Journal,

Some of my readers enjoy all the personal stories that I share while others look forward to some of my Bible devotions. Well, its been awhile since I’ve shared some of my thoughts by way of a devotional study. Perhaps it is time to do just that.

In my devotion this morning I read something that really struck my heart. Felt like the Lord wanted me to share on it. It had to do with a statement made by Jeremiah, where he said, “O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause; You have redeemed my life.” (Lam3:58 nasb - The alternate translation has ‘You have pleaded the causes of my life.)

As I meditated on this there were two issues that stood out to me, side by side. One was, ‘You have pleaded my soul’s cause, or, the causes of my life.’ The other was, ’You have redeemed my life.’

I thought about how these two statements applied to me personally. But there was more to be had. What made these statements so interesting is that I saw how they could easily be transposed over into the New Testament with regard to the finished work of the cross and of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

Behind Jeremiah’s statement,  “You have redeemed my life,” we have the story of the kinsman redeemer. The Hebrew word for ‘redeemed’ is ‘goel.’ It literally means to redeem or to act as a redeemer for a deceased kinsman.

Under the law of Moses, only the closest of kin could serve as a kinsman redeemer for another Israelite, whether it be the marriage of a widow, the acquiring of the property of a deceased relative, or for various other matters. (We see this in the story of Ruth and Boaz.)

Of course my mind went to how Jesus Christ fulfilled the role of our kinsman redeemer by way of the incarnation and through the ministry of the cross.

Peter said, “Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” (1Pe1:18 nasb)

But there was something else that Jeremiah said that really caught my attention. It is where Jeremiah said, “You have pleaded my soul’s case, that is, ‘the causes of my life.’”

These are the kinds of thoughts that went through my mind –  ‘Who would the Lord be pleading Jeremiah’s case before?’ ‘Is the Lord merely pleading Jeremiah’s case with respect to Jeremiah’s enemies?’ ‘Or can there be a deeper significance here where we can actually catch a glimpse of God’s Messiah?’ ‘Perhaps we are even seeing something of the intercession of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.’

My mind went to the cross. Is this not where we catch a glimpse of the intercession of Jesus Christ? Is it not where He says, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

This prayer of intercession was for the Roman soldiers who had no idea of who Jesus really was. They really did not know what they were doing. But there was a group in the Jewish leadership that did know what they were doing. This prayer was certainly not for them.

Isaiah prophesied concerning the Christ, saying, “Therefore, I will allot Him [Christ] a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, AND INTERCEDED FOR THE TRANSGRESSORS.” (Is53:12 nasb - Have we not all been transgressors in our lives?)

It is at the cross where Jesus becomes our kinsman redeemer. But the cross is not where the intercessory ministry of Jesus ends. The apostolic writer said, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (He7:25)

Jesus is our forever Savior because He is our forever Intercessor. 

This brings me to another aspect of intercession that I want to draw attention to. There is the fact of intercession that takes place in the very heart of each believer. It is the intercession of the Holy Spirit.

This intercession work is a very real part of every believer’s walk with the Lord. Also keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Jesus. Thus the intercession of the Holy Spirit can be said to be Jesus continuing His intercessory ministry in our hearts and lives.

Where Jesus is actually seated at the right hand of God in heaven, He is also in our hearts in His spiritual form. He told the disciples that He would be with them always.

For some background on the intercessory ministry of the Spirit of Christ, consider these  Scripture portions:

1) “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Rm8:15,16)

2) “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rm8:26,27)

Here we see the two-fold testimony of the Spirit of God. He testifies to our hearts that we are God’s very children. This is a continuous testimony. But the Holy Spirit also continues a testimony of intercession for us and in us. This is something that we may not always be aware of.  

As we follow this through keep in mind what Jeremiah said; “O Lord, You have pleaded the causes of my life.” (Alternate translation.)

This statement could easily be placed where Paul is giving instructions concerning the Holy Spirit’s testimony in us that we are children of God, along with the Holy Spirit’s intercession that takes place in the deep of our being. 

The most important keynote is found in the verse, “The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”

This special intercession of the heart is expressly for those who have been twice born, that is, those who are truly the children of heaven. It is these ‘children of heaven’ where Paul later says that nothing will ever be able to separate any of God’s children from the Father’s love which is found in Christ Jesus.

Another clue is where Paul said the Spirit’s intercession is, ‘according to the Father’s will.’ The work of the Holy Spirit is to help each child of God work out their problems of life, work out their failures in life, to work out their relapses in life, or simply process life as it comes, whatever the causes, but always in accordance with God’s perfect will.

This issue of God’s love for us is very much in keeping with something Jesus said — “In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; FOR THE FATHER HIMSELF LOVES YOU, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” (Jn16:26,27 Caps for emphasis only.)

Once again all this ties in with what Jeremiah said, “O Lord, You have pleaded the CAUSES of my life.”

