The Longest Night

The Longest Night

Luke 1:14
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
 
   The Winter Solstice was this week on the 22nd, and it t marks the beginning of winter.  The solstice is the shortest day – and the longest night - of the year.  The long nights can be especially hard on those who are worried about how to pay for their next meal.  For those who have a heavy heart for a loved one suffering from a long-term ailment.  For those who will find an empty chair at the dinner table this Christmas.  For those who are alone or those who should go home but can’t find the courage to go.  For these the long, cold nights can be excruciatingly long.
   Thankfully, God has arranged for us the celebration of an event that might not have actually happened during this season, but needs to be celebrated at this time of the year.  Christmas brings light and joy to millions during the darkest part of the year and inspires us to share that light and joy with others.
   From that first dark night when the bored, lonely shepherds received an angelic message and went to the stable to see a newborn lying in straw to today people have needed a ray of hope during the dark nights in our lives.  The hope was brought by a little Baby born during the dark more than 2000 years ago and He still brings hope into our dark lives.
   I think it’s fitting that one of the symbols of Christmas are bright, colored lights.  My wife and I love to drive around and see the Christmas lights people put up around their homes; the lights brighten up the long, dark nights.  Christmas is such a bright, shiny time and the merry songs bring joy and peace to us.  A drab living room is transformed with a few lights, ornaments and garland and laughter of little kids opening presents.  There are few things as wonderful as the twinkle in the eyes of kid when he first sees the tree with presents under it.  
   The one problem with this time of year is that ends all too quickly.  I’m not sorry the hype ends or the nightmare shopping trips end, but must we lose the feeling of joy and love, too?  Just because Christmas is over do we have to go back to ignoring others we pass on the street?  Do we have to go back to being surly to cashiers in the store?  To not speaking to our siblings and cousins for another year?
   We’re ok with visiting nursing homes in December, why not in February, too?  It’s ok to bake cookies or a pie for a neighbor in December, but not in January?  It’s ok to send a card in December to someone we’ve not seen in years but ignore them the other eleven months?
   Let me quote the end of Charles Dicken’s story, “A Christmas Carol”
“It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, "God bless us, every one!"
This year let’s try to keep that Christmas spirit around a little longer.  The lights may be packed away with the ornaments and garland, but let’s not let the true Light of Christmas fade away so quickly.  Let’s let the light of God’s love shine through us into the lives of others.  The hope brought by that Baby is still in the world and we should share it with others.  A kind word, a card or a small gift, a phone call, a plate of cookies, or whatever could really brighten the life of a lonely, hurting person during the dark nights.
Merry Christmas

Stephen Cram                          December 25, 2011                     Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

One of My Favorite Christmas Stories

One of My Favorite Christmas Stories

Luke 2:14 KJV
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

   There are thousands of Christmas stories, some true and some fiction, touching on many aspects of the Advent season.  Of all of them, perhaps my favorite is an unusual one from way back in 1914 during the first year of bloody fighting in World War One.  The Germans were locked in a near-stalemate with the British, the Belgians and the French along a long border from Belgium to southern France.
   On Christmas Eve in Belgium, along a line where the British and the Germans faced each other, the common soldiers on each side crouched in their muddy trenches amid the lice and rats.  They were cold and wet and miserable.  There was a standing order on both sides to shoot any enemy soldier on sight.
   On Christmas Eve, some German soldiers put up small trees decorated with candles on the parapets of their trenches.  As the day went on, hundreds of these Christmas trees lighted the German trenches.  Then a Christmas miracle happened – the soldiers decided not to kill each other.
   During the day the British heard singing coming from the German side.  Although they didn’t understand the words, the tunes were familiar Christmas hymns.  Once in a while a heavily accented voice would shout, “a happy Christmas to you Englishmen!”  Glad to send Christmas greeting back, the British began to call back, “Same to you, Fritz!”  One young British soldier wrote home that in his part of the line, the Germans sang “Silent Night,” and when they finished the British began singing “The First Noel.”  Back came “O Tannenbaum.”  They replied with “O Come All Ye Faithful.”  The Germans answered back with “Adeste Fidéles.”
   German soldiers began yelling over to their enemy, "Tommy, you come over and see us!  We will not fire at you and you don’t fire at us."  A few from both sides climbed up ladders and carefully went over the barbed wire and met in the middle of “No Man’s Land.”  Officers from both sides met and came back to tell everyone that there would be no firing at the other side until midnight the next day, Christmas Day.  This truce was not officially sanctified nor organized, and yet it quickly spread up and down the line.  The soldiers built fires and exchanged tea and coffee, cigarettes and cigars, canned meat, fruit, booze and newspapers.  They laughed at the propaganda written in the other side’s news and drank toasts to each other’s families and friends and sang more Christmas carols.  
   While the Christmas truce was going on, crews from both sides buried their fallen comrades.   Both British and German soldiers sorted through the bodies and in a few cases joint services were held for the dead from both sides.
   One thing I read over and over in stories of this truce was that the soldiers from both sides were surprised to find out how much they had in common; that they were more alike than either side knew.
   In many years I’ve had occasion to attend Christmas services in other churches and it has always been a fun time visiting with other Christians.  I’ve been pleased to see that I have more in common with them than differences.  I’ve not always been comfortable with some parts of their services but as long as we agree about Jesus and His birth, death and resurrection, we can have fellowship together.
   Sadly, much like the Christmas Truce of 1914, most of the time the only way we’d even consider visiting another church is during the Christmas season.  We hunker down in our own trenches the rest of the year and lob verbal bombs at others and happily shoot the other side any time we see a weak spot.  And God help the wounded because we don’t.
   That church you drive by on the way to your church?  You know, the one that’s too loud, or too quiet, or too weird, or too mean, or the preacher wears a funny robe?  The saints there are pretty much just like you.

Stephen Cram                                 December 18, 2011                     Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

         
   

God's Home

God’s Home

John 14:2 NKJV
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
(Note:  The Greek word for mansions is monai, the plural form of mone, which literally means dwelling place or abode.)

