John 2:1-10

John 2:1-10 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

“Do whatever he tells you,” remains the quintessential instruction for every servant of the Most High. Following the Lord's exact directives may seem pointless or even foolish at times, but such obedience not only pleases God, the end result will confirm the beauty and rightness of his commands. Surely, the wedding servant must have thought: water in, water out. But that was neither the truth or the final reality of this story or its application to us: miracles happen when we trust and obey our Lord. God always has an overriding plan always makes something beautiful and worthwhile from a life fully yielded to unquestioning and loyal service to his word. As we follow Jesus and hearken to the Holy Spirit's voice of wisdom and action, we receive beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning; life is worth living. In today's story the master realized that Jesus produced better wine than he had made or purchased for the event. Jesus' wine is always richer and more satisfying than the world's. His living bread and his holy wine sustain his people as we sit at his table and do not jump up to run in every direction on many false paths. Whether one partakes of the Lord as a youth or in old age, better is the wine of the Lord than the best the world has to offer.

When I was young, unsure of my direction or what life had to offer, the Lord clearly told me I was to be a teacher. What a foolish directive for a timid young man who accepted a failing grade rather than give a speech in from of a class at school. What an outlandish directive for one with no real college preparation, no support from parents, and no money set aside for college expenses. No one else in my family had gone to college, and my dad strongly opposed such an action. His aspiration for me was to learn a trade or try to get on at the aluminum factory near the edge of town. But I stubbornly believed and held onto the message I heard from that still small voice: I have called you to be a teacher. God performed miracles too many to count for me to attend my first quarter at Eastern Washington College beginning with directing me how to initiate even the registration process, for I had no knowledge of the actions I should take and no solicitous parent or attentive school counselor alongside to smooth my way. But God had a plan, and the Spirit is the great Counselor. When God put living water into my life, his wine poured forth. Was the way smooth and easy? No, hard work, toil, uncertainly filled many a day, but trust and perseverance led to each next step. By faith I stepped into an impossible world with daunting tasks at hand: God led the way preforming miracle after miracle on my journey. The victory was mine by faith as I obeyed and followed my Lord where He led.

The same God who stirred my young heart to faith and action transforms water into wine today. He still takes the rags of our lives and makes something beautiful and good. Please, open your ears to God's words; incline your heart to his leading. Is He asking you to pour mere water into empty jars? Are his requests seemingly impossible or even foolish? I challenge you to take the first step in obedience to his summons. One day at a time, place your trust in him and walk where He leads you. Let tomorrow take care of itself. Walking close to Jesus, in his footsteps, remains the first and most important aspect of the journey. The servants in our story performed what we call manual labor or scut work, the lifting of the heavy jugs and the hauling of the water to fill them. But they did it: they fulfilled Jesus' request and as John the Baptist, they prepared the way of the Lord. A mighty miracle awaited their response to his call. If you now face confusing, difficult, or arduous work; you may question its validity or sorrow because you seemingly labor alone without supportive assistance. JUST DO IT! And do it now. Do not go back to bed or escape into fruitless activities or mind-numbing emptiness. Definitely, do not remain in a pit of despair or self-pity. Arise and say, "Speak Lord, your servant listens. Here am I, use me." Join in with the making of today's wine. The Master's final product in your life will satisfy you and others more than you can imagine. Jesus says, Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet. Obey his voice and at the end of the day, hear him say, "Enter into the rest prepared for you, my good and faithful servant."

John 1:43-50

John 1:43-50 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Do you suppose Nathanael literally saw angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man? We have no actual record of that, yet in his walk with Jesus, Nathanael did witness many marvelous acts of Go. He saw the dead raised, the cripples made whole, the lepers cleansed, the demons flee, the sea calmed, and the winds stilled. He saw fish converge on the other side of the disciples' boat, ready to weight down their nets. He even watched the Lord ascend into heaven above. Although an observer to these many wonderful happenings, witnessing these miracles alone did not empower him or any other of Christ's followers to become martyrs for the cause. The historical accounts reveal Nathanael was flayed to death by a whipping in Armenia. If so, after Christ's life and teachings transformed his life and he was reborn into the family of faith, he became a martyr for THE WAY!

