Category: Random Thoughts

Do The Works that I Do – “Ta Da”

October 31st, 2022

From my staff devotion a couple of weeks ago, and it was just a short thought but I never got around to posting, it’s been a busy few weeks. This is not intended to be commentary on this passage, but just some thoughts, reminders

I think some Christian Folks then “Ta Da” should be part of our vocabulary

John 14:12 is often quoted by people with an agenda – Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name I will do it 14 … in my name, I will do it

And you read vv15-17 and he promises the coming of the Holy Spirit. Now, remember first that Jesus is about to die. This is Thursday night. And people often quote v12 to say that we should all be doing WONDERS, Miracles, and they even add the verses that follow and say, “if you have the Holy Spirit you should be able to do the miraculous”, they say. But I believe they are missing the point.

Am I supposed to be a “Worker of Wonders” or a Doer of Wonderful Works?

The word is ergon = action, behavior, deeds, effectual labor. Jesus says that those who believe in him will do the action, behavior, deeds, effectual labor, that he does! And it hit me the other day, that John, writing this as an old man, is very selective on the words he uses, led by the Holy Spirit. When John talks about “miracles” he uses semeion = distinguishing mark, miracle, sign – I believe 17 times John uses this word – John uses this word to show us that Jesus is distinguishing himself as the Messiah with these signs. But that is NOT the word here when Jesus is speaking. Jesus is NOT saying that we must, or will, not to say God can’t in us, because anything IN HIS NAME can be done – but that’s not the instruction here. That is not the prophetic word here. The prophetic word here is that those who believe in his name will do the action, behavior, deeds, that he did. What did he do, what was his normal behavior? Love, Tell, Give himself, Sacrifice Self, Obey the Father, Complete the Task, Welcome, Encourage – oh somebody are you with me? Stay with me now. Jesus is saying, IF you believe me, you will do these normal behavioral things.

And then he takes it up a notch and says “even greater than these“. A.T. Robertson points out that the “greater” is in quantity not quality. And that is because in his “leaving” we received the Holy Spirit – John 16:7.

But the “agenda” folks then love that word “whatever” – Yeah – whatever you ask… Let’s go – Yeah – Wait … Look out definer ahead! IN MY NAME – “well what does that mean?” I’m glad you asked – It’s according to his character, his authority, for his glory, in his context, with his contribution of power, according to his plan and purpose. This is not a blank check promise. This is a purposeful promise. If we ask, and the Holy Spirit confirms that we are “in his name” – then YES he WILL do it. And it will be GREAT!

I’ll stop there – Don’t Focus on “Ta Da” – but “To Do what Jesus Does”
Salvation: Work It OUT

June 6th, 2022

Several years ago, living in USA military community in Germany, I was invited to participate in physical training (PT) with the Chaplain Corp of the army. So all the chaplains and assistants, commissioned and non-commissioned. The Command chaplain gave me my own PT uniform. Shorts and a T-shirt – he didn’t give me socks. They had just changed from light color to black. So I wore Black Socks. I was the only one, in about 50 with Black Socks. I was “out of uniform”. And everyone was asking, “who’s the guy in black socks?” They all wanted to be able to wear black socks but couldn’t

Philippians 2:12 Paul doesn’t say “work it in” but “work it out.” Jesus told us we are a City on a hill that can’t be hidden, a light meant to be visible, not covered. Then in v13 Paul continues, God is working IN us to both will and do what pleases him. I know some days we don’t WANT to “work it out”, but keep it in, yet God in You, the Holy Spirit, in the will of the Father, with the message of the Son’s Gospel, makes you WANT to, and creates the opportunity while giving the power to work it OUT.

Then Paul tells us HOW to work it out.

V14 – cut out the grumbling and arguing … Hello Somebody, Hello Church.

V15 Why? So you may be blameless, pure, and faultless.

The challenge for the church of Jesus Christ is great and we need not make it worse by ruining our reputation with our grumbling and arguing. Paul reminds that we are in the midst of a crooked and perverted Generation, and we need to be different in the best ways. Oh my have you read “Christians” on social media, come on. We are to SHINE like STARS

V16 “BY”… see here is the thing. The people of God WILL stand out… we ARE different… One BLACK Sock in a sea of WHITE will stand out. The Question is “by what will we be known?”

