Rewind, Pause, and Fast Forward

One of Satan's favorite schemes is to get you to rewind the video of your life, in order to get you to painfully recall all of your sins, failures, and screw-ups.

Satan loves to press "Rewind" on his VCR, and he loves to whisper in your ear that you've sinned beyond forgiveness, and that you've screwed up beyond redemption, and that there's no way in the world that you could ever accomplish anything worthwhile for your Lord and Savior.

Unfortunately, far too many Christians listen to him and believe him.

But it's all a diabolical lie.

The next time that Satan presses "Rewind" on the video of your life, you press "Pause." Then pause and remember these promises of God:

Psalm 103:10, 12 - "God does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities ... as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

Isaiah 43:25 - "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more."

Jeremiah 31:34 - "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

After you've pressed the "Pause" button, then press "Fast Forward" and focus on these words of God for you and your future:

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 33:3 - "Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

When you're watching the video of your life, keep your thumb on "Fast Forward" and not on "Rewind." Just as He did with countless heroes of the faith who sinned, screwed up, and failed greatly, God can take your life, turn it around, and make it into a video that is worthy of a divinely-granted Oscar.

Tears in Heaven

I recently saw the video once again of Eric Clapton's unplugged version of "Tears in Heaven." It's a very sad song, about the death of Clapton's 4-year-old son, Conor, who fell from the 53rd floor of a condominium in New York City in 1991.

I hadn't seen the video in a while, and I listened very closely to the lyrics this time. Clapton sings about meeting his young son in heaven, and what the encounter might be like. Would Conor know his name? Would it be the same? Clapton confesses in the song that he doesn't belong in heaven, and that he can't stay there.

I have no idea about Eric Clapton's spirituality today. I have no idea if he is a Christ-follower today or not. But he does hit the bullseye in the final two lines of the song:

"Beyond the door, there's peace I'm sure,
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven."

Clapton's heartfelt lyrics are backed up by the words of Revelation 21:4, where it says:

"God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Conor Clapton is in the arms of God today. Pray for Eric Clapton and for Conor's mother, that they will find peace and comfort even in these many years after Conor's death, and that they will come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray for all the other parents that you know, who have lost children, too, that they also will experience a peace and comfort that only can come from God after such a tragedy.

And if you are suffering from such a tragic loss in your life, then please hold firm to God's promise in Revelation 21:4, that in heaven He will wipe every tear from your eyes, and there'll be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.

"Beyond the door, there's peace I'm sure,
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven."

Skillful Sailors

Last week we posted the "Surf's Up" blog, and this week we want to continue the seagoing theme with an African proverb:

"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors."

When the sea is smooth and glassy, then there are no waves to ride and sailors can't put their navigational skills to the test. It's the same in life. We tend to grow the most and learn life's most important lessons when the seas are choppy, a storm front is blowing, the surf is pounding, and the waves are crashing against the shores of your life.

And right at that point it's good to remember God's words in Isaiah 43:2:

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you."

Just when you think you are going under the waves for the final time, God throws you a lifeline - except it's not made of rope. Rather, it's in the form of an old, rugged cross, punctured with nail holes, and stained with the lifesaving blood of Jesus.

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi once said:

"Preach the Word of God at all times. If necessary, use words."

There's nothing more I need to add.

Surf's Up!

Last weekend my wife, Dorcas, and I were blessed to be able to visit Mancora Beach in the north of Peru, very close to the border with Ecuador. It was a beautiful place, and the bungalows where we stayed had no televisions, no phones, no computers, no Internet - but a whole lot of peace and tranquility. I rediscovered that it's a whole lot easier to hear God's voice when the phone's not ringing and the TV's turned off.

While we were there, I went bodyboarding for the very first time. I fell a lot and gulped a lot of seawater. But it was a blast. At some point in the near future this blog may even feature a rare photo of me taken during the few seconds that I was balanced on my bodyboard, before a giant wave swallowed me.

Bodyboarding, if you don't know, is like surfing, except that a bodyboard is shorter and wider than a surfboard, and you lie on your stomach on the board instead of standing on it. It's not easy to do, but when you successfully ride a wave or maneuver a turn, it's exhilarating.

Riding the waves at Mancora Beach reminded me of the words of Oswald Chambers. He said, "The surf that distresses the ordinary swimmer produces in the surf-rider the super-joy of going clean through it." I don't know if Chambers ever surfed or not, but he was right on target with his comment. At Mancora Beach, the waves were at least 10 feet high or more. This caused many swimmers to get scared and to not go in the water. They stayed on the beach. But for the surfers and bodyboarders in the crowd, the giant waves were a cause for celebration.

We can apply this same idea to our own lives. When a big surf crashes into your life - in the form of trials, temptations, troubles, distress, discouragement, or bad news - how do you view it? Do you run to the safety of the beach in your life, or do you have the Christ-fortified ability to ride the wave and conquer the surf in your life? What do you do when you see the waves coming in? Do you head for the hills - or do you grab your board?

James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Here's what I think might be the surfer's version of these verses: "Consider it pure joy whenever you face the big waves of life, because you know that your testing in the surf will develop perseverance in your life, and pretty soon you'll be able to ride the waves in your life like a champion!"

