Category: Faith

Running Uphill . . . to the Finish Line

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Faith, Health, Running, Trials, Uncategorized

My son-in-law and I have basically owned the Tweetsie Trail this summer for our morning run.  The beautiful scenery, friendly bikers, walkers and runners, beautiful wildlife, the nostalgia, pristine quiet, and the desire to stay healthy and prepare for periodic races calls us out three to four times a week.  Our routine is to run from Johnson City to Elizabethton at different distances as my training is currently maxed out for 10Ks while Andrew is preparing for a half-marathon.  Recently, I said, “Let’s change our routine and run from Elizabethton to Johnson City.  Well, I was greeted with a startling fact . . . the trail is predominately an uphill grade.

Our last run really took it out of me, and I was a bit defeated because running is such a challenge to me.  Upon sharing my thoughts via texting with Andrew, he said, “The second you feel defeated, you fail.  Sounds like the Christian life.”  He is right.

Running is such a mind game.  Correct thinking is so crucial.  In most instances, you can run farther than your mind tells you.  There you are, your legs are burning a bit, your lungs grasping for air, and your mind saying, “Just go ahead and quit.  You know it’s too hard to finish. You just don’t have it.”  That’s when you have to think the truth, remind yourself about things you have learned from running, and take another drink as well as another step.  You really don’t want to listen to yourself.

The Christian life is often uphill as well.  Every day presents you with battles that begin with putting your feet on the floor first thing in the morning.   Once that happens, you are “off to the races.”  How needful it is to think biblically from the first thought of the morning.  So often when we start the Tweetsie Trail, one of us will say, “What a beautiful day to run.  Praise the Lord!”  Starting your day thinking the Word and then throughout the day reminding yourself of the Word will help you climb the next hill.  It is so important that we do not listen to ourselves but rather preach the Word to ourselves.

I for one will tell you that one of the best parts of running is the finish.  There is such an exhilarated rush when you are done.  So here’s some truths to begin your day that will get you to the finish line… even if its uphill.

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.  (Lamentations 3:21-26)

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39).

Omnipotence or Organic

by Dale, posted in Faith, God's Word

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Recently while shopping with my wife at a local grocery store, she opened one of the doors of the refrigerated section, reached for a product marked “organic” and placed it in her cart.  As she did so, I saw that she never questioned the product label or the contents in the carton.  She simply trusted, without reservation, that the lettuce in that plastic container marked “organic” was truly organic and was a green leafy lettuce.  I looked at Denise and said, “You know, many people trust labels at the grocery store more than the promises of God’s Word.”

When you are in the midst of a trial or in need of a big answer to prayer or wisdom for an important decision, do you really believe that God will do what He says?  Do you preach the truth to yourself and say, “That’s truth; that’s right; I accept it; I will live right now in its promise.” When you think of it, if you reach for a product marked “organic” and never question it, but you might question the promises of God, you have just put more faith in man than God.  You have put more faith in the product than the Eternal Producer, Creator.

Seriously, let’s take God at His Word as quickly and assuredly as we would reach for a product on the shelf.  By the way, there is no “shelf life” to the promises of God.  They are eternal!

Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart (Proverbs 3:5).

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 11:7-8)

This-n-That: Living in These Last Days

by Dale, posted in Faith, God's Word, Heaven, Hope, Prayer, Sin, The Gospel

Tuesday, I spent the better part of the day in the midst of the Tennessee Legislature.  As I met with our state senator and representatives, I left with an encouraged, but burdened heart.  These elected officials work in the midst of outright temptation of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). At times, I could sense the oppression just lurking around the corner.  Yet, that is the world we live in. How should we live in these days of apostasy, debauchery, and decline?  Jude 20-21 gives us a clear remedy:

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

  1. Build

Your most holy faith is the body of absolute truth found only in the plenary, inerrant, inspired Word of God.  All the enemies of Truth will tempt you to turn away from the Truth, to doubt the Truth and to become cynical of the Truth.  Just as tall superstructures are built upon a solid foundation, we as believers must build an edification superstructure of truth that will stand the temptations of Satan, the world, and the flesh.  This is a daily construction need until God calls us Home.

