What will you look like in 20 years?

Christian Challenge produced a drama entitled "The Father's Heart" that attempts to show the emotions of the Father in heaven while Jesus' life is played out on earth, both the joys of the birth and miraculous forgiving ministry as well as the sorrow and horror of the cross. I directed the drama the first two times we presented it (at Christian Challenge and at 1st Assembly) but the 3rd time we were to present it the gentleman who plays the Father was not able to be with us. So, as his understudy, I took on the role.

The brother who played the Father originally has a beautiful head of white hair and a distinguished beard. I have red hair and goatee. Since I only had a week from the time I was to play the part until the actual presentation, I didn't have time to grow out my beard. (I tried ... just not enough man enough, I guess! [G]) So we looked for alternatives and settled on a white hair paint from a local beauty supply store.

The night of the drama arrived and I dressed in one of the small Sunday School rooms behind the platform area at Sharp Baptist Church. There was no mirror there so I was not able to see the effect the hair coloring had after a member of our drama team sprayed my hair.

The drama went off well and afterwards we received many compliments as well as quite a few comments about my hair. I finally got to see what I looked like and had my daughter snap the picture above with my cell phone camera. The most frequent comment I got was something like, "So this is what you'll look like in 20 years." That was usually followed by someone else commenting, "Nathan's got three teen-aged daughters ... that's what he'll look like in FIVE years!"

I took all the good-natured ribbing in stride. But it got me thinking. What will I look like in 20 years, 30 years, 40 years? Obviously that picture doesn't capture it becuase it's just grey/white hair. What about the wrinkles, the crows feet, the sun spots?

The more important question than what will I look like in 20 years is what will my spirit look like in 20 years? Am I continuing to nurture my spirit with the rich food of God's table? Will I be stronger, more mature, more patient, more caring, more compassionate? Or will I be harder, tougher, more cynical?

I recently met a man who is the director of planning for Lafayette Consolidated Government. He gave me two cards, one for his contact information and one for "Lafayette in 100 Years", a long-range plan and vision for what the leaders want Lafayette to be like 100 years from now. That kind of planning is taking place in communities across our nation because people realize that growth without planning is a recipe for disaster.

The truth is we have a lot to say about what we'll look like spiritually in 20 years. The choices we make today affect us then. And the truth is, unless the Lord comes back or we go to Him soon, 20 years will come and go in a snap. Who will we be? If I make no plans and just go with the flow, there's no telling what I'll look like spiritually in 20 years. But if I continue to do what's right, seek God's face, order my steps according to His word, then I will not have to be ashamed of what I look like. Just as Paul writes in 2 Tim 2:15

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."

So what will you look like in 20 years? What do you want to look like? You get to choose.

Blessings,
Nathan

Crawfish taste better when you catch them yourself!

Here's a photo of a recent outing ... that's my brother André and his son Justin emptying a crawfish trap at a friend's crawfish pond a couple of weeks ago. (Thanks Brian!) We all gathered for an afternoon of crawfishing and regular fishing. After working the traps we went over to the stocked pond to let the kids catch some bream, bass and catfish while we boiled the 80 or so pounds of crawfish we had "harvested". They were succulent!!! I don't know if it was us gathering them or what but they tasted even more delicious than usual.

I've recently taken up golf again, at the urging of a couple of dear friends. I've made an outing to LSUA's course as well as to the driving range and we're going again tomorrow so I guess I'm a hacker again. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time with my friends ... and the exercise hasn't hurt. (Hasn't helped yet either! )

Today we were talking about the different phases we go through. A little while back it was paintball ... what a blast! Now I'm into motorcycles and golf. It's interesting how people get involved in hobbies and throw themselves into them wholeheartedly. And then try to convert others to their hobby. (Thanks, but no thanks on going back to the gym! ) Some people eat, breathe and live deer hunting. For others it's quilting, or fishing, or knitting, or genealogy, or _________ (fill in the blank). None of the hobbies are bad, as long as we don't become obsessed with them.

My question to myself (and you too, if you're reading this) is, do I invite others to know Jesus with the same passion that I invite them to go motorcycling, golfing, paintballing, crawfishing, etc? These things are great but they have only a temporary reward. But what about the truly eternal reward of knowing Jesus? All the other things provide a temporary high that we enjoy sharing with others. Maybe we need to share that eternal high as well. At least invite them to the party! ;)

Blessings,
Nathan

"He cares for you"

I shared on Monday how I received great encouragement from 1 Peter 4 during a time of struggle over an issue in my life. Here's another verse really jumps out to me:

casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
(1 Pet 5:7 NASB)

How can we roll our worries over to someone else and walk away? The only way I can see that this is possible is if we are convinced of the last part of that verse ... "because He cares for you." If you're not convinced of that, then you'll never be able to trust God with any issues in your life.

