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Choose Joy. Engage God. Be Grateful.

The following two passages of Scripture communicate much the same thing; Choose joy. Engage God. Be grateful.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:4-7)

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. (1 Thess 5:16-18)

It is a pretty simple strategy for how to live our lives isn’t it? Choose joy. Engage God. Be grateful.

Both passages begin exhorting us to be joyful. If you are a follower of Christ, you can choose joy because joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace…” (Gal 5:22-23). Joy is the evidence of the Holy Spirit, not the result of our circumstances. Happiness is the result of our circumstances. But joy is a fruit of the Spirit that we either allow to flow or we grieve (Eph 4;30) and quench (1 Thess 5:19) it.

Both passages follow the of exhortation of choosing joy with telling us to pray and bring our requests to God. Prayer is simply two-way communication with God. The phasing in 1 Thess 5:18 is to “pray continually” or “pray without ceasing”. How is that possible? How can we be continually engaged with God? We have to sleep, work, etc., right? Well, remember prayer is simply communication with God. Prayer does not require speaking, closing your eyes, etc. “Pray continually” is a challenge to maintain a constant, open line of communication with God. A prayer can be launched in a thought. Prayer is also listening, waiting, and processing something God is stirring in you.

Finally, both passages exhort us to come to God with a grateful heart. Having a grateful heart is different than just saying “thank you” to someone. Having a grateful heart allows us to see life through a lens of gratitude. 1 Thess 5:18 says we are to “give thanks in every circumstance”. Being grateful is gateway to the provision and protection of God. Choosing to have a grateful heart refocuses us on the things that matter, and takes our focus off the petty, trivial things that rob us of our joy.

Life is far too short, and God is way too good for us to waste one more minute caught up in the negativity, unkindness around us, and being ungrateful. Is that really how you want to spend your next breath? Even Mr. Grumpypants, Negative Nancy, and Debbie Downer, don’t like themselves. Don’t be like them. Choose gratitude, overwhelming, relentless, gratitude.  

Don’t over-complicate life, especially during this holiday season. Instead, let me encourage you to embrace a simple strategy for your life; Choose joy. Engage God. Be grateful.

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Bob the Tomato Speaks (kinda, not really, but kinda)

Below is a 17:52 minute video. Yes, I know that seems like a really long time to watch a video, but it is also a good, data-driven, balanced presentation to help us understand the systemic root level problems which are creating many of the racial tension issues our nation is struggling with today.

This video is by Phil Vischer, co-creator of the popular Christian animated series VeggieTales. He was also the voice of Bob the Tomato. He carefully, but quickly, narrates the history of race in America over the last 100 years.

Vischer used data to summarize, “The average black household has 1/10th the wealth of the average white household. This didn’t happen by accident, it happened by policy.

Vischer’s bottom line closing is simple; “I’m not here to tell you what the right solutions are, because I don’t know,” Vischer said. “I’m just here to ask you to do one thing; it is the thing that begins every journey to a solution for every problem. What am I asking you do to? Care.”

Here’s the deal, in my opinion, the racial tension in our nation falls at the feet of the greed, manipulative tactics, and self-centered focus of politics & politicians, city developers, community leaders, AND a silent Church. From a biblical worldview perspective, I believe the problem is spiritual/ theological, and therefore, the solution is also spiritual/theological. Doing things God’s way is ALWAYS the best way to do things. But Phil is absolutely right, the place to begin is to actually care.

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The Gospel in Five Minutes

This is the 5-minute version.

Scripture is clear, we are saved by faith in Christ, through grace, not of our works or good deeds. (Eph 2:8-9) We are not saved by believing in our mind, but when we believe in our heart. (Rom 10:9-10, 13)

Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

If not, is the Holy Spirit stirring you to place you faith in Him right now? IF he is, simply pray a simple prayer. Doesn’t have to be fancy. IF God is drawing you to Himself He already knows what He is stirring in your heart. But if you want a guide of what to pray, you can pray something like this;

Lord, I know I am broken. I know I have sinned. I know I need you as my Savior. I believe you died for me and was raised from the dead for me.

