Leaving Behind the Decade of Hell

I simply can’t believe that we are at the end of 2009. Each year seems to be flying by faster and faster. It is even more astounding to me that we are about to enter into a new decade. Ten years have already come and gone in the new millennium—wow!

Entering 2010, and a new decade, has caused me to seek the Lord in prayer to a greater degree than usual. I just finished reading the cover article, “The Decade From Hell”, in the December issue of Time magazine. The article listed neglect, greed, self-interest and deferral of responsibility as the causes for some of the most troubling developments of the decade. In fact, the writer says, “In large part, we have ourselves to blame.”

Listed below is a summation of the events that transpired over the last decade:

• Threat of the Y2K computer meltdown to start the 21st century.
• 2000: Torrential rains and flooding leave more than a million homeless in Africa.
• U.S. presidential election ends in chaos and is resolved by the Supreme Court.
• 2001: Nineteen Islamic terrorists fly hijacked jets into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000.
• Enron files for Chapter 11, the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history to date.
• 2002: Beltway snipers strike, killing at least 10 people in the D.C. area.
• Congress authorizes U.S. military action against Iraq.
• 2003: Power failure blacks out millions in U.S. and Canada.
• President Bush declares “Mission Accomplished” as insurgency grows in Iraq.
• Earthquake in Iran kills more than 26,000.
• 2004: Tsunami kills more than 200,000 people in about a dozen countries in Southeast Asia and Africa.
• 2005: Hurricane Katrina strikes New Orleans; levees break; more than 1,500 are killed.
• Earthquake in Kashmir kills some 80,000.
• 2006: Charles Carl Roberts IV kills five girls at a Pennsylvania Amish school, then himself, in one of three school shootings in a week.
• Gas tops $3.00 a gallon.
• 2007: Student at Virginia Tech guns down 32, then himself.
• Senator Larry Craig pleads guilty to disorderly conduct after airport-bathroom gay sex sting.
• 2008: Oil hits record $147 a barrel.
• Dow drops nearly 34% for the year, the worst decline since 1931; S&P is down 38.5%, its worst year since 1937.
• 2009: Chrysler and General Motors declare bankruptcy; government becomes part owner.
• Bernie Madoff pleads guilty to fraud worth an estimated $65 billion.
• World Health Organization says H1N1 flu is global pandemic.
• Unemployment rate hits 10.2%.

I concur. Many, not all, of the problems we have experienced in our nation over the last ten years have been self-inflicted. If it is true that we have just gone through the decade of hell, I want to pose this question:

Have we just experienced the decade of hell because America has continued to turn away from God?

When the people of a nation rebel against and forsake God, they do so to their own demise. For example, after the building of the temple was complete, the Lord warned Solomon about the consequences of Israel’s disobedience. 2 Chronicles 7:19-22 says, "But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 22 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.' "

I am sure many Americans are ready to leave behind the “Decade of Hell”. However, before we do, let’s learn some valuable lessons from the last ten years. If neglect, greed, self-interest and deferral of responsibility continue to be the character traits of American citizens, then we should not expect the negative symptoms to diminish.

I pray the events of the last decade will cause us to humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, seek the Lord and pray. If so, maybe the next ten years can be the decade from heaven. I sure hope so.

Happy New Year!

The Reason it is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Every year during the holiday season I spend extra time thinking about what makes Jesus Christ the most unique and magnificent figure in human history. As I drive through town, I see church signs declaring: Jesus is the reason for the season. Amazing songs admired for generations such as Joy to the World, Silent Night, and my favorite, O Holy Night, can be heard on just about every radio station. Andy Williams could not have sung it more perfectly. The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. I am a firm believer that Jesus is what makes this portion of the year so special.

In this blog, I want to list five reasons the birth of Christ distinguishes him from any human, prophet, religious figure, or person who claimed to be the messiah that has ever lived.

My top five reasons for believing Jesus is the Son of God are:

1. His Divine Birth

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:30-35

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden, they forever tainted humanity with their sin. Every human born after Adam and Eve’s rebellious act would now be born into sin. God had to create a new lineage of humanity by starting with a human that was not born of sin. God accomplished this through the immaculate conception of his son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one born with a divine nature because the Holy Spirit conceived him.

2. His Divine Love

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Very rarely will someone die for a good person, but Christ died to save sinners. His love is revolutionary because it changes the human heart to live a life of righteousness. More than creeds to follow, Jesus offers a transformational personal love relationship with every person who will open their heart to him.

3. His Divine Mission

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

The wages of sin is death and eternal separation from God in hell. We have all fallen short of the glory of God and sinned; therefore, we all are destined to suffer the horrific consequences of our actions. I don’t blame God. I wouldn’t allow sinners into the perfect place of heaven either. However, Jesus’ main mission on earth was to redeem mankind, and save them from eternal damnation.

4. His Divine Power

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. Acts 10:38

If someone is going to claim to be the Son of God, they better have the evidence to back it up. Jesus proved he was the Messiah by performing many documented signs, wonders and miracles. His whole life on earth was about helping and healing people. What a great legacy to leave behind for others to emulate.

