“Zeus was considered a great god in Greek mythology. It is told that Zeus assumed human form, impregnated a mortal woman named Semele, and produced a son, Dionysus. Semele decided she had the right to see Zeus in his full glory and entered into his divine presence. She was instantly incinerated. Zeus then snatched the body of the unborn baby from her womb and sewed it into his thigh. He carried the baby until its full term and then gave birth. Zeus destined the infant god to become ruler of the planet earth.

According to Greek mythology, there were already sub-gods called Titans who ran the earth and when they heard of the new ruler–Dionysius–they were quite upset. They stole the baby and ate him. Zeus however, rescued his heart, swallowed it, and gave birth to Dionysus once again. Zeus struck the Titans with lightning and they were reduced to ashes. Out of those ashes came the human race. Around Dionysus became centered a religion of ascendancy, where human beings attempted to reach a level of divine consciousness. It was filled with ecstasy, wild music, dancing, and sexual perversion–all induced by drunkenness. With a great conclave of voices the people would call out to Dionysus, ‘Come thou Savior.’ Dionysus became known as the god of wine.

So when Paul said ‘be not drunk with wine,’ he was not dealing merely with a social problem, but a theological one as well. He was dealing directly with Satan’s counterfeit religion. Satan captures minds and bodies through the medium of drunkenness.”  John MacArthur,  http://www.lhbc.net/Butch/Alcohol%20Macarthur.htm 

It was a few minutes past three when the first grader came barreling into the elementary school office. He took a seat on the bench and patiently waited for his mother to arrive.

“How was your day?” the Principal asked, coming into the room. The rosy cheeked child grinned and happily replied, “It was great except for the bad parts!”

I recently asked some friends who they thought was the most optimistic person in the Bible. They replied with some of the standouts. Folks like Caleb, Steven, Barnabas, Abraham, Mary the mother of Jesus, Paul and Job were mentioned.

What wonderful examples of faith and positive attitudes in times of troubles. However, I’d like to invite you to think of others in the Bible who had positive attitudes.

The people in Noah’s time were certain the flood wasn’t coming (Luke 17:27). They continued in their sins despite Noah’s preaching and were certain that he was mistaken. One could wonder how many days of rain it took before their optimism began to waver.

The workers at the tower of Babel were confident that they were going to build a tower that reached to Heaven (Genesis 11). How assured they were of their goal and cheerful that they were going to make a name for themselves.

Did the folks in Jericho laugh as the Israelites marched around their fortified city (Joshua 6)? The city dwellers thought they were safe and secure while the marchers wasted their time. Those walls were sturdy. They would never fall.

Those at Calvary were convinced that the deceiver would not return. They even went as far as to secure the tomb lest his disciples steal his body and start a rumor (Matthew 27:63). They were sure that this would be the end of the one called Christ.

Too many times we suffer from a misguided optimism. We see nothing wrong with flirting with the world, neglecting Scripture, and trying to fool God. We’re positive that we can keep our sins hidden. Completely self-assured, we continue in our lifestyle thinking that we are on the way to Heaven.

A Christian’s hope must originate at the cross. Only there will we find true optimism; powerful enough to see us through the struggles and heartaches of this life and prepare us for that great ay when we will come face to face with Jesus.

This week, put your positive attitude into action. Let it strengthen you during the bad times and sustain you during the good. And more than that, let it be an instrument in leading others to Christ.

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Paula Harrington

A Strong Woman

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape, but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything, but a woman of strength shows her courage in the midst of fear.

A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her, but a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone.

A strong woman walks sure-footedly, but a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face, but a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey, but a woman of strength has faith that in the journey she will become strong.

Author unknown

How many household conversations begin, “Where is my?” Women leave purses in restaurants, men leave their wallets in the other pants pocket, and kids are apt to leave just about anything anywhere. How many vacations begin with the family wondering where some vital item is, fearing that it is sitting at home and not packed in the suitcases?

The disciples had just heard Jesus deliver some powerful lessons (Luke 8:10-21) and now they were heading across the lake from Galilee to the country of the Gerasenes. En route, while Jesus slept, a fierce windstorm descends and rocks their little boat. In a panic, they awaken Jesus, pleading, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” (Luke 8:24). Jesus calms the storm and subsequently their fears, but He admonishes them, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:26).That is a fair question. They had just heard the Master teacher doing His usual, masterful job (Luke 7:22-28, 31-36; etc.) and seen Him do some incredible miracles (Luke 7:1-10; 11-15; etc.). Between disembarking and the present distress, where did their faith go?The question Jesus asked His disciples is a fair question for each of us today. “Where is your faith?”

