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opening A man is in bed with his wife when there is knocking on the door. He rolls over and looks at his clock. It’s half past three in the morning.

“I’m not getting out of bed at this time,” he thinks, and rolls over.

Then, a louder knock follows. “Aren’t you going to answer that?” says his wife.

So he drags himself out of bed, and goes downstairs. He opens the door and there is a man standing at the door. It doesn’t take the homeowner long to realize the man is drunk.

“Hi there,” slurs the stranger, “Can you give me a push?”

“No, get lost, it’s half past three. I was in bed,” says the man and slams the door.

He goes back up to bed and tells his wife what happened and she says “Dave, that wasn’t very nice of you. Remember that night we broke down in the pouring rain on the way to pick the kids up from the baby-sitter and you had to knock on that man’s house to get us started again? What would have happened if he’d told us to get lost?”

“But the guy was drunk,” says the husband.

“It doesn’t matter,” says the wife. “He needs our help and it would be the Christian thing to help him.”

So the husband gets out of bed again, gets dressed, and goes downstairs. He opens the door, and not being able to see the stranger anywhere he shouts, “Hey, do you still want a push?” and he hears a voice cry out, “Yeah, please!”

Still being unable to see the stranger, he shouts, “Where are you?”

The stranger replies, “I’m over here, on your swing.”

There are times we all need a little push from one another. In fact, that’s one of the reasons that we gather together in worship. We could praise God alone, but we have the opportunity to encourage one another every time we meet together.

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

It’s not just reserved for Sundays, though. Know anybody that needs a push today?

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 10.14. Live for God, on purpose, reaching out to others in the name of the Lord.

what-will What Will You Do With Jesus?

Over two thousand years ago, people came face to face with Jesus of Nazareth. A man named Pontius Pilate, in his role as the governor looked directly at Jesus, and asked him if he was the King of the Jews. Jesus‘ reply was “Yes, it is as you say.” What did Pilate do with Jesus? He “washed his hands of the matter,” and refused to make any decision at all.

The crowd of people, who had just days before cried out “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” as Jesus rode into their city, now stood in front of that same Jesus. What did this crowd do with Jesus? Their shouts changed to “Crucify him!”

A group of twelve men had walked for three years with Jesus, heard his teachings, watched his miracles, and proclaimed their devotion to him, saying they would never deny him. What did this group of disciples do with Jesus? All but one walked away, as if they had never known him.

We now live in the twenty-first century, and to this very day, each and every person must, at some point, come face to face with that same Jesus of Nazareth. The decision that they make will have eternal consequences for each person.

What about you? What will YOU do with Jesus? This is the single-most important question that anyone will ever be asked. And, it is the question we will ask – and answer – this Sunday.

Don’t miss this phenomenal Resurrection Sunday message at WFA. My friend – “What Will You Do With Jesus?”

who-do-you Who Do You Think Jesus Is

In his book “The Knowledge of the Holy,” A. W. Tozer made this insightful comment, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” In essence he was saying this: What you and I think about who God is directly influences how we live and interact with our Creator.

If we view God as some sort of judge, overseeing a kind of proceeding in a cosmic court case, doling out “justice” as people deserve, we will oftentimes live in fear, trying to hide our weaknesses and faults. We’ll live hoping and praying that the “judge” does not see who we really are, or we will face His wrath.

If we see God as an eternal ATM of blessings, where all we need to know is the right PIN number in order to “get what’s coming to us,” then we’ll approach our “spiritual life” as a way of “getting it right” so that God will open His account of blessings and shower them upon us.

Sometimes we see God as some sort of benevolent grandfather, whose job is to give us what we want, when we want it. And when things don’t end up working out as we want them to, we blame God, our heavenly grandfather, who has not come through on His job description.

Jesus knows all this. This is why He enters into the discussion with His disciples. First, he asks a broader question, “Who do people say that I am?” But this is not really His point. Like the master teacher he is, Jesus is looking for something much larger than the popular opinion of who He is. “Who do you say that I am?”

And this is the most central question in life, is it not?

Who do you think Jesus is?

Now before you answer that question, consider this: How you answer this question could change the way you live your life. If Jesus really is who we as His followers claim Him to be, it could change everything. In other words, if you could go along business-as-usual with your life, perhaps you may need to revisit who you really think Jesus is.

If Jesus is God, if He truly is God incarnate – then the things He teaches us, as well as the kind of life He lived, are to be emulated. If we truly call ourselves followers of Jesus, then our job is to... well, actually follow Him, orienting our lives around the way He lived and what He taught.

Who do you say Jesus is? What does the way you live your life say about what you truly believe the answer to be?

In Mark 8:27-29 we read, “On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?‘ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.‘ ‘But what about you?‘ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?‘ Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

The way you answer that same question could change everything.

swoon The Swoon Theory

An advice columnist received this letter about the Resurrection:

Dear Uticus,
Our preacher said on Easter that Jesus just swooned on the cross and the disciples nurtured Him back to health. What do you think?

