Another Miracle from God

Name: Hayden Emily Rusco
Birthday: Born 12-18-08
Time: 3:30 A.M.
Weight: 6 lbs. 8 oz.

Proverbs 17:6
Children's children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.

The Purpose of Christmas

Q. What is the purpose of Christmas?

The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

The devil’s works are to keep the unbeliever under the penalty of sin – spiritual death. But Christmas came (Jesus became a human being) and He lived a completely sinless life. Therefore, He had “NO” penalty of sin to pay for himself. That qualified Him to pay your penalty for sin, and set you free from paying it yourself, thereby receiving God’s forgiveness. (Substitutionary atonement). All that the Father gives to the Son receives this great gift.

Acts 10:43
“…through His name everyone who believes in Him receives
forgiveness of sins."

Q. Are those works destroyed in your life? Your eternal destiny in heaven depends on it.

An Almost Shocking Experience

Five o'clock A.M.??? and I couldn't go back to sleep. So I got up and made the coffee. This is a good time to go over my sermon on Sunday morning. After my third cup of coffee, my heart began doing something it had never done before. It began beating very irregularly...very fast and quick, then slow. I was sitting there on my front room couch feeling like I had just run a sprint from home plate to third base. When Donna and I came to the conclusion it wasn't going to settle into a normal pulse rate, she drove me to the Emergency Room at Twin Cities Hospital. I've never missed my responsibility of preaching/teaching my sermon on a Sunday morning. I waited, but after calling Dr. Lemm to tell him we may not make today, he urged us to go to the hospital.

It was weird listening to my heart beating so irregularly, as I lay there on the emergency room bed. The doctor and staff were great. When we had a moment, the doctor and I were talking baseball. He had an autograph baseball signed by Mike Schmidt. I told him Mike took my position while playing in the Phillies organization. We both laughed.

The doctor gave me the options I had. Really only one made sense. Although it was the one I didn't want to do. They were going to shock my heart back to a normal pulse rate. I asked if I could go to the restroom first. They said yes. They were getting ready, and I walked into the restroom. I said, "Lord, what's going on here? I'm OK with not preaching my sermon today, but Lord I just don't want to get shocked. Lord, is that possible?" I walked out and as I was walking down the hallway I felt different. I placed my fingers on my wrist and my pulse was beating normally. As I walked into the room I told everyone my heart was in rhythm. They said, "Sure..."
When they hooked me back up to the heart machine it was music to my ears.
They kept me for another ninety minutes. It maintained. That was an almost shocking experience. Thank you Lord. And thank you all at PRBC who were praying for me. I think it was the same time you were praying that my heart went back.
I'm now sitting here on that same couch listening to the rain with a thankful heart. Literally.

P.S. No more leaded coffee.

The Shack

My Observations

Imagine that you were asked to write a fiction novel. It will be about a man named Mack whose 6 year old daughter was killed by a kidnapper. Mack and his family are completely devastated by this senseless killing. Still struggling with the death, a few years later Mack receives a note from Papa (God) asking him to meet with God at this particular shack in the mountains. Mack actually goes and yes, Papa shows up. Not only does Papa show up, so does Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Your goal in this fiction novel is to use your biblical knowledge of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and write a dialogue between the four of them. The questions on Mack’s heart are obvious. Why did Missy (6 year old daughter) die? God, what was Your role in her death? “If you couldn’t take care of Missy, how can I trust you to take care of Me?” p.92. Good question…Welcome to “The Shack..”

Obviously your understanding of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will be the key to this story. The theology of author William P. Young certainly shines through in this fictional novel. Yes, its fiction, but he is teaching about the Christian God. I have to admit, as I was reading, I was brought to tears several times as I identified with Mack's loss of his daughter. But I also found within his teaching doctrinal error which is pervasive in the Christian church in our day. I would not be concerned except for the unusual acceptance by many believers today. As a shepherd of God's flock, I have the responsibility to oversee, to watch for myself and for all the flock the Holy Spirit has made me overseer. I must warn and bring to light the not-so-subtle error in this book.

My blog would simply be too long if I cited each biblical error, but here’s a few.

1. God (Papa) is actually portrayed as a “big black woman.” p. 88-89.

2. In the book Papa says, “I’m neither male nor female.” But in Scripture God is called Father.

3. “When we three spoke ourself into human existence as the Son of God we became fully human…we now became flesh and blood.” p. 99.
God the Father and God the Spirit did not become human flesh, only God the Son. There are three distinct Persons in the Godhead.

4. “Do you understand,” she (God) continued, “that unless I had an object to love – or, more accurately, a someone to love…then I would not be capable of love at all?” p. 102.
This is error. God is love. He doesn’t need a person to love to be capable of love.

5. “The God who is – the I am who I am – cannot act apart from love!” p. 102.
Yes He certainly can. Read the Old Testament. The author does not see the wrath of God, or the hatred of God.

6. The writer paints a picture of only a loving God. Mack asks a good question of the Three. “Are there any (people) who you are not especially fond of?”
“She (God) lifted her head and rolled her eyes as if she were mentally going through the catalog of every being ever created. “Nope, I haven’t been able to find any. Guess that’s jes’ the way I is.” p. 118-119.
I know of many in Scripture that God was not especially fond of. God hated Esau (Rom 9).

7. The writer portrays the Christian God as follows. “I don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment…It’s not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it.” p. 120.
If you are a believer, I hope you understand that God will certainly punish people for sin (Matt. 16:27; Rom. 2:6).

8. p. 122-123; undermines biblical authority.

9. p. 147-148; If women ruled, the world would be a much calmer and gentler place.

10. p. 148; In the answer of why Jesus became a man, the writer quotes Jesus as saying, “I came as a man to complete a wonderful picture in how we made you.” What’s wrong with just getting biblical and saying I became a man to take upon myself God’s wrath, to become sin. To pay the penalty for the sin of the many. But the writer doesn’t see God as a God of wrath.

11. The writer pushes throughout the book the doctrine of salvation by man’s choice. “We will never force that union on you.” p. 149.

12. p. 192 Here’s a very popular teaching today. The author writes, “Through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world.” Mack answers, “The whole world? You mean those who believe in you, right?” “The whole world, Mack. All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship but it is the nature of love to open the way.”

