Today, we live in a world of extreme division and hatred, leading to all kinds of fear and anxiety!

With elections a few weeks away, we are bombarded with political ads spewing division, half-truths, and full-fledged fear-mongering on both sides. Yes, Christians need to vote and we should be able to share a biblical perspective on EVERY issue that affects people today.  War issues, division, political ideology, fear, and mistrust are not new; every generation faces them, even though they seem highly amplified in our culture today!

The bigger question for Christians in every generation is:

HOW DO WE AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS REACT TO ALL OF THESE THINGS?

– Are we fearful and anxious like others, full of anger and hatred?

– Do we put all of our trust in some political party and ideology, condemning those who disagree?

OR, do we react as faithful disciples have throughout history, living through persecution, trials, injustice, and even death, with an inner joy, peace, and confidence that only comes from God through the Holy Spirit?

When the world looks at our reaction to persecution and evil, they should see a different kind of person. Because we have that inner spiritual peace and know our future is secure for eternity, we can live without fear and anxiety and focus on bringing others into the Kingdom. In the past 100 years, more Christians have been killed for their faith than in the previous years since Jesus came to earth. In the last few years in Nigeria, more than 72,000 Christians have been murdered by radical Islamic terrorists. And after these horrible raids and persecution, they return to their churches, sing praise to God, and are thankful for the peace and strength to move forward in faith! They know who they ultimately belong to, and they know where they are going!

Do you want to be a true follower of Jesus who can react like this to our broken, fearful, sin-stained world? How do we find “an attitude of gratitude” when everything seems to be wrong and falling apart in our lives? How can we be “different” than the rest of the world around us?

The Bible is full of stories of broken, sinful people who look to God for help and strength to get through situations that appear hopeless at the moment. Paul is one person who suffered greatly for his faith in Jesus, and he taught us how to relay on God for a new heart, a new perspective, and an unending hope. I recently read an old blog I wrote in 2024 in which Paul address these challenges for every generation of believers. Below is that blog, and I hope it brings you new hope, new trust in Jesus, and an inner peace and joy for whatever challenge you face in life!

How can we find lasting joy, happiness, peace and blessing in life? Is it even possible?  If you are looking for circumstantial happiness or joy that is always there, you will never find it! We all live in a broken world, broken by the effects of sin on us all. We will all have illness, tragedies, loss of income or goods, people who dislike us or betray us, and we will all lose family and friends to death at some point, and all of these circumstances might cause us to feel awful, angry, and hopeless. Nobody’s life is “blessed” all the time, no matter what their Facebook page might falsely portray!

The good news is, God has shown us a pathway to find peace, joy, and blessing in spite of the sin and brokenness that weighs on us all. But if you really want what God is offering, it all begins with knowing Jesus! The apostle Paul shared his life story with us in Philippians. Early in his life, he “had it all”. He was a wealthy, well-respected religious leader, was very intelligent and probably could out-debate anyone. He was in the “elite” class, everybody loved or feared him, and he was probably the type of person who got first row tickets given to him to any concert or sporting event of his day. The envy of everybody… and yet, he was empty!

In Philippians 3:7-11, Paul tells us how that all paled in comparison to finally coming to know Jesus personally:

⁷  But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰  I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹  and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. – Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV)

You see, when Paul surrendered to the call of Jesus on his life and became his follower, all the “cool stuff” of his past was meaningless and worthless compared to what he found in knowing Jesus personally! Now that doesn’t mean that everything went well or was easy for him; just the opposite happened! He lost most of his friends, he was ridiculed, he became poor, he was beaten often for his preaching and was even left for dead, and he was imprisoned many times for speaking the gospel. He actually wrote this letter from a prison in Rome, not too long before he was executed for his faith!

In spite of all that, Paul found an inner joy, peace, and hope that came from God and was unshakable in spite of outside circumstances! This joy and peace that God gives becomes a way of life, an attitude and viewpoint given to those who join God’s Kingdom and now see the world from His perspective. Being blessed and having joy are very similar concepts in the Bible, and may be described as “a state of well-being where Kingdom followers in Christ both enjoy and extend the goodness of God in their lives”.  (from Tony Evans, in his book “Kingdom Values”)

The Bible speaks of this inner state as a river that keeps flowing even in times of drought, and is given to us by the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Do you want that never-ending joy, peace, and hope in your life, no matter what the circumstances of the moment might be? I know I do!

