Tag: perseverance

He Survived Four Shipwrecks, Then He Died

Neal Pollard

Many stories have been written about Violet Jessop, a ship stewardess who survived the sinking of the Titanic and the Brittanic. But fewer know about someone who survived twice as many sinkings, including the two survived by Jessop. Arthur Priest, a stoker for the steam-powered ships, survived two major collisions and four shipwrecks. The Asturias was in a collision on its maiden voyage in 1908 and the Olympic survived a collision in 1911. Then, Priest survived the Titanic in 1912, the Alcantra in 1916, the Brittanic in 1916, and the Donegal in 1917. Two of the ships were luxury liners, one was a hospital ship, and the other was an armed merchant cruiser. For the latter, Priest was awarded the Mercantile Marine Ribbon by the British for service in World War I. He sustained a serious head injury on the Donegal, returning to his home in Southampton, England. 

As remarkable as all these survival stories are, Arthur Priest died of pneumonia with his wife Anna by his side in Southampton. He was 50 years old. There is very little information about what he did with a life spared four times from the depths of the sea. We don’t know if he was a religious man, much less a Christian. We don’t know much beyond the fact that he was unsinkable at sea.

Reading about Priest, I thought about a different kind of priest (cf. 1 Pet. 2:5,9) the New Testament tells us about. He wrote, “three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep” (2 Cor. 11:25). We know what this man did with his life, which was cut short in service to an infinitely greater King than the one who was on the throne in Arthur’s lifetime. He was in a war of far more lasting consequence (2 Cor. 10:4-5), and he was decorated for his service in a far more dramatic way (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

The likelihood that you and I will survive even one shipwreck is small. But, like Priest and Paul, we will ultimately die unless the Lord returns first. Even if our lives are not filled with dramatic tales of rescue and unlikely survival, we can leave a legacy of faith and fervor in service to our King (1 Tim. 6:15). We can share Paul’s victory, crowned with the victorious on that last day (Rev. 2:10). 

Dealing With Sin Aggressively

Sin won’t quit on its own. It has to be killed. The Bible doesn’t offer a gentle plan; it hands us a sword. Cut off the hand. Gouge out the eye. Put the old nature to death. This is love for the One who died so we could live free.

Carl Pollard

I was listening to a preacher on Facebook the other day and he said something that made me think. He said, “stop treating your sin like a pet, it’s time for us to deal aggressively with our sin!” I started looking for all the places in scripture that this concept is described. 

Jesus is clear: “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29,). Sin isn’t a bad habit to manage, it’s a deadly growth that has to be cut out. The Bible never tells us to make peace with it. It tells us to kill it. That’s the normal Christian life.

Paul is clear: “So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me” (Romans 7:17). That word “dwells” means sin has set up camp inside us. It’s not a visitor; it’s a squatter that wrecks everything it touches. The only answer is eviction, forceful, immediate, and final. The Spirit is the one who hands us the tools.

Colossians 3:5 is clear: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” “Put to death” is a command to act now, not later. It’s not about slow improvement; it’s execution. Lust doesn’t get a warning, it gets killed. Greed doesn’t get an excuse, it gets the cross. Every morning we take sin’s corpse out to the curb.

Jesus continues: “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away” (Matthew 5:30). He’s using strong language on purpose. If something in your life, your phone, your habits, your friendships, keeps tripping you up, get rid of it. No debate. The word “causes you to sin” is the same one used for setting a trap. Whatever sets the trap has to go.

Romans 8:13 shows how we win: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Notice it’s “by the Spirit.” We don’t grit our teeth and try harder. We pray, read Scripture, fast, and stay accountable, then the Spirit does the heavy lifting. This is daily, ongoing war, not a one-time fix.

Sin won’t quit on its own. It has to be killed. The Bible doesn’t offer a gentle plan; it hands us a sword. Cut off the hand. Gouge out the eye. Put the old nature to death. This is love for the One who died so we could live free. Fighting sin hard is just what grace looks like in real life. Start today: name the sin, grab the weapon, trust the Spirit. Eternity is too close for anything less.

Making The Most Of Difficult Circumstances

Perhaps you are facing a difficult circumstance. It should not be trivialized or minimized. It might be painful and protracted. But it should neither be the source of defeat or an excuse to stop serving the Lord.

Neal Pollard

In Acts 28:16, Luke tells us that when Paul came to Rome he was allowed to stay by himself (in a house he paid for himself, according to verse 30). However, he was guarded by a Roman soldier. Paul again refers to this in Philippians 1:13, 17, and your version probably has either the word “imprisonment” or “bonds.” Many ancient historians tells us that the Romans would chain the prisoner and soldier together in a practice known as “Custodia Militaris.” Polybius, a Roman historian writing more than a 100 years before the first century, wrote, “They kept them bound with a chain to a soldier who was responsible for their custody” (Histories 1.88.8). Seneca and Josephus also record this practice.

Can you imagine what a daily problem this would have been? Consider the invasion of privacy, the unpredictable disposition of your companion, and the potential for scorn and humiliation? Yet, day after day, Paul would be chained to a soldier. The chains were 18-24 inches long (the British Museum has archaeological finds from the period), and the guards were rotated every four to six hours (Vegetius 3.8). Maybe the last guard was a nice guy, but the next was not so much. It could not have been an enjoyable task for the soldier either, and he might be inclined to take that out on the prisoner. 

