The Veggie Burger Way?

For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.  Romans 14:2

Weakness of faith in many areas of life may become a division if we are not careful. Paul faced the challenge of leading a group of disparate folks from the riding-the-ragged-edge steak chompers to the fearing-the-lightning-bolt veggie mashers of Rome; two gangs known to be at odds with one another. This of course assumes that the person in question had a choice, since one of the things to go up quickly in price during times of stress is meat. Your church would never have such a problem. 

You may easily test this by suggesting, not spiking the communion pitcher mind you, but just suggesting that only real wine should be used for the holy observance. Whether you are holding the communion tray or not at the time of your suggestion is up to you.  One can only imagine the tone and timbre of the lovingly and gently delivered chastisement that would come forth. I'm thinking of my childhood church right now, but you may have one nearer to this time in mind. Of course then we must decide whether the wine communion folks or the grape juicers are the strong or weak faith. No we don't. As we well know, the point of communion, celebrating the Lord's table, is to remember Jesus. And if someone chooses the veggie burger way, they too know that it is faith in Christ, whether it is called strong or weak by Paul, that is the way to tread this life with Him. 

My faith may be weak, but it is firmly in Christ Jesus! 

Bucky

A Loaded Chicken

So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.  Genesis 2:20

At times we might like to argue over that chicken and egg thing, as in which came first of course. As one who believes in my Lord, I am confident that God is quite capable of creating a loaded chicken. An egg for the rooster and an egg for the hen, and we won't have to do this over then. But, it seems that matching helpers were found for every bird and beast, but the man, Adam, had none. It was this Adam who was left without the matching mate. Perhaps it was a counting problem. As he was naming them, Adam was also counting...1,2,1,2,1,2. But then he came to himself and said, 1... And couldn't find a number two for  himself. Adam looked over at the loaded chicken and asked, "Why only me?" So, God put the man to sleep, because as every parent of a needy newborn knows, that is the only time that peace is restored to the house. And as we see in scriptural wonder, God did something different for the man's mate, He took a bit from the side of the man and created a woman. 

Why that way? 

Bucky 

Love Today

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Matthew 6:20

Why do we love today? It is where our Lord walks with us. He knows about tomorrow and has our way planned out, but it is today where we walk together with Him. When Paul tells us to rejoice in the Lord always; it is today that we do the rejoicing. We cannot rejoice tomorrow, for as the old saying goes that moving target will never come close enough for us to hit it. Don't recognize the old saying? I did mash it up a bit. Today is where we can enjoy the day with Christ. Tomorrow is just too far away. Today is a good day to enjoy a meal with one another and with God. Tomorrow holds too many worries. Today is a great day to love one another. 

Rejoice today in the love of Christ! 

Bucky

Not Thorn Bearers

For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. Hebrews 6:7-8

If your little garden patch bears a crop of those high plains goatheads (sand burrs, stickers, @&$##!'s) and you have a desire to prance daintily through the rows with your tender soles to gather some tomatoes for the sauce, then you will soon know what it is to curse the bearers of thorns. The garden bears the fruits of the seeds that are in it, and so do we with some important differences. We are given the opportunity to decide some of what is put into our garden, and we have decisions to make that may bear fruit or thorns. Praise God there is a gardener though, and He has provided His Spirit to make sure that we are not thorn bearers. It is true that some deep digging is done to get the long-buried thorn seeds out of our gardens, but our Lord perseveres in His good work. We are the Lord's work in progress!

Have a fruitful day in Christ the Lord!

Bucky

Tribulation Comes

For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Revelation 6:17

One could look upon the news feeds of today or study the history books of the last couple thousand years and conclude that the first five seals of the Revelation have been opened and operating for some time now. But then we run into that sixth one, known by many as the Wrath of the Lamb. This one appears unmistakeable and global. And the sixth chapter of the Revelation closes with a question that we read in our verse for today.

It is true that conquest, war, famine, pestilence, and death have been with us for most of the history of the world that we know. However, our Lord Jesus also spoke to the disciples and us about yelling "Tribulation!" too soon. Wars and rumors of war are on the table this morning, and so have been earthquakes in diverse places. "But the end is not yet..." our Lord said. Given that no man knows the day and hour when our Lord Jesus will return, it may well be that we won't know the starting day of those final years either. More study! More watching!

Tribulation comes, but when?

Trust in the Lord always,

Bucky

Third Horseman?

