Blessed are the Peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matt 5:9

About 26 years ago, I found myself standing alone at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Though it may sound a little strange, the magnificence of the scenery caused me to do something novel; I began to wonder at a deeper level, looking skyward with a great pull arising in my heart. Suddenly, these words escaped my mouth: “If you are real, God, then prove it to me!” To my surprise, the humility I was feeling from the surrounding grandeur shifted to include the grace of a far superior presence–that being, God Himself. There is nothing in existence like an encounter with the One who made all this possible. In that moment, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the everlasting loving Creator was right there with me. His personal touch on my life that day has grown immeasurably over the past years, and I’ve come to trust Him above all else.

Although I fall short far too often, I repeatedly draw upon that incredible moment with God for the strength I need to press on and through. His presence is my desire. To achieve it, I’ve learned that at least three essentials are necessary: first, I crave to be a good steward of God’s love and His many blessings in my life; secondly, I purpose to relate to those around me in truth and love; and third, I strive to be a leader who models an influence to serve in the Spirit of Christ.

Family and friends, our God is so great! It just so happens that the ocean He used to grab my attention bears a name which means “maker of peace.” Please realize that the magnificence of His scenery is a constant around us, whether in an impressive seascape, a sunny day, or a flower in bloom. Whatever the case, He is there, awaiting the invitation of our hearts. He will accept us into His divine family when we are ready to make peace with Him. It is in this surrender that we come to know and trust His existence by faith and experience the abundance of His eternal love.

Have a Peace-filled week!

Is 26:3; Rom 14:7; 2 Thes 3:16; Gal 5:22; Ps 24:1, Prov 3:5-6

To My Classmate Family,

In a truly remarkable way, I belong to a special high school class. We graduated in 1964, 60 years ago, from Fairhaven High School and a group of us still connect through coordinated luncheons spearheaded by one of our dedicated classmates and his wife.  Many of my classmates have chosen to continue close relationships, and we’ve formed a type of loyal family. 

Sad news that two of our popular classmates died recently inspires me to share this short, yet vital note.  May this be an encouragement to those of us remaining, and who hope to get together again and again. 

What happens when one of us takes his or her last breath?  Is there an afterlife, and if so, where do we go?   Rather than debating or posturing with some wild theory, please allow me to offer something to seriously consider. The truth of one’s destiny should matter most to us at the time of death, especially if it’s a real or form of a family member.  If one thinks Nothing created everything, so be it, then Nothing happening after death would be your logical end.

Most of us have been brought up with at least a Christian influence.  I was one of those, until I had an encounter with the Living God on the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean back in 1998.  Jesus Christ became a reality and my life has never been the same.  Those who know me, even those who may not consider me a favorite, would agree a drastic change took place in my life.  Let me share what I know to be true from a personal and Biblical Christian perspective.

There is a Loving Creator who created everything.  Man was created in God’s image but was separated from His Holy Presence by being disobedient and therefore sinful.  To become a real and saved Christian, and to have assured everlasting life with Him, one must confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that Father God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sin, and to once again unite us in His Holiness.

So my classmate family, I’m not looking for applause or being the target of rotten eggs — just the Truth, because I care about us and our eventual graduation from life that awaits us all.   

“Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life.  Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26

“And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, ….” Rom 12:2

I was reviewing a sermon my Pastor shared a time ago, entitled, “The Upside Down Kingdom.” He compared, with great insight, several differences between the operating system of our corrupted world system and God’s Kingdom. Getting to the top vs. becoming a servant, acting sophisticated vs. child-like, and self-centered vs. God-centered were among his contrasts. In today’s message, may we complement my Pastor’s 180 degree difference in kingdoms with what’s written below.

Although the authorship of the following piece is unknown, I can attest to the fact that this is how I thought and felt before the Spirit of God (Jesus Christ) opened my eyes, changed my heart, renewed my mind, and reversed my thinking. Tragically, far too many can relate:

God does not exist
It is foolish to think
That there is an all knowing God with a cosmic plan
That an all powerful God brings purpose to the pain and suffering in the world
Is a comforting thought, however, is only wishful thinking.
People can do as they please without eternal consequences
The idea that
I am deserving of hell
Because of sin
Is a lie meant to make me a slave to those in power.
The more you have, the happier you will be
Our existence has no grand meaning or purpose
In a world with no God
There is freedom to be who I want to be
But with God
Life is an endless cycle of guilt and shame
Without God
Everything is fine
It is ridiculous to think
I am lost and in need of saving

