December 30, 2010

My take: Why my church rebelled against the American Dream Editor’s Note: David Platt, Ph.D., is the author of the New York Times bestseller Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream and is senior pastor of the 4,000-member Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama.

By David Platt, Special to CNN

We American Christians have a way of taking the Jesus of the Bible and twisting him into a version of Jesus that we are more comfortable with.

A nice middle-class American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn’t mind materialism and would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts.

A Jesus who wants us to be balanced, who wants us to avoid dangerous extremes, and who for that matter wants us to avoid danger altogether. A Jesus who brings comfort and prosperity to us as we live out our Christian spin on the American Dream.

But lately I’ve begun to have hope that the situation is changing.

The 20th-century historian who coined the term “American Dream,” James Truslow Adams, defined it as “a dream… in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are.”

But many of us are realizing that Jesus has different priorities. Instead of congratulating us on our self-fulfillment, he confronts us with our inability to accomplish anything of value apart from God. Instead of wanting us to be recognized by others, he beckons us to die to ourselves and seek above all the glory of God.

In my own faith family, the Church at Brook Hills, we have tried to get out from under the American Dream mindset and start living and serving differently.

Like many other large American churches, we had a multimillion-dollar campus and plans to make it even larger to house programs that would cater to our own desires. But then we started looking at the world we live in.

It’s a world where 26,000 children die every day of starvation or a preventable disease. A world where billions live in situations of such grinding poverty that an American middle-class neighborhood looks like Beverly Hills by comparison. A world where more than a billion people have never even heard the name Jesus. So we asked ourselves, “What are we spending our time and money on that is less important than meeting these needs?” And that’s when things started to change.

First we gave away our entire surplus fund - $500,000 - through partnerships with churches in India, where 41 percent of the world’s poor live. Then we trimmed another $1.5 million from our budget and used the savings to build wells, improve education, provide medical care and share the gospel in impoverished places around the world. Literally hundreds of church members have gone overseas temporarily or permanently to serve in such places.

And it’s not just distant needs we’re trying to meet. It’s also needs near at hand.

One day I called up the Department of Human Resources in Shelby County, Alabama, where our church is located, and asked, “How many families would you need in order to take care of all the foster and adoption needs that we have in our county?”

The woman I was talking to laughed.

I said, “No, really, if a miracle were to take place, how many families would be sufficient to cover all the different needs you have?”

She replied, “It would be a miracle if we had 150 more families.”

When I shared this conversation with our church, over 160 families signed up to help with foster care and adoption. We don’t want even one child in our county to be without a loving home. It’s not the way of the American Dream. It doesn’t add to our comfort, prosperity, or ease. But we are discovering the indescribable joy of sacrificial love for others, and along the way we are learning more about the inexpressible wonder of God’s sacrificial love for us.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my country and I couldn’t be more grateful for its hard-won freedoms. The challenge before we American Christians, as I see it, is to use the freedoms, resources, and opportunities at our disposal while making sure not to embrace values and assumptions that contradict what God has said in the Bible.

I believe God has a dream for people today. It’s just not the same as the American Dream.

I believe God is saying to us that real success is found in radical sacrifice. That ultimate satisfaction is found not in making much of ourselves but in making much of him. That the purpose of our lives transcends the country and culture in which we live. That meaning is found in community, not individualism. That joy is found in generosity, not materialism. And that Jesus is a reward worth risking everything for.

Indeed, the gospel compels us to live for the glory of God in a world of urgent spiritual and physical need, and this is a dream worth giving our lives to pursue.

December 29, 2010

Redeeming the Locust-Eaten Years
By Hannah Goodwyn
CBN.com Producer

CBN.com – “…I will make up to you the years that the locust has eaten…” (Joel 2:25, NASB)

This verse may be sound familiar if you’ve spent some time in Christian teaching. It’s a quote from the second chapter of Joel in the Old Testament. Out of context, it can lose the truly life-changing message of the book – God delivers and restores.

In the first chapter of Joel, the writer uses the imagery of locusts to warn the people of Israel of God’s judgment. The second chapter delves into what their – and consequently our – reaction to a Holy God should be – repentance. Joel is speaking to a nation that needs to acknowledge and receive God’s mercy and to repent (turn away from) their sin. God’s deliverance and blessings are named starting in verse 19, leading into the familiar saying shown above. In a merciful response to our repentance, the Lord promises to provide our every need (v. 19), protect us from our enemies (v. 20). We will rejoice at what He does, giving us joy in life instead of fear (v. 21-22). Even the rain is evidence of God’s faithfulness (v. 23). The effects of the locusts will be reversed (v. 25). The Lord continues to prove all of this.

26 Once again you will have all the food you want,
and you will praise the Lord your God,
who does these miracles for you.
Never again will my people be disgraced.
27 Then you will know that I am among my people Israel,
that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other.
Never again will my people be disgraced. (Joel 2:26-27, NLT)

After restoring what was destroyed, the Lord goes on to promise even more.

28 “Then, after doing all those things,I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants—men and women alike. (Joel 2:28-29, NLT)

Though Joel is speaking to a nation (a message our culture could stand to hear today), it’s important to reflect on these promises from God on a personal level. Not only are we – as a society – resurrected from sin because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are – corporately and individually – given life in the Holy Spirit. In the midst of judgment, God shows His mercy. He goes beyond saving us from our wretched sin; the Lord forgets we ever wronged Him, granting us access to Himself (Ephesians 2:17-18) and pouring His Spirit into our renewed lives.

When we allow God to work in our souls, we give Him the access He needs to clean out what the locust (the invading enemy of our souls – sin) destroyed and build up what the Spirit delivers. The Holy Spirit, in effect, redeems what was lost by working through our lives.

Each of us who have called on the name of the Lord understands this completely. It’s further evidence that Romans 8:28 is true.

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. (Romans 8:26-30, NLT)

Our sin makes us weak, but it is Christ in us that makes us strong in spirit. God works everything together to restore what sin has cost us. It does not matter what the “locust” have done to destroy your testimony or the life of a prodigal you know; the Lord, through His mercy and grace, is ready to redeem.

December 28, 2010

The Hardest Thing I've Ever Done
I had a lot to learn about having a happy marriage

Sherry Van Zante | posted 12/06/2010

My husband photographs people for a living. In more than two decades of working with him, I've talked with hundreds of couples planning their weddings. Most people enter marriage with expectations, dreams, and a mixture of joy and fear of the unknown. I carried this to an extreme and entered marriage with a fantasy.

When I was 17, my best friend and I went to the mall to have a photograph taken with Santa Claus. He was an old man with a real beard and his own long white hair. We sat on his lap, a helper snapped the photograph, and my friend bounced up.

Before I could bounce up, Santa asked, "What do you want for Christmas?"

I looked him square in the eye. "Peace, happiness, and contentment."

Yes, a tall order from a 17-year-old, but that was me, and it was Santa.

Ironically, I left that conversation with Santa, walked into a music store, and met the young man who would become my husband. The timing wasn't lost on me. From the start, I saw this man as a gift, and I went to the wedding altar one year and two months later, expecting the same three things: Peace, happiness, and contentment. This was, after all, the list I'd given Santa.

Somehow, I thought making a life together would be easier than it turned out to be. From the start, Loyd and I struggled. We argued over the same things most couples argue over: money, housework, sex, in-laws, time, children, communication, intimacy. In the worst moments, we threatened to leave and even threw the word divorce around.

