Recognizing the “Real Deal”

Recently our family took our annual far West Texas trip and spent several days on a ranch filled with everything five grandsons could dream of. Snakes, Javelinas, antelope, deer, rock climbing sheep (Aoudad), rabbit, and real active lion trails with covered traps!! But perhaps this year the biggest surprise for the five grandsons was getting to meet a “real deal” cowboy. The boys met Clay as he suddenly appeared on horseback from the front side of the mountain we were near. As the boys met Clay we found out that he was checking lion traps as they had an active lion in that particular area of the ranch. The boys were dazzled at meeting a real cowboy, complete with real boots and spurs to go with them! They knelt down and had to touch his spurs. Now when the boys are back home they will be able to recognize the real cowboy from the “drugstore” cowboy. Once you meet the “real deal” cowboy, you will always be able to separate the trying to be cowboys. I cannot help but think that it should be that way in our Christian life. I pray that once someone has met you or me that Christ is so real in our lives that our friends will know we are Christ’s without Christian necklaces, tattoos and Christian designer clothes hanging all over us. We went away from visiting with Clay that day that he was cowboy from the inside-out. My sincere prayer is that when our friends walk away from each of us that claim Christ as our Savior and Lord, that they will know that we are His from the inside-out!

Getting Home Before Dark

Vance Havner was not a big man and did not have a particularly booming voice when he preached. As a matter of fact, he was the opposite in voice, being modestly soft spoken in his older age. However, God’s presence was all over this little man. He spoke to thousands and most will always remember their time listening to the convicting preaching of Vance Havner. As he approached his final years in life (in his eighties), he would often say or pray “….and Lord, I ask You to please get me home before dark.”  When asked by a curious listener what he meant by that statement Vance Havner informed the inquirer that he wanted to cross life’s final moment on earth as a good and faithful servant of the Lord. He said he was so aware of the many pitfalls that surround us all that can bring dishonor and shame to the great name of Jesus Christ. Havner wanted to finish his life bringing glory and honor to Jesus’ name through his life that he believed his Savior so deserved. He further informed the listener that for all of us, this is only accomplished through the grace of God. How true! I wish I could tell my young preacher friends that the temptations of this world begins to fade away as one reaches a more maturing age in life. Not so! Flesh will always be present in this earthly vessel. I am so grateful for the Vance Havners, Leonard Ravenhills, Corrie Ten Booms and many others that made it “home” before dark. All made it by the wonderful grace of God being exercised in their lives. Dear friend, the earthly life around us is growing ever so dark, but God’s grace is still more than sufficient to give His children the desire and strength to be the salt and light so needed in our world today. When I was a teenager growing up in Houston, my mother would often remind me to be very careful after dark and get home safely. She loved me and so does my heavenly Father. So, when I hear that small still voice guide me past the lurking temptations in a day, I am so thankful it is my loving heavenly Father wanting to get me “home” before dark.

Thanksgiving….2011

I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season, but I recall once again a question from a young preacher friend that asked me, “If Christ is all you have is He enough.” I will never forget that question simply because as creatures of comfort, I am so much into viewing thankfulness based on what God has done for me recently. While I cannot begin to count the inummerable blessings that the Father has sent my way (four of which are in the photo), I do not want that to be THE basis of my thankful heart to Him. The very fact that in a world of seven billion people God saw fit to tell me of His love for me as demonstrated through the giving of His Son for the forgiveness of my sins and an eternal relationship with Him that nothing can break or separate is…well…Wow! That is mind blowing to me! So, what if I found myself in the position that over 50% of the world finds themselves…no drinkable water; no regular food; untreatable illnesses due to lack of medical facilities; living on less than a dollar a month; families separated; and no roof over my head called, “home.” What if Christ is all I had. Would He be enough? “Dear Lord Jesus…this Thanksgiving while I have many earthy goods to be grateful for, may I reserve for You my greatest applause and thanksgiving.”  May all have a blessed Thanksgiving.