   As I was writing last week, He shall come.  And He promised us that He is preparing a place for us in His Father’s house.  Heaven is mentioned, I’m told, over 400 times in the Bible.  Never counted them, so I’ll use that number.  But it’s not until we get to the last book do we get much in the way of a description of heaven, and much of what we read isn’t directly about Heaven.
   John the Beloved wrote his description of his vision on the Isle of Patmos.  John was a fisherman from the Sea of Galilee living in the 1st century, so when he saw his vision, he had to use familiar words to describe what he saw.  What he saw must have been an overwhelming sight, because his description is awe-inspiring.
   John tells us the city of New Jerusalem descended out of heaven and “it shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” He tells us that this city, which is not the whole of heaven but only came out of heaven, was twelve thousand furlongs long and another twelve thousand furlongs wide at the base.  A furlong is one eighth of a mile, so twelve thousand furlongs is about 1500 miles.  It’s hard to imagine something that big, but if New Jerusalem were set down in the US it would extend from Fort Kent, Maine to Miami, Florida, and would reach from Manhattan all the way to the Colorado River.  And its 1500 miles tall!  That’s 5447 Sears Towers on top of one another.  (And yes, I know the Sears Tower was renamed the Willis Tower.)  If New Jerusalem is this big and this beautiful, what must Heaven itself be like?
   The famous “streets of gold” we hear so much about are the streets of New Jerusalem as are the twelve huge gates made of pearls.  He will leave the Gates open because New Jerusalem will be a pure place where no unclean or evil thing will be allowed.  The city will not need the sun or the moon because it is lit with the radiance of God’s glory and the Lord Jesus will be its light.  Heaven is not a Motel Six, but I sure am glad that God will leave the “Light” on for me.
   So it seems that God really hasn’t revealed much about Heaven to us.  But is that the important stuff we needed to know?  No.  Knowing what Heaven looks like is isn’t really important.  What we need to know about Heaven we already know.  Jesus said, “You know the way to the place where I am going…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:4&6)
Let’s not lose sight of the goal in our travels.  It’s not really important to worry about whether or not we’ll have a mansion on a street of gold near a gate made of a giant pearl.  It’s more important that we know Who we’ll spend eternity with.  It’s more important to know how we can get there.
   When I turn my thoughts towards Heaven, I am amazed; again, that God did so much to make the way for me to get there.  I can scarcely get my head around the sacrifice Jesus made allowing Himself to be beaten and crucified to buy me ticket into eternity.  We used to sing a song called “Just As I Am” and rarely does a song describe so accurately the condition of a lost soul in need of salvation as that one does.  The song begins, “Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me.” And in verse 5 is a line, “because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”
   Yes, Jesus shall come.  He shall come to those of us Who have come to Him believing in His promise.  Do you still come to Him?  In your busy life, do you still come to Him?  In your trials in life, do you still come to Him?  Nothing has changed; He still waits with open arms.  And because He promised, we can believe.  O Lord, I come to You.

Stephen Cram                                  December 11, 2011                    Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Matthew 1:22&23 NKJV

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 

   The holiday season is in full swing.  We’ve gotten by Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  We’re in a frenzied time of buying gifts, decorating the tree and the outside of our homes, Christmas programs and musicals, parties and dinners.  Christmas in the 21^st century is a hectic time.

   It was not that way for the Monks of the Middle Ages.  In the monastery, Advent was a time of meditation on serious subjects like death, judgment, heaven and hell.  This time of year was their time to reflect on His first coming and look forward to His second coming.   They sang seven Latin sentences during the Advent time, five of these were put into a song and a chorus was added.  With its haunting minor key melody, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" has long been a much-loved Christian hymn.

   The first verse tells of Jesus coming to His people.  You can argue whether this is for Israel, long held in captivity waiting their Messiah, or the world, long held in the grip of sin, waiting for Christ to come and free us by His death and resurrection.  Both views are equally workable.  The lost need Emmanuel to come to them.  The promise of “God with us” is the only hope for a lost and sinful world. 

   Verse two asks that the Rod of Jesse come to free the captives from the tyranny of Satan and free us from the depths of Hell.  Those held captive need to be freed, and only Emmanuel has the power and the authority to free us from the sins that bound us.

   Verse three calls him the Day-Spring and asks that He come and cheer our spirits with His Presence.  I particularly love the line, “and death’s dark shadows put to flight.”  When we stand in the light of Christ’s love, the shadows of death and condemnation will flee from us.  It’s hard to fear the dark when you are standing in the pure light of Heaven’s Glorious Son.

   Verse four calls Him the Key of David and asks Him to open Heaven for us.  His death and resurrection and ascending to the Father did just that.  I still have to struggle to grasp that idea.  Heaven, the throne of Almighty God, is open to me, born in sin and without the means to save myself.  When I go there, they won’t search my baggage or ask for two forms of ID.  Christ has paid the way and the gates are open and waiting for me to come in.  Awesome!

   Verse five calls Him the Lord of Might.  We are reminded that He gave the Law and He still defines our boundaries.  He calls us to live Holy lives and keep from the sins of the world.  We may not live any longer under the Law, but we still are called to obey His commandments.  We are called to live to a higher standard and live above the sinful ways of the world.

   The chorus of each line gives a promise that is worth repeating:  Immanu El, literally translated as “God (is) with us,” shall come. 

   We don’t see Him, but He shall come.  We don’t know when, but He shall come.  Ready or not, He shall come.  The Blessed Hope of the Church is this promise.  He shall come.  This Christmas season, I urge you to work a little time into your frantic schedule to reflect of His first coming and look forward to His second coming because, as we are reminded, He shall come.

Stephen Cram                                      December 4, 2011                    Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8 

Giving Thanksgiving

Giving Thanksgiving

Colossians 3:15 NKJV
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

   Dear Lord, thank You for today.  Thank You for my family and the love we share.  Thank You for being a forgiving, loving God; I'm blessed more than I deserve because of Your grace and mercy.  Thank You for giving me eternal life and for giving me Your Word to guide me.  Forgive me for the sins I’ve committed against You.  Help me to keep from sinning and give me strength to resist temptation.  Thank You that I’m working and my needs are being met.  Thank You I’m warm and fed and safe.  Thank You for being able to see and to hear and walk.  Help me see You in all things around me and have a positive attitude as I go out into the world.  Help me not to whine and complain over things that I have no control over.  When I face pressure from the world and it begins to overwhelm me, remind me of Jesus’ example and let me slip away for a quiet moment of prayer and praise to strengthen me.  It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.  I know that when I can't stop and kneel in prayer, You still hear me and listen to my prayers.  Help me to stay uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.
   I don’t always remember to pray for others.  I don’t always remember to pray for the unsaved in my life.  My heart hurts for those who are lost and can't find their way to You.  I pray for the blinded by sin; for the blinded by anger or hatred; for the blinded by fear; and for those who refuse to listen to Your Spirit when He tries to reached their hearts.  I pray for those that don't believe You exist.
   I pray for all my brothers and all their families: for each and every family member in their households.  Thank you for the legacy of my mother and grandmother who taught me to read Your Word and listen to You.  Thank you for the love of a Godly woman and the years we’ve had together.  Thank you for my kids and for their families.  Thank you for the ones who go to church and hear Your Word preached, and send Your Spirit to reach those who do not.
   Thank you for the many Christians I meet every day and for the church family I’m part of.  Thank you for a pastor who speaks Your Word boldly and without reservation.  Thank you for the pastors who have built so much into my life from my childhood up to now.  Thank you that there are still men and women who believe in Sunday school and work faithfully to teach the Word to both kids and adults.
   I repeat, Lord, I am blessed more than I deserve.  Your grace and Your mercy are beyond description and I am ever grateful for both.  Thank You for giving Your Son for me so I could escape the destruction of sin.  Thank You for Your Spirit Who speaks to my heart and guides me daily, (when I listen to Him.)
   Lord, if I missed anything, it was not intentional.  I am so overwhelmed by Your blessings, I may have overlooked one or two.  Just know that under this grumpy exterior is a grateful man who will spend eternity thanking You.