Later in Philippians, Paul gives us a pathway and the results:

THE PATHWAY:

Philippians 4:4-6, 8-9 (NIV)
⁴  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

⁸  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. ⁹  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This is pretty basic, but powerfully effective stuff:

– Be gentle with others, and rejoice in all circumstances, not because they are all good, but because God is near you and helping you through the circumstances

– Don’t be anxious about anything! Instead, take all your concerns and needs to God in prayer, being thankful that he hears you and has all the power you need to deal with life!

– Focus on all the good stuff in life!.. what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy! And then present that good stuff and the hope that is in you to the world around you. Life will be much more enjoyable and purposeful!

THE RESULTS:

⁷  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
¹¹  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³  I can do everything through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:7, 11-13 (NIV)

This is the results we are looking for!

– God will give us a deep and lasting sense of peace that is greater than we can even understand, and it will protect our thoughts and feelings and keep us focused on God’s presence, power, and hope for a wonderful future with him.

– It will enable us to be content in any circumstance in life, and therefore we won’t have to worry or be anxious about anything. God will give us strength to face every phase of life with him!

When we trust our lives to Jesus, he offers us:

– Joy in the midst of everything we go through

– A peace that is permanent and beyond our understanding

– Gratitude for all the goodness he brings into our lives

– Power to be content in all circumstances, and the ability to share the hope we have with others

My favorite “go to” verse when my first wife Claudia was dying of cancer was this:

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
¹⁰  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I pray you find God’s permanent joy and peace, and gratitude in your life, now and forever!

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. –Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Those of us who are between 62-80 years old are called Baby Boomers! Each year we know friends, relatives, and acquaintances that die of heart disease, many forms of cancer, and numerous other issues. When we gather to talk, our conversation is often about our prescriptions and treatments for all kinds of faltering body functions and organs. The “writing is on the wall” we might say: none of us is getting out of here alive!  In 10-20 years (or less) for many of us, our bodies will die and we will move on to a new phase of eternal life, either with God forever, or separated from God forever (your choice: make the right one!).

For those of us who have put our faith and trust of our life in Jesus, we should not be afraid of that reality at all!  We know we have been forgiven by God through Jesus’ death for us, and through his resurrection power we have been made into new creations! We are now brothers and sisters together, members of his present and future Kingdom, no longer just citizens of this fallen, confused, and sin-destroyed world we see around us. 

BUT….

Are you living as a hope-filled, joyous son or daughter of Jesus’ Kingdom, finishing your life with hope and peace and excited about our amazing future? Are you looking for opportunities to share the hope that you have with friends and relatives, inviting them to trust Jesus and enter into his Kingdom forever?

OR…

Do you spend most of your thoughts and time trying to live the “good life” of retirement? Are your goals to travel the world and hit every cruise, enjoy great restaurants and all the senior discount breakfasts, lower your golf handicap from 25 to 15, and all the other great things we can do in retirement?

While there is nothing wrong with enjoying the beautiful world that God has created, nothing wrong with some travels and enjoying our favorite hobbies, we as followers of Jesus are called to more than that. Our call is to “finish well”, to share our hope in Jesus, and live such a peaceful, hopeful and grateful life in Jesus that others will see us and want to know where we get this! (Jesus is the answer, of course.)

Our world and culture will ALWAYS distract us, daily, from Jesus and his Kingdom by screaming about issues and problems that plague our world. Today, we hear of wars, division and vile hatred, affordability, political enemies, capitalism vs. socialism/communism, and all the other daily headlines that warn us that the upcoming elections are life and death! And yes, these ARE important issues, and the Bible can give us insight on all these issues if you actively READ it, listen to the Holy Spirit, and are guided by Spirit-led Christian leaders. (Not by false teachers who are more influenced by cultural fads than never-changing biblical principles.)

THE KEY:

DEVELOP A BIBLICAL, JESUS-CENTERED WORLDVIEW, AND THAT WILL DICTATE HOW YOU SEE THE CULTURE AND ALL THAT HAPPENS IN THIS PRESENT WORLD!

As Baby Boomer followers of Jesus, we are positioned well to share the hope, the joy, and the wisdom and peace of God with a confused, angry world, taking their eyes off the screaming voices of hatred and mistrust, and letting them see God’s bigger plan for their redemption, and the future redemption of the world!

