Keep Calm: 5 steps to finding peace in a chaotic world

Bon Secours Retreat Center, Marriottsville, Md 

Peace is a hard commodity to come by these days. People are losing their jobs, their homes, and for some, their life savings at an unprecedented rate. Violence is running rampant in cities and in schools; and families are being torn apart. 

Life seems like a roller coaster speeding precipitously out of control. Natural disasters plague us at home and abroad and war seems unending. Many communities grieve over the lost of so many innocent lives. Wars and civil unrest are erupting all over the world. The Bible predicts that things will get worse before they get better. Matthew 24:7 (CEV) reads: "Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. People will starve to death, and in some places there will be earthquakes." Not a comforting picture for sure.

And as if this weren't enough, people's hearts have become cold. 2 Timothy 3:1-4 (CEV) reads: "You can be certain that in the last days there will be some very hard times. People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity.

These people will hate everything that is good. They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won’t be real." 

These signs of the times are happening now. Just look at the faces of people today, where's the joy, the love, the peace? People don't smile as much, or extend a hand to help a stranger like they used to. 

The search for peace is instinctive to us all. Everybody wants it but not everybody knows how or where to find it. It can't be found in drugs, alcohol, sex, wealth or fame ---many have tried and died trying. 

Peace is not a place, it's a spiritual state of mind. It's not easy to achieve unless you know how. The search for true, lasting peace in a chaotic world begins with you. Here are five steps to achieving peace in your life.


Step 1 - Trust in God even when everything around you is falling apart. God promises, "You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. Isaiah 26:3 AMP



Step 2 -  Pray and ask God to guide you. "With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow." Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV


Step 3 - Cry out to the Lord and He will answer you. God promises, "Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone."  Lamentations 3:32-33
NIV

Step 4 - Believe that God loves you. He showed his love by sacrificing his Son, Jesus, who was put to death on a Cross, as the final payment for your sins. He put it in writing for all to read: "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted..."  John 3:16 MSG

Step 5 - Accept God's plan of salvation through  Jesus Christ. Peace comes with knowing your sins are forgiven and accepting Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord and Savior. Romans 6:23 (CEV) says, "Sin pays off with death. But God’s gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord."

Knowing where you'll end up after you die puts your soul at peace. This peace is available to you today if you will pray this simple prayer of faith:

Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you into my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always. Amen.

Welcome to God's family. To understand more about your new life in Christ, find a Christian church in your area or go to this website, peacewithgod.jesus.net

Why Christians should adopt a wait and see approach toward gay marriage

"The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a farmer scattered good seed in a field. But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left...[The farmer's] servants then asked, 'Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?' 'No!' he answered. 'You might also pull up the wheat. Leave the weeds alone until harvest time. Then I’ll tell my workers to gather the weeds and tie them up and burn them. But I’ll have them store the wheat in my barn.'” - Matt 13:23-30 CEV (Emphasis added)

Barring Slavery and the Civil War, no other issue in American life has so divided these United States, torn apart our social, political and religious fabric, and splintered families like the issue of  gay marriage. And no matter what the U.S.Supreme Court decides in July, the controversy over gay marriage is unlikely to go back into the closet. Welcomed or not, gay marriage advocates have fought hard for a seat at America's table, and they're not likely to give it up anytime soon. To the naysayers, the message is clear "deal with it." And actually, that might not be bad advice.

For Christians, the concern is that the battle for gay marriage is becoming more of a distraction because of the cause celebre it has become. It seems Christians are spending more time becoming entangled in the affairs of this world than in doing the Lord's work. Where in the Bible does it say that Jesus, or his disciples or the early Church leaders spent their time protesting and debating the social and political issues of the day? What the Bible does say, is that Jesus and his disciples went about preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and doing good works.

This is not to say that Christians today should bury their head in the sand and remain silent in the face of this world's growing moral turpitude. There are issues like poverty, crime, illiteracy, and homelessness where Christian involvement is needed to help those at risk. But Christians must not become sidetracked by issues or neglect the call to spread the Gospel and win souls to Christ. Jesus always kept the mission in sight despite many distractions and much opposition. His number one priority was always to complete the mission.

