Well, well, Mother's Day has come and gone and whoa! There was no annual Mother's Day entry about mother's day! Actually it was purely accidental, honest.
The mother tributes have all been stated, the proclamations made and all the preachers have sermonized on motherhood , so what else is there to say?
How about this thought:
"John 19:25 And His mother stood by the cross of Jesus, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene."
You have to wonder what went through her mind. As she stood watching the man that once suckled at her breast, ran through her house, stumbled as he learned to walk, followed her to the well for water.
The memories of his work among the people these past three years, the healing, the preaching, the laughs and tears over dinners served.
You have to wonder what went through her mind that horrible day.
Then I wonder, what did she think about three days later?

All we have to fear is fear itself…FDR

Fear can make anyone stop what they are doing. Fear can prevent what must take place from taking place. Fear alone is enough to change even the strongest of men.
There are two kinds of fear that humans face. The first is the physical, life threatening fear that makes the stomach churn and the nights sleepless.
Fear sets the heart pounding, the pulse racing, the breaths become quick and shallow and the eyes wide open.
This fear can make you run and cower.
It can be overwhelming and it takes a certain type of person to stand up to it.
The other fear is not physical, but can be just as limiting. It can stop a church from growing, a Christian from teaching, a young woman from doing what is right, a man from standing up. This fear exists solely in the mind’s eye and is a tool that is used to halt a person’s spiritual walk on the path.

Some of us go to the amusement park to ride rides that put the physical fear into us. We do this for fun and it is exciting to yell and scream. We know deep down we really aren’t afraid. Its fun to pretend.
Some of us have slid around the corner on a icy road in the dark of winter and have known the heart racing fear that death breathes on our neck. This is not fun at all.
Others have felt the fear for a loved on who is sick or injured. We worry, we are scared, not for ourselves, but for them. No amusement ride here.
The others lay in their bed, scared, afraid of the dark, until mommy or daddy chase the monsters away…this we outgrow. ..or do we?
How many of use refuse to move past a certain point in our spiritual walk because of the fear of, say exposure? Exposure that we may not have the faith we thought? Or fear of ridicule from others? Or rejection? Or criticism? Or just good ole’ imaginary fear?
Do you fear the demons in the night? Satan’s attacks? What does God say to us?
“Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, and nothing hidden which shall not be known.”(Matthew 10:26)
Who is ‘them’? Read the verse above---“If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more those of his household?”
“And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
(Matthew 10:28)

“Therefore do not fear, you are of more value than many sparrows. “
(Matthew 10:31)
So what do you fear? The things that go bump in the night, the imaginary fears that paralyze you from actions?
Do you fear the wrong thing?
As Christians, it is right to fear God, “that you might fear Jehovah your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you, and your son, and your son's son, all the days of your life, and so that your days may be prolonged. “ (Deuteronomy 6:2)
It is also right to fear Satan (Matt 10:28 above) and his works. But it is not right to fall into a fear of do nothing.
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. “ (2 Timothy 1:7)
We can rejoice! Fear of God teaches us, fear of the evil one keeps us safe from his evil ways, and God has freed us from the greatest fear of all-death. “and deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:15)
Finally, we are not afraid of man; “so that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me." (Hebrews 13:6)
So what are we afraid of?

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king….

What would it be like if Jesus had came today instead of in the days of Herod or Caesar Augustus? I have heard people ponder this thought and I too have thought about this. Knowing the mentality of today’s society, let’s think about it, in the form of headlines either read on the cable news or in a newspaper.


And she brought forth her son, the First-born, and wrapped Him, and laid Him in a manger-- because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)
-Woman arrested for child endangerment.
Recently, a woman, claiming that all the hotels in the area were filled, gave birth in a nearby barn. She claimed that the barn, owned by a local dairy farmer, was the only place she and her husband could find to deliver the child. Child services were called in …..

And His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the Feast. And fulfilling the days, as they returned, the boy Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know. But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day's journey. And they looked for Him among the kinsfolk and acquaintances. And when they did not find Him, they turned back to Jerusalem, seeking Him. And it happened that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and questioning them. (Luke 2:41-46)

-Amber alert canceled, boy found.
-Parents questioned about missing boy.
-Community relieved that boy is found.
Nazareth officials were relieved yesterday when Jesus, son of Joseph and Mary, local citizens, was found at in Jerusalem. Coming up on Fox News will be our interview with the sheriff of Nazareth….