HERE ARE TWO BIBLICAL TRUTHS THAT IF YOU UNDERSTAND THEM AND APPLY THEM TO EVERY ASPECT OF YOU LIFE, WILL BRING YOU SPIRITUAL CLARITY, PEACE AND ASSURANCE, AND ALLOW YOU SHARE THE ULTIMATE HOPE OF JESUS WITH EVERYONE YOU MEET, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHOM YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH ON SOME OF THE CULTURAL ISSUES OF THE DAY:

1) THIS FALLEN WORLD SYSTEM IS PRESENTLY (BUT NOT FOREVER) UNDER THE CONTROL OF SATAN. EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IS PART OF A SPIRITUAL BATTLE THAT IS REAL AND UNSEEN, BUT INFLUENCES EVERY GOVERNMENT AND HUMAN TEACHING THAT WE HEAR.

¹¹  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. -. Ephesians 6:11-13 (NIV)

– Paul warns us that our “fight” is not against other people, nations, political enemies, or crazy thoughts and ideologies primarily; it is against Satan and his demonic forces that want to mislead and distract us, and keep us away from Jesus  and his message of redemption, forgiveness, and hope.

– If you find yourself filled with fear, hatred for others, constant anxiety and hopelessness, you are right where Satan wants you! You are lost and listening to him, not Jesus.

³  For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)

– Our fallen world has always used military weapons to kill and destroy, but perhaps even more destructive is deceiving half-truths and outright lies that sound good initially but lead to hardship, chaos, and destruction. Any human idea that disagrees with God’s biblical revelation of truth is flawed and can lead us away from God. Some are better than others, of course, and we have to discern what is best of these flawed ideas and work to correct the flaws and make them possible avenues to share the truth about Jesus.

– Powerful ideas can change hearts, minds, and nations, and God’s Holy Spirit can teach us to enter the world of ideas under his direction and power and change people’s minds to see Jesus and the hope he offers to the entire world. Again, READ YOUR BIBLE to get more clarity and discernment, and the false ideas of this world will get clearer and easier to discern.

2) JESUS IS THE ULTIMATE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING, AND THE ONLY WAY GOD PROVIDES FOR SALVATION! MAKE JESUS THE CORNERSTONE OF EVERYTHING YOU DO AND THINK ABOUT, AND YOUR DAILY LIFE WILL BE MUCH MORE PEACEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE!

This fallen, confused world (again, under Satan’s rule and deception) wants us to believe that there are many “paths” to God and many different options for “Heaven” depending on your culture and background. It’s like going to Comerica Park for a Tiger’s game and having six different gates to come in at. No matter what gate you enter, we all end up at the same field watching the same game!

BUT, the Bible is clear that there is ONE way to God and an eternal and amazing life, and that is through Jesus only!

⁶  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷  If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” – John 14:6-7 (NIV)

¹²  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12 (NIV)

REMEMBER…

WE ARE IN A SPIRITUAL BATTLE! SATAN DESIRES TO CONFUSE, DISTRACT, DISCOURAGE, AND DRAW US AWAY FROM JESUS!

We are encouraged today to “believe” and “follow” all kinds of ideologies and people:

– other religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Scientology,  become “one with the Universe”, etc.

– political ideologies such as democracy, Communism/Socialism, capitalism, various political parties and leaders, etc.

– news pundits, “influencers’ online, an education system that seems to create more confusion that light, and many other voices

We, as followers of Jesus, are to be DIFFERENT than the world!

-Our faith and trust are in Jesus, not fallen people and ideas.

– We are to live in a way that is worthy of Jesus and draws people to him.

– Our ultimate citizenship is God’s Kingdom, not this present world under Satan’s control.

Fellow followers of Jesus, brothers and sisters, what a great opportunity we have to rise above the Satan-led confusion and hate-filled dialogue of today, and bring people to Jesus for healing and new life! When we focus on Jesus primarily, God will use that to change the culture around you, and bring salvation, hope, and peace to some of those you have the opportunity to talk with. Don’t use the words and the weapons of the world: read your Bibles daily, pray, and let the Holy Spirit lead your thoughts and actions. See what amazing things God can do!

Peter gives us an encouraging reminder in I Peter 3 on how Jesus wants us to think and act as we represent him:

⁸  Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. ⁹  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

¹³  Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” ¹⁵  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  -1 Peter 3:8-9, 13-16 (NIV)

In this culture of partisan politics, fear and vile talk, choose to be different!

Be an ambassador for Jesus, and see what God might do with your life!

