When Life is Hard, Turn to Jesus

Sometimes life is just frustrating, it's so hard! Peace is hard to come by, so we may drink too much, get lost in endless binge viewing, do things we know we'll regret later. But we do them anyway, right? I know you get this. Sickness, loss of work, death of loved ones, and more add to our despair and lack of hope. People disappoint us. Our leaders fail us. We may not understand why God allows something to happen in our lives. We disappoint ourselves- and in truth, this may be the hardest to deal with of all! (It is for me!)

As always, God provides insightful truth and encouragement for us in His Word. The Apostle Paul had to address a struggling church in Corinth, a city known for great trade, immense wealth, and one filled with all kinds of evil and debauchery. His encouragement to that church is just as valid today for those who seek to follow Jesus with their whole hearts. And those who are trying to, like me.

Paul's words stun in their direct, honest, simplicity.  In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, we read his challenge:

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Here, the Apostle Paul is speaking to believers who were living in a world much like ours. Any and every sin was becoming acceptable. Evil was called good and good evil. (Now we can even see it on any screen and search a mega database for it.) People were living for the moment and forgetting eternity exists whether we believe it or not. Followers of Jesus were persecuted and were a minority. It often seemed as if the world was winning the war, and the church was dying. On the surface. But hope spreads, and truth wins out eventually.

Don't lose hope.

If you find yourself in that place, remember God will always be on the side of those who seek Him- again, even if we do not understand what He allows. He works in our world with the eternal in mind and not the temporary things of this world.

My friends and I have traveled quite a bit of the world, and we've seen real followers of Christ suffer for what they believe, enduring shame and scorn for being different than their people. Some of them are outcasts within their own families for belonging to Jesus. Many have husbands or wives who are not believers, and they suffer because of that. Some of them give up important and lucrative jobs in order to travel and share the Good News of Jesus, living on faith, trusting God to provide in ways we cannot even imagine. Enduring beatings or being placed in jail because of what they believe, they continue on because of the amazing gift of life through their Lord. It's like reading the book of Acts, how the followers of Jesus lived after He was ascended into Heaven before He one day returns to judge the earth and reward those who have given their lives to Him.

These people are the overlooked, the ignored, the forgotten… but they are not overlooked by God. 

Wherever you live on this earth, if you are one who calls yourself Christian and have devoted your life to pleasing Him, be assured you are not forgotten! Let's read that again:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

It's easy to say "Don't lose heart", and it's even easy to read it, but the question remains, how do we practically live it out?

The answer is actually found in the next few verses that follow:

“Inwardly, we are being renewed day by day."  What does this really mean? The Bible tells is two very important truths about who we are, just two chapters apart. In the same letter to the same church in Corinth, Paul tells followers of Jesus that 

1- We are a new creation in Him. God has washed away the past, forgiven us for our sin against Him, and He made us brand new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). I'm SO happy for this. When I look backward, my junk can be overwhelming at times.

2- God places his own Holy Spirit within us, and we are being transformed into the image of Jesus. This means we are becoming more like him the longer we continue to follow Him. (2 Corinthians 3:18) These two truths take place simultaneously. God's Holy Spirit is that inner voice some call conscience (like Pinocchio's Jimmy Cricket), and then God goes one step further by giving us the strength we need to avoid temptation. What happens when we seek after God?

What does this look like? What is the evidence of this happening in our lives? Our priorities change. We begin to love us He loves. We serve others. We take risks as He leads. In other words, we serve Him as not  only our Savior but as one who gives us direction in how He wants us to live. All this is a result of His great love for us and the sacrifice He made, dying on the cross for our sin, paying a price we could not pay.

The love of God can overflow into our lives. How?

How else can we not lose heart as we endure the struggles in this life? We can keep focused on the riches we have in Jesus now!

• Forgiveness for our sin and The Gift of Eternal Life
• Freedom in Christ- which no man can take away!
• Family in Christ   
• Hope and comfort while we live in this world- and promise for our future!

We also have all the fruit of God's Holy Spirit because He lives inside of each believer in Jesus. This means we have  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Not only do we have this fruit, we also have The Power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts He gives us to do the work He's called us to do! (I Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4). We don't just get his comforting presence (which we all need- 2 Corinthians 1:1-4) but His Power working through us- and on our behalf.

