Ron, the leader of our Nehemiah men’s group, chose DISCIPLESHIP as our theme for the fall, and we’re well into it with the THREE CHAIRS illustration pointing to Commitment, Compromise, or Complacency in our walk and relationship with Jesus. Where are you within these three Cs?
Simply said, Jesus calls us to be DISCIPLES our whole life long, daily, and to DISCIPLE others as we go. (Matt 28:19-20) This morning we heard some thoughts on and DISCIPLESHIP practices from Ray Vander Laan and Francis Chan. I noticed the sign on the stage where Fracnis Chan was speaking said, “DISCIPLESHIP IS THE FUTURE.” Probably the Holy Spirit is saying the same thing to the church now, and has been since Jesus gave the command. Can we hear it? Can we do it?
We’ll be discussing and praying and acting upon DISCIPLSHIP this fall and hopefully in a fuller measure for the rest of our earth lives. We heard about the Shema this morning. The first word coming from Jesus’ mouth when asked what is the greatest commandment, was Shema“HEAR and OBEY” the God Who Is One, and show your love for Him in this way–hearing and obedience.
It was pointed out that the word translated “HEAR” in the Bible (Shema, שמע) is translated “OBEY” 90% of the time. Stay close enough to hear, and you’ll have His Holy Spirit whispering to you and giving you the power to act and bring God’s power into situations involving family, work, and play as you journey. Be a DISCIPLE, and by your example, making disciples.
God’s Shalom be yours…
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“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
“Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
I read a post today entitled, “Words Have Wings” by a beautiful Jewish woman we met on a recent cruise. The thoughts and Scripture she shared seemed to be apropos to her point, and to the call to DISCIPLESHIP:
“Moshe, the great teacher and leader, sees his end approaching and perhaps it is for this reason that these messages appeal to people’s hearts? We read:
“Surely, this Instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach. It is not in the heavens, that you should say, “Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?” Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?” No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.”
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (Translation taken from Sefaria)
I had an unusual, disturbing dream last night. It wasn’t a nightmare, but more of an endless chase after something insignificant—a blue colored baseball thrown or hit out of play, that I went to retrieve. I chased it down a swiftly moving brook, jumping on rocks, from side to side, almost getting it occasionally with a stick, but it was always just out of reach. At last, maybe a mile from where I started, it went over a small waterfall not to re-emerge to the surface from deep water. It was either stuck on the bottom or finally waterlogged.
After the unsuccessful chase, I returned to find that we didn’t get to do the activity we paid for with friends and family. Our small group appealed to the owner of the enterprise for mercy, grace, and in the end, just the return of the small deposit ( $2.75 ) I had paid to ensure the return of a metal key. We received nothing. The end.
Disturbing? A bit. Things not going to plan. Some injustice and unkindness in the end. Wasted time. Wasted energy. What did it mean? If anything?
It’s August 2026! Whew, where has this summer and year gone? Time flies. And occasionally time stands still.
The death of a loved one. A season of darkness or depression that challenges hope and causes us to wonder about the value of our very existence. Maybe some nagging pain, sickness, or physical condition that persists without resolution or answers. Psalm 88, the last of the Psalms of the sons of Korah was written in and about such a time of suffering.
Dave, a young, PhD elder at our church spoke about it yesterday at our church’s Sunday service. Suffering is not a popular topic in the affluent West or with people in general. But it’s part of an earth life and can lead to a time of spiritual breakthrough or revelation, seeing God more clearly, and His good purposes for you and for the Earth.
Suffering gives us pause. It makes us still, so as to focus on the moment, or for a moment, on what’s real, and not just on what’s new, shiny, or exciting.
God did not hide from us that suffering would be a part of every human life, even for the upright and spiritual. The oldest book in the Bible, Job, gives important insights into this and sets the stage for why humans suffer and what God intends it to accomplish by it.
Jesus, God in the flesh, suffered horrifically, as the most important and critical part of that plan—redemption and gifting us eternal life as part of God’s forever family. In doing so He demonstrates to Satan, dark and deceiving demons, angels, individual humans, and nations the powerful, good, loving, just, merciful, gracious heart of the Creator. He demonstrates that some humans would choose to love, serve, and know him, even in the presence of suffering.
Dave pointed out that Heman, one of the sons of Korah, is the only author mentioned by name in these beautiful and telling Psalms. In Psalm 88 he begins with a prayer to God for help in the midst of suffering and for an awareness of God’s presence. The Psalm ends with Heman in a dark place—not yet sensing the God of all comfort and light.
