A Little Round Trip - April 13, 2008

Good Sunday morning! Do you know what is in the future? We immediately begin to think of our own future at work, in our family, and in our fortune when considering that question. Of course, we have only a vague idea about what will happen according to our plans, and no idea at all about what may happen in this world. However, you do know something that is in the future, the rapture of the church. You will find the good news of this event in the Bible and in the many sermons and discussions about it. What will today bring? What will tomorrow bring? These questions occur to us frequently. We know one possible answer to those questions; Jesus may call us up to heaven on any given day. To us that is a great and encouraging thought. Today, in spite of the troubles and obstacles that are coming our way, we may be suddenly caught up and taken away from all of this struggle and suffering.

Many times I have thought, "now would be a good time, Lord." However, God doesn't operate according to my wishes or timetable. What does happen, as we grow in Jesus, is that our wishes and timetable grow closer to His great plan for ourselves and the world as a whole. Each of us grows in patience, waiting joyfully for God's wonderful plans to grow ripe in our life and in this world. We grow more in love of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and then in the love of all people. We grow to love ourselves more, and that may seem the most difficult of all. In our own lives, as we examine and evaluate our condition and actions, we can grow to hate what we see. Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. To me that means that we will not be able to love our neighbors unless we grow to love ourselves...just as we are and not as we hope to become. Jesus loves us so much that He gave up His life in our place on the cross. Don't you think that maybe we should take a look at our own self with that same love? Try not to worry about becoming righteous, that's Jesus' job and He is much better at than we will ever be. Work on what is in our power to change such as eating right, exercising, and giving up bad habits. Leave things that we cannot change in the very capable hands of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Does that sound like the serenity prayer? Yes, and praise God for that!

I have taken you on a round-about journey this morning. From the future, to the rapture, and back to your neighbors and loving your own self. In all of this is the realization that Jesus is the One... The Way, the Truth, and the Life. We may try to puzzle out the prophecies in the Revelation, but one thing is sure, Jesus is where our focus should be. I have often thought that one day millions of Christians will suddenly realize who the anti-Christ is and just as we are about to tell the world, bang, the rapture will be upon us. In that moment, we will know that knowing who is who in this world is far less important than knowing the One, who lives in our heart.

Praise God for the glory of this day!

Bucky

Hard Spots - April 12, 2008

Good Saturday morning! One of the complaints the secular world has against ministers is the load of guilt they sometimes preach. In thinking about this today, it occurred to me that ministers have a tough job. Reminding us of sin and the guilt that we have from original sin is not an easy thing to do. While we would like to have our ministers be cuddly and soft, they have a duty to remind us of backsliding, sinful thoughts, evangelizing, and leading us to the cross. As you will see in Pastor Rogers' devotional this morning, reminders to watch our condition, or to be on guard as the Bible tells us, are not always comfortable, easygoing words. If we have become lukewarm in our love toward Jesus, a few words about backsliding will prick our consciences. All of us are to be the salt of the world, and salt hurts when rubbed on a sore, just as it also cleanses. Feeling a little pricked because your minister didn't have soft, cuddly words for you? Well praise God for that! There are times to be soft and times to remind each of us that God is at hand. Not only is God at hand as the loving, caring Abba, but also as the strict Father who wants the best for each of us. As we all know from growing up, what is best for us is not always in line with what we want to do. Just as a loving parent might violently snatch a child back from the path of a speeding bus, so our heavenly Father might send a few stern words to our minister to bring us back to the light.

Your minister may phrase it more gently than I have, that is good too. Don't be thinking a gentle man or woman is weak. In Philippians we are reminded, "let your gentleness be known to all men, the Lord is at hand." A gentle touch or gentle words should never be taken for weakness. Only in a hardened heart will gentle words find no place to enter in. Did you think that Jesus spoke only in general when He told the parable of the soils? Each of us struggles with hard and fertile parts of our hearts, and these will change over time and with the work of the Holy Spirit. However, do not be without hope. When the time is right and the work of the Holy Spirit is completed in our hearts, there will be no hardened spots left when Jesus welcomes us home.

God loves you and so do I,

Bucky

Live Forever? - April 11, 2008

Good Friday morning! We are covered with snow out here. The snow continued all through yesterday and accumulated a pretty fair amount. Praise the Lord for a good snow! Do you and I have the strength to endure in this life? Is life so good that we will give everything to live forever on this earth? We know by now that the answer is "no" to both questions. This life is a struggle that grows more difficult with each passing day. However, the Lord gives us His strength to endure, and the promise of life eternally with Him. As I look out onto the new fallen snow, I also realize that weeds lay underneath that white blanket. The weeds and grass are already hosting insects, both benign and harmful, even at this early stage of spring. What looks perfect in this world is in fact flawed, stained by sin and doomed to die. The most fit and attractive bodies are battlegrounds of death and disease when viewed up close. The beautiful mountains are best viewed from a distance. Forests that appear so lovely turn out to be war zones where everything is caught up in the struggle to grow or die. Stay here? Why would someone strive for that?

This world is not our home, and this life is not what God has prepared for our eternal destiny. Those who rush about seeking to live longer, taking supplements and reading self-help books, are cleaning up a sinking vessel. There is certainly nothing wrong with taking care of our bodies, but we should avoid the worship of the self that this world teaches. Get in shape, lose weight, strengthen your body, and praise God for His mercy and grace while you do it. I am working on that myself, but always remember that our home is not here on this earth. Our salvation lies in Jesus Christ, and not in attempting to achieve our own immortality in a fallen world.

Can you tell that the story of the man seeking his own immortality has disturbed me? That is such a sad tale. He may achieve his goal; he is a wealthy and intelligent man. However, what will he have accomplished? He may become immortal on a world that is doomed. The immortal rat chained to the mast of a sunken ship. No thanks, I will believe in Jesus!

Bucky

The Time Draws Near - April 10, 2008

Good Thursday morning! We awaken to more snow and a cold day. Last night, I watched a show on HDNET about some very interesting people. However, beyond those folks was the experiment to inject stem cells from some other beast into a mouse embryo. The experiment was deemed a success and a chimera, something that is a combination of two very dissimilar beasts, was created in the lab. Cloning and stem cell research has reached the point where almost anything is possible. Great news for some, frightening news for others, and glorious news for us. Why glorious? I think that when some scientists start talking about making humans immortal then we are very close to the end times and Jesus glorious reappearing. This ties in very closely with what Pastor Rogers' devotional says today. I have long since quit being surprised when a devotional from someone who has gone to be with the Lord, matches very closely with something that I feel compelled to write about on any given day. Where is this world going? We already know that from the scriptures. There already are, and there will be more, amazing scientific advances. The pace of technology and science discoveries has become dizzying. One day someone will pronounce that because of some new discovery, we no longer need religion, or God. You can safely rest in the knowledge that God will make His glorious presence known, even among those who refuse to believe. Let God open our eyes to see His glorious presence in every area of our lives.

Hallelujah to the King of kings!

Bucky

Soon - April 9, 2008

Good Wednesday morning! Soon is the word that we must use to describe this last age. Messages arrive quickly through electronic means. People arrive quickly through the magic of airline and automobile travel. Calendar dates arrive quickly simply because they always have. Everything happens soon or even now. The coming of Jesus will happen soon. Jesus speaks of watching the signs and knowing that His second coming will happen soon; it is right at the very door. Soon we must spread the Good News of His resurrection and life. Soon we must prepare our lives to depart this earth. Soon we must learn what it is God would have us to do during our short time here. Jesus left and gave us His peace, knowing that we would need it in this hasty time in which we live. Soon news of another war or calamity will arrive on our Internet terminal or television. Soon we will hear of another sign that the end is near. One day, soon, all of those "soons" will be "now" and Jesus will come with the trumpet shout of heaven to gather us up. We must be about our Father's work quickly. I feel the urgency to all of this and I'm sure that you do as well. Our Lord will come for us... soon!

Praise God that all of this will not last much longer,

Bucky

Wars and Rumors of Wars - April 8, 2008

Good Tuesday morning! In Mark, Jesus spoke to the disciples of coming wars and rumors of wars. Yet, He told them not to be concerned, not to worry. He further warned them of earthquakes and famines in many places, but still to not worry. We have lived in those times all of our lives. It seems that there has been no period of peace in the last several hundred years, perhaps even to the time of Christ. Crusades, jihads, national wars, civil wars, and wars of conquest have given way to genocides or the euphemism of ethnic cleansing. The media cannot even take the space to write about or report on all the little wars that go on constantly. Where are we to turn for safety in all of this? God has remained the same from everlasting to everlasting; we need only trust in Him. Think about everlasting. From one everlasting to another everlasting? My mind cannot comprehend the enormity of that phrase. When worry begins to gnaw at us, and thoughts of our own safety on war begin to weigh on our minds, we must turn to Christ, the Lord and Savior. Doubts and worries will be whispered in our ears every day by that old enemy of Christ. The way to combat those fears is to focus on Christ, and to obey His oft repeated command; "Don't be afraid."

May God grant us His peace this day,

Bucky

Congratulations to the Jayhawks and Tigers on a tough and thrilling championship game last night!

Gentleness - April 7, 2008

Good Monday morning! In all the descriptions of God... all powerful, mighty, wise, and many others, do we ever stop to think about gentleness? The first trumpet judgements in the Revelation speak of one-third of the human race being killed. While that is a terrible number to contemplate, we may want to think that two-thirds will survive. In Noah's time only eight persons survived the flood, but God could have started over with none too. We find both in Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones and in Jesus teaching, that God can make a nation for Abraham from rocks or dry bones. We also believe that God will rapture His church before the great tribulation. Gentleness seems to be in every aspect of God's descriptions in the Bible. You might point out the time that God commanded Israel to destroy a nation completely, down to the last child. How gentle is that? The truth is that we don't know. God sees past the human death that weighs upon us constantly. Every one of those persons in that destroyed nation might be in heaven with God right now. We simply do not know enough to judge God's ways. The creation is not qualified to judge the Creator, though the world does like to attempt it. As I grow in the love and knowledge of our Lord, I see gentleness, mercy, compassion, and most of all, love, in all of His actions and commandments.