Now, do just the opposite. Try reading the above in reverse, sentence by sentence, starting with the last line — I am lost and in need of saving. You’ll see what I mean and hopefully believe that “Getting Right Side Up.” is the way to go. Truly, our God is awesome…

John 18:36; Matt 6:10; Heb 12:28; 2 Peter 1:11

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13

In some ways, we are always living in perilous times. George Müeller was no exception. German born, George Müeller (9/27/1805 – 3/10/1898) was a Christian evangelist and Director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England. He cared for over 10,000 orphans in his life. He was well known for providing an education to the children under his care, to the point where he was accused of raising the poor above their natural station in life. He also established 117 schools which offered Christian education to over 120,000 children, many of them being orphans.

Mr. Müeller’s purpose (call) was to be father to the fatherless and to prove God’s faithfulness to those watching. Most amazingly, Mr. Müeller never asked anyone, but God, for provision. He functioned in that miraculous faithful atmosphere for over sixty years.

Our retired senior pastor struck a vital cord when he addressed a men’s group a while back with a theme of what it takes to lead in perilous times. He insight-fully identified several attributes that especially resound in the testimonial life of George Müeller. They also apply to each of us, if we care to lead during the perilous times of today. May we prayerfully share those attributes in today’s message. To lead in perilous times one must:

1. Accept God’s call,   

2. Keep a proper perspective,

3. Be courageous,

4. Keep one’s eye on the Lord,

5. Live right before God,

6. Be disciplined,

7. Walk by faith.

George Müeller’s life is worth reading more in-depth and his legacy continues to echo these serious attributes. Our hope is God is not finished building His team of champions. Whoever reads this is capable of providing a future story of their own; one that highlights balanced leadership in the perilous times of this hour.

Family and friends, by His grace, let’s go for it!!

1 Tim 3:1-7; John 20:21; Matt 28:18-19; Eph 4:10-14
Ref: Wikipedia

Now we have this hope as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.  Heb 6:19

The gifts that God has given us are beyond measure.  They come in all forms, shapes, capacities, sizes, and function.  One of the more delightful ways He blesses or strengthens us is through the inspired communication of His faithful and prayerful servants.  In today’s message, may we defer to one of God’s special messengers named A.W. Tozer (1897-1963).  Dr. Aiden Wilson Tozer’s vast insight into Biblical truth is clear evidence of his dedicated prayer life.  He often said, “As a man prayed, so is he.”  The following, taken from his devotional Renewed Day by Day – Volume 1, lights the God kind of hope in a simple, yet profound way.  Please read, enjoy, and gain:

“In the New Testament, the word “hope” becomes one of the great words that Christ gave us. It was a word often used before but it has received new and wonderful meaning because the Saviour took it into His mouth. Hope is the music, the drift and direction of the whole Bible. It sets the heartbeat and atmosphere of the Bible, meaning as it does desirable expectation and pleasurable anticipation!

Human hopes will fail and throw us down. But the Christian’s hope is alive. The old English word “lively” meant what the word “living” means now; the word coming from God Himself for it is the strongest word in the Bible for life. It is the word used of God Himself when it says He is the Living God. So it is that God takes a Christian’s hope and touches it with Himself and imparts His own “livingness” to the hope of the believer.

The true Christian hope is a valid hope! We have been born of God. There has been a new creation. No emptiness there, no vanity, no dreams that can’t come true.

We have no great place of beauty in this world—Taj Mahal, Buckingham Palace or the White House—that can compare with the glory that belongs to the true child of God who has known the major miracle, who has been changed by an inward operation of supernatural grace unto an inheritance, a living hope!

Your expectation should rise and you should challenge God, and begin to dream high dreams of faith and spiritual anticipation. Remember, you cannot out-hope the living God!”

Family and friends, may the Holy Spirit not only assist us in discovering all our unique gifts, but bless us this week with a divine shot of His hope into our personal atmosphere.

Prov 13:12; Rom 15:13; Jer 29:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. Ecc 3:11

Many years ago, when my children were in Rogers Elementary School in Fairhaven, MA, one of the great resulting memories was a collective effort on the part of us parents, volunteer friends, and business sponsors to erect a Big Toy Playground.  It was the first high level playground on school property where untold numbers of children were attracted and played. Understandably, playing on it soon got top billing over who was responsible for building it.

