Tag Archives: hope

by | July 15, 2016 · 12:20 am

Standing Sure In a Crumbling World

imageOriginally written in 2014, I’m re-posting this in memory of the innocent lives lost in France on Thursday.

World Events

Let’s get real for a moment, shall we? The world seems to be coming apart at the seams right now. Russia and Ukraine are fighting; Israel and Hamas are fighting; ISIS is trying to take over the world; airplanes are crashing or being blown out of the sky; new diseases are popping up everywhere; and more former Disney child stars are choosing to cry out, “I don’t want to be a role model!” while exposing their bare behinds.

Face it, the world is going to hell in a hand basket and Toto has already jumped.

But seriously, as bad as the world is, it’s not like we have Nero for a president. Oh, but wait! America isn’t the only country in the world, you know, and Christians are being killed as often today as they were in the first and second centuries (along with anyone who refuses to yell “Allah Akbar!” as he beheads his sister).

Life Goes On

But even as we look around at a world in turmoil, does that mean we must forget about living? Sure, the temptation might be to down a bottle of Prozac and curl up in a ball, all the while waiting for the first warhead to hit your town.

However, kingdoms rise and fall and nations come and go, yet children still need moms and dads, strangers still need a kind word, and the way we live is still important.

As a matter of fact, right before another group of people’s world was about to be turned upside down, Jesus Christ gave some timeless instruction on living from a hillside (The full text can be found in Matthew, chapters 5-7). His words still apply today. Below are a few excerpts:

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” 

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” 

Jesus then concluded his sermon with the following encouragement…

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” – Matthew 7:24-25

Though the world might be falling apart, we don’t have to. 

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by | March 5, 2016 · 10:49 am

No Help? Selah

Many there be which say of my soul, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah. – Psalm 3:2

FullSizeRender (1)Selah. It’s a word that instructs us to pause and consider what was just read or sung (the Psalms were actually songs). But what good is there in pausing to think about people who want to discourage us?

“There is no help for him in God.” How depressing those words are! Do they make you want to give up? Do you believe them?

Fortunately, King David, the author of most of the Psalms, did not believe what the “many” said of his soul. And neither should we, that is, if our hope Christ.

The Many

Let’s start with thinking about the “many.” Who are they? In the case of David, they were the ones who were intent on usurping his throne and replacing him with his son, Absalom. Like modern propagandists they tried to weaken King David’s resolve by removing all hope in his Rescuer and Deliverer. They struck at the very core of who he was by attacking his faith in the very God who promised “thy throne shall be established for ever” (2 Samuel 7:16).

Who are the “many” in our lives? Jesus spoke of them as men who love darkness rather than light (John 3:19) and the “praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:43). Paul describes them in Romans chapter 1 as those who suppress the truth by their wickedness (18), refusing even to retain the knowledge of God in their minds (28).

So, the ones who say that God will not help are the very same ones who refuse to know nothing about God. Think about that one for a moment! What do they know??

The Help

David was not about to lose hope in his God. In a later Psalm we read : “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2). Who were they, those who refused to know God, to tell David the One who made heaven and earth…the One who promised to establish his throne forever…the one who delivered him from the lion, the bear, and the Giant…was unfaithful?

David had seen the mighty Hand of God in action. He has been witness to His deliverance and protection too many times before. That is why in the very next verse he could proclaim with confidence in the face of those who would discourage him:

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. – Psalm 3:3

Just Wait

There may be people who say the very same things to you that they said to David as he hid for his life in the caves. They mock your faith and hope as you huddle in the dark, waiting for deliverance. But just hold on, believer! His promises are true! You’ve seen the way He works, and He’s not done, yet!

The “many” have no clue what they’re talking about; they can’t see your soul and they don’t know your God. So, just wait on Him, and you’ll never be ashamed (Psalm 25:3a)!

Selah.

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by | February 19, 2016 · 9:12 pm

One Picture, Two Truths

Courthouse Queue

I don’t use United Kingdom words that often, but I will shine my torch on one this day: queue (I would spell it differently).

Yes, today I was standing in line, or, rather, I was in queue to register my daughter’s car at our county courthouse. While standing there, looking down and noticed something fairly profound and had to take a picture.

…and I sucked in my gut so you could see my feet.

