On The Road Again.

Greetings in the hope of the soon return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As many of our friends and supporters know, we have been on a sabbatical for a little over a year. We really needed a time of rest, restoration and renewal. By the way we weren’t sitting around idle, we assisted a new church in developing some of its ministry. However, we knew that that was just a temporary thing. That is why I haven’t posted here in a while. But now, I have something to report.

When we took our leave we had been serving for the past eight years with Transport for Christ International, which is a ministry to over the road truckdrivers. In the time we have been regrouping we have felt the Lord leading us to another ministry organization which does the same type of ministry. Today, Sunday, Sept 20, 2009, we began our service with Truckstop Ministries Inc. There is a ministry website at www.truckstopministries.org and there you can learn about what we do and also how to contribute to our ministry and even do so online. Previously I had served as a Chaplain, and enjoyed that ministry very much. With TMI, I will be serving as Southeast Regional Director, and as a Chaplain.

The days ahead are teaming with challenge and excitement as we hope to see God’s hand move in the lives of those engaged in the trucking industry. Please keep us in your prayers and let us know if we can be of His service in your life.

The Right Connection

 

The “Parable of the Vine” is a symbolic analogy which can help Christians understand the relationship God wants us to experience with Him.  Branches are an integral part of the vine. They are there for one primary purpose – to bear fruit.  If you look at a vine, you see the branches woven together and bearing fruit; the core of the Vine-the root is not seen.  It is the branches, and the fruit which they bear, that depicts the vine. Christ compared Himself to a vine for our benefit; so we can understand who we are in Him. Christ, like the vine, is the source of our existence. In Him we live, breathe and have our being. Without Him we are nothing. All life and all goodness are from the Lord alone; He is the True Vine.

The Christian life is all about relationship. When we are born of God, we are a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15), we carry His DNA, so to speak (I John 3:9). We sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3, 2:6) and have direct access to the throne of God (Hebrews 4:16). At salvation, God placed us in Christ and sealed us (2 Corinthians 1:21 -22). But, how do we abide in Him? To abide in Him, we need to constantly accept the same grace that was made available at salvation and trust Him completely. We then become channels for getting the work done. He also constantly instructs us through the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27 – 28).  Abiding takes effort! As a part of the Vine, we lose our identity. People should see Christ in us, in our actions, our speech, etc.  We should reflect God’s image! We walk as He walks (1 John 2:6).

Paul wrote in Romans 11:16, “If the root is holy, so are the branches.” We cannot confirm that Paul was thinking of the parable of the Vine but we can confirm that our righteousness and holiness come to us only because of our connection to the True Vine. It is only by our abiding in Christ—our attachment to Him—our close relationship with Him—that we produce any Christian growth. Faith requires both abiding in the Vine and allowing the sap to do His work in our branch. Christ will prune anything and everything in our lives that is not pleasing to Him. Any word or deed that we do that does not magnify His name will be brought to our attention (Colossians 3:17).

 If we resist the pruning of the Lord, there can come a time of being cut off (Luke 12:45-46;     I Corinthians 9:27). A question that we might ask ourselves is, “Are we living where God answers our prayers?” If not, why not and what are we going to do about it?  Our lives and works are a mixture of gold, silver, and precious stones along with hay, wood and stubble. We will be put to the test of God’s fire. Our hay, wood and stubble will be burned up so that our gold, silver and precious stones may remain. It is to our advantage to yield to the pruning of the Lord in this life, rather than in the next (I Corinthians 3:11-15).  

What a privilege to be called a friend by the very Creator of the universe. We didn’t choose Him, He chose us. He ordained us to bring forth much fruit. He promised to give us that which we ask for in the name of Jesus. That’s hard to comprehend, but it depends on our love for one another. John put it rather bluntly:  1 John 4:8, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”  1 John 4:20, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”  Just as a branch cannot bear fruit if it is cut off a vine, we cannot live the Christian life if we separate ourselves from the Lord.