Without guile, Nathanael represented an honest sojourner for truth, seeker of God. Jesus could give this strong word of affirmation concerning him: Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false. The Lord knew Nathanael's dedication to following after righteousness and hungering for God more than anything else. Initially, Nathanael would not even accept Philip's comments about Jesus, for he was a seeker of God's truth. Unless believers seek God fervently and honestly, we become double-minded, receiving little or nothing from the Lord. If our daily walk reveals a pretentious facade of righteousness, no lasting good thing will come to us from God. Jesus exhibited harshness toward the religious leaders of that day, for they were filled with guile: outwardly they served God; inwardly their hearts remained far from him. Despite their cunning and deceptive walk, the religious elite wanted others to think highly of them, to defer to them by placing them on pedestals, such as seating them at the head table as voices of authority and righteousness. Attacking their pretense of faith, Jesus pronounced them whited sepulchers.

Unbridled pretension often leads to a dangerous contamination of the church. For example, some people attend church sporadically while living inconsistent lives of faith, yet these same individuals will approach their pastors with bold statements and opinions on how best to run and to organize the church. Although they miss most special meetings or events where the Spirit has moved mightily and anointed teaching has transformed lives; they come full of zeal, religious fervor, and yes pretentiousness, expecting instant acceptance of their great wisdom and unique insights. All this, even though they do not consistently support even one ministry or fulfill one permanent responsibility in the church. Oftentimes people with all the answers tell others what to do, yet their service to the Lord does not add up to following hard after God.

While having met some of these folks over the years, I am thankful for and always appreciate the brothers and sisters who protest and postulate less and who work and serve more: the people who stay late to sweep the floors, empty the trash, or wash the last dish: who likewise willingly clean the toilets and mow the lawn. These faithful saints are also those who gather around the altar to pray for others until burdens are lifted and lives are transformed, regardless of the personal cost or the lateness of the hour. Laborers are needed in the Lord's vineyard, not clanging gongs who elevate themselves. Nathanael's life added up. Although we hear little about him after this first greeting, Nathanael was there to pull up the net bursting with fish. He was in Armenia to speak for the Lord. As a worker and not just a talker, he kept showing up. Truly in his life, he saw heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. Praise God for people of faith!

John 1:35-42

John 1:35-42 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Andrew won the first convert to Christ: Peter. Greatly impressed with Jesus after spending time with him, Andrew persuaded Peter to follow Jesus too. Andrew's life-changing encounter with the Lord changed his thinking processes and his plan for living. Time spent with Jesus, learning from him, has a way of dramatically altering lives forever. Usually, new Christians evidence more passion for evangelism than some more experienced believers who have let the fire of the "good news" subside to simmering coals. Newly born converts more readily reveal their strong belief that Jesus is worthy of total allegiance and deserving of their commitment to sharing his love and grace with others. Without new brothers and sisters in our midst, the message of Christ may lack vibrancy and power, for they have experienced the transforming power of the cross of Christ. One day they were lost in sin with all its pitfalls, entanglements, and false perspectives. The next day Christ envelopes their beings, convinces them of his reality, and helps them fix their hearts and minds on eternal life and spreading the gospel message. Older Christians sometimes fall short of this zeal because we have grown cold, complacent, weary, or just indifferent to the great commission to win the lost. We may spend hundreds of hours learning about Jesus and feeding at his bountiful table while forgetting his manna must be shared: We have been touched by The Lamb of God and we should want the world to know!

The modern church typically hires professionals to propagate the gospel: people paid to take care of the church and to tell others about Jesus. The extent of our gospel witness often remains within the church doors, in an enclave safe from the realities of the world Christ came to redeem. We may nurture and sustain long-term relationships with people who do not know Christ. yet never mention or even allude to our relationship with him. The people around us daily may not know or discern Christ in us: our hope of glory, constant companion, best friend, and faithful guide. They do not know because the light is not shining as brightly through us as it once did. John says, The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah (that is the Christ)." And he brought him to Jesus. Andrew's first desire and driving passion was to tell his brother about Christ: tell Peter this salvation was for him too. Do we really believe that others should know Christ as we know him and accept him as the Son of God? All of us at this breakfast table undoubtedly believe to some degree that others need the Lord. We even care enough for people to pray for them at our convenience, but do our daily choices, actions and reactions confirm those beliefs? Will the "Peter" you and I meet today want to follow us as we follow Christ?

