the freeway. His cell phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, “Herman, I just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on I‑40. Please be careful!” “Oh no!,” said Herman, “It's not just one car. It's hundreds of them!”... Have you ever felt like everything in the world was coming at you at the same time? Ruth and Naomi must have thought that their lives were going the wrong way on a one way street. In our lesson we learn that God delivers His children from worldly insecurity. (You will need your Bible for the rest of this Blog)

Working Responsibly (Ruth 2) In Ruth chapter 2 we find Ruth working in the field of Boaz, a close member of Elimelech’s family. The name Boaz means “in him is strength.” God used the strength, and personal wealth of Boaz to help Ruth in her efforts to care for Naomi. Ruth’s diligence gained the interest and admiration of Boaz (verse 11). Boaz reminds Ruth that her hard work would be repaid by God (verse 12). Feelings of insecurity and desperation are never excuses to neglect our responsibility. We must continue to work responsibly and depend on God to reveal his will in the fruits of our labor. Naomi praised God for providing for their needs (verse 20).

Seeking Security (Ruth 3:1) Naomi loved Ruth like a daughter. She was concerned about her future and security (verse 1). Naomi knew that Ruth was treated well in Bethlehem because of their relationship. She also knew that Ruth was a stranger in a foreign land and felt responsible for seeking a husband for her. Naomi saw the sovereign hand of God bringing Ruth and Boaz together (2:19-20). She gave Ruth instructions in the way she should solicit redemption from Boaz as her kinsman-redeemer. Her intentions were to indicate Ruth’s desire to marry Boaz. Boaz was a generation older than Ruth. As an older gentleman he would not have approached her without fully understanding that she would not be offended.

Acting Boldly (Ruth 3:6-11) Ruth’s active obedience proved her faith in spite of many insecurities. Ruth was following the leadership of the Lord and the instruction of Naomi to find security (3:1). In verse seven, Boaz is described as having “a cheerful heart (NKJV)” or “in good spirits (KJV).” Both of these translations show that Boaz had a sense of security because of the good meal and abundant harvest that followed the years of famine. Using the same language as in verse one, the Holy Spirit indicates that Boaz had the security that Ruth was seeking (verse 7). Ruth appealed to Boaz using his own words (2:12) to be her kinsman-redeemer and marry her (verses 8-9). Her actions were well received and her character was unblemished as a result of her proposal. In all of her actions, Ruth continued to be a woman of noble character (3:10-11). Boaz insisted that nothing be said that could damage her integrity (verse 14).

In chapter 4, Boaz followed the intention’s of law of Moses (Lev. 25:23-38) to redeem Ruth and the land. There was a closer relative who could have taken this responsibility. To maintain integrity Boaz spoke to this relative in the presence of the elders. After gaining favor with his relative and the elders, Boaz became the kinsman-redeemer.

Rejoicing Thankfully (Ruth 4:13-14, 17) In this bold and loving action Ruth and Boaz were used by God to perpetuate the line through which Christ would be born (Matt. 1:5). The only potential barrier Ruth and Boaz faced was the relative who could have taken this opportunity from Boaz. This potential problem only proved to strengthen the character of Boaz as he met with the elders. We can rejoice that God used this couple to demonstrate that people of all nations will ultimately be redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ. Christ is the great redeemer. When circumstances seem to challenge your security always remember that you have the Great Redeemer on your side and He has a plan.

It is interesting to know that the same fields where Ruth met Boaz, outside of Bethlehem, was the same place where the shepherds were tending their flock at night and the angel of the Lord revealed to them that Christ was born in Bethlehem. Remember, Christ was an earthly descendant of Ruth as a result of the hard times and the providence of God that brought her to these fields to work. Who knows how the hard times in your life and the providence of God can be used to bless future generations?

Keep your eyes on the path

Just a note to say that I am getting back to normal after my little surgery and I will continue with the blog very soon. Thanks to those who have been praying. But for today I will share a brief story and hopefully a needed message.

Harold and Al were on a small chartered airplane when the pilot suddenly had a heart attack. "Don't Panic", cried Harold heroically. "I’ll land this baby!" Seizing the controls he headed for the runway at LaGuardia Airport, and began wrestling the diving plane to the ground. Just as the wheels touched the ground, Al screamed, "Red lights! Right in front of you!" Immediately Harold threw the engine in reverse and jammed on the breaks, bringing the plane to a violent stop just inches from the edge of the lights. "Brother!" he puffed, wiping his brow. "That sure was a short runway!" "Yeah," agreed Al, looking side to side, "but look how WIDE it is."

This humorous story illustrates a very serious point. As we travel through life we must be aware of our surroundings and the path we take. In the same way that the pilot in the story approached the runway wrong, we often choose the wrong path in life. The Bible teaches that there is only one path for true success as a child of God. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.” (Matt 7:13‑14) The pathway to salvation may be narrow but it leads to eternal life with Jesus Christ. In the same way the path of the world is WIDE but it leads to destruction. Which path are you taking in this life?

PRAYER IS NOT AN EVENT, IT IS A LIFESTYLE!

Tonight I am lying in a hospital room awaiting possible surgery tomorrow for kidney stones. So the subject close to my own heart tonight is prayer. Not prayer to draw God closer to me but to draw me closer to God. Prayer is not an effort to convince God but rather an opportunity for His will to become mine. It has been said that prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance but laying hold to his willingness.

Prayer is the Christians greatest privilege, the Christians greatest service, the Christians greatest failure... How is your prayer life? As we move through life we must move with the holy leadership of prayer. Prayer will lead us to see how God works all things together for our good and His glory. In prayer we discover that in our weakness He is strong. We find His strength on our knees in prayer. We do not pray to convince God, we pray that He will convince us. God takes the initiative in our prayers even or should I say especially when we do not know what to say. Often we do not know how we should pray but rest assured that the Spirit will lead.

Rom. 8:26‑28
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of th e Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have
been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

Praying in the power of the Holy Spirit is a gift for each child of God. It has been said that you can do more than pray after you pray but until you pray you can only pray. God has given us a helper in prayer. He is the Holy Spirit. He activates our will in prayer. He moves your will to pray. The reason people do not pray more than they do is because they do not want to. Allow the one who searches your heart to draw you to pray in accordance with the will of God. Prayer will bring direction, peace, and a clear unified vision. The Devil fears your prayers because he wants to bring indifference and interference in the lives of the children of God.

R.G. Lee is credited with saying the following:

If all the sleeping folk will wake up,
If all the lukewarm folk will fire up,
If all the dishonest folk will confess up,
If all the disgruntled folk will cheer up,
If all the estranged folk will make up,
If all the gossipers will shut up,
If all true soldiers will stand up,
If all the dry bones will shake up,
If all the church members will pray up...
Then we can have a revival!

As we take time to pray we should remember the pattern of prayer for our Savior. In Matthew 21:13 Jesus said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (KJV) In Mark 1:35 we learn that it was the pattern of the Savior to rise early and go to pray in solitude. In the Gospel of John, chapter 17, we find the high priestly prayer of Jesus as He prayed for all of His disciples before going to the Garden of Gethsemane. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane where Christ prayed even before his betrayal, arrest, trial and crucifixion.

Attacking nations have tried to destroy the olive trees on the Mount of Olives many times in past history. However, the root system has proven to be strong so that many of the trees in the Garden of Gethsemane are over 2000 years old. Many of the trees were the very trees that were present when Jesus prayed for Himself, His disciples and His church and --- you. How are your spiritual roots? Could they withstand an attack from an enemy? It is your prayer life that helps to strengthen your spiritual roots as you study your Bible to learn more about your Savior’s love for you.