The Catch

"But when the day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, 'Children, you do not have any fish, do you?" They answered, 'No.' And He said to them, 'Cast your net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.' So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus love said to Peter, 'It is the Lord." John 21:4-7

When the exhausted disciples approached the beach, they had no catch to show for a long night's effort of casting and pulling the net into their boat. The monotony and the futility of their effort must have been mind-numbing and heart-breaking. Aching backs, empty nets and growling stomachs combined into a toxic stew of discouragement, in their souls. As the sun rose over the mountains to the east, they heard a call from the beach.

Jesus always knows the condition of His church. Seven times in John's account of The Revelation, Jesus addresses His churches, with the same declaration, "I know!" When He asks a question, Jesus is not looking for information. He already knows the answer. His question probes the heart of the listener, and prepares the way for a blessing. All that one must do is admit, what Jesus already knows.

Jesus asked if the fishermen had a catch. They had nothing to show, and less to brag about. Of course, He already knew that. From His place on the beach, He could see the ripple in the water of a school of fish. It was not unusual for fishermen on the Sea of Galilee to have spotters on the shore, to point out to them what they could not see. Sometimes the catch is so close to the boat, a tired fisherman cannot see his way clear to make one more cast. Jesus encouraged them to do it His way. Those who do, will always have a catch.

The old King James Version says that Jesus told them to cast their net on the "right side of the boat." I like that. Take it from some one who knows what it means to work long and hard, casting a net on the WRONG side of the boat. Working longer at the wrong thing, and rowing harder in the wrong direction, never produces the right catch. Listening to and obeying Jesus, always will.

The disciples had been told by The Risen Christ to wait for Him in Jerusalem. He never told them to go north to Galilee, and take up fishing. Their obsession with doing things their way, and taking up where they left off, was an act of disobedience. Those whom Jesus calls, He disciplines, and sheep who wander from The Shepherd's voice, will hear it, over and over again, until they return to His fold.

While the catch was being hauled into the boat, John had a mini revelation, "It is the Lord." Jesus is always the source of every catch. Fishermen who have to take credit and claim glory for what only Jesus can do, will find themselves weary of effort and empty of net. No matter how much they accomplish on their own, they will always be haunted by the regret, of what might have been. Mark this down. When you stand in the middle of a catch, large or small, "IT IS THE LORD!" What you claim, you will have to sustain. Where Jesus guides, He provides. Tired yet?

When you are in the middle of a catch, don't forget who made it possible. If the catch is in your boat, and Jesus is on the beach, get to Jesus! He is your focus, and your reason for living, not the catch. By the way, there is more where that came from. Prayer prepares you for the catch. Cast your cares on Him. He cares for you. See you at the beach.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Collision

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law," Galatians 4:4

The Christmas Story reveals a collision between man's need, and God's love. Good and evil are essential parts of the narrative. They are contrasting threads woven through the fabric of the tapestry, from the manger to the cross. Man's futility, to reach up to God, was met by God's ability, to reach down to man. God provided a lost world a Savior, in the form of a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.

"Good and evil travel down parallel tracks, and generally arrive at the same time." Ron Dunn

The first time I heard Ron speak these words, I couldn't tell, if they were profound or just perplexing. His explanation helped me make a connection, between the tracks of good and evil. I often need his insight, when I face the intimidation of immediate circumstances.

When I asked Ron to explain to me what he meant, he related an experience, he once had with a grandmother, holding her first grandchild. The woman poured out a heart-breaking story, of a wayward husband, who had abandoned her daughter. She said, "I wish she had never met that man." Ron's response to her was, "Then you must regret the birth of your grandchild?" The grandmother instinctively tightened her embrace, on her little one, and emphatically said, "No!" Ron empowered her to make the connection, between good and evil, by sharing with her the statement quoted above.

When I heard Ron's explanation, the perplexing became the profound. I often lose my perspective, in the trauma of a train wreck, at the junction of good and evil. The collision is not a result of crossing the two tracks, but the arrival of a train of trauma, at one destination. My first reaction to evil is usually, "What the hell is going on?" Given time to cool down, I eventually respond with, "God, make something good come out of this?"

Finding out what God can do, in the face of evil, is what the Christmas story is all about. At the darkest of times, the night may be silent, but God is not still. He is always at work, and His train runs on time. He is never late, but sometimes, I think He misses some great opportunities to be early. I am a work in progress.

