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David Scudder
DaveBethel at gmail dot com Sr. Pastor of Bethel Chapel Church
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Bethel's Youth Group > Musings from Bethel's young people Kensington Neighorhood House > Our Outreach to Kensington |
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Remember back a few days ago when Juniata was ravaged by a violent thunderstorm? It was on a Thursday night. With little warning we were hit with high winds, thunder, lightning, pounding rain, and even some hail. Then the lights went out! My daughter was driving down Aramingo Avenue at the time, and she related how eerie it was to drive block after block with no lights on at all. No street lights, no store lights, and not even any traffic lights. Suddenly the whole area was plunged into darkness.
There are few things as frightening as darkness. In 1925 Floyd Collins experienced the horror of complete darkness. He was exploring Sand Cave in Kentucky. When he was deep in the cave, his lantern went out. He crawled through the darkness until his foot dislodged a seven-ton boulder. The bolder rolled over his leg, trapping him. For several days Collins was stuck in a space 8 inches high and 12 feet long--125 feet below ground. It was pitch black. He couldn’t see a thing. When they discovered he was missing, they began a rescue attempt that lasted for days. During that time about 50,000 tourists came to watch the rescue effort. They ate hot dogs, and bought balloons from vendors who had come to the area. But the rescuers didn’t get to Floyd Collins in time. He died alone in the cold darkness. Towards the end he was heard crying out, “Get me out. Why don’t you take me out? Kiss me goodbye, I’m going.” It is awful to imagine what it was like for Floyd Collins to die in physical darkness. There is something worse, though. It is worse to LIVE in spiritual darkness. Spiritual darkness is that feeling that life has trapped you and you can’t see any way out. Problems are usually manageable as long as we feel like we have a plan that might solve the problem. Despair sets in, though, when we have run out of ideas of how to turn on the light. We can see no way to escape our darkness. There is a way. We don’t have to live in spiritual darkness. Jesus has turned the light on! He said, “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness” (John 12:46). We have an iron-clad promise from Jesus that we can find out how to solve life’s problems: “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12). We can experience this light when we turn to and trust in what Christ came to earth to do. Jesus boldly announced, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). If we want to live our lives in light instead of darkness, we must put our gaze on Christ. “For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Where do we find “the face of Christ”? We will find it in the Bible. The good news of forgiveness and joy, “has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). I am so glad that God has turned on a light in me that no storm can blow out. “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). If you feel like life has trapped you in darkness, there is a way out. This invitation from Jesus is for you too: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
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Have you ever felt like you would never get clean again? I was working with some roofing tar once and I got it on my hands and my clothes. I thought it would never come off. I scrubbed and scrubbed until my skin was almost raw. The clothes I had to throw away. But what about dirt on the soul? Have you ever felt like you would never be clean on the inside again? You’ve done something you are ashamed of and you can’t seem to erase the stain it has left on your life. Let me share a true story with you that should encourage you.
When we meet Jesus in Matthew chapter 8 He has just finished preaching what many believe is the best sermon ever delivered in the history of the world. We call it The Sermon on the Mount. Jesus made some amazing claims in that sermon. For example, He said He was the ultimate judge of the world (see Matthew 7:21-23). Could that possibly be true? Is there any way for Jesus to prove that He was as powerful as He said He was? Jesus wasted no time proving His power as well as His compassion. A leper met Jesus and humbly asked for healing. Leprosy was the most feared disease in those days. It was not only highly contagious, but it was a horrible thing to endure. It caused tumor like swellings all over the body. Often fingers, toes, ears and noses would eventually fall off. The sores also gave off a disgusting smell. Lepers not only endured great pain and suffering, they were also forced to live separate from all of society in leper colonies. What an awful and lonely life! This particular leper heard that Jesus was near so he approached Jesus and, “bowed down before Him, and said, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean’” (Matthew 8:2). Jesus not only instantly cured the incurable; He also reached out and touched the untouchable. Notice how Matthew describes it: “Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Matthew 8:3). Imagine, Jesus was willing to give this man a human touch that he probably hadn’t had in years. That’s how Jesus loves to work. When anyone comes to Him and humbly asks for a miraculous cleansing of an ugly stain on the heart that just won’t go away, Jesus will remove it. Jesus can make us clean before God. The Bible calls it being justified: “to the one who does not work, but believes in [Jesus] who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:5). That is called the Gospel, or good news in the Bible. If you need some good news, seek Christ. If I can encourage you in any way, please let me know. Jesus wants to touch you too.