And it happened, as He was in a certain city, behold, a man full of leprosy! And seeing Jesus, he fell on his face and begged Him, saying, Lord, if You will, You can cleanse me. And stretching out the hand, He touched him, saying, I will! Be clean! And immediately the leprosy departed from him. (Luke 5:12-14)

-Medical authorities doubt claim of miraculous cure
Medical experts state that the supposed miracle healing of a man with leprosy is “extremely doubtful”.
“Leprosy is a bacterial infection that requires isolation and treatement.” said Dr. Jones “We don’t need people rushing out for miracle cures.”
“I understand that this Jesus also was claimed to have caused a paralyzed man to walk. I find this unbelievable.” he continued.

And they said to Him, We have here only five loaves and two fish. And He said, Bring them here to Me. And He commanded the crowd to recline on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to Heaven He blessed and broke, and gave the loaves to His disciples. And the disciples gave to the crowd. And they all ate and were filled. And they took up twelve hand baskets full from the fragments that remained. And they who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
(Matthew 14:17-21)

Religious gathering broken up by police.
Police spokesman stated today that a crowd had gathered at a local park near the city lake without a permit.
“Also there was religious teaching taking place on state property and you know there is a thing called separation of church and state in this country,” the spokesperson was quoted, “and without a permit to gather we had to break up this crowd, which by the way was quite large.”

And Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, It is written, "My house shall be called the house of prayer"; but you have made it a den of thieves. (Matthew 21:12-13)
Homeless man arrested for disturbance.
There was a disturbance in the local temple when Jesus of Nazareth entered the temple and started ….
Well, I think you get the idea. People like to play “mental games” and say, if only Jesus came today instead of back then, or if I was alive when He was here….


Then He said to Thomas, Reach your finger here and behold My hands; and reach your hand here and thrust it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me you have believed. Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed.
(John 20:27-29)

It has been a while since there has been anything written here. Stay tuned for resumption of My Front Porch!

After the Sabbath, around dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb. Suddenly there was a powerful earthquake. For an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, stepped forward, rolled the stone away, and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. Because they were so afraid of him, the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Stop being afraid! For I know you're looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee, and you will see him there. Remember, I have told you!" (Matthew 28:1-7)
Today, of all days of the year, the Christian community celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Unlike the birth of Christ, His resurrection can be pinpointed to when it took place. There is no doubt what day of the week Jesus again walked among men.
I find it interesting that of all events that have taken place, this most important event can be identified on the calendar. It is as if the Lord wants us to know when His Son rose from the dead more than when He came to this world.
And rightly so...because, as Paul stated, "Now if we preach that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you keep claiming there is no resurrection of the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:12)
The basis of the religion that has become to be known as Christianity is the fact that God came to earth, suffered for our sins , died for those sins and rose again, to show us the way, the life. "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man."(1 Corinthians 15:21)
Many call this day Easter, but do not look for the word in your scripture. What you will find about this day are the words resurrection, died for our sins, rose again, new birth, and a new life. The most powerful act in the history of man that was given to us as a gift, handed to us with no strings attached.
A gift that caused the Son of God to take all of our sins, all sins of man, place them "on his shoulders" and be sacrificed for those sins.
Paul wrote that if this resurrection was proved to be false, then of all men, Christians are to be the most pitied (I Cor 15.19), but this event is not a false event, but a true happening that has caused men and women to do great things down through the ages for a truly great God.
The greatest gift to man, freedom from our sins, a life with the burdens of the heart lifted is here, now to all--to be accepted.
Until next time on my front porch.

