Sobering words

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

I’ve been thinking about this statement a lot since I first read it a few days ago.  I think what King is saying is this: don’t measure a man when everything in his life is wonderful; measure a man when everything in his life seems to be going against him.  It is in these situations that you see the character of that man.

Kevin
   
“A Christian is like a tea bag – he is not worth much until he’s been through some hot water” - Author unknown

Shine the light

A few days ago at church, a question was posed that has since been ringing in my ears.  It was not from my pastor but rather from a gentleman who was allotted a few minutes in the service because he is involved in our local outreach ministry.  The question was simply: “How are you going to let your light shine today?”

The person didn’t quote this passage, but I’m reminded of Matthew 5.  Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (verses 14-16).  You may think that this concept is only limited to doing something big like sharing your faith with someone.  While that certainly applies to this idea, there are other examples.  Let me list a few that come to mind.

We can let our light shine by selflessly serving others when we desperately want to be served.  We can shine our light by living a life of integrity and Christ-likeness.  Here’s one that may surprise you: we can shine our light by doing our very best at our jobs.  You say, "You've lost me."  Well, if people know you are a Christian, and you’re always slacking off, this doesn’t represent Christ very well.  We should do our very best on the job.

How about this one?  For those of you gentlemen that are married, you can let your light shine by loving your wife as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25).  You are to die for your wife if you have to, but the more likely scenario is for you to die to your wants and desires, and instead serve her and meet her needs.

To sum it up, my heart’s desire is to let my light shine. I desire to simply point others to the greatness of God, not to the greatness of Kevin Bauer (because honestly, I am not great).  The way I look at it, a day that I choose not to shine the light – to “put the lamp under a bowl” as Jesus put it – is a squandered day and opportunity.

“How are you going to let your light shine today?”

Kevin

There's no offseason in the NFL

If you are a football fan, you are no doubt aware that four time league MVP Peyton Manning was recently released by the Indianapolis Colts.  Since then, every team in the NFL has dreamed about what it would be like to have the great Manning as their starting quarterback. 

I myself have been watching this Manning saga closely.  As I see it, there are only two teams that are on the list of becoming the next team that Peyton plays for.  #1: The Denver Broncos; #2: The Arizona Cardinals.  Some of you are wondering why I’m not listing the Miami Dolphins.  I could be wrong about this, but I just don’t think he’ll go to Miami because the Dolphins just finished a disappointing 6-10 season.  At this point in his career, I don’t foresee Peyton going to a team that is not a legitimate contender.  The Broncos, of course, went to the second round of the playoffs and lost to the Patriots.  The Cardinals were in the Super Bowl a few years ago under Kurt Warner, but have come upon hard times since Warner’s retirement (they just concluded an 8-8 season).

There was a report that stated that Peyton was leaning towards the Denver Broncos.  Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars have apparently expressed interest in Tim Tebow if the Broncos sign Peyton Manning.  Here’s the link, if you are interested.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/17728016/report-manning-favors-denver-broncos-would-trade-tebow

Only time will tell how this whole episode will play out.  Peyton just finished meeting with the Cardinals; I wouldn’t be surprised if Manning makes a decision soon. 

The reason I am bringing all this up is an important one.  As a Bronco fan, I would certainly be thrilled to have a fantastic quarterback like Manning in Denver.  But as a Tim Tebow fan, I have to wonder what is running through Tebow’s mind as he tries to block out all of the talk of Manning.  I came across this inspirational quote that Tebow made long before this Peyton Manning storyline developed.  “Something I learned early in college [is] not to worry about what I can’t control…But what I can control is my attitude, my effort, my focus every single day and that’s what I’m trying to worry about.”    

http://www.quotesandpoem.com/quotes/showquotes/author/tim-tebow/174478

Tim’s sentiment is something that we all can learn from.  Clearly there are things in each of our lives that we can’t control.  We can’t fret, worry and agonize about these things.  Why not?  Well, for one thing, because it does absolutely no good to do so.  We have to remember and hold on to the fact that God is in control, no matter what.

Kevin

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything” - Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

The fragility of life

Many years ago, I heard a public speaker claim that with advances in scientific technology, proper exercise, and so on, he expected to live to be one hundred years old.  That was the exact word he used; he said he “expected” to live to be 100.  I find this man’s declaration problematic because he is not doesn’t taking into account how fragile life is, no matter how technologically advanced we get.

For example, have you considered how incredible it is that we drive to work, school, and local hangout spots, and then subsequently return home safely?  Think about how fast we go in our cars today.  The posted speed limit signs on the interstates where I live ranges from 55-75 miles an hour!  Even side streets can go up to as high as 45-55 miles an hour!  At that speed, one wrong move and your life could end in a second from an oncoming car.  Every day we take our lives into our own hands by choosing to get behind the wheel of an automobile simply because of the convenience of arriving at our destinations quickly.

Or for another example, contemplate how the Bible mentions that we should be grateful just to awaken every day because it was God who sustained us, and kept our hearts beating overnight as we slept (Psalm 3:5).