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This has become a hot topic lately because in a recent statement President Obama said, “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation . . .” Really? The polls consistently show that almost 90% of Americans call themselves Christian. Does that mean we are a Christian nation--just because so many of us call ourselves Christian? Whether or not we are a Christian nation depends on how we define that term. What is a “Christian nation”?
Some nations are controlled by a church or an organized religious system. That is not true of this country. In the Bill of Rights the first amendment to our Constitution clearly states that America should never have a religion established by the government: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This means that anyone is free to worship God or not worship God as they desire. In that respect we are NOT a Christian nation. If by “Christian nation” someone means that most Americas are following the teachings of Jesus Christ then, again, I would say that we are NOT a Christian nation. We have become an immoral and un-Christian people. If you are new to this country, please don’t think that the attitudes and actions by the majority of the people who live here are Christian. They are not. For example, movies and television shows often portray adultery and homosexuality as accepted and normal behaviors. They may be accepted and considered normal by many. Sadly, many sins are accepted and considered normal, but they are still condemned in the Bible, the book sincere Christians follow. If someone is saying that America is a “Christian nation” because it has a Christian heritage (or foundation), then on that basis, we can indeed clam to be a Christian nation. Our form of government was based on Christian principles, and it was established by many leaders who were openly Christian. Of that there can be no doubt. John Jay, a governor of New York and the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, said in 1816, “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty…of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” George Washington, our first President, wrote in 1752, “Let me live according to those holy rules which Thou this day prescribed in Thy holy word….Direct me to the true object, Jesus Christ the way, the truth, and the life. Bless, O Lord, all the people of this land.” He also said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” Andrew Jackson (our 7th President) said, “That Book (the Bible), sir, is the rock on which our republic rests.” Because of that foundation, no nation in the history of the world has enjoyed more blessings than America, and the only thing that sets America apart from every other country in the world is our Christian heritage. Our government was based on Christian principles, and yet everyone is free to worship as they please. We have the most powerful military ever known to mankind, and yet we have never used it to conquer and keep other lands in subjection. America sends billions of dollars of aid to other countries every year. More people choose to move to America than to any other country. Yes, America has always had problems, but America has done more good in the world than any other country. Why has our government worked so well for over 200 years? It's because our government was founded on the Christian belief that men tend to be evil—especially those who have power over others. This is why there are three branches in our government that are supposed to keep each other from getting too powerful. Our founding fathers agreed with what William Pitt said in 1770: "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it." President Ronald Reagan warned us, “Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people.” Government is not the only thing that works better when God's truth is acknowledged. Our individual lives work better, too, when we admit our own tendency to evil. Even the great Apostle Paul felt that way about himself: “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (1 Timothy 1:15). Realizing our own sinfulness shows us our need of a Savior. When we trust Christ's death on the cross as the total payment for our sin, we ourselves can be called a Christian—not because we belong to the right religious system, not even because we always act like Christians, but just because we are trusting in what Jesus did for us on Calvary. That makes us Christians, followers of Jesus Christ. I hope you have been set free from sin’s punishment and its hold on your life. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). At Bethel Chapel Church we celebrate that freedom every Sunday.
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Generally, when we say someone is a missionary, we mean they have left their homeland to share the good news about Christ in a foreign land. Missionaries are able to do this because individuals and churches give them regular financial support. Roger, a friend of mine, is a good example. He has been in Hong Kong for the past 19 years, and our church helps to support him. He and his wife had all six of their children in Hong Kong. Roger and his family stayed in Hong Kong as British rule ended and the Communist Chinese rule began. He has learned the language, taught the Bible, planted a church, and even helped produce a Chinese study Bible that is being used in the underground church in China today.