Speaking of high-level playgrounds, did you know that there are 63 National Parks in the United States?  Each one of them has special geological features that separate and qualify them from other land areas in our nation.  Whether it be majestic mountains, deep forests, sparkling lakes, sprawling plains, coastal waterways, glacial evidences, dry cactus ranges, or swampy everglades, every National Park has a wonderful uniqueness that helps to draw many millions of visitors every year. My wife and I have had the good fortune of visiting 50 of these incredible places. In today’s Message of Hope, entitled “God’s Playgrounds,” I’d like to highlight the effort behind the wonders in each of these parks and give top billing where it’s due.

Hurray for our five natural senses. They help us to enjoy the scenery, physical formations, and to play and interact on land, in air, and on water.  It’s easy for us to be interested and captured in the presentation that each Park shares.  Videos and ranger lectures at the various visitor’s centers are historically informative and suggestive as to what varying activities are best suited for those of us attending. 

Being child-like, but more mature than the children years ago on the Big Toy, we’re ready to play but always drawn to the true heart of the matter. In addition to utilizing our given senses, there’s far more to appreciate in the National Park story.  In fact, by faith and beyond our seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and/or feeling, we have a built-in craving to know the truth about the Park playground and never to forget Who to thank for its creation.

I thrill to know and believe that the Bible is God’s Word and it’s His Truth, penned by men. It opens with “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  It later describes Him as Holy, Ever Present, Omniscient, Omnipotent, and the Love that never fails. Just think of how loving and thoughtful He was to provide these awesome playgrounds as part of His blueprint for us to enjoy.  As child-like adults we will never just come to play without being thankful and glorifying our Loving Creator for thinking and blessing us in creating His Big Toys – God’s Playgrounds.

Gen 1:1-3; Rom 1:20, 25; Col 1:16; 1 John 3; Luke 7:32; Ps 77:14; Is 45:12; Heb 11:3; 1 John 4:8; Ecc 12:1

“Ask God. Prayer Changes Things.”

Volumes have been written about prayer; how to pray, what to pray, when to pray, and where to pray only begins to introduce the vastness of this subject. In this message, we’d like to share why we should pray, a primary principle concerning prayer, and then wrap it up with several guidelines for developing our prayer life.

Whether we are a young child or a senior citizen, the True and Living God wants a relationship with us. When we talk with Him we should thank Him for what He’s done for us, praise Him for all of His accomplishments in our life and in general, and worship Him because He’s such an awesome God! After all that – then ask Him to help us in the areas of our need.

Why Should We Pray? Matthew 26: 36-44

Jesus was the best example of a praying person. His disciples observed Him praying seriously so often and the profound results He got.  They watched Him go off by Himself to pray to His heavenly Father. They saw the power, peace, and confidence that Jesus had in His life, no matter what the circumstances. They were so impressed they asked Jesus how to pray and He taught them the Disciple’s Prayer (Also known as the Lord’s Prayer & The Our Father. Question: If Jesus Christ, God’s Son took time to pray, why wouldn’t we as mere people follow His example and need to do the same?

The Primary Principle is: Our highest privilege is to communicate with the True and Living God, the One who loves us perfectly.

Here are Several Guidelines to Consider:

• God is not impressed by the way we pray; He is impressed by our pure and sincere heart.
• We can use the King’s English or neighborhood jargon.
• The Bible says for us not to worry about anything, but to pray about everything.
• Talking to God can be intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be as long as we do it God’s way.
• God’s word teaches us to pray at all times, in any posture, in any place and for any reason.
• Pray to the Living God (Father) in the name of His Son, Jesus.
• Base our praying on the authority of the Bible promises. God holds us all accountable to know and grow in His Word. He meets us where we are-so we can start right now!

Finally, family and friends, beyond us just thinking about prayer, there is divine inspiration in the practical application of this wise and active advice: “When feeling overwhelmed with life, let’s take a stand on our knees!”

Dan 9:18; Psalm 5:3; 1 John 5:14; James 4:3; Psalm 34:15; James 5:16

It is God who works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure. Phil 2:13

Here we see what almost everyone would initially imagine as a large gnarled tree branch ready for the dump or to be burned as firewood. The gifted eye of the artist, however, saw something valuable within the wooden form that is now obvious to the reader. This process is similar to when Michelangelo sculpted the statue of King David from a chunk of marble in his Renaissance masterpiece back in the early 1500’s. So, we have a majestic bird and a king…What about us and our potential?

How often do we assess ourselves or others as gnarled, beyond help, or ready for the dumpster? If an image of a wise old owl can be salvaged from a mere piece of wood, then what is possible for an even greater image to be manifested in us? If God is within, and He is a Spirit, and the fruit of His Spirit is love, then we can expect behavioral fruit like the scripture says and become more Christ-like as we individually grow in wisdom and stature.