Jesus, today I choose to believe in you as the Forgiver and Leader of my life. I choose to repent of my sin and accept your free gift of salvation. Thank you for becoming my sin and dying for me on the Cross. Today, right now, in this moment, I declare; Jesus, you are my Lord. I will follow you. No turning back. I WILL follow you.

Holy Spirit, I invite you to live in & through me, to transform me and restore my brokenness according to God’s will for my life. Amen.

IF you just placed your faith in Jesus as your Savior, PLEASE email me to let me know so I can celebrate with you. tim@thecrossmatters.org

This is the 17-minute version for those interested in more explanation.

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Conversations with Tim: Racism (June 9, 2020)

Conversations with Tim is exactly what it sounds like; I sit down with a friend or two and have a conversation and you are invited to eavesdrop in on our conversation. I think about it like we are at a restaurant having a conversation and you are at the next table over-hearing our conversation.

My guests in this episode are two of my friends from Chicago, Pastor Adron Robinson, Hillcrest Baptist Church, and Pastor Bryan Price, Love Fellowship Baptist Church.

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Who is Capable of Judging Others?

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you use, it shall be measured to you again. And why do you complain about the splinter in your brother’s eye, but overlook the beam that is in your own eye?” (Matt 7:1-5)

Jesus asked many questions of his followers with the intention of getting them to see the truth. As He preached the Sermon on the Mount He began dealing with judging each other. There are many reasons why we ought not to judge and several of them are contained in this scripture. Judging is and always has been the biggest fault of Christians. We like to judge! The problem is, we are not capable to judge if we are honest.

Normally, the person who judges others does not consider their own condition first. Only those without sin can judge sin. No one should ever judge another for their lying while harboring lust in their own heart. None should consider judging the thief when they themselves are not tithing. The bottom line is this; we are all sinners, and that simple fact disqualifies us as someone else’s judge.

Only God has perfect insight. We are limited by our physical nature and blinded by our sin. We may think we have all the facts necessary to judge, but we don’t. Only God has perfect hindsight. He alone knows why people do what they do. We cannot see into a person’s past and determine the path that led them to their thoughts, emotions, attitudes, decisions, behaviors, motives, etc, but God can. Only God has perfect foresight. He alone knows the potential in a person. If you and I were left to judge, we would seldom consider the eventual outcome of a soul. We would condemn most as un-redeemable and mark them off our lists.

All this is especially alarming when we consider that the way we judge others is the way we will be judged. Whatever standard we hold others to will be the standard God uses to judge us. (read Matt 7:2) If you just can’t help but judge others, I have some good advice; begin with yourself! Judge yourself; you know more about you than anyone else anyway. Be honest now! Scripture says, “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not come under judgment.” (1 Cor 11:31)

By the way, the best news of all is that all of our sin was nailed to the cross. The ultimate Judge of all has provided a way to reconcile you back to Himself by judging your sin on the cross and offering you forgiveness and restoration instead. God did something for us that we could not have done for ourselves; He took all the sin of mankind and placed it on Jesus on the cross. Jesus became our sin, then God judged him, and even rejected him.

Hanging on the cross, Jesus went from calling God “Father”, to saying “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” God judged Jesus so He could reconcile us back to himself so that we could have a personal relationship with the only true judge. You are pardoned by His grace and mercy.

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We ALL Expereince Times of Heat & Drought

“But blessed is the person who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Jeremiah gives us a wealth of wisdom and encouragement in the two verses above. Blessed, joyful, content, and satisfied is the person who places their trust in God. Think about it for a moment. All worry and anxiety is rooted in distrust of God. We can deny it, but it is still every bit as true.

Scripture tells us to cast all of our fear, worry, and anxiety upon the Lord, but doing that requires trust. Fear, worry, and anxiety rob us of the joy, contentment, satisfaction, and overall blessing God intends to give each of us. God has always proven faithful, yet it is a normal flaw in our flesh to distrust God.

On the other hand, choosing to trust God releases joy, contentment, satisfaction, and the overall blessings of God. Proverbs says that if we trust the Lord fully, He will direct our paths. Jeremiah says that if we consistently choose trust we will be like the tree planted by the ever-flowing stream, regardless of the heat and drought of life, our roots will always be able to reach the life-giving stream.

