Author Archives: revjaf

NEGATIVITY WHAT? James 3: 1-12

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I’ve heard that each of us possesses a ‘negativity bias’.  A what?  It’s a tendency to be more adversely affected by bad words or events than good, positive ones.  One critical comment about my morning sermon and all the good ones (if there are any–see what I mean?!) get tossed out the window.  That wisecrack gets carried home.  Complimentary ones rarely make it to the driveway.

It’s said that to overcome a negative experience requires four positive ones.  Cutting comebacks take a gargantuan effort to right their wrong.  One good word doesn’t equal a bad one.  Their caustic mouthful will do a number on our emotions, requiring a tall order to bounce back from.

Resonates like this warning from the Bible–‘And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.  The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell’ (James 3:6).  Watch your mouth, as we’d say in New Jersey!

One zinger feels like a knife in your heart.  The same with bad experiences.  Don’t expect to jump up immediately after being beaten down.  Takes time.  The scars linger though fade some with the Lord’s help.  Be patient… like I’m not!

Something goes wrong in my life and I’m back in Margaret Hague Hospital in isolation at the Sister Kenney Polio Ward with absolutely no idea what’s happened.   My world turns upside down… at age two.

Trust me–those feelings of abandonment and loneliness never totally leave me, which is another good reason to comb the Bible for God’s promises.  I dig for them holding on for good measure.  For it will take a lot of Jesus’ promises to overcome childhood losses.

With kindness, watch what words you say to yourself.  Replace the negative with Jesus’ promises and warmth.  Up the ante four times.  Keep at it.  Won’t come easy.  Satan’s grip is tight.  But Jesus’ is tighter.  Ultimately, depend on Him.

Thank you, Jesus, for keeping me close to you no matter what.  Amen.

PROMISES, PROMISES Joshua 21: 43-45

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I’m learning to be careful with what promises I make.  For some have memories like elephants!  Not good to let anyone down by breaking my word.  Not a barrel of laughs when it happens to me.  I can easily drum up decades-old broken promises without batting an eyelash.  That’s why I’d better be cautious opening my big mouth.  Promises made require promises kept.

Once again our Lord God embodies all the best.  You can hardly count His promises recorded in the Bible.  All have been or will be kept.  Guaranteed more than death and taxes!

When God’s people possess the lands promised them, they discover how trustworthy He is.  Stronger than the Rock of Gibraltar.  He minds the store and carries the load.  I know that at times it appears He’s disinterested or distracted.  Like He doesn’t care.  Head perched up in the clouds of heaven.

But it’s not true.  Not at all.  Only a few verses to read today.  If you tend to skip the suggested Bible reading, don’t even think about it.  I promise you’ll be sorry.  A promise which will be kept!  Only three verses in Joshua 21.

Anyway, not that I don’t trust you, but here they are!–‘Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers.  And they took possession of it, and they settled there.  And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers.  Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands.  Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed;  all came to pass’ (Joshua 21: 43-45).  See?  Told you so!

Could there be something pushing at and weighing down your heart and mind today that needs some heavy trust lifting…by the Lord?  Something way beyond your ability?  That only Jesus can deal with?

Why not bank on God keeping every word of His abundant promises…in His time…in His way…for His glory.  Promise?

Father, you are so good and faithful to me.  I love you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

WHAT WAS THAT? Proverbs 3

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Recently I’ve noticed that the volume on our TV set needs to get louder.  Maybe it’s on the fritz.  But even talking with neighbors greater than socially distanced six feet, I’m straining to hear them.  Piecing together a word here and there, hoping my responses are not too off the wall.  What gives?

You know.  So does my wife!  Hearing loss, which must be premature in my case!  Wrong.  I remember a singer at a Christian conference center announcing before his solo that ‘everyone here has aids.’  I’m going to jump out of my seat fleeing this infected bunch until I realize he means hearing aids!  Now I can remain seated as one with aids. Thankfully, only the hearing type.

Proverbs 3:11-12–‘…do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.’  It’s only natural to wonder why things go wrong.  Why Lord?

Like this infernal pandemic.  Illness…death…job loss…fears abounding…plans shattered…businesses shuttered.  Wake-up call from the Lord?  Why Lord?  To wake us up to Him?  To stop pushing Him to the very edge of our lives?  Why?

You know what C.S. Lewis writes in ‘The Problem of Pain’?–‘God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, and shouts in our pains:  it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.’  He’s right.  Our world, our culture, many pastors and churches, are willfully deaf to God’s Word.