But, how did Paul respond? Paul implies what he did as one guard came and another went. “my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else” (Phil. 1:13). These praetorian guards were elite Roman soldiers, also known as the imperial guard. This might further explain how the gospel reached members of Caesar’s household (Phil. 4:22). Imprisoned for preaching Jesus and shackled to worldly, hardened men, Paul taught the gospel. He learned to be content in every circumstance (Phil. 4:11), but that didn’t mean idle or self-absorbed.

Perhaps you are facing a difficult circumstance. It should not be trivialized or minimized. It might be painful and protracted. But it should neither be the source of defeat or an excuse to stop serving the Lord. Paul had a captive audience, literally bound to hear the good news from a man enduring what most would deem a bad fate. He transformed his difficulty into opportunity. May we have the will and wisdom to do the same! 

Trust In God

Faith is not a fleeting emotion or a vague hope; it is the foundation of a life surrendered to God. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This is not a blind leap but a resolute trust in the unseen promises of a God who never fails.

Carl Pollard

Faith is not a fleeting emotion or a vague hope; it is the foundation of a life surrendered to God. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This is not a blind leap but a resolute trust in the unseen promises of a God who never fails. Faith is what steadies us when life’s uncertainties threaten to unravel our peace. After all that has happened recently, faith has never been more essential for Christians. 

Scripture offers countless examples of faith in action. Take Abraham, called by God to leave his homeland for a place he did not know (Genesis 12:1-4). He had no map, no clear destination, only a promise from God. Yet he obeyed, not because he saw the outcome, but because he trusted the One who spoke. This is the essence of faith: moving forward when the path is hidden, anchored by confidence in God’s unchanging nature.

Jesus Himself taught that faith doesn’t need to be grand to be powerful. In Matthew 17:20, He said faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains. This is the truth: God does not demand perfect or unshakeable faith, but simply a heart willing to trust Him one step at a time. Whether facing loss, uncertainty, or fear, faith is the quiet resolve to believe that God is sovereign, good, and working all things for His purpose (Romans 8:28).

In a world that prizes what can be seen and measured, faith sets us apart. It’s not ignorance or denial but a deliberate choice to rest in God’s truth over visible circumstances. When trials come, when the job is lost, the diagnosis is grim, or the future feels uncertain, faith is the anchor that holds us fast. It reminds us that we do not walk alone, because the One who holds all things together is with us (Colossians 1:17).

Faith, then, is both our shield and our strength. It is trusting God’s promises when doubt whispers and hope seems distant. It is the courage to say, “I cannot see the end, but I know the One who does.” And in that trust, we find the peace and power to endure.

The Cleveland Spiders

The Cleveland team was dreadful. It showed on the field and in the stands, where they drew an average of 199 fans after their first 16 home games. Only 6,088 fans watched them play that year, an average of 145 diehards per home game. They were so bad, they decided to play most of their games on the road.

Neal Pollard

Inexplicably, I remain a Colorado Rockies fan when many of my Denver-area friends have abandoned ship with this historically bad baseball team. The Rockies are last in total pitching and fielding (defense) and seventh-worst in hitting. That means they can’t pitch, hit, or field. They go into the All-Star game 22-74, on pace to join some dubious, infamous company. In the “modern era” (since 1901), there was the 1916 Philadelphia A’s who won 36 and lost 117. The 1935 Boston Braves and 1962 New York Mets were almost as bad. Closer to the present, you’d have to include the 2003 Detroit Tigers (43-119) and the 2024 Chicago White Sox (41-121). But, the symbol and epitome of terrible baseball has to be the 1899 Cleveland Spiders. They finished that season 20-134! But, their hard luck was more of a business decision.

The 1898 team boasted Hall of Famers Cy Young, Jesse Burkett, and Bobby Wallace, but the owners, who also owned the St. Louis Browns, felt that a good team would draw more fans in Missouri than Ohio. So, they depleted the Spider roster and stocked the Browns roster. The Cleveland team was dreadful. It showed on the field and in the stands, where they drew an average of 199 fans after their first 16 home games. Only 6,088 fans watched them play that year, an average of 145 diehards per home game. They were so bad, they decided to play most of their games on the road. To commemorate the centennial “celebration” of Clevelands wandering exiles, J. Thomas Hetrick memorialized them in his 1999 book, Misfits! Baseball’s Worst Team Ever. Apparently, the Spanish-American war, a failed effort to clean up bad language on the field, and “too many games” (expanding to 154; today, it’s 162) had already cut into fan attendance, but watching a “sideshow” like the Cleveland Spiders led to a disastrous end to a once-proud, championship-caliber franchise.

To fail in athletics may lead to a less than desirable footnote in sports history. To fail in academics and economics can create a legacy that stains one’s family name. But, in just about every arena, failure need not affect one’s spiritual standing. Think of biblical underdogs that had little chance of success, if God was not factored in. Why, all of Israel were sitting ducks against the Canaanites without God (Deut. 7:24; Josh. 21:44)! David looked like no match for Goliath (1 Sam. 17:33)! Hezekiah and lowly Judah, on paper, were no match for Sennacherib and the Assyrians (Isa. 37:14-20)! Even the early church seemed overwhelmed in their objectives and mismatched in their mission (1 Cor. 1:26-29)!

