The Bible Software I Use and Recommend

As a 2nd generation pastor, I remember seeing all the books in my Dad's library and remember often seeing them spread out on his desk as he would study and labor over his messages (for many years preaching 3 times a week). I wonder how many hours Dad would have saved with Accordance. Of course, by the time computers became a must have for most pastors, Dad was in the later years of his ministry and I was in the early years of mine. A few years ago, I discovered Accordance and was pleasantly surprised at the time by how fast it was (that was Accordance 6). Now at version 9, Accordance is just as fast as ever, is native to the Mac and continues to provide excellent resources for in depth Bible study. I have only begun to scratch the surface of using Accordance, but there are excellent quality resources like a the Lighting the Lamp Podcast and a knowledgeable community of users in the Accordance User Forum to help get you started. You won't regret it.

I don't remember the last time I had books spread out all over my desk because they are now neatly organized in my Accordance Bible Software workspace.

The new Multimedia Preview gives you some quick insight into a few of the things Accordance has to offer.

Thirsty?

When Jesus was on the cross, He said, "I thirst." Viewed from the physical perspective, He no doubt needed something to quench His thirst. He was becoming severely dehydrated through all that He was suffering. But we also have to wonder if He wasn't sensing the great spiritual thirst of all of mankind as the sins of the whole world were placed on Him. It was the thirst felt by billions of people around the world.

The solution? Get a drink. John 7:37 (NIV) "... If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink." The One who felt thirst on the cross, is the answer for quenching the spiritual thirsting of your soul. Nothing else will ever satisfy your thirst like He will.

What does Christmas mean to you?

Most of us think of any number of things when it comes to Christmas! Right now there is the smell of an apple pie baking in the oven (thank you to my dear wife for that)! Maybe for you it brings to mind your family, your loved ones and of course to most children it’s about what will be under the tree. But the account of the first Christmas according to the Scriptures shows multiple lessons of one of the most important of all Christian responses - obedience. Both Mary and Joseph in their own individual encounters with the Lord had to follow Him in obedience to His plan. The shepherds had to obey in order to experience the wonderful blessing of seeing the Savior of the world come to be one of us. The Magi, later on, obeyed the voice of the Lord and returned to the own country by another way.

In the end, without obedience to the plan of God, the real meaning of Christmas is lost! But as the main players show, obedience to His plan is nothing but the beginning of something revolutionary!

Merry Christmas!

Blame or Credit?

There are those who blame God at every turn. A bad day must certainly be God’s fault. A let-down in life leads many to one conclusion only - that God is nowhere to be found or that He alone is the cause of all the trouble. Besides, if He had been there all of this wouldn't happen. It sort of sounds like Martha when Jesus showed up just a little bit too late - after her brother Lazarus had died and already been placed in a tomb. Jesus didn’t even attend the funeral of His close friend. “Jesus” Martha said "if you have been here, Lazarus wouldn't have died." More than likely, she was right about that. But what Martha didn’t understand was that there was a greater purpose being worked out behind the scenes. An all-wise decision had been made; one that saw through all of the things that were going on in her mind and in Mary's mind and all the other minds present for the passing of Lazarus. (Read John 11 for the whole story)

God’s perspective of the situation is very different from yours. Martha was quick to blame Jesus. However, instead of blame what we really should be doing is giving Him credit (or praise) for the fact that in the midst of our trouble He is present. He told the people of Israel, and I’m paraphrasing, when you pass through the water I'll be there; when you go through the fire I'll be with you (Isaiah 43:2). You don't need to be afraid I'm not going to get you out of it I'm going to take you through it and as a result of that we become stronger.  Trust him, don't blame him.  Give him the credit for showing up when you need Him most, right in the middle of your pain.

Here is one final thing to consider about Martha’s accusation that Jesus had been too late in getting there and had He been there, their brother would still be alive. Even when Jesus delayed and allowed His friend Lazarus to die without so much as a healing touch or even a spoken word to heal, the end result for Martha and Mary was the same as if Jesus had been there before Lazarus died. Lazarus lived (which was what his sisters desired most). Jesus wanted this result too, but not until His power could be displayed over our last great enemy, death. The divine purpose of God was fulfilled and the human need was met by the hand of a loving and merciful Savior. In the end, if Lazarus hadn’t died, Jesus could not have shown to those who had gathered there in that moment to mourn that He was (and still is) the resurrection and the life. So rather than assuming that God is absent from your dreadful problem, begin to thank Him that He is walking with you through that difficult place.

Thanksgiving?