A meal of guilt is not the answer because it will neither satisfy nor sustain us. We quickly digest the admonition that we should share our faith, then move on to the next meal without any lasting benefit. A feeling of discomfort disturbs us for a while, but we go on to the more satisfying and acceptable dining experiences the world offers to make us forget that now dim call to action. Guilt and shame are bitter fruits for our digestion and rarely motivate us to sustained action and service to Christ. A meal of love and grace that lifts up the power of the cross to change lives offers greater staying and sustaining power. When we serve love, hope, and grace (such as I attempt to put forth in these daily breakfasts) the partakers come alive in their faith and require less monitoring and fewer outward controls to remain stalwart soldiers of the cross. Perfect love brings intimacy with God and emboldens the heart while strengthening the body to action and service. We better maintain our first love as we partake of the daily bread and wine--the body of Christ. Abiding in him through the Holy Spirit strengthens us to call our brothers and sisters to follow him along with us. Nothing else will make us truly effective witnesses for Christ. After one day with Jesus, Andrew knew he would never be the same: He met the Messiah, the lover of his soul, and his mission was clear. He would never turn back. Peter saw the fire and craved its warmth: God made him a rock of faith in the living church. Praise God forever!

John 1:29-34

John 1:29-34 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

When we trust in Jesus Christ as Savior, the Spirit of God comes to abide in us richly. Yes, the great Comforter, Advocate, and Friend Forever dwells within us in all power and authority. The same Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, and knowledge who settled upon Christ Jesus as a dove, confirming the Father's stamp of approval upon his Son, comes to every believer who repents and accepts Christ as Lord. This is our inheritance as believers because when Jesus went away, He asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit: to baptize us with a new baptism, reveal Christ, and teach us all things. The Holy Spirit makes us alive to God because he abides within us and makes us more like Jesus. As we become more conformable to his image, we become active members of Christ's body, the Church. Through the resurrection power of the same Spirit who raised Christ from the grave, we become dead to sin and alive to God and his will for our lives. What a mystery: God, the Spirit, in us and we in him!

Although John could only baptize with water for the repentance of sin, his baptism symbolized surrender and dedication to God, a turning away from sin and turning toward God. But his baptism could not bring light or life to mankind. John knew that Jesus Christ, the true life and light of the world, would come after him and baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Christ's baptism purges the soul from sin, creating righteousness in the believer and satisfying the demands of a holy God. Christ's shed blood cleanses and covers us completely, allowing the Spirit of God to fill us and to occupy our innermost beings. However, the Spirit does not abide within an unclean vessel. As Jesus said: Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. (Luke 11:17) Therefore, the efficacious blood of Jesus constantly cleanses our soul, continuously making us right before God. We remain in the present tense with the Holy Spirit cleansing and cleansing again: yesterday, today, and forever!

But what about the flesh: Does it not sin? John said, If we claim we have not sinned, we make him (Christ) out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (1 John 1:10) Our sinful nature is not like God: with our human frailties, we do wrong and fail to walk uprightly. Regardless, we stand holy and blameless before God as the Spirit within in us advocates that we have been washed in the blood, adopted into the family, and set free from sin's bondage. The indwelling Holy Spirit testifies that we are hidden with Christ in God, undeserving of any punishment because Christ paid the price once and for all. He is God's seal of approval in us as surely as when He came upon Christ in the river.

Since we have an advocate with the Father through the cross, we should quickly repent of our mistakes and reckon our old nature dead to sin and alive unto God. Turning from darkness to light, we let God control our wicked inclinations and help us avoid Satan's many temptations, just as one might use a bit to rein in and to control a wild horse. Paul said do not continue to sin just because we are under grace. We all know that willful disobedience to God will erode our faith, dull our spiritual senses, and pull us off his perfect paths. As we keep in step with the Spirit, He keeps our souls pure. Sin leads toward death; the Spirit leads to eternal life. As lovers and servants of Christ our Lord, we do not put him to an open shame by purposefully disobeying him. As a bride loves her husband, wanting only to please him, we give our all to please our bridegroom, Jesus Messiah, Lord of all. Fervent love corrals the sinful nature and extends beyond supervision, obligations, and the law. We are not saved through John's baptism that could only point to Christ: We are saved by a baptism of grace and love that brought us into the family of God, marking us forever as his beloved children. Breakfast companions: Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (KJV) As He walks toward you, turn wholeheartedly toward your Savior and Friend. Fully surrender to his Lordship: unimaginable blessings of favor and power will fall like rain as He lavishes you with his loving kindness and tender mercy.

