Category: Through The Looking Glass

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Through The Looking Glass

The Cost of Grace

Through The Looking Glass2The movie A River Runs Through It is narrated by Norman… one of the main characters. He makes this statement:

“My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the universe. To him, all good things – trout as well as eternal salvation – came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy.”

While we rightly view grace as a free gift, grace always costs someone something.

As Norman said, grace comes by art… but art costs the artist years of practice and preparation.

Grace releases an indebted person from their debt… but costs the lender the debt forgiven.

Grace sets us free from sin and death… but cost Jesus the pain, humiliation, and death of the Cross.

The grace God offers cost us nothing, but cost Jesus everything.

But, He did it all because He wants to spend eternity with you.

THAT is a priceless grace worth sharing.

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Fresh Oil New Wine 2013 Living It Out In Real Time The Life of Faith The Mysteries of God The Secret Place Through The Looking Glass

Don’t Just Do Something… Stand There

Through the Looking GlassActor/director Clint Eastwood has made a successful career out of playing quiet, brooding characters. He once conveyed this little anecdote…

“My old drama coach used to say, ‘Don’t just do something… stand there.’”

In our society today, we are addicted to noise. Everywhere we go, our auditory senses are being constantly assaulted to the point that, for most of us, silence makes us uncomfortable.

What is it about being still that bothers us so much?

What is it about silence that scares us to death?

In Psalms, God gives us a command…

“Be STILL… and know that I am God”.

Could it be that, in the silence of stillness, we face God on His terms? Is it possible that, without distractions, all of our mental “hiding places” are stripped away, and we have to be honest about our need for Him?

Are you looking for a fresh revelation of God in your life? Don’t just do something….

Stand there.

Stand still.

And listen for His voice.

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America Miracles Out of Nowhere The Life of Faith The Mysteries of God Through The Looking Glass

Ironic, Isn’t It?

Through The Looking Glass2

Life is filled with irony…

John F. Kennedy once said that… “It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.” In saying this, he was echoing an old Latin saying: “”Si vis pacem, para bellum.” (“If you wish for peace, prepare for war.”)

Although hundreds of miles apart, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both passed away on the same day… July 4, 1826: The 50th Anniversary celebrating the day they both signed the Declaration of Independence.

In the attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, the only bullet that hit him actually ricocheted off of the presidential limousine, the vehicle designed to protect him.

However, the greatest irony of all is in the words of Jesus…

“Whoever will lose his life, for My sake, will find it.”

The irony of the Christian life is that, in order to have abundant life in Christ, we must be willing to give our lives away, and lay them down at the feet of Jesus. By surrendering our will and rights to Him, we find freedom we can find in no other place.

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America Healing Living It Out In Real Time The Life of Faith Through The Looking Glass

Faith In The Storm

Through The Looking Glass2

A couple of years ago, those of us in the Tennessee Valley and North Georgia witnessed a series of horrific tornadoes in our area. In the aftermath, we heard stories of destruction unlike anything most of us ever experienced. People from our church went to affected areas to assist in cleanup, and were stunned by the sheer devastation. Lives were uprooted like so many trees, and left so many people with lots of questions…

“Why did that tornado miss this house and that one, but wiped out mine?”

“Why did my family survive unscathed while others have lost everything?”

“Where was God when my life blew away with the wind?”

To be honest with you, I don’t know. But here is what I do know…

I know that God is a good God.

I know that the Bible says that rain falls on the just and unjust alike.

I know that, in spite of the storms, recent earthquakes in places like Guatemala, tsunamis in places like Japan and Indonesia, 9-11, Benghazi, and the current crisis in Syria… God is still on His throne.

And, I know that He still loves you.

Faith is what we celebrate during good times, and cling to during bad times. Faith is what gives us the strength to echo the words of Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives”.

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Fresh Oil New Wine 2013 Living It Out In Real Time The Big Event The Life of Faith The Mysteries of God Through The Looking Glass

Lessons from a Screen Door

Through The Looking Glass2Funny? I don’t remember moving to Seattle.

To my friends in the Seattle area, those of us in East Tennessee are beginning to be able to relate to you. This year, we have been inundated with rain. While a normal summer for us is hot and fairly dry, our temperatures have hardly gotten over 90 degrees this summer, largely due to the overcast weather and almost daily showers that have kept the temperatures down, and the humidity up.

All of this water reminds me of the lyrics of a Rich Mullins song:

“It’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine…
Faith without works… It just ain’t happening.”

Now, Rich could be considered one of the most successful artists in the history of Christian music. With songs like Awesome God and Sing Your Praise To The Lord, he left a huge mark on, not just the Christian music scene, but on the church at large. However, Rich understood, not just the significance of the lyrics he penned, but the importance of putting you money where your mouth is. He once stated that, when his royalty checks came in, his advisory board gave him a modest, fixed amount to live on. This amount was not based on an arbitrary calculation, but was based on a national average.

So, what became of the rest of his money. Stocks? Bonds? Savings, Market investments? Retirement?

Nope. His advisory board simply gave it away.

Rich once said that he had no idea how much he even made… what was important to him was following the example of Jesus by ministering to the poor. At the time of his death in 1997, he was living on a Navajo Indian Reservation, teaching music to the Navajo children. He understood that the trappings of success weren’t the true measure of success… following Jesus was.

The Bible says that, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20).

Why not find a way to put your faith into action today? Do something to show the world that your faith has a pulse.

This past June, a team from our church visited
the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
Here is a short video about what they did, and how they put feet to their faith…

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Living It Out In Real Time The Life of Faith Through The Looking Glass

Reality: Stranger Than Fiction

Through the Looking GlassGerman poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said that…

“Few people have the imagination for reality.”

