What Is Truth?

We have begun our new teaching series at Lawson Baptist, "Questions in the Key of Life." Last week we tackled the question, "Does God Exist?" This week we approach the question, "What Is Truth?"
While considering how to approach to the message, I couldn't help but think of the old Johnny Cash song, What Is Truth? The last verse of that song is very sobering:
The young man speaking in the city square
is trying to tell somebody that he cares
Yeah, the ones that you're calling wild
are going to be the leaders in a little while
This old world's wakin' to a new born day
and I solemnly swear that it'll be their way
You better help the voice of youth find
"What is truth."
Cash wrote that song several years ago and the youth he was writing about then have matured and thousands of them are currently involved in careers that affect us all. Some are in the business world, some are teaching our children and still others are dictating policy that we all have to live by.
Here's the kicker...our youth today will someday soon be taking their place in this world. It is extremely important that we teach them now what truth is. Truth is not found in a man-made philosophy or a scientific theory. It is not even found in religion. Real truth is found in the person of Jesus Christ.
If we are to believe recent statistics, more and more people are questioning or even outright denying the diety of Jesus. Our young people are following the leads of those closest to them and often that is Mom or Dad. Yet Mom and Dad don't see the neccessity of raising their children in the church.
It's been said the whoever wants the next generation the most will get them. How badly do we want them grounded in the Word of God?

Questions, Questions

Human beings long for a conversation with God. There are so many questions that we want answers to. That is why so many people anxiously read their horoscopes in the daily newspaper. Thousands of others frequently consult palm readers and other psychic avenues.
Honestly, if you could ask God one question, what would it be? Would you ask Him a deep, personal question or would you use it to ask something that would benefit you down the road?

The truth of the matter is that we can come to God at anytime and ask Him anything. In our spiritual walk, so many questions come to mind. In the coming weeks at Lawson Baptist Church, we will be looking at some questions that man has asked God since creation. Here is a list of the questions we will be considering in this new series:

1. Does God exist?
2. What is truth?
3. Who am I?
4. Why am I here?
5. What happens when I die?
6. Are all religions equal?

These are some very penetrating questions. We will see how God answers them in His Holy Word.

Here's a question for you right now. Why not come to LBC in the coming weeks and lets consider these questions together.

All Out

If you know me, then you know that I am a huge baseball fan. I'm excited that the Texas Rangers are once again in post season play. Hopefully, this year they'll win the World Series.

Last night I watched what I believe to be the most exciting one day of Major League baseball that I have ever seen. The fate of several teams to extend their season came down to the very last day. Monumental collapses by the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves stood in stark contrast to exciting wins by the Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals. And the Rangers had to win their last game to gain home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Really riveting stuff.

What I admire is how so many of these athletes give everything they have to help their team. But every once in a while you find someone who prefers the spotlight to fall on them.

On the final day of the season, New York Mets infielder Jose Reyes held a slight lead over Milwaukee's Ryan Braun for the National League batting title. Reyes told his manager that if he got a hit in his first at-bat, to remove him from the game. In the first inning Reyes successfully bunted and, true to his word, was pulled from the game. He won the batting title but the lost the respect of many people.

In 1941 Ted Williams, my favorite player of all time, faced the same situation. When his Red Sox team entered the final game of the season, his batting average stood at .3995, technically a .400 batting average. It had been several years since anyone had batted .400 and no one has done it since. His manager offered to let Williams sit out that day which was a doubleheader and guarantee his incredible batting average.

Williams wouldn't hear of it. He played in both gsames and finished with an average of .406, a mark that no one has come close to since. Williams beleived in going "all out." He believed in giving everyhing he had until his last chance.

I believe that is how God would want us to live as Christians. It is easy to let up, to find excuses for not doing what we are called by Him to do. And what are we called to do? In the Gospel of Matthew we are instructed to go into all the world and win them for Christ. And Paul instructs us to "press on" for the Lord.

How can we give Him anything less than our best? He gave us His life!

An IMPACT Church

For the past few weeks in our Sunday evening services we have been in the book of Acts as we consider the foundation of the church. In order to be a church of impact in our area we need to be fully devoted to the cause of Jesus Christ.
During this study we have focused on six key lifestyle areas which were clearly evident in the early church. These six values should be a part of Lawson Baptist Church as well. Based on Brian Bill's challenge to the Pontiac Bible Church, here is an overview of our IMPACT statement.

*Instruction in God's Word - we need to get the Word of God into our hearts and our heads.
*Mobilizing for Ministry - We are to use our God-given abilities for ministry.
*Praying with Faith - We are to pray earnestly and expect God to respond.
*Adoring God in Worship - We are to worship God reverently and with rejoicing hearts.
*Caring for other Believers - Show love for those around us by giving of ourselves and resources.
*Telling others the Gospel - Boldly tell others what Christ has done for us.