John 1:19-28

John 1:19-28 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not. “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Mark 1:2-8 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” — “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Few of us understand our mission in life as clearly as John understood his divine assignment to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. His repentance message instigated a great revival in Israel, even King Herod desired an audience with him. Many ventured out into the wilderness to hear John preach, and he baptized many of these followers in water, symbolizing turning away from sin and giving their lives to God. John's teaching also sparked interest from the religious leaders of that day who journeyed out to the wilderness to question him about the source of his authority to teach the people. John responded to their questioning by saying: I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord. He knew who he was: he knew his mission in life.

Do you know who you are in Christ and do you understand your mission in his body, the church? Paul told believers: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27) God gives each of us a calling in life that oftentimes takes several pathways in serving God with the gifts He expects us to use for him. I imagine our specific calling is not to attend church once a week and then live our lives as we desire. Paul describes the body as made up of many parts or members: apostles, ministers, teachers, helpers, administrators; and of course, ushers, greeters, cooks, janitors, gardeners, muscians, singers, nursery attendants, coffee makers, and more. A well-functioning church is made up of many willing people fulfilling those roles. However, we sometimes see a small group of committed servants fulfilling most of the needs of the church while the rest attend the services or special events with little thought of the work involved. Each of us possesses at least one special gifting from the Holy Spirit: I challenge you to use your talents: you will bless the Lord and the body with your obedience. Some have received spiritual gifts as well: wisdom, discernment, tongues, interpretation, or a word of knowledge, encouragement, or edification for the church or for an individual. The Holy Spirit wants to empower us to use these gifts rather than locking them up in our souls. All roles and giftings are for God's glory. As the body of Christ, working together in love, we reflect the God of the universe to the world.

We are not meant to be church consumers: jumping from one church to the next on a fleshly whim, looking for the best product: the church that "meets my needs better" or "has more programs to offer my family." As mature disciples of Christ, God wants us to work and to grow where He needs our gifts and talents to reach others. He wants active and joyful contributors, happily fulfilling our roles in the body of Christ where He has planted us. A friend at my own church was talking with someone who was leaving for one of the above reasons. She stated firmly, "God called me to this church, to support the pastors, to work hard for the Lord regardless. He planted me here and I am so rooted that only He could transplant me somewhere else to do his work." John went the wilderness, a desolate place, planted there by God. Are we willing to be planted by God in a small community, a tiny church, a small prayer group, an intimate Bible study? Wherever you are, you should know your prescribed role in the body of Christ as well as John did. If you become an active participant in that body, not just expecting the pastor(s) to fulfill your needs, you will mature and grow up in your faith. You will stop spending so much time on your problems and look to the wounded and broken around you. If you begin helping, feeding, praying, blessing, and encouraging others, God will mightily bless you and increase your peace and joy in the Lord. Together, we minister God's love to the world and advance his kingdom. Praise God for such a privilege!

John 1:14-18

John 1:14-18 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

Jesus, the Word, became flesh and made his dwelling among us: He, the One and Only who is at the Father's side, made God known to us. Jesus Christ brought God's mercy and grace to Earth in human form. He expiated and eradicated the sins of all mankind by yielding himself as a sacrifice for all, and for all time. He cleared the slate for whosoever would believe in him and accept the fullness of his grace. Truly, He has set every believer free from the chains of sin and the fear of death. What wonderful news: joy to the world indeed! Consequently, John could emphatically declare: From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. IN CHRIST, we receive the continuous blessings of this grace and truth and all the benefits of Christ's sacrifice as we embrace the cross and trust our Lord. As new creatures, we stand by faith before the Father without blemish, perfect through the blood of Jesus, full of the joy of our salvation, ready to listen and to obey him.