  1. Pray

What a great need this is—praying in the Holy Spirit!!  Just as building is present tense, so is this verb praying.  If we are to accomplish God’s work, God’s way, and in God’s power at home, church, school, government, and work, we must habitually pray according to the Scriptures as the Spirit prompts us (Romans 8:26-27; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 6:18).   There, we will find wisdom and direction in the face of this declension.

  1. Love

What does it mean to stay in the love of God when I know God loves me eternally and unconditionally (1 John 4:7-19)?  You keep yourself in the love of God by walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:9-10).   When you walk in His love, you will not be distracted by evil.  Love combats the cold onslaught of Satan and apostasy and keeps your heart warm, tender, and zealous for God, His people and the Truth (2 Corinthians 5:14)!

  1. Look

Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life reminds us to keep looking ahead, to keep our attention fixed on the soon return of Christ!  Mercy is me not getting what I deserve as a sinner (Romans 3:23), which is hell, because Christ is my substitute on the cross, the payment for my sins (1 John 2:1-2).  Therefore, I am not saved by my good works (Ephesians 2:8-9) but by Christ’s perfect work.  Therefore, I am secure in Christ and can look to eternity with great assurance (Ephesians 1-2).

So, in the midst of these last days of bad news, corrupt government, lawlessness, fear, pain, sorrow, apostasy and world upheaval, live out Jude 20-21.  You will exchange your burdened heart for an encouraged one.  Build, pray, love and look!

 

Additional study:  How is eternity in hell a fair punishment for sin?

The Making of a Man: Adventurous Dave & Mike

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Discipleship, Faith, Men, Missions

Most men love adventure!  Whether it’s the quest to run and complete a 50K, to climb and repel a sheer rock wall, to soar through a canyon like a bird (Wingsuit – Base Jumping Video), or thread the Bonsai Pipeline and all with a GoPro camera, I’m sure each of your have your definition of adventure!

We had the privilege of hosting two men of adventure this past weekend at our local church.  One man, Dave, left a comfortable position in West Virginia to move his family without the promise of full financial support to a larger city, Raleigh, North Carolina, to start a church in the inner city near North Carolina State University.  The other man, Mike, left the comfortable confines of Florida, doing what he loved, and moved to southern Spain for several years.  While there, he learned the Spanish language and helped to plant churches while raising a family of four.  Seven years ago, he moved to the Basque country of northern Spain to an area steeped in tradition and a completely different language.  Once again, to help a church and serve in an already established ministry among the Basque people as well as other internationals.  Both of these men are just ordinary men who have given their lives to Christ, a life of adventure of faith and courage.  Trusting daily for the supply of God’s grace and watching the Lord always provide spiritually, mentally, socially, financially, and emotionally.

You want adventure?  Give your life as a disciple to completely follow Christ!  Jesus said as recorded in Luke 14:26-27, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”  A disciple of Christ . . .

  • Risks his life for Christ.
  • Walks by faith in Christ.
  • Lives by the Word of Christ.
  • Give his life to proclaim and pursue Christ.
  • Goes wherever Christ leads him to go.
  • Trusts his life to Christ for now and eternity.
  • Suffers and stands for the cause of Christ.
  • Learns of Christ “while sitting at his feet.”
  • Bears the cross and the reproach of Christ.
  • Serves all for the sake of Christ.
  • Willingly surrenders his family to Christ.
  • Give his all to Christ.
  • Lives for the day he will see Christ.
  • Prepares for the day when he will stand before Christ.

Now, men, that’s a life of adventure!  That’s a life filled with purpose! And your Servant Leader, Conqueror, Shepherd, King, Armor, and Captain of your salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ, always leads you in His triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14)!!  And He records it all on His eternal “GoPro” in order to reward you one day at the greatest moment of your life outside of your personal salvation!

So today, if you are men who have been truly born again (John 1:14; 3:16; 14:6), then let’s join Dave and Mike and live a life of adventure with Christ!  The rush of base jumping, kayaking, running, or other extreme sports can be satisfying and fun, but it only last for a short while.  Adventure for Christ lasts a lifetime, is every day, and has eternal rewards! Are you ready for some real adventure?