We are not called to be "Lone Rangers" as Christians. Like the church in Acts 2, we are created to be in community with others. God made us that way. We are called to go into the world to spread the Good News.

Slow Down!

Does life seem more hectic now than it did ten years ago...five years ago...even in the last year? More demand is being placed on our time and in order to keep pace we purchase every device offered to modern man. Cellular telephones, fax machines, and computers are the norm for the busy American. But they can sometimes be more trouble than they're worth.
It was reported that a businessman from the Ukraine bought every member of his staff their own pager. On his way back to the office to disperse the gifts, all 50 pagers were activated at the same time. The commotion frightened the man who promptly veered his automobile into a lamp post. Later, checking the message on the pagers he found "Congratulations on a successful purchase!" With the strains of daily life constantly pulling at us, it is difficult at times to find ourselves alone with God. We need to focus our attention every day on God and His word to give us direction as we face each day's challenges and opportunities.

Vanishing Virtues-Endurance

Is endurance, or persistence, a vanishing virtue in American today? It seems as if too many people find it easier to give up when faced with opposition or difficulty.
Paul tells us in Romans 5:3 to rejoice in our sufferings. If we are doing the work the Lord has called us to do, we are going to face problems. You can bank on it. Satan is not going to sit by as we do kingdom work. It's against his nature.
What if Moses had given up because Pharaoh threatened him? What if David had refused to prepare to become king because Saul wanted him dead? Or consider Paul giving up the ministry after he tired of being run out of towns and surviving shipwrecks. As Christians there is no shortage of issues we need to fight against.
Are you close to quitting? Don't do it.
Are you tired of trying to live for Christ? Hang in there.
Do you feel like giving up on the Christian life? Roll up your sleeves and get back to work.
Remember, you are never a failure until you give up.

Vanishing Virtues-Usefulness

We have just concluded another successful Vacation Bible School at Lawson Baptist. An average of 86 people attended each evening, including 59 young people. Good food, good fun and good friends all combined for another memorable VBS.
As I think back on the week, it ties in perfectly with this weeks sermon in our Vanishing Virtues series. Usefulness, another way of saying obedience, is where we shine the spotlight this week.
Once again, so many LBC people used their abilities for the Lord to reach the children with the gospel of Christ. While only a handful of the 27 adults we averaged during the week were teachers, so many others used the talents they have to serve Jesus and bless the children.
I firmly believe that the vast majority of Americans want their lives to count for something positive. We may never be a professional athlete, write the great American novel or become a famous celebrity. But God has endowed each of us with certain traits and talents that we are to use for the purpose of leading others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
God bless everyone who let their lights shine in service to the Savior this week at VBS. And thanks to the parents of the children for entrusting them to us during this special time.

Vanishing Virtues-Contentment

Two little teardrops were floating down the river of life. One teardrop asked the other, "Who are you?"
"I am a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him. But who are you?"
The first teardrop replied, " I am a teardrop from the girl who got him."
Life is like that. We cry over the things we can't have, but we might cry twice as hard if we had received them. Paul had the right idea when he said in Philippians 4:12, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation..."
May I ask a personal question? What is the one thing that keeps you from experiencing happiness? Is it financial? Is is something in your professioanl life? Or could it be a relationship problem? Could you be happy if you don't get what you feel you need to have a contented life?
Contentment isn't denying one's feelings about wanting and desiring what they can't have, but instead is exhibits a freedom from being controlled by those feelings. Contentment is knowing that God is in control and is bigger than any problems we encounter.
If we have Christ, we have everything we need.

Vanishing Virtues-Godliness

It seems too often that we bite off more than we can chew. Even worse, there are the times when we're the ones being bitten.
Such was the case with a fisherman in Russia who was showing off his catch to his fishing buddies. Pretending to kiss the fish, the pike bit the man's nose and refused to let go. The man's friends tugged to no avail until they decided to cut the fish's body from it's head. However, it took several hours for doctors at a nearby hospital to open the jaws of the pike to free the fisherman's bloody nose.
We can learn from this. Those who choose to follow their own will soon discover they have bitten off more than they chew. Hopefully, they'll turn to the Lord before it's too late. Godliness means taking God seriously. All too often we walk down paths we know are not the way of the Lord. We make light of what we should weep about.
Let's take on the stamp of God. People will take notice. Otherwise we might go around with a bloody nose!

