A Time For Maintenance

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. Titus 3:8

Playing with equipment in the field is much more fun than the hours of maintenance required afterward. Most of us have experienced this in many ways. Cooking dirties a lot of pots and pans. Camping means cleanup of utensils, tents, sleeping bags, clothing and bodies. Four-wheeling means washing off that part of the field your truck brought back; plus refueling, checking of other fluid levels and repair of the parts that broke. Maintenance doesn't seem to bring the same sense of having fun that the field work might.

Paul may have spent some hours debating the Greeks, more time writing letters, and plenty of hours in individual witness, but he reminded Titus of the need for maintenance. In this case, that maintenance was in good works. Paul reminds us of the daily need to maintain.

There are good works that involve others such as giving and volunteering. There are good works that no one notices but God. There are good works which are done more publicly such as singing in the choir. And there are the more maintenance related good works such as private prayer with God, studying the scriptures, and meditation to cleanse the thought life. Paul is reminding Titus to affirm to others to maintain the things which maintain our life in Christ. What a good work to do for a brother in Christ!

While we weren't looking, God's Holy Spirit did more maintenance work on us than we will ever know! Enjoy the day in Christ, and endeavor to maintain those good works!

Bucky

His Love Goes On Forever

A psalm of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I will sing of the LORD's unfailing love forever!
Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Psalm 89:1

Who was Ethan the Ezrahite? Probably never know, just another of those psalmists. Not quite, Ethan gets another mention in 1 Kings where he is second fiddle to Solomon's wisdom. I would take that if I were him! That is quite an honor to be second to Solomon in wisdom. Ethan was wise enough also to know a little fact about the Lord's love - it is unfailing.

The only way Ethan is going to sing of the Lord's love forever is for it to be as unfailing as he writes. Forever is one of those words that only the Lord truly knows. When I think of forever my mind kind of goes out a ways and then falters for terms. Forever can't be put in a box lest it fail to finite. That is why I leave the burden of forever with God. I'll trust in Him to keep me forever. Attempting to give you an example of forever is to try to cage the word, and it doesn't work. But perhaps worrying over forever is to miss the real blessing - His love.

The 'for all have sinned' crowd doesn't deserve any of God's love. We are rebels only deserving of the enmity of the One we rebelled against. Yet, Ethan reminds us of an unfailing gift of God: His love. We will one day join with our brother Ethan in singing of God's unfailing love, and yes we will do it forever; or at least as long as God lasts, which just might be the eternal side of forever and ever.

Have a great day in God's unfailing love!
Bucky

The Given Command

Thus says the LORD: “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word, Jeremiah 22:1

The gift of the prophet: secret knowledge from God Himself that no one else has. Whoo hoo! Way to go me! The duty of the prophet: go on down there and disturb the king in his house. Hopefully he won't have his soldiers drag me out back and take my head. I wonder what the life expectancy of prophets were back in the day?

It does not appear that any calling from the Lord is without its peril. In the Bible, Jesus comforted us with the fact that in answering His call the world would hate us too. Peter, executed; Paul, executed; Stephen, stoned to death; James, executed; John the Baptist, off with his head... the list goes on throughout the ages. There are those in the world working to do the same to us. So, why would anyone answer the call to prophecy or to spread the good news of Jesus?

For every time Jesus told us how tough this life will be, He gave us promises of love, eternal rest, Heaven, His return, strength to endure, living water, and many other great and wonderful things that are to come. Our rebirth in Christ is but the start of an eternal life with our Lord. The struggles of this life are the tiniest preparation for the glory of God that will be our eternal home. Peter, Paul, and the others who died for their testimony were with Jesus just that much sooner, and I'm sure they would remind us these many years later of that very thing.

The times and the age will soon come to an end, go with God.

Bucky

Not A Thing

And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Genesis 11:6

There is, inevitably it seems, one morning each year where I open the house up in the middle of the night and do nothing at all to change the inside temperature of the house. Not a thing, except maybe to exchange some humidity with the outside air and make it uncomfortable in here. Is there any power in man to change things?

Well, yes, it seems that we do have some power among us to effect a change. In Genesis 11, we read the story of a mighty work, so mighty that the Lord Himself took note and decided to change things up a bit. The confusion of languages made by the Lord that day changed the world. So, just how much could humans accomplish together with a common language and cooperation in place of the conflicts we have now? We cannot know yet. But it seems that even in our fallen state, those created in God's image have a power to build that would likely impress even the most critical among us. What was the problem with building a tall tower in Babel? Maybe not quite what I tend to think.

I have a tendency to think that height was a problem for God, since that does seem to be prominently mentioned, but it may be that other thing they said, "Let us make a name for ourselves." And to think about it, why would the number of stories we pile up ever be a problem for God? However, that thing about a name doesn't sound good when it is His name we should long to bear. Such as in Matthew 12:21, "And in His name Gentiles will trust." As a Gentile saved by the Lamb, I identify with that! To make a name for myself is not a thing I need worry over. Isaiah the prophet foretold it, Jesus lived it, and now we have a chance to be known by His name and trust in Him. What a great project for us!

Have a wonderful Saturday in the love of Christ!
Bucky

His Majesty

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O LORD,
And You are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11

The style of David may be quickly apparent in these words of our verse today. David had the Spirit of the Lord in him, and in his words it comes out strongly. I was thinking about His Majesty today and the thought came from what is to us an unusual source, a man raised in the Islamic religion.

We may not think often enough of our Lord's majesty. Yet the Bible mentions it throughout, from Deuteronomy to Jude in the New King James version. That is not quite throughout though, is it? It is interesting that it does not bear mention in Genesis or the Revelation. Hmm, could it be that this man raised under Islam has a point? Oh, what was his point, you may be asking? The man wondered if God's majesty was less important to Him than His people. That is a rather profound question.

We have seen in history rulers who would not give up an aspect of their throne, perceived or otherwise, for any amount of their people. Yet, here is His Majesty, the Lord of hosts, arriving in this world, His world by our verse for today, through the birth canal of a girl. That last bit is not mine either, but from the point of view of this child of Islam. It is fascinating to read such a different point of view coming to faith in the same Savior, Jesus, as you and I did, and this man did through a great struggle. Testimony is so important for us, and, you might even say it is our mission, Jesus did.

Read Nabeel's testimony in:
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi

Have a fabulous, foggy Friday in Christ!
Bucky

This Little Sheep of Thine

​​“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,
​​Against the Man who is My Companion,”
​​Says the LORD of hosts.
​​“Strike the Shepherd,
​​And the sheep will be scattered;
​​Then I will turn My hand against the little ones." Zechariah 13:7

Scattered were the little sheep of Israel in the day after our Lord died on the cross. The Shepherd was down and the sheep were lost. Not long after though, the gathering of little sheep from foreign lands began as the risen Lord put forth His Spirit onto the first of His own flock right there in Jerusalem. Soon thousands would be saved by the ministry of God's own Spirit through those names we know such as Peter, John, and Paul; and those we do not know so well in lands farther away.

Today, we stand in a land quite far away from Jerusalem, though our heart may yearn for its restoration as the Holy City of God. We are glad that the Word has spread to this far away land through the generations and ministers. And, we are glad to be claimed by the Shepherd who rose again from the grave. This little sheep of thine, O Lord, longs to praise Your name from the gallery of Heaven's throne room. Glad we are, dear Father, that You sent Your Son out into the fallen world to reclaim every lost little sheep. Thank You, Father, for Your great love in this cursed land.

Bucky

The Wednesday Weekend

And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. Acts 27:12

If a body part should get injured, I'm one that is usually ready to end the pain well before recovery is complete. Two years, in my weak and wobbly opinion, is more than enough study for a four-year degree. One day's driving should be enough to get anywhere in the world I desire. And wouldn't it be great to start the weekend on a Wednesday? The lament of all fair weather sailors is that faith sure is tough when it is put to the test!

Many an upstanding Christian has fared well when the going is calm, the winds gentle and consistent in the direction he wants to go, and the boat well-provisioned for the journey. As God loves His sheep though, the journey of growing faith will not remain easy. Contrary winds will give way to the storm. Supplies will run low and the weakened spirit will call out to the Lord to bring the vessel into the peaceful harbor before the voyage is but half done. Yes, I have been a quitter and know the feeling well!

Many is the time I have come to the end of myself, wanted to quit, and been shepherded to the end of the journey by the Lord. Every voyage that grows faith will be too much for me to handle. If getting only halfway there was good enough, I would develop only faith in me and what I could do. The growth of faith in God requires me to develop a faith in what He can do, and often what He can do doesn't show plainly to my weak eyes until I am ready to quit and call it good enough.

The owner of the cargo on this vessel paid for it on the cross at Calvary, and getting it halfway home is not what He desires. The harbor to the left of the course that looks so inviting when the storm rages may be full of hidden mines or submerged reefs. The Master knows all and trusting Him to steer the ship to the right harbor, the destination where He awaits, grows faith in Him. The harbor where the quitter would go is just not suitable for the Master's precious cargo.

Great is His faithfulness in growing our faith!
Bucky

3,2,1...You're Ready To Praise Him!

