Finding Laughter In Difficult Times

During part of the 1960s through the 70s there were singing groups like the Turtles, The Birds, The Monkeys, The Beatles, The Eagles, Bread, America, The Bee Gees, and others whose voices we heard over the airwaves.  Many groups had something in common: songs that were melodramatic, story-telling like, and soft or easy on the ears.  One group was almost on its way out when the sound of the vehicle practically saved their lives. 

I once heard on a Casey Kasem broadcast, that the sound of their car, inspired The Bee Gees to write the song, Jive Talkin.’ Some years later, feeling they were not moving ahead in their career, their manager asked if they knew how to sing falsetto.  They did.  Knowing so, drove them to the top to produce what is considered the best Disco hit of all time: Staying Alive. 

People everywhere were hooked on their hit, while fans wondered how they went from mellow yellows, to electrifying artists.  From I Started a Joke, Massachusetts, and Lonely Days, etc. to To Love Somebody, etc. no doubt, they had changed.  Their sound was different.  Their voice had changed.

As we go through life maybe moving from Brooklyn to Massachusetts, and tired of feeling like a joke, God wants us to listen to His voice instead of the one that sounds like everyone else’s in a group. Crowds tend to have one voice, one battle cry. 

When blind Bartimaeus, in Mark 10:47, heard Jesus was passing by, he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. Many rebuked him, but he cried all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me.”  When Jesus called him over, he tossed his cloak! He knew his life was about to change!

Heed His voice! Maybe go falsetto! Toss your cloak-your bad habits (your hangouts), etc. GET RID of THEM!               Acknowledge that your life is about to be transformed.  You’re about to hit a high note! Your buddies won’t recognize your voice!  But you’ll hear the Shepherd’s voice (John 10:27)!    You’ll no longer sound like the masses; no more jive talking!  With Jesus in your heart, you’ll be at your best staying alive every day.

“My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes delight n my ways” (Proverbs 23:26).

God Bless!
Sam

Lou Rawls sang that song so good! Maybe you were there! It’s the 70s and you’re either chillin’ at home, or out partying with your gals.  Maybe you’re on the dance floor grooving away.  You have all kinds of thoughts on your mind; schooling, job interviews, calling that pesky guy hitting on you, etc.  You’ve been rubbed the wrong way by your pain-y parents and right now, you just want to bask in the deepness of Rawls’ voice.

Hearing that song places you right where you were 50 years ago!  You can smell the perfumes, colognes, the food, even the atmosphere.  You can even read your thoughts from so far back!  It’s amazing!  Listen again:

“You’ll never find…it’ll take the end of all time/someone to understand you like I do/…But I’m the one who loves you (ooh, oh)/And there’s no one else! No, one else.”

But as that was your world back then, God says the same words to you today!  Right now, in Jeremaih 31:3, He says to you, “I have loved you with an everlasting love;”

We shall never be loved by ANYONE more than what He loves us! 

At this very moment, you might not be wearing your dancing shoes, you might not feel like singing.  You might not even care about the false words some Romeo texted you.  Your heart might be in your belly; your tears streaming down your cheeks, and you might just want to be left alone…After all, those days of fifty years ago are gone.  Those moments are no more; they’re glimpses of better times.  They were our youth.  They shaped our lives.  In them we planned our weeks and months.  But now, we’re living in a different world. 

Maybe you need to hear those words again!  “We’re living in a different world!” 

Times have changed. And those lyrics from long ago, as great as they were, and as good as they sounded, should be replaced by similar, but better ones!  You should be seeking to hear them from God’s lips.  You’re in His heart.  You’re on His mind. He’s waiting to personally tell you how much He loves you!

Listen to His words:

“For I am the LORD God, besides me there is no other” (Isaiah 45:5). And,

“Who shall separate us from the love of God?  Shall trouble or hardship, or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword” (Romans 8:35)?

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38,39).                                                                                                                                                                                                     To move on in life, we need a new beginning!  Start anew where you are with God in your life! 