The title “It’s in There!” is a way to describe not only our natural sculpture but the encouragement and strength we all need to recognize the Master’s Hand working supernaturally within ourselves and those around us.

The late best-selling author, Dr. Myles Monroe in his book Maximizing Your Potential – The Keys to Dying Empty says the choice is ours. We are responsible to understand, release, and maximize our potential. He goes on to declare that everything God created is equipped with the potential or ability to fulfill its God-given purpose.

Let’s remember family and friends that we are God’s Crown of Creation and we need to purposefully renew our mind to say and mean this:

• I was never junk in my past, I am not junk now, and I will never be junk in my future.
• I am all God says I am, I can do all He says I can do, and I can have all He says I can have.
• I am who I am, no matter where I am, or who I am with.
• From this day forward, I am a proponent of “Maximizing Potential” as part of my lifestyle.

Have a great and potential-releasing week—it’s in there!

Romans 12:1-2; Gal 5:22; James 1:5; Phil 1:6; Phil 4:13; Gal 2:20

“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’” John 4:13-14

The founding Pastor of the church I attend, (Faith Christian Center in Seekonk, MA) Sam Smith, once described a person who helps another, metaphorically, as a hose. He said, “When a hose is used to deliver water, it gets wet too.” I have a sense that we all could use a good watering experience this week. Not only that, and how awesome is this…if enough of us choose to act as a hose, we’d create a type of nurturing sprinkler system. Here are a couple of encouraging stories to help turn on the faucets for the coming days.

There was a father and his young daughter standing on a deck of an ocean liner. The little girl said to her dad, “I can’t see, daddy.” So, in quick response, he picked her up and saddled her up over his shoulders. Her comment then changed to”Daddy, now I can see farther than my eyes can look.” We can expand our limited perspective too.

Let’s stand a little taller this week, peer over our rails of life, and see things beyond where our eyes can look in helping a neighbor, family member or friend.

Someone defined character as what you are in the dark. What about Helen Keller? She literally spent her life in physical darkness. In spite of her blind condition, she was a woman of bold character; one whose monument will forever shine in our hearts. As we begin our week, let’s consider one of her more incredible and illuminating quotes: “I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.”

Her character and realistic expectation can be a glowing model for us this week. Each of us is a one too. Let’s not refuse to do what we can do because someone else in our sphere of influence may need our assistance!

In the name of Jesus Christ, may the God of Hope drench us in His energizing and never-ending love this week so that we can act as His children. May we serve as His hose and get wet ourselves, in bringing refreshment to others. Amen

Have a great week…and splash away!!

Rev 22:17; Psalm 65:9; Proverbs 25:25

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

One of the more outstanding moments in my life occurred nearly 25 years ago.  My late and wonderful neighbor, Pastor Mary Walsh, walked across our yard, strode up the steps of our deck, and sat down next to me on one of our lounge chairs. It was always nice to be in contact with Pastor Mary because she inevitably generated a grown-up confidence and a lively and contagious hope.  Her company was always welcomed.  This time was no different, except for the profound influence of our ensuing conversation: It was awesome, but nothing I expected. 

After our usual pleasantries, Pastor Mary swung in a different direction and asked me this interesting and unusual question:  She said, “Are you open for growth?”  Because of her track record of trust and investing in my life and the fact she was by far my favorite neighbor, I quickly told her, YES, I was. Then, in truth and in love, she let me have it.  She told me, that I seemed to be on the arrogant side, and she wondered if I had given up being teachable.  In other words, she was concerned about my walk as a Christian.  YIKES! 

So here I was, a new believer of about two years, thinking I was flying high and pleasing God with all of my being.  I thought if I was a sail boat, I’d be a lead in a regatta, in full sail with the wind at my back.  Instead, her honest observation sucked the wind away and left me bobbing in a doldrum.  In reality, I knew she cared about me and the condition of my soul, and what she was telling me was the truth.  What an incredible wake -up!

So friends, some times we don’t know what we don’t know and that can be very perilous.  I will be forever grateful to Pastor Mary Walsh for effectively caring about me and my destiny with her simple, yet wisdom-ladened question that we all may face answering – Are you open for growth?

1 Timothy 4:15; Philippians 1:9;Rom 5:2-6; Job 8:7; Hebrews 5:12-14; Matthew 6:33;Gal 6:9