For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 3:11 NKJV

John Wooden, the legendary UCLA college basketball coach is credited with saying, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

We are all familiar with the story of the Three Little Pigs.  The great moral of the story has stood over time and through thick and thin.  One pig builds his house with hay, another builds with sticks and the last one builds with bricks.  The wolf comes and blows the first two down, no problem!  He meets his match with the one made of brick, however. — Building with solid stuff around you, if you expect it to weather a serious life storm, makes sense. The representative of a good education, wholesome family, financial resources, reliable friends, and physical well-being all unpack as life’s quality building components.  The lesson is obvious and seems to rank beyond debate. The better each are developed and coordinated, the better we’ll be!  Let’s remember what John Wooden said, so we don’t wrap it up here.  There’s more that counts!

So what’s missing?  As a Christian, Jesus sheds the light we need.  In John 18:37, Jesus said “He was born to come into this world and bear witness unto the truth and that everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  He gets even more specific when He said in John 14:6 that “He was the way, the truth and the life and that no one could come to the Father except through Him.”  In other words, truth according to Him is more than an idea, external material, or the moral of a compelling story. The Truth is a Spiritual Person, and His name is Jesus.

So on the one hand we have the lasting story and “moral” of the Three Little Pigs and the outside strategy of how to protect ourselves in this life.  Jesus, The Truth, comes along and uses another “eternal and internal parable” about houses being built either on sand (shifting and relative) or on a rock (i.e., Him). Jesus looks beyond the importance of the material of the house or what it may represent to what is most critical – it’s foundation.

No one would suggest that a good education, wholesome family, financial resources, reliable friends, and physical fitness are not components worthy to pursue.  What we must know, if we don’t already, is the necessity of choosing Eternal Truth or Almighty God Himself as our trust worthy foundation.  After all, without Him, nothing can even be, much less stand forever.

2 Cor 5;1; 1 Tim 4:8; Psalm 127:1; 1 Cor 6:19

But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

We celebrate this message as different from all others.  You may be moved to “do something” in a way you didn’t expect. Here goes…

Continuing our effort to help fund and support the Salvation Army and Mobile Ministries and making a positive contribution in the Greater New Bedford area, is our Lift-in-Love team goal for 2021.  For the past six years, we have conducted a Serve-A-Thon on the second Saturday in the month of September.  Nearly $225,000 has been raised, and interestingly, there were no overhead costs, and all monies raised went directly to the two ministries.

Here is a brief review of past Serve-A-Thons, where individuals and businesses financially sponsor people to serve/work at specific locations in our general community.  A veteran and historic park have been beautified in Fairhaven; A senior center recreation hall, a 970 ft. wooden fence, benches at Buttonwood Park, and a public library were freshly painted in New Bedford; Clothes and toys were sorted at Gifts-to-Give in Acushnet; A variety of crops have been harvested at the YMCA farm in Dartmouth.

Along with these community service projects, other innovative fund-raising activities, we called our Treasure Chest Projects, took place:  Among them was a quality talent show in New Bedford, a Fairhaven to Plymouth round- trip bike ride, an antique yard sale, an airplane parachute jump, a pogo stick skit, and other creative fitness efforts.

As part of our upcoming 7th Annual Serve-A-Thon, we will honor what the founder of the Salvation Army said back in the late 1800’s to those who complained to him about the homelessness and despairing situation that surrounded them.  General William Booth boldly said, “DO SOMETHING!”  With that command, thinking of others, transforming lives, and bringing hope has been the Salvation Army’s International definition of DO SOMETHING! for over 155 years.

This year’s Serve-A-Thon is scheduled for Saturday, September 25th, 2021.  A number of organizational meetings have been  held at the Salvation Army facility at 619 Purchase Street, in New Bedford.  Those interested in learning more about our 2021 projects and to DO SOMETHING! to help are welcome to visit our web page: www.lift-in-love.org , our Lift-in-Love Facebook Page, or calling the Salvation Army at 508 9976-516 and asking for Major Michael Jung.