¹⁹  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
²⁴  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. – Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)

We ALL “follow” various people and ideas! On social media, it is popular to “follow” someone or some page because you like their ideas on faith, politics, or whatever. We listen to our favorite news stations and media podcasts, etc., and we choose those voices that fit our view of the world and current culture.   Some of these voices are good and reasonable and uplifting, while others stir fear, rage, and outright hatred toward the other side, or tribe. Some have good motives for all they say, while others just want to manipulate us and use us to gain power, money, and control. These voices have been going on since the Fall in the Garden of Eden in Genesis! How do we, as Christians, know WHO to follow?

1) Understand that as good or evil these voices may be, NONE of them are God!

We ALL are broken, sinful people, living in a world that is reeling from the effects of that sin. Thus, every voice we hear from humanity, outside of the Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit, originates from that broken world under the influence of sin and ruled presently by Satan! James (Jesus’ brother) warned us about listening and loving the voices of the world more than God:

⁴  You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵  Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? ⁶  But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ⁷  Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:4-7 (NIV)

Does that sound a little harsh to you? Why would James say that to be friends and “follow” the human ideas of the world make you an enemy of God?

BECAUSE…

2) Jesus didn’t come to make us nicer people that just “get along” better and treat each other more nicely. He came to REDEEM AND RESTORE the earth, and all humans willing to “follow him” into his new Kingdom which will last forever!

Yes, to follow Jesus beginsby declaring that “Jesus is Lord” and believing in our hearts that God raised him from the dead! (Romans10:9) Sadly, too many Christians stop with that thought and think they’ve got a “ticket to Heaven” and just go on living the same old way and listening to the same voices!

But, trusting in Jesus not only saves us FROM sin, but it saves us FOR something much better and amazing beyond belief! We are saved to become brand new people, or new creations, that are empowered by his Spirit to slowly become more and more like him, living as new Kingdom men and women! We are to “let go” of the world’s voices and ways, and put on a new life in Jesus by following him down the road to a new Kingdom existence!

3) Jesus tells us we are all on one of two roads: one that leads to destruction and death, and one that leads to eternal life and his Kingdom!

¹³  “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. – Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

The ONLY way to get on the right road is to follow Jesus! …

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6 (NIV)

4) How do we leave the path that leads to destruction and spiritual death, and turn to the Way of Jesus that leads to life and healing?

The answer is something most people, even Christians, have little understanding of:  Spiritual Formation!

Spiritual formation is not just a Christian thing: it’s a HUMAN thing!

We are ALL spiritual beings (whether you believe that or not), and you are being formed into a certain kind of human from the day you were born until the day you die. So the question you and I need to think about each day is,

“WHO or WHAT am I being formed into each moment of each day?”

Your spiritual formation will depend completely on who you listen to, who you trust, and who you most want to be like! If we continue to spend most of our time listening to sinful human voices tell us how to think and act, we will remain on the path that leads to death and destruction. But Jesus came to offer us another path, a whole new life and mindset that leads to true life in his new Kingdom that will last forever. To make that life-altering, course-altering change, we need to:

FOLLOW JESUS, AND HIM ALONE!

When Jesus called people to “follow him”, it was in the context of being a Jewish Rabbi. Rabbis were the ultimate teachers in that culture, and they would invite the very best students to “follow them”. That meant to walk with them and live with them, not only learning their specific teachings, but learn their very lifestyle and attitudes and demeanor, and as “disciples”, or apprentices, they were to become like the Rabbi and do the same things he did. Then they would “graduate” and go out and train new disciples under them to carry on the same teachings and lifestyle, and repeat that process over and over…

That’s what Jesus is calling US to do when he says to “follow him”, and then to “make disciples”!

Amazingly, most of us are not the “brightest and best” students, but Jesus calls us anyway, because he will empower us through his Spirit, (the Holy Spirit), to learn and grow way beyond our own abilities to become more like him!

Today, and for the rest of our lives, Jesus says we only have two choices:

1) Listen to the world and stay on the path to death and destruction, or

2) Trust and follow him down a new path, a new way that leads to becoming a new person who will grow to be more and more like him and live forever in his Kingdom!

I plan to write more this year on HOW following Jesus looks and how we do it! ALL of the New Testament is about Jesus, and how he calls us to put off our old selves and way of life and take on a new life and identity in him. In other words, to spend time with him, seek to be more and more like him, and do what he does. For now, I encourage you to :

1) Most importantly, read your Bible regularly and prayerfully ask God to show you through scripture how he is calling you to think, act, and have the perspective of Jesus on everything and everyone that affects your specific life.

