Clarion Church of the Nazarene

You don’t have to be big to have a Lions heart

So I’m typing the words to this month’s Pastors Ponderings when suddenly our seven pound loin-hearted dog barks from his perch atop the arm of the sofa. He looks left, right, straight and growls to whatever disturbed him. When I take him for a walk, he scours the “hood” looking for danger – or anything that makes a move, he growls at the other dogs, ready to pounce regardless of their size. He has the heart of a lion in all circumstances. Even when I attempt to get close to Colleen, he is sure to let me know about it. So small and yet such heart.

I wish I could have the heart of a lion in all circumstances.

Jesus is described in the NT as a lion. The book of Revelation (named in part for what it reveals about Christ) portrays the risen Jesus as the only one worthy to open the scroll that contains the ultimate unfolding of God’s purposes for the world. The apostle John perceived Jesus as both Lion and Lamb, who through his death and resurrection becomes the ultimate victor and conqueror. When you pray to Jesus as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, you are praying to the One with the power to banish all fear, to the One who watches over you with his fierce protecting love. You are also praying to the One who is judge of the living and the dead.

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God members of every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:1 – 10

First Kings indicates that King Solomon’s throne was adorned with twelve lions, symbolizing his greatness and power. And Ezekiel pictures the cherubim with lion’s heads. Throughout the Bible, the lion appears as a symbol of might, and it is hardly surprising that Israel’s enemies are sometimes depicted as lions. In the New Testament, Peter calls the devil a roaring lion and warns believers that he is constantly on the prowl, looking for someone to devour.

Lions might be a symbol of evil, they are also used as symbols of God’s people In the OT the Lord is sometimes depicted as a lion who roars in judgment against the nations and against his own faithless people. But he is also described as a mighty Lion that fights fiercely on behalf of his people.

Revelation tells of the risen Christ as the mightiest of all victors. He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the one found worthy to open the scrolls of history, meaning that he is in charge of history and of how the world’s destiny unfolds. He is the Lion who leads the charge for His own. The Bible teaches that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit we receive the Spirit of Christ, His “heart. “ the heart of a Lion. I do have the heart of a Lion when it’s wrapped in Christ.

Prayer: Jesus, you are the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. You alone are worthy to open the scroll. Thank you for your fierce love and your strong protecting power. Come with your might and rule. Defeat your enemies and ours, advancing the Kingdom of God. Give us your heart, your heart of a Lion.

I am constantly amazed and grateful for all the ways God demonstrates His love to me. I have listed just a few examples of how God gives His love and how it influences my life.

He is always thinking about you. “How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many thoughts turn towards me.” Psalm 139: 17.This is one awesome thought. There are over 6 billion people in the world and He still thinks of you and me constantly and personally. He is able to give us each His undivided attention.

He is trustworthy and faithful. God is not moody or fickle. We are. God doesn’t panic. We do. People will love you for a while and then they don’t. But God is not like that. He sticks with you through thick and thin. Whenever He asks us to obey Him, He also provides everything we need. 1Thess. 5:24 “You can trust the One who calls you to do that for you.”

He never changes. "I the Lord do not change” Malachi 3:6. His love is always sure. Seasons change, people change, the world is changing, nature changes, but God never changes. We can rely on Him.

He is your strength and protector. He is our shield. Our “always there” protector. “So our hope is in the Lord. He is our help, our shield to protect us.” Psalm 33:20 It is so comforting to know that everything that comes our way has to go through “the shield about us” before it touches us.

He is always with you. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5. He is never to busy for us. He never goes away, or takes breaks or a vacation. When we are in trouble and think we are going under, we can be encouraged because, “Underneath are His ever lasting arms.” Deut. 33:27

All that the Lord has, He gives to you. The Lord showed His love when he gave mankind all of creation, but the greatest example of love is the Lord giving His only Son to save the soul. John 3:16 "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.

Biblical believers are called to have a sure foundation founded on the love of the Lord Jesus Christ which provides balance and strength. This is quite the opposite of being extreme or fanatical. The love found in the Lord’s Bible is radical love that the secular world doesn’t understand and cannot grasp. The love for God teaches us the truth of how to love. It reveals the most deeply rooted and foundational realities of how we relate to God and one another.

Christians express God’s true Biblical love when we - Give when taken; Bless when cursed; and Love when hated. Our life of love choices are: – give and it will be given, or take and it will be taken.

Lord send the Holy Spirit to my soul that I would love you and others with the same power of love You have given me. Amen

Pastor: Obama has no 'black experience' to speak of

Jim Brown - OneNewsNow - 7/3/2009 6:00:00 AM

A conservative black pastor and former NFL linebacker says he'shighly offended that President Obama would compare the plight of homosexuals tothat of blacks during the Civil Rights Era.

On Monday, President Obama told a gathering of homosexuals at the WhiteHouse that he is aware that many of them "don't believe progress has comefast enough," and compared their struggles to those of blacks during theCivil Rights Movement.

Ken Hutcherson, the senior pastor of Antioch Bible Church inKirkland, Washington,says the comments are especially disturbing from an individual who is supposedto be familiar with "the black experience."

"But I guess we...have to ask, 'Even though he is black because his fatherwas, what is his "black experience"?' He doesn't have any. He wasraised by a white mother and a white grandmother, so this man has about as muchblack experience as my Doberman Pinscher -- and I guarantee [that] myDoberman Pinscher doesn't have any," he points out. "There isnothing, nothing that compares between what the Afro-Americans went through andwhat homosexuals are going through now."

Hutcherson expresses disgust with evangelicals who still support PresidentObama, despite his promotion of policies that are at odds with scripture. Hesays such individuals are part of the "evangellyfish" movement in America.

