I’ve been reminded many times over the past few months how hard it can be when the theology you have been teaching suddenly becomes something that you have to live out. It is the time when your head knowledge has to grow feet, you have to go somewhere and do something. For example, think about taking a class in sky diving. I imagine (and that is all I will ever do!) that you spend some time in a classroom learning about the mechanics of how to put on a parachute, how the parachute works, when to pull the cord, how to exit the plane…etc. But at some point you are going to get into a plane that you will not be in when it lands. You are going to go up…way up, and then you are going to stand at the open door, look down, and jump!

 A dear family friend gave me a series of books, the first two or three of which are a dramatized story of King Hezekiah’s reign. Hezekiah’s father was an evil king of the southern kingdom of Judah but when Hezekiah became king he led the nation to repent of the idol worship that had taken place. He cleaned out the temple and reestablished the worship of the one true God.  His father had made the awful and sinful decision to align himself and the kingdom with the evil nation of Assyria. Hezekiah knew that this was wrong so he stepped out in faith and believed that God would protect and bless the nation as they obeyed. This was a bold decision but one that did not have any immediate negative consequences. In fact, God honored His covenant and began to bless the nation once again. Several years of prosperity later the Assyrians are on the move and headed right for tiny Judah. They had brutally conquered, pillaged, and taken into slavery every nation that has stood in their path including the northern ten tribes of Israel.

Messengers arrive from Assyria to …..well basically, scare Hezekiah into submitting again to Assyria’s control. Look at 2 Kings 19:1-4 (NASB)

And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the LORD.  Then he sent Eliakim who was over the household with Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.  They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and rejection; for children have come to birth and there is no strength to deliver.

This is where the rubber meets the road for Hezekiah. Stepping out in faith is one thing but now the lives of the whole nation hang in the balance. But look at the faithfulness of God:

‘Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, “He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there; and he will not come before it with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against it.  By the way that he came, by the same he will return, and he shall not come to this city,”’ declares the LORD.  ‘For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’” Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.  So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh.  It came about as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place. (2 Kings 19:32-37 NASB)

That’s the past. In the present there are many who are having their faith tested in a mighty way. I can think of three examples that have recently been in the public eye. First, and most seriously, there is the pastor in Iran who is still in prison and facing execution for his faith.

My second and third examples are not in danger of losing their lives but they do face some pretty public pressure here in the states. Tim Tebow has been incredibly bold about his faith in God. Since signing with the New York Jets, public opinion blogs seem to have almost a gleeful anticipation of him falling into some sort of sin as he faces the big city of New York. Kirk Cameron is another public figure who has been bold in his testimony. After an interview in which he was asked about his beliefs regarding gay marriage and homosexuality, he has been made fun of in a video featuring many other former stars of 80’s and 90’s television programs. They are now beginning to sell t-shirts and videos lampooning him and his beliefs.

These men, as well as many of us, have all come to the point in their/our walks of faith where the rubber meets the road and have found and are finding the Lord to be faithful. Brothers and sisters, we MUST be praying for each other!!

Now for the future, guess what….we will all come to a point where the rubber meets the road in our faith. How will you do? Here are some pointers for you….prayer, Bible study and the accountability found in a Bible believing group of fellow believers.

I mean a LOT of prayer, deep crying out to God to reveal Himself to you each day so that you can be more like Him and bring Him more glory. I mean serious Bible study. An article found today on Foxnews.com mentioned that while 82% of Americans claim to believe that the Bible is a holy and important book, only 46% of them could identify whether a teaching was from the Bible, the Koran, or the book of Mormon….in other words, they aren’t actually READING it!! (I wonder how you would do…I wonder how I would do?) And finally if you aren’t involved with a local Bible preaching church….find one and get plugged in!

Be ready for when….not if…. the rubber meets the road for you!

Shhhh! Don’t tell but I have snuck away from our moving sale to write down a couple of thoughts. J Bright and early this morning, which is what happens when you let your husband put the ad in the paper….”You started it at 7:00?!?”, people began to amble through the rows of things that began in my driveway and carried on through the main level of my home. At least half of everything we own had been set out to sell, not having made the cut of what was worth the truck or trailer space in our upcoming move. There are a couple of things that are sobering about this whole process. The first one is how much STUFF a family can accumulate that when it comes right down to it is not needed. The second one is how freeing it is to be rid of all of the excess.