You may be wondering what my friend Roger, who is a missionary, has to do with Father’s Day, the holiday we just celebrated. When Roger visited our church two weeks ago, he shared an interesting story about a father in China. It made me think about the fathers here in Juniata. Several years ago an avowed atheist started coming to Roger’s church. He began coming to Hebron Baptist Church in Hong Kong because his wife had accepted Jesus as her Savior. He was very skeptical about Christianity, and he only came to investigate what was his family was being taught. In fact, when Hong Kong was a British colony and Communism wasn’t accepted, this man was a leader in the Communist Party. As the months went by, Roger wondered what truth from the Bible would open this man’s heart and overcome the darkness and prejudice in his background. You would never expect a former leader in the Communist Party to attend church, would you? Yet here he was in Hebron Baptist Church every Sunday for six months. Why did he keep coming? He came because he loved his family, and he wanted to know what they were learning. The miracle happened on Father’s Day. Roger was teaching about the responsibilities that a father has to teach the Bible to his children. For example, the Bible says: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:5,7). When this Chinese father heard that message, he wanted to accept God’s truth for himself. Later, he explained that he wanted to know the truth so he could teach it to his own children. Today, this man, who used to be a committed Communist, is now a leader in Hebron Baptist Church in Hong Kong. The message about God’s forgiveness through Christ was powerful enough to change this Chinese father's entire life and world view. It was powerful enough to change my life, and it is powerful enough to change the life of anyone who opens his heart to God’s Word. That is what made me think about the fathers in Juniata. There are fathers here in Juniata who need to be changed, too. Many of them are so overwhelmed by life’s problems that they have little energy left to meet their children's needs. Without the changing power of the Gospel, many children here in Juniata are doomed to repeat the same mistakes that their own fathers have made. I am sure there are fathers here in Juniata who know they should be teaching the truth to their children, but they too are not sure what that truth really is. If you are a father, would you be willing to come to Bethel Chapel Church for six months just to hear to what the Bible says? Would you be willing to listen with an open heart to see if the Bible has the truth you are looking for? Once you have a confidence that the Bible is God’s truth, then you will have something life changing you can show your own children. Then you will be able to show them something that will guide them away from the hurtful mistakes that you have made. Hong Kong is not the only place that has missionaries. Juniata has many missionaries, too. I am one. Maybe God wants you to be one too. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). God’s power is still available.
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When you get between a rock and a hard place, what do you do? We have all been there. It might be a financial problem. Bills outweigh the income, and there doesn’t seem to be away to get any more money or spend any less. Maybe our health is bad, or a once cherished relationship appears doomed. Life closes in on us, and we don’t know where to turn.
The Bible has a fascinating story about a time when His people, the Jews, found themselves literally between a “rock and a hard place.” You can find their story in the book of Exodus, Chapter 14. After four hundred years of slavery in Egypt, God delivered the Jews after many awesome miracles. They marched out of Egypt a free people, but in a short time they found themselves looking at the Red Sea before them, mountains on either side of them, and Pharaoh’s army bearing down on them in pursuit from the rear. What could they do now? God gave them a way to escape that seemingly impossible situation. We too can escape our terrible situations by following the advice Moses gave to the Jews in their hour of trial. Let me show you the same three steps to a miracle from God. First, we must be willing to let go of the familiar. The Jews hated slavery, but that was all they knew. When things got hard, they wanted to go back to what was familiar. They cried out “Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness” (Exodus 14:12). If you have made a decision to follow Christ, don’t give up when it gets really hard. Paul expressed this kind of mindset when he said: “one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Keep doing what is right instead of doing what is easy. Don’t go back to the old ways you knew were wrong. Then we need to trust what God says. Since God promised to deliver the Jews from the Egyptians, they had a choice: believe God or don’t believe God. “But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today…’” (Exodus 14:13). Is God big enough to solve our problems? Of course He is! Since we know that, we must trust God to do what we cannot do. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). We have to stop panicking and expect God to do what He has promised to do. “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent” (Exodus 14:14). We say “It’s impossible.” God says “All things are possible” (Mat 19:26) We say “I am too tired.” God says “I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28) We say “Nobody really loves me.” God says “I love you.” (John 3:16) We say “Nobody really cares for me.” God says “I care for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) We say “I cannot go on.” God says “My grace is sufficient.” (2 Cor 12:9) We say “I cannot figure things out.” God says “I shall direct your paths.” (Prov 3:6) We say “I cannot do it.” God says “You can do all things through Christ.” (Phil 4:13) We say “I am unable.” God says “I am able.” (2 Cor 9:8) We say “I am not worth it.” God says “It will be worth it.” (Rom 8:28) We say “I cannot forgive myself.” God says “I forgive you.” (1 John 1:9) We say “I cannot afford to.” God says “I will supply all your needs.” (Phil 4:19) The last key to victory is learning to obey what God tells us to do. The Jews were told “to go forward” (Exodus 14:15). As they marched toward the sea, God opened it up and, “The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left” (Exodus 14:22). God did the impossible! We too must learn to step out and obey what we know God wants us to do. We may not know HOW God is going to solve our problems, but we need to follow Him anyway. Jesus called us to follow Him (John 12:26), and we need to learn what that means in our world today. You are welcome to join us every week at Bethel Chapel Church as we gather together to learn how to do that. God rewarded the Jew’s obedience by setting them free, once and for all, from the slavery of Egypt. God will also reward us with peace and contentment when we turn to Him with all of our hearts. Jesus invites us to “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Your comments or questions are always welcome at www.JuniataBlog.com.
