Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” Song of Solomon 2:15

During the first invasion of Iraq under George Bush, Desert Storm was just about to start. Colonel William Post was in charge of material delivery for the entire armored ground operation. After his company had been in country for three months, aircraft and ships unloaded thousands of tons of cargo every day. The men and women under his oversight worked around the clock. They had to know not only what was there, but where it was stored. Supplies do no good if they can’t be found. With the aid of computers and bar codes, they were just barely able to keep ahead of the never ending stream of materials arriving in support of the upcoming conflict. One day he received a fax from the Pentagon saying that he had not accounted for 400 cases of grape jelly. The shipping record showed that the jelly had been off-loaded, but he never reported it in stock. He ordered a private to look into it, but the jelly could not be found anywhere. Colonel Post told the soldier to forget it. It would eventually show up. A few days later, he received another inquiry about the jelly marked, “Urgent!” He ignored it. The air war was about to begin, and the armor had to be ready. Finally, a few days later, he received a personal telephone call from a clerk in New Port, Virginia. “Colonel, I must insist that we get an accounting of that lost jelly or our accounts will not close at the end of the month.” He said he’d look into it. Again he ordered a couple of his clerks to search for the jelly. But in spite of their diligence, they jelly was still missing. The next afternoon, he received a fax marked “Extremely Urgent!” “We must have an accounting on the missing jelly today. Our books have to close tomorrow!” The colonel faxed in return. “You must decide for yourself which assignment I must attend to. I can either unleash my army of supply personnel to look for your missing jelly or I can kick Sadam out of Kuwait, but I cannot do both.” He never heard back from New Port. It’s the little foxes that spoil the vine.

The verse above occurs in a book of the Bible which is one of the least preached books in all of Scripture. The Song of Solomon records a love affair between King Solomon and the Shunamite Maiden. It reveals a romance that will make the most dignified among us blush with embarrassment. In its midst Solomon says to his love, “We must be careful to catch the little foxes that could destroy our vineyard.” Solomon cherished the relationship he had with his love, and wanted to protect it. Interestingly enough in this verse he doesn’t focus on the “big issues” that could potential threaten their love affair. Instead, he zeroes in on what he labels “little foxes.” Little foxes carelessly tearing through a vineyard when the tender shoots are in bloom could destroy the crop. Solomon was concerned that little issues left unattended could potentially rob their relationship of its joy.

Isn’t it true that it’s the nagging minutiae of life which causes many of the problems we experience in life? Just a little scratch ruins the perfect paint job on a new car. Just one off-key shrieky note can ruin an otherwise virtuoso vocal performance. All it takes is one little hole to sink a perfectly good boat. Just one little loose bolt can ruin an entire motor. Just one forgotten ingredient can ruin a perfect cake. One tiny burr stuck inside our sock makes for a very uncomfortable walk. It’s the small things – the ignored little things – the things we tend to overlook that often cause a great deal of frustration and damage.

Solomon’s advice is to catch the little foxes before they wreck havoc in your fields. Grab a hold of them. Seize them by the tail before they damage the harvest God intends to bring. Get rid of the little foxes so you can stay focused on the bigger issues in your life. The little issues in life will drag you down if you allow it to happen. So when you see a little fox causing damage – deal with it – and move on. Don’t ignore it – but also don’t get so focused on it that you loose perspective on greater priorities in your life. Sometimes the boulders aren’t the problem. Sometimes it’s the sand in our shoes. Happy fox hunting.

Live The Victorious Life,
PT

The Cry of Freedom.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18)

Every year when the Fourth of July rolls around it reminds us how fortunate we are to live in a free country. It is of course also a reminder that the freedoms we now enjoy have been extremely costly. Freedom is never attained cheaply. In fact it just might be the most costly commodity this world has ever known.

