As many of you know, Teresa and I have now embarked on our 50-day 50th anniversary journey. We have passed through Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. After four days on the road, covering over 2000 miles, we took a bus tour to the Grand Canyon, witnessing there one of the most spectacular sights in the American Southwest.

Our tour guide, Jason, was very knowledgeable of the area, and shared with us so much information about the area, beginning in Sedona all the way to the south rim of the Canyon. Much of what he shared was about the places we traveled through on our 2 1/2 hour trip from Sedona. When we got close to the Canyon, he began a very detailed discussion of how the canyon was formed, giving us a most elaborate diatribe on Darwinian evolution. His discourse went on for about 20 minutes, and when it was clear that he had finished, I thanked him for his obvious knowledge and understanding of the evolutionary process, and then asked if he was aware that evolution was not the only explanation for the existence of the canyon.

He then asked what I was speaking about, which opened the door for me to share the creation account from the Bible, and say to those who were part of our tour group that it is possible, even probable, that the canyon exists because God created it just the way it is. The couple sitting immediately in front of us nodded their heads in approval, while the rest of our small group remained silent.

I say this simply to illustrate the fact that God opens doors for us to share our Biblical faith in some of the most unexpected places – we simply need to be on the look-out for those opportunities. I’m not sure that the conversation between me and Jason had any bearing or significance to the others in our captive audience, but at least they were given both sides of the story, and the opportunity to choose for themselves.

Teresa and I are witnessing the majesty and grandeur of God’s creative activity. We see God everywhere. Others might observe the same sights and see God nowhere. It is all a matter of perspective. As our journey continues, we will be heading to Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and North and South Dakota before heading back toward home. We will see so much, and it will lead us to worship the Creator of it all. Why? Because we choose to believe God is now-here, while others believe God is no-where. It’s all in the eyes of the beholder.

Blessings!

Teresa and I have always loved taking a trip to the mountains – whether it be for a day, a week, or now, for fifty days. We are headed west to celebrate our fiftieth anniversary, with plans to visit New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and the Dakotas.

For me, part of the joy of such an adventure is all the planning that has to be done before the journey even begins. I have spent countless hours researching, looking for places to park our camper for the night, or for a few nights, at the different locations we have chosen to visit. I have also labored over deciding what we could do – and what we would not have time to do even though we would love to do it – in our limited time at each location. Believe me: there is so much to see at each place we plan to visit, so pick-and-choose has been a major task in planning this trip.

The excitement has been building for several months, and the day has finally arrived in which we have embarked on this much anticipated vacation/celebration. (For anyone who might be interested in traveling along with us, I will be posting pictures on Facebook at the end of each day – at least when we are in a location with wifi!!)

But, now to the point of this blog. All the time spent researching, reading, looking at travel videos, etc. etc. has caused me to ponder an extremely important matter: eternity. Life is a journey that will ultimately find its way into the eternal realm via death or the rapture of the church. Life, here and now, is the time for planning for that future beyond physical death. The Bible’s teaching is crystal clear: we will all, each and every one, spend eternity in one of two places: heaven or hell. There are no other choices.

The life we now live in these bodies of flesh and blood will one day end. Friends and family will gather at a graveside, listen to some comforting words from Scripture, and watch as our bodies are lowered into the ground and laid to rest. But before that moment, perhaps a few days before that graveside visit, physical life has ended, and we are ushered instantly into the eternal realm. Those who have been born into the family of God will be ushered into His presence, while those who are not of His family will be ushered into torment. Those ushered into His presence will then await the coming Judgment Seat of Christ and the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, while those not of God’s family will await the coming Great White Throne of God’s judgment.

The point is that now – in this present physical life – we are given ample opportunity to make plans for life after death. The journey, for the believer in Jesus Christ, should be one of continual and consistent seeking after the will of God, and the commitment to stay focused on finishing this physical life being able to exclaim, as did the Apostle Paul,

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8, NKJV

Right now, Teresa and I are enjoying a journey that has been in the planning stage for several months. But one day, we will enjoy that instantaneous journey which will take place when our last breath is drawn in this physical realm, and we are ushered into our final destination!