For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
(1 Thessalonians 5:2)


The world we live in is chaotic and ofttimes unpredictable. Looking at the news proves this point.
And yet man tries very hard to control his destiny, to predict his future, to peer into the darkness looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. There is only one outcome for man... and for many it is not the future they desire. . .
Do you have an alarm system on your door? Does the company that installed it proclaim that it will summon aid and assistance when you need it, all just a phone call away? Well, that is good, but often, when we least expect it, when we think we have it all together, the thief strikes. We cannot predict when he will come nor can we often prevent it. It is with a sudden shock that we have found that the thief has entered our lives.
And so also will it be with a shock when the day of the Lord comes, to many it will come as a surprise:
"But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm. For those sleeping sleep in the night, and those being drunken are drunken in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-7)
Note what Paul writes about concerning those of the church. We are not surprise, nor are we asleep, but watchful, not for a thief to steal from us, but for Christ to return and take us home.
We are not asleep! We are of the day and we know what this is about! Many will say, Jesus is coming! and will not be true. Remember Paul writes to us and tells us that we do not nor do we need to know the day.
I remember reading about a sect that, in the 19th century, quit their jobs and sat on a hillside in July on a certain day to wait on the return of the Lord. From current events in the news, their leader had figured out the exact day and time of the coming of Jesus. Needless to say, they sat for a long time before they gave up. And still they came back a second time!
In our lifetimes, people have predicted Jesus’ coming, always wrong, and sometimes their mixed up doctrine has caused dire consequences for those that have followed their leadership.
God doesn’t want us to worry about this subject. The coming of Jesus is for Him to decided, not us and trying to figure it out is a useless waste of time.
Again, scripture is quite clear:
"the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he does not look for Him, and in an hour which he does not know. "(Matthew 24:50)
"For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. "(1 Thessalonians 5:2)
So the question remains to be asked. Are you ready to met the Lord? Will you be watching for Him or will you be surprised?

An Evening Walk

“ And they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” Gen 3:8
While the rest of this verse focuses on man’s fall from the garden of Eden, I would like to focus on the first half of this verse. Just think about the situation. God is walking in the garden. In the evening. He is looking for Adam and Eve to walk with Him.
Just think of all that you could talk about with God while you walk with Him in the cool of the evening.
Sad it is indeed that Adam and Eve lost their daily walk with God, at least physically.
Then again:
“for we walk by faith, not by sight; “ (2 Corinthians 5:7)
“ For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (2 Corinthians 6:16)
Yes, God still walks with us. Not physically as He did with Adam and Eve in the garden, but He still walks with us. And during our daily walk, we still can tell Him all that we care to tell:
“Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. “ (Romans 8:26)
“But I know that even now, whatever You will ask of God, God will give You. “ (John 11:22)
We need to talk to God.
“Pray without ceasing. “ (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

“Therefore, I desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. “ (1 Timothy 2:8)

Daily we walk and daily we talk, to our Maker and our Redeemer. Maybe we don’t have the pleasure of physically walking with God in the garden, but we have the great pleasure of knowing God is with us, constantly.
So, take a walk today. With God

Holidays
It is the holiday season again, and undoubtably, on television, there will be shows about the man or woman all alone at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Of course after the last commercial everything is all right and everyone lives happily ever-after, at least until next week’s episode.
But is it really like that in the real world? Of course it is, many people (how many, who knows) will spend the holidays alone. Some will do so because of choice, others because of choices that they made in the past that will haunt them this year.
I would think that it would be indeed a lonely holiday to celebrate it all alone. Having family together is fun and endearing to the heart.
The question to ask is this, are we truly alone?
Read this: “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.”
(Romans 14:7)
The Christian knows that he or she is never alone, at any time, any place. The un-believer is truly alone, even when surrounded by the dearest friends and family.
I will be coming home today and will fall into the loving arms of my family. How great it will be to come home to the loving arms of Jesus. I will feast at the table with my children and my wife, someday I will feast at the table with my Lord. It must be truly terrible to die alone, without Christ to receive you.
Until you know the mystery that is Christ, you cannot know what it is to be truly never alone.
Until next time on My Front Porch.

Dwell together!