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” Revelation 6:6

Famine, shortages, depression, and other uncomfortable times have come and gone throughout history. Yet, each and every time, it would be easy to say this is it, that black horseman has gone forth! (The horse was black, not necessarily the horseman who is only described as a sitting 'he' with a pair of scales in his hand.) We have lived through part of a sort of rolling famine with one thing being short for a time and then a different thing taking its place, followed by other things with some overlapping, and so on. Now we have inflation...which is more apparent in some products and services than others. No one looks to be starving around here, but all are worried, a little or a lot, that we might be next in line for something awful. This sort of thing describes the seals, trumpets, and bowls of the Revelation quite well. At least until we get up to that sixth seal. Hard to mistake that one for anything but what it says. The first five seals may be open now, but yet, our Lord told of a time of intense tribulation. What is going on now does not seem to fit that word pair, intense tribulation, not even from what can be seen in the news. So, more earthquakes in various places? It may be so, and then later today we might all be looking on this with our Lord from His place. 

Have a greatly blessed Friday in Christ our Lord!

Bucky

Nothing Restrains Our Lord

Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.” 1 Samuel 14:6

Jonathan may not use saving in the way that we do in this age, but it is those little quotes from the elder covenant that often grab us by the attention span. "For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few." Indeed! We may see churches on television with thousands of worshippers or we may watch a social media video where only a few are gathered there, and yet the Lord our God can save a person in either place. A person walking in the world may hear the Word of God witnessed by just a few believers in a small town and seek to know more about this Christ. In another place, a secular person may grow weary of the many times she hears the Word spoken from so many diverse sources that she wonders if there isn't a message trying to get through to her. Indeed we know that such a small number as two or three gathered in our Lord's name will rejoice in His presence among them. Also, we can see no reason for the Lord to withhold Himself from two or three thousand gathered in His name as well. Two or three million would not inconvenience our Lord in the slightest either. For nothing restrains our Lord Jesus from anyone He wants to save!

Have a beautiful day in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Freedom of Peach

For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.  Acts 2:26

In his defense, before getting shipped off to Rome, Paul spoke freely. We grew up in a nation that prided itself on free speech. And yet, it does not seem quite so free now as it once did. Exercise one's freedom of speech in a way not approved by the popular correction (PC) policers and get canceled. There has often been freedom to preach but with opposition, especially if one should want to hold public office as well. So, today we will exercise a little freedom of peach, to keep the search engines at bay for just a little more time of peace. 

To speak our faith freely has been enjoyed by us for many years. We also hear our faith spoken freely, share with each other freely, and write to one another of Jesus Christ freely...for now. Today it might seem just silly for me to write to you of my freedom of peach, but for how long? One day soon we all might be speaking, sharing, and writing to one another with code words. Not to overthrow some despot, but to encourage one another in our faith lest we too face the financial, social and even legal terror of cancellation. 

Phew! Now after all that, look to Christ Jesus to rejoice in a good day,

Bucky

For There Is One

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6

We have been relieved of the burden of choosing between many ways and we are grateful to God for the simplicity of the One Way who is Jesus the Christ. Some may respect that, and yet feel that the one Mediator is not for them. That person may look around and estimate that he or she is good enough to be welcomed into our Lord's home. The humility of the Way is that none of us are good enough and all need the Lord's salvation. What a great equalizer for today! I don't need to look down on anyone - all are born sinners. I don't need to look up to anyone - everyone needs the Lord's Christ and His salvation. So, stop looking around to compare and let the Lord take care of His own. Cease looking at the dark spaces inside and open them to Jesus for His redemption. Praise God for the salvation and hope we have in Jesus!

God's grace to you and all the brothers and sisters in Christ this day!

Bucky

Grace To You All

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  Revelation 22:21

What is this little word that Noah finds in Genesis 6:8, grace? The little word continues all the way to the end of the Bible and is in the very last verse of the written Word. Grace, it seems like such a thing that we might not have in the one sense, that of a simple elegance and refinement of movement. At least, I have never been credited with grace in that regard except in the sarcastic way. I wonder if it is the elegance or the refinement that I'm missing? However, grace in the biblical sense is that unmerited favor of the Lord God that saves us. Like Noah, we obtain God's mercy from His love and by His grace. That grace was paid for by Jesus on the cross. And like Noah, that grace saves us from the destruction to come. 

You may hear more of Noah in this time because of one statement from our Lord about the end times, "But as the days of Noah were..." 

Let us find the ark of salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ!

Bucky

The Thoughts Turn

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

The imagination gears up for the day by bringing a cavalcade of phantom conflicts with those we are to love. When blocked there the thoughts turn to disasters that have not happened and likely never will. After that, like a gang of rampaging Vikings, the thoughts bring out the sins of the past to torment the forgiven victim. The thoughts turn...Yes, it sounds like the dreadful work of anxiety on the human mind. All of these are manifestations of fear and unbelief in our Lord's saving power. Set the mind at ease; the Good Shepherd did not save the sheep in order to drop the trembling things down a ravine filled with brambles. We are in His good hands, no longer subject to those things the anxious mind generates to fill our days with fear. Stop this morning at the filling station of God's love before you go to work. Rejoice at the well of the Lord's salvation as you prepare for the day. Fill the thought of the mind with Jesus and, as Paul reminded us, be anxious for nothing!