The Father’s is concerned with the total of our lives. He is concerned with the ’causes’ of our lives. We are His very children. Paul said, “And we know that God CAUSES all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rm8:28 Caps for emphasis only.)

Think about it — If you are a parent, what would be your deepest desire for your children? You can fill in the blanks. But for one thing you would only want the very best for each of your children. Be sure that our heavenly Father’s will is that we learn how to live from His very best for us. The intercession of the Holy Spirit works along this principle. He helps us work out the causes of our life.

This is why the apostle John tells us that if we are fearing punishment from God, we really do not understand the Father’s perfect love for us. There is a vast difference between punishment and spiritual discipline. God is not out to punish us. Yet He does discipline us in accordance with His love and His kindness.

His discipline has an objective — That we may share in His holiness and that we may produce the fruit of righteousness in our lives.

The important thing to keep in mind is that all of God’s children have the Holy Spirit as the permanent indwelling presence of Christ in them. John said, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (1Jn5:11,12)

There is much to be said on this issue of the testimony of the Spirit of God, but I’ll leave these things for your own meditations.

May the peace of the Lord rule in your hearts,

Blessings,

Buddy

Posted: September 21st, 2007 under Devotions & Studies.
Comments: none

Journal,

I called attention in my last journal entry of an excellent teaching on prayer that Nathan provided last Sunday. I would encourage all our readers to take time and listen to a  teaching that can help shape your prayer life. The teaching has been posted on the Christian Challenge web site.

Here it is: (Just click on ‘Lord teach us to pray’. Note: You may want to finish reading this blog first.)

http://www.christianchallenge.org/audio/sermons/index.html

Now about ’secret’ prayers.

Of course all of us have secret prayers but not all of us understand the importance of these kinds of prayers. Secret prayers are those prayers that are known only to us and by our heavenly Father. These are personal, intimate prayers.

Jesus said, “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Mt6:6)

In line with ’secret prayers’, this brings me to how the Lord helps to shape our spiritual walk with Him. I’ve found over the years that the Lord will put in my hands the exact book I need to read at just the exact time. (He does this for all of us.)

One book that I read as a young minister had a profound impact on my walk with the Lord. It was ‘God’s Smuggler,’ by Brother Andrew. Brother Andrew’s walk of faith simply amazed me. I decided if he could have that kind of walk, why could I not have the same walk. Of course Brother Andrew was a man of prayer. So Buddy Martin needed to be a man of prayer.

Some years later there was another book that served the same purpose. It was the biograhy of George Mueller. I read how that this great man of prayer never prayed for anything simply because he wanted it, or even that he felt it was needed for the work of God. He always prayed for those things the Holy Spirit laid on his heart. You can call these ‘prayers of communion.’   – Communicated to us by the Spirit of God –

The awesome thing was that George Mueller never asked anyone for money. Nor did he let the needs of his ministry to be known to anyone except his staff. Nor did he pass offering plates, etc. Mueller actually prayed in the English equalivent of $7,200,000.00 to meet the needs of all the orphans that he cared for.

He would pray with his Bible open before him and his finger upon a particular promise. George Mueller recorded over 50,000 prayers that had been answered with 5,000 that were answered the very day he made the prayer. Yes, George Mueller actually kept a prayer journal.

As I read George Mueller’s biography, the Lord impressed my heart to take the  spiritual principles that Mueller used into my own walk with the Lord.  If it worked for George Mueller, why would it not work for Buddy Martin. 

And so from the early days of Christian Challenge I decided not to pass offering plates. But I also decided to take our needs to the Lord, in secret. What I discovered is that Jesus meant what He said — “Your Father who sees what is done in secret will repay you.”

But I also discovered something else. There are two kinds of prayers, fleshly prayers, and spiritual prayers. This is why George Mueller shared two very important prayer tips:

1) With open Bible before him, and his finger upon a promise, he would appeal to that promise, and so he received what he asked.

2) He discovered that after meditating on the Scriptures he was more able to experience a meaningful prayer time.

Perhaps William Bridge, the Puritan writer said it best –

“Reading without meditation is unfruitful; meditation without reading is hurtful; to meditate and to read without prayer upon both is without blessing.”

The issue is that our Bible is literally a living book simply because it is filled with the testimony of Jesus Christ. When we present ourselves before the Lord by taking to heart the Scriptures, this causes a spiritual arrangement of our heart. Out of this comes true spiritual praying. The Holy Spirit impresses our praying.

Well, enough for now. I’ll be ministering this evening on the subject, ‘Because You Prayed.’

Think about it.

Blessings,

Buddy

Posted: September 19th, 2007 under General.
Comments: none

Journal,

Today Nathan brought the most awesome message on prayer that I’ve heard in a long time. In fact I don’t recall ever hearing a teaching on prayer with as much spiritual insight that Nathan put into it. I’m not saying this because Nathan is my son. The Lord has simply given Nathan the wisdom and the ability to make truth come alive.  And the very heart of prayer came alive today! And yet it was so simple that a little child could understand it.

