Category: Through The Looking Glass

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Fresh Oil New Wine 2014 The Big Event The Life of Faith The Secret Place Through The Looking Glass

Finding Comedy Beyond Tragedy.

Through the Looking GlassThe old ’60’s television comedy Hogan’s Heroes takes on a very serious subject, World War II and the Nazi regime, but it puts a somewhat humorous face on it. One of the most ironic things about the show was the casting of the characters. Several of the prominent Nazi characters (as well as one Allied POW) were played by actors who were themselves, in fact, Jewish. Werner Klemperer (Colonel Klink), John Banner (Sgt. Schultz), and Howard Caine (Major Hochstetter) were among the Jewish cast members.

Robert Clary (Corporal Louis LeBeau) was a French Jew who survived the Buchenwald camp, but lost 12 of his immediate family members at Auschwitz. Although surviving the horrors of the Holocaust, he signed on to play Corporal LeBeau for the series’ entire run. He went on to travel throughout the U.S. and Canada, speaking on the subject of the Holocaust.

Leon Askin, who played General Burkhalter, was an Austrian Jew who was sent to an internment camp before leaving Europe for America, and actually lost both of his parents to the Nazi death camps of Auschwitz and Lublin. However, he didn’t allow his past to scare him away from his dreams. In spite of what he went through, he parlayed the hurt and pain from his past into a successful career as a character actor.
Mr. Askin once stated…

The journalists in Vienna and Austria and also in Germany call me a legend. I’m a man who lived through difficult times. I’m a man who survived the monster of all times, Adolf Hitler, and I’m still, at my high old age of 93, successful in my profession and that is the pride with which I live and survive.

Dachau 2Maybe you think your past is keeping you from your dreams.

Maybe the past has you so scared that you’ve lost the ability to see a bright future.

Your loving Heavenly Father can utilize the very things you see as negative to use you in a mighty way for His Kingdom.

Don’t spend your life doing “nnnnnnnnoooo-thing” because you think you are damaged goods in the eyes of God. We serve a God Who makes all things new. He can take those bad memories and awful experiences, and turn them for your good.

Rise up! Make yourself and your past available to Him today!

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The Right Motivation

Through The Looking Glass2

Russian author Alexander Solzhenitsyn made this quote:

You only have power over people so long as you don’t take everything away from them. But when you’ve robbed a man of everything, he’s no longer in your power – he’s free again.

Manipulating a person is easy once you find out what it is that they treasure. When a person fears loss, they can be coerced into doing almost anything.

What an insight into the spiritual realm —

As long as we have things that we hold on to tighter than our love for Jesus, we will always live in fear, and we’ll always be subject to manipulation from the devil.

Jesus tells us in His word…

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ~ Matthew 16:25

If we lay everything we hold sacred at the feet of Jesus, we will find that nothing can compare to knowing Him…

And that is the one thing no one can ever take away.

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A Time for Rest

Through The Looking Glass2

 

Nuggets of truth sometimes show up in unexpected places.

Back in the 80’s, the music group Chicago had a big hit with the song “Hard To Say I’m Sorry“. The song begins with the line…

Everybody needs a little time away…

No matter who you are, or how strong or resilient you think you are, everyone needs time to recover, recoup, and regroup. Oftentimes, we don’t realize how much we are in need of a break, until we make the decision, or are forced into taking one.

Thousands of years before Chicago ever recorded their first album, King Solomon penned these words…

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)

A time to heal… a time to laugh… a time to dance… a time to mend… a time for peace. If Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, knew the value of these things, would we not be wise in following his lead?

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul understood the importance of running the race of faith with endurance…

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)

As anyone knows who has ever run a race, three important parts of preparing to run are training, diet, and…

Rest.

Maybe today you are feeling the weight of the world bearing down on you like a barbell with a thousand pounds on it. Maybe you are feeling drained, and the abundant life you should be experiencing more closely resembles a life at the end of a rope you are barely hanging on to.  Like a runner who has not adequately prepared, maybe you are feeling the pressure of performing at a level you are not ready for. Jesus encourages you today…

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

So, weary traveller, take some time today— take a nap, read a good book, find a quiet place to get alone with Him, and leave your tired burdens there. By doing so, you might find it not quite so hard to say “I’m sorry”.

Better yet… by having a fresh perspective and positive outlook, you might find eliminate some of the reasons for saying “I’m sorry” in the first place.

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America Fresh Oil New Wine 2014 Friendship Living It Out In Real Time The Big Event The Mysteries of God Through The Looking Glass

Choosing the Right Hill to Die On.

Through the Looking GlassThere is a saying…

Is that a hill you are willing to die on?