Like the late Keith Green sang, “You can run to the end of the highway and not find what you’re looking for/No, it won’t make your troubles disappear…To find yourself, you have to start right here.”

Great poets and singers have poured out their hearts with heart-stirring, heart-clinching lyrics pulling our emotions in certain directions-sometimes with legit intentions, but God has got something better!  While a man/woman can vow to never leave us, their words may not always hold water!  Since Jesus is the WORD, His words are forever; And, YES! His Word (Jesus), does hold water (Isaiah 40:12)!

Go ahead, bask in the deepness of His voice, for “He thunders marvelously” (Job 37:5)!  Get dancing!

God Bless!

Sam

The word express has a few meanings and multiple usages. For example, remember New York’s express trains?  Sometimes in a mad dash to catch the express, one might end up getting a local one.  Locals, for example, might go to 14^th Street, 21^st, 28^th, 34^th, 42^nd, etc. while an express train would skip less-populated stops and shoot from 14^th Street to 34th.  This was especially crucial if you needed to get, say, to 168^th Street in the Bronx and wanted to get there straight from around 81^st Street.  A few key stops versus a ton of small ones where the trains had to slow down, stop, open doors, (sometimes to empty stations), close doors and restart.

Express works great when one’s in a rush.  But express also portrays something explicit such as, “I expressly told you not to go.”  Or, “You need to express your thoughts more clearly.”  That reminds me of the song, Express Yourself (Charles Wright & the Watts 103^rd Street Rhythm Band, 1970).

Here’s a different meaning for the word: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.  After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV).

The King James version reads, …“The express image of his person…”

In other words, Jesus is an exact image of God, the Father.  That’s because He’s God in the flesh. Born as such so we could see Him and relate to Him as a human.  It’s easy to rationalize, “God can’t relate to me! He’s way-up there! What would He (The Father) know?  After all, He’s a Spirit!  But in taking on human flesh, He can relate to our shortfalls.

Since we are made in His image, we need to treat others as if we were standing in His presence; with reverence.  Since God knows and understands all things, we can express ourselves to Him!  Go on, tell Him how you feel.  You can go “Local” with Him; meaning, take your time; enjoy the view. Don’t take the express!

God Bless!

Sam

Remember that movie with Will Smith?  As an enemy of the state, you will be pursued by every agency out there!  Everywhere you go you will be watched; your every move monitored.  Relentlessly, you’ll be tracked.  Your life will be turned upside-down.

In the movie, Will Smith unknowingly, comes into possession of evidence/knowledge of something that a corrupt agency is after.  Without his knowledge, a ‘target’ (so-to-speak), is placed on his back. From then on, he’s on the run.

Same with us! We like to think we’re ‘cool’ with God; that we’re fine in his eyes.  But that’s not how it is from His perspective.  Before coming to Christ, we were dead (spiritually-speaking); in our sins and trespasses; meaning, we didn’t know Him as Savior or have His forgiveness. Read on.

“Because of our sins, we were dead in our spirits.  But God gave us a new life, because we are united with Christ.  Yes, God has saved you because he is so kind” (Ephesians 2:5 EASY).

Definition: As spiritually dead people, we were not God’s friends as we might think!  Actually, we were (are) His enemies.  WHY? Because a spiritually-dead person can’t do what God created him to do: to honor Him and serve Him in righteousness.  Even our best works or attempts are futile without turning our lives over to Him.  Our BEST efforts are like “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV).

But God has had His eye on you!  Though an enemy, He’s got His angels (His messengers), seeking you out!  They know your every move!  You can say, a “target” has been placed on your back!  Now, you can come to Christ, or continue to run; It’s up to you.

  “You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thoughts from afar” (Psalm 139:2). 

He’s pursuing you out of love to take something you may not know you have in your possession-a sinful nature!  Satan is the real enemy-yours and God’s.

God WANTS YOU TO COME HOME!

“If while we were yet enemies of God, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more,” having been reconciled shall we be saved through his life” (Romans 5:10)!

