Send the Light

Galatians 5:24-25
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

In 1838, when James Calvert went out as a Christian missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, "You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among [them]."

To that, Calvert replied, "We died before we came here."    

In a nutshell, that is the story of the missionary. However, it is a daily dying and not a one time proposition. Our church recently concluded a 3 day home missions conference. And it got me to think about how our missionaries are in the outer limits of their comfort zones all in the name of taking the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to lost peoples.

In October the church hosts a missions conference. In both conferences, there are missionaries who give their testimony on how the Lord is working in their lives and through their lives. What incredible stories of faith, courage, and love for the Gospel!

About courage, G.K. Chesterton said, "Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live, taking the form of a readiness to die."

It's obvious that Christian missionaries need our prayers. But, what to pray for? Here are some suggestions compliments of the pamphlet, "Praying for Missionaries" (Wonderful Word Publishers), which our church distributes:

1. Pray for their basic needs and missionary needs to be met. When you have an opportunity, talk to missionaries and find out about the country they're serving. Ask about the religion, language, culture and customs. Thus, your prayers will be more specific than just the generic prayer of "Lord, please meet their needs."

Consider these quotes -

"We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never even heard about the First."
— Oswald J. Smith

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light"
— John Keith Falconer

2. Pray for Christian character during trials, troubles and temptations as well as during times of repose, peace and boredom. Pray for strength during physical trials and spiritual ones, too. Usually one type of trial leads to the other kind. After all, they are ambassadors of Christ.

Regarding strength, Hudson Taylor questioned, "How often do we attempt work for God to the limit of our incompetency rather than to the limit of God's omnipotency?"

Thus, prayer for strength and wisdom is very critical for the missionaries. I think about Zechariah 4:6, which states, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."

3. Pray for victory over stagnation. The missionary may have little or no time for personal reading and studying.

4. Pray for freshness in prayer and Bible teaching.

5. Pray for  the recently converted soul, that he or she doesn't backslide.

6. Pray for deliverance from the temptation of pride. Because missionaries are looked up to, it may be easy for some to fall into conceit. So pray for humility.

7. Pray for wisdom in relations with other missionaries - victory over irritations, resentments, criticisms.

8. Pray for a saving sense of humor and to guard against becoming morbid or unbalanced, especially those in the midst of filth and terrible sin.

9. Pray for the nationals, many of whom the missionaries are training into assuming leadership roles. They need wisdom and grace.

10. Pray for strength to overcome the temptations of loneliness.

And while you're at it, please be mindful and prayerful about missionaries needing encouragement from us. So, when they visit your church, please let them know how much you appreciate them. If you can't financially support them, at least keep them in your daily prayers.

With respect to missions, there are only three kinds of Christians: burdened goers, burdened senders, and the disobedient. Which one are you?

Final quote:

"If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more is it inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death?"

— Dave Davidson

Let us not grow weary in the work of love,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the light! Send the light!

Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!

To find out why missionaries are burdened about telling others of Jesus Christ, Click Here!

Seasons of the Tree

Psalm 1:3
"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn to not judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, twisted and empty of any value.

The second son said, No. It was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed, saying it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son took issue with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but one season in the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are - and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life - can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

The moral of the story is that if you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall. Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

In Psalm 30:5b, God promises, "...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

Furthermore in Isaiah 61:3, there is more encouragement: "...to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."

Even though the Lord is speaking to the children of Israel, there's a Biblical principle that applies to Christians as well. To wit, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, in John 16:20 declares:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy."

What more comfort do you need than from Christ's own promise? I want to encourage someone out there today to not give up, to not despair and worry. Press forward toward the prize. The travail you're passing through will be nothing compared to the glory that awaits you in heaven if you faint not.

You might be thinking: But, what about right now? I need something now! All I can share with you is God's word. Paul pleaded, prayed and begged God to remove his thorn in the flesh. Let's read what happened next in II Corinthians 12:8-9,

"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

And for the rest of you who like to point fingers and tsk-tsk at others' predictaments, beware! As Christ warns in Matthew 7:1-5 -

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."

So,  let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not! (Gal. 6:9)

To find out more about Jesus Christ, click here: Jesus Christ, the Hope of Glory!

The Tiger, The Man and God

I John 2:15-17
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."


A man was being chased by a tiger. He ran as hard as he could until he was at the edge of a cliff with the tiger in hot pursuit. The man looked over the edge of the cliff and saw a branch growing out of the side of the cliff a few feet down. He jumped down and grabbed the branch just as the tiger reached the cliff. The tiger growled viciously as the man sighed a great sigh of relief.

Just then a woodpecker lighted on the branch and began pecking furiously. The man looked down to what was a drop of a thousand feet and sure death and looked to the heavens and yelled out, “Dear God, if you are there, please help! I will do anything you ask but please help!”