We are presently taking a trip hoping that you will travel along with us via pictures taken along the way. We would also love to see you on that ultimate and final journey when we finally meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face-to-face. Have you made plans for this most important of all journeys? If not, please do so before it is eternally too late. Trust Jesus today – and then we’ll see you over there.

Blessings!

It is very difficult to believe Teresa and I have been married 50 years, but, the calendar says it’s so, so I guess it is. Today, June 6, we celebrate 50 years of marriage. It has been my great privilege and pleasure to be married to the absolutely most wonderful woman imaginable.

I would like to say that it has always been a marriage filled with joy, happiness, contentment, and mutual satisfaction. And, for the most part, all of those sentiments are true of our relationship. However, it didn’t get off to the best start. Perhaps you have heard the story of how we met, and the whirlwind romance we experienced, but since it is the BIG one, I will share it again here.

Teresa and I met in a very unusual way. We met on a blind date, of sorts. Actually, it wasn’t a real date at all. Keith “Doc” Craig, Randy Marshall, and I had tickets to attend a Grand Funk Railroad concert. My fiancée (uh, yes, you read that right!) had to cancel out at the last minute, so I was left holding a ticket that would not be used. Randy’s date shared with him that she had a friend who would love to attend the concert, and since it would be a wasted ticket, I agreed to let her have it.

So, I drove to Teresa’s house, knocked on the door, and waited for a few seconds before the door opened. Immediately, an arm reached out of the door, grabbed me by the arm, jerked me in, and a voice shouted, “Sit down!” I was in a mild state of shock, having never met this 89-pound high school senior who was embroiled in a heated argument with her mother about whether she would be allowed to attend the concert with a long-haired, drum-playing hippy they had never met. Teresa adamantly and defiantly told her parents she was going, grabbed me by the arm once again, this time taking me out the door.

I honestly did not know what to think or how to react to this outrageous behavior. If this girl would talk to her parents in such a way as I had just witnessed, what could I expect from her? I was sincerely afraid of what might happen, so for a while I just sat there, not really saying anything. I was hoping that Doc or Randy, or Randy’s date, would engage in conversation with this ticking time bomb so that I could just sit back, relax, and say nothing until we arrived at the concert venue.

But, as the night progressed, we did engage in conversation, and before we got back to Teresa’s house at the end of the evening, I had fallen head over heels in love with this intriguing young woman. So much so, in fact, that two days later I proposed marriage! Yes, you read that right. We met on Sunday evening, February 25, and I proposed on Tuesday, February 27. I actually would have proposed on the 26th but I couldn’t get in touch with her.

I was so serious about proposing that I laid out of work on Tuesday, having made up my mind that the day would not end until I had talked with her, face-to-face. When I popped the question, Teresa reacted just as you would expect – she laughed. Out loud. Deep, hard, guttural, laughter. She, of course, thought I was joking. Who, after all, in their right mind, would propose marriage to a person they had just met? Well, that would be me.

To make what could be a long, long, story short, she did accept, and three months later we were married – June 6, 1973. And now, all these years later, we are still deeply, madly, in love. It hasn’t always been easy. There have been some rough spots along the way. As a matter of fact, just four years into the marriage we had decided to divorce. I was completely self-absorbed, self-centered, and self-serving. All I was interested in was ME. It was at this time that God graciously intervened in our lives, saved us, and set the course for our future. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Teresa has been and continues to be my best friend, my confidant, my soul-mate, my partner in ministry, my co-rider on roller coasters in as many amusement parks as we have been able to visit, the mother of our three children, the grandmother of our six grandchildren, the one who has kept me going when I wanted to quit, who encouraged me in attaining educational goals, writing goals, ministerial goals, and so much more.

I certainly don’t encourage others to follow the path of being married only three months after meeting, but by God’s grace it has worked out for us. And I emphasize that it has all been by God’s grace.