Will they say, “there are those people of God, always complaining about something, always fighting with someone”. Is that how we are to be known? No

V16 “by holding firm to the word of life” – what is the word of life? John 1.4 “in him (Jesus) was life and that life was the light of men 5 that light shines in the darkness and yet the darkness did not overcome it.”

If we would be known for being people that shine light, offer life, give hope in the darkness, oh my if only that is what we were known for. Love where there is no love, life where there is no life, hope where there is no hope.

I don’t have to argue with darkness just shine light. I don’t have to put down darkness, make fun of darkness, just shine the light.

And if I give my life to be a pure, faultless, blameless giver of light, then I, like Paul, v17 “I am glad and rejoice” why because it was an act of worship on the altar of God, a gift of life to a dying world. And Paul closes as do I v18 “and you should also be glad and rejoice with me.”

By the way, a few weeks after my PT with the chaplain corp the army changed the “uniform” to black socks to match the rest of the uni and I was then known jokingly as the “civilian pastor who got our socks changed.”

How will you be known ?
Chapter 1 Verse 1

February 1st, 2022

What would be said about you in Chapter 1 Verse 1 of this book of your life?

The authors of the letters often wrote what I call a “twitter bio” – you know, a short listing of words or descriptions for you at this time in your life, or specific to this current reflection of yourself.

Paul, writing to those Christians in Rome, began his letter:

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God – Romans 1:1

Wow, I love that, as a preacher I see three important words of distinction

A Servant – doulos = a slave, bond servant, What I find interesting often about bond servants is that they were set free but chose to bind themselves in gratitude to their greater master. Paul says, “I’m a slave”. The sense there is that it is someone owned by another, legally, whose entire livelihood and purpose is determined by their owner. Paul says “I belong to God, I am his servant and everything about me is at his discretion.”

Then he says I’m called an apostle. The key word for me is NOT apostle, that was specific to him, but it’s the idea that he was called. That word, kletos – logos bible says “someone whose participation or presence has been officially requested; especially a request to which refusal is NOT AN OPTION. Wow, Hello! I do what I do because there is no option. God has requested my presence, with him, obeying him, serving him, in the field he chooses, and refusal is NOT an option. If it is an option, then it is not a calling.

Do you have a “call” that is from God and of which refusal is not an option?

1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul begins that letter, “Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will”

I am called as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, by God’s will, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul says he is a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and

Set apart – aphorizo = to be selected and separated for a purpose; to mark off boundaries, to mark one oneself, to appropriate for or to oneself

That word “appropriate” – carries the idea of resources that have come in for some purpose, or by some means, but now has been selected and designated for something else. It means “suitable for the circumstance; devote a resource to a specific purpose; take for one’s own use”

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, and set apart from the gospel.

My twitter handle is jamesgoforthjr – my profile description says – James L Goforth Jr, Christ Follower, Husband, Father, Son, Friend, Preacher, teacher, Golfer, Musician, Songwriter, Thinker, Pastor of FBC Ferguson.

But if i made it even more focused I would say – James Goforth – Called and Set Apart Servant of Christ and the gospel he provides, Husband and Father, Friend to any who will allow, Worshipper of God.

What would verse 1 of this chapter or book of your life say?

Even more focused mine might say,

Jim Goforth – Called and set apart as a Shepherd at FBC Ferguson, a Missionary to the City of Ferguson, a lover of people, an agent of unity

What would your verse 1 say about you?
Jacob took a stone

November 15th, 2021

I was reading again this morning a favorite encounter with God in Genesis 28

Jacob came from that wonderfully dysfunctional family in Abraham’s line. They certainly put the fun in dysfunction didn’t they? Well they aren’t so much different than we are, are they? Jacob had tried to arrange his future, even though God had already declared that he would be the lead, even before he was born, but he tried to “work it out” for himself. Hmm, I wonder where he learned that from? (Abram). But after he stole his brother’s birthright, Isaac sent him to find a wife among his family relatives in Paddan-aram. Along the way to Haran, he stopped to spend the night. Genesis 28:11 says he took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place.