Likewise, Christians, who follow Christ, must do as God's Word says. Commenting in Decision Magazine recently, J.C.Watts, a former U.S. Congressman and a pastor, said, "If you're a believer, your first allegiance is to the Word of God, and God expects you first of all to defend His Word. He also expects that even if you disagree with someone's sexual preference, you will still love them and treat them with human dignity."

Ideally, Christians around the world should be examples of God's love in action. If we do our part, God will do His part. It's God who judges sin, not us. God sees no difference between telling a lie and committing a homosexual act. Both are a sin and will receive the same judgement from God. Christians have a responsibility to tell sinners how their sins can be forgiven, and not just that they deserve to go to Hell. If we do our part, God will take care of all the rest.  Wait and see.

Update: In the U.S., 12 states and the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriage. 

Marshmallow cross: Taking a bite out of Easter

"Then he [Jesus] said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23

"But he was wounded for our transgressions...

First, there was the Easter bunny, then Easter eggs and Easter baskets…and now, a chocolate covered marshmallow cross. Like many, I have been guilty of purchasing an Easter egg or two in my lifetime; but I draw the line when it comes to condoning this latest insult to one of Christianity’s most sacred symbols---the Cross. What was once sacred has been profaned.  As if that weren't enough, this sacrilegious little candy confection is being sold at Wal-Mart, a company founded by Sam Walton on the principles of faith and family.

Candy manufacturer Russell Stover, who first came up with the idea of a candy cross, didn't seem to think of it as an insult to the faith. In fact, Stover has said that the marshmallow cross was specifically designed to appeal to the Christian market. The success of Stover's candy cross prompted Whitman's and other candy confectioners to join him in casting other Christian icons in chocolate. Among the choices are praying hands and ΙΧΘΥΣ, a christian fish symbol, both available in solid milk chocolate. 

Apparently, there are not enough irate Christians out there, who see anything wrong with taking a bite out of a milky cross and letting it melt in their mouths. What’s next, I wonder? So far, Stover and Whitman have stopped short of molding a chocolate Jesus on the cross; but what's to stop a rival candy maker from beating them to the punch? If all this seems outrageous, it’s because it is.

A sacred symbol of Christianity

He was bruised for our iniquities...

One would expect Christians to be up in arms over this blatant mockery of the Cross, the most recognizable symbol of the faith. Sadly, the response to this outrage from the Christian community and its leaders has been far too tepid. Where is the outcry---store boycotts, protest marches, and pulpit denunciations of those who demean and mock Easter, the holiest day on the Christian calendar? By contrast, I have yet to see candy replicas of the Qur’an or the Torah, or Muhammad or a mezuzah? 

...And by His stripes, we are healed." Isa 53:5 

No self respecting devout Jew or Muslim would stand still for it. Muslims, especially, are passionate defenders of their faith and its symbols. Should a candy cross be any less of an insult to all Christians? Some may choose to sugar coat the issue; others may say it’s no big deal; but I say, “What would Jesus do?” As for me, I stand by the original bloody, wooden Cross of Calvary upon which Jesus was sacrificed for the sins of the world. A marshmallow cross may taste good, but it has none of the power of the original. It's this power that makes Christ’s resurrection on Easter morning that much sweeter.

Blind Faith

"Then Jesus told him [a blind man], "I have come to judge the world. I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind" (John 9:39).

On my way to work one day, I noticed a well-dressed man with a service animal making his way through a crowded shopping mall. It was obvious that he was blind. I was attracted to him because of the confident way he walked full stride through the Mall virtually ignoring the potential obstacles and human traffic continuously coming at him. I was amazed by how he and his dog sliced and diced their way through the on-rush of morning commuters. I was so intrigued by him that I decided to follow him on his journey.

As I hurried to catch up to him, I watched him walk a few feet, stop, turn to his right and walk over to a food concession stand that was open for breakfast. After taking his place at the back of the line, one by one, other waiting customers stepped aside to let him advance to the front. Being blind he couldn't see what they had done, so I slipped in alongside him and whispered softly, "You're next." I stood by to watch as he placed his order. 

With sandwich bag and briefcase in one hand, his service animal's harness in the other, this blind man continued at a brisk pace through the mall corridor, turning corners, going up and down steps. Finally, he arrived at his next destination, which was Starbucks. I stood by just outside the entrance as he walked in and took his place in line. This time he would have to wait his turn in a very long line since no one stepped aside for him. I wondered, "Would he have stayed had he been able to see how long the line was for coffee?" Unfortunately, it was me who couldn't stay long enough to see the end of his journey. I believe, however, that I'd seen what God intended when he arranged this divine appointment for me.