We are rich in faith as we watch God work right in front of our eyes!

Sometimes we just work against ourselves.

There's one more way we can endure hard times, and it may be the most difficult one of our advantages, but it is the most powerful: We must stay focused on the end of the story. If God looks at the eternal, we need to keep that focus in mind as well. It gives us proper perspective.

If you’re older, you will understand what I’m about to say. If you’re younger, evaluate my words in the context of Scripture.

Our time on earth goes by so fast- especially when compared to eternity!  So, here's what I recommend as a practical application:

•    Be wise, and keep an eternal focus.
•      Please God at all costs before pleasing men. He is the One you must answer to.
•     Love deeply, and draw people to God. Continue to encourage one another.
•     Know that you are loved by God, and He will not fail you!

What will we have in the future? We look at the end of time and discover that God wins- and so do we!

Look at the Bible's Book of Revelation 21:1-5:

There's a new Heaven and a new Earth: The Apostle John's Vision

"Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

No more tears, death, crying, mourning, or pain. He who overcomes the hardships of life will inherit all this.

We endure until the end- not just for our rewards but to please God!

Do you ever wonder if it's ok to ask God about your future? When reading Matthew 19:27-30, we discover that even Jesus' disciples, his future leaders, would question him about what would happen to them.

 

"Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

We have a reason to smile!

There you have it! Even though we face difficulties in this life, we don't have to lose heart. God is on our side! We are new in Christ Jesus- brand new! We are forgiven for our sin against God and each other. We have freedom and life. God's Spirit lives in us to bring comfort, joy, and power to live out life in victory in spite of what happens. And we have a hope for the future- an eternity with Jesus without tears, pain, or suffering. Isn't that alone worth considering His claims to be God in the flesh?

(Copyright Mark Taft.)

Wars and Rumors of Wars

Russia sends troops to Kazakhstan as Putin continues to force his way into independent nations once under Soviet control. (Is this part of rebuilding the Soviet Union?) And they form some sort of military strategic alliance with China. Things keep heating up in Israel. COVID-19 spreads in new variants. Nations are locking down and needing help. Evil abounds. Free speech is dying under Big Tech. America continues to be divided as never before. Fires in Colorado of epic proportions and tornados of the same size. According to MSN, Elon Musk hopes to implant chips into human brains soon. Persecution of Christians reaches an all-time high never seen before. What is God trying to communicate? Is the time for Jesus returning to judge the earth coming? Some Biblical scholars read the Bible's book of Revelation and Jesus' own words in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), assured this is prophetic and may happen in our lifetime. What do you think this means?

(Photograph copyright Abduaziz Madyarov.) 

Island Dreams

Perhaps its the encouragement of our government and the fears of COVID-19 to stay home, but the only bug I have that is getting worse as time goes on is the one to travel. Destination of choice is usually somewhere tropical, or Europe or Asia. But who knows what will happen. Then the dreaming comes in, and Hawaii usually takes center stage. The photo above clearly shows why it is a land of many dreams.

(Photo from Eat, Live, Travel.)

A COVID-19 Easter- The Grinch Strikes Again

In the spirit of Dr. Seuss, I give you the following poem about Easter, COVID-19, and hopefully, a big laugh:

How the Virus Stole Easter

With a nod to Dr. Seuss

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Twas late in ‘19 when the virus began, bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.

People were sick, and the hospitals full; doctors were frantic, and no one in school.

As winter gave way to the promise of spring, the virus raged on, touching peasant and king.

People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen. They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.

April approached and churches were closed. “There won’t be an Easter,” the world supposed.

“There won’t be church services, and egg hunts are out. No reason for new dresses when we can’t go about.”

Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest. The world was focused on masks and on tests.

“Easter can’t happen this year,” it proclaimed. “Online and at home, it just won’t be the same.”

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went. The virus pressed on; it would not relent.

The world woke up Sunday and nothing had changed. The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.

“Pooh pooh to the saints,” the world started grumbling. “They’re finding out now that no Easter is coming.

“They’re just waking up! We know just what they’ll do! Their mouths will hang open a minute or two, and then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.