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law," Galatians 4:4

When Jesus came into this world, He arrived at a very evil time, in human history. God sent The Light of the world, into a very dark place. The Roman world deserved the heat of His anger, but God sent them The Light of His love. Note to self: Light trumps heat.

"Better to light a candle, than curse the darkness." John F. Kennedy

I understand these words were first spoken by Peter Benenson. An English lawyer, who founded Amnesty International, he shared them at a Human Rights Day ceremony, December 10, 1961. Amnesty International symbolizes their work with a candle circled by barbed wire. The followers of Christ might consider lighting a candle wrapped in a crown of thorns.

There are many memorable scenes in the Mel Gibson movie, "The Passion of the Christ." One, that stirred my heart the most, was the moment when Jesus dropped to his knees, under the weight of the cross. He looked up, and said, "Behold, I make all things new." Revelation 21:5

This graphic, cinematic picture of the collision of good and evil, revealed to me, in one breath, the heart a Savior, and the mission, of His followers. On His way to Calvary, Jesus was a man on a mission, not a victim of circumstance. His followers are commissioned to be His missionaries. As such they carry the same message, to a world in darkness. They are candles, wrapped in a crown of thorns, indeed.

From the earliest moments, as a Southern Baptist Sunbeam, I was taught to sing, "This little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine." It ranks up there, with one of the most profound truths ever put to music, "Jesus loves me. This I know, for the Bible tells me so." Both tunes carry a powerful message, and have a spiritual shelf-life that will outlast most of what passes for today's latest holy hits. But I digress.

The world will always be a very dark place, without The Light of God's love. Without Jesus, people never see what they are missing, until it is too late. When we sing it, we bring it. "Let it shine!"

At the collision of good and evil, expect evil to blame good, for the consequences. For example, if an evil person uses a gun, to kill innocent people, the first reaction of people living in a dark world will always be, "Take all the guns away from good people." To people blinded by the dark, this makes perfect sense. They just can't see without The Light. The Light cannot cannot be described to someone who has not seen it. They must see The Light. So again, "Let it shine!"

Evil hates The Light, because it can only thrive in the dark. When Jesus steps into the darkness, evil is seen for the malignant, repugnant beast that it really is. It cannot bear to be exposed to The Light. Because God's love triumphs over darkness, evil sought to keep people in the dark, by defeating The Light, at the cross.

Evil always overplays it's hand, in the blame game. At the point of collision, evil placed all the blame on Jesus, and nailed Him to the cross. Evil claimed victory over The Light, because it could not see what God was up to, in the dark. It still does, and it still can't.

In three days time, The Light broke through the empty tomb, and the message of The Christmas Story lit up the night, so a dark world could see The Light of God's love. It still does, and it still can, if you, "Let it shine!" MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Star

Yesterday, I turned off Fox News at my house. I couldn't take it anymore. If I heard one more expert pontificate about gun control or spew anymore psycho babble, I was going to drive my car, into the next tree, I came to.

Dana and I needed some fresh air, so we accepted an invitation to attend a birthday party, for two of our best friends. They are four year old twins, who have been our neighbors, for half of their lives.

The twins, Lacie and Grace, recently moved to another neighborhood, and we have missed them...ALOT! For the record, when we walked into Chuck E. Cheese at 9:30 AM, the twins ran right past the guy in the costume and hit our kneecaps, with the force of a ball peen hammer. It was great! My spirit was renewed. Jesus loved little ones, and we do too.

Dana and I spent the next two hours observing little ones, and their parents, enjoying the twin's birthday party. Chuck E. Cheese is "Vegas for Munchkins," so we left before they cashed in their winnings. We have had some previous experience with this. It is never a pretty sight, when little ones arrive at the Judgment Counter and find out what their fist full of tickets are really worth. It is a life lesson, best learned, early on. That is all.

My heart was so burdened, for the parents who lost their little ones, at the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. I flashed back to a 1999 school shooting, I experienced. Seven young people were shot. None were killed, but thousands were terrorized. I held the baccalaureate service for the High School, and hosted the Vice President of the United States for a meeting, with the parents of the injured children. Let me say this. The trauma and the drama are real, and run deep and wide, through the soul of the students, parents, and residents of a community.

The current knee-jerk reactions of secularists and the politically motivated lessons offered up by pundits, are not going to solve the crisis of evil, in this nation. The only way to remove the darkness, is to replace it with The Light. Jesus is The Light of the World, not a twinkling light on a Christmas tree.