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

The infirmities of the world do weigh heavily upon us some mornings. Whether you are afflicted with MS, CF, ALS, PTS, or just plain ol' distress, you are ready to praise the Lord. We are cut down by cancer, heart disease, stroke, accident, incident, and living too long, but we are ready to praise the Lord. Since the Lord's strength is perfected in our weakness, then we have so much to offer Him! Whether your infirmity is heavy on you today or lightly borne for a change, you are ready to praise Him.

You love Jesus and this morning the world woke up hating those who love our Lord Jesus. Congratulations, we have set ourselves for Jesus and against the world and its ruling power. We will suffer some infirmities. How it must torque the bloomers of our enemy that the Lord would use those same infirmities to remind us of His strength and to show us the perfection in it. We have so much to live for, our great Lord who died for us, and one day we get to leave those infirmities behind and spend eternity with our Lord Jesus!

Thank You, dear Lord, for loving the infirm. We love You too!

Bucky

No Strain To Feel

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

I have wondered in the days of my dim past, why could I not feel the strain of salvation in me. The explanation is in the grace of God, a gift. It should be no wonder because without the strain of making, earning, or performing this thing there is no strain for me to feel.

If there had been a way for us to earn or obtain our salvation through our own effort, then we might have one day in the past have come home sore and weary from the effort. We would know the earning of our salvation in the worldly way of paychecks received for work performed. God would then simply be a sort of salvation paymaster who owes us. But it was never that way. Fallen men could never work in a fallen world and obtain that which only the grace of God provides. If we could work for it, we could boast of it, but it doesn't come to us that way.

If one of us should by the generous spirit given to us by God's Spirit decide to present a gift to a friend, we would not expect that friend to join us in the effort to acquire or make the gift. It wouldn't fit the definition of gift if the friend had to earn it beforehand. The friend should feel no strain in receiving the gift, just as we cannot feel any strain from the gift of salvation. The gift was paid for by God's Son on the cross, and we most certainly cannot attempt to steal His glory by boasting of what effort we put forth at Calvary!

His gift, my salvation; He paid the price; I am glad to receive it. Praise the Lord!

Bucky

The Storm Hitteth Us

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10

We had a dry June with three weeks of no rain at all. However, last night as I watched the radar display, I saw a building storm that appeared to be headed right for us...from the north! One little cell, at least it looked little on the map, built up and jumped us with hail and rain. The rail (rail? Thank the Lord for proof reading, what in the world is rail?), I'm sorry, hail was mercifully on the small side and oddly there was little wind, said the man in the eye of the hurricane.

There are of course a couple of reasons for having no wind in a storm: one, there really isn't any associated with the storm except perhaps too high to feel; and two, the observer happens to be in the center of rotation, kind of like the dummy saying there is no wind in a hurricane as he popped his head out just as the eye passed right over him. We have watched Biblical prophecy in a similar way these past few years.

The important part about the alarming prophecies of the end times is that they will come. It may seem that no wind is blowing right now, or that the storms have been missing, but the Lord's day will come as Peter assures us. The signs we look for will coalesce into a fast-moving storm one day, and it will not miss. The Rapture, the Tribulation, the saints beheaded for their testimony, and the glorious return of our Lord Jesus will all happen along with the many other signs foretold, just as the Lord through His prophets said they would. One of those tribulation prophecies just happens to be zero wind on the earth. How very interesting!

May God have mercy on those who will not believe!
Bucky

Tremble At My Name!

As fire burns brushwood,
As fire causes water to boil—
To make Your name known to Your adversaries,
That the nations may tremble at Your presence! Isaiah 64:2

Does your name cause your enemies to tremble? Have any nations trembled at your presence? I cannot say that it has happened for me. The flames of my anger doth not affrighteth the heathenish as my flesh would liketh. The flesh strives for power as much as it lusts after other things. But for most of us there just isn't a lot there to impress the nations. In the American Book of Who's Not, I and most everyone I know made the listings in all three categories: Who's Not ...powerful, rich, or famous.

The verse I grabbed today is of course a prayer from the prophet to God. Isaiah wanted the Lord to come down and make His presence felt among the enemies of Israel. Well, that's a different matter entirely. Great is the name of our Lord God, the Almighty One! Does it seem like it in this age?

We have come to an age when the name of God is profaned much more than it is glorified in the popular media. A show written by an atheist uses the name of the Lord as an expletive. Want to show the heroine is surprised or frightened? Start her line with the name of our Savior. We see it often, but that isn't the end of this story. One day, the Lord will come and as fire burns brushwood, the terror of His name will sweep across the land.

What a great day when our Lord returns honor and fear to His wonderful name,

Bucky

A Lumberjack In The Forest Of Anxiety

Deliver Me from the sword,
​​My precious life from the power of the dog.
Save Me from the lion’s mouth
​​And from the horns of the wild oxen!
​
​​You have answered Me.  Psalm 22:20-21

All around us in the air are little seeds of fear. The Adversary does not want us to have an easy life and he especially hates those who believe in Jesus. David felt the attack of these seeds too, and he took a moment in Psalm 22 to list a few fears of his own. We like it when David is one of us. However, this psalm is also one of prophecy, and I just can't see Jesus on the cross worrying over swords, dogs, lions, or wild oxen.

Wait just a moment though! If our Lord was in all things tempted as we are, then I could see Him there on the cross contending with those unreasonable, uncouth, and unlikely fears that we all suffer daily. We might think that a man dying on the cross would have no worries over the horns of wild oxen, but that isn't the way of those devilish minions who shoot the flaming darts of unreasonable fear. They don't much care about a man's current predicament or how unlikely a fear is to actually happen in a given moment. I should think that Jesus did feel the temptation of an uncouth fear even in His worst moments on the cross. The reason He was without sin is that He did not let the seed grow up into the tree of anxiety.

Those who work at fear and anxiety long enough might even come to dwell in a forest of anxiety. This can become so bad that the person is lost in that forest as so many trees have grown from those little seeds of fear. We might even become a little comfortable there as it has become so familiar to us. What is that sound though? It sounds like a big saw!

When the Shepherd comes for His sheep, He is not shy about donning the gear of a lumberjack and clearing that forest of anxiety. Our Lord is the best there is for clearing a path right to His lost sheep, perhaps even one who is so lost that only the simplest prayer is left, "Save me, Lord Jesus!" Look up in hope, dear friends, there's a Lumberjack in the Forest of Anxiety!

May your faith in Christ grow strong today,
Bucky

The Best Side

Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” John 20:27

You stand on a bridge just between the two sides of one of the large highways on the north side of London, that great city in England, with your back to the city itself. The morning rush hour begins and the inbound traffic roars toward you. Which side did you just envision all that traffic driving on?

I struggled with this as I tried to see in my mind's eye the traffic on the proper side of the highway. I would remind myself that they drive on the left over there, and then see the traffic coming in on the left. No, no, no! The inbound traffic to London, with my back to the city, would come toward me on the right side of the divided highway. Just the opposite of what would be familiar to me here in America. Which side is the best side?

Of course the best side to drive on either side of the pond is the side that doesn't cause head-on collisions. We want to be on the best side of Jesus too, but Thomas was commanded to reach out his hand and place it in the wounded side of our Lord. This is some invitation! If you have ever suffered a serious wound, touching is not the first thing that comes to mind. When that doctor showed up with his probe to explore the wound, you may have entertained thoughts of a vengeful sort, but you most certainly did not invite him to touch and root around in there. The best side of our Lord is the one that will cause us to believe, no matter what it may cost Him. Faith is what we need in this age, and I get the impression from our verse today that my Lord Jesus will do whatever it takes to give us that faith, up to and including letting that unwashed Thomas stick a grubby hand into His wounded side.

Thomas saw and believed; praise God for the faith to not see and still believe.

Bucky

Working For God's Glory

Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 1 Timothy 6:1

Past 0700 on my extra day off: plans - many; real accomplishments thus far this morning - zero. My effort on this day is not exactly a testimony to the glory of God. Such is the pressure of this world that one day off can cause such guilt and shame. Wait, is work for the glory of God and rest nothing but the laziness of the world? Does that mean retired folks are nothing but slackers and those who work themselves to death the real heroes of the age? Or, is work nothing but the pressure of our society to produce and not be useless? Golly, the modern world sure has made this confusing!

There are many reasons to rest and good reasons for work too. I cannot recall a day that work and rest were not intermingled anyway. As one gets older just getting up from the bed can be some fairly serious work. In our age, sitting down and thinking deeply to solve problems on a computer has become hard work, while walking, running or lifting weights after a day of desk work might be considered restful. Many times I have mentally collapsed exhausted into bed at the end of the day, while my body was no doubt wondering when we were going to get started. Confusion in what is work and what is rest may be a part of the Adversary's methods.

Writing may be a part of my work for God, while trimming trees or mowing grass might be naught but self-serving toil. Service, it seems, may be as much attitude as it is exercise. Many work only for themselves and put quite a lot of effort into it. Others serve the Lord daily and may at times appear to be doing nothing at all. It's those visual, on-the-surface, snap judgments about our neighbors that seem to get us every time.

Now, I'm thinking that the glory of God is asking a bit more effort from me than I have done so far this morning.

Bucky

I Get Grace; You All Obey The Law!