Praise God for the eternal love of Jesus!

Bucky

Jesus is different - April 6, 2008

Good Sunday morning! Do you believe in healing? How about miracles? Do you believe in the eternal joy of walking in Jesus' love? I can hear you saying "yes, yes, and yes!" However, many still do not or will not believe. The choice remains the same as it did when Jesus walked the earth. Miracles and healing have not gone away; the joy and love of Jesus are as strong as ever. All people face one choice, believe and accept Jesus as Lord, or reject Him. Why do you think that Muhammed lumped Jesus in with the Jewish prophets? The Jews, the hated enemy of Muhammedans, killed all the prophets. If Jesus is dead like all the other prophets, then He can be safely ignored. We, who have chosen to believe, know that Jesus is not like all other ministers and prophets, for He alone is the source of all light and love. Other religions tell us how to earn salvation; Jesus gives salvation and lets us know that it cannot be earned. If we believe that salvation can be earned, then it is but a short step to believe in our own self and forget God. The world would have us to believe in the humanity of humans; Jesus tells us there is none good and that all fall short of the glory of God. I just finished reading an ethics text where the Golder Rule is shown to be the same as sayings of other religions. However, Jesus' statement is just a bit different. Jesus' Golden Rule starts out with each of us doing the good works; other versions start out with others doing good first. Jesus reminded us that even secular folks are good to those they consider friends; He tells us to do good to those who hate and persecute us. How do we manage to believe in a world that scoffs at believers? We receive the faith of God and have faith in God.

Praise God!

Bucky

Learning More - April 5, 2008

Good Saturday morning! What do I know? That is a good question to begin a learning process. This morning, I wondered how much I truly know about holiness, righteousness, grace, love, and justice. I have used these terms in devotionals, heard them in sermons, and read them in the Word of God, but how much have I really tried to learn about them? Today seems like a good day to take a dose of humility and ask for God's guidance in learning more about some of the basic terms of our faith. College is over, I applied for my diploma last night (another $30 fee, thank you very much) and now I have the time to apply my learning to, well, do more learning! All through college I have yearned to spend time digging more deeply into the Word and the wonderful books written to help us understand more of God's gift to us. Along the way of course, I should like to share what I find with you. I have quite a few companion books to Christian life and questions, but feel free to make suggestions from your own reading that may help in this endeavor. I spent the past three years studying what college wanted me to study; now it's my turn to study the teaching of my friend Jesus Christ.

May the name of Jesus be held in reverence by each of us,

Bucky

Death's Shadow - April 4, 2008

Good Friday morning! We arise once more to a beautiful dawn in a dark world. Have you ever come to realize in the Spirit that you have been once more walking through the valley of the shadow of death? The New Living Translation changes that verse to "dark valleys", but in this case, I believe the King James version is more accurate. That dread valley is often more in our mind than in reality. The dark, churning thoughts of death and pain, the fears and anxieties, the worry and doubt, all combine to plunge us into the valley of the shadow of death. As with any dark time, it begins slowly, and later the plunge begins in earnest. However, God always leads us through that valley. We may wish that He would lead us home when we cry out in the midst of death's valley, but He leads us instead to the green pastures of His great love. One day we will go home to Jesus. Until then, we endure the dark valleys and try to relax in the green pastures. As the sun rises this morning, I pray that each of us will be lead out of another valley in death's shadow, and into the green pasture of Jesus' love and mercy.

The grace of Christ Jesus goes with you this day,

Bucky

Have Mercy - April 3, 2008

Good morning! I find it amazing that those the people called blind often saw more clearly than many others. In Mark, we read about yet another blind beggar who called out to Jesus. This one asks an interesting favor of Jesus. The man asked that Jesus show mercy to him. In our daily prayers in this difficult life, how often do we stop to ask our Lord to have mercy on us? There are a great many needs and requests for healing in our prayers, but we may want to simply ask for mercy. Jesus had compassion on that blind man and healed his earthly sight. However, that supposedly blind man had already seen what many with normal vision refused to see. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." In naming Jesus, "Son of David", the blind man acknowledged our Lord as the Messiah. In those times, that phrase had a powerful meaning to the Judeans. They looked for the Son of David to save them from Roman occupation, when in truth the Son of David was already among them and working to save them from the occupation of Satan. We know that Jesus paid the full ransom for us, saving those who will believe in the Son of God. However, in the time that Jesus walked the Earth, many could not or would not see the Messiah for who he was in their own time. The prophecies are more clear for us who live after Jesus' first coming and anticipate the second. We have much less excuse for missing the Good News.

Lord, have mercy on us,

Bucky

Run to Jesus - April 2, 2008

Good morning! I had planned on taking a two-week break from any evening computer work after college, but that is in jeopardy. The writing, it seems, will not wait. You will notice a little tardiness in the devotional this morning; I had another of those nighttime installs last night. The cat didn't take his morning hug very well today. Actually, he doesn't take a hug well any time of day. I think the Lord gave the cat to me to remind me of how I often act in just the same way with Jesus. I want the attention and providence of Jesus, but when He pulls me close, I try to pull away. We need to be reminded of Jesus' special love for each of us. At times our rebellious nature tries to reassert itself and we pull away from our Lord.

In Mark, the disciples became too protective of Jesus one time, scolding some parents who had let their children run to the Teacher. Jesus in turn became angry with His disciples for preventing the children from coming to Him. In the times we notice an urge to pull away from Jesus, we should remember that we once ran to Him in the same manner a child would run to Him. We still need to do just that. Trials and temptations coming at us? Run to Jesus. Does everything seem just fine and not a cloud in the sky? Run to Jesus. After we run to Jesus, we can learn the joy of walking with Him.

Praise God at the dawning of the new day,

Bucky

The Name of Jesus - April 1, 2008

Good morning! Happy April Fools' Day to all of you. No, there will be no fooling in the devotional; I'll leave that to your coworkers and friends. Speaking of fools, how often in the media, especially television and movies, do we hear the name of Jesus taken in vain? All of us find that we are inundated daily with the use of our Lord's name as an expletive. We may feel the urge to rail against it, but we need to remember the gentleness of our Lord. I don't want us to lose the value of the name of Jesus. Common usage reduces the value of a name, and we are commanded never to use the name of our Lord in a common manner. Reverence, respect, and worship the name of Jesus Christ.

It is interesting that one of the more common sins in this age is blasphemy... the very thing that Jesus was accused of many times in His life on the earth. The world is nothing if not hypocritical! Of course, the world didn't want to think of Jesus as the Son of God, even though the demons knew and acknowledged Him, at least when Jesus didn't stop them first. In reading through the Gospel accounts, it amazes me that demons recognized the Son of the Most High, while many humans chose to reject Him! That is not to say that the demons loved Him, and I like to remember that many humans did choose to recognize the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. How good does it feel to believe and to say, "Jesus, you are the Son of the Most High God, the Messiah, the Lord of lords, and King of kings!" It feels much better than profaning His holy name, that is for sure.

Praise, glory, and honor to the Most High God!

Bucky

His Ways - March 31, 2008

Good Monday morning! We awaken to another coating of snow to end the month of March. Yes, one-fourth of the year is now over. I know, it sounds like I am going to start up my Christmas countdown again, or already. However, I will not do that just yet, even though the day looks like a Christmas postcard out there. Today also ends my first week out of school. I had quite a few one week breaks, so as my Ma pointed out, tomorrow may be the day when this really starts to sink in.

In Mark this morning, I read about two things we often do not understand. Jesus chose Peter, James, and John to go with him up on a high mountain where they saw our Lord transfigured, and secondly, the healing of a possessed boy. Jesus told the disciples that a certain type of demon could only be sent packing through prayer, or prayer and fasting in some manuscripts. Both of these episodes in the life of our Lord raise a lot of questions and few satisfactory answers. Why only those three? Why only by prayer? Many other questions could be asked about those stories. In reading the Bible for much of my life, I can only say that I have a strong suspicion that there will be many things that I do not understand about the Bible stories even if I live to be 120. Actually, if Methuselah had the entire Bible, even he would probably not understand everything in it at the ripe old age of 967! God reminds us that His ways are far above our ways and that His understanding goes far beyond what we are able to understand. That gives me great comfort in these uncertain times. I know that no matter how complex life gets, the Lord is still in charge and nothing is beyond His understanding and control.

Praise God for His ways!

Bucky

Healing Forever - March 30, 2008

Good Sunday morning! The clouds have rolled in overnight out here on the dry hills of western Nebraska. We may even get some rain out of this weather change. I like the story of those men who lowered the paralyzed man in front of Jesus by tearing a hole in the roof. Jesus told them that their faith had been noticed. We should note that not only did these men have faith in the teacher to heal their friend, but they also had faith that God would not let the roof cave in after they had torn a hole in it. A lot of trusting went into the act of healing that man on his mat, and even more trusting went into that man carrying his mat from the house. That man didn't have to wonder whether he had been healed; he knew and felt in his body the healing of Jesus. When our time of healing comes, we will know without the slightest doubt that we have been healed by the Lord. All sorrows will be erased, all tears will be dried, and the healing power of Jesus will be manifest in us. This is not to say that healing of our bodies cannot happen here on earth, but that one final day, all of us will be healed forever by Jesus our Lord. Wait patiently for that great day, and trust in Jesus forever!

God bless and keep you on this day of the Lord,

Bucky

Let Worry Go - March 29, 2008

Good Saturday morning! I pray that your weekend is both relaxing and filled the the joy of knowing Jesus. Don't worry about your needs. Why is that so difficult to follow? Jesus commanded us to not worry; he provided examples and showed miracles where he fed thousands, and yet still we worry. Will I be able to afford food next payday? Will the family mind having beans a couple of nights. Waking up worrying about the bills. What if this, what about that? Jesus doesn't want us to worry, not for ourselves and not for the church. When you and I gave our lives to Jesus, he took responsibility for seeing to our needs. We do not need to worry about needs! Yes, I am still struggling with that one too. Worry comes easily and has remarkable staying power in our minds. Once more we must trust only in Jesus, and let that worry go.

