Wednesday, March 31, 2010

"It's Always Today", by Pastor Kevin

Mark 14:42 - "Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."

It was today.

Even 2,000 years ago it was on a Wednesday.

You can't crunch the numbers to fit the sacrifice on a Friday. Not by any standard, bible or calendar.

It's sort of moot anyway.

It's moot because for the believer it is always in the now.

2 Cor. 4:10 - "...always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."

I think I previously mentioned somewhere that God is not governed by our concept of space and time. Everything for Him is on the eternal continuum.

The Cross of Christ, I believe, is central on that continuum. Pointing to the past, rooted in the present, and looking onward to the future, the Cross is steadfast and manifest as fresh today as that fateful day on Golgotha.

This is why we sing and shout about the present application of the blood of Christ to the heart of mankind.

It still streams in its cleansing power as if pouring from the veins of Jesus anew.

It's supernatural. Thank God for it.

Get in the shower of His purifying blood. Allow it to make you like new. It will forgive. It will heal. It will instill joy and peace.

Step away from it and be subject to the toil and frustration of daily living with all of its punishing aspects.

Wayne Watson sings:

It was the blood of Jesus
The blood of Jesus
That opened heaven's door to let me in
It was the blood of Jesus
The blood of Jesus
That washed away my guilt
That washed away
The guilt of all my sin

It is the Blood of Jesus. It was always the Blood of Jesus. It will always be the Blood of Jesus.

Nothing satisfies God and man more.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

"How Often Must The Rooster Crow?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Mark 14:72 - "And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, 'Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice'. And when he thought thereon, he wept."

How could Peter do it?

Headstrong? Impetuous? Yes, those and more. But to deny Jesus?

Not once. Not twice. Three times.

Cocka-Doodle-Doooooo......You just can't mistake that irritating sound.

Jesus had him pegged.

Jesus had said all would desert Him.

John showed up at the Cross. The only one.

He must have had doubt in his heart or else ALL doesn't mean ALL.

Strike the Shepherd and the sheep will scatter.

How easy it is to step away from Jesus and pretend we don't know Him.

How easy to harbor doubt and denial in our heart even while sitting in church listening to the preacher.

Actions, even subtle acts of non-committal often tell all that needs to be told.

Be careful with that.

There is no middle ground.

Matthew 10:33 - "...but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."

Lukewarmness doesn't sit well with Jesus.

Rev. 3:16 - "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

Straddling a fence is very uncomfortable and it doesn't work with Jesus.

Yes or no. In or out.

Period.

This is a good season to become refreshed in committal. To be renewed in spirit.

This is a good season to show up at the Cross.

A wishy-washy Christian is on no better ground than the rank sinner.

The only solid ground is around the Cross.

Heavenly choir or barnyard crowing?

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Monday, March 29, 2010

"The Great And Coming Again I Am", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Mark 14:62 - "And Jesus said, 'I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'"

They tortured and crucified Jesus simply for saying who He is.

Not who He was. Not who He will be.

Who He is.

He is the great "I AM".

That statement means He is God.

God said it in Exodus 3:14: "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."

I AM is God's name.

Try to explain God. He has many attributes. In His simplest form He just IS.

We get our shorts in a bunch feeling overly compelled to define that.

It's an interesting concept taking in the entire scope of the Cross and Resurrection.

What Jesus has done for us is never in the past as far as God is concerned.

He is not bound by our clocks and calendars.

The Cross is efficacious for the sinner because it is fresh when needed.

Jesus said in John 8:58: "Before Abraham was, I AM."

That's either poorly constructed English grammar, or Jesus was saying something that defies and transcends the King's English.

He was saying, "Before Abraham even existed I AM God in the universe." The term "was" just doesn't fit when "explaining" God.

They didn't know who they were messing with.

Pompous self-gratifying religious stiffnecks.

They couldn't see God standing right in front of them.

No different today.

There are people who cannot see the God of the Universe standing right before them.

For them it's the historical Jesus. The Jesus who "was".

The God of the Universe, the great coming again God, the God we will stand before is...... I AM.

For the believer He is always now. He is always I AM!

Is Jesus your I AM today?


Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Friday, March 26, 2010

"He Sure Doesn't Look Like A King", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Luke 19:38 - "...saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!""

The King?

He's not adorned like a king.

He's not riding the finest horse.

He really doesn't look like much of a king.

Yet, multitudes are treating Him as if He is one.

He was identifying.

Into the City of David He comes. Lowly in appearance and riding on the back of a donkey.

That's my King alright. He just confounds everything and everybody.

He shows us the true Kingship of the universe.

He reviles the haughty and proud. He lifts up and encourages the low in spirit and stature.

He has toppled more than one evil regime, and He stands between good and evil in our lives today.