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Psalm 127:1

It’s a privilege for those of us who volunteer at the Salvation Army Ministry in New Bedford.  Nothing is all encompassing, but by any fair measure, it shines as a special gift and our area’s Hope Center.  The work that is done there speaks for itself, especially with those who desperately struggle in our community.  The faithful effectiveness of Majors Michael and Amanda Jung, and their year-round staff is most admirable and truly remarkable.

All of this wonderful work has its roots in a man who lived in another country a century and a half ago. William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, has grown to become one of the great heroes in the Christian faith and one of mine in particular.  It was in the midst of the fog of human despair that he relentlessly set out to share the greatest, most encouraging, and most profound message known to man.  He didn’t do it from a cushy pulpit, slick television studio, or pastor’s study.  He started by walking through the streets of London, England in the sweaty, bloody, and foul-smelling neighborhoods of those most hurting.  Soup, soap, and salvation were placed high on the Army agenda.  William Booth is a marvelous example of a man with the right heart, acting like Jesus with his sleeves rolled up.

A seriousness of purpose takes shape when a legitimate opportunity arises to share a hopeful message with despairing folks.  When the audience is least, last, lost, and lowest among us as far as social, monetary, and educational standards are concerned, the opportunity becomes more of a direct challenge.  What could or would you say to someone in the midst of being battered in their personal, social, spiritual, and/or financial life?  Could you honestly look them in the eye and walk away believing you offered something that could make a difference?

If uneasiness has arisen in you, please listen and be guided by what William Booth didn’t just say but did in action. He went to the script of God that said “go into all the world” and make disciples.  He relied on what God said about seeking Him and His Kingdom first and all the other things would be taken care of.  He believed that if he served the least of God’s children, he would be serving God directly.

Friends, the question remains: What could you possibly say to someone in the midst of human despair?  Real love is God alone because that is His nature.  He doesn’t have love.  He is love. Any other human variation of love doesn’t qualify as divine. “It’s not by might or power, but by my Spirit,” saith the Lord.  Real hope is the anchor of our soul and the vision God is willing to give us to see beyond this life into His Heaven with the eyes of our understanding heart. By faith, all doubt of His love for us was removed when Jesus died on the Cross for our sins, rose again, and made forgiveness possible and the word Salvation to be first in the Salvation Army name.

When we focus on the essence of William Booth’s message, we see Jesus Himself telling people He loved them and He alone was their eternal Hope.  The only way a true message of hope gets through to anyone is when it is transmitted from God’s heart—the source and place of real love and lively hope. Let’s be encouraged because in the midst of it all, sits our local Salvation Army Ministry at 619 Purchase Street in New Bedford – welcoming the day as a true gift, and playing the faithful role of our area’s Hope Center.

Rom 15:13; 1 Jn 4:8; Heb 6:19; Mat 6:33; Mat 25:31-46; Mark 16: 15-18; Zec 4:6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Prov 3:5-6

If we can agree that life is currently throwing challenges like an octopus throwing baseballs, then let’s look together at what Solomon, the wisest man in the Bible, suggested as a way to proceed, progress, and persevere in the best of winning ways.

His first order is for us to enjoy life because it’s a gift from God.  “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God” (Ecc 3:13).   Critically then, do we personally appreciate life as a gift of God to enjoy or not?

In addition to enjoying life as a gift, Solomon offers a second element.  Though much of life is frustrating and futile, there are opportunities we must take advantage of when they come along.  “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecc 9:10).  In other words, we are to fully exercise our gifts in life and leave no room for regret, retreat, or return when our time comes to depart from this Earth.

Thirdly, because we live in a world that presses us from every side, it’s incumbent upon us to rely on an unyielding support.  Under these and all conditions, Solomon admonishes us to be right with none other than—God Himself. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecc 12:13).

Fourth, and perhaps foremost, is the importance of possessing awareness that one day we will all be judged.  “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil” (Ecc 12:14).  Hearing, “Well done my good and faithful servant,” rather than, “I never knew you,” must always be our heart’s desire and divine influence behind the choices we make.

As long as we have the challenge of our flesh to satisfy and competing thoughts to filter, we will never live a perfect life.  Fortunately, Jesus is our Creator, model, and comforting friend in any time of need.  At the behest of His Father and for our benefit, He was and is the only One able to perfectly and lovingly face and overcome a world system with occupants prone to selfishness and sin.