Don't fear the big waves in your life. Grab your board and ride right into them, knowing that the One who made the waves also will help you to surf right over them.

Celebration Time

As some of you know, my wife, Dorcas, and I have a radio program. It is called "Celebration Time."

"Celebration Time" can be heard live on the radio in Peru and in the countries which border it in South America, and "Celebration Time" also can be heard LIVE on the Internet everywhere else in the world.

If you live in Peru or in any of the countries which border it, you can listen to "Celebration Time" on Wednesday nights at 10:30 PM, on Radio Pacifico at 640 AM on your radio dial.

If you don't live in Peru, you can listen to "Celebration Time" LIVE on the Internet on Wednesday nights. As mentioned, the show is broadcast at 10:30 PM in Peru, which is 11:30 PM Eastern Standard Time in the United States during Daylight Savings Time (April-October).

To listen to "Celebration Time" LIVE on the Internet, simply go to:

www.grupopacifico.org.pe/senales.html.

When you arrive there, click on "Radio en Vivo de Pacifico Radio" to listen to the show.

We hope you can tune in and listen!

President Alan Garcia

Alan Garcia has been elected as the new President of Peru.

Garcia also was the President of Peru from 1985-1990. By all accounts, that administration was a disaster, highlighted - no, make that lowlighted - by 7,500% inflation, blocks-long lines for bread, sugar, and milk, and a rise in the terrorism of the Marxist group Sendero Luminoso ("Shining Path") in Peru.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with President Garcia.

I was part of a small group of pastors who had a private meeting with him. We ministered to him, shared the gospel with him, and prayed for him. I also had the opportunity to personally present President Garcia with a copy of Rick Warren's book, "The Purpose Driven Life." He was very happy to receive it.

Please pray for President Garcia. His recent speeches clearly have had a spiritual element to them, and so I believe that he is reading the book. Our God is a God of second chances, and it seems clear that God has given Alan Garcia a second chance as President of Peru.

Please pray that Alan Garcia takes advantage of this second chance that God has given him, and that he seeks God and models Jesus in all that he does as President of Peru.

Election Day

Today is Election Day in Peru. A new President will be chosen by the people.

Some Peruvians fear that a less-than-democratic candidate may win. Others fear that neither candidate is a good selection. Other citizens fear a return of terrorism to the country.

There are various things to remember on this Election Day in Peru, especially with regard to Christians and government.

First, it's important to remember that Christianity can flourish under any type of government. It doesn't matter if it's left-wing or right-wing, democratic or authoritarian, inclusive or oppressive. No government is stronger than the love of God for His people. Remember that Jesus' earthly ministry occurred at the time of the Roman Empire, and the Roman authorities were hardly known as leaders who were "people-friendly."

It's also important to remember the words of Paul and Peter in the New Testament. Paul, in Romans 13:1, says, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." In 1 Peter 2:13-14, Peter says, "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right."

Paul wrote his words under a Roman Empire which would persecute him, jail him, and ultimately execute him.

Peter wrote his words when Nero was Emperor. Nero was notorious for persecuting Christians. He crucified them, used them as human torches, and fed them to the lions.

And yet both men tell us to submit to government authorities, even though both men also suffered greatly at the hands of said authorities. The only exception carved out for us is that uttered by Peter and the other apostles in Acts 5:29, when they said, "We must obey God rather than men!"

So what do we do when we don't like those in authority over us? What do Peruvians do if their favorite candidate doesn't win? 1 Timothy 2:1-4 gives us the answer. Paul tells Timothy to pray "for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives ... This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved ...."

So we need to pray for our leaders - even when we don't like them or agree with them or their policies. We need to pray for our Presidents, Prime Ministers, members of Congress, members of Parliament, governors, mayors, and all others that God has permitted to rule over us. We need to pray for the salvation of each leader, and that each leader will look to God for guidance in every decision which he or she makes. If the leader is not acting or governing in a Christ-like manner, then we should pray that he or she has a Road-to-Damascus experience, just like Saul, resulting in conversion and salvation and a new life in Jesus.

It's time for Christians to complain less, and to pray more, for our leaders.

Doves

Some of you know that my wife, Dorcas, and I live in Lima, Peru, where we are pastors and missionaries. One of the many neat things about living in Lima is that everyday I get to see a flock of white doves outside my window. The snow-white doves peck silently at the green grass underneath them, hunting around for some quick sustenance, and then they frequently let out a contented "coo" to show their satisfaction with their meal.

Everytime I see the doves outside my window, I think of the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:26, when He says, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Are you?

Everytime I see the doves outside my window, God says to me, "Look at the doves in the grass. I take care of them, and I'll take care of you. Stop worrying."

Oswald Chambers, in his marvelous book, "My Utmost for His Highest", says that worrying is really "infidelity" to God. He's right. When we worry, we're cheating on God, spiritually, because we're trusting (or fretting over) our own means of trying to do something, instead of His. Worry is infidelity to God.

God also says to me, "The doves don't worry, and neither should you. I will provide what you need."

Sometimes God's loudest messages to me come in the form of a silent flock of contented white doves, right outside my window.