IMG_4079

Literally, there at my feet were two completely profound statements! One would have been enough, but two? Yes, two statements in one picture. Two thoughts worth pondering. Two very real truths.

First Truth

“Wait here until called for service.”

Now, I know that we should always be about the Lord’s work, serving as we go. But when I look at this all I can think of are those who rush ahead into something God never called them to do – or be.

Believe it or not, rushing ahead of the line (or cue), not waiting for God to give the go-ahead, can be devastating. How many have sold all to go to the mission field, only to find out later they were not meant to be there? How many have rushed to stand behind a pulpit without a firm confirmation of their calling?

People have done many things without waiting on God, from ministry to marriage, and have lived to regret their hastiness. Oh that we would be more like David when he said, “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope” (Psalm 130:5).

Maybe you have already been called, but asked to step back in line for a moment. Be patient! Wait upon the Lord as He renews your strength; lifts you up on eagles’ wings; so that you may once again run and not get weary; walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

Second Truth

You are next.

Did you hear the one about the man who’s mother-in-law drove his brand-new truck off the side of a bluff? He had mixed emotions.

Knowing you are “next” is great if what you’re next in line for is a good thing. But what if you’re next in line for something bad to happen? Knowing you are next is not good news, is it?

Well, believe it or not, there are people reading this that are next. Next for what? I don’t know, but they should be ready. You might be next in line for a heart attack or cancer. You may be the very next one in your family to get married, or have a child. Or, you might be the next one to get a terrible phone call in the night.

“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” – Proverbs 27:1

Either way, you are next for something, and only God knows what that is. Are you right with Him? Are you willing to follow where He leads? Don’t be afraid, just put your faith in Jesus Christ and let Him guide you through what’s ahead.

“Next!”

 Update: Not six hours after publishing this, I had to take my wife to the Emergency Room. As of this moment (Saturday evening) she is still in unexplained chest pain. She is now in the hospital and I’ve been awake close to 40 hours. 

What’s next? Nobody knows. But God is still good! 

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by | December 7, 2015 · 10:20 am

Another Funeral for a Stranger

If there is anything that is difficult in ministry, it’s conducting a funeral service. If there is any kind of funeral service that is more difficult than another for a minister, I’d have to say it would be either a close family member or a child.

However, even though doing the funeral for a friend or loved one may be painful, doing one for a total stranger has its own share of difficulties. That is what I am going to be doing today…again.

  • What would you say to encourage a grieving family as they look at you standing over the casket of their loved one?
  • How do you share in the grief and pain, the loss and sorrow, with a host of people you’ve never even met?

In just a couple of hours I will be standing in a funeral home, beside or above a dead body, looking at a room full of people with tears in their eyes, as they hear me speak about someone intimately familiar, but of whom I know little about.  What would you say?

How would you handle it?

This is how… With love, compassion, and tenderness, as one who has also gone through pain and loss, give them Jesus, because…”If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” – 1 Corinthians 15:19-20

It doesn’t matter who they are, even strangers need hope. Give them Jesus.

Update:

If you would like to hear the sermon that I preached (with private details removed), just click on the link below. You may find it interesting, instructional, and inspirational. 

If you are a minister, please note several things. First, I did not use a rigid outline. Secondly, I incorporated things going on in the “here and now.” Third, since I was not able to relate to the family through familiarity with the deceased, I related to the family by tapping into the shared experience of personal sorrow and loss (empathy). Fourth, I primarily focused on the Truth of the Word of God, our only source of eternal hope and comfort.

Easter sunrise 2015

Funeral Sermon for a Man I Didn’t Know

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by | November 19, 2015 · 1:44 pm

It’s Today, Not Tomorrow. Deal With It!

Stuck on Tomorrow

We all hate getting a song stuck inside our heads, and every day I drive the school bus I run the risk of that happening. Many times I find myself humming or whistling, even singing a random song just to tune out the noise of crumb crunchers.

The other day I got stuck on the well-known and loved-by-all show tune from Annie, “(The Sun Will Come Out) Tomorrow.” I kept singing the main lines over and over, often re-worded to my fit my fancy. One of the little girls sitting behind me asked, “Mr. Baker, why are you so stuck on that song?”

I love it when kids ask me questions…mmmwwaahahaha!

Why Tomorrow?