It has set my mind to thinking about my inner life as well. How much “stuff” do I hold unto that I don’t need and would actually be quite freeing to be rid of? My inner “stuff sifting” has found a lot that can go! Worry, fear, anger, disappointment, bitterness. Who needs them? Not me! It’s time to clean up.

I’m reminded of a blog I wrote a couple of years ago……

2/18/09 Sweating the Small Stuff

Various - of diverse kinds; unlike; different. James 1:2 says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds". Peter uses the same word in I Peter 1:6 when he says, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials".

Most of us have faced some pretty big trials in our lives. We have lost a loved one, faced a bad report from the doctor, or maybe not known where the money was going to come from to feed our family their next meal. Not all trials are big trials and that is a reason to be thankful. Don't you find, though, that the small trials can really mess you up in your day to day walk with the Lord? When a big trial comes generally our first response is to turn to the Lord. We KNOW we cannot handle those on our own. Small trials tend to sneak up on us. They are often just the daily aggravations of life: unmet expectations, cranky kids, a broken down car, an overflowing washing machine, or a person going too slow when we are in a hurry. Sometimes, ladies, things that would not bother us at all, depending on what time of the month it is, can really affect our state of mind.

I have had one of those weeks! Did you see the movie "The Incredibles"? (If you haven't, you must, it's one of my all time favorites!) At one point in the movie Mr. Incredible, who obviously has super-human strength, is captured. The thing that brings him to his knees is not a huge powerful thing in and of itself. He gets hit with a small ball of black...for lack of a better word, blob. He keeps running but then more of these black blobs land on him and before you know it he is taken down. This week my small aggravations have been like those black blobs. You know, one or two and I can keep going, keep doing my devotions, and living my life. Before I knew it though I was bogged down; dry devotions, and no joy. "Yikes", I thought, "What happened?" What happened is that I had not turned to Him in the little things. I certainly had not "counted it all joy" with James or "rejoiced" with Peter.

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us". Remember chapter 11 of Hebrews is where we are given examples of saints who have gone before us excising great faith. I love that it doesn't just say to lay aside the sin. Yes, sin does hinder the running of the race of faith but the author of Hebrews also tells us to lay aside "every weight". These weights are the things other than sin that cling to us and hinder us in our race. So I have to lay these aside, this is an action. I must make the conscious decision to lay these things aside so that I can run my race and bring glory to my Savior.



I gotta go….think I’ve been found out! 

Have you ever noticed when you read in the Old Testament how many times you find a reference to a miracle God had done or a promise He had kept for the nation of Israel? I did a very quick and unscientific word search and came up with over fifty times that the phrase “out of Egypt” is used in a way that is a remembrance of God using Moses to bring the nation of Israel out of Egypt and eventually to the promise land.

It’s not that God needs to keep pointing this out….it’s that the children of Israel needed to be continually reminded. There seem to be two distinct purposes for these reminders. The first one was for when the Israelites were heading down the path of disobedience. It’s like God was saying, “Hey, remember me….the One who brought you out of Egypt and into the promised land? Remember all those miracles I did for you? Don’t you think I should be worshipped and obeyed? What are you doing…what are you thinking?!”

The second situation that brings on a reminder was when the nation was facing something really tough. Usually it was an upcoming battle that was going to be fought against incredible odds. In these cases the reminder was more like, “Hey, remember me….the One who brought you out of Egypt and into the promised land? Remember all those miracles I did for you? Don’t you think that I can handle this battle for you too? Why are you worrying?”

 I think remembering the goodness and greatness of God is still very important for us today. Remember who He is and what He has done…..the miracles of the Bible, yes, but also the great things that He has done for you. Your salvation, the way He provides for you, everything in your life comes from Him. Doesn’t He deserve to be worshipped and obeyed? Hasn’t He proven that He can be trusted in the midst of any of our life’s storms?

