Ye, also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.--I Peter 2:5.
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What is your life built upon? What is the foundation of what you really believe. What set of rules and approaches to life govern whatever you do in a given situation?
What is the tie that really binds it all together for you?
My Dad used to say that his father had taught him that, "The most important thing a man has is his word."
Not a bad foundation is it? That is, if your word is something you seriously believe in standing behind. It becomes somewhat of a signature for you.
My foundation, I firmly believe, is even stronger than that. It is the Word of God, better known as the Bible. The book itself declares itself to be the unchanging Word of God that is forever settled in Heaven. (See Psalms 119:89.)
The Bible gives us quite a solid basis for determining values, rights and wrongs of both word and deed. Both acceptable and unacceptable conduct is vividly illustrated by events in the lives of the characters in this great book. We need to seldom if ever be forced to learn from our own mistakes and sins.
The book is filled with memorable examples of other people's conduct and experiences that provide stunning and defining examples to us so we REALLY don't have to make the same mistakes that caused such an impact on their lives. Of course, some people are bound and determined to learn by their own miscues. And, experience can be a most expensive and painful teacher.
The Apostle Paul, writing in the 8th chapter of the book of Romans, tells us that, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit."
Such beautiful words .... and such proof that God Himself cares so deeply about what happens to each and every one of us. If we will but do what God tells us to do, we can enjoy His mercy and blessing, even if we have come short many times in the past. The Word declares that His mercy endureth forever.
This is one of those places where the Bible conveys to us that a Spiritual walk is a great treasure to all who choose to go that way. But, the Bible just as emphatically tells us that we all do really get to make up our own personal minds.
"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace," Paul declares in verse 6. "Because the carnal mind is emnity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh, cannot please God," say verses 7 and 8.
But then he tells us, we who are so persuaded that all he says is true, that, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
That wonderful Spirit experience he is talking about is the infilling of the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost. In Colossians Paul called it "Even the mystery which hath been in hid from the ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you, the hope of glory," Col. 1:27-28.
Back to Romans 8, where Paul, in verse 4 said, "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Using His word as the lamp to our feet and the light to our pathway (Psalm 119:105, Psalms 19:7-8, and Proverbs 6:23) we can see clearly what the course of our lives should and must be.
Then, through His guidance, his love and mercy, and the mighty power of His Spirit operating within our lives, we are able to live lives that bring lasting joy to us. This allows us to radiate His love for the eternal for the eternal benefit of some, perhaps not all, of those our lives happen to touch. And we also get the satisfaction of knowing we are bringing glory to Christ because we are carrying out His word. Now, isn't that a solid foundation?
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
A CHANGLESS SAVIOR FOR CHANGING TIMES
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.--Hebrews 13:8
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Are you one of those people who have a difficult time dealing with change? Do you have a fear of change? Resent the pressures and adjustments it often brings? Do you wish there was SOMETHING that you could count on to remain constant?
In today's fast-paced society, ever more technologically evolving, and seemingly moving always toward greater tolerance of more permissive, more radical lifestyles, we are being called upon to adjust to change or somehow accommodate it in some area of our lives virtually all the time.
The workplace is a prime example. We read everywhere of companies that once had offered people jobs which generally turned into lifetime careers, that today are undergoing "re-engineering."
Restructuring and massive changes often are necessary "in the interest of making a leaner, better company that will be more competitive, and more profitable," employees are often told today. The result, all to often, is major job losses. Let's face it, changing times are changing the way business is operating, and the change usually impacts personal lives and families.
As stressful as adjusting to the loss of a career position can be, it can sometimes be paled by the stress of having to face adjustments brought about by such tumultuous things as divorce, or the death of a spouse, child, parent or other dear family member.
In the case of the loss of a long-time companion, something I'm certain a number of my readers have had to cope with first hand, even the thought of going on alone can understandably seem unbearable.
What do you do when such changes are thrust upon you? How do you handle these things without losing your sanity? How DO you go on ?
In times like these we need a rock to cling to. We need that one solid, unchanging rock, that we can ever count upon, no matter what. We have that Rock in Christ Jesus.
