Thanksgiving Guest Blog

Blenda Trenum is my former administrative assistant. She wrote this entry in response to my previous blog God is a Re-Gifter. I hope it encourages you during this Thanksgiving season.

In March 1985, I was diagnosed with the most aggressive breast cancer known. The doctors did not give me and Gilbert, my husband, much hope for my future. Upon my diagnosis, amid a whirling storm of questions, and a sea of dark cloudy thoughts, a song broke through:

“Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand.
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know holds my hand.”

As my thoughts turned toward God, I heard Him whisper: “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Without hesitation, I responded, “God, if You are with me, I can go through anything.”

Taking chemotherapy for the next twelve months, I relentlessly fought a physical battle for strength and health, but through it all God was faithful. As he promised, He never left me. Many times He reminded me of His written Word, and when need be, He spoke to me through His still small voice.

After every chemo treatment a wonderful lady from my church would come and visit me, play the guitar, and sing praise and worship songs. While listening to the praise and worship songs, even though my physical strength was being depleted because of the dying cells (good and bad cells) my spirit would soar!

One day a few weeks into chemotherapy while pondering on cancer patient survival statistics, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “Your hope is not in statistics; your hope is in Jesus!” Needless to say, I pondered on “statistics” no more!

Even though the doctors offered very little hope and Satan had evil thoughts toward me, God had different plans and ideas, and twenty-six years later I am still here to tell about it!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Thank you, Jesus, for your faithfulness!

God is a Re-Gifter

Numerous health studies in the past decade bear out that grateful people have more dynamism, more confidence, more positive friendships, and more happiness than people that tend to be unappreciative. They are likely to sleep better at night, exercise more consistently, have a greater resistance to infections, and even make more money.

In Philippians 4:4 the apostle Paul while in chains wrote from his dark prison pit, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

The word for rejoice in the original language is built on the Greek word “xar” which means grace. In a word to rejoice is a call for us to re-grace. To literally be conscious again and again of God’s unmerited favor.

Do you want to be a happy, content and fulfilled person? Paul demonstrated to us that even in the most depressing of circumstances rejoicing it possible. The key is to re-think on the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy things in life.

God is a re-gifter. It is interesting that the same root word for grace (xar) is also the foundation for the Biblical word for gift. The graces we receive are not gifts to be opened and put in a closet. They are to be re-gifted to others along with continual thanks given back to the Giver.

The mercy, forgiveness, and love of Jesus are not to be experienced only once. So today re-grace in the Lord always. I will say it again: re-grace!

Fallen Angels & Gargoyles

Earthquakes rocked the foundations of our Capital and angels fall from their cathedral spires.

This picture struck me this morning. It caused me to ask, "Lord help me to discern the times. Let me know how to pray & act wisely!"

We live in a day that champions science & information. Weather & earthquakes are explainable, yet they are just as unpredictable as in Biblical days. Jesus scolded those that refused to be informed by the obvious signs of the time. We are living in an extraordinary period of economic fissures & geopolitical storms.

Historians will write many things about the sea change taking place in our daily headlines, but what say the prophets?

Apple Store Christianity

The BBC News report began, “It looks like an Apple store. It sells their product. It has their logo with its typical wooden tables and its cheery staff. But this isn’t an Apple store.” It wasn’t the only fake store. Just blocks away in the city of Kunming, China was another near perfect replica of the real deal brilliantly laid out complete with computer products, signage, and the weird upstairs theatre. 

So exact was the mimic of the genuine Apple experience that the employees actually believed that they worked for Steve Jobs. The employees were clueless that they were part of a knockoff charade. Complete with the blue T-shirt and familiar lanyard each member of the counterfeit staff was filled with all the vicarious cool regard that comes from working for the maker of the iPhone, iPad, and the PowerBook. Only the exceptionally discerning eye would question the rickety winding stairs leading to the upstairs chill-out area, the poorly painted walls, and the front store sign reading “Apple Store” instead of the simple fruit trademark logo.

Things are not always what they seem. Jesus warned that there would be respected leaders that would fool the church. These leaders would rise as mouth pieces within the church dressed up as innocent sheep, yet they would be secretly filled with all the duplicitous blood lust of wolves (Matthew 7:15). Throughout history the warning to Christians that even the elect are susceptible to deception has been a hard truth to accept almost as if it were spoken only for some future age.

Christ also cautioned us that there would be church attendees that would fool the church. Amidst God’s disciples the enemy would secretly sow worthless frauds that would grow crowding out those reaching for the light, dominating needed nutrients, and entangling themselves in the affairs of the authentic. Looking very much like the real thing it would only become apparent that the moles were nothing but weeds just prior to the time of harvest (Matthew 13:24-29).

Finally, Jesus warned that some sincere church people would fool themselves. They would be dutifully missional complete with all the measurable spiritual results and confidence that they were working for the Master (Matthew 7:21-23). Each will arrive at the Day of Judgment perfect replicas of the real deal minus a relationship to the Maker.

Discernment is needed for us as believers. Without it we are in danger of living an Apple Store Christianity. "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ." (Philippians 1:9-10 ASV) 

OVERSEER KIM BUCKMAN

Pastor Kim Buckman has been my friend for over 25 years. He was finishing up his ministerial training at North Central University the same year I began my studies in 1982. At that time I was still a bit unschooled in the Scriptures. What was my first impression of Kim as I sat and listened to the banter in a theology class? I thought, “Man, who is this guy? He knows a lot about the Bible.”

Kim, the son of a Lutheran pastor, grew up in a mainline church in the quiet town of Nekoosa Wisconsin. Yet something extraordinary occurred in the church of his youth that would shape Kim’s life and give him a hunger for the Word of God.

His church experienced what could truly be called a revival. At one point the church his father led experienced such a heavenly outpouring complete with numerous salvations, and miracles that it is said that more people attended the church than lived in the town. What Kim witnessed marked his life with insight, openness, and                              a keen awareness of the power of God.

Kim and I worked closely together on a church staff for several years. Prior to working together we led outreaches in LA, Wales, and New York City. Over the years I have called upon Kim to be a featured speaker at numerous retreats and other special events. He is undoubtedly one of my favorite preachers in the world. He always provides a mix of deep Biblical insight in addition to being flat out hilarious.

Kim Buckman has been the pastor of Harvest Time Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin since November of 2005. Harvest Time invested in The Sound providing us with much needed funds at the time of our launch. Kim serves along with his wife, Jenny, and two beautiful daughters. I am so thankful to have him as a friend and overseer.