Author: Nick

Our society doesn’t handle death very well. We don’t talk about it. We have a youth culture. We don’t honor and respect the aged. We don’t see death as part of the process of life. It’s little wonder than when we consider that we need to “die” to self to get more of Jesus we resist the idea. But death precedes new life. A seed falls to the ground and dies before a new plant sprouts. We are happy to consider new birth, but are uncomfortable with the death of the old that new life implies. We can never achieve the full power of the new life if we are hanging on to aspects of the old man. We don’t have all aspects of the old man die at once; parts of him are put to death bit by bit.  The goal is to have Christ inside seen in our lives; the old man filters and dims that light. The bottom line is that if we want to have more of Jesus; there needs to be less of us. Suffer a little death and  Be blessed. Nick

 Praise You in the Storm. As we consider ways of getting more of Jesus into our lives, we move to more praise on our lips.  It’s easy to praise Jesus when life is going well, but Jesus is still worthy of praise whether the sun is shining or a storm is howling.  Praise isn’t great music or terriffic atmosphere. It doesn’t require raised hands or loud voices. It’s a deliberate choice to thank Jesus for who He is. We can start with considering what He’s done; but we really want to move on to who He is. You see we may not “feel” that He is doing anything at any particular time. And memory fades as to what He has done for us in the past. Yes, even with Jesus we can get a “What have you done for me lately?” attitude. But who He is doesn’t change. His unchanging character is our rock, our harbor in stormy times. Knowing His character and acknowledging it with our praise, helps us remember He’s still there. He still loves us. He’s still ready to take control of the parts of our life we have tried to wrestle from Him, with the resulting disaster we’re facing. […]

We continue to consider ways to get more of Jesus in our lives as suggested  by Anne Graham Lotz’s in, Pursuing More of Jesus, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009). Pursue more of His tears on your face.  We generally believe, especially us guys, that tears are to be avoided. Jesus didn’t think so. He wept and he wept publicly. Actually, failing to cry, keeping our pain and sorrow inside is dangerous to both our physical and mental help. In his new book, Through My Eyes, Tim Tebow Denver Bronco quarterback talks without embarrassment about his emotions. He has been videoed several times crying: the last time he ran into the stadium at the University of Florida, and when the Gators lost to Alabama in his senior year, for example. When we have passion about something, we’re going to get emotional, and shed tears, when we have significant setbacks. Jesus understands and cares when we’re crying tears of pain. We draw closer to Him. We get more of Him when we mourn over the things Jesus cared about: the pain of His people, lost souls, rejection of God, failure to trust and follow. It’s foolish to cry over “spilt milk” but not […]

Today we look at the second way to get more of Jesus suggested by Anne Graham Lotz’s in, Pursuing More of Jesus, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009).  Pursue more of His voice in your ear. Every Christian knows that we should be listening to the voice of Jesus. But how do we filter His voice out of the all the noise that fills our lives. Jesus’ voice has characteristics that set it apart. If we keep these in mind we will know when it’s really God speaking. God’s voice is biblical. When we think we are hearing from God our first move should be to check it against scripture. God’s word is never contrary to God’s Word. That seems pretty obvious doesn’t it? But often we hear Christians claiming to be acting on God’s word in doing things which are clearly not biblical. God’s voice is personal. God know where we are better than we know ourselves. Unlike other voices which try lead us, God’s voice speaks to the precise need in our lives. We miss God sometimes in this area since we are often confused about where we really are and what is really important. God cuts through all that and […]

You will recall that yesterday I had a bad day. Today was much better. I spent time with my Wednesday morning prayer group and had lunch with the leader of our next Kairos. That helped because today through them I had more of Jesus. I also read a wonderful column which was a report on Anne Graham Lotz’s recent book, Pursuing More of Jesus, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009).  The report listed 13 ways to pursue more of Jesus. I recommend reading the report here which may move you to read the book. I would like to share just one of the thirteen ways with you today. Go for the maximum, not the minimum. Choose to go after more than just the bare minimum God has to offer you. Make your faith about more than just trying to escape hell and get your ticket punched to heaven. Invite God to completely transform you: bending your will, awakening your conscience, breaking your heart, transforming your mind, overcoming your prejudices, soaring in your spirit, and conforming you into His glorious image.  We all want to escape hell, but our feet begin to drag when we consider inviting God to change us. Why is that? […]

I had a bad day. I wish I could look at the calendar and know in advance when I was going to have a bad day. I could go hide somewhere.  It doesn’t work that way. It doesn’t work that way because we don’t always control how our day will go. We are at the mercy of others. I wish I knew in advance who would turn my day around. I could avoid them; but we don’t know that either. It would seem after all these years I would have learned how to respond to turn a bad day good. I haven’t. Just a word from someone, out of the blue and unexpected,  can turn things bad. I guess I should consider that I, no doubt, cause others to have bad days. That really doesn’t help. I guess all we can do is our best. If we are expecting appreciation, we are sure to be disappointed. Tomorrow is another day. It’s got to be better. Doesn’t it? I hope so. There aren’t that many days left. Be blessed. Nick

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2Tim 4:3,4  “In answer to your inquiry, I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.” William Booth After the recent date-setting incident, it is fashionable to scoff at those who insist we are in the last days. The scripture is full of prophesy about the last days and certainly the time does seem full and the return of Jesus surely is not far away. Perhaps most significantly is the drift of the church from sound doctrine and the tendency to political correctness in preaching. When the century turned from the 1800s to the 1900s, William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army was asked about his concerns for the coming century. His response is quoted above.  Consider the church today. Are not those who preach the power of the Holy […]

We had a wonderful Memorial Day Service at Amana on Sunday, including a segment in which all veterans were asked to stand. We were thanked and honored. It wasn’t like that when I came back from war. It wasn’t an  honored war; it was Vietnam. I remember our ship coming under the Golden Gate Bridge with all hands on deck with garbage being thrown at us from the bridge. I remember shipmates wearing wigs to go into town to try to avoid being identified as military. I remember many years later at a Promise Keeper event, being thanked for the first time for my service. My experience is years old and I’m well over it. But I am concerned about those serving now as the country wearies of the War on Terror. These men and women are serving in an undermanned armed forces. They are having to spend way too much time deployed in dangerous war zones. The fervor of 9/11 is a distant memory. I pray that we not forget to spend some time tomorrow amongst the cookouts and general relaxing to spend some time considering their sacrifice and praying for those who serve and their families.  But […]