Stephen Cram                            November 27, 2011                      Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

By Nothing But Prayer and Fasting

By Nothing But Prayer and Fasting

Mark 9: 28&29
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

   One question that has always bugged me is why doesn’t the Church have more of an impact on our world today?  The answer is complex and there are lots of reasons, but I submit to you that one of the biggest is found here in Mark 9 and again in Matthew 17.  A man brings a disturbed child to the Disciples and they find that they are impotent to help him.  It’s not that they blew the guy off and didn’t try, because we see from the wording of the verse they did try.  It’s not that they were ignorant about possession, because they’d seen Jesus cast out demons before.  It wasn’t that one of them went in alone to try; they were united together and tried together.  But they still failed, despite their best efforts, and in the end they had to take the child to Jesus, Who cast the demon out and the child rose up delivered and well.
   So they asked.  When we don’t know, that’s what you’re supposed to do.  They took Jesus aside and asked where they went wrong.  Jesus answered their question and gave us insight into spiritual warfare.  In the account in Matthew, He first gives them a talking to about faith and then says, “This kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.”
   Sometimes I look at the Disciples as eager but unprepared kids trying to please an adult.  I can see them girding up for battle and rushing onto the battlefield only to discover that they don’t have any bullets in their guns.  They went into battle against evil without being prayed up and focused on God.  Remember the account of the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish High Priest, from the Book of Acts?  They tried this and the demon-possessed man told them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?”  Then he beat the snot out of them and tore their clothes off them and chased them down the road.  They went into battle unarmed and unprepared and paid a heavy price for their oversight.
   Should the Church in America be renamed the First Church of Sceva?  There is a lot going on in our society and the Church seems to be unprepared and out of touch with what’s happening.  We sit in our warm, comfy churches and ask why the world isn’t trampling a path to our doors?  The world isn’t, and won’t, because they are under the influence of forces that are anti-God, anti-Christ, and anti-church.  People are deceived by these powers and are under the influence of them and will march through life and into hell without ever once stepping foot into a church.  Why should they?  They have what they want in life and don’t know that they need salvation.
   In a lifetime in church, I have heard people pray for a lot of things.  Only a few prayers were for people’s souls.  Oh, I’ve heard the prayers: “save the world, Lord!”  “Send Your Spirit to reach the lost in our city, Lord!”  “My neighbor is unsaved, Lord, do something to bring him to You?”  Now go grab your Bible and find those witnessing techniques written down and read them to me.  Can’t find them?  It’s because they aren’t there.  If you’re really concerned about your neighbor, go talk to them YOURSELF.  If you think your city need the Lord?  What are YOU doing about it?  No unsaved flocking to your church?  Go and invite some!
   But remember the powerless Disciples and the hapless sons of Sceva.  Pray first.  Fast and pray.  Give God your undivided attention and let Him minister to you first, and then you will be better prepared to confront to powers who influence this world and lead some of their victims to the safety of God’s love.
   Could you show someone the plan of salvation from the scriptures?  You’d better know that before you try!  Study and be prepared to answer questions.

Stephen Cram                         November 20, 2011                      Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

The "Instead of" Christ

The “Instead of” Christ

1 John 2:18 NKJV
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

   It’s a sad fact that most people in our society today know little or nothing about the Bible.  But even so, most people have heard about the Antichrist.  There are books, movies and other information predicting the rise of the Antichrist, and he’s seen as a frightening person.  Interest in the Antichrist is nothing new; John wrote about him and expected the Christians of his day would understand what he wrote about.  John lived in the constant expectancy of Jesus' return and, judging from his writings, believed that he lived in the “last hour.”  Sadly, we’ve lost that urgency in our churches today, and we should be living like we expect Him to return at any time.  But, back to John, he also wrote warning that the Antichrist was coming and might be coming soon.
   So what does the name "Antichrist" mean?  Quick Greek lesson here: the prefix "anti" can mean "the opposite of" or it can mean "instead of."  The Antichrist, therefore, can mean the "opposite Jesus" or it can mean the "instead of" Jesus.  Most people are locked onto the idea of the Antichrist being the “opposite christ.”  They picture a very evil person who will burst onto the world scene and kill the Christians and anyone else who gets in his way.  They picture this because of the contrast with Jesus.  Jesus loved everyone so the Antichrist will hate everyone.  Jesus did good wherever He went, so the Antichrist will destroy wherever he goes.  Jesus' character and personality was beautiful and attractive, so the Antichrist's character and personality will be ugly and repulsive.   Jesus spoke the truth, so the Antichrist will speak only lies.
   I think we accept the concept of the “opposite Christ” too much.  My belief is that the Antichrist, when he comes, will be more an "instead of" Jesus.  My parents lived through the dark days of WW2, and told stories of their recollections of that time.  They remembered that Hitler was more hero than villain when he forced his way to power.  He was, we need to remember, voted into office by the majority of the population of Germany.  He said the right thinks and gave his people hope and promised them a bright future.  The evil was already there, but what he showed everyone was the friendly smile and warm handshake and I’ve read accounts of people meeting him and coming away impressed with his personality.   I doubt Hitler would have made it to power if he acted like a megalomaniacal killer lusting for world conquest.
   Look for the Antichrist to look wonderful, be charming and successful, shake hands and smile a lot and promise a sunny future and a better world for everyone.  One name of Satan is the Angle of Light, so look for his man to be an angel of light.  Here's a point to remeber: John speaks of "the Antichrist" and "many antichrists."  There is a "spirit" of antichrist, and this spirit of antichrist will one day find its ultimate fulfillment in a man, the Antichrist, who will lead humanity in an end-times rebellion against God.  So what does that mean?  While there will be an actually man who will be the Antichrist, the world now has evil influences that are leading towards this time.   We get small previews of this evil from time to time.  Planes flying into buildings killing thousands and armies killing entire villages of people are previews of this kind of evil.
   As many time before, I urge you to read the Word of God and prepare yourself for this influence gaining strength in our world.  Beware lest some type of "instead of" Jesus tries to get between you and Jesus.  We live in desperate times, and many are looking for someone to step up and give us all the answers.  Will you be able to recognize Christ from Antichrist when this happens?  Will you be able to tell lie from truth when you hear it?  Yes!  If you know what the Bible tells us.  Yes!  If you have hidden His Word in your heart.  Yes!  If you pray regularly and listen to His “still, small voice.”
   The Bible warns that: Matthew 24:24 NKJV
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Be warned!  Jesus Himself gave this warning.  He said that, if possible, even the elect will be deceived.  The Antichrist will come dressed as a lamb, not a lion.  He will speak soft words not roar threats.  Don’t be afraid to ask God for confirmation before jumping on any bandwagons.

Stephen Cram                            November 13, 2011                     Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

It’s Personal!

It’s Personal!

Acts 17:28 NKJV
for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

   Seven billion of us now swarm over the face of the world.  Seven billion!  A billion is a hard number to grasp.  One advertising agency put a billion into perspective:
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was walking the roads of Galilee and Judea.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
   Or to put it another way, if you go up onto a mountain top and the air is completely clear, you can see about 10,000 stars.  Now if each of those 10,000 stars represented 700,000 more stars, that would be 7 billion.
   It’s easy to feel lost in the world today.  In life we’re often reduced to our Social Security number or some other numeric designation.  Once in a doctor’s office, while sitting near a sign that assured me of personal care by a caring doctor, I was asked if I was “Cram, Stephen P?” Humph.  Not exactly the personal touch.  Many people work at jobs where we’re small cogs in a big machine.  Does anyone know I exist? Does anyone care about me?  Am I just a name on a bulk mailing list?
   Even Christians feel the loneliness.  After all, with tens of millions of Christians alive right now, how do I know God really cares for me, one lone Christian struggling in the world?
   One of the joys of our faith is in knowing we have a personal God Who knows us as individuals.  The Bible is full of examples of His personal love and care.
God knew you before you were born. He knew you when you were still in the womb.  Jeremiah 1:5a
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;

Jesus reminds us how much we mean to God.
Matthew 10:29-31.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

God knows we exist and He knows all about us.  And our great hope is that we will see Him again.
John 14:1-3
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

   God knows you and you are important to Him.  You are His beloved!  He takes delight in knowing you.
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

   Don’t despair, God loves you and watches over you and one day you will go to His house and live for eternity.  He hears your cries and knows your pain.  He knows the frustrations your feel in this world filled with seven billion other people.  You may be a number to the government, but in Heaven you’re a person.

