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If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.

C. S. Lewis

A deep-seated change

Mar 1:4 -
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Repentance is the word metanoia, whose definition is "a changing of the mind, a changing of the atitude, and even a changing of the direction or plans one has made."

I tell my students that if you want to put it in a math term, it is a 180 degree turn, going from what you were doing or the direction you were heading, and going in the completely opposite way.

Meta = "change"

Noia = "intellect, mind"

When I come to Christ, I change from my old habits, my selfish ways and my greedy life. I become the opposite by the leading of the Holy Spirit. I form new, good habits; I become unselfish; I am giving, not greedy. I show Jesus by these actions.

Look how John presented a Jesus-pleasing repentance. In the words of Bible scholar Matthew Henry: "John...told people that there must be a renovation of their hearts and a reformation of their lives, that they must forsake their sins and turn to God, and upon those terms and no other, their sins should be forgiven."

Wow. A full renovation of the heart. I remember seeing buildings that have been renovated. They are changed and come out looking for the better. I've seen people whose lives have been reformed, and it's a wondrous thing to see the new direction.

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STARTING SEPTEMBER 2ND!!!

Thank the Lord!

The Christian Academy of Knoxville is letting me teach an evening Bible study on campus. We have a new college Bible study going on. Starting next Tuesday, we will meet at 6 p.m. for pizza and serious Koine Greek in-depth Bible study. Room 501.

A Pause in the Action...

Let's take a few minutes' break from our Bible study and get a glimpse of me at the Steeler Training camp with the Steeler mascot Steely McBeam.

He looks so off-the-wall that I knew I had to get a picture with him.

Highlight of my weekend.

Not, not really.

Live Your Faith

"Doctrinal rightness and rightness of ecclesiastical position are important, but only as a starting point to go on into a living relationship - and not as ends in themselves. "

- Francis Schaeffer

Murder

10:25 am EST

A student at Central High School - a local high school here in Knoxville - has just died a few minutes ago due to a shooting in the cafeteria before school started.

A young person's life was just snuffed out.

My boy Peter sent me a text, and I saw the local web page of the TV news channels.

This is devastating.

How can an argument ever justify a murder? How can a disagreement result in the taking of someone else's life?

I'm having a hard time holding together. This has touched me deeply. one of our Bible study boys goes to Central. I feel like all the teens in this city are like family.

Why?

"I was ripped off!"

"FRET NOT THYSELF BECAUSE OF EVILDOERS, NEITHER BE THOU ENVIOUS AGAINST THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY." - Psalm 37:1

Forgiving is one thing... and then there's the forgetting...

Back to the late 70's...

Much as it is now with many college teens, money was hard to come by when I was taking my university training back in 1979. At that time we were scrambling for weekend jobs which would net us $10 or $15 an afternoon. Imagine my excitement, then, when my roommate Kent approached me and told me that he had a new boss who would pay us over $25 a day... maybe even $30. Six of us scrambled over to sign on with the man, a local roofer in the town.

We spent that cold Saturday in 40 degree wind-driven rainy weather, assembling aluminum carports over customers' driveways. We had the itinerary of the whole day's list of assembly spots throughout the town.

"Listen, this man's whole week's wages depend on how well we get this stuff done. Let's help him out. Come on," my friend Kent chattered through the continuing drizzle, "lets see how many of these we can do for the owner!" The other guys nodded and grinned. We'd make the man amazed.

So, in that cold rawm rain, we doubled our efforts and put up carports across town - we took no break for lunch or resting. We were careful but also moving as a unit, quickly and efficiently. It was a great feeling doing a top-notch job... we went back to the dorms wet and cold but happy.

The next week Kent came to me, sickened. "The owner pulled a fast one - he won't pay us for anymore than the first house. "

"Quit kidding," I demanded."

"I'm not bluffing. He's drummed up a technicality about being off the original location!"

"But that's not fair," I cried, "he knows we've doubled his normal output!"

"No matter," said Kent, "He's found a technicality and refuses to pay us more than a couple of dollars."

And that's how it all ended. We got stiffed by a guy we broke our backs trying to help.

Even now, more than 30 years later, I can recall the bitterness I felt when I called the owner who breezily claimed to be a Christian yet freely admitted he had us over a barrel and that, yes, he was cheating us out of money.

"If you don't like it, send me back the rest of the money," he taunted.

I hung up the phone and swallowed hard.

Would it be easy to forgive? No.

But did I forgive? Yes.

And you know, all these years later, it still remains a hard memory....but I believe I have learned to forgive and let the Lord take charge. It's taken a load off me.

Good problem to have

Sunday was quite exciting and very active. Our College Bible study "the Jolly Beggars", was in full swing, with students continually coming and coming. Soon every sofa, chair and floor space was filled. We went through a whole case of hamburgers as well as polish sausages, a 5 gallon tub of ice cream , and numerous 2 liters of soft drinks.