In fact today’s teaching today was so insightful and simple that I plan to include a link to it on one of my next blogs.  (Just as soon as it is published on the Christian Challenge site.) It is the kind of teaching that every child of God should have access to. It will knock all this ‘banging on the gates of heaven’ kind of praying in the head.

The title of his teaching was ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ His text was from Luke 11:1-4. The ones asking to be taught how to pray were the Lord’s own apostles. You would think that these men would not need a lesson on praying. Think about it — If the apostles wished to be taught how to pray, what about the rest of us? Hmmmmm.

Well, I’ll hold off on any details of the teaching except to make one point. Nathan was careful to speak about the very first word that puts prayer on the level that it belongs,  which is the word, ’Father.’ His point was that prayer is all about relationship. Would you believe that Nathan actually came over and sat on my lap.  

Anyway, what makes this even more interesting is that during my devotion time this morning, the Lord placed on my heart to continue teaching on prayer this coming Wednesday evening. In fact He gave me something to give to everyone who attends the service. It’s a small but weighty gift.

I’ll also be introducing one of my newest friends this Wednesday. His name is ‘Dean,’ but he goes by ‘Tiger Eye.’

Don’t mean to be too suspenseful so I’ll share a bit about Tiger Eye. He came as a result of something the Lord shared with me on Monday, August 20th. That was the day the dove appeared over my head while I was at my special meditation place on the hill behind Christian Challenge.

What a moment of time. The Lord was preparing my heart for the healing He was bringing to me. The Lord had already spoken to me earlier in the month to ‘Expect the unexpected’. Expect the unexpected had to do with my trip to MD Anderson concerning cancer. Now He was giving me instructions about songs. David talks about songs of deliverance.

Anyway, I was reading from the New Living Translation concerning Hezekiah’s ‘poem of praise.’ This is where the Lord gave me to sing the victory before the victory over cancer was pronounced by my doctor in Houston.

Two things in Hezekiah’s poem really stood out. One to me and one to Betty. I’ll explain the Betty’s part in a moment. 

Hezekiah’s poem of praise is found in Isaiah 38:9-20. Verses 16 and 17 stood out  especially to me: “Lord, your discipline is good for it leads to life and health. You have restored my health and have allowed me to live! Yes, it was good for me to suffer this anguish, for you have rescued me from death, and have forgiven all my sins.”

But it was the very last verse in Hezekiah’s poem that caught Betty’s attention; “Think of it — the Lord has healed me! I will sing his praise with instruments every day of my life in the temple of the Lord.” (Verse20)

So? Well, Betty reminds me quite often that I must dust off my music and begin giving the Lord praise for my healing. And that brings me to ‘Tiger Eye.’ The secret must be told. Tiger Eye is my newest guitar. Betty bought it for me before we went to M.D. Anderson. And this Wednesday, Tiger Eye will be making his debut. If you can put ip with my singing.

In fact I’ll probably share two songs, ‘What Kind of Man is This,’ and, ‘The Year of the Jubilee.’ If you would like a foretaste on a deliverance song that the Lord gave me many years ago, here it is: (The Year of the Jubilee)

http://www.christianchallenge.org/audio/music/01_Year%20of%20Jubliee.mp3

Looking like an Australian Bushman…

Guess I’ll need to tell this. From the day of my birth I’ve always had straight hair. Not so anymore. After my chemo treatments my hair began to come back curly and wavy. Anyway, Betty decides that she needs to comb my hair real proper like. So she goes about making my curls appear in all their glory.

And would you know it — When I walk into the kitchen where CJ is, he looks up and begins to howl. I didn’t know if he was laughing or mourning out of sorrow. I said, “CJ, if you don’t stop laughing at me, I’m going to box your jaws!” He just snorted and sat down. But he couldn’t take his eyes off my hair.

Guess we’ll just have to see where all this goes. Betty reminded me that Andre’s hair is wavy and that he must have gotten it from me. That’s a joke. Betty is the one who has the wavy hair. Oh well — Just call me ‘Buddy, the Australian Bushman.’ (Don’t take me up on that. I’m so mean that I scare myself sometimes.) 

Why the emphasis on prayer and ‘expect the unexpected’….

All my devotions over the past number of weeks seem to point in the same  direction. For example when the Lord told me to ‘expect the unexpected,’ I felt in my heart that this word from Him was not merely for me alone. It was a message for all God’s people. And all the teachings of late have been teachings of ‘will’ alignment.

But since both mine and Nathan’s ministry is to Christian Challenge, I truly believe the Lord is telling me (us) for Christian Challenge members to begin preparing their hearts for the ‘unexpected.’ This does not mean that we will be setting aside special healing services. (I’m really not for that kind of thing.) What I believe the Lord is saying is that we most surely will see healings take place, but prayers of all sorts are going to be answered in ways totally unexpected.

