“The time has come,” he said. The Kingdom of God has come near.  Repent and believe the good news.”  Mark 1:15

1Timothy 4:8, it says, “physical exercise profits little but exercising spiritually profits now and forever.” So not discounting entirely what is going on around us in this physical world, let’s examine some other foundational Biblical headlines and see how the Gospel of the Kingdom of God exudes a supernatural hope into our troubled mix.

Basic to the real Christian view of life and beyond are these following dozen scriptural “good news” flashes. Let’s meditate upon these encouraging, constantly streaming, and unbreakable truths to help us expand our own sense of God’s nourishing influence in our lives—no matter what the fallen world or our own wandering, confused, or despairing mind tries to feed us!

1. Salvation of God (1Timothy 4:10).
2. Catalyst with faith and love to mold believers into disciples (1Thessalonians 1:3).
3. Inspiration to abound, not to abase (Romans 15:13).
4. Transformation into the likeness of Christ (1 John 3:2-3).
5. Redemption of the body and the whole creation (Romans 8:23-25).
6. Resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6).
7. Promises given to Israel (Acts 26:6-7).
8. Enduring virtue (1Corinthians 4 & 5).
9. Eternal glory (Colossians 1:27).
10. Eternal life and the inheritance of the saints (Titus 3:5-7).
11. Return of Christ (Titus 2:11-14).
12. Christ Himself (1 Timothy 1:1).

So let’s cheer up by looking up and tuning in to what the Ultimate Source and Author and Finisher of our faith says. The loving Father God we serve sent His Son to earth to shed His blood and to have His body broken as payment for our sin nature.  Please be reminded and grateful that He also has a wonderful plan for those who believe: to provide welfare and peace and to give us hope in our final outcome. (Jer 29:11)  That family and friends is the real breaking news we desperately need!

2 Tim 3:15-17; Phi 4:4-9

 Additional Resource: Fill Me With Hope – Classic Christian Writings

You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will remain–so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. John 15:16

A testimony is a solemn written or verbal statement made for the purpose of establishing a fact. There is any number of testimonies available to man.  In today’s message, let’s focus on one in particular found in Psalm 19:7. It says, “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Now that is a testimony with power! Not only that, this clear declaration is profoundly influential to the credibility of every Christian’s testimony.

Through faith, we are able to receive the same Spiritual power that worked through Jesus to be a witness of God’s kingdom. Taking it a step further, as Christians, we believe the very Spirit of Jesus indwells us. As a result, we are blessed with the potential for fail-safe boundaries, developing encouragement, and experiencing the loving passion Jesus had for His Father and for people in general.

Our new nature sees us consistently committed to following Jesus Christ. In doing so, we pray and ask God to lead us and guide us in accepting His call, keeping things in perspective, being courageous, keeping our eye on the Lord, living right before God, disciplining ourselves and walking by faith. In a way, and in these perilous times we are commissioned to run in a Kingdom of God relay race, handing the baton to the next runner.

We become more than a talker or runner in Christ when we heed the testimony of Psalm 19:7. We mature and grow into effective godly communicators and leaders—people of restoring action just waiting to happen. We display an overcoming attitude in life’s trials and tribulations, pointing to Jesus and the redeeming Spiritual power of the blood He shed for us at the cross. We become a credible witness that Jesus lives in us and has changed our lives; that our new victorious life is safely in His hands!

In God’s practical and productive way, we labor as a planter of His Word or seed. Much fruit will remain from our effort because we were chosen and appointed by God to go and bear fruit that lasts. It is God who now lives within us both to will and do His good pleasure. Such causes us to become real witnesses for His Kingdom.

Where we once were of a dark and sinful nature, our renewed thoughts, careful words, and appropriate deeds now testify to His redeeming light. This transformation provides for our loving testimony and is nothing short of a miracle!

Acts 1:8; Romans 1:11; Matt 28:19; John 17:16,18; I Peter 3:15; Rev 12:11

** Inspired by 35 Days of Spiritual Personal Training, Rock Church & World Outreach Center 2007

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Sometimes necessity is too strong to ignore.  May this Message of Hope respond to a current necessity in the kindest, most truthful, watchful, and life-transforming way. 

