Category: Change - Jethro TOOLS

The Change

4/19/2026

Genesis 3:8-24
Years ago I ended up taking care of a rescued dog that my daughter had befriended. She did not have a living situation that allowed dogs so I ended up with a tricolored Australian Shepherd named Sky, that had definitely been abused. Despite being about 50 to 60 pounds he cowered in my presence when we first met. I learned very quickly that he had a streak of stubborn independence, and that he did not like men in particular. As I watched him and worked with him, I began to assemble some of the puzzling pieces of his past life. He probably had an owner that cared very little for him and so Sky developed the bad habit of an independent streak that opposed his owner. After various forms of abuse the owner seems to have hauled the dog to the middle of the woods and dumped him to fend for himself. That is where my daughter found him at camp. An owner that did not care, and a stubborn dog who refused to obey, was a recipe for disaster. The dog that cowered before me was broken and needed the loving, but firm hand, of one who was trustworthy. Similarly, we as people stubbornly insist on our way, just like Sky, or Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter three. I had to pursue a relationship with a broken dog just as God pursued a relationship with stubborn and sinful humanity (8-9). God refused to turn away from the creation that He made and the people that He loved. In His love, he moved toward the sinners calling them back to Himself. In sin, Adam and Eve ran and hid from God’s presence (10). Sin caused the separation from God and from enjoying His good. God is good, His word is true, and His way is right. We, like a broken dog, need to listen to Him, trust Him and follow Him in order to experience His goodness and rest.

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Challenge the Culture

2/1/2026

Colossians 1:9-12
What can weigh over 100 pounds and is known as a semi aquatic rodent? If you guessed the beaver, you would be correct. A beaver will work tirelessly to build dams that create and expand its water habitat. This increase in water allows the beaver greater mobility, protection and access to more abundant sources of food. However, a busy beaver will also create conditions that attract incests, birds and fish. As beaver influenced wetlands increase so also do the benefits for migratory birds, deer and moose increase. A simple beaver will work tenaciously to bring lasting change and influence its surrounding community. Believers in Jesus Christ are to do the same. We are called to bring the message of Jesus to a world that is dry and in desperate need of His life giving water (see John 4). We influence our world for Christ by appropriating His power and seeing Him use us to bring His lasting change within our community. In Colossians 1 Paul prays that God would supply this church with an abundant supply of the knowledge of His will (9). He prays the they would find spiritual stability in living for God (10), and the spiritual strength to patiently endure under pressure (11). The disciple who understands that their past is paid by Christ, and their future is secure in Christ, is presently able to live a life of joy that honors Christ (12). Regardless of the circumstances the believer finds their secure standing in Christ. Knowing that we belong to Christ we therefore have hope in all circumstances. From the position of spiritual security we are able to give joyful thanks to God. We are called to challenge our culture by living counter to our culture and spread the contagious joy of knowing Christ within our culture. When we do, God will use us to leave a lasting spiritual legacy that will influence our culture for Him.

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Sufficiency of God

9/21/2025

Habakkuk 3:3-19
Recently I watched an actor portray Lewis Sperry Chafer giving a speech, as part of a centennial celebration at Dallas Theological Seminary. In the speech Chafer is attributed as saying, “It is not the size of the man that counts. Not even the size of the dream. Rather it’s the size of the God who gives the dream to the man.” Our aspirations, however big or small are finite compared to the all powerful work of the all powerful God who can do more than we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21). God is never limited by humanity, but we as people are limited by our view and practice of confident faith in a sufficient and sovereign God. How we view God and His power makes all the difference to our perspective, and practice of faith. Habakkuk was enabled to see God and His sovereign power at work (3-7). God’s power is displayed through His unchangeable nature. Like Habakkuk, we also can have a confident hope in God who is faithful and unchanging. Even though our world is constantly changing God does not. Habakkuk closes out this chapter with his song honoring God and the confident faith that He instills within the prophet (16-19). Habakkuk confidently states that he has found God to be sufficient in all areas of his life even if everything is taken away (17). His joy is in God who saves him (18). Like Habakkuk our life is to tell the story of God’s sufficiency. He alone enables us to live a new life free from fear of the uncertainties and perils and to declare His supreme greatness. God is sufficient. Through Jesus, He has come to give us hope and conquer the control of sin in our life. Like Habakkuk our purpose is found in praising God’s work. Our proper view of God’s sufficiency and strength will guide our life and practice of walking by faith. God is enough.

