Palm Sunday

One of the greatest joys of my Christian life has been the memorizing of Scripture. It’s harder now that I am getting older, but scores of the verses I memorized earlier come back again and again to give me strength and insight. I would have to say that one of the biggest mistakes of my following Christ is to not be diligent in hiding the Word of God in my heart (Psalm 119:9-10). I hope all of my readers will consider these verses with a new intensity.

I memorized a new verse recently that ties into the celebration of Palm Sunday … that day 2000 year ago when Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem to the praise of hallelujahs of thousands. Only a few days later these same voices would cry for His crucifixion!

Zechariah 9:9 says, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you; He is just and brings salvation, He is humble, riding on a donkey …”

Think of the humility of God … coming to us not at the head of an army dressed in splendor, but in the common everyday cloths on a donkey! Even earlier, John the Baptist announced Jesus as the Lamb of God, the humble, sacrificial lamb!

Yet all true Christians know that someday Christ will again return to earth, not meekly or humbly seeking our attention, but as reigning, triumphant, conquering King. He will judge and put right the veil of selfishness of all mankind.

I picked up the newspaper this morning and almost despaired as I read page after page reporting human failure. I almost wept as I saw story after story of evil, hurt, wounds, murder, injustice and hopelessness. Will men and women ever learn that they cannot conquer that which destroys them without the power of God?

Yes, Jesus came to earth first as a lamb. But the Scripture clearly declares that He will come for a second visit, this time as a victorious lion rather than as a suffering and patient lamb.

Fight on, those of you who love the Master! Jesus and His church may look like a lamb for the present, but let me assure you, the day of the lion is coming!! I especially like to think about that on Palm Sunday!!

Choosing the “Good Part”

It’s again time for … the days of family vacations, trips to Grandma’s and trips to the lake. One of the typically recurring questions asked on every family trip by at least one of the children at least half a dozen times is, “Where are we?” It’s not too difficult to recall the look on the child’s face as he awakens from his backseat nap only to realize that he doesn’t know where he is.

This issue of were we are seems to be very pertinent in these days. How often do we hear the question asked, “Where are you going to be if I need to get in touch with you?” Most of us tend to reel off an answer rather quickly feeling assured that we know where we are and where we’re going, and we don’t have time to wait around answering rhetorical questions. Instead, we need to run the laundry, pick up the kids, go to the bakery, run by the doctor’s office, prepare the talk for the civic club and, after it is all finished, take a moment to relax before we start again.

We rarely stop to think that this “rhetorical question” that we let slip so often should be subjected to greater scrutiny. In chapter 10, verses 38-42 of the Gospel of Luke, Luke gives us a good picture of where we ought to be! The passage begins with Jesus being received into the home of two sisters. One sister, Martha, scurries about attempting to make preparations for Jesus. We can imagine her trying so hard to get everything just so right and just so good. Meanwhile, Mary, Martha’s sister, has decided to sit down at the feet of Jesus. Martha continues her frantic preparation and then in verse 40 we catch a glimpse of a very interesting occurrence, one that each of us must see about once a day. We catch a glimpse of anxiety in Martha as she gets mad at Mary for not helping to get all these “important preparations” taken care of. She calls out to Jesus trying to get at Mary through Him. At this point, Jesus answers Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only a few things are necessary, really only one; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Where are you? If you aren’t seated at the feet of Christ, then you’re probably like Martha – “worried and bothered about so many things” when only one thing is really necessary. You’re probably spending so much time trying to do right that you don’t have time to be right.

Where are you? If you feel like you’re on a roller coaster that seems to have no end of it, if you feel like you’re chasing rabbits in the desert, then STOP! Remember where you ought to be! If you already have a seat at the feet of Christ, stay put! If you aren’t at the feet of Christ, come and take a seat; there is more than enough room for everyone!

The Bullet of Significance: The Good Life, Part 2

A man’s quality of living is directly proportionate to his priorities. In the last analysis, how well you live is simply a question of priorities. We must face up to the fact that one can’t do everything. There are thousands of options open to all of us – things to be involved in, many of them good, many of them bad … civic work, politics, leisure, travel, hobbies, athletics, business, clubs, crime, self-indulgence, etc. The question is, which investment really gives life?