This coming Saturday we are setting out on a 50-day trip to celebrate 50 years of marriage. We have no idea how many more years we will have together on this side of eternity, but continuing in His grace, committing our lives and our marriage to Him, He will see us through to the end.

Teresa, I love you with all of my being, and can’t wait to see what the future holds as we walk into our golden years hand-in-hand and heart-in-heart.

Blessings!

In most cases, surrender is thought of in terms of defeat. A losing army surrenders to the conquering demands of their foes. The defeated army ceases to resist their enemy and submits to their authority. The conquering army will then make certain demands of their defeated foe, which could include the confiscation of weapons, the giving up of lands, the payment of monies to cover the costs of reparations, etc.

We can think of surrender in another very important way: as an individual surrendering his/her life to God. There are a few key verses that will help us understand this concept.

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Romans 5:10, NKJV

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

Romans 8:6-7, NKJV

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4, NKJV

At one point in our lives we were all the enemies of God. We were carnally minded, worldly minded, having our minds set on things of the earth rather than the things of God. Paul states clearly that the carnal mind is enmity against God due to the fact that it is not subject to the law of God. Then, James asserts that to be a friend with the world – the worldly system of anti-Christ sentiment – is to make oneself an enemy of God.

For one to cease to be an enemy of God calls for a total surrender to God. This requires an agreement with God that we were His enemies, that we acknowledge that reconciliation with Him is only possible through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, and that we are willing to make a total surrender to Him. This means a relinquishment of all my personal rights, and a commitment to His will for my life.

The first component of this surrender is salvation. We become children of God through the sacrificial death of Jesus. He paid the penalty for our sin, suffering the wrath of God that we should suffer. We are no longer enemies of God, but rather we are now children of God. In the act of salvation God justifies the sinner, imputing the righteousness of Christ to the account of the repentant sinner. We are no longer viewed by God as His enemy, but as His children, having been adopted into His family.

This leads to the second component of surrender: sanctification. This is a lifelong journey through which the surrendered individual becomes more and more like Jesus as we discard the old and replace it with the new. We are, as Paul says, new creations. Old things have passed away and all things have become new. To be sanctified is to be set apart for the glory of God.

Then, the third component of surrender is service. As we experience the continual and consistent work of sanctification, we learn that we are gifted to serve God in different ways. Every individual believer in Jesus Christ has at least one spiritual gift which is to be discovered, developed, and used to serve God through the many different ministries in the church.

In order for all of this to take place – the initial surrender of salvation, the continual surrender of sanctification, and the surrender to service – we must cast off the old and replace it with the new. We are dead to our old self, and alive to our new self. Paul states this clearly in his letter to the Galatians.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20, NKJV

Being crucified with Christ means that we are dead to our old self. We are now living by faith to the glory of God. It requires nothing less than total, absolute surrender. May it be so with each of us.

Blessings.

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-7, NKJV

Paul uses an interesting phrase here that can be understood in two distinct ways. The phrase is: “The Lord is at hand.” First, this could be understood as referring to the Lord’s presence, here and now. It is true that the Lord is at hand – He is our very present help in times of trouble. He never leaves nor forsakes us. He is always with us in every eventuality of life. This should give us a great sense of comfort and encouragement, while at the same time giving us a sense of admonition and instruction in the ways of God.

But, the phrase, “the Lord is at hand,” could also be thought of in terms of His coming for His bride, the church. The Lord’s return is imminent – it could happen at any moment. There is nothing Bibically that needs to be fulfilled before Jesus comes back. It could happen at any moment.

So, the Lord is at hand, here and now, but also in relation to His coming again. As we give consideration to that phrase in this passage, it is clear that Paul uses it in conjunction with several other words or phrases in these verses. Let’s give some consideration to some of these.

First, Paul says that we should let our gentleness be known to all men – the Lord is at hand. It appears that Paul is saying that the fact that the Lord is at hand should be a motivating factor in our being gentle with others. The term ‘gentleness’ denotes a non-retaliatory spirit. We are to guard our actions and attitudes toward others, making sure that we are not seeking revenge against those who have hurt us in some way. We are to maintain a gentle spirit in our dealings with others.

