Nick’s Walk

My grandson reminded me yesterday that women are “sometimes” smarter than men. As proof he offered that fact that men will not ask for directions. They will wonder aimlessly refusing to ask for directions or to even admit that they are lost. It’s a guy thing. Face it, we all lose our way some time. In fact, for me, I know I am in the Lord’s perfect will a lot less often than I feel that I am on course. He sends us signs when we drift from the path. Like the rough areas along the side of the highway that cause our tires to make rumbling noises, he sends us messages that we are drifting off track. Sometimes, however, we don’t drift, we simply make a wrong turn or fail to turn when we should. That’s a tougher situation. When we realize that we have made a mistake we are often far afield. We can try to get back on course, but sometimes our attempts simply get us further lost. We may have to return to the spot when we last knew for certain we were on course. Our time off course can cause damage to ourselves and […]

I recently read an article on leadership designed to encourage church leaders. It stressed the importance of finishing well. It occurred to me that its lessons are applicable to all Christians living at the end of the Christian age. As it becomes less politically correct to be a Christian, it becomes all the more important to lead as Christians. So consider these points adapted from the article. If we are to be salt and light leaders, there are things we must do. 1. Never stop learning. The leader isn’t the one who knows it all. He’s the one whose teachable spirit is an inspiration to others. Besides although biblical truth never changes, circumstances due and we need to keep up.2. Be a light. Be salt. Be loving. Leaders sometimes get so caught up in being the boss, that they forget to lead by example. How many leaders can you name who crashed and burned when they failed to maintain character? It’s not our knowledge and wisdom that is needed most (but it is needed) it’s our love. Our savior told us that by our love will others know us. Keep loving. 5. Once salt and light, always salt and […]

Jesus said to him, “I am the truth, and

Everyone knows that Karl Marx said that religion is the opiate of the people. But very few go on to finish what he said next; that it is the sigh of the oppressed and the illusory sun that revolves around man as long as man doesn’t revolve around himself. The New Spirituality has solved that dilemma. We have found a religion that has helped us to revolve around ourselves, and once we have believed that the spiritual imagination needs no boundaries because we are gods, everything becomes plausible and nothing needs justification. Ravi Zacharias I spent the last 24 hours in New Orleans. The trip included seeing the still-remaining reminders of the power of Hurricane Katrina and a trip to the Aquarium. Both served as much needed reminders of the wonder and power of our God. God didn’t have to created such a wonderful, diverse and beautiful creation as was on display in tank after tank at the Aquarium. We had taken Nicky our grandson as a reward for having to make a 24 hour trip us most of which was spent in the car. But the adults were as impressed by the displays as he was. It’s so […]

” Jesus Christ not only changes what you do; He changes what you want to do.” Ravi Zacharias Although we seem to be living in the beginning of the Great Falling Away prophesized in the Book of Revelation, there has been no decrease in the interest in spirituality. What is it that drives man to the spiritual? Since the Garden of Eden, man has been incomplete. He was created to be in relationship with God. That relationship was broken by his sinful state. Most sane men recognize something is missing. They know that they are not all that they were meant to be. Though they may attempt to fill that emptiness with material things, the failure of those things to ultimately satisfy leaves them hungry for something else and guilty for their foolish attempts to find that something in the wrong places. In almost all of its forms, spirituality seeks to fill that emptiness. Some are attempts to climb up to God. Others are attempts to find God inside. Still others seek to make Man into God. Of all these forms of spirituality, only Christianity works. The modern new spirituality teaches that there are many ways to God. That’s […]

“As sin has gone out of vogue and evil has remained a legitimate category, though limited, religion has gone out of vogue while spirituality remains a valid pursuit.” Zacharias, Ravi (2012-01-25). Why Jesus?: Rediscovering His Truth in an Age of Mass Marketed Spirituality . Hachette Book Group. Kindle Edition.  I love Ravi Zacharias. I believe he is one of the strongest apologists for real Christianity we have today. He’s so smart that he is often difficult to follow. I have been trying to digest his “Why Jesus” for a few weeks. It’s not the kind of work you can ingest in one sitting, but it is full of truth. Here’s my take on the background: I “came of age” in the sixties when “Jesus Freaks” were in. They were basically hippie types who were so anti-establishment that they couldn’t deal with the straight laced church of the 60s. Church people supported the war in Vietnam. They couldn’t go with that. The church people also rejected the “free love” mantra of the hippie culture. The Jesus Freaks knew that Jesus talked about love and they figured He would probably be cool if it were free. While most of us weren’t […]

Sunday I had the pleasure of attending services at Asbury United Methodist Church. I was there to make a pitch for Kairos. The church has been very supportive of Kairos for years so I also took the opportunity to thank everyone for their past support. I have many Methodist friends but I  believe that this was my first chance to be in a Methodist service. In fact, I attended two. I enjoyed them both very much. Although the service was quite different from what I am used to in my non-denominational home church, there were key elements that were the same. Jesus and His Holy Word were at the center. The people showed a love for both. I was well received by friendly loving people. I noticed several acquaintances that I had not realized were Christian before.  As with many churches today, the congregation had more old than young. We all struggle with keeping our youth in the faith. But one young family baptized a member and joined the church, so growth continues. It is so easy to narrow our focus to the small piece of Christianity which is our experience. I will be happy to be with my church […]

Today I would like to try to address concerns expressed by a relatively young Christian who has been attacked. The attack on the human level came in an email which was critical. It called the recipient a “bad Christian” apparently based on incorrect and/or old information. Remember we battle not against flesh and blood. Spiritual forces are at work here. Satan knows that young shoots are the most vulnerable. A gardener knows that very new sprouts need to be protected before being placed in the Garden. Satan knows that the new Christian doesn’t have enough experience to be confident in her relationship with Jesus or be sure of the reality of forgiveness. God puts our past as far from us as the East is from the West. Other Christians…not so much. So how do we respond? First we pray. Before you skip over this step. Think about it this way. When attacked and hurt, isn’t talking to a good friend an excellent response? That’s what prayer is. Spend some time with the Lord and listen for His guidance. One of the subjects of this prayer might be help in separating hurt from truth. An attack can be particularly hurtful […]