He is Jesus Christ. Lord of Lords. King of kings. The soon coming again Savior of all.

He wants to be your friend today. He wants to ease your suffering today. He wants to heal your diseases today. He wants to cancel sin in your life today.

He wants to be sure that when He comes soon to gather His Church you will be among them.

If there is any chance, any chance at all, of that not happening, today is a good day to get it straightened out.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Thursday, March 25, 2010

"Identified With Us", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Isa. 53:12 - "Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors."

The verse from Isaiah is recored about 700 years before Jesus. It is a prophecy of the Cross.

It is an astounding prediction. So perfectly fulfilled by Jesus down to the minute detail.

It is the best news the saved or sinner could ever hear.

Jesus came and hung out with the likes of us. He sought us out. He purposely wanted to be around us.

Then He died for us.

Matt. 11:19 - "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."

He suffered accusations because of His association with sinners.

Jesus. Friend of sinners. Jesus. Friend forever.

Sounds a lot better than "You'll burn in hell for that!" That may be no less true a statement, but it doesn't win a lot of people over to Jesus.

Jesus will love you into your heavenly mansion or if you choose, the lake of fire.

I am glad He came and hung out with me one night. I have never left His side since. I will be with Him forever.

He won me with His love.

Is Jesus your friend today?

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

"Embracing The Cross", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

John 19:17 - "...and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha."

Jesus started out carrying His own cross.

By the time He got to Calvary someone else was carrying it.

There are many scenarios surrounding the short walk from the Praetorium to the Place of the Skull.

Some say that Calvary, or the Place of the Skull, or Golgotha was the place where Adam was buried.

There is no way that can be proved, although it makes good food for contemplation.

I saw yet another rendition of the Passion story the other day. It was a well acted out scene where Jesus just arrived at the place of crucifixion. Exhausted and beaten bloody raw He was thrown to the ground a few feet away from the Cross.

Most every other crucifixion scene shows Jesus being manhandled onto the Cross.

This version took a very long moment and making it pregnant with anticipation, shows Jesus crawling in the dirt, with every last ounce of strength He could muster, dragging Himself up onto the Cross, rolling over on His back, and stretching Himself out to await the driving of the nails.

It was for me the most stirring visual of the idea of Jesus embracing His Cross I have ever seen.

Whether that's the way it happened exactly or not, it got the truth across.

The truth is that Jesus did indeed embrace His Cross willfully. He gave Himself over for our behalf.

This is why the death of Jesus Christ is a sacrifice and not just a murder, assassination, or execution.

Jesus indeed embraced what had been traditionally observed as being a torture machine, and made it an object of our faith.

Jesus made the Cross something to be revered, admired, and drawn to.

Jesus made the Cross something we are to endure with Him, picking up our own and bearing it daily in following Him.

The Cross of Jesus Christ is central to our faith as believers and followers of Christ.

The Cross of Christ is central to all of biblical history both Old and New Testament.

The Cross of Christ is what God planned from before the foundation of the world itself to be the instrument upon which the very salvation of the human race would be won back from Satan.

Never cheapen the Cross. Never theologize or philosophize it away into pop liberal doctrine.

Never shy away from the Cross, but embrace it as an altar of grace and an an instrument of God's Righteousness.

Nothing of any truth or value works for us if we do not pass by the Cross first.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

"The Forsaken Streak", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Mat 27:46 - "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?""

This verse portrays the culmination of hours of hanging upon the Cross. At this point the weight of the sin of the world taken upon Himself must have been more then Jesus could bear and He cries out, not from physical pain, not from fear, but from the feeling of being separated from the Father by sin.

Jesus felt forsaken and abandoned by God for the first time in His life.

Sin has a way of doing that to a person.

The forsaken streak continues unbroken.

I wonder if Jesus feels forsaken when His sacrifice gets trampled underfoot by those who mock Him even today?

How about those who have not acknowledged God? Or those who had but walked away?

The face of God turns away from the sin of man and the only bridge between God and man is the Savior Jesus Christ.

How many relationships are breeched and broken by people who refuse to forgive and remain estranged and forsaken from each other?

Jesus is familiar with it.

He wants to make it right between us and Him. Between you and others.

Jesus suffered that for us in order to attain a greater good.

We on the other hand just obstinately suffer for no good reason at all.

How about if we just give it back to Jesus instead of carrying it around?

How about replacing forsaking with forgiveness?

Out of Jesus being forsaken by the Father came the forgiveness of mankind.

Out of us accepting and receiving what Jesus did comes the ability for us to turn our face back toward others in forgiveness as well.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Monday, March 22, 2010

"The Culture Of Iffiness", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Mat 27:39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads
Mat 27:40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
Mat 27:41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,
Mat 27:42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
Mat 27:43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"

If.