Second, Paul encourages his readers to be anxious for nothing – the Lord is at hand. Are you an anxious person? What is it that causes your anxiety level to skyrocket? What brings on a panic attack? Paul would have us understand that if we can keep our minds focused on the fact that the Lord is at hand – He is that present help in our times of difficulty – then our anxiety should be replaced with the sensation of peace. We will come back to that thought momentarily.

Third, we hear Paul say that we should present our requests to God by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving – the Lord is at hand. In the context, this call to prayer is tied to the idea of anxiety. Don’t be anxious, but go to God in prayer, with a spirit of thanksgiving driving our time with God. He is worthy of all praise, so as we go to Him in prayer, being motivated by a spirit of sincere thanksgiving, our anxieties will begin to melt away in His powerful presence.

Finally, Paul says that the peace of God is ours to experience and enjoy – the Lord is at hand. We do not have to be overwhelmed by the cares and the concerns of this life, because the Lord is at hand. His presence gives us His peace. Here, Paul uses the phrase, “the peace of God.” This is an interesting concept that deserves some serious consideration.

There is another phrase Paul uses in his letter to the Romans that should be given some thought before we look at the phrase in Philippians.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1, NKJV

In Romans Paul uses the phrase, “peace with God,” whereas in Philippians he uses the phrase, “the peace of God.” Peace with God comes about as the result of being justified, of being saved, born into the family of God. Peace with God is a byproduct of being at peace with God. One cannot experience the peace of God without first being at peace with God.

But once one has been born again into God’s family by the power of salvation provided by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, then he is in the standing of being at peace with God, and he then experiences the peace of God which alleviates our anxieties as we cast them upon God’s grace through prayer.

So, take heart as we are reminded of God’s great promise that He is at hand. He is here, now, and He is coming! His presence in the present sees us through those dark experiences of life, and the promise of His coming gives us confidence that there is coming a time when we will experience the fullness of His grace as we are ushered into His eternal presence.

Be anxious for nothing – the Lord is at hand!

Blessings.

The smoke of the grill wafting through the air. The smell of hamburgers and hotdogs causing our mouths to water with anticipation. The gathering of family and friends to enjoy a day off work. Cornhole, hillbilly golf, lawn darts, and other fun outdoor games are set up and ready for the competition. Fun conversation, laughter, and maybe even some serious conversations about the concerns of the day as we try to resolve all the world’s problems are all shared as the day proceeds.

We all enjoy a day off, a day to relax as we take a break from the daily routine. We especially enjoy gathering with friends and family, relishing every moment we are able to spend together.

But let’s not forget the significance of this day. In the midst of the festivities of the day, let’s not forget that the reason we can enjoy days such as this is because of those who cannot enjoy days such as this. And they can’t because they paid the ultimate price in order for us to enjoy such days as this.

Multitudes of Americans have given all for us – for our nation – so that we might continue to enjoy the liberties and freedoms which are ours as citizens of this great nation. On this day of remembrance let’s not forget to remember with gratitude and thanksgiving the sacrifices of these brave men and women who willingly put themselves in positions and places of grave danger, knowing that it might cost them everything. But they freely went, freely served, and freely died for us.

On this Memorial Day let’s not forget, but rather let us thank God for those who were willing to give all for us.

Blessings!

Have you ever stopped to consider the multitudes of divisions that exist among the human family? It is really remarkable when you stop to think about it. There are ethnic divisions, economic divisions, societal divisions, cultural divisions, language divisions, political divisions, educational divisions, philosophical divisions, theological divisions, and the list goes on and on.

Sometimes these divisions will result in one person thinking that he is better than the other. An educated individual may look down on an uneducated individual. A wealthy person may look down on someone who struggles to make ends meet. Someone who would be considered to be a member of “high society” may look down on someone who is not on their level of societal sophistication. And again, the comparisons go on and on.