According to Young, the way was opened 2000 years ago. This view believes Jesus’ work is completely done. He’s now in heaven watching and hoping for you. It is now up to each man, woman, and child to choose Jesus. He’s out of the picture. Each person must make the decision “on their own” to receive Jesus or not. In this view, each person must now search for Him. As the song says, “wise men still seek Him.” Are men, in their depraved, sinful state, wise enough to seek Him? R.C. Sproul writes,

We do not “find” God as a result of our search for him. We’re found by him. The search for God does not end in conversion; it begins at conversion. It is the converted person who genuinely and sincerely seeks after God. Jonathan Edwards remarked that seeking after God is the main business of the Christian life.

Those who believe this view have a difficult time with the following: We who have believed in Jesus are all drawn, chosen, elected, enabled, appointed, called, predestined, given mercy, made alive, and granted salvation by God’s sovereign purpose and power. The Spirit of God must DRAW every person to salvation. To say the Godhead is no longer involved in salvation is heresy.

13. Another troubling heresy is the teaching that God is not involved in bad things that happen. Missy’s death was not God’s idea. p. 165; “But I still don’t understand why Missy had to die.” “She didn’t have to, Mackenzie (Mack). This was no plan of Papa’s. Papa has never needed evil to accomplish his good purposes.” p. 222; “I did not purpose Missy’s death, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use it for good.”

My question is how can one take comfort in a God who is not in control? Can someone take my life, or my grand children's lives outside of God's will? This is heretical teaching. Can thousands of people die in a 9/11 outside of God's will? This heretical teaching is called dualism. God and Satan are battling it out. Two equal powers battling it out for the souls of mankind. This teaching describes an unbiblical, weak, god. This god is one who cannot control the destiny of mankind.

Matt 10:29-31
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

If a sparrow can’t die outside of God’s will, certainly a human being can’t.

14. p. 185; “Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don’t ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead to a false notion about me.”

Quite the contrary:
Isaiah 45:6-7
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the LORD, do all these things.

Job certainly did not believe in the author's god.
Job 1:21
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD."


15. Let me close with the following quote from the book.
p. 225; “In Jesus, I have forgiven all humans for their sins against me”

If all humans sins are forgiven, all humans will go to heaven. Can somebody be sent to hell with their sins forgiven?

Ok. Your assignment is to now re-write this fictional novel. How will you write the dialogue between Mack and God? How will you respond to Mack's questions? I believe the author's, biblical understanding is greatly lacking. Therefore, I do not recommend this book.

Why the Providence of God is Critical For Every Believer to Understand

While in Valencia last week we finished the details that must be done after a death in the family. The funeral service was to be held on Saturday, at 1: pm. We got up that morning knowing we had all morning to prepare, pack and drive the 30 minutes to the funeral home in Glendale. But God had other plans that day. A fire had burned all night and Interstate 5 was was closed. We now had to go back to the coast and take 101 to Glendale. It took us over 5 hours to make that drive. Everyone else from Interstate 5 was also on the detour to 101. God altered our plans. We had a choice to panic, or trust God's providence. We called the funeral establishment and told them our predicament. They waited over an hour and we finally arrived. I walked directly from the car to the front and began the funeral service for my uncle in my blue jeans and golf shirt. No one minded. Uncle Bob would have liked it that way.

God's Appointments

Tuesday we were to move Donna's uncle Bob up north to Vacaville. There he would be closer to family. But he took a turn for the worse. The previous Saturday I could not understand anything he mumbled. Sadly, he was no longer physically able to make the move. He was looking forward to it. The one thing he said that could be understood was, "I'm sorry."

Tuesday morning I received a call from the Care Facility and was told he would not make it through the day. We packed and before we left home he had died. I'm doing the memorial service for him Saturday, here at Glendale, and the graveside service at Rose Hills directly after that. Donna and I have been here with her sister and her husband since Tuesday. We've cleaned and prepared his house and listed it for sale. In one day we had an offer on the house. We've accepted it. Uncle Bob's 100 day Medicare payments for his care ran out the very day he died. When we were at the Funeral home yesterday, I looked at his discharge papers from the Army. He served during WWII. But something I didn't know...He was awarded for heroism, 4 Bronze Stars. He never spoke about it. He died on Veterans Day. We'll be back Saturday night. Can't wait to go to church Sunday.

1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven
2 A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted (Eccl. 3:1-2).

True - False Test

You know how I love True-False statements. Answer them and then answer the question, "Why?"

1. T F The righteousness of Christ that is transferred to us is the righteousness He achieved by living under the Law for thirty-three years without once sinning.

2. T F The righteousness of Christ that the believer receives is the righteousness Christ had from eternity past.

3. T F Jesus had to live a life of obedience before His death could mean anything.

4. T F Jesus did not have to acquire merit through His sinless life for His atonement to have effect.

5. T F Without His life of sinless obedience, Jesus' atonement would have had no value at all.

6. T F We need to see that not only did Jesus die for us, He lived for us.

Duties to Government & God

In light of the recent election results, Scripture teaches that our duties to government are actually duties to God.

Romans 13:1-2
1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

1 Peter 2:13-15
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Guess who was the king when Peter wrote this letter? Yes, the most wicked, anti-Christ king... possibly of all time...Caesar Nero

1 Timothy 2:1-3
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

Q. When are our duties to government stopped by our duties to God?

Let's Talk Church

When a person becomes a Christian, he doesn’t just join a local church because it’s a good habit for growing in spiritual maturity, although it is. He joins a local church because it’s the expression of what Christ has made him—a member of the body of Christ.

We live in an age where very few want to be committed to anything...a job...a marriage...a church. This attitude has even produced a generation of church shoppers and hoppers. Membership swims against the current of America's "consumer religion." It is an unselfish decision. Commitment always builds character.

When does a church become healthy and perfect? A healthy church is not one that’s perfect and without sin. A healthy church is not a church that's figured everything out. Rather, it’s a church that continually strives to take God’s side in the "struggle" against the ungodly desires of the world, the flesh, and the devil. It’s a church that continually strives to conform itself to God’s Word.

Wow, what a great striving this is!

Areas of Sin That Have Come To Light

Driving to see my mother yesterday, rehabilitating in Sunnyvale from hip surgery, I saw several grain silos along highway 101. The James passage came to my mind.

James 4:13-17
13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."
14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
15 Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."
16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.
17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

They seem to be normal people in this passage, talking about business, and how to make more money. Who of us have not had this kind of thought or conversation? But their talk was evil. Why? It was not of faith. They left God out.

Romans 14:23
whatever is not from faith is sin.

We live in this world and must respond and interact with it. But how often do we engage in idle chatter about worldly things, and leave God out of it and out of the attitude of our conversations? Paul wrote to Timothy, avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, (2 Timothy 2:16).