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! (Psalms 133:1)
In the middle of this year’s election campaign, it would be good for people to remember such a verse. But, it seems unlikely that the politicians will.
As you observe the campaigning, the election year grandstanding and all the hype, we must ask, what if the church looked like this? Posturing, finger pointing, calling each other liars, looking for the negative?
How would the body of Christ look to the world?
How would God look to you, if the only way He looked at you was this way?
Jesus said, “And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. “ (Mark 3:25) also He said: “ Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. And every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. “ (Matthew 12:25)
A congregation of the Lord’s church cannot fight among itself and survive, families cannot fight against themselves and survive, and friends cannot fight and survive.
Yes, there will be disagreements, these disagreements cannot escalate into dissension.
Do you think this hasn’t been a problem? Read again;

“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, did not receive us. Therefore if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, ranting against us with evil words. And not content with these, neither does he himself receive the brothers. And he forbids those who would, and casts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate the bad, but the good. He who does good is from God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” (3 John 1:9-11)
Strong words from the “love” apostle John, but read on what he has to say:
“Demetrius has good report by all, and by the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our witness is true. “(3 John 1:12)
So the question is, who do you want to be? Diotrephes or Demetrius? What deeds do you want to be remembered by your fellow brothers and sisters?
Leave the name calling to the politicians, but are for the people of the Lord,
let us dwell together in unity!
Until next time on my front porch...

Those rocks!
Those rocks!

Those lousy rocks!
My pasture has rocks, and I went down last summer and picked up a bunch of rocks took them out of the pasture, and I do think that someone threw them all back in the pasture!
Again, this year I went through the pasture and picked up rocks again! I think I recognized some of those rocks from last year!
No, someone didn’t throw rocks back in my pasture (I think), but anyone who understands how the freeze-thaw cycle works, now what happened. All those rocks were once buried, but now are on top of the ground. So, again, I went out to pick up rocks so I could mow the weeds in the pasture and not get crowned by a flying rock.
I picked up a lot of rocks and all those rocks were quite heavy, but my little trailer and ATV had no trouble getting them up the hill and now I have to figure out where to put them...somewhere I won’t have to pick them up again.
Do you have rocks? No, I don’t mean in the head, but in you or specifically, on your back or just carrying them around in your pocket? What, you mean am I crazy? "Why would I want to carry rocks around?" you say. Well, do you?
I do not mean real rocks, but rocks of a different kind:
-the rock of unforgiveness
-the rock of a bad memory
-the rock of bitterness
-the rock of self-loathing
-the rock of diversive spirit
-the rock of past sins
-the rock of gossip
-the rock of doubt
-the rock of...( you will in the blank)
Do you carry these rocks around, letting them wear you down, day after day? Do you let your past sins rattle in the pockets of your mind? Does self-doubt about your salvation keep you awake at night?
Do you find offense, where no offense exists?
Don’t those rocks get heavy and make life hard to live for Christ?
Jesus in Luke chapter eight, tells the parable of the sower and one part is that the Word falls among the rocks:"And other fell on a rock, and sprouting, it withered away, because it lacked moisture." (Luke 8:6)
Rocks in your life will suck the moisture of your spiritual walk. Slowly the weight that you carry around will make it harder and harder to live for God and you will become focused on yourself and not your walk with Christ.

"For you ought to put off the old man (according to your way of living before) who is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And you should put on the new man, who according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness. " (Ephesians 4:22-24)
"Therefore I remind you to inflame anew the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands. For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore you should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner. " (2 Timothy 1:6-8)
It is no fun picking up rocks, especially large ones. Throw your rocks away and live for Christ, not for self.
Until next time on my front porch.