On my desk, I have a little collection of stones. They are from different places where I have been, reminding me of things I have done places I have gone. There is a piece of coral I got with my wife in Tulum, Mexico, there is a stone from the place where Paul met Lydia, outside of Philippi, there is a piece of volcanic rock from a hike with my wife in Guatemala to the top of an active volcano, there is a little piece of tile from near the Inn where the Samaritan brought the man injured by thieves, and several others, even a piece of salt rock from the Dead Sea. They remind me of things that have happened in life. When our sons were little we collected a rock from ever state we’d been to, every significant place, and we would carry them home and place them in the rock garden in front of our house.

Well this stone, was just a place to lay his head. And yet v12 says and he dreamed…

Oh my my my, do you take time to dream? You should dream, we should dream more. We should imagine the things that God can do because of what Ephesians 3:20-21 reminds us. Paul said, “now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us – 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.(CSB)

We need to dream more, we need to imagine what God CAN do because he CAN do MORE than we can ask or think, dream or imagine, exceedingly abundantly, immeasurably more than … so we need to dream.

But THIS dream was more than just thinking, or imagining, but God was at work revealing himself to Jacob. Jacob needed to begin to understand who God was, and what he could do. And he saw, in his dream, a stairway from the earth reaching to heaven. And there were angels of God, that is messengers of God, and they were coming down and they were going up. Messengers of God and Messages of God, come FROM God, do his work, and Isaiah 55:10-11 tell us that things from God, do what GOD plans, and then they return to God. God is both the source and the destination. The messengers and messages of God are also for God’s intentions, that passage in Isaiah says that God’s word DOES what God INTENDS, what he purposes, what pleases him.

And seeing this amazing scene, v13 says, there above it stood the Lord (NIV) or The Lord was standing there beside him. Oh wow things are more than they seem. This is a Christophany, a Theophany. This is an appearance of God, God the Son, because John tells us John 1:18 no one has seen God (the Father). So if we see “God” in the Old Testament, it’s Jesus. So there is this beautiful revelation of the working of God, but it’s NOT about the working, it’s about The LORD! And his message for Jacob is, I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying. Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for you I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised.

Wow, if you look back Isaac had sent Jacob to find a wife and told him he would receive “the Promise of Abraham.” And now, here is the LORD himself confirming that this promise is an eternal promise to the offspring of Abraham through Jacob.

And Jacob Woke up

Oh we should dream, but we have to wake up and come back to the world in which we live. And Jacob woke up and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it… What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God… the gate of heaven.

Oh folks. Do you realize the door to heaven, is right beside you? The place where you are IS the House of the LORD. That’s not just a church thing, it’s a world thing. What makes it so? The recognized presence of God. We need to recognize that God is right here. Jesus said, My father is always at work, and I too am working. When we walk into work, walk the streets of our neighborhood, we need to recognize that God is HERE, and he is Working, this is the house of the Lord, the Gate of Heaven, this is a HOLY PLACE. Our question needs to be, not, “is God working”? But, “Lord, what are you doing here, and how can I join you?”

Let’s get with God and ask him to open our eyes to see what he is doing. Ask him what he is saying about you, and what he is inviting, and then commit to join the messengers of God, coming and going From God, To GOD, FOR GOD.

And when God speaks, and when we join, and when God moves, REMEMBER. V18 Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it and named the place Bethel (House of the Lord)

Make note of the revealed presence of God in your life. Make a memory.

Then REMEMBER what God says, and speak it back as Truth – v20 If God will be with me and watch over me… That’s exactly what God had just promised to do… if he provides… if I return safely… then the Lord will be my God.

Oh we don’t have to make God prove himself, but when God gives us a promise, and we abide by the promise, and God does what he says, we need to be READY TO GO and to DO, according to his Word.

V22 this stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me

Hear, Commit, Obey, and Give – Surely the Lord is in this place, and it is AWESOME!
God Remembered Noah

August 25th, 2021
I’m preaching through the first 12 chapters of Genesis right now. Today I’m doing some prep work for chapter 8.

So, let me allow you to peek in on my thought process preparing for preaching on chapter 8. This series is different than breaking down every verse, it is a single message of importance from each chapter. Well, as I turn the page I can’t get past verse 1, “God Remembered Noah”. Oh Somebody, I might just shout right here. I don’t know if you ever feel like God has forgotten, or worse yet doesn’t care. Oh it was 120 years from the call to the rain. Then 40 days of rain, and months of waiting for the water to recede. Remember they were floating in a casket shaped water vessel. They couldn’t steer it or control, they were in the hands of God, literally and figuratively.

