two weddings

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Dana

First, I’d like to wish ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ to everyone. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalms 107:1) ‘To give thanks’ is the simple response of a grateful child. May such an attitude always rule our hearts. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

Next, I’d like to thank Steve Wolf for investing a ton of time and energy in organizing close to ten years of writing. Steve and Julie, who now live in Colorado, are beautiful people and dear friends. By clicking on ‘Dana’s Christian Journey’ you can easily find past writings. Feel free to share with anyone.

Finally, I have some family news to share. Saturday night our daughter, Kinsey, called to say that she said ‘yes’ to a certain question. Jordan Stanley asked her to marry him. He asked me for my daughter’s hand a few weeks ago so we knew the day was approaching. I really like Jordan, but I have to admit the engagement of a daughter is hitting me harder than the engagement of a son. Why should a grown man cry when he thinks of giving away his little girl? (I’m not saying I cried… I’m just asking the question…)

So it looks like we will have two weddings this summer… Taylor & Emma and Kinsey & Jordan. We are all happy and curious about the days ahead. Feel free to send advice and feel free to rejoice with us.

Love,
Dana and Susan

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two husbands

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Dana

Watchman Nee, a Chinese preacher imprisoned the last twenty years of his life, taught that the first four verses of Romans 7 tell a story about a woman and two men. The first man is this woman’s husband and he is unquestionably perfect. She is far from perfect and, try though she might, she can never fully please him. Oh to be married to the second man, who also is perfect but with a difference… He is full of grace and mercy. If the first husband died, she could marry the second, but there is no chance of him dying. The first man will never pass away. What a hopeless situation!

There is one other way the woman can be released from her first husband… if she dies. And that, says the apostle Paul, is what has happened to all who are in Christ. The first husband represents the Law… exact, perfect, and eternal. The second husband is Jesus… perfect, eternal, and fulfilling the Law completely. We are the woman… human, imperfect, and in great need of help. Married to the Law, we could never measure up. But when Christ died, we died… for we are in Him. “For we know our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” (Rom 6:6-7)

And since He rose, we also have been given new life. “We were buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with Him in his resurrection.” (Rom 6:5-6) As resurrected children we are given a new Husband. “So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” (Rom 7:4-6)

What a plan! God knew our incapabilities and provided everything we need in Jesus. And now He lives in us! He is the very righteousness of God; He is our righteousness. We now live by faith in this risen One who loves us and gave himself for us. Hallelujah!

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

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two sons

Posted on November 11, 2010 by Dana

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which one of the two did what his father wanted?” (Matthew 21:28-31)

On the exterior a young man seemed to be a good son. He was wealthy; he followed the Law of Moses; and he was sincerely interested in the Teacher from Nazareth. “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?” he asked. But when Jesus told him to get rid of everything that hindered him and follow the Master, the rich young ruler would not do it. Once someone in a crowd asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One he has sent.” (John 6:28-29)

Believe! Believe what? Believe He is: Messiah, King, Savior, Lord, the Way, the Truth, the Life… Everything! This was the explanation of the parable of the two sons: “John the Baptist came to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. That is why they are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” (Matthew 21:31-32) Jesus is the Way of righteousness. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Repent and make the paths straight because the kingdom of God is at hand!” John’s message was Jesus. The religious and the prominent looked very much like obedient sons, but they did not believe John’s message. On the other hand, the sinners, who definitely would have been labeled ‘disobedient’, entered the kingdom by believing the Good News.

The message is the same today: “Look to Christ;” “Call on Christ;” “Trust in Christ;” “Follow Christ;” “Abide in Christ.” Keith Getty and Stuart Townend wrote a great anthem for all who say “yes” to Jesus.

IN CHRIST ALONE
In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song.
This Cornerstone, this solid ground – firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace…
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease…
My Comforter, my All in All; Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh; fullness of God in helpless Babe.
This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save.
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied;
For every sin on Him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again.
And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.
For I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death. This is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand.
‘Till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

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two wives

Posted on November 4, 2010 by Dana

Two wives have one thing in common: their husbands have been out of the country for quite a long time. One wife constantly thinks of her spouse. She wakes up thinking of him, she goes to bed thinking of him, and he is in the back of her mind throughout every day. She cannot wait until he returns. The other wife does not seem to miss her husband much at all. She thinks of him rarely and though she knows she is married, this wife seems quite content living alone. In fact, when news came that her husband would soon be home, she was a little sad. So what’s the difference between these two ladies? Without knowing anything about the individuals involved, a person would conclude that the first wife loves her husband much more than the second.

So what’s the difference between the Christian who is madly in love with Jesus and the Christian who rarely thinks of him at all? We know the problem is not with the Husband, for He is the definition of love. Such love inspires him to state things exactly as they are. He said to one church, “You are lukewarm.” He said to another, “You’ve forsaken your first love.” Such words are meant to rescue the passionless.

We know the reasons love grows cold: forgetfulness, lack of intimate communication, busyness, hard times, worry, finding fulfillment or pleasure outside the relationship, laziness… But how could I ever forget what Jesus has done for me? How could my communication with God ever drift into common duty? How could I ever get too busy to treasure fellowship with the One who died for me? Shouldn’t hard times or worrisome situations drive me closer to my Savior? Dare I ever substitute any pleasure or entertainment for the fulfillment God gives? Will I let my laziness damage the most important relationship of all?

The enemy of marriage has many weapons. He’ll even use a writing like this to accuse and condemn. “See, you are a pitiful sinner who will never love your God the way you should. Why bother?” But Jesus speaks with a different voice… one full of grace and truth. “Come to me and listen carefully. Leave the things that distract and let me satisfy your deepest needs. Don’t you know I am enough? I am knocking at the door of your heart. Open up and let me come in. We’ll eat together and I’ll remind you of who I am. The more you know me, the more you’ll want to be with me. Fill your lamp with the Oil of my Spirit then you’ll be able to watch and pray. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.”

“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” Revelation 3:2-3

“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:21-22

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spotless

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Dana

My eyes filled with tears as soon as the music began and the bride stood with her father at the end of the aisle. I later asked my wife Susan if she thought anyone noticed I was really struggling to get it together before I had to speak, but she reminded me of the obvious truth: “No one was looking at you.” Of course, we were all looking at the beautiful bride who had prepared herself perfectly for her husband. She was spotless, without blemish.

Just as Jesus presented himself to his Father as a spotless Lamb so we are to present ourselves to our Savior as a spotless bride. “‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)”

Of course we understand we did not make ourselves spotless; that miracle was accomplished at Calvary. When writing to husbands and wives, Paul said the mystery of Christ and his church was also being proclaimed. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

Our challenge is to remember two pieces of good news: the incredible sacrifice that made us spotless and the reliable promise of a coming Day. The uninvited enemy is constantly throwing mud at the bride, trying to ruin the present and future. But he is a defeated foe and we remind ourselves to constantly rely on the blood of the Lamb. Daily we should present ourselves as living sacrifices; this is our spiritual act of worship. We are not to conform to the pattern of the world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. As Jesus understood his purpose, so we want to know the Father’s good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives. (See Rom 12:1-2)

I imagine Jesus is more excited about the coming Day than any groom has ever been. Let us be just as excited and “let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” II Peter 3:10-14 (see also Revelation 21)

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