It is almost as if there is a spiritual building time in the process. My last teaching at Christian Challenge (Wednesday, September 6th) I taught on the subject, ‘There is Something About Pleasing God.’ That message came out of a devotion that I had earlier, where the Lord spoke to Jeremiah saying, “I have made both the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight.” (Jer27:5)

The point I wish to make is this — If there is something going on in your life that is not pleasing to God, that very thing is going to hinder His blessings upon your life.

With that in mind I want to share a prayer that I recorded in my prayer journal some months ago. “Father, restore to Christian Challenge our scattered sheep and restore to us our passion and love for one another and for godly service. Let not the enemy gain an advantage in any way over the ministry and over our lives individually or collectively. In Jesus name. Amen.”   –  Recorded that prayer Monday, July 24, 2006 –

Well, it’s happening. And it is going to happen much more in the days ahead. May we all become ‘kingdom focused’ children of God.

Much love coming your way,

Buddy

Posted: September 16th, 2007 under General.
Comments: none

Well Journal,

Seems every time I go for a visit to Nathan’s office I end up bringing back some more of my stuff. (Books, pictures, etc.) Boy did I ever have a laugh with my latest venture.

Many of you will remember ‘the Beverly Hillbillies’ theme song of yesteryear. Anyway, two of our young college ladies wrote a humorous song about me in the late 80s. I had placed it in a frame. It was one of the several things I brought back on my latest trip.

But I’ll leave the two young ladies names unsaid to protect the not-so-innocent. Naw. Their names were Julie Chappelle and Janie Latiolais. (They have since married and now have new last names. Bless their hearts.)  :)

For your amusement here it tis — Don’t take it serious. It isn’t intended for accuracy.

The Ballad of Buddy Martin

Let me tell ya all the story of a man named Buddy,
Poor preacher man, all he ever did was study.
Then one day he was eatin’ up the Word,
When the Holy Spirit said, “You’ve really never heard,
My voice that is!”

Well the next thing ya know ol’Buddy said a prayer,
Said, ‘Holy Spirit, come down from there!”
The Spirit said, “Louisiana’s the place you ought to be.”
So he loaded up the van and moved his family.
M. W. that is, Momma Wrath!

They started Christian Challenge in a town called Boyce.
Under the direction of the Holy Spirit’s voice.
Buddy preached to the chairs ’cause he had no choice.
Til Joe & Barbara came by the leading of His voice,
God that is!

Now the years have passed, Oh how the church has grown.
We are in Pine Plaza, but this is not our home.
Please give some money, so we can pay the bills,
And move on over to the Holy Hill!
Ya all give now! Ya hear.

Congratulations on 44 years of marriage…

We were surprised yesterday morning to see Nathan’s write up about our 44 years of marriage in the church bulletin. Where he would normally place a description for the morning message, he put a write up on mom and dad. Thought I’d share it:

……………..

Congratulations Buddy & Betty Martin…

Forty-four years ago today Buddy Martin and Betty Green, my dad and mom, got married. Dad was just out of the U.S. Navy and was looking for a “good woman” to settle down with. He found her, and Jesus, in a Colorado church — he was smitten with love at first sight. Mom fell in love with dad’s exuberant take on life and they began life’s great adventure together.

Adventure is a good word to describe their life together. They lived in many places, traveled often in ministry, always following the leading of the Lord. Four children would be born to them (one is already in heaven) and they would also give birth to Christian Challenge.

Life was not always easy. (Dad always said the hardest years of marriage are the first 43 years!) But they have demonstrated that “love never fails.”

Although this has nothing to do with my message, I wanted to congratulate my Mom and Dad on their 44th wedding anniversary. Thanks for showing us what love looks like!

Expect the Unexpected!
Brother Nathan

……………..

Well, there’s more to September 9th, that the celebration of a marriage…

On September 9th in the year of our Lord, 1992, a boy baby was born into the Martin clan. Yep - Justin Everett Martin, son of Stephen Andre Martin, son of Lawrence Everett Martin (Buddy), son of Lawrence Bert Martin, son of John Allen Martin, son of James Erwin Martin, son of Charles Seth Martin, son of William (Billy) Martin, a revolutionary soldier, made his first time appearance on this planet. And the world is a better place for this grand event.

(Sorry - Just had to do all that.)  :)

Justin was 15 years old yesterday. And as is our custom the whole Martin clan got together to celebrate this momentous occasion. (Doesn’t take much for the Martins to get together.) We had a great time at Applebees.

The kids get to meet the General…

Boy was it ever busy at Christian Challenge this morning. It was orientation day for the Co-Op Home School Association. Kids were everywhere. (We are making our building available to the? association for their use on Monday’s. Debbie McBride is our ministry coordinator.) This will be an extension ministry for Christian Challenge much like our Awana program.

Anyway, I stopped by for a visit and some of the kids and the parents wanted to see my ‘horse.’  That’s what they call CJ, my Great Dane buddie. A bit later I bring CJ up so the kids could oooh and aaawh over him. The General just ate it up. He loves people and especially kids. Course you have to watch him. CJ can knock a kid down just with the wag of his tail.