In a classic episode of the TV show “Frasier” a man died of a heart attack even though there was no indication whatsoever that this was imminently approaching.  Frasier then spent the rest of the episode obsessing as to how this man could have been overtaken by a heart attack.  He discovered that the man ate right, exercised regularly, and didn’t smoke or drink alcohol.  Such is the fragility of life!

Nowhere in the Bible do we read, “Expect to live to be 100 years old.”  To the contrary, the Bible says cherish each day for the gift of God that it really is.  James 4 even says that we shouldn’t go around saying, “Tomorrow we’ll go here and do this,” because we don’t really know what is going to happen tomorrow.  Instead we should say, “If it’s God’s will we’ll go here and do this” (James 4:13-15).

Kevin

What's your oasis?

Oasis; there’s a word we don’t normally use!  One of the definitions from dictionary.com for the word “oasis” is “something serving as a refuge, relief, or pleasant change, from what is usual, annoying, difficult, etc.”

We humans legitimately need an oasis or refuge to help soothe our pain, comfort our hurts, and guard us from the chaos that life can bring.  God is teaching me that in the midst of pain, heartache, and uncertainty, He wants me to run to Him.  He wants to be my refuge, my safe haven, my oasis.

Furthermore, it’s easy to run to something else for comfort.  For example, some people run to food.  Food is a gift from God, but it’s not meant to be a refuge.  Some people run to pornography; this is sinful and contrary to God’s will.  Some people run to money and material possessions.  You get the point, none of these things are sufficient; God wants us to run to Him.

Look at it this way: when a small child falls down and hits their head, they are in pain and they need to run to someone so they can cry it out.  Should they run to their toys?  Should they run to the refrigerator?  Of course not, that’s ludicrous.  They should run to their mother or father.  In the midst of pain, there’s nothing like the loving embrace of a parent.  In the same way, nothing else can satisfy, comfort, and protect us like God can.

Kevin

“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” - Psalm 9:9

The wonders of Heaven

Do you remember that classic scene in “The Wizard of Oz” when Dorothy and Toto first arrive in Oz?  The mighty tornado has lifted them from Kansas to the new world.  You’ll recall that up to this point in the movie everything and everyone has been in black and white, but when Dorothy opens the front door of the house, Oz appears in beautiful color!  There’s glorious music playing, sights Dorothy has never seen, and probably smells that she has never smelled.  She says to her dog, “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

This is the scene that I play in my head when I try to imagine Heaven.  Although this is far from the perfect illustration (for one thing, you’ll remember that Dorothy almost immediately wanted to leave Oz) it’s a tiny sliver of what Heaven might be like!  The fact is, Heaven is going to have sights, smells, sounds, and wonders that our human brain simply can’t comprehend while we are still here on Earth. 

I’m not planning on dying anytime soon, that’s up to God.  For the remainder of my time on Earth, I’m passionate about doing and being whatever God desires for me on this Earth.  I want to point others to Him and how great He really is.  To put it simply: my will is to do His will.  But, having said all that, I must confess that I do long for Heaven.

Incidentally, after talking about how glorious Heaven is, I can't conclude without briefly pointing out that there is a misleading fallacy being presented today.  It teaches that everyone will one day get to Heaven.  That’s not what the Bible teaches.  The Bible teaches that Heaven is reserved for those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone.  Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6).  Acts 4:12 says that there is no other name under Heaven by which man can be saved except for Jesus.

When I was a boy, God used Billy Graham at one of his crusades to help me realize that I was a sinner in need of a Savior.  I chose to go forward at the end; I cried out to God to save me and asked Him to come into my life.  I became a Christian that day, on my way to eventually seeing Jesus face to face in Heaven!   

Kevin

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes: there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" - Revelation 21:4 (NKJV)

Real love

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!  Some of you might think that you can’t celebrate Valentine’s Day because you are not in a romantic relationship; I beg to differ.  The truth is anyone can celebrate Valentine’s Day.  I say this because Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is all about elevating the virtue of love.

Let me quickly clarify something lest I’m misunderstood.  When I speak of love, I am speaking of a selfless, giving love.  Our culture today has blurred the lines between what real love is and what lust is.  For instance, you watch a TV sitcom today, or a movie or something like that, and you see that a man and woman meet for the very first time, and in the very next scene (or at least very soon in the relationship) they are in bed together having indulged in a carnal sexual experience.  I submit to you that this wasn’t a love scene as many would label it; this was simply what I’m going to call a lust scene.  What’s the difference?  The late preacher, Dr. Adrian Rogers once put it this way: “love wants to give; lust wants to get.”

The Bible says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16).  John is saying, “Do you want an example of real love?  Look at what Jesus did on the cross for you and me.”  In other words, just as Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross was out of nothing but pure love for us, we show love by sacrifice, unselfishness, and consideration for others wellbeing.

Therefore, let’s go back to my example of the man and woman that has just met.  The couple desires sex, but real love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4).  Real love is willing to wait.  Yes, I’m certainly saying that singles shouldn’t have sex until marriage as God says in His Word (see Hebrews 13:4), but I’m also saying that this applies to a married couple.   At times, your spouse may not desire sex.  For example, it's become a joke, but "not tonight, honey, I have a headache" is actually a legitimate reason for a married couple not to have sex.  Real love says, “I’m going to choose to put your needs ahead of my own.”

Kevin