Rest in Jesus on this fine Saturday!

Bucky

Rules is Rules - March 28, 2008

Good Friday morning! The sun is out and I am slowing getting underway on this fine morning. Does having a vacation day on Friday in place of working have anything to do with the fineness of the day? Well, yeah! Not having school work makes the day even better. My goal is not to goof off all day, but to start cleaning up the house. Yes, it is now spring and that means time for spring cleaning to begin. While the late March weather is still too cool for much outside work, the inside work can start this morning.

Legalism, so hard to avoid, so easy to turn on others. Traffic laws can be quite difficult to remember on the driver's license test, but so easy to remember when another driver disobeys one. Instructions can be difficult to understand or follow when we face them for the first time, but if we write them down it seems strange that someone cannot understand simple rules. The Pharisees had just this kind of problem. As a group, they were very good at following their own rules and regulations. To the common folk however, those same rules were a tremendous burden. This might remind you of a certain organization that is supposed to be serving us! (Hint: this organization employs more workers than anyone else in America.) Yes, that old legalism can block the way to a relationship with Christ. Jesus came down on the Pharisees hard for their blinding love of rules. He calls us to tell people the Good News of life and freedom in Christ. Setting up Christianity as a set of do's and don'ts can be very tempting, and that is one of the complaints of critics in the world. We must remember the Good News first when spreading the light of Jesus in this world. We obey the rules after we come to love and know Jesus. In Christ, we serve others because we want to, not because we have to. God does not love us less when we disobey, though He is certainly disappointed, but we obey to please our heavenly Father. To the world our relationship looks like one of strict obedience to earn a way into Heaven. Paul reminds us that the world will not understand that salvation comes from Christ first, before anything we can do, and that nothing we can do will earn us a pass to Heaven. Grace is not something that we can earn, but a free gift from Christ to those who will believe in Him.

Have a wonderful weekend in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

A Few Loaves - March 27, 2008

Good morning! Watching the snow gently fall to the ground this morning, with a uniformly gray sky to wash the color from life.

I thought about this passage in Mark this morning:

Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and it is getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy themselves some food."

But Jesus said, "You feed them."

"With what?" they asked. "It would take a small fortune to buy food for all this crowd!"

"How much food do you have?" he asked. "Go and find out."

They came back and reported, "We have five loaves of bread and two fish."

Then Jesus told the crowd to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat in groups of fifty or a hundred.
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God's blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted,
and they picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. Five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves and two fishes!
(Mark 6:35-44, NLT


I like this passage. Often we pick out the miracle part and leave the rest behind. However, look at how the story begins; the disciples approach Jesus with not a question, but a command. Once more, even the disciples, just back from their ministry tours, try to make the Son of God in their image. "Send them away." Jesus turns it around and tells His disciples to feed the crowd. As you and I might do, the disciples immediately start their little heads figuring and their fingers counting; only to come up woefully short on either materials or ability. What would I do when facing a crowd of 5,000 men and their families, and the master telling me, "You feed them." My mind would probably go blank and my lips start stammering. 10 - 15 thousand people, perhaps more waiting for something to eat!

Jesus then guides the disciples by having them find out exactly how much food is available to them. The count is five loaves and two fishes, hardly enough to feed 5 men, much less 5,000 men and their families. The disciples argue that the twelve of them would need to work for months to afford a meal for this many folks - and let's hope they can hold out that long without starving to death. As with us, Jesus is trying to guide His disciples to believe in His miracle working power, and they continue to figure on their own resources only. How often do we find ourselves doing the same thing? I have this much and I want to do this much, but the boss won't give me a raise, and even that would only allow for this much... and on our thinking goes. Money, strength, will power - we all think only in our own meager resources when we know very well that the limitless strength and power of God waits only for us to come to the end of our resources and trust in Him! The disciples sat back with full stomachs and counted 12 baskets of leftover food after the Master fed those thousands with a few small loaves and fishes.

Did you take a recent paycheck, look at the amount, figure 10%, and let the Lord know that this is what you received and so this is what the Lord gets back? Quite likely you or I may have done just that. Today, let's worry less about that legalistic 10% and give with a joyous heart. You know how many bills or other obligations you have, give with joy and worry less about whether you are giving a certain percentage. Perhaps you can give only a bit of pocket change, notice that 5 loaves wouldn't even begin to feed 10% of the people gathered there on that day. You might be able to give millions, comprising 95% of your income. Praise God and don't boast about it, for whether you can give 1% or 100%, it is God who grants us the ability to give joyously.

5,000 men and their families? Did my mind start to narrow the possibilities? Look at that family there. Look how thin they are, perhaps the few loaves and fishes should go to them, the other families will understand. How about feeding as many children as possible, the hungrier looking ones? No, even as the disciples stumbled for an answer, the Teacher told them to start passing the food out... and every man, woman, and child in that huge crowd ate until satisfied.

Trust in Jesus!

Bucky

Just Trust Me! - March 25, 2008

Good Tuesday morning! For more than 3 years I have said "college student", but today that is no more. Can you see the relief and happiness? No? Well, not yet. A period of personal sacrifice that long will not be recovered from overnight. Just like in the Christian life, a decade or two of living away from God cannot be overcome in our own strength immediately, if at all. We need the healing power of Jesus to recover from the long illness of sin, and we need that same healing power to recover from long periods of trial or illness on this earth. No overnight healing? One day we will wake up in Heaven, as though from a long and difficult sleep, and on that day we will experience an overnight healing unlike any we have seen on this earth. With a touch and a word of welcome, Jesus will bring us home and heal every hurt and sorrow. Now that is a promise that I like to recall often!

Our entire life on this earth is a trial, with good moments in between periods of trial and tribulation. A moment of happiness may be overcome by news of the many ills this world throws at us. Only in Christ is there lasting joy for our hearts. Yes, I am finished with school, 23 years late by most standards, but in God's own perfect time. The happiness and relief that I feel now will fade in time, but the joy in my heart from the love of Jesus will never go away.

In Mark this morning I read a short, but very powerful passage. In this passage, Jesus first heard the news of Jarius' sick daughter, but before He could get to Jarius' house, the woman who had suffered for 12 years from a bleeding illness touched His robe. Feeling the healing power go out from Him, Jesus wanted to know who had touched His robe with such faith. The woman admitted the act after a bit and fell at His feet. In my mind an entirely appropriate response to the Lord Jesus! Of course we know that Jesus did not chew her out or tell her to ask permission first. No, He gave her the good news that her suffering had ended... just as He will tell us one day in His glorious presence! Was Jesus finished then? No! He later went on to Jarius house and raised the man's daughter from death. There is no limit to the healing power of Jesus, trust in Him and do not be afraid... the very words Jesus spoke to Jarius when others tried to dissuade him from asking to heal his daughter. "Don't be afraid, just trust me!" (Mark 5:36, NLT)

Faith in Jesus never wears out!

Bucky

To Believe or not to Believe - March 24, 2008

Good Monday morning! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Easter holiday. Today, a bit of an event, my last day of college happens today, at least for this undergraduate program. Three years, three months, and eight days of college have past and I am mentally exhausted. I am both proud to have completed the program, and relieved that it is finished at last. Last night, I did take the time to watch a movie about the passion one more time. Each time I am struck by the symbolism of Jesus standing between the two criminals, unbelief on one side and belief on the other. One criminal is condemned and the other saved by a simple act of belief. You might call the believing criminal the first deathbed conversion. A life of crime had past and the criminal hung on a cross. Beside him hung an innocent man, the Son of God. Before the Son of God laid down his human life, the criminal simply asked that Jesus remember the criminal when coming into His kingdom. A simple request it would seem, but backed up by something we all must have in order to be saved - belief in Jesus. Each year the Easter holiday reminds me of that choice, belief on one side, unbelief on the other. There is no middle ground! In a world of difficult choices and situations, one stands clear and simple. A person can believe and know Jesus, or choose not to believe and stand condemned at the final judgement. Today, it does not seem so hard to decide, but be compassionate toward those who do not yet believe - at one time in my life, that choice seemed quite difficult.

To God be the Glory!

Bucky

Happy Easter! - March 23, 2008

Happy Easter! Today our Lord arose from the grave and told us to let everyone know! Believe or don't believe, the choice is clear and holds no middle ground. Some might question the method, "Did he roll the stone aside or just step right through it?" That would be like Noah questioning whether he floated on salt or fresh water! Don't miss the flood by wondering about the water! Jesus rose from the dead, believe it and live!

In writing, I learned to exercise restraint in the use of exclamation points. The theory being that the more one uses them, the less effective they are in the writing. That works right up to speaking of Jesus and His resurrection. Everything and every word written about the resurrection should have an exclamation point, perhaps more than one!

In thinking of bad habits today, I am struck by how we want overnight results. We should take a look at the resurrection and realize that even that didn't happen overnight. Jesus was buried in the tomb before the Sabbath began on Friday at sundown, and did not rise from the dead until Sunday morning. Now if the power of God waits on the perfect time, don't you think we can look at our bad habits with a patient view and work toward God's perfect time?

Why does everything I write point to the resurrection today? Well, it's Easter! It would be very difficult as a Christian to think about anything else today. Praise God that my last college assignments are ready to go. I can spend the time today watching The Passion of the Christ without worrying about other things. Watching the portrayal of Jesus' suffering is heartbreaking, but the victory won on this day so many years ago was worth the price He paid!

Have a great and happy Easter Sunday!

