The Gift of Forgiveness at Christmas

Christmas is in the air here in South Florida. It is true that we do not have snow covered roofs, freezing temperatures, or a toboggan on every child’s head. In South Florida, we know it is Christmas time in other ways – the traffic increases as the snowbirds arrive, parking spaces are difficult to find at the malls, the temperatures have fallen into the 70’s, the humidity has decreased, and people are busy wrapping Christmas lights around their palm trees. The chaos will continue to increase as we draw closer to December 25 and people search for those last minute gifts. Every year, in the midst of the chaos, I stop to wonder how many take the time to reflect on a quiet night in Bethlehem... you know... that first Christmas night.

My wife and I just returned from our third trip to Israel. Each time, we have had the privilege of standing in the Shepherd's Field, which is small and very quiet. Standing in that field at night, you see nothing but the dark, star-filled sky... oh, and the lights of Bethlehem in the distance. I cannot even imagine what it would have been like to see and hear the angels announcing the birth of Jesus! I always laugh when I read Luke 2:10, and think of the angel saying, "Do not be afraid..." Yeah, right! Who would not be afraid when an angel appears in the darkness! The good news the angel pronounced was the birth of our Savior!

On that first Christmas night in Bethlehem, we see the greatest Giver was God... the greatest Gift was His Son... and the greatest example was God's act of forgiveness. Jesus did not come to pay the penalty for His sins, but rather to forgive and pay for ours. God gave His Son so that our sin could be forgiven and so that we could be reconciled to Him. Jesus did not do anything wrong, but He willingly laid down His life to pay our sin debt and purchase a place in heaven for us. That is an amazing act of love and forgiveness, which sets an example or us to follow.

Sadly, “churchgoers” are often the most unforgiving of people. I have worked in secular environments where people cuss at each other, lose their temper, and say some rotten things; but those same people let it roll off their backs and the next day they have forgiven each other, reconciled and moved forward. I do not often see that same effort toward forgiveness and reconciliation among those who claim to be “Christians.”

Christmas is a reminder that God forgives our faults and failures, and we should do likewise (Eph. 4:32). "Peace on earth and good will toward men" should start in the church. John 3:16 reminds us of God's position, "For God SO LOVED the world (those who had turned their backs on Him) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Eternal life through Jesus Christ is God's gift to all humanity and it reveals His heart of love… His example of forgiveness!

We, too, have the opportunity to claim or share in the gift of forgiveness this Christmas. If you have never confessed your sinful condition before God and personally received His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, this Christmas season is a great time to do so. If you are holding a grudge against someone, Christmas is a great time of year to extend forgiveness and initiate the steps toward reconciliation. Being right with God and right with others could make this the greatest Christmas that you have ever experienced! I close by encouraging all Christ-followers to promote peace on earth and good will toward all men by following God’s example of forgiveness.

Remembering the First Thanksgiving

In this day, in which efforts are being made to rewrite history, the real meaning of Thanksgiving is fading quickly. For many, Thanksgiving correlates with nothing more than a day off work, downing a turkey, and watching football. For that reason, I want to start with a brief history of Thanksgiving.

In September 1620, the Mayflower left England, carrying 102 passengers seeking a new home where the Pilgrims could freely practice their faith and find opportunities for prosperity. The difficult journey eventually took them to Plymouth, where winter and disease were so brutal that only half of the original passengers and crew survived.

The Native Americans taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate corn, to extract sap, and to fish. In November 1621, the Pilgrims organized a feast to celebrate their successful harvest and invited their Indian friends to enjoy a meal of celebration with them. This feast is remembered as the “First Thanksgiving.” On October 3, 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving to be celebrated each November.

Too many want to act like this event never happened, but a little known national monument, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, pays a great tribute to our Forefathers, those first English settlers who landed at Plymouth. The 81’ tall solid-granite monument is located in state park at 72 Allerton Street in Plymouth, MA. The cornerstone was laid in 1859 and the monument was completed in 1889. The monument was originally planned to be approx. 150’ tall, but was reduced during the Civil War due to lack of funding.

