We're So Expensive

Because we have been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus. Jesus bought and paid for us with his very life and set us an example that  we too should lay down our lives for one another. So we need to ask ourselves, "Are we treating people like they are expensive or like they are disposable items?" In John 8, we read of a woman who was caught in adultery. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees wanted to stone her. In their eyes she was cheap but for Jesus she was so expensive. Jesus must have been thinking to himself, "You want to stone her, but I am going to die for her."  During this Thanksgiving season, see those you meet through the eyes of Jesus-as expensive not cheap.

Give Up A Meal For Thanksgiving

With so many people hurting from a very difficult economy, we can easily forget those who have a different perspective on life. One such person is my friend Mr. T. Mr. T lives in a nursing home because he has had three strokes. In fact this is the third nursing home where Mr. T has lived. The other day he told me his story. He said before he had his first stroke he was always partying and using filthy language. One day he woke up in a bed and wasn't able to speak. He prayed earnestly to God. He said, "Lord please let me speak again and I will never speak another profane word." God answered his prayer and he can speak again. He is paralyzed on one side of his body and can walk with the help of a therapist. He says, "God isn't finished with me." He encourages everyone he meets with his big smile and thankful attitude. Why is he thankful? Because he has a different perspective on life. Why not make this a Thanksgiving to remember? Give up a meal for someone like Mr. T. Someone who is worse off than yourself. Prepare a good meal and bring it to someone at your local nursing home. Then go sit with that person and have a conversation. If you look close enough, you just might see Jesus.

The View From The Desert

In 1987 I drove from Pasadena, CA through the desert to the Grand Canyon. Thanks to modern technology, people can now enjoy living in the desert. However,when John the Baptist took up residence in the desert, life was not as easy. I believe his life in the desert complimented his message. The desert represents the entire world without Christ. A dark place with great potential, a place needing a transformation. Because John lived in the desert, he saw this need. He said, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.' (John 1:23)" God told John how to recognize Christ (John 1:33-34). He knew that Jesus was needed for the transformation to take place. He knew Jesus was not an ordinary man but the Son of God (John 1:29,34,35). Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council and teacher of the law (John 3:1,10) only saw Jesus as a teacher (John 1:2). It's only when we see Jesus for who he is, that the transformation takes place and we can say as John said, "He must become greater and I must become less (John 3:30). May God give us eyes to see this need and may we see Jesus in the eyes of others.

Darkness At Fort Hood

Is it a coincidence that November 2009 (11/9) backwards is 911?

Unfortunately darkness is not limited to Fort Hood. We have witnessed our youth killing each other in the classroom, employees killing each other in the workplace and now soldiers killing fellow soldiers.  Man's history is filled with darkness, suffering, pain and death.  How does mankind get from darkness to light? From despair to hope? And how do we participate in it? Jesus is the True Light. He alone has life to give. Human beings do not have life. When John the Baptist came on the scene, he was asked, "Who are you?" He said, I am the one who will point out the Life Source. The one who can take man from death and mortality to life and immortality. Jesus is not just a man, not just the Son of Man-he is the Godman. He shared our history, but came from God's history. He experienced pain, suffering and death; but because he is God, death could not hold him. He invites us to come with him on the journey from man's history to God's history-from death to life. Life can't be bought or earned. It's a free gift-really! Like John the Baptist, those who believe in Jesus are pointing the world to him who freely gave his life so that we may live eternally with him.