A long time ago, in a land far away, lived a good and kindly king whose land was devastated by a curse brought on by a sinister warlock named Pride. He would appear here and there throughout the kingdom stirring up trouble among the king’s subjects. He would see a couple of people working together and he would stir up anger in the one because the other wasn’t carrying his share of the load. Someone else would be blessed with a harvest and another would be envious enough to steal it for himself. People were disheartened and depressed and nobody trusted his neighbor.

The king was saddened that his people were so troubled and he asked all of his wise men what could be done to remedy the situation. They counseled together night and day but even they were under the curse of Pride and could not come up with something that everyone would agree upon. Pride was having his way and so he brought others to help him destroy the kingdom.

Jealousy and Envy visited every home. Anger and Hatred showed their ugly faces on every street. People were becoming violent toward one another and the kingdom grew darker and darker all the time. Finally, in the counsel of the king’ chambers, a suggestion was made.

“I believe that the king should remain in his citadel, with a guard protecting him around the clock.”

This of course, would mean that no one would see the king again. Even though the people were becoming more and more hard and insensitive, whenever the king would visit the people, there would be some reprieve from the curse. So, from time to time, the king would send messengers out with a word of good will for the people.

Nevertheless, the counsel agreed and the vote was unanimous. They took their suggestion to the king and urged him to sign it into law. The king was devastated. He loved the people so, and now his counsel was suggesting that he no longer venture out into the streets until some order could be restored and his safety insured. He signed the suggestion into law on one provision; if another suggestion, or another way, could prove more suitable for a remedy, then he granted himself the right to repeal the law.

The days grew darker and the people became meaner. Everyone was gossiping and spreading rumors. “Where was the king?” they would ask. “Doesn’t he care about us at all?” There was even a rumor spread around the villages that the king had died and that was the reason why no one has seen him lately.

Pride and his cohorts moved freely about the kingdom and thought for sure that everyone would soon succumb to their way of life. This would mean the total destruction of the kingdom at last.

“I want you to find a man to replace the king.” Pride ordered his legion. “I know just the man.” Suggested one. “No, let’s assemble a committee of them to rule. This will insure trouble.” Suggested another.

Finally, Arrogance stepped forward and volunteered his services. “I will find someone suitable for our needs. I will find him, instruct him and never leave him, until our goal is met.” The demonic horde snarled with glee, knowing that Arrogance would not fail.

To be continued…

Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim

Thanksgiving is only four days away and I am gearing up to sit before that feast of delectable delights. I picture myself now sitting before this plate of harvest, thankful for what God has afforded and blessed me with. I have never had a problem thanking God for where I am and for what I have –because it is only through Him that I have received anything. I truly believe that if God wouldn’t have had mercy on me when He did –I would be in big trouble right now! So, I have no problem with thankfulness!

If trophies were given out for being thankful I am sure that I would have one. Okay, maybe I wouldn’t get a trophy for humility but… I am thankful that there are not any trophies for humility! Hey, I am thankful that I am thankful. I can’t imagine going through this life, as hard as it is, and not enjoying some of it, and isn’t that one of the benefits of thankfulness?

Thankfulness brings enjoyment to life. Being thankful lightens the heart and causes worry to flee. It speaks that God cares for you and it allows you to see opportunity in the midst of adversity. Thankfulness sets out the welcome mat of the heart and opens the door for the King. It sets our worship in the right perspective and makes all the roads of our life lead to Zion.

I have a new beatitude; blessed are the thankful, because they are thankful. I know, it’s a circular argument but it is true, the thankful are blessed, and they are blessed because, they are thankful!

Now, I am not just talking about thanking God here and there or, for this blessing or that. I hear people all the time thank God for things while living their lives in the mully-grubs. They are sad people. People who feel that the world still owes them. Things are okay with them, but “they could always be better.” They are usually looking to receive and it seems that they are always blind to the opportunities to give.

Hey, there’s a novel idea; being thankful for the opportunity to give. We are all thankful to receive, but can we be just as thankful to give. I am thankful for what God has blessed me with. Can I be just as thankful for what He has blessed my neighbor with?