“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:21

A man comes into the office professing his faith in Christ; he then proceeds to annoy, abuse, irritate, and anger everyone he comes into contact with, and this includes some fairly patient and easy-going folks. So, do I get to doubt his faith?

If I do, then shame on me, and what doubts must everyone have about my faith? You see, I don't get to live in grace while everyone else must be saved by the law. The actions of a brother in Christ do not necessarily speak to his salvation or lack thereof. As we know well, any Christian can have a bad day (or two or three). We are not immune from depression, anxiety or any other mental health illness. A brother in Christ may go through a long and difficult trial which may cause him to lash out at everyone. Prayer and forgiveness are the tools for us when a brother in Christ puts us to the test. And what a test it has been!

I don't want to fail in the test simply because I have met an annoying Christian. We are to love one another, but sometimes we may not like their actions or methods. Try to un-clench those teeth when he comes around. Pray for patience and understanding, or in his case - the strength for longsuffering and endurance to the end. Pray for his healing and mine. Which brings up another question: can a believer in Christ be possessed?

The grace of God to you; I promise not to try to keep it all for myself, no matter how much I need!

Bucky

Under The Law

“Thus says the LORD of hosts:
​
​‘​Execute true justice,
​​Show mercy and compassion
​​Everyone to his brother." Zechariah 7:9

So many prayer needs, and it isn't me this time! No, I'm not off the hook as far as the usual trials; the world still hates those who belong to Jesus. Sometimes though, we realize that the needs of others are much greater than the needs of ourselves and we have a prayer burden as we call it. We got our prodigal out of jail last night and I helped with the computer stuff, like finding him an airline ticket and getting a seat booked. Mike helped in many ways and others pitched in too. We pray that this prodigal made it home last night and to his bed. Of course I am understating what was a couple of days of much prayer and effort by many to help one we feel is being persecuted under the law.

The law of the land has a problem. All along the way it is written, enforced, and judged by people. Yup, fallen man is often our own biggest problem. In God's mercy we do get a lot of things right when it comes to the laws of our nation. If a person is murdering others and appears unlikely to stop on his own, then yes the law does well to lock him away from any further victims. And there are a great many examples each and every day of those serving the law doing right. On the other hand, sometimes compassion and understanding under the law are hard to come by. A person may get on the wrong side through a series of misfortunes and the law may come down on him or her with its full weight, making it very difficult for the person to ever get right again. A man or woman alone simply cannot bear the ponderous weight of the law.

In such times, it is well for us to remember who is greater: he who is in the world, or He who is in us. Through God's Holy Spirit we pray with an immediacy that a message sent by courier to Heaven might not have. (I am imagining a postal messenger in my limited human way; no disrespect intended to our Lord's angels.) Paul told the Philippians that the Lord is at hand. (4:5) At hand is good to recall when we or our brothers and sisters need that help; the kind of help that immediate needs require. Mercy and compassion are good to mix with justice. I pray that we see more of it in our land. And may we as God's people use mercy and compassion before we rush to judge others!

Have a great day in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Bucky

What Awaits Us?

And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

Paul neared the end of his race and he admitted to some knowledge of what awaits those who await the coming of Christ in His glory. Search on the word 'awaits' in the New Living Translation of the Bible (the NKJV and other versions use different wording.) and you will find 71 matches. Looking down through the search results is an interesting journey. The majority are prophecies of woe: 'what sorrow awaits...' There are a few other dooms that speak of destruction, ruin, and bitterness awaiting those who do the wrong thing. But now and then is a glimpse of what is to come for those who will believe in Jesus.

Psalm 37:37 - Look at those who are honest and good,
for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.

Jesus will make the difference when He comes, one might say. And indeed it seems that He does for a brief moment in Matthew 5:12 in the Sermon on the Mount. "Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way." Wait, what's this bit about persecution? Yes, the great rewards we are happy about come after the persecution, actually after mocking you, persecuting you, and telling lies about you. Then the results speak of more sorrow foretold by our Lord Himself to those who needed warning.

Throughout much of the Bible, God's love is spoken in warning to what awaits those who love the darkness. For those who believe though, there is a bit of treasure to grasp as the Lord grants a glimpse of what awaits us in Heaven. There is good news for those who work in Christ to spread His good news: "The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!" John 4:36. And of course there is the crown of righteousness we read in our verse for today.

Joy and righteousness await those who believe in Jesus, and we look forward to a wonderful future as He teaches us honesty, goodness and peace. Amen.

Bucky

Witnessing Rocks

And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God.” Joshua 24:27

Imagine traveling through the Holy Land and coming upon a particularly talkative rock. Too difficult? Maybe we could instead imagine a rock as a really good listener. That's easy enough for rocks in general don't seem to do much but listen, and maybe get in the way now and then. In the case we read about Joshua today, he made a rock stand as a witness to the people of Israel. Joshua said that this rock had heard all that the Lord had spoken to the people. A good listener indeed!

Joshua also said this rock shall be a witness. This brings to mind that time when the Pharisees tried to get Jesus to rebuke His disciples, who it seems were making a bit of noise about Him. The Pharisees wanted the Lord to shut them up. Jesus said that if He did the stones would immediately cry out. Do you suppose those Pharisees would have believed even then? No doubt they remembered the story of Joshua at some point. If witnessing rocks can't convince a person that Jesus is the Lord, then I don't see much hope for that person.

So, from all of us and the rocks, "Jesus is Lord!"

Bucky

Not Quite Ready Yet

The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole,
​​And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.
​​They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,
​​For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD
​​As the waters cover the sea.  Isaiah 11:8-9

As I stood watching the sprinkler start up this morning, a bird landed next to me. Of course the bird flew off when I twitched in a manner similar to jumping out of my skin. I guess neither of us is quite ready for God's new heavens and new earth.

If I am not ready, how will I ever get ready?

Leaving the preparation up to me would be a mistake. My 'Ready for Heaven 2017' program would likely focus on a certain body shape, a daily schedule, goals for the year with review every three months to check progress, an amount set aside in the bank, or some other accomplishment that would make me worthy of God's Heaven in my own estimation. The fallen imperfect one reaching toward the stars to claim his imagined perfection. Probably not going to work; it seems rather 'me' centered.

Nope, to get ready for God's new heavens and new earth, we need Him to make us ready. We need to not go alone. And since I cannot make you ready any more than I can ready myself, we need a redeemer who can get all of us ready for that twinkling of an eye. To become full of the knowledge of the Lord, we can always start with that Redeemer, the One who came to save us all. I'm glad that God provided just the One we need to ready us for His new heavens and new earth; His name is Jesus, and He is coming for us quickly.

Amen, Come Lord Jesus!
Bucky

Meanwhile, Somewhere Else...

“For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.' ” 1 Kings 17:14

Rain is the story this morning, as in we've had some! June has been quite dry in our little town, both the big and little storms have missed us all month long until last night. Meanwhile, somewhere else there is someone waking up to an empty flour bin and a dry oil jar.

This is a verse from the story of Elijah and the widow. We might well imagine that the first day the rain came, she would have that reaction of, "Aaugh! What will we do now?" The promise of the Lord had been fulfilled and they ate from some miraculous storage containers for a while. Then the rain came. Rejoicing in a blessing from the Lord, we don't always pause to think that someone else may not see the event as a blessing. But, while the fulfillment ends one promise of God, there is another for all of us.

One day the rain will come for us too. Whether it be our passing, the Rapture of God's church, or the end of this age, the fulfillment of many promises will usher in the time of other good things the Lord has in store for us. Always, it seems, the Lord has better ready for us when His good promise ends with the coming of the rain. The widow may have asked, "What now, Lord?" but I'm sure the Lord already had His next blessing prepared. Meanwhile, far away in time and distance, we await the fulfillment of this time, and the coming of our Lord Jesus!

God's blessings to you!
Bucky

Prepare For The Word Of The Lord!

So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. Genesis 18:6-8

Abraham had a duty as a host, but I don't think that he hurried, ran, and hastened just from a sense of duty. There was something different about these three men who appeared unto Abraham. Old as he and Sarah were by this time, someone quickened Abraham, lit a fire under his old loins if you will. Sarah even laughed, but probably not at my puns.

This was an unusual visitation in that three men, probably angels, appeared unto Abraham. They brought the word of the Lord, but they also had time to stay for a quick meal. This was perhaps the original fast food. We say that because in the story Abraham ran to meet them, ran to the herd, hurried into Sarah, told her to make the cakes quickly, and he hastened to prepare the meal. There is a lot of rushing about going on in there. We are not told what exactly lit Abraham's jets, but there is no indication that the three men or angels are in any rush. Then Abraham stood by while they ate. I wonder if he was puffing and panting. If he was, the angels didn't take offense, for they brought the word.

And the Word of the Lord was... you and that old lady in there are going to have a son. And Sarah laughed to herself. She saw the advanced age of her husband and herself, and she laughed at the word of the Lord. And the men knew it, and they caller her out on it, and Sarah lied...oh, dear. The flesh betrays us at the worst possible time! Caught in the act the flesh will still suggest a lie in denial, making us look foolish as it did with Sarah in that moment. God knows about that flesh though; how even in our old age it is quick to sin. The angels didn't smite Sarah or turn her into a pillar of salt as will happen to her niece-in-law shortly in the next chapter of Genesis. Sarah was caught unprepared for the word of the Lord, and the flesh was quick to get her into trouble.