IS IT LOST (Luke 18:1ff)? Jesus positively teaches a parable about this in His story about the widow and the unjust judge. The woman was persistent and the judge, who feared neither God nor man, granted her petition due to her tenacious pursuit. Jesus makes application by asking, “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). It is possible for any one of us to lose our faith. The parable of the sower and the soils shows that people can lose their faith as a consequence of both good times and bad times (cf. Luke 8:11ff). It is equally tragic to see people lose their faith just a few steps into their spiritual journey, several miles down the road, or especially near the end of the road!

IS IT HIDDEN (Luke 8:16)? Jesus demonstrates how ludicrous a view hidden faith is from heaven’s vantage point by illustrating it this way: “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed” (Luke 8:16a). His point is that light is not doing its job when it is covered, and our faith is not doing its job when it is covered. There will be many settings throughout life when being a Christian and standing up for the Lord will not be popular, admired, or congratulated. What will we do with our faith in such circumstances?

IS IT MISPLACED (Luke 18:9ff)? Everybody puts their trust in someone or some thing. The Bible says that people trust in their own power and might (Psalm 44:6), their wealth and riches (Psalm 49:6), their national leaders (Psalm 146:3), their own hearts (Proverbs 28:26), their idols (Isaiah 42:17), mankind (Jeremiah 17:5), their own achievements (Jeremiah 48:7), or their physical beauty (Ezekiel 16:15). Many of these attributes can serve us in properly placing our faith in God, but far too many are resting all they are or hope to be on those rather than God. In Luke 18:9, Jesus speaks a parable in warning against those who “trust in themselves.” Despite a culture that preaches the preeminent idea of “believing in yourself,” God makes that subservient to trusting in Him.

IS IT VISIBLE (Luke 7:9)? A centurion whose servant was dying was humble, devoted and perceptive in his approach to Jesus, pleading with Him to heal that dear one for him. Jesus marveled aloud, “I have not found such great faith, even in Israel!” The Centurion did not have to wear a badge or button that said, “I believe in the Lord.” People are watching us every day, our speech, decisions, attitudes, actions, and reactions. While it is nice when someone asks, “Are you a Christian?,” how much better for them not to have to ask?
So, “Where is your faith?” –Neal Pollard

The names Lindt, Neuhaus, Toblerone, and Godiva are world-renowned for their unique and delicious blends of chocolate and other confectionery. In Europe, there are over thirty museums dedicated to chocolate, such as the Imhoff Schokolade Museum in Cologne, which celebrates 3,000 years of chocolate making by allowing visitors to drink daily from their chocolate fountain.

One of the tools that confectionery makers may use is a process known as batch distillation, where a liquid is poured into a kettle and heat is applied. The undesirable components, such as water, ethers, alcohols, acids and other lightweight materials are driven off by the heat; in fact workers call these substances “lights.” The molecules composing these substances are usually free standing and do not bond with neighboring molecules to give higher molecular weight. The desirable product, however, is not driven away but stays in the kettle and sweetens as the heating proceeds. The molecules of this product readily interact with others to form tight bonds and intertwine to give heavy molecular weight.

When the right amount and duration of heat has been applied, the process is stopped to give the end product a perfect texture and taste. Great care is taken to apply only as much heat as the product can bear, so as not to form carbon or “caramelize” it. By staying in the kettle and being transformed by the heat, soupy and viscous liquids are converted into delectable products which people all over the world cherish and enjoy daily.

The process of making chocolate illustrates a process that God would like to implement in YOUR LIFE and MINE – with our cooperation.

First, God would like to remove the “undesirable components” from our lives; Our SINS! Sin separates us from God and from all that is truly good (Isaiah 59:1-2). Sin also leads to eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46). In order to receive the abundant life now (John 10:10) and eternal life to come (Romans 6:23), the impurity of sin must be removed from our lives.

God, in His love, has provided the means of purging these impurities from our lives. He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sins by dying on the cross (Ephesians 1:7). To be cleansed from our sins through His atoning sacrifice, we must believe and trust Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38).

Secondly, God wants to transform our lives into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). This process requires “heat” – the challenge of living for Christ in an ungodly society. With our faithful cooperation, by His grace, God will mold us more and more into the image and likeness of Jesus – a life that is very sweet, indeed.

Won’t YOU allow Him to make something sweet out of YOUR life?

