Running Out of Time…

We are running out of time. There are numerous pundits claiming the ‘end is near’. The end is near. What do we do about it?

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

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.””
Mark 16:15 (crf. Matt. 28:18-20, Luke 24:46-47).

There are numerous ‘Christians’ claiming that the Biblical prophecy about the end of the World is drawing closer. Many, across the board, are laying hold of current events and telling us that the ‘End of the World’ is imminent. They claim that the events unfolding in the world are significant signs of the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. In other words, they are claiming the World is getting ready to end.

So what? Some making this claim, as they have in the past, are getting rid of their possessions and going to a ‘mountaintop’ to wait for Christ’s return. Some are much more conservative, and just claiming that the ‘signs of the times’ point to His pending return. Regardless of their bent, radical or conservative, they are preaching the ‘End of Time’.

Again, I say, so what?

Let us put this in perspective. Luke 12 tells the story of a man storing riches. Verse 20 says, “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’”. Basically, God tells the man he is going to die. The article, “New Year - New Resolutions - New Perspective” quotes a similar passage in James 4:13-15.

The bottom line is either the world is going to end or we are going to die. My step-father, Fred, is a godly man. Fred has a ‘Christ-like’ attitude as described in the article mentioned, “New Year - New Resolutions - New Perspective”. There is a difference. Fred has terminal bone cancer. He is dying. He knows he is dying. He does not know if he has a week, a month, or a year. Nevertheless, he knows he is dying - he can feel it.

New Years Eve, he shared something. Fred told a few of us at a small gathering that he had ONE major prayer request for the New Year. Now most would be thinking he was praying for a ‘miraculous’ cure. That is not Fred. As stated, Fred is a godly man with a ‘Christ-like’ attitude. Fred’s one prayer request for the New Year was that each of his kids (natural, step-children, and their spouses) along with each of his grand-children and every Christian he knows would ‘reach’ at least one person for Christ. Fred is praying that each member of his extended family shares the gospel of salvation with someone this year… That is a dying man’s request! [Fred is ALL about doing “His Father’s Business”!]

Now here is the revelation. Fred has an edge over most of us. He recognizes every day that he is dying. The truth is each of us is dying. None of us knows when “our souls will be required of us”. Just as importantly, none of us knows when another’s life will end. The reality is that we live in denial. The truth is that tragedy strikes each of our lives. It may be something as mind numbing as the terrorist attacks of September 11, or a plane crash. It may also be a car accident, a heart attack, or simply death in our sleep. The bottom line is still the same. Whether the world is coming to a screeching halt, or we simply die, we are running out of time.

We do not know how much time we have left. We do not know how many more opportunities each of us has to share the gospel of salvation. Just as importantly, we have no idea how much that ‘friend’ we have been ‘meaning’ to share the gospel with has left either… For whatever reason, today could be the last time we have the opportunity.

We need to be about our “Father’s business”. We need to embrace Fred’s attitude - knowing that we are ‘Running Out of Time’. Do not wait to share the Truth. Eternity is at stake. Luke 15:10 tells us, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.””. Let us be about ‘Our Father’s Business’ and cause a party riot in heaven!

We are all running out of time. For Christians, the opportunities to share the gospel are limited. Let us make the best use of the time we have.

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If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you may be wondering about the fuss. Here is the bottom line - Eternity is a long time. You have a choice. You can spend it with God, at the biggest celebration in the Universe. On the other hand, you can spend it alone, separate from God, in a place filled with despair (separate from everyone else - contrary to popular belief, you do not get to share your eternity with all the people that say, “I’ll be too busy partying in hell with my friends to care!”).

The choice is yours - all it takes is simple acceptance of a few facts. 1. You are sinner. 2. The only way into Heaven is have your sins paid for. 3. Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins. 4. Confessing your sins (to Him) and accepting His forgiveness is the only way. [Scroll down to the three part series “Judged” - there are a number of ‘examples’ and some help there - or email me.]

Maligned MilitaryA Public Service Announcement

As stated in the previous article, I just spent a number of days traveling around the country. Due to a variety of circumstances, I spent about four days in various airports (not counting flight time) going to and from my destination. During this time, there were many military personnel traveling.

I talked to a few of these soldiers, but more importantly, I listened as they talked with ‘civilians’. I was notably proud and impressed with two very distinct things.