So take time today to remember what a mighty God we serve!!

I graduated from a christian high school and for the yearbook all of the seniors were asked to give our favorite bible verse. At that time my favorite was Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

To everything there is a season,

      A time for every purpose under heaven:
       2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
      A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
       3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
      A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
       4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
      A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
       5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
      A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
       6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
      A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
       7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
      A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
       8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
      A time of war,
And a time of peace.

One thing I've learned living in Western New York....some seasons are long (brrr) and some seasons are short. I have certainly spent some time cheering summer on, hoping against hope that it would hold on just a little bit longer. But, no matter how much I might cling to summer, the days shorten and the temperatures begin to drop.

The seasons come and go and we are reminded that change is inevitable. Some changes we like....and some we dread. Some we see coming and some sneak up on us and take our breath away with their suddeness. But change comes.

Especially in the midst of unexpected and unwelcome change there is great comfort to be found that we serve a Savior who is not surprised by the turn in the road. In fact, He put it there and it is there for the purpose of producing good in us as He shapes us to be more like Him and to bring glory to Himself. That's the promise we have in Romans 8:28-29.

 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; (NASB emphasis mine)

I'll close with an illustration I have used before...forgive me for being repetitive. When change comes and we are struggling to understand what possible good God could bring out of the direction our road has taken, it is good to know that we do not see the whole picture. If you were given one piece of a thousand piece puzzle and did not see the box there is very little chance that you would have a clue what the finished puzzle would look like. Remember, God sees all of time and all of creation....He created it all and is working out His divine and perfect purpose. Our life is just a small piece of that puzzle. What peace and joy comes as we trust Him and play our piece in the grand picture!

This week I am kind of sad as I conclude my study of Philippians with the ladies at our church. I love this letter of Paul…it overflows with joy, contentment, reliance on God’s power, resting in His peace, and unity. I love it because I really want those things in my life….joy, contentment, power, peace, and unity….who doesn’t? I have no idea how many times I’ve read Philippians. I know I’ve done several studies on it and heard many great sermons preached on it. Sometimes I have come away thinking to myself, “Boy, I sure do wish I could have all those things like Paul.” A very simple truth has gripped my soul this week. It’s simple and yet I think it’s a bit profound….If I want to have what Paul had, I have to live how Paul lived. Wow….insert slap on forehead here!

I found this truth in a quote from D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. “The secret of power is to discover and to learn from the New Testament what is possible for us in Christ. What I have to do is go to Christ. I must spend my time with Him. I must meditate upon Him, I must get to know Him. That was Paul’s ambition – ‘That I might know Him.’ I must maintain my contact and communion with Christ and I must concentrate on knowing Him.  What else? I must do exactly what He tells me. I must avoid things that would hamper. If in the midst of persecution we want to feel as Paul felt, we must live as Paul lived. I must do what He tells me both to do and not to do. I must read the Bible, I must exercise, I must practice the Christian life, I must live a Christian life in all its fullness.”

Simple, right? Well, yes and no…..simple to read and understand but a lifetime of persevering faith to live out. How badly do we really want what Paul had….we say we really want it but so often the way we spend our time and money prove otherwise. But I know this….if we get a taste of it….that joy, contentment, power, peace, and unity, nothing else will ever satisfy!

Oh dear Lord, help me to want what only You can give. Help me to want so much that I live the life you saved me to live!

Everyone admires those who have the courage to stand boldly and with integrity for their convictions. It is people like this that Rudyard Kipling described in his famous poem “If”.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son! 

If being unwavering in your convictions is an admirable quality in the world, how much more essential is it that we as followers of Jesus display a steadfastness in our faith?

When the first church was planted in Antioch Barnabas was sent to “encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord.” (Acts 11:23 NASB emphasis mine)

The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth to “be steadfast, immovable,…… stand firm in the faith” To the church in Galatia, “keep standing firm”, to Ephesus, “stand firm” three times, and for the believers in Philippi to be, “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together”. He praised the Colossian believers for the “stability” of their faith, and in both letters to Thessalonica he told them to “stand firm.”