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Member with Christ

7/27/2025

Acts 2:37-47
What is the best group to join? As people, we are not created to be alone. To solve that we spend time searching for places that we like and people that like us. We move to neighborhoods and communities we like. We become members of a country, communities, groups, associations, and even members of a family. The Bible refers to those that believe in Jesus as members of His body, a spiritual family called the church. The difficulty is that we view the church as a building. You may be asked, “What church do you belong to?” Our normal response is some form of directions to some building. The person who believes by faith in Jesus as their savior is made a member of God’s family (Romans 6:3, 1 Corinthians 12:27). The church is not a building, but the believers that gather together in a building are the church. In Acts 2 we see the beginning of the church, and the initial steps of church growth. It begins with Peter’s message encouraging people to believe in Jesus (14-39), and concludes with many people responding (41). These new believers, or new members, of the early church devoted themselves to the teaching of God’s word, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer (42). This chapter highlights what God does as He changes people, their beliefs about Jesus, and association with Jesus. You see, the early church was made up of people who had originally been opposed to Jesus. In coming to Christ they were changed by Christ. They now desired to learn of Christ through His word and live out those truths in a spiritual community with others. They were a changed people, who are now members with Christ. They had changed hearts and expressed the transformation through changed lives (46-47). Are you relationally connected to Jesus Christ and His church? Are you growing in Christ with others?

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Faith and Worship

5/18/2025

Hebrews 11:4
A simple search of a dictionary or on line sources will often define worship by its elements or activities. For example worship is prayer or it is led by a worship leader. These and other elements simply describe parts of worship. So how are we as people to respond to God? How should we respond to all that God has done for us? In the first chapters of Romans, Paul addresses what God has done for sinful humanity to provide salvation through Jesus Christ. Then, in Romans 12 Paul shifts His approach by addressing the believers response. Because of all that has previously been said Paul urges his audience to give themselves fully to God as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). This is an act of worship that impacts and directs all of life. Paul uses the wording of living sacrifice to describe the ongoing daily practice of giving ourselves in obedient service to God through a life that is changed (Romans 12:2). This is what is good and acceptable to God. Worship is not a single event one day a week where we go to church to experience a worship service. Worship is a changed life that is directed by faith each and everyday. That is Paul’s message in Romans 12 and that was the practice of Abel in Genesis 4. Able, in faith, offered a better sacrifice than his brother Cain (Hebrews 11:4). He lived his life by faith believing that God was worthy of all his work. Therefore, everything that he did was done in worship and honor of God. All his work with his flocks was done in faith, in preparation for the day of sacrifice. Everything was done to present God with his very best as worship. Able’s offering was accepted by God because of his faith in God and desire for a righteous life. His faith changed his life, his work, his service and his worship. May the same faith be found in us.

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Guarantee of One

4/20/2025

Luke 24
From my childhood, many years ago, I recall playing with the canned goods in my mother’s kitchen. The metal cans were perfect for hauling in trucks, stacking in pyramids or rolling across the floor. For Mom, the cans filled with food were a good way to keep track of mischievous boys. To this day I clearly remember the dented cans and the fun that was had in that kitchen. The problem was that after several uses the labels on the cans were no longer attached, either intentionally or unintentionally. My brothers and I did not care, but for Mom that made meal preparation interesting. I can still remember Mom shaking the cans to try and guess the contents. Wanting canned corn Mom would open a can to find peaches, or finding baked beans instead of green beans. The menu would then instantly change and the conversation at the dinner table became very interesting. On Easter morning, approximately two thousand years ago, a tomb was opened. In Luke 24 the reality regarding the contents of Jesus empty tomb challenged the disciples, because dead people do not move (1-12). However, in searching the scriptures (13-27), their eyes were opened (28-32). The disciples now faced the reality that God’s work of salvation that had just been completed. They could not keep silent regarding their encounter with Jesus (33-36). My mother did not know the contents of the cans, but her experience upon opening them changed her conversation around the table. The same was true for the disciples of Jesus. But what about us? We live in a world that is governed by human expectation and measure. Like the disciples we struggle with beliefs when God changes the reality. The resurrection of Jesus should challenge our reality, change our beliefs and clarify our conversations. The open tomb and the resurrection point to the guarantee that we can have new life through belief in Jesus.