That is the heart of the truly thankful. I remember a story about the time Matthew Henry was robbed. He went home that night thanking God that his life was spared, that he had money to give and… that it happened to him and not another. True thankfulness sets the heart free and breaks the bonds of selfishness.

True thankfulness looks beyond the horizons of “me” and blazes trails into the hearts of others. The reason God doesn’t bless some folks more often is because they’re so stinking stingy! When God blesses His children and then watches those same children bless others… I’m telling you that He will be quick to bless again.

Try this little exercise; the next time God blesses you and after you thank Him for that blessing; thank God for blessing someone else. And if you cannot think of someone being recently blessed –change that, and go out and bless someone for yourself. Then you will really experience thanksgiving for the other guy.

I think this is what Paul was alluding to when he exhorted us to prefer one another over ourselves. I can be happy for me, but it’s far better to be happy for someone else.

Nine-year-old Johnny was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. “Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses in behind enemy lines on a rescue mission. He was to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. They escaped at night and traveled as far as the Red Sea.

The Egyptian Army was closing in fast, so Moses ordered his engineers to build a pontoon bridge over the sea. After all the Israelites had walked over the bridge and were safely on the other side, Moses called in to headquarters and ordered an air strike to the bridge. All the Israelites were saved but the Egyptian army drowned in the water.”

Without even looking up, Johnny’s mother said, “Now Johnny, is that really what your teacher told you?” “Well, no,” Johnny said sheepishly. “But if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it!”

Have you ever found yourself in Johnny’s shoes; you know, trying to explain away some supernatural event in the Bible? You know you believe it (at least you’re pretty sure) but as you get deeper into the account you sense that you need to help God out here a little bit to explain the unbelievable.

Your hearer is raising an eyebrow and you’re losing him more and more with the passing of each sentence. You think if you tell him just one more thing that is too fantastic to believe, he is going to walk away and write you off as nuts. And you can’t have that; you’re just as normal as the next guy. You’re not a psycho. You’re perfectly sane. (Well, the jury is still out on that one.lol)

I have listened to preachers and I have even done it myself; I have tried to explain away the miraculous, or at least tone down the supernatural, so that the story that I am telling can be “believable.” I didn’t really do this intentionally; I did it to save God’s reputation and mine. I didn’t want anyone thinking God was weird or something. I even tried witnessing the Gospel on the statements (and scientific conclusions) of some modern-day archeologist who had discovered the fallen walls of Jericho.

The article was found in the Columbus Dispatch and stated that they had discovered that the walls of Jericho had fallen just like the Bible reported it. I was ecstatic, finally something I could use in my evangelistic efforts. (Crazy huh?) I was ready to clip out the article and get on with business. Then God quickly reminded me that He didn’t need the Columbus Dispatch to prove His Word. “If they don’t believe Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

You see, if just one miraculous event in the Bible is untrue, then all is untrue, and we are lost. Paul tells us that if Christ is not raised from the dead then our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. The greatest miracle is the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His ascension into Heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God.

Peter tells us that God accredited Jesus of Nazareth to you through miracles, wonders, and signs that were performed among us by Him. This same Jesus is the miracle of God that proves there is more to this life than what we experience within the parameters of our comprehension.

If I can only believe in what I can comprehend, then my faith is still within myself. I love Christian apologetics but I refuse to defend God and the way He has chosen to reveal Himself. If you can’t believe in miracles –what do you believe in?

Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim

One of the easiest weapons the devil uses against mankind is discontentment. If he can deceive us into thinking that we need more, deserve more and want more than what we already possess, then the battle is over halfway won. You can see this little deception at work in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve had everything, and I mean everything! They didn’t need to worry about food and clothing. God told them they were free to eat from any tree and seed-bearing plant and they didn’t have to worry about clothes because… dah?! Their home was Eden for goodness sake, so they didn’t have to worry about shelter. And to top it all off, they walked with God in the cool of the day. What more could a person want? But some how the devil convinced Eve that she needed more than what God had given her and then… well, you know what happened next.

