“Medical Christianity”

So I was having trouble with my sinuses.  The pain and discomfort was unbearable.  I was soon referred to a specialist every few months to get shots deep inside my nose cavity near my sinus passages.  I was less than thrilled as you could imagine; however, before administering the shots, the doctor numbed my nose by packing it with gauze coated with cocaine.  Knowing that as a pastor I might be concerned, the doctor simply told me; if anyone questioned my use of cocaine, just tell them, “I’m a user, not an abuser.”

In a day where everything has a “medical” solution, one might want to stop and consider what that means.  As it relates to drug use, it’s not the use of an effective drug we should question, but whether it’s the right drug.  If marijuana has a medical benefit, by all means, put it in the doctor’s bag for possible and appropriate use.  What we should question, however, is whether such drugs are being used effectively or simply being abused.

As a Christian, I wish I could just take a pill that would make me the perfect follower of Jesus.  A medical solution to my constant struggle with sin would be great.  Pop a pill and the pain and discomfort of my bad choices would be gone.  How perfect!  I’m the proud owner of a “Medical Christianity Card.”  

Thank God for medication, like cocaine, that can numb your body, and when used, not abused, contributes to the quality of our lives.  If marijuana has medical rewards, let’s use it, but be careful not abuse it.  Recreational use of drugs is harmful to you and everyone around you. 

If you need a drug to deal with real physical pain, a medical doctor can prescribe a solution, but if your pain is coming from a deeper place of emotional hurt or distress, masking it with a pain killer, recreational drug use or a trip to the bar downtown, is only a temporary fix.  What you need is the Great Physician.  He can heal every pain, physical and spiritual, emotional and mental.  The best drug in the world today is Jesus Christ!  Before the pain and discomfort of everyday life becomes unbearable, let me refer you to Dr. Jesus.  He’s the specialist you need!

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 

Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

“No Justice, No Peace”

Justice is all about “rightness.”  One who is just, lives rightly and makes right decisions.  Justice involves the law, a standard, a moral code of right and wrong.  We often call it the justice system, because there’s a set of rules and regulations which govern its proper execution.  Falsely, people equate “fairness” with “justice.”  Fairness implies equality like justice, but fairness leaves itself open for disagreement.  What you thought was fair, I didn’t.  Justice is rightness.  Justice is about making things right, equally, for all people.  Without justice, it is true, there is no peace!  And though some may disagree with what’s right, God has established the moral laws of right and wrong.  In fact, Moses would say that their set in stone, literally.

That’s the real irony isn’t it?  When people in our culture feel, believe, or know there’s been an injustice, the cry is always the same:  “No Justice, No Peace.”  If there’s no justice, then let’s make sure there’s no peace, through riots, protests, civil disobedience and even outright crime.  We’ve seen it all too often in recent days.  One injustice incites another injustice.  How does one cry out for justice and then act unjustly to try and bring about justice?  What is right or just in that?

The solution for mankind and society:  we must first make peace “with” God, and His law, if we ever hope to experience the peace “of” God in our lives, and in community with one another.   We overcome injustice, by doing what’s just.  By doing what’s right, or better yet, by being made right by God through Jesus Christ, we overcome the evils of our own broken lives, our misguided culture, and a lost world! 

Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.   Romans 5:1 (NLT)

Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.  Romans 12:21 (NLT)

“Is Life a Riddle?”

A riddle: a question or statement so framed as to exercise one’s ingenuity in answering it or discovering its meaning.  It’s also been described as a conundrum or a puzzling question.   OK, riddle me this:

  

Who makes it, has no need of it.
Who buys it, has no use for it.
Who uses it, can neither see nor feel it.
What is it?  Got it?

Life’s no riddle.  Real life is found in Jesus Christ!  Period.  God speaks openly and honestly.  The Bible’s straight forward.  Stuff like: “If you have the Son, you have the Life,”  “You’re either for Me or against Me,” “Follow Me,” “I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Is there any ambiguity?  How about uncertainty?  Is there a lack of clarity?  Beating around the bush? 

Life is NO riddle.  Jesus said clearly and confidently, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Well I hope so…and by the way, if you didn’t get the answer to the earlier riddle, it’s a coffin. 

Make every moment count in this life, and for the life to come.  Be high on Jesus and live coffin-free! 

“What Did You Say?”

When words lose their meaning, at best, life becomes confusing, and at worst, everything starts to fall apart. 

Have you ever tried to be friends with someone that seemed less than honest, mildly confusing or downright deceptive?  Can a marriage survive if the relationship fails to communicate clearly, openly, and honestly?  How difficult is it to learn the material and pass a test if the teacher can’t impart the information in a language or methodology you can understand?

