Journal,

We had located to a small town in Central Louisiana to raise up a ministry. It was 1976. We had no sponsor, no congregation, and no means of support. I had my wife who loved me and trusted me in my calling, our three children, my guitar and Bible, and not much else. What I did have, however, was a stewardship from the Lord. I knew in my heart that the Lord was leading me into this venture of faith.

And that’s where the problem began. One evening laying in bed, I am much awake. The struggle is taking place in my thought life. ‘What am I doing here?’ ‘How will I take care of my family?’ ‘Did I really hear from God?’ I was in unfamiliar faith territory, with no one to look to but the Lord. During this moment of struggle, I felt in my spirit to get up, that the Lord had something to say to me.

I got up, picked up my Bible, went to our kitchen table and sat down. My Bible fell open at the book of Psalms.

It was then that I heard the Shepherd speaking.

The Lord began to share with me the purpose of that book. He shared why the book of Psalms is so important. That this book was given to teach us how to think, how to pray, what to believe, how to believe, that it is filled with promises, providence’s, provisions, prayers, praises and so on and on.

He shared that it is a prophetic book that is filled both with heavenly treasures and heavenly wisdom. But our eyes have to be opened to see that which is hidden for us.

From that moment my appreciation for the Psalms leaped forward and has never lagged to this day. I discovered that each Psalm has a story to tell. The key is to remember that they are written for believers, and most all of them, if not all of them, have a Christological intent.

This means that the Psalms are written especially for those whose hearts belong to Jesus. They have the power to fill our hearts with Jesus. They have the power to allow us to see past the veil and into the very treasures of heaven.

This is why we hear Jesus say,

“‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:44,45.)

Did you know that Psalms is the one book mentioned in the New Testament that has a direct correlation to living a Spirit-filled life. Certainly the whole of the Bible is filled with spiritual life, but Psalms is unique. This is why we hear Paul write,

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” (Eph 5:18-20)

OK, now that brings me to a devotional that I would like to share from the book of Psalms. Psalm 84, begins with…

How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts!

Then the Psalmist goes on to say, “My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.” 

This Psalm opens with the longings of the heart. And while the Psalm has in view the earthly Jerusalem and the tabernacle, its deeper spiritual reference is for those who have been born from above. Its lessons go far beyond an earthly Jerusalem.

To be born again is to be born from above. In this ‘heavenly’ birthing we actually become children of God, or, heaven’s children, or, if you will, ‘children of the throne.’ In the heart of every born- from-above person, God places a ‘Holy Spirit’ seal. Paul calls this seal the ‘pledge’ of our inheritance. The seal cannot be broken. It is a seal of ownership. But it is also a seal that includes the very breath of the influence of heaven. Its our ‘home town’ seal.

The seal lets us know that we are pilgrims in this life. And because of the seal we can say with Paul,

“For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven.” (2Co5:1,2.)

See the connection. The Psalmist said, “My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord.” But in the meantime, we groan. We all have these groaning times in this life. Paul uses the same language as the Psalmist. “We groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven.”

The book of Hebrews tells is that this ‘longing’ is one of the signs of a true believer. It is applied to the Old Testament saints who longed for Messiah and for a country that was to be their own. It says that Abraham “was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (He11:10)

Then it speaks of all the holy ones before Christ. Of them it says,

“[They] confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth … But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.” (Cf. He11:13-16)

Psalm 84:3,4 continues with…

“The bird also has found a house…

…and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young. Even Your altars, O Lord of host, My king and My God. How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah.”

How can we dwell in the house of the Lord today? Its not as hard as you may think. The apostolic writer said that we have become the ‘house’ of the Lord, in this life. That is to say, that we are the very dwelling of God in the Spirit.

But the issue here is that heaven’s children are able see the goodness of the Lord in everything. Even the swallow has a lesson to teach us about God. Perhaps she knows much more than we realize. Did not the Lord say,

“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matt6:26)

With a former church we pastored our parsonage was a mobile home. Every morning when I took my shower, I would hear this bird-like singing. One morning I happened to look out through the small window, and caught a glimpse of a small bird on a limb. He was singing his little heart out. Each morning the little bird would come to sing for me. This went on for a good time. 

As we continue, Psalm 84:5 says…

“How blessed is the man whose strength is in You…

… in whose heart are the highways to Zion!”

Again we can reflect on Jesus. The highway to heaven’s Zion is the path of Jesus. The Psalmist said in another place that God would make the Messiah’s footsteps “into a way.” (Ps85:13)

So when Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” the Lord’s response was simple and direct. He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

So where are the highways to Zion? Are not the highways to Zion in our hearts?

And where is our true strength? It is in Jesus. The Psalmist said, “How blessed is the man whose strength is in You.” Did you know that most burn out in a believer’s life is a burn out of the flesh. There is no burn out in the Spirit. The Spirit refreshes. But if we are doing our work in the flesh, we will wither with weariness.

Let’s now look at the path that leads us home. After all we live in the nasty now-and-now.

The Psalm continues…

“Passing through the valley of Baca (Hebraism for ‘vale of tears.’) ...

…they make it a spring; the early rain also covers it with blessings.” (V6)

How many times have we been through the valley of Baca? I’ve been there often. There is no use in me telling you about my “Bacas.” You’ve been there. It is a place of deep sorrow. But it is in the valley of Baca that we come to know the Lord in a even more intimate way. Thus we hear in another place, “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (Ps30:5)

One day the Lord may pull back the veil on our life and allow us to see all the ways He intervened in those moments of deep sorrow. And what may amaze us the most, is when He shows us His intervention in our lives before we came to a conscious knowledge of Him as our Lord and Savior. It is very much like the song which says, “He was there all the time.”

The Psalmist continues, “They go from strength to strength, every one of them appears before God in Zion.” (v7) Listen to the language. Every one of them!

Every one of them appears before God in Zion…

Why does this sound familiar? Jesus said, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (Jn6:40)

This is Jesus saying, “Every one of them will appear before God in Zion.” In another place He says, “Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me!” (He2:13)

It is like Jesus is saying, “Here we are Father. They are all here. I haven’t lost a one of them. I have kept them in Your name. The family is home.”

Listen to this prophecy:

“Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.” (Isaiah 40:11)

Salvation is an awesome and wondrous thing. But it only becomes truly awesome when we realize that our salvation is never based on anything we can do. Jesus alone saves us. He saved us. He is saving us. He will save us.

He intervenes in our lives constantly. He intervened before we came to know Him. And He is ever present in our lives afterwards to help us process every struggle.

The older I get and the longer I serve the Lord, the more I appreciate the lessons of the book of Psalms. I can well say with David,

“I have been young and now I am old [older than young], yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread.” (Ps37:25)

Is it any wonder that our path goes from strength to strength, from grace to grace, from blessing to blessing, and yes, even from baca to baca.

Well — What about 1976 and the stewardship from the Lord?

I eventually came to realize that the stewardship the Lord had given me was to raise up a mentoring society. You can’t mentor disciples if you have not yourself become a disciple. And a true disciple has to know about walking with the Lord in the land of sanctified faith.

Time will not allow me to share the many times that the Shepherd has spoken very clearly in my life. But I don’t have to tell you about those times. You have had plenty of your own times of speakings.