Under God

This Sunday we will continue our series Vanishing Virtues. I consider patriotism to be a virtue. It disturbs me to see so much anti-American activity that is occurring within our country. This past week a homeowner in Ohio was threatened with a lawsuit by his neighbors for flying the American flag. This is not the first time such action has been attempted in recent weeks.
Although such action is enough to make patriots angry, what is more troubling to me is the effort by so many to remove God from every area of our government.
You may recall recently that as part of the opening ceremony of the U.S. Open golf tournament, the NBC television network showed a video of children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Someone at the network intentionally deleted the portion in which the words "under God" were recited.
This past April, Senator Harry Reid recited the Pledge and he, too, omitted the words "under God." Also, in 1956 President Eisenhower signed into law the phrase "In God We Trust" as our national motto, However, our current president on more than one instance stated that our motto is "E Pluribus Unum" (from many, one.)
We would do well to remember the promise of II Chronicles 7:14: If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

Vanishing Virtues-Honesty

This Sunday we begin a new morning series entitled Vanishing Virtues. We will begin with the subject of honesty.
The story has been told of a bank employee who was due for a promotion. One day at lunch the president of the bank, who happened to be standing behind the employee in the cafeteria, saw him slip two pats of butter under his slice of bread so they wouldn't be seen by the cashier.
That little act of dishonesty cost him his promotion. Just a few pennies' worth of butter made the difference. The bank president reasoned that if an employee cannot be trusted in little things he cannot be trusted at all.
I'm afraid that honesty is vanishing from many Americans lives. Too often we see our politicians lie about cheating on their spouses or taking money in dishonest ways. Sadly, we are seeing that happening more and more with those in the ministry. We see athletes faking something in a game to get a favorable call from an official.
I am convinced that God will not, in fact He cannot, bless Christians who participate in such activity. Wherever we find ourselves...on the job, away from home, anywhere there is temptation...if no one else may catch us, God is watching. Don't lose your blessing

Father's Day

On this Father's Day I was reading Paul's Second Letter to Timothy in which the apostle commends Timothy's mother and grandmother for being a godly influence on the young preacher. It occurred to me that what Timothy experienced growing up is very similar to so many American young people today.
Where is the father? Is the dad being the spiritual leader God has required of men? Thank God for moms who take up the slack and make sure their children are receiving instruction in the Word. But guys, it's us, the men, who should be leading our children in the things of God.
A while back I found some interesting statistics. Digest these numbers...
1. If both your parents worshipped with you regularly while you were growing up, there's an 80% liklihood you'll worship God regularly as an adult.
2. If only your mother worshipped regularly with you, there's only a 30% probability that you'll worship regularly as an adult.
3. If only your father worshipped regularly with you, the liklihood that you'll worship regularly as an adult increases to 70%.
Fathers have an enormous impact on their children's faith and values. One of your most important ministries is worshipping with your children!

Counting Blessings

The family and I went through a very trying time this past week. For four days we suffered without air conditioning in our house. The compressor in our unit crashed and of course the warranty expired six months ago!
We (okay, I) complained every day that passed without the repair guy getting the thing fixed. We moved in temporarily with my mother-in-law and even though she normally keeps her house at a higher temperature that we usually do, it still felt good compared the mid 80's our house was experiencing.
Then reality struck. As I watched the news events coming out of Arizona as thousands of acres were engulfed in flames, I quickly became very grateful for the minor irritation we were having to endure. Hundreds and hundreds of homes were being lost as the fires raged out of control. At least I had still had a home.
The old hymn Count Your Blessings became very real to me. The songs dares us to name our blessings "one by one." There is no way I can do that because the blessings God has given me cannot be numbered. They are immeasurable and I am so very thankful.
The air is back on at my house and life is good. I pray that next time one of these "tragedies" that happens to disrupt my way of life will only make me thankful all the sooner.

Standing For Something

There's a country song that states we must stand for something because if we don't we'll fall for anything. Taking a stand, though, can be difficult.
Just ask Krystle Newquist. When she was 14-years old, Krystle decided she would not be a hypocrite regarding her stand on alcohol. Her reason was a personal one because her grandfather died as the result of alcoholism. The problem was that her softball team in Lemont, Illinois was sponsored by a local tavern. Citing her disapproval of alcohol and the effects it can have on individuals and their families, she refused to wear the jersey displaying the name of the tavern.
League officials would not allow Krystle to play wearing a jersey without the sponsor's name, nor would they let her transfer to another team. Rather than compromise her beliefs, she cheered her team on from the bench.
Such wisdom from a child! If only adults could learn from her how to stand for what they believe in. Many Christians today are tossing aside their beliefs in order to keep from rocking the boat. Maybe if the boat were rocked more often we would find more people willing to stand beside us.

Character is Everything

Every year I am drawn to the National Football League draft. College players from across the nation anxiously await to hear their name called for a chance to play professional football while earning a lot of money.
This year's event took on a little extra meaning for this diehard Arkansas Razorback fan. Hog quarterback Ryan Mallett was expected to be a high selection because of his strong arm and his familiarity of the professional offensive system.
However, it didn't exactly happen as quickly as I, as well as other fans, expected it to happen. And I'm sure it didn't happen soon enough for Mallet as he fell to the third round, the 74th overall pick to the New England Patriots.
This is probably a good opportunity to talk about patience but I see another issue that evolves from this episode. It is a prime learning opportunity for us all to see how character is important. Whether it's true or just a perception, Mallett's off the field activities hurt him in the draft and probably cost him millions of dollars as well.
Nothing is more important than your character. You may be rich, you may be famous, you may be the most successful person in your chosen field but if you have no character then you really haven't achieved much. Also, if you continue to do the right things in life then you never have to worry about remembering what you did!

