Three Dogs and Three Points

Today I saw an unusual sight driving home. It occurred as I drove by the dog pound in Eaton. They have an outside area that allows dogs to run and let off some energy. It is a place that you can take a prospective dog to interact with it outside, even perhaps taking it home with you.

There were two dogs that first got my attention as I drove by.

These two dogs were running from one corner to another having a great time. One was chasing and the other was being chased. As I watched them head into a corner they had to veer off quickly as a third dog, a larger, lab type dog was just sitting in the corner as if he/she were in a trance, focused on something else, almost looking up.

It may seem odd, but it reminds me of the christian life.

1 As Christian we are constantly being chased by the Devil. Listen, if you are doing anything for the Lord, the Devil will not be too far behind trying to discourage you or sway you from being obedient to your Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Some Christians are chasing the Devil. If you are a believer living in disobedience to Christ; if you a trying to live as close to the world as you can yet still claim to be a follower of Christ, decide to turn to the Lord now.

3. I want to be a believer who is focused, like that ole dog in the corner, looking unto the heavens seeking to please the Master. It is easy to get discouraged if you are constantly looking at everyone else and comparing yourself to them, but when I keep my eyes on the Lord, the other things seem to pale in comparison and importance.

How about you?

^{Phil. 3:17} Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. ¹⁸ For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. ²⁰ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Kool Aid , Cookies, and a Billfold

Do you remember your first Vacation Bible School? Can you remember how you anticipated that cup of kool aid and two cookies each night. Mom and dad kept in their garage for a long time, the frog I made out of busted up tile pieces.

I can still recall my young days at North Dayton Baptist Church with the pastor's wife, Lois as my teacher. I loved her. She had a heart for kids and taught us with a tender compassion. One of my more memorable events took place when she shared, that the first one to quote the books of the New Testament would receive a prize. I went home, and went though the books over and over, determined to be the first.

The moment of truth came, and by the Lord's grace, I raced through the New Testament successfully. The next day I received the gift. A billfold! I was so proud to receive the gift. I think it was her way of saying that all we have belongs to the Lord, so don't forget to tithe.

Another memory took place years earlier at the Northridge Baptist Church as we were allowed to fish in the baptistry. Not really, but if you brought a visitor, you could cast into the baptistry and reel in a prize. Your guest also could go fishing.

My prize. A wiffle ball! I loved it.

While many believe that innovation is a new thing in trying to reach kids with the gospel, I am grateful for those who taught me, and tried new things to motivate and encourage me as a young boy in church. Whether to learn a Scripture, quote the books, or simply to make a craft.

Pray for our teachers this week as we learn about Jesus at the Saddle Ridge Ranch Vacation Bible School. It takes special people to serve in this ministry, and I thank the Lord for a church full of special people.

So You Want to Be a Leader?

James 3:1 (New King James Version) My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

In most churches, there are a lot of folks who want to be a leader, but the group really shrinks when you talk about paying the price to be a leader.

In a recent devotion by John Maxwell in his Leadership Bible, I came across these thoughts and believe they will encourage you in the area of leadership.

Many leaders want to climb the corporate ladder, hoping that freedom and power wait at the top. They don't realize that leadership really requires sacrifice. Leaders who want to rise must do more than take an occasional cut in pay; they have to give up their rights. That's true of every leader regardless of profession. Talk to any leader, and you will find he has made repeated sacrifices. The higher that the leader has climbed, the greater the sacrifices he usually has made. Effective leaders sacrifice much that is good in order to dedicate themselves to what is best. Leadership demands constant sacrifice. It is an ongoing process, not a one-time payment. The circumstances may change from person to person, but the principle doesn't: Leadership means sacrifice!

Do you still want to be a leader? Remember, you have got to count the cost!

Passing Pride?

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (NIV)

Pride? I know that in Scripture, it normally refers to things that will hurt you, but is there anything wrong with being proud of your kids? If that means being proud of your baby as she walks the aisle to receive her Bachelor Degree....Guilty!! At the same time tears filled my eyes as I watched another page in life turn for our youngest. Each graduate with goals and dreams, and at the same time a world that is much different than for many of us than when we graduated. The Dean made an interesting statement. "In just a few minutes you will walk out those doors and your life will never be the same." Boy, how true is that!

If I get a job, where will it be....when will it be... will it ever be? You see even with a diploma on the wall, life is still filled with questions. Questions that we have faced, or will face in our life.

As we watched each student stand in line, there was really one name that we were mostly interested in. The line represented life, the steps to the stage represented judgement, and as her name was called, it represented approval, welcome to the Miami University Alumni Family.