So lets simply conclude this devotional with the ending prayer of Psalm 84. No need for me to explain prayer. Listen with your heart:

“O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah. Behold our shield, O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside.

I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than to dwell in the tends of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!” (vv8-12)

What say ye — How are you doing on your way home?

Much love coming your way,

Buddy

Posted: February 29th, 2008 under Devotions & Studies, General.
Comments: 2

Journal,

In my devotional time this week a portion of Scriptures really stood out to me. I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit. It was as though the Lord were reminding me of what my walk with Him is about. Listen:

“And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.

“When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples,

“‘Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?’  (Mark 2:15,16 nasb)

To the Jewish people, tax collectors were the worse of sinners. They were seen as Jewish traitors who collected taxes for the Romans. But the term sinners took in most everyone else. It was often especially directed to prostitutes.

Point at hand is seen in the Lord’s response to the scribes and Pharisees.  Jesus said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I’ll come back to this is a moment. First let me touch on something else.

Did you know that one of the greatest signs of the wrap up of the age has to do with Jewish people turning to Jesus. The Lord is reaching out to the Jewish people through Jewish voices, and it often begins with a Christian voice.

An example of this is the Isaacs. The Isaacs are one of the most soul stirring gospel groups to be heard today. Lily Isaac was a former Jewish folk singer who now sings for her Messiah Jesus. 

A former Jewish folk singer …

There is a wonderful atricle about Lily Isaac in the Baptist Press. Go to:

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27437

The point is that more and more Jewish people are turning to Jesus. I’ve read that a number one topic of discussion among Jews in Israel today has to do with Jesus. This is a telling change for the Jewish people. (Keep in mind that most Jews in Israel are not religious. Thus they are more open in their approach to Jesus.)

Over the centuries the Jewish identity of Jesus was obscured to the Jewish peoples. But now there is a rediscovery of Jesus among the Jews, and a move to reclaim Him into their history. It is quite easy to find books about Jesus, written by Jewish authors. This reclaiming reaches several levels. Some see Jesus as a great Rabbi, while others are actually taking Him to their heart as Lord and Savior. All of this is a prelude to the greater movement to come.

Today the Lord is reaching His ancient people largely through the Christian witness. It is through the life testimony of Christians, that our Jewish friends are being awakened to Jesus. And it is these awakened Jews who are becoming the Jewish voice to Jews around the world.

Would you like to hear the Jewish testimony in song? Listen to the Isaacs. You have several to choose from. Here is one of my favorites, Umbrella:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5muhL3×3KJk&feature=related

What about the tax collectors and the sinners…

This brings me back to where the Lord stirred up my heart once again on what my walk with Him is all about. I’ve been reminded of a dream the Lord gave me a number of years ago. The dream related both to my call, but it would surely apply to every gospel carrier. See if you can identify with it –

 In the dream I was walking across a large open field. The grass was brown and dying. When I looked behind me, I saw a group of people in the distance looking at the ground and then looking up at me. It puzzled me. ‘What were they looking at?’

But when I looked at where I had walked, every footstep I made had  green grass springing up in it.

It was from of this dream that I was reminded of what Jesus said to the first disciples, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

The green grass speaks of our journey of life, which, in turn, speaks of our journey home, which in turn, speaks of our following in the footsteps of Jesus, which in turn, speaks to leaving a trail in life that others can clearly see. The trail is the trail of a life bringer.   

It is our love for Jesus and our Christian bearing that draws others to the Lord. This is true for every believer, but it is especially true for the one who is designated as a carrier of the gospel. Listen to Paul:

 “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things.‘” (Rom 10:14,15 nasb)

And this is where a crucial point needs to be made. 

God’s people must beware of seclusion…

One of the most valuable keys in sharing the gospel has to do with our association with the world. Certainly Christians are to insulate themselves spiritually from the workings of darkness, yet we are not to isolate ourselves from those to whom Jesus would reach. The Lord said, “As the Father has sent Me, even so send I you.”

During the time of Jesus, the religious leadership had become so distant and untouchable that many of the people saw no hope in the system. Jesus said the people were like sheep without a shepherd.

The answer is that Jesus did not come to the people as a religious person. He walked right into their world, identified with them, loved them, and in doing so, He turned their hearts towards Him.

Is this not our purpose as believers?  What then does the Lord have to say to the self-righteous religious person? Listen:

“[Those who say] ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day.” - Isaiah 65:5

But what does Jesus have to say to the true believer? Listen to how the Message speaks to this:

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

“Here’s another way to put it: you’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?

“I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand–shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16 Message)

What was the accusation made against Jesus, early on…

The accusation was that Jesus had made Himself to be a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Should not the same accusation be made to all believers?

It isn’t a matter of becoming a sinner among sinners. Jesus never did that. So why were the sinners so attracted to Him? Answer that one and you’ll have a handle on what your walk with the Lord should be about.

Think about it. 

Much love coming your way,

Buddy

Posted: February 23rd, 2008 under Devotions & Studies, General.
Comments: none

Journal,

Well, looks like the time has come to write about my musical escapades. Maybe someone will find this of interest. 

My first store-bought guitar was a Sears and Roebuck Silvertone. (In the 50s. Now a vintage. Stopped making them in 1980.) I worked hard to get enough money to buy that guitar and amp. I would sit in my bedroom for hours on end with my guitar, my amplifier, and my Eddy Arnold record. Boy, I had Eddy’s ‘Cattle Call’ down to the yodel. (I’ve been tempted to write a Christian song to include some yodeling with it. That would give everyone a shock treatment.) 

I dearly loved Eddy Arnold. Could never get enough of Tennessee Stud, Cattle Call, Cool Clear Water, and Make the World Go Away. If you are interested here is a clip of Eddy’s music; Tennessee Stud and Cattle Call.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-VcnVtvDtG8

Well, that was the beginning of my love affair with the guitar. Had a band in high school; The Dizzy Cats. Played at school basketball games half time, also in a night club in Alexandria, and for private parties. (Not bragging, mind you.) This carried over into my Navy days. Even had a shipboard band. We would play in seaport night clubs. 

The interesting thing in all this  is that I still can’t read the first note of music. In fact I don’t even know the names of many of the chords that I play. Yup, I only play by ear. (Really by heart.)

I don’t rightly know why I fell in love with the guitar. In addition to two banjos, a mandolin, a couple harmonicas, I have several guitars. And my favorite guitar of all is the 12 string guitar. I’ve worn out or passed on guitars to my boys. Guess Betty says it well enough when she says that my love for music has passed right on to my kids. All of them can play the guitar to some extent as well as other instruments. 

What’s all this got to do with cool water….

Didn’t think you would ever ask. I really wasn’t bragging on my past music exploits. Just wanted you to see where some of my love for music has been. And while I love all kinds of music, its the country sounds, especially ballads, that always held the dearest place in my heart.

So now you know why you can take boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.

But the real point I wish to make is that in June, 1964, something happened to my heart that forever changed my deepest feelings for music. I met the Lilly of the valley. I met the bright Morning Star, the fairest of ten thousand. Oh yes, I met the Shepherd of Israel. I can truly say that Jacob’s and David’s Shepherd is also my Shepherd.