Bible literacy ebbs lower and lower.  Even God’s people are not exempt.  Awhile back one of my Moody Bible Institute professors whispers to me about how little today’s Bible school students know… of the Bible!  Is that possible?  Seems so.  If true of them, then the rest of the world can’t win for losin’ with nary a snowball’s chance anywhere.  Is it time to dust off you-know-what?  Could that be what Jesus is saying?

So, when God shakes you up with whatever it is you don’t need or want, what do you hear?  Anything?  Time to get closer to Him?  Confess and repent?  Look up to Him more than downward navel-gazing?  Exercise your weakened trust muscles?  Is that what you also hear?

Lord, I want to hear you loud and clear.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

SPEAK YOUR MIND AND HEART Acts 13: 4-12

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To speak my mind and heart remains an uphill battle for me.  Especially in the face of attacks targeting the Bible’s truthfulness and even our Lord Jesus.  Why so difficult?

Unfortunately, I’m a people-pleaser, which doesn’t please the Lord at times.  I logged in as a Country Club Manager on a seminary vocational test.  ‘More peanuts, anyone?  Pretzels?  Everyone happy?  Everything hunky-dory?’

But at times, I need to speak my mind and heart.  Don’t chew on my fingernails fearing flak with someone’s nasty thumbs-down hurled my way.  Getting the old heave-ho.  Thrown on modern culture’s junk heap.   It’s part of the territory in this day and age, isn’t it?  Probably always has been.

Paul and Barnabas minister on Cyprus, Barnabas’ home island.  The Holy Spirit leads them there.  They encounter someone named Bar-Jesus, who dabbles in occult, magic arts, along with being a confidante of Cyprus’ Roman political leader, Sergius Paulus.

Bar-Jesus means ‘Son of Jesus’.  Sounds like a good name to me.  But it isn’t and he isn’t as he tries his level best to keep Sergius Paulus from embracing the faith and becoming a true ‘son of Jesus’.

But Paul has something to say about this.  Better fasten your seat belts!  Acts 13: 9-11–“But Saul…filled with the Holy Spirit…said, ‘You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you,  and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.'”  Nothing meek and mild or Caspar Milquetoast about Paul.  Forget the peanuts and pretzels.

No people-pleaser, like you-know-who!  Gives him a huge piece of his mind and heart.  With both barrels.  If I were in Paul’s shoes, I’d feel a bit weak in the knees.  All shook up and freaked out– ‘Please Lord, use someone else.  Give me a break.  Cut me some slack.  Leave me out!’

But God calls His own to step up to the plate.  ‘Stand up, stand up for Jesus’ like Paul did.  Be the odd one out, if necessary.  Risk unwelcome glances and whispers.  Even in your face howling and bellowing.  Speak up.  Doesn’t that sound more like what it means to take up the cross and follow Jesus?

“And (Jesus) said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it'” (Luke 9:23-24).

Lord Jesus, give me your courage to stand up for you.  Amen.

A WORTHY MENTOR Acts 11: 19-26

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Years ago I determined to preach annually about the early church leader Barnabas.  Why Barnabas?  What makes him special?  Let me count the ways!

He’s born on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus to a Jewish religious family of Levites, Temple assistants.  He’s named Joseph, but later the apostles nickname him Barnabas, meaning ‘son of encouragement’.  He earns that moniker by being exactly that.

Barnabas becomes a missionary partner with the Apostle Paul.  Pretty good company!  Paul doesn’t rub shoulders with just anyone.  Later these two duke it out over having Barnabas’ nephew Mark go on another mission journey, because on an earlier one Mark deserts them, fleeing home prematurely.  Homesick?  Couldn’t take the trials and troubles?  Who knows?  Barnabas wants to give Mark a second chance, but Paul puts his foot down, refusing to risk Mark’s deserting ways once again.

Acts 11:19-26 gives kudos to our man Barnabas.  Wouldn’t you love similar words said about you?–‘…for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith’ (Acts 11:24).  If only.  I’ll take any one of the above!

When the mother church in Jerusalem gets wind of Gentiles becoming believers in Messiah Jesus, they’re flummoxed and incredulous (see, I still use my Thesaurus!).  They send Barnabas to check it out.  Who better?  He gets to the bottom of it, and it’s good news indeed!

What about those toxic rumors of that archenemy, the persecutor, Saul of Tarsus, becoming a believer in the Lord Jesus?   Who should they send to smoke out the truth?  Who pulls the short straw?  When most shake in their sandals fearing Saul, it’s Barnabas who introduces him to the Jerusalem Church head honchos (Acts 9:26-27).  Second chances are second nature to Barnabas.

