Three Habits to Prevent "Out of Sight, Out of Mind"

You’re familiar with the phrase, “out of sight, out of mind,” right? It summarizes a danger we all face - if friends moves away, will we just forget them? That does happen.

Or what about the challenges military families experience during deployments?  If a spouse is going to be gone for three months, or six months, or longer, how do the families at home keep those deployed close to their hearts when they’re not present physically? Marriages  have been wrecked when out of sight led to out of mind.

But the statement “out of sight, out of mind,” is not an inevitability, but only a danger. I have a dear friend I’ve known for over 40 years. In the last 20 years, he’s been “in sight” exactly three times, for only a week at a time. But we work hard to stay “in mind” through weekly phone calls and even more frequent emails and texts.

Iranian Pastor Released!

In February I posted a request that we pray for an Iranian pastor who was facing execution for his faith. You can read the story again here.

Glory to God and thanks to everyone who prayed all all over the world: this faithful brother has been released! Read the story in World Magazine here.

But let's not forget, to quote the original post:  

As we pray for Pastor Nadarkhani's release, let's also pray for his witness and his courage. And for our own. Because Christ is worthy--to live for and to die for.

What Would You Say About Jesus?

So the big political conventions are over, and our nation can finally get back to something really important – football! (Kidding. A little...)

What I figured out about the convention speakers of both parties is that there were two basic themes: 1) our guy is great, or 2) the other guy is terrible. (Or if you are the guy, you say, “I am great, and the other guy is terrible.”)

The big speeches made me want to say, as Jean-Baptiste Massillon did at the funeral of the self-absorbed Louis XIV: “Only God is great!”

I got to thinking, what if I had been given five minutes to speak at one of those conventions. (Clint Eastwood was given only a few minutes, and made quite an impact with his extemporaneous speech and an empty chair.) If I had the chance, what would I say about the Lord Jesus? What about His character would I recommend? What admirable qualities would I lift up?

How about you? If you had only a few sentences to speak for the Savior, would you be able say, “My Jesus is great, and here’s what I love about Him…”

Seriously, what would you say?

Can I Get a Witness?

“Can I get a WITNESS?” That’s what the preacher yells when he wants to emphasize a point.  You're supposed to “testify” to the truthfulness of his message—say “Amen!” “Preach it!” or “That’s right!”  also works.

But being a witness is a bit more than agreeing with the preacher. A witness is somebody who tells the truth about what they know, first-hand. 

Christians are called to be witnesses to their Savior. Jesus said His disciples would be His witnesses all the way to the “uttermost” parts of the world (Acts 1:8).

The Greek word for “witness” is martus. It sounds like “martyr,” somebody who will stand up for the truth even at the cost of his life.

Have you ever needed somebody to back you up, verify your story, clear your name? What if you were on trial for your life, and the testimony of a witness could exonerate you? Can I get a witness? Please?

We know Christians are supposed to be witnesses for Christ. But did you know Jesus is a witness? Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood (Revelation 1:5).

So how is Jesus a witness?

• He is a witness to the world’s sin. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. John 7:7
• He is a witness to eternity. Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. John 8:14.
• He is a witness to Himself.  I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me. John 8:18

Christ is the faithful witness – martyr – to the truth. And in martyrdom, He brings an exonerating witness for His own. In a trial for your eternal life, His testimony means everything.

Tim Tebow: Who's Number One?

As a Denver Bronco fan, this has been quite a week. The arrival of Peyton Manning and the departure of Tim Tebow for the New York Jets has given me plenty of heartburn.

Manning is one of the all-time greats to play the game. Any Bronco fan could be enthusiastic about seeing this Pro Bowl quarterback running Denver’s offense. On the other hand, Tim Tebow is one of the most exciting athletes I’ve ever watched, and he led a dud team into the playoffs last year. His outspoken Christian faith makes me want to see him succeed even more.

But it’s just sports, right? In the end, it doesn’t really matter. (This is what I tell myself while I’m yelling at the T.V. during football season.)

It’s Tebow’s faith, his witness, that means more to me. And one of the curious things the media has done is label him “polarizing.” For example, let me quote three stories that popped up when I was googling his trade to the Jets:

The polarizing quarterback was traded from the DenverBroncos to the Jets for a fourth- and sixth-round pick in this year's upcoming NFL draft.

Or here’s a headline from bleacherreport.com: Tim Tebow to Jets: Denver Broncos Part Ways with and Trade Polarizing QB

And from the Washing Post: Owner Shahid Khan certainly did, telling general manager Gene Smith to explore a trade for the polarizing quarterback.

So let me get this straight: you have professional athletes who are indicted for rape and selling drugs, who go to prison for dog fighting, who are publicly intoxicated, use foul language, father multiple children out of wedlock, and then you have one squeaky-clean kid who is outspoken about loving Jesus, and he is polarizing? (Excuse me for raising my voice again.)

Well, on the other hand, it’s true. Jesus is polarizing. You can’t be lukewarm about Him. He insists on being number one. He’s not a genie in a bottle or a security blanket. He demands and deserves to be number one. Like Paul said, …that in everything he might be preeminent (Colossians 1:18).

Jesus said it about Himself:

‎"Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.  ‎ For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." Luke 12:51-23, ESV

 The issue for everyone is not who’s playing quarterback, but who is Lord of your life.

Iranian Pastor Condemned to Death - Please Pray!

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has received execution orders for refusing to recant his faith in Christ. You can read more here, and here, and here.

Pastor Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old father of two, was arrested over two years ago on charges of apostasy. Now it seems he could be hanged at any time. He apparently loves Jesus more than his life.

Please pray for him and for his family.

People choose to live and die for so many unworthy things. They throw their lives away for perverted pleasures, drugs, cults, adrenaline rushes, hopeless causes, violent gangs, and contemptible people.

But Christ is worthy. He is more than worthy of our love, worship, obedience, and of our death, if He so chooses. The first followers of Christ thought suffering for Him was a privilege. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name (Acts 5:41, ESV).

As Paul waited for his own execution orders to come down, he told the church at Philippi that his imprisonment was a cause for rejoicing because Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice (Phil. 1:18, ESV). So for him, both release and execution had their advantages. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Phil. 1:21, ESV).

He even told the church that suffering was not just a cross to bear, but a gift: For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake (Phil. 1:29, ESV).

As we pray for Pastor Nadarkhani's release, let's also pray for his witness and his courage. And for our own. Because Christ is worthy--to live for and to die for.

Tim Tebow and Adorning the Doctrine

Some of you are probably sick of Tim Tebow, especially if you’re not into football or not a Denver Bronco fan.

But there’s more to the Tebow story than football. Today’s a big game, and if the Broncos are humiliated and Tebow plays terrible, we might miss what’s more important than football.

I read an amazing story by a cynical sports writer from ESPN about Tebow. I hope you’ll check it out yourself. Rick Reilly starts his article this way:

I've come to believe in Tim Tebow, but not for what he does on a football field, which is still three parts Dr. Jekyll and two parts Mr. Hyde.

No, I've come to believe in Tim Tebow for what he does off a football field, which is represent the best parts of us, the parts I want to be and so rarely am.

Who among us is this selfless?(Read the rest of the story here).

Made me think of Titus 2:10: “that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” We adorn the doctrine, and admire Christ, when we live out what we say we believe.

I think we need to pray for Tim Tebow—not for football success but for faithful, unsullied witness.