Heman is mentioned in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel, along with Solomon, as one of the wisest of the wise. They both attested to the value of darkness, mystery, and suffering in knowing God.
So embrace it, when it comes, as you pray and look for the God of mercy, light, and peace. Godspeed on your journey in suffering and in health; in dark times and in light times. He is good! He is faithful, loving, and true. His shalom be yours.
“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.” (Job 1:1,6)
“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death….” (Paul in Philippians 3:10)
“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison….” (Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:17)
As for the dream, I’m still meditating on the fuller meaning, but on the surface it suggests we not live distracted by trivial or meaningless pursuits. Rather we should seek the important, live in the moment, and look to know God better every day of our lives and journey—in darkness and in light. Typically, as humans, we see Him most clearly in darkness, when He has our attention. As recommended in my book, God Stays Near, let’s make it our habit to seek Him at all times by being still, and practicing the habits or spiritual disciplines that keep us spiritually sensitive. Maybe the darkness will come less often. At least we’ll be better able to see clearly and listen closely when it comes. Shalom.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10)
“Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.” (Job 37:14)
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6)
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17)
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Addendum: Although “suffering” isn’t listed in the spiritual disciplines, the ancients and spiritual fathers all attest to its value in spiritual sensitivity, hearing, and knowing God. John Mark Comer, a nationally known teacher, in his series of teachings on the spirtual disciplines addresses “suffering.”
That’s the name of a new book written by one of the busiest men in America. It’s about the ancient practice and biblical command to observe the Sabbath. The ancient Hebrew word, Shabbat, which translated into English as Sabbath means literally, “stop” (your labor, and rest).
Has it ever occurred to you that the Sabbath was first observed by God Himself, at creation? He rested Himself after six days of creating, not because He was tired, but because He was finished. He then blessed the Sabbath, the seventh day, a mystical act that held some importance to all humans who would inhabit His earth.
This was millennia before the Law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai, and that additional-Mt Sinai-insight into the Sabbath was given millennia ago. This mystical Sabbath celebration is ancient and enduring. Why do you think we might be so blind to it? Is it possibly important to our lives today? Might observing it be a lens to finding our way out of spiritual darkness in our day and culture?
Have you ever wondered why Christians pause for worship and rest on Sunday instead of Saturday? Have you ever wondered why Sabbath is so important and central to Judaism and the Jewish people? Its ancient and constant practice prompted one famous Jewish thinker, Ahad Ha’am, to say: “More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.”
Have you ever wondered or read what the early church fathers said about the Sabbath? Men like Ignatius and Augustine? Or more recent church fathers like Luther, Calvin, Wesley, and Pink?
I have some wonderful news. All those questions and more are answered in a concise and beautiful manner in a recent (2026) book. It’s a fascinating read, geared to the modern reader. Charlie Kirk may have been even a better writer than speaker, famous for thinking on his feet in college debates.
The real genius of a person shows itself in brevity, simplicity, and the concise sharing of complex information and ideas. Charlie Kirk hit a bull’s-eye here and it’s one worthy of hitting. I recommend it to you wholeheartedly, even before I’ve had time to process it all. I finished it yesterday and I’m still in shock about the possible power and importance of what I read. You’ll be informed, blessed, and challenged to think about it too.
It wasn’t the nails that held Jesus on the cross, it was the joy set before Him. It was the thought of His soon-coming resurrection, and the joy that would entail for us, the family of God, His bride, from the time we believe throughout an eternity with Him. He even told His twelve disciples with a grin on His face and in His heart, “I’m going to die, but I’ll rise in three days, and meet you in the Galilee.” But they didn’t get it. They couldn’t see it. He did.
He didn’t defend Himself before Pilate or the High Priest. He simply told the truth, and went resolutely to the place of the scull as hundreds of passover lambs were being led up, bleating in His hearing, to the Temple Mount on preparation day, April 3, 33 AD. He knew the pain and suffering would be great, as was the humiliation, and now he was feeling the full weight of it, quietly.
He knew He could have stopped this injustice in the Garden the night before when He was arrested and betrayed, and He could stop it now. I suppose He was still thinking of obedience to His Father, and of the Joy set before Him.
