Jonathan's Perspective on The Rock

Are you feeling happy today?  Whether you answered yes or no, think about the top reasons in your mind as to why you feel that way.  Your first response to that consideration tells a lot about what you base your happiness on.

Every one of us, whether young or old, trust in something to make us happy.  For some it could be about money, relying on the assurance that they have a stable bank account to fall back on.  For others it could be their health, throwing themselves into exercise programs to get their bodies into a reliable condition that they can depend on. I'm sure many would say they place their trust in people who love them, having confidence that they will be there for them when times get tough.

However, every single one of those foundations are fragile, crumbling swiftly and without warning.  Your source of employment can vanish, or unexpected, sizable expenses can drain your bank account. An illness or injury can rob you of the energy and vitality that was once coursing through your body.  And we all know our loved ones aren't perfect.  They can annoy us, disappoint us, or even wrong us.  What can we do in such a transient world in which everything material that we tend to put our trust in vanishes so quickly?

The best place to turn when you realize that, is to the arms of God, who the Bible sometimes refers to as The Rock.  "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal" (Isaiah 26:4).  A rock is a strong, firm foundation upon which you can plant your foot confidently.  Even more than that, God, loving and eternal, will never change.  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).  That reassuring fact means that when we remember the love God and His Son Jesus Christ have shown us in the past, we can be sure that He will continue to love us.

I have received a deep and steadfast love from Him, especially when I trust in Him.  He has shown his grace and mercy to me, revealing his true nature.  "Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken" (Psalm 62:2).  As long as I don't fail to remember who I know Him to be, I can call out to him confidently whenever I am in need.  "From the ends of the earth I call to you; I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I" (Psalm 61:2).

When we are led to the Rock, we ought to build our lives on the eternal, immovable foundation we find there.  It is a secure, trustworthy place that can support us through the fiercest storms of life.

Recall the famous parable told by Jesus about building a house on a stable foundation.  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24‭-‬27)‬.‬

Jesus Christ, God in human likeness, said this at the end of a series of teachings on what the behavior of true believers should look like.  At the end of the 7th chapter of Matthew, it says the crowd who heard this message was amazed at the authority and power of his preaching.  In the light of that, we should indeed put His words into practice, knowing we can trust in the truth of Jesus' words.

Furthermore, let us not only build our house on the Rock, but let's make sure we don't move our house back onto the shifting sands of what this world has to offer.  "Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life" (Jude 1:21).

To paraphrase Hebrews 6:11, let us remain diligent for however long God permits us to live on the Earth, in order for us to receive all the good things He has promised us in the life to come.

Jonathan's Perspective on the Answer to Anxiety

Many people deal with anxiety on a daily basis and I am certainly not immune to worries that can weigh me down.  Speaking from recent experience, holding onto my worries has led me to moments of despair.  Those are not fun places to be and should be avoided at all costs to protect the mental health of both yourself and those around you.  The only lasting solution is found in the conscious act of placing your worries on the shoulders of the God who made you.

A passage that has given me clear insight into this issue was 1 Peter 5:6-7.  "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  I came across this passage in the Answering Anxiety devotional on the Youversion Bible app and I will be using some of the material from that study to "unpack", as my Pastor would say, the truths within.

God's mighty hand is His sovereign will over all of creation.  I am grateful His will is decidedly benevolent toward me as a follower of Christ.  That incredible blessing assures me that He will indeed "lift me up in due time."  When I hear that phrase, in view of my declining health, I instantly think of God's promise to take me to Heaven one day.  Oh, the joy I feel when I imagine that arrival.  I will be able to walk again, unencumbered by any impairment.  I will lift my hands in praise and shout for joy to my God and Savior, Jesus Christ!  Enjoying all the beauty of Heaven will be wonderful as well.

The latter verse contains an instruction that is relevant every day.  The following explanation was contained in the Answering Anxiety devotional on the Youversion Bible app.

"What does it mean to cast our cares upon God? The same word translated “casting” is used in Luke 19:35, when Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem, and the disciples had obtained a colt. They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their cloaks on it. This is a transfer, just like throwing a blanket onto something.