The placard on the northeast side of the monument reads, “National Monument to the Forefathers. Erected by a grateful people in remembrance of their labors, sacrifices and sufferings for the cause of civil and religious liberty.” The sculptures on the monument represent the virtues that the Pilgrims brought with them when they arrived in 1620. The largest and tallest sculpture is Faith. Other figures include Morality represented by a woman holding a tablet symbolic of the Ten Commandments which reads, “I am the Lord thy God...” Seen in Morality’s throne are references to Prophecy and Evangelism.

On the west side are figures representing Law, Justice and Mercy. On the south side is Education flanked by Wisdom and Youth. On the east side is Liberty flanked by Peace. Along with these figures, the monument also includes smaller sculptures telling the story of the Pilgrims’ leaving England, landing at Plymouth and interacting with Native Americans. The Pilgrims are also honored with a monument in Provincetown, MA that was completed in 1910.

There is no question regarding the Christian faith that the Pilgrims brought with them. Their quest was to find a place where they could worship God freely. In a day when people are rewriting history, let us pause to remember the Pilgrims who risked their lives to pursue religious freedom. Let’s pause to remember their sacrifices, which laid the groundwork for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Sure, eat the turkey, enjoy the family and watch some football this Thanksgiving; but also take time to count your blessings and to thank God for faith, family, friends and freedom!

October is Pastor Appreciation Month

Serving as the pastor of a church is one of the most rewarding and yet one of the most difficult jobs that you could ever imagine. Those who briefly observe pastors feel the job is an easy one. Too often, people misconstrue that a pastor works one day per week, he studies only one Book and he mooches off generous people who host him occasionally for supper. That may be true for a few "so-called" pastors, but that is far from the truth for those pastors who are serving the Lord with their whole heart.

Pastors who truly love people will invest themselves into the lives of their congregation. They will weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. They sympathize and empathize with those God has entrusted to them. In doing this, many pastors struggle to separate work from personal life. They cannot just leave the office and forget the events of the day. They take the needs of others with them, agonize over them in prayer and wrestle with them through many sleepless nights.

In taking on the needs of others, the pastor carries a heavy burden that can affect him physically, emotionally and yes, even spiritually. It can affect his family and his health. Years of data reveals that 95% of those who enter the pastorate will not retire from it. In fact, the data shows that hundreds of pastors are leaving the ministry every month; many pastors say that ministry has negatively affected their marriage and family; and many pastors admit they would quit, if they had some other career option. The majority of pastors admit to walking a very lonely road that lacks deep friendships and the suicide rate among pastors is rising rapidly.

In 1992, Focus on the Family was instrumental in establishing the month of October as “Pastor Appreciation Month” in an attempt to prompt churches to honor their pastor and staff ministers. They created a specific time to do what we should be doing all year long – offering encouragement and thanking ministers for the wonderful work they do in the life of the church and community. If your church has not participated in Pastor Appreciation Month, consider doing something special for your pastor and staff. I’ve listed some ideas below, but many more can be found through a simple Google search.

Focus on the Family - Clergy Appreciation Month Ideas
http://media.focusonthefamily.com/pastoral/pdf/CAM_Guide_2012.pdf

Pinterest - Pastor Appreciation Month Activities and Gift Ideas
https://www.pinterest.com/rosepublishing/pastor-appreciation-month-activities-gift-ideas/

Things you can do to encourage & show appreciation for your Pastor:

Thank you cards
Public testimonies of appreciation
Bring breakfast to the office
Provide lunch at the office
Make his favorite dessert
Car detailing (wash, wax & vac)
Cut his grass
Clean his office
Present Gift Cards
- Audible book credits
- Gas
- Coffee/Donuts
- Shopping (Walmart, Target, Bass Pro Shop)
- Grocery Stores
- Lowes / Home Depot
- Restaurants
- Amazon
- Oil change / Tire rotation
- Movie tickets
Take him golfing
Buy him a gym membership
Provide a night of Childcare
Let the pastor’s family use your vacation home (beach, mountains, etc.)
Give him game tickets to his favorite sports event
If you are a handyman, offer an hour or two of work to help with some home projects
If you lack creativity, any pastor would appreciate a nice monetary gift or bonus check