James warned against being double-minded and unstable. Peter wrote to be “firm in your faith” and “stand firm in it.” He also warned that there are those who would be “enticing unstable souls” and that those who are “untaught and unstable” will distort the Word of God.

Wow, I guess standing firm in our faith is pretty important!  So how do we do it?

In Philippians 4:1 Paul says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. (NASB emphasis mine)

The “therefore” and the “in this way” show that Paul is about to build on his teachings in chapter 3 which emphasize the believer’s pursuit of Christlikeness…..our goal in this life and our prize in the next life.

In the first 9 verses of chapter 4 Paul adds a few things to the list.

1. Unity in our fellowship with other believers (vs. 2-3).  Anyone else out there seeing the unity of the church come under attack?  2I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.
2. Maintain joy (v. 4). Practice joy….not based on circumstances, but based on the One who is in complete control of all circumstances!   4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
3. Be gracious, humble, reasonable, content…..(v. 5a). The Greek word that is translated “gentle spirit” in the NASB means all of those things listed and more. I must be pursuing those character traits in my life. 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.
4. Peace that passes understanding based on God’s unchanging presence in my life (vs. 5b-6a). Because He is near, I do not need to fear nor will I collapse under pressure and trials. ….The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing…
5. Practice prayerful gratitude in response to trouble (vs. 6b-7). Stepping out in faith with this reaction brings peace to my heart and mind! …..but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
6. Focus on Godly virtues (v. 8). How much of each day do I spend focusing on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and worthy of praise? How many of the things I see, hear, or do pass the test of these virtues?   8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
7. Practice Christlikeness (v. 9). Paul wraps it up by bringing it all back to pursuing the Christlikeness that he talked about in chapter 3.  9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

All of these things come down to spiritual disciplines. I must grow in my knowledge of God, in the depth of my relationship with Him, and in my obedience. Those things don’t happen just because I want them to or even because I know that they should. They happen as I pursue them passionately….. that is my prayer for myself and for you!

This past weekend my husband and I were able to get away for a few days of R & R. We stopped for lunch at a service area on the Ohio turnpike that has Panera Bread which we like. About forty miles down the road after a stop to use the restroom, I realized that I had left my purse back at the restaurant. We turned around at the next exit and hurried back. I used my phone to look up the phone number of the Panera Bread at the service area but when I called they said that my purse wasn’t there. Immediately I began to think about all the things that were in my purse and now assumed gone and started to make the call necessary to cancel my debit card. Since we had already started back, we decided to keep going and double check for ourselves, but I did not have high hopes at all. When we finally got back toward the service area we realized that there were two of them, one for traffic headed in each direction. I had a small glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, I had called the wrong one. When we finally arrived at the right Panera and asked the girl at the counter if anyone had turned in a purse her response was, “No.” Sigh…my hope was gone. “But,” she said, “Let me check with my manager.” 

Hallelujah, he had it! I’m sure you can imagine my relief!

Have you ever had something happen that could have been really bad but in the end turned out okay….and then you wonder why did God let you go through that? I mean, if it’s going to be okay anyway why do I need to go through the stress of not knowing? I have asked that question more than once since this weekend and have come up with an answer….or at least a partial answer.

As soon as the realization that my purse was gone washed over me I started praying….hard! For the whole 45 minutes to an hour it took us to get back there, I prayed. I was stressed, but not overwhelmed and I knew that God had a reason for my purse being gone (or so I thought) I really tried to just trust Him. So that’s one reason….my faith and prayer life received a workout that day.

Another reason, I believe, is found in my response when my purse was handed back to me. I prayed and thanked God….profusely! Then from that prayer of thanksgiving I was reminded of how many things that I have to be thankful for that are so much more important than me getting my purse back.