Suddenly a voice came booming down from heaven, “Will you do anything I ask?”

The man shocked to hear a reply to his plea yelled back, “I will gladly do anything you ask, but please save me!”

The voice from heaven then replied, “There is one way to save you but it will take courage and faith.”

The branch began to weaken and creak from the woodpecker's tapping and the tiger was still growling a few feet above the man, pawing at him, “Please, Lord, tell me what I must do and I will do it! Your will is my will!”

The voice from heaven then said, “All right then, let go of the branch.”

The man looked down to a fall of a thousand feet and certain death. He then looked up at the hungry, growling tiger a few feet away and saw that the woodpecker was still pecking away on the branch.

Then he looked up at the heavens and yelled, “Is there anyone else up there?”

* * * * *

Isn't it something: When there's a crisis or tribulation, we cry out to God. When He answers our prayer in a way we're not expecting then our reaction is typically the same type of reaction we see in the joke you just read.

God is sovereign, which means He's in control, which means He calls the shots, which means that even when things appear out of control (to us) they're all part of God's plan, which means that we may not understand at all what's going on upstairs in heaven.

We may even secretly ask in our hearts, "God, what are you doing?" when things are falling apart.

I don't know about you, Mr. Christian, but I've never gotten an answer from God outside of His word. When the Lord has answered me, it has been through the Holy Bible. In fact, the Scripture that has spoken to my heart and bears worth noting comes from Romans 8:28:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Thus, God's working it all out for me because I love Him and He loves me. But, why should I go through hardships? Romans 8:29 continues by explaining that the purpose to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Also consider James 1:2 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations."

Notice the 3 keywords: "When" and "joy" and "temptations"

Point #1 - Temptations will come and knock on your door. It's not a question of if, but when. And, you'll get a variety of them, kinda like assorted nuts, to keep things interesting.

Point #2 - When temptations arrive, count it, reckon it as joy. Don't sulk, whine, complain or suck your thumb. God hates complainers. At my job, there's a bevy of grumblers. Their litanies drain the lifeblood out of the workday, which is why I avoid them at all costs! So, why be joyful? Hold on and you shall see the dividend and pay off.

Point #3 - There will be temptations that you and I as believers will fall into. Here's the good news: Falling into temptation is NOT the sames as falling into sin. Therefore, rejoice because temptation does not equal yielding to temptation.

In I Corinthians 10:13, it states and promises: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

By the way, in case you're wondering how to fight temptation, prayerfully read over and study Matthew 4:1-11. This is how Jesus fought the Devil and this is how you should do as well.

You might still be wondering: What's all this got to do with joy? Well, James 1:3-4 clarifies:

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

Isn't that reason to rejoice!? God is conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ and He's perfecting you! An "Amen!" goes right there.

Therefore, do the right thing, obey God, trust Him and take Him at His word. After all, obedience brings blessings (James 1:22-25). Plus, if you've already trusted Him with your soul in eternity, why aren't you trusting Him with your life now?

Continue here: I Want to Trust Jesus!

Sign of the Times, Pt. 2

Revelation 6:13-17

"And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"

People think that they can outsmart God. I'm here to tell, it's not possible. God's word says that He will not be mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap (Gal. 6:7).

A few days ago there was a news article from The Independent (click here for more: Hippies Plan to Be Rescued by Aliens). Here's a tidbit -

"Thousands of New Agers descend on mountain they see as haven from December's apocalypse. A mountain looming over a French commune with a population of just 200 is being touted as a modern Noah's Ark when doomsday arrives – supposedly less than nine months from now. A rapidly increasing stream of New Age believers have descended in their camper van-loads on the usually picturesque and tranquil Pyrenean village of Bugarach. They believe that when apocalypse strikes on December 21st this year, the aliens waiting in their spacecraft inside Pic de Bugarach will save all the humans near by and beam them off to the next age."

You think people would see this snake-oil philosophy a mile away, but that's the problem. People have veered away from the Truth because it doesn't fit their immoral, godless lifestyle.

Christ prophesied in Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."

So, scratch 12/21/12 off your day timer. It isn't going to happen.

Besides if these Mayan savages were so savant, why didn't their divinations foretell them of their own untimely demise? I guess they didn't see it coming, but God did.

One thing about New Agers, though, is that their are not new to the Belief Scene. They'd like to think so, but their ancestors can be found in the Bible. The tree-huggers of the 21st Century can be traced back to the nature worshippers of Ashtoreth, who danced around a wood pole. Today's star-gazers were the Baal worshippers of yore. And these animal afficionados who are overly fond of four-legged creatures can be linked back to the olden days of the pagan gods of Chemosh, Molech and others. Truly, there's nothing new under the sun.

Jeremiah 10:2 states: "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them."