Stephen Cram                         November 6, 2011                      Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

Staying in the Harbor

Staying in the Harbor

Matthew 4:19 KJV
Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

     My late oldest brother and I would often drive to Seabrook on the NH coast and go out on an all day Haddock boat.  Our favorite skipper had a boat with powerful engines so he would stay behind at the dock until the others had left and sometimes picked up last minute fishermen looking to go out fishing.  While we waited, I would stand on the deck watching the activity around the harbor.  The sun would begin to lighten up the sky and the gulls would be wheeling over our heads looking endlessly for food. The water seemed alive as it beat on the rocks occasionally sending a curtain of spray into the air.
     The deep- throated growl of marine diesel engines filled the air and plumes of smoke rose from exhaust pipes.  Our skipper and his mate would be busy checking bait and gear while the other fishing boats turned towards the open sea and left behind clouds of diesel smoke.  Finally our skipper would cast off the lines and we would head for the misty horizon ourselves, quickly catching and passing the slower boats.  Spray would fly up from the bow of the boat cutting through the water  We were heading out to deeper water where the fish are waiting.
     But the small harbor we had left was still clogged with boats - luxury yachts and sailboats that sat in the water still tied up to the docks.  They wait in silence for a weekend visitation; perhaps a short sail in calm waters or a picnic lunch on deck in the sun.  They’re never really being used as they were designed to be used.
   It was sad to see those beautiful boats just sitting there at the dock.  Rust and corrosion would slowly creep up on them.  Occasionally the owners would polish the brass work and swab the decks clean, but most of the time they were left to sit there.
   I think of that harbor in the morning mist and am reminded of some churches I’ve been in.  There are a few who would go out fishing but most just sit there.  A few will experience the thrill of landing “the big one” but most will only trade fishing stories of the one that got away.  A few will know the clean air of the open sea but most will remain firmly tied up to the dock, thinking the stuffy air of the harbor with its occasional cool breeze is “as good as it gets.”
   It’s sad to see how few are part of Jesus’ working fleet.  So many are just weekend visitors to the harbor, looking for a good time while just sitting on the deck.  The harbor is supposed to be a place of refuge, not a place to spend all your time.  I would have felt cheated if I’d paid for a ticket on the boat and we just sat there fishing in the harbor.  Most of the fish were out in the deep water and the fishing is much better out there.  There are hazards, I’ve hooked a few sand sharks in my time, but also I’ve pulled in some beauties.  How to describe the thrill of the tug of the line, setting the hook, fighting the fish to the surface, then seeing it in the net.  And to a Christian, how to describe the thrill of seeing an unsaved person respond to the Gospel and bow their heads and pray the sinner’s prayer.
   Fish are what fishing is all about.  It ain’t about the equipment or the boat, it’s about the fish.  Church ain’t about the carpet or the overhead projector, it’s about Christ and bringing the Gospel to the sinners.
   Throw off the lines and set out to sea and let your line down into the water.  You never know what may be waiting for you.

Stephen Cram                            October 30, 2011                      Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

Boo!

Boo!

John 14:27 NKJV
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

   Halloween time is a celebration based on many things, and one of them is fear.  People who celebrate Halloween like to be scared, and scaring each other is part of the fun.  Kids shout “Trick or Treat” and dress in costumes that are often scary characters and monsters.  What is about fear that makes it so much fun?
   The truth is that Halloween is only fun because we know it’s really not real.  We open the door and smile and pretend to be afraid when the kid there says “boo!” and give them some candy.  We know it’s really not real so it’s not really scary.
   This week I was studying about fear, real fear, because our world is awash in fear more than at any other time I can remember.  The fears facing our world today real and are really scary.  My study showed me many types of fear, and as I traced fear throughout the Bible I found myself back in Eden.
   In the very first encounter between Satan and Eve he suggests that God has not told them everything about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because He was afraid they would become like Him, suggesting that God was fearful.  This brought fear to Adam and Eve thinking that God was holding out on them.  The devil began using fear then and it’s still his best weapon against us.
   Fear cripples people are surely as wrapping them in chains and imprisoning them.  A fearful person can find themselves unable to function in society.  These fears fall into categories, and this is not necessarily a complete list, but three categories are worry about personal needs, worry about others, and worry about the future.
   Many become fearful about personal comfort or fear of having a place to live or having enough food.  Some, who have enough for comfort, are fearful about not having as much as someone else.  The devil uses this fear a lot and even tried it on Jesus when tempting Him in the wilderness, offering Jesus food as his first temptation.  We read the news and see this fear has gripped our society.
   Many become fearful about others.  They fear personal safety and shy away from others to avoid being hurt.  Some fear physical pain and some fear emotional pain.  Both fears can prevent people from living fruitful lives.  I always think of an elderly man my parents knew who barricading himself in his home and rarely went out because he was afraid of becoming sick if he came in contact with anyone else.  He had a neighborhood market deliver his food to his kitchen door and he would wash the cans and packages before opening them.
   Many fear being failures and not achieving success.  As I’m writing this I’m thinking back on the surprising number of co-workers over the years who came to work every day fearful of being fired.  Most were good workers and had no reason to think they were in danger of losing their jobs but lived with the fear every day.  One man actually talked about how bad things would be for his wife and new son when, not if but when he lost his job.  How terrible it must have been to live like that!
   I can’t remember how many people I’ve known over the years who dreamed of becoming rich and famous and successful.  And they lived with the fear of never fulfilling their dreams.
   Does fear grip at your heart?  Do you live with the weight of fear on your mind?  There is only one solution to fear, and it’s not in the psychologist’s office.  Fear needs to be brought to the foot of the cross.  We need to confess our fear to God and ask Him for healing.  Only in His love can we find deliverance from fear.  I think it’s safe to say all of us suffer from fear in some form, and trying to live without fear would be like trying to live without having clouds in the sky.  The enemy will bring fear to your door and will throw it in your face every chance he gets.  But your reaction to fear will determine how successful his attacks will be.  You do not have to live a crippled life.  Your weakness is made strong in Christ.  When fear comes on you, stop right then and right there and pray.  I don’t know how He does it, but God will give you the strength to pass beyond your fear and live life free of its power.