“That noise,” said the world, “will be something to hear.” So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear. And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies. It started down low, then it started to rise.

But it wasn’t depressed. Why, this sound was triumphant! It couldn’t be so! But it grew with abundance! The world stared around, popping its eyes. Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!

Every saint in each nation, the tall and the small, was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!

It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming! It came! Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine Stood puzzling and puzzling. “Just how can it be?” “It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies, It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.”

Then the world thought of something it hadn’t before. “Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

And what happened then? Well....the story’s not done. What will YOU do? Will you share with that one or two or more people needing hope in this night? Will you share the source of your life in this fight?

The churches are empty - but so is the tomb, and Jesus is victor o'er death, doom, and gloom. So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer, as the virus still rages around, everywhere.

May the world see hope when it looks at God’s people. May the world see the church is not building or steeple.

May the world find its faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection, May the world find a Joy in a time of dejection. May two-oh-two-oh be the year of survival, but not only that - Let it start a revival.

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(Poem by By Kristi Bothur.)

A New Baby and Hope in Our Abortion Crisis

You're looking at our new granddaughter. She was born happy and healthy just a few hours ago- about 24 hours after I wrote the article below. Another one of God's precious miracles!

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I should have been an aborted child. My Mom was 16 and pregnant; my father 18 and not wanting to be a father. Thank God, they chose life instead! (And after 60 plus years of marriage, they are one of the happiest couples I know.) So, abortion is a very personal matter for me.

My oldest daughter and her husband were told by doctors their second son would have Dandy Walker Syndrome, would never have a normal and healthy life, and they should abort him. Up until a month before his birth, all signs showed the doctors were correct in the diagnosis, but they insisted on supporting his life. Wouldn't you know, he was born totally healthy. Amazing.

I've heard some well meaning but misguided folks say until the adoption crisis is figured out, abortion is the best option. Imagine if we did that with COVID-19. Until we can conquer it, all senior citizens should be euthanized. Lunacy.

Check out this book, The Case for Life, a scientific study that proves live begins at conception.

Post abortion, I do know some women who have chosen to let God do a great work in them, and even though they never forget their choice, they have found forgiveness and freedom. Isn't that just like Him? That's the God I choose to serve. We're all broken in some way, and we all have done things we know are not right. A couple of women in my extended family have had abortions. And their lives have been filled with a sadness they never really get rid of until they looked to God. 

The other ironic thing about all this- it's hard for us to admit there really is a child in that womb. So, we justify it away and think our decision will affect no one else- but it always does. On one hand, we teach our kids that each one is special and of value, and on the other, we teach them that prenatal life is just a blob. Does anyone else see this as a strange thing?

I am always pleasantly surprised when a pro-abortion advocate gets pregnant and then, within a few weeks of pregnancy, sees their child via medical technology. It's hard to deny that really is an active little one made in the image of God. 

The heart of God, and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, was strictly out of love. It covers all sins and each is equal. Even this one which grieves me the most.

Lessons Learned from Presidents Biden and Trump

President Joe Biden gave one classy, and hopefully honest and heartfelt inaugural address. It was full of the proper decorum necessary to be President of the United States, and it showed respect to the office he now holds. Something that was missing from the Trump presidency. If Biden can truly accomplish what he has said yesterday, there's reason to be hopeful. I've learned some lessons over the last few weeks, but the application of them may surprise you.

I will not vote for Donald Trump or support his new third party. His actions in the last several months threatening our democracy will not be supported or tolerated by me. 

Freedom of speech must be sustained. It was disheartening at best to see Big Tech show their might by pulling communication channels of those they disagree with. I'd rather know what groups of people are thinking then have that hidden from me. Let me make my own mind up. Do not filter my media or news. Sadly, not a single prominent Democrat spoke up in disagreement with this move by Big Tech. This inaction does not communicate a desire for us to live in diversity but instead clearly diactates we must live in uniformity. The very opposite of what President Biden has just told us.

I am happy to see that the glass ceiling for women and women of color has been broken by Vice President Kamala Harris. She is the just wrong woman for the job. I am happy for the breakthrough as I was with the election of President Obama for the same reason. Her election communicates to the women of this world they are valued and any job is available to the most qualified person. But like him, she is the wrong person for the job. 