He heard of Barbarbas, a convicted murderer going free while He Himself died in his place. He granted salvation and eternal life to criminal dying beside Him. Then shortly thereafter, He summoned what air He could in His collapsing lungs and told His Father in a quiet prayer that He was finished, and sending His spirit back to the Father from where it came.
Earthquake
God the Father wasn’t finished honoring and testifying about His Son. It was about three in the afternoon, and dark for some reason. Then at the moment of Jesus quiet prayer and expiration on the cross, there was a violent earthquake. These manifestations of supernatural power, and revelation from the Spirit of God, caused Jesus’ executioner, a gentile Roman centurion, to come into the family of God confessing the truth of the matter to all who could hear, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
This evening, about 250 people filled the space where our community of believers worship together on Sundays. We were a bit late and it was dark in the room except for the stage when we entered. As our eyes grew accustomed to the dim lighting of the seating area, we could see almost all the seats were taken. There were children, youth, college students, young adults, and older adults — generations, worshiping, singing songs, reciting Scriptures, and remembering what happend on that Friday in Jerusalem on this very date. On a Friday night in the USA in 2026 we experienced this. That was 1993 years ago, almost two millennia, and people still remember, reverence, and revere “the Lamb that was slain” and raised from the dead for all who believe. It would be a joy to know how many were celebrating this day around the globe. Someday we will, in His presence, and experience even more of the Joy set before Him.
His name be praised. Amen.
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“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)
“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
Unbelizable! Belize It or Not? Those were titles I considered for this short report on the fantastic spiritual adventure I just completed with six friends from Northwest Arkansas, January 3-9, 2026.
Unbelizable! Because of the ways we experienced God, the people we came to know, and the sights we saw.
Belize It or Not? Because initially there where just two college women and myself signed up for the trip, and I didn’t think we should go. But our mission leadership said, “Go for it!” And the two ministries we were going to serve said, “Come anyway. It will keep our relationship growing and God will use it.” Well, we’re back home now, in a snow storm with temperatures in the teens for a week, still processing what happened there. We became a team of seven, and God did all those things, “…Above all we could ask or think” (Eph 3:20).
Background
Our church community is an average size, and fairly young, but very mission minded. They envisioned and promoted this short term mission adventure to Belize in Central America. The thought was that not everyone can muster the time and financial resources necessary to go on our longer mission trips such as Malaysia and Uganda. Therefore we should provide opportunities for Harvest Community Church members who have it in their hearts to participate in the great commission by going to other nations and sharing the gospel and making disciples in a shorter and more accessible timeframe and place.
Let’s Go!
I co-led this adventure with a young couple, Colt & Taylor, from our church and community group. I’ve been on 20+ short term mission trips since my first to Burkina Faso, Africa, in 2002. But I’m encouraging the next generation to go and learn to lead them. I tell them often, “All you need is someone you know, and some place to go.” “The Holy Spirit will be with you to lead and guide and do the things He does.”
Our young team got it! We so bonded with the young pastor and his wife with their two young daughters and their community in Bella Vista, Belize, that we hated to leave and tell them good bye. The feeling was mutual and we all felt a loving, spiritual, and family bond that’s impossible to forge in three days, unless the Holy Spirit is working, or the wind is blowing among His people (John 3:8). I wrote a several-page, after-action report for our elders and leaders, but there isn’t space for that here. I only want to report that we went, and you should consider going yourself.
I’m giving a thumbnail sketch of our trip, along with some photos, and I’ll let those do the talking. Normally one wouldn’t visit two places on a short adventure like this. But we were led to do so from an earlier scouting trip to Belize in April 2025. I had made five trips to Belize with our church in Fort Smith, Arkansas, but that was more than a decade ago. So we were asking the Spirit to lead us to ministries we could support and people we could trust to allow our short term groups to do kingdom work there in the future.
Our first three days were in service to a small, growing, multigenerational church in southern Belize with lots of kids. Our second three days we served the discipleship ministry of a young couple from Northwest Arkansas, who intend to disciple Belizeans to disciple future generations of Belizeans. We were welcomed into their lives and saw the places they minister and their vision for a campus on the outskirts of the capital, Belmopan, high on a jungle mountain top. We ministered in area high schools, and were connected serendipitously with the East Texas Baptist University track team which was staying at the same camp where we lodged and had our meals.
There were so many opportunities for prayer, ministry, interactions, and friendship that we will be processing what happened for a long time with a sense of mystery, wonder, and joy.
