Chasing Solomon

777. That is how many points the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell today (9/29/08). For many, that number brought fear, anxiety, anger, despair, or even down right panic. Although I am trained to not be emotional about market moves, I must confess that I had a nauseating feeling in my stomach watching the House vote fail and the subsequent 777 point drop. It was a sick feeling to be sure. I know from talking to lots of people that there were thoughts of uncertain futures and an easy peace of mind was rare in light of a 777 point drop in the stock market. People’s 401k plans, pensions, and other investments in the stock market lost somewhere around 7% today. SEVEN!

I wonder how many people felt like me when they see 777 on every headline news tomorrow morning. It wasn’t until I got home and got to my quiet place that something hit me. SEVEN is a number that appears many, many times in the Bible. It symbolizes God’s completion and perfection. Man oh man how my feelings changed in an instant. What a great reminder in the midst of a storm that God is there in complete control and with a perfect plan. Details

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

It is with great pleasure that I bring the news to you today about our conference speakers. Dr. Bill Ury and Dr. Steve Blakemore will share the word of truth again this year. This year’s conference will be a dynamic series of sessions that involve presentation and discussions at the tables. This “fellowship of journeymen” was an incredibly powerful format at last year’s conference and we want to continue to build on that.

One thing I have always been able to count on with these two Godly men, is that they will teach, share, challenge and eagerly profess the good news of the gospel. We may not always want to hear the truth, but if we are all honest, we know that we all need to hear it. You will never hear from these two men what your “itching ears want to hear” but rather you will hear the “truth that will set you free”.

We need sound doctrine and these are two of the best teachers in the country who love you enough to not let you turn your ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. The focus of this year’s conference is to hear in layman’s terms the good news of the gospel and what is the meaning of our lives in light of that gospel. The true gospel is the best news we will ever know.

Unfortunately, there are many churches today where the leaders are fearful to speak the truth. They end up preaching a “don’t rock the boat” sermon week after week and we wonder why the true gospel is not sinking in.  I am grateful to both of these men, who have had such a profound influence on my life, for being willing again to share the good news. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we should want to hear, know, understand and experience what it means to have Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Come to the conference and…. “be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—HIS GOOD, PLEASING, AND PERFECT WILL.” (Romans 12: 2)

God bless,

Scot

John 1 “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”

What better way to begin a new year than by being centered on reality. Yesterday we were reminded that “In the beginning, God….” . That is how we should begin not only every new year, but every new day with the strong assurance that God created. What a comfort to know that we were created by God for His glory and that He gives our lives meaning and purpose. So now, as we endeavor to embark on a new year (or a new day), we can do so with the reality of knowing where to find the meaning of our life.

In the gospel of John, we see the truth that Jesus, the Word, was in the beginning, and was with God, and was God. Let it be also known that in the beginning of our new year (and new day) that Jesus, the Word, is with us. Through him all things were made; without Him nothing was made. As we make our new year’s resolutions, let us make this our new life’s resolution; to live in the reality that our vocations are a creative expression of His sharing His life in us and through us in service to others.

We all enter into a new year (and new day) seeking life, even seeking what is called “the good life”. Let us live in the reality that life is found in Jesus. “In Him was life” is the gospel truth. We have been saved from trying to find life in any other. That brings hope for a new year (and new day). Let us all live the words found in one of my favorite hymns… “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”.

Jesus came to bring light and life to a dark world which did not understand it. Let us too resolve this new year (and new day) to let His light shine through us before men.

PRAYER: Jesus, you are the living word of God. You are the truth, you are way, and you are the life. In you, we find life. We find the meaning and purpose of our life as we resolve, not just at the beginning of a new year , but at the beginning of every new day, to abide in you. Thank you for giving this new year and new day a glorious meaning. Thank you for sharing your life with us.