How do we explain this? How can we seem to lack the talent, resources, exposure, and influence of the world, and yet still be described as over-comers (John 16:33), conquerors (Rom. 8:37), victors (1 Cor. 15:57), and greater (1 John 4:4) than the world? Perhaps this helps. The final tally has not been recorded, and it will not be in this life! Evaluation day will surprise the whole world, when we stand before The Judge (Mat. 7:13-14, 21-23; Rev. 20:11-15). God’s not going to reward the most accomplished by earthly measurements. Our eternal success or failure will be tied to our response to the One who defeated death and the devil (Heb. 2:14-15). If we trusted and obeyed Him and His blood covers our sins, we will go to heaven even if we don’t have a nickel to our name, a well-defined skill in our toolbox, a diploma or degree on our wall, or a celebrity in our family tree. Maybe others deem you a “loser,” but if you are a “winner” with God that’s the record you want to have!

The Importance Of Grip Strength

Studies show that one of the most reliable indicators of longevity is a person’s grip strength. It is a great way to measure overall muscle conditioning, which is an indicator of overall nutrition, physical activity, and “disease profile.”

Neal Pollard

Studies show that one of the most reliable indicators of longevity is a person’s grip strength. It is a great way to measure overall muscle conditioning, which is an indicator of overall nutrition, physical activity, and “disease profile.” Muscle mass helps one fight the wear and tear of aging, and studies increasingly show that grip strength is a good “proxy” for a lot of other areas of a person’s health picture (source).

New Testament writers speak figuratively of the importance of a strong grip. Paul tells Thessalonica to “keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and in letter” (2 Th. 2:15, NLT). The word “grip” (“hold on to,” NAS) means to “retain in the hand, to seize” (Louw-Nida, 220). This word translated “hold” or “hold fast to” is found frequently in the gospels in a literal sense, often translated as “seize,” “arrest,” and “take hold of,” but also figuratively as “observing” something with zeal. John uses it with the seven churches of Asia to urge them to “hold fast” to their faith (Rev. 2:1, 13,14,15,25; 3:11). Twice, the Hebrews writer uses this word as a way of expressing endurance and faithfulness (4:14; 6:18). In other words, strengthen your grip!

There are a lot of ways to assess your spiritual grip strength:

  • Devotional time with God
  • Acts of service for others
  • Church attendance
  • Involvement in the church’s works
  • The bearing of the fruit of the Spirit
  • Godly and righteous speech
  • A Christlike attitude and spirit
  • Boldness to share Christ with others
  • The ability to resist gossip
  • Faithfulness in trials and hardships
  • Resistance to peer pressure
  • Focus on the needs of others

Of course, there are countless other measurements. But these are broad and representative of spiritual endurance. They challenge us to avoid being weak in faith, allowing ourselves to let go of Christ and the reward He has promised to those who hold on!

They say that grip strength for the hand can be measured and improved by squeezing a tennis ball at maximum strength for up to 30 seconds. Who hasn’t owned one of those hand grippers? For spiritual strength, search for ways like those listed above to hold to God’s unchanging hand!

A Better Brain

Dale Pollard

The largest brain on record belongs to the sperm whale. A sperm whale’s brain can weigh around 17-20 pounds which is significantly larger than a human brain, which weighs about 3 pounds on average. The sperm whale’s brain is not only the largest in weight but also in size, which fits their equally impressive body size as one of the largest mammals in the ocean. 

But what makes the human brain special isn’t its size. The ability to communicate with and even adopt similar characteristics as the God who made it is what sets it apart. 

Persecution makes life fearful for the faithful but Timothy’s obstacles are both external and internal. On the outside he faces pagan people, jealous Jews, and the sword swinging soldiers of Rome. On the inside, the Christians who make up this young congregation are being led and taught by a young man— Timothy. He battles self doubt and a lack of confidence in his own abilities. To top it off, his mentor is in prison. 

Paul pens the inspired words that would lift young Timothy’s spirit by reminding him that the human spirit was designed to handle and persevere under such daunting circumstances. Paul writes (from a cell), 

“God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.” 1.7

The spirit (πνεῦμα) referred to here is not the Holy Spirit, but it’s the “disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one.”  God did not give us the spirit of skittishness so that we’d cower under confrontation or burn out under prospects of suffering. Holiness amidst hostility is an ability that comes standard on the base model human spirit. It’s not a possibility, it’s a guarantee. 

Power

We’re equipped with power (δύναμις) that is, “inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature.”

Love 

That aggressive strength is powerfully combined with love (ἀγάπη). In this case the word refers to an affection or good will towards others. The God given spirit is not heartless. We have the power to show affection yet some choose to pretend as if their personalities are simply not capable of showing this attribute. 

Self-control 

A sound mind (σωφρονισμός) is simply the ability to control yourself. We share a commonality with Paul’s protégé. Some have tried to cheapen and downgrade the human race, God’s focal point of creation, to an animalistic status. It’s taught by educated but ignorant scholars who try to deny an undeniable God. We’ve been fashioned in the image of an eternal Being and our spirits drive an immortal soul. We aren’t designed to live in a constant state of timidity we’re creations of courage. Courage is not the absence of a fearful feeling but it’s the ability to face that fear— and move forward.  

The Will To Survive

Neal Pollard

Juliana Koepke was 17 years old when she boarded a flight with her mother and 90 other people in Lima, Peru, on Christmas Eve, 1971. The plane had a terrible service record and her father urged his wife and daughter to wait for a better one, but they wanted to be reunited for Christmas. That was the disposition of the airline and flight crew, too. So they pressed on, even as severe weather stood between them and their arrival at Iquitos. A lightning strike broke the plane apart, ultimately killing every crew member and passenger except Juliana. She survived a fall of 10,000 feet, landing in the Amazon Jungle still strapped to her seat.