Yet, how quickly some of us forget the wondrous blessings of God. In our humanness and lack of faith, we look for the next shoe to fall, filtering our present circumstances through our past experiences rather than through Christ's sufficiency. Oftentimes, we live in anxiety: fearing the next problem, the next sickness, or our pending death; rather than resting in Jesus, our provider, Lord, and King. Paul said, if there is no resurrection, we might as well eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Yet, we know Christ arose and is seated beside the Father, interceding for us right this very moment; therefore, we should live freely in the shelter and the presence of the Lord. No entanglements, problems, or distresses of any kind can keep us from the loving favor of God.

As sons and daughters of the Lord, with resurrection life and power within, we no longer need to fill the emptiness of our lives with alcohol, drugs, and meaningless entertainment; for we find satisfaction in living for Jesus Christ, worshipping with his people, and following his perfect will. We no longer fear our short tenure here on Earth, for as eternal beings we look to heaven: the home prepared for us where we will live forever. Christ is our joy, our satisfaction, our peace, our healer: our EVERYTHING! Without a shadow of doubt, our lives are on an Earth to heaven continuum with no permanent stopping points to hold us back or to thwart God's desires for our security in him. Surely, grace like rain showers us daily. No longer bound to the law, under the consequences of sin, we stand free indeed IN CHRIST. Regardless of our earthly circumstances; we are eternal beings, citizens of a city not made by human hands: the city of God.

This is my personal challenge: to live joyfully, at peace in the Lord. The Holy Spirit says, "Son, I know where you are in life; I know your struggles and your every thought. Fear not, for I am with you." When I fail to hear and to believe his voice, I become anxious, dissatisfied, doubting my destiny and God's provision for my journey. If I listen to his still small voice in faith believing, my spirit settles, and my heart and mind find peace and confidence in my Lord. Tears fill my eyes, joy fills my heart: I know I am loved by the Most High. I have a watchful Father who cares for his own, who will never leave or forsake me. Truly, THE WORD becomes flesh and dwells with me.

(Over the past few months, some of you realize I have given my assistant chef, my wife Jacqueline, increased responsibilities in the preparing of the breakfasts. Lately God has been giving me his choice ingredients as usual, but she has taken a larger role in the processing of the meal. While she continually assures me that no glory is needed on her part, I want to share my joy in working with her side-by-side in the kitchen, one in Christ, doing what He has called us to do. I also don't want to keep smiling and nodding my head in agreement when one of my children observes, "Boy Dad, your writing is getting better all the time.")

John 1:9-13

John 1:9-13 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

God created man in his image; he breathed life into dust, and through that breath, his light to every human being. The brilliance of our Father God, who is, and was, and is to come, gave mankind an awareness of existence. Job 38:36 says, He has endowed the heart with wisdom and the mind with understanding. Along with understanding, man's awareness expanded to a consciousness of the space and time continuum: knowledge of the past, present, and future. We have the God-given ability to adapt to our surrounding environment, including the inclination and the skill to create new elements, to construct imposing structures, to harness the resources of the natural world for our benefit, to explore space and the wonders of the universe, and to create a technological world that few could have imagined just a generation or two ago. God's breath of life endowed us with amazing abilities and even greater responsibilities. Humanly speaking, nothing appears impossible to mankind with the many gifts and abilities we inherit from our Creator God.

God's breath in us leads to amazing yet sometimes daunting results. The tower of Babel account reveals the immense extent of our creative and sometimes destructive powers. If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Genesis 11:6 (Interestingly, the computer once again has connected the whole world with one language.) Nevertheless, even though mankind received a measure of God's cognition and ability, they did not recognize the Creator of all life when He came to Earth. Their darkened hearts and sinful flesh failed to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Living Word, Son of the Living God. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. They could not clearly see or accept the giver of life and light. Even his own people, the Jews, did not receive him as the Messiah, the Creator. Blinded by earthly proclivities and prone to believing they knew what God would do, their darkened hearts rebelled against God's authority and turned away from HIS plans and purposes. Therefore, Jesus came to his own, yet his own did not receive him.

Thankfully, the message of Christ does not end with defeat. As we well know, God had an even greater plan: to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. We who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior are children of God not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. We are his new creation: people born again into the light and life of God's kingdom. In the beginning God made us in his image, but the deception of the serpent combined with man's selfish desire to rule and reign and do things his own way brought darkness on the Earth. Knowing this would happen, God's marvelous plan was not to make a people who would interact with him occasionally, but to make us children of God, joint-heirs with Christ Jesus, a people of faith and hope eternal.

