Pastor Chuck’s Blog

2-17-2024

Our generation desperately needs to rediscover the difference between praying for and praying through. There are certainly circumstances where praying for something will get the job done. Short prayers before meals are great because, quite frankly, I believe in eating food while it’s still hot. But there are also situations where you need to get alone with God and refuse to let go until He answers.

Maybe you’ve never heard the term, “praying through”. Praying through requires consistency. It’s circling Jericho so many times it makes you dizzy. Like the story Jesus told about the persistent widow who drove the judge crazy with her relentless requests, praying through won’t take no for an answer. Far too many times we are guilty of giving up in prayer just when the wall is about to fall. We are always only one prayer away from a miracle.

Praying through also involves intensity. It involves gut-wrenching groans and heartbreaking tears. It’s the kind of prayer Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. Praying through doesn’t just bend God’s ear; it touches the heart of your heavenly Father.

Years ago, at the president’s Easter prayer breakfast at the White House, several hundred religious leaders from across the country gathered. Before breakfast, a seventy-six-year-old African-American preacher who served alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement said a prayer. While he prayed softly, his faith was loud and clear. He prayed with such a familiarity with the Father that it was convicting. It’s like his words were deep-fried in the faithfulness of God. After he said amen, one of the other pastors said to his friend, “I feel like I’ve never prayed before.” It was clear that this seventy-six-year-old pastor had an intimate relationship with God.

Today I want to invite you to that kind of intimacy with God through prayer. And let me encourage you to be a person who prays through. As the lyrics to Matthew West’s song say:

Don’t stop praying
Don’t stop calling on Jesus name
Keep on pounding on heaven’s door
Let your knees wear out the floor
Don’t stop believing
‘Cause mountains move with just a little faith
And your Father’s heard every single word you’re saying
So, don’t stop praying

There are higher heights and deeper depths in prayer, and God wants to take you there. It will involve more sacrifice, but if you are willing to go there, you’ll realize that you didn’t sacrifice anything at all. It will involve more risk, but if you are willing to go there, you’ll realize that you didn’t risk anything at all.

And just so you know……I’m praying for you!!!

Oh…….and here’s a link to Matthew West’s song, “Don’t Stop Praying”.

1-30-2024

There’s a story about an evangelist who was preaching in a city in California and a gentleman walked up to him and said, “I would love to debate you.” The evangelist, recognizing the man as a well known atheist, said “Fine, but I have one condition”.  The atheist said “What’s that?”

He replies, “You go find one person who has lost everything. They lost their family and all that they valued. They’re in the deepest, darkest despair because of  drugs, alcohol, gambling or some other addiction. Find that person whom I’ve just described, who turned it all around when they found atheism. Find that person who found atheism and radical change, radical transformation came from it. Find that person whose life was completely changed, who became a new person centered in things that matter and they left behind their pain and depression because of atheism. You bring that person with you and I will bring a hundred people that had a radical change because of the Gospel. Then we’ll debate.”

The object of the story is that atheism can argue against God all day long, but atheism has never caused transformation in people lives and the gospel has. People ask where is the evidence of your God? It’s in the transformation!

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Atheism can’t do any of that…….but following Jesus can!

1-17-2024

Pastor Chuck Swindoll tells the story of the great violinist Niccolo Paganini, who was performing one evening before a packed concert hall, surrounded by a full orchestra. As he began the final piece, one of the strings on his violin snapped. In his genius, Paganini was able to continue playing the piece on the remaining three strings.

A moment later, a second string snapped. Paganini continued, playing the concerto on the remaining two strings.

And then a third string snapped, but still Paganini continued. He finished the piece, note for note, with one string on his violin.

When the performance was over, the crowd rose in thunderous applause.

Paganini, ever the humble musician, raised his violin and boldly proclaimed, “Paganini and one string!” He cued the conductor, the orchestra began to play, and he performed his encore, note for note, with one string on his violin.