We can prepare constantly for the word of the Lord, and we will most likely still be caught unprepared. For the Word is just so different from what we are used to, so strange to our worldly flesh that we cannot ever be as ready to receive His Word as we think we are. It's a good thing He gave the Word to us in book form; we can practice receiving the Word even as it does the unexpected within us.

Swift and powerful is His Word!
Bucky

Marching Orders

Then Joshua said to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, “Since you are so large and strong, you will be given more than one portion. The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its farthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots.” Joshua 17:17-18

Two tribes from the nation of Israel, God's people, received their marching orders from Joshua. As you might imagine by reading this passage, the nation and peoples driven out of their lands by these two tribes are still upset about this thousands of years later. The order to clear as much of the land as you wish causes others to be upset in this age. As the orders came from God that this country was to be theirs, even the tanks of the age, iron chariots, would not stop the tribes of Joseph's sons from taking the land for their own and doing with it as they pleased.

It would seem that God and His people vs. the world and its prince is going to be a conflict throughout the ages, and they may have the tanks on their side.

Now, most every argument, complaint, and issue that the opposition is going to have with God and the orders Joshua relayed to the two tribes will begin with, "If God is so..." and end with some conclusion, "...then why not do this other thing instead." Yes, you might say that those who would oppose God have many suggestions for what He can go do with Himself. That hasn't changed much even today. A simple change, "If God is so...then why don't/aren't/won't Christians do this instead?" and we have today's version. We have noticed that God is no more willing to take the suggestions of the world today than He was in Joshua's time. God, it seems, is not much inclined to making peace with sin and those who love the darkness. Of course, I'm not just making this up, the Revelation shows how this ends with that final conflict at just about the same place it began. The good news is: He wins!

Have a great day in Christ!
Bucky

Come To The Almighty

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

The great number of subjects available on the Internet by video promotes much learning in this age, and I found one day a compilation of Saturday morning shows from the 1970's. Okay, so some videos have more learning involved than others. As it neared the end, I was shocked to realize that one of the shows I watched back in the day was blasphemous. Yes, when I was a child I thought as a child and this child didn't think anything of it back then. But if the protagonist in the show calls out to 'almighty' something or other than God, then we have a blasphemy taking place, for there is only room for one almighty and His name is Jehovah.

Two almighties just won't work, for if they be different then inevitably there will be differences and one must prove mightier than the other. And by definition, one must always get his way and thus prove to be all mighty or neither is in fact all mighty. I can even see by the spell checker that there is no plural to almighty though I have tried to make one for demonstration purposes. There truly is only one Almighty.

In this life many things once considered mighty have proven less than trustworthy. Kings, governments, corporations, and many others have failed us in one way or many. Those who believe in Jesus have been rejected by each and all of them. It is awesome that there is one Almighty God who will not reject any who come to Him. Each of us as individuals can come to the Almighty. Jesus gave us the way, and by the way, we should certainly come to the Lord God, the Almighty as often as Paul meant by 'constantly'. Yesterday was Father's Day, and never was there a father who wanted all of us to come to him as much as our Father in Heaven wants us to be with Him!

Great is the name of our Father, the Almighty!
Bucky

Forgiven Much? Forgive Much!

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:22

A test has come to us in the form of a man. This one proclaims his faith in Christ, and yet uses that as a weapon to shake down others for benefits to himself. Recognizing the tactic makes one quite angry. What to do?

Prayer is always a good first step in any situation for us. Speaking with the Lord and listening for that quiet, small voice has helped me avoid many an angry word. The question that I have heard, and you might hear also is: 'How much has been forgiven in your life?' Has the Lord forgiven me 490 times? Way more than that! Have my sins been such as to make not only others angry, but the Lord as well? Certainly. So, the test sets us on a journey of 490 forgivings.

No, I'm quite sure the Lord was not instructing Peter, the one who asked the question, to count until he exceeded 490 times and then let his brother have it. There will always be those we meet in this life who are such a sinful irritation that they could reach a mere 490 times in an almost breathtakingly short time. I believe the seventy times seven times was so that we forgive until the love God would grow in us is fulfilled; a complete forgiveness such as God has done for us through His Son, Jesus. Our Lord only needed the one time to forgive us perfectly for all time, but we who are reborn in Christ need some repetition to reach that neighborly love. With some we might need a few more forgiveness reps than with others but that doesn't make it any less our loving duty to the Lord.

Was a brother or sister in Christ an especially difficult test for you? I would like to read your story, if you have the time to send it my way. (If it was me, I'm sorry! Please forgive me.)

Bucky

Moved Against Inertia

Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Mark 1:41

Today, you probably don't want to move, or you do want to move but there is some reason you cannot or will not. Moving takes much energy and it can be a major expense. Plus, every time I have moved or been moved, I find that my biggest problem comes with me. It seems that I cannot yet escape that person I refer to as 'me'. So, I did a search on 'moved' in the New King James Version of the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation I found the word.

The ark moved across the waters, Abraham moved, the Israelites moved, the mountains moved, a ruler was moved with rage, and in the end every mountain and island will be moved from their place. If inertia is a resistance to motion, then I am moved against inertia in spite of myself. Yes, in Peter, holy men were moved by the Spirit to speak. God has often been on the move to bring motion to His people throughout the scriptures. There is so much motion in the Bible that Daniel prophecies a time when people will rush to and fro. So what moves God?

Of course nothing can move the Almighty from His throne, but we get an important insight in the first chapter of Mark as seen in our verse for today. Compassion moved the Lord Jesus to healing action. That is of course how our Lord came to us in the first place. A flood wasn't a permanent solution, a chosen people couldn't stay in obedience to the Law, but moved by compassion for us, God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to save us from our sin.

Caught up in our pain, we scarcely understand the love which moves the Lord to action on our behalf.

Bucky

Does The Lord Get Me?

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5

Of course it is nothing but an arrogance to think the Lord who has infinite understanding would fail to understand even one such as me. Everything I have faced in this life by way of temptation He has met and overcome. The toys of this age may be different, but the lusts of the flesh remain the same. Job may have lamented that God does not know what it is like to be down here, but we know from the Gospels that He came down and removed that excuse from us. Jesus the Christ came as a baby and endured the same things we have. There just does not seem to be any room to accuse God of any ignorance for our part. Yes, the Lord gets me very well.

Great is the knowledge of our Lord! Not only does He get me, but He also knows very well all of those who want to kill and destroy us. In fact He told us the time of hatred would come because the world first hated Him. The Lord knows well our need for the Redeemer, but He also knows that many will reject the gift of salvation. Actually, if I try to list here this morning all that the Lord knows, which I can only know from the revelation of His word, we will be here into the next eternity. (Which is of course a silly thing to say, as there can hardly be another eternity any more than there can be a further infinity.) The Lord knows all!

We can be grateful today that our Lord knows our deepest need, and He has already made provision to meet that need: His name is Jesus.

Bucky

Named For Comfort

Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. And he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed.” (Genesis 5:28-29)

Ah, toil! It is that time of the year when toil can be especially miserable with humid days, legions of annoying and biting little bugs, and the dawn and dusk are a long ways apart to get those days heated right up. Thunderstorms rise up on clouds of humid air to bring much needed rain or to just wipe out the lot with hail or wind. And no matter how much effort we put into it, the cursed earth will never yield up its strength to us until our Lord makes all things new. It's just so much fun out there at this time!

Noah's parents made a bet on the name or they had the gift of prophecy, but they expected some comfort from Noah. We might even pause to wonder: Were Lamech and his wife still alive when Noah entered the Ark? Was their comfort in that not all would be lost of them because Noah and his family were going to make it? Maybe, but we do not get to know that from the scriptures as all the former people were gone when Noah and his little family landed.

In the same way we often try to name a day for comfort or rest by asking for a day off from work. But neither do we know what that coming day will bring. Calamity? Disaster? No day off work as expected? Anything might happen on a given day. However, the Lord is good, and we also receive comfort from unexpected places. Such as, your son becoming a boat builder and sailor. Lamech and his wife probably didn't expect that day to come.

God knows all of the unexpected too!
Bucky

Working Horses

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
​​But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7

The second day of rodeo Bible camp brought an amusing observation: "Didn't I see you out there working horses last night?" Normally, that would be nothing unusual at a riding camp, but it was said to me. I guess if you see a stout fellow in front of a bunch of horses doubled over with laughter, then, okay, maybe, you might assume that I was trying to work horses. I'm fairly certain on which is the back end and front end of a horse, and I'm pretty sure you don't want all four hooves sticking straight up, but after that I'm cheerfully vague on what makes a horse work. Some people love 'em; I'm okay with leaving them alone. In Christ, we are just not all called to the same things.

Our verse today shows some understanding pity for those who would trust in the things of this world. We who believe in Christ trust in the Lord. We may enjoy one thing for a hobby and another for work, but we trust in the Lord. One of us may be an equine expert, and another may be more like me, but we trust in the Lord. I know a lot about information technology, others may look at a computer about the way I look at a horse, but we trust in the Lord! Praise God we are not all called to the same things in this life.