It is at this point that Jesus Christ steps in and says to all who will listen, “Follow Me, and I will give you the best seventy years you could possibly spend.” After all, it is not how many years you pack into your life that counts, but how much life you pack into your years! Jesus Christ is the world’s greatest expert on life. He takes the sweat out of living. Knowing that we Christians have eternal life and will live forever takes the panic out of trying to cram everything into seventy years! It we listen to Christ, He will give us a package deal for an adventurous and exciting existence. It will only happen if God is our first priority! It’s essential that a person be honest about priorities!

The Bullet of Significance: The Good Life, Part 1

An old Chinese proverb says that a man can’t carry two melons in one hand. In other words, there are some things a man simply can’t do. One of our greatest frustrations as humans is knowing that we are so limited in our abilities and our time. How can we get the most and best out of our years? How can we be sure we’re committing our life in the best possible way?

It is amazing that so many of us live as though we have forever! All of us waste hours upon hours in doing things that produce low returns. We see so many movies, take so many trips, watch so many football games, etc. But what does it really add to our quality of life? There are about 8,760 hours in the year and with one-third spent in sleeping, and another one-third in eating and working, what we do with the remaining 2,920 is critical. It is impossible in sixty or seventy years of life to cram in 100 years of living. We need to remember that life doesn’t begin at forty for those who “went sixty” when they were twenty.

One of the most arresting things that Jesus Christ ever said is recorded in Matthew 6:33 … “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things needful will be added to you.” In this passage the Son of God makes the absolute statement that if we concern ourselves with the reality Big Issue, all the other little issues will resolve themselves. In no uncertain terms Jesus says that God is the Big Issue. He is “The First Priority.”

Things to Think On

All of us benefit from great thoughts that challenge our lives. Here are a few of the goodies that have kept me going through the years! Enjoy!

• You will never get closer to God by choosing as your best friends those people who are running from God.


• It is not how many years you pack into your life, but how much life you pack into your years that is important.


• A man’s greatness is not measured by what he accomplishes, but by what he OVERCOMES in order to accomplish it.


• You are free to make any choice you want, but you are not free from the consequences of the choice.


• If you can’t see God in everything you probably can’t see God in anything.


• An individual who spends his life wrapped up in himself has nothing to share but his problems.


• A God who cares cannot be represented by people who don’t.


• What God is teaching me is more important than what happens to me.


• Freedom is not the right to do what you want to do, but the power to do what you ought to do.


• The degree to which I experience Christ, is the degree to which He possesses me.


• We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.


• People can be divided into three groups: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened.

Paul tells it (Philippians 2:5) that they should have the same mind that Jesus Christ had. If all of us would think like the above, we’d take a big step in that direction. Let’s check our thinking.

Thinking, the Defining Trait of Humanity

If there were any one word that could come close to characterizing man, it would probably be thinking ... thinking man. Even in a world of constant change and fast pace rat races, one thing that always seems the same is that man continues to think. Whether it’s thoughts of what to do this weekend or where to go on vacation, it doesn’t matter. The thinking process continues.

Thinking is so commonplace that all too often we take it for granted. But, in this modern age of computers and such, thinking needs to be reconsidered. In this computer age, the mind is often compared to the computer. This analogy is not so far-fetched. Consider a computer. It can spit out that which has been fed into it. This feeding, so to speak, is called programming. A computer can only regurgitate the facts that have been programmed into it. If the computer is fed historical facts, it will yield historical facts. The mind, much like the computer, tends to regurgitate only that which has been fed into it. If your mind has been fed trash, it will yield trash. If your mind has been fed honesty, it will yield honesty. The sad thing is that the analogy can go no further. Even though a computer is fed junk and yields junk, it will still only be a computer. But the way that a mind is programmed determines what a mind thinks, “… as a man thinks, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7). In other words, the trash that we program into our minds is what we think about. What we think about determines our actions. In essence, we are what we think. If you spend all your time watching and listening to trash, it’s not surprising that it eventually becomes a part of you. That’s how you’re programmed: trash in – trash out!

To alter the read-out from a computer, you have to alter the input. With our minds, to alter the read-out, i.e., our thoughts and actions, it is necessary to alter the input. But how can we alter our input? The Apostle Paul on two separate occasions commented on the proper programming of our minds. In Colossians 3:2, Paul says, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” In other words, Paul is telling us to re-program our minds. In Philippians 4:8, Paul gives a more precise illustration of what our minds should be programmed on. As he states, “… whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

If you feel like you have a one track mind to nowhere, or if you feel like your mind is in the gutter, start examining your program. You may be feeding your mind trash and thus, you’re merely reaping what you’ve sown. It’s time to re-program! Set your mind on things that are above. It’ll make a world of difference.