Don’t forget something special for the Pastor’s Wife:

Notes or greeting cards expressing appreciation
Manicure/Pedicure
Hair Cut/Color
Massage or Spa Day
Fresh flowers
1x Maid Service
Take her to lunch
Gift cards (Walmart, Clothing stores, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc.)
Provide the family with supper, so she doesn’t have to cook
Take her children for haircuts, ice-cream or to a park
Help send her to visit family who live out of state
Honor her publicly

These are just a few ideas and there are many, many more. You do not have to spend a lot of money to express gratitude and make someone feel special. The goal is for those in the congregation to be reminded of what their pastor does and to encourage him (and his wife) to keep doing it for God’s glory!

So start planning… October is just one week away!

Skewed Views of Church Ownership

Today’s thoughts are directed to vocational ministers, lay-leaders and members of local churches across all denominations. One of my long-time pet peeves is those who think of and call any ministry “theirs.” Have you ever heard a preacher or lay-person use the phrase “my church?” The verbiage may seem harmless, but that statement is the first step down a very slippery slope!

Jesus clearly claimed the Church as HIS when He said, “I will build MY Church” (Matthew 16:18). The Church is referred to as “Christ’s body, of which He is the Head” (Ephesians 1:22-23). In the same passage, the Apostle Paul declared Christ to be the Bridegroom, Who lovingly and sacrificially chose the Church to be HIS “bride” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Jesus gave Himself up for the Church, “to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the Word.” In addition, we see that one day there will be a wedding feast held in Heaven called the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” followed by Christ’s eternal union with His bride (Revelation 19:7-9; 21:1-2).

These passages are very clear and vitally important; because if we ever mistakenly believe the Church is “ours,” that skewed view will result in sinful behavior. During my 35 years of ministry, I have been a witness to pastors, deacons, and lay-people who have been willing to divide or harm a congregation in order to make a point or to get their way. I have seen church members manipulate people and/or circumstances for personal gain. I have seen people attack churches and church leaders through gossip, letter writing, texting and/or phone calling campaigns. I have seen cowards attack ministries using the weapon of a keyboard to post negativity on social media. Such actions clearly reveal those who believe the church belongs to them.

One such illustration is seen in a lady who left a church over five years ago, but still regularly and “religiously” tries to convince members to leave “her” former church and start attending “her” new church. Did you catch that…she wants them to attend “her” church. Such proselytizing only happens when a person has the mindset that the church belongs to them. Attempting to poach for or solicit members from the former church is evidence of a skewed view of church ownership. You might expect such action from a layperson; but sadly, I have witnessed pastors, staff members, Christian School employees, Deacons, and other lay-leaders who have intentionally tried to inflict harm as they left a ministry. No one who understands Scripture and believes the Church belongs to Christ; would ever try to harm, divide, damage, or destroy God’s church – EVER!

The Apostle Paul states in Ephesians 5:25-27 that Christ “gave up His life for her (the church) 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish.” You see, when a person truly understands that Christ died for HIS Church, we realized how much He really loves her! Realizing that, who would dare throw mud on the wedding dress of Christ’s bride? Who would speak ill or maliciously against Christ’s bride? Who would try to cause division within or gossip about Christ’s bride? Answer – only those who do not know or respect the Bridegroom.

The greatest indicator of your belief about church ownership is not seen while attending a specific church; but rather when you leave that church. Serving while attending is easy, but a person’s true character is seen by the manner in which they leave. Some feel the church owes them something because of their tenure, how much money they have given, or how influential they have been. Some take credit for past successes, while hoping for future failure. Some wreak havoc, while others aide in a smooth transition. Some encourage those who remain, while others attempt to proselytize. The bottom-line is that how you treat the Bride (the Church) reveals the level of respect you have for the Bridegroom. This is a great reminder that the Church belongs to Jesus Christ, so let us behave with integrity and treat her accordingly.