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Belief in One

4/13/2025

Luke 23:26-48
Good news and bad news are on the opposite spectrum. The doctor calls and says the health report is not good, or you get a call about the birth of a grandchild. We enjoy the good, but our life is build around the bad. Our brain has a way of paying attention to what is bad and looking for a solution out of the predicament. Very simply we become people that want to find the good in the midst of the bad. God has intentionally created us to be searchers. Why are we like that? We are born into a broken world as people needing answers to life and we spend a lifetime working to provide those answers. We think, read, and search for God’s good in the bad. In the crucifixion of Jesus we see the bad news play out. Some mourned (27-28) while rulers and soldiers mocked Jesus (35-37) as he was placed on a cross between two thieves (32-33). The bad news and the reality of death seemed hopeless. Yet Luke records the change that occurred in one of the thieves , the centurion and even the crowd. God was at work bringing His good out of the worst bad that could ever happen. 1 Peter 3:18 states that, “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God.” The broken world of Jesus day contained people looking for something better. The centurion found a righteous man in the midst of corruption and death (47). The thief found new life at the end of his own life (42-43). God even worked in the crowd to change their thinking (48). The good news is that Jesus has taken the bad news of our sin for us. Our broken world can only show us more brokenness and death, yet Jesus came to be the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Belief in Jesus is good news for a broken world.

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Restored

3/16/2025

Romans 6
The old shed on the back corner of our property seemed like a worthy investment. So in the spring, after thinking and planning repairs all winter, I started. The building had settled and rotted its original support beams, requiring the foundation to be rebuilt. Once the shed was level and stable the roof and the door were replaced to keep the structure dry and free from roaming critters. Since the outside was able to withstand the extremes of weather, I turned my attention to the inside to make the shed functional. A simple shelf and some hooks made a once rundown and deteriorated building useful again. In many ways we are like an old shed. God sees us, and purchases us, to restore us to the functional purpose that He designed us to be. In Romans chapter 6, Paul calls this process sanctification. From the point of salvation, God begins a process of removing the practice of sin from the life of the believer. The control of sin is broken (1-14) through what Christ has accomplished on the cross for us. But God does not just leave us there. He wants to restore us to the true servants that He originally intended us to be. There is a change that takes place as the believer no longer serves sin, but gives the control of their life to God (15-23). Gradually, the practice of sin is replaced with purity and a righteous life that pleases God. Sanctification is God’s life long process that He works in us to restore us to His standard. Speaking of our relationship with Jesus, Peter writes, “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You Shall Be Holy, For I Am Holy. (1 Peter 1:15). What we believe will change the way that we live. What we live will prove what we truly believe.

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The Disciple's Purpose

2/16/2025

1 Peter 2:1-10
It was January of 2020 and we watched in shock as the coronavirus in China exploded out of control. The problem grew so much that the government immediately began building a thousand room hospital to try and deal with the epidemic and needed beds. Soon people were in desperate need of doctors, specialized care, and medicine all over the world. Medical teams and essential workers functioned in a ballet-like dance, as each one did a specific task for the purpose of eliminating the virus from their country. Throughout the pandemic we saw medical staff repeatedly praised for their sacrificial service. As we open the book of 1 Peter, we read along with an audience of believers who was living in hard times. In chapter 2 Peter reminds these believers under pressure that they have been given a new spiritual life for the purpose of growing in Christ, building others for Christ and continuing on with their belief in Christ. The end result is praise for what Christ has done in each life, regardless of the trials that have been faced in the process. Peter is challenging his readers, and us as well, to remember what God has done and what He is doing. This spiritual birth (1-3), formation and connection (4-5) are not things we can accomplish on our own. This is accomplished through God’s initial work of grace on the cross that is built on the foundation of Jesus our Savior (6-8). God’s purpose is to change us, and grow us, so we can praise Him (9-10). Just as a doctor is praised for his work on desperately sick patients, likewise, we are called to believe and carry the message of salvation and healing through a great Savior. If we can tell others how great our doctor is, can we not also tell others how great our God is?