During our ministry time, we visited the beach at Placencia to buy paint, for a brief swim, and to admire the beauty of Belize. We also visited a Mayan ruin near the Guatemala border, and ate some of the world’s best ice cream at a dairy owned by Mennonites, who produce most of Belize’s food in the community of Spanish Lookout. Most mission teams include a day of recreation and reflection to further enjoy a new culture and place, while meditating and talking about the experiences they’ve encountered–still fresh on their minds and hearts.
Go Ye Therefore…
I hope you’ll find a group who takes these kinds of adventures and go! We are blessed more than the people we go to serve. But they are blessed too, so it’s a win, win situation.
Also, you almost have to go away to get to know your friends in our day and time. It’s a bonding time with friends in your church community that you’ll always remember, and a fresh experience with God. You’ll discover, or rediscover, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand….” as Jesus frequently told us ( Matt 3:2, Matt 4:17, Mark 1:15). Adventure with purpose!
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“The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!” (Psalm 16:3 NLT)
“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great.” (Psalm 18:35 NASB1995)
“Brethren, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.” (Acts 13:26)
“‘That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name,’ says the Lord, ‘who does these things’— things known from long ago.” (Acts 15:17-18 NIV)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NASB1995)
“You will never know what prayer is for, until you know that life is war.” John Piper
The answer to those questions may be the same. Because there is war, Jesus came to restore hope, peace, justice, love, and give power to overcome an evil enemy. Because Jesus came, the evil enemy is stirred up to inflict as much pain, destruction, and havoc as possible because he hates Christ, Christ’s followers, and humans in general. He also knows his time is short—the King has come, the King’s Spirit is here, and the King’s powerful, personal second coming is near.
The King
I grew up a Baptist, and I grew up in the United States of America. Both are strikes against me coming to see Jesus as King. As I’ve lived, continuing to read the Bible and study history, it’s clear that the Bible story and human history is the story about a King and His Bride—Christ and the Church, God and Israel. Read Psalm 2, Psalm 24, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2-4, Numbers 24:17, Zachariah 9:9, John 18:33-37, John 19:19, Luke 1:32-33, and The Apocalypse also called The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Christ means “anointed one,” “Messiah,” “King”), or my first book, A Friend of the King.
Understated
God, our Creator, is so understated in how He chooses to mysteriously move in history and in the individual lives of men and women compared to what He obviously could do, and has done a few times in history, e.g. The Exodus from Egypt. Why the mystery? Have you ever pondered that? I think it’s to give us plenty of room to believe what we want to believe, without overly influencing our decisions or desires—in a word, “choice.” I love what A W. Tozer said about God’s ways, “They are secret, but it’s an open secret.”
The Magi
The most loved and complete Christmas story is recorded in Luke chapters one and two. It’s filled with love, beauty, simplicity, mystery, destiny, and joy. But my favorite story from Jesus’ birth is that of the king makers from the east.
Their mysterious story is only recorded in Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 2:1-12). Why would they come from Persia, modern-day Iran or Iraq? It’s over 500 miles away, a journey taking months to complete. The best conjecture is that Daniel, a gifted Hebrew prophet, and the chief of the Magi in Babylon after 605 BC, told them of a most important future king. The magi were an ancient college of king makers, training young princes from antiquity in the sciences, politics, and how to rule. It’s surmised that Daniel told them a secret they treasured and passed down for centuries, “If you see these signs in the heavens, follow the star and it will lead you to the King of Kings.”
They knew the stars well. They studied them nightly and recorded their movements for what could be learned about nature, about the future, and about God. The movement of the stars are like the hands of a giant clock, predictable and mathematically precise. That God would arrange the planets and stars to signal the coming of His Son the King and cause these prestigious and powerful people to be aware of the occurrence, making a sacrificial trip to honor Him with extravagant gifts as a toddler in Bethlehem overwhelms me.
Every year I watch a documentary The Star of Bethlehem by Rick Larson to refuel and add to my wonder of that happy event. Larson is a lawyer who became interested in these things, taking clues from Matthew and then using modern astronomy software to “puzzle it out.” I highly recommend it. In the same vein, I recommend this short YouTube video remarkably capturing some of the mystery, humility, and majesty of what happened in Jerusalem and Bethlehem 2025 years ago.
