UKRAINE, RUSSIA,THE STOCK MARKET? Though the days news informs, and may either enthuse or unsettle us, we must resist the temptation to allow this to be a sole determiner of our feelings, life and actions.
Psalm 46 tell us God rules over the nations. This is good news, but still, not the only news or idea bringing us comfort. Indeed, lasting comfort comes from our knowing God, and in our having a vibrant relationship with Him. As He is exalted - not just among the nations but in our own life and thought - all things 'other' fall into place.
Check out my video from today, which offers a word of reminder we all might use.
Early on in my years as a college student God began stirring my spirit. He was calling me, I now realize, to what would eventually be a lifetime of serving Him. But I was a young, naive and overly self aware 20 something who loved writing music (both lyrics and tunes) and poetry, and had developed into a young man not against Christianity, but.. dare I say this??? "beyond it." Oh, for sure, I had grown up in the church! Evangelical Christianity was my culture and heritage, and I held deep love and respect for many of the church who had impacted me for good. But... and this was the rub, as my young mind was now being exposed to other religions, cultures, ideologies, et. al., and as I reasoned over the development of humankind, culture and politics, and of the role (both the good and the bad) that Christianity had played in its development, I had begun reducing my thoughts of Christ and Christianity to simply a 'season' of Western culture history. Something that would pass away over time, or become more minimal re: the impact and development of our world. Christianity was, though I would not have said so to my family or pastor, a 'not so terrible' crutch for the sentimental - maybe even for society. Something for folks to lean on in facing the up and down cycles of life. But nothing more. It, I would have said, is part of our collected, pre-scientific story. A coping mechanism for then, and - somewhat - still for now.
Suffice it to say my puffed up thoughts of that time were actually what was most simple. I was not nearly so 'bright' as I imagined. But... that part of the story is for another time. For this time, I simply want to tell you what God did as I worked though this and took on thoughts of Him. For, in trying hard to reason myself away from God, He only drew closer and closer. And, once there and up close, He taught me something I have never forgotten - "I am not here because of YOU, YOU are here because of ME"
This video tells that story, and... of what I have learned since that wonderful day long, long ago.
Christmas has long been one of my favorite seasons for worshipping our LORD. The real story never gets old. Asked recently if I missed preaching, especially at Christmas, my thoughts about this brought a flood of memories.
The brief word I am sharing with you today by way of this "Video Blog" below comes straight from my heart. It is a reminder that the first Christmas was a worship celebration. Why? Because the people who experienced it were people of faith and obedience. And, if you and I are to keep Christ in our Christmas, it will be born from the very same.
Miss B and I pray you and your family can experience a joyful Thanksgiving this year for we know that remembering to do so brings a life that is so.
As a help, check out my video below. Inspired from Matthew 6, it's a simple encouragement from Jesus' words in His Sermon on the Mount - His reminder of what we should treasure and the secret as to how.
Captain Kirk (William Shatner) of Star Trek fame and now a young 90 years of age returned from his recent travel into space 'blown away.' A he came out of the capsule, he shared his experience with Mr. Bezos, questioning, 'is this as life and death?" And described passing from the 'blue sky' of of earth and it's near heaven into the 'darkness of space' by saying, it is just a 'thin veil' that separates us.
Kirk was more right than we may realize. The step into eternity is simply a crossing from what we know to what we are yet to see. Indeed, it is but...a 'thin line.'
As I consider Psalm 1239, the love and providence of God finds me full and praising Him today for His loving hand.s Perhaps you, in looking back, might find you often feel the same.
Check out my video - "Bells Over Brasil" - to see why.
Like most, I have found myself reflecting over the events of 9.11.2001 today and my experience. For it is now 20 years since I found myself in the heart of Manhattan, in the very city where the horrific days events first occurred. And, like all Americans who can remember, a day my life was changed forever.
As we pause on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we give thanks for the many stories of faith and heroism that are now signatures of our nation's resilience and survival. These stories inspire us but... they should also challenge us.
Check out my video, "Remembering" to learn how we might allow the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 to become a time for us to remember,reflect and find new resolve in our service to Christ and His purpose -bringing Hope to a broken world still worth redeeming.