She suffered a broken collar bone, deep gash in her arm, an eye injury, and a concussion. The near-sighted Juliana lost her glasses and one of her sandals. She then walked through the dense Amazon Jungle for 10 days and finally found shelter in a hut that night. Local fishermen found her and took her by canoe to civilization. She used the survival skills her parents had taught her since early childhood and combined it with her sheer will to survive. Now 70 years old, she continues her parents’ work of biological research to this day in the same jungle where she survived the crash. There were things she had no influence over that helped her survive the initial crash, and the help of others was indispensable to her survival. But being saved from death, she didn’t give up until she was ultimately rescued.

Don’t you think our circumstances are similar, in a figurative sense? We didn’t influence God’s eternal plan of salvation, but we can benefit from it. We will not be saved without the influence and assistance of others along the way. But being saved from death, we can and must endure to the end (2 Tim. 2:12; Heb. 10:36). If we do, we will experience an eternal rescue. God wants to rescue every one of us from spiritual death (Gal. 1:4). But He won’t save us without our cooperation!

Juliana today

Much information gleaned from here

The Profound Context of Matthew 16:24

Brent Pollard

The Pitfalls of Proof-texting

Are you occasionally guilty of proof-texting? Proof-texting is the practice of using specific passages from the Bible to justify a larger body of doctrine or belief. For example, teaching that a simple prayer is all required to obtain salvation is incorrect when someone uses a verse like Romans 10:13. However, we may occasionally engage in sloppy proof-texting. It might become a standard practice to pull a verse out of context and use it to teach a specific lesson, especially when delivering a sermon on a timely topic.

Sometimes, I’m like the Ethiopian official of Acts 8, unable to understand independently and needing a Phillip to guide me in applying Scripture. On other occasions, I’ve not been as diligent in my Bible reading and study. As an illustration, consider Matthew 16.24:

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me…’” (NASB)

Unpacking Matthew 16.24

So, what is the deeper meaning behind this verse? At a cursory glance, it advocates living a selfless, Christ-centered life. Can that be the correct point of view but an incomplete answer? Have you ever pondered on Jesus’ motivation for this statement? Considering the verses around it highlights the importance of this particular verse even more.

Foretelling His Death

Before Matthew 16.24, Jesus reveals His impending suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem to His disciples. Matthew elaborates on this detail in verse 21. Following Peter’s rebuke, Jesus retorts, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s purposes, but men’s.” (Matthew 16.23 NASB) This rebuke paves the way for His subsequent proclamation.

Cost of Discipleship

When Jesus asked His disciples to “take up their crosses,” He wasn’t merely alluding to inconveniencing themselves. In the Roman context, the cross symbolized a horrific death. Jesus propounds a radical form of discipleship, which might entail severe hardships, even to the extent of death.

Identity of Jesus

The backdrop of Matthew 16.13–20, where Peter acknowledges Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” intensifies the narrative. Their recognition of His identity as the Messiah profoundly impacts His call to discipleship and the prophecy of His demise.

Theme of the Kingdom

Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, the theme of the Kingdom is prevalent. Jesus paints a picture of a Kingdom that defies worldly conventions—where the last shall be first, the meek inherit the earth, and true leaders serve. The call to bear one’s cross redefines power, leadership, and sacrifice within this framework.

Post Matthew 16:24’s Context

After 16.24, in verses 25–28, Jesus revisits the essence of radical discipleship. He challenges established ideas about life, pointing towards a deeper spiritual understanding.

Broader Interpretation

Many correctly perceive Jesus’ words in Matthew 16.24 as a directive to lead a Christ-focused life. But its genuine gravitas emerges when contextualized. After foretelling His sufferings and ultimate sacrifice, Jesus presents discipleship not as mere renunciation but potentially a path encompassing suffering, even death. Peter’s affirmation and the recurring Kingdom theme in Matthew magnify this verse’s impact. To fully grasp its true meaning, one must look at the larger narrative and how it fits the Gospel’s overarching theme: the Kingdom’s reversal of societal norms and values. This comprehensive viewpoint adds depth and richness to the essence of Christian faith, emphasizing the importance of perseverance.

Praying Paul’s Prayers

Carl Pollard

Seeing Paul’s prayer life and how strong it was and how much he relied on it shows me how much I lack in my personal prayer life. A major eye-opener is reading about the absolute and total trust that he had in prayer. 

In Philippians 1:3-8, we read Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving. Most often in our own prayers we are not specific in our requests. And it seems like more and more, the only times we pray is when we need something. But this is not the case for Paul. Just by reading through a few of his prayers you can see his genuineness and the true relationship that he had with God.

Not only did Paul have a genuinely healthy personal prayer life, he also didn’t pray for just himself. The next time you read one of Paul’s prayers, notice in how detailed a way he prays for others. In Philippians 1, we read of how he prayed for the Christians there. But he wasn’t vague; his prayers were specific to their needs. He prayed that they would approve the things that are excellent, that they would be sincere, that they would be without spot, for their perseverance, that they would be filled with the fruit of righteousness, and that God would be praised and glorified.

Paul recognized the power of prayer and what praying for others can accomplish. And I think sometimes we can forget just how powerful prayer truly is. Most say, “All we can do now is pray.” But we have it all wrong when we say this. The very first thing we should do in trials and struggles is to pray. We see our greatest example, Jesus, do this before He went to the cross. We read of Paul and how he was always praying for others.

