The Feast

There will be many surprises in God’s Kingdom. Some who are despised now will be greatly honored then; some influential people here will be left outside the gates. Many “great” people on this earth (in God’s eyes) are virtually ignored by the rest of the world. What matters to God is not a person’s earthly popularity, status, wealth, heritage, or power, but his or her commitment to Christ. How do your values match what the Bible tells you to value? Put God in first place, and you will join people from all over the world who will take their places at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.

On Whose Terms?

The statement “I and the Father are one” is the clearest statement of Jesus’ divinity he ever made. Jesus and his Father are not the same person, but they are one in essence and nature. Thus Jesus was not merely a good teacher He is God. His claim to be God was unmistakable. The religious leaders wanted to kill him because their laws said that anyone claiming to be God should die. Nothing could persuade them that Jesus’ claim was true. Jesus tried to correct their mistaken ideas, but they clung to the wrong idea of what kind of Messiah God would send. Such blindness still keeps people away from Jesus. They want him on their own terms; they do not want him if it means changing their whole lives. Have you accepted Jesus on his terms?

Laying It Down

Jesus is God, thus he could say that he would both lay down his life and take it back again. Jesus’ death and resurrection, as part of God’s plan for the salvation of the world, were under God’s full control. No one could kill Jesus without his consent. It was important that Jesus die on the cross to take the punishment for sin, but it was also important that he rise from the dead. The resurrection of Christ is the center of the Christian faith. Because Christ rose from the dead as he promised, we know that what he said is true—he is God. Because he rose, we have certainty that our sins are forgiven. Because he rose, he lives and represents us to God. Because he rose and defeated death, we know we will also be raised.

Discovering Your Purpose

Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4 )

What divine plan did God have in mind when he created you? What role does he want you to play in his great and masterful purpose for all humanity? Why did he equip you with your specific gifts and talents? Isn’t that what we all desire to understand?
God doesn’t always tell us what he is doing, but he always works to prepare us for it. One of the ingredients of faith is a willingness to follow God on a “need to know” basis (when we need to know, he will tell us). We trust that God knows what he is doing, even when we don’t. Our job is simply to let God be God and to focus instead on his specific plan for our life. We don’t need to understand the whole game of chess. We simply need to be in the right spot on the board when he wants to move us.

But how do we know what role he has in mind for us? That’s something that God readily reveals if we seek the answer. We may not understand his ultimate plan for our life, but we can know his plan for us today. If you are seeking God’s purpose for your life, there are four good places to start. These suggestions are neither inspired nor exhaustive—just a good place to begin.

First, settle in your heart the truth that you were created for a purpose. If you believe that your existence is accidental and your purpose undefined, you will never be able to grasp God’s divine plan for you.

Second, recognize your unique gifts and talents. Understand your personality traits, your aptitudes, and interests. What do you do better than anyone you know? Write these things out if you need to.

Third, articulate the desires of your heart. What are you passionate about? What makes you happy, angry, sad, or exasperated? What have you always wanted to accomplish in life yet never felt equipped to carry out?

Fourth, seek God’s guidance with all your heart. Pray that he would bring his will into focus. When you read his Word, pray that he would lead you to confirming passages of Scripture. Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. Watch the circumstances around you to see what God is trying to tell you. Seek his will for your life, and you will find it.

Planned Parenthood: Aiding and Abetting Kidnappers?

Another cover-up by a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic spells more trouble for the organization's track record on sexual abuse cases. Police in Connecticut confirmed that employees of Planned Parenthood performed an abortion on a 15-year-old girl who was a victim of statutory rape without reporting the incident to state authorities. According to the report, the girl wouldn't name a father to clinic workers, but a paternity test on the baby's remains concluded that 41-year-old Adam Gault was responsible. This is the latest in a long line of accusations that Planned Parenthood has performed abortions on victims of sexual abuse with little or no regard for the situation of the frightened young girls before them. Connecticut, in its wisdom, has no law requiring parental involvement in abortion. This fact clearly aided Gault in his criminal assault. None of this excuses Planned Parenthood's lack of curiosity about the victim they ought to have detected and rescued from this predator.