In order to enjoy the GREATER RICHES of forgiveness and life, we must renounce our false gods and submit to the one TRUE God. We must believe
and trust in Him (Hebrews 11:6) and His Son (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

The two sisters have now realized that winning isn’t everything; it can be accompanied by great loss. But through Christ, if we will choose to “lose” our focus on dead idols and turn to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9), then in the end, we will WIN!

Where’s YOUR focus?

– Terry Livingston & David A. Sargent

The following story is told by a young Army recruit:

“My brother and I arrived at boot camp together. On the first morning, our unit was dragged out of bed by our drill sergeant and made to assemble outside. “My name’s Sergeant Jackson,” he snarled. “Is there anyone here who thinks he can whip me?”

My six-foot-three, 280-pound brother raised his hand and said, “Yes, sir, I do.”

Our sergeant grabbed him by the arm and led him out in front of the group.  “Men,” he said, “this is my new assistant. Now, is there anyone here who thinks he can whip both of us?”

It’s nice to have someone that is big and strong who “has your back”! It’s the feeling you may have experienced as a kid when the class bully picked on every day at school, until the day your big brother walked in with you. He didn’t even have to say a word. Everyone knew that to mess with you was to mess with him, and nobody wanted to mess with someone bigger and stronger than they were.

There may be times in our lives when we feel like we can take on the whole world and come out on top. But those times are rare. More often, we feel overwhelmed by the challenge of a world that seems much bigger and stronger than we are. If we arrogantly want to know if there’s anybody who thinks they can whip us, be assured there are folks who will be quick to take up that challenge.

However, those of us who are Christians need to remember that we don’t face any challenge alone. God’s Spirit lives within us and God has promised to be with us. With the confidence that comes with that knowledge, we are able to ask, “Is there anyone who thinks they can whip both of us?” and the answer is a resounding, “No!” because “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (I John 4:4).

That’s why, when Moses was hesitant to go to the land of Egypt and confront Pharaoh, God said, “I will certainly be with you.” (Exodus 3:12)

When Joshua was hesitant to take over the leadership of the Israelites, God said, “As I was with Moses, I will be with you. I will not leave you and forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5)

When Gideon thought he was too insignificant to be a leader, God said, “Surely I will be with you!” (Joshua 6:16)

When Jeremiah thought he was too young to be a prophet, God said, “Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you.” (Jeremiah 1:8)

When Jesus sent out the apostles charged with the task of sharing the gospel with the whole world, Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)

When we are faced with an overwhelming responsibility to live out the message of Christ in an antagonistic world, we need to remember that we have the same promise — God will be with us. And “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Take courage, my brother (and sister) — there’s nobody strong enough to whip the both of us!

Alan Smith

My mother-in-law makes them. There are usually a few in my office. They have been used to light the way for centuries. They are such simple devices, still a staple amid our technologically advanced age.

A candle requires a functioning wick. This is the catalyst for the candle to burn. That wick must be sufficiently long to hold and carry the flame. If the wick is too short, the flame dies. No wick and it’s useless. Likewise, I need to be sure that my “wick” is fully functional, too. Too many have a “short wick” or seemingly none at all. They are quick-tempered, flying off the handle and into a rage (cf. Pro. 12:16; 29:11) .

A candle requires wax. It is pretty hard before it is heated, but then is softens and melts. Scented candles emit an aroma, too. From this, I am reminded of the need I have to let God’s Word, which is like a fire (cf. Jer. 23:29), soften my heart and melt it. As a child of God, as that Word works on my life it should cause me to emit an aroma pleasing to God (cf. 2 Cor. 2:14). It should also work to draw others to Him.

A candle is molded. Even if it does not have a glass or other container, it is preformed and shaped by the candle maker. That candle is designed to keep the shape given it by its creator. Just so, I remember that God wishes to mold and shape my life. If I let Him, He can change and transform me into something useful (cf. Rom. 12:2). I must be true to His design for my life, pursuing a higher purpose than just earthly matters (Col. 3:1).

A candle’s color does not effect its ability. If you have been by a candle display, you have seen how diverse the color spectrum is. The color of the wax does not determine whether or not the candle works. What a reminder for man, so prone to prejudice. God, who created us all, gives no preference or priority to one race over another. Thanks to Christ, such distinctions have been erased (Gal. 3:28).

A candle eventually is spent. Manufacturers tout long-life candles, slow-burning candles, and the like. Yet, if used, the candle will come to an end. May I never forget that this body is not engineered for eternity, that this physical life will come to an end (Heb. 9:27). May that come after a long and productive life used for His purpose. Neal Pollard

The Whipping Jesus by J. Randal Matheny

Everybody loves the Jesus of the wedding in Cana. What’s not to like, after all? A wedding, a party, family time, a joyous moment, saving people from embarrassment, producing something of high quality.