We went through the books of Mark, Ephesians and 1 Peter. We had good prayer, asking Jesus to work in us throughout the evening as we learned. We tackled five Koine Greek passages as well as having Jon lead in an Oswald Chambers devotional and Jared giving us a challenge about studying and obeying the Scripture. Then we had a debate, as I presented myself as a nonbeliever yet one who was interested in the words of the Bible. Soon the evening had to come to an end. Jon, Derek and EJ met me on the porch and chatted about some contemprary issues they were dealing with. Dan shook my hand and promised he'd be back (he's been calling me on my cell throughout the week, asking Bible questions) and Clint went out and bought himself a Greek New Testament.

So now I have a "problem": we're running out of room! Guys are packed everywhere.

This week I'll need to move the player piano to the other side of the house That will give us room enough for a couch - or at least some lawn chairs we'll bring in from the outside.

Woo hoo! Good problem to have. Thank you, Lord, for the encouragement of this "problem."

Forgiveness

"In answer to your inquiry, I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell."

- Salvation Army's founder William Booth

Included in the list that Booth gives above, I believe that an often overlooked danger among Christians is that of unforgiveness or repentance from a bitter spirit.

I looked up the word "resentment" and found that many sources tracing back to the Latin give the origin of the word as "strangling" and "choking". I find that the one who resents is not so much putting his victim under a chokehold; rather he is choking himself.

Choking himself out of victory, happiness, and freedom.

Let's give the retribution rights back to God, and acknowledge Him as the True Judge of wrongful acts. In that light we will also see that He is ready to forgive us in full use of His mighty grace:

Mark 11:25: "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Son of Hamas Leader Turns Back on Islam and Embraces Christianity

Fox News gives headline: "Son of Hamas Leader Turns Back on Islam and Embraces Christianity"

This is the story of Mosab Hassan Yousef. Amazing.

Please click link here to read this story:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,402483,00.html

No more burden

"Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

- Rev. 15:4

HOLY - Grk hosios - Pronunciation: ho'-sē-os

Definition: "undefiled, observing all moral obligations, free from wickedness..."

While in college while playing soccer in a mud-slick field, I was in an on-field accident that tore the anterior cruciate ligament on my knee. The result was that I was in the hospital for two weeks and on crutches or a cane for a good part of the school year. You can imagein what it was like, tooling around a 200 acre campus with crutches.

I remember the day that my knee was sound enough for me to throw the cane aside and walk freely once again! I wasn't encumbered by the injury anymore. Some of my college buddies secretly enjoyed injuries; I imagine it gave them a sporting masculine look. I never felt that way - the pain and burden of a damaged leg was something I didn't want. Sometimes the pain - even with medication - would make me vomit.

The day I was free I realized the great opportunity of being without the sweat-inducing pain for the first time in months. I was free!

The same comes to me in my spiritual life. I'm wracked by guilt and depression, along with a frustration that I cannot stay on the path of honor that is supposed to be the way of God's child.

But then Jesus, through His sacrifice, set me free. Not just for once, but forever.

This freedom, this release from contamination and condemnation, is like being able to throw away the crutches and walk. And run.

Only a holy God could do this.

College Needs

After Yani cooked the hot dogs and hamburgers, and Bret set out the Cokes, Sprites and Mountain Dews, the Sunday evening Bible study went full-blast.

Last night, once again, was great time. We looked at the Radical Math of the Gospels, citing the excellent study of the parables in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as shown by writer Philip Yancey. We also had some Greek insight, going into the Koine, and finishing off with some healthy debate, where I played the non-believer.





It's an exciting thing to be able to reach the college students. I have been talking with Britton Sharp, leader of Campus Crusade on the University of Tennessee campus. I think we'll head back to the campus for some more studies.

I am seeing a thirst among college students - Christian and non-Christian - in wanting to know the truth and depths of the Scripture.

Exciting things are underway.

08/08/08

Today is a special day in numerology, being 08/08/08. While I don't hold too much to the heavy spiritual change that some people believe that numbers can perform, I think today is quite a treat in the pattern of this date's appearance. Very cool. 08/08/08. Lots of loops.

Some Bible scholars find the pattern of 8 in the Bible to represent new beginnings or eternal life. God made 8 covenants with Abraham that made a new beginning and set the pattern for eternity. The 8 people on Noah's Ark (2 Pet. 2:5) presented a new beginning which would carry on forever; circumcision on 8th day (Gen. 17:12) tells us of a human's beginning, and leading to the life that would never end - the soul lives forever somewhere.

I remember way back to when I was eight years old. 1967 was the year. The Green Bay Packers won the very first Super Bowl. A new league called the American Basketball Association is formed. Montreal opens the Expo 67. A Ford Mustang is priced at $2,299.60.