Although this question asks that these verses be explained to the new convert, there is also a message here for the “mature” Christian.  It is a simple thing it is to be a branch, the branch grows out of the vine, and there it lives and grows and, in due time, bears fruit. It receives sap and nourishment from the root and stem. If Christians truly understood this about our relationship to Jesus Christ, our work would be changed into the brightest and most heavenly thing on earth. Instead of there ever being soul-weariness or exhaustion, our work would be like a new experience, linking us to Jesus as nothing else can. Too often the very work that He desires to do in us, and through us, is allowed to separate us from Christ. Many a laborer in the vineyard has complained that he has too much work, and not enough time for close communion with Jesus. Sad thought, that the bearing of fruit should separate the branch from the vine! The Christian life should be one of absolute dependence. The branch is nothing…it depends on the vine for everything. Could it be that we have looked on our work as something other than the branch bearing fruit? Every bunch of grapes that comes to our tables was absolutely dependent on the vine. The vine does the work, and the branch enjoys bearing the fruit of it.

Furthermore, it is the root that bears the tree (Rom_11:18), diffuses sap to it, and is all in all to it in flourishing and fruitfulness. In the same way, in Christ we have all supports and supplies. The branches of the vine are many, others on the other side; yet, meeting at the root, they are all one vine; thus all believers, though in place and opinion may be distant from each other, yet we meet in Christ, the center of our unity. Believers like the branches of the vine, are weak, and insufficient to stand by themselves, therefore, we are sustained by the root and become part of a strong and virile vine.

 

 

Waiting Watchfully

Throughout life, day by day, we make decisions on how to act. Each of us forms attitudes and cultivate emotions, we set goals for ourselves and try to attain them. We do these things individually, as well as in various groups: our family, friends, church, community, occupation, state. In all of these contexts the kind of people we are, the kind of goals we have, and the rules we observe in decision-making are ethical matters. All human behavior and character is subject to appraisal according to moral values; every one of our attainments (whether they be aims that are fulfilled or character traits that are developed) and every one of our actions (whether they be mental, verbal, or bodily behavior) express an unspoken code of right and wrong. All of life is ethical, and making ethical decisions can be confusing and difficult. Every one of us needs a moral compass to guide us through the maze of moral issues and disagreements that confront us every moment of our lives.

All ethical judgments require a dependable standard of right and wrong. Believers in Jesus welcome the biblical standard of right and wrong. The biblical attitude is expressed by the apostle John when he says “ For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous  (burdensome)“  (I John 5:3). The following is a story that all young people should hear:

            Tracy felt like a slave working for many masters: teachers, parents, bosses, and peers. She worked for hours each week to write a paper that would get an (A) from Miss Johnson. Chemistry was worse. No matter what she did, she couldn’t get above a (B). And for Tracy, that big (B) on her otherwise straight (A) report card said, “Tracy, you’re not good enough.” For Tracy, being a member of the girls’ volleyball team was anything but relaxing. If she made any mistakes it was a major disaster. Precise and demanding, Tracy’s father often corrected her. Tracy’s goal was to do everything right the first time so that her father would be pleased with her, but she seldom succeeded. As a scooper at the local ice-cream shop, she attempted to be accurate and efficient, but the manager noticed her only when she did something wrong. Then one Sunday morning the pastor’s words shocked her. “Do you really know what God expects of you? Or have you been making up your own standards? Well, God tells us what He wants from us. Micah 6:8 reads, ”And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  “Notice,” the pastor continued, “that God says nothing about winning, being the best, or receiving high ratings from your supervisors. God asks you to ‘act justly.’ That means that you please God only—you work hard, you’re fair, your motives are pure, and you don’t permit false earthly standards to be the measure of your value. You show compassion, you think about others, and you keep the spotlight off yourself. And you ‘walk humbly with your God.’ You spend quality time with Jesus. Because you realize that He is all-powerful and all-knowing, you submit yourself totally to Him. This is the only way you can become the person God saved you to be.” That morning Tracy made a discovery: The Lord always noticed her good work. Tracy realized that she could stop trying so hard and relax in the presence of Jesus.”

Many individuals, like Tracy, try to measure up to the wrong standard. It is imperative that today’s Christian leaders understand and teach the concept of prayerful study of the Scriptures, which will free us to live by God’s yardstick.

The bottom line of being a Christian is keeping the first and greatest commandment – love for the Lord. Attached to this bottom line is Matthew 22:39 “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Jesus did not say “…as you like yourself.” Most of us, at many times in our lives, do not like ourselves. We look into the mirror of our soul and at the mirror in the bathroom, and we don’t always like what we see. We see the tell-tale signs of aging. We see faults and blemishes in our skin, our hairline, and even in our character. Sometimes we see through our own phoniness, and stubbornness, and pride, and even our selfishness. And we just don’t like what we see!