God bless and keep you (away from horses, if you so desire) on this great Friday,

Bucky

Thank You, Lord, For That Wisdom

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

A message from the Lord may take several forms: angels, a still small voice, sermons from a minister, counseling from an elder, a leaning one way or another from the Spirit, and of course there is bitter experience. When we ask of the Lord for wisdom, we might foolishly go the way we think best without guidance from the Lord and experience learning wisdom the hard way. I'm not sure there are any of us who could deny having been down the path of bitter experience now and again. It is at those times that we appreciate most the messages of wisdom that are much less painful.

A pastor in church delivers a sermon that imparts some of the wisdom of God, preventing you or me from going down a dark path to some more tough experience. We are glad and praise God. There but for the grace of God go I, we might say according to the old saying. Wisdom without the pain. We read a story in God's word and a still small voice speaks to us saying, "That's you, don't be that way!" We pray up some gratitude to the Lord for teaching us the less painful way. Then there are those other times when we are just too dense or stubborn to learn from anything but experience. We get the wisdom from the Lord either way, but... Ow!

I think all of us prefer the Lord's way to learning from our way of tough and painful experience, and may I say for all of us, "Thank You, Lord, for that wisdom!"

Bucky

P.S. Yes, today was Day 1 of the annual Rodeo Bible Camp. I have cooked the spuds and now rest in writing a little message. God bless all the campers today!

In a Time of Doubt

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 2 Timothy 1:12

Paul was in jail, and that is about all we know about the things he suffered at this time. We can imagine many others, but the important thing is that suffering fits many of us too. Jail, hospital, the workplace, and many other circumstances can lead us to a time of doubt. Suffering in prison, Paul had many reasons to indulge in a season of doubt or even self-pity. Instead, he wrote to Timothy the verse we read above.

Maybe it was that thing Paul had committed that made it easier for him to have faith? Paul had committed his life, that seems fairly valuable. Throw in enough suffering and enough belief in what Heaven has in store, and many of us would gladly give up this life for eternity with Jesus. Career, reputation, a comfortable home, influence, and a project to throw himself into - yes, Paul had given up or committed all of these things to the Lord. We didn't live his life though, so it is hard for us to grasp those things. Ah, so maybe it wasn't so much what was committed, though Paul obviously considered it valuable, but who he made the commitment to.

Nevertheless, one and all who believe in Christ Jesus come to that point where we are convinced and persuaded by the One in whom we believe. We may consider this life worth much or little. Our career may be one of sterling achievement or just a job. Homes are more of less comfortable, and we can always find one that we wish we had, but it is His home that calls to our hearts. In a time of doubt, the Lord Jesus is the one who keeps us against that day and until that day of His return.

Great is His name in all the Earth!
Bucky

Work, Struggle, When's The Next Break?

This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. 1 Timothy 4:10

That's it, sorry, it's Monday again. Struggle to awaken, put on the work clothes, and let's go at it one more time. Then we can wonder when the next break will come.

There will come a time, probably already has occurred for you more than once, when we don't think we can get up for yet another work day. A rough weekend expending too much energy or simply one of those 'too short' weekends, and we will face another Monday. Seeking energy in the self, counting on a chemical stimulant, hoping for a break, we trudge off to the toil. Sounds so very depressing, eh? Perhaps we seek our strength for the yoke in the wrong source.

Paul stated in a couple of his letters that our hope is in God. No matter how we feel on a Monday morning, the strength to endure another work week comes from God. We are much too weak to endure this toil and struggle on our own. Many there are who will not give the glory to God for the strength to endure, but many are we who will give God His glory and thank Him for the strength to work.

Thank You, dear Lord, for work and the strength to work on this fine Monday!

Bucky

Do We Make It Too Easy?

The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10

Scanning the news this morning, I see that John says, 'Don't trust men 40+', and then further down the page, it seems that he says, 'Girls, don't trust men under 40.' Well, that narrows it down for you. You can trust men at the age of 40. I don't recall being super trustworthy at 40, but as I am on the + side of that, maybe I can't trust myself on this. Sigh, another magical age that I seem to have blown by without realizing.

Back in the day, that is the day of Moses, an adulterous couple was put to death. No, they were surely put to death. I have tried to pay attention to the news for quite some time now, but I do not recall anyone being put on death row for adultery in these parts as far back as I can remember. If the death penalty seems too much for us, maybe we can make the sin more difficult in other ways. The man should mow the lawn of the woman he is wanting to commit adultery with, the woman would have to garden or trim in the yard of her intended conquest. If you are into that politically-correct thing, just switch the roles, if you wish.

With this sort of public service, the husband and wife who are not involved in the adultery could exercise their consent as well. The man might for example plant some land mines in his lawn. This would serve to make adultery more difficult and perhaps cut down on the sin a bit. Do you suppose this would work?

For more than a thousand years the Law of Moses specified death as the penalty for adultery. Yet, there sat Jesus drawing in the dust while a woman caught in adultery stood before Him. Not only had the law not stopped the sin, but they couldn't even carry out the penalty portion correctly as the adulterer, clearly specified in our verse for today, was not present. Surely we didn't forget that part, did we, gents? So if rapid and immediate death did not stop the sin, how would a poor attempt at public shaming help?

Always, always we need something that acts on the desire to sin, someone to save us from ourselves and that fallen condition we are born into. If the death penalty cannot frighten us away from the sin, and public shaming turns into a joke because 'everyone is doing it', then we must look to a savior. We need a rebirth into a better state, a place where temptation does not live and love reigns eternal. We need Jesus!

Our Lord Jesus, always and forever,
Bucky

Inside Your Home

For the LORD will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the LORD will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down. Exodus 12:23 NLT

A little reboot for one of those 'minor' software updates and 'poof' no Internet. Fortunately, a simple reboot of the modem brought the connection back to life. We are a bit gun shy over our Internet connection in these parts; a day when it does not go down has become a cherished luxury.

Ah, that sound, yes, it is the sound of summer, the sprinkler making its little impact noise as it waters the lawn. I think that I will bring it inside the house to hear it better. Hmm, yeah, unless I want to change my decor to a rubber and plastic theme, and provide for sufficient drainage, that probably will not work. Shutting off all electricity would probably be a good idea in that case as well. Some things just don't work very well inside a home.

The Israelites didn't want a death angel inside their homes. The Egyptians of that time would testify that this is wise as their firstborn children were struck down and killed. The thing we cannot miss is what kept the death angel out: the blood of the lamb. What brought the blood of the lamb to the Israelite door frames? Obedience.

The bloody signs around the door seem almost like a pagan ritual. Yet, who are we to question the Lord's command? So often I find a desire in me to regulate the Lord. If He would just work in the ways I expect, we could all be happier. No, no, no, down with my way; we want the Lord to be the Lord. Then, we can stand back and enjoy the awesome wonder of His work and word, especially when He does not fret over meeting some silly expectations from the likes of me.

Enjoy the start of summer. Live in Christ!
Bucky

You Shall Not Give Me Anything

So he said, “What shall I give you?”
And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flocks. Genesis 30:31

Did Jacob gain nothing then? Well, we know from the other stories of Jacob that he is a sharp one. Jacob gained access to the herds of goats and sheep, and he did a little breeding until Laban had the pretty, but weaker flock, and Jacob had the speckled and stronger flocks. Jacob became quite wealthy with his breeding program. Sometimes it is easier to take offered money, but it may not be the best course in the long run. It is the 1st of the month, I apologize for bringing this up right after a payday. Yes, I took the offered money yesterday too.

While we might pause for a moment and wonder if the monthly bills could be paid with something long term in place of money, there is wisdom to be found in the stories of the patriarchs. Through wise decisions, mistakes, and sins, the men and women of old taught us much, and one of these is something often lacking in this age - long term thinking. We want the quick reward and the immediate pleasure. We want the pain to go away right now, without pausing to ask God if He has a better plan with a goal we cannot quite see. Yes, I am just as guilty of that as anyone: when it hurts, I want it stopped, please!

Endurance, steadfast, faith - these words speak of a longer time frame than we usually want to contemplate. We would rather enjoy a banquet this morning and enter Heaven this afternoon. The thought of a large number of tomorrows while enduring pain in steadfast faith makes us a bit faint and cranky. Trusting in God and His plan for our development is on the tough side of difficult. Praise God for the kind and loving encouragement and strengthening of His dear Holy Spirit. Couldn't do it without You, Mate!

Bucky

This Sheep Knows How To Bleat

The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the jackals,
And the wild goat shall bleat to its companion;
Also the night creature shall rest there,
And find for herself a place of rest. Isaiah 34:14

This sheep knows how to bleat ...but perhaps a dose of forgiveness would be better. Our normally reliable Internet and phone service had its fourth outage in two weeks yesterday, right in the middle of my explanation to an upset customer. Of course it would happen at that time. Could Job tell us about the timing of the Adversary? Certainly the man could and did in the book he left for us as part of the Lord's word. The Lord Himself could give us some tips on the strength and tactics of the Enemy, and He did as well through the writers of His gospel. Four times is no coincidence, but I would rather foil the plans of the Adversary by forgiveness to those around me.