As Paul said in Hebrews 13:8, "He is the same." He never changes. We can count on the comfort provided by the everlasting arms of the one who created us, loves us, came to earth and died to redeems, rose again and called us to give our lives to Him, and promised us eternal life with Him. Yes, in this life, Jesus is the One who promised to always be there, and to care, no matter what.
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you," the apostle Peter advises in I Peter 5:7. If the crisis caused by some devastating change in your life has left you feeling hopeless, take Peter's advice, and let us point you to that solid rock today.
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Are you one of those people who have a difficult time dealing with change? Do you have a fear of change? Resent the pressures and adjustments it often brings? Do you wish there was SOMETHING that you could count on to remain constant?
In today's fast-paced society, ever more technologically evolving, and seemingly moving always toward greater tolerance of more permissive, more radical lifestyles, we are being called upon to adjust to change or somehow accommodate it in some area of our lives virtually all the time.
The workplace is a prime example. We read everywhere of companies that once had offered people jobs which generally turned into lifetime careers, that today are undergoing "re-engineering."
Restructuring and massive changes often are necessary "in the interest of making a leaner, better company that will be more competitive, and more profitable," employees are often told today. The result, all to often, is major job losses. Let's face it, changing times are changing the way business is operating, and the change usually impacts personal lives and families.
As stressful as adjusting to the loss of a career position can be, it can sometimes be paled by the stress of having to face adjustments brought about by such tumultuous things as divorce, or the death of a spouse, child, parent or other dear family member.
In the case of the loss of a long-time companion, something I'm certain a number of my readers have had to cope with first hand, even the thought of going on alone can understandably seem unbearable.
What do you do when such changes are thrust upon you? How do you handle these things without losing your sanity? How DO you go on ?
In times like these we need a rock to cling to. We need that one solid, unchanging rock, that we can ever count upon, no matter what. We have that Rock in Christ Jesus.
As Paul said in Hebrews 13:8, "He is the same." He never changes. We can count on the comfort provided by the everlasting arms of the one who created us, loves us, came to earth and died to redeems, rose again and called us to give our lives to Him, and promised us eternal life with Him. Yes, in this life, Jesus is the One who promised to always be there, and to care, no matter what.
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you," the apostle Peter advises in I Peter 5:7. If the crisis caused by some devastating change in your life has left you feeling hopeless, take Peter's advice, and let us point you to that solid rock today.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
OPEN THE DOOR
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. --
Rev. 3:20
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By now most all of us have lived long enough to be well aware that life is filled with a great series of choices. Oftentimes, a single choice at a fork in life's road can have major implications on what happens to us the remainder of our days. And, when it is in regard to spiritual matters, perhaps even beyond this life.
We've all made our share of bad choices that produced consequences that came back to hit us in the pocketbooks or elsewhere and to otherwise haunt us later. Some have likely even turned out to be so significant as to become unexpected, but definite forks in the road for us.
At times, when we found that a choice was a mistake, we have been able to go back to that turning point and (hopefully) forge ahead from a new direction by choosing better. Other times, we found we had "made our bed, and then we had to lay in it."
By being so fortunate, as I am, to live in these United States, we do have a considerable amount of control over our destiny. Still, there are some people, particularly those in authority, who have the ability to intervene in our lives and hinder our progress.
Through it all, we still can be thankful we're Americans. Especially, when we compare the circumstances under which people live in many other lands around the world. So, it's usually difficult to point our finger at others and blame them for our own troubles. We're usually our own worst enemy.
The older we get, the more we learn that it's more often than not the choices we've made in the past that make our lives better or worse in our own futures.
While decision making may sometimes be hard for us, procrastination or refusal to make any decision at all can turn out to be just as devastating to us as a bad decision. This is true in both the natural and spiritual realms.
My concern, of course, is the spiritual. And, I hope you are concerned as well because the Bible tells us that human beings are the only creatures on earth God has endowed with souls. The Creator designed our soul to live forever.
The entrance of sin--the transgression of God's law--into the lives of mankind, has brought a pronouncement of death upon both the body and soul because as Romans 6:23 declares, "The wages of sin death." Thus sin's final payday is always DEATH!
The same verse in Romans also declares that God's gift is eternal life. The Word explains that Jesus Christ gave his life--became the sacrifice that paid sin's debt--to free us from that curse of death.