You gather up all the things that are troubling you right now – you bag them up, you throw them onto the Lord." (1)

This process is not easy and involves daily action on our part to purposefully surrender our cares and worries to God.  I say it isn't easy because of our all too human tendency to temporarily throw our burndens onto the Lord only to take them back again. We must battle against this temptation with steadfast effort and why wouldn't we?  When we choose to take our worries and place them back on our shoulders, we are basically saying, "God, I can handle these better than you can."  Really?  Can we honestly think our limited power and short-sighted view on the future gives us better ability to handle these things than our Sovereign God who holds the future in the palm of His Hand?  Once we humble ourselves by acknowledging the obvious answer to that question we gain fuel for a daily effort to let our God and Savior handle our worries.  You will find that your anxiety will dissipate quickly when those things aren't weighing heavily upon you.

Through it all, remember that God is good and is our loving and faithful Shepherd.  "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:4, 6) 

God will surely lead us to the Promised Land where we won't have ANYTHING to worry about.  All we have to do is to choose not to give up, not to despair, and not to worry.  Let us cast all our anxieties on the Lord today!





(1) Taken from Day 5 of the Answering Anxiety devotional on the Youversion Bible app.  Originally appeared on the Straight Truth Podcast with Pastor Richard Caldwell and his guest Pastor Ken Ramey.

Jonathan's Perspective on Heaven

I have to be honest about why I chose this topic.  As my disability robs me of more and more of my strength, my thoughts have often turned to what life after death looks like.  I am eternally grateful that because of the incredible gift of mercy that I have been given through receiving Christ into my heart, Heaven is now my eternal home, and my physical challenges make me long for it.

I do not fear death or what comes after it.  Much of my confidence comes from Jesus' promise of one day taking his followers to the place where He lives.  "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2‭-‬3).  Discovering what it feels like to see Jesus face-to-face and to have close fellowship with Him will certainly be too wonderful to put into words.  I have often imagined what that moment will feel like, and it always brings a smile to my face.‬‬

Additionally, I am very much looking forward to enjoying a perfect heavenly body, when "the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality," as 1 Corinthians 15:54 says.  The ability that I will have to walk again is thrilling to say the least!  I will be able to dance and lift my hands in praise to the One who gave me back what Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy took from me.

But that's not all!  Unlike some inaccurate pictures people have of Heaven, it is not all clouds and singing angels.  Rather, it will be filled with the vibrant beauty of much of what is beautiful on the Earth.  There will be trees, wonderful vistas, and peaceful places that we will be able to lie down in. There will be no more danger or hardships, no more sadness or despair, no more fighting or war.  God always meant for the world to be this way, but sin has corrupted everything.  However, by the grace of God, He will redeem what was lost.

Randy Alcorn, in his book titled Heaven, dispels myths about that wonderful place and provides an in-depth look at how glorious the Lord's plans are for those who love Him. 

Here is a small section from the book that spoke to me:

      "Jesus came not only to rescue people from ultimate destruction. He came also to rescue the entire universe from ultimate destruction. He will transform our dying Earth into a vital New Earth, fresh and uncontaminated, no longer subject to death and destruction.

       “The Curse is real, but it is temporary. Jesus is the cure for the Curse. He came to set derailed human history back on its tracks. Earth won't be put out of its misery; it will be infused with a greater life than it has ever known, at last becoming all that God meant for it to be.

       “We have never seen the earth as God made it. Our planet as we know it is a shadowy, half-tone image of the original. But it does whet our appetites for the New Earth, doesn't it? If the present Earth, so diminished by the Curse, is at times so beautiful and wonderful; if our bodies, so diminished by the Curse, are at times overcome with a sense of earth's beauty and wonder; then how magnificent will the New Earth be? And what will it be like to experience a new Earth in something else we've never known; perfect bodies?
...
       “Without Christ, both the earth and mankind would be doomed. But Christ came, died, and rose from the grave. He brought deliverance, not destruction. Because of Christ, we are not doomed, and neither is the earth. Earth cannot be delivered from the Curse by being destroyed. It can only be delivered by being resurrected." (1)

Combine this more accurate glimpse of Heaven with a firm promise from God and you begin to understand how amazingly glorious the eternal dwelling place of believers will be.  "He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken" (Isaiah 25:8).  I love how the verse ends: "The Lord has spoken!"  Although God hasn't yet established his perfect Kingdom on Earth, you can be certain He WILL one day.