Many is the time I have made mistakes in this life, and those who suffered by my mistakes have at times ran bleating to higher authority; gotten me in trouble as it were. This sheep knows how to bleat too, but this may be that time where the Spirit rises up to suggest a different course, a course of love and forgiveness. But, I did nothing wrong in this case; am I not allowed a little bleating? Job did nothing wrong too, even God said so, but he kept running his mouth with his friends until he was in trouble... with God. I don't want to go there, so that path suggested by the Spirit looks pretty good to me.

Perhaps the wisdom we learn from the Lord in this life is to learn to listen to Him more quickly than we did back in the day. This time is a good time to leave the bleating to the wild goats. Have a complaint-free day in Christ,

Bucky

Let's Pitch Out The Past

“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Matt 26:13

I hope you were properly memorialized yesterday. If not, go back and die again, let's get that memorializing done right! Yes, Memorial Day was yesterday, that day when we as a nation memorialize those who gave their lives in the service of this nation.

Why do we keep a memory of the past by observing a holy day? Well, it may well be because our Lord commanded it. In 25 verses of the Bible, memorial comes up as something for us to solemnly remember. Holidays, offerings, lamps, and the memory of acts done in service to our Lord are all memorialized in the Bible. Of course, the Bible itself is a memorial to lives and actions gone by in the Lord's service. Memorials are important to the Lord; therefore, no, we will not just pitch out the past!

Christmas and Easter are two of our most important memorials. One for our Lord's birth and one for His death and resurrection. One day, we are going to have another memorial to celebrate for all the ages - the day of our Lord's return! Right now we can recall in fond memory the anointing of our Lord's body by the lovely woman who gave so much to prepare Him for burial. Right now, all of our good works done in the Lord's service are being memorialized in Heaven. There are great works of the Lord to remember, so let us not pitch out the past just yet.

Have a great day in Christ Jesus!
Bucky

Things I Cannot Say

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."

Ow, I just tossed a corner of hot egg white on my thumb. I feel like making some of those little dog in pain sounds. But I didn't drop my plate, so it may not be a fatal burn.

This morning I looked at a photograph of a truck part, seeking to find my pesky leak, and said something along the lines of how that other bit there had to be the crankcase. Now, when it comes to the hidden part of a vehicle under the hood, I know better than to say 'gotta' or 'has to be' and things like that, but sometimes it sneaks out anyway. I'm not totally inept in an engine compartment, but I'm far from professional mechanic status. There are just things that go on in there that I cannot say.

I searched the Bible for a master list of things I cannot say, but I didn't find one. However, there is much in the way of guidance. You can easily recognize the one about not using the Lord's name without meaning to call on Him or refer to Him. Okay, you could recognize it before I mashed it all up. There is also the one where I cannot say a date for the Son's return; no good attempting that one because the Son Himself said that no man knows that date. Probably shouldn't say words that would ask God to condemn my vehicle to a dark and hot place either. Gratitude for having a truck is a better response, even if the thing does leak a bit where it shouldn't. A religious person could take care of all that though; no doubt the Pharisees were safe there, but Jesus came down on them pretty hard. So, what should I watch out for?

Speaking out of turn or out of school, or whatever is your favorite version of that action. Jesus had things to say to the disciples, which they would have recorded for us in the gospels, but they could not bear them. Have you ever had something buzzing around in your skull that you just wanted to speak out loud? Me too. The Son really was tempted in all ways like we are! In my case it is usually things that I should not say, but with our Lord it was things that He could not speak at that time. We know how tough it is to shut up when that thing is wanting out so badly; He just resisted those temptations successfully where we do not always manage so well. The good news for all of us was: the Spirit of truth was coming!

Although Jesus could not speak those important things at that time, He did not leave us out in the cold. Paul, John, Peter, Jude, James, and others extending even to this age received the words from the Spirit of truth to bring us all back to our Lord Jesus. Every sheep lost in this present darkness will be saved before the end. Great is His name!

Bucky

Who Is Watching Me?

In my distress I called upon the LORD,
​​And cried out to my God;
​​He heard my voice from His temple,
​​And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. Psalm 18:6

Folks coming out here to the high plains from the east might just feel a bit exposed. Mostly its their guilty conscience, we think, but it might have something to do with the lack of trees also. Inside even the little towns there seems to be plenty of trees, but this is a recent illusion. Trees just don't grow very well out here without some protection from what were until about the 1920's or so normal conditions for the area. It doesn't take but a few steps though in our little town to see the plains more like what they were - relatively empty from horizon to horizon, at least by eastern standards.

So, with all this exposure, who is watching me? We don't know who all may be watching us. Who are these principalities and powers of the present darkness that Paul told us to armor ourselves against? How far can they see? Where do they hang out? What do they have against me? Of course we may not know all about the dark powers, but we do have some knowledge that David had: The Almighty hears us!

Be warned! you powers of this present darkness, my distress calls out to the Lord of hosts, my cry is heard on Heaven's throne. There may be nothing about me for the powers to fear, but the Lord our shepherd is a different matter. Little distressed sheep make a noise straight to the ears of the Almighty One!

And knowing our weakness through the illumination of His dear Holy Spirit, we're not afraid to call out.

Bucky

The Terror of Bad News

​​As often as it goes out it will take you;
​​For morning by morning it will pass over,
​​And by day and by night;
​​It will be a terror just to understand the report.” Isaiah 28:19

I've grabbed an interesting prophecy out of context, but there is a great deal to be learned here. Someone is getting some bad news, and it will cause this person or being terror just to understand the report.

We've lived under the threat of terror for quite some time. Some days it is closer, and other days further away, but it is always there. If this report is coming to us it will be old news, not terror at all for we have lived in the promise of our Redeemer for years. So who could this bad news be directed toward?

If this is to the unbelievers, then I shall pray for them. As we know already, it is tough to live with the threat of terror, either immediate or more 'out there'. So prayers for those who may one day receive this. It seems unlikely that it would be our Lord Jesus, because I do not believe that He can be terrorized. So, maybe we have a prophecy directed at the Adversary or that Antichrist fellow?

If the Enemy is to receive bad news that will cause him terror, then bring it on! And indeed the context speaks of a covenant with death, a refuge of lies, and an agreement with Sheol. This bad news is going to the place where it is most deserved. Praise God! And what is this terror-able news?

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
​
​​“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
​​A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
​​Whoever believes will not act hastily. (v16)

Yes! We know who this is, and we are overjoyed to welcome the Lord Jesus into the heart and life of all who believe in Him.

Bucky

Step Into God's Love

Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred. Prov 15:17

Powerful stuff that love! In my younger years, a meal without meat, especially a dinner, would have been something to gripe about. I am much more likely to not have meat in my more advanced years, but an all vegetable meal is still not common. How 'bout all vegetables followed by a hot fudge sundae? That might be easier to take. Speaking to a man's stomach is one way to get his attention, and this proverb does exactly that.

Perhaps that is what Daniel knew when he asked that he and his three friends dine on vegetables and water in place of the king's delicacies. It may be that among the competition for the king's scraps there was hatred. And Daniel with God's wisdom in his heart knew that was no place for four young men to grow strong. For the 'good' stuff from the royal table there was striving and bitterness, while at Daniel's table there was the love of the Lord and the four friends for each other. Is it any wonder they grew strong and healthy?

I have heard sermons where one focused on the vegetable diet - and then said everyone must go this way. I have heard others say to avoid the spiced meats that were the royal fare - and everyone must go this way. This proverb seems to me a more likely explanation, and one that agrees with our Lord's statement that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of it. Love dined with Daniel and his friends, and they grew strong and fair. The other table had mouth-watering food, but there was something there that stunted growth. We would like to blame the food, but it was the separation from the way of the world and a step into God's love that gave Daniel and his friends the advantage over the other young men.

The love of God is greater than any food; that's my theory and I'm sticking to it! :-)

Bucky

Heavy With Sleep

Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. Luke 9:32 NIV

Hello! Where did those two come from? Have you ever slept so hard that you woke up and the world had changed suddenly? The three disciples had that happen to them more than once. Peter, James and John may not have slept well on the road, or maybe as fishermen they had developed an ability to sleep anytime the work allowed. It may be that they were just like us.

Look around in your newspaper, get on a website, or watch some television, and we will see the advertisements, advice, and opinions regarding sleep. Mattresses, beds, sleep aids, devices, and all manner of things are offered for the sleep deprived, and they comprise a multi-billion dollar industry. Has any of it worked?

One night. That was the best sleep I got on my new mattress some years ago. Since then I have struggled to recapture that one night. Yes, that does bear some similarity to the way druggies describe their quest to regain that first high. If the master were here giving the prayer as He did for Peter, James and John on a couple of occasions, would I awaken suddenly to find some new folks had arrived? Did the prayers of Jesus offer such a solace in a tough world that the disciples could not but fall asleep in blessed peace? Lots of questions without sure answers; maybe I will sleep on it.

One day, we will awaken in a whole new place. There will be many people there, most especially Jesus Himself. Sleep will never be a problem again! Great is His name!