Bucky

Dark Saturday - March 22, 2008

Good Saturday morning! On this day a bit short of 2,000 years ago, a man lay in a tomb. His followers had scattered, fleeing for their lives. The high priests celebrated their victory, no doubt expecting the cultish movement with its charismatic leader to die out and never be heard from again. Those earthly leaders probably expected to deal harshly with any zealots leftover and any copycats that sprang up. Jesus of Nazareth was no more in their opinion. They probably laughed off the tales of Lazarus and others as myths of the common rabble. No one had ever come back from the grave, and none ever would. This Saturday, between Good Friday and Easter, might be named Dark Saturday. On this day, even to the disciples who knew what Jesus had told them, it appeared that the forces of the world had won the victory. After all, could Jesus be the Messiah when his body lay in a tomb? How could a dead man save anyone, much less an entire nation? The flame of Christianity might have died too that day.

How can we remain faithful in the dark and fearful times? The Gospels and Acts do record that the followers of Jesus began gathering again even before He appeared among them. The scattering did not last long. They may have felt that God had abandoned them, but that would be far from the truth. We can gather together and assure each other that God is still with us. Jesus, the ever faithful servant, would soon surprise them all. We will save the Good News for tomorrow, the celebration of the greatest awakening in the history of the world. Like those followers of Jesus long ago, wait today and pray.

Praise God for the glory of this day!

Bucky

Good Friday - March 21, 2008

A great Good Friday morning to you. We have a pretty good idea what Good Friday is. The crucifixion and death of Jesus happened on this day some years ago. The world says that we don't truly know what day it is, else the date would be set. That is true about a lot of dates that we choose to celebrate something that happened long ago. Such arguments are trivial. We don't need to know an exact date; we need to know what happened and its relevance to our situation. Today we celebrate, and that seems odd to the world, the death of our Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. How can a dead savior be a cause for celebration? In His death, our sins were forgiven, and in his death we receive eternal life. On Sunday, Easter, we will celebrate something even more profound. A unique and singular event happened that is the basis for our faith. This day, the day of suffering had to come first. God demanded the perfect sacrifice to atone for all the imperfect sin. Jesus carried out His Father's will, and we were saved. A pearl beyond price was won at the place the Roman world considered the greatest defeat and humiliation. Once more God turned the world's wisdom over and created something grand and beautiful in our salvation.

Praise the name of our Lord Jesus!

Bucky

Trust Completely - March 20, 2008

Good morning! The day is known as Holy Thursday, although I am not sure why. This is probably the day of the week that Jesus was seized by the Temple guards and taken to the first of the illegal trials held. Today I have asked for the Lord's guidance in writing the devotional. I do this every day, but on some days I don't feel a message within me. It is on these days that I think the strength of the Lord shows greatest in my weakness. How often is that true? The days or moments when our strength is not sufficient or when we think we just don't have it; those are the times when the Lord takes over and shows where the true message comes from. I am not the Good News, Jesus is. I am not the light, but the vessel that Jesus, the light of the world, has chosen. Each of us may have cause to think that God has chosen the weakest vessels, and that may be true. However, God keeps his own counsel and we can only trust in Him. Trust is that time when we feel weak and simply say, "Lord, here I am, use me." The Lord of course, is perfectly happy to accept each and every one of us, and next thing you know... a message comes pouring out of our mouths or our little typing fingers to the glory of God the Father!

Prepare to celebrate the Lord's resurrection and glory as Easter weekend starts with Good Friday. I pray that some of you are taking a break from work and enjoying the company of loved ones. Let Heaven and Nature sing of the glory of our risen Lord!

Bucky

Sowing the Seeds - March 19, 2008

Good Morning to you! What a glorious day it is in Christ Jesus! In Mark this morning, I read how Jesus entered a temple on the Sabbath and saw a man with a crippled hand. With the Pharisees watching and ready to pounce, Jesus brought the man up front and center. No hiding, no quick aside, "Psst, give your hand!" No, Jesus knew what the Pharisees were up to and came right out front with what He was going to do. However, before healing the man, Jesus once more asked a question of those very religious leaders, hoping they might be saved. Instead, the Bible records that Jesus was angry at their hardness of heart when they would not answer Him. A very obvious sign, just what they demanded, performed right in front of them, and once more they took off to plot Jesus' death. From our point of view as believers, this act of turning away boggles the mind. Jesus did just what they had asked for, performing a healing miracle right in front of their eyes. When the heart is already hardened, a sign may fall on that rocky ground that Jesus spoke of in the parable of the seeds. The hardened hearts of the Pharisees had no soil left for this new seed to grow.

You and I may experience just such a thing in our ministries. We may sow and sow, only to see someone reject everything we say to them. On the other hand, we may sow a seed and later another will reap the harvest. Praise God for that! In Christ that old selfishness is washed away. A seed sown in Christ is not "mine!", but belongs to the Master. You or I may not live to see the harvest, but in faith we sow the seeds. Praise God for that opportunity and privilege!

May the sweet joy of Jesus wash over you today!

Bucky

Dark Turns to Victory - March 18, 2008

Good Tuesday morning! No holiday today, but the most important holiday is just around the corner. In Mark today I read the story of the disciples getting hungry and eating the grain in the field on a Sabbath. The Pharisees of course objected to Jesus that a law was being violated. Do you notice that the world constantly tried to find fault in Jesus? When it could not, it eventually made up something and demanded His execution anyway. The world seemed to dislike Jesus. No, that is too much an understatement. Jesus stated it himself, the world hated Jesus. Hate is altogether different from a simple dislike. Hate is that bitter feeling that causes rage and murder. I wonder if somewhere after Jesus death and resurrection a person woke up and wondered if they had witnessed a bad dream. They knew about Jesus' miracles, they knew that He had harmed no one, and yet that person may have been part of the crowd demanding an execution. Did that person shake his head and ask, "Did I really do that?" That moment may have been the first step toward salvation.

Once we realize that each of us is responsible for the sin that Jesus paid the price for, we can repent and look to the Son of God to save us. The very one the world hated so much, is the only one who can save it. However, the world must first listen and learn from Jesus, and the world prefers its own wisdom. That wisdom sent Jesus to the cross; a dark day to be sure, but what a result and what a victory!

Praise the name of Jesus on this fine day!

Bucky

Word of Mouth - March 17, 2008

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Yesterday my morning Bible study took me to Mark. I had been reading in the Old Testament for some time, but yesterday I felt it time to start in the Gospels once more. Mark stats off with Jesus' healing ministry very quickly. People believed in His healing power and came from all over the region to have their demons cast out and their diseases healed. Jesus told one man whom he cured of leprosy to tell no one. However, that man could not keep quiet and spread Jesus' fame all over the area. Some might think, "well if Jesus would heal me of all my illnesses, I could believe too." I suspect that all of the people Jesus healed of some present condition, later became ill from something else. Just like we heal from the flu or a cold and later come down with something else. I am sure that they never suffered the same condition again, but other diseases came along in their lives. Jesus told Thomas that "blessed are those who have not seen and still believe." Just like the Pharisees who demanded a sign, Jesus knew that miracles alone would not save everyone. Some believed and were saved, others did not, even with the word of mouth that spoke of Jesus' miracles in every town and farm. Our word of mouth will not always be believed either, but that shouldn't stop us from trying. People are lost all around us, listen for the opportunity to tell them about the Savior.

God grants us peace, enjoy it!

Bucky

Palm Sunday - March 16, 2008

Good Palm Sunday morning to you! We have another new coating of snow out here as it would appear that winter will last until May this year. Just kidding, I have no idea how long it will last. Today is a celebration of the day Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey's colt. The people were ready to celebrate an earthly king, ignoring other prophecies in Isaiah, and they lined the road into Jerusalem waving palm branches and celebrating their new king... or so they thought. However, Jesus fulfills every prophecy and the time for His new kingdom in the new Jerusalem had not yet arrived. The spiritual kingdom had to come first and that required one final blood sacrifice on the cross. As we know from the gospels, a fickle and unbelieving people turned on Jesus less than a week later and demanded his execution. Pilate gave in to public pressure and allowed the execution of a man he had found innocent to take place. The world committed a murder and we were saved. In this world murdered people cannot save others. However, we do not live by what the world thinks and sees, we live and are saved in Christ Jesus!

Praise God for eternal life in Jesus!

Bucky

Endure to the End - March 15, 2008

Good Saturday morning! The snow has made our world white once more in this area. The snows in February and March have not been deep snowfalls, but they do seem to be fairly consistent. That is the key to giving, consistency. We may wish for more to give, I know that I do, but we only have what we are given by God. At times when I find myself thinking of more to give, I like to think of the few loaves and fishes that Jesus used to feed thousands. Jesus took someones lunch and fed a multitude. What was the return on that small gift? Just barely enough? No, more food was leftover than Jesus started with! Our giving is the same, we may not have millions and thousands to give as some do. However, each paycheck is an opportunity to be faithful and give consistently. Each of us may not have as much as we would like to give, but we have something to give from and the more faithfully we give, the more we will be entrusted with.

What a great day to kick back with a cup of coffee (decaf) and write in the Lord! Snow on the ground, but the streets are clear. Cold but not terribly so. A warm house and a day off work; it just all makes for a nice Saturday. Oh, there's that homework thing... Well, that homework thing is about to come to a close. Two weekends are all that remain. Figuratively speaking, they can beat me, kick me, and send me nasty notes, but I will endure to the end! Our Christian journey is much the same, although the beating and scorn may not be figurative but real. We can see the end even when not knowing the timing. Our journey's end is in sight and we can endure in the strength of Christ Jesus. Graduating from school? I'm sure that I am not the only one graduating. That is quite an accomplishment and will be a great day, but that is minor when compared to that great day when Christ shall reign forever.

God bless you this fine weekend!