Christmas shalom to all. Christ, the King is born… Noel! ✨
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“The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.” (Nahum 1:7)
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’” (Matthew 2:1-2)
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There are two chapters on soul care and spiritual warfare in my latest book God Stays Near, Faith and Flight. They are entitled “Prepare for War” and “Israel–A Time for War.”
It’s interesting that I’m writing about the second advent of Jesus Christ, on the first day of Advent 2025, when Christendom starts celebrating Christ’s first advent—His first “coming.”
Jesus second coming to Earth and the study of events surrounding that cosmic event is called eschatology. But who needs it? Maybe we all do! I’ll repeat the eschatology being taught us recently from Luke, Daniel, and Revelation, and I’ll also include thoughts on personal eschatology. I’ll call that “Solomon’s Eschatology” from the book of Ecclesiastes. There we see what the wisest thought about the end of our lives with inspiration and insights from the Holy Spirit. We all will have a personal end-times, if the Lord doesn’t come back first. We should give that equal thought and live with it in mind. You can read Ecclesiastes 12 for Solomon’s perspective and conclusion, but I’lll get to that.
Why is eschatology important? Four reasons come quickly to mind:
So you won’t be confused or disillusioned when the end time events start happening. You will be at peace and able to make some sense of it all knowing God is in control and He told us about it before hand.
There will be a lot of deceit involved and flying around like there was in 586 B.C., 70 A.D., and nearing 2026 A.D.. Jesus started one of his end-time’s discussions like this, “Let no one deceive you.” Paul said essentially the same thing before 70 A.D. as recorded in II Thessalonians 2:4-11. That’s important to know as a sign to the approaching end times, and as a deterrent to lethargy and hurtful surprise—being caught unaware.
So you will continue to put your trust in God who told you these kinds of things in the past through His prophets and recorded them in His Word. They came to pass. God is 100% faithful to His Word and plan (Isaiah 46:9-10).
It’s a part of the process of having faith, and growing in your faith, confidence, and love of the Lord. In reading the book of Ezekiel anew, I noticed the phrase, “Then they will know that I am the LORD” was often stated. I asked the AI engine, Grok, how many times that phrase was in Ezekiel, and was quickly told 63 times!
Thumbnail Sketch of the End Times
Ben Wilson, our Cambridge-educated, PhD, Pastor recently taught on Luke 20 through 24 a message series entitled, “The Week That Changed the World.” Within it, he outlined the timeline of biblical prophecy. In theology the study of end-time events is called eschatology and is mostly taken from the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, Daniel, Revelation, and the words of Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus addressed the subject during His final week on earth with some prophetic insights and predictions. Peter, Paul, John, and Jude, were New Testament prophets and apostles who added to the clues under the Spirit’s inspiration.
Ben mentioned that all Christians believe that Christ is coming back, in the resurrection of the dead, and in the judgment. He emphasized that in eschatology, where the doctrines of the Bible are more complex, we should employ the same straightforward reading of scripture to order the predicted events most accurately.
Then Ben said that the future events of the end times are important because they give us hope, a focus on God, His promises, and His character. A thumbnail sketch, or timeline of those future end-time events that come from the straightforward reading of scripture would look like this:
[1] RAPTURE (Christians meet Christ in the air, spared the wrath of the tribulation, and live forever with Jesus — Luke 7:43-35, Matt 24:40-41, John 14:1-3, 1 Thess 4:13-15 & 5:9). [2] TRIBULATION (A time of violence, intrigue, evil political powers, and judgment; the 70th week of Daniel, it ends with Satan’s defeat, the battle of Armageddon and the return of Christ as King — Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:4-28, Revelation 6-18, and Zachariah 11-12). [3] MILLENNIAL KINGDOM (Christ reigns on the Earth for 1000 years from Jerusalem with the Saints who died during the tribulation—Revelation 20:1-3). [4] NEW CREATION (Believers experience a new heaven and a new earth with Christ forever—Revelation 21:1-4).
The discussion of personal eschatology will have to wait for another blog. This has become lengthy enough and I want to keep the timeline and the reasons for having a timeline simple, so it’s meaningful and easier to recall.
Summary
The complexity of the subject comes from the fact that the pieces of the puzzle are spread over 4000 years of Bible history scattered through many epochs and eras. But they do fit together in a grand, cosmic, mysterious story our Creator wished to make known—one that is hard to ignore if one wishes to look at the puzzle pieces searching for truth and honoring the tug of a God who put “eternity in our hearts.”