I know — Some may ponder if the ancients really knew about Jesus, but they did. They just knew Him by varied names. An example is where Jacob prophesies over his sons. Listen to what he says over Joseph:

“Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall. The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him severely, yet his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel)…” (Gen 49:22-24 ESV)

And ever since met Jesus, it seems that all the music in my heart springs for from Him and is about Him. There is just something about God’s Son that seems to leave little room in your heart for much of anything else. Sure, I have my moments of nostalgia but they rarely last very long.

This is where I want to share another devotional that will speak to having the presence of Jesus in our life. Let’s call it…

In the Presence of the Divine…

In this devotional I want to share what the term ‘eternal life’ actually means. As a way of approach, let’s ask three questions. Does eternal life simply mean that we will live eternally? Or, eternal life mean that there is a life that comes from God, that believers now enjoy? Or, does eternal life merely speak of our going to heaven?

Eternal life means all these things and more. Eternal life certainly means a ‘forever-ness’ in heaven. But eternal life also addresses a reality of life in which every believer can right now draw from the presence of the Divine. And this is why eternal life can never be attached to a religion. Religion is what men do. Eternal life is what God gives us in Christ. Eternal life is where our strength comes from.

A certain thing happens when a person is born again. This certain thing is a discernable awareness that a change has taken place in life. Its not merely an emotion. Emotions come and go. This change has a permanent effect. The newly born person now has what can be called ‘God awareness.’ And the interesting thing is that the God awareness doesn’t go away. It will be there the next morning. It will be there even in a time of failure.

Before I go further, let’s gather some Scriptural support for how the Divine is implanted in the human spirit at the moment of our birth from above. When a person is born again they are given what the Bible refers to as ’the testimony.’

Jesus said,

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The Lord had just said,

“That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6-8)

The spirit of man is considered to be the deepest part of the human’s inner make-up. And the Spirit of God is no less than the deepest of God Himself. Put these two things together and you have Divine life in the inner man. No person can be born again and not know it. When our spirit is filled with Divine life, we know it. We may not be able to explain it, but no one can take away what God has done in our spirit.

Paul later explains it thus;

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.”

He then says,

“Which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” (1 Cor. 2:12,13)

How deep is this life interchange with the Divine? Paul adds that the Spirit of God has the ‘deep’ of God in Him. It is this deep of God that we began to experience as an outworking of our birth from above.

As for the testimony that cannot be refuted, the apostle said,

“The Spirit Himself testifies (bears witness) with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16)

The apostle John says something that may seem a little confusing, but the context has to be considered.

“As for you, the (life) anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His (life) anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” (1 John 2:27)

The apostle is coming against the false teachers who were trying to convince these young Christians that they alone had an inside track on the things of God. So in order to received anything from God, these young believers had to go to the false teachers. (Boy, do we ever have them with us today.) John says, “No way.” Every child of God knows exactly what God is like, and has the Spirit of God inside them to instruct them in the way of truth.

Later John says,

“The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.” He then says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (Cf. 1 John 5:9-13)

The wonderful thing about eternal life is that it is not an issue crossing the ‘t’ and dotting the ‘i.’ People can have some of the oddest beliefs, and yet if they have believe in and have received the Son of God for who He is, they have eternal life. No religious group has a corner on God things. There is no ‘best’ religion.

Now let’s center more on the heart of our study, that is, our life ‘in the presence of the Divine.’ When a person truly believes in Jesus Christ, there is an interchange that takes place in the Spirit. They trade their old life for the life of Jesus Christ. He literally enters the human spirit in a spiritual form. And this is what the ‘Abba! Father!’ experience speaks of.

The apostle said,

“Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”

In another place Paul refers to this experience as the seal of the Spirit. The seal itself is eternal, which means it cannot be broken. (Cf. Gal4:6; Eph1:12; 4:30)

From the moment of our birth from above, Divine awareness becomes part of our life. The believer lives with a consciousness of belonging to the Lord. This is why believers become uncomfortable in the presence of sinfulness. No one has a sensitive conscience like that of a true believer. It is this sensitiveness that helps guide the believer into doing what is right before God.

So its not a matter of having permission to sin. It is a matter of a believer’s inability to continue in any form of sin. Its like trying to place a sheep among pigs. The sheep may get muddy in the pen, but he is not going to remain that way. It is contrary to a sheep’s nature to live like the pigs. John said,

“No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot (practice) sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9)

What a wonderful thing, living in the presence of the Divine, or having a conscious relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul tells us not to ‘grieve’ the Holy Spirit of God. How can we know we have grieved the Spirit of God if there isn’t Divine awareness? We know because the Holy Spirit grieves in us. This sinking feeling we get in times of missing the Lord, is the Lord’s way of say, “You missed it. Lets get it right.”

So, what does eternal life mean? Does it mean that we will live eternally? Does it mean that there is a life that comes from God, that believers now enjoy? Does it merely speak of our going to heaven? It means all this and more.

Eternal life is the life of the Son poured into our spirits. It is the true testimony that we believe in the resurrected Lord of glory. Eternal life carries its own witness. It is Jesus helping us process life to its fullest. Eternal life is having Jesus rise up from within us to declare His own victory. And this is why we are to have faith in Jesus alone.

Paul gives the best description to the life we now have. He says,

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

OK, now that we know what eternal life is, a question remains. How does a person receive eternal life? There is only one answer to that question. And it is quite simple. It is written,

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Just some things to think about…

Have you taken a drink from heaven’s cool, clear, water?

Much love coming your way,

Buddy

Posted: February 18th, 2008 under Devotions & Studies, General.
Comments: 3

Hi Journal,

In my last entry ‘From generation to generation’, I included a bit about my mom. Now I want to share some things about my dad. So here goes… 

I said to my ship mates, “Boys, I’m going to find me a good woman and settle down.” That was in May, 1963. I was wearied of all the travels, the sea ports, the bars, the gambling, the seedy side of life, and just the plain emptiness of everything.

I had gone into the Navy as an idealistic and somewhat naive lad of 18 years. Now I felt battle worn and hardened at age 22.  

And the news from home wasn’t the best. Mom and dad were busting up. It would be my role to take my mom and my two sisters from Louisiana to Colorado, where one of mom’s sisters lived. But I’ll never forget what happened the morning we were to leave. Dad came to where I was laying on a pallet on the floor. He bent over and said, “I love you son.”

There was just something in his voice that struck a cord deep inside of me. I saw such a longing in his voice. After I got up, I saw dad walking across the field in front of our house. I will never forget that scene. It spoke to me of sadness. I think dad felt sorrow for me, for  what I was having to come home to.

It is true that every son needs to hear his dad say, ‘I love you.’ This wasn’t new with me and my dad. We often affirmed our love on a regular basis. This time it was just different. Kinda hard to explain.

The picture - I’m reaching across time with this one. My dad was a younger man. This picture was taken during WWII. 

The two smaller pictures are of me. (Vietnam era) Notice how the bottom picture shows a certain hardness. These two pictures tell the story of how hardness can creep up on anyone over the years. And especially when the Lord is not in the center of our life picture.

Off we go to Colorado. In the next few weeks I would drop from 190 pounds to about 145 pounds. My heart was in disarray. I was popping pills right and left. (Had a can of diet pills that a friend had given me.)