Does God really care? Does God care for me? These are the great questions of life. So many have the view of "hey Mr. God way up there in heaven" and have no perception that He desires to be intricately involved in the daily affairs of our lives. But I'm convinced God does indeed get involved in the little things of our lives. Consider these verses:

For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (Jer 29:11 NASB)

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
(Is 40:11 NIV)

I love the picture of Jesus as a shepherd carrying a lamb "close to His heart". (Example 1, Example 2) That is a pictorial definition of caring, in my opinion. The knowledge of God's care is what gives us the confidence to let go of the things that we're anxious about. He genuinely, and gently, cares for us. That's good news.

Blessings,
Nathan

Encouragement in Suffering

This morning I was in need of encouragement. Last night I didn't sleep well. I tossed and turned, thinking about something coming up that was troubling me. (It doesn't matter what it was, we've all had nights like that.) I woke up thinking about it and continued to be troubled. I couldn't wait to get to my devotional time. I knew if I could just spend a few moments in prayer and Scripture that I would be comforted. Just before opening my Bible I breathed a prayer that God would give me a verse of encouragement. In reading through my Bible the next chapter I was to read was 1 Peter 4. I opened to that passage and read:

"Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,"

Needless to say, I didn't feel very encouraged!!! I read the verse again to make sure it said what I thought it said. Yep, sure enough it told me that since Christ suffered in the flesh I might as well get ready for it. At least that's what it seemed to be saying. I pondered those words and although they weren't the powerful, victorious words I expected to read, they did encourage me, especially when I read the next verse (as I had only read half of a sentence):

"so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."

As I read those verses together, here's how it basically came out to me:

Suffering is good when you recognize it's only for a season and when it helps you straighten out your priorities.

That's what these verses spoke to me this morning. Suffering in the flesh can really help clarify things, help refocus your priorities. What you once thought important ("lusts/desires of men") fades in the light of what's truly important ("will of God"). In times of crisis or suffering, people tend to take stock and find out what's essential, what's crucial, what gives meaning and purpose.

And all of this is so that we will live "the rest of the time in the flesh" for the will of God rather than for our own desires. Left to my own devices I will become self-centered. *I* will become the most important thing in my life. So God allows some suffering to help us get our eyes on what's really important.

It's interesting to me that Peter is the one who wrote this. Peter, who once rebuked Jesus to His face for suggesting that the Messiah had to suffer. And now Peter teaches that suffering for Christ advances the progress of sanctification in the life of the believer. (Please note, this is suffering for doing good, not suffering for doing evil! See vss 3-4, 12-16.)

So, is there encouragement in suffering? Yes. It has a purpose. And when you recognize God is in control and He has a purpose (i.e., "causes all things to work together for good...") then even the suffering can be a blessing from Him, something to give thanks for.

When I first read these verses I thought, "Thanks a lot, God. I needed encouragement and You tell me 'suffering's a good thing'." But after meditating on these words I actually ended my devotion feeling VERY encouraged. God is in control. It's all in His hands. And it has a purpose. I can live with that.

Blessings,
Nathan

Time for a new keyboard?

Here's a pic of my keyboard ... or at least the one I just replaced. As you can tell, it's well used! Probably a little TOO well-used.

Now that I look at that keyboard again, it looks pretty gross. You can certainly tell which keys have had the most use! And there's supposed to be a little knob on the "j" key so you can tell where your hands go by feel ... that's completely worn off from use. (Hmmm ... what word that I use a lot has the letter "j" in it? Could it be ..... JESUS! )

I use the keyboard a lot. So much so that lately I've been having some problems with my right arm (carpal tunnel syndrome?). So besides wearing a brace on my right arm, I purchased a new, ergonomic keyboard. It's got a split keyboard so that the hands can sit at a more natural angle. It also is curved up in the middle, rounded, so that your hands are more comfortable. In addition it angles down, away from me, again to give the hands a more natural position. All in all it's much more comfortable, even though I'm having a little more trouble finding some of the keys. But the more I type, the more comfortable I get with it.

This new keyboard is nice and shiny ... and clean! The knobs on the "j" and "f" keys are easy to see AND feel. And there's no spilled coke or leftover lunch crumbs hiding in the crevices! All in all a great improvement. But what about the old keyboard? What does it's future hold? Will it be relegated to the junkpile of life, tossed aside like so much of our throw-away society? It still has some usefulness left, doesn't it?