I’m learning to use AI like the rest of the world, and consulted my favorite AI engine Grok for a summary. Here’s my question and Grok’s answer:
Q: What’s the most commonly taught eschatology or sequence of end-time events?
A: Probably the premillennial dispensationalist view-top dog in evangelical circles. Jesus comes back before a thousand-year reign, raptures the church first, then there’s seven years of tribulation with the Antichrist, Armageddon, and finally Satan’s defeat. Folks teach it heavy in seminaries and churches-big on literal timelines from Revelation, Daniel, and Matthew twenty-four.
I hope this helps you to remember or serves as a starting point for your own investigation of the facts the Bible and history provide about the end times and Christ’s return. Godspeed on your journey to truth, and knowing God better each year of your journey. Shalom in Jesus, “The author and finisher of our faith,” the Son of God, Prince of Peace, Bright and Morning Star, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27)
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John…” (Revelation 1:1)
Speaking of grace, if I could tell only one story about my friend Scott Weston, it would be this one—it’s outrageous.
Our family had two, very used four wheelers on our little farm that we rode around the place and in the nearby Ozark National Forest. Scott and his family enjoyed these versatile and fun little machines too, and he asked me to recommend one. Soon the family owned a new 300 Suzuki Quad, one of the finest little ATVs ever made.
One beautiful fall day, I borrowed Scott’s almost-new four wheeler to take our pastor’s son Benjamin on a ride in the national forest. After a beautiful day and successful adventure, we were driving home out of the mountains on a steep curving highway, and the unthinkable happened. Going around a curve to our right at about 50 miles per hour, I happened to glance in my rearview mirror and saw Scott’s new, green, pristine four wheeler fly off the trailer and disappear over the embankment and into the trees below. It was a very shocking, sickening, surreal feeling.
I got our truck and 16-foot trailer stopped on the shoulder of the highway. Then Ben and I jogged back up the hill to see what had happened to Scott’s machine. I knew it wasn’t good. It had stopped on its side at the edge of the trees after rolling or tumbling several times down the steep embankment. We turned it over on its wheels and hoped to drive it back up to the trailer, if it would start. But the key was missing. After a brief search, Ben miraculously found it in the tall grass beside the highway. It started and wobbled back to the truck on bent rims and a twisted frame, then climbed the ramp back onto the trailer.
Scott & Grand Kids
I called the service manager at the Suzuki dealership and told her I had a 911 case I was bringing in. She said they would have their triage team ready. I dropped Ben off and headed over there. She came out with a box of tissues for me, and after seeing it wobble off the trailer pronounced it, “Totaled.”
I was taught by my father that whenever you borrowed something, you must return it in as good or better condition than when you borrowed it. I also was taught that people were more important than things. That material possessions were only wood, hay, and stubble—or in this case, steel, rubber, and plastic. I simply had to buy Scott a new four wheeler, after a sincere apology for destroying his. It was only right. It was a good chunk of money, but I would do it, whatever it was.
He was gracious when I told him, and not visibly upset, even though I knew he had come to really like that machine. I told him of my plan to shop for that exact same model, and make sure that it was agreeable to him before I bought it. He nodded his head in agreement.
The Family Loved 4 Wheelers
But when I took Scott to see the four wheeler I found, he said it was fine and then quickly started writing a check for it on the sale manager’s desk. By that time I had my checkbook out and exclaimed, “What are you doing!?” “I’m buying this four wheeler.” “No, you’re not! That’s not right! And not what we agreed!”
By this time, we were bumping each other away from the desk in a scuffle while writing our checks, and knocked a pen holder off of the sales manager’s table, scattering pens and pencils across the floor. “Why don’t one of you buy me a four wheeler?” the sales manager exclaimed, with an incredulous grin on his face.
Scott had a head start and finished writing his check first, even with the scuffling, and handed it to the sales manger. A bit embarrassed by the whole scene, I said, “Well OK, for now, but this is not going to stand! It’s just not right! I ruined your new four wheeler, and I’m going to replace it!” The two of them just smiled at me and shrugged their shoulders as I bent down and started picking up pens off the floor.
A few weeks passed, as I thought about the situation and how I could make Scott take my money. Then one day I was at my parents home, visiting with my brother. I told him the whole story ending with, “And he wants to pay for the four wheeler—for my mistake!?” My brother quickly piped up, “Well, you’re not gonna let him, are you!?” At that moment, some clarity, humility, wonder, and grace flooded over me. It was something that transcends common sense and what’s right. And for the first time, I had the thought, and voiced it to my brother, “I think I am.”