Remembering...
I am going through my childhood memories today. No...not my own memories, those are fuzzy and indistinct at best, but the ones of my oldest daughter.
For you see, today she went off to college and that means the great seperation has begun.
This is not the first time that one of my children have depart the nest, but it seems to get harder with each one and not easier.
The problem of memory is that we selectively remember things. We like to remember the good things (duh!) and forget the bad. That doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out, but some people do remember the bad, and never, ever, forget it and carry those alwful memories around like a stone around their neck.
"But call to memory the former days, in which (after you were illuminated) you endured a great fight of afflictions, indeed being exposed both by reproaches and afflictions, and while you became companions of those who lived so. For you both sympathized with my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience, so that after you have done the will of God you might receive the promise. For "yet a little while, and He who shall come will come and will not delay." Now, "the Just shall live by faith. But if he draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him."
(Hebrews 10:32-38)
There are memories to carry and cherish, and there are memories to forget. The writer of Hebrews reminds us to remember our struggles for Christ, to remember the agony that we have had to go through in our service to the Lord. Why? Because, there lies in the future for us "in Heaven a better and an enduring substance." That’s why.
When I think of my days with my daughter, I find myself wishfully yearning fo the days that we enjoyed. The hikes, camping trips, bike rides, movies, birthday parties, and the smiles and laughter.
What I don’t remember is dealing with the emotions of a young woman growing up, the late night illnesses, the stress of the fears all parents have that drives us to be overprotective of our young. I don’t remember getting up at three am to clean up the sudden return of last night’s supper.
Well, God wants us to remember all that. The hard work, the sweat, the fear, the pain. He wants us to remember so that we won’t yearn and wish to return to the "good old days" that we left behind. In other words, to remember that we work for Him and that we look forward to heaven.
We have a better and enduring substance there. We are not to look back over our shoulder, but to press onward to the prize that awaits us.
Until next time on My Front Porch.

 

Forgotten Forever?
Browsing through around the internet the other day, I came across an article about a family researching their roots. The article was about how they found out about a relative that fought in the Civil War, died in a southern prisoner of war camp and was buried somewhere in the distant past.
Through the years, the story about the relative stayed fairly consistent with the facts, but eventually, as is usually the case, the story got mangled, mixing fact and fiction and then the story died out from the family treasury.
The passing of a favorite grandmother produce the impetus to find the story of this forgotten soldier, and beginning with the military the records were set straight and a lost and forgotten relative was remembered again.
Is it irony or what as I drove to town to get some car parts that I slowed down and pulled over for a funeral procession moving to the local cemetery? As I sat there and watched the cars pass by, my mind went back to the Civil War soldier and how his life and story had gone missing for so many years, and of course, my mind went to my own state of being.
I doubt that there is no human since we were created that has wondered if they will be remembered once they depart this earth. Look at all the monuments man has made for those after him to remember. Pyramids, tombs, statues, buildings, cities, and for the common man, the small white tombstones that dot our hill sides in every town. The age old question, will I be remembered for what I have done? Or will everyone forget me?
While we may be appalled at the very idea of being forgotten, there is one thing to say about forgetfulness:
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12)
"I will remember no more". That is very lovely to hear, that our sins will be forgotten, never thrown back in our faces, there will be no press report in Heaven’s Gazette proclaiming something we did. It will be forgotten.
And God also proclaims to us: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Hebrews 6:10)
Are you worried about being forgotten, then don’t worry, God will remember you, not your sins, but your work and labor of love, God will remember you because you are His.
I may not remember you ancient ancestors, maybe you don’t know about them either, but God will remember you and will forget your sins. Praise God!

You must remember this

A kiss is just a kiss

(As Time Goes By

Herman Hupfeld)

A kiss is just a kiss? Do you think so? What does a kiss signify?

Well... there is the social kiss, the peck on the cheek that really doesn’t mean anything (what’s wrong with a handshake?)

There is the slobbering kiss your dog gives you, slurp! Yuck!

There is the wonder kiss from your wife, tender and passionate!

The angelic kiss from your little ones...

Every kiss a horse on its nose? It is soft!

A kiss tells the one you love that you love them. Very much; enough to become tender with them, to open up and receive and give love...most of the time.

But a kiss can be deadly...

While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd came up. The man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them, and he came close to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

(Luke 22:47-48)

The signal to arrest Jesus, an intimate touch that betrayed Him. What more horrifying way to betray someone?

What was the result on Judas for his betraying kiss?

"I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What do we care? See to that yourself." Then he flung the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and went outside. Then he went away and hanged himself.

(Matthew 27:4-5)

When we scheme, we often produce some of the most vilest of schemes. We just take a simple kiss and turn it into an act of betrayal. An act of love, a signal to betray.

Judas could not handle to guilt and hanged himself.

A kiss is not just a kiss, so way no how. While the song by Hupfeld is good, it misses the point, a kiss tells a lot. It represents acceptance, love, tenderness and betrayal.

