Let someone else pay the "stupid tax"

A certain project has allowed me to meet often with three very wise men over the last couple months. I wish I had been writing down many of their words of wisdom. Recently one of them said, "Let someone else pay the stupid tax." It was his way of saying, "Learn from the experience of others." Read books, ask advice, observe the successes and failures of others. Why should we always learn the hard way?

How about you, heard any good advice lately?

The Soon Return of Jesus

The Bible ends with a promise and a prayer.

Jesus promises, "I am coming soon." The only appropriate response to His promise is our prayer, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." (See Revelation 22:20)

After 2000 years how do we make sense of that? In what way is His return soon? Perhaps this helps. When Jesus was on Earth, He compared His second coming to the final stages of pregnancy (Mark 13:8). I remember what it was like for my wife to be in the final stages of pregnancy. Three times we have experienced it. With each pregnancy, we eventually got to that “any day now” stage. There were several common characteristics.

• Our bags were packed, at least sort of.


• Every appointment was scheduled tentatively.


• We knew there was going to be some pain, before the joy.


• And we were living each day, moment, with this one event foremost in our minds.

It wasn’t like we could predict the birthday, nevertheless we knew that day was near, at hand, inevitable.

The nearness of Jesus' return should impact everything we do. We should act in such a way that we wouldn't be embarrassed if Jesus were to come back within the hour. We should treat others as if Jesus were joining us shortly. We should cultivate our relationship with Jesus in such way that when we see Him face to face we greet Him as the central figure of our life rather than approach Him as we would a distant relative.

God is looking for people with an “any day now” mentality. "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."

I'm Curious

Well we just wrapped up the Revelation for Dummies series. What stood out for you? I'd enjoy hearing what has made a difference in your thinking (or better yet, living)?

Singing the Songs of Revelation

OK, here's a cool thing. Our worship pastor, David Toney, has written 7 new worship songs taken directly from the songs found in the Book of Revelation. He's already introduced a few in church, but on Sunday March 25, we will sing all of them. I will also be speaking on the theme of "worship in revelation" and using it to review this amazing series we've been in.

Also, that morning the whole message series (10 messages) will be available on CD and the set will include a separate CD with David's 7 songs.

Afternoon at the Park

Cindy and I enjoyed a much needed day off today. Marriage is an investment of time. The best conversations are unforced. I'm a fortunate man.

Fully Engaged Believers

It was a very strange and exciting period of my life. It was the only time that words like flatware and stemware frequently rolled off my lips. I referred to the woman of my dreams not with an English word like friend, girlfriend, or wife; but rather with the French term, fiancé. Of course, I’m talking about being engaged.

And from the moment on something happened. All of a sudden there was one central focus: our wedding day. Every plan was made, every action pursued, in light of this future event. It was as if there was a countdown clock in our heads. We were living with a date on the calendar.

And while for most people who are or have been married the time of engagement is relatively short, still it becomes the perfect analogy for all of our lives. Here’s what I mean. As I read Revelation, it seems that one of the very first events on the schedule when get to Heaven is a wedding reception. The Bible calls it the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.

Revelation 19.7 says, Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

So, if in heaven we celebrate our relationship with Jesus through a wedding, it means that right now, as believers, we are engaged. (It doesn’t matter if you are married or single, from heaven’s perspective you are engaged). And if we, as God’s people, are engaged to His Son, then the purpose of this time on earth is for us is to get ready for our forever relationship with Him. Notice again the words in Rev. 19.7, his bride has made herself ready. WE NEED AN ENGAGED MINDSET.

Let me suggest 4 things you could do to get ready.

· Say “Yes,” to Jesus’ proposal. He’s asked you to make a forever after commitment to Him.
· Be captivated by your relationship with Him. Make every decision with that future date in mind.
· Don’t flirt with the world. How tragic to get to heaven and realize we had misplaced our heart, passions, and affections in this life.
· Watch for His arrival. Someday the Groom will come that we might live forever with Him.

It's time for some of you guys out there to come to church

No offense. I just thought this was clever.