In a battle, a hill (or other high ground) is of immeasurable value. As a point of defense, having your army on top of a hill gives you a tactical advantage in that you can see an oncoming attacker a long way off (taking away any advantage of surprise), thus allowing you to prepare your defense accordingly. Offensively, holding the high ground gives you an ideal position from which to conduct a siege, or keep an enemy contained. Famous battles on such hills as Pork Chop Hill, Bunker Hill, Heartbreak Ridge, San Juan Hill, and many others were oftentimes decisive battles in a conflict. Arthur MacArthur, the father of famous WWII general Douglas MacArthur, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions right here in Chattanooga, Tennessee for his heroism during the Battle of Missionary Ridge. Because of the difficulty involved in taking a hill, the missions to do so were often deemed “suicide missions” because of the likelihood of high casualty numbers.

In our current culture, you often hear the expression related to personal, business, and career decisions. It is another way of saying, “The decision you are about to make — do you feel strongly enough about it and have enough conviction to risk everything? Is this decision worth the potential fallout that may very well ensue?” It could be a job decision that could potentially cost you your job or a promotion. It could be a decision that could cost you a friendship. It could be a life-altering choice that could forever alter the course of your life. While we may not always see the immediate consequences of positive decisions, we see negative decisions played out every day…

The decision by a person to drink and get behind the wheel of a car.

The decision of a spouse to walk away from the marriage they promised to honor.

The decision of a pregnant mother to end the life of her child through abortion.

Yet in spite of whatever decisions and consequences we face everyday, there is one “hill” that trumps them all…

It is a lonely hill called Calvary where Jesus faced a choice: Call 10,000 angels to storm down from Heaven onto a sinful race and obliterate all of His enemies, or go to the cross and be the sacrifice for all mankind.

His choice was YOU. He looked down through history, saw you right where you are, and decided that taking a chance on saving you was worth it.

So while you may have tough decisions that cost you personally, making the eternal choice to trust Jesus as your Savior is an easy decision you can make — not a hill you have to die on.

Why?

Because He already did.

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Fresh Oil New Wine 2014 Friendship The Big Event The Life of Faith Through The Looking Glass

The Promise of the Future

Through The Looking Glass2One of the biggest hindrances to a bright future is the shadow of the past. So many people choose to dwell on a past that cannot be controlled or changed. Our history is what it is, and no amount of regret or remorse can change that. Sir Winston Churchill once said…

“If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future.”

The apostle Paul put it another way…

“Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 3:13-14

Paul knew that you can never see the future as long as you are looking over your shoulder at the past.

Sounds like good advice to me.

Set your sights on the light of the future in front of you. You’ll find more peace in the promise of the future than in the problems of the past.Med2

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Fresh Oil New Wine 2014 The Big Event The Secret Place Through The Looking Glass

A Wolf At The Door

Through The Looking Glass2While I don’t spend an inordinate amount of time on social media, I do participate some. It’s always interesting to see what my friends are posting on Twitter and Facebook, understanding that much of what we see has to be taken with a grain of salt. Whether quotes are attributed to Steve Jobs, Steve Forbes, or Steve Austin (you children of the ’70’s will get that in a minute), truth is truth — regardless of who is saying it.

Blood-Moon14I saw a story on a friend’s Facebook page the other day, and found it interesting. It went something like this…

An old Cherokee once told his grandson, “Son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love hope, humility, kindness, empathy, and truth.”

The boy thought about it for a bit, and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?”

The old man quietly replied, “The one you feed.”

— author unknown

Wow! What an amazing analogy of the life of the Spirit. As human beings living in a fallen world, though redeemed by the blood of Jesus, we must continually be on our guard against feeding the “wolf” of the flesh. If we spend all of our time on pursuits and interests that do not bring us closer to the heart of God, we cannot expect to have any kind of Holy Ghost power in our lives. Is your dust-covered Bible the tell-tale sign of a life spend on pursuing money, notoriety, popularity, possessions, entertainment, and lust? Are you spending so much time and energy worrying about staying alive that you have forgotten how to live? Paul had this to say about where our thought life should reside…

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~ Philippians 4:8

In Mark 8:36-37, Jesus asks a very poignant question…

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

But it all really boils down to this…

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~ Luke 12:34

Jesus makes it painfully clear with this sentence that what is in your “treasure box” is a direct reflection of what is in your heart. If your treasure is devoid of evidence of the Spirit, it’s probably time to re-evaluate, not just your priorities, but your commitment to the Savior.

So which creature are you feeding? Are you feeding a wolf that may stay quiet for a time, but will eventually devour you?