Paul prayed for the Philippians’ perseverance, and we need to persevere in our prayers during trials. Paul says in Philippians 1:3-4, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy…” He says “every prayer” not some or a few of his prayers. He was dedicated to praying. Paul tells the Philippians he prayed that “your love may abound more and more…” And I pray the same thing, that our love may grow more for others and that we might be able to pray for others more and remember their needs when we go to the Father. 

Encouraging Each Other

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

I Thessalonians 2.17-3.5 proves that Satan will always try to interfere with our work. He will do everything within his power to keep us from encouraging each other. It’s very interesting that of all the things to target, he’s identified our encouraging each other as most threatening to his goals.

He’ll also do everything in his power to destroy our confidence in God. For reasons I don’t fully understand, Satan has it out for the human race. This is pure conjecture, but perhaps jealousy has something to do with it. We know from scripture that angels really wanted to know what God was doing with his plan to save humanity (I Pt 1.12). Angels don’t get any kind of grace when they mess up (Jd 6; II Pt 2). Maybe Satan – as a bad-guy angel – doesn’t like that God gives preferential treatment to inferior living beings.

1 Thessalonians 3.6-13 contains a guide for avoiding burnout in our faith. If we start to run out of steam, we should remember how important our work is. It’s also encouraging to think about the lives we’ve impacted. This is grounding, and it’s a tangible reminder of how important our work is. We also learn that it’s important to focus exclusively on other people. This is even used in behavioral therapy to help manage depression and anxiety–doing things for others is very beneficial for our own mental health.

When we start to burn out, we can also pray constantly. Even though the conversation is one-sided (from our perspective at least), prayer is how we communicate with God. When we get burnt out. God will give us the oomph we need if we just ask for it. Our ultimate goal is to be morally pure when Jesus comes back, and the only way we’ll be able to make that happen is with his help.

Gary Pollard

The Struggles Of The Righteous

(Pinch Hitting For Brent, Who Is Sick)

(This is from today’s Lehman Learner)

Neal Pollard

Perhaps Jeremiah seemed to be mean, harsh, even unloving, to his brethren. His message is certainly what we could categorize as negative, but we remind ourselves that its source was God. What may get lost in Jeremiah’s challenging message is how it affected him to share it. Chapter nine is full of the struggles he endured in being God’s spokesman with a message of divine judgment.

Jeremiah endured mourning (1). While Judah would be hypercritical and threatening toward Jeremiah for his message, they had him all wrong. He did not relish his unpleasant message. He would have preferred to have kept his mouth closed (20:9). They had no idea of how his mission was wearing on him. He writes, “Oh that my head were waters And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!” He knew that they were hurting themselves by their lifestyle, and he wanted them to escape judgment. It can be heartbreaking work to share God’s word on any number of unpleasant, unpopular subjects. No rational preacher, elder, or teacher is excited to share such a message, but it must be done (2 Tim. 4:2).  Jeremiah is rightly called the “weeping prophet” (8:18; 13:17; Lam. 2:18). Revealing this was an emotional struggle.

Jeremiah endured isolation  (2). The pressures of sharing a message nobody wanted to hear created inevitable isolation. He felt alone and like nobody understood or cared. He longs to escape such disappointing, unrighteous behavior. He wanted to run like Jonah. He felt alone like Elijah. It can go with the business of declaring God’s message. There are times when you may feel like you are standing all alone, but you never will if you are sharing God’s word God’s way. He will never leave you (Mat. 28:20; Heb. 13:6). 

Jeremiah endured disillusionment (3-6). He expected more and better from his brethren. They knew better, but they were guilty of treachery and adultery (2), lies and deceit (3,5-6), ignorance (3), violence (4), slander (5), and general iniquity (5). Have you ever overheard someone you looked up to use foul language or stumbled upon someone doing something sinful? It’s like a punch in the gut. But imagine a congregation full of people doing what God through Jeremiah reports. It had to have been discouraging and caused feelings of hopelessness. 

Jeremiah endured a sinking realization (7-11). What was the cost of this? Sin is not without consequences (Gal. 6:7-8; Hos. 8:7; Prov. 6:26). At the heart of God’s message was this rhetorical question: “Shall I not punish them for these things?” (9). Jeremiah knew what was coming. There would be weeping, wailing, and dirges (funeral songs)(10).  Judah would be ruined and desolate (11). Jeremiah knew this ahead of time. Whatever normalcy he witnessed each morning and evening, he knew that would ultimately change. The fact of judgment looms over the horizon of time. It will be a day of rejoicing for the righteous and prepared, but not for the rest of humanity. The people of Judah were not ready for this judgment, and Jeremiah knew that. 

Jeremiah endured being overwhelmed (12-16). The message gets specific about the nature of what was coming. It was going to be more devastating than any of them had experienced. Because of their stubborn rebellion, they would be scattered and annihilated. Hope belongs to the penitent, but there’s just no good news for those who are determined to oppose God’s way.  

Jeremiah endured unpleasant duty (17-22). God tells Jeremiah to call for mourning, wailing, and tears (17-19). He is help them focus on their shame (19).  The heart of the message was death (20-22). Don’t you think Jeremiah would have loved to have spoken of grace, mercy, lovingkindness, and blessings? But the circumstances did not call for that. Jeremiah had to be faithful to God’s message. Like Micaiah, every faithful spokesman for God should say, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I shall speak” (1 Ki. 22:14). 