Ok, I enjoy a good football game like the rest of the male population raised in America. While I am more of a baseball guy, I do like football. Of course, being raised in New England, I’m supposed to be a Patriots fan, but it is the one New England sports team with which I severed ties when I was a kid in favor of “The Steel Curtain.” That’s right, the Pittsburgh Steelers of the late 70’s was a thing of beauty, but I digress. My question is, what will a lot of us be doing on Thanksgiving day? Well, we will be watching football! So will we really be giving thanks? I wonder if the Pilgrims had this in mind. I know what you are thinking... “Is this guy for real? They didn’t have football in the 1600’s! Duh!” Of course, if they had been able to peer into the future and see that the New England Patriots would be playing less than 50 miles from where they landed at Plymouth Rock, they might have let out a cheer or two. Who really knows? But have we turned the spirit of the day into... well, Thanks-watching?

Then, there’s the turkey! I’m salivating already at the thought of that perfectly cooked holiday bird along with all the traditional side dishes. I’ve been known to put away quite a lot of turkey and close to a half a pan of sweet potatoes with the marshmallows on top. I can’t wait! But have we turned it into Thanks-eating?

And of course there’s the aftermath of the ginormous meal at which we have essentially exceeded our normal food intake for one sitting, but hey, after all, it’s thanksgiving. All that food leads only to one place...Thanks-napping! Our eyelids will get heavy and we will want nothing more than to lay down and sleep off some of that meal because we know that a little later, we’re going to want all the Thanks-leftovers!

What’s my point in all of this? Am I trying to get you to sit down and not enjoy some of the 21st century traditions. Not at all. Enjoy the game, but be thankful that you live in a country that has afforded you the freedom to be able to watch that game. And, be thankful that you can sit down and enjoy a wonderful meal when there are so many in the world going without. Just be thankful.

Maybe this Thanksgiving is a little difficult this year. It could be that the economy has handed you some hard times, or your Thanksgiving is clouded by grief. In spite of that, as a believer in Jesus Christ and in what He accomplished for me on the cross, I know that I have reason to be thankful though things are sometimes difficult.

Regardless of what we are going through, Paul reminded the Thessalonians believers to do this: 1Th. 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Yes, that’s right, he did say (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I might add) “in all circumstances.” You may not like what is happening to you, but it is in that circumstance that we are told to give thanks.

So in the time where some might be watching, eating, napping, struggling and even grieving, you can still give thanks in your circumstances when you turn your heart to Christ.

Follow Me

Jesus was not lengthy in His call of the disciples.

In Matthew 9:9-12 we read of Matthew’s call to be a disciple. It was short, to the point and was met by a willing heart rather than excuses as to why he wouldn’t be good for the job. In fact, the impact on Matthew was immediate and extensive. The text says, “Matthew got up and followed him.” (NIV) We read nothing about wrapping things up at the tax collecting booth or giving two weeks notice. His following was as quick as the call. Jesus called and Matthew followed. Yet, the extent of the impact on Matthew is seen by the fact he then invites some of his colleagues (other tax collectors and sinners) to have dinner with Jesus, which He didn’t refuse. Why would He? He had a room full of people who needed Him.

As a tax collector, he was looked down upon by the religious leaders of the day and likely the majority of society as well. Quite possibly he had been crooked in his dealings with others, maybe in a similar way to that of another tax collector by the name of Zacchaeus. But, what is so striking about Matthew’s call is the fact that Jesus didn’t care about his past because he was about to give this tax collector a new future. Jesus is not worried by the things we have done in the past; He is concerned with the future He wants to give you.

Most of us get stuck on our past and sometimes even IN our past, so much so that we fail to be impacted by the call of Christ to bring Him to others. Matthew receives the call to follow Jesus and understands that Jesus is meant to be shared with others, not simply reserved for the last part of our weekend for a select group of people gathering on a Sunday morning in a church service. Jesus said it best, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (NIV)

The question is, how are we following Him? In our society, many encourage Christians to get involved politically and somehow make a difference that way. I firmly believe that since we are given the right to vote, we ought to use it to the fullest extent of our convictions, but Jesus didn’t come to be a vehicle for politics in the church. He came to change lives and give people the hope of eternal life. Are we following Him in a way that impacts people’s lives? Matthew’s life changed that day because he heard the call of Christ, responded and then began pointing others to Him.

Where Have I Been?

A family member recently commented that I had not blogged since January 30th and they were correct. Clearly, blogging on a consistent basis it is a great challenge for those of us who are not writers by nature. It is increasingly more difficult as my time is consumed with trying to complete a degree program through directed research. My Alma Mater, Zion Bible College in Haverhill, MA has been kind enough to institute a program for those of us who graduated under their three year ministry training program to “come back” and complete the degree through directed research. The Lord willing, I should be done soon, but blogging has been demoted on the priority list for the time being.

For the latest in devotional thoughts, you can keep up with our latest sermons on the Podcast page of our website.

God bless you.