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I was surprised by a recent article in the Wall Street Journal (April 4, 2008) about the current sexual attitudes of college students. The Journal reported on a survey by Boston University scholar Donna Freitas of 2,500 students who were asked about their sexual activity. On the one hand, the survey showed very few were waiting for marriage. Less than one in ten “said that they felt that their friends wanted to reserve sex for committed, loving relationships.” On the other hand, Ms. Freitas found out that “41% are profoundly upset about their behavior.” When asked to describe how they felt about their sexual encounters the students used words like: “dirty, used, regretful, empty, miserable, disgusted, ashamed, duped and used.” It sounds like sex between unmarried couples has become more common but, evidently, without providing satisfaction.
For decades the media has told us that sexual freedom brings happiness. I think we have been sold a “bill of goods.” Think about the increase in divorce, in domestic violence, in dysfunctional families, in rapes, in murders and in many other violent crimes when sexual urges are not controlled. Our society is also paying a heavy health care cost. Sexually transmitted diseases (many of which are incurable) are now at epidemic proportions. For example, the U.S. syphilis rate has increased each year for the last seven years. Let’s face it, sexual freedom isn’t working. I think that it’s time for us to go back to our “owner’s manual” in order to find what works best. The Creator’s instructions for His creatures are found in the Bible. Notice, “For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; [i.e. holiness] that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own [body] in sanctification and honor” (1 Thessalonians 4:2-4). Immoral behavior is serious because “God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you” (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8). God is serious about sexual purity. Sex is beautiful and fulfilling within marriage, but it is destructive and hurtful outside of marriage. God does know best after all! The only way to experience gratifying happiness is by following God’s instructions. Jesus put it this way, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). As one preacher explained, “God is a holy God and will not make sinful people happy. If you want to be happy, you must become holy.” (D. Martyn Lloyd Jones). A beautiful young lady who understood that principle wrote this as a senior: “When we date, we start giving gifts, like flowers or candy. When a couple becomes engaged, they give special things—a diamond and very personal things. The most personal gift that I can ever give is myself. I have nothing more precious to give. When I marry, I want to give my husband the best that I have—my whole self as completely as I can.” I know some are reading this who bitterly regret their own immorality, who wish they could go back in time and make different choices. Don’t lose hope! When a life has been ruined by sin, all is not lost! God’s grace is powerful enough to reclaim what sin has taken away. That is why Christians talk about the gospel, God’s good news. When God forgives our sin, He replaces our guilt with joy! “Blessed [i.e. happy] are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered” (Romans 4:7). Sin, especially sexual sin, destroys: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals… will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). The really good news is that the results of sin can be reversed. Paul told some Christians that, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). If you long to be pure and to have your guilt washed away, turn from your sin to Christ. “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy…” (Titus 3:3-5) If you find yourself engaging in more and more sexual sin, but enjoying it less and less--Jesus has the answer. He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6).
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An article in the Philadelphia Inquirer this July 19th caught my eye. The headline was, "Proteins' 'jiggle' may give a jolt." The writer was reporting that University of Penn researchers have discovered new and fascinating things about microscopic proteins. The article began with this sentence: "In a discovery that could have sweeping implications for pharmaceuticals of the future, scientists are reporting today that the long-observed jiggle of proteins is not just nervous energy but a carefully orchestrated dance that brings them together." [Emphasis mine.]