Such a small word with such large ramifications.

Contained within one vowel and one consonant is a desperate lack of faith and hope.

It's almost as if the people wanted to believe, but they needed some super huge miracle to prove to them once for all.

However, that was it.

The miracle was being performed.

Right before their very eyes.

It was the great once for all sacrificial miracle.

The spiritually blind will never receive.

I doubt that all of the "if's" could ever have been satisfied.

No, it's not "if". It's "He is".

"If" replaced by "Is".

One vowel and one consonant taking up the same space.

Only this word is packed with faith and hope.

You know, all of those things the people were asking for came true.

He came off the cross. His Father delivered Him. He is the King.

Now He is waiting to come back to gather His Church.

Will the Son of Man find faith upon the earth when He does?

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Friday, March 19, 2010

"Saving Yourself", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Matt. 27:39 - "And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads..."

Matt. 27:40 - "...and saying, 'You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.' "

Here we see the casual dismissal of Christ.

"Those who passed by." The basically uninformed. Those with just enough knowledge of a situation to hurt themselves but not ever do any good.

They paused to mock Jesus and deride Him based upon a misunderstanding of His words.

He never said He would destroy the temple of Jerusalem and rebuild it in three days.

He was referring to Himself as being the Temple of God and that He would be destroyed upon a cross but be resurrected in three days (all of which came to pass). (John 2:19)

He also compared Himself to Jonah and the whale..

He said, "For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matt. 12:40

Even the religious Jewish leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees, should have known exactly what Jesus was saying when He claimed to be the Chosen One, the prophecied Messiah.

What's changed in 2,000 years?

Not much. Even with the knowledge we have gained, and the presence of the Church in essentially every part of the world, people still take issue with Jesus and accuse and reject Him without knowing the facts about Him.

We cannot, nor should we, judge Jesus Christ based upon the testimony of others good or bad.

We should make our own assessment based upon seeking Him personally. Anything else is pure ignorance and speculation.

Want to know if Jesus is who He says He is?

Then do the right thing and ask Him to reveal Himself to you.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Thursday, March 18, 2010

"How Casual", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Mat 27:35 - "And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots."

Crucifying Jesus meant nothing more to the Romans than swatting a fly.

After all, those soldiers on the death detail probably had taken part in hundreds of them.

It has been said that they crucified so many people that they started to run short of wood to make the crosses.

It is said that the main roads into Jerusalem were lined with crosses with the corpses in varying stages of decay hanging from them.

Just an example of Roman justice.

Death was treated casually. After a while one would not notice the crosses any more than we take note of the telephone poles we pass everyday.

In the case of Jesus, He was just another day at the office.

It is perplexing as to why Pilate agonized over sentencing Jesus.

He must have condemned thousands of people. Yet, he went to great extremes to allow Jesus to talk His way out of it, to offer alternatives to the people, and to even challenge the Jewish leaders as to the validity of their charges.

Pilate's wife even had a dream about Jesus and warned him not to have anything to do with Him. No, Pilate saw something. Felt something.

Why?

Because Jesus was not run of the mill. He was NOT a criminal. He was the Son of God sent from God on a mission.

This was meant to be.

The cruel element of the world had to work together to make this happen.

Jesus had to die so that we could live.

Want to know what love is? There it is. Willful submission to execution so that we could be free from our sin. A Father allowing His only Son to suffer so that we wouldn't have to.

Wrap your brain around that today.

Hopefully your heart will follow.

Be blessed in Him!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

"Cursed Or Blessed?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

The blood of Jesus Christ is powerful. His blood shed upon the cross has enriched or condemned the lives of those who receive it.

For those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world and received the cleansing associated with His blood, it has brought blessings and freedom from the penalty of our sins.

For those who have rejected it as being true and efficacious it has brought untold curses and trouble upon themselves and generations that followed.

Look at the example taken from the scene of the trial of Jesus before Pilate and the Jews of Jerusalem.

Mat 27:22 Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!"
Mat 27:23 And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"
Mat 27:24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."
Mat 27:25 And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!"

This is an example of receiving the blood of Jesus negatively. They would have rather had the murderer Barabbas released back into the community than Jesus.

Even the idolatrous Pilate with his pantheon of gods knew better than to heap the curse upon himself.

Not only did the people bring a curse upon themselves personally, but they assured all future generations of their ancestors would be cursed as well. This is a "generational curse" in the truest sense of the word.

All one has to do is trace the history of the Jewish people from that point onward to see that there has been nothing but troubles and trials from then right up until the present.

This does not mean that every Jewish person suffers, but as a nation and a people the difficulties they have suffered is unprecedented in world history.

Fortunately there has always been a remedy to break the curse of rejection and denial of Christ.