But one day I looked Loyd straight in the eye and said, "Are you ever really going to leave me?"

"No." His jaw was set.

"Well, I'm not going to leave you either, so how about we start trying to be nice to each other." Somehow we finally figured out that that being nice to each other would increase our happiness.

Wanting a Happy Marriage
Even with the commitment to be nice, I grumbled and complained. I blamed Loyd for my feelings—feelings I thought I couldn't control. In my eyes, he caused my jealousy. If he was attentive enough, if he ignored other girls enough, if he loved me enough, I'd feel secure, and the jealousy would evaporate. I blamed him for my depression, my loneliness, my boredom. If he were more fun-loving, expressive, interesting, entertaining, then I'd be happy.

Our marriage was functioning. We were making a living, keeping a home, raising children, going to church. But as an old Hank Williams' song laments, I was "so lonesome I could die." I thought I'd married the wrong man. I longed for my soul mate. Between my ears echoed, What about me? I wasn't where I wanted to be. I wasn't loved like I wanted to be loved. I wasn't living the life I thought I'd be living.

Have you heard the saying that sympathy is never wasted except when you give it to yourself? Well, I've wasted a lot of sympathy on myself over the years. I was, as George Bernard Shaw wrote, a "selfish little clot of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world would not devote itself to making me happy."

I thought married life would be blissful. I learned it has its moments of bliss, but it also has its troubles. Reluctantly, I admitted that a good relationship is work. I pointed this out to my husband who already seemed to know it. We both wanted a happy marriage, so together we set to work. We went to our minister for counseling and started to make changes. We went to a Marriage Encounter Weekend. We read books and learned new attitudes, actions, and words to grow our loving feelings. Old, natural patterns will persist unless serious effort is made to change them, so we planned and worked for change.

Finding Peace
Love is the most powerful force in the universe. It's the force that created everything, and it recreated our marriage. We chose to connect with each other by generously sharing our lives. We ate together. We embraced. Hugs and kisses said hello and good-bye. We shared the things we learned and experienced each day when we came back together. And when we really connected, we wondered together, and we sought wisdom. We offered our presence and full attention to the other, bathing each other in kindness, laughter, and touch that told us we were wanted and cherished. We worked to really see, acknowledge, and listen.

My old fantasy of marriage has turned into a realistic hope. My husband wasn't a gift from Santa, but he was a gift from God. And God keeps teaching us how to build a good love relationship. We've learned that we have to work at it, because love is something we do. Love is making sacrifices. It's listening when we want to talk. It's giving our time and energy to another. It's empathizing, appreciating, affirming. It's refusing to blame, refusing to accuse, and resisting feeling like a victim.

As the old sayings go: The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have, and Contentment is not getting what we want, but being satisfied with what we have. Some people might call this settling; I call it finding peace. And every facet of peace requires effort and diligence. This peace isn't only getting along, but it is also having sufficient potential to meet deep needs. In my 34-year-old marriage, I've found happiness, peace, and contentment; they just look different from what I expected. If I could tell those couples planning their weddings one thing, I'd smile and say, "Marriage is the hardest thing I've ever done. But it's also the best."

Sherry Van Zante married Loyd when she was 18. Thirty-four years later, marriage is the hardest, but also the best, thing she's ever done. She and Loyd live on the central coast of California.

Copyright © 2010 by the author or Christianity Today International/Kyria.com.

December 27, 2010

Graham Gano: 'Praise God No Matter What'
By Shawn Brown
The 700 Club

CBN.com – Hardly a week goes by in the NFL where the final outcome of a game doesn’t rest on the shoulders – and legs – of the placekicker. Graham Gano of the Washington Redskins says that’s just the way he likes it.

“Just having the ability to change a game with one kick… I feed off that pressure," Graham tells CBN Sports. "If there’s pressure, that’s more exciting. That’s more adrenaline that’s running. I think that’s what helps me to be successful in the field.”

In his first full season for the Redskins, Graham is adjusting well to his life as an NFL kicker.

“It’s just having faith and practicing a lot, really preparing myself for the games, because I know in the games that’s when I’m on national TV. I’m able to represent the Lord and what He’s done in my life.”

His journey to the NFL was not a conventional one. He says, “My dad was in the Navy for 30 years, and I grew up bouncing all over the world. I lived in Canada, Scotland, Germany. Growing up in those countries, soccer was the big sport. So I played that growing up. When I went to high school, they weren’t offering the soccer program, and one of my buddies said, ‘We don’t have a kicker on the team. So why don’t you come out and try it?’ It was kicking a ball, so I thought I’d give it a shot and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Graham grew up a Christian. In some ways, his faith influenced his decision to play at Florida State under the legendary Bobby Bowden.

“I always grew up a Florida State Seminoles Fan, a fan of Bobby Bowden. He came to visit my family in my home, which was amazing to me that a coach so, so awesome would come to my home in Pensacola, FL, and talk to my family. But what really stood out to me about him was his faith. I knew that faith was very important to my family. That’s something he made clear to me in my home was just faith; he didn’t talk about football at all the entire time. He was just talking about God and the academics at Florida State and anything but football. That made the difference.”

Graham went on to a successful career at Florida State, but just weeks before his senior season, a knee injury threatened his future as a kicker.

“Two weeks before the season I was punting in practice, and I turned on my knee when I was punting and felt it pop. I actually tore my meniscus. So I go from thinking, I’m going to be in the NFL to I might not even play football this year. That really tested my faith.”

The knee injury only sidelined him four games, but it was during that down time that Graham truly sought God.

“I learned to trust in the Lord in college. It all started there. That was really when the seed was planted in me to realize that God is the whole reason for everything. He’s the reason why I have this ability that I have. He’s the reason why I’m playing and the reason how I’ve got this far.”

Graham didn’t get picked up in the 2009 NFL draft. But at the end of that season, the Redskins gave him a shot and he became a nice fit.

“After I make a kick, when I do point up to the sky, I’m just giving God the praise. That’s my moment with Him on the field thanking Him for everything. If I miss a field goal, it’s not like I’m not giving the Lord the praise. I’m constantly thanking Him for giving me this ability, for keeping me healthy and keeping me out here. Whenever I make the field goal, I’m giving Him all the praise, because it’s not me that has made that field goal. It’s Him through me that’s given me this ability to make that kick.”

Graham knows he could be playing for 15 more seasons or it could all end tomorrow. That’s why the most important thing to him is his faith in Christ.

“You have to trust in the Lord. No matter what. Things aren’t always going to be going right like you want them to go. As long as you have faith and trust and you’re in your Word every day, even when you’re going through hard times or good times, praise God no matter what.”

December 22, 2010

IT BEGAN WITH REPENTANCE
by David Wilkerson

The church as we know it today began with repentance. When Peter preached the cross at Pentecost, thousands came to Christ.

This new church was made up of one body, consisting of all races, filled with love for one another. Its corporate life was marked by evangelism, a spirit of sacrifice, even martyrdom.

The wonderful beginning reflects God's word to Jeremiah: "I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed" (Jeremiah 2:21).

Yet the Lord's next words describe what often happens to such works: "How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?" (2:21). God was saying, "I planted you right. You were mine, bearing my name and nature. But now you've turned degenerate."

What caused this degeneration in the church? It always has been, and will continue to be, idolatry. God is speaking of idolatry when he says to Jeremiah, "My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit" (2:11).

Most Christian teaching today identifies an idol as anything that comes between God's people and himself. Yet that's only a partial description of idolatry.