There is a ray of hope starting in 9:23. Amid the folly of idolatry, there will be a reminder of the wonderful, perfect character of God in chapter ten. But even here, there is encouragement for God’s faithful servant. It was a message for the worldly wise, for the mighty man, and for the wealthy (23) not to trust in those things, but to trust in Him. Everyone should boast of knowing and understanding God, that He is “the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things” (24). Punishment was for the spiritually uncircumcised (25-26). It was not for the faithful, like His man Jeremiah. Whatever we have to struggle through for the Savior, may we know that God will be with us through thick and thin. He has not left us alone. He will always be with us, help us, and strengthen us! Declaring His word is right, and He will not let us lose for being unswervingly loyal to it and Him! 

Losing A Shoe, Winning The Race

Monday’s Column: Neal At The Cross

Neal Pollard

Before a track meet in Omaha, Nebraska, the first Saturday of this month, Terence “Bud” Crawford was most renowned for his perfect 38-0 record as a professional boxer. His unblemished record includes 29 knockouts, but he, then later millions more, saw his seven-year-old daughter deliver the most unlikely knockout blow many of us have seen. Little Talaya ran out of her shoe at the starting block, then fell behind the rest of the pack by 20 meters in this 200 meter race while she put it back on. Not only did she not give up, she stormed back and won the race with seconds to spare. She has aptly with words like grit, determination, and undaunted. Heroic and inspiring have also been bandied about. Perhaps her drive not to lose comes from her father, but she certainly reflected well on him (ESPN report here).

The Bible refers to life as running a race (Heb. 12:1). Paul urges us to run in order to win (1 Cor. 9:24). He was concerned about running in vain (Gal. 2:2). He was determined to finish the course (2 Tim. 4:7). While Paul and the writer of Hebrews describe a race that sounds more like a marathon than a couple hundred yards, it will require all the more grit and determination to successfully complete. There will be encumbrances and entanglements. Whether problems or pressures, things will happen that can bring us to a standstill. In those moments, we may be tempted to quit. Those are the times we can remember our Father and reflect His ways! In our case, He’s not just watching! He can help us win.

Are you discouraged? Do you feel defeated? Maybe it’s something someone has done to you. Maybe it’s something you have done. Whatever it is, perhaps you feel it’s useless to go on. By getting back on track, you may not only win the race yourself but inspire so many others through your successful finish! Don’t give up! The reward is worth the effort. “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8).

Lilah’s Life’s Lessons

Monday’s Column: Neal At The Cross

Neal Pollard

Sometimes, preachers will tell other preachers, “Here’s an outline. Take it and make a good lesson out of it.” Last Sunday morning, I preached a sermon from 2 Corinthians 4 I entitled, “When Life Deals You A Blow!” After overviewing what the chapter is about, I told the story of an elderly bank robber and then had five points that when life deals you a blow…

I. FOCUS ON YOUR PURPOSE (1-6)
II. RECOGNIZE YOUR POWER SOURCE (7)
III. PROPERLY VIEW YOUR PROBLEMS (8-12)
IV. MAINTAIN YOUR PRINCIPLES (13-15)
V. KEEP YOUR PERSPECTIVE (16-5:1)

It always warms my heart when our young people give me a copy of their notes. It tells me they are engaged, listening, and thinking about the sermon. I always treasure these and keep these. I definitely will be doing that with Lilah’s notes from the lesson, which her dad, Josh, gave me. She has his sense of humor. It lets me know she was really thinking.

In bullet points, she wrote…

  • When life deals you a blow, blow back.
  • When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
  • Stuff that is important, take care of it and do it.
  • Be a good sport.
  • Don’t be a loser. Be kind.
  • Don’t rob banks.

The late Cleon Lyles once wrote a book entitled, Wish I’d Said That. I couldn’t have said better what Lilah said in her “retelling” of my lesson. While she took her thoughts a little different direction, think of the nuggets of wisdom from her good young mind.

First, don’t cave in and give up when you face trials. Fight back! We have God on our side (Rom. 8:31). We will gain the victory (1 John 5:4). Resist the devil (Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:8). “Blow back!”

Second, make the best of your trials. Don’t feel sorry for yourself or dwell on the negative. Find the positives in your difficulties. Trials train us, and that’s God’s doing (Heb. 12:11). We can even rejoice even in our distressing trials (1 Pet. 1:6). “Make lemonade.”

Third, take care of important stuff. Don’t fret over it, worry about it, neglect it, or dismiss it. Deal with it (Mat. 6:33)! If you’re not a Christian, become one! If you’re not a faithful Christ, be one! “Do it!”

Fourth, be a good sport. When it comes to our trials, it’s tempting to be a bad sport. We complain about how unfair it is. We ask, “Why me?!” We allow our trials to cause us to sin. Attitude determines altitude! Paul defines a “good sport” in passages like Philippians 4:11-12.

Fifth, don’t be a loser. The world has its own idea about what makes one a loser. We must forget their point of view in favor of God’s. He says if you gain the whole world but lose your soul, you’re the biggest loser of all (Mat. 16:26)!

Sixth, don’t rob banks. That one is pretty self-explanatory!

Here’s what I know about Lilah. She was not only listening to the sermon, she was thinking about it. She was applying it. She seems like the person James calls us all to be in James one, humbly receiving the implanted, saving Word (21), proving herself an effectual doer of the Word (22,25), and one who wants to abide in it (25). Sweet Lilah preached to me, and she challenges me to be better when trials come my way! Thanks for your improved take on my lesson. Keep them coming!