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The Disciple's Vision

1/26/2025

Luke 19:1-10
Have you lost something? We have all lost something at some point in time like keys, glasses, or that important paper. But what about the times when we realize that what we have is something we don’t really desire like an old shirt, a broken chair, or out of style shoes. Our focus shifts from the invaluable things of the present, to a desire for some other thing. All too often we assign too much value to power, positions, and possessions, that we miss what is truly valuable. That is the story of Zacchaeus. Luke 19 tells us that he had power, position, and wealth (2), yet above those things he was motivated to see Jesus (3), and nothing was going to stop him (4). He had everything that a man could possibly get in this world, and yet he was an outcast searching for answers to the deep longings of his heart. He desired to be known and accepted. Zacchaeus had come to the point where he knew his life was not right. Yet, regardless of his sin, Jesus sought him out. He knew exactly where Zaccheus was in the tree and noted the change that faith had brought to his life (9). Jesus came to seek and save the lost (10). His focused vision for coming into this world was to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). Today, God works in us and through us to seek out the lost around us. We must believe and accept the salvation offered only through Jesus. It is His sacrifice on the cross that makes us right with God. As disciples of Jesus, we are to adopt His vision for the lost. Zacchaeus desired a new way to live with new values and a new vision for life. That drove him to search for answers and seek out Jesus. May we believe in Jesus as Savior, adopt His way of living, and help others do the same. Has Jesus found you and radically changed you?

For More See LUKE or 1 TIMOTHY or DISCIPLESHIP

The Disciple's Mission

1/19/2025

Matthew 4:18-22
As a boy, I had always enjoyed dogs, but never had a chance to have one. Perhaps we never had a dog because Mom and Dad had moved frequently. Eventually, when I was about ten, we settled into a home that I would consider home. Arriving home from school one fall day, I noticed a dog tied up in front of the house. It turns out that some friends needed to find a new home for their dog and my parents approved. Well, that began the process of getting to know the dog and trying to train the dog. There is an old saying, “You can’t teach old dogs new tricks.” That was definitely true of this character. He should have been a good candidate to pull a sled. He was broad and muscular, but he lacked the motivation. He would pull for a bit and only when he wanted to. When he realized I was on the sled the ride was over. I was on a mission to develop him into a sled pulling dog and he wanted nothing to do with my trick. My plans and dreams for him could never compare to his desire for his enjoyment fulfilled his way. You could say it was a training disaster. However, when it comes to reshaping our lives and retraining us God has a plan, but it takes our submission. In Matthew 4 Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to follow Him (18) and promises to make them into something different (19). Change is not easy because we become comfortable with our way. Like these disciples we are called to follow Jesus and allow Him to change us, reshape us and use us for His purposes and honor. Like my old dog; Are we willing to submit to our savior and His new direction for our life? When we do we will find that our life has an exciting new meaning and purpose.

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Politics and Misplaced Hope

11/10/2024

Recently we have just walked through an election, and survived. Elections are time consuming, trying, and tiresome. The difficulty is that in an election process we have a way of looking at our life and seeing all the things that need to be fixed. In our mind they are things that only a political candidate can fix. We just need to choose the correct one, support the correct one and vote for the correct one. In the process we elevate an individual and place our hope in a candidate as the answer to our problems. So what is the solution? First, we need to remember that all people are broken and do not measure up to God’s standard (Romans 3:23). Second, we need to realign our hope. It is easy to trust in the things of power in this life. However, the psalmist David writes that some may trust in military powers, “but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7). Third, we need a consistent message of real hope. If we are a believer in Jesus Christ as our savior, He is to be the source of our hope, and He is to be the source of hope that we declare to others. The winds of cultural change and the ebb and flow of political tides will cause insecurity, questions and even hopelessness. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:24-27 that when we build our life on Him and His word we will have a secure foundation. There are many people who have incorrectly placed their hope in politics, ideologies, and the things of this life. Our message must not be one of political hope, but of hope in Jesus. Will we be the ones who faithfully carry the message of hope in Christ to those who have built their hope on the wrong foundation?

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Ministry of Care

10/6/2024

1 Timothy 5:1-16
Care is an interesting word. For example, I have an old dog that was literally dumped in my neighborhood on a cold rainy day. I felt concern and care for her which led to catching her, feeding her and helping her overcome health and trust problems. I cared about the dog and stepped in to help her. However on the other hand, the phrase I could not care less means that I have no interest in the subject at hand and have no level of connection or concern that could influence my position. In other words, on the caring meter that measures how much one cares, I am at a zero. Simply put, the level of feeling concern could not go any lower. You see, on one hand we can be moved deeply to reach out and show care or we can be ambivalent and distant by not being involved with any care. In 1 Timothy 5 Paul instructs Timothy to be one that offers care, instructs in care and guides in care. Timothy is to offer correction with care by coming alongside to help reorient the individual to God’s way of living (1-2). Second, Timothy is to be one that instructs others how to care, particularly families as they care for their elder members (3-8). Finally, Paul provides Timothy with guidelines for the church in providing care to those within the church (9-16). All this involves the practice of grace because those in need of care may be truly unlovely. The church needs to correct problems with grace and caution, but also be a place where people find value belonging to a gracious family. Are we ones who willingly step toward the problems and the people with problems? As we think about the ministry of caring for people we need to be ones that display the grace of Christ within the body of Christ to bring honor to Christ and make a difference for Christ.