Discontentment lies hidden within the legitimate parameters of self-ambition. Surely, God doesn’t want us to be lazy and have a ‘come-what-may’ attitude toward life. If that was the case then nothing would be accomplished. Children would go hungry, disease would run rampant and roofs would leak. No, we have to work and we have to work to better ourselves and our conditions while we trek this path of life from womb to grave. “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” Prov.6:6-11 Even though we have to labor by the sweat of our brow, and that work can be very hard at times, God blesses the man who is contented with what he has. “What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men… I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil –this is the gift of God.”Eccl.3:9-12

Discontentment rears its ugly head when all achievement springs from envy, Eccl.4:4—6 and we forget that one handful with tranquility is better than two handfuls with toil. But I think I know why people are discontented at heart –because they don’t have God. God has set eternity in the heart of man and man will always find himself dissatisfied with life without Him. O, I am sure that there are those who may say that they do not need God in their lives to find contentment. But when I look at all those who have acquired wealth, power and fame in their lives only to say things like, “Even though I have everything, it’s not enough.” I realize the truth that God is the only way for true contentment and peace. Solomon said it would be better to have just a dry crust of bread with peace and quiet, than a house of feasting with strife. When God is present in my life, I am at peace with all things. But when my heart says that I have been going away from that divine fellowship and pressing on toward earthly things, then discontentment begins to show its face. Then, I usually cause trouble with my love ones and such. You know, they never measure up enough to bring the happiness in my life, which I so richly deserve. Then I begin to find fault with everyone in and around my life. If I get blessed –it should have been more. If I get to go out to eat –it should have been at a better restaurant. If I get some time to myself –it could have been better if only… Do you see the pattern here? This is why I have always said, “You’ll never be happy, if happiness is all that you’re looking for.” If you can understand that it is better to have a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil, then you will know what Paul meant when he said, I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything though him who gives me strength.” Phil.4:12,13

Have a great week! Pastor Jim

Jesus had just told the crowd the parable of the sower and later on that day, He was alone with His disciples. They asked Him about the parable and it seems that the Lord was a little amazed that they had not understood what He had told the crowd. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?’”

Understanding something true is really difficult if you aren’t hearing what is really said. Jesus quoted from the prophet Isaiah when He explained why He spoke in parables. “The secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,

“ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

Let me start with a hypothetical situation; have you ever been in an argument with someone and there seemed to be no way the other person was going to see it your way? I’m sure that you had tried to explain your side of the argument from every angle.

You tried speaking nicely and you had even raised your voice at times. But to no avail; nothing worked and the other person walked away from the argument never understanding why you did what you did, or said what you said.

Well, this is kind of like what Jesus was talking about when He was saying that those on the ‘outside’ would never understand the secrets of the kingdom. It’s not that they weren’t able, it’s that they were not capable. The capability of understanding something true is a heart that is willing to trust the speaker who is speaking the truth. Have you ever been told something amazing by someone you trusted?

I remember hearing of a UFO sighting years ago from a family member and in my mind, I believed that it could have been true. It wasn’t so incredulous because of the character of the person who told it to me. I believed him and I trusted him and so I was able to believe that this could have possibly been true. Do you understand?

This is why Jesus was asking His disciples how they expected to understand any parable if they couldn’t even understand this one. Jesus knew that even a child would be insightful enough to understand what He was saying; a child that trusted, that is. Isn’t this why Jesus said, “Unless you become as children…”

He was not advocating that we all become immature as children are at times, but He wanted us to foster a heart’s attitude that would trust anything He would say. Think about that last statement that I made; do you have trouble with that? Can you trust anything Jesus would say? Could you abandon the presuppositions of your own philosophies? Can you be untaught by trust? In other words, can you believe something that is opposite to the way you thought things were, simply on the merits of the One telling you?

If you can, then you are capable of understanding anything He would tell you. But remember we are only children once. There is a time to put childish things behind us. When we were children, we thought like children, and there comes a time that our trusting in God develops into something deeper so that we can understand even deeper truths. This is the mark of a mature Christian.

Have a great week! Pastor Jim