Could it be that we Christians often find ourselves committing these kinds of sins? Sins of omission? It drains us of spiritual power. Sin weakens us...strains our marriages. Is it true that we should be constantly seeking (Matt. 6:33), and placing our mind on things above? I believe if you remove these sins of omission, you will experience a much greater degree of freedom from the sins of commission. I must say, the following passages have found new meaning in my own life.

Colossians 3:1-2
…keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

...Rejoice always...in everything give thanks...pray without ceasing...

Proverbs 3:5-10
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Divorce and Remarriage

Are the exception clauses in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 intended to provide for divorce and remarriage when one of the partners commits adultery?

This is the question I will address in light of the apparent absolutes spoken by Jesus, and elsewhere in the Word of God. The question rose from a recent sermon, which included Mark 10:11-12. Some of my teaching on this passage is found in the previous blog, "What Did Moses Command?"

Mark 10:11-12
11 And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;
12 and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery."

Luke 16:18
"Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

Q. Would the hearers and readers in the first century have assumed that the above absolute statements of Jesus included exceptions (Matt. 5:32; 19:9)? I have significant doubts.

Look at the second half of Luke 16:18; he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.
This could refer to a man who has divorced his wife, and remarried according to the first half of this verse. If the traditional view of Matthew’s exception clause is correct, then this woman is free to remarry…but not according to Jesus.
This could be an unmarried man who becomes married to a woman who is divorced. The divorce appears to be referred to by Jesus as a real divorce. If this man marries this divorced woman, he commits adultery. Why? Because God considers her still married to the husband who divorced her.

Let’s look at the exception clause in Matthew 5:32, which, I believe is not an exception clause at all.

Matthew 5:32 32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

This is simply saying that through divorce, a man makes his wife an adulteress…except in the case where she has made herself one...unchastity.

Where’s the exception clause here?
Q. If a man divorces his wife for the cause of unchastity, or not, isn’t she made to commit adultery either way, if she remarries?

Another interesting clue about the “clause” passages is how Matthew uses the word porneia in each passage, instead of moicheia which is translated, adultery. If adultery was what Matthew meant, why did he use the word porneia? Porneia (fornication) describes sexual activity by the unmarried. Matthew uses both words side-by-side in Matthew 15:19. Therefore, Matthew conceives porneia (fornication) as something different than adultery.

This clue leads us to the following clue. In John 8:41 the Jewish leaders indirectly accuse Jesus of being born of porneia…that Mary had committed fornication and Jesus was the result of this act. Now, looking back at Matthew 1:18-20, Joseph and Mary are betrothed to each other, not yet married. Betrothal is much more significant than our engagement. Joseph was going to (put away) Mary for this assumed porneia, and Matthew says he was “just” in his decision. Keep tracking with me. Now in Matthew 19:9, in order to avoid an inconsistency between what Matthew says about Joseph and what Jesus says about divorce, the Spirit of God, through Matthew, inserts the exception clause in order to show that the kind of divorce that one might pursue during a betrothal, on account of fornication, is not included in what Jesus had said about adultery. This is why the word porneia is used. Mary was not accused of committing adultery. She was only betrothed to Joseph. Joseph believed she committed porneia (fornication), not adultery, being not yet married.

Therefore, the exception clause in Matthew 19:9 was written to the Jewish culture in which a divorce (putting away) could take place in the betrothal stage. Putting a woman away in the betrothal stage cannot result in adultery. That’s why the word porneia is used, and not adultery. That’s why in the gospel of Mark and Luke, written to Gentiles, there is no exception clause. It’s only found in Matthew, which was written to the Jews. There is also no exception clause in Romans and 1 Corinthians.

We live in an age that holds a very liberal view of divorce and remarriage. Many in the churches today have experienced divorce and remarriage. How should a Christian couple, who’ve been divorced and remarried, respond to this teaching of Jesus? Here are some suggestions.

• They should say the same thing the Word of God says about the marriage. That’s what confession is. There is complete and total forgiveness from God, not only positionally, but experientially according to 1 John 1:8-9.
• They should not attempt to return to the first partner after entering a second union.
• They should not separate. The Bible does not give prescriptions for this particular case, but it does treat second marriages as having significant standing in God’s eyes. There were promises made and a union formed. Promises are to be kept and the union is to be sanctified to God. Staying in a second marriage is God’s will, and their ongoing relationship should not be looked on as adulterous.
• They are to live their lives to the glory of God, coming along side others with biblical truth and comfort for those who are struggling, encouraging and comforting others with the same comfort they received from God.
• They must receive and believe God’s forgiveness for them, and then live in the present to God’s glory.

What Did Moses Command?

One day Jesus was put to another test.

Mark 10:2 Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife.

Matthew writes it like this:
Matt 19:3
Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"

Jesus answers:
Mark 10:3-9
3 And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"
4 They said, "Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY." 5 But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

They were quoting the well known passage on divorce found in
Deut 24:1-4
24 "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house,

Q. What does “he has found some indecency in her” mean?
Since adultery would mean possible death…This may be something less than adultery.


and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house,
2 and she leaves his house and goes and becomes another man's wife,
3 and if the latter husband turns against her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her to be his wife,
4 then her former (1st) husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife, (WHY?) since she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.

The 1st husband cannot take her back because she is defiled.

Q. How did she become defiled? She had sexual relations with another man.
This passage does not advocate divorce. But attempts to limit its worst consequences for the wives.

God considered the first husband and wife as one flesh.

And even though a certificate was given, she became defiled by her second marriage. She committed adultery.

1 Cor 7:10-11
10 the wife should not leave her husband (divorce)
11(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.

It’s interesting, when Jesus said "What did Moses command you?"
The Pharisees went to the Deut. 24 passage.

But Moses also wrote the Genesis 2:24 passage on marriage, which Jesus now quotes as He continues in Mark 10.


"Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment
6 "But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 7 "FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, 8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 "What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."

There is God’s commandment.

Jesus is re-stating and recovering God’s will for marriage.


His opponents ask what is permissible.
Jesus asks what is commanded.

Once again, this blows the disciples away. They have questions.
Mark 10:10-12
10 In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again.
11 And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;
12 and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery."

Why? Because the man and woman are now one flesh. Not two. Joined together by God, and He doesn’t unjoin them.


Luke 16:18 "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.


These must be the words of husband and wife.
"TILL DEATH DO US PART"


Rom 7:2-4
2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband.
3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.

Till death do you part. It's a picture of death to the law and our marriage relationship to Jesus Christ.

