Eyes Looking to Springtime

Springtime is right around the corner. The cold, frigid winter will soon be behind us and only a memory. The sun will shine in the sky. Green grass will appear on the ground. Trees will begin budding. Flowers and shrubs will make their annual appearance. All of God's creation that seemed to be sleeping will burst forth with life. 

How does the season change parallel with God's promises? Here are several that come to mind.

•  We fix our eyes on the future eternal - We know that winter is temporary, as are all the four seasons. They don't last, but are eventually eclipsed by the next season. Likewise, this world is not permanent, but will come to an end. Our earthly lives are like a mist or a vapor and only last a short time. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." By looking to what is ahead we can live with hope and joy.

  

  Springtime in Northern Michigan

• We move from death to life - In winter it appears that much of nature has died (when it is actually dormant), but in the spring, new life appears everywhere. Similarly Christians become alive through Jesus Christ being redeemed from a spiritual death. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, "...God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions..."
• We have new life in Christ - A very powerful metaphor of our future state is "the new creation." God created us after the model of Adam and Eve, but they became flawed due to disobedience and sin. The "new creation" comes when we put our faith into Jesus Christ. We're made new, sinless, and blameless. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here."
• Put on Christ like a new garment - The end of winter can become very drab, grey, and dreary. The explosion of spring is like God reclothing His creation with bright vibrant colors and strong sunlight. Christians are told to clothe themselves with Jesus Christ. Take of those sinful rags of wickedness and put on His beautiful wardrobe of righteousness. Romans 13:14 says, "Rather, clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ..."

Winter can seem endless depending on where you live, but change will come. Spring will usher in a new season of beauty, warmth, and new life. Trusting your life to Jesus can morph your old self into a new creation filled with promises for an eternal existence apart from pain, suffering, or loss. Adorning yourself with Jesus and living for Him is positively the best way to usher in any season - spring, summer, fall, or yes, even, winter. 

Ready for an upgrade?!

My laptop has been trying to update for weeks now. Every morning there is a notification that the update failed. I guess there are conditions I haven't met yet to allow it to do so. It has to be plugged in to AC power in order to update. Automatic updates has to be turned on. And now it tells me it can't update because it needs more room. My hard drive is too full. I didn't request an update, it just started trying all on its own. I'm not sure how I feel about this self-imposed update. 

In the past, when a device is upgraded, the new interface looks different. Things are not always where I left them. Other things stop working. It can be a frustrating experience. So I put off updating as long as I can. 

Eventually, I give in and update my technology. I believe what the maker has done is for the best. I trust the company. I enjoy the new bells and whistles once I learn how to use them. 

God is in the updating business too. His original creation is flawed, not by any fault of His own, He made it perfect. But it has become flawed because of sin. Our operating system is broken. It doesn't work as intended by the Creator. Spirit 1.0 has degraded over time into Flesh 2.0. Man's internal hard drive is full of worldly, carnal desires and acts of the flesh. The Bible says it this way:

"For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." Galatians 5:17

God has made a patch. He has provided a means of upgrading us into the people He originally intended us to be. However, first we must trust the maker and believe that the update is for our best. That's the difficult part. But once we allow it to happen, our new life is like nothing we've ever known!

God does not merely patch a bug or rearrange a few settings. He makes us new from the inside out. When we plug our lives into His power, clear space through repentance, and trust the work of His Spirit, He installs a new heart, new desires, and a new way of living. The update may feel unfamiliar at first, and some old habits will no longer run the way they used to, but this renewal is exactly what we were designed for. What the Creator does is always for our good. And once we learn to live in step with the Spirit, we discover that life in Christ is not a downgrade or an inconvenience, but a beautiful restoration to who we were always meant to be 

The Gift of Christmas: Jesus

Charlie Brown cried in desperation, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about!?!"

Christmas Shopping in December

The Grinch, after stealing all of the Who's presents from Whoville, thought to himself, "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps...means a little bit more."

Our church has been in a sermon series this month of December called "The _____ that stole Christmas." The series pointed to four prime culprits in the theft of Christmas: stress, grief, schedule, and commercialism. Each in their own way distracts us from the true meaning of Christmas. 

But I wonder if some people have grown up never hearing why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. If you didn't grow up in a Christian home, you may have never heard. You didn't hear it at school. You didn't hear it on your sports team. You don't hear it from the majority of shows and movies that claim to be about Christmas. How would you know?

Thank goodness for Christian parents and families. And for the church. In our American culture, it appears the only place a child is going to hear the Christmas story is either at home or in Sunday School. Ironically, in a society that spends billions of dollars on this holiday and months advertising it, the spotlight is on Santa Claus, elves, reindeer, presents, pine trees, Hallmark movies, parties, and happiness. 