Evil simply hates innocence. It is an ancient hatred perpetuated by a relentless enemy. When word of the birth of Jesus reached King Herod, he dispatched soldiers to kill all the male babies born, in the city of Bethlehem. Note: No guns were used in the killing of these baby boys. Just hate.

Evil is not restricted by gun control, or birth control. Over 3,000 babies a day are murdered, in this nation, by legalized birth control. There are no photo ops, no pontificating, no pundits running to the death scene, of these innocent children and there is no end, in sight to the murder. If government approved birth control has unleashed this kind of slaughter, one can only wonder what government gun control will accomplish.

People stumbling, through the dark, would be wise to move toward The Light. A nation is turned around, one life at a time. There is no quick fix, to turning a great ship around, that has been heading, on the wrong course. It takes time to see the change, but it is time to fix this nation's course, upon the right star.

There is still a star that will guide The Wise out off the darkness, and into the light of God's love. The name of this star is Jesus. Those desperate for His direction, protection and direction, like The Wise Men of old, will seek Him, and follow Him. Fix your course on The Star, and follow Jesus into The Light.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Duty

John Adam's words give insight into what the founding fathers thought about religious liberty.

"It is the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshiping GOD in the manner most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship." John Adams, 1776

Jesus was asked what He thought about paying taxes, to an all powerful government.
15-17 That’s when the Pharisees plotted a way to trap him into saying something damaging. They sent their disciples, with a few of Herod’s followers mixed in, to ask, “Teacher, we know you have integrity, teach the way of God accurately, are indifferent to popular opinion, and don’t pander to your students. So tell us honestly: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18-19 Jesus knew they were up to no good. He said, “Why are you playing these games with me? Why are you trying to trap me? Do you have a coin? Let me see it.” They handed him a silver piece.

20 “This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name is on it?”

21 They said, “Caesar.”

“Then give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his.”

22 The Pharisees were speechless. They went off shaking their heads. (Selection of Matthew 22 quoted from The Message)

When asked what He thought was the most important command in God's Word, Jesus responded with the prototype for the construction of His Church.

34-36 When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”

37-40 Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” (Matthew 22: The Message)

The words of these two founders, one for a country, and the other a church, serve as two essential pillars for religious liberty. Disregarding either one of them, leads to the collapse of the structure.

King Solomon said, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14: 34 (New American Standard Bible)

Fools destroy a nation, by weakening the foundation, upon which is was built. What a leader of a nation initiates in moderation, the people perpetuate in excess. Sin has been described as blasting through life politely ignoring God. The result is personal and corporate disgrace, in the eyes of God. The fall of a nation begins, when fools do what is wrong, and confuse it with their rights. Before a nation falls on its face in disgrace, wise leaders will humble themselves, and fall to their knees, and pray for God's direction, protection and correction.

God said, "My people...humble themselves and pray." 2 Chronicles 7:14

Prayerless people are prideful. stiff-necked people. Unless they admit they are heading to a fall, on their face, they will never fall to their knees, and ask God for help. Bent knees have a way of adjusting a stiff neck. The Wise go to God for regular adjustments.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Exchange

"When you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose they will be heard for their many words." Matthew 6:7

Singing involves borrowing words written by someone else, and using them as your own, as a gift to honor God. Some equate repeatedly singing the same thing over and over again as praising, others say it symbolizes praying.

Praying initiates and perpetuates intimate conversation between The Father and His child. The words should be your own, and from your heart. Be careful borrowing what another man said to his wife, to impresses your own. They can tell when your heart isn't in it. God can too.

A beautiful Hallmark Father's Day card might appeal to the eye of the buyer, but it only takes the simplest scrawl from a child's crayon on a paper sack to reach a Dad's heart. Put your heart in what you pray.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Righteous

"The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand." Proverbs 12:7

As a Southern Baptist preschooler, I was enrolled in "Sunbeams." While Mom was occupied with WMU, I was taught to sing the words of a great song. For over half a century, these words have proven to be a solid source of theology for me. Perhaps they will encourage you today.

The Wise Man Built His House

The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
And the rain came tumbling down

Oh, the rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the wise man's house stood firm.

There is another verse to the song, about the fate of the foolish man. It was always a hit, with "The Beamers." SPOILER ALERT: It doesn't end well.

The wicked man is a wanderer, always looking for the grass that is greener, on the other side of the fence. This fool soon discovers that the grass is always greener, because it is over a septic tank.