4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

Is divorce and adultery the unforgivable sin? NO! Is there forgiveness? Absolutely!
What about abandoment by an unbelieving spouse (1 Cor. 7)?
And what about the Matthew passages which give grounds for divorce? Coming Soon.

Kingdom Greatness

One of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game was Willy Mays. He was one of my hero's from a young age. As a young boy I was listening to the Giants playing the Dodgers. Willy hit four home runs in that game. As a 10 year old I went to my first Big League game at the Los Angles Coliseum, and watched Willy hit one over the big fence in left field. That fence was only 201 ft. from home plate. Thirteen years later, in 1972, I found myself pitching batting practice to the New York Mets. It was Willy's last year, and he was now playing for the Mets. It was a moment I won't forget. When he came to bat, I thought if I could throw a few pitches past him, maybe make him look bad, I would be noticed…After every pitch I threw for a strike, all I saw was a white streak, line drive. Even in his last year he was great. Why was Willy Mays great? Because he was the best, the first, the greatest at what he did.

I, personally, still have that competitive spirit. Paul had it. He said, “run the race to win.”
The disciples also had that desire. One day Jesus asked His twelve men, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest (Mark 9:33-34). Why were they silent? Guilt…shame…Their silence was a wordless confession.

Jesus recognizes in his disciples' desire for greatness a good thing…But they defined greatness by the standard and morality of the kingdom of this fallen world. Here's how Jesus set them straight.

35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." 36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me" (Mark 9:35-37).

True greatness is not wanting to be first while others are second and third and fourth, but true greatness is the willingness to be last.

And true greatness is not positioning yourself so that others praise and serve you, but true greatness is putting yourself in a position to serve everyone else.

So Jesus doesn't condemn the quest for greatness. He radically transforms it. Go ahead and pursue it, he says. But the path is down, not up.

EX: Take pastors for example…The measure of true greatness is not how many people attend the church.
Or how much praise he receives.
Or how many books he has written.

But rather, how much heartfelt desire exists to serve others.
How much willingness to decrease while others increase.

Why did Jesus use the child as an example? In Jesus day, children and women were largely auxiliary members of society. Girls under 12 could be sold by their fathers as slaves. He is teaching us, we are to receive children, the least, the insignificant of society. When we do, we are receiving Him, ministering to Jesus, but more than Jesus, to God Himself. If a man receives the poor, the people who have no influence, and no wealth, and no power, the people who need things done for them, Jesus says he is receiving Me.

Getting old is not for sissies

When we walked out of the building this time, we were crying. Donna's uncle Bob is 92, blind, can hardly hear, and can't walk. He's in an assisted care facility in Glendale, CA. Now add confusion, and dementia.

Donna and her sister are the only family he has.

I wheeled uncle Bob out to the patio. We talked and ate lunch. He's had no desire to eat, so Donna fed her uncle. He actually ate. We carried on a good conversation for the first couple hours. After lunch Donna left the table for a moment, and uncle Bob told me, "Dave, you married one great woman." "You're right uncle Bob, I married up."

I said, "Uncle Bob, the most important thing now, is where you are going to spend eternity." He broke in and asked me what hell is like. I told him what the Bible says, and finished with, "Bob, you don't want to go there." I once again explained the gospel to him. It's interesting, because you have to speak loudly for him to hear. Therefore, all the other people on the patio could easily hear the gospel also.

Shortly after this uncle Bob completely left us. He went to another place, another realm, driven by dementia. It must have been an awful place, because it was "so hard" to listen to him like that. He did not come back. We left...until next time. Getting old is not for sissies.

Back To The Future

Ok, go to Mark 8:27. Travel with me into the future. But first, mark your place in Mark, and then turn back to Matthew 7. We're going back...to the future. Here's the scene. It's the great day of God's judgment. We see many people standing before the throne of Jesus Christ. Many of these people have preached in Jesus name most of their lives on earth. Many have done miracles, and all in the name of Jesus. And now, here they are...finally standing before the Person of Jesus, the Christ, the One in whom they have invested their lives., the One in who's name they were ministering. There's only one problem! ALL of them...all of these people were believing in the wrong Jesus.

"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS'"
(Matthew 7:22-23).

Now go to Mark 8:27. "Who do people say that I am?" They told Him, saying, "John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets." And He continued by questioning them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Who do you say that Jesus is? It's eternally important. If one is believing in a different Jesus, they are also believing a different gospel. Believing a different gospel will not result in salvation.

Partially Back. (Read "Time Marches On" first below)

Before I left the care facility last night I told uncle Bob, "You're safe here." When Donna and I arrived at the facility today, the staff told us they did not have to sedate uncle Bob last night. That was great news. He was sleeping when we entered into his room. When he awoke, we heard something wonderful. Uncle Bob was in his right mind. All day he spoke with us, laughed with us, and complained a little to us about this most recent change point in his life. He ate the donut and Donna helped him sip the coffee we bought for him. Although very weak, and with an injured back, uncle Bob came back mentally and emotionally. I pray tomorrow will be the same.

We were all amazed when he began recounting my wedding day 39 years ago. He told me some of my baseball friends were writing all over my GTO. He remembers them questioning if Dave would like this. They said they didn't care...Uncle Bob laughed. He has a great laugh. Then he told me he was one of the ones who wired dozens of tin cans to the rear of my car. He laughed again. I never knew that. Do you know what? I really want to see this man in heaven with us...I really do!

Time Marches On

He was one of those young boys who put on a uniform, was trained to kill, and went to fight a war on the other side of this world. The war was WW ll. His name is Robert Ingram. I know him as Uncle Bob. After surviving the fighting in Europe and Africa, he came home and married the sister of my wife's mother. All the years I've known him, I've not been able to get him to talk about his war experiences. Uncle Bob is now 92 years old. I performed his wife's funeral ten years ago in Los Angeles, and he asked me to do his also. This man has lived in the same house in Pasadena for over 50 years. The last several years he's lived without sight, with very little hearing, and mobility. They never had children. He has outlived his other family members. Donna and her sister Joyce Lindsey are his family.

Monday, while at the hospital comforting a friend, I received a phone call. Uncle Bob had fallen.
His care person found him on the floor Monday morning unable to get up. She had cooked his dinner on Friday and went home. How long was he there on that floor? From Friday night? He doesn't remember how he fell or how long he was there. When we arrived that evening at the Glendale Memorial Hospital, we found this man dehydrated, confused, fearful, and at times knowing who we were, and at times not.