Our response to this should not only involve heartfelt gratitude and thankfulness but also include a change in our behavior.  "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:2‭-‬4).  For believers, Christ is indeed our life.  So, how could we think anything less than living a life FOR Christ would be a proper response?  Let us then pursue Jesus in our daily lives in such a way that the world can see how thankful we are to our Lord for preparing such a wonderful future for us.  Use your conversations to point people to God.  Praise Him verbally when things go well for you. And of course, don't neglect daily Bible reading and study which is necessary to become more like Christ.‬‬

It is easy to think, "Won't we have all eternity to become more like Jesus?”  I believe a good biblical response to that can be found in 1 Timothy 4:8: "Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."  A belief that has stuck with me lately is that the depth at which we can know Christ in Heaven is proportional to how well we get to know Him on Earth.

The key is to remember all the joy and peace that awaits us in the new Heaven and new Earth.  "Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’” (Revelation 7:16‭-‬17).  I will remain devoted to knowing God more and more every day because of how devoted He is to ensuring my eternal future is filled to overflowing with good things.‬‬

In the last chapter of Revelation, Jesus Himself says, “Look, I am coming soon!" (Revelation 22:7a).  So, I hope and pray everyone who reads this has their faith built on the rock of Salvation, Jesus Christ.  He alone is the one who can grant entrance to the place we all long for.




Bibliography
1. Alcorn, Randy C. Heaven. Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.

Jonathan's Perspective on Having a Sense of Humor

It's time to switch gears and lighten things up a bit.  As the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:4, "there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh."  I believe strongly that God desires our lives to be filled with joy and laughter.  In Psalms, when describing what it will look like when God ushers in His eternal kingdom, says "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.'  The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."(Psalm 126:2‭-‬3).
This wonderful feeling can be experienced in some small way when we laugh.

To be able to do that enough to get through the difficulties of life all begins with the lens through which we look at the world.  Are you only able to complain about your circumstances or can you laugh about them?  Better yet, can you laugh at yourself?  I think we've all had those moments when we walk into a room and think: "What did I come in here for?"  When that happens, I think the healthy response is to laugh at yourself and continue on with your day with a smile.

And now I'd like to share some things that I find especially funny.  I will begin with some puns that hopefully will elicit more of a laugh than a groan.

1. Coffee has a rough time in this house.  It gets mugged every single morning!

2. I asked a Frenchman if he played video games.  He said Wii!

3. My girlfriend told me she was leaving me because I keep pretending to be a Transformer. I said, "No, wait! I can change."

4. Three conspiracy theorists walk into a bar...  You can't tell me that's just a coincidence.

5. A man just assaulted me with milk, cream and butter. How dairy!

Another thing that makes me laugh is a limerick.  A limerick is a humorous 5 line poem with a very specific rhyming sequence.  The 1st, 2nd, and 5th lines all rhyme and the 3rd and 4th rhyme with each other.  On a summer road trip back in 2006, my family and I came up with limericks to help pass the time during long hours on the freeways up to Illinois.  We used names of cities we passed as inspiration.  My favorite was inspired by the city of Paducah, KY.

There once was a woman in Puducah
Whose name was Commander Pestrucah
Who just for fun
Invented a gun
To shoot chickens out a Bazooka

Now, tell me that isn't funny!

Another series of jokes I revisit every few years are funny phrases or typos found on church bulletins.  Here are a few of the best.

1. Miss Charlene Mason sang “I will not pass this way again” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

2. Helpers are needed! Please sign up on the information sheep.

3. Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 to 8:30p.m. Please use the back door.

4. The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

And I can't fail to mention the hilarious Tim Hawkins, whose zany humor can easily be found on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/ndeZ2rJk1Lw

Part 2: https://youtu.be/CBhyskisVNM

I will conclude by saying I think it is very important to surround yourself with people that make you laugh.  I firmly believe that a large portion of the joy believers will feel in heaven, second to experiencing the glorious presence of our loving Savior Jesus, will be the laughter and pleasure of fellowship with fellow believers.