So, this isn’t the sermon yet, just some observations I would share with you.
1. God Knows – God Remembered Noah
2. God Works – God Caused a Wind to pass – the same God that opened all the necessary sources of water in chapter 7 to bring the flood, now closes all those sources in chapter 8. God is working
3. God Finishes – The Ark Came To Rest – while we rest IN Christ, dead to self, alive to Christ, we can know that the Ark will come to rest where God intends.
So then there are some important Conclusions
1. God – it is God, First and God Last. Alpha / Omega, Beginning and End. He starts and he finishes
2. God Knows – Always – Before, During, and After – God knows
3. God Remembers – even when he is silent, he doesn’t forget
4. God Responds
5. God Knows My Name – God Remembered NOAH. And I am reminded right now that God remembers Jim Goforth
6. God Has a Timetable – As you read this story beginning in chapters 5 and 6, notice all the timetables. Why? a) these are TRUE accounts of Historic Events b) These are appointments on God’s Book
So, finally let me give you some Confidence Today
1. God is on the throne
2. God has perfect timing
3. God has not forgotten
4. God is not lazy, he is busy, he is patient for the right time
What do we do while we wait? There are plenty of passages you can read today.

Luke 23:42 – the thief on the cross said, “remember me Lord” and Jesus said “today you will be with me”

Judges 16:28 – Samson has failed the Lord but he asked “Lord remember me. Strengthen me just once more”

Jeremiah 15:15 – “You know Lord, remember me, take note… that I suffer… for your honor” – Oh Child, God knows, and takes note, and he has your tears in a bottle and a book about you written himself. (Psalm 56:8)

Job 14:13 – “if only you would appoint a time for me and remember me” don’t worry he has and he does

Finally go to the 106th Psalm and read verse 4, then back up and use the Psalm to Praise the Lord. ” remember me… come to me with salvation” so while you wait “Hallelujah! Give Thanks for he is good and his love endures forever”. The writer says “remember me so that…” a) I can enjoy being chosen b) I can rejoice c) I can boast about my heritage.

Well I could go on and on, but just know this today, whether in the height of success, the depths of failure, the dirge of death and suffering, God has NOT Forgotten you. Look up, Trust Him, Take his hand, he is leading to the House of the Lord. Surely, Goodness and mercy are following you. They may not always be with you right there, but they are following you, pursuing you, that is the truth you can trust!
Martyr Complex

June 16th, 2021

WebMd says :

A martyr complex is a recognized psychological pattern. It’s marked by self-sacrifice and service to others at your own expense. Identifying martyr traits and tendencies can prevent burnout and stress on your relationships

It goes on to make the connection then to a Victim Complex and Victim mentality that doesn’t have to take responsibility for our actions because we are victims.

As Christians sometimes we are busy trying to be martyrs for the cause of Christ, we say, we think, and somehow that excuses our actions that are less than attractive and less than effective in what we are here to do.

I will confess that I am willing to die for Jesus if I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. However God has not called most of us to DIE for him but to LIVE for him. John 15:13 says “greater love has no one than this than he lay down his life for his friends”.

Live Live Live

You remember Jesus saying “you will do greater things than I have done”? Could it be that he is saying that a life Given as a LiViNG Witness for 60, 70, 80, 100 years is a greater thing? Oh yes, not in the soteriological sense, but there is a greatness in living for Jesus, not for my sake but the sake of others. There is a greatness in a LiFE living as a faithful, attractive, useful, loving Witness

Be a living witness today friend, lay your life down for a friend or a friend to be.

We have been given the ministry of reconciliation so be reconciled to your world that they might be reconciled to Christ

Yes yes yes
It’s Not the “What”, it’s the “THAT”

February 12th, 2021

I got a text from a friend today. It’s not unusual for us to text each other with a thought or a question as we study the word, or think through the issues we face. The question today was, “Joshua 6 – Jericho, shouts and the walls came down. Scripture just says they shouted. Shouted what? Shouts of praise?”

