Fears

Little Tony and Pastor James have recently posted blogs that talked about fears and trusting. If you haven't read them yet, do so. Both are very insightful. How interesting that tonight, I am teaching about one of the battles that the Christian must overcome and that is FEAR.

A recent article listed over 500 fears (phobias) that haunt the human soul. Some are as common as the fear of pain (agliophobia); others as rare as the fear of frogs (ranidaphobia). What do you fear at this time in your life? Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself." (phobaphobia, by the way) I don't think our society is buying it. With the stock market, environmental warnings, political extremism, nuclear threats, random shootings, terrorism, diseases, etc. etc, etc, the motto of our age might read, "Be afraid, -- be very afraid."

It is easy for any of us as Christians to fall into the fears of the age. Too often we are trembling with the masses. Why, when from Genesis to Revelation, we are encouraged to boldness, confidence, courage, and peace. First I think we need to raise our sights and focus on truth. Help us, Lord, to remember the many verses that say our Father will never leave us alone or forsake us -- or have we forgotten?

Secondly, we need to press in close to God. Like LT said in his blog, knowing that I was with my dad (grandpa) I knew I would always be OK. When fears rise up, we all need to be with our Father. Safety, comfort, courage and peace are only found in the Father's embrace.

Lastly, we must rest in God's promises. When you wake up in the middle of the night, don't turn on TV or read the paper, open up God's Word and let the truth sooth your troubled spirit. For every phobia, God gives a promise and for every terror, He holds a triumph.

Up North Wisdom says most things we fear never come to pass. I know that what I share with you is easy to say and hard to do. But the truth is still truth and will set us free is we will receive it. Our worries will leave us restless and troubled. We would do well to learn as the Psalmist did: "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea". (Psalm 46:1,2)

Fill us today, Lord, with the antidote for fear -- Your perfect love. Blessings.

A Day To Remember (and Forget)

We have much to be thankful for, don't we? We live in a country that is free and we need to remember that there was a price paid for that freedom and there is still a price to pay today. We need to remember and honor and thank God that we have the opportunity to live in such a country as this. And remember that so many have died for our freedoms. For those of you who have ever served in the Armed Forces whether in war or not, I salute you and and say "thank you" from the bottom of my heart for your service to our country.

Why is it that the things we need to remember, we tend to forget and the things we need to forget, we tend to remember. What do we need to forget? These things: we need to forget our resentments. They will eventually render you ineffective for Christian service. We need to forget our worries. Constant worry as a person's companion is really a disguised kind of atheism, an affirmation that we really don't believe in God's control, direction and guidance for our lives.

Next, let's forget about "our" rights and learn to be givers instead of takers. Finally, let's learn to forget our failures. They will haunt you to your grave if you let them. Instead, remember God's Word that teaches there is always a starting over. Plant His Word deep in your heart and be free from the past.

Then there is a time to remember: First, remember the duel nature we all have. We do good and then we blow it. You all know what I am talking about. Thank God for the truth of I John I:9 that says if confess our sins, God will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Then remember how God has brought you through the difficult times in the past. And remember Romans 8:28 that says all in all things (remember the "in" is not "for") God works for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. You know that's true, don't you?

Then remember the strength that is available to each of us. The Word says we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Then, finally, remember to persevere. We all have a ways to go and grow, don't we. But like Paul, we must keep pressing on towards the goal. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can and will be over comers in this life. We can not only survive but we can advance towards the good things that God has ready for us.

So Up North Wisdom says: Don't give up, friends. You may not be the person you want to be yet, but, hopefully, you can say you are not the person you used to be either. So trust in the Lord with all your heart and remember this: THE BEST IS YET TO COME!! Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Rough Weather Fishing

It has been a while since my last blog. Jeanne and I were in Hawaii for nine days and then I was fishing for a couple of days with my son, Chet, and my son-in-law, Tim, and friend Gary in the UP of Michigan. The weather contrast was dramatic. From several days of 85 degrees to 32 degrees and snowy all day. Will that get me some sympathy? I didn't think so.

Vacation in paradise speaks for itself. The fishing trip was interesting. I don't recall fishing in such adverse circumstances in a long time. When I say cold and miserable, I mean it. The wind was howling and snow was falling. Yet, we had the best fishing in recent memory. We couldn't keep the fish off of our bait. We caught fish to eat at the cabin and each of us took back a lot of fish fillets as well. So, what's the point?

Just this -- We have found the best fishing is almost always when the weather is rough and not when it is sunny and nice. I think evangelism is like that. It is nice to just sit here in church on Sunday mornings and hope God sends people through our doors to hear the Gospel. And some do. But effective evangelism for the most part is going where the people are and that means moving beyond our comfort zones. We don't like to do that. It can take us into rough situations and that makes us uncomfortable. However, that is precisely where the "fish" are.

Jesus said that the fields are ripe for harvest but the harvesters are few. Up North Wisdom says there weren't many fishermen on the lake the two days we were catching so many fish. The world (your world) is hungry for Christ even if they don't know it. Are you ready to get out of your comfort zone and share the good news when the opportunity presents itself? Ask God to show you where the "fish" are and then go fishing even if the weather, so to speak, is rough. God has already prepared the way. Blessings!

Whose Idea?

I heard an interesting talk presentation on public radio this morning that talked about peoples' ideas about God. After a lot of useless (in my mind) talk, the basic premise arrived at was that everyone's ideas of God were all valid. No right ideas and no wrong ideas. No wrong ones that is, unless you would choose to believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no person comes to the Father, except through Him. Then, we were told, you would be wrong.