In the Ozark National Forest
Grace is hard to understand, and hard to deal with. I don’t think we really do until it comes our way, face-to-face, or heart-to- heart. Grace and mercy seem connected, but they are distinct—two different things. The best definitions I’ve heard are these. Mercy is not getting something bad that you deserve. Grace is getting something good that you don’t deserve. Grace is more about the giver than the recipient. Scott really wanted to pay the price for my mistake and bless me. I could continue to resist due to pride or what’s right. Or, I could accept his gracious, loving, extraordinary gift, and the heart and mind and soul behind it. Next to the Lord Jesus, Scott taught me and modeled for me the biggest lesson on grace I ever received. It changed me. It opened doors for me that I continue to walk through, and hopefully help others walk through. That is the nature of GRACE. That is the soul of my treasured friend Scott Weston. I miss him.
Last Words
If I were asked to say or read something at Scott’s graveside or celebration-of-life service, it would probably be this:
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
If Scott were to choose or write something as his epitaph, it would be something like John wrote as his motive for writing his Gospel:
“But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).
I guess that’s where Scott learned about GRACE. It changed him, like it changes everyone. And those who know Scott best know it was the most important thing in his life.
Rest in peace, Scott Weston. I’ll see you in the morning. You were a true and beautiful friend, and will be forever. I am blessed.
“Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6 ESV)
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“ALL IN” seems to be a timely word — for what the Spirit is saying and doing in the earth, and certainly in His Kingdom. Are you ALL IN to what you’re committing your time and life to? I hope so. The opposite is being lukewarm, which is something Jesus decried in His teaching, and far from what He modeled in His life on earth.
My good friend Ron has been mentoring four men for about five years next door. We meet once a week and this fall he chose the topic, “ALL IN.” We’ve discovered that Mark Batterson, a well-known author and pastor in Washington DC has a series of teachings from the Bible entitled, “ALL IN.” One of our elders taught Sunday about Jesus noticing the woman in the temple who put in only two small coins, but it was all she had. She was “ALL IN.”
With the events of recent weeks, Charlie Kirk certainly comes to mind. He was “ALL IN” by any metric. He was admired by his following of mostly young people — friend and foe, for his ideas, faith, work ethic, intellect, kindness, entrepreneurial spirit, and love for the truth.
He founded Turning Point USA in 2012 when he was just eighteen years old. He was self-educated mostly by correspondence courses from Hillsdale College, reading books (about fifty per year), and seeking out mentors. He would debate students and faculty in colleges far and wide, including Oxford and Cambridge. The Spectator asked him to write about his UK experience. They reported this, “The result was this well-observed, funny and now strangely prophetic-sounding piece about the condition of England.” They went on to say, “Charlie Kirk believed in free speech. He died speaking freely. RIP.”
To get a tiny grasp of how great this young man was, one only need watch his memorial service put together eleven short days after his murder and attended by 100,000 people according to police estimates. Over 100 million people watched on line according to a Grok search polling major TV networks and streaming services. Of course you can still watch it in segments or the whole on YouTube, which I highly recommend. You can decide for yourself what kind of young man he was.
To be only thirty-one years old, and have the President and Vice President of the United States, along with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War speak at your funeral or celebration of life service is incredible. Also to hear from his young, beautiful widow and new CEO of Turning Point USA, only days after her devastating loss was as touching as it was insightful into Charlie Kirk’s life and legacy.
With so much deception, sensationalism, and propaganda in our news media these days, I do not watch the news. I find it more peaceful to hear what I need to know from my friends, and to research newsworthy items on the web. So I’m a bit embarrassed to say I didn’t know who Charlie Kirk was. But as soon as I became aware and watched some of his debate and speaking clips, I was refreshed with his truth-loving — truth-speaking courage and candor. And I thanked God for a young manspeaking to his generation and culture, in fact all generations and cultures, about a Biblical worldview of the Kingdom of God and how it relates to our personal lives and the political institutions that govern the way we live. I recently wrote a book on a Christian and Biblical worldview called Puzzling 2020. It’s the ancient path that got us to the good way we have enjoyed for so long, and holds the keys to its preservation.