Idolatry has to do with a much deeper heart issue. The number-one idol among God's people isn't adultery, pornography or alcohol. It's a much more powerful lust. What is this idol? It's a driving ambition for success. And it even has a doctrine to justify it.

The idolatry of being successful describes many in God's house today. These people are upright, morally clean, full of good works. But they've set up an idol of ambition in their hearts, and they can't be shaken from it.

God loves to bless his people. He wants his people to succeed in all they undertake honestly. But there is now a raging spirit in the land that is overtaking multitudes-this is the spirit of love for recognition and acquiring of things.

A man of the world said recently, "He who dies with the most toys- wins." Tragically, Christians, too, are caught up in this pursuit.

How far we have strayed from the gospel of living through dying to self, ego, and worldly ambition.

SOURCE - http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/11167

December 21, 2010

Showing Good Sense

Perhaps one of the greatest compliments you could ever give someone is to identify them as a person with “good sense.” It’s a term that refers to a unique set of character qualities, life skills and decision-making abilities that, more often than not, causes someone to respond the right way to whatever life sends them. We call them “sensible.”

People like this don’t get rattled by rough and tough times, the real world of relationship challenges or the rut of everyday living. They maintain their senses. They show understanding, predictability, steadiness, unflappability, consistency and sincerity in their commitments, interactions and responses. They can be counted on for their solidity and prudence. They show discretion and discernment, tact and tenderness. Nothing about them is mercurial or fickle. They go about their duties with an internal quietness and rest that is admirable and enviable.

The Bible has lot to say to us about being a personal who shows good sense. Let’s take a look at a verse that highlights one quality of someone like this:

“Sensible people control their temper …” – Proverbs 19:11 (NLT)

“A person with good sense is patient …” – Proverbs 19:11 (GW)

“Smart people [sensible people] know how to hold their tongue …” – Proverbs 19:11 (Msg)

According to this passage, sensible people have learned how to control their temperament and tongue!

A person’s temperament describes the way they emotionally handle life. Think “temperature.” A temperamental person responds emotionally to life events rather than in a measured, thoughtful way. Their emotional temperature rises quickly, whether the emotion is anger, impatience, disappointment, jealousy, hurt, pressure or whatever. This rising emotional temperature is not always evident externally, but it does take over internally, leading to decisions and actions that are rash, often rushed and always imprudent.

Eventually, a rising emotional temperature is revealed through a person’s words. Our tongue always shows the thoughts and condition of our inner lives — of the temperature of our hearts. When we’re hot on the inside, our tongue tells the tale. We scorch people with the heat of our unfiltered, uncontrolled feelings.

What about you? Would people describe you as sensible, based on the Bible’s definition? If not, ask God to help you get a handle on your temperament and tongue. Decide to show good sense!

Pastor Dale

December 20, 2010

BREAKING DEMONIC DEFAULTS
by Geri McGhee
copyright (c) 2005

The American Heritage Dictionary defines a "default" as a particular value for a variable (something that can be changed) that is assigned automatically by an operating system and remains in effect unless canceled or overridden by the operator. I can best explain a default by using the default on a computer as an example. A computer is set at the factory to use a particular font (letter style) to type and perform certain other tasks. When one types a letter or a document, for example, he may choose the font that was set at the factory or he may choose from hundreds of other different letter styles to type the document. Once the letter is typed and that project is closed out, the computer then kicks back to the original style set at the factory.

The way we are trained as children, either sets a "good default" or a "demonic default". God, in His Word, commands parents to train their children in the way they should go. His promise is that when the children are old, they will not depart from the way they were raised. God says, "train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it." The opposite is true; train up a child in the way he should not go and he will not depart from it.

When parents fail to train their children in the way they should go, it sets a demonic default in the life of that child that continues on into adulthood; and if, not broken follows him/her right into the grave. As children, we consciously or unconsciously promise ourselves that when we grow up life is going to be different; only to find out that as adults, we are in some ways reliving our childhood. As adults, we try to break out of these childhood patterns; but, the way we were set at the factory through childhood training, keeps kicking us back into the default of the way we were raised.

When we make a judgment upon our parents or even when the law of God which is written upon our hearts is violated, there is an automatic judgment that sets in motion forces that cause us to reap in kind what has been sown in our hearts. In other words, we keep getting set up to experience the same hurtful things experienced in childhood. These judgments become bitter roots deep down in our hearts that are producing bitter fruit. With each judgment comes an expectation which is a psychological response in our nature that draws people to do that bad thing that fulfills our picture of the way life will go.

The same things troubling us now are the things that troubled us in our childhood. What we did not overcome then is a source of defeat to us now. The giants in our lives now are the same giants that were left unconquered in our childhood. When we come to Christ, God then sets out to re-train us as He disciplines every son whom He loves. We now have an opportunity to let God correct those areas that were not corrected in childhood. As we submit to Him and deal with our problems His way, He resets the default in our lives to a righteous reaping.

God uses our circumstances to point us to what He wants to fix next. He allows other people to mirror what He wants to change in us. The good news is that when you and I submit to His discipline, forgive our parents for their poor stewardship of us, break the judgments we have made, repent of dishonoring our parents, repent of letting the sun go down on our anger and not turning to God in our pain; but, instead, turning to false gods (promises we have made ourselves), break demonic soul ties with our parents, then God resets the default in our lives from negative to positive. The fruit of our lives is then changed from bitter to sweet. Glory to God!

December 17, 2010

WORLD CHALLENGE, INC.

Dearly Beloved:

Paul said of God's love that it passes all knowledge. It is broad, wide, high and deep. I want to focus on the depth of his love.

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith: that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:17-20).

Recently, I've been receiving emails from backslidden Christians who are coming back to their first love. One wrote, "I was forgiven; I loved the Lord. But I lived for years in awful sin. Now I am back, but I can't accept my forgiveness. I fear God can't forgive me the unspeakable sins in my past - awful sins. I have no peace. I can't feel the Lord's presence." Another wrote, "I've sinned such horrible sins. I want to get back to Jesus, but I feel God despises me. I sinned against light. I'm afraid I'll not be forgiven. I am one of the worst sinners."

Backsliders are being stirred. Many are coming back. They are tired of falling into drugs, alcohol, lusts - tired of the world. I hear this: "I fell so deep into immorality, so deep into gross sins." It is as if they believe God has a line drawn - a limit on his love and mercy - as if there is a point where he says, "You provoked me too often. You rejected all my pleas, all my warnings. But now you have crossed a line. Your heart is cold. Satan has a stronghold in your heart." I believe many backsliders are too embarrassed about their past or too convinced they have sinned away their day of grace. They can't conceive the Lord reaching down into the depths of their sinful condition with love and mercy.

Jonah sinned greatly, running from God's commission. And his disobedience would put the blood of many on his hands. He was convinced God had forsaken him for his sin. "You have cast me into the deep... I am cast out of your sight...I went down to the bottom...the depth closed me round about...my soul fainted in me" (Jonah 2:3-7).

Yet, in the belly of the whale, God was there in the farthest depth of Jonah's sin and rebellion. When Jonah went down to the bottom - into the lowest depth - he got a fresh touch, a special calling. He was forgiven and delivered.

This proves the Holy Ghost is at work down in the depth of our sin. No one is too far gone; no one is cast off. The Holy Spirit is dealing with many, saying, "Repent. I am with you in your rock-bottom situation, to bring you back."

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing! "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35, 37-39).

