IllumiNations!

SOMETIMES IT'S GOOD TO BE SAD

Psalms 6:6-7 - 6 I'm tired of all this — so tired. My bed has been floating forty days and nights On the flood of my tears. My mattress is soaked, soggy with tears. 7 The sockets of my eyes are black holes; nearly blind, I squint and grope.  THE MESSAGE

Psalms 13 - O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? 2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?  NLT

I am alive!!!  I know this because I hurt.  I know this because I sorrow, am disappointed, and feel the deep sadness that often goes with being a man on this fallen planet.  Yes, of course I hate the dark moods of life, but they testify to me that all is not right and that sin and death are the reality of this groaning, cursed ground.  You may think I am crazy, but a few moments ago while sitting here feeling quite discouraged and heart-sick, this truth slipped through one of the cracks in my heart and brought me comfort.

We live in the age of the HAPPY CULT of which I have often been a zealous adherent.  We are made to believe that being happy is our birthright and entitlement.  To feel bad is the ultimate no-no and the perfect excuse for extramarital affairs, most divorces and regular indulgences for our sinful nature.  Many Christians I know would rebuke me for these thoughts and accuse me of being negative, faithless and oppressed by an evil spirit.  To these things, I must counter with the words of David and Solomon, men of much greater stature than I.  It seems God often has His servants in the school of suffering as they major in depression, discouragement, disappointment and discontentment.

Please understand, I am not advocating some kind of sick, masochistic view of suffering that encourages the onslaughts of sorrow and pain as though they are blessings to be sought, because I am not.  Rather, I am simply convinced that suffering is an amazing teacher and a constant reminder that all is not well down here.  Our Utopian experiments are all failing, (thankfully) and we must look to embrace God's Redemption experiment, for, it is at work in the hearts of hurting and joyful sons and daughters. 

Pain reminds me that I feel and it serves as the emotional and spiritual counterpart to my physical nerve endings.  It teaches me to avoid evil and embrace God.  It is a beautiful thing that the God who could give me the capacity to laugh loudly from the belly, experience the ecstasy of sexual passion and the beauty of art and music, could also equip me with the emotions of sadness, anger and sorrow.  The pleasure and the pain teach me about the God of the Scriptures who sits in the heavens laughing, stands outside Lazarus tomb weeping, and cries out in the oil press of Gethsemane, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Ecclesiastes 7:3-4 - 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. NKJV

THE DANGER OF UNDER-POPULATION?!

Genesis 1:26-28 - 26 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth."  27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female.  28 God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth."  (THE MESSAGE )

It's an amazing thing how all it takes to get most people to believe something is to repeat it over and over again, throw out a few statistics and then let time and the mainstream media do its insidious work.  In particular I am speaking of the myth of OVERPOPULATION that has been foisted upon the human race for the last 4o years or so.  Many of us have actually come to believe that having children is a bad thing for creation and that birth control and abortion are not only necessary, but our duty for the good of the race!

The problem with this idea is the simple fact that it is in direct opposition to God's command to "be fruitful and multiply... and to take dominion" of the earth.  These two commands are linked together and seem to indicate that multiplication and dominion are a package deal.  Children, the Scriptures declare, are a "blessing", "reward", and evidence of God's covenant keeping power. 

A WORD TO LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS AMERICANS

I have had the amazing privilege of traveling to a number of foreign nations while doing missions work these last several years and I can honestly say I have been saddened by the perception that many outside of the USA have of ugly, loud Americans.  Not only has this perception hurt our image abroad, but it has been a hindrance to our global leadership role. 

Although not all Americans are ugly, loud or arrogant, the few bad apples that travel have given all of us a bad name.  I have personally sat with Russian, Chinese, Australian, Mexican and Filipino people as they spin a sad tale of some brash, haughty, rude American making a fool of themselves and drawing the ire of the locals.  This kind of example can be particularly damaging if your trying to be a witness and representative of Jesus Christ.

The problem has become so widespread that starting next month the U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT will be issuing guides to Americans who travel abroad on how to act becomingly.  The article I link to for this story is in THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD out of Australia.  That alone should tell us something.  Even our Allies know about our faults and are writing articles to point them out.

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO READ THE STORY IN THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

THE RESURRECTION OF A GOLF GAME

Here's a great feel good story about 25 year old Australian golfer Aaron Baddeley who won his first PGA Tournament on Easter Sunday just 10 hours after he stood at a Lectern just off the 18th green to talk about his relationship with Jesus Christ.  Aaron was speaking at an Easter Sunrise Service at the very site where he would eventually sink a putt to give him the win.  "At the 18th hole this morning, he was giving amazing testimony," said Baddeley's wife, Richelle. "Ten hours later, he's holding the trophy. So, it was great." This is a story of pride, humility, disappointment, failed expectations and redemption.  I thought it was a wonderful irony that Aaron would resurrect his career and win his first tournament on Easter Sunday after almost leaving the game of golf altogether back in late 2000 due to perceived failure.  Enjoy.

READ AARON BADDELEY'S STORY BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK

Jesus Christ has risen, He has risen indeed!

Tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday, and I am excited about celebrating death's death through the One called THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE!  This greatest miracle of human history is the event which started to turn back the curse of death in the garden and is moving us toward a day when the very creation and environment will be filled with resurrection life!  Here are some great quotes and statements made by heroes of the faith.  Think on these:

Let's celebrate Easter with the rite of laughter. Christ died and rose and lives. Laugh like woman who holds her first baby. Our enemy death will soon be destroyed. Laugh like a man who finds he doesn't have cancer or he does but now there's a cure. Christ opened wide the door to heaven. Laugh like children at Disneyland's gates. This world is owned by God and He'll return to rule. Laugh like a man who walks away uninjured from a wreck in which his car was totaled. Laugh as if all the people in the whole world were invited to a picnic and then invite them.  Citation: Joseph Bayly in Psalms of My Life

Easter is a feast and is celebrated as the feast of freedom. For Easter is the beginning of the laughter of the redeemed and the dance of the liberated and the creative game of fantasy. Since earliest times Easter hymns have celebrated the victory of life by laughing at death, by mocking at hell, and by making the lords of this world absurd. Easter is God's protest against death. Easter is the feast of freedom from death. We must keep the two things together.  Citation: Jurgen Moltmann in Experiences of God

Easter is the New Year's Day of the soul.  A. B. Simpson

MORE ON THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS

I just read an excellent critique of the significance of THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS at Albert Mohler's Blog and I wanted to pass it along.  As Mr. Mohler points out, heresy is primarily reconstituted and regurgitated, as "there is nothing new under the sun."  This particular "Gospel" is really nothing of the sort and in fact was known of in A.D. 180 by Irenaeus, the early church father. He considered it to be Gnostic in origin and heretical then as it is now.  The other thing I really appreciated about this post by Albert was his explanation of Gnosticism.  Please take the time to read and consider.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE BY ALBERT MOHLER

EVEN MORE EXCELLENT INFO ON THE TRUTH ABOUT THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING HERE AT THE VOLOKH CONSPIRACY IN AN ARTICLE BY DAVID KOPEL

THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS?

In the last couple of weeks it seems as if Jesus has been taking a beating within the press as a number of "discoveries" and theories about Him and His life are being discussed and debated.  The "DaVinci Code", The Gospel of Judas, extra-biblical Gnostic writings and the scientist who claims Jesus did not walk on water, but on ice, have all seemingly cast doubt on the Bible and its account of Jesus.  To those who do not know the Biblical record or church history, these movies, books, articles and documentaries can seem very convincing and confusing. 

Let me assure you though, the Bible, church history and Jesus Himself are as trustworthy as ever when objectively considered against any so-called evidence that calls all three into question.  Gnosticism has been around since the first century A.D. as have a number of theories about Jesus and His death and resurrection.   These theories have been refuted every time they have raised their ugly heads and will continue to be in the light of honest and objective inquiry.

WRONG AGAIN! FLORIDA 73 UCLA 57

I WAS WRONG AGAIN!!  ONE SURE WAY TO WIN A BET IS TO GO FOR THE TEAM I PICK TO LOSE!  FLORIDA WINS THEIR FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BY BEATING THE UCLA BRUINS 73-57.  Way to go Gators!

PS - I DON'T BELIEVE IN BETTING - 0;

OF RAHMAN, ROUND BALL AND RETREATS

ABDUL RAHMAN IS FREE AND ALIVE IN ITALY! 

Our "Insane" friend has been set free and given safe haven in Italy where he can now read his Bible, pray and speak openly of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  For those of you who think martyrdom is cool, I am very sorry, but it seems that God wants Abdul to live a little longer on this side of Paradise.  Though the great church Father and Theologian Tertullian said that, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”, I do not think he meant we should romanticize, glorify or seek to be martyrs.  We can rejoice that God has given Mr. Rahman an opportunity to grow as a disciple and get the help he needs if he is truly "mentally unstable" as German officials are now stating.

65 HAVE BECOME 2!

THE NCAA MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT has been whittled down to 2 teams as the FLORIDA GATORS face the UCLA BRUINS tonight at 6:21 pm Pacific Time.  I have to go with UCLA, though they are the team that broke my heart a couple of weeks ago as they came back to beat GONZAGA in a game the Zags should have won.  I started the tournament with the following teams in descending order as my favorites: GONZAGA, ARIZONA, WASHINGTON, UCLA AND CALIFORNIA.  UCLA plays some of the stingiest defense I have ever seen, but Florida is loaded with talent.  I see UCLA pulling out a squeaker with the score being in the high 60's to low 70's.  GO UCLA?!

NEXT GENERATION RETREAT

This past weekend, Peggy and I traveled to the beautiful Olympic Rain forest of Washington State and did a COLLEGE AGE RETREAT for OVERLAKE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.  I was asked to speak on WORSHIP, INTERCESSION and SPIRITUAL WARFARE to a hungry and passionate group of movers and shakers for Jesus.  Pastor Josh Julian and his wife Ashley served as our gracious hosts as they led the weekend with humor, confidence and obvious love for the flock they are leading.  I felt it went pretty well, though I was not as sharp or spiritually sensitive as I would have liked to be.  To all of you who prayed for Peggy and I this weekend, I want to say a big hearty THANK YOU!  I know I was carried on the wings of prayer before the throne of God.  Thanks Josh, Ashley and the NEXT-GEN group for being instruments of God's grace to us.  Thank you Peggy, my bride of almost 19 years for supporting me in prayer and the ministry of presence!