Make sure your kisses are not betraying but loving. Then you too can sing: "A kiss is just a kiss" .

It is sad news...the death of a young person...but what makes is especially hard is that alcohol was involved, an automobile, and poor decisions.
As I go through the school year, I probably will hear of two or three incidents where a young person or persons were injured or killed due to high speed and alcohol.
Poor decisions....terrible consequences....a mistake that someone cannot rebound from.
And of course people ask, why do people do such things? How come this happens? In spite of laws, enforcement, discussions and whatever, it still happens. One time to many.
Not just drinking, drugs, sex, language and walking away from the glorious opportunity to live with Christ.
"For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness." (Romans 6:20)
Notice that Paul tells us that when we live in sin, we are free from righteousness. we do not know how to act rightly, we allow sin to run our lives, and we live the converse of righteousness, unrighteousness. We ignore the consequences of our actions and do not want to be told what we are doing.
As the expression goes, advice is cheap, experience is hard. Sometimes the experience is deadly.
As long as we run from God we have made a poor decision. Are you ready for the consequence?

Boom! Boom! Bang! There go the fireworks, blue, green, yellow, red, in many patterns, shapes and of course in great decibels!
Another Independence Day has come and gone, a celebration of our nation’s independence and a reminder of the very large step many people took a long time ago to separate themselves from a king.
In our land, we hold parades, picnics, shoot off fireworks, dress up in red, white and blue, and just generally have a good time.
Independence hasn’t been easy, it took a lot of struggle to build a country and it has not been a perfect job. But it is still going...
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
(John 8:32)

Independence in the political sense is not the same as in the spiritual sense.

“But the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. “ (Romans 8:2)

Through Christ we are free from sin’s bondage, we are “made independent” from the king of sin and have pledge our allegiance to our new king, the King of Kings.
Through Christ we declare our independence from a life of sin and become part of a kingdom that lifts us up and sets us apart from all the rest.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not again be held with the yoke of bondage. “ (Galatians 5:1)

But, just like our country must continue to work to maintain its freedom, we also must continue to stand fast and not lose our independence. We must not fall back and become slaves to sin.

Political rights are written on paper and are only valid as long as people up hold their freedoms. In Christ, our freedom is guaranteed to last forever. It is not dependent on paper or agreements between people.


As long as we know the truth, we shall be free....

SUNSET and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar. (Lord Alfred Tennyson, 1809-1892)

The poem by Tennyson discuss the thoughts that many a man or woman has at the end of their life, the final trip, "crossing the bar".
I like what Tennyson writes, "I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crossed the bar."
As Paul wrote:" For to me to live isChrist, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better (Phil 1:21-23)"
What better thoughts to have, than to yearn for the presence of Christ, not only in life but in death.
As hard as it may sound or seem, the end of everyone's journey is death--a physical end to life as it now exists, and then a new journey beyond.
Paul yearn to see Christ, to be with him, to look face to face with his pilot when he crossed the bar.
While Paul realised that living was for Christ, dying was his gain. While he walked this earth he served his Risen Savior, after crossing the bar, he was home.
Today we may see only the life we now lead, the problems that we face and the struggles the morrow may bring. Look ahead to the day when you too will cross the bar and see your Pilot face to face. Enjoy life today, but look forward to the day you put out to sea!
Until next time on my front porch.

For we yet being without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will with difficulty die for a righteous one, yet perhaps one would even dare to die for a good one. But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:6-8)