All of our lives will experience “heat and drought”. Heat represents those times of intense pressure. Drought represents those times of dryness and emptiness. Life is ever changing. We have great days, and we have really hard days. We experience times of stress and pressure that increase our blood pressure and lower our tolerance. We experience extended times of emptiness, where we have expended so much, and nothing seems to be replenishing us.

The great news of the gospel is that regardless of the ups and downs and overall pressure of life, God is always faithful and trustworthy. If we choose to maintain our “rooted-ness’ in Him, we will find an ever-flowing stream that will allow us to stay fresh and bear fruit. The heat and the droughts of life will come, but the river of God never ceases to flow to the point of our need. But we it does require trust.

Our trust is based on our confidence in our unfailing, always faithful God, whose ways we do not always understand, but who nevertheless, is the definition of trustworthy. Complete and absolute trust in God provides the blessings of God you crave. It will give you peace in the raging storms, steadfastness in the howling winds, and calm when the world around you seems to quake. You can trust Him!

In the words of S.M. Lockridge, “He supplies strength for the weak and He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He sees. He guards and He guides, He heals the sick, He cleansed the Leper, He forgives sinners, He discharges debtors, He delivers the captives, He defends the feeble, He blesses the young, He regards the aged, He rewards the diligent, He beautifies the meek. He’s the key to knowledge, He’s the wellspring of wisdom, He’s the doorway of deliverance, He’s the pathway of peace, He’s the roadway of righteousness, He’s the highway of holiness, He’s the gateway to glory! You can trust Him! He’s the master of the mighty, He’s the captain of the conquers, He’s the head of heroes, He’s the leader of legislators, He’s the overseer of the over-comers, He’s the governor of the governors, He’s the prince of princes, He’s the king of kings, He’s the Lord of lords! You can trust Him!”

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Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen?

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“Christ Be All Around Me” We Sing St. Patrick’s Prayer

Many churches sing this song. “Christ Be All Around Me” which is taken from a prayer attributed to a prayer of St. Patrick called “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”

“Christ Be All Around Me”

As I rise, strength of God
Go before, lift me up
As I wake, eyes of God
Look upon, be my sight

As I wait, heart of God
Satisfy and sustain
As I hear, voice of God
Lead me on, be my guide
Oh be my guide

Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
Whoa, whoa
Christ be all around me

And as I go, hand of God
My defense, by my side
And as I rest, the breath of God
Fall upon, bring me peace
Oh bring me peace

Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
Whoa, whoa
Christ be all around me

Whoa, whoa
Christ be all around me

Your life, Your death
Your blood was shed
For every moment
Every moment

Your life, Your death
Your blood was shed
For every moment
Every moment

Your life, Your death
Your blood was shed
For every moment
Every moment

Your life, Your death
Your blood was shed
For every moment
Every moment

Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
Whoa, whoa
Christ be all around me

Whoa, whoa
Christ be all around me

 

 

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Happy St Patrick’s Day! From Captured Slave to a Man on Mission

Happy St Patrick’s Day! Tis the season for parades, green beer, shamrocks, and articles talking about why St. Patrick’s day isn’t all about parades, green beer, and shamrocks. St. Paddy’s Day started as a religious celebration in the 17th century to commemorate the life of Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.

Before all the festivities focused on shamrocks, leprechauns, and good luck wishes, let me tell you about something worth celebrating: a man willing to stand in the gap for Jesus Christ.

This “Feast Day” always took place on the anniversary of Patrick’s death, which was believed to be March 17, 461 AD. In the early 18th century, Irish immigrants brought the tradition over to the American colonies, and it was there that Saint Patrick started to become the symbol of Irish heritage and culture that he is today. As more Irish came across the Atlantic, the Feast Day celebration slowly grew in popularity. So much so, in fact, the first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston in 1737.

If you’re wondering why we wear green on St Patrick’s Day, it not just about protection from pinching fingers. It goes back to the Irish Rebellion, when Irish soldiers wore green as they fought off the British in their trademark red. Until then, the color associated with St. Patrick and Feast Day was actually blue.

The reason shamrocks are such a part of St Patrick Day celebrations is that Patrick took a shamrock and pointed out the three leaves on it, as an illustration, to help people understand the Trinity.