Watching this blind man move with such poise through his daily routine despite not being able to see was a lesson for me in blind faith. Although he couldn't see, this blind man had faith in his service animal to lead him around unseen obstacles and get him safely to his destination. He didn't hesitate, question or otherwise doubt that his dog would do his job. Blindness didn't hinder him because he knew his dog could see even if he couldn't and would take care of  him. His belief enabled this blind man to move resolutely toward his goals each day. I doubt if there is ever a morning that he wakes up and says to himself, "I can't go out today because I can't see." 

Physical and spiritual blindness

We depend on sight more than any of our other senses. You might even say we have more faith in what we see than in what we can't. There's a familiar saying, "I'll believe it when I see it." How many of us have said this about something we thought to be impossible, incredible or unlikely? To be physically blind is one thing; to be spiritually blind is quite another. Jesus spoke out against the spiritual blindness of his day, while healing many who were physically or spiritually blinded. When Jesus cured one, it cured the other. 

Spiritual blindness is also prevalent in today's world, and prevents many people from believing the gospel when they hear it.
  

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, 

so that everyone who believes in Him

 will not perish but have eternal life.

 God did not send his Son into the world 

to condemn it, but to save it...

I assure you, those who listen to my message

 and believe in God who sent me,

 have eternal life. 

They will never be condemned for their sins,

 but have already passed from death into life"

 (John 3:16-17, 5:24, NLT).

Jesus spoke those words concerning himself. Since Jesus is the "Living Word," his words have power to heal and to save anyone who believes in him. "Do you believe?" is the question he asked of the blind, lame and sick before he healed them. Their faith made all the difference in their outcome. The Bible explains it this way:

"But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He [rewards] those who diligently and earnestly seek Him [out]" (Hebrews 11:6, AMP). 

The blind man in this story exhibited absolute trust in his dog to be his daily guide and companion. In the same way, God is an ever-present guide and companion of those who trust in Him. This same God, the creator of the Universe, is always available to receive anyone who comes to Him for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. No other religion can make the claim that you can have a personal relationship with God. The Bible points to many infallible proofs that Jesus was sent to pave the way to God for us. More than 2,000 years have passed since Jesus walked this earth. The good news is Jesus is still opening blind eyes.  

ד  שְׁמַע, יִשְׂרָאֵל:  יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְהוָה אֶחָד. 

MISSION POSSIBLE

Stone carving at the Hermitage in the Bahamas

When I became a born again Christian, the first thing I wanted to do was to tell everybody about Jesus and how He saved my life. The urge to tell somebody is a natural response after being touched by the divine presence of God. Every person Jesus touched, healed or delivered in the Bible, was gripped by this same urgency to tell others about it.

One of my favorite examples of this is the Samaritan woman, who after a divine encounter with the Messiah at a well, went straight home and told the whole town about her experience: "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ (John 4)?" This woman got saved and went straight to the mission field---her neighbors. As a result of her testimony, many in her town got saved. 

Jesus told His first disciples that He would make them "fishers of men." This struck a cord with these men because back in those days catching fish was hard work with long days, harsh conditions and often little reward. Jesus, however, convinced them to hang up their fishing nets and go with Him to learn a new skill---winning souls for the Kingdom. 

This was God's purpose for His disciples then; it is His purpose for us as His disciples now---winning souls for the Kingdom. When Jesus saves you, He calls you to partner with Him in saving other lost souls. Jesus' instructions are clear and straightforward: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father (God) and of the Son (Jesus) and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19)." Some "Christians" develop a case of selective disobedience when they read those words. Perhaps, they think it doesn't apply to them, so they don't do evangelistic outreach; they never invite an unsaved person to church; and they wouldn't be caught dead on the mission field.

Yet out of gratitude, out of love for Christ, every born again Christian will naturally want to see others come to Christ and to be used of God for that purpose. If you do not have a heart burden for lost souls then something is wrong. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, we read: "Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to your faith. if you pass the test, you will discover that Christ is living in you. but if Christ isn't living in you, you have failed." We know that we are in Christ when we care about and do the things Christ cared about and did. Saving the lost was number one on His list. Where does it fall on yours? Is it even on your list to begin with? 