What? No Prayer?

As I write this today, September 1, it is still reported that the mayor of New York City is not going to have any prayer as a part of the ten year 9-11 memorial service. Surprised? Why should I be with previous actions from the mayor that seem less than favorable toward Christianity. However, it still amazes me how when tragedy strikes our country on the magnitude of 9-11, God and our churches are the first ones we turn too. It was chaplains who were among the very first responders to the twin tower tragedy of 9-11. I am told it was a chaplain among the first responders that was killed as he sought to aid the hurting. I can not but help wonder if it is just possible that the recent east coast earthquake and hurricane were just two more thunders from the heavens voicing divine disapproval of the lack of our acknowledgement of our universal need of almighty God’s mercy and grace. Unless the mayor changes his decision, first responders and clergymen will not be the only ones not present for the mayor’s service….I too will be absent with great disappointment in where we have morally plummeted too.

Finding Our Way

I was listening to a sermon recently by Carter Conlon, senior pastor of Times Square Church in New York City. In it he made this statement…..”If we forget our past, we will have trouble finding our way in the future….” Wow! Are we not witnessing this in America today? It is shocking how many generations below the “builder’s generation” (1915-1946) know little of our American history and heritage. Take for example the most glaring omission: The separation of church and state. Most think that our fore fathers never intended our Christian faith to play an active role in our political system, when it was just the opposite. Our fore fathers wanted the guarantee that no government could dictate to an American how and what he was to worship. There was to be no “state run church.” The constitution never exempts our Christian faith from taking an active role through individual lives, such as was done in the founding years of our country. Our whole government system was built upon the Judeo-Christian laws of the Bible. If we forget this truth, which many have, generations to come will find it extremely difficult to navigate the waters of “one nation under God.” We must recapture the founding roots of our country afresh in our educational system and at home.  Sad, sad that countless thousands have forgotten our sacred beginnings as a nation. My life stays “sane” as long as I chart my future with the aid and help of my Christian beginnings. May our nation do the same.

Not On My Watch!!!

Yesterday President Obama added one more significant item to his growing presidential resume by stating that Israel should redraw its country’s boundaries back to the 1967 boundaries which is prior to the famous and miraculous 1967 Israel – Arab war and allow the Palestinians to have their own state. If done this would reduce Israel to a 12 mile wide country which would be near indefensible. I have feared that at some point during the Obama administration that Israel would be “thrown under the bus” by the President. It has happened. The short and sweet of this for the evangelical believer is that we must remain faithful and protective of Israel in the Middle East. Biblically, we need to be in support of Israel. Biblically, we need to pray for the peace of Israel. Biblically, we need to pray for the salvation of the people of Israel. Never should we as Americans and certainly Christians abandon our support of Israel. Israel should continue to occupy the needed land to help protect her from very hostile neighbors. As for America, there is no better friend in the Middle East than Israel. There are at least two things I can do as a concerned citizen. I can vote leadership in and I can vote leadership out. Secondly, I can always pray for Israel……for her peace and for her salvation of Jesus Christ as their true Messiah.  I am but one man, one vote, one prayer….but with my one vote and one prayer for Israel, I pray that not on my watch will we desert our friend and ally.

Growing Up!!

Recently on our annual family hunting trip to far West Texas I was reminded of a significant spiritual truth…..Our heavenly Father is pleased as we grow up spiritually.  As one matures spiritually more and more of the nature and character of our Father will be seen in us.  As we were hiking out of a canyon filled with rocks, stickers, and snakes I had made my way out ahead of my youngest son, Ty and his oldest son, Isaac, who is now six years old.  It was Isaac’s first year to really go where the grownups go to hunt the sheep and javelinas.  Mountains filled with suspense and looming surprises of all sorts of far West Texas creatures.  One series of mountains gave us a surprise look of nine elk crossing to another range of mountains.  One mountain climb gave Isaac his first real look at an Aoudad Sheep.  However, it was on this one particular canyon, known affectionately as Javelina Canyon, that I saw Isaac and his Daddy coming together out of the long and rough hike successfully navigating past the stickers, cliffs and snakes.  I thought, how fast Isaac is growing up…..diapers one day, hiking the next.  Then God brought the thought to mind that we too as believers are not to stay in diapers and kid’s thoughts forever.  Our Father is proud when he looks and sees us hiking through the canyons of life displaying His strength and character for all to see.  Yes, I may be a grandpa, but to the Father I’m still His son  and He still remembers the day I became His son through Jesus Christ and now walks the life of a man that so desires to hear the words…..”you are so much like your Daddy.”