Truth is that Christmas is about God sending His son, Jesus into the world as a baby about 2,021 year ago. His birth fulfilled prophecies in the Jewish scriptures: He was born in Bethlehem. He was born of a virgin. His name was Emmanuel, God with us, because he was divine. He was destined to live a perfect life, and die sacrificially for the sins of all mankind. His resurrection became the central historic event upon which all of Christianity is based. 

God's invitation is to believe in the story of Jesus, make Him Lord of your life, admit sinfulness and be sorry for them, being baptized to "wash" those sins away, and living a life according to Jesus' teachings in the New Testament. 

So when the noise fades, the schedule slows, and the wrapping paper is thrown away, the real question remains: will we rediscover what Christmas is truly about? Christmas is not found in what we buy or how perfectly we celebrate, but in the gift God has already given—His Son, Jesus Christ. My hope is that this season would be more than tradition or nostalgia, but an opportunity to hear, believe, and respond to the greatest story ever told. Because when we understand who Jesus is and why He came, Christmas finally makes sense—and nothing can steal that away.

Got a Dongle for That? Connecting People Like Jesus Did

A co-worker called me recently looking for a rare computer cord with special ends. In the tech world, we call them "dongles." I didn't have exactly what he needed but I had two separate dongles that together created what he needed. 

I have drawers full of cords, connectors, dongles and the like at work. I have a full tote of cables, wires, CAT5, telephone cables, and HDMI cables at home in my basement. I love to pick them up at garage sales for a fraction of their cost new. At one point, I was getting a new dongle every week from Amazon. My wife said jokingly that I was a member of the "dongle of the week" club. 

Drawer of dongles

Why have so many cords and connectors? Well, in working with technology at church and enjoying it as a hobby at home, you never know when you're going to need one. Like my co-worker needing one recently. I'm glad I had what he needed. It allowed him to connect two pieces of electronic equipment. 

In our walk as Christians, we find ourselves "connecting" with other people. Some people are like a simple solitary speaker wire. They live simple, quiet, introverted lives. They keep to themselves and rarely socialize. Other people are like high-speed fiber optic conduits. You know when they walk into a room. They are a walking wikipedia of information, current events, and trivia. They're extroverted and enjoy meeting new people and name-dropping. 

Can you connect with both the introvert and the extrovert in your community? Can you relate to both the "Sons of Thunder" at the High School sporting event and the peaceful "Timothy" next door? Are you able to converse with John and Peter? It's not always easy. 

Christians who want to influence the world around them are wise to use "spiritual dongles" to interface with their neighbor. Ideas include shared hobbies such as hunting, fishing, or boating. Family can open the door to communication. Asking about their spouse, children, and grandchildren will go a long way in conversation. Questions about someone's background can lead to shared places, people, or events. Find out where they are from, when they moved to the area, and who they are related to. Additionally, current events can connect you to your neighbor. Talk about local, state-wide, and national current events to find shared interests and common viewpoints. 

Connecting with Others

Jesus involved himself in carpentry, fishing, and traveling on boats thus making "bridges" to those with similar livelihoods and hobbies. He asked the woman at the well about her husband, which opened quite a candid conversation. Conversation surrounded Jesus' hometown of Nazareth when Philip told his brother, Nathanael, about Jesus. Events and holidays such as the Festival of Tabernacles, the Sabbath, and Passover all play a part in Jesus' life connecting with other people. 

Just as those cords and dongles in our drawers help bridge connections between devices that otherwise couldn’t communicate, so too can we be the connectors God uses to bring people closer to Him—and to one another. Each of us has unique “ends” that fit certain people and situations. Some days, we might be the missing piece that helps someone make sense of life or faith. Other days, someone else may complete the connection for us. When we’re willing to meet people where they are—whether quiet or loud, near or far, similar or strange—God can use those everyday “connections” to share His love and truth in powerful ways. After all, even the most advanced system can’t function without a good connection.

The Wind Blows

 "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going."

My wife and I were recently on vacation in Estes Park, Colorado. We had a beautiful cabin located within the YMCA of the Rockies at the mouth of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Each morning I saw outside on the porch with an amazing view of the Rocky Mountains. Most mornings were still with practically not a sound except for an occasional Steller's Jay or an Albert's Squirrel moving around. However, one morning, the wind was blowing. Now, I've heard the wind blow in Northern Lower Michigan all my life. It just kind of sweeps over the trees like a blanket. And this was different. 

Cabin at YMCA of the Rockies

The wind I heard in the Rocky Mountains was unlike any wind I had ever heard. It was like an entity moving from one place to another. It flowed up the mountainside and down into the valley. It zipped from one treetop to another. It would suddenly appear, although I could not see it, accompanied by a loud rushing sound and then quickly fade away like a shadow. And there were more than just one "winds." There were winds swirling all around - moving like invisible imps over the rocky landscape.  

Suddenly a Bible verse jumped out to me in my mind...Jesus said in John 3:8, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going." What was Jesus teaching about here? What was He comparing the wind with?

