Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" (John 18:38).
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
The ways of the Lord are mercy and truth (Psalms 25:10).
These days there are a lot of people, like Pilate, who are filled with cynicism about the truth. I'm sure that during his days in government service there were many who swore to him that they were telling the truth but they were really lying. If we pay attention to the news these days we find that left-leaning government officials lie with impunity and a sympathetic leftist news media will spin and lie to cover the first lies that were told.* The free citizens of the United States of America are like Pilate--they are sick of the spin zone!
Not only does the cynicism result from the public sector but from the private as well. Money is hard to come by. When a product doesn't live up to its advertising it hurts. Products that do not live up to billing, insurances that do not pay up because of technicalities, charities that eat up most of their donations in administrative expense all add to the cynicism about truth that many people feel.
William Barclay has pointed out that the Greek word for truth (aletheia) is used in three different ways in the New Testament: 1. The truth as distinguished from falsehood. 2. The genuine as opposed to that which is unreal or counterfeit. 3. The truth is not simply an intellectual pursuit, it is something that is to be done. In Christ we come face to face with the author of truth. He is the genuine. He is the one whom we must follow and thus do the truth, If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not do the truth (I John 1:6).
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
JESUS = LOVE
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
The story of Jesus is the story of love from beginning to end. Though not everyone accepts the love of God as expressed through Jesus Christ, God has expressed His love for everyone through Him.
Before the Fall the plan for the redemption of humanity was already made in the mind of God. Though that plan might possibly reach farther than we know, it was made because God loves us (John 3:16-17).
If the love of Christ does not change us, nothing will. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Those who are truly Christ followers are lovers: We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8).
All believers have a curiosity about what heaven will be like. Heaven will be filled with people of all nations and races--there will be a great diversity! The thing they will all have in common is the love of Christ! Heaven will be filled with love! So, we should begin practicing it right now!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
The story of Jesus is the story of love from beginning to end. Though not everyone accepts the love of God as expressed through Jesus Christ, God has expressed His love for everyone through Him.
Before the Fall the plan for the redemption of humanity was already made in the mind of God. Though that plan might possibly reach farther than we know, it was made because God loves us (John 3:16-17).
If the love of Christ does not change us, nothing will. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Those who are truly Christ followers are lovers: We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8).
All believers have a curiosity about what heaven will be like. Heaven will be filled with people of all nations and races--there will be a great diversity! The thing they will all have in common is the love of Christ! Heaven will be filled with love! So, we should begin practicing it right now!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Sunday, February 22, 2015
JESUS = FREEDOM
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17).
Some of the land that I farm is along state highway 10 in Northwest Iowa. It is not uncommon for people that have strong religious and political convictions to share them by posting a sign along the highway. About 2 1/2 years ago, during the political season, I began to post a sign along my stretch of the highway. Except for about 3 months when a storm ripped my sign apart, I have kept a sign posted. I do not get very many comments about the sign, but I have had a few people thank me for posting them. I try to change them every 2 to 3 weeks--a sign that seldom changes is a sign that is seldom noticed.
My signs started by being negative political. After giving it serious thought I decided on a more positive tactic, at least for a while, I like being negative once in a while too. In recent months it would have been very easy to be negative. Pres. Obama has been doing his best to do in our country and toy with its very existence by refusing to have a coherent strategy to combat radical islamists.
Still I have decided to take a more positive approach and post signs that communicate positive Christian faith. So I'm doing a series of signs called Jesus =. An islamist believes that which is not true, a Christian believes in the authenticated risen Christ.
Jesus = Freedom. That is the first in this series of signs. The freedom a Christian has in Jesus is freedom from sin, death, guilt, shame, unnecessary religious practice and superstition. Christians can be at peace in turmoil because of the grace of the risen Christ.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
*This sign has already been posted and taken down. The next sign, Jesus = Love will come down soon to be replaced by Jesus = Truth.
Some of the land that I farm is along state highway 10 in Northwest Iowa. It is not uncommon for people that have strong religious and political convictions to share them by posting a sign along the highway. About 2 1/2 years ago, during the political season, I began to post a sign along my stretch of the highway. Except for about 3 months when a storm ripped my sign apart, I have kept a sign posted. I do not get very many comments about the sign, but I have had a few people thank me for posting them. I try to change them every 2 to 3 weeks--a sign that seldom changes is a sign that is seldom noticed.
My signs started by being negative political. After giving it serious thought I decided on a more positive tactic, at least for a while, I like being negative once in a while too. In recent months it would have been very easy to be negative. Pres. Obama has been doing his best to do in our country and toy with its very existence by refusing to have a coherent strategy to combat radical islamists.
Still I have decided to take a more positive approach and post signs that communicate positive Christian faith. So I'm doing a series of signs called Jesus =. An islamist believes that which is not true, a Christian believes in the authenticated risen Christ.
Jesus = Freedom. That is the first in this series of signs. The freedom a Christian has in Jesus is freedom from sin, death, guilt, shame, unnecessary religious practice and superstition. Christians can be at peace in turmoil because of the grace of the risen Christ.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
*This sign has already been posted and taken down. The next sign, Jesus = Love will come down soon to be replaced by Jesus = Truth.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
MISSION TO JAMAICA (Going Home)
Everyone went to his home (John 7:53).
We arrived in Jamaica on Sunday, now it was Saturday morning and time to leave for home. At the beginning of the week it looked like a long week. I had not slept well the first night and was thinking that it could be a personally unpleasant week ahead, but now on this Saturday morning I was ready to sign up for another week. We always have to deal with reality and reality includes responsibility--there is business back in Iowa that is waiting.
We had some excess mission funds that we divided among those who served us so well, Andy, Al, Chris, the cook, and those who helped them. Without them it would have been a tough week.