For this to happen, the redeemed had to comprehend the extent of good and evil: to know what God knows. Through our own volition and the call of God on our lives, we who are IN CHRIST, chose by faith to place our lives in the hands of God through Jesus Christ and his redemptive and transforming work at the cross. Jesus is God, Creator of all that is and giver of eternal life. IN CHRIST we are born again into a kingdom that will never end, never see corruption, sorrow, or plan. The true light has come into the world. God's incorruptible seed abides in us, and we are IN HIM. Praise his name and rejoice, for the light has come to dispel the darkness. BREAKFAST COMPANIONS, WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE ON HIM TODAY; RELY UPON HIS MERCY, LOVE, AND GRACE. YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD WILL BE SAVED. God promises his beloved children all the peaceful fruits of righteousness and life eternal as we follow and trust him. We will never die: we will live with him forevermore. Early this morning as I prepared the breakfast, my wife, Jacqueline, played the song: "All Because of Jesus." She sang the words: I'm alive because I'm alive in you. Embrace this truth and sing along with us.

John 1:6-9 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

John received a sacred assignment for a divine appointment: to serve as God's messenger, to prepare the way for Messiah, Lamb of God. How many of us understand and accept our commission from Christ to share his love and grace with a lost world? As foundational people, others depend on us as we depend upon Christ, our Rock. If our lives lack consistency or a vigorous faith, will people want what we have or believe they can rely upon us? If we fail to fulfill the truth of Jesus' victory over sin and death, others may end up helping us more than we help them. Some Christians posses a long history as believers, yet they remain weak and complaining, tossed about by life's storms, failing to lead or help those who do not know Jesus as Lord. Hebrews proclaims: Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! (Hebrews 5:12) Lacking growth in God's plans, such people often expect others to bolster their faith or to rescue them from disappointment or dysfunction. When life turns into a pity party or a "woe is me" gripe session, even our children cannot depend on our faith. We wonder why they stray, yet we fail to reflect the kindness of the Lord and the transforming power of the cross. Cut loose from their moorings, children from some "Christian" families go astray, having not seen much at home to help build a solid foundation in the Lord.

We are a royal priesthood, a mighty force for God because He sent his son to pay the price for us to become soldiers of the cross with hearts and minds ablaze in expectation of victory. If we fail to live by faith in word and deed, not allowing the Holy Spirit to perfect and conform us into the image of Christ, we may fail to reach our closest relatives and friends. God sent you and me to proclaim the release of captives from bondage as surely as He established John to set the stage for Christ's earthly ministry. Our words may sound spiritual to our ears, our lectures or preaching might even attract or hold others for a while, but true ambassadorship requires reflecting Jesus in season and out of season, in good times and in bad, in plenty and in want. Sounds like a wedding, does it not? It is! John prepared the way for the marriage of believers with Christ. He told others to repent, to prepare their lives in readiness for Jesus: Redeemer, Savior, King.

Brothers and sisters, listen to the Spirit through the written word and God's devoted messengers. He says be strong in the Lord and his mighty power and run the race with endurance, so the lost are found and the captives are set free. When we straddle the fence in uncertainly with one foot in the world and the other in Christ's kingdom, we exhibit a double-minded approach to living for Christ. God gives mercy to sinners, grace to those who fail, but He expects obedience: the putting away of anger, malice, greed, unbelief, and all manner of evil, so we might shine for him and attract needy onlookers who question the validity of our beliefs. They may well ask: Is my neighbor or my relative who professes Christ any different from everyone else or is he or she a member of yet another club, with a lifestyle no more satisfying or life-changing than mine? An uncertain trumpet call fails to rally the troops around a cause. Inconsistent living will not persuade others to find hope and peace in Christ. Consequently, stand tall in the joy of the Lord with the richness of Christ's teaching flowing from your soul. Lay all else aside as you ask God's help in leading people to our blessed Lord. John's whole demeanor, from his shaggy hair to his unusual clothing choices, revealed a life sold out to God. Our actions and lifestyle should confirm our hope in Christ.