Sincerely,
Bewildered

Here was the response:

Dear Bewildered,
Beat your preacher with a cat of nine tails with 39 heavy strokes. Nail him to a cross. Hang him in the sun for three hours. Run a spear through his heart. Embalm him. Put him in an airless tomb for 36 hours, and see what happens.

Sincerely,
Uticus

Inevitably, unbelievers will offer their own concepts regarding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus in an attempt to discredit the Bible and its message.

Among the most commonly held theories is the “swoon theory,” proposing that Jesus didn’t actually die on the cross, but went into a deep coma, or swoon. It further proposes that He was revived in the cool atmosphere of the tomb, was somehow able to get out of the tightly-wrapped strips of cloth, and appeared to His disciples.

Yet the Roman guards were the first to report the death of Jesus. They were experts at execution, and they would be put to death themselves if they allowed a condemned man to escape death. These soldiers were so certain Jesus was dead, they did not bother to break His legs. They thrust a spear into His body and out came blood and water (which occurs when the heart stops beating), giving them the final proof they needed.

We can either believe or hang our doubts on some flimsy theory.

But, the death and resurrection of Jesus means that one day, we all will stand before God and be held accountable!

one-guy One Guy Didn’t

Three guys were tried for crimes against humanity.
Two guys committed crimes.
One guy didn’t.

Three guys were given government trials.
Two guys had fair trials.
One guy didn’t.

Three guys were whipped and beaten.
Two guys had it coming.
One guy didn’t.

Three guys were given crosses to carry.
Two guys earned their crosses.
One guy didn’t.

Three guys were mocked and spit at along the way.
Two guys cursed and spit back.
One guy didn’t.

Three guys were nailed to crosses.
Two guys deserved it.
One guy didn’t.

Three guys agonized over their abandonment.
Two guys had reason to be abandoned.
One guy didn’t.

Three guys talked while hanging on their crosses.
Two guys argued.
One guy didn’t.

Three guys knew death was coming.
Two guys resisted.
One guy didn’t.

One.
Two.
Three guys died on three crosses.

Three days later.
Two guys remained in their graves.
One guy didn’t.

jelly-bean Jelly Bean Prayer

Have you heard the story of the jelly beans?

The black ones are a symbol of our sinful heart, cold and hard not a good start.

The red ones would be, the blood shed for you and me.

The white ones would mean washed white as snow, by the blood of Jesus do you know?

The green ones mean growth for our clean heart, so we can tell others of Jesus, now that’s a good start.

The yellow ones would mean streets of gold, like the ones in Heaven, as in the book of Revelation are told.

The purple ones are to mean like the robe He wore, when our sins on the cross He bore.

So the next time you see a bag of jelly beans, you will know what the colors mean.

pastors Just for My Fellow Pastors...

There are many fellow-pastors who have subscribed to and read each week’s issue of firstIMPRESSIONS. I am humbled that so many co-laborers find the items in these weekly emails to be a great blessing to them and their ministry. This is just for you, my friends...

Pastor, you know you’re having a really bad day...

• when you finally remember the name of the person you promised to visit in the hospital-while reading the obituaries

• you can’t find the book of Obadiah while leading a Bible study

• your treasurer sends you a postcard from Rio

• you are informed that the youth group used steel wool sponges for the car wash

• at a wedding, you call the groom by the bride’s former boyfriend’s name

• your personal parking spot gets relocated – to a restaurant half a mile away

• you preach the same sermon for the second week... and nobody notices

• the church votes to change your day off – to Sunday

Seriously, Pastor, if God has given you leadership ability, remember what sets great leaders apart.

First, they’re facilitators. They realize that nobody will ever be what they ought to be until they’re first doing what they ought to be doing, and that the way to fulfill your calling is to help others discover and fulfill theirs.

Second, they’re courteous. They never look down or talk down. They don’t have one set of manners for important people and another for the less important. To them, everybody is important because everybody has God-given potential; they just work to bring it out.

Third, they’re decisive. As a leader you’ll be remembered for two things: the problems you created and the ones you solved. Yes, you’ll make mistakes, so learn humility, hunger for personal growth, draw strength from God, and hopefully do it better next time.

God bless all of my fellow pastors, especially on this year’s Resurrection Sunday. In love, share the life-changing message of our risen Lord and Savior. Preach with conviction, and be sure to make time for people to respond with a personal decision.

I am praying for you! Please pray for me!

last The Last Impression

In Florida, an atheist created a case against the upcoming Easter and Passover holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews, and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.

The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, “Case dismissed!”

The lawyer immediately stood, objecting to the ruling and saying, “Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter, and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays.”

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, “But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant.”

The lawyer said, “Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists.”

The judge said, “The calendar says April 1st is April Fool’s Day. Psalm 14:1 states, ‘The fool says in his heart, there is no God.‘ Thus, it is the opinion of this court that if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned.”

Resurrection Sunday here at WFA – don’t miss it! The WFA Worship Choir will present Pastor Krista’s “He Is Lord!” Our SupeKIDS will be blessing us once again with something special for Easter. I have a special Word that is designed to challenge and bless each and every person in attendance. Great worship, wonderful fellowship... invite your friends and neighbors to join YOU for a great Easter celebration here at WFA!