Please look around- There is no shortage of subtle to blatant God-haters these days.  In fact, they are easy for me to recognize because I was an active one for the better part of 52 years.  During that time, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.  Living a sinful life and aggressively blaspheming was my lifestyle and calling card.  Even though the Bible says that God is love (1 John 4:8), and the reverential fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov 1:7), I operated outside of that paradigm and under the authority of whom the scripture refers to as the god of this world – Satan.  He is the original God-hater and because of his fiendish spiritual character, he comes to steal, kill, and destroy us.  That includes targeting our original godly relationship, identity, purpose and destiny. 

Proudly, and without even knowing it, I was about the devil’s business.  I was voted “best school spirited” as a senior in my high school yearbook; fittingly, a “blue devil” was our mascot.  It doesn’t matter what pleasing color or how cute we try to make the enemy of God, he’s still the father of lies, deception, and the ultimate God-hater. 

Even though I was related as a degenerate, by spiritual default and heritage to death’s founder, the loving God of Creation and redemption rescued me from the grip of the evil one to His original place of life abundant. By faith and repentance, on the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean over twenty-five years ago, I had an encounter with the real God (LOVE) and received His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  As a divine result, I am now a child of God (LOVE) and about my Heavenly Father’s Business.

Trust me and invite Him into your life too by reciting the following prayer in earnest – There is no hate in Him or in that!  Glory to Almighty God!

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

Psalm 9:9-10; Phil 4:13; Psalm 145:9; John 16:33; Phil 4:6-7

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 throws more challenges than solutions, 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 a corrupted and demonically-influenced world system, our flesh to satisfy and competing thoughts to filter, we will never live a perfect life.  Fortunately, Jesus is our Creator, model, navigator, 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.  It follows for us alive today to trust Him and His Spirit to be the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path. (Ps 119:105)

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

“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfils His purpose for me. Psalm 57:2

I never imagined how visiting National Parks in the United States would become a mission field and a major focus of my later life’s purpose.  It started several years ago when I went along with my wife’s dream of acting out what Dinah Shore used to sing in a catchy commercial – “See the USA in a Chevrolet.”  Initially, I tolerated Cynthia’s passion to visit interesting places in our Nation.  Recruiting me as a travel partner was at best getting a form of a tag-along.  Well, after visiting 29 of our country’s 63 National Parks and witnessing her excellent lead and unwavering commitment, I finally woke up to something altogether different. My attitude and perspective has dramatically changed… Here’s why…

My wife’s efforts and skill in coordinating our special trips has resulted in a virtual feast of sights, from the Grand Canyon, the Everglades, Carlsbad Caverns, Yellowstone, and Yosemite to many equally impressive wonders. There’s no question every experience has been both humbling and greatly appreciated.  So here’s the rub… I began to realize that it’s one thing to stand in awe of the park, it’s quite another to fully acknowledge the genius of the One who created these magnificent spaces.  With kudos going out to the naturalists who generated the interest and persevered in the process of establishing and protecting these sensational sites, I’ve awakened to what I believe is a much deeper form of praise. It is God who deserves to be celebrated and recognized for His playground innovations—designed especially for us to enjoy and create a heightened sense of marvel that leaves no question to His astounding glory.

This has ignited a fresh perspective for every adventure to follow.  I like to think of it as our National Park Mission Trips.  Where I once was ho-hum and a mere tag-along conditioned to rely only on my five senses, I now (with Holy Spirit oversight) will operate in a ready, willing, and able partnership, complete with open eyes of gratefulness and faith.  Of course, our senses will still be in play, but Cynthia and I will also bring hearts that are ready to share the greatest news of all.

So family and friends, our collective motive in visiting future National Parks has taken a lively turn.  I’m no longer ho-hum or a mere tag-along.  From here on out, we’ll set off as disciples of Jesus Christ, going into the highways and byways as a matter of obedience–to appreciate all that God has done and to introduce what He has for those He’ll be sending our way. With this perspective lighting the path, I look to my awesome wife and ask, “Where to, my love?”

Mark 16:15;1John 1:7;1 Cor 10:31;Romans 1:20; Mark 6:7; Psalm 145:18; Eph 5:14; Prov 16:4

Salvation is not turning over a new leaf but receiving a new life. Our Daily Bread

A friend sends me periodic e-mails, and every one of them has this weighty nugget at the end: “A good perspective, everyone should have one.”  If you are attracted to the wholesomeness of that e-mail ending, then follow me as I exercise my right to share a valid and sound viewing of the upcoming Christian celebration called Resurrection Sunday or more familiarly labeled, Easter.