Rev. 3:20
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By now most all of us have lived long enough to be well aware that life is filled with a great series of choices. Oftentimes, a single choice at a fork in life's road can have major implications on what happens to us the remainder of our days. And, when it is in regard to spiritual matters, perhaps even beyond this life.
We've all made our share of bad choices that produced consequences that came back to hit us in the pocketbooks or elsewhere and to otherwise haunt us later. Some have likely even turned out to be so significant as to become unexpected, but definite forks in the road for us.
At times, when we found that a choice was a mistake, we have been able to go back to that turning point and (hopefully) forge ahead from a new direction by choosing better. Other times, we found we had "made our bed, and then we had to lay in it."
By being so fortunate, as I am, to live in these United States, we do have a considerable amount of control over our destiny. Still, there are some people, particularly those in authority, who have the ability to intervene in our lives and hinder our progress.
Through it all, we still can be thankful we're Americans. Especially, when we compare the circumstances under which people live in many other lands around the world. So, it's usually difficult to point our finger at others and blame them for our own troubles. We're usually our own worst enemy.
The older we get, the more we learn that it's more often than not the choices we've made in the past that make our lives better or worse in our own futures.
While decision making may sometimes be hard for us, procrastination or refusal to make any decision at all can turn out to be just as devastating to us as a bad decision. This is true in both the natural and spiritual realms.
My concern, of course, is the spiritual. And, I hope you are concerned as well because the Bible tells us that human beings are the only creatures on earth God has endowed with souls. The Creator designed our soul to live forever.
The entrance of sin--the transgression of God's law--into the lives of mankind, has brought a pronouncement of death upon both the body and soul because as Romans 6:23 declares, "The wages of sin death." Thus sin's final payday is always DEATH!
The same verse in Romans also declares that God's gift is eternal life. The Word explains that Jesus Christ gave his life--became the sacrifice that paid sin's debt--to free us from that curse of death.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
WANTED: TRUE BELIEVERS
If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. -- Job 14:12
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What are some of the things YOU BELIEVE most strongly? That's important you know. Because just who and what a person really believes has a major impact on what he or she does in life, and what happens to them as well.
There was a day when people most everywhere were convinced that the world was flat. Mariners feared that if they sailed too far in any one direction they just might fall off the earth. Christopher Columbus changed all that, of course, when he bumped into the New World while seeking a new route to India. Today you could probably poll an entire mall full of shoppers and not find one person who believes the world is flat.
What do you believe about life and death?
Biblical sufferer Job tells us in Chapter 14 of his book: Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. (Job 14:1-2)
As a follow-up to that statement, in verse 14, the writer asks, "If a man die, shall he live again."
Do you believe in a resurrection? Do you believe in eternal life? Or are you of the opinion that this life is all there is? And that once you die, you're simply dead a long time? Ever wonder where you got your belief on this matter, whatever it is?
Job did believe in life after death. "All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come," he declared in answer to his own question.
In John 5:24, Jesus Christ announces: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: but is passed from death unto life.
Jesus goes on to say in verses 28-29: Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. And shalt come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Thus Jesus, who also identified himself as "the way, the truth and the life" in John 14:6, advised those listening in John 5:39, to "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
Now, of course, if you happen to choose not to believe that the Bible is God's Word, and that Jesus really is not the way, it seems logical that you'll also disregard many other instructions from both the book and Christ Jesus when it comes to other facets of living.
Now I've never heard of anyone dying because their ship fell off the earth, have you? So, I guess you could say that no real harm came from that false belief.
If you have chosen to believe in ways opposite of what the Bible teaches concerning such key things as life, death, sin, righteousness, good, evil and eternity, that's your option. You really should, however, make a careful study of the Bible's teachings, including its thousands of promises to believers. You just might adopt a whole new belief system.
Everything God's word has to offer is predicated on faith. You really do have to believe this book to be eligible for its promises. Check it out for yourself, it really works.
_____
What are some of the things YOU BELIEVE most strongly? That's important you know. Because just who and what a person really believes has a major impact on what he or she does in life, and what happens to them as well.
