BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP




I'm pumped. BSF begins this week. In fact, for me tonight. This year's study is on Matthew.




Bible Study Fellowship is an international, non-denominational, intense study of the Word. We meet at 6:55 for greetings, announcements, and two hymns. Then we go to our small group discussions with 15-20 Christian men and a discussion leader. Then back to the auditorium for another hymn of worship and lecture from our teaching leader. It lasts 45 minutes, and I'm out of there at 8:45. We begin in September and wind down in Mid-May, with vacations at Christmas and around Easter.

It's really a blessing to get to meet weekly with 200 Christian men and to get their insights into scripture. Also, the homework keeps me in the Word on a daily basis. It sharpens my focus upward where it should be. (Now do you see the BSF connection with the picture?)

If you are fortunate to live in a large community that offers mens, womens, and mixed classes for young adults, then I'd urge you to enroll. You won't be sorry you did.

IF PLUTO AIN'T A PLANET, CAN THEY CHANGE MY 8TH GRADE SCIENCE GRADE?

Call me old fashioned, call me bullheaded, but I still think Pluto deserves its status as a planet. I mean, that's what they taught us. They also taught us that Christopher Columbus was a great man. An explorer who founded one great country. They also taught us to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

But before I go on about all the virtues and values that we were taught and reveal how really old I am, that's not the point of this entry. So what is? Well, as usual, it's about God.

God knows whether it's a planet or not. I mean He made it. That's another thing they taught us--use captial letters when referring to God. Not just the G; little g was reserved for the fake ones like Zeus, although they did allow a capital Z. But also when using the pronoun (He/Him). When and where we lost that, I don't know, but if you ever catch me not using the capital letter in any reference to God or He or Him, it's a mistake. I know some of the things we learned in school we're right, no matter who says they aren't now.

So what else does God know? How about the stars. Not only did He place them in the skies, He named each one. If that's not paying attention to the minutest of details, I don't know what is. How about the sparrows? the hairs on our heads? our hearts?

What a mighty God is He!! And I figure He doesn't even care what my 8th grade Science grade was.

THE GRUMBLER (OR HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TUGGED AT MY SHIRT TAIL)

Buddy Jim Crawford, one of my Band of SBS Brothers on Tuesday morning men's bible study at 6:30 AM, told me last night that he appreciated my input on an early morning experience that I had shared with the group. So, here it is.

At 6:05 AM I pulled out onto Cactus, a busy street that takes me to the 101 interstate. This morning there was one car I had to wait on. My natural inclination is to grumble: "Why did this car have to be there and force me to wait," would be my usual response or thought process. Before I could finish, I was interrupted. It was like I said in the title. It was the Holy Spirit trying to bring me back to reality.

"Are you kidding me?" was my next thought. Here I am, complaining about one car and missing the beautiful sunrise over the mountains. I'm missing the calm of a peaceful morning. I'm missing a chance to have audience with the Maker, the Creator.

I immediately went to prayer asking God to forgive me for my grumbling. Not just this morning, but for a lifetime of grumbling about drivers and weather and all kinds of negativity that I had expressed. And you know what? I felt so relieved. I felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I actually felt as if I had physically grown in my car as my head was touching the roof lining. Fellow brother Bob Peach jokingly told me I was only wishing that growth spurt happened. But he could identify. He knew, too.

And that's my story. I've thought of that experience more than once since Tuesday morning. And I thank God for placing that car on Cactus. And I thank the Holy Spirit for opening my eyes.

THERE HE GOES; HERE HE COMES-- IT'S ALL ABOUT LOCATION AND PERSPECTIVE

On two early evenings on the cruise ship, we watched the sun set over the ocean. I've enjoyed sunsets for ages.

It also saddens me somewhat. I guess I'm thinking that yet another day has come to end. A day that a gracious God has given me. Upon further examination I should ask myself, "What have I done for His glory, for His kingdom this day?" I'm afraid that would sadden me even more on most days.

But on the cruise (and at other times) I'm reminded that while we're seeing the end of a day, others in other parts of the world are seeing the sun rise as we see it set. Now, that's nothing that you didn't know, but it does emphasize location and perspective.

At a funeral once, I heard a pastor say that as we see our loved one passing to another shore and we're saddened at the loss, those on the other side are waiting to greet our loved one and are happy at his/her arrival. Of course that's only true if the deceased is a Christian.