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Participate as a Witness

8/11/2024

Acts 1:1-8
Just down the street, from my home, a new house is being built. Have you ever paid attention to the process of building a home? Several months ago several large pieces of heavy equipment arrived on the site and began digging the foundation. Then concrete was poured and now the walls and roof are going up. There is a small crew of workers at the new house site each day moving the project toward its designed completion. But what if each of the workers decided to construct what they wanted without regard or communication with the others? The end result would be nothing but disorganization and chaos. There would be wall without doors and stairs going to nowhere. However, each of the workers reads the house plans, listens to the boss, and does what is being communicated. The same is to be true in the church. The early church, in the book of Acts, saw continued growth with many people coming to faith in Jesus. In Acts 2:41 about 3000 people believed and were baptized. Stop and ask yourself why. The answer is found in looking back to the beginning of the book. In His last words to His disciples Jesus promised power through the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). This promised individual spiritual power brought change to each disciple and they spoke of Jesus the savior who is alive and no longer in the grave. God gave His power to His disciples to build His church through their witness. The same is true for us today. The promise of the Spirit’s indwelling and transforming power is true for everyone who believes in Jesus. God desires that we listen to Him, point others to faith in Him and thus see His body, the church, built for Him. As believers we are empowered by God’s Spirit for God’s glory to proclaim God’s message! Let us live each day using His power by participating as His witness.

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Participate in Service

8/4/2024

Matthew 20:20-28
Have you ever been to a restaurant where the service was poor? One time, we as a family stopped at what appeared to be a good restaurant. We walked in, found a seat and waited, and then waited some more. Our stomachs began to growl. The kids began getting restless and started to complain. If my memory serves me correctly, we were there about 40 minutes and not a single waiter stopped at our table. Needless to say we eventually got up and walked out because the service did not meet the need of our hunger. In Acts 2:42-47 we see that the early church had been changed by placing their faith in Jesus, and now they were intent on serving. Their work was done to benefit others through their sacrifice. They were not concerned about positions or power, instead they were intent on serving. Through their work of service they continually gave testimony to the fact that Jesus changed them. Yet, if we go back in time we find that the disciples previously had been more interested in positions of importance rather than serving. In Matthew 20 we pick up the recorded story when two disciples approached Jesus, along with their mother, asking for a favor (20). In their ambition and pride they desired positions of greatness alongside Jesus (21). Hearing this conversation the other disciples became angry (24). Jesus stops the argument and reminds them that He has come, not seeking a position, but to serve and sacrifice Himself for the benefit of all (28). Jesus, the greatest servant, served to meet our greatest need of salvation from sin. Christ chose service over self in contrast to the disciples. He came and served sacrificially to meet the hunger of our soul. Like the early church, our service is to be a living testimony of the gospel message and how our savior met our greatest need.

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What do others say about us?

6/16/2024

Ephesians 6:21-24
Over the years people have sought to memorialize themselves or others through witty phrases etched on their tombstone. One of those sayings that has been used by several is, “I told you I was sick.” What would you think if you saw that on a tombstone? You might think the person had a sense of humor, or perhaps someone else was doing their best to describe this character. When a person passes away it is a serious time for remembrance and reflection. This should cause us to pause, with some sober thought, and ask “What will others say of us when we are gone?” I believe that question is the challenge behind the closing verses in the book Ephesians. In closing out this letter Paul begins his conclusion to Ephesians 6 by describing a faithful brother, Tychicus (21-22). This man was noted as a dear brother and faithful servant. One who is deeply appreciated and loved as a brother, and one who dutifully and consistently meets the needs of others through his service. Tychicus was the one who carried this letter to the church and Paul used him as an illustration of unity and service in the body of Christ. This beloved servant of the church had been changed through his belief in Jesus as savior and sought to continue to show his love for his savior through his dedicated service. In our world today, the temptation is to make our efforts about ourselves and for our benefit. Paul noted just the opposite about Tychicus. His faith in Jesus transformed his life and his love for others. Tychicus served because the grace of God, and Jesus as his savior made all the difference in his life. Just like Tychicus, may others remember our love and service for our savior.