Stephen Cram                            October 23, 2011                                Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

Misconception About Gates

Misconception About Gates

Matthew 16:18 NKJV
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

   Sometimes we Christians get some strange misconceptions.  One misconception is that sin has us shackled and we’re trapped by our sins.   I wrote of that last week.  This week I want to write about the misconception we often have about gates.
   I have heard scores of sermons based on this verse and most talk about, (cue “Evangelist with the Big Hair” voice) “how we frail Christians are under attack by the Gates of Hell, I say again, the very Gates of Hell!  We need to hold on under the onslaught until the bitter end when, at the last minute, Christ will come, (can I get an ‘Amen?’) Christ Himself, I say, will come to our rescue and preserve us for Himself for all eternity!”  (Mops forehead with over-size white hankie.)
   Now, I’ve seen many gates over the years and have, on occasion, handled a few of them during that time.  Not once, in all those encounters, did any of those gates attack me.  You know why?  Because gates don’t attack anyone.  They can’t.  Gates are not weapons.  Armies don’t march to war armed with gates.  The Strategic Air Command has no plans to drop gates over the enemy’s position.  Camouflaged gates don’t sneak behind the enemy’s lines to wreak havoc.  Gates have one primary function - to keep something or someone on one side separated from what’s on the other side.
   Now go back and re-read that verse from the perspective that gates are stationary items designed to keep you out of an area.  Paraphrased, “the gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church.”  When, or if the Church advances into enemy held territory, the Gates of Hell itself will not be able to hold back that advance.  Can you grasp this promise?  The Gates of Hell cannot stop the advance of the Gospel put forth by a prayed-up Church marching forward on its collective knees.  Faith is the key to this advance; faith in God and faith in His willingness to empower us to share the Gospel with a dying, sinful world.
   This does not mean it will be easy or enjoyable work.  I watched a TV personality, (I can’t call him a minister,) spend a half-hour telling me how being a Christian was really an easy thing.  He painted a picture of happy families sitting in a happy church singing happy songs and hearing a happy sermon then going home to their happy lives.  That family and that church may exist in Mr. Roger’s neighborhood, but I think I live on the other side of the railroad tracks.
   Generations of missionaries dating clear back to Paul and Barnabas can testify that preaching the Gospel can be hard, grueling, dangerous work at times.  I’ve been in many church services where Missionaries have spoken and talked about bringing the Gospel to people who’ve never heard about Jesus before.  They’re pushing against the Gates of Hell and with the power of God behind them they are seeing those gates opening and the Gospel being preached.
   Marching on the Gates of Hell means stepping outside your comfort zone.  When you move into territory where the devil has held sway means he will challenge you.  He hates to lose territory to God and he will defend what’s his with all his considerable resources.  This is why you need to be prayed up when you challenge those gates.  You need to be under God’s protection and you need to study His Word and have it in your heart as well as in your head.  When you find yourself under attack it’s too late to stop and brush up on a couple of Bible verses and hold a prayer meeting.  You need to be ready to respond right away because hesitation or doubt can lose the chance to witness to an unsaved person.        
   There are gates like these all over; in our backyards as well as overseas.  You may find yourself with a chance to witness to a fellow employee or a hairstylist or a mechanic.  You see an unsaved person needing Jesus, the devil sees a victim about to be plucked away from his hand.  Expect resistance and distractions to interfere but push against that gate and see what God will do.

Stephen Cram                            October 16, 2011                       Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

A Misconception About Sin

A Misconception About Sin

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

   Sometimes we Christians get some strange misconceptions.  One misconception is that sin has us shackled and we’re trapped by our sins.  We might know intellectually that we are forgiven by the Blood of Jesus, but in the back of our mind we still feel that sin has the upper hand over us.  I spent many years of my Christian life feeling that sin was steel trap waiting to entrap me up and prevent me from growing in Christ.
   Falling into sin is a dangerous thing to do, and flirting with sin is dangerous ground to be standing on.  But do not believe that sin is like a big bear trap waiting for you to step into its jaws trapping you forever in its jaws.  Sin is more like a set of Chinese finger cuffs.
   Remember those?  When I was five or so, my memory is a little vague that long ago, an older brother brought home a set.  He showed me how to slip my fingers into them, which I did, and then laughed and laughed at my vain attempts to get free.  Today these little traps are made of crinkly paper, but back then they were made by something the thickness and consistency of cornhusks.  I tugged and tugged and tugged some more, but the diabolical things had a firm grip on my index fingers and would not let go!  Finally, my Mother told him to let me out and he showed me how to get them off.  
   The secret was so simple – don’t struggle.  Relax and let them just fall off by themselves.  The secret of Chinese finger cuffs is that they’re designed to let you trap yourself.  You are as trapped as you let yourself be and are free when you want to be free.
   Sin, to a Christian, is little more than Chinese finger cuffs for the spiritual realm.  When I sin, my first reaction is defensive.  I’ll tug and tug at the sin but will never be free of it as long as I try to overcome the sin in my own strength.  I’ll never be able to free myself from the clutches sin in my own strength and my struggles won’t get me anywhere.
   I can hear some of the dear old Saints my grandmother and mother knew and how they’d proudly say that they hadn’t sinned in over twenty years.  I sure can’t make that statement and I don’t think I know anyone who can.  So if we do sin, is there hope for us?  Yes, there is 1 John 1:9.  
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
   I’ve heard this called the Christian’s bar of soap.  I don’t really think you can go twenty years without sinning anymore than you could go twenty years without getting dirty.  Dirt happens to everyone, including the “dirt” from this world that we live in every day.  We associate with sinners so it’s not unlikely that we might get some sin on us from time to time.  Then we need to apply 1 John 1:9 to free us from the sin.  Sin will fall away when we don’t struggle but let the power of the Blood of Jesus clean it.  Sin is strong, yes, but it’s nothing next to the Blood of Jesus.  We may fail from time to time and then sin will grip our lives, but like those Chinese finger cuffs sin’s grip is only effective when we allow it to be.

Stephen Cram                            October 9, 2011                              Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

The Epistle to the Athenians

The Epistle to the Athenians

1 Corinthians 2: 1&2 NKJV
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

I hope no one actually tried to find the epistle to the Athenians, because there isn’t one.  My question is, why not?  Paul went there on his second missionary journey, and it was the city he visited right before he went to Corinth, which we read of in the two epistles written to the Corinthians.  So why not Athens?  Athens was the former Greek capitol and still a prominent city under Roman rule.  Athens was the Greek center of many things – philosophy, education, art, literature, and more. It was also the center of their pagan religion based on the Olympians gods and goddesses.  Paul went there and visited the center of learning and tried what I consider a good tactic to introduce the Gospel to the Greeks.  They had statues to all sorts of gods and goddesses and had one to, “The Unknown God,” to be sure they didn’t leave any out!  So Paul called their attention to this statue and said, in essence, let me tell you about this “Unknown God” and then laid out the Gospel to them.
   At first glance, this was a good idea.  He tried to reason with them intellectually, as they were the intellectual elite of the most intellectual city on the Greek peninsula.  But, as it turns out, it wasn’t a good idea.  Paul’s message was received and debated by these high-brows and then they dismissed it like so many other arguments they’d heard, and it failed to hit their hearts.    
   I think, (and this is my opinion here,) that the Gospel can’t be reasoned out with the mind.  The Gospel requires the action of the Holy Spirit to be effective, and appealing to the intellect interferes with His work.  Just a few verses before Paul’s admission of weakness in what we call chapter two, he made a statement in chapter one about this very idea.
1 Corinthians 1:23
but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
 Why is it foolishness?  The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a sinner is not in his head but in his heart.  I’ve had the privilege to witness to many people over the years and I’ve seen people being pursued by God.  None of them really understood what was happening to them, because the changes being made in their lives to bring them to salvation were happening in their hearts, about 18 inches below their brains.
   In 1 Corinthians 1:22 Paul makes the declaration, probably learned from his encounter in Athens, that the Greeks seek wisdom.  The story of a convicted rabble-rouser dying on a torture device in a little rebellious province of the Roman Empire to save you from your sins and from eternal damnation is not something easy to explain to someone seeking wisdom.  In fact, to quote Paul, it’s foolishness.
   When Paul got to his next stop, Corinth, he found a sinful city.  Corinth was a seaport and a center of trade and lots of money changed hands daily.  Religion didn’t play much of a part in the everyday life of the Corinthians.  Paul was, I imagine, embarrassed by the reaction he got in Athens.  He did what we need to do when we fail at some task; he turned to God.  He drew strength from God and when he faced the task of bringing the Gospel to this sinful city he did it God’s way.  I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  
   He goes on to give the secret to witnessing:
Verse 3: I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
Rather than try to win them with the force of his personality or persuade them with his dazzling intellect, he came to them knowing he was not able to accomplish his task with his own power.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
And that sums up witnessing better than any words I can write.
   We never, anywhere, read of a church in Athens.  I suppose there was one, but it never seemed to make an impact on the world.  The church in Corinth did.  It still is because the words Paul wrote to them are still with us and still influencing lives today.
   When you witness, remember the lesson Paul learned the hard way.  You must prepare with prayer and let God go before you and begin to work on their hearts.  When you witness, remember it’s all about Christ and not about you and it’s not about your church.  When you speak with them, let God guide your words.  Depend on the Word of God and don’t be afraid to quote it frequently.  When God, in His Sovereign will, begins to pursue a sinner, He allows us to be partners with Him in that pursuit.  We may even get to be there at the birth of a new Christian.  This is an awesome privilege and we need to be prepared to meet the challenge.