Simply recognize Jesus for who He is and what He has done for you. This is true for all of mankind regardless of race, sex, and national origin. Jesus died for all and all needs to receive Him.

Paul says in Rom. 10 that we need to confess that Jesus is Lord and the result will be eternal salvation.

I hope that all who read this know Jesus today.

If not then it is something to consider.

Blessings or curses weigh in the balance.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

"What Is The Rate Of Exchange?" by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Judas is arguably one of the most hated figures in history. He betrayed the beloved Savior Jesus Christ.

Thirty pieces of silver in exchange for a friend. Silver for blood.

Judas was an unwitting pawn in a devious plan unraveled by just as unwitting a devil.

Seriously. God knew all along how it was going to unfold and simply allowed what appeared to be an act of evil to bring about what was God's plan from the foundation of the world, which was sinful man would someday be atoned for and pardoned.

Judas probably thought he was simply helping along a plot to bring Jesus to power in order to get rid of Roman authority in the province. He was a Zealot and saw Jesus more as a potential earthly king than a King of Kings over everything.

Or he could have been jealous and just plain greedy.

In any event, it appears he was remorseful about what he did when he saw what they were going to do to Jesus. I don't think he weighed all of the penalties and options.

Just like today.

Jesus is being sold out in many cases for a lot less than thirty pieces of silver.

How much is a persons dignity and good name worth? What is the price tag on sobriety? Cheating on your spouse? Stealing from your boss? Beating your wife? Abusing a child?

It's all on the table of the Great Exchange.

It's an exchange because it's yours. Salvation in Christ is yours to have but it is sold on the open market for shiny objects, toys, recognition and power.

When the rude awakening came to Judas that he had been played (which is the side effect of exchanging Jesus for anything) he hanged himself.

It's a funny thing. The only person who probably really cared was Jesus Himself.

That's what makes it so tragic.

The One who cares for us the most is the greatest object of the world's scorn.

Everyday Jesus is exchanged for greed, false religions and idols, apathy, ignorance, lust, and just about anything else a person could chase after in their futile attempt at happiness.

The only source of true peace and happiness is Jesus Christ.

Don't trade Him away for things that will never bring the peace you are looking for.

Embrace Him.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Monday, March 15, 2010

"What Will You Do With Jesus?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Mat 26:56 "But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him and fled."

This describes the scene immediately following the arrest of Jesus.

Jesus was acutely aware of the prophecy from the scriptures that were being fulfilled in real time.

He knew that there was no wiggle room, and that every detail had to be carried out exactly as it was written.

He was the promised Messiah that had been spoken of in every single book of the Old Testament, and He knew that it was all culminating in Him.

"Strike the Shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered."

It was happening.

The disciples who had been hand picked by Jesus Himself, and who had traveled with Him, ate meals with Him, and had grown to love and accept Him as the Messiah, had deserted Him at His most desperate hour.

I've often wondered where they went. Did they leave town? Did they stay within eyesight of the crucifixion and watch from afar? Did they cower together in some secret location?

One thing is for sure. They were paralyzed by fear.

"God has not given us a spirit of fear."

What would you do? Perhaps even, "What have you done?".

Have you denied the Master? Have you suffered embarrassment because of Him?

Or perhaps you just don't buy it all. Maybe It's too religious. Or not religious enough.

In any event, the most beautiful fact, and at the same time the most sad, is that He died for you even if you don't buy it.

He was arrested, beaten to a pulp, and crucified. Just for you. He did this when you were at your worst. When you didn't even believe.

"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

So, run and hide. Drown your sorrows in an ocean of booze and pills. Leave your wives and husbands. Cheat on your taxes. Slander and cheat and steal. Play the religious game. Be a part time believer. It doesn't change anything.

He died for you. He loves you. He wants to be your friend. He wants you to accept Him and acknowledge Him as your Savior.

Jesus has no ego to be stroked in this. He wants you to have the benefit that He has . He wants to share with you the riches he has in His Father and in Heaven.

It's all for you. All for you. A gift waiting to be opened. Nothing to do to gain it. Just open it. It was a done deal 2,000 years ago.

Perhaps you have done that but remain afar. Or perhaps with just one foot in.

He wants all of you because He knows the eternal pain and suffering that awaits those who have chosen unwisely or not chosen at all.

Jesus has bought you by His blood whether you want to believe it or not. The results of our decisions can be wonderful or tragic.

What will you do with Jesus?

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Friday, March 12, 2010

"Prospecting For Answers", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Back in the days of the American gold rushes prospecting was an adventurous endeavor. Maximum investment in time and equipment with no true guarantee of return. Some folks were fortunate, but some died in those hills searching a lifetime for the "big strike".

Many times they just didn't know where to dig.

It's kind of like that in our search for answers. We have questions but we don't know where to prospect for the answers.

