Instant Replay

I, I am the One who erases all your sins, for my sake;

I will not remember your sins.

-- Isaiah 43:25

There are few do-overs in the game of life. But sometimes there are in the game of golf. We’re talking about the mulligan: if a golfer slices his shot into the woods or a deep sand trap, he might ask his opponent for a mulligan – a chance to try again.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could get a mulligan every time we fail in life? Like for the times we speak rudely to a family member or cut off another motorist in traffic. Or when we gossip about someone at church or “forget” to report some income on our tax forms. Better still, what about a do-over for that night (20 years ago) when we shoplifted on a dare from a friend? Big or small, our failures in life can weigh heavy in our hearts. We can’t stop thinking about them and about all the “would-haves-should-haves.”

If we could only erase those ugly moments in time and start over with a clean slate.

Yes, everyone of us can use a few mulligans.

The Apostle Peter could relate to these feelings. Although he was one of Jesus’ earliest apostles, witnessed his Master’s miracles and even walked on water – until his faith ran out – the bold one called The Rock failed the test. Peter had earlier assured Jesus that he would stand by Him no matter what. And even die if necessary. But only hours after Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, Peter denied even knowing Jesus. And not just once… but THREE TIMES!

That’s pretty sobering stuff. But the good news for us is that God is well aware that “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” We can find His solution to this universal problem throughout the Bible.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” we read in 1 John. And this passage from Proverbs lends us even more reassurance: “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

A popular bumper sticker sums it up. “Christians aren’t perfect,” it reads. “Just forgiven.” It’s when we desperately need a mulligan to cover our failures – whether on or off the golf course – that we can always count on God’s undeserved kindness. We just need to confess our shortfalls to Jesus in faith.

The result is a clean scorecard. A complete and total do-over.

“How far has the Lord taken our sins from us?” the Psalmist asks. “Farther than the distance from east to west!”

Doing A New Thing

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

-- Isaiah 43:19

Of all the words to describe the Bible, timeless is one of the best. After all, a repeated lesson in Scripture is that there are certain truths and principles that are as relevant today as they were 2,000 years ago. For instance, it’s hard to argue that we don’t reap what we sow in life. If we spend our lives loving our neighbors as ourselves and otherwise make a positive difference among friends and strangers alike, good will result in one form or another. On the other hand, we can expect a much more negative outcome from a lifestyle involving habitual theft, lying and cheating.

Nothing has changed in God’s eyes.

But while His truths and principles remain constant, another ongoing Biblical theme is God’s willingness to spring a surprise or two on those who think they know it all. Every once in a while, God likes to do a new thing. And He tends to accomplish His plans in some very unexpected ways and places through some even more unlikely characters.

You can see this throughout the Old and New Testaments: Moses, called to confront the powerful Pharaoh of Egypt, had a speech impediment. King David was a just a shepherd boy when he killed mighty Goliath. Jesus – God’s own Son – was born in a filthy animal stable and spent His ministry in an obscure corner of the Roman Empire. And His disciples were a disreputable assortment including fishermen, a tax collector and even a terrorist! Paul, the great missionary who wrote several books of the Bible, initially persecuted Christians before he literally saw the Light. The respected religious authorities of the time were astonished by it all. It just wasn’t what they expected.

Yes, God chose an unlikely bunch. And He used each and every one of them in ways that have shaped our walks as Christ-followers to this very day.

As God's church of Believers, we’re a living reminder of how He continues to join unexpected people, places and circumstances to achieve the greater good.

Let us all perceive it!

At Your Service

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

-- Matthew 10:8

Call them guilty pleasures full of empty calories, but those cooking shows on cable TV can be quite entertaining. From Iron Chef to Rachel Ray to Top Chef, their culinary contestants literally cry over spilled milk and put all their eggs into one basket. But aside from the reality television clichés, these shows also serve up some important life lessons with Biblical implications. Here’s a simple one that we should never forget:

Just a single ingredient can make all the difference.

For instance, substituting baking soda for baking powder turns a delicious cake into an inedible nightmare. And if you forget to add 1000 Island salad dressing to a Reuben sandwich, you end up with a mouthful of salty corned beef, bland stringy cheese and lip-puckeringly sour sauerkraut. Just ask any connoisseur: it’s the dressing that makes the Reuben a delicatessen masterpiece!

A related culinary principle applies to realizing our true purpose in life. To live life the way God intends it for us, Christ-followers first must gather the right spiritual ingredients. The Scriptures tell us it’s one part unity with other Christ-followers mixed with a measure of regular prayer and Bible study. Then blend in a heaping helping of discernment – the ongoing intentional functions of living, thinking and acting constructively. (It’s all about habitually looking for the good and dwelling on the positive.) Place this mixture into a hot oven of daily circumstances, trials and crises. The result is a rich life marked by a demonstrable willingness to serve others.