Remembering 9/11 and 9/12

Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? Some events stick in our minds, as though that moment is just frozen in time. Some of those moments for me include: the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, the night the Persian Gulf War started, and the day my wife told me she was pregnant with our first child. Those moments are all as vivid in my mind today, as they were the day they occurred.

Another such day is September 11, 2001. I was working at Berean Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, FL at the time. I remember it was a beautiful, sunny, South Florida day. I had just returned to my office after visiting in the school office. Only a few minutes after returning to my office, I remember our Preschool Director, MaryAnn B., running into the church office hallway and shouting a plane just hit the World Trade Center. People gathered near televisions to see what was happening. I gathered with others in the courtyard area of our Preschool to watch the scene unfold. Before long, the second plane and later the third.

The news reports stirred a panic in the hearts of those on our campus and there was a heightened security alert as parents started showing up to sign their students out from school. Parents just wanted to embrace their children and the magnitude of the event brought families and our country close.

Those who are 23+ years old probably have some recollection of the events of 9/11. For those who are younger, it is a part of history that has been skewed by those who rewrite history with their slant toward political correctness, inclusivity and tolerance. The fact is that America was attacked! We did not go looking for war; the Islamic Extremists brought it to us.

That attack brought Americans together! On 9/12, stores ran out of American flags as people installed them on their houses and attached them to their cars. People were Americans first, before they were upper or lower class; Jewish or Christian; Democrat or Republican; liberal or conservative. People did not care about the color of your skin, whether you had a flag on your T-shirt, or if you ate at Chick-fil-A or shopped at Hobby Lobby. Americans simply cared about one another. People stood tall, shouted the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the National Anthem at the top of their lungs. You did not see ANY American kneeling during the National Anthem and the outcome probably would not have been good if they did. Patriotism was on display as we were united and ready to take-on anyone who would dare attack our nation!

Sadly, it seems as though many have forgotten the tragedy of that day. Today we argue over long TSA lines, securing our borders and homegrown terrorists now attack fellow Americans simply for having differing opinions. Politicians show more zeal for climate change and endangered species than they do for the safety of American citizens. Inexperienced Congressional rookies want to change the Constitution and usher in Socialism. First responders who were then hailed as heroes are now disrespected and doused with water. We built a beautiful tower on Ground Zero to remember the husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, grandparents among the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001; but wouldn’t unity, peace and patriotism be a better tribute to those who died in the attacks?

Romans 12:18 tells us “…as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Maybe today, September 11, 2019 is a good day to hit the reset button and start being instruments of peace and patriotism. Maybe today is the day we pause to thank God for the privilege of living in the land of the free and home of the brave. Maybe today is the day we realize that America is the greatest nation in the world, as proven by the number of people trying to get here. Maybe today, is the day we reflect on those who died on 9/11, we remember the spirit of Patriotism seen on 9/12, and realize the problem with forgetting the facts of that day.

You Don't Have to be an Idiot

One of my all-time favorite TV shows was “Country Fried Home Videos,” hosted by Bill Engvall. In each episode, people would do things that were unthinkable to a normal person. The most bizarre behavior was rewarded with the “Here’s Your Sign” award. Past winners included a man who got bit as he stuck his hand into the mouth of an alligator, another man who rolled a large piece of slate down a mountainside and right into his vehicle, and another man hanging a large pincher crab on his nipple – ouch! In my opinion, the winners of these awards were idiots!

According to dictionary.com, an idiot is “an utterly foolish or senseless person.” Well, I have come across a few idiots in my day, and so have you. Consider the person who sees a “wet paint” sign and touches it to see if it is really wet. Think about the person who blames a ladder as defective after falling from the top section that clearly states, “Danger: Not a Step.” The worst, I ever heard was the man who ignored the warning labels and tried to trim his hedge by picking up his push lawnmower – he lost fingers on both hands!