And I had one of those clarifying moments. Profound? Well you decide. The thought that went through my heart was,

“The Key is never the WHAT but the THAT!”

And I texted that then continued, “It’s about Faith and Obedience. Think about all the things in that incident alone. The marching didn’t do it. The shouting didn’t do it. The walking around the city did not do it. The walls didn’t start to erode or crumble days 1-6. They didn’t shake on revolutions 1-6 on day 7. No, it was THAT they believed and obeyed. And Joshua 6 says, ‘When they heard the rams horns and they troops gave a great shout, the walls collapsed.”

And then my thought continued, “and what was left standing when the dust settled? It was Rahab’s section of the wall, where she was in her ‘apartment’ with her family in obedience to the instruction given. Red cord hanging from her window. Was the red cord magic? No. Oh the red cord is a beautiful picture of salvation, but it was THAT she believed and obeyed.”

And then I texted one other example from that story, from the flip side. “When Achan stole a robe, a little silver, and a little gold; it wasn’t WHAT he took, it was THAT he didn’t trust God and obey. He took God’s part.”

Then the final observation, “It’s always about Faith and Obedience. It’s interesting how many times God did something UNIQUE in the circumstance. Whether Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, Daniel, many manifestations of God’s power, but every time the action is unique. The uniqueness was that there wasn’t a ‘magic incantation’ or a ‘rain dance’, it was always about Faith and Obedience.

It’s not about the WHAT, its always about the THAT – Faith and Obedience.
Reprint: Election Message – Who To Vote For

October 27th, 2020
I’ve published this before so let me give you the Highlights

Psalm 20:7

Who To Vote For

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote… that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” – Samuel Adams

I Particularly like this next quote from the greatest president:

“Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” – Abraham Lincoln

Psalm 20:7(NIV84) says: Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God

Psalm 20:1–9 (CSB)

¹ May the Lord answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you. ² May he send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion. ³ May he remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering. Selah ⁴ May he give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose. ⁵ Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God. May the Lord fulfill all your requests. ⁶ Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories from his right hand. ⁷ Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God. ⁸ They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm. ⁹ Lord, give victory to the king! May he answer us on the day that we call.

1. Some Trust in Chariots

Some Trust in War Machines

Some Trust in a Vehicle

How will you Vote?

Some … Trust in Chariots

2. Some Trust In Horses

But David says,

“some trust in chariots and some trust in horses …”

Interestingly Some trust in ONE party the “Chariot Party”, and Some Trust in Another Party the “Horse Party” …

David said “some trust in Chariots, others in Horses but WE WILL TRUST …”

3. In the Name of the Lord Our God

We Will Trust in a NAME … authority and power.

Oh, Gabriel came to Mary and Joseph and said that Mary was going to conceive, and bear and child and his name would be “JESUS”, because he will save his people from their sins

Peter preached in Acts 4:12 that, Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

THERE is a Name

Philippians 2:10–11 (CSB)

¹⁰ at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— ¹¹ and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 13:1b says “there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.”

So that begs an interesting question.

How Would Jesus Vote?

I am NOT speaking for Jesus! I am telling you what I believe are some things that scripture teaches us about God that we can see in the issues we face. I believe he would be:
- Pro-Life — Jesus Created all life, he sustains life, he is the giver of life, and is the only one who can take it away. Job 1:21 said, the Lord gives and the lord takes away blessed be the name of the Lord. Oh my but that means ALL life.
- Pro Morality — we live in a world where the distinguishing marks between right and wrong has been removed in most cases. Perversion and Greed seem to run unchecked in the name of freedom and capitalism. Right is RIGHT … and Wrong on Top of Wrong doesn’t equal a right.
- Pro Family – the oldest ceremony in the history of humans is the ceremony of marriage. Marriage is a sacred thing. Marriage is also a picture of Christ and the Church. When we distort the family we distort a picture of Christ and the Church, God and his Children. Distortion like that confuses and distorts the very Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can vote that value, but remember we live in an ungodly world, and we are a church. Vote your values but don’t expect everyone to agree. But we are the Church and We can Live our Beliefs
- Pro God – We do not know what the future holds. It seems that we are closer every day to the end of all things. However, we don’t know that, and the only thing that we know to do is call our nation to repentance and turning toward God. Jesus came with a message “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Jesus would call us to the Father
But you know folks those four things are not the only things that are important to Jesus. So, let me add that Jesus would also be:
- Pro Poor
- Pro Prisoner
- Pro Hungry
- Pro Thirsty
Matthew 25:35-36 “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat … thirsty and you gave me … drink … stranger … invited me in … needed clothes … you clothed me … sick and you looked after me … in prison … came to visit me … whatever you did for one of the least of these … you did for me”
- Pro Education – Proverbs 22:6 train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it
How Should I Vote?

“Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.” William Penn

“The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Edmund Burke,

Never be afraid to stand with the minority which is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority; always be afraid to stand with the majority which is wrong, for the majority which is wrong will one day be the minority. – William Jennings Bryan

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
John Quincy Adams

How should I Vote?
- Prayerfully – before you are shaped by political pundits or religious leaders, I need to Seek God’s Face. Our answers must come from the throne room before we make a decision …
- Carefully – don’t just go in and vote carelessly or without purpose. I personally never vote straight ticket … I vote what I know to be true and important to me. It takes longer, but if your vote matters, you should vote carefully
- Conscientiously – that is to vote with a consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct, intentions or character with a feeling of obligation
- Faithfully – VOTE, it is your right and your DUTY
Who Will I Trust?

“Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the Kingdom of God on earth.” John Wesley

Our Hope is in God Alone. If you know him personally as your own Lord and God, then you need not Fear anything. If you have never given your heart to him, I offer you Jesus, he is our ONLY Hope. He is our ONLY Answer.

Where is our Hope?

If you counted all the verses and found the Center Verse of Scripture in the Bible, it would be Psalm 118:9 …

It is Better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man

Are you afraid? – Psalm 56:3 when I am afraid, I will trust in you

These are principles for voting. But I did Promise to tell you who to vote for. Well let me see if I can break it down to the important things, the things that we talk about and introduce you to the right candidate:
- Executive Experience?
Well … as an Entrepreneur, Creator, and Inventor, he left a lucrative position to begin a new venture. He handpicked a dozen leaders whom he developed and set them loose. They have transformed a regional venture into a multi-national organization servicing and including millions of employees and ambassadors, and this endeavor has continued for nearly 2000 years. Today he continues in the tri-unified Board of Directors of every facet of the Universe
- Economics?
Well it is said he owns the cattle on a thousand years, but more than that he developed, understands and implements the principles of planting, nurturing, and harvest. He can turn a sack lunch into a meal for thousands, so I think he can make sure you have enough to eat. He went fishing one day and came up with the tax money needed for he and his disciples.
- Social Programs?
He has taught his followers to Feed the Hungry, Visit the Prisoner, Give water to the Thirsty, Clothes to the Naked. His followers have been known to sell their goods and give to those in need. They have been known to meet the needs of strangers and friends alike
- Retirement Plan?
In his Father’s House are many Mansions, and He has gone to prepare a place for me so that where He is I can be as well.
- Suffering and Sacrifice?
The word is Expiation, it means atonement. He went into the teeth of the storm of accusation. He went through an illegal trial. He withstood a horrific beating. Then he was sentenced to die on a cross and suffered in dignity, grace, forgiveness, love, never uttering a word in his own defense. He sacrificed himself that those who would come after him would not have to die, and even if they do would be resurrected to live forever.
- Provision?
His Divine Power has Given us EVERYTHING we Need for Life and Godliness

So then,

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce to you the ONLY Candidate you ever Need, worthy of your pride, worthy of your trust, his is the banner we should fly …

Please Join me and Vote for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Place your Trust in Him

Vote Jesus

Vote with your Heart, give it to him. Vote with your Head, Surrender to him. Vote with your Feet, live in Obedience to Him. Love Him with Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength

He is the Same, Yesterday, Today, and Forever. He Is God. He IS Lord

You might as well follow all the rest of Creation; Vote Jesus Christ this Year and for Life.

Remember he said,

I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me John 15:5
General Rules of a Sermon – Jean Claude

February 14th, 2020
Jean Claude was a mid-17th Century Protestant preacher in Nimes, France.

Charles Simeon lists his General Rules of a Sermon. If you’re a preacher you will hopefully enjoy the reminders.

