My Favorite Bible Characters

Do you have a favorite Bible character? I have three.  I refer to them as the "Three J's!"

First, I want to see Jesus!  I have personally known Him for over 48 years.  I celebrated my 48th spiritual re-birth (birthday) on August 4, 2018.  Like you, I'm not sure what I will do when I see Him face to face.  Will I weep?  Will I fall down at His feet and worship Him?  Will I be speechless?  It really doesn't matter.  I just want to see Him!  I've always loved the words to this old chorus:

"It will be worth it all,

When we see Jesus.

Life's trials will seem so small,

When we see Christ.

One glimpse of His dear face,

All sorrow will erase.

So bravely run your race,

'til you see Christ."

This wonderful Jesus changed my life so dramatically, and the older I get, the more precious He becomes!

Second, I want to talk with Joseph.  The boy dreamer faced obstacles on his course that would have sidelined most.  He met with unfair circumstances, false accusations, lonely days, and much rejection.  However, his defining moment was positive and wonderful.  It's found in Genesis 50:20, "As for you (his brothers), you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring about this present result to preserve many people alive."  I appreciate Joseph's resolve to remain on the high road of life.  Many would succumb to bitterness for lesser reasons.  He's one of my heroes!

When we meet, I want to ask Joseph for more details about the pit, Potiphar's house, the prison, and finally, his years in the palace of Pharaoh.  By the way, Joseph is a "type" of Jesus in the Old Testament.  There are many parallels to their earthly lives.

Third, when I get to heaven I want to hang out with Jonathan for at least one thousand years!  As you remember, Jonathan was King Saul's son--heir apparent to the throne of Israel.  His most notable attribute was his selflessness.  He surely must have suspected that David would be God's next choice for the throne, but he still loved him like a brother.  When I read 1 Samuel 18:1-4, I glean insights into his character--insights that I admire and relish for my own life.

"Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.  Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house.  Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan stripped himself of he robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt."

Verse 4 says it all:  "Jonathan stripped himself..."  Naturally, his robe was the robe worn by a prince.  When he gave his robe to David, he gave away not only his title, but his influence! What a selfless act!

He also gave away his armor, including his sword, bow and belt.  These items were instruments of war, and by giving them to David, Jonathan further revealed his inner character.

In ancient Israel military life, the sword represented the soldier's key weapon of protection.  In essence, Jonathan was saying, "I'll do anything and everything to protect you.  You're my brother!"  Later, he would prove his commitment when his own father, King Saul, tried to kill David.  The soldier's bow spoke of his inner and physical strength.  Jonathan spent the rest of his life supporting David's dreams and doing everything he could to see that David reached his intended goals!

The soldier's belt of course, held fast his undergarment.  Not only was a tightly worn garment imperative in battle, but it also protected a man's dignity.  Time and again, Jonathan stood up to his angry King-father on David's behalf.  He stayed true to his father, but felt compelled to subtly override Saul's relentless attacks on David's character and motivations.  To summarize, in giving David his robe and armor, Jonathan demonstrated "what's mine is yours."

Jonathan was a man's man--a true man of God.  He beautifully portrayed true friendship toward David.  Most men today don't know how to have true male friends.  Usually, competitive mindsets, controlling attitudes, selfishness, frail egos and disloyalty prohibit most men from becoming and remaining life-long friends like David and Jonathan.  The term “Bromance” is a poor contemporary substitute for the godly relationship between Jonathan and David. I'm looking forward to watching these two friends interact in eternity!

When Dreams Die

How do we handle it when our dreams die, especially the ones we thought to be God-given?

This question has on occasion touched me deeply, because I have grieved over the death of several dreams.  With this said, let me give you 12 examples of people in Scripture who experienced the death of their dreams.

1.  Joseph received two God-given dreams, then was cast into a pit, sold into slavery, served in Potiphar's house and ended up in prison (Genesis 37-50).

2.  Moses was commissioned by "I AM THAT I AM" to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage.  Later, he and his brother, Aaron, were rejected by the Israelites as situations went from bad to worse (Exodus 5).

3.  Moses sent out 12 men to spy out the Promised Land.  Only two came back with a positive report and the people wanted to stone them and cast Moses aside (Numbers 13-14).

4.  Samson, the prophet-playboy of Israel, was raised up to judge the people, but allowed his uncontrolled passions to alter his assignment (Judges 16).

5.  Saul, Israel's first king, began his reign with great promise and ended up falling on his own sword while fighting the Philistines (1 Samuel 15:22-23).

6.  David, Israel's king-to-be, found himself physically, spiritually and mentally exhausted after running from King Saul, only to learn that the Amalekites had taken captive his wife and children (1 Samuel 30:1-4).