One of the greatest phenomenons in my opinion, in this modern high tech age we are in, is how many people have a wealth of information available to them but will still pose questions to people in general.

When I have a question on just about any subject, I simply "Google" it. I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever had a question about something that I was not able to find on the internet.

Go to the library? What's that?

But how about the important questions dealing with life in general? The ones that keep a person up at night? The ones that may have a person pacing the floor? The ones that may even deal with life and death?

Where does a person turn then?

I turn to God. In fact, I turn to God preemptively. I not only want to know how to solve my issues, but also how to prevent them.

And the best place to find the answers along with what the will of God is for us, is to become familiar with prayer and the reading of His Word.

What did Jesus do?

Luke 22:41 - And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,
Luke 22:42 - saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
Luke 22:43 - And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

Jesus prayed. He asked the Father and received an answer.

It is safe to say that He had a vital and difficult task to perform for God and He was weakening in His resolve to carry it out. He was so distraught over the impending suffering He was to go through that He sweat out droplets of blood.

His attitude was that while He knew what God wanted Him to do, He was hoping there might be another way to get it done without having to suffer and die.

His own will was that it didn't have to happen.

His outcome was "Nevertheless...not my will...but Your will be done."

In our problems and difficulties and trials, and make no mistake they will come, we best remember to place ourselves in alignment with God's will.

Do not mistake the way Jesus phrased this request. He was not ignorant to the will of God in this matter.

He knew the will of God was for Him to be sacrificed for me and for you. The "if you are willing" was merely an attempt to try to find another way. It was not about what God wanted but what Jesus wanted.

When we are in a place of indecision, and we know what we should do, and more importantly what God wants us to do, we may probe the Word and seek God for a way to satisfy what WE want the outcome to be. We may even talk ourselves into something that is not approved by God at all.

I think a dangerous way to pray is to ask God for something and then end the prayer with "if it's your will." It indicates we are not willing to know His will for us which can be found in His Word.

We do like our shortcuts and loopholes.

What are you struggling with today? Ask yourself honestly why it is such a struggle for you.

Is it because you don't know where to turn? Or is it because you know exactly where to turn but you're afraid God's answer will be different from the one you want to hear?

My suggestion is to first resolve "not MY will but Your will be done".

We will NEVER go wrong placing our trust in His will for our lives.

In fact, you can even Google the Bible!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Thursday, March 11, 2010

"Don't Write Checks You Can Never Cash", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

A newer "old adage" that is sure to be repeated long into the future is, "Don't let your mouth write checks your body can't cash."

In other words, don't promise things you can't come through on.

Peter was a king of broken promises.

He was the original "Engage brain before putting mouth in gear."

Here's one of his more infamous statements:

Luke 22:33 - "Peter said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death."

Really.

An actual case where the spirit was willing... but...

Luke 22:34 - "Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me."

Ouch!

...the flesh was weak.

However, lest you are feeling your chest rise and fall with quickened pride driven respirations, allow me to express an "ease it up there folks".

We can see Peter with an air of pity and the hangdog look always associated with "I really care for you but I am so glad my relationship with Christ is much more solid than that and therefore I'll never be where Peter (or you) was/is".

I hate that smug condescending attitude draped in a facade of caring. I hate it because it's sin and I hate sin.

Jesus could have given Peter a manly love tap on the shoulder and said "Oh, ya' big lug, I appreciate the sentiment but I just can't allow that."

No. Instead He saw that Peter's words were unachievable in the first place, and more importantly He knew Peter had zero intention to actually carry them out right or wrong.

Peter needed to be confronted then and there if he was to ever become who God wanted him to be.

So He let Peter have it right between the eyes.

"Peter, you are not going to do anything. In fact before all of this is said and done you are actually going to deny ever having known me."

Darned if it didn't happen just like He said.

Two disciples in one night. One betrays him in actions, the other betrays Him with words.

Judas suffered remorse for his actions and hanged himself.

Peter suffered remorse and eventually repented.

Therein lies the difference.

We can't just feel bad about our indiscretion and transgression. We have to make it right again.

Judas tried repenting by giving back the money to the Pharisees. He should have just gone to Jesus.

His chosen action led to death.

Peter was eaten up inside the moment he heard the rooster crow. He eventually ran to Jesus when he saw Him after His resurrection.

Jesus' counsel to Peter was "If you love me feed my sheep".

My take on that? Peter, stop talking and just do. Show me your love and stop telling me your grandiose dreamer schemes you will never fulfill. Do the work I've started and feed my lambs.

There it is folks. That's you and me if we do not follow through,

Talk a good game or feed the lambs?

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

"So...When Does It End?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

I heard the other day that scientists are saying the recent Haitian earthquake was so powerful that it actually knocked the earth off its axis a bit.