So, have a laugh, get a smile on your face, and enjoy life today!

Jonathan's Perspective on Encouragement

Have you ever been having a bad day when someone cheers you up with some encouraging words?  It could be as simple as a compliment or as profound as a call to persevere.  Whatever it is, a comment as short as a couple of sentences can completely change how you progress through your day.

Since our words have such power, we should all take advantage of opportunities to encourage those around us.  It takes no weighty theology to understand the wisdom of the idea that we should treat others how we want to be treated.  We certainly like to be encouraged so we should do the same for others.  Going deeper, the Bible says, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up."
(1 Thessalonians 5:11a)  Earlier in the Bible Solomon described just how beneficial a kind word can be. "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
(Proverbs 16:24)

However, I think we all know how easy it is to remain too focused on ourselves to remember to encourage others.  But instead of trying to fix that that in our power I think it is far better to seek help from God to become more attentive towards those around us.  The Apostle Paul, led by the Spirit of God, wrote in Romans 15:5:   "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had."  So if we find in ourselves a tendency to neglect the all too important act of encouraging others, we should ask God to cultivate this attitude in us.  I certainly believe God will answer this prayer with a definitive "Yes!"  Then, it is our job to remember that prayer everyday and move out in faith believing that God will bring to our attention opportunities to encourage.

Knowing the wisdom and truth packed into the Scriptures will be a big help in this area.  "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." (Romans 15:4)  Daily reading of the many uplifting passages in the Bible will allow encouragement flow more easily out of us.

Why don't you read some of those now!  Here is one of my favorites.

"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 40:31)

Don't you feel more encouraged now?  I do.  So, like I've mentioned in previous posts, this is a great reason to make sure to do daily Bible readings, hopefully more than one per day.  In my case, I like to read a topical devotional and Bible reading in the morning and a chronological reading in the evening.

Additionally, another important thing regarding Godly encouragement was written in the book of Hebrews. "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25)  God never wanted for there to be loner Christians separate from the larger body of Christ.  Without consistent fellowship with believers, it is impossible to receive biblical encouragement or give it out.  In other words, find a church that fits you, regardless of any bad experiences in the past.  Neglecting this can produce Christians with skewed theology who do little to advance God's Kingdom on Earth.  Trust me, I know a few.

In conclusion, I highly recommend you read a encouraging Bible passage every morning and pray that God would help you be aware of opportunities to encourage those around you. Step out in faith and the right words will come.

I will end with a prayer.

Dear Lord, please help me and all those who will read this post to start or continue the meaningful habit of receiving encouragement from Your Word every morning.  Give us awareness to see when others need an encouraging word spoken to them and provide us with the right words to say.  In Jesus' name, Amen.


(All passages are from the New International Version of the Bible)

Jonathan's Perspective on Idolatry

The topic for this post is idolatry.  At the root of this word is the word idols.  Upon hearing this word, the first thought some of you might have had was of a carving of a man or an animal.  It seems to be something out of a bygone era, when worship of carved images was prevalent across the world.  Idols are mentioned many times in the Old Testament, like this in Psalm 135:15-17.

"The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands.  They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.  They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths."

It doesn't seem relevant to us in modern society, does it?  But in reality, an idol is anything that has the top priority in our lives, other than love for God.

In 2 Corinthians 12:2 of the Message Bible it says
"Remember how you were when you didn’t know God, led from one phony god to another, never knowing what you were doing, just doing it because everybody else did it?"

In today's world there are plenty of phony gods: the pursuit of money, popularity, or anything that feels good.  If a person pursues these things, it is obvious they consider them to be the most important thing in life.  And the sad part is, gaining those things will no more satisfy them than the pointless worship of lifeless idols.

Instead we must heed the words of Samuel in 1 Samuel 12:21. "Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless."

Chasing after empty passions and pursuits only keep us from experiencing the depth of kindness and care God offers to all of humanity.