The blood of Jesus reaches into the depths of sin, offering freedom, pardon, mercy and reconciliation with the Father.
No matter how deep you have fallen, his love and forgiveness go deeper.

Oh, the depth of his love!

In Christ,
DAVID WILKERSON

December 15, 2010

Help! – My Hanukkah Moment.

Let me introduce you to the Maccabees*: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSJCSR4MuhU **

*Actually the singing group is called the “Maccabeats” – a group of college students from Yeshiva U. in Brooklyn.

What us Hanukkah ? From the Hebrew word for "dedication" or "consecration", Hanukkah marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem (Second Temple) after its desecration by the forces of the King of Syria Antiochus IV Epiphanes and commemorates the "miracle of the container of oil". According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication following the victory of the Maccabees (the word means ‘Hammer’), there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. They needed help! Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate fresh olive oil.

What’s the lesson for us?

We are not made to solve all our problems ourselves. Do what you can, ask for His help and wait for His saving power.
As in the days of old, (almost 200 years before Jesus’ resurrection) God asks people of faith to take a step of faith, ask for His help and then trust Him to do the rest. The people had one day’s worth of oil, they burned that and trusted God for the other seven days until they could prepare fresh oil. Hanukkah is celebrated today because God answered their prayers.

My Beltway story:

One morning, my wife Sue and I were driving on the Inner Loop of the Beltway, heading for I-95 North. About a quarter mile ahead of us, a station wagon in the left lane suddenly careened right across six lanes of traffic and struck a smaller sedan, flipping it over into the medium just past the I-95 exit then rebounded back across six lanes of traffic and into the woods. We slowed down and came to a stop next to the overturned car. Sue and I were the first two on the scene. I opened the passenger side door and the women in the passenger seat scrambled out of the car and fell into Sue’s arms. I then went over to the driver’s side and saw that the driver of the car was belted into his seat, unconscious and upside down. I tried to open the driver’s side door but the accident bent the frame and I was unable to budge it. At the time I thought I had ONLY two alternatives:

1. Try to free the driver and risk dropping him on his head.
2. Doing nothing and having him stay upside down and unconscious.

Both alternatives came with great risk. I didn’t know what to do. So, I prayed, “God help me!” The next moment, I felt a tap on my shoulder. A man was standing by my side. He told me that he was on off-duty paramedic and he knew what to do. It was my very own Hanukkah moment. I stood at the side and watched the rest of the rescue played out without any injury. All involved in the accident were safe and alive.

Question: Did Jesus celebrate Hanukkah?

Answer: See John 10: 22-23 “Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.”

Bud

**Hanuakkah references:

Latkes – Potato pancakes - shallow-fried pancakes of grated potato, flour and egg, often flavored with grated onion or garlic and seasoning.

Dreidel – a spinning top with 4 Hebrew letters – Nun-Gimel-Hay-Shin with is an alliteration of the term “Nes-gadol-haya-sham” – “A great miracle happened there”

Ma'oz Tzur"– “Rock of Ages” – A song sung at Hanukkah time. Lyrics: “Rock of Ages let our song, Praise thy saving power”.
Menorah - a nine-branched candelabrum. The menorah has a ninth branch for the shamash or servant candle. The shamash is used to light the other candles.

Torah – the five books of Moses or the first five books of the Bible.

December 14, 2010

Don’t Give Up!

Have you ever felt like quitting? Have there been moments in your life when it seemed that all the effort and energies you were investing in something made no difference? Maybe you feel this way right now. It is as though your life, career, finances or marriage is stuck like a tire in mud. No matter how hard you press the accelerator, you never get traction — you never make any significant progress.

Times like these are frustrating. They drain our hope and weary our spirit and soul. And if we’re not careful, they can drive us to the point of giving up.

Jesus had something to say about one of the things that causes this kind of frustration, hopelessness and weariness of heart. He addressed the issue of giving up on our prayers.

There are periods when it appears that all of our prayers about something or for someone are not making a difference. From all outward signs it looks like God is ignoring our cries and requests. The energy we’re pouring into prayer seems to be wasted and useless. Nothing is moving forward and changes are not happening, in spite of all our intercession.

When situations in life seem stuck, and our prayers feel fruitless, we’re tempted to give up — we’re tempted to quit praying. When this temptation comes our way, we need to be reminded of a teaching Jesus gave. Knowing there’d be seasons like this for all of us, Jesus provided us with specific instructions about how to handle them:

“One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show them that they should always pray and never give up.” – Luke 18:1 (NLT)

Without going into the particular story Jesus used, it's helpful and important to focus on the lesson Jesus wanted to get across to us. His point was for us to never give up the practice of prayer and to never give up hope for answers to our prayers. Understanding that we would be tempted by what appeared to be lack of progress or answers in response to our prayers, Jesus said , “Keep on praying!”

The Greek term Jesus used for the phrase “never give up” is very descriptive and powerful. It means, “to refuse to become a coward; to not lose one’s courage; to not grow faint or despondent; to not lose one’s heart or soul in a matter; to refuse to let weariness win; to not quit.”

What situations are you praying about that seem to stay the same? Who have you been praying for without any apparent results? What are you asking God to do for you that hasn’t yet happened?

Don’t quit praying! The delay is not a denial. God may want you to adjust your prayers, change some attitudes or address some issues in your life, or simply wait patiently for His timing, but one thing He doesn’t want you to do is to quit praying!

Pastor Dale

December 13, 2010

Happy Brother's Day!

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. [Prov. 17:17, ESV]

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. [Prov. 18:24 , ESV]

"For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” [Mark 3:35, ESV]

Be the kind of man that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says "Oh *@$#, he's up!" Brother, life is too short to wake up with regrets. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.

Love the people who treat you right. Forgive the ones who don't, just because you can. Take a few minutes to think before you act when you’re mad. Forgive quickly.

God never said life would be easy; He just promised it would be worth it.

A real Brother walks with you when the rest of the world walks on you.

Today is Brother's day. Happy Brothers Day! I LOVE YA BROTHER!!! To the cool men that have touched my life, here's to you!!

December 10, 2010

A Skeptic's Guide to Crossing Jordan
by Gary Wilkerson
November 1, 2010

We all have a high calling from the Lord. And at various stages of our lives, he has set before us a preordained plan we are to fulfill. Moreover, God promises that if we act in faith, trusting him, he will bring that plan to fulfillment.

Yet this isn't always easy. As everyone who has walked with Jesus for any length of time knows, following his high calling means we're going to meet obstacles. And one of the most common obstacles is the skeptic's voice. As we seek to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land, we'll hear every kind of voice telling us not to go.

These voices tell us, in very reasonable tones, "It's just not going to happen. Let me explain to you why."

Three types of skeptical voices appear in the life of every
Christian:

First, there is an outward skeptic. This is a friend, acquaintance or family member who challenges what we believe we're to do to obey God.

There is also a demonic skeptic. This is the voice of the evil one, who seeks to derail us from our trust in the Lord.

Finally, there is an inner skeptic. This is the voice inside our own minds that raises every kind of argument against obeying what God has asked of us.

Joshua heard all three of these voices as God stirred him to lead Israel to cross over the Jordan River. The crossing held all the promise of God's future glory for his people on the earth. You can be sure, there was no way they would make that crossing without hearing the shrill voices of skeptics trying to dissuade them.

Our God wants to obliterate every skeptical voice that would keep us from obeying his direction for his greater glory.
Whenever he asks us to take a step of faith, he is leading us to "cross over" to a measure of trust in him we've never had before.