Woe Is Me!

As I write this, I am in the process of trying to get over the "South Arkansas Crud" for lack of a better name. I thought I had already survived the mess but it came back with a vengeance. And to top it off it had to be the week of Easter with me scheduled to preach twice Easter morning.
Why Me??!!
Occasionally we feel everything is happening to us, even when we feel we'vedone nothing to deserve it. Such was the case when 22-year old Daniel Sneed spent a week in a Los Angeles County jail. La Mirada prosecutors apparrently erred when they charged him with ignoring a loitering fine. Several days later, his bank produced a canceled check which seemed to exonerate him. However, Sneed still spent another two days in jail before being released. Even his own father, a police lieutenant, was helpless in Sneed's ordeal.
It's easy to think no one believes you or cares for you when everything seems to be crashing around you. David understood the feeling. He was fleeing for his life from his own son when he called to God for help. The same God that cared for David and heard his prayer is the same God that is concerned for you. Ask and He will "contend" for you according to Psalm 35:23.

Lying Lips

When American businessman Armand Hammer died at the age of ninety-two he was hailed as a great man and confidant of world leaders. However it wasn't long until the truth emerged. It was reported that Hammer got started early in his career laundering money for the Soviet Union. He managed to make money off a string of broken marriages. He allowed his father to go to prison for a botched abortion that he, himself, had performed. And when his brother died, he filed a $667,000 claim against the $750,000 estate rather that giving it to his nephews and his deceased brother's widow who was living in a nursing home. And on top of it all, he hired a string of ghostwriters to write false autobiographies about his life. No one bothered to come to his funeral, including his own son. His nurse, a chauffeur and a few other personal employees had to be pressed into service as pallbearers. Pitiful, huh? Psalm 120:2 says, "Save me, O Lord, from lying lips." Falsehoods worked for the most part while Hammer was alive but it caught up with him at his death. More importantly, though, is that he never fooled God. Lying gets us into trouble sooner or later. I mean, let's be honest.!

Let God Have Control

As humans are apt to do, we often try to take matters into our own hands. Unfortunately, that can lead to disaster. Seventy-six year old Bob Olrich was faced with a life-changing situation. His wife's cancer had spread from her colon to her lymph nodes. On more than one occasion the family was called to her bedside, certain she would not last through the night. After watching her suffer, Olrich decided to take the matter into his own hands, fatally shooting her. To add more tragedy to the incident, an autopsy indicated his wife was cancer-free when her life was ended. Why not let God have control of our lives? He is the Author of life itself. We cannot begin to understand the wisdom and grace of our Lord. He can heal us and keep us from the grave, but that is for Him to decide, not us. Let Him have control of every situation.

Look Up

Distress. A time of danger or trouble. That's how Webster defines a frightening ordeal that many of us have experienced. Or have we?
Hopefully, we will never find ourselves in the predicament Nick Williams of San Francisco found himself in back in December of 1998. While skiing in California, Williams got lost in a blinding snowstorm and for two days and nights he fought to survive in freezing temperatures while trying to walk in snow drifts that were waist-deep. He later said he survived by moving continuously, thinking of his family...and praying.
Too often the only time the Lord hears from us is when we are in trouble. Make no mistake, He wants to hear from us during the difficult times but He wants to hear from us during the calm times as well. Would we be pleased to hear from our children only when they are in trouble? God hears our distress calls but He wants to be more than a life preserver in troubling times.
At Lawson Baptist, we are beginning a three-week series entitles When the Brook Dries Up. We'll study a difficult time in the life of the prophet Elijah and learn how to handle those times when God seems to be distant. Join us.

Remainder of the Recipe

I want to take time to give you the rest of the list of things you can do to make 2011 a great year.
Without further ado, here goes:
14. Don't compare you life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
17. Forgive everyone of everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. God heals everything - but you have to ask Him.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for ________________. Today I accomplished______________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it.
Have a very blessed year. See you Sunday!

A Recipe for 2011

I was recently given this recipe for the new year. It's floated around for a while and you may have seen it. If so, rededicate yourself to this list. If you haven't seen it, you'll be cahllenged by what this list has to offer.

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My purpose is to _____________today and I am thankful for ________________.
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds and walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You are not so imporant that you have to win every arguement. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

That's enough for now. I'll finish the list later. For now concentrate on these.