Dems Try to Pass Gas...Tax

In the wake of the Minneapolis tragedy, a new CNN poll shows that a majority of Americans are worried that another bridge will collapse. But, much to the liberals' dismay, that doesn't mean they're willing to accept a tax increase to help inspect and repair them! Of those surveyed, 65 percent oppose the Democrats' plan to force new taxes on the country to address the infrastructure problem. Playing on the country's fear, House Democrats seized on the Minneapolis disaster as an excuse to raise the gas tax by five cents. According to the leadership, that new money would be directed to a "trust fund" for fixing highway bridges. Conservatives, including President Bush, are loudly criticizing the idea. He promises to veto any tax hikes that reach his desk. "My suggestion would be that [Congress] revisit the process by which they spend gasoline money in the first place," the President said. He's right. Congress keeps wasting taxpayer money on pet projects, then, when their out-of-control spending leaves nothing to meet Americans' real needs, they demand more! It's time to stop building "bridges to nowhere" and start rebuilding taxpayers' trust.

Life Begins at 40

A new campaign sweeping through U.S. cities is hoping to remind Americans that the most effective weapon in the fight against abortion is prayer. As part of a 40 Days for Life initiative, more than 20 cities have signed up to participate in 24-hour prayer vigils outside their local abortion center. From September 26 to November 4, thousands of volunteers will spend over 960 hours interceding on behalf of children in the womb and their mothers and fathers. The model is based on the biblical 40-day periods in which God worked miracles through Noah, Moses, David, Elijah, and Jesus. Organizers have already experienced similar wonders in cities that conducted their own vigils earlier this year. As a testament to the event's impact, seven cities are reporting results that range from a 28 percent reduction in abortion to recruitment of over 1,000 pro-life volunteers. In Dallas, 14 women reconsidered their abortions, and neighboring Houston noted that area pregnancy care centers had over 120 appointments from moms who didn't follow through on their scheduled abortions. To take part in this life-changing movement, log on to www.40daysforlife.com and witness the kind of difference your community can make on this important debate.

A Passionate Church

A deep sense of awe came over them all. (Acts 2:43 )

Friedrich Nietzsche, the German existentialist philosopher, once wrote of a madman who charged into the marketplace of a medieval town. The man leaped onto the steps of the cathedral and cried out to the crowd, “I want a requiem mass! I want a requiem mass!”

“Who has died?” the people asked him.

“God is dead!” the madman answered. The crowds immediately began to mock and condemn the man for his statement of blasphemy, and when they finished, the man retorted, “If God is not dead, then why have the churches become mortuaries?”

It’s a good question for all of us, isn’t it? God is certainly alive and well, but you would have a hard time telling it by some of the church services I’ve seen. I have visited some churches and attended their services and throughout the entire service attendees sat motionless, seldom smiling, never once appearing to enjoy themselves. The songs were stale, the prayers dull and lifeless, and the sermon unemotional. It felt more like attending the funeral of an unbeliever than worshiping a risen Savior.

The church I attend (Calvary Chapel Kendall) is an exciting place to be. Our worship is lively and meaningful, the pastor is alive and engaging, and people exude a love for God and each other. My kids can’t wait to get to church on Sunday mornings. For our family, worship is the most enjoyable part of our week. And that’s how church is supposed to be!

Listen to how Luke describes the church of the first century: “All the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had …. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-47 ).

Life is too short and faith is too precious to be spent in a dead, lukewarm church. If you’ve found yourself in such a place, my advice would be to run and not look back. Find a life-giving church made up of a passionate group of believers. Find the kind of church that Jesus would attend.

Have you lost the passion you once had for Jesus? What are some concrete things you can do to recapture your excitement for Christ?

Taking a Risk

When we accept Jesus into our lives to be our Lord and Savior this decision often results in conflict. He demands a response, so intimate groups may be torn apart when some choose to follow him and others refuse to do so. There is no middle ground with Jesus. Loyalties must be declared and commitments made, sometimes to the point of severing other relationships. Are you willing to risk your family’s disapproval in order to gain eternal life?