When you pave the way for others to see the light and love of Christ, the devil will attack you. Inactive and woebegone, you do not pose much of a threat, but alive in the Spirit and functioning according to God's plan, you become Satan's primary foe. Expect attack: put on the full armor of God and stand firm in your freedom. But do not stand alone: you need your brethren, the love, prayers, and encouragement of the family of God. The body will support you, believe for God's best for you, and carry you when you truly need a hand. You also need to hear the Holy Spirit's confirmation that you are a son or daughter of the Most High and can do all things through the Christ. Nothing can substitute for heeding the voice of God. He will lift you up while reminding you that He prepared you for such a time as this. When you are most weak, Christ in you is most strong. He will provide sustenance and make your life worth living. Do not turn back, do not hide in doubt and fear, confessing all your weaknesses. Through faith in God, face the devil and remind him he is a defeated foe. Go forth in joy, singing the songs of Zion, for your name is written in the Lamb's book of life. The battle is over; Christ has won. Because He lives, we live also with the power and the authority to usher in the year of the Lord's favor. Love, Dad (Cliff)

John 1:4-5

John 1:4-5 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

1 John 5:11-12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

In Christ we have eternal life. He is life and light for those who believe and trust in him: no other name, philosophy, or idea will bring men and women salvation and everlasting life. He alone sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us and fulfilling God's salvation plan on Earth. Outside of him we are naked and abandoned: exposed to the ravages of sin and pain and finally subject to the judgment of God, for He is a righteous and just God and accepts nothing but the shed blood of his dear son as a covering for our wayward ways and sinful inclinations. IN CHRIST, we are clothed with God's righteousness: the mercy and grace provided through the perfect sacrifice Jesus offered willingly for our sins. Jesus came to bring abundant life--eternal life as joint heirs with Christ: that, my friends, is the perfect gift for all time from God to his beloved yet rebellious and disobedient creation.

Sometimes we forget the basic biblical truth that Jesus came to make us children of God, to dwell forever with the Father. Instead, we often cheapen the gospel, making the "good news" all about this life. As a loving father, God looks with concern upon our lives, even though He does intervene through answered prayer, the working and anointing of the Holy Spirit, and through Christ in us our shield and our defender. Nonetheless, this constant watchful care does not represent the most critical aspect of Christ's salvation. He came to rescue and to redeem sinners, to take us home to the Father to the place He is preparing for us. Focusing primarily on this world and almost entirely upon our own personal welfare will cloud our spiritual eyes to the point we do not clearly see God's plan and eventual want only our own way, like a demanding child with a Christmas list that must be met. Jesus came to Earth in the form of man to fulfill God's plans, not ours; just as we are to do his will, not ours. God's will remains the plan He helf from the beginning of time: to bridge the gap between God and man through his son, Jesus Christ.

When we lose God's perspective on life, we tend to function much like the hedonistic world with its self-indulgence, perpetual pursuit of pleasure; and lack of concern for others. Such pleasure-seeking and intemperance eats away at our beliefs and our faith in God. It is difficult to walk by faith and not by sight while overwhelmed by or overly concerned with the issues of everyday living. A trial, tribulation, disappointment, or difficult interaction may pull us down if our eyes are not on God's Word, his gifts and blessings that far exceed any earthly setback or persecution. Look to the apostles for inspiration. They willingly gave their lives for Christ with hardships, persecution, and even the threat of death as their constant companions. Yet they remained steadfast in sharing the gospel message and willing to suffer for Christ to win the lost. Most of us are overly oriented toward this world: our first stoning would undoubtedly discourage us, and a whiplashing or a near drowning might just cause us to wonder whether this Christ-life is worth such a high price. But when we fully accept our inheritance and recognize our privilege as believers because of the price Christ paid on the cross, absolutely nothing in this life will deter us from following Jesus: No other name, no other way, no other truth, only Jesus!