As scientists have learned how to study smaller and smaller particles that make up our bodies, they have been shocked by what they found. Since scientists think that life developed from the simple to the complex (Darwin's Theory of Evolution), they expected to find that the basic building-blocks of life are very primitive. Actually, the opposite has proven to be true. For example, the same Inquirer article explained that a protein's ". . . dance changed with each partner protein . . ." Then it pointed out: "That means the entropy [the left over energy that can't do any work] is important or else it would have been randomized by evolution." The experts are admitting that there is nothing "random" about how proteins dance! The Bible is an old book, but it is way ahead of modern science. David talks about the human body (which is made up of protein, by the way!) and then says, ". . . I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well" (Psalm 139:14). Even the tiniest wiggle of every protein is "carefully orchestrated." Everything we learn about the world around us is further proof that the Creator is great: "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands" (Psalm 19:1). John tells us that one of the songs sung in heaven is, ". . . Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations" (Revelation 15:3)! Since God programs every movement of every microscopic protein, how certain is His control and rule over every part of His creation. "Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me . . ." (Psalm 139:16). Whittaker Chambers was an American Communist spy. In his book, Witness, he tells how he began to question his atheism. One day he was sitting with his little two-year-old daughter on his lap. He began looking intently at her ear. He was struck by the design of that ear. How beautiful and perfectly designed it was. It could catch vibrations in the air and direct them to the brain so they could be translated into sound. He was struck by how impossible it was for something so intricate, so complex, so perfect to ever occur by chance. Later he abandoned the Communist Party and became a Christian. Is there any question that God has already revealed Himself to all of us through what He made – just like it says in the Bible? All we have to do is look around us because, "that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:19-20). The wonders of creation should move us to praise our God who is so powerful and so perfect. "For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. How great are Your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep" (Psalm 92:4-5). God is indeed great as well as wonderful. If even proteins are bringing glory to God by the way they move, then I should want give praise to my God by everything I do. "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well" (Psalm 139:13-14).
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No question about it. Life can be really hard, like running a marathon race. None of us would line up to run a long race carrying a fifty-pound bag, and yet we often try to live our everyday lives carrying a crushing load of resentment and bitterness against those who have offended or hurt us.
Experts have proven that carrying hurts for a long time will cost us more than we know. It will rob us of our friendships because people don't like being around those who are angry. It will take away our joy and drain us emotionally. Resentment will also ruin our health. The solution is learning to forgive. There is a lot of confusion about what forgiveness really means, though. I read a story about a pastor who noticed that a man who had been active in the church had stopped coming. When they sat down to talk, the pastor discovered that the man was angry because he had had a quarrel with a fellow member. The pastor explained the need for forgiveness and being faithful to church. Reluctantly, the angry man agreed, and then they prayed together. When the pastor was leaving, the man said, "Now, I'll forgive him, but all I want is for him to stay on his side of the church, and I'll stay on mine." That man had not really forgiven at all in his heart. He had not been set free from his anger and bitterness. We will know that we have truly forgiven when we no longer worry or think much about the offense. The Bible explains that real love, the opposite of unforgiveness, "is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered" (1 Corinthians 13:5). It is a wonderful feeling to wake up in the morning without carrying any ill feeling against anyone. We may feel that we have been hurt too deeply to ever forgive, but there is a way. We can be set free from resentment and bitterness when we really understand how much we need God's forgiveness for our own sins. Only then can we forgive others the same way that Christ forgives us. In fact, the Bible commands us to: "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). We all want God to forgive our sins by never bringing them up again. In the same way we must forgive those around us. Jesus made it very clear that if we don't have forgiving hearts then we have not really been forgiven (see Matthew 6:14-15). General Oglethorpe once said to John Wesley, an early American preacher, "I never forgive, and I never forget." Wesley replied, "Then, Sir, I hope you never sin." Nineteenth century British preacher, Charles Spurgeon, beautifully expressed what it means to be forgiven: "What bliss to be a perfectly pardoned soul! What riches of grace does free forgiveness exhibit! To forgive at all, to forgive fully, to forgive freely, to forgive ever! Here is a constellation of wonders, and when I think of how great my sins were, how dear were the precious drops [of Christ's blood] which cleansed me from them, I am in a maze of wondering, worshiping affection. I bow before the throne which absolves me; I clasp the cross which delivers me; I serve henceforth the Incarnate God through whom I am this day a pardoned soul." The joy of having our mountain of sins forever wiped away gives us the ability to forgive the comparatively small offenses others have inflicted on us. Thomas Watson, a preacher from over 200 years ago said, "We need not climb up into heaven to see whether our sins are forgiven: let us look into our hearts, and see if we can forgive others. If we can, we need not doubt but God has forgiven us." By going to www.BethelChapelChurch.com and clicking on "The Pulpit" you can listen to a full length sermon I preached on this subject. If I can encourage you in any other way please let me know.