Bucky

Saved! - March 14, 2008

Good Friday morning! The joy of Christ flows through us this day. As Easter approaches, the thoughts of what Jesus suffered at the hands of the people in His day come to mind often. I think of the many times that He might have spoke and stopped the whole show on the spot. At any time He might have said, "Look, I am the Son of God, and I've had enough of this!" He might have demanded allegiance, knees to bow and the confession of His Lordship right at that moment. However, a greater need drove His love at that time. The need to save us from the pain of sin and death that hung around every human neck. He could see it, but you and I cannot see what Jesus saw every day all around Him. Every time the thought of stopping came to Him, I can imagine that He looked around, saw all that pain and misery, and took another step toward the cross.

How is this joyful? How do we start the weekend on a note of joy when thinking about our Lord's suffering? We don't have to feel that suffering for all eternity because the price of our sin is paid! We are set free, pardoned, ransomed, no longer slaves to death and the grave. At the moment it is hard for us to feel all of what that truly means to us. One day, Jesus promised, that feeling will arrive in full force. We will stand before the judgement seat and receive fully the grace of Christ Jesus! He would not have gone to prepare a place for us, only to turn everyone away at the last moment. Let the joy of that grace fill you until the dam is ready to burst and overflows into a dark world! Take the most happy day of your life and multiply it many times over to begin feeling a taste of that great day in Christ Jesus. I'm with you on this; I cannot imagine it either in the pain of this world, but we know on the assurance of our Lord Jesus that it will indeed happen.

Blessed assurance in the boundless love of our dear Father in Heaven!

Bucky

Already Accomplished - March 13, 2008

Good Thursday morning! The days are for the most part much warmer than we have seen this winter. Spring is close to its opening day. Big moments in Isaiah came up last night in our Bible study and a big moment in Daniel came up this morning. It is amazing that Jesus' life was covered so accurately in Isaiah. We also noted last night how that Isaiah wrote in the past tense about events that would happen about 700 years later than his lifetime. How can that be? Those events had already happened in God's plan. Jesus' saving of the sinners had already gone down in the books. As we like to say: signed, sealed, and delivered. We see things poorly right now as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13. However, God sees the great events that we have yet to arrive at as fully accomplished. When Jesus noted to the world that, "It is finished" on the cross, He meant just that. To us with our limited view there is much yet to happen in this world and in our lives. To Jesus with His eternal view, we are already home with Him. To my understanding, that is God telling us that one morning we will wake up in Heaven with Him as though from a long and difficult dream. No more sorrows and no more pain, only the eternal joy of Jesus in our hearts. Look forward to that day and spread the Good News to the world!

God bless you all!

Bucky

Pray for Everyone - March 12, 2008

Good morning! The mid-week has come for us once more. Feeling tired and ill lately? I think all of us are in our department; this latest bug has become a real problem. There are a few things we can do like, eating right, trying to exercise (difficult when ill), and going to the doctor. However, the best and most powerful thing to do is to pray for each other. Belatedly I began doing that for my workplace last night. I can't help but think that I need to be praying every day, not just during the sick times. How often do we find that we only pray for someone else when they are in some kind of trouble or major illness? We certainly should pray then and with God it is never too late. However, we should pray for each other in love during the good times of their lives. Someone gets a promotion at work, pray in joy for them. Your friend will be getting married, pray for him or her in celebration of their new life. In this lifetime the season of happiness may be fleeting. Troubles follow good times as the stain of sin shows the pain of this world. Pray constantly for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and then pray for those who are facing the world without Jesus in their hearts. The entire world needs our prayer each day.

What a mighty savior we have in Jesus!

Bucky

Believe in Jesus - March 11, 2008

Good morning. It's Tuesday and we are gathered here to learn more about Jesus! Pretend for a moment that you are a secular learner. How do we simplify Jesus into someone that we can better understand? One thing that we can do is pretend that he was just another of the prophets. This is what the Islamists do. Another is to make him simply human by finding things to support that choice. We have seen attempts to place Jesus' grave in India, in a box found in an antique shop, and in plots carried out to hide the "truth". A third is to study him as a historical figure with the cold eye of modern science as a shield to belief. I say "modern" science because we know that many of the great scientists of the past were in fact Christians. Perhaps the most common, and most tragic, is to simply ignore him and sink yourself into the secular world. All of these methods have been tried and are being used by those who prefer not to believe. In intellectual circles they congratulate themselves and each other on their reasonable thinking, on cold intellect and human learning, and they get together to scorn believers and build up their own opinion of themselves thereby.

So with all of this opposition, why do we believe in Jesus as the living Son of God? Whatever gifts God has given to us, we believe in our Lord Jesus. In spite of tortures or tales of such activities, we do not renounce our faith. So what would be the cause of such a thing as this? One thing we know from the wisdom of the Holy Spirit... it isn't our own strength that causes this. In realizing how weak each of us truly is in this world, we become strong in Jesus. In realizing how sinful our flesh is, we become righteous in Christ. Everything we believe is at odds with the learning and wisdom of the world. We believed when Jesus found us and saved us from the world. A choice, free of all strings and simple in the making. Some have discovered it after a lifetime of intellectual pursuit, others have discovered the truth in their own simple way. However, the choice remains simple, believe in Jesus or don't. After we make the choice, all reasons and evidence fall into place. When we believe in Jesus, His miracles become true tales of His wonderful power to heal. When we believe the stories of His command over nature become examples of His sovereign will. Believing makes His sacrifice worth the price He paid. Believing makes faith in the one true God perfectly sensible and reasonable. Believing allows us to question God and His ways, and then to listen and search for the answers in His Holy Word. Believing in Jesus allows us to truly grow in love for our Abba Father, our Lord Jesus, and for each other. Why do we believe? Because He loved us enough to die to pay for our sins, and rose again to show His victory over death.

You have faith in a strong God, live in Him!

Bucky

Don't be Afraid - March 10, 2008

Good morning! The first Monday of the new time change. Yes, it does feel very early, even though the clock says that it is not. As we have done many times before, we will take the next couple of days or weeks to grow accustomed to the new routine. This morning, the story of Daniel in the lion's den. What a great story of the power of God. Often missed in the telling of that story, and certainly not a part we would emphasize to children, is the part where those who accused Daniel were tossed in after Daniel's release. This part is not so pretty, but we can certainly see the justice. We can also see that the lions did not abstain from eating Daniel from any lack of appetite! The explanation given by Daniel is also interesting. "An angel of the Lord shut the mouths of the lions..." It would seem that Daniel did not spend the long night alone. It is not recorded in the Bible, but I would bet the first words the angel said to Daniel were, "Don't be afraid." Each of us needs to take those words to heart in this frantic world. Don't be afraid. Our Lord watches over us every moment of each day and night. Don't be afraid, trust in the Lord and let faith drive out fear.

Enjoy the light of Jesus this fine day!

Bucky

Working on Sleep - March 9, 2008

Good Sunday morning! The sun doesn't seem to be in the right place today, but that should change over the next few days. Ahh, the dreaded time change. Groggy feelings at work in the morning, not ready to eat when arriving at home in the evening, all for the supposed saving of energy. I hope we have saved a lot of energy over the past several years; I sure do not like the changes and I cannot recall speaking with a person who does enjoy the time changes. If I have forgotten someone who truly enjoys each spring time change, I should send them a card in the asylum, perhaps even a "get well" card.

Today is that day where we fantasize about catching up on sleep. We have seen it in books and movies, where the character sleeps through an entire day or a weekend, and wakes up feeling just great. Well, in real life we know that getting the proper amount of sleep takes practice over time. We might think that good sleep comes naturally, but in this hectic world we find that we must work at getting a good night's sleep consistently. Practicing our faith is much the same. To have consistently powerful faith, we must plant our mustard seed of faith, and practice. Putting our faith into action is the practice we seek. Like any long term project, our faith may seem weak. However, we put our faith in a powerful God. Step one to strengthen our faith, seek out the Word of God. Read daily and study in the Holy Bible. Our faith will grow even as we see the goodness of our God.

God bless and keep you!

Bucky

The Opinion of Cats - March 8, 2008

Good Saturday morning! I wondered this morning where to find help for pride in some skill that you or I might have. We cannot falsely say that we are not knowledgeable or adept at some talent that God has given to us, for that would dishonor Him. We should not boast about it, for all talents come from God. This wondering happened right before I tried to make coffee with an empty filter basket, staring dumbfounded as clear water poured into the carafe. Yes, one more thing that I need not worry about. God will keep us humble whenever a dose of humility is needed. Sometimes God's timing is so beautiful that you can only laugh at yourself, and that is just what I did too! The cats have agreed that I am insane, but who cares about their opinion anyway. :-)

Easter approaches! I haven't been trumpeting that with the same enthusiasm as I do for Christmas, and I do believe that is wrong. Christ's birth is important, but not as important as His resurrection on that great day some years ago. Easter is the celebration of our hope in Christ and we don't do enough of it here in this dark world. We need to work on turning that around. I know that the secularization of the Christmas celebration may cause us to think, "what's the use". However, we shouldn't give over to the world the celebration of our Lord's rising from the grave. Here is a radical idea, everyone take off for a week at Easter. No buying or selling, just a celebration of the Lord's resurrection. Do you think that would work? I am thinking that most of our employers would take a dim view of that at first. It may take some time to convince the world that would work. What was your first thought? Something about not being able to make it without that week's pay? Me too; looks like we may need to work on our trust in God before we go too far with this.

God's blessings go with you this fine day!

Bucky

A Good Friday - March 7, 2008

Good Friday morning! Once again we have a clean, new world out here, one covered in white snow. It is also quite cold at around 11º F. In reading of Nebuchadnezzar's story, the one where God makes him insane for seven years, I am struck by the special favor God showed to this pagan king. Upon returning to sanity, Nebuchadnezzar no longer worshiped or believed in the pagan gods, but in the Most High God alone. Too many people just want God to leave them alone, and He does as they wish. We don't want to leave those people alone, but to remind them that God loves each of them in a special way.