1) Should be Clearly and Purely Explaining the Text – “it is impossible to edify them unless you are clear”
1. 2) Give the Entire sense of the Whole text – “a sermon cold and poor will do more mischief in an hour than a hundred rich sermons can do good”. Always maintain an esteem and eagerness for practical piety
3) The Preacher must be WISE, SOBER, and CHASTE – wise = don’t spend much time trying to be funny – sober = don’t spend your time on too many “what-ifs”, or “empty history”, or “meaningless investigations” – chaste = don’t be immodest in delivery or take listener’s minds to things that are not pure.

4) Be Simple and Grave – simple = good natural sense without metaphysical speculations – grave = avoid vulgar and proverbial sayings. “the pulpit is the seat of good natural sense”

5) The Understanding must be informed, but in a manner that Affects the HEART – either comfort or excite to acts of piety, repentance, or holiness

6) Avoid Excess – Ne Quid Nimis = don’t do too much
- must not be “too much genius” – too much brilliant, sparkling, and striking things point to yourself too much, and the Spirit isn’t evident. If the eye is dazzled too much, the mind is offended by the glare
- don’t be “overcharged” with doctrine – if the hearer’s memory can’t retain it all, in trying to retain it all they lose it all. A sermon should instruct, please, affect. So the instructive part should be done in an agreeable fashion
- Never strain any particular part – don’t exhaust or penetrate too far
- Figures must not be Overstrained – don’t stretch a metaphor to a allegory or carry a parallel to far. Know when to stop
- Reasoning must not be Carried too far – don’t stretch one chain to another to another to another. “a medium should be preserved” – before long the listener forgets what we were talking about
- As much as possible, Abstain from all sorts of observations Foreign to Theology – Like:
  - Grammatical observations not within basic knowledge will wear them out, keep it seldom and pertinently
  - Critical observations about different readings – USE them, but “spare the people”
  - Avoid Philosophical and Historical observations unless they Heighten the Beauty
  - Avoid use of quotes from Profane Authors, Rabbis, or Fathers. Use discreetly, properly, for good effect, not vain ostentation of learning
Then Charles Simeon Closes with 3 Things
1. Take for your subject what you believe is the Mind of God
2. Mark the Character of the Passage – where is the passage taking listeners (precept, promise, invitation, principle, etc)
3. Mark the Spirit of the Passage – (tender, compassionate, indignant, menacing) let that be the spirit of your sermon. As ambassadors, we should speak ALL God speaks and AS he speaks – “the meaning should be the warp … the words should be the woof”
He says On Conclusions – be lively and animating, full of great and beautiful figures. Conclusions delight, in inventions of a fine imagination, and not so chaste or regular as the body. “There is no danger when a preacher, in a conclusion, gives himself up to the fire of his genius”

Let me close by saying that when we enter the pulpit to Preach, we have a task that ONLY “Belongs” to us in that it is a responsibility given us by God. It is God’s Word, and all the glory is his. Our words may not be “inspired” like scripture but they better be inspiring. They may not be God-Breathed, but they should come from God’s Heart to ours, and to the congregation. God speaks to us, the Holy Spirit is our guide, but we must study, read, learn, pray, and seek to move people by God and for God. God uniquely fitted us to deliver the word to the people he places in front of us, so use all we have, deliver it with integrity and passion, and leave the results to the Lord.
When A Legend Dies

January 27th, 2020

So, I’m not writing this for anyone really but me.

When a Legend Dies, Martin Luther King Jr, John and Robert Kennedy, James Dean, Elvis Presley all come to mind.

When a Legend dies, it shakes the world. Their death isn’t worse than that of a “regular person” but the reach, the connections, the effect is seismic as we are all connected. Yesterday it was Kobe Bryant. Not since the death of Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburg Pirates have we been so shocked in the sports world.

I had just gotten home from church, turned on the TV to watch a little golf, rest, and prepare for the evening, when a News Alert came up, and a headshot of Kobe Bryant and at the bottom of the screen, (1978-2020) “Kobe Bryant is Dead”. I said, what all did, “Wait, What?”