For only separation and loneliness await the one who has rejected the gift of grace. For the one who never experienced salvation. For the one who did not believe, confess, repent and embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior.

It's not too late. As long as there is breath in the body. Seek Him today. You'll improve your eternal location, and you'll reap the benefits of a proper perspective in this life, too.

UP TO OUR NECK IN TROUBLE

Isn't that the way it is with all of us? Oh, not all the time. But we've been there. In hot water. We need someone to throw us that lifeline.

If you haven't read Don Piper's book Ninety Minutes in Heaven, you must. It's the true story of what happened to him when he was pronounced dead, confirmed dead by 3 ET's and one former Viet Nam medic. That same medic prayed him back to life. In those 90 minutes when he was dead, he went to Heaven.

And that's all I'm going to tell you. Ok , one more thing. It took him fifteen years to write or co-write the book. It took him two years to tell his wife about it.

Now, that is it. No more. But if you want to read about the power of prayer, specific prayer; if you want to read about God's grace and God's sovereignty, and many other things, then you must read it. It's simply one of those rare books that can alter your life.

Speaking of alter. A couple was getting married. The bride was ridiculously nervous. The preacher told her that she only had to keep three things straight. Number one, she would march down the aisle on the arm of her Father. Two, when she got to the altar, she would meet her husband to be. Her last act would be to give her husband the ring after she had received a ring from him.

She wanted to simplify, to put it to memory. She reduced it to three words; three words that had significance--Aisle, altar, him. And she kept repeating, "aisle, alter, him." And she probably did.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE?

And you better have one, just in case Larry King comes calling.

Maybe you missed it with Summer going on. Maybe I'm just tardy in my blogging, but here's what happened while you were basking in Old Sol.

Paris Hilton--she's the one on the right-- got arrested. I think it was for a DUI, but I can't seem to keep all the stars and starlets straight. It's getting to be like sport figures. Who get arrested almost as much as Hollywood types. Who get arrested almost as much as politicians. Well, I'm digressing, but if you really didn't pay much attention this Summer, then you missed a lot.

As I was saying, Paris Hilton--the one on the right--I think the one on the left is some guy called Kid Rock, but I could be wrong. I made a mistake in a recent blog entry saying that the ball used in soccer was called a soccer ball, even in the rest of the world. German-born friend Horst Bitzer and friend Pastor Rob Wagner informed me of my gaff this morning. It is called a football or futbol. But I'm digressing yet again.

So, Paris Hilton--the one on the right--got arrested. She got sent to jail. For something like 82 minutes, but I think that was Nicole Richie. Anyway(s), she got released, at least to house arrest where she was forced to stay in a 24-room mansion. Some legal or enforcement person objected, so she had to go back to jail for 24 hours or so. Cameras filmed her getting out of jail almost free as she cried to her awaiting mother. She went on the Larry King Show. Larry, who has been married 9 times. I know that 's yet another digression, but come on--9 times! I don't care how old you are, that's too many.

So Paris Hilton (I know you thought I was going to say, the one... well anyway(s)) tells Larry she found religion while she was incarcerated. Now, if that's the case, and honestly, I hope that it is, then bless her heart. While I'm not trying to judge, I suppose I doubted her when Larry asked her favorite bible verse. Her response,"Oh, I like them all." Again, if she does, if she's genuine, then I'm all for her. I think I heard that shortly after her release, she was at a party where drugs were in heavy use, and when she got out of a car at 4:00 AM, there was a cloud of thick marijuana smoke. But I may have combined two or more starlets. Kinda like football, futbol, and soccer.

So ok, what's my favorite verse? John 14:6 It's also the basis for this blog. And if you don't know about the most radical verse in all of scripture, then please look it up. You never know where Larry King might be lurking.

RISE AND BEND

"All rise!" should not just be for local, circuit, appelate, or Supreme Court judges.

"All rise!" should be for the truly maginficient--the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

"Every knee shall bend," should not be done in the form of curtsey to awaiting beaus.

"Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."

So we rise and we bow to show respect. Even when we sit, we drop our head in prayer.

Stationary doesn't get it. Because we're not on equal ground.

Well, there is justification. I love that word: just-as-if-I-never- sinned-cation.

So maybe we are equal. But we're separate. And that's the only way it is. So arise and bow. For He is worthy.