How To Follow In The Footsteps Of Jesus

From time to time, we sing an old hymn entitled, Footprints Of Jesus. The chorus of this song reads...

Footprints of Jesus, that make the pathway glow; we will follow the steps of Jesus where e'er they go.

For those who understand the nature of Christ (God's Son and the Savior of mankind), following in the footsteps of Jesus is the prime objective. Consider the words of Peter's God-breathed message...

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:21, ESV

But how does one truly follow in Christ's footsteps?

B -- Believe in him (John 1:12)

Y -- Yield to him (Romans 12:1)

G -- Go to him in prayer (1 John 5:14-15)

R -- Read & study his word (2 Timothy 2:15)

O -- Obey his commands (John 15:14)

W -- Work for him (1 Corinthians 15:58)

I -- Ignore the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11)

N -- Nothing held back (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

G -- Give talents and resources (Matthew 25:20; 2 Corinthians 9:7)

I -- Increase in fruit (John 15:8)

N -- Neglect not God's gift (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6)

G -- Gather with the saints (Hebrews 10:25)

R -- Redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16; 2 Timothy 2:4)

A -- Abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

C -- Conquer Satan and temptation (James 4:7; Matthew 26:41)

E -- Expect Christ's return (Hebrews 9:28)

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18, ESV

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Why You And I Need Christ

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and he life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6, ESV


Without the WAY you cannot go.
Without the TRUTH you cannot know.
Without the LIFE you cannot grow.

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Ehh....Close Enough

A bank teller in South Carolina refused to open a new checking account for a man after he handed her a $1-million bill (a photo of which is at right). Alexander Smith of Augusta, Georgia was arrested on forgery charges for attempting to pass off this counterfeit bill as legal U.S. tender.

By the way, the United States Treasury has never printed a $1-million bill.

Despite the fact that this case involved a somewhat obvious counterfeit bill, it still amazes me how precise many counterfeiters can be in their attempts at duplicating genuine notes. Add to that the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of counterfeit merchandise sold every year (such as footwear, clothing, watches, electronics, DVDs, pharmaceuticals, etc), and this country has an epidemic.

There is something for you and I to consider here relative to matters of faith: You and I need to be on guard for counterfeit Christianity.

The Bible speaks of the danger of joining oneself to such a group:

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5, ESV

Friend, be very cautious when it comes to your inner man -- the part of you that will exist throughout all eternity. Pay close attention to how the church you attend compares to the Scriptures. Are there any conflicts? Perhaps only small ones?

Let's go back to the counterfeit bill for a moment. The difference between the best "fakes" and the genuine article is minute -- undetectable by most! But go into a bank and try to open an account with counterfeit bills and see if they say, "Well, these bills do not match authentic currency....they cannot be real....but hey, they are VERY close. So we are going to accept them and open your account." Not going to happen, folks!!

Under the inspiration of God, one true apostle of Christ wrote to God's people regarding false apostles of Christ:

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15, ESV

Here is a fact: Some people know very well they are deceiving souls, and some do not. The ones who do not know they are teaching falsely are themselves deceived. Now, whether one deceives another intentionally or unintentionally, the problem remains. The only solution is to expose them to truth and hope the heart is soft enough to be receptive thereto.

Let every last one of us always keep these questions before us:

1. Why do I believe what I believe?
2. Why do I worship in such a way?
3. Why am I a member of _______________ church?

If the answers ever become something other than, "Thus says the Lord," we can be certain that our source of authority has become something other than God's word; and any source of authority outside of that word will be woefully insufficient as we plead our case before the judgment seat of Christ.

Friend, let's get back to God's way of doing things.

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Zip Those Lips!

We need more silence in the world.

Oh, there is a time to speak -- even times when the truth simply must be told.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.....a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7, NKJV

By practical observation, however, it would seem that the vast majority of mankind seems to be under the distinct impression that silence only has a proper place when it comes to others. Sadly, the wisdom of maintaining one's peace appears to be a skill that is passing away.

According to an old Irish proverb, "The silent mouth is sweet to hear."

In what I personally regard to be one of the most insightful and desperately needed Proverbs of the Bible, the wise man said...