A God-Ordained Cancer Journey

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Church, Death, Faith, Hope, Prayer

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To hear the diagnosis of cancer is like trying to hold on in the midst of an 8.0 earthquake.  The sounds of that word sends rippling emotional effects through your mind and body as well on upon all those around you.  Imagine what effect it would have on a congregation when they find out that their relatively young pastor has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Such is the case of Oak Ridge Baptist Church, Oak Ridge, TN.  Pastor Tom Craig is weakening physically day-by-day, yet in the midst of it all, ORBC, along with the Craig family are being strengthened moment-by-moment by the awesome grace of God.

One the members of ORBC, Brad Zockoll, has been giving us a very transparent glimpse into this church’s journey with their dear, beloved pastor.  Today, I share with you the link, august-week-5-the-hollowness-of-cancer.  Please take the time to read Brad’s comments from Week 5 as well as the prior posts.

Intercede for Tom & Kim and the congregation of ORBC.  Learn from them as you read these posts.  Praise God for them and with them.

Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life (Psalm 119:49-50).

What an Adventure!

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Faith, Men
Last night while eating supper in a local Lawrenceburg, Indiana, restaurant, I had no problem hearing the conversation of five men at a nearby table. They, too, were out-of-towners and in the area on business. Their ego level was at a fevered pitch! They were doing what men love to do—talk about their exploits, their trips, their adventures, their accomplishments—and all accompanied with laughter and big words (fortunately no swearing)!! Now, before I go any further, I am a man, and the point of this blog is not a negative swipe at my own kind! Easy now.
As I overheard bits and pieces of their triumphs, my mind was drawn to the greatest adventure of life; the most daring of all exploits; the trip of all trips; the primo race of life—–living as a sold-out follower of Jesus Christ who walks by faith and not by sight! As you read Hebrews 12:1, your mind is set on the great cloud of witnesses. Then the writer takes you to the summit, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). We are exhorted to continually keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, turning from all other distractors. He is the Author, Originator, Leader, Guide, Pioneer, and Finisher, Perfecter, End, Completer, Goal of our faith. As the NLT translates it, Jesus, on Whom our faith depends from start to finish. Where all others failed, Jesus succeeded! Jesus conquered sin, death and hell! He is now seated at the Father’s right hand, the place of ultimate authority, the place of full joy, the place of eternal pleasures!

We are running a race that has already been won! We are following in the footsteps of the Ultimate Champion! He is our Supreme Reward! Even in the worst of times, we can walk by faith and not by sight because the Captain of our salvation is the Leader and Completer of the Faith and our faith. You will be misunderstood, mocked, maligned, and misjudged, but preach the Gospel, stand for Christ, go where He calls you, stand tall for Him, go against the humanistic current, lead your family for Christ, pray boldly, sing loudly, study the Word fervently, give freely, and live by faith!!!!! Now, that’s adventure living!!!

By Faith

 

He Is

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Faith, Praise & Worship

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

27 years ago today, my wife and I held the lifeless, still born body of our precious baby girl, Ashley Marie.  Last night I sat at the kitchen table of a grieving family as they recounted precious memories of their beloved dad who entered the glories of Heaven on Sunday after a 100 year sojourn here on earth. As I typed this blog, I received a text requesting prayer for a relative who has liver cancer.  Yesterday morning and afternoon, I spent lengthy amounts of time with two broken-hearted husbands whose marriages have dissolved in recent weeks. What kept us going through those days of trial, tears, and questions?  What will enable these other folks to press on in spite of their circumstances?  Here’s the answer: HE IS

Victory For Prayer

by Dale, posted in Faith, Prayer

Last week, my wife and I had the joy of attending the Spiritual Leadership Conference 2014, Lancaster, CA.  Every service and every workshop was a gift from the Lord to worship and be trained.  Tuesday evening’s service was a tribute to the power of prayer and courage as the mayor and city council of Lancaster, CA, were recognized as well as the freedom legal counsel for their part in a recent Supreme Court Ruling.