The clouds are rolling in once more, perhaps a heavenly reminder that good times follow the bad, just as clear skies follow the cloudy. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." Notice that we walk through, not just into, but through that dread valley. Each day God leads us through dreadful shadows, but we need not be afraid of shadows, no matter how substantial they may seem on this earth. Our mighty God, the Most High God, is in charge and is all-powerful. God does let people have a choice on this earth, don't be fooled into thinking that He is not in charge, even though free will causes some bad choices and terrible sins on the earth. "One day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." Some may refuse to believe now, but we know that one great day all will acknowledge our Lord Jesus!

Praise God for a great Friday!

Bucky

A Little Pride - March 6, 2008

Good Morning! For the next couple of days I will enjoy the sun rising early. It's the least I can do since our lawmakers have decided to advance the time change once more. One thing the governments of the world cannot do is to stop the progress of time. We are moving toward our meeting with Jesus, whether the world likes it or not!

Last night we read about the little oops that King Hezekiah made in showing the ambassadors from Babylon his treasures. I am struck by the double whammy that materialism can bring. First there is the pride of showing off your possessions. Then if you show them off to the wrong persons, you get the loss of having them taken. The Israelites saw this when, later, King Nebuchadnezzar would use that knowledge to grab every treasure from the Temple and palace in Jerusalem. The things of this world simply do not last and worshipping them is the way to destruction.

The glory of the Lord shines on us and through us this fine day! Each of us has fallen prey to sin at times, but forgiveness is always there for the asking. Seek out the sin in your life, and then confess it to God and ask forgiveness. Truly we must come before the Lord daily to walk with Him. How much better to walk with Him in grace, without the baggage of unconfessed sin slowing us down.

Praise the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior!

Bucky

He Lives! - March 5, 2008

Good morning! We awaken to another snow covered morning, winter is still present and accounted for. After a couple of sick days, again, I will return to work this morning, praise God for that opportunity! This morning I began a new book in my morning Bible reading, the Book of Daniel. This book is one of my favorites: the stories of God's sovereign will in saving the men from the furnace, lions, and the plots of the heathens all serve to remind us that God is not away on vacation or hanging around as a disinterested observer. No, our Lord is in control and active upon the earth. Were it not for the stain of sin, heaven and nature would be singing such an anthem of praise that we would be caught up in the overflowing joy of all God's creation singing His praise.

Whatever happened to that rock cut from the mountain, but not by human hands, in Nebuchadnezzar's dream? It would be easy for us to fall into the mistake the Israelites made in Jesus' time, that of thinking He would set up His earthly kingdom right at that moment. This mistake would be in forgetting prophecies of the suffering servant and crucifixion as foretold by Isaiah. Jesus' kingdom did begin when he arrived in Bethlehem, but not in the way that human kingdoms are built. This kingdom will have a solid base that will endure forever. You and I are a part of that kingdom, though it may not seem like it right now. The stain of sin is powerful, but our God is mightier. Rest in Him, trust in Him, believe in Him, and share the Good News that He Lives!

Let the glory of the Lord shine in you today!

Bucky

Yahweh Shammah - March 4, 2008

Good morning in Christ Jesus! Once more a timely reminder that joy comes from within. I read about the river of healing that springs from under gate of the new temple in Jerusalem. Perhaps I should use the name above the gate, Yahweh Shammah, God is There. Ezekiel is full of very powerful imagery, but the last one sticks with us. The river of healing that turns the Dead Sea into a fresh water lake where fish abound. The fruit trees bloom all the time and produce a new fruit each month. The leaves are used for healing. Although we feel pain this morning, I am sure that the smallest nibble of one of those leaves would make us completely well. Right now we do live in a world of pain and sorrow.

Yes, we are passing another virus around our work area. This one makes your joints and body hurt. I cannot pretend that the pain makes me happy, but I can cling to the joy of Jesus in my heart. This winter has been particularly tough in the flu and virus department, and I have enjoyed my share of the communicable diseases going around. I think we shall all be glad to see this winter end.

God bless and keep you,

Bucky

Heart of Joy - March 3, 2008

Good morning, and welcome to another joyful day in the Lord! I started a lengthy devotional on the Law and have just discarded it. I feel called to write a more joyful message this morning. The story of the Israelites and their often disobedient ways only serves to highlight our own difficulties in keeping the Law. I heard yesterday in one of the sermons that guilt, at least the guilt we should worry about, is not a feeling. Does that give you joy? It does for me. Worrying about the guilty feelings that come to us from past events plays right into the Devil's hands. Satan doesn't want joyful Christ-ones in this world. We are made new creatures in Christ Jesus! Leave behind the mud and muck of those guilty feelings in the knowledge that the real guilt, that of original sin, is forgiven in Christ. Turn a joyful face to the Lord and worship Him. Think about the joy of our Lord and know, believe, that you are forgiven. It does not matter what sins lurk in your past; we all have skeletons in the closets of our mind. Jesus tells us to give them to Him. The Accuser brings up the most hideous old skeleton from the depths of our past to show how evil we are. Jesus simply takes the skeleton, stamps it 'paid', and throws it into the fire. No ceremony, no mess, no disapproving looks, only a gift of freedom from our past sins. Feeling unworthy today? You are not! Jesus did not die for a goal that was not worth the cost. He died and rose again for something more precious to Him than anything, you and I! As the sun rises this morning, take your heart of joy and live in Christ!

Hallelujah for the day!

Bucky

Snow or Sun - March 2, 2008

Good Sunday morning! What a difference a day makes; yesterday sunny and 70 degree temperatures, today a near blizzard. Only a small amount of snow has fallen thus far, but the wind is whipping it around pretty good! I just realized that soon I will need to go through three different PCs to look at class files and decide whether I want to keep them or not. Actually, I think there are some files at work also, make that 5 different PCs. I will undertake that task with joy, school will be an accomplishment well done. Still, I must not look past the finish line. In this life it is too easy to look past the final stage of the task at hand, looking just past that final hill climb. We can be confident that God will keep us here to complete our final tasks, whatever they may be.

One day the windows are open and the warm air flows through the house; the next, buttoned up tight and watching the snow fly. We cannot predict much in this life, even our death is subject to Jesus returning first. There can be no confidence in the world, but there can be complete confidence in our Lord. You will need to give credit to Pastor Schuller for some of the devotional today. I am trying to write and listen to his sermon at the same time. I didn't expect the Hour of Power to be on right now, but received a pleasant surprise this morning. May God bless you during this fine month of March, in snow or in sunshine!

Bucky

Take a Day - March 1, 2008

Good Saturday morning and welcome to the first day of March in 2008. I am very happy to see March arrive this year, and by now you probably know why. Yes, 24 days of school left and then it is finished.

Years ago, many of us saw the new movie "Star Wars", a blockbuster hit in the year just after the Bicentennial celebration. In that movie, an actor delivered a couple of lines during the final climactic scenes. Playing a minor part with one of those odd character names we don't need to remember, I think he might have been Orange Leader or something like that, this actor voiced those lines you might remember, "Stay on target, stay on target" even as his ship was blasted apart by the evil Empire. Such is the skill that a professional actor brings to a part that even many years later I can remember the sound of his voice. Paul said a very similar thing in Philippians about keeping our eye on the prize in the race that we are running.

One of the dark power's greatest weapons in this age is distraction. We have so many things to distract us from our goal. Life in general is very hectic in this time. Many types of media bombard you with messages each day, friends have problems, the church is under attack, Christ is lumped in with all other religions in education and then attacked, people are starving in near and far places, and we are supposed to know all about candidates in the many election races in order to make a wise choice. Those are only some of the things we face each day. Is it any wonder the Lord tells us to take a day off to worship Him? Could you imagine a world with no Sunday paper, news, sports, or other distraction? A day with rest and the worship of our Father in Heaven as the only "to-do's" for that entire day. Wouldn't we be better prepared for the work week?

I can tell you that I have not achieved that ideal. With only four weekends of college left, I certainly intend to make my Sunday much more relaxed in the near future. However, does God blame us for the busy-ness of the times? Some of you may even go to work today; will you be held in contempt of court for working on this Saturday? One thing we know about God, because Jesus told us so, and that is He loves us. Running this race is not a timed event; the goal is to complete the journey with Christ. We are not in competition with each other for who can arrive first. In this race, we cheer for the ones who arrive at the finish line before us. Along the way, we will stop to rest at times, and a day of rest is one of those times. One thing that I would pass along from my 3 years of school, and that is for those taking up a challenge like that, learn to have a day off. I didn't do very well at that, and the toll exacted by the stress was much greater than it had to be. I don't mean an evening off on a workday, but an entire day off from both work and school. We all need that rest.

Enjoy this fine, and warm (at least out here) Saturday in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Leap for Joy! - February 29, 2008

Good Leap Day! Today we celebrate leaping for joy in the Lord Jesus! In the secular world, Leap Day is an acknowledgment of an imperfect calendar. It seems that counting the earth's rotations does not make for a perfect year. Does that mean that God's creation is not perfect? No, but we do know that it is stained by sin, and we simply do not know how far and how deep that stain goes. As we take today to get our calendar back on track, think of the one who is perfect. When Jesus arrived on earth, the day became special as Christmas; when Jesus died, the day became special as Good Friday; and when Jesus returned from the grave, the day became special as Easter. One perfect man walked the earth for a short time many years ago. The world became a better place because of Him, but He went to prepare a perfect place for us. None but God know the timing of His return. We rest in the promise and revel in the possibility that any day could be that day. Could it be today? Could it be tomorrow? Yes and yes. Rest and wait in the ever loving embrace of our Father in Heaven.

Have a great Leap Friday!