Grateful For Both Birthdays!!

My aches and pains do not disappear as quickly as they use to after a game of pick up basketball or mowing the lawn, but I celebrate this birthday two fold.  First, I am so thankful in the sovereignty of God I was physically born in America and to a wonderful Christian couple by the name of Naomi and Basil Taylor.  I was blessed to have had the Godly parents I did.  If my earthly life ended today, it has been awesome!  For this I am so grateful.  However, it is my other birthday I rejoice over the most.  My spiritual birthday!  I remain so thankful that as a sixteen year old teenager God reached down and brought a realization to my soul that I was a church member but in desperate need of a living, supernatural relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  It was on a Thursday at Jeff Davis High School in Houston, Texas during my fifth period study lab that I received Jesus Christ into my spirit.  He has been the difference maker in my life since that awesome day!  As I blow out a “few” candles today, I am reminded of one candle that will never go out and that is the Candle of the living Spirit of God in my life.  For me it is “Happy Birthday” today and for all eternity with my giver of life, Jesus Christ!!

“Continually Steadfast”

Recently while in the Scripture, I was brought back to the wonderful reality that any long term hopes of being a viable child of the King on earth comes back to my continual devotion to Him as God, Savior, and Lover of my soul.  Luke recorded in Acts 2:42 that we as believers are to have this “continual steadfastness” in the key areas of the Christian’s life.  I was captured by the term for “continual steadfastness.” In the Greek New Testament the word means “one who comes and stays along side another unremittingly.” I was reminded of a recent hospice patient who after 49 years of marriage was a few hours away from his final earthly breath.  As I entered his room, there by his bedside remained his soul mate and wife of 49 years, sitting and clutching his hand, only to leave for necessities.  She had not been deterred over the long period of illness and the excruciating last several months.  Even though she was tired and emotionally drained, she would not leave his bedside.  She remained “continually steadfast” or unremittingly devoted to her husband till his final earthly breath.  That devotion is what Jesus Christ so longs to have from His children that call Him Savior and Lord.  Being devoted to good religious causes, church denominations or even good daily spiritual growth habits will never take the place of a heart that is continually set on knowing the Savior in a personal and real relationship.  Oh, to be found at my last earthly breath still “continually steadfast” toward Him who so loves me.

Michael Was a “Radical”

I am about to finish sharing the book “Radical” by David Platt with area pastors.  I find myself so woefully inadequate to even mention the word “radical” this morning as I have received word that a real radical has just been killed, murdered, for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to his homeland that he had such a burden for.  Michael Loua was the real deal in a life lived for the glory of God.  Anytime I was around Michael I always went away in awe how the presence of God could be so powerful in one man.  Michael and his family of a sweet wife and three children with a fourth child soon to arrive came to the United States to study God’s Word in order to go back to his homeland of Guinea, West Africa to tell his people of God’s sacrifice for them on the cross. Many tried to convince Michael to stay in the United States and begin a church here, but his heart was for Guinea.  Sunday morning, November 14, Michael gave his all to the Savior he so loved and was so “Radical” about.  Michael had been in prison for preaching the Gospel of Christ for three weeks when for reasons yet unknown he was shot to death.  I have never known a true martyr for Christ.  But I do now.  Michael Loua lived a martyr’s life while he lived and now while he lives in the presence of his beloved Savior and Lord.

\”Martyr for Christ\”