For me, the focus of Easter is not in the distracting secular influences of eggs, bunnies, or pagan rituals.  The direct site to see is the Cross and what truly transpired there over 2,000 years ago.  From a man’s perspective, including mine for over 50 years, the Cross makes little or no sense whatsoever.  Where is the miracle or cause for celebration with blood, guts, thorns, people yelling, and a fanatic trying to dupe people into believing the latest religious lunacy?  With that as the legitimate alternative, give me painted eggs, bunnies, or Ostara, Goddess of Spring and the Dawn (Oestre/Eastre) any day.

A little over twenty-five years ago, however, as I was standing in front of the Pacific Ocean, my perspective changed completely.  It was there that I met the One who hung on that Cross and who I am privileged to celebrate every day, this Easter included.  His name is Jesus Christ and He touched my heart in such a penetrating way that I was fully persuaded that He was real.  That experience ended any inner doubt that He so loved me that my sins and salvation were on His mind when he sacrificed Himself on that Cross.

Just as the Bible predicts, from that time to now, the shade cover of my previous view has lifted steadily.  I have come to know more intimately this God who overcame sin, the grave, the devil and death. Jesus Christ is indeed alive and His Spirit lives in me. It’s His or God’s Holy Spirited perspective, not mine, that truly matters to me now.  I believe His Biblical Word transcends mere perspective to His dimension or nature called truth.  In fact, Jesus said He was the way, the truth, and the life and that no one could come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

By faith, I hold that Jesus Christ died for me personally, He physically rose from the dead (unlike anyone ever), to live again and to live specifically and spiritually in me.  What ownership of dynamic faith and hope, and what joy that brings! The lover of my soul pursued me to the ends of this country to bless me with His gracious gift of an eternal relationship; a personal encounter far more than amazing!

So family and friends, stand right where you are and delight in your opportunity to receive His Godly perspective. After all, He is risen for that very purpose! Happy Resurrection Sunday or if you prefer, Happy Easter!

 Luke 24:46-47; 1 Cor 15:16-20; Romans 4:23-25; Romans 8:33-35; Acts 2:23-24; Acts 13:30-35

**** Pictured is our dear friend, Luann Pezzullo, standing in front of an empty tomb in Jerusalem back in 2004.

Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre. Psalm 149:3

My wife Cynthia and I enjoy a number of recreational activities; one of which is the focus of this message – dancing,

I can remember taking dance lessons over sixty years ago; that’s right 60 years!  The voice of Mrs. Charlotte Spooner (the teacher) repeated the one, two, three….one, two, three pattern that helped us young folks learn how to navigate the dance floor.  I’m not expecting to win any contest or be invited to dance with the stars, but because of those early lessons and a few refreshers lately, I can still move graciously enough to avoid tripping over myself or spare my wife Cynthia an injury.

There’s another one, two, three pattern for us to consider today and it’s found in the eighth chapter of the Book of Romans. Someone said that if Holy Scripture were a ring and the epistle to the Romans its precious stone, chapter eight would be the sparkling point of the jewel.  Dr. Vernon McGee said that many scholars and interpreters consider this chapter to be the high-water mark in Romans.  After realizing this three-part pattern, I literally danced inside.  Here comes one….

It states in verse one that we have no condemnation in Christ.  In other words, as a faithful believer and follower of Jesus Christ, all the sinful baggage of our past, as far as God is concerned, is history. That doesn’t mean there are no consequences for foolish or bad behaviors, but it does mean that God forgives us and will work with us to get us better in reconciling past failures and help in overcoming future challenges and burdens.  Here comes two….

In verse 28 it says “and we know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.”  It doesn’t say all things are good in themselves.  According to God’s word, if we are truly His, then even though something may not look, sound, feel, taste, or smell good, they are working together for our benefit.  Here comes three….

As we depart this chapter in verses 38 & 39 it says that because we are His, we can never be separated from Him for any reason.  Something well beyond the reliability of the gold standard or the predictability of the seasons is this precious promise of His eternal trustworthiness.

To hear the Spiritual beat of the Forgiver (one), the Builder (two), and the Truster (three) brings the pleasing rhythm of everlasting hope. There’s no greater lesson than practical truth from the One who inspired us to celebrate in the first place.  In our spirit, soul, and body we can dance in the presence of THE STAR right now, tomorrow, and forever.  Even more amazingly, in His steps, there’s no tripping, it’s injury free, and a contest God longs for all of us to win!

Please be encouraged to step out and read chapter eight of Romans for yourself.  Then, dance….one, two, three, and have a great week!