Bucky

Hurting Parts - February 28, 2008

Good Thursday morning! Jesus is Lord! During the morning check-in, one troublesome appendage wanted to remind me that it had been hurt and that arthritis was a good possibility for today. It struck me that every day, Jesus gets up to hear the morning report from His body, that's us the Church, and hears how much we are hurting every day. As is the case in our own bodies, He has the appendages that hurt more than others and those that complain more than others. Today, I resolved to be less of a complainer. Yes, there will be mornings that I hurt more than others, and I'm sure that you know exactly what I am talking about. However, we don't have to be the squeakiest wheel in the body of Christ. Awaken to some cheerful music, get one of those light machines, or think about Jesus and His wonderful promises to us, but get up with praise in your heart and on your lips for the new day. In Christ, we have this split personality thing going on. Each of us would like to go to bed peacefully and wake up in Heaven with Jesus, but we also want to live a bit longer and spread the Good News to those living in darkness. We must wait patiently for Jesus to call us home, and in the meantime... rejoice and live in Christ!

What a wonderful Savior we have in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Trust in God Only - February 27, 2008

Good Wednesday morning! I pray that your day starts wonderfully! Did you ever receive good news that you were not expecting? Doesn't that good news make you day a bit brighter, the week go more smoothly? We hold a great Good News, the very best Good News for a trembling world. Many times I have noticed that we live in a fearful world. People, strangers you meet, do not expect kindness like they once did. We are much more likely to be greeted with suspicion and dread than in times before. Now political pundits might think that makes me conservative, wanting to go back to the older times, but that isn't true. Christ-ones do not fit the molds offered up by the world. We want what Jesus has in store for us on that great day of His returning. Go back? Never!

There seems to be lots of bad news about our economy lately; although that isn't much of a surprise. We know already that we can only trust in our Lord. There are no powers or principalities of this earth that we can trust. Pray for our country, government, and economy. The more we trust in God, the better our nation will become.

God bless each and every one,

Bucky

Steering the Ship - February 26, 2008

Good morning! In reading Pastor Rogers' devotional this morning, I am struck by the symbolism of the helm of a ship. In the past I have written about turning the wheel over to Jesus and letting Him steer the ship. Perhaps that analogy is not quite correct. You may have been on a boat or ship before, one large enough to have a crew that is, and noticed that the Captain is in charge, but he does not actually steer. Looking at our lives in this manner, we make Jesus the Captain, but we are still steering the ship. We have the freedom to steer to port or starboard, and how fast to set the throttle. The speed of the ship is determined by the throttle and by the currents of life. As we grow in Jesus, it becomes safer to set the speed higher, but we may instead set it more slowly at times. Where does the Captain come in? We listen to His commands and steer in the direction that He tells us to go. Jesus alone knows the way to that port we seek, a home in Heaven with our Lord. Under our Captain, we may still deviate from the course from time to time, and He allows us that freedom. What happens though, is that we quickly come to realize that His way is best and His course the straightest, shortest route to our destination. Jesus points us to still waters at times and helps us to hold the wheel through the rough waters of this life. In a storm, He might tell you to go below and rest in Him. While we are responsible for holding to His course, or the consequences of trying one of our own, He is responsible for the safety of the ship and for getting us home to port. Rest assured that Jesus will bring us home; He has already reported in to His Father in Heaven that not one has been lost. What a blessed assurance!

Praise Jesus for this new day in Him!

Bucky

Reason with Him - February 25, 2008

Good Monday morning! Back to work once more... actually work has called several times this weekend so I have not been entirely "away" from work. Ah, those on-call weekends! This is my last one in college though, the time approaches. After all my complaining about the non-observance of holidays in this program, the program takes one last shot at me. Yes, Easter weekend is the final weekend of the final course. I shall do my best to celebrate the Lord's great holiday anyway. Unfortunately, the last course is all about ethics, and not quite what is taught in the Bible. Who gets credit for ethics and ethical reasoning? Why human thinkers do of course. Ethical reasoning is separate from religion; the class text states it plainly. As for me, I shall look to the Bible first and listen for the Word of the Holy Spirit in my heart. Paul stated it long ago, God has written His Word on their hearts. In speaking of those who have not yet heard the Good News, Paul told us that they already know the basics of right and wrong. It was not human thinkers who started ethics, but the Lord Himself. In classes such as this last one, I always like to remember Isaiah 1:18, "Come let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they are red like crimson, the shall be like wool." The Lord knows how much we like to be thought reasonable, and He invites us to reason with Him.

Praise God for the day!

Bucky

Light in the Dark World - February 24, 2008

Good morning! In going through the list of editor's book picks on Amazon this year, I see some disturbing selections. However, I am very much against censoring any of them or telling anyone they cannot purchase any of those books. Seldom has any good come from banning a book. On the contrary, a ban will usually garner more attention as people who would normally have ignored it, suddenly are curious and want to see what has caused the ban. Many Christian apologists will read atheist books to answer questions they will receive about those works. This doesn't mean they will be converted or are losing their faith. Those who are new to the faith should not jump into reading these works as the authors can be quite persuasive. Even those who have grown in Jesus must pray and seek guidance in the reading of the worldly texts that are available.

I did read The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, and the warnings you heard before Christmas when the movie came out, are well-founded. If you let your child read the trilogy, or read them yourself, you will want to discuss the writing with your child or your pastor. There is a lot of anti-Church, naturalistic, and humanistic symbolism. The atheistic one, Mr. Pullman, does mention God a few times in the novel, though no credit is given to the Creator as you or I would give. I have heard that the remaining two novels in the trilogy get worse in their atheistic intent. In light of the warnings and the first novel, I suspect that I will find that to be true.

The world seeks to drag us down into the pit and the prince of this world is our primary tempter and accuser. We need Jesus now more than we ever have as the world spirals down to its destruction. There is good news though, Jesus is more alive and real to many people than in the past few decades in America. Whether in small churches or in mega-churches, many will hear the inspired Word of God this morning and welcome Jesus into their hearts. It may seem dark, but there is an unquenchable light shining brightly in us.

Praise Jesus for His holy light,

Bucky

For Our Benefit - February 23, 2008

Good Saturday morning, and a bright, warm morning it is! The time has moved right on by me this morning; it is almost 1000 already. Wal-Mart has been enriched a bit by my arrival there this morning, perhaps I can give a little back to the Lord as well. The funny thing is that the Lord gives me all I need to produce this devotional or any other good work that I can do; how can I possibly give back what I didn't have on my own to begin with? :-) In many forms of belief or religion, there is a reward for work, behavior, or time spent in that religion. When we are saved, Jesus tells us quite plainly in Matthew that He has gone to prepare a place for us in His Father's mansion. There is no minimum requirement of money given, hours volunteered, time spent in meditation, or any amount of effort. Our reward awaits us without our having lifted a finger in effort. Even in keeping the Law, it seems that no law is given to benefit God at all. Eh? How does that work? When we have no other gods before our Father in Heaven, we benefit. When we avoid debasing ourselves by bowing down to some graven image, we benefit. No murder, theft, or adultery? All of us benefit from that. When we love each other God doesn't become better off, but we surely do. Loving God with all of your heart doesn't make Him bigger, better, faster, or more powerful; it makes us trust in Him more, all to our benefit. More often than not, you will see religious systems set up for the benefit of the older practitioners, some unknowable deity invented by men, or the religion itself. In Christ, everything is for our benefit, not in selfishness, but because of God's grace. All because Jesus loved each of us enough to die in our place. Kind of hard to suffer from pride in light of all that!

Praise God for His love on this fine Saturday morning!

Bucky

Let the Sun Rise on Today - February 22, 2008

Good Friday morning! I am happy to be here with you on this new day. What has God done for me today? Well, let's open the 'ol mind up and take a look. I was able to get out of bed today. That may not seem like much, but there are many who will not rise this morning, some from the inability to do so and others from having passed on during the night. I fed the cats today, many in the world cannot feed themselves this morning, much less a couple of pets. I can see the dawn breaking in the east, some folks cannot see at all. The furnace is running, making the house warm, something that many would like to have during their winter and cannot afford or simply do not have. I am typing this message on a PC, not a given even in the wealthier countries. As always, I have much to be thankful for, not the least of which is a good job to go to this morning. Yes, I quite agree with you, there are some days that I am not as grateful for my job as I should be. :-) Those days of testing do make me closer to Jesus. Too many times, particularly on those tough days, we do not take the time to be grateful. The song about listing your many blessings is a good activity to engage in, and like you I sometimes get caught up in all that is wrong, forgetting what is right. Today as the sun rises in a clear sky, I didn't immediately thank God for that, I thought instead of the approaching time change and started grousing about that. Yes, why did Jesus tell us to worry only about today? One reason I just demonstrated, letting the worries of tomorrow spoil a perfectly good sunrise! It is on days like this that I wonder, "when will I ever learn?" Thank God for the healing and teaching power of Jesus!

Have a great weekend in our Lord Jesus!

Bucky

Getting Dark - February 21, 2008

Good morning! I am trying to find everyone on the list again... more of those troubles with spam notices. The final course has begun! The end of college looms ever closer. This class covers ethics and critical thinking. The college "take" on ethics will be interesting as compared to Jesus' commandments on ethics as told in the Sermon on the Mount. The class texts are not anti-religion, but neither are they written by believers from what I read so far. That to me is more dangerous than the blatant anti-religion humanist texts. The more skilled and cunning the lie is, the more others might be taken in by it. We do know that the world will become very secular in the last days. Signs are everywhere around us, and I don't think that I need to point them all out to you. I think that all of us can feel the end approaching, even those in the secular world. We see the rise in the value of the Euro, perhaps a sign that the new empire of Rome is returning to power. I say "perhaps", but I feel more urgency than that. The season grows late, great events are happening, and the speed of life grows ever more hectic. Do you remember the old, "please allow 6 - 8 weeks for shipping"? You don't see that very often any more; we expect same or next day shipping with delivery to our homes in a few days at most. For a fee, you can have some things delivered to your house on the same day. Through the Internet, I can have a gift delivered to Joe Bob in Miami this afternoon. Incredible speed is possible these days.

Whoops, I said that I didn't need to point out all the signs and then dove right into listing some. :-) Must be the late night I had yesterday. You may note that I am running about an hour late today. I couldn't sleep in as much as I would have liked, even to the point of waking up on time. Pastor Rogers used to say that "it is getting gloriously dark [in the world of today]" I like to remember that when I read the news reports and editorials these days. It may be getting dark in the world, but the Light of the World is in my heart.