2) Intentionally cut way back on listening to the deafening voices of this world, trying to manipulate and pull you to one “team” or another. Ask for discernment through the Holy Spirit to see God’s perspective on every issue, seeing every issue and person from Jesus’ desire to bring spiritual redemption, healing, and wholeness to the world.

3) Find and memorize or print out some verses that keep you hopeful and on the path of wanting to become more like Jesus!

I’ll leave you with two that I always find encouraging and help me keep a long-term, “Kingdom” perspective:

³³  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  -Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)

 ²⁹  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Every thanksgiving, it’s common, and certainly good and appropriate, to be thankful for our family and friends, our health, our home, perhaps your job, your faith and church, living in a great country, and certainly all the great food on Thanksgiving Day, etc. (And for many, hopefully a win for the Lions!) BUT, as I prepare for the 73^rd Thanksgiving Day of my life, I recognize more and more that by trusting my life to Jesus as a 16 year old high schooler, every significant thing in my life after that is due to that decision and Jesus directing my path from that day forward.

I was like most kids at that age: pretty self-centered, and because I got good grades, I thought I knew everything and was at times obnoxious. (At least that is what my sister and brothers told me!) But as I began to actually know Jesus and discover who he was and the power he offered me to change and become more like him, my whole view of life changed and I really wanted to be part of his plan for the world and not just live my self-centered plan for me. One of the best descriptions of Jesus in the Bible is found in Colossians 1: 15- 20:

¹⁵  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. – Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)

In my case, Jesus called a stuttering, introverted 16 year old to become a pastor and tell others about him! I laughed at the idea at first, but gave in and the rest is history. After college and seminary, I was appointed to a church in Redford Township where, in the first month, I met my future wife Claudia. We went on to get married and have our 3 wonderful sons, Josh, Scott, and Jason. They grew up, married 3 great daughters-in-law, and from that had 3 children each, giving Claudia and me 9 beautiful grandchildren. Through serving 6 different churches, we met a lot of wonderful Christian people and have many great friends from that experience today! And, since our lives in this realm include hardship and eventual death, we experienced Claudia’s death to cancer 5 years ago, a devastating blow to my family and Claudia’s as well. However, in the disappointments and losses of life, God will always give us a hope and a future. In my case, God (through the wild adventure of on-line dating) lead me to find Ellen, my beautiful Christian wife of 2 years now!  Ellen also has a wonderful family, and now I’ve gained 2 wonderful daughters and a great step-son, as well as 4 more wonderful grandchildren! And so here we stand, looking to serve Jesus together and finish the story God has for us.

As I consider my brief “genealogy” paragraph above, I realize today that in my case, more than anything…

NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE EVER HAPPENED WITHOUT JESUS!

Without Jesus…

– I would have never dreamt of becoming a pastor

– I would never have met Claudia and had my 3 sons, leading to their families and 9 grandchildren

– I would have never have had the opportunity  to meet and marry Ellen and enjoy this new life I have now together with her.

NOW, I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE ALSO SEEN JESUS GUIDE YOUR LIFE AND CIRCUMSTANCES! YOU HAVE SEEN HIS HAND LEAD YOU IN THE JOYS OF LIFE, AND YOU HAVE FELT HIM CARRY YOU IN THE TRAGEDIES OF LIFE WHEN YOU HAD NO STRENGTH LEFT TO DO IT YOURSELF.

OTHERS READING THIS HAVE NOT KNOWN JESUS YET, AND HAVE TRIED TO LIVE YOUR LIFE ON YOUR OWN BEST EFFORT! I encourage you to consider trusting in Jesus now, and let him guide the rest of your life from this day forward. If you do, Jesus will not only give you wisdom and direction, he will be with you, take you through any crisis, and give you a new life that will last forever. Paul encourages us in Romans 8:

Romans 8:31-32 (ESV)
³¹  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:35, 37-39 (ESV)
³⁵  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? …³⁷  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

On this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to remember God, the Giver of all good things, and look only to him for wisdom and direction:

⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Enjoy this Thanksgiving with family and friends! Be thankful for all the good benefits of life and appreciate each day the Lord gives you. I leave you with a great passage of how Jesus wants us to live like him, and be thankful!

¹²  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ¹⁵  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  – Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)