Getting Ready

Christ’s return at an unexpected time is not a trap, a trick by which God hopes to catch us off guard. In fact, God is delaying his return so more people will have the opportunity to follow him (see 2 Peter 3:9 ). Before Christ’s return we have time to live out our beliefs and to reflect God’s love as we relate to others.
People who are ready for their Lord’s return are (1) not hypocritical, but sincere (Luke 12:1 ); (2) not fearful, but ready to witness (Luke 12:4-9 ); (3) not worried, but trusting (Luke 12:25-26 ); (4) not greedy, but generous (Luke 12:34 ); (5) not lazy, but diligent (Luke 12:37 ). May your life be more like Christ’s so that, when he comes, you will be ready to greet him joyfully.

Treasure Hunt

God does not command all believers to sell everything they have. What he wants is believers who hold their possessions loosely, willing to sell or give away in order to help someone else.

Money seen as an end in itself quickly traps us and cuts us off from both God and the needy. The key to using money wisely is to see how much we can use for God’s purposes, not how much we can accumulate for ourselves. Does God’s love touch your wallet? Does your money free you to help others? Where do you put your time, money, and energy? What do you think about most? Consider how you should change the way you use your resources in order to reflect Kingdom values more accurately.

At the Center

Worry is pointless because it can’t fill any of our needs; worry is foolish because the Creator of the universe loves us and knows what we need. He promises to meet all our real needs, but not necessarily all our desires.

Seeking the Kingdom of God means making Jesus the Lord and King of your life. He must control every area, your work, play, plans, relationships. Is the Kingdom only one of your many concerns, or is it central to all you do? Are you holding back any areas of your life from God’s control? As Lord and Creator, he wants to help provide what you need as well as guide how you use what he provides.

A Winnable War

I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy. (Luke 10:19 )

If you find yourself constantly losing the battle against temptation, then something is desperately wrong. If Satan is getting the upper hand in your life, consistently getting you to fall into sin, maybe you need to change your approach to spiritual warfare. The enemy is a cunning and skillful foe, but he is no match for the Holy Spirit that lives within each and every believer. The only way Satan can win the battle is for Christians to stifle the work of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit empowers us as believers to overcome the forces of evil as well as our sinful nature. Before we accepted Christ as Savior we had no power to combat temptation, but now we do. We have a force greater than ourselves living within us and helping us in our weaknesses. And if we are falling into sin often, it means that we are squelching the work of the Spirit.

"I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy," Jesus says in Luke 10:19 . The power that Jesus gives to us as his followers is all we need to overcome Satan. When we walk in the Spirit, we have the ability to stay focused and resist evil. When we fall, it is because we are trying to do it on our own.

The beauty of spiritual warfare is that it is a battle we can win every time. It's a war that God fights on our behalf. And with the Holy Spirit's help, we can overcome.

How are you doing in your struggle against temptation? What should you do to invoke the power of the Holy Spirit in your behalf?

Shackling Hands that Heal

According to USA Today, doctors are becoming more vocal about their opposition to drugs and procedures that violate their religious beliefs. As controversial drugs like the morning-after pill and RU-486 become more prevalent, several states have offered "conscience protections" for health care providers. Forty-six states now allow physicians to refuse to perform abortions, but the number falls to just 13 which uphold a doctors' right not to dispense contraception. For some doctors, the list of objectionable services keeps growing to include everything from Viagra to certain fertility treatments. Genetic technology and other biotech inventions are likely only to rapidly multiply practices that challenge medical ethics. As the ranks of emboldened doctors grow, so too do the lawsuits. In California, one such case involving a doctor who would not offer fertility treatment to a lesbian couple has reached the state's Supreme Court. Sadly, far too many Americans view health care providers as robots or vending machines. The time has come for every state to pass laws that reassure the medical field that moral convictions are not an occupational hazard.

Living and Dying for Christ in Afghanistan

In a crisis that seems to have gone almost unnoticed by the American press, members of the Afghani Taliban raided a bus of South Korean Christians on July 19, taking 23 mission workers hostage. The latest reports are sad. According to Taliban leaders, a second captive was killed last Wednesday, Bae Hyung Kyu, a minister who turned 42 on the same day as his murder and who leaves behind a young family. If the Afghani government refuses to respond, the radicals threaten to execute other missionaries, who are said to be in poor health since their capture. This crisis underlines the point that U.S. policy must support securing religious freedom for everyone. For example, ancient Christian communities are suffering dreadfully in Iraq from Islamic extremists. It may be time for the U.S. and the international community to insist on the establishment of a safe harbor zone in Iraq for these communities. At the same time, while the South Koreans held hostage in Afghanistan face circumstances and fear unfathomable to most of us, please pray for their peace, comfort, safety, and, most importantly, swift release.