Here’s a partial list: 
That my eternity in Heaven is secure because Jesus saved me when on the cross He took the punishment of death for my sin.....I am so blessed. 
I have a husband who loves me so much that he willingly and graciously drove back to look for my purse and never once gave me a hard time for leaving it in the first place. (Believe me; I beat myself up a bunch for that bonehead move!).....I am so blessed. 
He and all three of my kids have put their faith in Jesus. As a matter of fact, my and my husband’s siblings, their spouses and all of their kids who are old enough to understand have put their faith in Jesus…oh, my parents too.....I am so blessed. 
I have a best friend who stands by me and believes in me more than I believe in myself…..I am so blessed. 
I have a great church family who loves Jesus and loves us. I have a home to live in, a car to drive, food to eat, and clothes to wear. I live in a country that despite our problems is still great and still gives me the freedom to worship my Savior openly. I am so blessed.

You, my friend, are so blessed too. Go ahead, make a list and you’ll see. I can really say that I am glad that I left my purse at that service area. It was a good reminder to wake up and count my blessings!

It was a beautiful letdown
When I crashed and burned
When I found myself alone
Unknown and hurt…….
Everybody likesto have something to look forward to; some people…. like me need it. For as long as I can remember I have lived my life from one event to the next. Some things I anticipate so much that I almost start to dread them because I know what is coming. The event comes, I love it, but then it’s over and the letdown comes.

I had really been looking forward to the last few weeks. My folks came for their annual fall visit which includes a looked-forward to trip to PA with them and one of my kids to work at a craft show.  Their leaving was tempered by the arrival just days later of my best friend coming to enjoy the fall colors and fun times of just being together. As I left the airport yesterday after dropping my friend off I felt it coming….the letdown. I’m not a kid anymore. As a forty-something year old woman I should be able to deal with this by now, right?! Apparently not.

This time the letdown came as I have been studying the book of Philippians. Talk about conviction….I’m over here acting like the Seven Dwarfs’ stepsister Mopey and I’m reading a letter Paul wrote from prison that is all about joy and contentment. Yikes….time to hit my knees.

I know when a lot of my letdowns are coming. But don’t we all get broad-sided by them sometimes? Unmet expectations, unexpected bills, scary doctor reports, and on and on….all of these can leave us let down with God. I’m glad that after Paul tells us in Philippians 4:11 that he has learned to be content in every circumstance, he goes on to tell us how we can find contentment too.

      I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned
      the secret of living in every situation. (12a NLT)

(Oh tell us, Paul, tell us!)

      For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (13 NLT)

Finding my joy and contentment in Christ is the cure for my letdowns. Not only can it be a cure, but as I learn to rest in His compassion for me, His provision for me, His grace toward me, and the depths of His unsearchable, unchangeable love for me I can actually, in a way, look forward to the letdowns as they draw me closer to Him.

……..It was a beautiful letdown
When You found me here

When those times hit you, and they will, find your contentment, your joy, and your strength in Him!

(In case you were wondering…..at the time I am writing this there are 31 days until my brother and his family come, 66 days until Christmas, and 143 days until I go to Florida to run in a half-marathon relay……but I’m ready for the letdown!)

Okay, admit it, some of you who are reading this don’t always read the blog but couldn’t help yourself when you saw the title, right? J  Sorry to disappoint you but I’m not going to write about that kind of desire!

 In Philippians 2:13 Paul says that, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” (NLT emphasis mine) The Holy Spirit has not left me alone about this verse for the last week. It’s the desire part that I’m having a hard time with right now. I get the general principal of desiring to do what pleases God. No problem there. When I stop and think for even a minute what He has done for me, from my salvation and going all the way through my life to things like shoes on my feet and food to eat, I cannot help but want to please Him with my life.

It’s when it comes down to the details of pleasing Him that I sometimes want to step back and explain to God that I’m sure He could come up with a better plan. “Um, God, do You really want me to go there and talk to them? I’m sure someone else would do a much better job.” Or, “But God, I can’t handle doing that! You know I don’t like to _____________, it makes me nervous and uncomfortable.” Or perhaps we feel that what He is asking us to do is just a little bit beneath us “…..surely there is someone else who can clean the church or take that meal or help in the nursery. I’m too busy, have been here too long or…..” ….well, whatever excuses you would like to throw in there.

There is a part of me right now that is struggling with my inner two year old who wants to throw myself on the ground and pitch a fit until I get my way. The problem with throwing tantrums is that if you have a good parent you aren’t going to get your way. In fact, you might even get a swat on the bottom and sent to your room. So I don’t think God will be impressed if I pout, cry, or throw things.