Rom 8; Ecc 3:4; Psalm 30:11; 2 Sam 6:14

Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God.  You are not your own, for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body. 1Cor 6:19-20

When a carpenter builds a house, the house builds the carpenter too.  Along with the obvious quality construction of the building, there is a payback to the carpenter for his or her diligent efforts.  Measuring, visualizing, strength, time management, physical coordination, cooperation, accountability and financial responsibility are just a sample of the ways a carpenter can grow from this laboring relationship.  At the other extreme, cutting corners in responsibility and accountability and lacking integrity in the building materials used by the same carpenter would negatively affect their building duration and character as well.

If we are able to admit that we are part of creation and not the Creator, it then follows that we would be open to the truth that we are God’s workmanship (Spiritual buildings).  Scripture (The Creator’s Word) provides at least three statements that serve as hopeful blueprints we can access this week. In Psalm 127:1 it says. “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.  In Romans 8:28, it complements with “We know that (God being a partner in their labor) all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.” John 15:5 excludes any wishful thinking …  “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Placing God’s blueprints in the inner tool box of our heart is our choice.  In so doing, The Master Carpenter builds each of us to His specifications, and ….to last forever!!

Prov 3: 5&6; Eph 2:10

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  Colossians 3:13 NIV

If you are like me, real forgiveness is intriguing because it’s simple, yet so difficult to truly exercise.  Years ago, I received the following anonymously written story that focused on the subject of forgiveness. The truth and power within it caused me to copy and keep it for my own private reading.  By God’s grace, may the following refreshing story be helpful to all of us in a healing, and liberating way:

———-

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job. His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment, and frustration.

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed: “Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for You, and I happily obeyed. Today, You have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don’t know how. It is not fair Lord. I didn’t deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn’t have to forgive. As perfect as Your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don’t know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing I cannot do -Teach me To Forgive.

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.

He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man’s tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak. “Have you ever told a lie?” He asked?  The man answered – “yes, Lord.” “Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?” The man answered – “yes. Lord.” And the man sobbed more and more. “Have you ever taken something from work that wasn’t yours?” Jesus asked?  And the man answered, “yes, Lord.”  “Have you ever sworn, using my Father’s name in vain?” The man, crying now, answered – “yes, Lord.”

As Jesus asked many more times, “Have you ever”? The man’s crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer – “yes, Lord.” Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.  Jesus said, “I didn’t deserve this either, but I forgive you.”

————-

Family and friends, if God brings us to it – He will bring us through it.  When Jesus died on the cross, he provided the gift of forgiveness to each of us personally.  Our part is to gratefully receive enough of that freeing gift to offer it to those we know we must.

1 John 1:9; Matt 18: 21-22; Matt 6:14-15

 “Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person’s lips bring satisfaction.” Proverbs 18:20

I would never pretend to be a scientist, but I’ve learned that matter cannot be created or destroyed, only changed or transformed. If we run with this principle, it is possible to examine something rather mysterious–our spoken words.

Whatever we speak into existence travels via sound waves. As matter is neither created nor destroyed, these sound waves never really “disappear.” They actually convert to some other form of energy within another component of matter to be carried forward forevermore. Wouldn’t it be something if we could recapture those original sound waves from their places of storage? Even better, wouldn’t it be something to locate those sound waves, reconstruct them, and retrace them back to the origin or person who spoke them? Wow! Bye-bye to crank phone calls!

The Bible says that God spoke the world into existence. By faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by His word, so the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Heb 11:3). It further says that God is truth and whatever He says is reality.

So, if matter can neither be created or destroyed as far as science is concerned, then what if there were a transcendent Creator with the capacity to create, destroy, or transform everything? That’s something for all of us to never dismiss.

Matthew 12:37 says, “By our words, we’ll be justified or condemned. We will give account for every idle word spoken.” So in the grand scheme of things, our words matter and the Word of the One who created everything certainly does. Not only that, the objects He spoke into the glory of the heavens and the earth can clearly be observed and His voice can be heard through His biblical Word. When His words are drawn from Creation or Scripture, they trace to one source–the person of Jesus Christ or Almighty God.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And then the Word became flesh. Jesus came into the world to “testify to the truth” (John 18:37). He said He was the way, the truth and the life and no one could come to the Father except through Him. Quite simply, He is the standard which defines reality. That makes Him the fully recovered sound wave of the authoritative voice that first spoke all things into existence. Family and friends, this is God’s Word and the end of the matter!

Have an inspired and transforming week.

Gen 1:1-3; John 1:1-14; Psalm 138:2