Idiots are not only revealed by their bizarre behavior, but also by their bizarre thought processes. Consider the man who gets angry when the woman he had a one-night stand with asks for child support. Consider the person dying with lung cancer or Emphysema who continues to smoke. What about the ninety-year-old man, who refuses to believe that his twenty-year-old girlfriend is only after his money and not his wrinkly old body. These are only a few examples of foolish or idiotic thinking; but there are many, many more.

Foolish behavior is nothing new. Consider Adam & Eve, who lost everything because they believed a serpent and ate the fruit. Consider the people who mocked Noah as he built the ark, and ultimately drowned. Uzzah touched the Ark of the Covenant, after God told him not to, and fell dead. King David had many wives and concubines, but just had to have Bathsheba. Judas saw Jesus’ perform miracles, but chose to betray Him. The crowds chose to crucify Jesus, even though Pilate proclaimed Him to be innocent. People have been making utterly foolish or senseless decisions since the beginning.

Foolish behavior and beliefs continue today. People deny Jesus’ existence, even though His life is documented by historians. People now argue that America was never founded as a Christian nation, although the proof is stamped all over Washington D.C. People refuse to believe the Bible, even though it has been proven by history, science, prophecy and archaeology. People know what God expects, but they choose to live otherwise. Proverbs 14:12 NIV states, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

It is easy to prove that people make utterly foolish and senseless decisions every day; but the point is that we do not have to. John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Realizing this truth, do not be foolish. The Bible states that “it is appointed unto men once to die and after that is the judgment.” So, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. That is the wisest choice you can ever make!

Over Entertained & Under Challenged

It’s been many years since I first heard Andy Stanley make the statement, “Today’s teenagers are over entertained and under challenged.” His sermon, preached at First Baptist Church of Atlanta, was addressing the way so many churches were approaching student ministry and measuring success by the numbers. Back then cutting-off a tie, swallowing a goldfish, or racing to take Polaroid pictures may have drawn a crowd, but they certainly did not build a church. Andy Stanley's observation was correct over 25 years ago, and it is still correct today. The stunts, styles and activities have changed; but the entertainment mentality in most of today's churches is stronger now than ever.

In a modern church culture that measures success almost solely by numbers, it only makes sense that youth pastors are prone to entertaining students and assembling the masses in order to be viewed as successful. Sadly, the same entertainment mentality is true with adults. Too many adults choose a church based on the length of the services, whether the church has a softball team, how humorous the pastor is, and whether or not they like the worship style. These superficial factors show the shallowness plaguing the Christian church today.

The long-term effects of the entertainment focus in ministry can be seen in the spiritual adolescence prevalent among today’s believers. We are in dire need of discipleship. The effectiveness of discipleship can be measured by whether or not those who call themselves disciples begin to disciple others. In essence, the student should eventually become the teacher. But, how is someone who has been over entertained and under challenged supposed to gain the knowledge necessary to teach? The Apostle Paul describes this dilemma in Hebrews 5:12-14 NIV – “ In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Not only has the focus on entertainment in ministry caused a shallowness of knowledge, but it has also resulted in fewer people being exposed to real ministry opportunities. Churches used to “do“ ministry, go on missions trips, serve their communities, and impact their world. That exposure to ministry often resulted in growing churches and people surrendering to become vocational ministers. Today, fewer people are entering vocational ministry, seminary enrollment has declined nationally, as well as church attendance across denominational lines. The common denominator is that too many church-goers have been and continue to be over entertained and under challenged.

So, which word best describes the church you attend - “entertainment” or “discipleship?” It’s never too late to start challenging others to grow spiritually. Jesus challenged twelve men, and in just three years He prepared them to impact eternity! Think how different the world would have been if He only entertained them. Think how different our world could be, if today’s churches will rise up and challenge those who God has entrusted to us!