Yes, a little girl asked me a question, and like the great grandfather I know I will be one day, I unloaded with a barrage of questions the tiny dancer was unprepared to answer.

  • Do you think it’s smart to tell someone you love him when you’ve never even met him or know anything about him?
  • Why would you tell tomorrow you love it, when you don’t know anything about it?
  • How do you know tomorrow will be better than today?
  • What’s so bad about today? I mean, what’s it done that tomorrow won’t?
  • What’s the deal with tomorrow, anyway? Seriously? It’s never here. Never comes. It’s always tomorrow. But today, well, today is here, right where it’s supposed to be. Why not love today? At least today hasn’t left like yesterday, and tomorrow never show up?
  • Do you think Annie should have just been happy with the day she had instead of wishing for things that might never come?
  • Do you really know the sun will come out tomorrow?

I love talking with kids on the bus. Can you tell?

Carpe Diem

In all actuality, there are some really good reasons to have hope in tomorrow. But on the other hand, all we are promised is today, and it might be shorter than you think. Why not seize what you have and be thankful?

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

We won’t have to answer to God for tomorrow, but today is a different bus trip altogether. 

 

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by | November 17, 2015 · 11:50 pm

Hopeful Sandwich

Sandwiches

photo (35)I love sandwiches! Don’t you? I do, and let me tell you some of my favorites.

First, there’s peanut butter and jelly (preferably Concord grape or strawberry). Next, there’s the quintessential grilled cheese. Bologna (pronounced by me as “baloney”) and cheese is always good, too. And then of course, especially around this time of year, there’s the unequaled left-over turkey sandwich made after Thanksgiving!  All of these are favorite sandwiches of mine.

What makes a good sandwich? Well, what’s between the bread, of course. But that’s not to say the bread isn’t important; the best sandwiches couldn’t even exist without the bread. As a matter of fact, there are times when the bread is all that gets notices, while what’s between is barely tasted.

1 Peter 5:7 is like that. Let me explain.

Popular Bread

Like the bread that gets more attention than the meat, 1 Peter 5:6 and 8 are slices of Scripture about which everyone raves. I’ve heard far more sermons about them than I have verse seven.

For example, if you are at all familiar with a fighter named Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey, then 1 Peter 5:6 will make perfect sense to you. As a matter of fact, I would bet verse 6 was quoted from a lot of pulpits the Sunday after Holly Holm stunned the martial art world when she forced Rousey to get un-scheduled plastic surgery after a kick to the head.

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” – 1 Peter 5:6

And then there’s 1 Peter 5:8. This is the popular slice of Bread most often preached to those who forget we have a spiritual enemy who wants to knock our heads off.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” – 1 Peter 5:8

These two verses are famous, oft-quoted, oft-referenced slices of Bread which form a sandwich around verse seven, the “meat” that gives us reason for hope.

He Cares

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) reads, “Casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you.” Aside from the fact that we should be humble under the hand of God and watch out for an enemy who wants to devour us, did you ever stop to think that Jesus cares about what you’re going through? That’s the meat.

But if you can keep reading for just a little while longer, I will show you why this sandwich tastes sooooo good 🙂

Casting. There are three little words which are critical to a deeper understanding of verse seven. The first one is “casting.”

The Greek word translated as “casting” is ἐπιρίπτω (epiriptō). Beside 1 Peter 5:7, the only other times it’s used is in Luke 19:35. In that case it’s used in reference to how the Jews threw their coats and Jesus upon the donkey colt that would carry Him into Jerusalem. Can you picture it?

Cares. The next word is “cares.” We are told to cast our “cares” upon Jesus. Well, what are our cares? The Greek word here is μέριμνα (merimna), which means “care” or “anxiety.”* But what is really interesting to me is the meaning of the word on which this word is based, μερίζω (merizō). Merizō is used to describe something separated into parts or cut into pieces.**

Careth. The third word, μέλει (melei), is the Greek word that means what we think of when we read “he careth for you.” I simply means that somebody cares.***

In other words, as I like to describe it, our “cares” are those things which make us anxious, cause us to worry, and literally tear us apart. But Jesus wants us to “cast” them upon Him! Why? Because He cares!

Yes, Jesus cares about the things that worry you; the things that weigh heavy on your heart; the things that seem to be tearing you apart. Jesus really does care!