Interesting that what the world calls the wrong idea is the only one that is right and true. Is Christianity that exclusive? Yes, if you believe that the way to eternal life is narrow and the way to destruction is broad. When there is so much today that could be discouraging to the Christian, the thing I really like is that it is becoming increasingly harder to "ride the fence" so-to-speak when it comes to what you believe. The time is now when it is going to "cost" to make the claim to Christianity. I think the church is up to it, don't you?

Up North Wisdom says: Let's not be like those Paul talked about in Romans when he said that the "thinkers" of his time professed themselves to be very wise, but in reality they were "fools". Wow! When the world attacks the authority of God's Word now more than ever, we must be committed now more than ever to being people of the Word. Will it be easy? No. But with power of the Holy Spirit and putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6) we will not only survive but will be more than conquerors for the sake of God's Kingdom. It's exciting. The best is yet to come! Believe it.

The Body of Christ

Tony Piantine wrote a great blog a couple of days ago about the Body of Christ and what it should look like. You should read it if you haven't already. I posted a comment to him that I want to highlight.

We had a great service in church this past Sunday and a great time at the altar. As I looked at those who came, I saw people from all strata of society coming to meet Jesus. It was a great reminder to me of what the Kingdom of God really looks like. And no matter what our background, we come on equal footing to the cross. "For all have sinned" and the cross welcomes "whosoever will" -- and so must the church.

We are called to go to the "highways and byways" of life and compel them to come. God help us to see the "field" as well as the "church" for what it really is. As Jesus said, "look around you, for the field is truly ripe for the harvest". Let's do it church. The time is now! Up North Wisdom issues the challenge: Let's harvest the entire field.

Effective Or Great?

I heard a discussion on ESPN Sports a few days ago about a certain college basketball player named Tyler Hansbrough who plays for the University of North Carolina. He is a senior and has been their number one player. The discussion was among sports writers who were debating whether or not Tyler was really good enough to make it big in professional basketball. Some felt he was and some felt he wasn't. In other words, was he a great player?

The writers decided to ask Bobby Knight, a retired college coach who has won more basketball games than any other division one coach. He is outspoken and has a lot of experience and wisdom when it comes to evaluating college basketball talent. They asked him how good he thought Hansbrough would be in the Pros.

Knight commented that he felt that Hansbrough was not a "great" player but an "effective" player. At first it seemed like a negative response. Then he went on to say that he would much rather have an effective player on his team rather than a so-called great player. He went on to explain that an effective player is smart, knows the value of teamwork, plays offense and defense well, isn't concerned about getting "star" status, and is very teachable. In other words, a player who doesn't think he is so good that nobody can tell him how to play better. Knight said Hansbrough would be the first player he would draft.

I thought about that a lot. Does God want so-called "great" Christians -- those who see themselves as "stars"; or is He looking for workers who want to serve without complaint and aren't concerned about constant recognition? Friends, nothing makes a pastor's heart so glad as having people who say they will serve wherever needed - wherever it is felt they can be effectively used. There are no superstars in God's Kingdom: no sports stars, no rock stars no media stars. In God's Kingdom, the word "great" is used for those who are the most effective "servants". Jesus said it Himself in Mark 9:35 after his followers were arguing about which one was the greatest. Jesus said: "Whoever wants to be first (the greatest) must take last place and be the servant of everyone else."

Up North Wisdom says that goes against our societies way of doing business but it must not go against the church's methods of doing Kingdom business. Let's make a commitment that with God's help, we will be "great" in our work for Him. And like Bobby Knight said, let's put effectiveness ahead of stardom.

The Kingdom's employment sign is out: Wanted -- Servants.

A Mile Wide And An Inch Deep

A mile wide and an inch deep talks about shallowness and that's something we all want to avoid, right? Jesus is looking for followers and not fans. Fans tend to be a mile wide and an inch deep. Any given Sunday in the fall at Lambeau Field there will be several thousands of fans who tend to be a mile wide and an inch deep. Crowds can be fickle, can they not? They roar with approval one minute and thunder with anger the very next minute.

On that first Palm Sunday, there were plenty of fans. There were shouts of "Hallelujah" and "Hosanna" as Jesus entered Jerusalem. The crowd loudly hailed Him as a public hero shouting "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord". Amazingly, just a few days later, many of that same crowd were shouting "Crucify him!" Wow!

Therein lies the difference between fans and followers. Fans lack commitment and turn aside for the slightest excuses. Followers commit to the long run no matter what the circumstances. Jerusalem had both on that Palm Sunday and we have both today. Fans cheer loudly when everything is going their way, but when the time comes to make the commitment, where are they? The fans were there at Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem but where were they a few days later at the place of the cross when Jesus was being crucified? The closer to the cross Jesus got, the fewer the followers there were. Here are some differences between fans and followers:

1. Fans focus on personal comfort and followers focus on commitment. In other words, if Christianity makes me feel good, fine. If not, forget it. Commitment says, "Jesus, though all else forsake you, I will never turn my back on you."

2. Fans want regular blessings and followers commit to disciplined living. For fans, it's "provide everything I want and I'll really serve the Lord. Followers say, " In all things, I know God is working out His will and I will serve Him in any and all circumstances.

There were some in that street, that first Palm Sunday, who were followers. They listened to His teaching and accompanied Him to the place of prayer. Yes, for a short time they stumbled and for a time they doubted, but they were true followers. They obeyed by waiting and praying and after they received the infilling of the Holy Spirit, they spent the remainder of their lives getting closer to God and spreading His Word wherever they went. Up North Wisdom asks, "How about you, friend? Let's commit to being faithful followers and not fickle fans." The best is yet to come! Believe it. Have a blessed Easter.