Bucky

Right There With You

I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 1 Corinthians 2:3

Did you never hear the suggestion to apply for a college athletic scholarship? Did no scouts arrive to see you play football? When running onto the field could you almost hear the announcer struggling to find your number? Did you know very well the backside of other runners from those sprints in Phys Ed? Yes, I'm right there with you brother! I know what it was like to be among the last chosen for a team in PE. The only records I could set by my running speed were ones no one would want. Professional caliber was only used as a joke when speaking of my athletic prowess. I could call a race from the back of the pack, run down a fly ball if it stayed up long enough, and score a touchdown with a sufficient head start. Yes, we are the non-athletic and I'm right there with you. Sorry, no fame and fortune for me in the celebrity of athletic endeavor.

Paul knew what it was like to be right there with the Corinthian church in a bad position: weakness, fear and trembling. Paul couldn't step out like Josey Wales and mow down the bad guys. His little church didn't have a secret stash of arms and military ability to overthrow the opposition in a last minute charge to glory before the director yells 'Cut!' The world celebrates its athletes and actors, while somewhere a Christian goes down with a whimper.

Through it all, someone is right there with us. His name is Jesus, and He will never leave us nor forsake us. Weakness is me, but He is my strength and my shield. Great and glorious is His name on the Earth!

Bucky

Wheels Don't Drive a Jet

And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.” Exodus 14:25

Having experience with cars and ice on the road, a young person might easily assume that a jet cannot take off on the ice due to a lack of traction. However, as he or she grows older and learns a bit about this and that, physics for one, the child learns that wheels don't drive a jet. The wheels roll along and keep the fuselage off the ground while the turbines do the work. Chariots have wheels in a similar manner. The horse does all the work while the wheels just roll along keeping the chariot off the ground. I notice in our verse for this morning that even after the wheels came off the Egyptian drivers still tried to move it along until some bright bulb made a suggestion. We might say, 'Of course they drove them with difficulty!' But the real inspiration was that one who realized who they were up against.

Driving against the forces of nature may be tough, but we can overcome with great difficulty sometimes for a brief moment. However, driving against the Lord Himself is just impossible at any time. It does not matter how stubborn or determined one might be, forcing a way against the Lord just doesn't work. Even the prince of this world could do nothing against poor Job until the Lord gave him leave. The Egyptian army of Moses' time and the Adversary in our time are strong forces against which we cannot stand alone. Be comforted though, they and all their force can make no headway against the Almighty One. And He loves you and me!

Have a triumphant day in Christ Jesus!
Bucky

Goodness To The Reborn Fallen

They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
​​And shall sing of Your righteousness. Psalm 145:7

It's Thursday of the week and we are about to undergo a big change at the office. Yes, I am taking over in a move guaranteed to bring shock and awe to our little town. Right, the boss is going on vacation tomorrow. Ah well, everything can be dramatized a little bit. A bit of spice added to the otherwise routine life in the small town brings attention where none belongs, eh?

David wrote many psalms and he was not given to dramatizing anything. He sung it as it was and called out to the Lord who always will be. When David sings of the Lord there is no dramatizing, melodrama, or over-dramatizing, just a lot of praise to our great God. How could he anyway? Everything we say about the Lord our God seems to fall just a little short or spread a little thin. We have an idea of righteousness, but do we really get how righteous our Lord is? He is of course the very definition and standard of the word. Love? Do we fully understand the breadth and depth of the love our Lord bears for us? As our friend Paul said, we see now only darkly, as in a poor mirror or a dirty telescope. One day though, God's goodness will bring us all home to be with Him forever. And it is there the reborn fallen in a multitude too great to count will recall God's great goodness and sing of His righteousness with full understanding.

Have a righteous Thursday, beloved of the Lord!

Bucky

Gratitude By Your Mention

And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. Acts 28:2

How can we help to spread the good news of Jesus Christ? No doubt you have discovered many ways by now, but one way Luke found was to make mention of an unusual act of kindness. That's not quite correct, is it? That should be, an act of unusual kindness. Many people each day will do acts of kindness, good works, and charitable giving, and these are unusual in their reach but not in frequency. Yet, we get news of casualties, crimes, and celebrity each and every day, even several times if you tune in that often.

Yes, we can set an example of the good news by mentioning those acts of unusual kindness. Giving thanks to God for something you had no part in is kindness in itself, but like Luke we can make mention of those acts of unusual kindness done for us. Have you ever gone out and tried to start a fire in a cold rain? I'm glad that Luke mentioned the unusual kindness of the people on Malta in a book that has lasted for almost 2,000 years. But we can do one better: we can make that mention to God in prayer and it will last for as long as the Lord does. I'm thinking that's a really long time!

Thank you for your unusual kindness in reading this little message this morning,

Bucky

You Faithful Fool!

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Foolishness? No one likes to be called a fool, but then, the one doing the calling may not be correct. When we come to faith in Christ, we will be called the fool by those who are perishing. Our job is to remain faithful. Yes, we may be to the eyes of the world a faithful fool for Christ. The world and its prince may kill us for this.

Martyrdom may seem like something that happens far away to us, but those with the murderous eyes are striving daily to extend their reach to our land as well, and they have done so several times. As faithful fools for our Lord, what can we do about this?

At all times we can pray, often and in love. We can pray for an awakening in America, an awakening such as only God can do in receptive hearts. We can pray to remain faithful.

May God bless America with an awakening,
Bucky

Our Dear Mother

And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Genesis 3:20

Along with the less than flattering position of being the first to fall for the serpent's deceit, Eve had a better title: Mother of all living. We don't really know much about Eve; and yet we do, for I believe that Eve is represented in all those mothers down through the centuries who have loved us when we were unlovable. Our dear mothers get this trait from Eve who of course got it from God.

Eve probably loaded up Cain with all manner of things to help him get started away from home. My mother did the same for me when I left for college. Even as Eve mourned Abel, she could not help but love the unlovable murderer Cain, who was still her firstborn son. Do I know this for sure? No, but like you, I have seen mother in action.

Cain wailed to the Lord that his punishment was too great for him to bear; that anyone would kill him given the chance. Could it be that Cain said this because he caught a glimpse of Adam striding toward him with rage in his eyes? In this case, God stood between Cain and the anger of all those men who would murder the murderer. God gave this trait to mothers because many is the time that a mother has stood in the breach between father and son. It may be years later that we learn how the wrath of father was deflected, the lowering boom stopped in the nick of time by our dear mother who put her love in the path of terrible retribution. Like with Cain, the wrath of father was probably well deserved, but it wasn't going to happen with mother standing there.

Mothers, wives, and grandmothers: many a man has been saved by the quiet wisdom of mother. Sometimes with us action comes before thought, and it is the quiet words of warning from mother that at times stop a man from really screwing up. Those other times cause the quiet reflection, "I should have listened to mother." Look with your eyes and see, some of God's best He put into mother.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom, and to all the mothers out there in this world.

Bucky

Strength Spent: Collapse Imminent

It is God who arms me with strength,
​​And makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:32

As I grow olderly, I have noticed that the Lord does not put quite as much strength in my purse to spend as I had in my youth. This is nothing new: I join billions of people who have noticed this thing throughout our history since the fall of Adam and Eve. Middle age hurts more and lasts longer than youth it seems. I just removed the second of the root balls leftover from last year's bushwhacking, and, oh my, do I hurt in the hands. Unfortunately for you, I can still type for now.

We might tend toward a grumbly sort of thinking wherein after an expenditure of strength we gripe to the Lord that it hurts. However, as David points out in his psalm, we have God to thank for having the strength to do a task in the first place. Yes, we could be without the pain of exertion, but the price may be having no strength or ability to do the thing at all. The same goes for that righteousness and perfection that we must have to enter God's Heaven.

How did Peter, Paul, and those other saints who passed before us make it into Heaven? It wasn't through their accomplishments performed in their own strength or righteousness. Self-righteousness never saved anyone. Not one of the saints of old had the strength to save himself much less all of us too. We needed, and received, strength and righteousness in our Lord Jesus. It is Christ alone who perfects us for our entry into the court of the King of kings.

Amen. Tomorrow: Mother's Day!
Bucky

The Freedom to Speak

​​May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
​​And the tongue that speaks proud things,
​Who have said,
​​“With our tongue we will prevail;
​​Our lips are our own;
​​Who is lord over us?” Psalm 12:3-4

Like other freedoms we enjoy, David points out the many who will abuse the privilege. In this age we can see that has not changed. There are still many who believe that the freedom to speak is the freedom to abuse others. What must we who believe in Christ do differently than those loose lips?

In Christ Jesus we gain the freedom to speak words of encouragement, comfort, peace, and love. We speak to the Lord words of faith, trust, obedience, and more love. With our speech we can obey the two greatest commandments, fulfill the great commission, and be a part of the Church. We acknowledge and rejoice that there is a lord over us, and He is the LORD!

Peace and love to you on this great day of the Lord,

Bucky

Pure Words

The words of the LORD are pure words,
​​Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
​​Purified seven times. Psalm 12:6

Is it not great that the Lord loves us so much that only pure words come forth from Him? Perhaps that is the reason the gospels are not each 4,000 pages long. Pure words do not require further explanation to avoid dozens of different interpretations. Although, it may be that we could not handle any more of the pure words of Jesus than what He gave us. What are the pure words of our Lord?