In 2009, the City of Lancaster was sued for opening city council meetings in prayer.  Rather than bowing to the pressure of this liberal organization, as many other cities have done, Mayor Rex Parris (pictured above) and the city council took a stand for prayer.  The lawsuit spanned for more than two years and was argued in two courtrooms.

On July 12, 2011, the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles ruled in favor of the City of Lancaster.  On November 8, 2012, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals also ruled in favor of the City of Lancaster, upholding the right of religious leaders to invoke the name of Jesus when opening meetings in prayer.

In a 5-4 ruling announced May 5, 2014, the Supreme Court of the United States held that opening prayers in open government meetings was not in violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.  This applies, according to the court, even if the prayers are overwhelming Christian.  Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the court, “The inclusion of a brief, ceremonial prayer as part of a larger exercise in civic recognition suggests that its purpose and effect are to acknowledge religious leaders and the institutions they represent, rather than to exclude or coerce non-believers.”

When determining whether or not prayers must be generic or so general that no one would be offended, Justice Kennedy said, “The First Amendment is not a majority rule, and government many not seek to define permissible categories of religious speech.  Once it invites prayer into the public sphere, government must permit a prayer-giver to address his or her own God or gods as conscious dictates.”

May I encourage you to pray much for your governmental leaders?  Do not have a “well let’s just fold up the tents and go bury ourselves in the sand” attitude!!  As long as we are on earth, we can pray and spread the gospel because of our Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, seated at God’s right hand! Let’s be courageous on our knees and on our feet!

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (1 Timothy 2:1-5).

Information Source:  Spiritual Leadership Conference 2014 Material; Baptist Bible Tribune, June 2014

Giving Living & A Million Dollar Bull

by Dale, posted in Faith, Giving

Yesterday I had the privilege of hearing about God’s provision for a missionary project near Monterrey, Mexico.  For several years, a local camp has been rented by a missionary for various kinds of camping ministries.  The camp, owned by the Presbyterian Church of America, was ready to sell their property.  This dear missionary brother had heard the land was already sold, so he went to inquire concerning the facts.  He quickly found out that the camp was still up for sale for $150,000.  They said, “We want you to buy it.”  The missionary drew up an offer for $120,000 with some time stipulations so he could pray the money down.  The PCA accepted his proposal.

Shortly thereafter, the missionary visited a church in Louisiana that gave him $1,000.  From there he headed to Idaho where he presented his camp need to a local congregation on a Sunday night. Afterwards, a gentlemen walked up to him and said, “I want to help with this camp purchase.  I have to go home and dig up the money.”  With that he turned around and walked away.  His wife said, “You may think he was being funny, but he doesn’t trust the banks.  He is going home to literally dig up the money.”  That night the church gave this dear brother an offering of $1,000 for the purchase.

The following Wednesday, this missionary brother traveled further north to a very small town where his faith was further stretched.  He admitted when he read the town’s welcome sign that announced a population of just over 600 that “I won’t be getting much here tonight for the camp.”  While he was preaching that evening, a man walked into the back of the church, waved at the missionary and placed an envelope in an offering plate near the backdoor.  With that, he departed.  After the service, the missionary retrieved the envelope and opened it up to find $10,000 in large bills.  The gift was from the man who had “dug it up” and travelled to the church that night to give it to the missionary.  Later on that evening, another man came up to the missionary and said, “I own a million dollar bull.  I tithe off that bull, and I have an offering above my tithe for you that will help you with the camp.”  That bull produced $68,000 in a love gift for the missionary!!  As of today, this dear servant of the Lord has seen the Lord provide $92,000 of the needed $120,000. As he said yesterday, “I am not begging.  I’m just presenting the need and watching the Lord provide.”

Indeed, it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)!  That church in Louisiana, the two in Idaho, that man who dug up his offering, and the farmer with his bull (as well as others who have given) are blessed people today!!  They are joyful people (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).  They gave to the Lord, and His work by sufficient grace!  Hoarders of what belongs to God never have giving joy.  If you won’t give, God may use a bull to get it done!!   Is there anything too hard for our God?