Storms Don't Last Forever

What a storm we had this afternoon. The lightning bolts were bright and seemed to pause, almost demanding our attention. The thunder was booming and the rain was falling. My wife and I sat on the back porch in amazement, as we watched one lightning bolt after another. The storm lasted for less than an hour and then it was over. The lightning ceased, the thunder silenced and the rain stopped. It was in that moment that my wife spoke these words of wisdom, “Storms don’t last forever.” I said, “That would make a great blog,” to which she replied, “I know,” and then chuckled.

Like thunderstorms, the storms of life seem to hit us out of nowhere. Life can be sunny and before you know it, you are in the middle of a storm: Finances fall short, companies downsize, health fails, relationships end, careers closeout, cars breakdown, miscarriages happen, we fail tests, miss promotions, and the poor choices of others often affect us. We can close our eyes, cover our ears, and bury our head in a pillow; but the life-storm rages on.

It is no coincidence that the Bible records so many stories about storms. Probably the most familiar is found in Matthew 8:23-27 where a storm rose up while Jesus and the disciples were boating on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples were fearful and upset that Jesus was sleeping; but when they woke Him, He calmly said, “Peace, be still,” and the storm ended.

Listen to some of the promises in Scripture related to the storms of life. Psalm 57:1 tells us that we can take refuge under the shadow of God’s wings, until the storms of destruction pass by. Nahum 1:7 tells us that God is a stronghold and we can take refuge in Him. Psalm 91:1-2 calls God my (personal) refuge and my (personal) fortress. Isaiah 4:6 calls God a refuge and a shelter from the storm. Psalm 23 reminds us that God protected those travelers that navigated through the treacherous Valley of the Shadow of Death (a literal place). 2 Cor. 4:8-9 states, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” Just “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

You may remember the song “The Anchor Holds,” written by Lawrence Chewning and sung by Ray Boltz. I had the privilege of hearing those two men sing that song together. Just before they sang it, I heard Lawrence Chewning tell the story of writing that song in his year of sorrows after: his father died, his wife experienced her third miscarriage, the church he planted and pastored for 19 years split, and he was tired, burned-out and discouraged. It was during that time that God gave him the lyrics to “The Anchor Holds” and used it to comfort, encourage and renew his soul. Those words have also blessed countless thousands of other people, too!

Today, you may find yourself in the middle of a personal storm. In the words of my wife and a Bible full of promises, remember that storms do not last forever. “Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Hang in there!

GOD ALLOWS MULLIGANS, DO-OVERS & SECOND CHANCES

Bad choices, broken hearts, shattered dreams and irrevocable failures are all part of this thing we call life. Satan can use these things to paralyze us with guilt, but God can use these things to draw us closer to Him. He is willing to forgive our failures and to offer us a mulligan, a do-over, or a second chance.

Too often, people feel destitute after making one bad choice or experiencing a failure in life. I am so glad that God does not define us by our failures and is even willing to offer second chances. The Bible provides many examples of good people who were restored after making bad choices.

Moses is one of the great heroes of the Bible, but did you know that Moses failed in several areas? He was a murderer (Ex 2:11-12), he threw a righteous temper tantrum (Ex 32:19) and he directly disobeyed God (Num 20:8:12). In spite of Moses’ sin, God still used him to lead His chosen people to the edge of the Promised Land and to author several books of the Bible. God gave Moses a second chance and several more.

King David had an affair (2 Sam 11:4) and murdered the woman’s husband (2 Sam 11:15-17); but God still used David to lead the nation, to write many of the Psalms, to prepare for the building of the Temple, and to be in the bloodline of the Messiah. David’s broken and contrite spirit is recorded in Psalm 51 and God calls him a man after His own heart in Acts 13:22-23. God gave David a second chance and chose not to define him by his failures.

Scripture also records the story of a woman caught in adultery (John 8). According to Jewish Law, this sin was punishable by stoning; but Jesus stopped the religious hypocrites that were pointing out her sin and called attention to their own. The accusers left, Jesus forgave the woman and instructed her to go and sin no more. Again, we see a sinner, her repentance and God’s grace that extended to her a second chance.