Hmmm...

Let's see...NASA scientists are predicting unprecedented solar flare activity on the sun in...yup...2012. This will allegedly cause the highest radioactivity bombardment ever to strike planet earth which would normally repel the onslaught by its magnetic field. However, NASA claims there is a large hole in the field so if by chance the radiation makes its way into our atmosphere, we would be cast into the stone age because every source of electric power(batteries, turbines, etc.) would be immediately rendered useless. Since our magnetic field is the result of earth spinning upon a perfectly balanced rotation, and it was already compromised, how much more has the recent earthquakes expanded that problem?

Hmmm...

What hath God wrought? Is this how God has engineered His plan for the end of the age?

Put on your eschatological thinking caps boys and girls (And also your seat belts. Rapture or Tribulation we are in for a wild ride...Yeeehahhhhh!).

OK. Let's put the brakes on for a second.

Listen...I know this stuff can get the blood pumping. I know this is either going to get people excited or deathly fearful (or if you're like me *yawn* basically unaffected).

So when we are doubtful, fearful, on the fence, etc. the best place to go is to the Word of God.

What does Jesus say?

Matthew 24:14 (Amplified Bible)

"And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end."

No date. No grandiose scenario. No fanfare. No PR. No Spielberg on retainer.

"...and then the end will come."

I'm cool with "then".

Then is whenever the gospel has been preached to all the earth. It's when the world has been saturated with the message of Christ.

Has that happened? In spite of the best efforts of Christian television, extensive mission programs, and thousands of churches all around the world, the answer is...no.

I think we have a ways to go yet, and certainly longer than two years.

Jesus wants maximum conductivity. Critical mass. He doesn't want to see so many people have to go to hell so He is waiting for the absolute maximum ratio of saints to sinners before He pulls the plug.

When the gospel is preached THROUGHOUT the world. THEN the end will come.

So if your fearful don't be. If your disappointed get out there and make it happen.

Tell someone about Jesus over and over and over again.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

"Are You Really Ready For 2012", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Please excuse my shameless use of what is no longer just a date, but probably a registered logo promoting a Hollywood B-Movie.

2012. It will get some attention. Some folks will click on this devotional today just because it has 2012 in the title.

Just a little over two years to go before destruction day.

There are a lot of shorts bunched up over this little tidbit.

Even a well known radio preacher on a Christian "family radio" station has brazenly adopted the date as the biblical prediction of the end of the ages. I wonder what Jesus meant about refusing to succumb to the temptation of date setting and speculation of His return?

So now we have hybrid predictions plastered all over the History Channel, The Smithstonian Channel, The Learning Channel, and every other channel that caters to the easily awed.

Nostradamus, the ancient Mayan calendar, the Bible, Jesse Ventura, and of course NASA (wink wink, roll of the eyes), have been assembled together piecemeal to generate a lot of cash flow for the slick to prey upon the...um...er...ahem..."easily influenced".

I fear that the DVD and the associated books and pamphlets will get filed on the shelf along with books and movies about Roswell, Area 51, The Kennedy Assassination, and theories about what REALLY happened on 9/11.

Let's keep our heads here folks, and at the same time try not to look like the type of people that others usually say us Christians tend to be.

Please. A little dignity.

Mt. 24:36 - "But of that day and hour no one knows" (Jesus).

Isn't that good enough? It's going to happen. Someday. It's a promise.

Actually, it's designed for us not to know. Not that anyone would live their lives less honorably until five minutes before they knew Jesus was returning.

Or is that exactly what many would do? No chance of that the way God has designed this thing.

Nope. We're just going to have to live each day as if He was coming for us today.

Not popular. Which is why the narrow path is the least populated one, and wide is the path to perdition.

Matthew 7:13-14 (Amplified Bible)

"(13) Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. (14) But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it."

The easy comfortable route versus the less popular stricter way.

One laced with shiny objects and eye candy, the other seemingly restrictive but actually paved in freedom.

One has room for toys and baggage. The other is stripped down and streamlined.

2012? I haven't even seen the movie. I probably will out of curiosity, but it won't be because I give it so much as a smidgen of truth.

I hope Jesus comes tomorrow. I know it would harsh the mellow of the majority of the planets inhabitants, but I really pray it happens in my lifetime.

Why? Because I am so ready. Every day I read the paper I am strengthened in my resolve for this to happen.

How about you? Do you fear the effects of a really bad Hollywood movie? Or do you look to the sky each day with a longing for the Blessed Hope?

I say bring it Lord!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Monday, March 8, 2010

"NaCl...Lose Some Of It", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

If I am going to lose any saltiness I want to make sure it's through weeping for the lost and sweating out a gospel message.