It’s said that the truth is often stranger than fiction. Admittedly, reality is pretty strange for most of us right now.

We experience the problems in our economy…

We see the turmoil in the Middle East…

We feel for the people experiencing devastation and loss through tragedy and natural disasters…

Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard viewed it this way:

“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.”

And although it may seem like a little TOO MUCH experience for some, all of this should come as no surprise. After all, Jesus tells us that…

“In the world, you WILL have trouble.”

But then comes the catch:

“TAKE HEART! I have overcome the world!”

While the world gives us trouble, Jesus promises us peace. And THAT is the reality we can all experience… just by asking.

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America Fresh Oil New Wine 2013 Living It Out In Real Time The Big Event The Life of Faith The Mysteries of God Through The Looking Glass

Where Are You Supposed To Be?

Through the Looking GlassThroughout history, success or failure is often determined by someone or something being where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there. From sports to warfare to our personal lives, being where you are supposed to be can make a “destiny difference”.

On June 6, 1944, the success of Operation Overlord (what we commonly refer to as D-Day) can be largely attributed to the fact that personnel and equipment were where they were supposed to be, when they were supposed to be there. Conversely, the failure of Operation Market Garden just three months later can be blamed, in large part, on the inability to get men and supplies where they needed to be in order to support troop movements and actions. Although Operation Market Garden was actually a larger operation, it failed to meet it’s objective and expedite the end World War II.

In sports, the difference between a team winning and losing a game has often come down to a player not being in his proper place when he was needed. Super Bowls have been won and lost for this very reason.

Even in the Bible, a seemingly insignificant decision made a difference we can follow across generations.

Look at King David.

2 Samuel 11:1 says…

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war,
David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army.
They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.
But David remained in Jerusalem.

“At a time when kings go off to war”. This would imply that David, as king and leader of the army, should have been with his army, Instead, he decided to hang back, and relax in the confines of his palace in Jerusalem. While there was not necessarily anything inherently wrong with being where he was (in his palace), by not being in his proper place, it allowed him to fall into temptation, and subsequently sin with Bathsheba. Not being where he was supposed to be opened the door for sin, and changed the destinies of Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba, David himself, and an entire nation.

Maybe there is nothing inherently wrong with where you are… it’s just not where you are supposed to be. For me, as a burned-out Southern Baptist preacher in 1989, a perfectly acceptable place for me to be would have been at home with my family. However, where I was supposed to be was in Glorietta, New Mexico. Being there, and my subsequent encounter with the Holy Spirit as a result, changed my future, my ministry, and my life.

So where are you supposed to be? Get to that place of destiny, and the future God has in store for you could be something more amazing than you could have ever imagined.

This week…

Our annual conference, The Big Event, begins this week. We have an amazing lineup of speakers, and it could be that the place you are supposed to be is with us at Abba’s House. This could be the kairos moment you have been waiting for, but you won’t know if you are not there. If you would like more information, or to register for this free event, click here. I hope to see you there.

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Living It Out In Real Time The Bible The Life of Faith The Mysteries of God Through The Looking Glass

Too Small for Prayer?

Through the Looking GlassSo what has got your stomach in knots today?

What are you concerning yourself  with that  you have absolutely no control over?

Corrie Ten Boom was the only member of her family to survive the Nazi death camps of World War II. Having faced death on a regular basis, she once said…

“Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer
is too small to be made into a burden.”

What is it that you are worrying about right now?

Potted PlantYour job?

A relationship?

Your health?

Events unfolding in the world around you?

Whatever it is, the next question is…

Have you prayed about it?

We have a Heavenly Father who is concerned with every part of our lives, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. He reminds us repeatedly in His word of this fact.
In I Peter 5:7, we are told…

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

This is not just a nice thought or helpful suggestion from an ancient book — this is a present imperative command and promise from the living, breathing Word of God!

Still need more convincing?

Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
~ Psalm 55:22

If your situation is not big enough to pray about, it’s not big enough to worry about.

However, if you earnestly seek God about it, you may just find that He takes the worry away, and replaces it with His peace.

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Living It Out In Real Time The Mysteries of God Through The Looking Glass

Let The Moon Light Your Way

Through the Looking GlassFrom the beginning of time, the sun and moon have always served to light our way. While the sun lights the day, giving life and light to everything on the earth, the moon lights the night, reflecting the sun’s light toward the parts of the earth facing the cold and dark of space. Though not as bright as the sun, in the absence of any other light, it dispels the darkness and lights our way until the dawning of a new day.

This is an amazing picture of our relationship, not just to God, but to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sometimes, when our way seems darkest and we feel like we are a million miles from the presence of God, all we have to do is cling to the encouragement, love, direction, and “reflected light” coming from our Christian family. We can lean on the love of Jesus — shining through others– until the direct light of God is once again evident to us.

Are you having trouble seeing the Son?

Just remember… In the darkest of nights, there is a lot to be said for allowing the moon to light your way.

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Through The Looking Glass

The Blame Game

Through the Looking GlassYogi Berra once made this statement:

“I never blame myself when I’m not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn’t my fault that I’m not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?”

This seems to be the 21st century mindset: “I’ll blame others because this can’t be My fault!” We see this mentality rampant in the news, and in our society…

“All of these tornadoes are because of man-made global warming.”

“The reason I’ve had all of these problems in my life is because of my parents.”

“My client knows what he did was wrong, but can’t be held responsible. After all, he was under the influence of alcohol at the time.”

Sometimes we have to take responsibility for our wrong choices. Sometimes, bad things happen, and there is nothing we can do about that. All we can do is change the things we can change, and trust God regarding the things we can’t.

While Jesus did promise we’d face trouble, He also made us another promise…

“I have overcome the world”.

By trusting Him today, YOU can become an overcomer as well.