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Researchers at Johns Hopkins University reported that in the 1960's the greatest fears of grade school children were:
1. Animals 2. Being in a dark room 3. High places 4. Strangers 5. Loud noises. Thirty years later children reported that their top five fears were: 1. Divorce 2. Nuclear war 3. Cancer 4. Pollution 5. Being mugged. It makes me sad to realize how much our children's lives have changed. Children aren't the only ones who fear, though, are they? Living in an atmosphere of fear is emotionally draining, and it can literally kill us. Studies have found that hospital patients who worry will die sooner than those who don't. How about you? Maybe you have some fears that you just can't get rid of. It could be a fear of cancer, a fear of crowds, a fear of failure, or something else that has an icy grip on you. Maybe you would give anything to live a day without fear. Is there any way to break the chains of fear that tie so many of us down? The Bible gives us a lot of help in this area. For example, we can learn a lot about overcoming fear when God delivered the Jews from slavery in Egypt. You can read it yourself in Exodus Chapter 14 in your Bible. Pharaoh (the most powerful ruler in the world) reluctantly set the Jews free. God told them to go toward the Red Sea (see verses 1&2). Then Pharaoh changed his mind about letting them go free and commanded his army to chase after them and bring them back. The Jews had no chariots and no weapons. They were trapped between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea (see verses 5-9). When the Jews saw the army advancing toward them, they became afraid, bitter, and angry (see verses 10-12). God gave them three important truths that would keep them from being afraid. Freedom from fear begins when we decide to believe God's promise that He will take care of His own. Moses promised the Jews that, "The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent" (Exodus 14:14). When we live in fear, we are showing that we don't believe God is big enough or that He cares enough to take care of us. We must also believe that God is controlling all circumstances so that He will ultimately be glorified. The Jews felt like life was spinning out of control, but in reality God was orchestrating everything so that everyone could know just how much He cared about His chosen people. If you read verses 15-19 carefully, you'll see this truth. The most important key to overcoming fear is described in the last verse of Exodus chapter 14: "When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses" (Exodus 14:31). When we learn to fear God's awesome power, it will erase all other fears. One old preacher, William Gurnall said, "We fear men so much because we fear God so little." C. S. Lewis pictured this truth beautifully in his fable, The Chronicles of Narnia. The author has two girls, Susan and Lucy, getting ready to meet Aslan the lion who represents Christ. Two talking animals, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, are preparing the children to meet Aslan. "Ooh," said Susan, "I thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion." "That you will, dearie," said Mrs. Beaver. "And make no mistake, if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly." "Then isn't he safe?" said Lucy. "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. "Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the king, I tell you!" We should bow in fear before God because He is holy and all powerful – and we are not either one! We might think that fearing God would just add to our dread, but the opposite is true. Fearing God brings joy and peace. When we come to know God as He really is, we can sing the same song that the Jews sang when they learned to fear God: "I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; . . . The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will extol Him" (Exodus 15:1-2). If you are struggling with fear, fight it by learning to fear God. If I can encourage you in learning to do this please let me know.
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I have made Juniata my home for over 15 years now. For the last 2 ½ years I have been talking to you here through the Juniata News every week. Your kind comments about this column have been greatly appreciated, but I would also enjoy an opportunity to meet you personally. Because I would love for us to get to know each other better, I am inviting you to come by our church this Saturday from 2 to 6 P.M. for our annual Open House.
The Open House is kicking off our "Friends and Family Days." There will be free food for everybody, free car washes for Juniata residents and pony rides for the children. Then join us on Sunday beginning at 9:30 am for a light breakfast and two special services: an informal Bible study at 9:50 am and a worship service at 11:00 am. On the following Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 7 pm we are holding special life-workshops for adults while the children will enjoy snacks, songs, and stories. We are planning a lot of fun (and free!) things for the whole family so I hope you can drop by. Look for an announcement for "Friends and Family Days" in today's paper for more details. If you have any questions please let me know. You can reach me at (215) 533-4395 or on the web at www.JuniataBlog.com. Our reasons for inviting you to Bethel' s Open House include more than just a few hours of fun. We have bigger things in mind. First, we want to provide an opportunity for neighbors in Juniata to get to know each other. This will be a healthier place the more that happens. After all, we can't help each other if we don't know each other. Who knows, maybe some close friendships could even be established! We would also like for you to stop by so we can encourage you. The city can be a discouraging place, but a relationship with God overcomes that. We love learning about God here. That takes place when we decide to turn our attention toward God and learn how wonderful He really is. As a matter of fact, eternal life doesn't even begin until we know God. Jesus Himself said, "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3). But, that is not all. The Bible promises that the more we know about God the more peace of mind we will have, and who doesn't need more of that! Notice the connection between knowing God and personal peace: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord" (2 Peter 1:2). In fact, the Scripture tells us that everything we could possibly need in this life comes through knowing Christ: "By [Christ's] divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3). We teach the Bible at Bethel Chapel because it is the only book that shows us how to know the one true God: "through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). Church should be a warm and caring place where love is felt and the Bible is taught. We believe that Bethel Chapel is one of those places. Come on by and see if you agree. See you Saturday!