My question is, what causes one person to think that he is better than another? Do any of these divisions make one person better, more important, than another? Are the rich better than the poor? Are the sophisticated better than the unsophisticated? Are the educated better than the uneducated? Where did these divisions come from, and why are they so seemingly important among the human family?

For those of us who would identify ourselves as disciples of Jesus Christ, we would acknowledge the fact that the Bible recognizes such divisions. There are clear ethnic divisions. The Jewish people clearly believed that they were better than others. Their rabbis actually taught that the only thing Gentiles were good for was to fuel the fires of hell! That is certainly a clear line of delineation.

But what does the Bible teach about such divisions? First of all, we learn from Scripture that every individual human being is part of the human family. We are all created in the image of God. Thus, my reason for using the term “human family”. This family consists of all humans regardless of those divisions we have superimposed on the family.

There was an incident in the life of Jesus which perhaps will help us understand this concept a little better.

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’

Matthew 18:2-4, NKJV

This statement of Jesus was given in response to a question posed by the disciples concerning who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. When you think about it, this question was the epitome of arrogance. This question was couched in their understanding of the Jewish people being the greatest people of the human family, but it also showed their belief that among the Jewish family there existed a hierarchy. They believed that some were better, greater, than others.

So, what did Jesus do? He sat a little child in the midst of these ‘important’ people, and used the example of the child to bring them all down a few notches. ‘Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’

What do you think we are to learn from incident? What was the lesson Jesus was attempting to teach His disciples? We could discuss all the characteristics of a child, and learn some very important lessons for sure. But let’s keep in mind the question posed by the disciples that prompted this ‘teaching moment’. They asked who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and Jesus pointed to a child to give answer. Their question was based on division, and Jesus’ answer clearly showed that there is no division.

When children are together, they have no concept of division. All the children of the world – the reds, the yellows, the blacks, and the whites – play together indiscriminately. They give no consideration to the color of skin, to the economic/social status of their playmate’s parents, to the political affiliation of those parents, to the labels on the clothing of their playmates. No, none of these man-made divisions are acknowledged. They don’t come along until after the children are taught these divisions by ‘well-meaning adults’.

Billy Graham said in many of his sermons, ‘The ground is level at the foot of the cross.’ No one is on higher, or lower ground. We are all in equal need of a Savior, and this Savior, Jesus Christ, is no respecter of persons.

Let’s not give ourselves over to the erroneous thinking that someone is better than someone else simply because of some man-made notion that divisions exist. Let’s embrace the Bible’s teaching about the we are all created in the image of God, and that yes, indeed, we are all standing on level ground at the foot of the cross.

Blessings!

When you were a child, did you ever play with silly putty? It’s really amazing stuff! You can roll it, shape it, put it into a mold, or freehand it to make pretty much anything you can imagine. Then, when you are ready to make something new, all you have to do is wad it all up and start over. Fun stuff, indeed!

It’s fun to play games with silly putty, but it is not so much fun to observe the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual calisthenics some individuals jump through to conform themselves. They want so desperately to fit in with the crowd that they are willing to literally change their beliefs and behaviors to conform to the world’s standards. This is happening at an alarming rate in our present cultural and societal setting.

The apostle Paul, in his correspondence with believers in Rome, had much to say about this subject. Read carefully the following:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1-2, NKJV

Paul uses two words to draw a sharp contrast for his readers: conformed and transformed. First, he cites the negative: Do not be conformed to this world. To be conformed to this world is to be forced into the mold of worldly attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and actions. I googled the word ‘conformity’ and the following definition/explanation was given:

Conformity is the tendency for an individual to align their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors with those of the people around them. It can take the form of overt social pressure or subtler, unconscious influence. Conformity denotes a wide-ranging phenomenon in which people (intentionally or unintentionally) shift their behavior or beliefs to fit in with a larger group.