It’s been a challenging 10 days here in South Central Iowa. Pipes froze. Cars wouldn’t start. The shovel got heavier with every load. Then the snow plow came through and filled the driveway back in. Today is the first day in awhile that we’ve begun above zero. Combine all of that and maybe you’ve been feeling like you’re “down to one string”. Or maybe you’re feeling like your marriage is down to one string, or your financial future is down to one string, or your hope is down to one string … and you know you’re no Paganini.

Here’s the good news.

One string is enough. God’s grace is that amazing. His power is that invincible. His love, that unstoppable.

If you feel like one string is all you have left — and maybe it’s about to snap, too — it’s time to stop trying to be one-man/one-woman show. Let God do in your life what only He can do. Here’s what David said in Psalm 55:

As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. (Psalm 55:16)

If you’re down to one string, call on the Lord and keep playing friend! You have God’s orchestra right there with you!!

12-28-2023

You, Your Bible and 2024

Most people have a Bible. Many people have more than one, and some people (like me) have a bookshelf full of them……but do the owners of said Bibles read them? Statistics tell us that the answer is…..sadly…..no, they don’t. Statistically, Christians would be the exception to that, right? Not really. Studies have shown that, while Christians have a “higher than average” (whatever “average” is) Bible reading rate, it’s still not overwhelming.

There can be a gazillion reasons for this, but some of the primary reasons given by people is, “I don’t know what to read,” or, “I don’t know where to start,” or, “I’m not sure how to read it.” Whatever reason you my have, as we launch into a new year, I’d like to help with that.

One of the things I say over and over again is, “You should read your Bible, it’s fascinating!” And it is! But it’s even more fascinating…..and more helpful to your every-day-walk-with-Jesus…..if you have some kind of plan for reading it.

You don’t want to read it like the guy who was desperate one night. He opened the Bible, put down his finger and read, “…..then Judas hanged himself.”

The man thought there was some kind of mistake, so he closed the Bible, opened it to another passage, put down his finger and read, “…..go and do likewise”.

Again, the man thought it wasn’t right and so he did it one last time and when he put down his finger he read, “Whatever you are about to do, do it quickly”.

Using “Bible Bingo” as a reading plan can be a bit confusing! Fortunately, there are almost limitless options when it comes to finding a plan to read your Bible. With the internet, you and I have access to more information than ever before in the history of the world – and that includes access to Bible reading plans that will help us know God better. I’d like to suggest to you that you look into the YouVersion app for your Apple or Android device. YouVersion is free and provides several different translations of the Bible, along with countless Bible reading plans. Just go to the Apple store or the Google play store on your device and look for YouVersion…..download it and get started.

For those of you who prefer using a desktop/laptop computer, the same app is available online by going to BIBLE.COM. From there you can have access to all of the same Bible translations and Bible reading plans found on the mobile app.

Here’s the beauty of this app/website……..you can choose from a countless number of Bible reading plans that will help you read and learn the Bible for yourself. There are plans to help you read through the entire Bible in a year and multiple variations thereof, but there are also short plans that last for 5-30 days that you might find helpful. For example, there are short plans to help you through a challenging time at work, short plans to help strengthen your marriage or friendships, short plans to offer encouragement as you embark on a new endeavor. (God is interested in every part of your life!) So you can begin a plan to read through the Bible in a year, and then include a short plan to help you through a unique situation in your life. Again, countless options. And hey, you can always sit down in your easy chair, open your Bible to Genesis 1:1 and begin…..

Personally, I’m not big into New Year’s Resolutions……but…….what if you made a decision to read your Bible more in 2024? What might that look like for you? What I do know is this: If you choose to take that step you are going to know God better and love Him more. And hey, chances are you’ll be hearing His voice more in ‘24.

My prayer for all of us is that we will grow closer to God and grow closer in relationship with one another throughout the new year.

Happy New Year, friends!