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I avoid pain whenever I can. For example, I avoid dental work until I'm sure I have no other choice. I take Ibuprofen as soon as I feel a headache coming on. It's hard for me to think of pain as ever being good and yet the Bible says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials" (James 1:2). How could we possibly find joy in a trial?
I read a real life story about a young man in Australia that proves that it can be done. His name is Nick Vujicic. He was born on the morning of December 4th, 1982 in Melbourne. His birth was a shock to the doctors, the nurses, and especially his parents. He was a healthy baby – except that he had no arms and no legs. There was no warning that this was about to happen, and the parents were understandably devastated. There was no medical explanation for his condition. It just happened. How could a loving God allow such a awful tragedy? As Nick grew up he began to be very angry at God for making him the way he was. Out of desperation, he began to read the Bible. As he read, it began to change his life. The change started when he opened his Bible to Romans 8:28 and read these words, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." He realized that nothing happens by chance because "God causes all things" and that God will bring good out of every circumstance for those who follow Christ. Nick began to look for God's purpose behind his handicap. He wrote, "I had complete peace knowing that God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it all." Nick also read the story in John, chapter nine, where Jesus and His disciples saw a blind man. The disciples asked Jesus whose fault it was that this man was born blind. Jesus replied, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:3). Nick began to see that God's purpose for his disability was to display God's power. Nick put it this way, "I completely gave my life to Christ at the age of fifteen after reading John 9." Today Nick no longer wallows in self-pity. Notice how his attitude has changed: "I am now twenty-three years old and have completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Financial Planning and Accounting. I am also a motivational speaker and love to go out and share my story and testimony wherever opportunities become available. . . . I believe that if you have the desire and passion to do something, and if it's God's will, you will achieve it in good time. As humans, we continually put limits on ourselves for no reason at all! What's worse is putting limits on God who can do all things. We put God in a "box". The awesome thing about the Power of God, is that if we want to do something for God, instead of focusing on our capability, concentrate on our availability for we know that it is God through us and we can't do anything without Him." This quote is from a young man born with no arms and no legs! Our God is powerful enough to turn even seemingly great tragedies like this into wonderful triumphs. Let Him use your tragedies to bring you to Himself. You can read more about Nick and see some awesome pictures on his website: www.lifewithoutlimbs.org.
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We had a wonderful time at Bethel's first annual Juniata picnic on July 15th. Our greatest joy wasn't in all those hot dogs we grilled, the faces of the children that were painted, or the pony rides and balloons that we gave away. It wasn't even the many cars we washed for free or the family life work shops (which did give us interesting insights into how to live our everyday lives). The greatest thrill for us was the opportunity to meet so many of our neighbors. We met many of you for the first time who live only a block or two from our church. What a joy! I also had the privilege of meeting many of you who have been faithful readers of this column. I challenged you in a recent article to come out and celebrate Juniata's diversity, and many of you did just that. Thank you so much for coming.
Getting acquainted with new people is nice, but we all need something more. We all need deep, committed relationships, too. The Bible understands this need and explains how we can enjoy close meaningful relationships. The Apostle John explained that he was able to actually live with Jesus Christ. He then said, "What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete" (1 John 1:3-4). When a group of people let the good news about Christ invade their lives, they will have a relationship with Christ as well as a bond among themselves that nothing can match. Let me illustrate this truth. A man was hiking in the mountains out West when he saw a stone, a small one, about the size of a half-dollar, with smooth rounded edges. Ordinarily he would have passed it by since he wasn't a rock-hound. This stone, though, instantly caught his eye. It was special. Glinting in the sunlight, it seemed to reflect all the colors of the rainbow. He picked it up and slid the rock into his pocket. When he got home, he placed it in the top drawer of his dresser. He forgot about it for a while. Then one day he noticed it again. He was surprised to see that the stone had completely lost its splendor. It sat on his hand as a hard, gray chunk of nothing, just downright ugly. He couldn't believe it. What had happened to the special rock that had dazzled him just weeks before? Where was the sparkle and the colors that were so attractive? He carried the rock outside to throw it in the trash can in the backyard. Then, just as he opened the lid to the trash can, a beam of sunlight struck the stone. As if by magic, it began to shimmer, to radiate again. In an instant the ordinary looking rock began to shine brilliantly. Sunlight! That was the answer! The rays from the sun were all that the stone needed to come alive. Out relationships can be like that stone. Left to ourselves our lives are empty, colorless, and without meaning. When the incredible Glory of God shines on us we, can radiate a love that makes close relationships really possible. "If we walk in the Light as He [Jesus] Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another" (1 John 1:7). Are you walking in the light that Jesus gives?