Why is it, then, that we let things get us down? Why don’t we just take the things that tear us apart, whether big or small, singular or multiple, and throw them on Jesus just like the Jews did with their coats upon that colt.

Jesus cares about our “cares!” That’s the hopeful meat of this “sandwich.” It means we don’t have to go through the tough times alone; we can rest in the mighty hand of God; and we can resist the devil who’s seeking our destruction…because Jesus cares!

Pretty tasty, eh? I thought you’d like it 😉 !

 

 

*“Greek Lexicon :: G3308 (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible.

**“Greek Lexicon :: G3307 (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible.

***“Greek Lexicon :: G3199 (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible. 

 

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by | May 19, 2015 · 10:03 am

The Solid Rock

There are times when a hymn can do what nothing else can do. The Solid Rock, written by Edward Mote (1797-1874), has been my favorite hymn for as long as I can remember, and it is to the second and third verse I want to turn today.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath His covenant and blood
Support me in the ‘whelming flood:
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

Darkness does come, whether we want to admit it, or not. There are times when, like Shakespeare, I feel all I’m doing is “trouble[ing] deaf heaven with my bootless cries.” At times His loving face is hidden in the darkness, leaving me to feel like no one is listening, like no one cares.

But I will rest on His unchanging grace.

And when, in the darkness, I feel my ship tossed, I must remind myself that I am not the One responsible for the journey. When the darkness is so thick that it sucks away all light, leaving me only with the sensation of drifting, I must not fear…I must not lose hope…I must stay in the ship.

My anchor holds within the veil.

Am I forgotten? Is my purpose of not importance? What of my value that I should be left alone in the increasing depths of sorrow and doubt? Has He left me to drown as the waters rise around me? Is He unfaithful to finish what He has begun? NO! Of course not! His Word is true, and he cannot lie! He is faithful, even when I am not, and His promise of my rescue is sealed in His own blood!

His oath, His covenant, and His blood support me in the overwhelming flood.

When it seems like everything is caving in around me; when it seems like every place to stand becomes loose soil on the edge of a cliff; when all the advice in the world sounds hollow…

He, then, is all my hope and stay.

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground but Jesus is sinking sand.

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by | April 14, 2015 · 1:35 pm

He Didn’t Strike Me Dead

I pray the following will encourage someone.

Confession time… I shook my fist at God, cursed Him, and asked him to kill me where I stood.

It was around 15 years ago in Kentucky, and it was a bad time in my life, needless to say. It wasn’t that I had lost almost everything except my wife and children; God was doing a work in my life, purging me of my pride.

The Unfaithful One

Kentucky offered a step up in what was proving to be an already successful career. On top of that, I thought by moving to Christian County (get that? Christian? A sign?), a place where at the time there were thirteen churches without pastors, surely God was opening a door for me to preach. Yep, things were looking great, and it was all about me.

Long story short, not only did my new position not pay the expected $90k+ a year, it was completely done away with! No longer could I afford the nice house in the historic district, or the nice car, or the private education for my girls; it took working four part-time jobs just to keep the power on! What was worse was watching my wife wait tables and clean houses (with a smile, no less) just to make ends meet.

That’s when full-blown depression set in. We’re talking suicidal thoughts, counseling, meds, nearly getting committed…you name it.

One evening, on my way home, I stopped by a liquor store  (they actually have drive-thru’s in KY) and bought a bottle of Kentucky bourbon. I had not eaten anything all day, so on an empty stomach this non-drinker decided to down a bottle of alcohol while walking around our neighborhood. After much contemplation, I’d already determined I was too fearful to kill myself, so I tried a different approach – tell God exactly what I thought of Him and His so-called “plan” for my life.

Literally, with my fist clenched and thrust toward the sky, I cursed God with every word I could think of. I condemned Him for letting me be humiliated; for bringing me to this point and abandoning me; for making me think everything would work for the best. I literally dared God – I begged God – to take my life. Like I had told a former prayer partner whom my wife had called on my behalf, just to try to talk some sense into me – he said, “Don’t you know you have a family who loves you? – I just didn’t care anymore.

Again, it was all about me.

