Lazarus, come out!

     When my wife and I were married, a friend gave us this cool hibiscus plant (as much as a hibiscus can be "cool").  It was lush and healthy with huge orange flowers.  Now me, being the killer of all things green, was quickly able to transform the once hardy hibiscus into a massive pot of knotted sticks.  I made the mistake of leaving it on the deck unaware that squirrels like to gnaw on hibiscus branches until they look like match sticks and tooth picks.  As far as we could tell, this thing was D.E.A.D. dead!  We put it out in the garage prior to burial and forgot about it.  A few weeks later, I walked through the garage and "BAM" there were all kinds of new, green, very much alive, twigs growing from the dead wood!  A year later that crazy hibiscus is overgrowing our bathroom and the orange blossoms are its fruit.  

     OK, so what's with the story of a resurrected hibiscus?  God, the eternal, awesome creator of the universe; the God who made everything Ex Nihilo "Out of Nothing" is in the business of making dead things live!  If you think that it was impressive for God to bring the hibiscus to life, check out this story:

     Jesus was with his disciples when he received word from his friends Mary and Martha that their brother Lazarus was gravely ill.  But, when Jesus heard this he decided to stay put for two more days.  By the time Jesus arrived in Judea, Lazarus had already been dead for four days.  When Jesus told them to roll away the grave stone, Martha pointed out that a body, dead for four days, probably didn't smell so good.  The NIV translates it this way "By this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."  The point was this:  Lazarus wasn't just sort of dead.  He was REALLY dead!

     Jesus, who the Bible tells us was the creator of everything that has ever been made, spoke these three words, "Lazarus, come out!".  And, guess what?  He DID!  Like my dead hibiscus, Lazarus came back from the dead.  Jesus Christ, is in the business of making dead things alive. The Bible tells us that without Christ, we are "dead in our trespasses and sins."  We are like Lazarus and the hibiscus.  Lazarus and the hibiscus had no innate power to make themselves alive but Jesus Christ, who is before all things and in whom all things hold together CAN make dead things live.

     I was told by a good friend that my last post was a bit "dark" and indeed it was.  (By the way, I love the feedback so keep it coming!)  I don't want to beat around any bushes here so I'll shoot from the hip.  If we're honest with ourselves, we'll admit that life is REALLY hard.  We struggle with relationships (with friends, children, and spouses).  We struggle with finances, self esteem, health, loneliness, broken hearts, depression, anxiety, fear, and I could go on and on.  If this doesn't pertain to you then you can move to the front of the class, but for the rest of us humans, we need some good news.

    Here it is again for those who may have missed it last week:  Jesus saves!  He makes all things new!  He takes four day old, smelly dead men and makes them breath again!  He makes dead hibiscus bloom!  He can take your spirit that is dead in its sin and give it new life or "New Birth".  The Bible says that we are saved "made alive" and "brought into right relationship with God" by grace (undeserved favor) through faith (believing with your heart) that Jesus lived a perfect life, died (paying the penalty for your sin and mine), and rose again on the third day (securing for us eternal life).  If you are struggling right now please don't give up or give in!  God knows your struggles.  He knows your pain, guilt, fear, and whatever you may be carrying.  Give it to him.  Ask Christ to heal you.  Be humble and admit your weakness and shortcomings then trust in Him.   Please drop us a comment if you'd like us to pray for you in any way.  It is our joy to do just that, REALLY!

Until next week,

In Christ, David

Hey God, we're pretty good down here! Aren't we??

I was watching the news (I'm not really sure why) and it hit me.  We're down here pretending that we're evolving; slowly developing into a society of peace-loving, altruistic, and compassionate people well on the way to self perfection.  We think that if we learn enough about science, psychology, and learn to connect with the universal energy we will somehow get it right.  

So, what exactly hit me so hard?  We'll, I watched as the CEOs of banks and financial firms, governors of states, and leaders of nations have stolen billions from those who trusted them. Children kill their parents because they don't get to play video games.  Parents kill their children because they won't stop crying.  We protect murderers and kill the unborn.

Now, before you think I'm getting political (which I am not), let me say that the thing that REALLY hit me the hardest is that I am no better.  No, I haven't stolen millions of dollars or killed anyone but I have wickedness in my heart.  I have been selfish, prideful, lustful, ungrateful, and have hurt people (if you're one of them, SORRY!).  But, before you run from this blog in search of one that is written by a really good person, one worthy of witnessing for Jesus Christ, look in the mirror.  Examine your own heart and see if you've escaped the filth of this fallen world.  Really, go to the mirror and look into your own eyes.  Look at the things you've hidden, the things you wouldn't want anyone else to know. God knows.  Look at the money you've spent on yourself while others went without.  God sees. Go ahead and look deep . . .  It's o.k., I'll wait here.  Well, how'd it look?  Now, this isn't a guilt trip!  It's a reality check!  If we're going to seek to right wrongs and heal wounds, we need to start with the truth.  You may or not be in a place yet were you believe the Word, the Bible, God's voice to us but listen to these words anyway and decide for yourself if they are truth.

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way."

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

"BUT!  BUT, I DO GOOD THINGS!!",  you yell in protest.  

Me too.  I give some money to homeless folks, tell my wife she's beautiful, pay my taxes, and put a couple bucks in the red bucket when the guys rings his little bell in from of Walmart.  I go to church and try hard not to swear.  I say grace and pray with my kids before bed.  Yeah, that's all good stuff! But it's not pure.  It's tainted.  It's a bit muddy.  It's not my best stuff.  It's my left overs. Occasionally we do alright but face it, mostly its just an effort to be happy or guiltless.

O.K., here is the point.  We're not getting better.  We might actually be getting worse (we'll save that discussion for another time).  We cry out, "God!  We're NOT good down here and we need help!"  Good news folks~  He has already sent help.

" . . . and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

The answer to our need won't come from George Bush, Barack Obama, Dr. Phil, your bank account, or that girl or guy who you think will "complete you".  It will come through Jesus Christ.  He is the ONLY way to peace with God.  If you didn't like what you saw in the mirror, cry out to him because he can and will make ALL THINGS NEW~!  Even you and me!  And, friends, that is good news....

Until next time, Peace

David

I-61 Project Update

     Just wanted to update you on some of the things that are happening with us and through us.  Ivor is currently in the studio (Mackinaw Harvest Studios) recording a new CD.  I know that God will touch people and open hearts through this music.  We hope that we will see this thing finished in a month or two.  We'll have the songs as well as some relevant teachings and podcast discussions available on the website (currently in development) soon thereafter.  The CD will likely be available for purchase through the website (i61project.org)

     I've had the opportunity to care for a number of fine men from the Guiding light mission over the past couple weeks and look forward to a continued relationship with them in the future.  Ivor and I have also shared some music as well as some testimony and biblical discussion on sexual temptation with the men at the mission.  We've been developing a wonderful relationship with a wise and faithful preacher who goes by the name "Papa" (formally, Pastor Jeffery Stokes).  We have been strengthened and encouraged by his preaching, his teaching, and a few personal discussions over a hot cup of coffee on the comfort of his downtown porch.  We believe that you will be blessed to hear him teach or dialogue in Podcast or MP3 format as soon as the website is complete.

     Keep checking back for updates and feel free to leave a comment or a prayer request if you'd like.  Our desire is to be as real and open as we can in sharing the Gospel which means that you'll hear things that comfort you, things that convict you (make you feel uncomfortable), things that stretch you, and hopefully things that change you for eternity.  We pray that you never hear anything that is not grounded in God's Holy Word..... but by all means, go back to the Word and test all that you hear by the filter of the Word!  May God bless you until next time,

David and Ivor