Mom fell in love with dad’s exuberant take on life …

Have to share a thought or two on what Nathan said in the bulletin when he said, “Mom fell in love with dad’s exuberant take on life and they began life’s great adventure together.”

When I looked at the bulletin this morning, I thought, ‘Nathan you missed a few words. Should have added extreme, excited, excessive, exacting, and intense.’

My walk with the Lord has been an exuberant one but it has also been extreme, excessive, exacting, intense, and studious. It has always been hard for me to find a comfort zone in a grey area. This isn’t necessarily good or bad. It is just something that I’ve had to work on through the years.

For example I’ve never been one to make vows to the Lord, but I do make very deep consecrations. One of my consecrations has to do with alcohol. In the last forty-four years I’ve had two swallows of alcohol. One was by accident. The other was when real wine was served at communion. And both those times hurt my heart. The hurt was because I was reminded of my consecration to the Lord.

The issue has never been whether to take a drink of alcohol is a sin. Actually I don’t believe that it is. But for me it is a line drawn in the sand many years ago. So, what do you call this? Excessive? Exacting? Extreme? Or would you simply call it a personal consecration to the Lord. (Interesting enough my dear wife has never had the first drink of alcohol in her entire life.)

For me it is an area of personal consecration and conviction. But I also realize that my convictions have to be mine alone. They are not to be put on others. Paul makes this very plain when he said, “The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” (Rm14:22) ?

But that isn’t the only area of intensity for me. I am very exacting when it comes to God’s Word. I have believed over the years that God’s word can be taken exactly as He spoke it. So, when it comes to God’s promises, to Biblical principles, to God provisions and providence, I take these things very seriously and very personal.

In fact, I expect God to keep His word. This is why I’ve kept a prayer journal over the years. For instance, when the Lord said, “Ask and you will receive”, I believe the Lord meant exactly what He said. So I do ask of Him and I do receive from Him. But I’ve also found the secret to asking. I ask the Holy Spirit to supervise my prayer life.

Perhaps there is one question left. Is there a calm side to my walk with the Lord? Absolutely. Believe it or not. I always live in a peaceful spirit. But there is also an extra calm side to my life. I like to call her name Betty.  :)

My sweet angel balances me out in so many ways. And while she does trust me with the spiritual leadership of our home, she has a wisdom that I love to draw on. But this should not seem strange. A Christian marriage is a covenant relationship. Its not where one person’s life is submerged under the other person’s life. It is a covenant where two lives are merged into one. Each person brings balance to the other person.

Sorry - Sounds like I’m getting preachy now….

Well, where do you go from here? What else happened today? Let’s see — My baby sister came by. Bonnie is such a hoot. She is so animated when she talks. You simply listen to her and laugh a whole lot.

Oh yeah. Along with other visitors, my buddy Larry Jeane, our City Marshall came by to check up on me. He had just recently heard of my healing venture and had to come by for a hug. I really love Larry a lot. He is the kind of friend that will be there when many others will have departed. It is good to have friends like that.

Then there is our eldest. Nathan came by about the time Larry was going to leave. Had a great visit as always. Course you know that mom and dad had to brag on our son. Nathan has such strong pastoral-leadership traits.

Another ‘Oh yeah.’ Got a call from Lane. He is so excited over our 38th School for Christian Workers. Our Disciple’s Heart Class is full and our Conversational Spanish Class looks like it is going to overflow.

Well, I guess thats it for now. Don’t want to bore you.

Love always in Christ,

Buddy

Posted: September 10th, 2007 under General.
Comments: 4

Journal,

Had an amazing visit with the heavenly marriage Counselor this morning. Yep, I’m talking about the Lord Himself. Sixteen of we brothers met this morning for our monthly ‘Men’s Prayer Breakfast.’ We had our newest married man at the table, Jon Martinez, and of course myself with forty-four years of marriage come tomorrow. (September 9th) Of course it wasn’t long before the subject of marriage took center stage.

As each brother shared from his heart I thought to myself, ‘How good it would be if a man who needed wisdom for marriage could sit at this table and listen to these brothers share their life experiences.’ It didn’t take long for me to realize that the wisdom flowing was none less than that the Spirit of the Lord. And regardless of how long a person has been married, the wisdom of the Lord is always for right now.

So dear ladies — When we at Christian Challenge have our men’s breakfast, be sure to send your husband. — Believe the next one is set for October 6th —

By the way, thank you Fred for preparing such a premium breakfast, and thank you Warren for heading up our men’s breakfast. And thanks to all the brothers who shared and to those who helped clean up afterwards.

There is something else I really love when men get together such as at our men’s breakfast. There is a Biblical principle called ‘the anointing’ that is present. David called this anointing ‘the precious oil,’ and likened it to the ‘dew of Hermon.’ Listen:

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord commanded the blessing–life forever.” (Ps133 nasb.)

