We struggle with the idea of our own mortality. It’s said that Florence Nightingale feared death so much that after the Crimean War she went to bed and basically stayed there until she died in 1910. Chuck Swindoll says we skirt the subject by using: “(1) Humour. Making a joke of it keeps death at a safe distance so we never have to face reality. (2) Denial. King Louis XIV of France wouldn’t allow the word death to be uttered in his presence. But on September 1, 1715, he discovered that death can’t be wished out of existence. People spend so much on anti-aging creams, Botox, and plastic surgery to avoid seeing evidence of death’s approach. (3) Romanticism. A man in Europe built a special room where he can live with his dead wife. His bed is next to her casket. He decorated the room with flowers and candles. He writes her poetry every day in a romantic attempt to avoid the pain of her passing. (4) Fear. Observe fellow passengers on an airplane when turbulence causes sudden drops and vibrations. Young and old alike scream and cry out.” The good news is you don’t have to fear death! The One who defeated it said, “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19 NIV). When you repent and commit your life to Christ, you have His personal guarantee of eternal life. After Lazarus died, Jesus told his sister Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life…Everyone who…believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this?” If you do, you’ll live forever with Christ.
Do You Believe This?
“I am the resurrection and the life…Everyone who…believes in me will never ever die. Do you be
April 16, 2017 • Bob Gass
Pets Are a Gift From God
April 30, 2017 • Bob Gass
A man wrote to a hotel where he wanted to go for vacation and asked, “Could I bring my dog? He’s very well behaved.” The hotel owner replied, “I’ve been operating this hotel for thirty years and in all that time I’ve never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware, or pictures off the walls. I’ve never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly, and I’ve never had one run out without paying the bill. Yes, your dog is welcome. And furthermore, if your dog will vouch for you, you’re welcome too.” Solomon writes, “The godly care for their animals.” Ever consider godliness from that perspective? Maybe you’re thinking, “This doesn’t sound too spiritual.” Think again! “Every good gift…is from above, and cometh down from the Father” (James 1:17). Many a grieving heart is comforted by a pet whose love and loyalty makes their loss more bearable and helps them to go on. Did you know people with pets live longer, stay healthier, recover faster, and experience less depression? Who will ever forget the dogs on 9/11 as they searched through the carnage of the World Trade Center, howling in distress because they couldn’t rescue those who perished? And how about the skilled dogs that give sight to the blind and visually impaired? That sounds pretty spiritual, right? When God created our pets, He said, “It [was] good.” Why did He say that? Because they have the virtues of mankind without its vices. So let’s recognize them as a gift from God, be grateful for them, and take good care of them!
Confront Them!
April 29, 2017 • Bob Gass
Can you imagine the courage and integrity it took for Nathan the prophet to challenge King David about his affair with Bathsheba? Most of us tend to avoid confrontation because we fear being disliked and rejected. But when you avoid confrontation it often makes things worse. By hiding his sin, David was robbing himself of the blessing of the Lord. Looking back, he wrote, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my…prayer” (Psalm 66:18-19 NIV). The tiny growth you don’t want to deal with now can end up becoming a cancer that consumes you in the future. That’s too high a price to pay. If you love someone, you’ll take your courage in your hand and confront them in love. Confrontation is an opportunity to help develop that person—provided you do it respectfully and with their best interest at heart. Here are ten guidelines to help you confront someone in a positive way: (1) Do it ASAP. (2) Address the wrong action, not the person. (3) Address only what the person can change. (4) Give them the benefit of the doubt. (5) Be specific. (6) Avoid sarcasm. (7) Avoid saying “you always” and “you never” because they are not true. (8) When it’s appropriate, tell them how you feel about what was done wrong. (9) Give them a plan to fix the problem. (10) Affirm them as a person and as a friend. The Bible says, “The Lord corrects those he loves” (Proverbs 3:12 NCV). So if you love someone, you’ll confront them in the right way.
Christ Is In You (2)
April 28, 2017 • Bob Gass
Paul writes, “Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV). No other religion makes such a claim. No other movement implies the living presence of its founder in his followers. No wonder Paul refers to it as “the mystery.” We comprehend the idea of Christ for me or with me or ahead of me. But Paul said it’s better than that—Christ in me! In his writings, Paul refers to this union with Christ 216 times. John mentions it 26 times. They describe a Christ who not only woos us to Himself but actually “ones” us with Himself. John writes, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15 NKJV). Just as you own the home you live in, so the Christ who lives in you owns you. And when you own a home, you rearrange it the way you want it. Likewise, Jesus moves in and commandeers your hands and feet, requisitions your mind and your tongue. Do you sense things being rearranged in your life today? That’s “Christ in you”! Eugene Peterson paraphrases Paul’s words this way: “He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son” (Romans 8:29 TM). Ever hear the old saying, “Making a silk purse out of a pig’s ear”? That’s what Jesus does when He takes up residence in your heart. He has a plan for your life, and He also provides the power to fulfill it. And what’s your part? To surrender and cooperate fully with Him.