Wow! Is this not an apt description of what we are seeing in our present cultural state? Are we not witnessing a mass movement in the direction of conformity to the cultural standards which are being accepted as ‘normal behavior’? Mainstream media celebrates and applauds lifestyles that are in direct contrast and opposition to the clear teachings of Scripture. This is something we would expect from non-believers, but it is not something that should be expected from followers of Jesus Christ. However, the trend is clear: Professing believers in Jesus Christ are becoming more and more conformed to cultural standards rather than being transformed by the renewing of their minds by the transformational teaching of the Word of God.

This trend has been steadily increasing for quite a while now, evidenced by the following excerpt from research done by Pew Research Center. The article is entitled, “Most US Christian Groups Grow More Accepting of Homosexuality”.

Acceptance of homosexuality is rising across the broad spectrum of American Christianity, including among members of churches that strongly oppose homosexual relationships as sinful… a majority of U.S. Christians (54%) now say that homosexuality should be accepted, rather than discouraged, by society… Among Christians, this trend is driven partly by younger church members, who are generally more accepting of homosexuality than their elder counterparts. 

Perhaps one reason younger church members are generally more accepting of homosexuality is because they are growing up in a cultural setting in which homosexual relationships are the norm of society. They see nothing wrong with it because it is so common.

But Paul says that we are not to be conformed to the world, but rather we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, bringing all under subjection to the teachings of the Bible. Our conformity is to be to God’s Word, not the ways of the world.

I respect anyone’s right to choose any lifestyle they prefer, but I refuse to be forced into conformity to those that are contrary to the clear teachings of Scripture. My desire is to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. I have a long way to go, but I choose to remain on the path of Biblical transformation rather than worldly conformity. And, I encourage all who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ to strive to have our minds transformed as we turn to the pages of Scripture for our understanding of God’s ways and will for us.

Blessings!

On the same day, when evening had come, He [Jesus] said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.’ Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’

Mark 4:35-38, NKJV

How quickly things change! In a moment, in the blink of an eye, the unexpected happens. Plans made long ago are shattered. What had been an exciting and adventurous future is now altered irrevocably due to the unforeseen that has now crashed into our personal arena.

Can you imagine how the disciples must have felt? Jesus has instructed them to get into a boat and then sail to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They did as He said, obediently following His instructions. Soon after the journey begins, Jesus, exhausted from the days activities, falls asleep.

It wasn’t long before the sailing vessel is being tossed about by the winds of a raging storm. These storms were quite common on the Sea of Galilee, so it was nothing that at least four of the disciples – Peter, Andrew, James and John – hadn’t experienced in the past. They were fishermen, after all, and would have known that such storms could come up without any forewarning. These four should have known what to do in order to maneuver the boat through the storm.

However, this storm must have been so violent that even these seasoned fishermen were in fear for their lives. So what do they do? They awaken Jesus! Four men who have been out in their fishing vessels many times, undoubtedly having had to maneuver their boat through stormy waters on previous occasions, awaken Jesus, a carpenter, because of their immense fear.

There are several lessons to be learned from this passage. First, it teaches us that storms in life can come at any time. We make our plans. Short-range plans; long-range plans; annual plans; retirement plans. We have everything mapped out to make sure our dreams are within reach. As the fulfillment of those plans draw closer, the excitement begins to build. But then, life happens. The unexpected occurs. Plans have to be discarded. Our peace is shattered with devastating news. The excitement of the coming adventure is replaced with the anxiety of the moment. Our peace is replaced with chaos.

Second, we learn from this story that when these storms arise even the strongest and stoutest are reduced to a state of fear and intimidation. Those four seasoned fishermen show us that these unexpected occurrences will bring us to our knees. Fear sets in; panic soon follows; a sense of total helplessness becomes the rule of the moment. We quickly forget the joy of the journey as the unexpected detour takes us down a path we neither planned nor wanted.

A third lesson is seen in the response of the disciples: they awaken Jesus. In one sense this is quite humorous, as these seasoned fishermen turn to a carpenter in their moment of panic. But in another sense, it is not humorous at all. These men, along with the others, are in fear of losing their lives due to the intensity of the storm. So, they turn to Jesus.