There's a church in Pennsylvania that has at the exit from its parking lot a sign, which reads: "You are now entering the mission field." I remember being struck by the profound truth of that statement. When you leave the comforts of your home in the morning or evening, has the thought ever occurred to you that you are entering your mission field? When you leave for church on Sunday mornings, and you encounter people on the streets or glancing out of windows at you, does it ever dawn on you that you are passing through your mission field?  When you walk or jog through your neighborhood or village on any given day, do you imagine your neighbors as your mission field? 

Funny isn't it how vast the mission field has become. No longer is the mission field some foreign or faraway place that people go off to aid the less fortunate around the world. The truth is, while we have always thought of it as being elsewhere, the mission field has, in fact, always been right at our doorstep. When the Bible talks about loving your neighbor as yourself or giving bread to your neighbor if he is hungry, it's telling us to care for those around us, those whose immediate needs are staring us in the face. Your neighbor is any person that you come in contact who needs help. Often, their need for help is a pathway you can use to help them find Christ. Pray about every situation and ask God to guide you.

God may not be calling you to a foreign mission field [although the need is great] but he does expect you to do the work of a missionary right where you are. This week as you exit the doors of your church or place of worship let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, and say to yourself, "I'm now entering my mission field."

  

4 reasons why we should care about missions

Reason 1 – Because Jesus cares.  Jesus was a missionary sent by God.  A missionary is one sent out to teach, preach and aid others.

Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the Jewish meeting places and preaching the good news about God’s kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness. Matt 4:23

Jesus went to every town and village. He taught in their meeting places and preached the good news about God’s kingdom. Jesus also healed every kind of disease and sickness. Matt 9:35

Reason 2 – Because Jesus established his church as a missionary church. Read the book of Acts, it chronicles Christ’s commission for the church and the early missionary journeys of the church.

But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.” Acts 1:8

Reason 3 – Because every follower of Christ is called to be a missionary. The great commission makes it a commandment.  You would not disobey a direct order from a judge, policeman or military officials, yet many disobey this direct order from Jesus:

Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Matt 28:19

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:23

Reason 4 – Because Jesus left the work of missions in our hands

I tell you for certain that if you have faith in me, you will do the same things that I am doing. You will do even greater things, now that I am going back to the Father. John 14:12

If it's Saturday, I must be in...

"The people who are now living in darkness will see a great light. They are now living in a very dark land. But a light will shine on them." (Isaiah 9:2)

...PARIS. Bonjour, mon amis.

With time winding down, I thought it would be nice to take a day trip. So off I went this morning at about 5:00 am to catch the Eurostar from London for the approximately two hour high speed train ride to the "City of Lights." I've always wanted to go to Paris. Being this close, I was not going to miss out on the opportunity. Day trips in the US, from Philadelphia for example, often mean taking a train or a car to New York City or to Washington, DC, both roughly two hours away. On the European continent, a day trip can be to France, Belgium, Germany or some other nearby country in two hours or less. That's what's so exciting and strategic about being in Europe. At the train station, I talked with two Canadians who are in London for the Olympics. One of them mentioned that they had just made a side trip to Portugal and Spain, about an hour from London by plane.

Some impressions about Paris

After arriving at Gard du Nord train station in Paris, I took a tour bus in order to maximize my time and make getting around a little easier. Like London, Paris is a city right out of the pages of history. On the bus, I was able to see all of the famous landmarks...the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Seine River, Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, Château de Versailles and my most favorite, the majestic Eiffel Tower. These timeless monuments are still holding their own against the backdrop of a modern day Paris, which is showing signs of internal decay. I was surprised at how dirty the streets were in many areas. At different points, I passed by people on the street begging. One lady, caked in filth, was asleep on a bench.

I don't recall seeing any active places of worship during my visit. I purposely wore my tee shirt with the  "Lay Witnesses for Christ" logo to see if anyone would react or ask me about it. No one even noticed. And if they did, no one said anything to me. According to a source, "the majority of French do not actively practice any faith, and an increasing percentage indicates they are atheist or agnostic." And it shows on the faces of the people and in the lifestyle I observed. As Christians, we are so focused on sending missionaries to Africa, Asia, Central and South America and to so-called impoverished countries like Haiti. We need to send missionaries to Paris. And to places like Holland and Sweden. I'm sure that God already has a remnant there, but we need to pray, specifically, that the light of the Gospel will penetrate the darkness in these countries.