“Say what you mean and mean what you say.”

Chaos and Confusion are the first names on the Christian’s enemy list.  Distort the truth.  Change the truth. Belittle the truth.  Manipulate the truth.  Disguise the truth.  These are all communication killers, and effective tricks used by our enemy to trip us up.  The Apostle Paul said, “we are not ignorant of his schemes.” 

So…“Say what you mean and mean what you say.”

Remember, words mean things.  Communicate wisely, clearly, honestly and do it all in love.  According to a 2002 study conducted by the University of Massachusetts, 60% of adults can’t have a ten minute conversation without lying at least once. 

“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH…”                                                                    Ephesians 4:25

Paradise of "Pair-a-dice"?

Everyone must make a choice.  God’s intentions in the Garden of Eden were clear.  His vision and purpose for mankind were on full display.  God desires to walk with us in the cool of the day.  His passion is to simply be with us, to be our everything, to meet our every need, to fill our lives with His overflowing, never-ending, always abounding, certainly satisfying grace!  So what’s your intention?  Your passion?  Your choice?

After Adam and Eve had already experienced Paradise in the garden, they gambled it all away on a chance.  With some help from the serpent, and his trickery and outright lies, Adam and Eve walked a road of open rebellion against God for the risk of what they thought was a better way, their way.  So they made their choice. Hey God, thanks, but no thanks.  The serpent cheered, Adam and Eve feared, and hid themselves from God.  Wow, what a game-changer.

Adam and Eve passed up a sure thing, Paradise, for a Pair-a-dice and a bad beat on their future.  Unfortunately, despite the bad odds, we’ve all made the same bet and gambled on ourselves.  Overcome the urge to risk your life on your own best efforts and a chance at short term gain.  Don’t gamble your future.  Bet your life on a sure thing, and the place where winners live forever…Paradise!  

To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'

                                                                                          

                                                                

Revelation 2:7

"American Sniper"

"American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper is all the rage.  Is he a real-life hero or a real-life coward?  The buzz is intense, pro and con.  And apparently there’s no in between.

Only 10 years ago, “The Passion of the Christ" which brought in nearly $84 million during its opening weekend was considered a blockbuster despite the media’s lack of attention to its success; however, “American Sniper” has absolutely crushed that mark by grossing nearly $119 million total in its short release.  

Between 2004 and 2014 the world has radically changed, hasn’t it?  In 2004 the world was challenged to look at the real-life story of a man named Jesus making a decision about life and death to save a lost and endangered world.  Today, our endangered world is now intrigued by the real-life story of an American sniper making decisions about the life and death of others through the lens of his sniper scope, hoping to save them from a real and unsuspecting danger in our world, terrorism; Hero or Coward?  That appears to be the debate.  

But what grabs my attention is the stark contrast of how God saves the world and how we must now try and save it…let’s not fool ourselves and believe that words alone will save this lost world; Jesus tried a diplomatic approach with Pilate, but he rejected God’s argument of salvation for a lost world when he turned to Jesus and said, “What is truth?”  Don’t get me wrong, politicians, ambassadors, diplomats and even American snipers can help bring a temporal peace to this lost and destitute world, but only One can bring true salvation and lasting peace.  And that is, the Prince of Peace, the King of Truth, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, Jesus, the Christ!  I wonder what we will be talking about 10 years from now?  

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.

                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                               John 14:6 

"His Year"

Happy New Year!  It’s what we say at this time of year, isn’t it?  Often just words though.  Just like the guy passing by you in the cereal aisle at the grocery store.  He makes eye contact with you, and in that awkward moment you say, “How’s it going?”  But before he can respond, you’re half way down the aisle exploring the special on pop tarts.  He didn’t really care you asked, and you didn’t really want to know how he was doing.  So why say it…just words…it’s what you’re supposed to say, right?  It’s a new year so you’re supposed to say it.

As the horns, whistles, fireworks, and confetti canons blast, you can hear the shouts of “Happy New Year” resounding everywhere; a hopeful recognition that this year will be different, but that hope often fades quickly.  Soon, very soon, the excitement of a Happy New Year becomes the blah reality of simply “Another Year.”  My prayer is that 2015 will be “His Year” in your journey.  Start your new year under new management.   Turn the same old, same old “Happy Another Year” into a refreshing “Happy New Year” by committing yourself to making it “His Year”!   His way will keep you celebrating long into this next year!

”Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                     Psalm 37:4