You see, the problem with astrology is that people are trying to get answers about life's questions from a source other than God. Many people believe that they can know the future through the location of the stars and planets. However, apart from God's revelation, there is no wisdom or guidance, only the blind leading the blind.

Let's read on and continue with the news article:

"As the cataclysmic date – which, according to eschatological beliefs and predicted astrological alignments, concludes a 5,125-year cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar – nears, the goings-on around the peak have become more bizarre and ritualistic.

"For decades, there has been a belief that Pic de Bugarach, which, at 1,230 metres, is the highest in the Corbières mountain range, possesses an eery power. Often called the 'upside-down mountain' – geologists think that it exploded after its formation and the top landed the wrong way up – it is thought to have inspired Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Since the 1960s, it has attracted New Agers, who insist that it emits special magnetic waves."

Isaiah 47:12-15 clearly warns: "Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it. Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee."

The news continues, "Upwards of 100,000 people are thought to be planning a trip to the mountain, 30 miles west of Perpignan, in time for December 21st...Masking his fears of what might happen on December 21st, Mr. Delord jokes that he will throw a party and supply vin chaud and cheese. 'I'm sure we'll have a little fete to celebrate that we're still alive,' he smiles. 'I suppose it's up to each of us to find our own way.'"

Tragically, that's the attitude of many today, thinking that they can find their own way. Once again, the Bible states, "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jer. 10:23)

Please heed God's admonition found in Prov. 16:25 -

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

Don't take that route, Friend. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no cometh unto the Father but by Him (John 14:6). Make your decision today to trust in Christ: I Have Decided to Trust In Christ

The God of Another Chance

Romans 5:3-6

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

Sometimes your burdens may seem endless. You repeatedly go through the same trial, making the same mistakes. The last time through, you thought you had truly mastered this area of your life. However, now you realize that it continues to cause you pain.

You question if God has abandoned you or if you have displeased Him so greatly that He would allow this suffering to persist. You wonder if you will ever learn the lesson God desires to teach you. Take heart; the Lord loves you, He is with you, and He will never forsake you (Heb. 13:5). He allows the trials in your life because He desires to give you freedom through them and show you His love.

James 1:2-4 teaches, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

Through your troubles, God develops perseverance, character, hope, and the ability to accept His abundant love. It is said that those who were closest to Christ our Lord were those with the greatest trials.

He is drawing you close through this repeated problem. Do not despair. Cling to Him and He will fill you with His love.

Consider this illustration:

A lecturer raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 20 ounces to 100 ounces.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

And that's the way it is with a burden. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.

A word of caution, you can put the burden down for a while and rest before holding it again. You may feel refreshed momentarily, but the weight of the burden will continue. Imagine carrying that burden with you month after month, and year after year. I dare say that some of you have been doing exactly that. Now imagine that what you're holding in that glass isn't water but poison; you may be nursing it, sipping it, gulping it and refilling it. And that's exactly what's happening when that burden is anger or bitterness.

You can carry on with the burden alone or you can turn it over to Jesus, who 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.”  Matt. 11:28-29

Other Scripture to encourage you includes,

Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

and,

I Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

So, Reader, put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Be still and know that He is God. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. In a world of inconstancy, it's good to know that Jesus is the Eternal One who changes not.

Come to know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour: I Want Jesus to Give Me A Chance

portion of this post courtesy of Dr. Charles Stanley

A Lullaby for Believers

John 15:1-5
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

These verses are among my favorite verses in the Gospel of John. It references our inability to fight the good fight and live for the Lord in our lowly, sickly flesh. And, yet, it also encourages us to live and walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). Plus, obedience brings blessings (James 1:25).

So, if you're struggling in your Christian walk, all I can say to you is, Welcome to the club, Pilgrim!

The poem below highlights the Christian's daily struggle. And, if you aren't struggling, dear Believer, then it might be you aren't walking straight!


In the Stillness of the Night

In the stillness of the night
As I lay in bed and try to sleep,
I remember how I blew the fight
And all Your commands I didn’t keep.

I tried, O God, I tried
To strengthen my soul against the dark.
I felt so confident that I would abide.
But when temptation came, I had missed Your mark.

But then as I slept that night
You came to me in a dream.
You said to me, “Try as you may, try as you might,
You will fail, despite what it may seem,

It is not your job to see you through,
It is not your job to feel strong.
I just want one thing for you to do:
Give Me what you tried to do all along.”

So that morning as I awoke
And I knew my sleep was worth its while,
For as I remembered the words that You spoke
I gave to You my temptations and my trials.

I finally admited I was too weak
To face the day without making a mistake.
So to You I lay my life so meek
And I asked You that me You would not forsake.

Day by day You guide me on
And my strength I get from You alone.
All my battles have been won
For in Your strength I have been sewn.

by Geoff Lemke


And, II Corinthians 12:10 rejoices in this Biblical fact: "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

When Christ indwells in you (Gal. 2:20), He does all the heavy lifting and you're just doing all the believing.