Or…

Are you feeding a creature that looks — not like a wolf — but like the Lamb of God, who “takes away the sins of the world”?

 

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The Journey Home

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I once heard the story of an old missionary couple that was returning home after years of faithful service on the mission field. As their journey across the sea began, they discovered that they were sharing their ship with none other than President Theodore Roosevelt.

Activity swirled around the President as the old couple went virtually unnoticed.

Finally, when the ship arrived in New York, bands and dignitaries came out to greet the President, while the old couple slipped off of the ship, and disappeared into the crowd.

The old man became bitter with God about the fact that they were in no way recognized. Complaining to his wife about how unfair it was, his wife encouraged him to take it up with God.

After a short time, the old man emerged from their bedroom with a changed countenance. He explained to his wife that, as he was complaining to God about not being recognized on returning home, the Holy Spirit gently spoke to him and said…

“You’re not home yet.”

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As We Remember

Flags & Graves2

Today, we in America will observe Memorial Day. This day was first observed as Decoration Day, and originated after the Civil War, as a way of remembering the over 600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were killed during that horrific conflict which pitted brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor, and countryman against countryman. While the aftermath of that conflict was a  wounded nation brought back together, and many other brave American men and women have since fallen in wars and conflicts around the globe, we as American citizens must be ever mindful of the price that was paid, and ever vigilant as watchmen to protect the freedom for which they died.

As we today honor those who have fallen in battle, I am reminded of a letter penned by President Abraham Lincoln to a widow, Mrs. Lydia Bixby, whose sons had died fighting for the Union army…

Dear Madam,

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

Iwo JimaOn this day, as we go about our family gatherings and picnics, please take a moment to remember the solemnity of this day by offering a prayer of thanksgiving for those who gave their lives so that you could be free, as well as a prayer of comfort for those who are still grieving a loss unimaginable by most of us. Let us remember that those who gave their full measure of devotion for the cause of freedom are not nameless and faceless, but are husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and friends.

Thank you heroes, for your service and sacrifice. We owe you a debt we cannot repay.

May God bless America.

Flags & Graves

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America Fresh Oil New Wine 2014 Living It Out In Real Time The Bible The Big Event The Secret Place Through The Looking Glass

Hidden Passages & Dead-End Paths

Through the Looking GlassThe ancient city of Sardis stood high on a hill as an impregnable fortress.

When the invading Persian army besieged the city, it proved nearly impossible to approach. One day a soldier, while leaning out over the wall, dropped his helmet to the ground far below. Thinking nothing of retrieving his helmet, he left the confines of the city by a secret passage. The enemy, however, was watching. At nightfall, a platoon of Persian soldiers entered the city through the hidden entrance, attacked, and conquered the city with ease.

We have an enemy who is watching and waiting. The enemy sees ours weaknesses, and is standing ready to attack. We are called to live lives of holiness and diligence, giving no point of entry that the enemy can exploit to minimize our usefulness to the Kingdom of God. I’ve heard it said that “integrity is who you are when no one is watching”. Integrity and character walk hand-in-hand, and who you are when the world is watching is far less telling than who you are when you’re alone. Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson once said…

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.

American revolutionary Thomas Paine had this to say about character…

Character is much easier kept than recovered.

So how are you spending your company time when the boss is not watching?

How do you act and talk when “church-folk” aren’t around?

What are you watching or looking at on your computer in the dark hours of the night?

Peter reminds us of the importance of holiness in our lives when he says…

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy. ~ I Peter 1:14-16

Make no mistake… your enemy is watching your every move. The only path the enemy has into your life is the one YOU give him.

The Way of Life is the path that stays close to the Savior, and never leads you to a dead-end.

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Living With The Dream Thief

President Theodore Roosevelt once said:

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”

Joyce Meyer had this thought:

“A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere.”

Norman Vincent Peale wrote:

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.”

We all have dreams. We all have a desire to be successful. No one sets out in life to be the poster-child for mediocrity. So who is the real “dream thief”? After all, in Philippians, Paul says…

Bible“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

So why don’t we?

John tells us in I John that…

“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

So why don’t we live in victory?

Maybe it is because sometimes we allow our own mindset to hold us back. Sometimes — as the saying goes — “WE are our own worst enemy.” We diligently battle the enemy of our souls, but then turn around and speak things into existence out of fear or low self-esteem, forgetting that the power of the tongue is as much a force to be reckoned with as the greatest enemy we may face. Actually, sometimes, they are one and the same.

King Solomon understood this when he said in Proverbs:

“The tongue has the power of life and death.”

So, the next time you feel the urge to speak negatively about your current situation, do this:

Stop.

Think.

Speak a blessing instead.

Pastor Ron