We ate a hearty breakfast, packed our bags, loaded into the van and headed to Montego Bay. We were not rushed for time so we shopped and ate lunch at Burger King and were at the air port by 1:30. Departure was not until 5:00 so we had a lot of waiting to do. It is always a zoo to clear security and customs. Our youngest team member was randomly selected for a special security search--he made it though with only a minor inconvenience.
Our plane left Montego Bay as the sun was setting, its a great picture that I do not have, inspiring memories of the past week. It was 85 F when we left, but on arrival in Minneapolis at 10:00 it was below zero and a ground blizzard. By the time we cleared customs, left the airport and were on our way home it was nearly midnight. By the time we took our passengers home through the blizzard and Helen and I arrived at our house, it was after 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning, January 4th, 2015. Not a good way to end a great week! Helen and I planned to go to church, but due to some truck problems and getting stuck in the driveway we decided that the Lord was telling us to stay home. It was good to be home!
Our Father's love,
Tom
We arrived in Jamaica on Sunday, now it was Saturday morning and time to leave for home. At the beginning of the week it looked like a long week. I had not slept well the first night and was thinking that it could be a personally unpleasant week ahead, but now on this Saturday morning I was ready to sign up for another week. We always have to deal with reality and reality includes responsibility--there is business back in Iowa that is waiting.
We had some excess mission funds that we divided among those who served us so well, Andy, Al, Chris, the cook, and those who helped them. Without them it would have been a tough week.
We ate a hearty breakfast, packed our bags, loaded into the van and headed to Montego Bay. We were not rushed for time so we shopped and ate lunch at Burger King and were at the air port by 1:30. Departure was not until 5:00 so we had a lot of waiting to do. It is always a zoo to clear security and customs. Our youngest team member was randomly selected for a special security search--he made it though with only a minor inconvenience.
Our plane left Montego Bay as the sun was setting, its a great picture that I do not have, inspiring memories of the past week. It was 85 F when we left, but on arrival in Minneapolis at 10:00 it was below zero and a ground blizzard. By the time we cleared customs, left the airport and were on our way home it was nearly midnight. By the time we took our passengers home through the blizzard and Helen and I arrived at our house, it was after 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning, January 4th, 2015. Not a good way to end a great week! Helen and I planned to go to church, but due to some truck problems and getting stuck in the driveway we decided that the Lord was telling us to stay home. It was good to be home!
Our Father's love,
Tom
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
MISSION TO JAMAICA (day 6)
There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25).
Day six was a day of rest and relaxation. Three days we worked hard, the fourth day was a day that combined inspiration, education and relaxation, but the sixth day was a day at the beach. We loaded the bus early because it was a 3 hour drive to Ocho Rios where we would spend the day shopping and generally touring and eating. The highlight of the day was swimming in the ocean and climbing Dunn's River Falls. We closed the day with a candle-light dinner in a sophisticated restaurant in Ocho Rios.
It was a great day. The beautiful sunshine, clear blue water, shopping for memorabilia, great food, and great fellowship made it one of those days that made me think, "If it is this good here on this earth,
Heaven is really going to be great!"
This day was a day of a kind of guilty pleasure for while we were enjoying a great day, a young man who was one of the cooks for the week was, and is, struggling with kidney disease. It will eventually take his life. He sought me out to talk about his problem the previous evening. In Jamaica medical treatment needs to be paid for before it is administered. Chris has difficulty paying for medication and treatment. I have sent support to him via his pastor. If you want to help, let me know!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Day six was a day of rest and relaxation. Three days we worked hard, the fourth day was a day that combined inspiration, education and relaxation, but the sixth day was a day at the beach. We loaded the bus early because it was a 3 hour drive to Ocho Rios where we would spend the day shopping and generally touring and eating. The highlight of the day was swimming in the ocean and climbing Dunn's River Falls. We closed the day with a candle-light dinner in a sophisticated restaurant in Ocho Rios.
It was a great day. The beautiful sunshine, clear blue water, shopping for memorabilia, great food, and great fellowship made it one of those days that made me think, "If it is this good here on this earth,
This day was a day of a kind of guilty pleasure for while we were enjoying a great day, a young man who was one of the cooks for the week was, and is, struggling with kidney disease. It will eventually take his life. He sought me out to talk about his problem the previous evening. In Jamaica medical treatment needs to be paid for before it is administered. Chris has difficulty paying for medication and treatment. I have sent support to him via his pastor. If you want to help, let me know!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Sunday, February 01, 2015
MISSION TO JAMAICA (day 5)
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world (James 1:27).
New Year's day was day five. It has always been a personal tradition of mine to spend this holiday watching football games all day long. Funny, I did not miss not watching them this year. Because we were out until after midnight watching the new year come in we slept a little longer this Thursday morning.
New Year's day was day five. It has always been a personal tradition of mine to spend this holiday watching football games all day long. Funny, I did not miss not watching them this year. Because we were out until after midnight watching the new year come in we slept a little longer this Thursday morning.
The working part of our trip was over, so, in the morning we all loaded in the bus and drove about an hour to the Westhaven Children's Home. WCH is a home for special-needs people and orphans. Because of the great amount of poverty there are some who just leave their children at WCH to be cared for. Of the special-needs people who are there, a good percentage of them are adults. WHC is supposed to be government funded, but the primary funding is from Christian churches and charitable groups. The home is under-funded so the residents care is modest, but it is good. Those special needs people taught us that, even though their situation is far from normal, they value their lives, being happy and enjoying the time we spent with them.
The afternoon was spent at a community celebration watching a cricket match, exciting at watching grass grow, and a dynamic game of dominoes--they were very animated--they were smoking something interesting. We also visited an early German settlement from the 19th century. It was both an inspiring and interesting day.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
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