And his faith?   Simply contagious.  Countless others become followers, not of Barnabas, but of Jesus.  Barnabas then grabs hold of Saul, now called Paul, to have him teach those new Gentile believers.  He’s a connector.  Joins people together without putting his own name up in lights.  No grabbing the headlines, or demanding naming rights to that new church in Antioch.

Can you see why I’m drawn to Barnabas?  He’s a worthy mentor.

Thank you, Lord, for leaders who are your followers.  For your sake.  Amen.

HIS WHISPERS Job 26

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We loved visiting New York City’s the Cloisters Museum.  Located in Upper Manhattan’s Fort Tryon Park, it offers panoramic vistas across the Hudson River to the Palisades of New Jersey, near where I served two churches.  The Cloisters specializes in medieval architecture and art.

Something unforgettable happens there in a smallish room, which contains dozens of audio speakers for surround sound.  We stand in a circle listening to the most gorgeous Gothic chants.  Ethereal tones like we’ve never heard before.   Such blissful, euphonic and celestial music makes it hard to tear ourselves away.

This triggers a thought, something found in the Old Testament.  Job 26: 14–‘Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him!’  Experiencing God happens only by winks and whispers.  The fullness comes later.

The Apostle Paul understands.  He recounts something like an out-of-body experience that takes him to the outskirts of heaven.  To paradise, he says.  What does he see?  Something breathtaking.  Indescribable.  But actually that’s not how he puts it–‘and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter’ (2 Cor. 12:4).  ‘…he heard things…’  It’s not what he sees with his eyes that he can’t talk about, but what he hears.  Again, Job says we only hear whispers of God’s glory.

As wonderful as that Cloisters surround sound was, I can only imagine (unlike John Lennon) how stunning the notes of heaven will be.  No whispers anymore.  Lots of harmony with parts perfectly blended.  Overtones galore.

Such a choir.  The best is that we’ll be season-ticket holders, while also being permanent resident singers of God’s praises forever!

For music of praise, we thank you, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

CODES, PUZZLES AND MYSTERIES? Deuteronomy 30: 11-14

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We live in a time when knowledge of God’s Word disappears quicker than steam off a frosty roof on a sunny winter morn.  I wonder if illiterate peasants of millennia past knew more of the Scriptures than the average Joe or Jen today?  Society seems on its high horse about being in the dark and out to lunch, as if knowing and believing the Bible makes you a bigoted hypocrite.

Some imagine the Bible jam packed with riddles and puzzles.  Codes to be deciphered.  Mysteries to be solved.  If it’s that hard, why try?  But is God’s Word so perplexing?  Hear the Bible itself–‘For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off…But the word is very near you.  It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it’ (Deut. 30:11,14).

We walk around gasping for breath if we haven’t exercised our spiritual lungs, making the personal commitment to sacrifice time away from certain modern distractions to focus on what God has to say.  To open our ears to His voice.  To focus our eyes on what’s been written for us from Him, with our hearts receptive to what He wants.

Today is the best day to decide to dig deeper into your Bible.  Don’t be unnerved.  Keep reading.  Hear His voice.  Follow what He says.  Don’t work yourself into a lather if the madding crowd heads off in the wrong direction, smack dab into a dead-end street to you-know-where.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.  How many of His own followed Him to the cross and the tomb?  Not many.  Just a few.  Be one who stays close by Him.  You’ll never be lonely with Jesus right beside you.  After all, He’s given you His Word.

Thank you, Lord, for being with us.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

SAFE AND SECURE? Deuteronomy 28-30

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Nestled within these chapters of Deuteronomy, there’s painted a rather disheartening picture of God’s people turning out to be a bunch of playacting hypocrites, making promises they have no intention of keeping, with faith in their Lord God as rare as penny candy today.  Just them?

Too often I’ve toyed with my commitment to Jesus, which turned out to be less than skin-deep.  Maybe others didn’t notice, but I’m sure some did.  Regardless, I’ve gotten an eyeful of myself.  Certainly the Lord has.  That ‘shivers me timbers’.  Makes me weak in the knees.  And ashamed.

“…and who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart'” (Deut. 29:19).  Big mouths boasting promises which won’t be kept.  Feeling safe only going through the motions.  In church on Sunday, co-habiting with the devil the rest of the week.  Sinning today, glibly repenting tomorrow.  Safe and secure from all alarms?  You think?

Due to no lack of futile effort on my part, I’ve got to admit that sin offers no shelter at all.  None.  First off, my conscience kicks in and kicks me in the pants.  Then, somehow, the truth gets out.  Sin’s thrills turn out to be full of hot air.  Fluff.  Flighty.  Leaving me spiritually flummoxed.    

