Getting rid of them was harder than we thought.  We tried hunting them at night, but that made no significant reduction in their number.  Nor did it keep them away.  We tried traps, but that did not stop them.  Since we could not seem to get rid of them, we decided to try to keep them out of the fields.  We put up a fence.  Then we repaired that fence.  Then we tried a stronger fence.  Didn’t help.

Finally, we paid to have a custom hog fence installed around the entire field.  It was not cheap.  It took quite a bit of time and effort.  So why go to all that expense and effort?  Because that’s what it took to get rid of the hogs!  It had gotten to the point where we had to do whatever it took.  Or quit farming.

I sometimes visit with people who express a desire to have a relationship with Jesus.  They will even talk about some of the things they have tried to make it happen.  I assure them that the relationship they want is possible, and it will be better than they ever imagined.  But it is costly.  In fact, God and Jesus paid an incredible price to make it possible. And they ask for your life in return.  So why go to all that effort?  Because that’s what it will take to have that relationship.  So the question is:  how badly do want a relationship with Jesus?

I understood his confusion, being so sure I was right when I was not.  If he had done what he was sure was right, he would have been wrong.  It would not have mattered what anyone had told him was correct.  It would not have mattered that he was certain he was right.  The only way to his chosen destination was through the correct gate. 

Heaven is like that.  I sometimes hear people talk as if they can decide the correct way to God.  As if it is our decision how to repair our broken relationship with Him.  God is very clear about the correct way to reach heaven – through Jesus.  And the way to Jesus is clear – be born again.  It does not matter what anyone tells you, or even what you are convinced is right.  God is the only one who can fix our relationship with Him.  And He makes it clear how to do that.  The only way to do that.

So why listen to me?  It really doesn’t matter what I say.  And you are right.  Do not assume that I am telling you the correct way to heaven.  See what God said.  If you would like to know more about what God says about the only way back to Him, I’ll be happy to share where He said it.  So you can see it for yourself, know it for yourself, and be certain for yourself.  Not because someone told you, but because God told you. 

Blessings,

steve

I wonder if this illustrates the difficulty that Christians have communicating with those who do not believe Jesus really is the Son of God.  As a Christian, my view of this life is different.  I see this life as the shadow of what is to come.  Eternal life with Christ is my reality.  End of life issues are not a time of critical crisis.  Economic crisis is not a matter of panic and despair.  Sickness and natural disaster can be faced secure in the knowledge that God is in charge.  This world is not my home; it is not where I am most comfortable.  I will always be a stranger and a pilgrim here.

But for my non-believing friends, these things are incredibly frightening and disturbing.  For them, this life is their reality.  So sickness, death, economic crisis, natural disasters, and other life situations do become overwhelming and unmanageable.  From their perspective, how could they not be? 

And how strange we Christians must seem:  how out of touch with reality.  Yet, our world view makes perfect sense to us.  It is hard for us to understand how anyone can fail to see how much better our reality is.  Some of us with a Christian perspective remember what it was like when saw things from a different perspective.  We chose to change.

So if you wonder how we Christians can see things the way we do, I’d like to visit with you.  I’d enjoy sharing my perspective with you.  And I would like to hear yours  It is a conversation worth having. 

Blessings,

steve

I wonder how long until she grows up and deals with reality.  After all, we adults know better than that, don’t we?  We know that people are mean, you can’t trust anyone, life’s not fair, you can’t be nice to everyone or they’ll take advantage of you.  Pretty dogs sometimes bite, life’s hard, and then you die.  Cynical.  Unhappy.  Selfish.

 So when did we change?  What happened to the pure, innocent hearts we had as children?  Life happened.  People hurt us.  We made poor choices.  We did things we should not have. We did not do things we should have.  And sometimes we wish things could be like they were before we became so cynical. We wish we could be like the child we were:  innocent, loving, pure.     

 Jesus said if we become like little children, we can enter the kingdom of heaven.  He helps us do that.  He came to make all things new, including us.  He makes us pure – innocent again.  He forgives the wrong choices.  He teaches us to see people differently.   He restores our soul.  He gives us hope.  He gives us life.  He makes it possible to be born again.

So if you have ever wished your life could be different, if you have ever wished you could be different, if you ever wished you could be like a little child again… then Jesus is for you.  

What do you think?

steve

It makes sense and the smart thing to do is to follow his advice.  In fact, you would think I don’t value my teeth if I neglected them until I had a problem.  So why not apply that same principle to our relationship with God?  Why neglect the everyday care of that relationship, but quickly ask God for help when life gets difficult.  Maybe regular attention to what God says would prevent major problems in my life.   And if I talked to God on a daily basis I would be more equipped to face life’s problems. 

I wonder how God feels when I neglect to regularly put attention on my relationship with Him.  God does not desire our relationship with Him to only be about crisis management.  He wants us in a relationship that includes regular care and maintenance.  He is certainly capable of handling the crisis in my life.  He has proved that.  But that is not the extent of our connection. 

I like my teeth so I will keep up my daily brushing and flossing.   I will continue my regular dental check-ups.  I’ll be healthier and happier for it.  And I am going to give daily attention to my relationship with God.  I’ll be healthier and happier for it … both now and forever.