For more see EPHESIANS

Walk as a Family

5/26/2024

Ephesians 6:1-4
I have an old dog. For those of you who have had old animals, you can relate. This old dog, like others that I have had, has become disinterested in food. I have realized this and have tried to keep her healthy by making her meals more exciting. I am now sprinkling the magical pixie dust of parmesan cheese on her food. Now, every meal is a treat of spaghetti and meatballs. It is funny to watch her apathy at every meal turn into excitement which turns into an appetite, which leads to nutrition and then good health. Similarly, our lives as believers are strengthened by feeding on God’s Word and then excitedly living out the truth through His grace and strength that He provides. That is what Paul wants from the Ephesian believers as he writes to them in Ephesians 6:1-4. Paul first addresses children, challenging them to live obediently toward parents and honor them (1-3). Then he turns his attention to fathers, or more accurately parents by encouraging them in the proper use if their authority within the home (4). Paul desires for his audience to truly be changed by God’s grace so it is displayed in the home and shown as an example to the community. Today, we need to understand that God’s grace changes us at the cross when we believe in Jesus for salvation. God then enables us, through His grace, to live a transformed life with His power by His Spirit. Parents need to understand that the purpose of their parental responsibility is to show God’s transforming grace and not bend children to their will. Children need to understand that their obedience is a sign that God has truly changed them to ultimately honor Him. Like an old dog, our life is renewed by God’s grace and that should excite us, transform us and change our families.

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Walk of Love and Light

5/5/2024

Ephesians 5:1-14
There is an old saying that states, “A fake is a cheap imitation of the real thing.” Allow me to add to that… A fake is a cheap imitation of the real thing that looks good on the outside, but on the inside it lacks substance. In other words, I could illustrate that concept with a piece of jewelry. A real piece of jewelry will be made with gold or silver through and through. However you can get an imitation jewelry set for children that is not authentic. It may have the shine on the outside but it is lightweight and made of plastic. As we continue in our study of Ephesians, Paul also continues his practical emphasis of the how the believer is to live that he began in chapter 4. As we turn the page to chapter 5, Paul challenges his audience to be imitators of God (1). He first explains that the one who believes in Jesus as savior is to walk or imitate a life of sacrificial love as modeled by Jesus (2). However, people have a tendency to twist and corrupt what God designs as good. Paul warns the Ephesian church against the self centered, sinful perversion of love, and following falsehood instead of God (3-6). Paul then shifts his thinking to talk about living or walking as children of light (7-8). We imitate God by participating in what is spiritually healthy and fruitful, and not the deeds of sin (11). Paul is trying to tell his audience that they need to allow the reality of their salvation to seen by those around them (11-13). Just as a flashlight has no power on its own apart from the battery, so those who believe in Jesus are to utilize His power to live. In doing so, we let His light shine through us, to guide others to Him, as the true source of real life change.

For more see EPHESIANS

New Life New Walk

4/28/2024

Ephesians 4:17-32
In 1979, a new television show aired that was called This Old House. That show has now been produced for 45 seasons. Each half hour show records the process of how a team of workers completely transforms an old house into a new one. While the house will still retain its recognizable historic and architectural lines on the outside, on the inside it is completely different. From cracked foundations to rotten timbers and broken windows, everything is made new because of the master carpenters and their unwavering effort. In much the same way, we have a master carpenter at work in our lives. From the moment we trust Christ as our Savior the transformation process begins. In the book of Ephesians, Paul emphasizes how God’s grace, displayed through Jesus Christ, changes everything and makes us new. What we see in Ephesians 4:17-32 is similar to what we see on This Old House. Paul discussed a practical transformation from old too new, from broken to functional, from decay to delight, all at the hands of the master carpenter, our God and Savior. Paul reminds the Ephesian believers to not be corrupted by, and insensitive to, sin as they were in their previous lives before knowing Christ (17-19). He then calls them to live holy lives that are made new by God in true righteousness and holiness (20-24). Finally, Paul leaves the Ephesian believers with the challenge to live new lives (25-31). The practice of this new life and new walk displays the reality that their relationship with Jesus Christ has truly changed them. Like that church, we are challenged by Paul to live new lives that are modeled after Jesus Christ (32). The final result, like a restored old house, is that we are on display for all to see the greatness of our God, who transforms us from broken too beautiful.