Ok, nuff on that. Now on to other things…

He has his father’s eyes…

You’ve often heard me talk about my mom and the influence she had on my life from my childhood on. But you’ve not heard me speak much of my dad. The reason is because I really didn’t get to know my dad until I was about nine years old. Because mom and dad divorced when I was quite young, I have no early childhood memories of him.

This doesn’t mean that I didn’t love my dad. I loved him dearly. In fact I loved my dad even before I came to know him personally. (Mom and dad remarried in 1950.)

One of my earliest childhood memories was when I ran away from home to find my daddy. This was in the 40’s when we lived in California. The only problem was that I couldn’t cross the street, so my running away just took me around the block.

But it happened when I was nine years old. We had returned from California and were staying with my grandpa and grandma Carver. Someone came outside where I was playing with some cousins, and said, ‘Buddy, your daddy is in the house.’

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me — right into the living room — looked around the room — knew everyone else except one man who was sitting in an armed chair. I simply crawled up in his lap and said, ‘This is my daddy.’

There is a point to this story and it isn’t merely to make anyone cry over a little boy looking for his daddy. Whereas I didn’t really recognize the stranger, I knew he had to be my daddy. No one else there fit the picture. And there was just something about his eyes when he looked at me.

Interesting enough I actually do have my father’s eyes. This is the one thing that often startles so many of my father’s family. When I get around them I hear it all the time, ‘You look just like Red.’ (Or Uncle Lawrence, or Uncle Red, etc.) I am very proud to have his eyes. Yet in all this I truly want to have my heavenly Father’s eyes. I want to see things the way He sees them.

In fact when Jaune use to sing the song ‘My Father’s Eyes,’ I did think about my earthly father, yet my thoughts would always go towards my heavenly Father. (By the way I baptized my daddy about a month before he passed away.)

Here is the song that I dearly loved to hear Jaune sing:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cRB4pL6Xqy8

So what’s all this about ‘Lord, listen to my heart?’

It is true that I often write about my childhood, but there is a reason for this. For me early childhood was a time of security, of simplicity, of love, of being taught by my mom to call upon the Lord as a Father. It was a time of sharing my heart with the Lord. It was a time of no secrets. I wasn’t afraid of God. I loved Him in my childlike way. I could share anything with Him.

Now — Are you getting the picture? Listen carefully. This is what God is looking for in His children. Yes, believe it not, there is a little child in every one of us. It is that little child that the Lord is calling to. The Lord wants that little child to know security, to know His love, and for that little child to freely and openly share his heart with Him.

Is there any Scripture for the idea of there being a little child in each of us? Absolutely. Listen to David again:

“O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; not do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me.” (Ps131)

See how complicated we’ve managed to make of the walk of faith. Yet Jesus gave us the answer. He said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt18:3)

The truth is, the more childlike you become in your walk with the Lord, the more you will see the hand of God at work in your life. A child does not command, or demand, or confess things into reality. A little child learns to lean against the Lord. The world of a small child wraps itself around his parents. A little child does not have to earn his place in the family to be accepted. Each little child is the ‘apple of God’s eye.’

The apple of God’s eye…

There is a concept in the Scriptures that each child of God should grasp. John said that we are not saved because we loved God. We are saved because God loved us. And from the moment of our salvation (if the truth be known even before the foundation of the world) the Father has had His eyes on us.

This is what the term ‘apple of God’s eye’ means. Listen one more time to David: “Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior to those who take refuge at Your right hand from those who rise up against them…

… Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” (Ps17:7,8)

The ‘apple of the eye’ is what we call the pupil. It is as C. H. Spurgeon said, “No part of the body is more precious, more tender, and more carefully guarded that the eye; and of the eye, no portion more peculiarly to be protect than the central apple, the pupil, or, as the Hebrew calls it, ‘the daughter of the eye.’”

In the original Hebrew there is a remarkable expression being made when it speaks of ‘the apple’ of God’s eye. It literally takes in both genders. The factual translation reads, “Keep me as the little man - the daughter of the eye.”

Why it was termed ‘apple’ likely comes from Hebrew tradition. But there is a picture to be had. Think about it — If you look closely at the pupil of any person’s eye, what do you see? You see a small image of yourself. The pupil is like a mirror. Yes, you see a reflection of yourself. And God sees Himself in Jesus in each one of us. This is why Jesus is called the firstborn of many children.

I realize that much of what I am saying does not sound very manly. Perhaps that is the point. We aren’t called merely to be ‘manly.’ We are called to be children of God. We are called to live our lives knowing that our heavenly Father continually watches over us.

So, will you do it? Will you begin right now as that little child before your heavenly Father? Open your heart to Him alone. Tell Him your struggles. Jesus said that our Father knows what we need before we ask Him. Yet our Father wants us to share our heart with Him.

This is what Jesus called ’secret praying.’ And this is one reason that I keep a ’secret’ prayer journal. Listen:

“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Mt6:6)

You can be sure that the heavenly Father will listen to your heart.