To find the answer, we have to back up to the beginning of the chapter. Jesus was teaching the Pharisee Nicodemus about the second birth. "You must be born again," Jesus said. "Born again of the water and the Spirit." The allusion was to Christian baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Nicodemus must have been scratching his head because he asked, "How can a man be born again when they are old?" Jesus repeated his statement saying that one cannot see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again. More head scratching and Jesus relieved Nicodemus' confusion by quoting the above verse about the wind. Then He went on to say, "So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 

View of Rocky Mountains in Colorado 

Just like the winds in the Rocky Mountains swept randomly and invisibly throughout the environment - God's Holy Spirit moves and works in our lives supernaturally, out of sight, and inconspicuously. Just read through the Bible, and you will see how the Holy Spirit worked in people's lives. Sometimes the Holy Spirit worked "loudly" like when Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead in Acts 5; and sometimes "quietly" when the Spirit would not allow Paul and his companions to enter Bithynia in Acts 16:7. 

The Holy Spirit can work in your life too. Scripture teaches that God's Spirit is a gift we receive when we are immersed in water baptism (Acts 2:38; Acts 19:1-6). Just like the wind, God's Holy Spirit is powerful, invisible, and you can't pin it down. Like the mountain winds that stir the still air, God’s Spirit moves through our lives—often unseen, but always transforming everything it touches.

12:26 - Sharing Scripture with a Stranger

My wife and I recently traveled downstate to visit our son and daughter-in-law at their new apartment in Novi. One of the things we did while there was take them out for brunch to a wonderful restaurant called First Watch. As our friendly waitress was bringing our drinks, I couldn't help but notice she had the date 12:26 tattooed on her throat. I was curious about it so when she moved on to another table, I Googled "12:26." The first answer that came up was a reference something called an "angel number" which was 1226. It explained that this number "suggesting a period of balance and harmony between spiritual and material pursuits." Huh?! I shared this info with the table and everyone thought, "Yeah, probably her angel number." But I wasn't convinced. My curiosity was piqued more. 

One reason I wasn't convinced was because our waitress' number had a colon. The colon separated the 12 from the 26. That indicates a date. December 26. I asked my family, "would you be embarrassed if I asked her what her tattoo means?" With their approval, I knew I had to ask.

Our waitress came back with our appetizer of 12 delightful pumpkin spice balls with cream cheese and chocolate dip. After setting them on the table, she asked if we needed anything. I quickly said, "No, but I have a question." "I'm sure you get this question all the time, but what does your tattoo mean?" She smiled, stood up straighter and said, "It's my birthday!" "Oh, nice," I said. Then she followed up with, "And it's also a Bible verse in Proverbs." "Oh, what does that verse say?" I asked. To which she responded that it's similar to the verse about iron sharpening iron and that it refers to a righteous person being a guide to their neighbor. Or on the flip-side a wicked person will lead them astray. She smiled again and then returned to her duties.

I was inspired and my heart was lifted when I heard her testimony. Right there in the middle of a busy restaurant, in a city unknown to me, she was sharing scripture with a stranger. How refreshing how powerful. 

"One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." Proverbs 12:26

Try ChatGPT for Bible Study

Are you using AI in your Christian life yet? AI or Artificial Intelligence is all the rage right now. And every day, people are finding new usages for it. Companies have capitalized on AI for launching business start-ups. Marketing professionals are using AI to gain competitive advantages. Content creators on social media are using AI to write copy, generate images, produce videos, and so much more.

ChatGPT

Probably the first AI open to the public was ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a chatbot. Meaning it has an interface whereby you can talk to it and tell it what you want by way of "prompts." Basically you write a prompt using 3 key phrases. Tell the chatbot the ROLE it will play. "Act as a ________" You could say, CEO, Marketer, Copywriter, or whatever. Then tell it what to CREATE. This is the task you would like it to perform. "Create a ______" You could say, recipe, article, summary, or whatever. Finally, tell it how to output the results by saying, "Show as ________" You could say, list, pdf, spreadsheet, or whatever. 

Here are some example prompts we could use with ChatGPT.

• ACT as a teacher to CREATE an outline of the book of Luke and SHOW as a pdf. 
• ACT as a student to CREATE an essay on using AI for Bible Study. SHOW as plain text.
• ACT as a pastor to CREATE a sermon on Zacchaeus. SHOW as Presentation Slides.

Of course, you can just use plain language to talk to ChatGPT. Try some variations of the following:

• Explain the parable of the sower to me like a 3rd grader.
• How can I better love my uncle who won't forgive me?
• Why do scientists say the earth is billions of years old while Christians claim it is only thousands?

What to see the results of my ChatGPT queries?! Click here to read the responses. But better yet, try it yourself. There is a free account available. Visit http://www.chatgpt.com