Some answers?  Don’t have to go far.  Deuteronomy 30:19-20–‘…I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.  Therefore choose life…loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days…’

There it is!   Moment by moment choices of loving, obeying and holding fast to Him.  Not that complicated, but rare among God’s people.  In my heart as well.

So when sin causes you to fall off your horse, hold Jesus’ outstretched hand, letting Him pull you right back up.  Love Him and thank Him.  Too much wasted time looking back when He has so much more ahead for us.  Giddy-up!

Lord Jesus, help us to live in love, obedience and dependence upon you.  Amen.

IS THAT A HINT? Deuteronomy 28

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Don’t you love hearing about the many promised blessings God has for you?  I do.  Only the best for God’s people, including a hefty dollop of hard, cold cash thrown in for good measure.  God’s blessed cornucopia gushes my way.  Sounds good?  Think again. 

I’m sure you’re more levelheaded than I am.  You know the other side of the coin.  But first check out Deuteronomy 28.  Starts out with blessings… for obedience.  Wow–14 verses describing God’s bounteous blessings.  Deuteronomy 28: 6–‘Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.’  Great!  Guess I can close my Bible now on that rather upbeat note.  Right?  Wrong!

Possibly too good to be true?  You think so?  What God requires of His own is simple obedience as in following those 10 commandments, coincidentally the number of fingers on both hands.  Doing things His way.  Not veering off course into dead end streets with no U-turns allowed.  Don’t take the lead.  Follow… Him.

Glancing down at the rest of Deuteronomy 28, you’ll note that there are 53 verses of curses… for disobedience.  For selfishness.  Greed.  Lying.  You name the sin and it costs a tidy sum.  We won’t enjoy paying that piper.  Way overpriced.  

God warns us.  53 curses to 14 blessings.  A hint?  You think so?  Be careful how you live your life for Jesus.  How tolerant we’ve become with sin.  Especially my own.  Disobeying God is like an unnoticed sizzling hot stove.  Watch out!  Or wet paint.  Look before you touch!

I know that God wants me to obey Him from the bottom of my heart.  Not only when nothing else works, or I can’t weasel out of something on my own.  But a genuine, twenty-four carat follower of Jesus. 

Join me?  Remember, I’m about two-carat, if that.  So I know that this won’t be easy.  But will be worth it all, since it pleases Jesus.  That in itself should be enough.  Still with me?

Lord, give us strength to be your disciple.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

NEVER AGAIN? Deuteronomy 17

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I’ve discovered a gem in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, in the midst of laws, rules and regulations.   A fragment of a verse which gives me pause.

Chapter 17 focuses on negative and positive instructions for a king, if ancient Israel chooses to have one.  Marvelous words that also apply to all believers.  Look at Deuteronomy 17:16 for that gemstone–‘…You shall never return that way again.’

The warning’s issued against anything material or spiritual that will lead Israel to turn back to Egypt.  Back to slavery. Back to worshipping gods other than the one true God, Yahweh.  Backwards.  ‘Never return that way again.’

A thought crosses my mind– true repentance means that we don’t return to sinful ways on a regular habit.  Instead of toying with what God forbids, turn away.  Don’t say you’ll do it, do it.  Not like Lot’s wife, who’s supposed to be on a salt-free diet, yet gazes over her shoulder, yearning to go back sin’s way, then becoming a block of Kosher salt.

I know when I mean business with the Lord that things change in my life.  Yes, I’ve had times of grasping greed, holding tightfistedly to money and things.  Not just then, but now.  When I look in the mirror of my Bible, I know that I must change.

But do I really want to?  Completely?  100%?  Don’t I wish!  I’m far from perfect.  Often a perfect mess!  Yet Jesus knows that I long to be His true-blue, dyed-in-the-wool follower.  At least most of the time.  See my dilemma?  Yet He forgives me, giving strength to get off my duff, stop wallowing in guilt and pity, shifting my transmission, so to speak, out of reverse into forward drive.

Now it’s your turn to face whatever needs changing.  Being honest and upfront, probably best keeping it between you and your Lord, knowing the trouble sin causes.  Hoping and praying never to return that way again.

At least until the next time.  And when we do, as we will, get up and go.  Holding Jesus’ hand.  Looking up into His face, resolving not to double back, flip-flopping, and bottoming out once again.  Jesus will help you get right back up!  Ready?

Lord Jesus, I want to be more like you.  Amen.