So family and friends, in the midst of our lives, let’s rely on Christ (The Word) and God’s Holy Spirit 1) to appreciate and enjoy life as His gift, 2) to help us grow to our full potential, 3) to reverence Him and obey His commandments, and 4) to know that one day, based on honoring God’s standards and divine guidance, we choose to leave this life to be with Him, forever!

Matt 25:21; Ps 25:4-5; Prov 2: 6-9; John 10: 3-4; Ps 25:9; Matt 7: 7-11

God’s ways are not our ways.  His ideas are heaven higher than ours! Is 55:8-9

Did you know that if you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner?  The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet.  Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

We remember when circus elephants were conditioned by large chains around their ankle area to convince them that roaming freely was impossible. Even after the training chains were removed, we got to observe them marching around in a circle as if they were still there.

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out.  It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

In many ways, there are lots of us acting like the buzzard, elephant, and the bumblebee. We’re frustrated in what seems to be unsolvable problems and challenges. We’re trapped in false beliefs, and imprisoned by old ineffective thoughts, habits, and traditions. The advantage we have that none of these other creations have, however, is the choice to look up to the awesome God who created us; the One who loves us so much he sent His Son into the world to die and free us from our sinful natures.

God declares that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Ps 139:14).  He says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Phil 4:13).  He’s promised to never leave us or forsake us. (Heb 13:5).  His Word further declares that we can renew our mind and have His knowledge, wisdom, power and presence to be overcomers and victorious in life.

Family and friends, we are crowns of God’s creation.  If we find ourselves imprisoned or limited in our current circumstances, that’s a divine sign for us to stop and reassess.  Freedom and wholesome limitlessness is always rediscovered in the One who lives around and in us to show the way.

Psalm 123: 1-2; John 8:31-32; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Cor 3:17

Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15

A word is a word, is a word… Or is it?  If I share the word “arithmetic,” for example, the math-bent folks are more likely to lean forward and pay attention while some of the rest of us may want to count ceiling tiles or even worse—run in a panic.  The personal perception of the word and what we do with it becomes more critical sometimes than the word itself.  In today’s message, may we lead our forward leaners, tile counters, and potential panic attackers to a common answer of encouraging correction; a place where we all can benefit.

Please bear with me through a brief, painless, and surface introduction.  One of the unique functions of arithmetic is in multiplication.  For example if we multiply 1 x 2 it equals 2.  If, however, we multiply -1 x 2 it equals -2.  So any positive number multiplied by a positive number produces a positive answer.  Any positive number multiplied by a negative number produces a negative answer.  Whew!!  In faith, I believe none of us got lost.  Now let’s graduate together to an even better result…

On a more critical and practical level, this process applied to our thinking can be devastating no matter how you regard the word “arithmetic.”  There are times when we behave in a decent pattern (say 100 times) and we make a mistake or blatantly sin one time.  The spiritual arithmetic or religious spirit in us leaps in counterfeit joy with the claim that everything about us is therefore negative (100 x-1).  As a result, we can get depressed, shrivel up in guilt and self condemnation, or go down in defeat.  But God!!  A. W. Tozer said, “No matter how we may argue, true holiness and spiritual power are not qualities that can be once received and thereafter forgotten, as one might wind a clock or take a vitamin pill. Every advance in the spiritual life must be made against the determined resistance of the world, the flesh, and the devil!”  We must remember, we may be morally negative on occasion, but we are never a negative as far as our loving Creator is concerned.

Our God is a forgiving God.  By His grace and mercy, no matter what knucklehead things we may do, if we honestly repent of our negative behavior, He will put the eraser of forgiveness to our miscalculated act. (1 John 1:9).  He comes to bring abundant life, not to steal, kill or destroy us.  (John 10:10).  Our eternal Father says there is no condemnation to those who walk after Him in Spirit and not in our flesh.  In Him, we are free from sin and the ultimate negative—separation from Him or death (Rom 8:1-2).

So family and friends, criticism only finds fault.  Encouraging correction generates hopeful change.  Whether you are an arithmetic whizz or not, welcome to its Spiritual counterpart; one with a positive answer, no matter how negative we may be or have been.  No matter how you look at it, He is not merely a word. He is the Word who goes by the awesome name of Jesus Christ!