For more see EPHESIANS

Transformation: Can God Change Me?

3/31/2024

Luke 24
If you want to spark a conversation try asking this question… “What would you do if I gave you a million dollars?” The answers are as varied as people and their individual personalities. However, underlying the answer is a root belief that something will change because of this new reality. This gift has the ability to remove concerns and worries. It changes ones perspective. The same is true of Easter. In Luke 24 the followers of Jesus were confronted with the resurrection of Jesus and that changed everything. The disciples who first saw the empty tomb (1-12) were confronted with God’s reality and the choice to believe that Jesus is alive. The troubled men walking on the road were presented the open Scriptures (13-27). The searching of the scriptures changed their perspective. The death of Jesus was necessary for true change to be offered and salvation to be a reality. Jesus opened the eyes of these men to see (28-32) that he died and returned to life. The reality that Jesus is alive and that he accomplished salvation moved these men to excitedly tell others of this new reality (33-36). Not only did they hear about Jesus being alive, they believed because they saw him. They were filled with joy and that changed their communication with others. For us today, it is easy to talk about what brings us joy. However, the joy of these disciples moved them to tell others who doubted about Jesus. The opening of our mouth as a witness naturally occurs because of our joy in Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus should challenge our doubts; change our beliefs about salvation; our understanding of God’s word; and our communication about Him. Jesus is alive and our belief in Him changes everything.

For more see LUKE or EASTER

That is Good

3/24/2024

Luke 23:26-48
There is an old story, from an unknown author, about an old king and his friend. This friend always had the habit of saying, “This is good,” in response to any and all situations. One day the king and this friend were out hunting and the gun exploded blowing off the king’s thumb. As expected the friend replied, “This is good.” The king became angry and sent his friend to jail. About a year later the king wandered into enemy territory and was captured. However, upon examination the enemies found him to be unacceptable because he was missing his thumb and thus not whole. So, being superstitious, they decided not to kill him and instead released him. On his way home the king thought about his life and his old friend. He immediately went to the jail and apologized to his friend. His friend replied, like normal, “This is good.” The king became upset, “How can being in jail be good?” The friend replied, “If I was not in jail I would have been with you.” Just like that story, the bad of Jesus crucifixion is good. His forgiveness changed people and changes us. In Luke 23 we read of the changed criminal (39-43) as he believed that Jesus was sinless, unlike himself. We also see the change in the hardened centurion (47) as he watched a righteous man die. Finally, we see changes in the crowd (48) as they return home with remorse having witnessed the Savior die. Jesus displayed grace to those in sorrow (28), forgiveness to the soldiers killing Him (34), and pardon to the convicted criminal (43). All this was accomplished in the moments before His death. It was His sacrifice and pain that purchased our pardon from sin. Jesus died for us and that is good. We can be forgiven and find release from the burden of sin through believing that His death was for our good.

For more see LUKE or EASTER

Plan of Hope

2/28/2024

Ruth 3
We make all kinds of plans, don’t we? Our days, months, and years have plans. We orchestrate what we want to do and then we determine that we need to do it. We plan our week, our work and even our worship… and that becomes a problem. We live in a world that rewards achievement and wants to know the next great task to accomplish. This has become a problem that has infected the church. One might ask how? To put it simply, we desire plans and programs of a spiritual nature rather than a transformational relationship with our savior, Jesus Christ. We want to be doing something spiritual rather than being someone who is changed by Jesus. In Ruth 3 we see that kind of transformation take place in Naomi. Previously, when things became difficult she went looking for her own solutions through her own plan. Simply put, she went to another country looking for food (Ruth 1). Through the following dark times God faithfully restored Naomi back to the land so she could follow His plan. As we pick the story up in chapter 3, Naomi has a plan (1-5), she gets Ruth involved (6-13), and God brings His blessing (14-15). Now, Naomi is left with a choice. Will she push for her own solution or will she wait and trust God to work through Boaz (16-18)? James 4:13-17 challenges our practice of making plans apart from the Lord’s will. This time around, Naomi, decides to wait (18). It is through the discipline of waiting that we learn dependence on God. This is not a normal human reaction, because in the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve decided to orchestrate their life with their own plan rather than keep it personal and organic walking and talking with God (Genesis 3). Today, we face the same temptation to schedule our agenda without God. I hope that we learn the lesson from Naomi and wait for God to enact His plan.