"A person can be as black as a piece of coal, [but] if he goes againstGod's biblical views, I would not support him, I would not endorse him, I wouldnot even give a smile in his direction so people could even think that Iendorse him," he states, "because God is my God, the Bible is myplaybook, and I run it the way it is written."

During his speech to homosexuals on Monday, Obama suggested that Christianslike Hutcherson who oppose homosexuality on biblical grounds hold to "wornarguments and old attitudes.

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         The Golden Gate Bridge was built at a cost of $35,000,000 and required four years to complete. At that time, it was the world's longest span - 4,200 feet and is swung between two towers 746 feet high. The chief engineer, "a proud and resolute man of Napoleonic stature and Napoleonic spirit," battled against determined opposition and criticism to throw his 100,000 tons of steel across the entrance of San Francisco Bay. A Stanford seismologist declared that the southern pier was over a geologic fault and would menace the harbor in case of an earthquake. Others claimed that the Japanese would sink it - blocking the harbor. Some said it would never pay for itself. Undaunted by wisecracking small fry or by scholarship, Strauss drove through to final conquest and celebrated his triumph in a poem called "A Symphony In Steel" which opens with these lines: "Launched midst a thousand hopes and fears, damned by a myriad hostile seers, yet ne'er was its course stayed!" And there she stands today - combining the strength of beauty and the beauty of strength. The fee of the chief engineer was one million dollars - the original toll charge was 50 cents! Think of it! Think of renting a $35,000,000 facility for 50 cents - a bargain if there has ever been a bargain!

                I have often been challenged by skeptics with these questions: "Why don't you give yourself to something worthwhile?" I asked, "What do you consider worthwhile?" They answered: `Why don't you build a bridge - or something?"

                I explained that a bridge had been built. The towers are remarkable - one was raised outside the gates of old Jerusalem; it was a wooden structure with a cross-beam at the top; it was soaked with divine blood and seared by judgment fires. The other tower stands high on the "Delectable mountains of immortality," and around it on every side flash walls of jasper, and over it the arching rainbow of perpetual peace. The span is the longest ever swung by an engineer - it stretches all the way from the road to hell to the gates of heaven. It was built at a terrific cost to the Chief Engineer - as the last rough rivet was driven in place by a Roman sledge hammer, He died shouting ("IT IS FINISHED!") Before His bloody body had been removed from this magnificent super-structure of redemption - the bridge had been crossed by a thief. Millions more have crossed since. For written there in bold blazing letters of fire for all men everywhere to read: (THERE ARE NO TOLL CHARGES ON THIS BRIDGE - IT IS FREE!)

1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom. 5:8 For God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.

                Without money and arms, He conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mahomet (Mohammed), and Napoleon.

                Without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and schools combined. 

                Without the eloquence of schools, He spoke words of life such as never were spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of any orator or poet. 

                Without writing a single line, He has set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art and sweet songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.

                There never was in this world a life so unpretending, modest, and lowly in its outward form and condition, and yet producing such extraordinary effects upon all ages, nations, and classes of men. The archives of history produce no other example of such complete and astonishing success in spite of the absence of those material, social, literary, and artistic powers and influences which are indispensable to success for a mere man." Jesus of Nazareth

Because he was very thirsty.

Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the LORD, "You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised? Judges 15:18
    
Samson was thirsty and ready to die. His trial was totally different from any other which the hero had met before. Simply to get his thirst quenched is nothing compared to being delivered from a thousand Philistines! I?m not sure how thirsty he could have become. I?ve been very thirsty but I don?t remember being so thirsty I cried to the Lord because I thought I was going to die. (I?ve felt that hungry a lot of times-so I thought). Anyway - But when the thirst was upon Sampson, he felt that present difficulty outweighed the great past difficulty that the Lord had so specially delivered him from.

It is very usual for God's people, when they have enjoyed a great deliverance, to find that a little or small trouble too much for them. Samson slays a thousand Philistines, and piles them up in heaps, and then faints for a little water! Jacob wrestles with God at Penile, and overcomes Omnipotence itself, but leaves "limping on his thigh!" Strange, that there comes a shrinking of the strength whenever we win the day.

As if the Lord must remind us of our littleness, our nothingness, in order to keep us from self-destruction. Samson boasted loudly when he said, "I have slain a thousand men." His boastful throat soon grew hoarse with thirst, and he cast himself to prayer.

God has many ways of humbling His people.

Blessed child of God, if after great mercy you are laid very low, your case is not an unusual one. When David had mounted the throne of Israel, he said, "I am this day weak, though anointed king." You must expect to feel weakest when you are enjoying your greatest triumph. If God has created great deliverances for you in the past, your present difficulty is only like Samson's thirst, and the Lord will not let you faint, nor fall into the hands of the uncircumcised to triumph over you. For many the road of sorrow is the road to heaven, but the Lord places wells of refreshing water all along the route. So, cheer your heart with Samson's words, and rest assured that God will deliver you.

When you are worn, hungry, or thirsty from life?s battles, remember;

John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Is anyone besides me tired of being so nice? 

Our Honorable Hunters and 
the Pain-in-the-Butt Tree Huggers
By Doug Giles

Regnery Publishing is about to further bury the loons on the Left with its latest installment in the Politically Incorrect Guide series. Who?s in the crosshairs this time in this destined to be best-selling tome, you ask? Well, honey, it is the frothy and paranormal twinkies on the left who hate hunting and hunters and spread lies about us and the important role hunting plays within the world we live.

Author Frank Miniter, executive editor of American Hunter magazine, is the lucky duck who Regnery chose for the fun job of intellectually thrashing the lying liberals who whiz on our great sport and the vital role it plays in all of our lives.  Read on...