First - A little more about my dad –  

Pardon me if I jump back and forth across time. My dad went to be with the Lord, March 19, 1973. He was only 61 years old. But it was one of my greatest joys in life to get to baptize him a month before he passed over. My dad always had a tender heart. He just wasn’t a church goer. Later on in years you would find him attending more services, and sometimes in revivals that I was holding.

But let’s continue on with the story.

I need to get back on track. We arrived in Colorado the first of June, 1963. Keep in mind some of my final words to my ship mates; ‘Boys, I’m going to find me a good woman and settle down.’

Over the years I’ve come to understand and to believe just how much the Lord is involved in the events of our lives, and that even before we come to know Him personally. By July, 1963, I had already met this beautiful young Christian girl. To this day when I look at Betty, my toes curl. 

Anyway, this is where a letter to my dad comes in. After my dad passed on, we found a letter in his belongings that I had written him. It was about my sweet Betty. I wrote the letter July 23, 1963. The letter is now close to 45 years old. It seems my dad treasured my letter over the years. This says something about the love of a father for his son.

Although the letter is quite private, I felt it would be good to share it. The letter speaks to the heart of a young man, where other words would fail me. But there is also a spiritual lesson involved. We’ll look at the lesson a bit later.

Here it is.

A son writes his father…

“Dear Dad,

“Forgive my delay in answering as is my usual custom. Not much at writing letters and there hasn’t been much news to speak of.

“Everyone is fine on this end. My job finding efforts have paid off a little. I’m now working as a salesman for the Notifier Home Fire Alarm Company. Straight commission. Afraid this will have to do until I can hook onto something steady. Still hoping for that position in Utah, but the missile site isn’t due completion until October.

“That is the main reason I haven’t married yet. Plus Betty’s good sense. Of course we need something to start on and being a salesman just doesn’t get it. We had planned to be married a couple weeks ago but my not having a job stopped that.

“Say Dad, how are the jobs back home? We’ve been talking about moving to Louisiana if I could get a decent job there. I intend to stick this job out in Utah if possible. So far I haven’t heard from them and that leaves much in doubt. Actually I haven’t anything definite to look forward to. Haven’t decided yet but, perhaps I’ll go back to Louisiana. Betty is the only reason I’ve stuck here thus far. There’s nothing worse that being without work and wanting to get married.

“Don’t misunderstand this letter. I do like it here a lot but a person has to eat. Betty has set September more-so a date for us. Certainly is disgusting.

“You’d surely like Betty, Dad. Couldn’t have made a better choice I assure you. She’s smart and from what I’ve observed, very conservative. Frankly, Betty has done an ‘A one’ job at keeping my head above water.

“Afraid her family doesn’t take a shine towards me and that has me bothered. Won’t go into that though. Just hoping for the best.

“Well Dad, I don’t want to bore you any more, so answer when you get time and maybe I’ll be home before too long.

“Always your son,

Buddy

“PS. Give my love to Bertie, Donnis and the boys.”

Well, where do I go with all this? Is there anything of a spiritual nature that I can draw on. Absolutely! Very much indeed.

Did you know that the gospel is the story of a love between a Father and His Son? Sure it is.  And let me point out that the story of the gospel is the story of the Father saying…

Let Me introduce you to My Son…

Did you know that the Bible teaches that you cannot have the Father without the Son, nor can you have the Son without the Father. Think about these Scriptures:

“Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 2:11,12 - Early Church drew on this Psalm with regard to Jesus.)

“Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!” (Pro 39:4)

“After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’” (Mat 3:16,17)

“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!’” (Matt 17:5)

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col 1:13,14)

“Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.” (1 John 2:22,23)

The Bible we love so dearly is deeply imbued with the Father’s love for His Son. 

The reason it is so deeply imbued is because the Bible is the book of heaven, and Jesus is the Son from heaven. And the Bible as heaven’s book has much to do with God’s work of salvation.

The reason an unbeliever finds no life in the Bible is because unbelief always cuts a person off from the life of God. This life is only found in God’s Son. Does this sound a bit odd? Let’s look into it.

“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.” (1 John 5:11,12)

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the exact expression of all that God is. Thus it can be said that as we study the gospels we are studying the character of God. Jesus is also the Word of God wrapped in the form of humanity. He is the Word made flesh. Thus Jesus Himself is the secret life of the Bible.

Let’s take a closer look at this. In quoting from Psalm 40:7,8, Hebrews 10:7 says, “Behold, I have come. In the scroll of the book it is written of Me.”

The term for scroll (kephalis) originally spoke of the knob at the head of the stick around which the parchments were wrapped. The ancients saw Psalm 40:7,8 as referring to Messiah. In addition they saw the Torah as containing the very life of God and His Messiah. So the ancients believed that the sacred writings wrapped themselves around God’s Messiah.

The idea of God’s life being in the book isn’t new to the Christian faith. To the Jews the Torah was a living thing. We see this in how Jesus spoke to certain of the Jews;

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” (Jn5:39,40)

Here is an incident that speaks to the life of God in the Scriptures. There was a lady who suffered greatly from a female disorder. Hearing about Jesus, she said to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.” (Mt9:21) We don’t often catch what she was really saying. The part of His garment she wanted to touch was the fringe (tassel) of His cloak.

The Jews had a tradition concerning the fringe that had to do with God’s Messiah. The background for this was God’s commandment to Moses, saying,

“Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.” (Num15:38)

The cord of blue was said to represent the throne of glory, or the heavenly life. Over time these tassels took on the term ‘wings.’ Keep this in mind and you’ll have a bit more insight into certain Scriptures that speak of God’s wings and as to why the lady wanted to touch the garment (tassels) of Jesus. Here are examples:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty … He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge.” (Ps91:1,4)

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.” (Mal4:2)

Then we hear Jesus say,

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.” (Mt23:37)

The point at hand is that the Jewish people made a strong association between the fringes of the garment and the Messiah. Wanting to touch the garment of Jesus was another way of the recognizing Him as the Messiah of God. Follow this with another Scripture:

“Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.” (Mar6:56)

But a question remains — What does this have to do with the Scriptures themselves, and, how can it be said that the Scriptures can be imbued with the very life of Jesus? It all comes back to the Bible being the book of heaven.

It isn’t the Bible itself that causes miracles and gives us the answers that we need. It is the voice that speaks to us from the Scriptures. Make this distinction and you have the true essence of why we love the book of heaven so deeply, and why we can say that the Bible is imbued with the life of Jesus.

Recall when Jesus opened the scroll of Isaiah and began to read,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” (Cf. Luke 4:16-22)

What happens next? The people are astonished at what they are hearing. It says they were wondering at the gracious words that were flowing from His lips. What made the difference in this case? It was Jesus speaking from the Scriptures. The people were hearing a living voice speaking from the book of heaven. It is the voice of heaven that makes the Bible the book of heaven.

The Bible explains this aspect of hearing God from the book. For example, Isaiah 29:18,19, says,

“On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the Lord, and the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.”

It takes awhile for the child of God to understand the principle of how God speaks to us. This is why it is so important for the believer to be in the congregation of God’s holy people. As the man of God speaks from the Scriptures, we began to hear the Lord speaking to our own hearts.

It isn’t the man of God who is speaking to us. It is the Lord speaking from the book of heaven. This is what Jesus is pointing out when He said, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Mt18:20 - He is present in His Word.)