Have a glorious day in Christ the Lord!

Bucky

A Hope Came To The Hopeless

For we are aliens and pilgrims before You,
​​As were all our fathers;
​​Our days on earth are as a shadow,
​​And without hope.
      1 Chronicles 29:15

Walk your own way, live your own life, do whatever it is you want to do and only what you want to do, and this one short lifetime you live will likely not offer much in the way of hope to the world. A few years later someone might remark, "That guy? Oh, I recall that he did only what he wanted and then died alone." As David wrote in his psalm, our days on earth are as a shadow and without hope. However, David was among those who were given knowledge of a hope only God could provide, a Savior. Isaiah wrote of the hope of God with this:

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2)

We are blessed to live in a time of hope. Hope that not only lives in our risen Savior, but in the gentle anticipation of His imminent return.

In Christ our Lord,

Bucky

Faith In Christ, In Christ Alone

Moreover those who work in fine flax
​​And those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed;
-- Isaiah 19:9

Reading this verse for today might bring up a few questions for us. What could possibly make someone ashamed of their job or art? Events of the past couple of years have given us one possible answer; inability to fulfill orders due to supply shortages. No one who serves likes to disappoint a customer, especially one who may have placed a deposit down on an order. A spiritual awakening might be another answer. What if those fine fabrics and flaxen weaves had pictures woven in that suddenly became shameful to the weavers? You have answers of your own that might fit the bill as well. However, one such thing I experienced a few years ago was placing faith in a job. Whether it be in the skill, position, employer, or economy, placing faith in a job will neither save a person nor will it necessarily be faithful in return. Employers have no control over the economy, skills can become obsolete, and as many of us found out one day, positions can be terminated. We live both now and forever by faith in Christ, in Christ alone.

Grace to you from our Lord Jesus,

Bucky

The Gift Of God

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”  John 4:10

It is kind of difficult to not write about the cold after the latter part of this week, and yet, it is what it is and winter has come. Near the beginning of winter on the calendar, we celebrated a holiday with gifts to one another. We name it after this same gift Jesus said to the woman at the well would give even more gifts, the Christ. The gift of God to us is the Christ. And by this gift we call those who believe in Him our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Lots of words bounce around in my mind, but there it is, brothers and sisters in Christ!

Rejoice in our new family!

Bucky

A Most Unusual Star

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. Matthew 2:9

Happy Epiphany! Finished with Christmas? Not quite, we celebrate today the visit of the magi or wise men coming to visit our Lord Jesus the newborn King of the Jews and worship Him. As they left Jerusalem, they found an unusual guide to lead them to our Lord, a star. How do we know this is unusual behavior in a star? We don't really; it's just that in our experience stars do not lead people from city to town to a single house. It's better than GPS! However, they had to travel at night though because that is when the stars are visible, right? No, the scripture says nothing about day or night travel, and typically their riding or walking would have been done in the daylight hours. This was, at least to our experience, a most unusual star.

Not too surprising though as the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve needed a most unusual salvation.

May we bless our Lord God for sending us the Savior!

Bucky

A Profusion Of Possibles

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write these words, for according to the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” Exodus 34:27

And the Lord gave to us the importance of the written word. Want to remember something? Write it down. Need to recall a Bible verse? Look it up in the written Word of God.

There are a profusion of possible subjects to write about this morning from a frozen traffic jam on I-95 to more news of that virus thing still going back and forth across the Earth. However, today we are all the more impressed with the eleven remaining disciples and a few others who took the good news of Jesus forth to the nations without the written new covenant. Even written copies of the Hebrew scriptures were likely not easily obtained in their day. We might have this mistaken impression of Peter and the gang handing out little copies of the New Testament, but the printing press wouldn't be around for a while yet. And it would be just shy of 1,900 years before the Gideon's got together in Wisconsin. However, those first believers from the disciples to the Pentecosters had someone with them even better than the written word- the Holy Spirit of God.

We may not think that we have the right equipment for the witnessing job, but our Lord Jesus gave to each of us a bit of Himself.

Faithful in Christ,

Bucky

Where Are You Going?

So I said, “Where are you going?”
And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” Zechariah 2:2

The first working day for most of us in 2022 might bring with it a question such as that one in our verse for today. "Where are you going?" For many of us the answer might be obvious such as to work or school, but for others there may yet be no answer. As for Zechariah and later John, the dimensions of the city are not so important as the fact of the city. Jerusalem is there and it is physical. There are prophecies about another city, but we don't want to go there because it is slated for destruction. At the moment there are a great many cities of tremendous size scattered about the Earth, but one place stands out for its renewal, the new Jerusalem, and its physical presence in scripture enough that it is to be measured. So, in the end where are we going? Up to Jerusalem to see the King of kings!

May we soon gather with the Lord in His great city!

Bucky