Christ-followers are called to be Jesus’ hands and feet on earth while we wait for His return -- or that day when He calls us back home (whichever comes first). Until then, God wants us to help prepare His Kingdom by making the most of the different gifts and talents He’s given each follower. And it’s by adopting a lifestyle of service that we’ll become more like our Teacher, Jesus. We’re always to follow the Leader:

“In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served,” Jesus explained. “He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

When we serve, it’s not about us – it’s instead about Him and His creation. So as Christ-followers, let’s turn our faith into action by accepting Jesus’ invitation to help brighten a dark, dying world that’s so much in need of guidance, truth and love.

Are you ready to try out God’s never-fail recipe for finding your purpose in life through service to others? The proof – as they say – is in the pudding!

Rich Towards God

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

-- Matthew 25:23

Compared to most of the world’s population, Americans are incredibly rich. When we’re hungry for a snack, all we have to do is walk to the kitchen for some fresh fruit – or more realistically – a bag of chips or a tub of Rocky Road ice cream. And if we’re running low on supplies, a quick trip to the supermarket or gourmet shop fills up the fridge in no time. We quite literally enjoy an “embarrassment of riches.”

Even Americans who receive government financial assistance are “rich” by the world’s standards because they often have excess money and time to share with others. Regardless of our place on the economic ladder, Christ-followers are called to give richly because God continues to bless us with so much. But here’s a secret: God really doesn’t need our money.

That’s an odd thing to read in a church newsletter. But since God is able to speak all creation into existence, part the Red Sea with His hands and live among us in human form (through Jesus Christ), it’s safe to assume that He doesn’t need a bank account or an American Express Gold Card to get things done.

So why for centuries have Christ-followers given a portion of their incomes to help achieve God’s will on earth? First, God is the ultimate giver. And He wants us to be that way, too. Think about the many gifts God gives us every day. Our riches vary, but they tend to include things like our health, job, home, family, friends and church. And what about God’s ultimate gift to us: forgiveness of our sins and an eternal relationship with God through our faith in Jesus?

God also wants every Christ-follower to be a cheerful giver. But to do that, we need to trust Him rather than our riches. After all, bank accounts and retirement funds can be wiped out overnight through unexpected circumstances and economic uncertainties. Just ask anyone with a 401K!

So what’s the benefit of giving our time and money? As the Apostle Paul explains it in 1 Timothy, giving back richly towards God and His purposes renders much more than just a warm feeling of self-satisfaction. Think of it as a guaranteed high yield investment with dividends that you’ll enjoy forever in the world to come. God challenges us to turn our preconceived notions on their heads. Through His design, giving richly becomes getting more:

“By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves as a strong foundation for the future,” Paul says. “Then they will be able to have the life that is true life.”

It’s every Christ-follower’s mission to serve as God’s hands and feet on Earth by feeding the hungry, healing the sick and housing the homeless. So by making generous giving a spiritual habit and thus being rich towards God, we’ll become more like Jesus to help change our community for the better. Christ’s admonition here is stark yet reassuring:

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Disposable Income

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.

-- Psalm 112:5

Every once in a while we come across one of those feel-good-stories about a customer who leaves a huge tip for their waiter or waitress. Such stories are even better when they take place in shabby diners or truck stops. In fact – only a few years ago – a major newspaper reported that billionaire Donald Trump added $10,000 to his modest $82 meal tab. The story didn’t say if he dined at Waffle House or Denny’s.

“How you treat your waiter or waitress reveals a lot about your character,” explained The Donald. “So don’t forget to leave a big tip.”

He called this principle his Waiter Rule.

Whether Donald Trump’s alleged dinnertime exploits were true or just another urban legend, his Waiter Rule is real food for thought. And there’s considerable biblical support behind it. As Christ-followers, our faith grows as we continue to learn God’s ways for living in the world and changing it for His Kingdom. It turns out that generosity is one of those remarkable character traits that we should acquire and put into action along the way. And this is particularly relevant since we in 21st Century America are all so very rich – at least when compared to most of the world’s population. According to recent data from the World Bank, 1.4 billion people in the developing world (about 25 percent) live on less than $1.25 a day!

That statistic should put our individual financial situations – bleak or otherwise – into perspective. Millions of Americans may be unemployed, on welfare or receiving food stamps. But even that reflects incredible wealth against the backdrop of the crushing poverty found in sub-Saharan Africa, India or even Brazil. So how are we “millionaires” to respond with our riches of excess money and time?

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment,” the Apostle Paul instructed his protégé, Timothy. “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

We can never out-give God with our riches – no matter how great or modest. But we can positively impact our friends, neighbors and total strangers by being generous with the money and time God gives us. And there are some very good reasons behind this principle.