Remember the story (I Cor 5:1,11) of the man having an illicit relationship with his stepmother? Paul instructed the church to break fellowship with him until he repented; but following his repentance, Paul told them to receive him back into the church family and restore him (2 Cor 2:6-11). This man was given a second chance.

Finally, for now, we find the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-25). The boy spent his inheritance on parties and prostitutes. When he hit rock bottom, he repented and returned to his father. The father welcomed his son and celebrated his return. The father lovingly gave his son a second chance.

The chorus to one of my favorite songs reads as follows: “I don’t know what a sinner you are, but I know what a Savior He is. I don’t know where your feet have taken you, but His climbed up Calvary’s hill. I don’t know what kind of words you’ve spoken, but His words were Father forgive. I don’t know what a sinner you are, but I know what a Savior He is.” That song reminds me that God is still offering mulligans, do-overs and second chances. According to 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Go to Hell?

The phrase “go to hell” is an all too common phrase and often accompanied by the one-finger salute or a few choice words. It is obvious that people don’t really consider the seriousness of hell when they make such a statement.

At the risk of sounding as though I interpret the Bible literally (which I do without apology), I believe that hell is a real place. Jesus taught more about hell than He did about heaven; so either hell is real or Jesus is a liar! The Bible describes hell as a place of physical, mental, and spiritual torment; where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. It is a place of outer darkness, with unending suffering, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

Society’s trivial approach toward hell has caused cynicism about it. Hell has been downplayed, glorified, and portrayed as a party. Rock-n-Roll classics about hell include: “Straight to Hell,” “Burn in Hell,” “Go to Hell,” “Highway to Hell,” “Hells Bells,” “Vacation Hell” and many more. The Charlie Daniels Band told us the “Devil Went Down to Georgia” and Terri Gibbs told us the Devil has blue eyes and wears blue jeans.

Popular television shows and cartoons including: Family Guy, Futurama, The Simpsons, South Park, Tom & Jerry, and others have used hell as a plot. Popular comics: Dilbert, The Far Side, Hellboy, and Spawn; used hell as their theme. Even Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Pluto have been depicted as being in hell. Is it any wonder that people have become desensitized to the severity of hell?

We would expect the secular world to be confused about hell; but sadly, even today’s churches seem to have varying opinions. There was no confusion in the minds of history’s great evangelists. Jonathan Edwards, Oliver Green, D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, Billy Sunday, George Whitefield, Billy Graham and numerous other great evangelists preached a literal hell. They didn’t avoid truth for the sake of popularity as this generation does.

I believe some people have a hard time accepting that a loving God would ever send anyone to hell. The fact is that He doesn’t… He lets us choose. Because of Adam’s sin, all mankind is separated from God; but “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish (in hell), but have everlasting life” – John 3:16. Matt 7:13-14 LB reads, "Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. 14 But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him” –Jn 14:6. So, the choice is yours – heaven or hell - but avoiding the topic won’t make it any less real.

WITH BOUNDARIES COMES FREEDOM

My wife and I recently vacationed in Myrtle Beach, SC. Upon entering the condo, we immediately headed for the covered balcony to get our first glimpse of the SC coast. Without even thinking, we leaned our weight against the handrail of the balcony located on the eleventh floor! Those were the first minutes of many hours we spent on that balcony. We even let our twenty-two month old granddaughter play on the balcony. One day, it occurred to me that none of us would sit on the patio, much less let an infant play out there, without the presence of the handrail. That handrail was a boundary that provided us with the peace of mind to freely enjoy the beautiful view from the balcony.

I had a similar experience many years ago when our children were young. We bought a house on a canal and the yard was not fenced when we moved in. We noticed that our children would go only from the back door to the swing set and back. They never wandered near the water, nor to the sides of the yard. We eventually put a fence around our back yard and noticed that our children started using the entire back yard. They went down to the fence line at the canal and also began venturing toward the neighbors houses on each side of us. Again, it dawned on me… by defining the boundary, it gave a sense of security for our kids. It kept good things in, bad things out, and gave freedom to use the entire backyard, rather than only a small portion of it.