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge; and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Proverbs 17:27-28, ESV

You may have heard this similar thought: 'Tis better to keep your mouth shut and have them think you a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

Truly, we are a world in desperate need of a better appreciation for the power of silence!

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"Black Friday": Be Wise This Year

Black Friday is just around the corner. Just in case you are not familiar with the term, it is also known as the day after Thanksgiving.

The origin of Black Friday comes from the shift to profitability during the holiday season. Black Friday was when retailers went from being unprofitable, or "in the red," to being profitable, or "in the black", at a time when accounting records were kept by hand and red indicated loss and black profit.

For many though, the term has come to mean something quite different: Black Friday is the day when already holiday-weary shoppers brave the throngs of shoppers in an effort to find the best deals of the season. More than 100-million shoppers will bite, gouge, and claw their ways (figuratively speaking, of course!) through masses of humanity and merchandise to get an early jump on their holiday gift list.....and this is just the way many of these folks would have it!

If you are not an avid shopper, this may come as a surprise. Yes, I've known and have been related to quite a few men and women who thrive in such environments. But no matter where we are this Black Friday and throughout the entire holiday season, there is something we ought to think about: Exercising financial wisdom.

In her book "Debt Proof Living," consumer financial expert and personal finance coach, Mary Hunt, gives a list of debt trap warning signs:

1. You are living on credit
2. You pay your bills late
3. You are not a giver
4. You are not a saver
5. You dream of getting rich quickly and living an extravagant lifestyle
6. You worry about money
7. You overspend your checking account

Where is the wisdom in loading up our credit cards in December and paying finance charges we cannot afford until the next holiday season rolls around? Overextending oneself financially takes a toll mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Financial crisis is always near the top of the list in causes of divorce.

Why not take care of the problem before it can even arise? Be wise this holiday season. Do not overextend yourself. Do not talk yourself into believing what many retailers want you to believe...namely that your family and friends will be disappointed if you do not lavish upon them expensive gifts.

There is much more that could be said about this. The Bible has much to say in regard to God's people exercising wisdom in finances. I will leave it at this:

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender." (Proverbs 22:7, ESV).

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Sinning With The Stars

Sometimes, we have to say things even though we know they will be looked upon as extremely unpopular.

At the risk of being looked upon as an "old fuddy-duddy" (even though I'm only 29 years old), I hope you will take a moment to consider why God's people should not be viewers of television programs that glorify immodesty and immoral sexuality such as ABC's Dancing With The Stars.

I am well aware of the fact that Dancing With The Stars is one of the most popular programs on television at the time of this writing. I am also aware of the fact that some men and women within the body of Christ are regular viewers. Without beating around the bush, I will say this bluntly and succinctly: Watching Dancing With The Stars is wholly inconsistent with Christian character.

Could we single out other shows and say the same? Of course. However, looking at this show is particularly important because it so clearly illustrates the problem with modern dancing. This program should be a reminder to Christian parents and teenagers in regard to school sponsored dances, such as proms and homecomings.

Someone might ask, "Well, how can you know it's bad if you don't even watch it?" This hearkens back to the age-old, "don't knock it 'til you've tried it" argument, which of course is an argument that holds no water and is completely illogical.

Nonetheless, it is only fair to address such a question. One need only be watching some other program on ABC (such as college football) to see the frequently-run promotions of Dancing With The Stars, and if the full hour of each episode contained only that which is included in these 30-second spots, that would be sufficient to consider such a program unsuitable for viewing. In truth, however, it does not take a nuclear scientist to accurately conclude that a considerable portion of the program is devoted to sexual movements by scantily clad contestants. Incidentally, there is no way I could have used 90% of the photos I came across in trying to find one to fit this article. Some of the costumes I saw were essentially lingerie, and the poses and action shots would warrant a guaranteed "R" rating by the Motion Picture Association of America.

In doing a bit of research, I have found what people of the world who would consider virtually nothing on T.V. and in the movies to be immoral are saying about Dancing With The Stars. I read a piece earlier today from the Los Angeles Times that spoke of the obvious encouragement the contestants are receiving to "bring out the sexy" in their dance routines. That's the Los Angeles Times, folks. Clearly, they do not see any harm in such an emphasis. What about God's people?