Once found, you’ll be saved from damnation! You’ll no longer be an enemy of God; but His friend (John 15:15)!

God Bless!
Sam

I just read an article, Would You Pay $50,000 to Find Your Future Bride?  Turns out a man was willing to pay that amount to an agency which promised to get him the perfect wife.  Matching up his wants, looks, compatibilities and more, the agency was able to deliver and the client is now a very happily married man!

What would you pay? Peanuts? Might end up with…Would you pay bananas? You’d end up with…

God sought a bride, which makes up His body.  He wasn’t going to pay peanuts or bananas; or even play Rock, Paper, Scissors. Anything He’d pay, Satan would try to match it.  Whether coins, gold, rubies, diamonds, etc. Satan would have had access to them because: (The world is his: 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:3; 1John 5:19).

God had to pay a price beyond Satan’s reach.  When the bride was “found,” He agreed “She” was to die for and was willing to pay the price!  Was She beautiful, meeting all His wants and looks?  Was She compatible with Him?  The answer to all the questions, is NO!  She was ugly, mired in sin! She was a liar, an alcoholic, and a cheat. She was biased, a murderer, greedy, a thief, and more (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)!  And God thought, “She’s perfect!”

Through His Son, Jesus, the purchase was made!  So, how much did He pay?  Was it $50,000; $100,000, Millions? Billions?  More????  Money couldn’t do it.

Although God initiated animal sacrifices and blood offerings with Israel to cover for man’s sins and transgressions, those sacrifices could never take away our sins.  Besides, they couldn’t cleanse our conscience.  God, Himself, through Jesus, laid His life for you, His bride!  Meaning, not just any type of blood, but the perfect blood of Christ without spot or contamination was shed for you

The price Jesus paid for His Bride is unparalleled! It is beyond what anyone could ever do!  Satan could never match that!!  He has no blood!  He’s not perfect! He’s a FALLEN angel.  He’s not willing to do anything for anyone!! He’s a cheat and a cheapskate!  Jesus alone can completely transform our lives!  You would have to be God Himself to do it…And He did!! He laid His life and covered all the costs!  No amount of money could ever outdo that!

And, He has cleansed us and made us beautiful! We’re no longer what we were!  See your reflection in God’s mirror of transformed lives! Bask in the image of His glory! For what you see is hidden behind His image!  When you look at yourself you’re seeing Him!

   “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Revelation 19:7,8).

 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).

“For you were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

What an UNBEATABLE love story!

Sam

Recommended Hymn: Jesus Paid It All

I just read an article, Would You Pay $50,000 to Find Your Future Bride?  Turns out a man was willing to pay that amount to an agency which promised to get him the perfect wife.  Matching up his wants, looks, compatibilities and more, the agency was able to deliver and the client is now a very happily married man!

What would you pay? Peanuts? Might end up with…Would you pay bananas? You’d end up with…

God sought a bride, which makes up His body.  He wasn’t going to pay peanuts or bananas; or even play Rock, Paper, Scissors. Anything He’d pay, Satan would try to match it.  Whether coins, gold, rubies, diamonds, etc. Satan would have had access to them because: (The world is his: 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:3; 1John 5:19).

God had to pay a price beyond Satan’s reach.  When the bride was “found,” He agreed “She” was to die for and was willing to pay the price!  Was She beautiful, meeting all His wants and looks?  Was She compatible with Him?  The answer to all the questions, is NO!  She was ugly, mired in sin! She was a liar, an alcoholic, and a cheat. She was biased, a murderer, greedy, a thief, and more (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)!  And God thought, “She’s perfect!”

Through His Son, Jesus, the purchase was made!  So, how much did He pay?  Was it $50,000; $100,000, Millions? Billions?  More????  Money couldn’t do it.