Blessings,

steve

For many of us, our life can resemble my cup.  I have stains from things I have done that I should not have.  Then there are those things I should have done but didn’t.  Mix in the poor choices, the bad thoughts, and the judgmental feelings.  Pour in the stress of jobs, the pressure of relationships, and the uncertainty of our world.  And sometimes we try to rinse out the mess of our lives, but we know something is still missing.  We are still not right.

Jesus came to this earth to clean up the mess of our lives.  To forgive the wrongs, to pay the price for our bad choices, and to free us from the addictions and expectations of a culture that just doesn’t really work for our lives.  He offers a clean life of purpose, hope, joy, and peace.  He changes lives – not just a little rinse job so the outside looks better – but real, genuine new life. 

Maybe you have never realized life doesn’t have to continue the way it is now.  You know deep down inside that it has to be better… different somehow.  Jesus can do that for you.  And, if you let him cleanse you, you will be amazed, happy, and grateful.

I know this because he did it for me.  Just like he can do it for you.

Blessings,

steve

The Cubans have a saying for this type of ingenuity:  “old things made new.”  They take old, discarded, seemingly useless vehicles and use them to create new, functional vehicles.  It works.  They make “new” vehicles out of old junk.  Seemly dead cars are reborn to usefulness.  It gave me a new appreciation for the effort and care it takes to restore them.  And they are restored for a purpose.  They are needed, they are useful, and they accomplish their purpose.

That is exactly what God does with people in this world.  People that society might deem worthless are given value in Jesus.  The poor in this world are made rich in Christ.  In Jesus, the blind see, the lame walk, and the dead are given new life.  Hurting people are healed to help others.  In Jesus you are made new.  New because the bad things you have done are dead and buried.  New because you have surrendered to the call of Jesus in your life.  New because you have been crucified with Christ and raised to a new life.  New because you now have purpose in your life – a reason you are in this world.  New because you are now going to live forever.

Repaired restored, made new.  Old things made new.  If you want to know more about this new life, then look around this site… or leave a comment.

Blessings,

steve

It is not what you think.  This is the point where you expect me to give a glowing tribute to my wife Marsha.  I am blessed by her and I did choose well when I asked her to marry me.  But she is not the reason why our marriage is so good.  And I know that I am not the reason.  It is not because we have not had struggles, disappointments, crisis, and trouble.  In fact, there have been many times where we could have given up and quit on our marriage.  In our society, we would have been just like so many other marriages that did not make it.

Jesus.  He is the secret.  He is how we survived tough times.  He is why we have extended forgiveness to each other when one of us said or did hurtful things.  He is why quitting was never an option.  He is why our life together is full of joy, peace, hope, and purpose.  I am not the most important person in my wife’s life.  Jesus is.  And she holds second place in my heart.  We both chose Jesus long before we chose each other.

He is why we are so happy together and with our kids and grandkids. He is the reason both sets of our parents have been married for over sixty years each.  He makes the difference in life, in marriage, in parenting, in work, and in every part of our lives.

He can make the difference for you too.  He can give you joy, peace, hope, and purpose in your marriage, with your children, and in every aspect of your life.  So if you do not know how to let Jesus into your marriage, and into your life, then leave a comment.  Or look around the site. 

Steve

We have a great coffee maker at work.  You make one cup of your personal favorite drink at a time.  You can have any number of different kinds of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.  Even better, you can brew your cup at whatever strength you desire:  weak, medium, or strong.  You can make it caffeinated, or decaf.  And it only takes about one minute to make. 

 If Christians could ever present Christianity like that, we could interest a lot more people.  Christianity in small doses… however you want it at any particular time.  If you are feeling particularly religious, you can get a strong dose of Jesus one day.  If not, go a little weaker.  Jesus to suit your taste – just like you want him to be. 

 Some churches probably do present a “consumer” Jesus.  There seems to be a great deal of emphasis on not offending anyone, on meeting everyone’s perceived or expressed needs.  Messages are tailored to present a Jesus that is not too demanding, comes in small doses, and can fit all your perceptions. 

 Except that is not how Jesus presented himself.  He is offended by religion that had forgotten God.  He calls sinners to repentance.  He calls followers to die with him.  He promises persecution and suffering in this life.  He asks you for a total commitment.  He demands complete obedience. 

 He does this because he has earned that right.  He came to this earth to find you because His Father wants you to live forever in heaven.  He died so unholy people could live forever with a holy God.  He did it because He loves us more than anyone has ever loved us.  He did it so we can live forever.

 I can’t help you find a “coffee maker” Jesus.  But if you want to know more about the real Savior who asks you to die so you can live forever… then write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.  Or join our blog discussion.

steve

There are a number of lessons to learn about why churches become museums.  Who was it that forgot their purpose?  Who lost sight of the mission?  Who lost sight of Jesus?  Did each new generation fail to make their faith genuine and personal?  Were they more concerned with church buildings than building a church?  Did they church building become the church?  These are valuable questions and worth asking.

But I want to say a word to any of you who may be thinking about Jesus and church.  Do not confuse the building with the church.  Church is people.  It is community.  It is family.  A church may meet in a building large or small.  It may meet in homes.  Or in a coffee shop.  Or a school.  You may visit a church building… but you are invited to become part of a church.

So if you want to visit a church building, I can tell where there are amazing museums.  But if you are interested in being part of a living community as the family of God, then I can help you find that also.  Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.  Or leave a comment.

Blessings,

Steve