Listen Up!

In the last few years there has been a great deal of discussion about pollution of every sort, and rightly so. The facet of this problem which I find most interesting is noise pollution. We are told by the experts that the collection of noises one encounters daily can cause all sorts of problems. For instance, noise makes one nervous. In fact, it is suggested that the dinner table be a quiet place, for noise can bring about poor digestion. We are told that teenagers who listen to excessively loud noises often suffer hearing loss. Noise is just not healthy.

It is interesting to note that when God inspired King David to write Psalm 46 roughly three thousand years ago, the problem of “noise pollution” was mentioned. The first part of verse ten reads, “Be still and know that I am God.”

The problem then, as now, was noise. For you see, man knows whether or not his relationship to the Father is what it should be. This is one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit … to convict (or tell) man of his sin (the cause of his fractured relationship with the Father). You and I don’t always want to hear this. We all know people who hear only what they want to hear and block out what they don’t like. Well, we oftentimes are like this with God. He speaks and since we can’t ignore Him, we try to drown Him out!

When we are alone we automatically turn on the radio or TV. We don’t like for it to be quiet. But God, in His concern for each one of us, says “be still,” or turn off all that noise so you can hear Me and then you will know or realize that I am God. I AM who I say I AM, and by virtue of this fact (not fable as some noise makers want to believe), I promise to be all you need if you’ll but listen and act on what I say.

One of the most refreshing experience of existence is to stop in the middle of all our frustration, perplexity, confusion and doubts and take time to listen to God. Jesus Christ didn’t come from Heaven and live on earth to keep us guessing about God’s purpose and power for our lives. Listen to Him!

If the noise of the world is creeping up on you, why not start listening to God? I can assure you He’s got something to say just for you.

The Bullet of Significance: Balance

Our life is one of extremes! Some days we are up and some days we are down! But, a mature individual lives most of his life between these two extremes. He is a balanced man. He knows about the bad but he keeps seeking the good!

Two of the greatest personalities of the Bible had their moments when they wanted to die … the Prophet Elijah in I Kings 19:4 and the Apostle Paul in II Corinthians 1:8-9.

As I write these lines today I have never felt better! My joy is complete! Yet, I know darker and more difficult times are still ahead of me. As a Christian, though, I know every testing, every agony, every hurt will leave me a better man if I keep my eyes on the truth of God. We need to remember that God tested Abraham and He will test us (Genesis 22:1). The man who conquers is the one who “doesn’t let his defeats defeat him.”

An old story tells us of a writer who was commissioned to write a motto that would work in every situation … good or bad! He came up with this piece of wisdom all of us quote … “This too shall pass!”

The Bible teaches us that every lesson in life comes to teach us two things … that there is only one true God and that, in the last analysis, He alone is able to meet our deepest needs!

The Bullet of Witness: Walk, Talk and Time

How does one spot a real Christian? The only way to authentically evaluate a person’s talk and walk is to watch it over a period of time. I’m not talking about days but months and years.

Anyone can fake his actions for a little while! Anyone can talk big in the brevity of the untested moment! But only the real Christian can put his talk and walk together over a period of years!

Real Christianity is not a sprint but a long distance run! Faith is not real unless it lasts. Even the most sincere, dedicated and earnest Christian doesn’t become perfect overnight. Time is necessary to learn the inescapable fact that faith is not a temporary crutch but a life-long relationship.

It takes years to grow a great and noble life. Experience comes only with time. Quality isn’t instantaneous. We shouldn’t be surprised or discouraged by the temporary failures of those who claim to be Christians. Give them the benefit of the doubt! Love them! Encourage them! But before you decide if they are real Christians – give it some time! Lots of time!

Real Christians, sooner or later, get their talk and walk together. They will rise to the top. When they do, it will be worth the wait!

A popular wine producer once boasted that, “they will serve no wine before its time.” With due reverence, let me suggest, that God has the same idea! He is growing some real Christians! It’s our own fault if we insist on “tasting” His workmanship before He says it’s ready!