Real Prescription for Health Care Reform

For all the liberal talk of universal health care, relatively few words have been devoted to the universal costs of such a plan. Obviously, ensuring that every American has health care is a worthy goal, but surely there's a more effective way of achieving it than asking taxpayers to foot the multi-billion dollar burden for a bureaucratic-driven scheme. Under one of the Democrats' major proposals, Sen. Max Baucus's (D-Mont.) plan to expand the SCHIP program, roughly four million Americans would be guaranteed health insurance, but millions more would be forced to pay for it through a string of federal tax hikes. While the majority's plan spends more and covers less, Senators Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) have devised a plan that would increase the number of people who would receive coverage by 20 million over the liberals' plan without spending a penny more than we pay now. To encourage more people to find their own health care, the Every American Insured Act would offer new incentives for people to find health coverage, including tax credits that could total up to $5,400 per family and $2,160 per person to help cover the costs. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, this "budget-neutral" approach would help insure 24 million people in the next decade six times what liberals promise under Baucus's bill. However, as Bob Moffit of the Heritage Foundations points out, notice which approach the Senate leadership is pushing "the least effective and costliest option available." I commend these Senate conservatives for working within the system to find a solution that makes health care affordable without vast government intrusion or expense.

Fear?

To "fear" God means to honor and respect him as the almighty, sovereign God, the ruler of the universe. We don't have to be afraid and run from him, because he loves us. But we must submit to his authority and obey him.

Fear of opposition or ridicule can weaken our witness for Christ. Often we cling to peace and comfort, even at the cost of our walk with God. Jesus reminds us that we should fear God who controls eternity, not merely temporal consequences. Our true value is God's estimate of our worth, not our peers'. Other people evaluate and categorize us according to how we perform, what we achieve, and how we look. But God cares for us, as he does for all of his creatures, because we belong to him. So we can face life without fear.

A Book’s Cover

God does not judge by external appearance. (Galatians 2:6 , niv)

Dodie Gadient was a fifth-grade schoolteacher who decided one day to take a vacation. She’d been teaching her students about the wonderful landmarks throughout the country and decided to see them for herself. So she hopped into her truck with a camper in tow and launched out on a drive across America.

Just outside of Sacramento, while rounding a curve on I-5, the water pump on her truck started blowing steam. Dodie tried to pull over, but her large camper still took up half the lane. Cars backed up for miles and angry drivers honked in irritation as they slowly edged around her, but no one stopped to help. Leaning against the trailer, Dodie was near tears when she began to pray. “Please, God, send me an angel … preferably one with mechanical experience.” Within a few minutes a huge Harley drove up and parked in front of her. A large tattooed man with black hair and a full beard stepped off of it. He was sporting a black leather jacket with “Hell’s Angels” emblazed on the back. Dodie froze with fear.

Without saying a word, the man glanced at Dodie and went to work on her truck. Within minutes he had flagged down a large truck and convinced the driver to tow them to a safer spot away from traffic. Then he calmly opened the hood and started removing the broken water pump. Before long he had the truck put back together and running smoothly. Dodie summoned the courage to tell him thanks and then carried on a brief conversation. Before leaving the man looked her straight in the eye and said, “Don’t judge a book by its cover. You may not know who you’re talking to.” With that he smiled and drove away.

Some people have a bad habit of crawling out of the boxes we put them into. Just when we think we have them labeled right, they do something to prove us wrong. I’m just as guilty as anyone of placing motives and attaching blame based on the little information I have. And I’m sure others have been quick to do the same with me. But that’s a shallow way to live and an unhealthy pattern to get into. “God does not judge by external appearances,” Paul tells us (Galatians 2:6 , niv), and neither should we. People deserve the benefit of our doubt. And we deserve the benefit of theirs.