“Trust The Process”

Monday’s Column: Neal At The Cross

Neal Pollard

In the lead up to the College Football Playoff National Championship, I have read a few articles about tonight’s game. More than once, the players and coaches have talked about the need to “trust the process.” That idea applies to the entire program, to the season, to preparing for every game including this last one, to both sides of the ball, down to the individual player’s preparation for this game. “The process” is comprised of every fundamental principle intended to bring about the highest success. There will be trying moments and setbacks, even failures. But when the tendency to doubt is the greatest, it is then that you most need to “trust the process.”

They say that athletics are a metaphor for life. The inspired apostle Paul thought so. Long before Nick Saban or Kirby Smart and their players used the mantra, the first-century native of Tarsus was teaching the idea in the Bible. Here is how he put it, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops” (2 Tim. 2:3-6). No, he does not say, “Trust the process.” He gives it instead: Endure, focus, follow the rules, and work hard. Just as coaches use metaphors, making comparisons to chopping wood, flying the plane, rowing the boat, etc., Paul refers to the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer to illustrate principles in the process of living the Christian life.

Our goal is the enjoy ultimate success. The Bible defines that as overcoming the world (Jn. 16:33; 1 Jn. 4:4; 5:4; Re. 2:7,11,17, etc.). There are times this is very difficult, but at all times we must “trust the process.” Trust the process…

  • When you are encountering various trials (Js. 1:2ff). 
  • When you are aiming at church growth (Acts 2:42-47).
  • When you are combatting temptation (Js. 4:7-8).
  • When you are offended or have offended (Mt. 5:23-24; 18:15-17).
  • When you are trying to win back a fallen brother (Gal. 6:1-2). 
  • When you are seeking to follow Jesus (Lk. 9:23-26).
  • When you are working on your marriage (Eph. 5:22-33).
  • When you are running the marathon of childrearing (Eph. 6:1-4; Dt. 6:4-9).
  • When you are building your relationship with God (Ps. 1; Col. 3:1ff).
  • When you are shepherding the flock (1 Pt. 5:1-4; Acts 20:28).
  • When you are dealing with prosperity (1 Ti. 6:17-19) or poverty (Js. 1:9-12).
  • When you are struggling with sins of the tongue (Js. 3:1-12).
  • When you are wondering if it’s worth it to keep going (2 Tim. 4:1-8).
  • When you are being persecuted for your faith or for no good reason at all (Mt. 5:38-48).

In other words, whatever our specific struggle, problem, difficulty, or trial, God has given us a proven process. How many, through the ages, have overcome and won simply because they trusted it? As a loyal, long-suffering fan of the guys in red and black, I am hoping their overall process ends a 41-year drought. If it doesn’t, life will go on. As you follow Jesus, I am hoping that by trusting the process found throughout Scripture you win the crown of eternal life (Js. 1:12). When all is said and done, that is all that matters! 

What I am hoping, not predicting.

Macaroni And Ketchup

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

Gary Pollard

For the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing passages that help me in some way. Our faith is a lifelong work-in- progress. It can be high maintenance. The Bible helps us maintain a healthy faith in any circumstance. It counsels us, convicts us, excites us, scares us, and gives us hope for a perfect future.

I once thought I was the only person who liked ketchup on macaroni. Turns out, there’re like four other people on earth who like it, too. Finding out that we aren’t alone in something is super cool!

Maybe we’ve thought, “Man, I don’t know if other Christians struggle as much as I do.” I’ve used these passages in an article before, but they’re very powerful. We aren’t alone in our struggles!

“So I have learned this rule: when I want to do good, evil is there with me. In my mind I am happy with God’s law. But I see another law working in my body. That law makes war against the law that my mind accepts.

That other law working in my body is the law of sin, and that law makes me its prisoner. What a miserable person I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death?

I thank God for his salvation through Jesus Christ our lord! So in my mind I am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful self I am a slave to the law of sin.

So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. That is because in Christ Jesus the law of the spirit that brings life made you free” (Rom 7.21-8.2).

Jesus Didn’t Retire

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

garyandme521

Gary N. Pollard III

Satan tried to trip Jesus with a killer deal: “I’ll give you every nation in the world if you worship me” (Matt 4.8-10). This wouldn’t have been a temptation if he couldn’t deliver. What might Jesus have gained by having Satan give up control of every nation on earth? It would have made his job a lot easier! He wouldn’t have to fight with Pharisees or other hostiles. He wouldn’t have to disappear after teaching or healing. He could avoid the kind of rejection that broke his heart (Luke 19.41). 

Sometime after this encounter, Jesus started to recruit followers. He may have had Satan’s offer on his mind as he was calling Peter (Matt 4.18ff). He knew Peter would be so ashamed of him that he’d deny any connection to him (Matt 26.69-75). He knew that every one of his followers would abandon him when he most needed them (Matt 26.56). 

He still lived his life, he still taught, he still sacrificed himself for everyone. How many of us would still pursue something if we knew how painful or difficult the outcome would be? How many of us would continue to pursue something if we were given the option to take an easier path? 

Jesus didn’t even retire once his mission was accomplished! He faced homelessness, assault, rejection, betrayal, injustice, torture, and execution. I would have retired after that in a heartbeat, and I would feel that I had more than earned that retirement. 

After he went back to be with the father, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He’s a full-time mediator (I Jn 2.1-2). He’s making sure the natural universe operates as it should (Heb 1.3; Col 1.17). He’s keeping evil in check (Phil 3.21; I Cor 15.27). When the end comes, he’ll destroy the universe and judge every human who’s ever lived (Heb 9.27; II Pet 3.7-10; Rev 20.12, 21.1-2). 