When we were cleaning his house today, memories, and sadness came over me. Uncle Bob may never again enter his house. He's entered another "change point" in life. We all have these change points. Some are easier than others. Just by being here in this motel room is a change point in our lives also.

We found a care facility for our uncle. It's a great facility. But at best it's not good. Tomorrow will be our last day here. My brother-in-law and us will be visiting him every other week.

Donna's uncle is still there in that tent that has almost completely worn out. Here's the real scarry part. His spirit will never wear out and will exist eternally in heaven or hell. But the preaching of the cross has always been foolishness to him. We're asking our Lord not to require his soul until the blinders are removed from his mind and uncle Bob receives the gift of God...His eternal salvation.

Travel with me in your imagination...

Travel with me in your imagination for a few moments. You just heard that one of the greatest preachers, not only in our era, but possibly of all time would be preaching and presenting the gospel at Dodger Stadium. You are asked to bring your friends and family to hear the gospel from this man.

Many from your church and community are driving to the stadium. When you arrive at the parking lot you see that many people are already there. There are many busses and vans. You know that not only will there be thousands of non-believers in attendance, but there’s also thousands of Christians from many different churches and denominations. There will be many very well known Christian leaders in attendance. All desire to hear this man in person. They all want to know just how this man of God is so successful.

The stadium is packed. And after some great singing this man of God walks up to the podium and microphone. There’s a giant screen in left-center field for all to be able to see this man up close. The first thing you notice is that he’s not very tall. As a matter of fact, he’s not impressive looking at all. But most know it’s not how a person looks, but rather, what he says that’s important. As he begins to address this huge crowd, you quickly have a sense of uneasiness. It’s not long before you realize he’s not all that great of a speaker either. But you think to yourself, “Well, he’s not impressive looking, not a dynamic speaker, it must be what he says that makes him one of the greatest preachers.”

As you listen, question marks are forming in your mind, as he teaches the following.
“There is no one here who is righteous.
There’s no one here who understands God’s truth.
Not one of you seeks after God.
There is not one of you here today that is good, not even one.”

You are thinking, “What?” At the same time you begin to hear a noise of rumbling across this great crowd. It’s the sound of thousands of people talking, looking at each other…question marks. As he continues to speak, you begin to see people rising from their seats and actually leaving the stadium. Those who teach the health and wealth gospel are almost sprinting out of the stadium. They’re saying, “What kind of positive confession is this? Doesn’t he
know you receive what you sow, what you say?

Many unbelievers are now out of their seats and also heading for the stadium gates. They have been taught on TV and elsewhere that God is love. They’ve heard that God has a wonderful plan for their lives. God is supposed to build you up, not tear you down. He’s suppose to make you feel good about yourself, to build up your self-esteem, not make you feel so bad about yourself.

He continues...
Your words are rotten.
Your heart is deceitful.
Your mouths are full of bitterness, void of peace…”

The church growth experts were found walking up the isles shaking their heads. It was certain they were not going to find anything here to help them attract unbelievers into their churches. Let’s face it, every student of “The Basic Principles of Church Growth” knows you don’t invite unbelievers in and then tell them how sinful and horrible they are. The church must become relevant, and meet their needs. It must never offend, or condemn.

Many post-modernists and other pastors were out of there. They know that the
church only properly functions when it’s tolerant, loving, and inclusive. All this emphasis on sin, and unrighteousness will not draw people to God’s love. And it will certainly not keep people in the church. People need to feel accepted, not rejected and condemned.

Many of the best-known and successful pastors were seen leaving the stadium.

Well, as unbelievable as it sounds, there was now only a small group of people left sitting in the stands listening to this preacher. And as you look more closely at this small number, you see that most of them do not appear to be numbered among the upper crust of society. And as you continue to look at them, you can’t believe what you are seeing. Most are crying…sobbing. Some actually on their hands and knees with faces to the ground.

Then the Apostle Paul walks down from the platform, down to this little group of men and women, and he shares with them the incredibly good news of Jesus Christ. That He died, taking upon Himself God’s wrath that you deserved. He was buried, and rose again from the dead. All who believe in Him are forgiven of their sin because Jesus bore their sin and it’s penalty on the cross.

Matthew 5:3-4
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Of course, the points of Paul’s message are taken from Romans chapter 3. What do you think? Might the list of responses be similar in “Christendom” today?

What Defiles A Man?

I'm now at that age when I must be very careful what I eat. The three C's - Calories, Carbs, and Cholesterol, are now on my radar, and I try to keep much of them from entering into my stomach. Why? For very real physical reasons. Do you know that's hard to do as a pastor? There are so many great cooks in this church. And most of them specialize in deserts. UG! But even though our physical bodies will become physically defiled, I'm excited about what Jesus said.

Mark 7:18-23
Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him,
19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.)

Food is physical. I'm glad eating food, (though the 3 C's may hurt the body), does not defile the heart, which is spiritual. But keep reading. Then I have a question.

20 And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.
21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,
22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.
23 "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."


According to verse 20 and 23 the works, deeds (sins) that come from within defile the man. This then raises the following question: Which of the following statements is more accurate?
1. A person is sinful because he sins. Or
2. A person sins because he is sinful.

Or stated another way:
1. A person’s heart is defiled because he sins. (v. 20, 23) Or
2. A person sins because his heart is defiled.

Number 2 is the more accurate statement. So here's a multiple choice question.

What then will God judge mankind by on judgment day?
a. Whether he believed in Jesus from his heart, or not.
b. Whether he accepted Jesus into his heart, or not.
c. Whether his works, deeds were good, or not.
d. Whether he was baptized, or not.


Correct answer: Read the following verses.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

John 5:28-29
“do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds, to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

Matthew 16:23
“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds.”

Romans 2:5-8.
“But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation”


Q. What will God look at on judgment day?
Yes, our deeds, our works, actions. It reveals the spiritual condition of our hearts.

In that courtroom, standing before the Judge, your heart will be on trial.

Prov 27:19
As water reflects a face,
so a man's heart reflects the man. (NIV)

And deeds reveal the heart.
answer (C)

Theological and Logical

Is the Covenant God made with Abraham conditional, or unconditional? Most will answer, and rightly so, that the Abrahamic Covenant is completely unconditional. God will accomplish and fulfill His covenant apart from any works or preset conditions upon mankind. If one answers unconditional, it will have theological, and logical conclusions. Here they are.