There was a day when people most everywhere were convinced that the world was flat. Mariners feared that if they sailed too far in any one direction they just might fall off the earth. Christopher Columbus changed all that, of course, when he bumped into the New World while seeking a new route to India. Today you could probably poll an entire mall full of shoppers and not find one person who believes the world is flat.
What do you believe about life and death?
Biblical sufferer Job tells us in Chapter 14 of his book: Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. (Job 14:1-2)
As a follow-up to that statement, in verse 14, the writer asks, "If a man die, shall he live again."
Do you believe in a resurrection? Do you believe in eternal life? Or are you of the opinion that this life is all there is? And that once you die, you're simply dead a long time? Ever wonder where you got your belief on this matter, whatever it is?
Job did believe in life after death. "All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come," he declared in answer to his own question.
In John 5:24, Jesus Christ announces: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: but is passed from death unto life.
Jesus goes on to say in verses 28-29: Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. And shalt come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Thus Jesus, who also identified himself as "the way, the truth and the life" in John 14:6, advised those listening in John 5:39, to "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
Now, of course, if you happen to choose not to believe that the Bible is God's Word, and that Jesus really is not the way, it seems logical that you'll also disregard many other instructions from both the book and Christ Jesus when it comes to other facets of living.
Now I've never heard of anyone dying because their ship fell off the earth, have you? So, I guess you could say that no real harm came from that false belief.
If you have chosen to believe in ways opposite of what the Bible teaches concerning such key things as life, death, sin, righteousness, good, evil and eternity, that's your option. You really should, however, make a careful study of the Bible's teachings, including its thousands of promises to believers. You just might adopt a whole new belief system.
Everything God's word has to offer is predicated on faith. You really do have to believe this book to be eligible for its promises. Check it out for yourself, it really works.
Friday, August 31, 2012
TWO WINNERS IN LIFE'S RACE
Two marvelous women, both of them wonderful Christians and leading ladies in their respected families, finished their work on earth a few years ago.
Both women went home to meet their best friend, Jesus Christ himself, and to ultimately receive their eternal rewards.
This happened on two consecutive Sunday mornings. God picked these beautiful lilies from my flower garden. As their pastor, I couldn't complain, because they really do belong to the Lord.
I simply had the honor of serving as caretaker of these lovely flowers as they budded, bloomed and grew so productive for Him while going through this life.
So, we had two funerals. It was sad, quite sad, in one way, but a time for rejoicing in another. Their battles are over, their race has been won. Jesus said in Revelations 2:10, "be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life."
In John 11:25, 26, He also declared, "I am the resurrection , and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he life. And whosoever believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?"
That says some mighty things about what Jesus can do, doesn't it? And it also speaks volumes about what life is really all about for every man.
I firmly believe that God wants all of us to find out who He is, what He's all about, what His will and purpose is for each individual on earth, and what we personally can do to set these things in motion, and carry them out.
Therefore, I firmly believe that no man should have a more important goal in his lifetime than to win in the game (experience) of life. To do that, you must realize that the Bible is the unadulterated Word of God, and it was written for our knowledge and adminition. This gives us the knowledge we need to carry out God's will (not our own), as we travel this often rocky journey through life.
These two precious saints, both key member of our church family, were well aware of this. Both had obeyed the Gospel requirements for eternal life as laid out in the Bible. While walking by their faith in God, both had held to those principals that they so dearly believed and adopted as cornerstones of their lives.
The Apostle Paul, as he was about to lay his head on Emperor Nero's chopping block, said in II Timothy 4:6-8: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them that also that love his appearing."
Hebrews 11 is the Bible's faith chapter. The writer goes through the Bible outlining a wonderful roll of the faithful. In my years in Dearborn County, I believe God has taken home a number of faithful saints that could well be added to the Hebrews list
Would you like to be one of those? You can be. If I can help you in any way, email me at ashepherdsblog@email.com, and I'll try to answer any questions you have.
Monday, August 27, 2012
LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT!
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. --Isaiah 55:3
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People who walk with God and who have given their lives to Him have a personal walk with the Lord that is incomparable with any other relationship we can have in this life.
You quickly learn that God is really alive and that He truly cares about you. As you live by your faith in Him you also soon learn that you can call on Jesus any time night or day and that He will respond to your needs, no matter how trivial or how serious they may be.