The Bible classifies "lewdness" as one of the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). God has made this fact abundantly clear...that those who practice lewdness will not inherit the kingdom of God. This is true of those who willingly view lewd behavior as much as it is those who exhibit that sexually suggestive behavior.

If you are a viewer of Dancing With The Stars, it may be true that you watch primarily because you like to watch talented people, because you like certain "stars," or for any other number of reasons. But if you wear the name of Christ, I would challenge you to step back and make an honest assessment of this program, as well as any other. We (myself included) have become far too comfortable in letting the FCC regulate what comes into our living rooms instead of the word of God.

My friend, the FCC is not going to be there to plead your case as you stand before God in judgment. If you would be ashamed to admit you watch some T.V. show to your brothers and sisters in the church, that is all you need to know. However, even if we would unabashedly proclaim our loyal viewer status, we still need to reflect on how these shows are hindering or helping our goal of attaining a heavenly reward.

Thanks for reading this humble treatise. I hope it will be an encouragement toward faithfulness for all of us.

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Boundless Divine Care

"As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sand of the sea cannot be
measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me."
Jeremiah 33:22, ESV

In 1837, Johann Hey wrote a poem that would later become the lyrics to a hymn we sing to this day. The words were set to a German Folk tune. Do you recognize them?

Can you count the stars of evening

That are shining in the sky?

Can you count the clouds that daily

Over all the world go by?

God the Lord who doth not slumber,

Keepeth all the boundless number:

But He careth more for thee,

But He careth more for thee.

Hipparchus, who lived several hundred years after the prophet Jeremiah (ca. 150 B.C.) confidently asserted his knowledge of the "fact" that there were exactly 1,026 stars in the universe. Ptolemy, the renowned Roman scientist who lived in the time of Christ, disagreed with the findings of the great Hipparchus. He claimed knowledge of an additional 30 stars, which brought the number up to 1,056. It was not until Galileo's telescope that man began to understand the firmament of the Lord contains a vast, "boundless number" of stars.

It is estimated by current astronomers that there are about Ten Billion galaxies within range of the powerful 200-inch telescope. Consider the fact that Einstein figured total space to be at least 100,000 times greater than observable space, and our most recent and best guesses bring the total up to at least 100 Septillion stars in the universe!! If you have trouble visualizing that figure (like me), here is what it looks like written out...

100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (that's a one with 26 zeros behind it!)

When God used the hand of Jeremiah to write, "the host of heaven cannot be numbered," he really meant it!!! To count the stars would be like trying to count every single grain of sand on all the shores of the earth (Genesis 22:17). If everyone in the world were to unite in an effort to count the stars, each person would count more than 50 Billion of them without the same star being counted twice! Is it not amazing that the God who made them all knows each one by name (Psalm 147:4)? Is it not even more impressive that he cares for you and me more than these (Matthew 6:25-34)?

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In The Shadow Of Lenin

Vladimir Lenin may be the most prominent individual in the rich history of Russia. Born in April of 1870, Lenin became a supreme leader of the Communist Revolution. He would go on to become the first head of the Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, and from 1922 the first de facto leader of the Soviet Union. He was the creator of Leninism, an extension of Marxist theory.

Is it apparent in Lenin's writing that he was not wholly set against religion. He certainly looked upon religion as a "crutch" for the feeble-minded. Consider a few of these statements from the pages of Lenin's own writings:

"Impotence of the exploited classes in their struggle against the exploiters ...
inevitably gives rise to the belief in a better life after death."

"Religion is opium for the people. Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image, their demand for a life more or less worthy of man."

Lenin agrees with Marx to the extent that due to the fact that religion has deep roots in capitalist oppression, it will not disappear until the people completely overcome their oppression. Lenin writes in The Attitude Of The Workers' Party To Religion:

"No educational book can eradicate religion from the minds of masses who are crushed by capitalist hard labour, and who are at the mercy or the blind destructive forces of capitalism, until those masses themselves learn to fight this root of religion, fight the rule of capital in all its forms, in a united, organised, planned and conscious way."

Lenin was convinced that religion would be obsolete just as soon as the capitalist system could be eradicated.