Over the years, many sincere Christians begin to drift in their faith ­ some, perhaps, because of a deep disappointment in a previous experience. To step forward in faith now, they have to "cross over" that disappointment, trusting God in a new way.

Perhaps you're trusting God for a blessing to your family or children. Or you're believing him for a certain ministry to be fulfilled in your life. Maybe you're seeking God for freedom from a habitual bondage. Or you simply want to break free from some inner struggle that holds you back from trusting him. Some of us need outright miracles, supernatural interventions for our lives or for a loved one.

In short, God has called all of us to cross over. And when Israel came to the Jordan River, God desired that not one of his people be left behind. Yet the voices of skeptics were constantly there to rebuff his people.

Any experienced Christian will tell you: When you're poised to cross over your Jordan, there is never a time when you're more subject to fear, anxiety, doubt and uncertainty. Why?
You're on the brink of possessing the land God has called you to inhabit. That's the time when the enemy ­ and our flesh ­ put up resistance.

There are seven things a skeptical voice whispers to all who would cross the Jordan. I want to list those things here.
Hopefully, you can discern whether such a voice is working to dissuade you from God's promise.

Skeptical voice number 1:
"It's easier where you are."

Life is always easier on this side of the Jordan. Why?
Because it's comfortable; nothing is being asked of us. We can enjoy the status quo.

But when God stirs us toward movement, suddenly the things that once made us comfortable become uncomfortable to us.
They begin to feel static, decaying, even death-like. If we persist in staying in our comfortable place, we risk losing our vision and passion for life in God.

Joshua wasn't immune to this temptation. When God called him to action, here was the first instruction he gave: "Be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:6). God spoke this to Joshua three times within four verses. He knew Joshua needed to hear it.

To do what the Lord has called us to, we each have to summon his strength to take it on. We have to stir up courage. For some, this could mean the courage to forsake things that have given a false sense of comfort. If you're stressed, disturbed or disrupted in your spirit, ask the Lord to show you why. If he's asking you to let go of something, that could be your first move in stepping forward with faith.

Skeptical voice number 2:
"It's going to take too much effort."

Here is the second lie the skeptic whispers: "You're going to wear yourself out with this. If you go through with it, you'll burn out."

Think about what Joshua faced by asking Israel to take a step of faith. There were well over 1 million Israelites, not including children and babies. Some of these were the elderly and infirm. Think of all the effort that had to be expended, with planning, packing, coordinating, all the workloads and responsibilities.

Here is where many Christians get hung up. They tell themselves, "If it's going to be that difficult, it can't be of the Lord. Can it?"

Do you fear extending yourself? Do you despair when you think about going the extra mile? Following God's calling isn't always easy. But it is grace-filled. Peter tells us the finished work of the cross has accomplished everything we need to live for him. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).

You don't have to live by your own strength; the Holy Spirit lives in you with power. He will provide you with all the energy you need to do what God says. You'll never burn out if you live and walk in the Spirit, drawing your strength from him.

Skeptical voice number 3:
"Some people won't like it."

Whenever you seek to cross over the Jordan, you'll encounter people who don't agree with you. You might even make some of them angry. Their voices may become so powerful you may wonder whether you should risk going forward at all.

Think of the pressure Joshua faced. He had provided strong leadership to that point. And he had earned a great deal of trust from people. That was important for a leader whose nation was continually at risk from the surrounding dangers.

I can picture a group of skeptical elders asking him, "Joshua, what do you mean by this? You've amassed all this political capital, and now you want to rock the boat? Why risk the negative feedback? You're going to lose all your God-given power to lead."

Joshua's response was direct and to the point, just as his leadership had been. He said, in essence, "We're not called to please man. We're called to please God."

Not every Israelite was going to be happy with crossing over. Maybe you can identify with Joshua's dilemma. If you're going to cross over your Jordan, be prepared for skeptical responses from your family, your friends, your
coworkers: "You want to start a business ­ in this economy?"
"You want that kind of ministry? Why?" "You want to do what with your life? I can't support you. I don't think God is in this."

Now, let me add this: A bold move of faith won't just draw skeptics. It will also draw an army of God's people around you. You'll find prayer, support and energy from faithful sources you never expected.

Skeptical voice number 4:
"It's physically impossible."

Israel's crossing of the Jordan happened at harvest time.
During that season, the banks of the river weren't just full, they were overflowing. Humanly speaking, it was the worst possible time to cross.

The skeptics around Joshua surely would have scoffed, "You picked the wrong time, Joshua. We've got pregnant mothers, sick people, the elderly. This isn't of God."

Yet God does call us to things that are humanly and physically impossible. He looks at our situation and says, "The conditions are perfect for me to move on behalf of my people. Now the world will see how I rejoice to supply all to my servants."

Right now you may be thinking, "God, I feel you leading me to make a tough decision. I know I don't have what it takes to pull this off." That's right where he wants you. In our weakness, God is made strong. And in our lack, our God is great. We say it is impossible, but with God at the center, nothing is impossible.

Skeptical voice number 5:
"It's too risky."

Up to that point in their history, God had parted the water for Israel. This time he was asking them to step into the water first. Specifically, he commanded the priests to carry the ark of the covenant into the rushing river by faith.

Imagine the skeptics' voices now. "God has never led us to do this before. He has always parted the water for us. This isn't obeying him, it's tempting him!"

Even Joshua may have had his doubts: "Lord, I've been down this road before with you. I know how it works. You always part the waters first. Why would you have us step into this rushing, muddy water? It doesn't make sense."

It never matters how risky or challenging the path is that God has laid before us. If we step in with faith, he'll part the water. And we can move across on dry land.

Does this describe a situation in your life at present?
Perhaps the Holy Spirit is stirring you to step into a family situation as you never have before. He may be calling you to caution an errant friend as never before. He may be telling you to speak more boldly to a nonbeliever about Jesus.

Of course, it's no sin to say, "Lord, I'm uncomfortable.
This is overwhelming. I need your strength and courage." He invites that kind of confession and prayer. But God does have a problem with Christians who say, "I moved out in faith. But when I began feeling a lack of peace, I knew it wasn't from the Lord. So I stopped."

Here is the problem with that line of thinking. If we stopped walking in faith every time we had a lack of peace, we would never do anything in obedience to the Lord. God has already told us the enemy is always seeking to rob us of our peace.

Yes, we should have a prevailing peace that undergirds all we do. Such peace comes from God's immovable Word. But we have to know that if we're about our Father's business, our peace will be rocked from time to time. Even a man of faith like Joshua could be shaken. That's why God told him, "Be of courage. Don't fear."

I know my father, David Wilkerson, never would have gone to New York City to work with gang members if he had thought every lack of peace was God telling him to stop. There are times we have to hear God's voice in the midst of being rocked. His desire for us in chaotic times is not to quit but to discern the Spirit's voice. That's how we find peace when our world is being shaken.

Skeptical voice number 6:
"If you don't succeed, you'll be ridiculed."

This skeptical voice says, "You might disgrace yourself. And that will turn people away from God." I remind you: God didn't call us to cross the Jordan as a show of success. His only calling is for us to obey him. The results are up to him.

A century ago in China, many faithful missionaries spent decade after decade toiling with very little to show for their efforts. Some had only one or two converts; others had none. Finally, they were kicked out or died during national upheaval and eventually suffered under decades of harsh, repressive conditions. There was no reason to believe their efforts amounted to anything more than one massive failure.