We don’t know exactly why they awaken Jesus. They go to Him and say, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’ In their state of frenzy and fear, they run to the Lord. At least they got this right: when our peace is replaced with chaos, our first response should be to run to Jesus.

One final lesson to be learned is that we can trust Jesus in the midst of the storm. Jesus rebuked the storm, causing it to immediately cease. The violent wind, and the crashing waves, stopped at Jesus’ command. The storm was not in control: Jesus was! No matter what the storm, or the intensity of the storm, or the sense of hopelessness and helplessness in the midst of the storm, the Lord is in control. So, Jesus rebuked the storm, and He rebuked the disciples for their fear of the storm.

This turned out to be a tremendous experience for the disciples, as they witnessed firsthand the astounding power of the Lord. No matter how overwhelming and insurmountable the storm may seem, He still has all things well in hand. There is peace in the midst of the storm.

What storm are you facing today? Does it have you engulfed in a sense of hopelessness? Has it consumed your every thought? Can you not see beyond the present moment of crisis, realizing that Jesus is in control? By faith, turn to Jesus. Even if it is just a little faith compelled by an enormous fear, turn to Jesus. And, by faith, look beyond the storm into the peace that will surely follow. That will get us through.

Shalom!

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Ephesians 5:1-2, NKJV

Our lives influence others. Like it or not, you are someone’s role model. Someone is watching you, observing the way you conduct yourself, learning lessons from the life you are living. Thus the importance of striving to live as a good example for others to imitate.

Believers in Jesus Christ should be good role models for others to observe. Our lives should bear character traits which we have learned by following Christ. As we study the life of Jesus we begin to see clearly how all that He did was focused on glorifying His Father and striving to lead others to embrace the truth of His message of grace. He embodied behavioral patterns which showed clearly that His life was lived with purpose. So should ours.

The apostle Paul gave clear words of instruction on how to embody the same behavioral patterns as did Jesus. Reading on in the passage quoted above, he says:

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Ephesians 5:3-7, NKJV

Sound words of instruction, and sobering words of warning! Not only does Paul teach that our lives should be good examples of Christlike behavior, but that lives lived in such a way as to disparage the name of Christ have no hope of eternal life in heaven with Christ.

The Bible makes it clear that once one has been born again into the family of God, his/her life should begin the process of becoming more and more conformed to the image of Christ. Again, turning to the words of Paul, we learn some key principles of making this a reality. Paul speaks of putting off and putting on. Listen carefully to his words.

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:20-24, NKJV

Paul then follows this with specific examples of how to put off the old and put on the new (see Ephesians 5:25-32 for his wise counsel). The life of the believer should bear the family traits of being a child of God, not a child of the world. Before being saved by the glorious grace of God, my life bore the character traits of worldliness. After being born again into God’s family, my life began to take on the character traits of Jesus Christ. It has been an ongoing process that began on September 13, 1977, and continues to the present. It will continue until the day I am called from this life by way of death or the rapture.

Hopefully, when people see me now, they see more of Jesus in me than they did last year, or five years ago, or forty-six years ago. Hopefully, if they see me again next year, they will see still more of Jesus in me as I strive to put off the old and replace it with the new.

How about you? Have you embraced some worldly actions and attitudes that need to be discarded and replaced with Godly actions and attitudes? When you gaze into the mirror of God’s word, does your reflection depict true Godliness, or does it reveal worldly-mindedness which needs to be discarded and replaced? Are you living a lifestyle which is clearly denounced in Scripture? Are you engaged in relationships which are denounced by the Bible? Are you involved in activities which are clearly identified as sinful? Then it is time to put off the old, and put on the new. Then, and only then, will we be able to truly influence others in a Godly, Christ-honoring way.

Let me close with a reminder of some words spoken by Jesus Himself:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16, NKJV

Let’s heed this strong word of admonition, and shine for Jesus.

Blessings!