Here is the crux of the matter. You see, no one can come to know the Lord Jesus, God’s Son, unless the Father gives that person the knowing experience. And it works both ways.  No one can truly know the Father unless the Son reveals Him. Listen:

“At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.’

“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt 11:25-30)

Did you catch the heart of the story behind a son writes his father…

Sure there is more to be said. But let me end up with another of my great joys in life. It was when I was able to present my children to my dad. The sad note is that he did not get to meet my daughter. Shana was born a year after daddy passed. But he will get to met her one day.

Did you know that one day Jesus will present all of us to the heavenly Father. Oh yes. Listen to this wonderful portion:

“For it was fitting for Him [Jesus], for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father;

“…for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, ‘I will proclaim Your name to my Brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.’

“And again, ‘I will put My trust in Him.’

“And again, ‘Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.’” (Heb 2:19-13)

So now you have my story. I really do miss my dad. There is so much more I could say about him.

The one thing that really stood out to me about daddy, was how he loved his grandchildren.

My very first son, Nathan, captured daddy’s heart from the start. I remember daddy picking Nathan up, putting a diaper in one back pocket, and a bottle in the other back pocket, and off they would go to visit kin folk.

OK - I’m about to tear up. Nuff for now. Didn’t mean to write a book.

Much love coming your way,

Buddy

Posted: February 14th, 2008 under Devotions & Studies, General.
Comments: 4

Journal,

I thought it would make an interesting entry to show a collage of pictures of me and Betty and our three children, when we were all close to the same age. (Give a couple years either way.)

Then I thought, ‘Why not go back one more generation and include my mom before she married.’ (Don’t have a picture of my dad at that age.)

So, there you have it. Three generations of young people before any of us had married. Hope it is obvious who Betty and I are. By the way this is one of my favorite pictures of Betty.

Under Betty and my pictures are our three children. Beginning at the left is Andre, Nathan, and Shana.

Other than good looks, what is it that stands out with these pictures? Is it not youthfullness? 

But there is more to tell. Do not these pictures affirm what the Bible says about one generation taking the place of another. 

Even better, how about the reality of  one generation passing their faith in the Lord Jesus to the next generation.

David said,

“I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.

“Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:1-4)

Again I thought how interesting it would have been to be able to share youthful pictures of both Betty’s and my grandparents. After all, they were all Christians. And the line keeps going back in time.  

And so you have the lesson in these pictures. The lesson is that you are only young once, and you only have one life to live, and serving the Lord is where the beauty of life lies.

Now take a deep breath. Better? OK.

The upside of the lesson is how wonderful it is to find the Lord in your youth. But if the truth be known, it is wonderful to find the Lord at any age. Or is it that the Lord finds us?

First let’s talk about the downside of life, then we’ll talk about the upside of our salvation.  

Have you ever felt sorrow over wasted years…

Almost every Christian will tell you that they went through a period of wasted years before they truly turned to the Lord, or returned as the case may be. This is a mystery in itself.

Most of us became involved in a life style that we later came to regret deeply. But I’ve also come to understand how the allurements of the world reached into our lives at an early age. Somehow in our tender years the enemy is able to paint a picture of where we were missing out on life, where good becomes bad, and bad becomes good. 

And even in the best of Christian home, there can be this tendency to wander away from a godly upbringing.

Why is this?

Regardless of the answer, here is a song that says it well enough. Please take time to listen to it. We’ll talk about the upside of life a bit afterward –

http://youtube.com/watch?v=92PYA-GbBUQ

Of course we’ve all felt sorrow over our wasted years. But have you ever considered how it is that you are now serving the Lord? How did all this come about? For many of us the story of the younger son is our own story.

Listen to the story of the wandering son (daughter)… 

“A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

“Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

“But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”‘ “So he got up and came to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

What was it that turned the wandering son towards his father’s house? Was it not the memories of his youth? This is what the Holy Spirit often uses to bring a straying child home.  

Do you have a child that is wandering about in darkness? Don’t be discouraged. The Lord knows where they are. Listen to what the prophet said about how we are saved.  

Let’s call this short devotional …

On a cloudy and gloomy day….

I know - The title sounds odd. But the title is Biblical. It tells us how and where the Lord found us. Listen:

“For thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.

“I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,’ declares the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 34:11-15 nasb)

Keep in mind that most prophecy in the former testament has a dual focus, that is, to the called out ones (the ekklesia ‘church’), and to Israel’s return to the Lord in the last days.

Did you know that Jesus Christ is the Lord GOD? With regard to the church, listen to what Jesus said:

“I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.” (John 10:16)

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.” (John 6:37-39) 

There are many more Scriptures we could consider. What I want you to see is that Jesus is our Savior from eternity. He saves us. He keeps us. He presents us to the Father. Jesus is the savior of our youth and of our wanderings. 

Salvation is entirely the work of the Lord.

I can attest to this. My mother had instilled in me a love and a belief in the Lord from my youngest of days. And yet I became a wandering son. Did the Lord leave me out in the darkness? No indeed. Neither is He going to leave your children out in the darkness.

Sure, it may well happen on a cloudy and gloomy day, but that is alright. It is often in our despairing moments that we find what life is all about.

You can spell the word ‘life’ with five letters. Here goes: J  E  S  U  S.

Just something to think about.

Have you experienced the life of a wandering son or daughter? Tell me about it. Others need to hear your testimony.  

Much love coming your way,

Buddy

Posted: February 8th, 2008 under Devotions & Studies, General.
Comments: 5

Journal,

It was at the Campbell Creek Cemetery. I had completed the graveside service and  was walking over to where my kinfolk were  buried, when I heard someone shouting, “Buddy Martin! Hey, Buddy Martin!”

Looking around I saw a fellow coming towards me that I had known from my youth. I hadn’t seen him in years. Like me, Johnny was one of the rough-and-tumble set. He walked up to me, looked me straight in the eyes, and said, “Buddy Martin, I figured if God could save you, He could save anyone. I’ve given my life to Jesus.”

That was several years ago and Johnny has since gone to be with the Lord. But I’ve never forgotten that scene at the cemetery. In fact a number of people from my youth have expressed their amazement that Buddy Martin had become a preacher. What they didn’t know was that behind all that rough exterior was just a teenage boy trying to appear bigger than what he really was. He didn’t have a clue as to what life is really about.

The backside of all this was that in the 50s, I had garnered quite a reputation. This was during the time of James Dean, Pat Boone, Bobby Darin, Johnny Horton, duck tails, black leather jackets, hula hoops and coonskin caps.  To measure up you had to create an image of both coolness and badness. Well, I had both. I had built a reputation of toughness, and was also involved in a rock band called ‘the Dizzy Cats.’

But that really isn’t the issue. I wasn’t cool. I was just a wandering soul in need of a Savior. What really counts is how the Lord can take a life of sin and darkness and turn it into a life made beautiful.

God made something beautiful of my life…

It is not enough to say that I was born in sin. That is the story of humanity. For me the journey of sin simply followed me into the Navy. And coolness wasn’t a great thing in the Navy. So, for four years things only spiriled downward. Pretty much all the things that sinners did, I did. (You know the drill; drinking, carousing, and visiting places I never should have gone.)

But I do recall when life suddenly seemed to come crushing down on me. I was running out of steam. There was this terrible void inside me. Everything had lost its taste. Of course you know all about that. If you are a believer, my story is your story.