First, I do not recall a single soldier that was not thanked by someone for his or her service. I am very grateful for that. Too often we forget about the individual sacrifices of the soldiers, because we are too busy looking at the ‘big picture’ of politics. The old saying “Can’t see the forest for the trees” comes to mind - only in reverse - We are too busy looking at the forest to SEE the individual trees… The ‘trees’ in this case are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and friends, individual soldiers voluntarily placing themselves under tremendous hardship - for us. Seeing individual soldiers thanked for their service by total strangers warmed my heart. Reality check, it brought tear or two to my eyes. Many times in the past, soldiers have done their duty without thanks - and in some cases receiving scorn and insults.

[Writer request to Americans - the next time, every time, you see a soldier - just say, “Thank you for your service!” You will be surprised at the gratitude you see in that soldier’s eyes. It does not cost a cent.]

Secondly, I was impressed with the professionalism of the soldiers. They were honest, genuine, polite, interested, and interesting. These were professional soldiers conducting themselves in a disciplined manner. However, all of them evidenced a ‘nagging’ sorrow, in some cases bordering on anger. I was curious about this, so I listened harder, and tried to find out what they were sorry and angry about.

They were not sorry that they are sent thousands of miles away from home.
They were not sorry that they were on ‘short’ rotations home with extended tours overseas.
They were not sorry that they were in hazardous situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They were not angry at the ‘Chain of Command’ for sending them into combat.

No, almost every one I heard ‘voice’ their sorrow and anger, it was the SAME theme.

These soldiers were sorry and angry that the PRESS in the United States was NOT accurately reporting their morale, their successes, their willingness to persevere until the job is done, and their belief that what they are doing is not only right, and necessary, it is important. Just about every one of those soldiers complained that we, the American people are not getting the ‘real’ story… That things are getting better, that we (they) are making a difference, and that they are making the world safer.

By now, most have heard or read the comments by Sgt Mark Seavey to his ‘Congressional Representatives’. A version of the story (and a link to the video) is at Michelle Malkin’s website.

The bottom lines are these:
1. Soldiers do not make policy. They do not determine when, where or why they are sent to combat or any other missions. They take an oath to obey the ORDERS of the officers appointed over them and the President of the United States. Therefore, if you have a problem with the policy - take it up with, and out on the politicians…

2. Thank the soldier for being willing to defend you. No country in history has survived for any period without a military to defend it. So, just thank a soldier - it is easy and rewarding.

3. When you read or hear about how the ‘war’ is going - do a little investigating. There are easily verifiable facts about the ‘inroads’ being made in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Not so easily determinable is the impact of deterrence that the ‘firmness’ of our soldiers is propagating.)
[Here is a little ‘reference’ piece from Snopes.com - the ‘Urban Legends’ people…]

To all U.S. Service member reading this - THANK YOU!
You know, “Peace has a price the protected will never know!”

New Year - New Resolutions - New Perspective

a note - just returned from a family reunion - I apologize for any delays in posting new articles - my trip was unexpectedly lengthened by circumstances beyond my control - the airlines
Making up for it with ONE LONG POST to start the New Year!

For many, the ‘New Year’ brings with it Resolutions. Whether it is a new diet, a promise to exercise, a new goal, or a repeat of last year’s resolution, we ‘use’ the ringing in of the New Year as a marker to milestone a change. If statistics are any real indicator of things, most of our resolutions will fall by the wayside rather quickly. Consider one’s own past. How many resolutions actually got accomplished?

How about a resolution we can LIVE with?

Consider this: Stress Kills.

Stress causes a number of health risks, from high blood pressure to depression to alcoholism. Stress contributes to the exacerbation of just about every medical problem one has, from increasing the severity of the flu to actual medical conditions themselves like ulcers.

What is stress anyway? One popular t-shirt (edited) defines stress as “the mind over-riding the body’s desire to choke someone that richly deserves it”. Webster’s online dictionary defines it as, “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation”. Stress is always accompanied by its by-product, worry (“to feel or experience concern or anxiety”).

I would like to offer this definition: the mental and emotional tension created when one tries to exert control over a person, event or circumstance over which one has NO control.

This year’s resolution suggestion (a little late) is REDUCE STRESS.

Instead of spending money on ‘relaxation therapy’, enlightenment, or stress reduction seminars - consider a ‘low-cost’, ‘life altering’ alternative.

A Christmas present this year was this framed quote, received from a friend:
Attitude

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, say, or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church or a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past, and we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent, how I react to it. And so it is with you - we are all in charge of our attitudes.