Freedom. No other word known to man stirs the heart as much as this word. Freedom. No other word will motivate people to action more than the cry to fight for freedom. If there is any one ideal in the mind of man that is worthy of any and every sacrifice it is the dream of freedom. There is nothing for which we are more ready to fight than the concept that man must live free. Martin Luther King Jr., sang and preached about it during the civil rights movement. “free at last, free at last, thank God All Mighty we are free at last.” It was the dream of freedom – freedom to worship God as they felt the Bible instructed them to worship - that motivated the first band of Pilgrims to journey to Plymouth. It was the cry of freedom that caused this country to break our union with England during the revolutionary war. It was the right to freedom that drew us into war again nearly a century later as we entered into the civil war. In one way or another, it is the reason behind every conflict of which the U.S. has been a part.

Freedom. It there anything more precious to us? It’s what was lost in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve choose independence over their loving Creator. Substituting self-rule for the rule of God never delivers freedom. To their dismay Adam and Eve discovered self-rule led them into a kind of bondage they had never known while walking with God. Far from experiencing freedom, they were immediately enslaved to sin and death. In declaring their independence from the Lord, the very thing they thought they would gain is what they forfeited. From the moment they made their dreadful choice, their hearts longed to reclaim what they had previously possessed. They longed for freedom.

In the verse above, freedom is at the heart of the mission statement of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is his battle cry. In reality every spiritual battle that takes place in the heart and mind of man is centered on this one word. Jesus says, “The Spirit of God has sent me to proclaim freedom. Freedom to all those who are held in bondage to sin and death. Freedom to all those who cannot see the love of God. Freedom for the prisoner. Freedom for the blind. Freedom for the oppressed.” Jesus says, “I declare war on anything that stands in the way real freedom.” It is also the battle cry and the only mission of the church. It is our call to arms. The battle of the Church is a battle for freedom. Freedom for the addicted. Freedom for the lost. Freedom for the proud, the arrogant, the sinful. Freedom for the heartbroken, the grieving, the forsaken and the abused. Freedom for the lonely, the confused, and the hopeless. We take our stand and fight the good fight against “spiritual forces in the heavenly realms.” We work, we sacrifice, we give, and we labor because nothing is as dear to us as freedom.

This year as you celebrate the fourth of July, thank God for the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of this great nation. But thank Him even more for the freedom one finds only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Remember what we have been taught in the Gospel of John; “If the Son set you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36) Dear Lord, we lift our loved ones, our neighbors, our families and our friends before you and cry out – for freedom.

Live the Victorious Life,
PT

“Deal? – Or No Deal?”

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matt. 4:1-11)

Perhaps you’ve seen the popular TV game show featuring a bald guy, a group of ladies each holding a briefcase, a banker, a contestant and a chance to win anything from $.50 to one million dollars? Evidently, the show, “Deal or No Deal?” has become so popular that it now has syndicated versions in forty other countries. The rules of the game are simple. There are 26 briefcases each containing a different cash prize. Contestants start by choosing one briefcase. They must then start opening and eliminating other cases, as they try to win the “big money.” As each round progresses, an unseen Banker tries to tempt the contestant to make a deal to sell their original case back to him and walk away with the cash he offers, or take the chance at winning a greater amount of cash by proceeding with the game. Chance, greed, guts and calculated risk management are the motivating forces that keep the game moving forward. Interestingly enough, “Deal? or No Deal?” has attracted the attention of mathematicians, statisticians and economists who have analyzed the risk factors the contestants face as they make their choices. According to Richard Thayler, a behavioral economist at the University of Chicago, “contestants who are unlucky in the early rounds are more likely to take more and greater risks as the game goes on. They frequently turn down the deal with the guaranteed pay off because it seems so much smaller than the dream prize they are still hoping to win.” He goes on to say, “In any another situation if a person was offered 10,000.00 free and clear – they would take it. But in this setting the deal often isn’t as appealing because of the high stakes that are involved.” In other words – greed most often gets the best of the contestants. It’s the foundational principle every type of gambling is built upon.

Actually, “Deal or No Deal” isn’t a new concept. In fact it’s the oldest trick in the book – literally. If you turn back to the very opening pages of the Bible, “Deal or No Deal” was the game the serpent played with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. “Take the fruit – don’t trust God – Your eyes will be opened and you can become a god,” said the serpent. “So what do you say? Deal? or no Deal?” Adam and Eve took the deal. It was an unbelievable poor choice with irrevocable consequences. They paid the price and regretted that decision for the rest of their lives.
In the passage above the devil was playing the same game with Jesus in the wilderness. He tempts Jesus several times trying to get the Messiah to make a deal. Notice the devil’s first word, “If.” The serpent always begins by trying to get you to doubt God’s reality for your life. Satan is saying, “If you are God’s Son, then why doesn’t God even provide bread for you? You should reject him because he has neglected your physical needs. Don’t worry about God the Father, focus on your needs and your desires. Use your great power to take care of yourself. What do you say? Deal or No Deal?” Jesus says, “No Deal. For it is written: man does not live on bread alone – but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” In other words Jesus was saying, “I don’t need to worry about my physical needs because I trust the living truth spoken by the Living God. A man is better off to obey the Word of God on an empty stomach than distrust Him with a full one.” NO DEAL!

Satan tries again. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Satan is saying, “How about a little magic trick to attract a crowd? Let’s see something sensational that will impress everyone. How about it? Is it a deal?” The devil even pulls a verse of scripture out of context to twist it and make his idea seem more feasible. Jesus doesn’t fall for it. “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” In other words, “We’re not to tempt God with our own plans. Being the Son of God is not about doing magic tricks. We’re not to make stupid decisions and then assume God has to bail us out every time.” NO DEAL!

Lastly came the final test: Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” “What do you say? Is it a deal?” Jesus didn’t fall for this either. He would never compromise the single most important reality in all the universe, that God and God alone is to be worshiped. He says, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” NO DEAL!

The devil lost all three rounds but he hasn’t thrown in the towel on the game as yet. Chances are you might be involved in playing a round of the game today as you face some temptation to step outside of God’s plan for your life. If you face some particular temptation today, what’s your choice going to be? When the temptor comes your way, follow the example of Jesus and say the words out loud, “NO DEAL!” Stand on what is written in the Word of God, keep your eyes on Christ and refuse any deal offered by the devil.

Live the Victorious Life,
PT

Perseverance

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

I read a story recently about a family who decided to purchase two Irish-setter dogs. The husband was a sportsman and wanted to train the dogs to assist him in fulfilling his passion, which was duck hunting. The dogs trained easily and soon became top notch bird dogs as well as beloved members of the family. When the pair of canines weren’t in the swamp helping dad bag ducks, they spent most of their time in the fenced-in backyard behind the house. One morning an ornery, little, vicious looking bulldog came shuffling and snorting down the alley. He was small enough to crawl under a loose board in the fence and work his way into the family’s backyard where the setters were enjoying a morning sun bath. Why the bulldog wanted to get into that particular yard was anybody’s guess. The setters noticed the trespasser immediately and spring into action to defend their territory. The man immediately went out to take his setters into the basement so they wouldn’t tear the little bulldog to pieces. But they were already involved in an all-out scuffle before he could reach them. As soon as he pulled two of the dogs apart, the other two would go at it. Went he went over to pull those two apart, the first two got at again. It was a conflagration of barking, snarls, growling, teeth and claws that would put fear into the heart of anyone. The bulldog went round and round and round with the pair until finally he had enough. Finally he scurried back over to the fence, squeezed under it and took off. After receiving such a beating, there was little he could do the rest of that day besides whine and lick his sores. Thinking that the bulldog had learned his lesson, the guy thought he wouldn’t have to worry about him any longer. Interestingly though, the very next day at about the same time, that same ornery little bulldog was back under the fence and after those two setters. Once again, instant chaos. Before the guy could even get outside, the two bird dogs were intent on teaching this intruder another painful lesson on the sanctity of their backyard. And once again they beat the stuffing out of that little bowlegged animal and would have chewed him up entirely if he hadn’t retreated back under the fence. Would you believe the very next day he was back again! Same time, same whooping, same results. After he had all he could take, he crawled back under the fence and found his way home to lick his wounds.

The man had to leave home on a business trip while this daily routine was being repeated. He returned after being gone for several days and asked his wife what had been happening with the daily “smack-down” in the backyard. She said, “You wouldn’t believe it. Every day, at just about the same time, that little bulldog came back and wanted to fight with our two setters. He didn’t miss a day! And I want you to know it has come to the point that when our setters simply hear that little bulldog snorting down the alley and spot him squeezing under the fence, they immediately start whining and run down into our basement. That little bulldog struts around our backyard now just like he owns it.” Now that’s the power of perseverance!

We live in an age of unprecedented acceleration. We can get our packages delivered overnight, our eyeglasses made in an hour, our film developed in minutes, and our food heated in seconds. Whether it involves ATM machines, microwave ovens, the waitress at the restaurant, or the speed of our internet connection – we want our desires met instantly. Instant gratification is the driving motivation behind most of the technological advances during our generation. We are a culture totally intolerant of anything that brings delay.

This explains why the Biblical virtue of perseverance is so rare today. Because perseverance runs directly opposite to this mindset. Perseverance takes a long-term perspective. It focuses on the future, rather than the immediate present. Perseverance is patient. It keeps waiting, and believing and trusting, even when things take longer than expected. It keeps working, and seeking and striving, even when things turn out to be more difficult than anticipated. It remains faithful, even when there are ample opportunities to throw in the towel, to give up and move on. Perseverance means sticking with something for as long as God calls you to do so, no matter how long it takes, no matter how difficult or painful it becomes, no matter how many discouragements and disappointments and obstacles you encounter along the way. Perseverance is a quality taught by God because it is synonymous with patience, one of the fruits the Holy Spirit desires to produce in our lives.

The Bible tells us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” If we continue in following Christ, we will reap a harvest. We will find his grace and mercy to be sufficient. We will find his rewards to be worth all the suffering, and sacrifice, and labor, and tears. But we must not become weary and turn aside from following Him, or else we will never see the harvest he has planned. Harvesting does not come about instantly. A farmer doesn’t plant seeds one day and go out to the fields to harvest the next. He has to persevere through the planting, the cultivating, the watering and then comes the harvest.

Understand the nature of perseverance. Perseverance is not easy. It means going through difficult moments. No one talks about “persevering” through a hot fudge Sundae. Sports fans don’t need “perseverance” to make it through their favorite sporting event. We don’t need God’s grace to “persevere” in the things we enjoy. The Bible exhorts us to persevere because God knows there will be times we want to quit. Perseverance implies difficulty. But it’s difficulty with a purpose, and that purpose is godly character, and hope, and joy that will come about at harvest time – but that comes according to God’s timetable, not ours.

In whatever the Lord is asking you to persevere – bite into it like a bulldog and don’t let go. But know this – You don’t fight the battle alone nor is the ultimate victory your responsibility. Jesus has already won the battle for us. We just need to walk by faith, keep on believing and press on.

Live the Victorious Life,
PT

Faith At Work

“Slaves (workers – servants) obey your earthly masters in everything and do it, not only when their eye is on you to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
(Colossians 3:22-25)

Everybody acknowledges that it’s tough to find a good job in this struggling economy. So sharpening up your job hunting skills would be a very wise thing to do. If you find yourself looking for a job, play very close attention to the details. Take your time when you fill out your application form. At the very least, make sure all the words are spelled correctly. One wrong or misspelled word can determine whether you land your position or get passed over. Here are some actual statements taken from job applications where details were ignored:
1. I served as an assistant sore manager.
2. Education: I went to school on a fool scholarship.
3. I am very detale oriented.
4. I am a rabid typist.
5. I was involved in ruining an entire Midwest division.
6. On a Federal Government job application there was a question: “Do you favor the overthrow of the United States government by force, subversion, or violence?” Apparently this person thought it was a multiple choice because they wrote: “Violence.”

Paying attention to details not only helps you land your first job, but also just might help you keep it. We are all aware of how critical some supervisors can be. These are actual statements from some rather critical supervisors on employee evaluations:
1. Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap.
2. This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.
3. Slipped into the gene pool when the lifeguard wasn’t watching.
4. She brings a lot of joy when she leaves the room.
5. Some drink from the fountain of knowledge–he only gargled.
6. If brains were taxed, he’d get a federal rebate.
7. Gates are down; lights are flashing; but the train just isn’t coming.


One of the details often overlooked in job related issues is that the Lord is very concerned about how we perform in the work place. In fact he Bible addresses employer/employee relations several times. The passage above is one such occurrence. In the passage above we are given some practical advice on how to be a good worker.

Be A Worker Who Has Integrity “obey your earthly masters in everything and do it, not only when their eye is on you to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.”
As you sit and read this, I would bet that you know someone who is very diligent when the boss is around but becomes a “goof-off” the moment the supervisor steps out of the room. Some people put on a great show when the boss has his/her eye on them, but due diligence flies out the window when the boss isn’t looking over their shoulder. This kind of duplicity shows a lack of integrity and reveals that the employee’s heart is not really in his work. The workplace gives us an opportunity to practice what we believe and it is a place where we can display a level of integrity that matches our faith. Be sincere as you perform your work. Guard yourself against putting on a show when you know the boss can see you. If you expect a full day’s pay, give a full day’s work. Be a worker who has integrity.

Determine To Do More Than What Is Expected. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart
Around 1920 a pharmacist bought a drug store on the south side of Chicago. Soon, he was bored with his job and began to dream how he could make it more exciting. It was during a time when people were just beginning to call in their orders using a telephone, so this man decided to challenge himself to make his job more interesting. He decided to see how quickly he could deliver a telephone order. When someone called in, he repeated the order aloud, including the name and address. As he spoke with the caller, his assistant filled the order and a driver left immediately to deliver it. The druggist kept the customer on the phone chatting until the order arrived at the caller’s home. Most of the customers lived nearby, of course, but this kind of prompt service was revolutionary, and word soon spread. It became the busiest pharmacy in Chicago. He bought other stores and added new ideas like a soda fountain. Within a few years, he had a chain of stores. Can you guess his name? He was Charles Walgreen. Today, there are thousands of Walgreens because of one man who decided to do more than what people expected of him.

Approach Your Work As If Jesus Is Your Boss work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. What would happen tomorrow if you arrived at work or school and Jesus was your new boss? Would that make a difference in your attitude? If you are a follower of Jesus, the Bible says that should be your attitude. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Just by recognizing that Jesus is watching over us as we work, a couple of things change in our attitude towards our job. (1) We will be motivated to keep a positive attitude. If you are performing your job for Jesus you will do it “with all your heart.” When someone approaches a job with apathy or indifference we call it “a half-hearted effort.” When you do something with all your heart, it means you are enthusiastic about it.

(2.) If you are doing your job for the approval of Jesus, you’ll always do more than the bare minimum. In the time of Jesus, the Jews were under the domination of the Roman Empire. A Roman soldier had the legal authority to demand that any Jew carry his equipment for exactly one mile. Understandably, the Jews hated to do this, and they bitterly counted each step. At exactly one mile, they dropped the load and said with disgust, “There! I’ve done what is required, now don’t bother me anymore!” But Jesus requires a higher standard for His followers. He said, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthew 5:41) A Roman solider would not soon forget the person who cheerfully carried his equipment the second mile. Are you a one mile worker? Are you a single mile student? Do you do only the bare minimum that is expected? Or do you go the second mile and leave the mark of excellence on your work? People will always remember second-mile-work.

Recognize that there is no such thing as an unspiritual job. The Lord has a plan for you at your work place. Trust in his sovereignty, work with all your heart and He will be glorified through your labors.

Live the Victorious Life,
PT

Your IPOD Is Going To Die

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” (John 11:21-27)

Whether you know it or not – your IPOD may not be long for this world. Apparently this was news a little too shocking for Casey Neistat to deal with initially. Back in September of 2004, Casey Neistat of New York City discovered that the battery in his 1st-generation 5-gigabyte IPOD could no longer hold a charge for more than an hour. So he called Apple. Unfortunately for him, Apple advised him to buy a new IPOD because they didn’t have a battery replacement policy at that time. Once the battery died – that was the end of the machine. Throw it away and buy a new one. Now prices for this magical music machine range from $300 to $500. So Neistat was understandably upset and unwilling to take a loss in his investment. So being a rather resourceful fellow, he decided that since Apple wasn’t going to replace the battery for him, he’d do it himself. He bought an off brand battery for $50, and set down to open his IPod… and promptly broke it. He discovered that the battery was attached in such a way that it could only be changed by trained personnel. Now, not only was he out the money for the broken IPOD, he also possessed a useless $50.00 battery! At this point Neistat got so infuriated that he started an internet site which featured a video of him spray-painting the phrase: “IPOD’s irreplaceable battery lasts only 18 months” all over lower Manhattan. He was like a man possessed. He was on a mission to proclaim to the world that the battery in our IPOD is going to die. His efforts generated a great deal of interest. The 8.2 million people of New York City started noticing his graffiti and his internet site soon racked up over 1 million hits. That got Apple’s attention. Apple realized that people could start perceiving the engineering of the IPOD from a negative point of view. (For example: It’s feasible that some misinformed soul might actually think that the engineering was an intentional gimmick to get more money from an unsuspecting public. One might erroneously think that changing a battery should be a simple task and that making it impossible for the average person to change a battery was a devious marketing scheme to promote additional IPOD sales.) So in order to avoid these possible misunderstandings, Apple began offering a replacement battery service for anyone who had purchased their wonderful device. So today if the battery in your IPOD does die, you can contact their service department who will now graciously replace your battery, for an average fee of $70.00, plus $29.95 shipping and handling, plus tax. – Let the music play!

Now I don’t really blame Apple for this problem. After all, they’re in business to make money and they figured a battery is only going to last so long anyway. It’s just a fact of life -every battery will eventually age and die. So why get so upset? But the outcry over the dead battery issue did teach Apple a universal reality - people don’t react well to death… even if it’s the death of their IPOD.

In the passage above Jesus has just arrived at Bethany following the death of His friend Lazarus. Understandably, Lazarus’ sisters were grieving the loss of their brother. Both Martha and Mary were anxious over the fact that Jesus hadn’t arrive sooner. “If you only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” They believed that if Jesus had been there, no matter how sick Lazarus was, He could have raised him out of his sick bed. It sounds like they had great faith – but in reality it was only half-faith. They believed Jesus had the power to raise Lazarus when he was sick, but not when he was dead. They believed no illness could kill their brother when Jesus was there, but once their brother died, they thought even Jesus couldn't change that. Even when Jesus says to them “Your brother will rise again.” The response was, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection in the last day.” Contemplating the immediate resurrection of their brother wasn’t something they were able to wrap their minds around at that moment. Their reaction was very similar to ours at times: It's easy to rejoice in the power of God for the future while doubting it today.

Jesus wants to move the two sisters beyond every doubt of his power. He said to them, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Turning to the grave he calls out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Everyone was standing in anxious anticipation of the tomb being opened. This was a critical moment, because if Lazarus didn't come out, Jesus' credibility was on the line. Everyone waited to see what would happen. They wondered whether Jesus' command for death to give up its victim would be obeyed or not. Did He have the power to get Lazarus out of that tomb by reversing death? Did He have the power to grant new life? The people stood by, hearts pounding in anticipation. Then the Bible tells us that a dead man – now newly alive - came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his face. Lazarus was alive, even though he had been dead. At the sound of Christ's voice, death yielded up its captive, and Christ stood as the conqueror of sin, Satan, and death. No more fear. No more doubt. Only Victory and a Great Shout!

OK, so the bad news is your IPOD is going to die. Replace the battery and it’s just going to go dead again. So much for the toys of this world. The good news is through the power and the victory of Jesus Christ, you and I are given the opportunity to face death and come out on the other side to experience eternal life. Thank God for His indescribable gift!

Live the Victorious Life,

PT

The Miracle of the Monarchs

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)

During his earthly ministry, Jesus would often pause to point out common objects in the world in which we live and use them to us teach timeless truths. He would say, “Look at the birds of the air.” Or “Have you considered the lilies of the field?” By noting these things carefully, we are often able to understand wonderful spiritual truths. So my question today is this: Have you ever considered the butterfly? More particularly the Monarch Butterfly? Monarchs are incredibly fascinating creatures. A glimpse into their life reveals some amazing information. For example did you know that Monarchs on the East Coast of the United States have a 3000 mile migratory cycle? The Monarch butterflies which we see during the summer in Connecticut will begin a migration in late August, which ultimately ends in Central Mexico. How can an insect as delicate and frail as a butterfly make a 3000 mile round trip? The answer is, “It can’t.” Let me explain.

The average life cycle of one butterfly, from egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, to butterfly, to death is 6-8 weeks. So how can the migration take place? Here’s how it works: During Feb./March hibernating monarchs in Mexico awaken, become active, mate and begin the flight northward. They lay their eggs along the way and die. March/ April - The next hatching generation are born and continue northward, living 6-8 weeks. May/June. Another generation is born and arrives at their summer destination during the months July and August. During these months, a 3rd generation is born which heads south again as fall approaches. During Sept. & Oct. a fourth generation is born and finishes the migration southward. But this generation has a longer lifespan than the others. This special generation actually lives 6-8 months in Mexico. Upon arriving at their destination they go into hibernation until they awaken in Feb/March. At which time they mate and begin the cycle all over again. Now here is the amazing part; no single butterfly ever makes its way to Mexico and back again. Yet thousands converge on the same site, year after year after year. These insects somehow know where to go, but none of them have ever been there before! In fact, the butterflies that arrive back to winter in Mexico every year are removed by four generations from their predecessors. And don’t forget each generation goes through a complete metamorphosis involving four stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and finally adult butterfly. How do they make it back each year to the same location without any memory imprint?

Entomologists have formulated a number of theories in answer to the insect’s uncanny ability to return to the same place each year. Some theories suggest the butterflies sense decreasing daylight hours and respond by heading south to avoid the approaching cold winter months. But how do butterflies know that winters are going to be cold? None of them have ever experienced winter! Another theory suggests the insects might follow a path that loosely correlates with the distribution of milkweed, which is necessary for the larvae to feed upon. This theory hypothesizes that migrational patterns in the distant path have been incorporated into the monarch’s genetic code and somehow produce the cyclical migrations we now observe.

However they arrive at their yearly destination, one thing is for sure; Monarchs are mysterious and miraculous and amazingly responsible. Now catch this: each generation plays a part in aiding the next generation to find its way home. That’s the goal of every generation of butterflies. The miracle of the Monarch is that every generation recognizes its responsibility to move the next generation closer to home. Nobody has to teach them. Nobody has to educate them. They just know it’s their purpose. Each generation sacrifices itself so that the following generation makes it home. That my friend is the story of the Church. Not only that, it’s our responsibility.

In the passage above Jesus is teaching his followers that His primary goal in our life is to help us make our way home. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. “Don’t you worry – I’ve got a place for you.” He says. “You haven’t been there yet, and you probably won’t be able to imagine how wonderful it actually is. But don’t you doubt its existence.” The reason Jesus came and the reason He will return some day, is so we can make it home safely. In Christ, there is no such thing as a homeless person. Every person has the opportunity to make it home safely, because of the sacrifice he made on our behalf. Once we realize this wonderful truth and receive it, we then have a responsibility - to look at the generation that will follow us and pave the way for them by the sacrificial service we give for others. Unlike the butterflies – the way home for us has been made known. It is through grace by faith in the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ given at Calvary. For every believer – the cross shows us the way home.

So the next time you see a Monarch, watch it carefully. It may seem rather aimless as it floats from one flower to the next. But it only seems that way. He will actually be very intent on making his way home. As you watch that beautiful, wise, little creature, be reminded that Jesus has prepared a home for you. And His plan is that you would be willing to aid the next generation that follows you to find its way home as well. Consider the butterfly and learn from it.

Live the Victorious Life,
PT