Any politician who is bound to an organization founded to eliminate Black people through abortion is not worthy of my vote. Ever. Period. Yes, that is founder Margaret Sanger's Planned Parenthood. The sanctity of life is foundational in serving a God who loves the people he created. I heard a very misguided Christian tell me that until the adoption crisis can be fixed, abortion is the only viable option. That's humanism leading the way. Our call as believers is to trust God and be obedient, leaving the results up to Him. Imagine if we as a nation decided COVID-19 cannot be conquered easily, so until we could, it's best to euthanize the elderly and those most likely to be impacted. After all, that would follow the same pattern of thinking. Choosing extremist California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to lead Health and Human Services is not a good beginning to building bridges of unity. Pure and simple, until the Democratic Party puts to death their marriage to abortion, they will not win the votes of the majority of conservative, Bible believing Christians.  

That said, the church must step up its game and put into greater action what they say they believe. We as Christians have done much good in the world feeding the poor, building hospital and wells, and creating agencies that support adoption of orphans. There's more work to do. It's one thing to have the Biblical beliefs and even teach them. It's another to do something with them. For too long, only a few of us have served the underprivileged and bettered their lives and also shared the good news of Jesus. It's not an either or. They both go together. Too many of us have sat on the sidelines and let the government do our work. Look where it got us. The poor, the widow, the immigrant all need to be cared for. All the helpless do. And who is more vulnerable than those in the womb who have no voice?

I do want to see better guidelines and a more open inviting country when it comes to immigration. All are welcome, but come in legally. If you don't, do not expect to be treated with the benefits that come from citizenship. But regardless, do expect to be treated with respect.

Respect is a basic human right because all of us are created in the image of God, although not all choose to acknowledge Him or live by His standards. This is why Jesus came to earth to die in place of a broken people He loves. One by one. Freedom of religion and the ability to worship and live life in a manner that supports individual spiritual beliefs is paramount to a healthy society. 

There's much more to say, but this will suffice for now. As with all presidents, I will pray for my country's current leader. He is my president, but like all politicians and all humans- including you and I- he is imperfect, broken, and has areas of being misguided. As with those before him, God has allowed this president to be in power for His purposes be it correction or blessing or a mixture of both. Let's discover what they are and seek God's heart and will in all matters.

10 Reasons to Avoid Disney World

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? I want to go as much as anyone, but here are 10 Reasons not to! Disney's magical world in Orlando, Florida has much to offer- or does it?

1-  Rise of the Resistance.  Disney World's most coveted, hardest to ride new attraction is still a mess! Not just the most wanted ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios but resort wide. Capacity may be much better than it was the first several months of operation, but having to book a reservation at 7am the day you want to ride is just ridiculous. I can almost guarantee the first generation Imagineers - and even many second generation ones would be/are embarrassed by this mess. Great, ambitious ride but extremely low capacity and high unreliability. What were they thinking?

2- Scheduling Your Trip is Even More Difficult. As if planning a trip to Walt Disney World wasn't hard enough, now you have to book park reservations along with planning out everything else. I understand but no. Just no.

3- Limited Resort Options. Spring Break at the Polynesian Village Resort? Not open. You get the point. Choices are fewer and this makes reservation scheduling even more difficult. Besides, many of us love planning a resort only day to explore one after another. Now, that's not easy and maybe impossible to do.  

4- Cancelled Theater Shows. Legend of the Lion King and Finding Nemo the Musical are only two of the cancelled ones. If you love these kind of attractions (and I don't personally aside from these two in Animal Kingdom), this may not be the best time to go. Particularly to the Studios and Animal Kingdom where these kind of performances feel as if they outnumber real attractions. I guess the same could be said for the reduced number of live performances in the streets of World Showcase. 

5- Higher Prices. Disney suits have to make up for fewer guests somewhere. Look around and check into the prices for your favorite snacks or merchandise or other activities. You'll be surprised- but it won't be pleasant. And I'd bet prices will not return to previous levels. Do they ever? No.

Yes, that is Tower of Terror behind the Morocco showcase.

Has thoughtful design gone out the window?

You'd think so by viewing the back of the France pavilion

from the Disney Skyliner!