Looking back through history, we can see the results of such a way of thinking. Under Communist rule, the Soviet Union became one of the most Godless and immoral nations in the history of the world -- a struggle that affects modern-day Russia and most of the Baltic states to this day.

In the Summer of 2006, I had the privilege of traveling to Ukraine to participate in a mission campaign. Some of the images I captured on my digital camera are priceless to me. One such image is the photo you see at above, depicting two Ukrainian gospel preachers handing out literature to the townspeople in Svitlovodsk, Ukraine.

As we were handing out these tracts and invitations to a gospel meeting, I witnessed this scene and noted the significance: Here are two young men who grew up under Communist rule doing God's work in the shadow of the likeness of Vladimir Lenin! The poetic beauty of this scene was not lost on me, I can tell you that!

So while Lenin has long since passed over into eternity (1924), and while his fleshly tabernacle remains preserved and on display in Moscow, his soul and his ideology have gone the way of the world. Each of us -- from the most humble servant to the head of state -- will stand before God to give an account on that great day.

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10, ESV

Throughout the former Soviet empire, imposing bronze statues pay tribute to a man many former Soviets still love and admire. However, even the great Vladimir Lenin is not exempt from the great gathering of "all" spoken of in the Scripture above.

And since you and I will be there in the gathering of "all," should we not also "make it our aim to please him" (v. 9)?

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Who Believes In Heaven?

The November 2-4, 2007 Weekend Edition of USA Today included an interesting graph depicting the landscape of who believes in heaven.

Listing the AARP as its source, the USA Today revealed a decrease in faith that appears to be somewhat in proportion to household income.

The graph (which I have reproduced at right-- click to enlarge) shows that 90% of people aged 50 or older with a household income of less than $25,000 believe in heaven. Just 78% of people 50 or older with a household income of $75,000 or more believe in heaven. The data in between these two points shows a consistent decrease as household income increases.

It has been said that you can use data to prove almost anything, and I suppose there is some truth in that. What does a study like this suggest? Well, I would suggest to you that the findings of the AARP's study are nothing surprising or novel to students of the Bible. When I saw this figure, the words that almost instantly came to mind were...

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:19-21, ESV

So does this data suggest our faith will decrease as our income increases? Is this an unavoidable fact of life? Not at all. When we understand the thrust of Jesus' teaching in Matthew chapter six, seeing a graph like this in the USA Today is not at all unexpected.

For the majority, the more they earn, the more they are captivated by this world and what it has to offer. They place the greatest emphasis on earning and raising their own standard of living -- that is, laying up treasure on earth. However, when an individual or family does not enjoy all of life's finer pleasures, they are less likely to become fixated on the fleeting pleasures of this life; instead, they are more likely to seek the better life that is promises -- that is, laying up treasures in heaven.

Of course, we always ought to be cautious about painting with too broad of a brush. Is every "upper-middle class" and "upper class" individual materialistic and unconcerned with heaven? Of course not. Neither is every member of the "lower class" a spiritually-minded person. It all depends on the individual.

That being said, money and the pursuit thereof can cause otherwise rationally-minded people to lose all sense of reality and morality. Even the mere prospect of moderate wealth can lead one away from dependence on God and into a life of self-reliance.

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income.
Ecclesiastes 5:10, ESV

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Already At It For Next Year!

With the 2007 Cold Harbor Lectureship officially two days behind us, it is time to start planning for and working on next year's program. I am so excited about next year's theme that I had to sit down and design the cover for the 2008 lectureship book (at right).

As you can see from the image, the theme for the 12th Annual Cold Harbor Lectureship will be Balance. I know we every director of every lectureship probably says this every year, but I truly cannot think of any subject that is more urgently needed for consideration by the body of Christ in this generation.

With individuals and groups splitting off and departing in multiple directions, we desperately need to come back to a place of balance -- balance in what we teach, how we live, and any number of other areas of practical living. As we sit down to plan this lectureship, we will make the effort to be balanced in our approach.

Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left...
Joshua 23:6, ESV

And, since our mind is still on the Proverbs...

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
Proverbs 4:27, ESV

Stay tuned for more information regarding the 2008 Cold Harbor Lectureship!

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