I’m glad the verse in Philippians also mentions that He gives us the power to do what pleases Him too because sometimes I just have to operate in His power and know that if I obey and please Him He will change my desires. I think that’s what David is talking about in Psalm 37:4 when he says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”

Dear Lord, thank You for the power and will that You give me to please You. Help me to so love You that any excuses, and any thoughts for my own way fall to the ground in light of You and Your unchanging, incomprehensible love for me!

Okay, so I wasn’t going to blog about this….I really wasn’t, but…. Yesterday I watched, on the internet, an interview that had been recorded earlier on Fox News. It really irritated me but I just tried to shake it off. I was somewhat successful at that until I went on my walk this morning and the sermon that I was listening to spoke about some of the same things that I was already irritated about…..eesh, now what was I supposed to do?

First, let me tell you about the sermon I heard. It was the last message in a series titled “The Road to Darkness” by Tom Nelson of Denton Bible Church. In the series he taught on how modern man has become modern man in the way he thinks and views life. The final message takes a look at who we are as modern “evangelical” Christians. He lists several characteristics that apply. Some of them might hit kind of close to home. Here’s the list, see what you think.

1. He is probably not truly “evangelical” in his beliefs (inerrancy of scripture, deity of Christ, the Trinity, salvation by faith alone, bodily resurrection, etc.) Surveys show only 8% of Christians are truly evangelical in their beliefs or practice.
2. Our churches have turned to more man-centered preaching and music. No longer is expositional (verse-by-verse) preaching in vogue. Sermons are on happiness and eight different ways to do, or have, anything that has to do with my success or my happiness. (It’s not that preaching should not be relevant and that our lives won’t change but it must be tied to true biblical theology.) Also, a lot of today’s music is more about lifting us emotionally, than worshiping a glorious God.
3. Man must be stimulated and entertained. He is consumer minded.
4. Doctrinally shallow. The pastor, rather than being able to focus on theology must be an entertainer, motivator, psychologist, and CEO.
5. Religion and scripture are seen through the lens of “What does it me to me?” and “What can it do for me?”
6. Desire to be unaffiliated. They don’t mind being part of the universal church but avoid commitment to the local church.
7. See the church as a fortress to keep the “world” away rather than an equipping station to prepare us to make a difference for God in the “world.”
8. Ill-equipped to deal with our culture’s lack of foundation in anything having to do with God, origins, meaning, philosophy, etc.

Aren’t you encouraged?!? Nope, me neither. I’m blessed to say that most of these are far from true in the church I go to and I hope that you can say the same.

Getting back to the interview I saw…..it was a popular TV* “pastor” who is promoting his newest book. The quotes from the book that they put on the screen and the stuff he of which he spoke were all about God’s desire for everyone to be happy, and that we can achieve this by starting each day with the right attitude and having the faith to believe that God is going to work everything out for our happiness. –So what happens if I’m not happy? I guess I just don’t have enough positive attitude or faith to believe in something that the Bible does NOT even promise?!?

Hello? Guess what….God is far more concerned with my holiness than my happiness. In fact, it is only as I walk in faith by the Holy Spirit, pursuing a holy life that I find joy, peace, and contentment…. AND I will take joy, peace, and contentment that last throughout the storms of life any day of the week over happiness which comes and goes with rapid and alarming frequency! (The word happiness comes from happenstance, so, by definition is dependent on outside circumstances.)

So what are we to do to combat this cotton candy gospel? First of all, stand fast on God’s Word. That means, read it, study it and live an authentic Christian life. Be engaged with the lost around you and be prepared to show the reason for the hope you have in you. (Ken Boa has some good books on defending your faith.) Remember that all humans hurt and we alone have the true HOPE. A hope based on our God who is in sovereign over ALL!

*One last thing…..I put pastor in quotes up there because I truly believe that the “green pastures” this man is leading people to are actually astro-turf. The sheep may look good standing there but there is no food and they will die.

And now I am off my soap-box. I truly apologize if I have offended anyone in anyway…..but we simply must wake up & stand up!!