What Should Men Always Do?

As I've been reading the Gospel of Luke recently, and let me tell you there are some incredible verses in it. One that has really challenged me is Luke 18:1 where Jesus is saying, "...that men always ought to pray and not lose heart." When I think about two of the biggest battles people face is prayerlessness and discouragement. And usually when someone is discouraged or has lost heart, prayer is the last thing they'll choose to do. I even think how this verse can apply to our nation. Think of how far our nation has slid throughout the years. I once heard someone say that if God doesn't judge this nation for its wickedness and sin, He will need to forgive Sodom and Gomorrah for what He did to them. Yes, our nation is in difficult times, and I believe that there are even worse days ahead. However, there are many times in the Bible where situations looked bleak, but when God moves incredible things happen. All things are possible with God. Our part in this season is to heed what Luke 18:1 encourages us to do. We must be a praying people. Prayer changes things and moves the hand of God. We must also not lose heart and get discouraged. Don't walk by what you see, but choose to walk in faith in God. Believe Him and trust Him that He is able to move in our nation. As we choose to do these, let's see what God does...

Don't Compare Apples to Oranges

Last night I watched the Boise State football team somehow manage to win over BYU, 7-6. Yes, BYU did have 5 turnovers and couldn't do anything offensively for 90% of the game, but for BSU to win by only a point. It was one of those painful viewing experiences for BSU fans who have had so much to cheer about over the past decade. Then it hit me. Last year we lost 21 seniors, many of them who are now playing in the NFL. How could I be comparing the team of the past few years with the team I watched last night? I'm used to hearing names like Moore, Martin, Iloka and McClelin. But now I'm hearing names that don't even ring a bell. I've made the classic mistake a lot of people make. I'm trying to compare last year's team with this year's team, which is like comparing apples to oranges. Yes, they wear the same uniforms and play the same positions, but they are so different. If people try to compare like I was they will only end up disappointed. It makes me think of people who become "born again," making Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior. The person they once were passes away and they become a new person with a new nature, in Christ. Colossians 3:9-10 tells us, "...for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. ¹⁰ Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him." When a person gets saved, don't compare the new man to the old man they once were. They are very different and comparing them is also like comparing apples to oranges. 

Second Chances From God

Our Genesis class in HITC has been so much to teach. We're having some lively discussions and has been a joy going through the first book of the Bible. One of the things that's jumped out at me so far has been the many times God gives people second chances. One such instance is in Genesis 4 where Cain brought an offering to the Lord that was unacceptable. God did not respect Cain or his offering. In verse 5 it says, "...but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected." Even though this offering and what he did wasn't acceptable, God gave Cain a chance to make things right. In verse 7 God says, "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." Yes Cain was given an opportunity to make things right, but if he didn't, God also gave a serious warning. When I look back on my walk with the Lord, I have plenty of times where I've messed up. And thankfully I serve a God who's full of mercy and grace. As I come to Him, He makes things right. In fact, every person has second chances when it comes to God, the question is whether or not we'll take them. Can chose not to, but we don't have to make the same mistake :)

The Beauty of Changed Lives...

This past weekend I saw something that I just can't get enough of. I saw lives touched and changed after coming face to face with Jesus and His cross at our Harvest Church Encounter. Hearing people tell about strengthening their relationship with Christ and what He chose to do for them was amazing! Sometimes as Christians, it's easy to forget about the joy of our salvation, the cross that Jesus died on for us, and the freedom we now have because of it. I don't ever want to forget about my salvation and the joy that I have that's because of it. I don't ever want to take anything for granted when it comes to my salvation and walk with the Lord. When I met Jesus in early 1989, it was the life changing event of my life. Things have never been the same, only for the better. I know many lives were changed at the  Encounter because they encountered God's love for them and came face to face with the reality of the cross. Thank you Jesus my my great salvation and for verses like John 4:14, "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

He's Running Towards Me...

How could anyone read the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) and not be moved? Each time I hear it, it's easy to see the son was me. Doing my own thing, how I wanted and when I wanted. Pig pens became my life. There had to be more to life than this? And there was! I returned to the Father a humble and broken man. My proud ways had brought me pain, hopelessness, discouragement and emptiness. Sure the world said they were the right choices, but in the midst of living them how could anyone even think they might be the way to life? As I returned to the Father, He saw me from a long ways off, because He was watching for me. And when He saw me, He ran to me. Once He reached me He threw His arms of love around me. My sins were washed white as snow. My pain, hopelessness, discouragement and emptiness was gone in an instant. And as the Father in this story said in verse 24, "for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." Ands this is the very same thing He said over me and desires to say about you...

Would You Be Able to Forgive?

On my blog over the past year I've written several posts about forgiveness, unforgiveness, the consequences of it and what the Bible clearly says about the topic. As as Christian, forgiveness is imperative. Forgiveness should be one of the characteristics of a follower of Christ, especially according to Jesus' words in Matthew 6:14-15, "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." Unforgiveness is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies. I do think most of us would say that it's easier to forgive others for some things over others (and am very glad that God doesn't have this mindset). Yesterday I read a story from the sport's world which I think is tragic, and coincidentally, it involved a New Zealand athlete. Belarusian female shot putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk won a gold medal in the recent London Olympic games, beating world champion, New Zealander Valerie Adams, who won the silver. After winning the gold medal, Ostapchuk was stripped of her victory for testing positive to a banned substance and being banned from the sport for a year. After emphatically denying it, news just came out that her coach put the drugs in a drink of hers without the athlete's knowledge. The gold medal was stripped and the ban is in effect. But now Ostapchuk has to make a choice. Will she choose to forgive her coach who sabotaged her career? Or will she hold on to bitterness, anger and unforgiveness? Each day we all have the choice to forgive others. Sometimes it's over smaller things, and as is in this case, it can be over bigger things. My choice is to forgive others, because of Matthew 6:14-15. To check out more on this story go to http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10833537

A Few Changes I'm Making...

This time last year I felt the Lord tell me to start blogging, and so my blog "Insights from the HITC Pastor" began. In this past year I've had 13500 hits from 69 countries. I've had an overwhelming amount of positive feedback and comments, along with a few negative and nasty ones, but that's part of blogging. Blogging has been so much fun and a window for me to encourage others in their daily walk. I must say that blogging is in my blood now. I've thought about what I should do with my blog as my goal was to blog six days a week for a year, which I have done. So what I've decided is to continue blogging, but cutting back a little to three times a week instead of six. Now and then I may do an occasional extra post :) I'm also going to make a few changes with my layout and presentation so be looking for those. I'm so thankful for everyone who has taken time to read my posts. My goal is to be simple, to the point, and encouraging, helping people's walk in Christ become stronger. Today I'll leave you with one of my favorite verses, Psalm 63:3, "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You." Have a blessed day :)