Breaking down the barriers

On my way back to the train for my return trip, I passed by two older men sitting on a bench who were having a rather loud conversation in another language. I actually passed by them, but halfway up the street, the Spirit said, "Go back." So I did. When I got to the men, I motioned with my hands for them the move apart on the bench so I could sit down between them. Since I don't really speak French, I just got right to the point. I told them my name ("Je suis Carolyn") and called them my brothers ("Mes freres"). I told them that God loves them. Then I spoke to them in French, "Mon coeur est pour vous" pointing to my heart.

I gave them each a Gospel track translated into French that I just happened to put in my travel bag that morning! I told them that they were going to die one day ("mort") and that if they wanted to go to heaven (pointing to the sky) they needed to believe in Jesus and pray this prayer from the heart:

Cher Dieu, je sais que je suis un pécheur. Je vous remercie pour l'envoi de Jésus mourir pour mes péchés. Je veux me détourner de mes péchés et de croire en Jésus en ce moment. Montrez-moi comment vivre et je vais chercher à vous suivre le reste de ma vie. Au nom de Jésus, Amen!

One of the men looked at me, smiled and kept repeating in French what sounded like "missionary," but I can't be sure. I just smiled and hoped what he was saying was good. We parted company and I walked to the train feeling like my trip hadn't been a total disappointment. At least, I had planted a seed in the hearts of those two men. Maybe that (and they) were the whole purpose for my coming to Paris in the first place?

Becoming a passionate witness

Christians are called to plant seeds. When Christians stop being concerned about what to say or what people will think of us, we will be uninhibited in sharing the Gospel with others. And if we ask, the Holy Spirit will embolden us and fill us with compassion for the lost. We are God's seed planters! Pray that the seeds, which were planted in London and Paris during this mission trip, will grow and multiply to the glory of God. After all, this really is our purpose and our mission.

   

Some more thoughts on the Mission

"And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd....(Mark 6:34)."


One thing that has impressed me about London is the shear numbers of people that are here from all over the world. During my time here, I've met people from six of the seven continents---South America, North America, Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe---all within this tiny city of just a one mile radius. And who knows there's probably someone here from Antarctica, the seventh continent, that I have yet to meet. It really is a small world when you stop and think about it. And when you travel to other cities, towns, countries, continents you understand what I mean.

It's amazing how your perspective of people changes when you get outside of the US. Only then are you really able to see humankind in all its fullness, the way God created us...a rainbow of different colors...each one of us created in His own image. It's a beautiful thing to see. I'm reminded of the lyrics to the children's song, "Jesus loves all the [people] of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they're all precious in His sight." I remember when my father went to Israel some years ago. He told me that he saw a man over there that looked just like him. I was too young to understand what he meant back then but it doesn't surprise me that God would use the same mold more than once.

The Olympics is a special time when the world puts aside its differences and comes together as a family of nations. That spirit of unity and brotherhood has been evident here, even among the spectators here to watch the games. In England, the people have a slogan, "Long live the Queen." I say, "Long live the spirit of the Olympics" even long after the games are over.

This final week is an opportunity for me  to spend some time getting to know the people I met through the various churches we've visited. This morning I will accompany some of the team to the ministry, "Cast Your Burden Upon Jesus," for their twice weekly prayer meeting. Pastor Bola has asked me to give a talk on evangelism, which I believe he plans to air on the SKY network. I thank God for the open door.  We have one more evangelism event on Friday, which will feature Carl Lewis, the Olympian of the Century, and a special surprise guest.

Later in the week, I will spend some time with my friend, Geri, who I met in Bermuda about five years ago. She now lives in the UK with relatives. Sadly, during our reunion last week, Geri confided to me that she has been diagnosed with cancer. The news was hard for me to hear but we know that God is sovereign and He has a purpose for everything. Naturally, we prayed together and I anointed her with oil. I ask your prayers for God's will concerning her situation. And to those persons in other countries  who follow this blog, I ask for your prayers for Geri as well.  We know that prayer can change things!  Be encouraged. God bless you all. I'll see you back in the States soon.