Stephen Cram                            October 2, 2011                     Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

Effective and Fervent Prayer

Effective and Fervent Prayer

Psalm 5:3 NKJV

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;
In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. 

James 5 16b NJKJ

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

   If you desire to be effective in your Christian life, you must spend time in prayer.  And not the “Dear Santa” type prayers, but “from the heart” prayers, the consistent, daily prayers where you put some thought into them.  Much of my young Christian life I put little thought or effort into praying.  I probably hold the record in a few churches for the shortest prayers offered during prayer meetings.  I would rush through the prayer because praying was the “thing to do” in prayer meetings and I felt obligated.  But as I grew in my relationship with the Lord I felt that cheap prayers were inappropriate and would not pray if I didn’t feel like I could offer a “good” prayer.  I knew something was wrong, but not really sure what.

   We need to put effort into praying and put thought into what we pray.  We’re talking to God Almighty, Lord of Heaven and earth.  I often talked to pastors and other elders in church about prayer, and got a lot of advice – not all of it made sense.  It was a real blessing when I first undertook a study on prayer from the Bible.  I learned that the only way to pray prayers that are effective and powerful is to pray as though prayer were the most important activity in your life.

   In the verse from Psalms, David uses the Hebrew word 'arak meaning "direct."  He was saying he would direct his petitions to God daily.  'Arak is used in other parts of the Old Testament.  Moses uses it in reference to the priests "setting in order" the sacrifices to be brought before the Lord each day (Exodus 40:4).  Joshua uses it to describe an army being "set in array" in preparation for battle (Judges 20:20-22).  David is declaring here that he had a plan for his prayers and he brought his thoughts in order and he was prepared for the prayer before he began it. 

   It sounds hard and tedious to think about your prayer before you actually pray, but praying should not be a burden.  Praying should be a joy!  Our Heavenly Father loves to hear from us and as we grow in Him we will find ourselves wanted to talk to Him.        

   The verse in James requires two English words to translate the Greek word Energeo - effective and fervent.  These are two positive and powerful words.  James describes a prayer that is not selfish nor is it just an emotional plea.  This prayer is passionate and is prayed with confidence that God hears our prayers and He has the ability to answer our prayers.  It is belief that God’s Hand is moved by the prayers of His children.

   As you pray today, pray believing He hears you.  Our prayers work!  In my life I have seen many answers received and many blessings fall on people in need.  I have seen sinners come to the Kingdom, sinners you would never have thought could possibly be saved, and I know they had saints praying for them behind the scenes.  These were saints who determined to pray and keep praying until something happened.  

   So much in your life and the lives of those you intercede for depend on your prayers and you will only see the Hand of God moving when you spend time in prayer.  So when you pray, pray expecting to see an answer.

Stephen Cram                     September 25, 2011             Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8 

Your Permanent Record

Your Permanent Record

Revelation 20: 11&12

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

   When I was in school, there was something you were constantly warned about.  If you were bad or did something really wrong, a report would be sent to the Principal's office and placed in your PERMANENT RECORD!  Nothing more needed to be said.  Your Permanent Record was filed in the Principal's office, and it put the fear of GOD in your heart!  You had never seen your Permanent Record, but that didn't matter.  You knew it was there.  The threat was enough to make you think twice.  You had a picture in your mind of rows of steel filing cabinets with the Permanent Records of every student who went to the school and everyone who had ever gone to that school filed in them. 

   You also knew that a copy of your Permanent Record would go to college if you went on to one and would follow you to your first job and every job after that one as well.  You mistakes would never be forgotten, they would be there for everyone to read about.  Any time some teacher or boss wanted to know if you had ever done anything really stupid or just plain mean they could go to your file and read all about it.

   OK, stop laughing!  It wasn’t funny!  Your Permanent Record was a real threat and a genuine cause of worry for us!  You didn’t want everyone you met the rest of your life to know about your mistakes.

   I have a terrible feeling that my generation may have been the last one to believe in the Permanent Record.  It has disappeared from society.  There was time when people stopped before they did something deceitful, unethical or immoral.  They didn't stop because they were especially holy, but because they believed that if they did the deed it would end up in a permanent record.  You believed that someone would find out about it.  You believed that nothing would remain a secret forever.

   People have come to realize that there is no permanent record and they can do these wicked things and often get away with it.  No one would know if they were clever enough, or if they found out you could give a valid excuse.  Your upbringing was bad or your parents were separated or you were poor.  There are dozens of excuses people use to validate their bad behavior, as long as they don’t have to take responsibility themselves.  You can offer some excuse like "it was a crazy time in my life" and be forgiven for anything. 

   The things people used to be ashamed of are now laughed at in comedy clubs.  The things people used to be ashamed of now have Congressional lobbies protecting them.  If the things were unusual enough, the person can even make a lot of money by writing a book about it.  They would become "interesting" people at parties. 

   Talk shows are filled with guests bragging about the wicked things they do.  People are thanked for being "honest" with the audience who gasp and applaud at the appropriate times. 

   Yes, people figured out that there never had been a Permanent Record to follow you through life.  Today, we have accepted the fact that no one is keeping track.  No one is even allowed to keep track, it's a violation of our Constitutional rights.  We look back on the idea of the Permanent Record with a nostalgic feeling and smile because we were so naïve to believe in one. 

   But…

   I am a little old-fashioned.  I believe that on some future day, when we check out of our earthly lives, we will find ourselves standing in a long line.  As we look around, our self-righteous smile will freeze on our face.  Here we stand at the head of the line and an angelic being will call us forward.  We will step forward and stand, all alone, before a Glorious Heavenly Figure seated on a Great Throne.  Another angelic being will be standing off to one side with some books.  This angelic being will open up a book with our name on it.  He'll begin leafing through our PERMANENT RECORD.  Will the words of that book be covered by the Blood of Jesus?  Or will the words still be there for all to see.  

Stephen Cram                         September 18, 2011                        Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8 

                                

What is that in your hand?

What is that in your hand?