Today, tens of millions of Chinese Christians worship God in the underground church alone. Sociologists say that by 2050 the church in China will outnumber all believers in the rest of the world.

Were those missionaries' efforts a failure? Not at all.
Those servants faithfully planted seeds, not knowing what would result. And most of those missionaries died never knowing the results. I urge you, take their example to heart. Whenever we face negative circumstances, we're tempted to come up with a plan B. But God has no plan B. His plan A is his only plan ­ and it is your call to obey him.
The results are up to him.

Skeptical voice number 7:
"Once you cross over, the struggles you face will never end."

The skeptics said to Joshua, "If we cross over, we're going to face enemies as never before. You know the reports. There are thirty-one different kings in the land where we're going. And every one of them wants to do us in. Do you know how many kings we've defeated in the last forty years?
Exactly two. What on earth are you thinking? How could this be what God wants?"

Joshua knew it would be difficult ­ in fact, impossible. But he also knew there was only one way for Israel to go:
forward. They were going to cross over, and they would do it in faith, trusting that God had their best interest in mind.

We all know that in the end Joshua and Israel possessed the land and were blessed.

The priests carrying the ark stepped into the rushing river.
And as soon as they immersed their toes, God supernaturally parted the water. After that, every evil thing the skeptics predicted was turned into good for God's people.

The people came to a great fortified city occupied by their enemy. When they marched around it, the impenetrable walls came tumbling down. A handful of kings that Israel thought would be hostile instead joined them and doubled the size of their army.

Did all this make super-saints out of Joshua and Israel? Not at all. At one point Joshua failed to obey God. But because he repented quickly, the Lord used the experience to strengthen him. We never stop growing and maturing in our faith, even after accomplishing the most miraculous crossings. Our trust in God never ends.

So, are you willing to step into the river? God may be saying, "If you'll just commit to putting your toe in, you will see me part waves for you. I will carry you across to the other side. It doesn't matter how many enemies and fortresses you face on the other side. I have already laid out my plans for you. And I'll see them through to fulfillment. You have no idea of the victories I have already preordained for you. And it is all to my glory."

I urge you: Trust God to lead you across your Jordan. Let him silence the voice of every skeptic. His plan A for you won't be defeated. He is faithful ­ and he will do it!

_______________________________________________
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P.O. Box 260, Lindale, Texas 75771, USA

December 9, 2010

QUOTE FROM JOHN WESLEY'S MOTHER:

While at college, John Wesley wrote to his mother, asking for a list of sins he should avoid. Her response: "Whatever weakens your reason, whatever impairs the tenderness of your conscience, whatever obscures your sense of God, whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind, whatever takes away from your relish for spiritual things, that to you is sin, no matter how innocent it is in itself."

December 8, 2010

Reducing Regrets

How can we reduce our regrets?

Have you ever made a decision that you later regretted. Certainly we all have made our share of bad decisions. All too often, as we look back over our lives, we see that a little more patience and a lot more of listening to God and obeying His Word would have helped us avoid many mistakes and the ugly messes we have gotten ourselves into.

There are many lessons in Scripture that remind us of the importance of relying on God in the process of our daily decision-making. A great example of this is found in Joshua 9:1-15. It is a story filled with some great lessons for us. Let me summarize the basics of the lesson.

The Gibeonites were a group of people living in the land of Canaan. God had instructed Joshua and the people of Israel to conquer them, along with all the idolatrous people living in the Promised Land. By the time we get to Joshua 9, Israel had experienced miracuous victories at two Canaanite cities, Jericho and Ai.

The Gibeonites heard about Israel’s invasion of Canaan and were terrified by the reports of the Israelites’ two previous victories. They decided that their best protection against destruction was to try and establish a peace treaty with the people of God. To do so, they fabricated a story and enacted a drama about traveling from a distant country, trying to convince Joshua that they were not residents of Canaan, and hopefully gaining Israel’s pity and avoiding their attack.

When the Gibeonites arrived at Israel’s camp, they presented this story to Joshua and Israel’s leaders. The Israelites examined the outward evidence — the apparent crustiness of their food and deteriorating condition of their supplies — all a ruse the Gibeonites had created. From this outward observation, Joshua and his men drew the conclusion that these folks were telling the truth. They decided to enter into a covenant of peace with them.
Unfortunately, Joshua and Israel’s leaders failed to do the one thing that was most important. They didn’t ask God for His wisdom and insight into the situation. They relied on their own senses and capacities for evaluating the situation and did not go to the Lord. The result was that they were deceived. They entered into a relationship with a group of idolatrous people God intended for them to destroy, all because of their independence and self-reliance. And once the treaty was made, they could not renege.

Take a look at what the Bible says about Israel’s failure:


“So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord.” – Joshua 9:14 (NLT)


What a warning and lesson this is for us. Sadly, we too can get into all kinds of trouble, wrong relationships, bad agreements and partnerships all because we make evaluations just like Joshua and the Israelites did in this situation. We view and assess circumstances with our natural eyes, human reasoning and independent thinking. We then make decisions that “seem right, reasonable and advantageous.” But we never consult God, or we consult Him only casually. We walk through life trusting in our own limited wisdom and insight rather than tapping into the wisdom of the all-wise God. The result is a lot of unnecessary pain, problems and regret.

How can we reduce such regrets? While none of us will ever live completely regret-free, we can surely reduce our regrets by regularly going to God for wisdom, and patiently waiting upon Him for His insights and perspective. We can learn to consult Him rather than relying on our own limited knowledge.

When you ask God for wisdom and wait on Him for it, you can be sure that He will give it to you!

Pastor Dale

December 7, 2010

Labor Alone Will Not Satisfy
By Os Hillman

"All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied" (Eccl. 6:7 NKJV).

How would you feel about yourself if your job was removed from you tomorrow? Let's imagine that your income wouldn't change, just what you did everyday.

One of the schemes that Satan uses in the life of the Christian worker is to get him/her to view their value solely based on the type of work they do and how well they do it. We call this performance-based acceptance. It says "As long as I have a good job and I do it well, I have self-esteem."

This is a "slippery slope" and can be used by Satan to keep our focus on our performance versus Christ. We are never to find our value in what we do. Instead, our value is solely based on who we are in Christ. The apostle Paul wrestled with this after he came to faith in Christ. He had grown to the top of his field as a Jewish leader.

"If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith" (Phil 3:4-9).

You'll never really know to the degree that your self-esteem is rooted in your work until your work is removed. Unemployment, illness, or a financial crisis can lead to job loss.

Why not evaluate where you are in this area of your life. Affirm with God your desire to be known by Who you know versus what you do.

December 6, 2010

The Most Romantic Thing My Husband Ever Said to Me

I happened to be throwing up at the time.

by JoHannah Reardon

We have funny ideas about romance. We think of it as candlelight, being showered in gifts, and a stolen kiss. That may be sort-of romantic, but at my age those things have worn kind of thin. And I think they have for a lot of people.

Take Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, for instance. He’s probably the most romantic figure in fiction. Women hold him up as the ideal that they’re looking for. But what is he like? For most of the story he’s cold, distant, and insulting. He certainly never does the candlelight and gift thing. He doesn’t even steal a kiss! But he’s a man of action. When it comes right down to it, he moves heaven and earth for the one he loves at great cost and inconvenience to himself.

And isn’t that what we all ultimately want? Someone who has our backs and will be there when we really need them?