Although God initiated animal sacrifices and blood offerings with Israel to cover for man’s sins and transgressions, those sacrifices could never take away our sins.  Besides, they couldn’t cleanse our conscience.  God, Himself, through Jesus, laid His life for you, His bride!  Meaning, not just any type of blood, but the perfect blood of Christ without spot or contamination was shed for you

The price Jesus paid for His Bride is unparalleled! It is beyond what anyone could ever do!  Satan could never match that!!  He has no blood!  He’s not perfect! He’s a FALLEN angel.  He’s not willing to do anything for anyone!! He’s a cheat and a cheapskate!  Jesus alone can completely transform our lives!  You would have to be God Himself to do it…And He did!! He laid His life and covered all the costs!  No amount of money could ever outdo that!

And, He has cleansed us and made us beautiful! We’re no longer what we were!  See your reflection in God’s mirror of transformed lives! Bask in the image of His glory! For what you see is hidden behind His image!  When you look at yourself you’re seeing Him!

   “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Revelation 19:7,8).

 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).

“For you were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

What an UNBEATABLE love story!

Sam

Recommended Hymn: Jesus Paid It All

We’ve all seen those ads! ‘Check out former Ms. Beautiful at age 23, and wait ‘till you see her now at 95!’ DUH!!!  That goes for everyone!

The question is, “How do you feel right now?”  Whether you’re fine, super-fit, suffering from high anxiety, or are an actual patient lending your voice and face for one of those TV commercials listing all the chronic side-effects of some of today’s meds, one day soon, things are about to change!

If Christ is your savior, at His appearing, multitudes will be saying, “Wait until you see him/her now!”  Christ makes all things new (Revelation 21:5KJV)!  All the aches and pains, all the ACE bandages holding you together like the Mummy, will be gone! No artificial hands, feet, eyes, or heads will be attached to your new body!  What you and others now see in the mirror, will be erased forever! Check out these lyrics:

“If you could see me now/I’m walking streets of gold/If you could see me now/I’m standing tall and whole” *

You’ll be brand new!  And, according to the lyrics, even if you’re short, you’ll be tall!!

God will not go into heaven’s junk pile to replace a part on your body. The WHOLE YOU will be brand new!  Only He knows how “old” we’ll be, or look.  I don’t think there will be a “look” to achieve.  Time will be no more; so, we’ll perpetually look great!  

I look forward to seeing you there. The good news is we’ll know each other (1 Corinthians 13:12)!   If you haven’t already done so, make your appointment NOW with God to get your life RIGHT with Jesus!  Wait no more.

God Bless!
Sam

Recommended Song: *If You Could See Me Now by TRUTH, 1992

Ours, is a day where the word “Love” is tossed about loosely.  We love burgers and fries (umm). We love ice-cream (yummy), cake, pets, movies and actors.  We even sang with the Coronel, “I love my chicken finger-lickin’ good.”  We’ve seen love-story movies, read romantic novels, and have listened to Silly Love Songs (Paul McCartney); not exactly God’s definition of love.

The Word of God encourages us many times over to “Love our enemies;” to love those who wrongfully accuse us” and to “love one another” (Matthew 5:44; John 13:34,35).

1John 4:20 reads: “If someone says, ‘I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother who he has seen, cannot love God whom he has never seen.” Obviously, God is interested in us loving others according to His word and not according to the ways of men.

Jesus taught us that the greatest commandment is to “Love God with all our hearts, all our souls, and with all our minds” (Deuteronomy 6:4,5; Mark 12:29-30).

According to a quote by R.A. Torrey (1856-1928),
“If loving God with all our heart and soul and might is the greatest commandment, then it follows that Not loving Him that way is the greatest sin.”

In our thinking of what constitutes a life that pleases God, the one thing we should be most concerned with is: “Have I loved well?”  St. John of the Cross once said; “At the evening of our day we shall be judged by our loving.” 

Author Ken Gire challenges us to include God’s love in every aspect of our lives on a daily fashion. Do others see that?  He asks, “Have I loved well?”  Only we can answer that.

I ask, “Has God loved well?”  His love is wrapped in another word found in the following verse: “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.  Then called I upon the name of the Lord: O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.  Gracious is the LORD, and righteous: yea, our God is merciful” (Psalm 116:3-5KJV).