John 1:1-14; Jer 29:11; Rom 15:13; Prov 3:12

“When God forgives He forgets.  He buries our sins in the sea and puts a sign on the bank saying, “No Fishing Allowed.” Corrie ten Boom – Trump for the Lord

While growing up, my mother made it a habit of being the one to make sure that everything was all right between us before I closed my eyes to go to bed.  Even if (and usually when) I was the obvious cause of strife between us, “at the end of the day,” I would anticipate her footsteps up the stairs heading toward my bedroom to make things right. That beautiful exercise of my mother’s love, grace, mercy, and quest for peace between us not only reminds me of her great quality as my mother, it also sheds light and hope on an even greater revelation.

Now that my Mom has gone on to her home in Heaven, she demonstrated as my earthly parent what I choose to do now with God, my Eternal Parent.  There is no place for me to rationalize, posture, make believe, debate or question about who may have caused the strife or stress between us because I know the Lord is perfect.  Before my eyes close at the end of the day, the simple question I ask myself, is: “Did I please You today, Lord?”

As a believer in Christ, here is the amazing part.  Too many times my honest answer is not really.  Because He is already there to press the eternal reset button and forgive me because of His love, grace, mercy, and quest for peace between us, all I need is a convicted and humbled heart to ask for His forgiveness.

For us family and friends, “at the end of the day,” let’s be encouraged to be in right standing with the One who created us, the One who died for our sins, and the One the Bible identifies with an everlasting description…Ancient of Days. If we do that, in the greatest measure of our faith, there will be no end of the day.  Why? Because we will live forever in the loving presence of the Prince of Peace and His name is Jesus Christ!

Have a great day and a peaceful night!

Eph 4:26; Acts 4:12; Romans 15:13

From Mt. Sinai to Mt. Calvary – The height of God’s love for us.

What Jesus Christ did for us at the cross is astonishing. Let’s go there for a moment. A grand and telling scene was set when three crucifixes marked the mount at Calvary. There was the Son and Lamb of God hung between two opposing souls. While both of the lesser figures were guilty as charged for their previous crimes, the Lord was blameless on all accounts. The very purpose of Jesus expressed itself when one thief decided to rebuke the King of kings and the other exhibited a heart cry for forgiveness. The disrespect of the hardened thief proved fully productive to lasting death, while the humility of his counterpart resulted in the greatest gift any man could receive—the promise of personal eternal life. Of course, the rest is His story. Jesus willfully died on that cross to become the only redemption of sin. There is no greater spiritual example of justice, love, and fulfillment of God’s will. In every sense, this Commander of the Christian faith lived the essence of His Word. It’s something of matchless beauty and worthy of our best effort to emulate and pursue.

Family and friends, it doesn’t matter who you are, from where you came, what you have done, or how old you might be to repent and get right with God.  What does matter is your choice to do it now rather than later because your next breath is never guaranteed.  It has been said that the ground beneath the cross is level for all concerned. That is some great news! You can’t be too good to earn your way or too nasty to be denied. What matters is the necessary Holy Spirited power He’s promised to turn our heart to know and live the love of God. That love is perfectly expressed in the active and skillful practice of the Ten Commandments.

Let’s not learn and live them out of obligation; let’s learn and live them because their Author is completely deserving. Let’s learn and live them because they are the literal building blocks of life. Let’s learn and live them to preserve the matchless ways of Jesus in a lost and dying world. Truly, the Ten Commandments are precious toward the honoring of God and His Kingdom; for Jesus—the fulfiller of those Ten Commandments—is the answer and only way. May each and every one of us go forth, putting the fullness of His Word to life-style action!

Finally, please invest some serious time in reviewing our insightful details regarding the entire series of Living the Ten Commandments of God. What we saw at the cross was their awesome power and fulfillment. That same power and fulfillment is ours through Christ and the honoring of His Word. So let’s take pleasure in learning to walk as He did—in the perfect and powerful love of God!