While some would argue that boundaries restrict freedom, the truth is that boundaries expand our freedoms and protect our interests. Within the boundaries of marriage; couples create confidence, establish trust, learn the art of partnership, experience greater happiness, increase their emotional health, enjoy guilt-free sex; and all of this without looking over their shoulder, worrying about STD’s or wrestling with emotional pain and guilt. Traffic boundaries also illustrate the point. By staying between the painted lines (boundaries), a vehicle will most often reach its destination without incident. Athletes try to keep their feet in bounds; businesses operate within the boundaries of the law; and governments protect those who live within their borders.

Establishing personal boundaries is a healthy part of life. Dating boundaries help maintain purity. Physical boundaries help protect against abuse. Intellectual boundaries allow opinions to be shared respectfully. Emotional boundaries keep us from personalizing everything. Digital boundaries help us avoid pornography, gossip sites, cyber bullying, or even attempting to impress others by embellishing our posts on social media.

The spiritual boundaries found in the Bible are also there for our protection. Just as God set boundaries for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the Bible reveals boundaries for daily living. Loving God first (Matt 22:36-38), loving others second (Matt 22:39-40), and following the 10 Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17) are good places to start. The Bible discusses boundaries regarding doctrine, conduct, friendships, business partnerships, relationships, work/rest, idols and so much more. God loves us enough to set boundaries that protect us and that allow us to enjoy life to the fullest. The bottom-line is that the boundaries established by God do not restrict our lives, they enhance it (John 10:10).

For Such a Time as This

My wife and I love to spend Saturday mornings drinking coffee at the beach, as we watch the boats going out through the inlet for a day of deep sea recreation. When the coffee is gone, we usually take a leisurely stroll down to the Deerfield Beach Pier, as we enjoy the beautiful beach, the early morning sun, and the surf. One morning, we were blessed to see sea turtles hatching; another day we watched the pelicans repeatedly diving to catch fish; and some days, the best entertainment comes in watching people.

Recently, we were enjoying an early morning walk and noticed the surf was a little more rough than normal. The tide was in, the waves were breaking closer to shore, and there was a large amount of seaweed. The clear path of firm sand along the shoreline was more narrow than normal and we were cautiously watching so as not to step on any man o’ war. For these reasons, we fixed our gaze on the ground in front of us.

Staring down made me notice the footprints in the sand. I observed the small footprints of children, the large footprints of adults, footprints revealing those who were pigeon-toed, those with crooked toes, and so on. Regardless of the size and shape of the footprint, they all had something in common – they were only there for a few moments and then washed away by the waves. I was reminded of James 4:14 – “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

I mentioned my observation to my wife and soon we had both stood still to watch the footprints being formed and then the waves washing them away. It was one of those AHA moments in my life. It dawned on me how short life really is. I realized that the impression I make in this world is here only for a moment. Others will come behind me and never realize that I had walked before them. I was walking where others walked previously. I found myself asking the question, “What is my life?” “Will my effort really make any difference or does it simply fade away never to be noticed by those who come after me?” I must admit that I found myself slightly discouraged for a moment, since I pour my heart and soul into everything I do.

In those moments, it was as though God was teaching me one of the most valuable lessons of my life. I immediately thought of Mordecai’s words to Queen Esther, “…who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Mordecai knew that God had prepared Esther for what needed to be done in that exact time – not in the past and not in the future; but for that exact moment in time. Matthew instructed us not to worry about tomorrow. Solomon stated “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up”

As I stood there on the shoreline gazing at those footprints, I realized that God only wants me to consider the work HE has trusted me with today – not the past, nor the future. He placed me here “for such a time as this.” We cannot change the past, nor can we dictate the future, as it applies to family, ministry, work or any other area of life. Be encouraged, realizing that God only asks us to be faithful to the task HE has entrusted us with today.