"Jesus wept" (John 11:35). The shortest verse in the bible. Also the most moving.

"As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it" (Luke 19:41).

He still weeps. If Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, then He still weeps.

Perhaps He weeps today more than any time over the span of the last 2,000 years.

The question today is, do you weep?

Have you taken a good look around you?

Do you sense the despair?

Sometimes it's as if I can smell it.

All my senses are heightened and assaulted by the overwhelming presence of...of.......need.

Spiritually, physically, mentally, medically, materially, financially, organically, essentially, unequivocally, domestically, internally... needy.

"There is nothing I can do. I feel...helpless."

You can weep. That makes for a "salty" Christian in my opinion. If you weep enough you might actually work up a gospel "sweat".

Weeping, sweating followers of Jesus. That's what this world needs.

Weeping, sweating Jeremiah's who are burdened and interceding for a lost and compromised society.

No more snow in the snow globe. It's being transformed into a salty rain.

Do you feel it?

What will you do?

Do what Jesus does.

Weep your way through the gospel. Don't just read it. Weep through it all the while applying it all to what's just outside your window.

I know good people I care deeply about whom I weep for. Some know Jesus. Many do not.

You know people too.

Weep. Pray. It may inspire you to further action.

I remain yours today just...

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Friday, March 5, 2010

"Be Determined", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2)

The reflection upon the final earthly days of the ministry and suffering of Jesus Christ is a worthy endeavor for these next few weeks.

Paul was so absorbed into Christ that he stated that the Crucified Christ was the center of His focus and lifestyle.

Adam Clark describes the verse this way in his commentary:

"I determined not to know any thing among you - Satisfied that the Gospel of God could alone make you wise unto salvation, I determined to cultivate no other knowledge, and to teach nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified, as the foundation of all true wisdom, piety, and happiness. No other doctrine shall I proclaim among you."

Let me make an emphatic statement here.

The foundation of all Scripture is based upon the doctrine of the Cross of Christ. Jesus is the Lamb "slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8).

There is no purpose, no validity, no power in the Word of God unless we first understand that every book within it's covers are squarely and foremost centered in Christ and His selfless act of sacrifice for the sin of the world.

What Jesus has done for us upon the Cross is worthy to be meditated upon daily over the course of the next few weeks.

Allow this event to permeate every fiber and facet of your being, spiritually, physically, mentally.

What Jesus did in His blood covenant with us provides healing for body, soul, and spirit.

Simply put, we are not made whole until we recognize and takes upon ourselves the great provision of God for the human race.

Get to a quiet place. Pray and meditate on what Christ did for you. Ask the Holy Spirit for fresh revelation in your soul and spirit.

Allow the wonder of it all to cascade over you like a flood and be blessed by it today!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Thursday, March 4, 2010

"When Your Life Gets In The Way", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Stuff indeed does happen.

Stuff happens when we let our stuff run our lives.

"Stuff" in my opinion is anything that interferes with the work of Christ in our life.

It could be possessions that require too much energy to maintain, and therefore prevents us from praying, studying the Word, and worshiping like we should be.

It could be allowing subversive attitudes and habits to take control over what we know we should be practicing.

It could be laziness and sloth that dictates and takes command over the very things that would improve our lives.

In any event it is a surrender of what belongs to God over to whatever forces you have surrendered to.

It has been said that familiarity breeds contempt. Indeed it does. In this case what you are most familiar with breeds and strengthens contempt against either God or the sworn enemy of God.

For your sake it should not be God.

My heart breaks for those who continually make poor choices in their lives. I have seen the "successful" and the "failures" be subject to the very thing that will bring them down in the end.

When Christ is not the center of everything you are or hope to become then there is really only failure.

Luke 14:33 - "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple."

A horrible and tragic forfeiture if one chooses against Jesus.

It doesn't matter how nice a person you are, how much money you give, how much you pay lip service to God. If your actions and associated results of your actions do not bear witness or "fruit", then you are a failure.

A spiritual failure bears rotten fruit. A spiritual failure puts their entire family at risk. A spiritual failure is renounced by God. Spiritual failures care only about themselves.

Spiritual failures pile up so much junk and stuff in front of Jesus that they are actually farther and farther away from Him as the days grow.

The spiritual failure becomes as vomit in the mouth of Christ.

Rev. 3:15-16 - "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! (16) So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

James 1:7-8 - "For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

The gospels say it. The epistles say it. Indeed all the Word of God says it.

There is only one cure.

James 4:7-8 - "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."

So, instead of making excuses start prioritizing what is of utmost importance.

Run toward everything that will strengthen your relationship with Christ. Feed your spiritual need instead of your carnal appetite. Turn your laziness into energy and hunger for His Word and Spirit.