6- Epcot Changes. Sure, the attractions are open, but one of the best and unnoticed aspects until it's gone with a Walt Disney World vacation is the atmosphere. Constructions walls abound. With the delay of Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind and at least one more year of work on Communicore (R.I.P.), waiting is sure to pay off. Just as noteworthy is the loss of cast members from the countries of World Showcase. Part of the fun is interacting with them and the charm and memories they bring. Clearly a lesser experience now more than ever.

7- Reduced Park Hours. This is just an insult. In addition to making Disney Springs even more crowded in the evening, if you go, you'll be paying the same amount for less time than ever in the parks. You may be thinking, "Fine- but I go there for more than the parks." That's well and good, but then consider there are probably great resorts closer to your home if you want to spend a couple of days relaxing. What makes Disney unique are their parks. They are the backbone of it all.

8- Wearing A Mask All Day. While I fully understand and support doing so for the sake of those around me who may be compromised, do you really want to do this? Do you really want photos of your family's perhaps once in a lifetime trip where all you can see are Little Jimmy's eyes and Teen aged Susan's over glittered Mickey Ears but not their smiles? Yuck.

9- Perks No Longer. What used to make staying on the property worth it is disappearing bit by bit. From the loss of significant Extra Magic Hours, free Magic Bands and Luggage Tags, and full Mickey's Magical Express, the loss of resort perks is astounding. The true peak of great Disney service was around 1989 after the opening of a third park and the Grand Floridian Resort. Truth is, it's gone steadily down hill ever since. 

10- Character Interactions and Evening Entertainment. Standing in line for a princess or a rubberhead is not for everyone, but for those with small children in their group, it can be the highlight of a trip to the World. No firework shows / evening entertainment? Unforgivable- but just another reason to keep the parks closing early.

So, these are the 10 Reasons to Avoid Walt Disney World. Will I write an article arguing the opposite? Perhaps. If I can think of that many!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Expect the Unexpected!

The year 2020 was very unique to say the least! If we learned anything this year, it was this: Expect the Unexpected! This is really nothing new. History teaches us that once we think we have everything figured out, something unexpected happens. You can go as far back in human history and see this. 

Back in the Old Testament, the first part of the Bible, God's people encountered a God who acted in unexpected ways: Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Hagar, Solomon, Saul- the list goes on and on…These were imperfect people encountering a righteous, perfect, and loving God. But it wasn't who they expected him to be. Our God has a long history of doing what He wants, when He wants and involving the people He wants. Rarely if ever does this look like what man expects! Especially, sometimes, the religious man, those who think of themselves as spiritual, or those who think they know everything.

When Jesus arrived on the scene, you can just imagine his new disciples  Peter, Andrew, and James and John talking to the new recruits: They probably said, “Expect the Unexpected”, and they wouldn’t be wrong! Jesus’ words and actions were often unexpected- even unwanted. And his questions were piercing! 

Follow along with me and read the New Testament book of Mark, verses 8:27-30: 

"27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. (That's the northern part of Israel by the Jordan river.) And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 

28 and they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”  

29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”  

30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him."

I'm going to go through these 11 verses until the end of the chapter, and by doing so, we'll see Jesus challenges us by asking 3 important questions.

Jesus' primary question, Question #1  -  “Who Am I to You?”     

This may be the most important question of all time. We all have to decide for ourselves who Jesus is. It's so surprise to readers of this blog that I believe Jesus is the Creator God made man, uncreated by any other and subject to no one, the one and only perfect sacrifice for the sins of man. He's eternal, holy, righteous, and fully worthy of our love, trust, and obedience. But each person has to decide that for themselves.

By this part of the disciples' journey with Him, they have seen Jesus miraculously feed the 5 Thousand, walk on water, cast out demons, heal leapers and paralytics, and raise the dead! This is a pretty impressive resume, I'd say! All these actions gave credibility to his message that He alone is The Way, the Truth and The Life- and that no one would enter Heaven any other way than by relationship with Him. 

They’ve lived with Jesus, watched him closely. Supposed messiahs have come and gone. Was he the real deal? They would soon discover the answer for themselves- well, at least Eleven of them would.

So, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” Everyone jumps in with answers (John the Baptist, Elijah, a prophet). But then Jesus gets more specific - “But who do you say that I am?” It gets quiet, but Peter speaks up:  he responds correctly- “You are the Christ!”  

“You are the Christ", Christ means the “Anointed One” -the Greek word for the Hebrew term "Messiah". Peter's confession equates Jesus with the Heavenly Father, God in the flesh. We all have to figure this out for ourselves. We will have to give an answer and an account of our lives. 

 Let’s keep reading. Go to the next few verses,  Mark 8:31-33. 

31 and he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.   

32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 

33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of god, but on the things of man.”

Jesus’ probing question, Question #2  - 

“Where is Your Focus- My Plans or Yours?

The heart of the question means are we focused on God's eternal kingdom or the one of earth that will pass away?    

Gotta love Peter! He's bold, passionate, unstoppable- even fearless! A “Let’s get things done” kind of guy who takes the bull by the horns. Constantly pushing the envelope. Always putting something to the test. He knows what’s right and knows what to do and how to do it in every situation. 

First, he’s the rock star student by answering Jesus correctly when everyone else was silent. But then, he gets full of himself and shoots off his mouth. This time, Peter is dead wrong!  Peter could not accept was God was doing and how he did it! Peter challenged the very God he just acknowledged as to the wisdom of his plan?!! 

He didn’t ask questions for clarity.  He just told the creator God of the Universe “NO!” Stupid, ballsy, or just human?

At his core, Peter was a humanist that has encountered the Living God and had to change the way he thinks and lives!    

I’m just like Peter sometimes! Aren’t you?  

Jesus’ response to Peter is also pretty unexpected! There were important lessons his disciples needed to hear. Very important lessons that would serve them well as they carried out Jesus' mission once He ascended back to Heaven before returning one day in the future:   

• God’s ways are not man’s ways.   (Isaiah 55:8)

• Followers of God will not always understand what He allows!

Learning this quickly would serve them well because their word was about to be rocked. They would soon be sent out without Jesus to do the same things Jesus did. Then, they would watch him die on the cross, paying the penalty of a criminal, before watching Jesus be raised from the dead, proving He was God. 

For all of them but John the Beloved, their lives would also end early and violently because of their faith in Jesus. The Disciples were called to trust Him regardless of the circumstances! We who love Jesus and follow Him have the same choice to make. We either trust him or we don’t. It’s that simple!

The events of 2020 were totally unexpected! If you’re like me, it was a season of intense investigation as to what motivates us and what we’re made of; a season of revealing idols in our lives. (Sometimes we are our own idol!) It was also a season of purification as God reveals sin in our lives.

Ultimately, it was a season of renewing His purposes for us personally and for the churches that following His Great Commandment and Great Commission. What do His questions mean for the local church?

Maybe God is hitting the “reset button” on the church!

My hunch is that the American church will end up looking more like the Persecuted church. This means the governments hate them, try to eliminate or nominalize believers, and that citizens are free to maim, persecute, and kill them. It also means they have hope, please God by proclaiming Him regardless of their troubles, have the closest of community, see the miraculous, and live the kind of life that brings eternal rewards. It may be easy to see where they are poor, but can you see where they are rich? I can!

There's that option or the local church ends up looking like the world- A Social Club who thinks and acts and lives from a humanistic mindset. Pleasure is all that matters because today is all that matters. There's no eternity, but there's also no hope.

The New Testament church was not only known for caring for each other but for setting the world on fire with the good news! For eight full chapters of the Book of Acts (what happens after Jesus ascends into Heaven) and before the Apostle Paul’s conversion, God used normal people like you and I to spread the Gospel message, and bring God glory by healing the sick, and doing the work of the kingdom. The truth of mans' sin and of eternal judgment was never ignored. In fact, those truths pointed to the need for Jesus... which brought great joy to those who believed.

Did you know “Ekklesia”- the Greek word for church- means “the Called Out Ones”? That term is used in Matthew 16:18. Are we called out by God? Yes, as believers in Jesus, we absolutely are! This means we are called to be different than the world in order to reach it.

What else should 2020 teach us? God’s kingdom and purposes are never thwarted by problems or what looks like defeat. They are proven true and powerful through them!  