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The summer heat is on, and that reminds us that this is a good time to get away (like we needed a reminder to take a vacation!). Many of you have been eagerly thinking about your vacation for a long time, and you have put in a lot of time preparing for that special getaway. The first step in planning any vacation, obviously, is figuring out where you are going That was important to the late Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes when at eighty-eight years old he decide to take a trip by train. When the conductor came by, Justice Holmes couldn't find his ticket, and he seemed terribly upset. He searched all of his pockets and fumbled through his wallet without success. The conductor was sympathetic. He said, "Don't worry, Mr. Holmes, the Pennsylvania Railroad will be happy to trust you. After you reach your destination you'll probably find the ticket, and you can just mail it to us." But the conductor's kindness failed to put Mr. Holmes at ease. Still very much upset, he said, "My dear man, my problem is not 'Where is my ticket?' The problem is, 'Where am I going?'" After all, you have to know where you want to go before you can figure out how to get there. All this got me to thinking about another "getaway" we are all headed for. I wonder how many of us are on this journey of life (something we only do once) without knowing where we are going. The Bible tells about a man named Nicodemus, who belonged to an elite religious ruling party. He began to wonder about this same thing. Because he wanted to know where he was going when this life was over, he decided to ask Jesus for His advice. Nicodemus didn't hear what he was expecting, though. Jesus hit him with a very startling truth. He told this very religious person that, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). All of Nicodemus's knowledge about religion was not enough. All of his good works and all of his religion were not enough. Of course deep in his heart Nicodemus must have known that he needed something more – that's why he felt the need to ask. What he needed (which is the same thing we all need) was a radical change on the inside first. He had to have that change before he could know that he was on the right track on his journey to heaven. This is how Jesus explained it, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Before we can know if we are traveling to heaven, we must be sure that we have had that radical change of heart. I am so glad that God is able to do that changing, because I know I can't change my own heart, let alone anyone else's. When we trust Christ, He changes our heart and changes our direction. Jesus, "bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24). It is so important to know for sure where we are going. We are all sitting on the train of life. Have you looked at your "ticket"? Do you know your final destination?
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I love a lot of things about Juniata, but more than anything else I love our diversity. On the 4000 block of "K" Street where I live, I am a white guy with neighbors who are Muslim, Asian, Hispanic, and African American, just to name a few. We get along, but I would love for us to get to know each other better. This weekly column has allowed me to do some of that. Over the last year and a half (I can't believe I have actually been writing this column that long!) I have been humbled by the encouraging comments that many of you have expressed to me. Thank you for reading this column so faithfully, because my sole purpose is to point you to the good news about Jesus Christ. I believe we should continue to work at getting closer to each other so, in a moment, I will explain another way that we at Bethel will help make that possible.
But first, let's look at what closeness really looks like according to the Bible. When Paul wrote the followers of Christ in Rome he told them to, "accept one another" (Romans 15:7). Who doesn't want to be accepted? That is difficult to do when we are very different from each other as well as self-focused, but it can happen. Let me show you how. We will get alone much better when we are more concerned about our neighbors than we are about ourselves: "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification" (Romans 15:1-2). Selfishness will always pull us apart. Then Paul explains that we can overcome our selfishness when we have hope (a calm assurance that God accepts us). We will only get that hope when we learn and believe what the Bible teaches because it is, "through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). This picture of closeness comes into sharp focus as we turn our attention toward God and learn how worthy He is of our worship. Paul puts it this way, "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 15:5-6). When we understand how freely God is willing to love His followers, then it becomes much easier to love our neighbors: "Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God" (Romans 15:7). Church should be a warm and caring place where love is felt. Bethel Chapel is one of those places. We would like to display that kind of love to Juniata, so this Saturday, July 15 th from 10 am to 2 pm you are invited to our Open House. The Open House is kicking off our "Friends and Family Days." There will be free hot dogs for everybody, free car washes for Juniata residents and pony rides for the children. Then join us on Sunday beginning at 9:30 am for a light breakfast and two special services to introduce you to our church. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 7 pm we are holding special life workshops for adults while the children will enjoy puppet shows, songs, and stories. Look for an announcement for "Friends and Family Days" in today's paper for more details. If you have any questions please let me know. You can reach me at (215) 533-4395. See you all Saturday!
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