For more see RUTH

Hopeless

2/11/2024

Ruth 1
Have you ever faced the fear of uncertainty and the pain of loss? We all have to one degree or another. There is the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one or the loss of health. Each one of these carry with them their own complications, uncertainties and fears. A while ago I was talking with a friend who had lost his job. It was pretty easy to see his pain and hear his frustration. The answers of why and what next were not clear. However, through the present hopelessness he did not waver in his confident belief that God was in control and that somehow God would provide either where he was or some place new. At that juncture in time he was not willing to move unless God made it absolutely clear. Would you be able to display that same confident faith in God alone and His provision? As we pick up the story of Ruth, we see in chapter one that Naomi has faced the loss of her homeland and her family (1-5) and now she plans to make the transition home empty handed with nothing but personal hopelessness (6-14). In the midst of her pain God provides the blessing of a faithful and loyal daughter in law, Ruth, who even though she is grieving the loss of her own husband is led to be a blessing to her bitter mother in law (15-18). Ruth trusts God and seeks to display her faith by following Him, serving Naomi, even if that takes her away from her own homeland. We all face painful, heart wrenching situations in life. Let me encourage you to be used by God, even when you lack hope, to be a blessing to others like Ruth. In contrast, Naomi turned bitter toward God (19-21). Remember, God is at work redeeming even the worst of our life situations. Don’t go to another place or seek another position unless God makes it clear. Trust in God alone.

For more see RUTH

Reproducing Growth

1/10/2024

2 Timothy 2:1-2
Have you ever replanted trees? A number of years ago I dug up several trees from the woods and planted them along the road in front of the house for shade and privacy. Even though the trees were no taller than myself, the dirt on the roots made them almost too heavy to lift. With a bit of fertilizer and a lot of water the trees took root in their new location and started to thrive. There was noticeable growth each year, and now it is hard to imagine that I moved those trees. They are twenty to thirty feet tall and they look fantastic. Everywhere we look in life there is change because of growth. When there is no growth that shows that there is a problem. If you examine a tree that does not grow you will discover an infestation of disease, rot or predators. The same is true in our spiritual lives. If we are not growing we are plateaued or worse stagnate and in decline. Paul challenges Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-2 to take what he has learned and pass it on to others. Basically, he is saying, duplicate yourself in the lives of others and help others grow. This is the result of a personal and powerful relationship that Paul had with Timothy as a mentor. Timothy gleaned much from Paul. Now as a result of the changes and growth in his own life he was responsible to intentionally go and reproduce what he has learned and seen in the lives of others who would be able to do the same. This is not something that Timothy does in his own strength. It is a natural process of being connected to Jesus, growing spiritually and producing fruit (John 15:5). We can have a very bad habit of believing that our faith is only our own. However, just like a tree we are planted to grow and reproduce. If we do not grow into maturity and reproduce we have become stagnant and stunted or dead spiritually. Christ’s purpose in saving us is to grow us, mature us, and use us to grow others.

For more see 2 TIMOTHY or DISCIPLESHIP

Truth That Changes You

12/31/2023

Isaiah 61:1-2
Today, a common statement is, “My truth is my truth and your truth is your truth.” The problem is that does not provide for a consistent standard or measurement of truth. It also does not line up with what we see in nature. For example, we know when water freezes. Water does not freeze at one temperature for you and 20 degrees different for me. Gravity does not hold one person down and push another up. What we know to be true impacts our beliefs and lifestyle. We wear shoes because gravity hurts our feet and we take a canoe to the lake in the summer not ice skates. However, beyond the daily activities of life what we know to be true will impact our faith. How do we know what to base our faith on? Hebrews 11:1-2 tells us that faith believes even if the outcome is not seen. The problem is that we as people have developed a personal view that we know it all and any changes or challenges to that view are rejected as not true or real. That was the problem that Jesus faced from the people in His home town. Luke 4:16 records that it started as Jesus entered the temple and read a passage from Isaiah 61. As he finished he stated that the words He read had been fulfilled that day (21). This passage in Isaiah was understood to look forward to God’s promised coming savior. Yet as Jesus continued to teach, the audience could not accept the truth that He was presenting. In short they became so angry that they tried to kill him (29). Jesus was challenging his home town audience to see Him for who he really is as savior and God. I leave you with this challenge. Do not dismiss Jesus but instead examine His claims. He came as God to be your savior. Faith in Him alone will change your measurement of truth and your life.

For more see ISAIAH or SONGS of CHRISTMAS