As humans we may concentrate too much on this world no matter how spiritual we are, but the Spirit is there to remind us that regardless of our situation, God came to bring us all his gifts of peace, joy, faith, love, light, and LIFE. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. His light and love shine just as brightly today in our hearts as it did over 2000 years ago. We must acknowledge and hold fast to the truth that we are eternal beings, beloved children of the Most High. He came to redeem us, use us for his glory, perfect what concerns us, and get us ready for eternity with him. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV) IF WE BELIEVE AND PRACTICE THESE SCRIPTURES, NOTHING AND NO ONE WILL DISSUADE, DISTRACT OR DISCOURAGE US FROM TAKING UP THE CROSS AND FOLLOWING WHERE GOD LEADS. This is the message I need and you need, so we can be light and life in this world. Love, Dad (Cliff)

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Psalms 33:6-9 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Psalms 33:6-9 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. (NKJV)

Genesis 6:11-13 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

The Word, the One who created all things and who was with God in the beginning, stopped Paul on the road to Damascus, saying: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Paul answered: “Who are You, Lord?" And the Lord answered: "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting." (See: Acts 22:7-8) Believers must always remember Jesus Christ is the Living Word: New creation comes through him alone. He makes all things new and brings light out of darkness. No other idea, philosophy, or manmade god makes all things new. IN CHRIST we become new creatures because He spoke the Father's plan into being from the foundation of the Earth. This is grace: wondrous grace and undeserved mercy. Because of Christ's perfect creative work, mere humans will live eternally, baptized into God's family by the Holy Spirit through Christ's work at the cross. Consequently, we are eternally made one with Christ, joint heirs of all that God has prepared for those who love and serve him. We will never be alone or without hope because He keeps his word and fulfills his promise that whosoever believes in him will not perish but inherit life eternal. Without him we are nothing: IN HIM we win the victory, both now and in eternity where we will live forevermore.

Jesus came to baptize us into the living Spirit of God. Because we are inundated with the Spirit, we are alive forever. We will not die. Our shadow of death is Jesus on the cross. IN HIM we died, but IN HIM we are alive! Our spirits will not face corruption. As God is an eternal spirit, so are we IN CHRIST. Our flesh is corruptible, but our spirit is not. Jesus said to the rich young man, "Don't call me good." This is confusing to us because we know Jesus was sinless, therefore good; but He said, "Don't call me good, for only God is good." Otherwise, don't call me incorruptible without the consequences of sin, for only God is incorruptible. Jesus was in the flesh, and his flesh was vulnerable to corruption and death. However, God is THE ETERNAL SPIRIT; He will not die; He IS KING ETERNAL, EVERLASTING, WITHOUT BEGINNING OR ENDING, ALPHA AND OMEGA. He is Lord of all and for all time!

Now the living Word, Jesus, lived from the beginning of creation, the beginning of time as we know it. God the Father spoke the world into existence through THE WORD, Jesus Christ, the third person of the trinity. He authorized man, made in his own image, to occupy and to control this new creation. God considered the world good as He looked upon his handiwork. However, the devil, through the selfish will and disobedience of mankind, brought sin and death into the world. Man's volitional decision to question God's will and to reject it brought contamination to that which was good, very good. Even today, the world groans under the burden of sin. Violence inhabits the land: Creatures devour creatures, men wantonly destroy themselves and each other; death reigns in the natural everywhere we look. Just as it was so long ago: The earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. At that time, God chose to destroy the earth with a flood, but He quickly saw that sin dwelt in the hearts of men continuously, and in his grace and mercy, He declared never again to destroy the world by flood.

God had a plan: an unbelievable over-riding gift, prepared for those who would reject his best: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son, who would come as a babe in a manger. Heaven and nature would sing, "Glory to God in the highest and peace good will toward men." Through Christ's willing sacrifice on the cross, sin and death would face defeat; men and women would no longer be bound in chains, prisoners to their own sins and the sins of others. Now, we are free in Christ, free indeed! And as we stand fast in our freedom, singing praises to God and overcoming through Christ our Lord, we shall live and never die. We are alive in Christ, whom to know is life eternal. A new heaven and a new earth awaits us: we are joint heirs with Jesus, children of the King! PRAISE GOD FOREVER AND EVER!

(Breakfast has been delayed by a few little problems in the kitchen, but here it is, fresh off the grill: enjoy! Thanks for the encouragement from those of you who expressed your hunger! We are in John now and going forth by faith. Wahoo! That was from Mom, of course, but as some of you know, she is an assistant chef with soul and takes continued liberty in adding little garnishes or an extra helping of vegetables as the Spirit leads. Our birth children often say, "I can sometimes tell when it is Mom "talking" for Dad. One friend offered: "Instead of a ghost writer, Dad has a Holy Ghost writer." We are one in the spirit and have been for a long time: God is Good, and He never fails!)