What made the difference? The difference is that Jesus found me and turned my life around. This next picture says it all.

Before I go any further, take time to listen to this song by Bill and Gloria Gaither;

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ar-sPqVmOSc

Here are the words  –

 Something Beautiful

Something beautiful, something good;
All my confusion He understood.
All I had to offer Him
Was brokenness and strife,
But He made something beautiful of my life.

If there ever were dreams
That were lofty and noble,
They were my dreams at the start;
And the hopes for life’s best
Were the hopes that I harbored,
Down deep in my heart.
But my dreams turned to ashes,
My castles all crumbled,
My fortune turned to loss;
So I wrapped it all in the rags of my life,
And laid it at the cross.

Something beautiful, something good;
All my confusion He understood.
All I had to offer Him
Was brokenness and strife,
But He made something beautiful of my life.

With all the afore in mind, let me share a devotional story from the Bible.

Its about a Man called Wonderful…

Isaiah said,

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.”

After writing this, the prophet continues with,

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa9:2,6)

The prophet was calling the backslidden nation back to God. As he writes of judgments, suddenly He speaks of God’s Christ. This happens often. And here and there we hear the prophet write, “A virgin will be with child.” And again, “With righteousness He will judge the poor.” And again, “He was pierced through for our transgressions.” And again, “Ho! Everyone who thirst, come to the waters.”

Is there no wonder that the book of Isaiah is referred to as the fifth gospel. Of course Isaiah was not alone. God’s message of redemption was interspersed throughout Moses and the prophets. And this is a major reason why the religious leaders who rejected Jesus were without excuse. Jesus said to Pilate, “He who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (John 19:11)

Jesus is the only person in the history of the world who perfectly fulfilled and is fulfilling the prophets, that is, in time and in description. Even the prophets themselves were mystified by what they were hearing and seeing in the Spirit, concerning Jesus Christ.

Peter said that the prophets of old made careful searches and inquiries about the grace to come. The Lord let them know that what they were to write was not for them. It was for a people yet to come. And added to this we have the angels. Angels are absolutely astonished over God’s work in Christ for our redemption. (Cf. 1Pet1:10-12)

And so, it is the word ‘wonderful’ that sets the stage of the coming of Jesus. The ancients said that one hallmark of Messiah would be His working of ‘wonders’. Perhaps it would help to get a bearing on what the ‘wonderful’ or ‘wonder’ actually means in the Scriptures.

The Hebrew term for wonderful is ‘pili’ or, ‘pali. Variations on this word include ‘pala’, that is, marvelous, and ‘pele’, or wonder. The idea behind each of these words is that of something hard to grasp, or, something incomprehensible. The apostle Paul said that the peace that comes to us through Christ is beyond ‘comprehension.’ Peter adds to this in saying that our walk with the Lord is “joy inexpressible and full of glory.” (Cf. Phil4:7; 1Pet1:8)

The Hebrew word ‘pali’ and its companion words speak of things that only God can do. This is why Jesus said of the religious leaders, “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen Me and My Father as well.” (John 15:24)

Let’s come back to Isaiah. Keep in mind that Isaiah said his name would be called ‘Wonderful (pele) Counselor.’ This means that Jesus would Himself be a wonder, that He would do wonders, and that He would provide wonderful counsel. The reason is that the things Jesus did and will do, are things that can only be done by God. With this in mind listen to these Old Testament Scriptures:

“Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?” (Exo15:11)

“I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders (pele) of old.” (Psa77:11)

“You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples.” (Psa77:14)

“He wrought wonders (pele) before their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.” (Psa78:12)

“Oh Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You have worked wonders (pele), plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.” (Isa25:1)

Now think about all the things that Jesus did. He opened blinded eyes. He walked on water. He turned water into wine. He spoke and the seas became calm. He raised the dead. He cleanse lepers, and healed every form of disease. In fact John completes his gospel in saying, “There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)

But once again, it is Isaiah who gives the greatest expression to a child to be born. He said a child would be born to us, a son given. Messiah would be a human baby. He would die as a Son. Thus we hear John say, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”

What kind of message is this? How could it be? Yes, it is incomprehensible. And this is why we sing song such as, “I don’t know why Jesus loved me. I don’t know why He cared. I don’t know why He gave His life for me. Oh but I’m glad. So glad He did.”

Isaiah said of this Son, that the government would rest on His shoulders. This was fulfilled both at the baptism of Jesus, but especially in His resurrection. At His baptism, the Holy Spirit came down from heaven and rested on Him. The Holy Spirit speaks of divine government. Of course in His ascension, Jesus took His place in glory. Isn’t it interesting how the Bible closes with a picture of one throne. It is called the throne of God and of the Lamb.

What will His name be called? Isaiah said, “Wonderful Counselor.” This can be translated as ‘One counseling wonderful things.’ What else? His name shall be called ‘Mighty God.’ The Hebrew is El Gibbor. This is an adjective for Warrior God. Mighty!

What else? His name shall be called “Eternal Father.” One of the ancient Greek translations says, “Father of the age to come.”

We can compare this to Hebrews 1:3, which says, “And He [the Son] is the radiance of His [the Father's] glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.” The issue is that it is only in the Son that we can come to know the Father.

What else? His name shall be called “Prince of Peace.” We can translate this as ‘Prince of Soundness’, or, ‘Prince of Completeness’, or, ‘Prince of Perfection.’ All this is contained in the Hebrew word ’shalom.’

In the new covenant all these expressions come to be realized. Our perfection is in Jesus. Our completion is in Jesus. He is our peace. He is our soundness. Speaking in the Old Testament, the Wisdom of God says, “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.” (Pro8:12)

Have you found Jesus to be the Man called Wonderful? Sure you have. Every true believer finds that He is wonderful, and that He works wonders. As for His wonders, let me share another story from my experience in the ministry. (I have hundreds.)

It happened in 1975. I was in the parking lot talking with one of the elders of the church. Suddenly we heard this tremendous noise. Coming straight for us was a tornado. The trees were whipping and twisting. What we didn’t know is that just a mile down the road the tornado had struck a small country store. The lady heard the noise. She walked into the center of the store. When it hit, the roof blew completely off. All four walls fell outward. But the lady was unscathed.

And here it comes straight for us. The elder jumped in his truck and sped away. I looked at our trailer home parsonage, realizing that my wife and children were inside, I began running towards the trailer. The tornado hit, knocking me to my knees. I watched the front porch of the parsonage disappear. Our metal storage building smashed in the woods. (We have pictures.)

Two ‘wonderful’ things happened. As I began to run, I heard the Wonderful Man speak to my heart, saying, “Satan would like to destroy you, but he cannot. I have you in the palm of My hand.” Wonderful had spoken. The issue was settled.

The second ‘wonderful’ thing that happened, is that the trailer home itself did not even tremble. Betty told me that the trailer did not move the slightest. My wife and children were well protected.

Well, we all have our stories of God’s wonders. But what was the greatest wonder in all of redemption history? The Man called Wonderful spent forty days appearing to the disciples. He said of them, “You shall be My witnesses.”

No disciple ever denied Jesus. They knew that Jesus did not begin as a babe in a manger. Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He has always been. He is the heart of the Father revealed. And the prophets said the Wonderful One was coming.