The unconditional fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham is fulfilled in the church, as all families of the earth are blessed by the seed of Abraham...Jesus. It is literally fulfilled by people believing the gospel, people from every nation. The unconditional aspect comes right back to the question of how do people become saved? Is it their choice, or God’s choice? The answer is both theological and logical. If the fulfillment of God’s Covenant with Abraham is God’s predetermined, unconditional, sovereign will and it is fulfilled by people from every nation believing the gospel, then a person’s belief in the gospel is God’s predetermined, unconditional, sovereign will. It’s not left to chance, or to the choice of man.

This is what’s known as a syllogism. A syllogism is a formal deductive argument made up of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion. If the major, or minor premise is untrue, the conclusion will be untrue. If both the major and minor premise are true, the conclusion will always be true. Here’s an example:


Major premise: All birds have feathers.
Minor premise: Penguins are birds.
Conclusion: Penguins have feathers.

Let’s look at another syllogism:
Major premise: The Abrahamic Covenant is fulfilled by God’s unconditional, predetermined, sovereign will.
Minor premise: Individual belief in the gospel results in the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Conclusion: Individual belief in the gospel is God’s unconditional, predetermined, sovereign will for the individual.

God has not left the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant into the hands of man’s choice, or into the hands of chance, or into the hands of God’s passive foreknowledge. God has not called His unconditional covenant conditional. If the fulfillment of the covenant is all His work (major premise), and the covenant is fulfilled by people being saved (minor premise), then people being saved is all His work (conclusion). Therefore, the gospel is impossible for a man, women, or child apart from a miraculous move of God’s grace to that individual.

Storms

Q. Did Jesus deliberately send His friends into that storm? YES

The excitement of this miraculous multiplication of food (Mark 6:32-44) was a lesson for the 12 disciples. The storm was the test, the exam after the lesson.

Q. How often does the Lord teach us something and then test us to see if we learned it? That has often been the case in my Christian life.

1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

Be discerning. Sometimes we are caught in a storm because we have disobeyed the Lord. Jonah is a good example of that. But sometimes the storm comes because we have obeyed the Lord. Because we are learning and growing in our faith.

Jesus had the 12 feed the thousands...He would supply the miraculous, they would supply the feet. Possibly up to 15,000 men, women and children were fed. He told them to get into groups of 50, and groups of 100. That would have been 75 groups of 100 people, and 150 groups of 50 people. 225 groups of people spread out over the grassy hills. The 12 disciples carried baskets full of food to each of these groups. Then they collected 12 baskets full of leftovers. It's getting late...dark...and after eating yourself, what's the last thing you want to do? Ya, row across the sea again. That's probably why the Scripture says Jesus, "made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side" (Mark 6:45).

Well, that evening, He brought the wind against His disciples, and they're struggling out there. It's after 3 am before Jesus walks by them...on the water. THEY DO NOT PASS THE TEST.

Jesus gets into the boat...calms the sea, and gives them an "F" for failure...and fear.

After they see that He calms the wind, Scripture says, "And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened" (Mark 6:51-52).

Their hearts are hard. They cannot grasp who Jesus is in their everyday life. They can't simply trust Him in the storm.

THEY MUST LEARN AND PASS THIS TEST...SO MUST WE.

Preaching, Casting, Healing

How would you feel if you were told that you had a job to do. You are to take a friend with you and begin traveling to the cities in SLO County. First you are to go to San Miguel. Your next stop...Shandon. From there you are to travel to Cambria, then to San Simeon. Then Morro Bay. Here's what you both will be doing in each town. Telling the people in that town to repent. Also, that the kingdom of God is at hand. You're going to love this one...You are also to confront demon possessed people and cast out the demons. You are also to annoint the sick with oil, pray for them and heal them. I know what you are thinking... "What???" One more little thing. You can't take any money, extra clothes, or food with you. You can only take your faith in God, trusting that He will actually take care of both of you.
By the way, if they don't appreciate your ministry, if they think you're nuts, you are to shake the dust from that city off your feet as a testimony against them. And then go to the next city.

Are you ready for this assignment? Would you be a little nervous as you and your friend take off on your way, first to San Miguel? "Preach, demons, heal...?"

You might now have a little appreciation for the 12 disciples as they were sent out in pairs just like the description above. Without Jesus walking with them (Mark 6).

Bridge Inspectors

The following is a blog article from one of my Seminary professors, Dr. John Wecks...and I actually wrote a response.

No Tolerance for Intolerant Inspectors
June 10th, 2008 http://blogs.multnomah.edu/johnwecks/

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to find a flaw in this thing.”

“A flaw? Who cares? This structure serves a greater purpose. You are too picky. Nothing is perfect. You need to loosen up and be more tolerant of flaws.”

So they left the primary support for the huge bridge like it was. Traffic was heavy on the bridge because it worked. After all, this bridge was doing something useful and helpful, such as connecting people.

This kind of thinking that produces sloppy inspection of a physical bridge that puts lives in physical danger would not be tolerated.

How much more should we be careful of the ways we carry the precious cargo of the gospel to reach out and connect with people’s souls and eternal destinies?

Careful inspection of a personal bridge that might put souls in eternal danger should not only be tolerated, but encouraged.

Gal. 1:6-9; Acts 20:29-31; 1 Cor. 6:13; 1 Pet. 5:8

One Response to “No Tolerance for Intolerant Inspectors — UHD 14:6”
By David Rusco on Jun 19, 2008

Dr. Wecks, you certainly don’t have to publish this, but I have a concern with the purity of the gospel and how it’s presented. I’m (trying) to write a book. It begins with, “What I’m about to say will be impossible for any human being to understand. Not only will you not understand, you will think it foolishness to varying degrees.” Why? Scriptural truth can only be understood by the human mind and intellect through the miraculous work of God’s Holy Spirit. In other words, the Word of Truth is so supernatural, only the Holy Spirit can make it understandable to the human mind. This has profound implications for the church in our era.

1 Corinthians 2:12-14
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

The things freely given to us by God are revealed in the Word of God. And there is only one way to know what these things are.

13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

In other words, without the Spirit of God the unbeliever cannot understand the Bible. It’s foolishness. How is it made understandable? Many in our era attempt to remove certain theological words to make the gospel easier to understand. Or they add to the gospel making it more attractive…ug!

Only by Divine grace is it understood. Only by the miraculous work of God’s Holy Spirit can His Word be understood.

I believe it is here that many in the church have minimized. The gospel is impossible for the natural man to understand (1 Cor. 1:18). If the gospel could be understood by natural human ability, then preachers would use, as Paul writes, “cleverness of speech.” Sadly, many are doing just that. But God sent Paul to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void (1 Cor. 1:17).