The Faithful One

But even at that moment of total despair and resentment, that “still small Voice” was hard to drown out with my obscenities and vulgarities. “I love you,” He said, “and I know you don’t really mean what you’re saying…and even if you do, I still love you.”

I didn’t want to hear it! Like a little boy throwing a tantrum, I was bent on pushing the envelope, just to make God angry back at me, I suppose… just to hear the kind of response I wanted to hear – confirmation I was worthless – which in turn would prove I was right about God.

But my Father was patient (Psalm 86:15). When I was faithless, He was faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). And when I came back to my senses, when I begged to be forgiven for the blasphemous things I’d said, He didn’t condemn me (Romans 8:1). No, on the contrary, He sat me on His knee, put his arm around me, and gently whispered, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we [are] dust.” – Psalm 103:12-14 

Friends, I am so thankful for the mercy and grace of God! All glory and honor are His! My God is Faithful and True!

Do you know Him?

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by | April 5, 2015 · 6:00 am

He Lives!

We celebrate many holidays in this world, but one stands out among the rest: Easter.

Now, I know that some of the more legalistic among us will label all the celebrations “moot” because of certain “pagan” links, like that to Ishtar and fertility rites. The unbelievers will laugh off this day with arrogant disdain. But for the majority of Christians around the world, this day is a day to rejoice in the Son of God’s victory over the grave.

We are prone to celebrate many things, like who won a game, that new promotion, or a birthday. We throw parties when political candidates squeak out a win, or when that big contract gets signed. Some will even fire thousands of AK-47 rounds into the air while shouting “Allah Akbar!” at the top of their lungs. But nothing is more worth celebrating than Jesus keeping His word and rising from the dead to secure eternal life for those who trust in Him.

Today, as I stand before a congregation, I will attempt, in the power of the Spirit, to stir the imagination, to take us back in time, to recreate a fraction of the excitement that must have been felt when those who were convinced of defeat were shocked by the greatest come-from-below victory of all time.

Today, before all those present, whether in flesh or spirit, I will celebrate victory over sin, death, and hell. The Enemy has been defeated, his tools are obsolete, for Jesus died and rose again.

He Lives!

Click on the link to listen to my favorite Resurrection Day song, “Gone!” (sung by Teddy Huffam).

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by | March 20, 2015 · 1:47 pm

How Am I Doing?

In a recent thread of comments on another site, the blog’s author ask me, “How are you doing?”

My immediate inclination was to respond with one of the typical answers we usually give when somebody asks, “How are you doing?” I almost typed my grammatically-pleasing favorite, “I am doing well, thank you.” If I had been in the mood to be more colorful I could have answered with:

  • “Fine as frog hair!”
  • “Better than I deserve.”
  • “Nothing to complain about. If I did, it wouldn’t matter.”
  • “Unbelievable!” (which can be applied either way)
  • “As good as if God said it was so.” (I just made that one up)

But, when Anna (from Anna’s One Life) asked how I was doing, I replied with the following comment:

How am I doing? I have begun to have a hard time answering that nowadays. I mean, I could share my complaints, my worries, my fears, my struggles, and all of that, but how do they compare with what Christians are facing in Iraq and Pakistan? So, all things considered, I am doing stinking great! I mean, seriously, I’ve got bills that need to be paid, but the power is still on, the water is running, and no one has tried to shoot me or bomb my church while I was preaching. Life is good. I’m blessed more than I deserve.

Other than that, I hate that I can’t make myself complete a stupid self-imposed reading list! Why does life have to get in the way of reading? Can you answer that?

Seriously, God has been more than good to my family and me. If I complained it would be petty. My Savior deserves the praise.

And that’s about how I feel today.

I have my share of difficulties, just like anyone else. Looked at in their localized context, you might feel sorry for me. On the other hand, if my struggles were placed along side the trials of others, a tit-for-tat comparison might reveal that I literally have nothing about which to complain – NOTHING!

We should never belittle the little things; one person’s inconsequential inconvenience may be another person’s earth-shattering tragedy. However, “how we are doing” will really depend on how much of the “yoke” we’re still trying to pull on our own.

[Jesus said], come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30

So, whether or not I am doing “fine,” or not, God be praised! He has blessed me with life, the love of family, a ministry, and the hope of heaven through faith in Jesus Christ.

How am I doing? Counting it all joy (James 1:2)!

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