This past week has been one full of memories, both real and others formed from other people’s lives (via words, recollections, television or books).
First there is the sixth anniversary of the invasion of France, commonly known as D-Day.
Then also the 62nd anniversary of the battle of Midway and then finally the passing of a great American president, President Reagan.
First D-Day.
World War II was horrible. It has been written over and over how it could have been avoided ir only this or that had happened, but this and that didn’t happen and war came. To many countries whether they wanted it or not. Not only men and women from this country bot other countries stood up to an evil tyrant and gave their lives.
In the USA we are remembering the sacrifice of many a man that remains forever young. Who fell at Anzio, Scilliy, Tunisia, Normandy, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor, in the Atlantic, the Pacific, in the air, on the sea and on the land.
Sixty-two years ago the U.S. won an important battle against Japan that basically decided the war (there were still 3 years of fighting to go)–the battle of Midway. Part of that victory was torpedo squadron 8. Out of 15 planes, 30 men, only one returned to his aircraft carrier after the battle. 29 men died in approximately fifteen to twenty minutes, just-like-that-they were gone. But their sacrifice was not in vain. Their wave top attack attracted the Japanese fighters down to the waves and allowed the American diver bombers to sink three of the four Japanese aircraft carriers. And then it was Japan’s turn to lose its young men.....
All over the world, this was repeated, men died for a cause in a country they never heard of.

The comparisons are so obvious. Jesus died for us while we were sinners, evil, lost from God and separate from the freedom that only He can give. And as we read in Romans, it is indeed to die for a righteous person, let along for just any man. But Christ died for us, even when we deserved far less.
Today, as I head out to church to worship my Creator, Lord and Savior, I will remember His sacrifice that He gave for me. Just-like-that-He died for me. Why? Because He loved me so.
Then I will remember the veterans who died to keep my country free and then went home.
Its been a week of remembrance... a week of sacrifice....let’s remember THE sacrifice that sets us all free—each and every day.
Praise the Lord!

IF YOU ARE SO PERFECT, TRY WALKING ON WATER.
(0r, disciples in training)


“He saw that they were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he came to them, walking on the sea.” (Mar 6:48)

It had been a long day, a day of preaching, feeding (a very large crowd) witnessing a miracle, and now trying to row across a storming sea. “By this time the boat was in the middle of the sea and was being battered by the waves, for the wind was against them.” So there was no doubt that the disciples were weary as they struggled at the oars.
Mark records: “He saw that they were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. “(Mark 6:48)
I haven’t tried to row across a raging sea, let alone at night, but I have rowed some boats in my life and if you are not use to it, it will wear you out! These men were used to physical labor of this magnitude, remember some were fishermen and there were no outboard motors in those days!
So here they are, hard at work, trying to make way across the sea, against the wind. With fishermen on board, I would think they would realize the problem and not fight against the wind, but return to the near shore with the wind helping them.
Why were they going against the wind? Because Jesus had told them to go to the other side:
“Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away.” (Mar 6:45)
Those who are familiar with the events that unfolded here know that Jesus walks across the sea to the disciples on the boat, they think they see a ghost, Peter tries to walk on the water and
fails, Jesus rescues him and the storm ends.
The question is, why did this all happen? Because Jesus wanted to teach his disciples a lesson on faith, “Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were utterly astounded, for they didn't understand the significance of the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.” (Mar 6:51-52)
Earlier Jesus had fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish and the disciples still didn’t understand the faith lesson they witnessed.
So Jesus puts them into a storm, walks on water to them, and still they are astounded.

Often we get lost in Peter and his attempt to walk on the water, he looks at the storm and starts to sink and we build a lesson on faith around this, but look at what Jesus did.
(1) He demonstrates the power of God by feeding five thousand people.
(2) He demonstrates God’s control over the elements by walking on the water.
(3) He demonstrates what God can do when He allows Peter to walk on the water.

So we have two miracles and the disciples didn’t get it, and they were there, eyewitnesses to the whole thing!
We see Peter’s faith growing, but it is not the faith we read about in Acts and in his epistles, yet.
It is a sad commentary that we read that their hearts were hardened-meaning that they refused to believe what their eyes had seen. But, I would expect that when times were hard later, they would remember what Jesus could do from this experience and draw comfort from this.
You see, this is an account of disciples in training. It is easy to be critical of the disciples, but they were learning to be the apostles we read about in Acts. The result of their training is that their faith would be there when Jesus wasn’t there. Let's not be critical of the disciples, after all they are human too! They had to learn and they had the master teacher.
Jesus taught them many lessons, some hard like this one, and some not so hard. But train them He did.
So, the next time you think your so perfect, why don’t you try to walk on water?
Just remember, you might be in training for something God has in mind for you.
Until next time on our front porch.