Let us say that you like eggs. You recall from your childhood two eggs cooked to as near perfection as mom could get them, but you haven't been served two eggs like that since. You order two eggs and your spouse cooks up some waffles with butter and syrup. "There's two eggs in there," he or she says. You are away from home for whatever reason and try a restaurant. You order two eggs and wait for that moment of dimly recalled bliss. The waiter sets before you a skillet with scrambled eggs cooked with onions, hash browns, cheese, and bacon. It is delicious, but it isn't quite the two eggs you asked for. "There's two eggs in there," the cook says. And so it goes at home and from place to place as you travel. All you want is the purity of two eggs cooked in that special way, but all you can get is two eggs mixed up with something else.

The story takes much on assumption, such as your mysterious inability to go into the kitchen and cook 'em yourself, but that is what we face in this world. The pure word of the Lord we long for comes to us in translations in a language that has become diluted with many impure words. Think of the many uses and abuses of the word 'love' for example in this present darkness. And then think of how often love is an important part of the Word of the Lord. How are we to understand the purity of His word when ours is so messed up? Rest in the assurance that the Spirit of God will make His pure Word understood in us!

Want eggs for breakfast yet? Have a day in our great Lord!

Bucky

Company Coming Over!

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10

Some like a bit of company for dinner, but imagine a great multitude which no one could number arriving at your house just in time for the meal! This is the promise of our Lord: Heaven and a multitude. Loneliness will not be a problem in the hereafter.

When it seems that your efforts to spread the good news of Jesus are going nowhere, think on this passage of scripture. It is not just a great crowd of great people saved by the Lamb, but they are from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. No doubt there were missionaries who despaired of anyone being saved from a particular tribe who seemed to hate anyone and everyone. Some Christians may think Peter and Paul did all the saving, or maybe it was Billy Graham, but even those great preachers of the word didn't reach all nations. We all have a part in it, but we also know who does all the saving.

The great multitude has no doubt of the source either: "Salvation belongs to our God...and to the Lamb!"

Rejoice in the Lamb!
Bucky

Job's Lament

And Job spoke, and said:
​
​​"May the day perish on which I was born,
​​And the night in which it was said,
​‘​A male child is conceived.’
May that day be darkness;
​​May God above not seek it,
​​Nor the light shine upon it."  Job 3:2-4

The person who thinks that he or she is an eloquent complainer might want to read Job chapter 3 to see how it is done. After seven days and nights of suffering in silence with his three friends, Job cuts loose with a verbal lament heard round the world and all the way up to Heaven. We can know this because God will respond after a bit of argument among the friends. Job is of course you and me.

We suffer tribulations in this life and, maybe not quite so eloquently, we complain to the Lord. Circumstances arise that try our faith right down to the core. Without the strength we felt in our youth, memory failing, and bodies breaking down, we fall into a circumstance of loss. Can we look forward to the restoration of twice our youthful strength in this life? That is up to God. Whatever it is we lose in adversity, health or wealth or both, God has us right where He want us. Whether we are restored in this life or in His kingdom to come, we can trust in the Lord all the way.

Life hurts, but there is new life in Him!

Bucky

Somebody Out There

Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. Micah 2:1-2

Do you suppose this has all changed by now? Shouldn't we have evolved beyond the snatching of property from families? I guess we all know the answer to that. Last night, somebody out there was plotting to acquire by force a field used by a poor farmer to feed a family. Somewhere a person or corporation plotted to snatch a house from persons with no means to fight back in court. This went on in Micah's time and it hasn't changed today. Where many of us wake up at 3:00 am to fight anxieties and worries, somebody out there wakes up with an idea for taking more property from a neighbor.

We might attempt to elect a government that would try to stop this by its authority, but that does not fix the heart of the problem. Praise God we do know that our Father in Heaven sends out His Holy Spirit to work on those very hearts. You might even say that the cleansing of hearts is His specialty. For that somebody out there who refuses even that love, there is always woe.

There will come a day when the opportunity for repentance is over; a day when those who will be saved belong to the Lord, and those who have refused His salvation for the final time will face His wrath. Woe indeed to those who refuse that free gift purchased by the Son of God with His blood.

Let us pray for somebody out there,
Bucky

Longing For A Plentiful Rain

You, O God, sent a plentiful rain,
Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance,
When it was weary. Psalm 68:9

This year at the place of my day job we had a dry winter; we long for a plentiful rain. Weariness hardly begins to describe the state of accounts. The land appears dry and broken as after a long drought. How does one hold on when this sort of thing happens?

We tend to be like Job's friends. We analyze and introspect, ponder the state of our ways, and in the halfness of time, we pass judgment on ourselves and call upon the self to repent of some hidden sin. I say the halfness of time because like Job's friends we declare this is that before God is finished with the story. In the fullness of time, God restored all to Job, twice over. Somewhere in that time well before the fullness, we despair and falter in our faith.

Doubts will be flung at us, and we will welcome some of those doubts in for a meal and perhaps an overnight stay. How else could we wake up at 3 a.m. full of anxiety and dread? The Lord desires our company and promises to come in and dine with us if we will only open the door. Too often though, we stand at the back door and let in the doubts while our Lord, as polite company will do, stands patiently at the front door. We know the answer is to bar the back door and go open the other to our Lord Jesus, but perversely we stand with the back door open letting in those things which will ruin our night's sleep.

Time to say, "Come in, Lord Jesus!"

The good news from this is that no matter how many stray and slinking doubts we have let in before His arrival, our Lord is perfect at chasing the doubts out of the dark corners and stompin' em!

Have a great Friday in Christ!
Bucky

2017 National Day of Prayer

But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,
​​To repay it by Your hand.
​​The helpless commits himself to You;
​​You are the helper of the fatherless. Psalm 10:14

The helpless commits himself to You. By this time in life, you may have far more reminders of your inability than you might like. My voice is not likely to be heard in the mass media today. One of us seems to have arrived 16 minutes late for those 15 minutes of fame. Our influence on world events starts and ends with one little vote every four years, and it may be that our first choice didn't even make the final cut. We are the humble, the helpless, washed ashore by the tide of world events without even a sandcastle to claw at before the rip tide sweeps us back out to sea. The world will not hear my prayer today, but God will.

Yes, I too have come to know a great many inabilities in this life by now. Each one though serves as a reminder of my Lord God's ability. If there is no healing touch in this body, let it remind me of that time my Lord Jesus said, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." If my wallet is empty, let it recall that time Jesus told Peter to go catch a fish to pay the temple tax. I may feel like my offering is but one tiny scale of only one fish inside a boy's lunch, but with that lunch the Master fed thousands. My voice may echo off the walls of an empty room, but the voice of my Lord shook the world. I will come to the end of this life having not saved anyone, but John saw in Heaven a multitude which no one could number. I believe in the One who saved them!

Enjoy a prayer today for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. We have lots of inability to offer Him; He has lots of ability to save us!

Bucky

Slaves Of The Government

When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. Genesis 47:18

The farmers of Egypt were in a tough spot. For seven years they had let Joseph prepare for the coming famine while they enjoyed the bounty of the land. Then, Joseph made them wards of the state; he bought them lock, stock, and barrel. From free farmers with land to slaves of the government. How did that happen so quickly? One of those farmers must have wondered to his buddy.

We too may find ourselves enslaved to something with just a bit of inattention. The apostle said that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. (1 Tim 6:10) You will not need to look far to find examples of that sort of love grabbing a hold and not letting go. There are many other lusts of the flesh that enslave any who come into their power too. Some drugs in the news appear to have a particularly tough hold to break. Of course there is also the direct example as people today are becoming more dependent on the government in many ways. I felt the temptation to give myself over to the state not that many years ago. All of these temptations are difficult to fight!

This is why we need a savior and look to our Savior. We can't make it through this life sentence alone as our strength will fail. We can only fight the good fight in the strength of our Lord Jesus. Let us go to Him on this day and every day.

Bucky

Transformation!

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21

Welcome to May! A winter weekend at the end of April may have dampened spirits a bit, but the spring weather will return. So, with the big transformation on the horizon, shouldn't we get started? I'm fairly sure that I have the lowly body ready to go, so how do I start this transformation? We think we know, but do we really?

There are in the Bible several stories of Jesus after that first Easter morning. In them we find disciples having trouble recognizing their Lord. Those who had spent three years or more with Him, thought they knew Him by sight but then failed at times to know Him in that way. Mary the Magdalene thought her Lord was a groundskeeper. On the road to Emmaus, two disciples gave the Lord a bit of teasing for not knowing all the things that had happened concerning Himself. So, we think we know a transformation, but do we really?

If I showed up to work this morning transformed in the way we think of it, people would be surprised (no one more than me), but I would be recognized. However, it seems that if I showed up transformed in the way that our Lord was, the question would be: "Who are you?" And this question would come from those who had seen me almost daily for the past three years or so. My imagination falls short of what this transformation must be to make someone so familiar into a body that we would struggle to recognize. So maybe we don't know this coming transformation quite so well as we think. No wonder Paul writes that it is all in the Lord's hands according to what He can do.

Stand by for the transformation!
Bucky