Through Micah, God said, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” (Micah 5:2)

Isaiah actually saw Him. He said, “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.” (Isa6:1)

So is it not true? Don’t you have wonderful stories to tell about Jesus? Is He not the One who lights up your life? Were you not in darkness before you met the Lord?

A Jewish convert to Jesus once asked me what I considered the most important message that I ever preach. I responded with just one word. Jesus! There is no other message. If what we are sharing is not about the Man called Wonderful, what we have to share does not belong to the gospel. Paul said that in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col2:3) And Paul said that we have this treasure in earthen vessels.

All things that Isaiah said about Jesus are true. And isn’t it interesting how the prophets could be writing about one thing, then suddenly their thoughts would arise to God’s Christ. Why not? Jesus Christ is what life is all about. And God’s people of old had a longing in their hearts for Messiah to come. They knew that this One would somehow actually be God with us.

Just something to think about.

And if God could save Buddy Martin, He can save anybody.

Blessings,

Buddy

 

Posted: February 6th, 2008 under Devotions & Studies, General.
Comments: 2

Journal,

Betty and I had a good laugh this morning reading a newspaper article on local churches that had Super Bowl parties yesterday. A goodly portion of the article included Christian Challenge. Here are the laughing snippits from the article:

“‘I’m for the Patriots,’ said Hope Martin, a member of the Christian Challenge youth group. ‘My boyfriend is going for them and apparently there is a hot guy (Tom Brady) who’s quarterbacking for the Patriots.”

“Hope’s cousin, 5-year-old Abbey Youngblood, was also a Patriots fan, at least by proxy, since according to Abbey ‘(Hope) made me!‘”

In the above picture, Abbey is at the bottom right. Hope is all the way to the left. Maybe I’m not in trouble for showing a picture of the grand-kiddies that is over a year old. 

All I can say is that both Hope and Abbey are ‘charmers.’ And when Betty and I read ‘Hope made me,’ it sent chuckles through both of us. Yep, they truly have their share of Martin blood in them. We Martins are naturally charming good-looking-smooth talkers.

Now why does this ‘Hope made me’ sound so familiar…

Oh yeah. I remember. It all began with our g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-(plus greats)-grand pappy. Its a family trait that has been in the family from ancient time. You remember the  story. The greatest of great-grand pappies got caught doing something he wasn’t suppose to do. Here is how we have it recorded:

“And He said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’ The man said, ‘The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.’ Then the LORD God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ And the woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’” (Genesis 3:11-13 nasb)

And we’ve been passing the buck ever since.

We even write songs about our being taken advantage of by others…

Now, for your die-hard romantics, there is a song that was written by one of our greatest of grand-pappy’s far distant younguns, that still blames others for this thing called love. Its not very spiritual, but since I’m on a roll, just listen to it anyway. It makes my point.

The song is entitled, ‘You made me love you.’ The music was by James V. Monaco and lyrics by Joseph McCarthy. It was first published in 1913. I remember it from the 40s. Hmmmmm. think I’ll dedicate this to my sweet Betty.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wru6FjdY4wQ&feature=related

Did you know that the song ‘You made me love you,’ actually has a theological motif to it? (Not all of it.) Notice these lyrics:

You made me love you
I didn’t want to do it, I didn’t want to do it
You made me love you
and all the time you knew it
I guess you always knew it.

This brings me to the strangest thing about God’s love…

What many don’t realize is that the human race has been estranged and alienated from God since our first grand-parents rejected His Word. It has been a continuous warfare of the heart and mind. But this warfare never changed God’s love for us. Listen:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16,17)

The point is that our salvation has never depended on our love for God. That would come later. The apostle John makes this clear:

“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:9,10)

The redemption work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to Christ Jesus. The very word ‘conviction’ carries the idea of a moral conquest of the mind and thus of the heart. And when we surrender to the Lord by way of the cross, something radical takes place in our hearts. The war is over. Peace is won. His love has won our heart.

And out of our new life from above, we are also given a love in our heart for the Lord that is beyond our ability to understand. This is what responds to the song, ‘You made me love you.’ Listen again:

“…and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Rom 5:5)

“…and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” (1 Pet. 1:8)

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” (2 Co. 5:14,15)

Do you see the love connection…

The single greatest sign that a person has been born from above is their love for Jesus Christ. I’m not going to simply say, ‘Their love for God.’ The word ‘God’ can mean anything to anyone. But the love of Jesus Christ defines heaven’s love-life of the heart.

In fact if you’ll notice carefully, the greater part of our Christian songs centers on our love for our heavenly Father and for His son Jesus. And according to Jesus, it is this love sign that becomes the great divide of life. This is why He tells us not to be surprised if the world hates His people (Christians.)

Let hear it from Him:

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

“He who hates Me hates My Father also.” (John 15:23)

“If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.” (John 15:24)

How can I not love Him?

I can only speak for myself. How can I not love Him.

My testimony goes along with the chorus that says …

When I think of the goodness of Jesus,
And all He has done for me.
My soul cries out ‘Hallelujah.’
Praise God for saving me.

How can I not love Him?

Guess this is why folk have often heard me say that I have only one message to preach. I can preach it a thousand ways, but it will always be about Jesus.

No, I’m not interested in prosperity teachings, or anything of that nature. If its not about Jesus, I don’t have room for it.

Please take time to hear one more song - Surely it will speak to your heart.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y34lUGEmv10

And as I’ve often said …

Much love is coming your way. 

Buddy

 

Posted: February 4th, 2008 under General.
Comments: none

Journal,

Suppose its catching up time.

To begin with we’ve added some more grey(ing) heads to the Christian Challenge Board of Directors. This brings our board to seven members. The picture to the right is not a true depiction of our newer members. Just having a bit of fun. 

All humor to the side, our new members are all faithful and well-respected men of Christian Challenge. Here is a brief introduction:

(1) Gary Fisher - Gary Fisher and his wife Nora have been active members of Christian Challenge since the mid 1980’s. Gary is a long time volunteer in our sound and recording booth. He is Commander of our AWANA program. 

(2) David Stellwagon - David and Kathy are also long-standing members of Christian Challenge. They were our missionaries to Japan for nearly 12 years. Both are active workers in the ministry. David is a CCI Ordained Minister.

(3) Lane Fletcher - Lane is a CCI Licensed Minister and Assistant Director for our School for Christian Workers. He works directly with Brother Buddy in overseeing the School and in extending the School to other areas. He regularly teaches the Disciple’s Heart class.  

(4) Alan Stroud - Alan is one of our earliest disciples. He served as a right hand man to Brother Buddy for many years. Alan launched out from Christian Challenge to pastor a Congregational Methodist Church. He is now in San Antonio, Texas, helping to raise up a mission work there.

As for the grey hair, it is true that they all have some of that but they aren’t really that ancient; 40ish to 6oish. Actually Nathan is the youngest member of the board. He is knocking on 43.

OK - Its time for our 39th School for Christian Workers…

Classes begin the weekend of February 10, 2008.

Here are the classes offered:

(1) The Disciple’s Heart Training Program© -

The Disciple’s Heart Training Program is the graduate course of the CCI School for Christian Workers. This course is designed to open up the world of the disciple for believers.