Our loving God is a Gracious God.  His love is wrapped in grace!  He has loved well!  

*Ken Gire, Winter’s Promise: Hope-Filled Reflections for the Difficult Seasons

God Bless!

Sam

Originally written and shared with my church on March 16, 2005

The Spinners sang that back in ’78. There are people working their way back to their loved ones.  People will reinvent themselves just to regain what they’ve lost.  And it’s good to find our footing if we’ve strayed.

Throughout the ages, God’s people, the Israelites, have tried many times to get their relationship with Him back on track.  They’ve succeeded and failed too.  To skip this process, God made a way: He sent His Son, Jesus, to clear the way back to the Father.  He died for us all, and has promised to work in our hearts to keep us on track.

In other words, we don’t have to work at pleasing God or at getting on His good list because we’re already there!  He didn’t exclude you, or you!  Jesus died for you and took your sins upon Himself so you wouldn’t have to. You don’t have to work your way to His heart.  Just give it to Him. Walk with Him daily.

Today is Labor Day-rest from work.  God has given us rest from works.  “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceases from his own works, as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:10).

Upon the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Our strife and sacrifices are done away with.  If you think you need to crawl on your knees, walk on your head, drag yourself or cut yourself, or make any other self-inflicting sacrifice, for miles to please God or to appease him, cast them all aside!  Jesus paid it all!

All we need do is BELIEVE! Anyone who tells you otherwise, is WRONG!  Yes, we follow Him and serve Him, but as far as acceptance is concerned, He’s known you before He laid the foundations of the earth! You’re that special to Him!  So, chill.  Eat a burger or a salad! Celebrate your rest day from trying to gain God’s approval. Nothing we do will get God to love us more, nor draw us closer to Him than what we currently are.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

God Bless!
Sam

Death came unexpectedly to Adam and Eve.  Their disobedience to God brought forth something they had not known other than possibly watching God sacrifice a lamb to use its skin to cover their shame (Genesis 3:21).

Death respects no one It steals away loved ones.  It snatches away our friends.  Death takes but never gives back.  It sometimes creeps upon us, and other times it comes swiftly. Death destroys God’s goodness.  It steps on your toes and mine.  Death is greedy; it aims at conquering as many victims as possible.

As Jesus hung on the cross, death, like smoke from hot ice, crept upon His feet, over the pounded nails and then His thighs.  Death dreamt big; it aimed at getting the most important figure in human history under its grip. Up His waist like a fog, it went.  It spread across Jesus’ aching chest and battered arms.  It then went for the jugular.  Death spread over His face from the bruises from slaps, having His beard plucked (Isaiah 50:6), and from the kicks, and punches He received. Finally, death overtook the Son of Man on the cross.

While people wept, demons danced.  While believers hid, cruel men falsely exposed Him of being a fraud. Can you picture it? The tabloids flew their front pages on the evening news.  During rush hour, reporters announced, “THE SON OF GOD ABADONED BY HIS FATHER!”  “LIFE-GIVER, DEAD!”  The tabloids wrote: MIRACLE WORKER, RAN OUT OF MIRACLES! “He who said, ‘I Am the Life,’ is DEAD!  And, “Charlatan Had His Coming!

Yes, death is a robber! He comes from Satan.  “The thief comes but to kill, to steal, and to destroy” (John 10:10a). Death causes us to cry until every last tissue in the box is gone and our tears have dried.  It leaves a void in us.  But there’s hope!

“…That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14b).

Meaning, Jesus had to die to defeat death, and the sting of sin! If we trust Him with our lives and future, He will come through! At the time of departing this world, we’ll pass into an eternity with Him!  Death has no power over us!

Part b of John 10:10 says, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”   Rest assured that robbers, “Nor thieves nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1Corinthians 6:10).  Hallelujah!  DEATH’s days are numbered! Soon the Robber will be given the boot for all time!
God Bless!

Sam