In the belly of a whale, Jonah learned a very important reality.  “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them."
(Jonah 2:8)

God truly loves us and wants to give us salvation and endless blessings through Jesus.  The pursuit of something other than God will only leave you feeling empty and unfulfilled with nothing of lasting value to show for it.  So, instead surrender to the love of God in the center of which is peace, fulfillment, and rest.

For Christians, the biblical call to abandon idols is even stronger.  The apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 6:16, asks: "What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.'"

The Creator of the Universe Himself has agreed to live with and be present with those who receive Him as their Lord and Savior.  This amazing opportunity should not be spoiled by letting our former priorities creep back into the picture.  It is all too easy to let this happen so to combat it will take vigilance on our part.  We must keep our focus on Jesus, who Paul referred to as the "Author and Perfecter of our faith." In practical terms this means starting each day by entering into His presence through prayer and Bible study.   Commit your day to Him, and then read God's Word.  The aid of a daily devotional or Bible reading plan can be a big help. 

Once this becomes an established part of your morning routine, you can more effectively turn away from any potential idols you may encounter during your day.  Keep your eyes on God and remember His love for you is of greater value than anything this world can offer.

I will leave you with this call to action found in 1 Corinthians 10:14. "Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry."

Jonathan's Perspective on Thankfulness

Even though in my own life, there are plenty of reasons to get discouraged or irritated with my situation, maintaining an attitude of thankfulness prevents me from becoming bitter.

 The Bible wisely instructs us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  Now why would someone have any reason to be thankful no matter what situation they're in?

Well, a believer can maintain this positive outlook because they know what God has already done for them.  God has shown true believers their original nature of sinfulness and graciously provided a way, through Jesus, to be cleansed from that sin.  Romans 3:25 says: "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith."  That means that when someone chooses to have faith in Jesus, their sins are paid for by His death on the Cross.  The consequence of their sin of disobedience towards God has been paid for in full through Christ's sacrifice; their sins are now forgiven.

Through the toughest circumstances, Jesus' followers know that Heaven is now their eternal home and are filled with joyful anticipation of one day arriving there.  Even death itself is not to be feared, for it is simply the abandonment of a flawed body for a perfect one.

But for many of us, that day is a long way off.  We, in our limited, human view need something more immediate.  Fortunately, because of God's grace, there are many blessings we can be thankful for in both our past and present.

For me, I look at all the great things I've been able to do in my life.  I was able to walk until I was 12 and had the opportunity to do many cool things.  I played soccer, went on boat rides in Rockford, Ill. with my Uncle Bob, and even joined a jazz dance class when I was 7.  That was especially interesting because I was the only boy in a group of 15 girls! 😂

But the experience that was the most awesome was my trip, at age 9, to Wisconsin to see a Green Bay Packers game.  The wonderful organization Make-A-Wish gave me an amazing all-expense paid trip to Green Bay to see a game.  First came a limo ride to Tampa Int'l Airport, a nice hotel room in Green Bay, and another limo ride to the game.  We got to go onto the field to watch the players warm up before heading up to our seats at about the 50 yard line.  The game was certainly not an exciting high scoring affair, but the Packers did win 6-3.

After the game I got to meet a bunch of Packers players, most notably eventual Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre!  To say I was starstruck at 9 years old is an understatement.  But most memorable of all was an incredible opportunity to go to the home of cornerback Tyrone Williams to have dinner with him and his family.  I had received Tyrone's jersey at the beginning of my experience, so he was very much involved in Make-A-Wish.  After dinner we went outside to his front yard and played a game of touch football with some neighborhood kids.  That was the highlight of the trip for me.

More recently, I became a writer and have published 2 books.  Not everyone can say that!  I also love sports and wrote a college football blog for 4 years. But I am most thankful for my mom, my dad, and my best friend Erik.  Their love and friendship are the fuel for my daily struggle against Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy.  And I can't forget to mention all my other good friends from First Baptist Church of Port Charlotte.

So, what blessings can you be thankful for?  Are there fun experiences you can look back on with fondness?  Is there someone whose friendship is special to you?  And most important of all, do you know Jesus whose very presence can bring you joy and salvation?  I pray you will pursue Jesus and remember to be thankful today.