The wise man stands his ground, with the confidence that he has built his life, on the solid rock of God's Word. His stand is not based on whimsy, or wild speculation. He is simply obeying the last Word he received from God. He knows, from experience, the safest place to be is the last place God told him to stand.

"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." Ephesians 6:13

Paul described a warfare waged with a spiritual foe. All the armor required for this warfare was defensive in nature, save one, the sword. This sword was the Word of God. First Century Christians found that the two-edged power brought comfort to the user, and defeat to the enemy. It still does, for those who stand and wield it, in the 21st Century.

Righteous people are not perfect, just forgiven. They have been declared right, by a Holy God, on the basis of the blood The Lamb, His Son, and our Savior, Jesus. Those, right with God, are the ones who stand next to The Champion, and face the enemy, with confidence, in His victory. Take your stand today.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Result

"When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom." PROVERBS 11:2

This week the nation has heard the word "honorable" used in public discourse, more than usual. Unfortunately, it has been used to describe a man who has provided "honorable" service to his country, but has dishonored his wife, with his marital infidelity.

What a shame! America has set aside this weekend to honor the birthday of The Marine Corps, and to remember those who have served the nation, through the Armed Forces. Veterans' Day deserved better. Stories prepared to highlight the nation's pride in their military have been overshadowed, by the lurid details, of a marriage gone wrong.

A man's service to his country, in God's view, does not outweigh his responsibility to his wife. The pressures, of leading a nation in a foreign war, or maintaining the security of a free people at home, may explain, but do not excuse what a husband did to his wife. His words, though honest and heartfelt, will not alter the damage done to his reputation, his career, and his family.

“After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair.”

So, once again, the nation is given a glimpse, into the poor judgment or moral failure of one its highest leaders. A national hero has added his words to the litany of great sayings, that generations of young people will recall, in times of crisis.

"I am not a crook." Richard Nixon

"Read my lips. No new taxes." G. H. W. Bush

"It all depends on what the meaning of the word, 'is,' is." W.J. Clinton

"I think I was unprepared for war." G. W. Bush

"After my election, I have more flexibility." B.H. Obama

It is often pointed out, that "pride" cannot be spelled without the letter "I." The Greeks called it "Ego." Both observations are correct. Children enter into this world looking out for number one. As a person matures, they become aware, grudgingly, the world does not revolve around them. They gradually learn, they must consider the needs and expectations of others.

Pride obliterates maturity, and returns a person to their earliest instincts. The person, with the most power, must exercise the most maturity and self-restraint. Those under them, cannot control them. They must control themselves. The higher up the tree they climb, the easier it is to see their failures. When they expose themselves, it is never a pretty sight.

The Wise humble themselves, and avoid the notoriety. They do this by maintaining consistent companionship with God, through prayer. Prideful people are prayerless people. They are too full of themselves to take any advice from God. It is not until life squeezes some pride out of them, that they have any room for His wise counsel or His sense of direction.

Prayer, not self-promotion, prepares a person for the pressures of life. When people are squeezed, the world sees what is on the inside of them. For a Christian, there should be truth in advertising. What they wear on the outside, should match what is on the inside. Let me explain.

Years ago, there was an infamous bumper sticker, "Honk if you love Jesus!" It must have been a best seller on the pagan market. Whenever I honked, my response to their request was always greeted, with a distinct reaction: the international sign of contempt. It may have been pointing upward, but it wasn't point the one way to Jesus. The words on the outside, didn't match what was on the inside. Traffic has a way of making liars out of us all. Can I get a witness?

Humility is a condition that results, from coming to the end of oneself. It initiates prayer, and leads a person to the beginning of God. The fear of God, or the reverence for God's direction, protection, and correction leads to His wisdom. This is the by-product of prayer. A person rarely thinks like God, until they spend time with Him. Wisdom is not a self-inflated view of oneself, for what they know about God. It is an appreciation for how little they know about Him, in spite of all God has taught them.

The "What Would Jesus Do" bracelets a few years ago were very popular. These little WWJD rubber bands were also the number one item shop-lifted, in Christian bookstores. Go figure. Still, their message is worth remembering. When Jesus was in need of God's direction, he turned to His Father in prayer. Nuff said. To be wise, go thou and do likewise.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Elect

"Since we know not who are elect, and who reprobate, we are to preach promiscuously to all." George Whitefield

George Whitefield, 18th Century Anglican Evangelist and leader of the First Great Awakening in America. For over 30 years, God used his powerful preaching to save thousands, to develop a sense of national identity among the 13 colonies, and to prepare the next generation of leaders of the American Revolution.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Choice

"He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise an and he will love you." PR 9:7-8

All of us have "facebook" followers, and twits on "Twitter" who do not share our core convictions. This week our mailboxes have bulged with "eloquent" emails that have raged with pious perspectives or ranted with rancorous rhetoric. They range from childhood friends, casual acquaintances, disturbed relatives, and cyber space stalkers. Reading their "wise words" or connecting to one of their "insightful links" reveals more about them, than you ever wanted to know.