5. His Divine Book

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21

To make sure we would never forget the greatest event in human history, the birth of Jesus Christ, God made sure his holy servants recorded the Scriptures. The Holy Bible is God’s special revelation to us revealing the character, nature and purpose of God. It also gives us answers to the most important questions in life such as: Where did we come from and why are we here?

There you have it, my top five reasons I believe Jesus is the Son of God.

The holiday season reminds me that it is not because of a lack of evidence that people deny Jesus. They do so because they choose to suppress the truth of God’s Son. Not me, this Christmas I will be joyfully celebrating and worshiping the greatest man who ever lived during the most wonderful time of the year. I invite you all to join me. There is nothing quite like it!

I pray that every Christmas light would remind you that Jesus is the light of the world. I pray that every gift under the tree would remind you that God sent Jesus Christ as the most significant gift to humanity. I pray that every hug from a beloved family member would remind you that Jesus loved you enough to die for your sins. I pray that every smile on a child’s face after opening their gift would remind you that in Jesus we have life everlasting.

Merry Christmas!

The Right People at the Right Place at the Right Time

How would you like to be one of the first people to gaze upon the face of God’s son? Imagine being invited by a heavenly host and an angel to a manger to witness the birth of Jesus Christ. That is exactly what happened to the shepherds in the Christmas story.

It seems the shepherds were the right people at the right place at the right time.

Luke 2:8-14 says, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

What happens when the right people are at the right place at the right time? Just like the shepherds, they get to experience a miracle. I can remember two times in my life when I was the right person at the right place at the right time.

The first time was in Tully Gym at Florida State University (FSU) playing pick-up basketball in the summer of 1988. The previous spring I had just left Mercer University, and forfeited a full basketball scholarship to attend FSU in the hopes of earning a spot on the men’s basketball team. For most of my teenage years, I had worked on being the right person by practicing my basketball skills with intense dedication. Then, in a moment, I found myself making six three point shots during our game as head coach Pat Kennedy watched from the bleachers. Out of nowhere, the next week I received a full scholarship in the mail.

The second time was when I met my wife, Cindy. I had just finished playing squash in the Leach Center at FSU, and was stretching when I saw this pretty girl getting a drink at the water fountain. I had spent the last four years working on being the right man by not dating, and learning how to love God with all my heart. Now, in a moment, I was talking to a girl about to graduate who would become my future wife. I went to the Leach Center to work out and met my soul mate.

In both of these scenarios, I was blessed to be the right person at the right place at the right time. Attending FSU on a full basketball scholarship, and marrying the greatest woman in the world are two miracles that have happened in my life.

As I reflect on the shepherds in the Christmas story, and think about these two incidents in my life, it is a great reminder that God is faithful. If you continue to obey the Lord, remain patient and trust in His provision for your life, then you can be the right person at the right place at the right time.

Humility or Humiliation

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

I will never forget a lesson one of my spiritual mentors taught me a long time ago. It was an instruction on how I should conduct myself as I serve the Lord. It was a reminder to act like the tax collector in this parable and not the Pharisee. He said, “You can either humble yourself before the Lord or be humiliated by your sinful behavior.” I have found these words to be some of the wisest I have ever received.

A sport icon, Tiger Woods, is going through the most humiliating week of his life. In a statement released on his website Woods states, “I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family.”

As a man who desperately needs the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ, I am not here to throw stones at Tiger Woods. However, I do believe that his transgressions can be a teachable moment.

One of my friends posted a comment on their Facebook page concerning Tiger Woods and his infidelity. It read: “I knew Tiger was arrogant, but I did not know he was stupid.”

Is Tiger arrogant? I must admit that most of the elite athletes I have met in my lifetime of being involved with sports are very prideful. You have to be confident to excel in your sport. The question is: Do you have to be arrogant?

I have never met Tiger personally, so I do not know firsthand whether or not he is arrogant. I can only draw conclusions from my observations of him on television and what I read about him in the press.

I believe anyone who does not recognize his or her need for redemption from the Lord Jesus Christ is an arrogant person. James 4:6, 10 says, “6God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

Refusing to receive the grace of Jesus Christ by repenting for your sins and putting faith in Him to change your sinful nature is the ultimate act of pride. Our pride always leads to our destruction. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

I can’t help but think how life today would be different for Tiger, and so many others, if they would just humble themselves and admit they need the blood of Jesus to cleanse them from their sins. If Tiger would have done this, he could have avoided hurting the ones he claims to love more than anything else.

Tiger’s transgressions are a reminder that, even with the best of intentions, we cannot manage our sinful nature. Sooner or later we will succumb to temptation. We need to humble ourselves, and submit our lives to the only One who can redeem us by washing away our sins. His name is the Lord Jesus Christ.

You can either humble yourself before the Lord or be humiliated by your own sinful behavior. If Tiger would have chosen the former, he could have avoided the most embarrassing and painful moment of his life. My prayer for Tiger is that he would humble himself and become a recipient of God’s grace.

Have you humbled yourself before the Lord by recognizing your need for redemption?