7.  King David's heart was crushed after learning his best friend, Jonathan, had been killed in battle (2 Samuel 1).

8.  God put it in the heart of David to bring the ark of God to its resting place in Jerusalem.  David's plan was foiled when Uzzah, the priest, was struck dead after trying to steady the ox cart, which carried the ark (2 Samuel 6).

9.  David made plans to build the temple, but was refused by God because he had been a man of war and the cause of much bloodshed in Israel (1 Chronicles 22:8).

10.  David's one-night-stand with Bathsheba, their unplanned pregnancy, Uriah's murder, and their baby's subsequent death caused the monarch much grief throughout the remaining years of his life (2 Samuel 12).

11.  Israel's exiles listened to the promises of false prophets regarding their future (Jeremiah 29).

12.  Stephen, the newly selected deacon, a man full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom and one whose life exhibited great potential in the infant Church, was stoned (Acts 6).

All of us have experienced the death of a dream.  During these times, we either get bitter or better.  Sometimes we never fully understand the "why's" of God, but the above examples of dreams that died perhaps give us insights that may help us deal with our own losses.

1.  Joseph's dreams died temporarily, only to be resurrected thirteen years after he was thrown into the pit.  Remember, timing is everything when it comes to God's plan for our lives.

2.  It looked like Moses' dream to lead the children of Israel died, but really God was testing his obedience and trust in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

3.  Regarding the twelve spies, sometimes our dreams die at the hands of those around us.  When the inequities of life steal our dreams, we have to lay them at the feet of an all-loving, all-knowing God, who eventually evens the score.

4.  Ask Samson.  Some dreams die because we allow sin and the lust of our flesh to override God's plan.

5.  King Saul saw his dream die because he allowed jealousy, rage and bitterness to control his life.  Sin is a dream-killer.

6.  When David discovered his wife and kids had been taken captive by the Amalekites, he "cried until he could cry no more."  Sometimes God allows our dream to die so that we "come to the end of ourselves" and trust Him completely.

7.  David learned that precious Jonathan had died.  His soul was crushed.  We make one of two choices when life dashes our dreams and breaks our heart:  (1) to either fall upon the Rock (Jesus) and find comfort, or (2) to blame God, become bitter and allow circumstances to crush us.

8.  Some dreams die when God tests our motivations behind our actions.  We have to live our lives in keeping with God's revealed will.

9.  David wanted to build the Temple in Jerusalem.  Sometimes our dreams die because they are not OUR dreams!  God has assigned what we thought was our dream to someone else!

10. David and Bathsheba lost their baby.  God did not punish the baby, but sin brings terrible consequences to our choices.

11. Israel rejected the prophetic voice of Jeremiah and chose to listen to false prophets.  Sometimes our dreams die when we listen to the wrong voices.

12. Stephen's future ministry looked promising, but he was martyred.  Sometimes our dreams die because God has a much larger purpose in mind for us.  Stephen's death caused the early disciples of Jesus to spread out all over the Roman Empire, thus taking the Gospel to people and lands that Stephen would never see.

Have you experienced the death of a dream?  Let me encourage you to do what David did when he and Bathsheba lost their baby; and later when his wife and children were captured by the Amalekites.  He got down on the ground and worshiped God!  WORSHIP GOD -- the highest form of faith when things go from bad to worse.

My Call to Preach

I love talking about my "call to preach!"   In retrospect, I see my call into the ministry as progressive.  Before I discuss my personal journey, let me remind you that all of us are called to salvation.  You are not a second class Christian if you have not been called into what people refer to as "the ministry."  Everyone, for that matter, has a ministry.

I can't ever remember not wanting to be a preacher.  In elementary school, my third grade teacher asked our class one day what we wanted to be when we grew up.  Of course, the answers were pretty standard: a fireman, a baseball player, a police officer, a teacher, etc. When my turn came, I proudly said, "I want to be a preacher!"  My teacher was shocked!

Guess what?  I didn't really know what preachers did, but I still had my heart set on becoming one!  Now I know it was the Holy Spirit moving in my heart.  

At any rate, my focus remained on the church.  I fell in love with the Assemblies of God church in Jefferson.  One evening the pastor and his wife visited our home.  I was feeling quite dejected that evening, and when it came time for introductions, I hid in the corner.  The pastor’s wife noticed that shy little boy in the corner, made her way to me, knelt down in front of me--face to face--and said, "My, what a handsome little boy you are!"  