Just some things to think about.

Much love coming your way,

Buddy

Posted: September 8th, 2007 under NHL.
Comments: 6

Journal,

As a child of the 1940s, my heart is linked to the music of that era. It was the era of the big bands.? Songs like ‘Sentimental Journey’, ‘Buttons and? Bows’, ‘Cruising Down the River on a Sunday Afternoon’, were songs with simple but clean themes.

One of the songs I especially liked was pubished in 1939, and became the signature song for Judy Garland. It was entitled ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’ Miss Garland sang it when she was but 16 years old. (17 at the latest.)

The reason I liked it so much was because for my childish heart, it seemed to have a heavenly theme. Guess you could say that mama had already instilled heaven in my heart with my ‘Now I lay be down to sleep,’ childhood prayer. From that time I’ve always had a heart for heaven. And even when I wandered about in the world, there was always something in my heart that was calling me back to my childhood experience of calling upon the Lord.

Perhaps you would like to hear Judy Garland sing it. Here it is:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=10w_sEcHlGs&mode=related&search=

You may wonder what triggered my ‘Over the Rainbow’ memory. Well, I was astonished today to hear a young girl of only six years sing it. This beautiful young lady literally had my eyes filled with tears. (I was around six when I first heard it.) Anyway, here it is. You can judge for yourself:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7zBxt_w8_zQ&mode=related&search=

Read the lyrics and you see why this song has a heavenly feel –

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There’s a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can’t I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can’t I?

Here is where I need to give a plug for our heavenly sponser. Jesus said, “Unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt18:3)?

At another time when the disciples tried to keep the little children away from Jesus, the Lord said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Mt19:14)

I was blessed in that my mama taught me the little childhood prayer. To this day I believe she placed in my young heart? tender feelings for heaven. It was instilled in me from that prayer. And when our children were little ones, I tried my best to? put in them this same heavenly consciousness. (As did my sweet wife.)

On one occasion I am in my office studying for a service. A small knock comes to my door. There stands Shana; “Daddy, I don’t have anyone to hold me.” I sweep her up in my arms and sit down with her in my lap in front of our french doors. Thats when I began to talk about her about our heavenly Father, about the creatures He had created, and about His love for us.

But it didn’t end there. I tried to make this a constant theme. At another time all three of my children and I are raking pine straw in the back yard, when we sit down under a tree for a break. Our dog Peppy lay there with us. Again I hear this small voice say, “Daddy, everybody needs a hug, even God, huh?” “Yes, darling, even God needs a hug.” And again I began to share with our children the Father’s love.

Then there was the time when Andre was quite small. He stood on the front porch as I walked up. The night was so dark. Andre could barely see me. But when I said, “Jump Andre, daddy will catch you,” he soared off the porch into daddy’s arms. He knew that daddy would catch him.

Yes, there is a point in all this. I remain deeply disturbed as I hear all these earthly, materialistic teachings today. It disturbs me when I know that God’s people are being misled by what I consider as nothing less than charlatans in the pulpits. The gospel being preached in many places is earthly minded and man-centered. It is a gospel of greed.

But my mind goes back to all the Bible warnings concerning these last days. For example Peter spoke of the false teachers that would arise among God’s people. He said, “Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” (2Pe2:2,3)

What is it that the pulpits should be instilling in the hearts of God’s people today? Should be not be a consciousness of heaven? And I’m not simply speaking of our future home. I am calling to attention the very atmosphere of heaven that we are called to live in.

Jesus said that if we would seek the kingdom of God first, then everything else in life would be added to us. The kingdom of God speaks of the rule of God in our hearts. We are not to try to lord over our own lives. We are to look to Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We are to learn to live from His words.

This is why the apostle Paul said, “Set your mind [affections] on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (Col3:2-4)

From ancient time there has been in the hearts of all God’s saints, this feeling for heaven. God’s people have always seen themselves as pilgrims in this life. In the new covenant this takes on a new dimension. When a person receives Jesus Christ as their own Lord, there is a heavenly reality that enters their heart. In this sense we become heavenly creatures in earthly bodies.

Yet the principle of living for the Lord never changes. We are to live as children. So let me ask a question worth pondering — How is your heart today? Is it childlike?

Have you been misled by some of the earthly, materialistic teachings? Do you need to come back to your first love, that is, to your simple childhood faith in Jesus?

Just something to think about.

Blessings,

Buddy

Posted: September 4th, 2007 under NHL.
Comments: 2

Journal,

The report from MD Anderson of? ‘no cancer’ continues to make its rounds. I’m receiving telephone calls and emails, and meeting people in public, who are expressing their love for me, and their thankfulness for the goodness of God. The report is bringing renewed faith to many. The testimony is to the glory of the Lord. That was my prayer from the beginnning.