God is the creator of all things. He made us. And for the sinless, all-powerful Creator, man was His crowning achievement. He made man because He wanted something back from him. He purposed to create a companionship between God and His creation, a relationship for Eternity.
We all know the story of how the first people created were placed in a beautiful garden, and how they soon were tempted to disobey Him and how they did sin. That act brought sin into the nature and bloodstream of man. But because of His great love and mercy, that caused God to unfold His beautiful plan of redemption for man through the coming of the Sonship. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he declared Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
God's idea was to create a bride for Himself, composed only of people who loved Him. He would call that bride His Church. Christ's death on Calvary made it possible for every man to be cleansed from sin and to have eternal life. Every man, however, has not chosen to advantage of His cleansing power, so every man has not been born into God's great church.
We don't have the space here to really cover all the details, but the point I want to make today concerns those who already have given themselves to Him and who have been called into a life of service to God. God wants to use all of us! Even though you may not fully understand how He wants to use your life, be sure that He does. He has a perfect will for you.
But, you ask, how do I find out what that will is?
Well, as Isaiah said in Isaiah 55:3, "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." Listen for the voice of God in your life. He will lead you and instruct you in the pathway in which you must go.
He may not speak to you audibly as He did to Moses and Samuel in the Old Testament, but if you have God's Spirit, He will certainly communicate with you and show you His will.
Remember, when we pray we are talking to God. We are communicating with Him. When we read His Word God is talking to us. The Bible conveys His will, His ways, and His plans for us. Jesus said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
We soon learn that God is always the same, He never changes. The more you learn about that truth, the more comforting it becomes. That also means that we are the ones who need to change. We need to let Him change us because God does all things right and for our best, when we put our lives in His hands.
So listen to God. Listen to the Spirit, and obey. Do that, and you won't go wrong.
Monday, August 20, 2012
LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF
First of all, let me introduce myself. I recently retired as pastor of the First Apostolic Bible Church, Lawrenceburg, IN. My wife, Janet, and I founded the church when we moved from Seymour, IN to Dearborn County more than 44 years ago.
I'm a retired newspaper reporter/editor and also served for 20 years as Cincinnati correspondent for People Weekly magazine. During this period, I was also correspondent for Life magazine for a number of years.
My many years of ministry have been a wonderful experience that taught me much about life, people, and their problems. I found you can help them by introducing them to the world's greatest problem solver--God, Himself.
God's word--the Bible--provides both you and me much information as well as the answers to many problems of both the individual and society. This wonderful book declares itself to be God's word and gives us His position on most all of the situations we face in this life.
The Psalmist declared, "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." (Psalms 119:89) In Matthew 24:35, Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Today, I'm a great-grandfather who has served the Lord Jesus Christ for the better part of 60 years. He called me to serve him as a boy of 14 in a humble little country church in Southern Indiana. I've never been sorry that He chose me, and I treasure our relationship as the greatest single decision I've ever made.
This walk with God is built on a relationship and a God-given testimony that has proven to me God's faithfulness throughout all these many years. I'm writing this blog to tell you He's been a miracle-worker in my life. He also loves you as much as me, and is anxious to do exciting miracles in your life as well.
I'm a retired newspaper reporter/editor and also served for 20 years as Cincinnati correspondent for People Weekly magazine. During this period, I was also correspondent for Life magazine for a number of years.
My many years of ministry have been a wonderful experience that taught me much about life, people, and their problems. I found you can help them by introducing them to the world's greatest problem solver--God, Himself.
God's word--the Bible--provides both you and me much information as well as the answers to many problems of both the individual and society. This wonderful book declares itself to be God's word and gives us His position on most all of the situations we face in this life.
The Psalmist declared, "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." (Psalms 119:89) In Matthew 24:35, Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Today, I'm a great-grandfather who has served the Lord Jesus Christ for the better part of 60 years. He called me to serve him as a boy of 14 in a humble little country church in Southern Indiana. I've never been sorry that He chose me, and I treasure our relationship as the greatest single decision I've ever made.
This walk with God is built on a relationship and a God-given testimony that has proven to me God's faithfulness throughout all these many years. I'm writing this blog to tell you He's been a miracle-worker in my life. He also loves you as much as me, and is anxious to do exciting miracles in your life as well.
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