The dictionary defines romance as: Ardent emotional attachment or involvement between people. I like that definition. One of the most romantic things my husband ever said to me was when I was puking my guts out after an airline flight. Feeling like the scum of the world, I apologized that I’d once again put a damper on our trip by getting airsick (for about the 3,000th time). His response? “You’re the bravest person I know.” In that moment, I felt an ardent emotional attachment that was much greater than if he’d bought me 10 dozen roses and suitcases full of candy.

So what’s the key to having an ardent emotional attachment and involvement? I can think of at least five things.

1. You have to set aside time together. Regularly make a date to get away from jobs, ministry, kids, and the phone. If you’re living in the same house and never interacting, that isn’t ardent emotional attachment.

2. Become each other’s warrior and defender. Stick up for each other in front of the kids, in front of extended family, and in front of your friends. That doesn’t mean that you don’t see the other’s faults and face them, but do that privately after much prayer and thought. On a daily basis, make a commitment to build that person up whenever possible.

3. Return blessings for arrows. Whenever possible, return kindness for unkindness. Not only will it improve your marriage, but it will make you more Christ-like.

4. Talk about everything. If you’re afraid to talk to your spouse about how you really feel about something, you won’t feel an ardent emotional attachment. You’ll feel that you’re placating him so that you don’t have a blow out. That will end up feeling like walking on eggshells after a while. I’d rather see a couple have a shouting match about something they disagree on than refuse to talk about it at all. Every once in a while, my husband and I have a good old yelling match, which lets us know how strongly we’re feeling about the subject, then we calm down and really talk about it.

5. Sincerely desire the other person’s best. Most times that I’m angry with my husband, it’s because I didn’t get my way. When I step back and think about how I can help him be everything he can be in Christ, I feel a lot more compassion for him—indeed I feel an ardent emotional attachment that I would call romance.

What about you? What do you think romance truly is?

December 3, 2010

Shakable or Unshakable?

On July 16, 2010 at about 5:00 a.m., the D.C. area experienced something unique. A small 3.6 magnitude quake rumbled through our region. While folks from other parts of the world are used to such tremors, our community isn’t. It was a bit disconcerting for most folks, and for some even frightening. My wife and I both felt and heard it. We couldn’t figure out what had happened, and only later learned that the shaking was the ground moving underneath us. It was a good reminder that the earth’s geology is unsettled and shifty — it is shakable. It can’t be counted on to stay in the same place. It is not totally reliable.

Unfortunately there are lots of people who are like this in character. In times of temptation, pressure, or through the negative influence of others, they shift, move, shake and rumble. Under these forces they question or dismiss their commitments, and compromise their attitudes and behaviors. They lose their solidity and stability of heart.

One of the qualities God wants us to develop is an unshakable spirit. It is something that is highly valued by Him, and something that makes us more useful in His Kingdom.

According to the dictionary, “unshakable” means, “something or someone that cannot be moved, dislodged, swayed, rocked, rattled, agitated or mixed up.” It is “to refuse to doubt, waver or totter.”

One of the words the Bible uses for “unshakable” is “steadfast.”

Take a look at the value God places on us having a steadfast spirit:

“Jotham grew powerful because He walked steadfastly before the Lord.” – 2 Chronicles 27:6 (NIV)

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” – Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Why is an unshakable, steadfast spirit so important? There are certain things that will never be settled and healthy in us unless we develop it.

An unshakable spirit is essential for:

Building a strong marriage.

Maintaining spiritual integrity in a world that seeks to pull us away from God.

Staying with the commitments and assignments God gives us.

Growing our relationships with others.

Making it through tough times and difficult situations.

What about you? Are you shakable or unshakable? What happens when temptation, pressure and the negative influence of others pull and push you? Do you shift and compromise your commitments? Do you cave in and give way, or do you hold fast to God’s Word and will?

Let’s ask God to help us develop an unshakable spirit!

Pastor Dale

December 2, 2010

Daily Tozer devotionals from Literature Ministries International.
December: Trials and Pain

The devil, things and people being what they are, it is necessary for God to use the hammer, the file and the furnace in His holy work of preparing a saint for true sainthood. It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.

The Root of the Righteous, 157.
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December 2

Trials and Pain: Piles of Ashes

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. -- Hebrews 12:11

If God has singled you out to be a special object of His grace you may expect Him to honor you with stricter discipline and greater suffering than less favored ones are called upon to endure....

If God sets out to make you an unusual Christian He is not likely to be as gentle as He is usually pictured by the popular teachers. A sculptor does not use a manicure set to reduce the rude, unshapely marble to a thing of beauty. The saw, the hammer and the chisel are cruel tools, but without them the rough stone must remain forever formless and unbeautiful.

To do His supreme work of grace within you He will take from your heart everything you love most. Everything you trust in will go from you. Piles of ashes will lie where your most precious treasures used to be. That Incredible Christian, pp. 122-124

"Lord, give me the grace to withstand 'the saw, the hammer and the chisel.' I want the finished product; I often chafe under the process. I submit myself today to Your working. Amen."

December 1, 2010

Q: Did Jesus celebrate Chanukah?
A. See John 10: 22-23

Hanukkah: Is It Really a Minor Festival?
by Susan Perlman
Jews for Jesus

Rock of Ages, let our song Praise Thy saving power; Thou amidst the raging foes wast our shelt'ring tower. Furious they assailed us, But shine arm availed us, And Thy word broke their sword When our own strength failed us.

Maoz Tzur, Rock of Ages, is perhaps the most familiar anthem associated with Hanukkah celebrations. Though the hymn Rock of Ages refers to the Creator, somehow Hanukkah discussions are concerned with other things. Menorahs, latkes and dreydls seem to take priority over prayer to God in modern day expressions. Some say Hanukkah is nothing more than "the Jewish Christmas." Is this allegation true? Rabbi Emanuel Rackman, a professor of Jewish studies at the City University of New York, said:

"Our social, political and even intellectual existence is not isolated from Christianity, and since Christians celebrate one of their most important religious festivals during the month of December, the festival of Hanukkah donned overwhelming importance for Jews.

"Jews had to find some way in which they could place the accent upon their own identity. And Hanukkah was catapulted from the status of minor festival into one of great importance. We, too, have become involved in Hanukkah gifts, Hanukkah wrappers, Hanukkah parties, Hanukkah savings clubs…"

Herman Wouk, author of This is my God, a religious treatise, and many other works such as The Caine Mutiny and The Winds of War, is a Jewish existentialist. He seems to add some weight to Rabbi Rackman's appraisal:

It would be pleasant to believe that the stabbing relevance of Hanukkah to Jewish life in America has occasioned the swell of interest in the holiday. But a different and perfectly obvious cause is at work. By a total accident of timing, this minor Hebrew celebration falls close in the calendar year to a great holy day of the Christian faith. This coincidence has all but created a new Hanukkah…

Whereas Hanukkah is not one of the holidays prescribed by God for us to celebrate, the reason to celebrate it is not merely to pacify Jewish children who might feel deprived because Santa Claus doesn't deliver to Jewish homes. Hanukkah is a holiday to celebrate because it teaches something about God and His love for our people.

From the time of the Babylonian Exile, our people were under foreign domination. From 539 to 333 B.C.E., about two hundred years, we were subjects of the Persian Empire. This vast kingdom, included Syria to the north of Israel and Egypt, which is to the south. The Persians placed a governor in Israel who did not interfere much with the religious practices of our people. He was mainly concerned that we pay taxes to Persia and that we obey the Imperial civil laws. But it was the High Priest who was recognized as the representative of the people. He dealt with the Persian governor. And for the most part, there was little interference from the Emperor.