What she didn't know at the time was that kids at school that very day had called me "fat head" and really hurt my feelings.  She gently placed her hands on both sides of my head and just loved me.  Her smile and love melted my heart.  I ran to my bedroom, threw myself on my bed and cried and cried.  That night I determined to become a preacher!

Four or five years later, my pastor's wife took me to camp, where I was gloriously saved and called to preach!  The progressive calling on my life was birthed into reality on Tuesday, August 4, 1970!  I knew exactly what I was going to do with my life when I got up from that altar.  No doubts!  I was called to preach the gospel.

The call continued to intensify over the next few years, when in 1974 the Lord directed me to enroll at Evangel College (now University) in Springfield, Missouri.  I earned a double major in Mass Communications and Biblical Studies.  I guess my melancholy personality needed a back-up plan!  When I met Lori Owens and things got serious, she informed me that she would not marry me unless I was going into "the ministry."  I was able to quickly announce, "Of course, I've always wanted to be a preacher!"  The rest is history.

Now, five churches and 35 years later, I cannot thank God enough for calling me to preach earth's greatest message.  Sometimes I feel like Paul, "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:16).

I marvel at the grace and goodness of God when I think about Him calling that middle Loomis boy--the shy, backwards one, the most unlikely--to preach the gospel.  Not a day passes when I don't thank Him for His love and mercy.

Online Dating and Match Making

Television advertisements about online dating and match making services abound in today’s world.  Singles, widows and widowers, those over 50 etc, have exclusive sites.  We hear stories about couples finding true love online, but I still wonder about the on-going validity of such match making.  Relationships may begin online, but they have to be cultivated face to face!  I know about one couple that met online and today are happily married.  It’s because what they began online was taken to the next all-important level.

Nothing beats relationship building one-on-one, person-to-person.  Talking to individuals in chat rooms is risky because a lot of people are masters at disguising their true identity and character.  I've personally dealt with two women who chose to go online looking for male companionship, and ended up in serious trouble--lawsuits, bodily threats and harassing calls.  I realize my comments may sound like a Lifetime Movie plot!  But still, be careful!

In addition, Facebook can be a wonderful tool to keep in touch with past and present friends; however, you need to be careful with whom you connect.  Sadly, the world is full of not-so-nice people.  Accordingly, online dating and match making websites may screen applicants, but that still does not insure your total safety.

Let me share several insights about online communication.  Take them or leave them!

1.  Online relationships do not allow for eye contact, voice inflections, accurate spiritual discernment, or body language in general.  You can't REALLY get to know someone through cyberspace (even with Skype, Face Time or video chat).  The other party can still partially maintain his/her anonymity, or allow you to "see" an extremely edited version of him or herself. You could be addressing a serial killer and not know it!

2.  Unfortunately, the world is full of people who have hidden agendas, impure motives and con artists.  Too much information about you may prove harmful to your mental, emotional and even financial health.  Be careful.

3.  Cyber-connecting, online dating and even chatting can be dangerous when an individual relinquishes too much personal information.  Cyber voyeurs are looking for people on which to prey.  Misdirected, angry people all too easily obtain information that could lead to scary results.  Did you hear about the woman in California whose online chat partner learned where she lived, and later robbed and murdered her?  This of course, is the exception, but still such online practices beckon us to be very cautious.

When it comes to online dating sites, I guess they’re okay if the site is reputable.  From what I understand, these sites protect anonymity until correct "matches" have been found, and the individuals in question give approval (and credit card information!) before names and personal information are released.  I guess this method of connection is better than bar hopping!

Let me suggest Christian singles groups and even churches for singles looking for potential mates.  This of course, is after you have prayed for guidance and God's will in this all-important aspect of your life.  I admit it.  I went to Evangel University for two reasons: (1) to get my degree, and (2) to assist Lori with her M.R.S. degree!  I just didn't know her name when I arrived on campus!

Nothing outweighs the beauty and necessity of eye-to-eye contact.  The Holy Spirit gives us much needed discernment when we are able to look into someone's eyes--in person.  Always be suspicious of someone who cannot look you in the eyes when he/she talks to you.  You may be dealing with shyness, but you could also be dealing with trouble. I've taught for years that the eyes are windows to the soul.  Emails, chat rooms, Facebook, and Twitter all have their place, but if you're looking for a date or more important--a life's mate, you need more than the impersonal venue of cyberspace.

God made us to connect!  We are "body" people and we need to exercise our senses.  I love what John writes about Jesus: "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life (1 John 1:1)."  Cyberspace provides incomplete, even distorted views.  I know I'm old-fashioned, but I can't imagine marriage proposals made online when two parties have never "heard, seen and touched" in the physical realm.  Yes, I've heard stories about couples finding love online, but I still value more personal venues.