If you’ve been a believer for long, looking at your life should prove that! You should see times where God has allowed something horrible to happen, but if nothing else, it's taught you to rely on Him and trust Him. As it has many times for me, the worst things that have happened have also brought blessings and great understanding years later. You just have to be patient!We may not always understand the answer to the question of "Why?" but we learn we can always trust our God who is eternally loving and good all the time.

In the midst of a year like 2020 ands the coronavirus, civil unrest, wars, and social injustice, God is still on the throne and his ways are right and pure and honorable! Think of the crucifixion. Jesus’ death was attributed to the wickedness of men but helped complete the purposes of God. This season in our history is no different!

So, first Jesus asks, “Who Am I to You?”.  Then he asks, ““Where is your focus- my plans or yours? The eternal kingdom or the one that will pass away?”  What's his last compelling question in this chapter of Mark? Let’s read the last four verses.      

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 

35 for whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 

36 for what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 

37 for what can a man give in return for his soul? 

38 for whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Jesus’ provisional question , Question #3  -    

“Will You Follow Where I Lead You?”   

There’s no middle ground here. We will or we won’t.

For all the unexpected words and actions of Jesus, this is what we can expect:

• Judgment is coming - our individual sin makes us guilty before God

• His love caused the Father to send the Son to die in our place 

• We can have eternal life and forgiveness of sin through Him and by no other way

He promises He will not turn you away if you come to him! (John 6:37)

But Jesus has expectations of those who are his:

(Remember, we’re not earning our salvation- these words and actions are an expression of our gratefulness and our new life.)

What does Jesus expect of those of follow him?    

• To remain in love with him

• To be faithful, to be true to his Word, to trust He is in control 

• To persevere, enduring hardship

• To be His messengers, his hands and feet and mouth to a dying world! Treating people as He would

We will not always understand what God asks us to do! It could be risky, it may not make sense, someone will be upset or it’s not the way things have been done in the past. It's a small price we have to pay.

This isn’t just about the Great Commandment to love and the Great Commission to go out and share the Good News! A vibrant walk with Jesus is an ongoing journey-  

Remember the focus is on Him and what he’s doing- not us! We are not to be a people that waits until the end of our life to ask “What would most please Jesus, what does God want of me? Am I furthering His kingdom or what would most bring God glory?”  That said, Jesus does call us to die!

John 12:24  says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. “  Since, we all have to die anyway,  let’s bear fruit that pleases our God!

The events of 2020 were not a disruption of God’s plan. They were part of it! In 2021 it’s time to move forward!    

We just celebrated Jesus birth, His name Immanuel- “God with us”- and He still is with us! Be encouraged! This may be the biggest battle for our minds that this generation will face. God is always at work. He still is!

So friends, be encouraged- He’s with us, He’ll never leave and his power is in us and available to all who are his. Remember we have our church family- we’re not doing this alone!

Those who crucified Jesus didn’t expect him to be resurrected- but He was! Those who don’t know him don’t expect him to return- but He will! No one will escape the coming judgment. Every life will be evaluated. Do you know Him? 

Peter acknowledged Jesus as Messiah, argued with the crucifixion, failed so miserably, and denied Jesus three times. He didn’t expect to be reinstated (or even have his feet washed). But God’s love was so deep, human failings didn’t deter Him! Happily, we are in the same grip of His love! Go forth!

 (Images from Crello.)

A Better Walt Disney World? Not This Way!

Want to live in a real life Walt Disney World? Peaceful, serene, and without conflict? No COVID, no war, no stress. It can be yours! The cost? It would take a small number of people controlling how you live. This is not me! But if the people behind The Great Reset have their way, your diet will be controlled, your energy use rationed, and your free and open communication limited. Sounds like this all takes "cancel culture" to a whole new level. Judge for yourself. Go here for a critique of it all or go here to read the open propaganda piece about the motives of the World Economic Forum. Trust me, this won't be Walt Disney World!

2020 Christmas Family Devotional: Week One

In many ways, this is a Christmas season unlike no other. In spite of the turmoil in the world, our families have much to celebrate!  In place of fear, we have the hope of Jesus Christ! This makes it a wonderful and timely opportunity to share the Gospel message within the context of the holidays. So, I'm pleased to offer you this year's family devotional. I've enjoyed writing it, and I hope your family gets such from it.