When you stand before a Holy God, what have you done for Him as you have stood in the line of life? When He calls you to your final graduation ceremony, will you be approved? Thank God for sending His Son, and because of his sacrifice on the cross, our sins can be forgiven and we can be approved for heaven.

Will He call your name?
Romans 10:9-10 (New King James Version)
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Ipod Worship!

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

Have you ever heard a person sing with headphones on? It can be quite entertaining. Recently I was mowing with an ipod on and realized that I was singing loudly. Loud enough for my neighbors to hear my off key harmony??? above the sound of the mower. We even shout when we talk at times.

Why do you sing? Is it because you have a good voice, think you have a good voice, or is it because you have a song in your heart?

I have decided that I like songs about Jesus! If it is glorifying God, I will praise Him for it.

When we come together to worship, it is easy to fall into the trap of singing only the songs that I like. You know, the times where you let it all out on a certain song, then just tolerate the others. When my worship goes from God to watching others, from an active participant to a spectator.

Let us be reminded that worship really is about glorifying God. Is God worthy of me opening my heart and mouth to lift praises to Him, anytime, anywhere? Absolutely!

We all have favorites and that is natural, but let us remember the psalmist.

Therefore my heart gladly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.

Easter Shoes

Luke 24:6-7
He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee saying, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again."

Years ago, the popular christian group Newsong came out with the heart stirring hit, "Christmas Shoes." I imagine that most of you have heard it. It was later turned into a movie starring Rob Lowe, which began a series of movies . As I think about Easter, I should write a tune entitled "Easter Shoes."

As a boy growing up, mom would have three sets of clothes for me. School clothes, play clothes, and church clothes. Most of those years, several weeks before Easter, she would take Sheila and I to get us an Easter outfit to wear to church on that special Sunday, as we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. I thank the Lord for parents who sacrificed greatly for us.

With the purchase of a new Easter outfit would normally come a new pair of dress shoe for Easter Sunday. We didn't have the options that we have for our kids today. Leather has come a long way!

Picture this, a plaid sport coat, pants , bow tie, and brand new black lace up shoes. Nice, but stiff, and by the end of Easter dinner, killing my feet. Can you remember? We will probably see some of the same sites this Sunday at church as we celebrate the Lord's victory over the grave.
I love to see our children in their new outfits, especially the boys, who come in pressed and leave untucked.

On one particular Easter, I was trying on shoes and mom got me my favorite pair as a boy. They were brown "wingtips", the same kind as dad wore. I loved those shoes, they made me feel good, and they were comfortable, but most importantly, I had great joy to know that I resembled my dad.

Regardless of how well I clean up this Sunday for Easter, it doesn't matter if I am not striving to look like my heavenly Father.
My prayer is that this Easter, my life reflects well of Jesus. Life will be hard sometimes, like a pair of those shoes growing up, but what joy there is to know that when people see you, that they see the love of God shining in your life.

Happy Easter, make sure you celebrate in church this Sunday!

Revival or Life Support?

Luke 14:23 And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

In just a few weeks we welcome Evangelist Ed Newton for our Spring Revival. He has been here before and will be a great blessing if you have not heard him. Some of my fondest memories as a boy were revival services. Dad worked second shift so mom would make us go. I would fuss for a while but once we got there it was usually a great blessing. I can remember the excitement in the two churches we attended in Dayton. The singing would raise the roof and the preaching was intense. I mean, they didn't dance around the tough subjects and called sin....sin. He would preach sin destroys, hell's hot, and heaven is real. He would preach Jesus, and stand on the truth of God's Word. The altar would be a friend in a revival.

You don't hear much talk about revival anymore. I wonder why?

When we invite people, we tend to invite other Christians most of the time. I am not sure that is exactly what the Lord meant in Luke 14:23. What used to buzz seems to have become a fizz as we have opted for "more important things." What is more important than a fresh touch of God on a life?

I used to get inundated with invitations to attend revivals from other churches, and now hardly a postcard. I wonder why? Is it because we are closer to God than ever and don't need it? Is it because we are way more busier than ever?

The longer I pastor, the more it becomes a battle. REVIVAL means to live again. The devil will do anything He can to keep a church in a life support mentality. If he can deceive a pastor, leaders, and the people, he will be happy I believe to watch us tread water in a type of ineffective spiritual coma.

Let me tell you what I am praying for. I am asking God to do something in the life of our church that only He can do. I mean the supernatural. A great movement of God as Christians get real before a Holy God and turn from sin, re-surrendering lives to Christ, the lost come to Jesus in repentance of sin, and relationships reconciled. The kind of thing we will talk about the rest of our lives. The story that is told to our grand kids about the revival that broke out in Camden, Ohio in 2010.

I look down at my feet. Draw a chalk circle around my feet, and beg the Lord to send revival, beginning in that circle. Will you join me?