Praise God for His Holy Light!

Bucky

Healing and Forgiving Lord - February 20, 2008

Good morning! Do you ever stop and take an analytical look at what you or others have done for as long as you can remember? This morning I began doing that for no apparent reason. Questioning the status quo is something that happens to many of us, and it is not always a bad thing. Certainly unchecked questioning and experimentation with a group of people or properties that you are responsible for should not be undertaken and could cause serious harm. However, questioning and seeking counsel may bring something to light that is actually harming yourself or others. It was not that long ago that doctors were handing out prescriptions for anti-depressants with unchecked enthusiasm, and the patients were getting younger and younger. Suddenly, it seemed, some tragedies started to appear and someone else began questioning whether such a habit was good for anyone, much less toddlers and babies. Almost no drug is a panacea, but many have been prescribed that way. I am picking on doctors and drugs as an example, but there may be habits that you or I have that are harmful to our own selves and that may need rethinking.

As I grow in Christ, it seems that my mind is opening to new possibilities. I know that the intellectual establishment would claim credit, after all I have been in college for three+ years, but that is only part of the overall improvement. Much opening of my thoughts has also come from writing this devotional each day, and from studying the Bible morning and night on a daily basis. Introspection has also provided new ground for rearranging old thoughts and habits. I have often wondered what meditation is, having never seen a satisfactory explanation, and I now think that thinking and concentrating internally, without the roiling cloud of emotion, has much to do with meditating. Another part of meditation is thinking, even arguing in your inner dialog, on God and Jesus. Listening is a third part, not empty-minded openness to any influence, but listening for the encouraging, correcting, uplifting, and need I say - loving - voice of God brings the very best in wisdom. Like any skill, meditation takes practice, as does studying the Word of God and analytical introspection of our thoughts and desires. Practice never sounds like much fun, and it isn't always fun to come face to face with an urgent desire to sin, the calling of the flesh. However, like medicine, if we can't name the disease, it is much harder to confront it. Let Jesus lead you and me to confront and renounce those sins. We will be better for it and Jesus is ever ready to forgive and heal. Read the Gospels and see how many times they speak of His healing and forgiving, and they were all people just like you and me, sins and problems by the score.

Praise God for the healing and forgiving promise of our Lord Jesus!

Bucky

Faith in Jesus - February 19, 2008

Good Tuesday morning! Rough day yesterday, but that doesn't mean that today will be the same. Each morning we get up in faith, go out in faith, and come home in faith. You can be secular about it and say that we believe our house will still be there, that we will still have a job, or some other temporal belief. On the other hand, we can go forth believing in Jesus, in His sovereign power and grace, and in His saving Good News for all to hear. Better yet, we can have faith that God is taking care of all of the above! We can go to work thanking the Lord that our workplace still stands and that our life will show His glory, and we can come home believing that God has a house set aside for us both here on earth and in His home in Heaven.

Throughout the Old Testament, we see that God says, "then they will know that I am the Lord" This often follows a prophecy of destruction and war, meaning the losing side of war. If we don't come to know the Lord in peace, He will make His presence known through conquest. The prophecies of the Old Testament are quite similar to those of the New Testament. Does that surprise anyone? No, for we know that our God has not changed. Only the grace of Jesus gives us life. Praise God for the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus! Much of the earth does not know the tread of war right now, but the signs show that the end is near. We do not threaten anyone, but we would have them to wake up and see that Jesus loves them... before the worst begins.

May God have mercy on us all,

Bucky

Thank You - February 18, 2008

Good morning. The time is a bit earlier than usual today; I have a couple of switches to install early this morning. I asked today for a message of gratitude for you. Each morning I like to start off the devotional with a prayer asking for a message of love, faith, and hope to send out. However, today, after a night of odd dreams, I asked for a message of gratitude. Terrors may come in the night, anxieties by day, but our Lord remains constant. The night is not dark to Him; the day holds no worries. Thank you, Lord, for loving us and granting us the many things that you have given us in our lives. Thank you for your Holy Spirit in our hearts and for the food on our tables. Thank you for the love that rains down upon us and reigns over us. Thank you for our nation and the many people who pray to you and glorify your name each day. Thank you, Lord, for saving us from damnation and the folly of unbelief. Thank you for our brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. Most especially, we thank you for the imminent return of our Lord Jesus, may your name be praised on our lips and in our hearts each day.

Hallelujah, our Lord reigns!

Bucky

Seven Fingers - February 17, 2008

Good snowy, Sunday morning! We are having a bit of a blow here; snow and wind that are quite heavy at times. Is it a full-fledged blizzard or just another passing storm? Only time will tell. This morning the image of the seven-fingered hand came to me again... sorry, it just happens. This image is from the Jim Carrey film, "Bruce Almighty". The scene occurs as Bruce is testing "God" by having the Creator, portrayed by Morgan Freeman, tell how many fingers Bruce is holding up behind his back. When Bruce tries to trick "God" by changing the number at the last moment, "God" responds by adding a couple of extra fingers to Bruce's hand. While we know that God does not give us little magic tricks to shore up our faith, we do sometimes wish that God would add a couple of extra fingers to everyone's hand to make his presence known beyond all doubt. However, would it really be beyond all doubt? We know that unbelief can be very stubborn in mankind. I could see everyone waking up with seven digits on their left hand one morning. Just like the parable of the seeds; some would believe, some would believe for a short time and then fall away, some would believe and then be convinced to not believe by the wisdom of the world, and some would harden their hearts and never believe. You could even imagine a reporter on the networks, with all seven fingers wiggling under the desk, letting everyone know the latest scientific theory for the appearance of the two extra fingers with a completely straight face.

We don't need magic tricks for our faith, we only need to look upon the one our faith is based on, Jesus Christ. We look upon Him by reading the Word of God, found in our Bibles. We look upon Him when we do good works in faith. And we look upon Him when we stop trusting in the world and believe in Jesus. One day we will look upon our Savior with our own eyes, but we don't know when that will happen. Faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The clouds are breaking up and the sun may shine soon, probably not a blizzard this time. :-)

Bucky

Congratulations to Kosovo today. I see on MSNBC.com that the nation has declared its independence on this day.

Just Know - February 16, 2008

Good Saturday morning! I hope some of you have a nice President's Day weekend, perhaps a getaway or a visit to relatives. Working at Cabela's for the past 18 President's Days, I forget that this is a holiday much of the time. Monday, I will probably stop to get the mail before I remember that it is a holiday. Somehow the world will rumble on, another holiday into the past. Whatever happened to Holy Days? Were there once days set aside to be holy to God? Yes indeed, and some places and people still celebrate them. Sometimes we look at Israel and wonder about the "secular" people over there, all the time ignoring the secular life all around us. In this cursed world, we cannot always avoid working on a holy day, not even on Sundays. Some have shift work, others simply have a rotating duty that falls upon the day. Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees the fact that priests worked on the Sabbath; something the holier-than-thou Pharisees seemed to ignore in their accusations. Does working on a Sunday or holy day condemn us? For an answer to that, we only need to turn to Romans and find that section around chapter 8 where Paul tells us that nothing can separate us from God's love. I often feel that I have become separated from God's love, usually this coincides with some illness or flu bug going around. Going back to this passage reminds me that feelings are not trustworthy guides to God's love. Faith is the guide we need. Read about God's enduring love, and just KNOW that He loves me and you without fail, no matter what condition or place we find ourselves in.

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!

Bucky

Signs - February 15, 2008

Good Friday morning! Sad tidings today, Tyre has fallen. You are correct, that did happen thousands of years ago. In the Bible we find an interesting historical record of Tyre and it's trading. When the Lord sends a prophecy through Ezekiel, He lists the trade goods and places where each comes from. What an interesting historical record is shown in a prophecy of doom for an unrepentant city. Like Nineveh, Tyre would be destroyed, never to be raised again. We can visit the ruins of both cities, at least we can think about it since the ruins of Nineveh are in modern day Iran. However, the list of cities that God said will not be rebuilt has remained accurate to this day. And did we expect any less from God? The same might hold true for cities and towns in any other country that decides to worship something other than God. Work, production, sex, money, vengeance, entertainment, sports... the list goes on and on of other things and people the world worships in place of God. These days there is a movement to worship nature and a sect to worship this, and another to worship that, and the most intolerant of all religions is the one that is open to all. Yes, the world is an upside down and confused place.

All around I see the signs of the coming division. Many are turning toward the light in small groups and in mega-churches, and yet many others are fleeing the light. We tire of bad choices at the voting booth, surveys show that some countries actually want a dictator or king, governments everywhere seem to be models of inefficiency and corruption, does any of this point to the coming of Antichrist? Probably it does. We need to be spreading the Good News, because the world needs it very badly in this age. Without Jesus, the world is in a frightening state and frightened people do not behave very well. Let the Comforter come, while there is still time.

God bless you on this fine Friday!

Bucky

Happy Valentine's! - February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day! Gentlemen, your wives and sweethearts expect some sign of our affection today, try not to blow it. ;-) I shall watch from the sidelines today as an interested observer. I will judge the gifts and rate them on a scale of 1 to 10... just kidding, how would I know what gets the ladies' attention best? :-) However, I did see an advertisement from an auto parts place that said, "Nothing says love like a stainless steel exhaust!" I may not have the advantage of experience, but I'm thinking that is probably not what most of the ladies are expecting today. Yes, that gift does have practical advantages, no weight gain, long lasting, and in some cases, necessary, but somehow a bunch of metal tubing underneath her vehicle may not be quite the expression of love that she is hoping for today.

While you or I may not have a Valentine today, we are loved by Jesus. That love I would not trade for anything, and I'm sure you wouldn't either. Praise God for the love of Jesus, our Lord and our greatest friend!

Bucky