This is a partial result of my "bridge inspection." I certainly agree with Dr. Wecks. Where are the bridge inspectors in our day?

Let me finish my sermon!

Time constraints prevented me from finishing my teaching Sunday morning on Fathers Day. Let me review...If you remember, I finished with the text from Mark 5:42. Jesus raised the twelve year old daughter of Jairus from death. Luke writes, 8:55 And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. I finished by talking about our spirit. God has given every man, woman, and child an eternal spirit. It's the real you. And your spirit will live forever somewhere. Either eternal hell, or Heaven. How important it is that we all die as a believer in Jesus.

My sermon would have continued a little later with a question. Why do you think Paul devotes twice as much writing to the husbands obligations as to the wives? Husbands, you are the God appointed leader of your household, even though you and your wife are equals in God's eyes.
Scripture says,
1 Corinthians 7:3-4
3 Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does;

Of course, this is referring to the marriage bed. How often have I heard this passage quoted without looking at the rest of verse 4. Here it is.

and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

The wife has authority over your body men. And you know what the topic is.


Men! Here's the key word for your wife...Romance

Women! Here's the key word for your husband...It's a three letter word that begins with the letter...well, you know.

I was going to tell a story about Darren and Jennifer Rusco. They just celebrated their wedding anniversary. While at the restaurant, they noticed another couple. They didn't know them, but knew they had been married for quite a while. Well, this other couple were sitting on the same side of the booth. They were talking, and laughing. The husband had his arm around his wife... hugging, talking...you get the picture. Well Jennifer and Darren were watching all this. Then Jennifer spoke across the table and asked Darren, "Honey, why don't you ever do that?" Darren replies, "Honey, I don't know that lady!"

Bible Study on Heaven

Summer Sunday nights in July (6 - 7:15 pm) we will ask and answer several questions on the subject of Heaven. Where will we spend eternity? Will we have bodies? What age will we appear to be? Will we eat in heaven? Will we work? Will we know each other? Will there be animals? How about our pets? Will there be marriage? You all are invited and encouraged to attend. Child care available. Bible study by Pastor Dave.

Week 1: "Heaven - Is there really life beyond the grave?"

Week 2: "Why should we think about heaven?"

Week 3: "What will heaven be like?"

Week 4: "Heaven and the rest of your life."

Dave's New Book; Click here for link

Well, it finally happened. I actually published a book. No, it won't be on the best seller list. No, I won't be featured on the 700 Club, or Fox News. Frankly, it's not for everyone. It's teaching on the doctrine of Last Days, complete with charts. It will challenge the typical teaching on this subject in the church in our era...long overdue.
Needless to say, I was excited today when Donna brought the book to the church office. I had a smile beeming from ear to ear. I felt like George Macfly when Biff brought Georges long-awaited book into his house, in "Back to the Future."
Click the link above the cover photo if you want to know more about the book and possibly buy it. I'm still not too sure how it works. The publisher is Wordclay.com. They will ask you to register to buy a copy.
The issues I'm teaching on are stated on the book cover.
Israel; The Church; The Rapture; The Tribulation; The Second Coming of Christ; The Kingdom of God, among other issues...And yes, I'll actually sign it! That is, if you don't burn it first.

Memories

I can't believe it. I just celebrated my 59th birthday! What I'm going to say isn't wisdom, just logic. The older you get the more memories you get. Another chapter was added to one of my memories last night. Donna and I went to our grandsons school musical. It was great. After the musical we all went to McDonalds. As I was sitting there someone said to me, "Dave, five of your former basketball players are here tonight."
In my late 30's (early 40's?) I coached varsity boys basketball at North County Christian School. He was right. Out of the seven or eight players that year, five of them were once again together. This was a night that may never be duplicated again this side of heaven. Let me explain why.
Two of these young men married two of the Highschool girls who kept my scorebooks. And not only were these seven friends together last night, but also the parents, who are now grandparents. I remember sitting in many restaurants with these grandparents after our games, enjoying our fellowship, talking about the game that night.
These 5 young men, now in "their" 30's, are blessed with 17 little ones, running all over the place. They are now beginning to form their own memories. You can imagine...we took over Big Mac last night.
In closing, let me say something else. These five men are all following Jesus. Two of them are Pastor/teachers. One is a missionary, serving Christ in Africa. Two are leaders/teachers in the local church. Isn't that something? Thanks Lord for the memories.

Their Last Day

Connie was standing in my office sharing with me that on Saturday, May 9th, she and her husband Bob would make their last trip to the Paso Robles Youth Authority. As she was talking, her eyes became tearful, and her voice began to break.

Bob and Connie Masten have been going to the Youth Authority (a prison and school for teenage young men who have been convicted of a crime), for over 29 years. Every month they would ask people from the church to bake cakes. Bob and Connie would travel to the institution, carrying their cakes through the gates. The invitation would go out to all those young men having a birthday that month. The Masten's, and the friends who would go with them, would spend time with these young men, playing board games, singing happy birthday, and eating cake. A short message of God's love and forgiveness was also shared. Some of the boys told Connie this was their first birthday cake and party ever. Can you imagine?

I asked Connie how many cakes do you think people baked during those three decades? She actually kept track...1,146 cakes!

On judgment day Jesus will speak to both the saved and lost. He will say to the saved that they ministered to Him, and came to Him. The conversation continues...

Matt 25:39-40
39 "When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 "The King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

Bob and Connie, you've been ministering to Jesus these 30 years. The Lord bless you both for your years of faithful service.

A Promise and a Warning

In Mark 4:23 Jesus tells His disciples to hear, to listen. In verse 24 He asks for more.
24 And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to."

Or consider carefully what you hear…Don’t just listen!!! The passage continues:

By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.
25 "For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him."

How will these disciples respond to the light of Jesus, and the Word of the Kingdom? Passively, or actively.

By your standard of measure it will be measured to you (24b)
What they pour out from their life will be poured out back to them.

The same is true for the believer today.

Here’s a timeless, kingdom principle: You will reap what you sow.

If you pour out your life for the kingdom of God, God will pour back to you, to that same measure.
and more will be given you besides (24b).


If you are faithful with what God has given to you…He gives you more.
If we are not…He takes the hidden talent away.
NO!!! I'm not talking health and wealth (the prosperity gospel).

MORE of WHAT? More Truth to apply to your life.
He gives us a greater desire and urgency to glorify God.
A greater compelling capacity to love Him.
A heart wrenching, yet wonderful capacity to love others…to expend our lives for them.