Yes, it is time to rejoice. But we must also rejoice in how the Lord will use this to draw many hearts to Himself. We must rejoice in how the many churches who offered prayers for me will take encouagement in that the Lord heard and answered their prayers. We must rejoice in that the message of the cross has never lost its power.

Jesus said, “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” (Jn16:24 nasb) The faith the Jesus gives us to live by is a living faith and a rejoicing faith.

One of the things Satan hates most of all is for God’s people to be renewed and refreshed in their faith in Jesus Christ. He knows that each time a prayer is answered, it calls for more prayer. And Satan hates a praying people. Prayer is the one weapon that we have that can do more damage to the kingdom of darkness that anything else. Prayer links us directly with heaven.

This will help you understand why I’ve kept a prayer journal over the years.

What’s this about a voice calling in the wilderness?

This reference is to John the Baptist. The prophetic text is found in Isaiah 40:3, which reads, “A voice is calling, ‘Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.’”

The New Testament says this prophecy has to do with John the Baptist calling for the people to repent and to make ready for the Lord Jesus.

This is where I must share the burden of my heart. For a great many years I’ve been deeply disturbed over what appears to be the occult at work in many churches today. It has been so disturbing that I’ve often called attention to it from the pulpit. I’ve even had dreams over the years where the Lord is admonishing me to warn His people not to get caught up in the ’seducing’ spirits that are working today under the name of Jesus.

Just as a brief summary, occultism is the belief in supernatural powers and the possibility of bringing them under human control. Folks have often heard me use the term ‘metaphysics.’ Metaphysics is a philosophy that includes the learning of spiritual laws and how to use them to control the natural.

The danger side of metaphysics is that it is equally at home in all religions. It is man-centered and this is why it is so attractive to the many. But for a Christian this sort of belief actually undermines the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ. As one charismatic teacher said not so long ago, ‘You don’t have a god in you. You are one!’

If you wish to know who said that, go to:

http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/copeland_exposed.htm

Yes, it is possible that I’ve befuddled a few friends because of my stand against spiritism in the church, but that I have to leave in the hands of the Lord. Hopefully these friends will be awakened themselves to the spiritual dangers that we are facing today.

While I sometimes feel like a lone voice calling in the wilderness, I know this really isn’t the case. Reading the morning paper my attention was captured by the ‘Guest Sermon’ that appears in The Town Talk each Saturday. Today’s Guest Sermon is entitled, ‘Deception in the Church.’

As I read what the brother had to say, I thought to myself, ‘Looks like I’m not alone. Here is another voice in the wilderness.’ Here are some quotes from what he wrote:

“Now the spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. (1Tm4:1) …

“The Scripture clearly makes the prophecy that the church of the end time will be characterized by apostasy and material wealth. Great deception inside the church is happening right before our eyes. In fact, it may have already come inside your church. How? Through false doctrines, false spiritual gifts, emotional experiences and also a different gospel…

“Positive thinking, positive confession — please listen pastors, don’t encourage anyone from your flock to go to meetings where false teachings claim to be able to transfer the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. This only softens people up to receive false doctrines, along with a seducing spirit …”

Here is a clip you can preview. Judge for yourself if you think this atmosphere represents in any sense the true faith of Jesus Christ. Listen closely and you will hear hissing….

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1SgByE0pX1M&mode=related&search=

One thing I do not wish to do is cast a reproach on anyone who has gotten caught up in this sort of atmosphere. It is easy to become part of a mass movement and not realize until later what has actually happened. It is not the innocent believer that I call attention to. It is the leadership. I also realize that in some instances even leaders can be led astray for a bit. But woe to those leaders who are actual pawns of darkness. Their judgment is coming.

Now about the movie ‘September Dawn’.

Betty and I went to see the 4:30 p.m. showing but a strange thing happened. (In my mind.) When I asked for two tickets the gentleman at the window seemed a bit rattled. He had to call for the manager. It was as though they had not planned to show that movie.

In turn the manager had some negative comments about the movie. But she said she would have to turn it on. Well Betty and I did see it and we were the only two people at that showing.

This is what I think may have happened. The Mormon church has tried unsuccessfully to keep September Dawn from being shown to the public. Not able to stop it, then the word went out to use whatever means possible to discourage people from going to see it. (Of course that is just my take.)

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this movie a 10+. It will stir the deep of your heart. Tears came to my eyes more than once. In fact as soon as it is available I intend to purchase a copy for my own library.

By the way, I’ve had several ‘attacks’ through my blog because of my endorsement of September Dawn. You can guess where the attacks came from. (The attacks are deleted.)

Oh yeah — Got a wedding in a couple hours…

Our Youth Pastor, Jonathan Martinez and Jessica Yougblood are being married at Christian Challenge at 2 p.m. What a joy. I’ve been Jessica’s pastor since she was a wee bit of a lass. And this marriage is a match made in heaven. (Nathan is doing the ceremony.)

Guess I’ll mosey along.

Love as always,

Buddy

Posted: September 1st, 2007 under NHL.
Comments: 2