Whew. He still loves us (Rom 8.35; II Cor 5.14; Gal 2.20; Rev 1.5)! He still gives grace with generosity (I Jn 1.7; Rom 5.15-21, 6.14). We serve a tireless God who invested everything in us and will do so until the end of time. Life gets us down and we ask, “Why?” Just remember who’s watching our backs and won’t ever let us down! 

The wilderness of Judea

The Art Of Excuses

Thursday’s Column: Captain’s Blog

carl-pic

Carl Pollard

 
Someone once said, “Excuses are tools of the incompetent, and those who specialize in them seldom go far.” Ben Franklin is quoted saying, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”
 
Jeremiah had a complete list of excuses ready when God called on him to be a prophet to the people of Israel. Many times the excuses of Jeremiah become ours when we are called on to be a preacher to this world. We see that with every excuse Jeremiah made, God gave promises in return.
 
First, Jeremiah said, “the task ahead is difficult.” God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5).  Notice what God says to Jeremiah: “I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” The task ahead is difficult, so Jeremiah gives off a list of excuses for why he isn’t the one for this job. God gives a promise for Jeremiah’s excuses; He says, “before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” God knew that Jeremiah was the one for the job, even if Jeremiah didn’t think so.
 
Second, Jeremiah said, “I don’t have the talent.” Jeremiah 1:6 says, “Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth.” Many times people blame their cowardice on lack of talent. They say that it isn’t a natural talent to them, that there are others more suited for the job; but God knows Jeremiah and the great good he can accomplish. In Jeremiah 1:9, God promises that He would put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth.
 
As Christians today we have these same promises for our worries and excuses. Let’s not blame our cowardice on a lack of talent. That isn’t a good excuse to God. Nothing is. God has promised He will be with us, and we have HIS Word to teach to others. Let’s trust in that.

Christianity: A Top Five List

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

Gary Pollard

Life has been found in some of the most uninhabitable spots on earth. Bacterial life thrives in Lake Vostok in Antarctica, for example. Thiolava veneris was found thriving in the aftermath of a violent submarine volcanic eruption near the Canary Islands. Organisms that thrive in extreme environments are called “extremophiles” (noaa.gov). We’re always amazed when life thrives in extremely hostile environments.

The moral climate of our planet makes it extremely difficult to thrive. Humanity has created a moral environment consisting of self-interest, violence, apathy, and general dysfunction. In terms of population, they have the clear advantage. Christians are, by definition, extremophiles. We defy all expectations by thriving in an overwhelmingly hostile environment.

That said, we are studied by those who make up our environment. Many will come to the conclusion that we’re strange and warrant no further interest. Many will consider our loyalty to a supernatural morality to be hostile (II Tim. 3.12; Rom. 5.3,4). Few will wonder how we’re able to have hope, purpose, direction, resilience, and happiness in any condition.

Why would anyone want to be an extremophile? Why would anyone willingly assume a lifestyle that automatically puts them at odds with their own environment? Here’s why:

1. Everyone is going to live forever (Jn. 5.28,29). We want to live with the creator in a perfect world (II Pet. 3.13; Rev. 21.1,2; Rom. 8.18-25), not in an even worse world (Matt. 25; Rev. 21.8; II Thess. 1).

2. We didn’t make up the moral code we follow. Human error is not a factor in our worldview because it came from the creator (II Tim. 3; Jer. 31.31ff). This system can’t be corrupted and doesn’t take advantage of its constituents (unlike many human laws). We’re secure and confident because of this.

3. The creator went to extreme lengths to make sure we could easily have access to a perfect eternity (I Jn. 5.3; Heb. 9.11ff). Who wouldn’t want to follow a perfectly selfless leader?

4. We enjoy peace and existential purpose because our worldview isn’t from around here (I Pet. 1.1-10). It doesn’t matter what happens to us, we’re more than fine.

5. We’re not afraid of death (Heb. 2.14f). Self-preservation is not our main priority – how many people have done horrible things out of self-preservation? Lots! We don’t have a death wish, we’re just not afraid of death.

That’s just a sample of why we voluntarily become extremophiles. Done correctly, ours is the best life possible! It makes this one better, it makes the next one perfect. We can’t lose!

Salvation

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

gary and chelsea

Gary Pollard

We don’t typically associate salvation with death. Normally the opposite is true! In the New Testament salvation normally describes forgiveness of sins (Acts 4.12, for example). Escaping spiritual death is how the word is primarily used. The exception to this rule is fascinating and sobering. 

Human instinct compels us to avoid unpleasantness, suffering, and death. When faced with danger or difficulty, our default response is avoidance at all cost. This was a great temptation for many in the early church. 

Peter wrote to Christians who were about to face some awful hardships. He encouraged them by promising salvation, but it was a hard message to swallow. In the following examples, Peter used “salvation” to mean something different (it would have been understood to mean this because of context): 

  1. I Peter 1.5 – Death
  2. I Peter 1.8ff – Death
  3. I Peter 2.2ff – Death

How is death the same thing as salvation? For those who were suffering and stayed faithful, death was the ultimate salvation. For those whose lives were upended because of persecution, being with God forever was salvation. For those who lost their family members, salvation meant reunion. The ultimate result of faith is eternal life with God. 

How do we view difficulty? Do we compromise faith to avoid suffering? At worst, suffering leads to death. At best, suffering leads to death. Nothing can slow a faithful Christian down! We have salvation in this life (guilt does not weigh us down), and the end of this life is salvation. We have an awesome God.