And we moved from Dallastown, PA to Hershey PA to experience some very happy years as a family...(well, before the divorce stuff happened.)

One of my favorite memories? A small church located jsut outside of Hershey, called Independent Bible Church of Sand Beach (http://www.sandbeachchurch.org/). I am not sure where the beach was, only a small pseudo-river drifted past about a block away from this little burg, but the church was enjoyable, loving and warm. Pastor Barry McClure was the preacher whose life and family showed us that he carried his Christianity in his heart, not on his sleeve. What a great family! I remember Mrs. McClure baking homemade pies for the housewarming whenever the McClure family moved into the parsonage next door to the church. She and the children (three children - Timmy, Tammi and Donna, I believe) were fun to have around, and the Bible was opened to me bit by bit and page by page. Vacation Bible School in the summer and Christmas pageants (once my brother Brent and I - both elementary age - somehow got into a choir for a Christmas cantata. Not a kids' choir, mind you. We were dropped into a row in the midst of full-grown adults. Maybe 20 in the choir. Adults... and us two kids. We sang terribly. It was great.) of all sorts.

In the turbulent years of the 60s, this small church (we helped add the new wing on that you see to the left of the web page picture on the link - I mean, we helped dig and haul bricks) was a quiet refuge that bright great relief and spiritual comfort through teaching us about the caring covering of Jesus Christ.

I hope churches never get away from that important part of the ministry.

Psalm 122:1 - "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."

"Opportunity"

Gal 6:9
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Gal 6:10
So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

opportunity = Greek "kairos", meaning "seasonable time" or " the right time".

I think of my good friend Doug Walker, who, when a junior-high age teen, sat at the curb in his neighborhood on a summer day and reasoned with a neighbor who was a young atheist. Doug put aside his sports gear and patiently told the boy about the truth of the Gospel and the reality of God. With compassion, grace and kindness seasoned with intellect and study, Doug shared the Gospel with the young fellow who listened intently. If I'm not mistaken, we saw the boy at the youth group more than once.

Here's my point: Doug could have brushed off the boy's beliefs as being "his own opinion" and "his right to believe whatever he wants." It was a summer day, so why not take advantage of the vacation time? But Doug saw the opportune time to do right, to share eternal truths with a boy who needed a vision and a hope.

Doug took advantage of an opportune time. So should we.

Because...

... the word "kairos" can also mean "a limited period of time." There's no guarantee that we'll have unlimited hours to act. Let's do the right thing now.

Thursday night presentation

Please pray as I make a presentation to about 25 families concerning the College "Springboard" Ministry we have at the Zockoll home. It will take place in Knoxville at 7 p.m. tomorrow night. I am making a presentation in order to see if the ministry could expand for the purpose of bringing in UT students by van, reaching the international students in the area colleges, and publishing devotionals and apologetic books, among other parts of the ministry.

Tomorrow night will be a crossroads for Jill and me. We are laying this out before the Lord and seeking to see Jesus guide in His way. The home we purchased is not our home - it is totally the Lord's, and we want to use it in that way, for whatever ministry He wants.


Colossians 1:18 - "...that in all [things] He might have the preeminence."

The Call ... the Gospel

Does God send an invitation to join Him in eternity? Yes, the Scripture tells us that He is a God of invitation. From the message of John MacArthur, we glean some of the passages. The Bible refers to the general call to people as the preaching of the gospel:

1) Isaiah 45:22--"Look unto Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth...."

2) Isaiah 55:6--"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near." That was the heralding cry of the prophet to all who would hear.

3) Ezekiel 33:11--"...I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn from your evil ways; for why will ye die?..." Again, we see the general call to the people of Israel to return to God in faithfulness.

4) Matthew 11:28--Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

5) John 7:37-38--Jesus stood up in Jerusalem while water was being poured out at the Feast of Tabernacles, and said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink....of living water."

6) Revelation 22:17--"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

7) Romans 10:17-18--The Apostle Paul said that faith comes by hearing a message about Christ. He indicated that Israel had heard the message of the general call: "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went out into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world" (v. 18).

list compiled from John MacArthur's message "Beware the Pretenders" http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg2122.htm

and here is Peter's photo

Wow, we made it back and am I ever exhausted. Bad fever this morning and some nausea (after 18 hours travelling in the last day and a half.) We almost had a couple of accidents on the way back. First was a close call when Peter was driving...a semi got a little too close. The second was during a cloudburst and I started hydroplaning on the West Virginia highways in the mountains. Thank you, Lord, for protection while we travel.

Now, here is Peter's photo at the Steeler camp. I think they might sign him up...

from the Steeler Training Camp

Well, it's possible that if Tomlin has a bad season, they could call me to coach. I think this photo has a nice victory aura about it.