If you desire a study program that is deeply spiritual but also has an emphasis on  personal evangelism this is the class to enroll in. - Instructor Lane Fletcher

(2) The Bible Survey - Old Testament -

This course provides the student with a better understanding of the Scriptures by bringing history, places, peoples, and festivals in the Old Testament together in a way that the students can see God’s plan of redemption working through the ages.

The Bible Survey will make Bible study more meaningful. You soon find that every verse of Scripture and every book fills a proper slot in God’s program. - Instructor Nathan Martin

(3) The Shepherd’s Heart Minister’s Training Program©

The emphasis of the Shepherd’s Heart Minister’s Training Program is upon the preaching and teaching ministry. It will prove beneficial to any believer who desires training in teaching skills and in Bible interpretation.

This course covers the gospel ministry from sermon preparation to Bible interpretation. It includes lessons such as Pulpit Wisdom, Lessons In Life and Holiness. The student learns forms of speaking including extemporaneous. Those seeking leadership skills would be advised to take this course. Instructor Buddy Martin

(4) Conversational Spanish

The focus of the Conversational Spanish class is to give the student a working knowledge of spoken Spanish. This class is a perfect introduction to the world of Spanish and is great for those planning short-term missions trips. Emphasis is placed on phrases dealing with day-to-day issues and building a vocabulary of useable words. - Spanish I: Jonathan Martinez. Instructor-Spanish II: Nathan Martin

OK, lets take time for a devotional. So what’s this about…

Hearts being knit together in love…

In this devotional study we want to consider two interrelated ideas. One has to do with the knitting of souls and hearts together. The other has to do with the weaving work of the Lord, in how the Lord arranges events in our lives to keep us on the course He has designed for us. These two ideas flow together.

Theologians often refer to Christ as God’s other self, and to the Holy Spirit as Christ’s other self. Such a mystery. In this we can call attention to the prayer of Jesus;

“That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may know that You sent Me.” (John 17:21)

Isn’t this interesting. The world will know about Jesus when the hearts of believers are seen to be knitted with love. (I’m using the word ‘knit’ freely.)

Of course the Lord is speaking of an other-worldly love. The love that Jesus calls attention to is a love given to us by the Holy Spirit. It is a love that belongs to the new creation people of God. Paul said, “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Rom5:5)

Addressing the Colossian believers, Paul calls attention to how a church is given oneness in the Spirit. He says,

“That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love,  and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding…” (Col2:2.)

Can it be that God actually knits believers as a church unit, that is, as a flocking of believers? I believe this is exactly the case. The Lord joins hearts to hearts. Of course this knitting can only come from God Himself.

Perhaps it even goes beyond the knitting of a particular flock. I meet with a group of ministers each Wednesday morning. We are all from varied church backgrounds, including Methodist, Assembly of God, Baptist, Nondenominational, Wesleyan, Nazarene, and so forth. Yet there is this ‘knitting’ of brotherly love that has lasted for a great many years. Is God in this? Yes — God can do what we cannot do.

Let’s continue on.

It has been my experience as a long-time pastor, that when the Lord places a believer into a particular body of believers, the knitting of hearts becomes part of this placement. There are other Scriptures that allude to this knitting being a work of Christ Himself. Consider these:

“…upon this Rock [the revealing of Christ and the person of Christ] I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Mt16:18 - Christ is the builder of the church, not man.)

“…and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” (Act16:14 - Only the Lord can open hearts in this sense.)

“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”(1Co12:18. While this may speak of giftings, can it not also apply to God placing us where we need to be?)

“… not yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge.” (1Pe5:3)

“… when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many has had been appointed to eternal life believed.”   (Act13:48)

All these are partial quotes. But each says something about how it is God Himself who brings lives together for His kingdom purposes.

Now let’s move on and include the idea of God weaving circumstances and situations and peoples and events together at various points in our lives in order to accomplish His purpose for us. (Quite a long sentence, but the point is made.)

First we need to understand that the Lord is always at work in our lives, even when we are not conscious of it. He said that He would be with us always. But was He at work in our lives before we came to know Him personally? There are Scriptures that indicate such. Consider the following:

“Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” (Ps139:16 - A good Psalm to read in its entirety.)

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jer1:5 - Jeremiah still speaks as a prophet to the nations through his book.)

“But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles…” (Gal1:15,16)

Stop and think about it — Paul was set apart from his mother’s womb to be a preacher of the gospel. How about all those years before he came to know Jesus personally. Was the Lord in the background of his life during those years? This had to be the case if Paul was set apart from his mother’s womb. 

One might say, ‘Well this only applied to certain great men, that is, men like David, Jeremiah, and Paul, and other selected great men.’ But is that truly the case? Consider this Scripture:

“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him, in love. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” “ (Eph1:4,5)

Now this brings us to another question. Is God involved in every detail of our life? No, not in the sense that He causes us to sin. Yet the Lord is always present in the scenes of our life to continue His work for His purpose. Did not the apostle say,

“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.” (Cf. Rom8:28-31)

Paul did not say that God is the cause of all things. That would make Him the author of our sins, of our misdeeds, of our failures, of even the evil motives of our hearts. What Paul said was that God causes the whole of our lives to work together according to His purpose. (This is where the free-will of man and the oversight of God can be seen together.)

And it all took place at the cross. Yes, the cross was God’s plan from all eternity. Listen:

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col 1:13,14)

And again:

“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.

‘For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Pet 1:18-21)

Yes, God has a purpose for each and every one of His children. It says,

“For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers…” (Ac13:26)

And with regard to all believers, it says,

“We have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” (Eph1:11)

And again,

“[God] has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.” (2Ti1:9)

Look back on your life. Can you see the rock from which you were hewn?

When the Lord told Israel to look to Abraham, that is, the rock from which they were hewn, He was telling them to look at Abraham’s life, and how the Lord worked in his life. Was not the Lord in every step that Abraham made? Was He not in the background even in Abraham’s failings? Yes, and Abraham serves as the prototype of the believer’s walk.

I can look back over my almost 68 years, by way to my childhood, and say, ‘Yes, God was there then.’ And, ‘Yes, He has woven my life to bring me to where I am.’ And, ‘Yes, even in my stumblings in life, the weaver was there.’

How can I say that? Did not David say,

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.” (Ps37:23,24)

May I make a suggestion that you take time to read the whole of Psalm 37. David wrote this as an old man. Read it and then read it again, and again, until its message sinks into the deep of your understanding.

So, what about peoples and events? Yes, the Lord brings people into our lives according to His plan. Yes, there are circumstances that are arranged by God for our lives, by which we will find ourselves moving further along the journey of His will.

How about right now — How can I know that the Lord is knitting my life together? I am glad you asked that question. You can know. You are designed to know. But it is not a knowing in your emotions or necessarily in your mind. It is a knowing of the Spirit and in your spirit.

My point is that we can know the working of God in our own lives, if we will stop long enough to pay attention. The apostle said,

“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Phil2:13)

And again it says,

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Heb13:20,21)

There is much more to be said about the knitting and the weaving of the Lord. I’ll leave off for now. Please feel free to share your thoughts, your experiences, and your questions. This is an excellent devotional study to cause a further understanding of the life we are called to live. 

Much love coming your way,

Buddy

Posted: February 2nd, 2008 under Devotions & Studies, General.
Comments: none