The real story of St. Patrick is one of a man on a mission. Not a mission to party, wear funny green hats, or finding leprechauns, but to bring the power of the gospel to his Irish captors. When Patrick was a teenager, marauding Irish raiders attacked his village and abducted him from his home. Patrick was captured, thrown onto a slave ship headed for Ireland, and sold into slavery to an Irish king, who put him to work as a shepherd. Six years later, he escaped and returned home. Throughout that experience, God captured his attention and prepared him for his mission as a missionary to Ireland the home of his very captors and those who enslaved him.

Patrick had been raised in a Christian home, but he didn’t really believe in God. Patrick wrote, “from an early age, he didn’t have any serious interest in religion and that he was practically an atheist when he was a teenager.” But while in slavery, hungry, lonely, frightened, and bitterly cold, Patrick began seeking out a relationship with his Heavenly Father. As he wrote in his Confessions, “I would pray constantly during the daylight hours” and “the love of God . . . surrounded me more and more.”

Six years after his capture, God spoke to Patrick in a dream, saying, “Your hunger is rewarded. You are going home. Look! Your ship is ready.” What a startling command! If he obeyed, Patrick would become a fugitive slave, constantly in danger of capture and punishment. But he did obey, and God protected him. The young slave walked nearly 200 miles to the Irish coast. There he boarded a waiting ship and traveled back to Britain and his family.

But, as you might expect, Patrick was a different person now, and the restless young man could not settle back into his old life. Finally, thirty years after God had led Patrick away from Ireland, He called him back to the Emerald Isle as a missionary. Patrick understood the danger and wrote: “I am ready to be murdered, betrayed, enslaved — whatever may come my way.”

Patrick was determined to return to Ireland as a missionary. God granted him success and the gospel was spread throughout Ireland. Over the next 200 years, Celtic Christians, following Patrick’s example, brought the gospel to Britain, France, and central Europe. Those Irish pirates had no idea that kidnapping a teenager to be their slave would be used by God to bring many thousands to Christ.

Patrick lit a fire in pagan 5th century Ireland, ushering Christianity into the country of Ireland. Ireland was a beautiful island shrouded in terrible darkness. Warlords and druids ruled the land. The Irish of the fifth century were a pagan, violent, and barbaric people. Human sacrifice was commonplace. They worshipped multiple gods of the sky, earth, and water, but across the sea in Britain, a teenager was poised to bring this nation to God. It was an act of defiance that changed the course of a nation.

Since the warlords and druids ruled Ireland and worshipped multiple gods of the sky, earth, and water overcoming that false belief system became Patrick’s his first challenge: to convince the Irish that there was only one God and that his God really did love them.

Patrick came face to face with the warlord chieftains and their druid priests in a showdown on his first Easter morning in Ireland. Part of the pagan worship in the spring was that a start a fire on the hill of Tara and to prohibit all other lights throughout all of Ireland. Patrick was staying in a monastery on the hill of Slane, and in direct defiance of the high king of Tara, Patrick lit a forbidden fire.

Patrick was summoned before the king, and he explained that he “wasn’t a threat, but he was bringing a new light, the light of Christ, the Savior of the world, the Light of the world.

Patrick brought the hope of the resurrected Christ to Ireland as he trekked across the countryside bringing the Gospel to the pagan Celts. Patrick taught Ireland was that there is a cost to discipleship, but it’s a cost worth paying. Discipleship demands of you, but it’s a cost that Christ will help you to pay. Patrick’s ministry lasted 29 years. He baptized over 120,000 Irishmen and planted 300 churches.

If you wear green this St. Patrick’s Day, consider thinking more about the mission than the party. Many gave their lives to Christ because one teenager refused to let the oppression of a godless culture shape his identity.

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Five Foundational Truths of Surrender: Truth #5

There are five foundational truths of surrender;

  1. God is good.
  2. God is in control.
  3. God knows more than we know.
  4. God can do more with what we have that we can.
  5. Everybody surrenders to something. Even the most independent, rebellious people in the world surrenders to something….why not make it God? Everything God does is to provide for you and protect you.