The story has all the elements of a warm fuzzy, the ancient equivalent of Chicken Soup for the Soul.

The very next story is a slap in the face, after the tingling feeling of the wedding. Read John 2:12-22.

Jesus fashions a whip out of some cords and drives people and animals out of the temple courts. No polite invitation to remove themselves. No attempt at reasoning. No please and thank you. No Mr. Nice Guy.

He overturns tables. He scatters coins across the stone pavement. He yells at the dove sellers to clear out.

He has likely seen this scene thrice annually since the age of 12. Now that he starts his ministry, he performs an act of judgment on Israel, a protest against impediments to worship that man called aids.

His act is moved by zeal, that white-hot passion for the things of God, his Father. A zeal that consumes and burns itself in the service of the Kingdom, for the house of the Lord. “Zeal for your house will devour me.”

But for a world gone soft on the hard-nosed realities of holiness, the whipping Jesus is politically incorrect, too brazen, too in-your-face, too mean.

The world wants to stay at the wedding.

So the Sermon on the Mount has been pressed into mealy- mouth mush.

The Way has become one of many possibilities.

The sovereign Son of God has become merely one of a number of good prophets.

The Savior for eternity has been transformed into the miracle worker for bank and body.

But Jesus inevitably enters with whip in hand, cleansing, purifying, expelling, expunging.

And either one stands with him or flees from him.

Perhaps as much as a cross, Christianity might adopt as a symbol a whip of cords.

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God told Noah to build a ship — on land — hundreds of miles from the sea! That doesn’t make sense, does it? How about this:  God promised Abraham that He would multiply his descendants into the millions — then commanded him to sacrifice his only son!  Or, consider this: God commanded Moses to walk into theRed Sea!  Later, God commanded Moses to speak to a rock in order to obtain water!  Here’s another one:  God commanded Joshua to lay siege on, and conquer the great and powerful city ofJericho– but don’t use any weapons!

It seems that God was always telling people to do things that ran contrary to human reasoning. However, these men obeyed these “seemingly unreasonable” commands. What was the result? They were saved.

Noah obediently built the ark — and was saved.  Abraham obediently obeyed God, and his descendants multiplied into the millions.  Moses obeyed and walked into theRed Seaand escaped the pursuing Egyptian army.  Later, Moses obeyed and spoke to the rock and enough water came forth to satisfy the thirst of an entire nation.  Joshua obeyed, attacking the powerful city ofJerichowithout any weapons — and was victorious!  Why? Because they simply accepted, and therefore obeyed, God’s Word.

These examples give us a sense of the “majesty” of the faithful men of whom later the Holy Spirit said, “the world is not worthy of such men” (Hebrews11:38).

They did not consult with a conference of scholars — they did not try to reason it out in their own minds — they did not question the command — they simply obeyed.

I wonder what would happen to the modern-day church if such unwavering faith could be infused into the membership.  What would happen to our evangelistic programs? our mission programs? our families? our brotherly love?  We will never be able to fully understand, or logically reason, everything that God does if we form our conclusions based on human logic.  We must base them on *faith* (which comes by hearing His Word – Romans 10:17). His thoughts and His ways are not our thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8). God judges from a Divine perspective; we must judge from a human perspective. Therefore, His ways will never be fully understood, in this life. That’s where *faith* enters in!  We cannot put God’s commands in the test tube of human reasoning to verify there validity.  They must be accepted by *faith* which is demonstrated by obedience.

There are many people, and I will go so far as to say the “majority” (Matthew7:14), who think they are going to be saved without obeying God’s Word — the Gospel (Colossians 1:5).  However, one day all the fancy church buildings, all the prolific people-pleasing preachers that occupy them, will cease to exist.  All will stand before His judgment seat (Romans14:12), “as naked” (Hebrews4:13), and the Books of the New Testament will be opened and we will be judged according to the things written therein (Revelation20:12). No judgment will come from church manuals, catechisms, or creed books — they’ll all pass away. The only Book that will never pass away is God’s Book (Mark13:31).  And, it will read exactly the same then as it did when God gave it to us.  It will say: “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6) … “Repent or perish” (Luke 13:3 & 5) … Confess me  before men (Matthew10:32-33) … “Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins” (Acts22:16) … and, “Be faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10).  — Toby Miller