Rest in peace Charlie Kirk, and may your movement and organization prosper and succeed in its mission a million times more than your wildest dreams. May God bless your organization and your family with success unimagined and peace.
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“A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1)
“Thus says the Lord, ‘Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.'” (Jeremiah 6:16)
I attended my first board meeting this week of Ventures for Christ. The meeting was lead by the 92-year-old H.D. McCarty who is still leading the way in exalting Christ, pleasing Christ, and becoming like Christ — for the joy set before him and all who believe.
H.D. McCarty’s mind is razor sharp. His heart is ablaze with passion for the King and His flock. His vocal cords, and his ability to speak or communicate this reality and passion, are affected by the polio he experienced in his youth.
This week he assembled a group of men, spiritual and distinguished in their careers and lives, for lunch in order to exhort them to follow Christ in a disciplined, sacrificial, “lay down your life” way — the way of the cross.
All of the men are older. About half are in their 80s and about half are in their early 70s or late 60s. All are successful doctors, lawyers, businessman, bankers, even a rogue pilot, who could go their own way, so to speak, and live lives of relative ease.
Indeed, there was small talk before and during lunch at Noodles restaurant about golf courses, vacations, and health discussions typical of retirees. But there we sat, loving the one who called us together, admiring him, and wanting to be loyal to him to the end — and as devoted to his Lord as he is.
He shared a few things with us as best he could. His beautiful and precious daughter Karen joined for a brief time and helped us understand some of his utterances that were unclear. But his main focus was that we get to know each other, and love each other like he loved us individually. And that we all pledge ourselves anew to die to ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Christ, Who is worthy and still showing Himself to H.D. in his 90s as ever before and as never before. His name be praised.
He left us with three sheets of printed material to read and meditate upon, after holding up a book by Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest. He intimated the book was special to him among the hundreds he has read.
One sheet was selected scriptures, front and back, that expressed the spirit and vision of Ventures for Christ, his ministry moniker in this chapter of his life. The other two sheets were copies from the Chamber’s book for November 1 through November 3, with H.D.’s personal notes scribbled around some of the text with insight and feeling.
I think you could sum up this unlikely, unusual, and sacred meeting like this:
“Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things; give heart and soul and mind and strength to serve the King of kings.” (William Merrill, 1911) Or in the words of Jesus of Nazareth, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me (Matthew 16:24-26).
I wrote on the bottom of my copy, “if you don’t first pick up your cross, there is no need to follow.” This truth came to me in the moment and perhaps has been lost on our affluent culture with a lukewarm church in many quadrants. May the Lord help us. He will, IF we do what He says. Amen.
H.D. wants us to be points of light for others, and disciple them in the way of the cross. I found on his website where he expresses this sentiment and passion in his own words:
“We are all to be men and women sent from God.” II Corinthians 2:17b Our Ventures for Christ Mandate The Ventures ministry is our Spirit led attempt to shepherd as many Christians as the Lord might give us into a Cross Disciple life! Our efforts are aimed at those who hunger to be contented warriors for Christ. Our goal is to teach others to continuously practice thinking, feeling, and acting with the Mind of Christ. We must grasp and internalize the practical presence of the Godhead ─ our triune Creator, Redeemer, and Perfecter ─ and respond increasingly, urgently, and precisely to the mystery of our New Creation birth in Christ. This can be done as we bring His thoughts into our minutes and learn the empowerment of His perceptions and promises! We “capture” His Mind, then “embrace” His Heart, and then “sacrifice” for His Will! Carrying the Savior’s Cross for our individual earth adventure begins with a passion to live out one’s life increasingly directed and consumed with the Mind of Christ.
Get to know H. D. McCarty — An interview with a curator of the Arkansas Air and Military Museum in Fayetteville, AR. [Photos above were taken in his office during this interview.]
A good many things could be said about H.D. McCarty, but to those who know and love him and have had their minds, souls, and spirits directed up to Christ by him, certainly these verses come to mind.
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history…” (Acts 17:26 NIV).
“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation …” (Acts 13:36).
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
In my latest book, God Stays Near, there is a chapter called “Grey Eagles” about aging with the Lord. In the board’s estimation, H.D. is the grayest and the greatest we know. May our gracious God continue to be the wind beneath his wings.
Quickly approaching ninety-three, he’s working on a second book. His first came out last year, His Cross and Ours. It’s a needed word in our generation and culture.
Recent Ventures for Christ Board Meeting with H.D. McCarty