First, your generosity brings joy to others. That’s because you’re thinking more about the recipient than yourself. (And don’t forget that God loves a cheerful giver.) Second, your generosity brings joy to God. That’s because you’re becoming more like Him when you’re generous to others.

And why not? After all, God happens to be the ultimate GIVER:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…

A Matter of Trust

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth

is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

-- Ecclesiastes 5:10

OK… Here’s one for all you history buffs and Trivial Pursuit champions: What’s the official motto of the United States?

Stumped? You probably can find the answer in your wallet, your car’s ashtray or even between your sofa cushions. Starting more than 140 years ago, American coins – and later paper money – have featured the inscription “In God We Trust.” The official website of the US Treasury indicates that in 1861, a Pennsylvania minister recommended to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase that American coins should “recognize Almighty God in some form.” Chase agreed and instructed the director of the Philadelphia mint to prepare an appropriate motto.

“No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense,” wrote Chase. “The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.”

In 1864, “In God We Trust” made its first appearance on the two-cent coin. How ironic that “Godless” money should cite such an important reminder about the real Source of our security. But if we’re really honest with ourselves, shouldn’t the motto read: In GOLD We Trust? After all – when things get tough in life – it’s only natural to rely on our money, riches and possessions rather than the One who makes it possible to earn a living. But reliance on job security and the stock market is never wise – particularly these days. As the host of one popular television fashion show likes to remind her wide-eyed contestants: “One day you’re in. And the next day, you’re out!”

It’s an unsettling fact: our bank accounts are no defense against life’s hard realities. Terminal illnesses strike, relationships fail and that which seemed solid turns to dust in our hands. What we desperately need is something – or Someone – who’s dependable. Who never changes. Who we can trust.

Jesus paints a vivid picture of this universal quest through His story about the foolish man who built a house on shifting sands. When the storm struck, the rains came and the winds blew with fury. It’s no surprise that the flimsy structure collapsed with a crash. But the wise man – in comparison – built his house on a Foundation of solid rock. So when the storm clouds of life boiled on the horizon, that house withstood even the heaviest downpours.

This leads us to the obvious question: Are you counting on your money to save you when, as that insurance commercial puts it, “life happens”? If so, why not trust in God: the One who knew everything about you before you were even born. You can take it to the bank!

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust,” we read in Psalms, “who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.”

The Millionaire Next Door

King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.

-- 2 Chronicles 9:22

If a genie could grant you three wishes, what would your wishes be? Maybe you’d ask for a long, healthy life. You might wish for popularity or fame. Or if you’re anything like Miss America, you’d ask the genie for world peace. But chances are, you’d wish for money... and plenty of it.

Getting rich is a centuries-old obsession. And some have actually done it by discovering gold or oil, or inventing something wildly popular like Google or the Post-It Note. Still others found their fortunes by starring in professional sports or Hollywood movies. But if you’re not quite so talented or lucky, just turn on your TV at 3 AM. That's when you’re bound to find an infomercial promoting a get-rich-quick-no-money-down formula to wealth. Soon, you’ll be rolling in riches - and all in your spare time. (They promise!) And if that fails, there’s always the lottery.

It’s good to know that there are more realistic alternatives. For starters, check out The Millionaire Next Door by authors Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko. Written in the mid-1990s, this popular book reveals that many of today’s millionaires share a practical fiscal strategy. They live below their financial means, they budget their money, they don’t drive fancy cars and they’re often self-employed. These 21st Century Rockefellers typically have high incomes, frugal mindsets and started planning for their financial futures early in life. What’s more, many of their money-wise principles just so happen to be - get ready for it - BIBLICAL!

Whether it’s by sheer luck or through hard work, the bottom line is that many people really do succeed at GETTING rich. But what does it mean to BE rich? That’s an entirely different proposition.

First, it’s important to define RICH. After all, most people in the United States don’t live in huge mansions, dine at fancy restaurants or drive $80,000 Porsche roadsters. But the fact is that even the poorest Americans are considered “rich” by the standards of most nations. For instance, many American welfare recipients own hi def color televisions, late model automobiles and mobile phones: things often not enjoyed by the poor in India, Zimbabwe or Haiti.

“Rich” is therefore a very relative term.

The Bible - God’s Word to us - is full of guidance about money and riches. And since most of us are actually “rich” by the world’s standards, it means we have some very special responsibilities.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much,” Jesus taught His followers. “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”

Maybe we don’t feel like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or even one of those millionaires next door. But being rich isn’t so much about our income but rather what we do with it. We can start by replacing greed with gratitude for the riches we enjoy: of both wealth and spirit. As the Apostle Paul reminds Christ-followers:

“You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”