But the Persian government grew weak and vulnerable. Alexander and his formidable army conquered the Persians and under Greek rule, the system of government changed. Alexander died ten years later, and his kingdom was divided between many rulers, all of them Greek. These kingdoms were far from harmonious. Syria was under the Seleucids and Egypt under the Ptolemies. They were less than friendly to one another and Judea was caught between.

For the better part of the third century B.C.E., we were under the dominion of the Ptolemies. Unlike the Persians, no foreign governor was installed. Instead, the High Priest served as both political ruler and religious representative. Along with this greater measure of self-rule came a certain amount of pressure upon our people to adopt Greek culture and customs. This gave rise to political parties within Israel, some more disposed to the Greco-Syrians and others to the Greco-Egyptians. Wars were frequent. Eventually, Syria conquered the Jewish land. This meant more changes. The Seleucids were even more dedicated to establishing the Greek way of life amongst our people that the Ptolemies had been. Many Jews adopted Greek names. Jews began wearing togas. Even in Jerusalem, a gymnasium was erected and Greek games were introduced.

Antiochus IV, who called himself "Epiphanes" (the visible god) was the despised Syrian ruler. Acting as High Priest, was a hellenized Jew named Joshua, who had taken the Greek name Jason. Jason thought himself to be a moderate, but Antiochus wanted a more committed hellenist in his position and three years later, Menelaus (formerly Menachem) was installed as High Priest.

The Persians only wanted tribute. The Greek successors to Alexander, especially Antiochus IV, shared his vision and arrogant belief in the superiority of "the Greek way of life" called hellenism. While it is true that hellenism encouraged intellectual pursuits and a polite, highly civilized society, it nevertheless involved idolatry and exalted the wisdom of man. The hellenists had nothing but disdain for the Jewish religion and the Jewish way of life and they set about to "civilize" the people of Judea by forcing them into the Greek mold under Antiochus Epiphanes. Only those who would renounce the "old ways" could have a place in the idealized Greek society. The rest were treated like barbarians, enemies of the state. The practice of worshipping the God of Israel became a "crime."

During this time, many of our people were slain and the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was defiled. The golden altar, the candlesticks, all the gold and silver utensils were taken from the Temple. And to show his utter contempt for our religion, Antiochus sacrificed a sow in the Temple, offering it to the Greek god, Jupiter.

Meanwhile, war between Greek Egypt and Greek Syria continued. While Syria was advancing in its war with Egypt, Antiochus reluctantly withdrew in response to pressure from the Roman Senate. Judea then became the southern border of Syria. Wanting to keep the boundary with Egypt secure, he issued a decree for all the peoples in his kingdom demanding that they were to worship Grecian gods and to become Greeks. This was accepted by all Antiochus' subjects, all but the Jews. Our rejection of hellenism infuriated the Syrian king and we read in I Maccabees of the persecution that ensued:

The Books of the Law which they (the hellenists) found, they tore into pieces and burned. Wherever a book of the covenant was found in anyone's possession, or if anyone respected the Law, the decree of the king imposed the sentence of death upon him. Month after month, they dealt brutally with every Israelite who was found in the cities…In accordance with the decree, they put to death the women who had circumcised their children, hanging the newborn babies around their necks; and they also put to death their families as well as those who had circumcised them…

Some Jews fled from the cities to the hills of Judea, forming themselves into bands of guerrilla fighters. They were faithful to the God of Israel and would not assimilate into Greek culture and idolatry. One such group was led by a family of priests from the town of Modin, near Jerusalem. They were called Hasmoz scans, though no one seems to know how that name came about. Unlike the other bands of Jewish resistance fighters, the leader Mattathais and his five sons believed that for self-defense purposes, it was permissible to fight on the Sabbath. Until this time, the Greeks could prevail simply by attacking on the Sabbath. This guerrilla company was valiantly successful in its skirmishes with the Syrian soldiers. They grew in numbers and in the ability to fight. According to the account in the extra-biblical writings, Mattathais died within a year and his son Judah took charge. He was given the nickname, "Maccabee" which means "hammer." It was said that he was God's hammer to smash the Syrians. History and legend seem interwoven, but as best as we can piece it together, after three years of fighting, the Hasmoneans, under the leaddership of Judah Maccabee, vanquished the Syrians in Jerusalem and set about to purify the Temple. The altar which had been defiled with the sacrifice of pigs was dismantled and a new one built. New holy vessels were crafted. A date was set for the rededication of the Temple—the 25th of Kislev, the same day on which, three years earlier, Antiochus had issued his decree.

When Judah dedicated the Temple, only one vessel of sanctified oil was found—enough for one day. Miraculously, it burned for eight days. This is remembered by the kindling of lights for eight days. A special lamp, the menorah, is used.

It is the event of the dedication of the Temple in 165 B.C.E. which Jews around the world commemorate each year in the festival called Hanukkah. While some today maintain that Hanukkah is a minor festival, elevated only by the presence of Christmas in the same season, it was certainly important to Jews before the time of Jesus and yes, even during the first century for Jesus Himself celebrated the Festival of Hanukkah.

We read in the Gospel of John, a reference to Hanukkah:

Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the Temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. (John 10:22-23)

They celebrated Hanukkah, not as a potato latkes party, but as a solemn time to remember the rededication of the Temple. It became a national festival, as well. The spirit was similar to Independence Day in the U.S., only the character of the feast was religious, not secular. It was observed with ceremonies resembling the Feast of Booths, accompanied by the offering of many sacrifices.

After the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, many Jews apparently lost their zeal for celebrating Hanukkah. It is ironic, that it is those who believe in Jesus, Jews and Gentiles, who can see more significance in this celebration of God's faithfulness. For those of us who believe in Jesus, believe His words, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." (John 2:19)

Jesus was, by these words, speaking of himself as the Temple, the place of sacrifice, and the Holy altar. He was telling the people that while he would be destroyed physically, he would rise from the dead, that the Temple of God might never be defiled again, might never be made rubble. But, instead would stand for all eternity.

Today, Hanukkah is often called "the Festival of Lights." In Josephus' writings, we find no mention of the term "Hanukkah." Instead, he says, "From that time onward unto this day we celebrate the festival calling it 'Lights'" (Antiquities 12:325). His explanation for the name is that the right to serve God came to the people unexpectedly, like a sudden light.

It is interesting to note that it is traditional to have a shammos candle as part of the Hanukkah menorah. This candle is in addition to the eight candles. "Shammos" means servant. One of the reasons given for having this extra candle is that it can be used to light the others. The eight candies receive their light from the one. It's role is to serve. The writer of this article believes that the shammos can be regarded as a visual symbol of Jesus, who gives light to all who allow themselves to shine for God. He said of himself, "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28) We also read, that he was the true light, "…that gives light to every man." (John 1:9)

In a sense, Rabbi Rackman was correct in saying that in light of Christmas, Hanukkah "was catapulted from the status of minor festival into one of great importance." It is true that the event of the birth of Jesus gives added understanding of Hanukkah as the "Festival of Lights" as well as the "Feast of Dedication," for those who have come to know the Light of the world himself, can enter the holy place by his priestly offering (See Hebrews 9 and 10).

This Hanukkah, instead of competing with Christmas or perpetuating nothing more than a cultural expression, why not remember the Temple and the Light of Life?

-- Susan Perlman is the first assistant to the Executive Director of Jews for Jesus and oversees the organization's multimedia outreach.

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