 

However, we do love ourselves!  We give ourselves plenty of “elbow room” when it comes to making mistakes! There are always so many reasons. When it comes to watching out for ourselves, look at the latitude we take!  In that sense, we do love ourselves, even if we don’t always like ourselves. As Christian leaders, we need to believe and accept God’s unconditional love for us, and our “neighbor.” 

        

The love cycle always begins with God — with the Good News of His boundless mercy, and grace, and forgiveness in Christ Jesus.  If we really believe that, we can be free to busy ourselves with rejoicing in God’s love rather than trying to earn it by our behavior.  When the reality of God’s love fills us and surrounds us, He frees us to serve Him willingly and joyfully. The bottom line of the Christian faith is to know that God loves you.  Secure in that love, we are freed to love God “because He first loved us,” and to love our neighbors as God loves us, and allow Him to develop His yardstick both in our lives and in those around us.

Where Do We Go From Here?

 

Many of us who are conservative in our political beliefs are still staggering a bit from the presidential election.  The fact that a liberal went into office so decidedly is a bit unsettling at the least.  The hardest part of that is that it reflects the mindset of  our country.  We all know that it is not so much the man, as it is the platform  he represented.

Many are fearful of what this means in the areas of what we consider to be moral foundations, gay rights and abortion, just to mention two.  Fearful of what these mean to the sanctity of marriage, family and even human life.

I believe this ought to be the clarion call to the body of Christ.  The reality is that holiness and righteousness cannot be legislated.  I believe if we listen we will hear the voice of God calling to us to live in Him as never before.  To allow the world to see His truth in us, being a light in the darkness.  We must pause, but only for a moment, and remember who we are in Him.  The mandate is getting clearer by the minute.  With a new enthusiasm, the body of Christ is going to have to take to the grace, deliverance and freedom of God to the hearts of men and women.  The real question is this, are we willing to accept this mission and become missionaries in our own communities

We are exhorted in Galatians 5.1 to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.  If we are indeed free, then we must do something with that freedom.  The question then becomes are we free in Him, by his grace, through his shed blood.  If we can answer yes, perhaps a good place to start is by checking our spiritual attire, are we dressed for success.  I leave you with the following passage from God’s word:

Ephesians 6:10-18

10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;                                                                                                                        

Sunday Go To Meetin’ Clothes

 

Just remembering the good old days when life was simpler and a lot less encumbered.  Everything in life seemed to be a bit more organized and purpose seemed to prevail.  However, as one person put it “the devil is in the details”. 

One such detail was the tradition of having ‘Sunday go to Meetin’ Clothes.   On Sunday morning we would spruce up, slick down, polish, brush, and shine.  Then we would pull those special garments out of the closet that were only worn on Sundays and other special occasions.  After every button was fastened and neatness prevailed, the warning was issued to stay clean until we left for church, because we were wearing our ‘good clothes’. This ritual was not exclusive to our family, but was one that was common in practice.   We would go to church and then as soon as we got back home these special clothes would come off and older attire would take their place.

Sometimes I wonder if when we took off the clothes, if we didn’t symbolically take off our relationship with the Lord and replace it with having religion.   As a young person, I remember one individual saying he was Baptist, another declaring I’m a Methodist, still another stating he was Church of God and even my Catholic friends would chime in as if for good measure.  It almost seemed as if we forgot why we even went to church, no one ever just said “I am a Christian”

Nowadays, it seems our church attire is a lot more casual.  This is not a judgment but simply an observation.  Preachers wearing blue jeans and golf shirts, ushers wearing shorts and sandals.  The crucial difference is that when we leave the church, we return to the world around us just as we left the house of God.  When you think about it, isn’t that really what God wants?   Our heavenly Father desires for us to come into the church just as we are, enter into his presence, and commune in fellowship with Him allowing His glory to refresh and renew us.   Then wearing the garment of praise we exit the body of believers, clothed not in religion, but in righteousness.  AS a result, we are not simply changed, but we are transformed into His image, before the waiting world.