Exodus 4: 1&2
1 Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, "The LORD has not appeared to you."'
2 So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"  He said, "A rod."

   So many people in life focus on what they can’t do, and spend their lives frustrated and feeling like failures.  They’re too timid or too lazy to actually try to step outside their comfort zone and do something.  It’s so much easier to say, “I can’t” rather then, “I’ll do it.”
   Statues aren’t raised to quitters.  Heroes are not the ones who stand on the sidelines and fidget.  Successful people are the ones who not only work hard, but are willing to try to do something more.
   When God needed to send someone to deliver His people from bondage in Egypt, He sent Moses.  Moses was well trained and well educated but really didn’t want to step out in front and lead anyone.
   First Moses used an excuse, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”   But God told him, “I will be with you.”  Next Moses said the people would want confirmation of God to be sure it was really Him.  So God gives him a name, “I Am That I Am.”  The Moses tried to back out on God again by saying, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”  Then God asked a simple question, “What is that in your hand?”
   I have a good imagination and I see Moses looking at the simple wooden rod he carried and his brow probably wrinkled in thought.  The plain shepherd’s rod he had carried for years was just an ordinary stick.  Why would God be interested in an ordinary stick?  The better question was why God was interested in an ordinary man?
   Moses was about to discover that ordinary things become extraordinary when used for God’s glory.  That stick that Moses carried became a supernatural stick, and it even acquired a reputation.  It became known as the rod of God.  (Exodus 4:20)
   You know the rest of the story.  That rod found use again and again.  It became a snake and consumed the rods of Pharaoh’s wizards.  It was raised over the Nile River and wondrous things happened.  It was held high in the air and the Red Sea parted to let them pass on dry land.  It struck a rock and water gushed out.  It was used to perform many miracles.  An ordinary stick used in God’s service.
   When Jesus fed the thousands who were listening to Him preach, He used some an ordinary kid’s lunch containing ordinary bread and some ordinary fish.  But Jesus used them and they became extraordinary bread and extraordinary fish.  Those thousands were fed and there was plenty left over.
   The ordinary things that God has placed in our hands become extraordinary when we surrender them to His will.  “I don’t have much to offer,” you say?  Maybe you have little money, little time, little talents, few possessions and few friends.  But take what you have and surrender them to His will, and give Him the opportunity to use these ordinary things to meet needs and give glory to God.
      So, what do YOU have in your hand?

Stephen Cram                           September 11, 2011                     Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8


       

Yes, He Really Means It!

Yes, He Really Means It!

Genesis 12: NKJV
I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Bereishit Chapter 12: 3 Jewish Tanakh
And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you."
ג. וַאֲבָרֲכָה מְבָרְכֶיךָ וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ אָאֹר וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ
כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה

   A couple weeks ago I wrote about a conditional promise from God.  He set the condition of: “IF My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,” only then would He make good on His promise: “then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  This promise hangs on an action on our part.
   In Genesis He gave a promise to Abraham that has no condition attached to it.  I have read and researched this pretty extensively over many years and no one can find a condition that this promise hangs on.  The best way to look at this promise is that God said it, and He really means it, and He’s going to do it.  So what’s this promise really say?
   In my opinion – and I stress this is my opinion, God watches over His people who are the descendants of Abraham and inherit the blessings bestowed on him by God.  I read an article recently about someone trying to make the blessings of Abraham apply to the Arabs who were descendants of Abraham through Ishmael.  But if you read the Biblical account of Abraham, this is not so.  God’s promises and blessings went from Abraham through Isaac and down to the Jewish people, not to the Arabic peoples.  And if that offends you, take it up with God, He wrote the book, I didn’t.
   And this promise is, again in my humble opinion, an important one to learn.  “I will bless them that bless you...” pretty straightforward here.  If you bless Abraham or his descendants, (the Jewish people,) He will bless you.  So if we as individuals or we collectively as a nation bless Israel, God will bless us.  Warning!  Brief history lesson here.  The United States was instrumental in the establishment of the nation of Israel after WW II.  We supported them and were the first to officially recognize them as a nation in 1948.  The history of the US shows how much we were blessed of God during the 50s through the 80’s.  Our support of Israel began to erode after 1988 and we as a nation have sunk into turmoil and degradation unseen in the world since the declining years of the Roman Empire.  Coincidence?  I doubt it.
   Here is where the second half of this promise comes into play.  “I will curse those who curse you.”  Again, pretty straightforward here.  If someone causes harm or withholds help to Abraham or his descendants, the Jewish people, God will bring a curse on them.
   Oh, come now Steve!  Really!  A curse from God - the loving Father Who loves us?  Yes, a curse from God, Himself.  Again, history will confirm this.
   Know someone who’s been to Egypt?  THE power in the known world.  Also known for its high level of knowledge and science.  And they blessed Israel for a season then enslaved them.  When they fell, they fell hard.
   Assyria, who attacked and enslaved the Ten Tribes of Israel, had an empire that stood for about 241 years.  They’re gone as well.
   Babylon’s army marched where it wanted to.  The world leader in culture and science in its time.  Today, Iraq is a poor, hurting nation.
   Persia overthrew Babylon and extended the borders.  They were experts in law and brought their unique government to thousands.  They began by blessing the Jews then turned against them.  Iran is a small country with many problems.  
   Greece conquered the known world and famous as the cradle of democracy and learning.  They, too, began to persecute the Jews and were conquered by a more barbaric people.
   Rome ruled from the Atlantic in the west to the Black Sea in the east and from Britain in the north to the sands of the Sahara desert in the south.  Check out a map and you won’t believe how big an empire they were, all without electricity or cell phones!  And they also cursed Israel.  Today, Rome is broken into dozens of pieces.
   Nazi Germany rose and their manufacturing was the world leader.  They had huge universities in Germany before WW II.  Then Hitler decided to exterminate the Jews.  God exterminated the Nazi leaders and their 1000 year Reich fell in 12 years of blood and destruction.
   The British boasted, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.”  What that meant was that Britain ruled colonies and protectorates around the world.  Today, it is nearly bankrupt and in turmoil and has been nearly overrun by Moslems and the Islamic influence.
   All these great powers have in common the fact they cursed the Jews.  Don’t take my word for it, look up the facts.  See how each treated the Jews, and learn from their example.  “I will bless them that bless you, and will curse them that curse you – and He really means it.
   I don’t think it’s too late for the USA to turn things around, but we are sliding over the edge and on the very brink of disaster.  I urge you to open your eyes to the danger we’re facing.  Turning our national policy against Israel is a poke in the eye of El Elyon, God Most High.  I would say, “God help us” if we do, but of course, He won’t.

  Stephen Cram                               September 4, 2011                 Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

Visit the blog at http://stephencram.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment.