I'm so glad our Lord doesn't throw us away when we're dirty and used up. Often we feel like maybe He should just go ahead and give up on us ... that we're of no value, we're not good enough, clean enough, new enough. But God doesn't give up on us!

I'm often asked my favorite Bible verse and it's found in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." That verse was written to Christians! And we need it because we all sin. If anyone says he doesn't sin, he's a liar! (See the rest of 1 John for more info on that!) So what do we do when we sin? Give up? Quit? Throw in the towel? Expect to be replaced? No! We confess, get cleansed and move forward!

OK, enough preaching for now. Besides, who'd ever think replacing an old, dirty keyboard would bring about a sermon? (Anyone who knows me, that's who!!! )

The Father's Heart

In celebration of Christian Challenge's 30th anniversary we put on a drama entitled "The Father's Heart (written by Debi Stodolka of King's Players in Canada). It was a lot of work, a lot of practices, a lot of time, planning, and even some sweat and tears (although I hope there wasn't any blood!). The drama went off very well and was well received. In fact, we are going to present it again this Sunday night at 6:00 at First Assembly of God here in Pineville.

There are a couple of things I want to point out about the drama. First is the message of the drama. The whole thing is about what may have gone on in Heaven while Jesus was on earth. It shows the perplexity of the angels as they ask where Jesus is, their enjoyment of His life and ministry and their confusion about the cruxifiction as well as their intense desire to rescue Him from the cross. There are several great monologues by the Father and one particularly jumps out to me. He explains to the angels that the only thing that will satisfy the just demands of His holy character while at the same time demonstrate His love and mercy is the CROSS. There is no other way to achieve both purposes. This is a powerful monologue that coupled with the angels' horrified response to the cross shows what a powerful price was paid for our sins.

The other thing I wanted to point out is how something like this could NEVER happen without a team approach and without so many people willing to work "in the dark", in the background, backstage, unseen, unnoticed, unrecognized. There are 5 major characters on stage (and about a dozen little angels that get a lot of attention in their brief appearances) but who notices the soundman in the back, the lighting operator up in the balcony or the special effects technician seated in darkness? And how about the ladies who spent countless hours making the costumes and seweing the curtains for the backdrops? How about the person who wanted to be in the drama but felt someone else might do a better job at the role and agreed to step aside? To me, these are heroes!

"The Father's Heart" drama was a success in that it touched (and will continue to touch) the hearts of those who saw it. But it was also a success because it changed the lives of those who participated. I know I was deeply impacted by all who participated and by the ultimate story of love ... "greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." Thank you Jesus for loving me.

Congratulations, Christian Challenge for 30 years!!!

This week marks the 30th anniversary of Christian Challenge, the church in which I grew up and where I am honored to serve as a pastor. The first service CCI ever held was on Tuesday, March 9, 1976 (coincidentially my sister's 2nd birthday). CCI was initially started by my father, Lawrence "Buddy" Martin, as a "School for Christian Workers" He was still pastoring another church at the time and felt there was a need for a place for Christians to get more in depth training in preparation for ministry without having to move off to go to Bible School. The "church" grew up around the School and now they work hand in hand.

Christian Challenge started in Boyce, Louisiana and was there for a couple of years before making the trek down Hwy 1 to Pineville. For eight years we met in the "old Rent It Company building" at the intersection of Hwy 28E and Pineville's Cottingham Expressway. Then four more years in the Pine Plaza Shopping Center as our current facilities were being built. (The current building took about four years to build because the members of the church built it themselves and they paid cash as they went so when they moved in, it was completely paid for.)

I moved home from Mexico in November of 1990, the same year we occupied the building. (It still wasn't finished ... they were meeting in the Fellowship Hall and then moved into the unfinished sanctuary with concrete floors and a plywood platform!) I joined the staff as Associate Pastor and have been honored to serve alongside my father.

I'm grateful for this weekend. 30 years is a long time and it's a testimony to both the blessing of the Lord and the faithfulness of Bro. Buddy and Sis. Betty (or, "Mom and Dad) over all these years. I want to honor them for their tenacity and determination in sticking it out in the tough times. We are moving into wonderful times ahead but we can never forget the foundations that were laid and the price that was paid. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for being such wonderful examples of those who faithfully discharge a stewardship from God. May we all be found so faithful.

Blessings,
Nathan