A psychologist acquaintance is quick to remind that one’s reaction and attitude ‘defines’ reality. If one is upset with circumstances, the circumstances will be upsetting. (Sounds like stress to me.) Now that sounds like a little bit of psycho-babble. Is it really psycho-babble? Consider the concept that we really do not control anything except our own reactions. Remember ‘my’ definition of stress - attempting to control the uncontrollable.

What does the Bible say? Matthew 6:25-33 (the “Worry Passage”) tells us that we can not change anything by worrying about it. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us not only to quit worrying about the ‘circumstances’ of our lives, but also give them to God.

There is a bumper sticker, “We plan, God laughs”.

Luke 12:16-20 is a parable about a man planning what he will do with the things in this world, without planning for eternity. While it is a responsibility to be ‘good stewards’ of the things given to us in this world - they are still given to us - we have no ‘control’.
Therefore, the challenge is to change our attitudes, this changes our reactions.

Consider Jesus, His attitude and reactions are summed up in two places. Luke 2:49 tells us His over-riding attitude, “And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”” Second is His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane recorded in Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, & Luke 22:39-46. Jesus was ALL about doing His Father’s will.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us there is a season for everything. In other words, things are going to happen according to God’s timetable. Verse 11 tells us, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”

James 4:13 - 15 says, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.””

Our purpose is to fulfill the work of God - and our attitudes and reactions should reflect this.

How do we ‘make’ this happen?

Any psychiatrist, psychologist, behaviorist (or parent) will tell us the ‘key’ to changing behavior (reactions) is changing attitudes…

There are four verses that really sum up how we change our attitudes and reactions to reflect the ‘ideal’ that we must be about “Our Father’s Business”.

Two are lifestyle verses (and two of my favorites).
John 2:5, Mary the mother of Jesus is speaking, “His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He [Jesus] says to you, do it.”

In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul sums up our entire attitude and lifestyle, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

That is great - whatever Jesus tells me to do, do it - and do everything to the Glory of God. It is easier to say than do. How does one accomplish that change in attitude to reflect that desire to obey those two verses?

There has been much made of the “What Would Jesus Do?” ‘movement’. It has been an attempt targeted mainly at teens and young adults to make wise choices. The question is, how does one know what Jesus would do? The only way to KNOW what Jesus would do is to KNOW what Jesus DID!

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

And the ‘big one’: Romans 12: 2; “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Spending time reading God’s word (the Bible), transforms our minds. In other words, a change in attitude happens by choice. A wise choice (What DID Jesus do) is made by spending time in the Word. The change in attitude changes our behavior.

Nothing happens that God does not will. Therefore, everything we do IS a reaction to God and HIS Will - not the circumstances or people around us. Repeating that - EVERYTHING WE DO IS A REACTION TO GOD! Going back to my psychologist acquaintance, if one determines to react positively to circumstances, then the situation will be positive. More importantly, reacting to every circumstance as a reaction to God's working and timetable - changes EVERYTHING.

I started this article with an apology that my trip home was lengthened by airline schedules. That could have been a frustrating, angering and upsetting situation. If I became upset at missed and rescheduled flights and lost luggage, it would have been an ugly three days. On the other hand, looking at it from a ‘react to God’ perspective - it was an interesting adventure that led to meeting some new people and seeing some new cities as well as getting the opportunity to travel unencumbered by waiting for baggage and tipping baggage handlers…

That long line in the grocery store goes from an interminable wait with better things to do, to an opportunity to minister to others.

That ‘crazy idiot’ that cuts in front dangerously on the highway becomes an opportunity for thanksgiving (that there was not an accident) and a prayer for another’s safety.

That accident that wrecks the car, the stove that breaks, the water heater that goes out - all become opportunities to see “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.

A change in attitude is a change in behavior that ‘proves’ the truth of Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” The following verse, Romans 8:29 tells why ‘bad’ things happen to good people, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” That is so that we might be like Christ. In order to be ‘like Christ’ (Christian means ‘little Christ’) we have to ‘adopt’ Christ’s attitude. Adopting that attitude changes our behavior.

So my challenge, and my challenge to you - change attitudes by renewing the mind, and that changes behavior so that ALL things are good things. (Want to talk about a BIG way to reduce STRESS - this is it!) The best way to reduce stress and get the most out of life is to adopt Jesus’ attitude, “I must be about my Father’s business”.