Arriving at Your Destination

Arriving at Your Destination

1 John 2:28
"And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."

   Have you ever arrived at a destination and been disappointed when you got there?  In this verse, John presents that kind of idea.  When we arrive at our eternal destination, how will we feel when we get there?
  When Jesus returns, some people will be afraid because they never really got to know Him.  Some will not be afraid, but instead will “be ashamed before Him at His coming."   They lived worldly, unfruitful lives, and now, seeing Jesus face to face, realize they have not lived for Him.  In one moment, the understanding will come to them that whatever else they accomplished in life; they did not live for Him as they should have.
   In 1 Corinthians 3:15 Paul brings up the idea of people who “barely” get saved.
If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
There are those who, when He appears, will feel disappointment rather than glory.  They will have worked but not done anything to further the Kingdom of God.  Instead of joy and happiness when seeing Christ’s face they will be filled with shame and fear.
   Then there are some I’ve heard say, "As long as I make it to Heaven I’m good!”  That’s easy to say now, but consider how small the difference between "barely saved" and "not saved" is?  Too many in the church have the attitude of, "How little can I do and still make it to heaven?" or "How far can I stray from the Shepherd and still be part of the flock?"  These are pretty dangerous questions to ask.  I once heard a (supposedly true) story about a warehouse supervisor who needed to hire a worker.  He interviewed 3 finalists and explained that he wanted to see how good a driver they were with the forklift.  He wanted them to see how close to the edge of the loading dock they could drive and not drive over the edge. Two tried and both got really close to the edge.  The third refused to try.  He got the job.  The supervisor explained to the other two he didn’t want drivers who could get close to the edge without falling off, he wanted drivers smart enough not to try.
   As I wait for Christ’s return, I don’t want to explore how far I can stray from the Shepherd nor do I want to find out how much I can do and still be forgiven for.  The best way for me to get ready for His return is to obey the directive given in 1 John 2:28.
And now, little children, abide in Him, that when[f] He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
   It won’t matter if you’ve memorized every prophecy passage in the Bible.  It won’t help to retire to a monastery, hiding away from the influence of the world.  What we must do is abide in Him.  According to the dictionary, the first definition of “abide” is: “to remain; continue; stay: Abide with me.”
   Do you have a “way up there in the sky” view of God?  That’s not how it is and is a dangerous view to adopt.  God is not, as a popular song once proclaimed, “watching us from a distance.”  Nor is life a joke as a cartoon Gary Larson did about a “kid” God playing with a galaxy.  God is close and He knows the thoughts and the intents of our hearts.  You can fake a lot of things in life, but He is not fooled by anything you do.  Now is the time to get serious about your final destination so when you get there you won’t be ashamed.

Stephen Cram                            August 28, 2011                     Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

I Want to Know You More, Really!

I Want to Know You More, Really!

Isaiah 6: 1-5 NKJV
 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
3And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
 the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

One translation renders verse 3 as, “More holy than the holiest holiness is ADONAI-Tzva'ot! (The Lord of Hosts or the Lord Almighty) The whole earth is filled with his glory!"

   I write a lot about spending more time with God in His Presence.  But I know a couple of reasons why it’s not done more.  One reason is laziness.  We live in an instant world so we want an instant relationship with God the Father.  Why spend hours reading and praying and meditating on Him and His Word?  Just punch up a Bible passage on your laptop or tablet, scan it, and your done!  Instant Christianity!
Another reason is that spending quality time with God is a fearsome thing for most of us.  Often when I pray, I have to come face to face with unanswered questions, unresolved hurts, and unconfessed sins.  At times like this, God is not a Holy fascination but a reminder of my own shortcomings.
   I will confess that at times when I pray, I am reminded of loved ones who have passed away.  I prayed for healing for them, but they’re dead anyway.  And sometimes when I pray, I am filled with grief over broken promises and mistakes I’ve made.  Not pleasant things to be reminded of.
   And, continuing to confess here, I sense His Holiness and His Glory and sometimes it fills me with wonder and awe but sometimes it fills me with a sense of, “why am I here?  I don’t belong here!”  Talking to honest Christians I’ve found that this happens to others as well.  As opposed to the Christians who say that everything is “Fine!” all the time.  They could be in a car wreck and have a leg half torn off and if you ask them how they are, they’ll say, “Fine!”  Well, I’m not a “Fine! All the time, Fine!” kind of Christian.  I find myself filled with doubts and remorse in His Presence at times; and it’s not a comfortable feeling.
   But I really do want to know Him more.  So what do I do when my conscience bothers me when I pray?  Our conscience bothers us because we are not products of this world, but belong in another one; a holy one and a pure one, a world with this Holy God as the centerpiece. Yet we live in this world with its cesspool of sin and we get dirty, too and when we pray we know we’re not perfect and yet we’re praying to a perfect God.  It's natural for us to feel like failures as Christians because of that reason.
   If we draw close to God, and deal with the sin in our lives, and let God heal us, and accept that we will not have answers to all our questions, then we will begin to let more of Him into our hearts.  The more of God we let into ourselves, the more we will become like Him and the less we’ll feel like we belong here in this sinful world.
   If we will not meditate on Him and His word, we will never know Him.  Short Bible readings and quick, cookie-cutter prayers will not reveal God to our hearts.  The Bible speaks of Him and leads us to Him, and only through its Words will we come to know Him.  If you have never just prayed for the sake of basking in His presence, if you’ve never just wanted to look into His face, you’ll never know His joy.

Stephen Cram                         August 21, 2011                Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

Visit the blog at http://stephencram.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment.

Worshiping the Wonder of God

Worshiping the Wonder of God

Revelation 4:8-11
8.  Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:  "Holy, holy, holy  is the Lord God Almighty,  who was, and is, and is to come."
 9.  Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
 10.  the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11. "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you, and by your will they were created and have their being."

5:11-14
11.  Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
 12.  In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
 13.  Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"
14. The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

   Have you ever thought about this?  How can these beings praise God forever without ceasing?  We peek into eternity through the vision of Revelation.  We see angelic beings and the saints and the strange beings known as Cherubim praising God as though they have no other desire in their existence.  What could empty these beings so that they only have eyes for God and worship Him forever?
   I believe that the angels see Him in His Glory and know Him and therefore they can worship Him continually.  They are so in love with God and see His magnificence and live surrounded by His glory so that nothing else matters but worshipping Him.  Now for the big question.  Is it possible for us to know God so well that we would live to just worship Him?
   If I was to worship for an hour uninterrupted, I would feel very successful as a Christian.  But to worship for 2 hours continually would be a labor and probably tiresome.  I can't sustain that kind of attention - even to God.  Why?
   The problem is that I don't know God that well.  I’ve read the Bible cover to cover more than once and many parts to many times to count, but still do not know God that well.  I pray regularly and worship Him without restraint, but I just don’t know Him well enough.  I want to press in and see God’s glory and I have a real desire to know Him as I have never known anyone.  Until I do, I will continue to serve Him and worship Him but I will never be able to do either wholeheartedly.
   Unfortunately, we do not see God because of the awesomeness and immensity of God.  We find that we are like the six blind men who encountered an elephant for the first time.  The grope with their hands and feel various parts of the elephant, but because of its enormous size they cannot grasp the whole of the beast.  (See the end of this devotional for the complete poem.)
   Some try to know God through books and study.  Like academicians they study dusty manuscripts until with bloodshot eyes but never finding God in the writings.  This is not the way to God. Hear what a learned  theologian said about that approach.
Philippians 3:7 & 8
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.
Loss?  Rubbish?  Had Paul really wasted his whole life?  According to his own testimony, yes.   As Paul found out; like so many others have found out, we can't know God from a distance.  We need to draw close.
   Worship God.  However you choose to worship Him, do so today.  The more time you spend in His presence, the more you will come to know Him.

Stephen Cram                            August 14, 2011                        Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

Visit the blog at http://stephencram.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment.



The Blind Men and the Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe

The First approach'd the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, -"Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"

The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!"

The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he,
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Then, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"

And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!

MORAL.
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!