God has given to you and I the responsibility here to do…or not do.
Here’s that relationship between the sovereignty of God and our responsibility.
Here’s the tension where God's Word says,
he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).
But we read shortly after this,

12...work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (live it out, pour it out)
13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).

It’s His power. It’s our choice to measure out, to pour out ourselves to do the Word.

Jesus is not looking for passive listeners. He wants active listeners.
He’s drafted us to the team.
John 15:16
"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit,


And to those Christians who just will not give their lives away…will lose what they have.

They’ll lose everything they might have had in Jesus.
They become mired more deeply in indifference, biblical ignorance.
Becoming spiritually insensitive.
There's little worse than to see a Christian loving the world.

SO THIS PARABLE IS BOTH A PROMISE AND A WARNING.

A Spiritual Activity

When we think of spiritual things, or spiritual activities, we normally think of church related, or missions related activities. Let me add another to the list. Having the grandchildren over for dinner, playing with them until bedtime, tucking them all into their sleeping bags and blankets, with the expectation of rising "early" in the morning (5 AM). What were we going to do at that outragous hour of the morning? We all went to the spiritual activity of watching hot air balloons blow up and take off into the crisp, early morning air. What a wonderful "spiritual" activity with my wife and grandchildren. The amazing thing was all four of these young ones woke up bright eyed and ready to go. I wish I could have said the same thing about Donna.
What a great day as the sun rose up over
the horizon.


It was quite a sight to watch these huge balloons rise up into the air and slowly float away. It wasn't long before they were all floating away into the dawn. After this we went to the big M and had breakfast for real.
I simply would not trade this time with my grandchildren for anything.

Is God Still God?

In my men's Bible study we are studying Isaiah. Assyria, the ruling power in Isaiah's day, has been conquering cities in the southern kingdom of Judah, and finally reach the city of Jerusalem. They taunt the city's people and their king Hezekiah.

"Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, 'The LORD will deliver us.' Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?" (Isaiah 36:18)

Hezekiah responds correctly by going to God with the enemies threats.
Isaiah 37:
17 "Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to reproach the living God.
18 "Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated all the countries and their lands,
19 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.
20 "Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, LORD, are God."

Here's how God answered King Hezekiah's prayer:
36 Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, all of these were dead.
37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home and lived at Nineveh.

The Assyrians were unaware their victories were all part of God’s greater plan.
God had decreed the collapse of nations and the turning of cities into ruinous heaps.

Isa 37:26
26 "Have you not heard? Long ago I did it, From ancient times I planned it.
Now I have brought it to pass,
That you (Assyria) should turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps.

And now God will crush the very nation He raised up.
Isaiah 14:24-27
The LORD Almighty has sworn,
"Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand. I will crush the Assyrian in my land; on my mountains I will trample him down. His yoke will be taken from my people, and his burden removed from their shoulders." This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.

Deuteronomy 32:39
There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.

Is God still God?

Daniel 2:20-21
"Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
21 "It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;

He's still God, and we can still trust Him. He will accomplish His plan for the nation we live in.

Golfing for Jesus

Last Saturday I removed my checkbook, wrote a check to North County Christian School, and proceeded to play 18 holes of golf. It was their annual, Scramble, April Fools Golf Tournament. It was an opportunity to golf with three other men I had never golfed with before, and two of the men I hadn't known before Saturday. It really was "golfing for Jesus." The Athletic department raised several thousand dollars that day. The entry fee was a worthy cause, even if you didn't receive a golf round and lunch. How'd we do? Out of the 20 teams, we came in forth place. I've been golfing in this tournament for over 20 years now.
In the early days, it was known for the bad weather. We golfed in rain, lightning and thunder storms. One year as we were approaching the 9th green, it began to hail. As a matter of fact it was difficult to see our white golf balls on the green, because the green was covered with white hail. I'll never forget, as Barbara Clark stepped up to her ball, we were all laughing. She had about a 15 foot putt. She knew she had to hit it harder because of the hail. There it went, bouncing over the hail. There was no way she could make this putt. Just as it approached the hole it bounced up into the air and down into the cup. We still laugh and remember those days.
Golfing for Jesus? Yes! "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Growing In Fertile Soil

It was 4: PM on Sunday evening, and I was enjoying the conclusion of the Masters Golf Tournament...my favorite tournament of the year. As I was watching the golf, I began thinking about the Sunday evening meeting which was to begin in just two hours. I found myself writing a song between golf shots. I grabbed my guitar and actually taught it to the congregation that night before we began our second study entitled "Don't Waste Your Life." I think I'll make it our theme song for the Sunday evening series. It's a simple little song. By popular demand, here's the words.













This Sunday morning I continue in the gospel of Mark, chapter 4:1-20. Jesus tells the parable of the sower. The traditional teaching of this parable interprets the seed as the gospel. The 4 soils as 4 different responses to the gospel. I have a few questions to ask Sunday. Here a portion of the text with a couple of my questions.

Mark 4:10-12
10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.
11 And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables,

Q. Who are those on the outside? Unbelievers

Q. What are parables? Simple stories which illustrated a spiritual truth.

Q. Why did Jesus use parables? Two reasons…
1) to reveal spiritual truth to His followers.
2) to hide spiritual truth from "outsiders."

12 so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN." Quoting Isaiah

Again… Why did Jesus speak and teach in parables?
To keep those on the outside on the outside.

Q. What is the seed? The word. Verse 14 says, "The sower sows the word.”
Matthew refers to the seed as "the word of the kingdom." (13:19)

Word = Gk. logos …or the Truths of the Kingdom.

So the “seed” the sower sows can be more than the salvation message (gospel).

Here are three important conclusion which may shift the traditional view of the parable of the sower.

1. Therefore, the soils should not purely be seen as responses to the gospel, but responses to the Word.

2. Remember, the truths of the parables were not going to the unsaved.
LOGIC: According to the traditional view of the second soil, how could the Word (parable) be received with joy by an unbeliever when it’s designed to be not receivable. To the unbeliever, the Word is referred to as foolishness. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised (1 Corinthians 2:14).

3. So the “word,” the seed being sown into the hearts of people are the truths of the Kingdom of God.

That can only occur in believers lives and hearts.


So allow me to offer another view of the 4 soils.
Instead of describing 4 types of responses to the Gospel, could it be that the 4 soils describe 4 different ways a person responds to the Word of the Kingdom? INCLUDING BELIEVERS.

Sunday morning @ 10:30...for the rest of the story.