Responding to their insipid remarks, with the hope of enlightening them to the truth, is a fool's errand. It is like being a designated driver, in car full of drunks and asking them to agree on the directions home. Attempting to get a consensus out of them is sometimes hilarious, but always an act of futility. They are going to have to sleep it off, and sober up, before they can see straight.

So many fools, so little time, what is a wise person to do? First, remember, you are the designated driver, so don't drink the Kool-Aid. What ever the ship of fools has been drinking, stay away from it. They may be singing, slobbering, and laughing their way home from the victory party, but don't be tempted to join in. Don't sell out your values or turn in your sobriety coin, just to be one of the gang.

Some of my Fundamentalist friends don't know the truth of what I am about to say, but here it is. You can't stay drunk forever. Chemical additives, and false philosophies do not provide permanent satisfaction. There is a hangover coming, and when it comes, it is not going to be pretty. Note: If this is something you have never experienced, ask a former Baylor frat boy. I can introduce you to a few, and they can explain it. Nuff said.

Nations and individuals have one thing in common. They can both get drunk on pride. Personal preference and self-centered navel gazing make a heady brew. When swallowed by a fool they pack quite a wallop. The Wise drink from a different well. They draw their drinking water from God. He is their source of direction, protection and correction.

The Wise learn how to operate under the control of, the influence of The Spirit of God. They have chosen not to yield to chemical additives, conventional wisdom, contemporary culture, or political correctness for their sense of well-being. They have placed themselves under the influence and control of the character of Christ. They have obeyed the command...

"Be not drunk with wine,...but be filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5:18

This is always harder to do, in the early stages of a party, when it appears to be going well. Any designated driver or hair holding friend, standing over a toilet, knows. Appearances can be deceiving. If you throw in with the wrong crowd, when all appears well, you will throw up with them, when it doesn't end well. Don't ever envy what you really don't want.

The Wise know that only God can transform a fool. Fools are not sobered up by logic or facts. They are no less foolish because they know they are wrong. They must choose what is right. The next Great Awakening will be led by those who are controlled by The Spirit of God. The Wise save their breath, to pray for the next Great Awakening. In the meantime, they refuse to engage in futile arguments with drunken friends, or delusional enemies.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Discernment

The entire chapter of Proverbs 8 documents the credentials and the personification of wisdom, with a feminine noun that refers to
a) skill (in war)
b) wisdom (in administration)
c) shrewdness, wisdom
d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)
e) wisdom (ethical and religious)

This chapter provides an insightful prayer guide for those who choose to intercede for the POTUS. For those who choose to criticize him, more than they pray for him, let me remind you of the words of Oswald Chambers.

"Discernment is God's call to intercession, never fault-finding."

Using God-given insight to point out the short-comings of another person, does not endear you to them, or correct their behavior. Praying for them, purifies your motive, and prepares them for a change in their life, that only God can bring.

Too often, God changes a person's sense of direction, and our own hearts are not prepared to receive them back into the family. The Elder Brother, loved a fatted calf, more than his own brother. His heart had hardened towards him, during the time his brother was living in darkness. When God changed his brother, his heart had grown too cold to enjoy what God had done. He missed the point and the party.

How do you avoid freezer burn on your heart? "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God." James 1:5

This wisdom exhibits discretion, discernment, and the capacity to determine the difference between the opinion of man and the counsel of God. Those who need it the most, God's people, are encouraged to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, or require it from their Father. Before His children represent Him or speak for Him, they do well to exhibit His character.

Praying for the next Great Awakening requires a preparation of our own hearts, to receive what God is going to do. You once were blind, but now you see. Jabbing a stick in a blind man's eye rarely improves his vision. Pray for the healing of a your nation, one life at a time. Start with the POTUS, and work your way through the rest of the population. God will take care of the rest.

I don't always pray for those I can't stand. But when I do, God changes me, and prepares me for what He is going to do in them. When I can't stand them, I choose to kneel for them. Stay humble my friends.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!