And here I am 24 hours later and still find emotions rising and tears falling. Why? Fan? Actually not so much. I’m a huge sports fan, a statistics guy, a loyal fan. When it comes to basketball, my loyalties have been fluid. When I was a little boy, I became a Celtic fan briefly because John Havlicek played for them and he had played for Ohio State, where I grew up. Then Dr. J caught my eye and I liked the Sixers. Then Magic Johnson hit the scene in the late 70s and he infected me with his smile, athletic joy, and selfless involvement of his teammates, and I was a Laker fan throughout the 80s. Then we moved to Houston in 1990. I became a Rocket fan. I loved the Rockets because they worked hard, they were passionate, they each knew their role. And that produced two championships.

Then this young kid comes out of High School to play for the Lakers. He seemed brash, entitled, and he wasn’t a Rocket. So, I wasn’t a fan. I wasn’t even impressed at first. It was things off court that didn’t impress me. in 2003 negative headlines came out as youth combined with entitlement and merged into an encounter that brought charges of sexual misconduct. After time, and money, the charges went away. I wasn’t a fan.

But he stayed. He stayed in his marriage and he stayed in the gym. And I should say that Vanessa stayed too. We don’t know much about her, but it was trying, she even miscarried during this time, but she stayed.

There were tensions too on his team, that even 3 championships couldn’t fix. But it turns out the reason was his perception that others weren’t committed to work like he was. He didn’t expect perfection but he expected work.

I’m an outsider, processing pain, but, I saw a guy who continued to play, and gained more championships, was an 18 time All-Star. But in 2011 Vanessa filed for divorce siting “Irreconcilable Differences”. “Irreconcilable”, though doesn’t have to always be true. And like Kobe “the Baller”, Kobe the Husband and Father went back to work. He was not allowing that word to remain true. And by 2013 Vanessa said, “we are pleased to announce that we have RECONCILED. Our divorce action will be dismissed. We are looking forward to our future together.” And last year, 2019, they celebrated 20 years of marriage and in a post Kobe said about Vanessa, “I love you my mamacita per siempre” (mama for always).

He was an amazing basketball player, but as time takes our ability, it doesn’t have to take our passion to be a better person, better spouse, better parents, better children.

So, i’ve sort of become a fan without realizing it.

What I respect about Kobe was that he kept working. Obviously he was willing to say, “I’m sorry”, “and “I need to be better”. But also he was then willing to actually do the work to get better. Yeah, he dropped 60 points on his final day, and he left the game as a player, but he kept getting better. He became a successful investor in business, formed a media company, won an Academy Award, wrote children’s books, non-fiction, and fiction books. He was not living on the past, but moving to the future. His future was about changing the world, being there for his family and for his friends.

Many have commented on the tragedy but I took special note of what Shaquille O’Neal said, “there are no words to express the pain I’m going through now with this tragic and sad moment of losing my NEICE Gigi and my FRIEND, my BROTHER, my partner in winning championships, my dude and my homie.” (emphasis mine). Shaq’s son also posted a text exchange between he and Kobe on Sunday morning before the tragedy as Kobe was checking in on him and Shareef refers to him as “Unc” (uncle).

Why is this important? Because 15+ years ago they played together, but they fought and feuded and eventually Shaq was traded. Both had success apart, but it could have ended a partnership and a friendship. To me, it is obvious that BOTH men valued friendship over agreement. And both continued to do the work and build their friendship to the level of FAMILY, brotherhood.

Changing the world, valuing friends, and loving family that’s what mattered.

I’m a fan of that

What now? Some thoughts

Don’t wallow in failure, get to work.

Don’t let past words define your present or future reality.

Say, “I’m sorry”, “I’m wrong”, and “What can I do to make this right?”

Enjoy the past successes, but move toward a new future.

Learn to do something new and work to do it at the highest level.

People Matter

LOVE

So, I can’t speak to Kobe’s faith. I’ve read that he was Catholic and became more fervent after some of those trials. I pray that his family and those of the others lost will turn to Christ for strength and find hope through faith in Jesus Christ.

9 Lives lost yesterday. 3 Husbands/Fathers, 3 Wives/Mothers, 3 Teenage Girls, and 5 families devastated. A tragedy most powerful because it touches such a broad base of the world.

I will finish then with where my thoughts went today, living as if today might be my last. Here are words from C.T. Studd, a famous British Cricketer, who became a Missionary in China.

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee