Why we love God’s Word (and we do! Never doubt that.)

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Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life.  And by this word you shall prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.  –Deuteronomy 32:46-47.

God’s people are a Bible-focused people.  Have you noticed that?

They love God’s Word, the Holy Bible. Most have multiple copies in various translations  and they make a big deal of reading Scriptures daily, some for an hour or more.  They commit large portions of it to memory, and love to quote its key insights when appropriate.

They do not do this out of a slavish, dull-spirited sense of obligation.  As Moses told Israel, “Indeed, it is your life.”

Everything we know of Jesus Christ and God’s revelation from Heaven, for now and forever, comes from  these pages.

What specifically do you love about God’s Word?  Ask a hundred serious followers of Jesus and you may get a hundred answers.  Here are my top ten reasons for loving the Word of God….

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The Lord’s biggest competition

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“My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and they have hewed out for themselves cisterns–broken cisterns, which can hold no water.”  Jeremiah 2:13

You make a very small god, friend.

An executive with Wal-mart  made an observation before a group of businesspeople recently  that has stuck with me.  “You know who our biggest competition is?”  People suggested Target, K-Mart, Best Buy, the, malls, and such.

“Dollar stores,” he said.  “That’s what Wal-mart started out to be and they are now eating our lunch.”

Well. Makes sense.  Those little stores are everywhere.

You know who God’s biggest competition is in this world?

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The day I was kicked out of Wal-Mart

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I’ve waited a while to tell this, so the host pastor would not put two and two together and a) be embarrassed or b) feel he should march into his local Wal-Mart and confront someone.

I was doing a senior adult revival in a wonderful church in a small Alabama city.  Late that afternoon, on my way to the church I saw I was a little early, so stopped by the lccal Wal-Mart to pick up a sketch pad.  They have great pads at a reasonable price and I always try to have a couple of extras on hand.

As I neared the checkout stations, I noticed none of the ladies had a single customer.  I made some little remark about “which one shall I go to” and then one of them checked me out.  Still no customers anywhere near, so as I often do, I said to the checker in front of me, “Hey, smile at me and I’ll sketch you.”  It takes a minute or so.  “Draw me,” the next one said.  I had time, so kept on drawing.

I was on the third or fourth one when a woman walked up.  “Sir, you’re not allowed to do that.”

I said, “I’m not allowed to sketch them?  I’m not taking them away from their work, and I’m giving them a nice little gift.”

“You’re not allowed to take pictures of the employees,” she said sternly.

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Two huge considerations before preaching on stewardship

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I worry about pastors who never talk to their people about stewardship. Whether they call it tithing or simply giving to the Lord, Scripture is saturated with teachings, admonitions, and instructions.  This is not an optional subject for the faithful pastor.

Our people are often overwhelmed by financial bondage.  We owe it to the Lord and to them to teach Scriptural principles which will free them, will honor the Lord, will support God’s work throughout the world, and will result in Heavenly treasures for the givers.

When a pastor begins to plan a series of messages on money, here are two major considerations to keep in the forefront…

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It’s fine for the pastor to be a mini-chamber of commerce!

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Just don’t overdo it.

In  a sermon, the pastor tells of  his recent visit to a historic cemetery in the region.  He saw an epitaph that will linger with him for a long time.

He tells of the time he was a special guest at the dedication and commissioning of a military ship built in his area.  The steel of the prow came from the World Trade Center’s ruins, from 9-11.  From the ashes of the devastation came the strength of the mighty vessel.  It’s a great sermon illustration.

He describes his tour of  the White House alongside the local Congressman.  He thought of the nation’s leaders who have called this their home and recommitted himself to praying for them.

Perhaps he told the church of  a conversation with the mayor regarding a new plant to be built just north of the church, an industry said to  bring in hundreds of new employees and new residents.  A church must be poised to reach out to new people moving to their area, he preached.

Pastors should live in the community they serve and be knowledgeable about its history, its current events, and its politics.  Whether he ever mentions it or not, knowing this will undergird his sermons and his leadership from time to time.

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Collateral damage: Hurting the little ones

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Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depth of the sea…. Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that in heaven their angels always behold the face of My Father who is in heaven.  (Matthew 18:6,10)

A friend texted this with an all-too familiar story.

The church has just run off a good pastor for no apparent reason other than the so-called powers wanted him gone.  When a little senior lady stood to protest and declare love for her pastor, she was ordered to sit down and be quiet.  Off to the side sat a young couple who did not stand up and protest, but who were grieving.  Their story, I was told, involves the pastor reaching her for Christ when she was  about to give birth out of wedlock.  In time, as a member of the church,  she married a fine young man and they had a child of their own.  They’ve been growing in the Lord, and they love their pastor devotedly.  Then suddenly–with no warning–they had the privilege of seeing him  brutally mistreated by a few church members who refuse to be accountable. Their beloved pastor was gone and no reasons were given.

No one cared about the senior lady and no one cares for the young family.  They are merely collateral damage.

Thus the Lord’s church gets mauled by the bullies and the “little ones who believe in Me,” as our Lord called them, are despised and abandoned.

There will be a reckoning, friend.  Mark it down in big letters.  The end of this story has yet to be written.

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Seven lessons I keep having to learn again and again and….

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“…you need again for someone to teach you….” (Hebrews 5:12).

It was a Saturday morning and because I was a pastor, it was a work day.  Sometime around 8:30 am, I left the house.  As I drove away, the cassette tape in the player began talking.  I’d been listening to some self-improvement program and had left the tape in place.  I got caught up in what the speaker was saying, which is why…

Not three blocks later, I was pulled over for speeding. Something like 40 in a 25 mph zone.  It was a sickening feeling.  I’ve had more than one speeding ticket in my life and I hate them.  They’re the result of not paying attention, and they cost money which I don’t have.

As the policeman drove off, I started the car up and pulled away.   That’s when the fellow on the cassette tape rebuked me.  “Have you ever noticed,” he said, “that some people just never seem to learn?”

I laughed out loud. “Yes, I have.  And I’m one of them!”

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The God-moment when you realize who you are talking to

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“‘I know that Messiah is coming. When He comes, He will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He.'” (John 4:25-26)

You were discussing God to someone casually,  in theory, having a nice little conversation.  Then all of a sudden you realize the Person you are talking with is the Lord Himself.

Nothing prepares you for such a moment.

1st instance in Scripture.  John 4 where Jesus informs the “woman at the well” of His true identity.  Give her credit, because she hastened back into her village and told everyone.  “Is not this the Christ?”  The Lord and HIs disciples ended up conducting a two day crusade (of a sort) there, with many more people believing on Jesus.

I imagine she never talked to a stranger in the same way again.

You never know.  Hebrews 13:2 tells us not to forget to entertain strangers since some who did  ended up giving hospitality to angels.  That may be  a reference to Genesis 18-19.  But who’s to say it couldn’t happen to us, today, right here?

2nd instance in Scripture.  Matthew 26 where our Lord is on trial before the Sanhedrin, the high priest, Pilate, Herod, and Pilate again.

The high priest was irritable at having been called out of bed so early.  He lost his patience with this Man who stood before him  refusing to answer even the first question.

The religious leader bellowed at Jesus standing there in silence.   “Do you answer nothing? Aren’t you going to respond to what these men are saying against you?”

And once again, Jesus kept silent.

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Young minister in search of an older, veteran pastor. Object: Mentoring.

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A friend called me out on something I had said, and he was right.

“Joe,” he said, “you tell young pastors to find themselves an older pastor as a mentor.  But my experience is that many older guys are less committed to Christ than the younger ones.  And some of them will scoff at the notion of pastors protecting themselves from temptation with the women, not riding in a car with a woman alone, that sort of thing.”

He wondered if I didn’t want to revise my advice.

I told him I have been blessed by having some godly older pastors in my life, and some of them have made invaluable contributions.  But I’m sure he’s right.  Just because a man has seniority does not make him a role model, endow him with wisdom, or gift him with a heart of compassion or a headful of sense.

So, let’s focus on how to choose an older pastor as your advisor, mentor, counselor, and most of all, friend.

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Why I decided to start writing books

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Friends–particularly pastor friends–tell me they’re planning to write a book.  Or numerous books.  I tell them, “Well, get started.”

I thought it might be helpful to make a few comments on my own book-writing venture.  For what it’s worth.

One. It was perhaps ten years ago.  I was browsing inside the seminary bookstore in New Orleans–aka, Lifeway Christian Store–and a fellow I did not know stopped me.  He said, “You don’t need to be buying books; you need to be writing them.”

He walked away.

I never saw him again.

It was a word from God.

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