Finally, Christ said, "...[B]e of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Jesus has indeed overcome the world because He is risen!

Look no further than I John 5:4-5 to settle all your doubt, worries and fears:

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

You see, Reader, faith is the victory:

On every hand the foe we find
Drawn up in dread array.
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world!

It's up to you to believe what Jesus said and did. Do you trust Him today? If you don't, why don't you, Reader? You've read and considered other religions and philosophies. Instead, why not try a relationship with the the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ? Come and see what hope, love, peace, truth and mercy is all about!

Read all about here: I Want A Fresh Start!

Vox Populi, Vox Dei

Psalm 24:10
"Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory."

The biggest cost of ObamaCare is not the increasing cost of health insurance or providing coverage to every American, it is the loss of economic freedom. Coercing people into making economic decisions and being obligated to enter into legally-binding contracts (by purchasing a government approved health insurance plan regardless of personal want or need, or facing a fine) forsake the values that our Founders established as inalienable.

These 3 days of hearings are the most significant in terms of constitutional challenges. We're at a critical juncture in American history and that's no hyperbole. The ruling from the SCOTUS will be momentous when it comes later in the summer. Whether the citizens of the United States take this sitting down or go to the polls to express their outrage remains to be seen. Truly, freedom is at stake. What this nation - and the world, for that matter - is witnessing is the formation of government control the likes of which have not been seen beforehand.

And what the world is witnessing is the clash of ideas of economic, political & religious freedom versus ideas of collective, technocratic fiat with no center. That is, a godless center is no center at all. You see, without God being the center, there is a void - whether it be in a person's life; family's life, civic life; or the governance of a society - and it is easily filled up by man, who takes the place of God.

Good luck with that.

The Latin phrase, Vox Populi, Vox Dei means: The voice of the people is the voice of God. When people have Jesus Christ in the center of their lives, it would be easy to see how this Latin phrase would be applicable to the government as well as to the governed. Sadly, the voice of the people is not heard, not heeded; instead, it's ignored or worse, distorted.

When people seek relief through the court systems, the cases end up (if accepted) at the Supreme Court of the United States, which is called the Highest Court in the land.

I beg to differ.

The highest court is the holy throne of God where children of God, who are born again by Christ's atoning work at Calvary, may approach (Heb. 4:16).

Americans find themselves in troubled times, but not hopeless times, so long as we keep looking up beyond and above man's institutions, because our hope is a living hope. His name is Jesus Christ, the King of Glory!

Remember this: One day every knee shall bend and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:9-11).

To find out more about how to possess the living Hope, click here: The Living Hope

A Stranger Comes to Town

Romans 12:2
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Unperceptive men exist and interpret reality only by means of sensory experience. The only real and true things for these men are their physical experiences. This certain breed of man excels in existentialism; that is, they suscribe to the idea that there is no “higher” meaning to the universe or to man’s existence, and no rational order to the events of the world. It is all coincidental, happenstance and circumstantial. Human life is not invested with a redemptive or affirming purpose. There is nothing beyond man’s physical existence. Therefore, the modus operandi of these men is a gentle indifference of the world. Live and let live, as it were.

Ironically, these men are unperceptive because they are not introspective. They perceive, but do not comprehend. It is only when they are confronted with something beyond their immediate interpretation or carnal appetites that they are compelled to become introspective about life, its meaning, and all the while contemplating about their impending death. This kind of man only becomes perceptive after he acknowledges his mortality and responsibility for his own life. In Hebrews 9:27, man clearly has a reckoning beyond meaninglessness: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"

After apostasy, the greatest threat to a Christian is apathy, the so-called gentle indifference that takes root as a consequence of living in the world and cooperating with it. Please read all of I Corinthians 3 for further convincing.

To illustrate this threat of indifference, I've included a story I came across somewhere on the web. Please seriously consider where you're at in your walk with Christ as you read.

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche.

My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. Both read the Bible and shared its wisdom with me. But the stranger was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and funny stories.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future!

He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, and Mom submitted to Dad's authority without complaint, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor these convictions.

Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home, not from us, our friends or any visitors. The stranger, however, got away with four-letter words that burned in my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and smoking pipes distinguished. He talked freely - much too freely - about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. Over time, he only got worse.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked. And never was he asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first.

Still, if you could walk into my parents' home today, you would still find him sitting over in his special corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name?

We just call him TV.

Now, the stranger has a wife. We call her Computer.

"I  know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. "   Revelation 3:15-16

Please be prayerful about your choices as they relate to time spent watching TV or on the computer. They are powerful tools. Without godly purpose, they are the Devil's toys to take us away from God's will through distraction, doubt, and indifference. In godly endeavor, they can reach a lost and dying world. Choose wisely!

Here's a choice you can't afford to ignore: The Plan of Salvation