Put aside your agenda and make worship, the study of His Word, and the fellowship of believers the utmost priority in your life. These are indeed the times where we should be looking up together with hope and joyfulness as the Holy Spirit prepares us.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Needless Guilt

Feeling guilty today? If so, why?

Have you done something to heap guilt upon you?

Or is your heart running away with your mind?

Feeling guilty with good reason is one thing. Feeling guilty needlessly is another.

Even if you have good reason to feel guilt, you have the opportunity as one of God's children to offer repentance for forgiveness. Guilt is not something the Christian has to live with.

Listen to John here today:

John 3:18 - "Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity). (19) By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence, (20) Whenever our hearts in [tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. [For we are in God's hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him].

Self-accusation is not the path of the redeemed. God is the best judge of who is guiltless and heart pure. He will let you know better than we can surmise for ourselves.

Better instead to rest in this next passage:

(21) And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God.

Wait on God. If He is not quickening your heart that there is something that needs to be repented of, then let it rest with Him.

Better we should live confidently and boldly in God without the short circuit of self-condemnation. If you are practicing what you should be in spirit and in truth then there is no good to come from tormenting yourself in wondering if you are "measuring up" or not.

Live and be free in the truth of Jesus Christ. Religion would have you always worrying and wondering if you are good enough.

Jesus nurtures. The enemy condemns.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

"Are You Numbered Among The Unwilling?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

John 5:40 - "And still you are not willing [but refuse] to come to Me, so that you might have life."

Who are the unwilling?

In this verse Jesus was speaking to the religious. In fact some were the religious leaders. The very ones we would expect to be among the eager and willing to receive Jesus.

We will find the unwilling in the most unexpected places.

The unwilling could be sitting in the pews of your church.

The unwilling could be preaching from your pulpits.

The unwilling could have seemingly successful media ministries.

The unwilling could be among the ones you would least suspect.

Unwillingness is a matter of the heart. The true purposes of the heart can be masked by outward actions and appearances.

We can be fooled. Jesus is never fooled.

It's never about what we do, what we say, even how we may act.

It's about what we have purposed in our heart.

Does your heart belong to Jesus? The very essence of your being? The center of who you are?

Have you been changed in your heart? Or are you just acting religious?

Does your church preach Jesus as the only way? Has He become your "all-in-all"?

Have you placed everything before Him? Have you learned to be satisfied with being last and Jesus first?

Do you place others before yourself? Are your prayers filled with what you want from God for you?

How you answer those diagnostic questions would indicate whether you are a disciple of Jesus Christ or simply religious.

Religion never saved anybody. Theology never saved anybody. Churches never saved anybody.

Jesus saves. Period.

Be sure you are alive in Him.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

Monday, March 1, 2010

"Help Someone To Come Forth", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

In the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of John, there is an account of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead. He had already been entombed four days, and in the face of much wonder and disbelief Jesus miraculously gave him back his life and he walked out of that tomb still wearing the grave clothes he was wrapped with a few days earlier.

There are many factors and facets we can gain from this event. It shows us the power that Christ has over death itself. It shows us the compassion Jesus has toward people. It shows us an example of the resurrection of the body that is available for believers when Jesus comes to gather His Church.

However, for today's intentions, and as an example and encouragement for believers right now, we can look at the story as metaphorical.

Prior to knowing Jesus we were spiritually dead. We were as good as in our graves.

Upon giving our hearts to Christ we were spiritually joined with Him in His death and resurrection.

In essence we died to sin and were made alive to God.

We literally walked out of the tomb of our own sin and degradation, complete with the rags of our shattered and frayed lives falling off of us as we "resurrected" from our former deadness!

This is why when we enter into this "Resurrection Season" we can really get excited about it!

This is not just some dry, worn out, dead religious exercise.

This is taking advantage of shouting to the world around us, "Hey, this is what Jesus did for me!. It's what He can do for you too!"

Look at the Scripture for today:

John 5:28-29 (Amplified Bible) - "Do not be surprised and wonder at this, for the time is coming when all those who are in the tombs shall hear His voice,(29) And they shall come out--those who have practiced doing good [will come out] to the resurrection of [new] life, and those who have done evil will be raised for judgment [raised to meet their sentence]."

Wow! Yes indeed! This passage points to the day when the literal graves of those who have died in Christ physically will be opened and be raised in new glorified bodies to join Jesus in the air at the rapture of His Church.

But it also may be used to show what has happened to us first in our spirit.

For in order to take part in the grand resurrection of the body, we first have to have this happen to us in our spirit!

This is why it is important that we give our heart to Christ, and that we makes sure others have the opportunity as well.

This indeed a time for rejoicing in what Christ has done for us, and what He is still willing to do even today for those who are dead in their spiritual lives.

Tell someone today what Jesus has done for you!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><