Ex 20; Deut 5,6; Mt 22:37-40; Jn 13:34-35; Rom 13:8-10;  Lk 23:39-43; Jn 19:30

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt 6:33

From the account of man’s first transgression against his Creator in the Garden of Eden, people have had a major problem with being responsible and accountable for their personal actions. Adam was told by God to tend, guard, and keep the garden. He was the one placed in authority and ultimately responsible. When Eve was successfully tempted to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam was nearby and failed to guide otherwise.

In the razzle-dazzle of excuses and rationalizing during God’s inquiry, Adam told God the true culprit was the woman He gave her. Following suit, she blamed the serpent for their spiritual woes. The association of love (God) with work and contentment was broken. The seeds of covetousness (desiring what others have rather than being content with what we are responsible and accountable to tend, guard, and keep) were introduced. They continue to rear their ugly heads in many of us to this very day. When we defy living the 10th commandment that says, “Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s house nor anything that is thy neighbors,” we see the defiled fruit that stems from the irresponsibility and lack of accountability in our original ancestors way back in Genesis.

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said for us to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness and all other things will be added as a bonus. If God is truly our source, our boss, our Commander, and social director, then to long for things that belong to others is out of His bounds. In Matthew 7:7, Jesus admonishes us to seek, ask, and knock for His grace and provision… not to seek, ask, or knock elsewhere. God’s life-abundant provision is comprehensive, well-detailed, and conditionally guaranteed. It includes our health, energy, persevering attitude, mental keenness, emotional stability, economic prosperity, marital and family harmony, and social connections. Throw in our God-given gifts, talents, time, passions, abilities and possessions, as well as His trust, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom and we suddenly and dramatically realize what a difference our God makes!

There are many scriptures that warn of the consequences of being covetous. The root of all evil is the love of money. Jesus spoke of money more than He spoke of Heaven. Why? Money represents power, knowledge, fame, influence, judgment and is easily substituted as a counterfeit for God. Each of us was specifically designed to play a role in the body of Christ. We are wonderfully made and fit perfectly into His plan for our life. With Christ as our Head, there is no need or benefit to desire to be someone else or lust after someone’s attributes or possessions.

We will always want… what we want… when we want it… unless we submit to the living God, who wants us to desire and trust in Him.  If the root of all evil is the love of money, then the root of all good is the currency of Love or God Himself.  Craving to know, follow, and rely in Him….one of His commandments at a time…. makes supernatural sense and enlightenment to joyfully live out “Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s house nor anything that is thy neighbors.”

Ex 20: 17

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

Jesus boldly declared in John 14:6 that he was “the way, the truth, and the life and that no one could come to the Father except through Him.” It’s no great surprise that Jesus also declared the father of lies to be His antithesis–the devil. Of the seven abominations attributable to Satan in Proverb 6 verses 16-19, two come to the fore as it relates to this next rule: a lying tongue and a false witness that speaks lies. Fittingly, the ninth commandment of God reads: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”

A simple, yet profound, distinction must be made: God is truth. Therefore, anything that derives itself of something other than Him falls short of His ordained standard. In genuinely seeking the truth that is God, we have the distinct privilege of becoming “temples of the Holy Spirit” (1Cor 6:19); in becoming “temples of the Holy Spirit,” our hearts find their natural tendency in a desire for honesty.  Truth settles as our intimate and trusted friend.

Lying is a callous and unwise investment whose inevitable end is failure. When deceitfulness (e.g., gossip, false accusations, blame, or self-deceit) is detected as part of one’s agenda, trust has no way of being afforded. What’s more, adding or omitting information to support a personal bias–even if it seems harmless–is equally damaging in the long run.

The Word of God always supports the telling of the truth and is revealing of its lasting benefits. “The wise keep all falsehood and lies far from them” (Prov 30:8). “God hates a lying tongue, and delights in those who tell the truth” (Prov 12:12). Truth speakers are valued by kings (Prov 16:13). To live as a witness of the truth requires one to remain intimate with God through a life sown in personal integrity and outwardly in brotherly love.

Let’s celebrate a new season, allowing our light of honesty to shine brightly wherever we may go. How good it is to know, follow, and to grow ever-closer to the truth and the One who is truth… one commandment at a time!  In the power of the Holy Spirit, savor living out His 9^th, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”

Ex 20:16