Our goal as believers is to bring  glory to God in the way we live and to be obedient  to Him in all things. Our goal as parents is to train our children in the ways of the Lord and to see them own a very personal, life-changing relationship with God.  From this relationship comes a desire to share His goodness and His message with those who don’t know Him. We can also encourage those who do know Him. Our children belong  to the Lord. We are only the stewards. We want them well-prepared for wherever their journey may take them! They can trust Him and not be afraid.

Our goal with this devotional is to help your children understand that God Himself wishes to write His Story in their hearts. He wants them to invest their lives in a way that pleases Him and brings His glory to the nations. May they see God actively at work  in their lives as they encounter Him, are changed by Him, and are used by Him.   

Each Monday, I'll share another portion of the devotional so you can go one week at a time.

Here's some ideas to think through as you begin. Week One follows. May God bless you and your family!

• 1.      Take time to read through this devotional before you go through it with your children. This will give you a chance to pray for them in preparation of your time together.

• 2.     Make this time doable. Try to commit to a family devotional time, perhaps three times per ten days. Decide on a practical time. Avoid setting yourself up for failure. Adjust it as necessary so they enjoy the time, but also expect some “pushback”.  If you miss a time, just pick another!  Remember, it’s about the relationship not the accomplishment.   Guard against discouragement if it doesn’t go well, and be sure to guard against pride if it does. 
• 3.     Keep this devotional on the dinner table. Explain to your kids why the book is there. Someone is bound to remember.
• 4.     Talk about the ideas shared as your read God’s Word. Check for understanding by asking good questions and by explaining words that can sound confusing. Next, talk about ways to apply what has been read. Knowledge of the Bible is empty  and meaningless unless we do what it says (James 1:22-25).  Remember, this isn’t school.  It’s a chance to grow in your relationship with your kids as you all grow closer to the Lord.
• 5.     Model praying for your kids, speaking simply and using words easy for them to understand. It will be easier for them to pray from their heart if they hear you do this.  
• 6.     Try a family worship time. Child friendly songs don’t need to be childlike, they just need easy to understand lyrics. Train your child to express love to God and not just sing songs about Him. This is part of them growing in a real relationship with Our Creator. After your worship time, explain phrases they may not understand or interpret differently, i.e. what does “God reigns” mean?
• 7.     If you have older children, allow them to share the responsibility of reading the verses. Leading them to Him is the goal. Explain any difficult words. 
• 8.     Before you move to the next section of the devotional, take a bit of time to talk about what you’ve already covered.  Check for understanding in a conversational manner.

9.     As they grow in understanding and application of God’s Word, expect them to get excited about their relationship with our Living God.  This overflow from their heart will lead then  to share Him with others. 

“Have I not commanded you? 

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you 

wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

December 1 – 10           “I am the servant of the Lord”

Time of Praise and Thanksgiving

Read Isaiah 9:1-7 together.  

Paraphrase or use only verses 6 and 7 if your children are very young.

Next, read Luke 1:26-38 together. Paraphrase the story or use only verses 26-33 if appropriate.

 

Points for consideration:

·       God wants a personal relationship with His kids! 

·       He desires to involve us in His plans, and He hears the prayers of his children. 

·       Obedience to Him in key to pleasing Him. The results of being obedient may surprise us!

 

Lead the children to praise and thank Him for Who He Is and to thank Him for His Love.

An example of their praise might be, “Father, I praise you for sending Jesus to us!” 

or   “God, thank you that you will rule forever as King! There is no one else like you!”

 

Time of Prayer

Reread Luke 1:37-38.

Points for consideration:

·       If God tells us He will do something, nothing is impossible for Him!

·       God’s plan may not have been her plan, but Mary submitted to His Plan and trusted Him with her life.  This brought God glory!

Ask your children how they think God could use them.  Encourage them to think creatively.  What other people do they know who have lives that look very different from most Americans? What do they notice? Are they willing to live their lives as He leads them? How are their lives bringing Him glory now? Discuss what this means.

Pray together. Encourage them to pray from their hearts rather than what they think might please you.

(Devotional copyright Mark Taft.)