Marc Estes

 

The indestructibility of the Bible lends further evidence to the notion that it is 100% infallible. The Bible has transcended centuries of skepticism and weathered the test of time. As Bill Kimball states in his book, “Book of Books, “It has successfully  withstood the repeated attacks of atheistic philosophers, the schools of higher criticism, modernists, liberal theologians, rationalist, humanists, scientific skepticism, Communists and ever conceivable brand of critic.

In spite of the relentless assaults against the Bible, it has not only survived, but has consistently triumphed over all its enemies.”  For example, Voltaire, the infamous French atheist, confidently proclaimed that, “In one hundred years the Bible will be an extinct book.” During the same year, the British Royal Museum purchased an ancient manuscript copy of the Greek New Testament (the Codex Sinaiticus) from the Russian government for the hefty sum of $510,000. In comparison, a ninety-two volume, first edition set of Voltaire’s writings were auctioned off a few years ago from the Earl of Dudley’s library for a mere 8 cents a copy!

What makes Voltaire’s prophecy so ironical is the fact that only fifty years after his death, the Geneva Bible Society was using his house and his printing press to publish and avalance of Bibles! His house later became Paris headquarters for the British and Foreign Bible Society.

May those that are skeptical about it’s authenticity learn from the well known author Thomas Paine who wrote, “Ages of Reason” arrogantly proclaimed the Bible would be out of print in his lifetime. He stated, “When I get through, there will not be five Bibles left in America. Within one hundred years, Bible will only be found in museums  or in musty corners of second hand stores.” After a lifetime of opposition, Paine’s dying words left a sobering tribute to Christianity’s triumph. He moaned, “I would give worlds, if I had them, if the ‘Age of Reason’ had never been published. O Lord help me! Christ, help me! Stay with me! It is hell to be left alone.”

Why not give the Bible a chance and not go down in history as another added to the list of regretful skeptics.

 

The times in which we live are difficult times. Many today have suffered significant loss. Millions of homes have gone into foreclosure. Tens of millions are unemployed. Multitudes are looking for help in finding their next meal. It is in times like this that many struggle with being thankful for what they “do” have, instead of being discouraged with what they “don’t” have.  I understand that this perspective is easier stated than walked out in real life, but I think we can all agree that there is something in our lives that we can be grateful for, if we just stop and look.

In her classic autobiography The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells of the time she and her sister were forced to take off all their clothes during Nazi inspections at a death camp. Miss ten Boom stood in line feeling forsaken and defiled. Suddenly she remembered that Jesus hung naked on the cross. Struck with wonder and worship during that seemingly forsaken moment, ten Boom leaned forward and whispered to her sister, “Betsie, they took his clothes, too.” Betsie gasped and said, “Oh, Corrie, and I never thanked him.” Thanksgiving does not require bounty–just recognition of what our Savior has already done.

I don’t know about you, but when we compare our challenges to the circumstances in Corrie’s life, things just don’t appear to be as severe as we thought them to be. I think it is safe to assume, it is all a matter of perspective.

If you are in a stretching time and find yourself wondering what tomorrow might bring, why not take a few minutes and get alone with God. Take some time to reflect on all the wonderful things He has done for you. I promise you, it will brighten your day and give you the strength to move forward into tomorrow with a heart of thankfulness.

If you have a few minutes, Check out Corrie sharing her heart. Get a box of Kleenex, you will be inspired!

 

This year I turn fifty years old and I find myself trying to swallow the idea that I am a half century old. I understand that I have no hair and have a harder time hearing what people might say, but I am still wearing True Religion Jeans and perceive myself to be at least ’semi-cool.’  I also just celebrated my 3oth anniversary with the woman of my dreams and am watching my four grandchildren growing rapidly into these fully active children ready to live life to the fullest. It seems just like yesterday that I was going on my honeymoon or having my first daughter. Where did the time go?  Life just seems to be going by too quick.

In addition, this year has brought some of the most challenging news to my life with my father announcing he has stage 3 lung cancer.  As a pastor, I have been personally involved in helping dozens of loved ones deal with the challenges and tragedy associated with disease and sickness, but when it is your own father, the emotions just seem to go a little deeper. Life also seems to be so fragile and precious. I do regret all those missed opportunities to talk with my dad and am committed to cherishing every breath that comes from his lips during this last days.

Through it all, 2010 has been a time where I am grappling with the importance of life and making the most of every moment.  Life itself is so precious. Life is short and life is very fragile.  It is amazing how quickly we assume that we will be here for another few decades, yet there is no guarantee we will make it through tomorrow.  Yet, we will continue to give our time and energy to things that have the least importance in our lives.

In one year, the average American will read or complete 3,000 notices and forms, read 100 newspapers and 36 magazines, watch 2,463 hours of television, listen to 730 hours of radio, buy 20 CDs or cassettes, talk on the telephone almost 61 hours, and read 3 books.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross once said, “It is only when we truly understand that we have a limited time on earth that we’ll live each day to the fullest.”  

In Psalm 90:12, Moses said, “Teach us to number our days . . .” Leslie Weatherhead, who pastored the City Temple in London for twenty five years, wrote a book entitled Time for God. In this book, Weatherhead helps us to number our days by mathematically calculating a “one-day lifetime” for a person living an average life span. (His calculations are actually for only the waking hours of 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.).

• If you’re fifteen years old, it is 10:25 a.m..
• If you are 20, it’s 11:34 a.m.
• If you’re 25, the time is 12:42 p.m.
• It’s 1:51 p.m. for a 30-year-old.
•  At 35 it’s 3:00 p.m.
• If you are 40, it is 4:00 p.m.
• At 45 the clock reads 5:16 p.m.
• For a person of 50, it’s 6:25 p.m.
• It’s 7:34 p.m. for those at 55.
• A 60-year-old is looking at 8:42 p.m.
•  Retiring at 65 means it’s 9:51 p.m.
• And if you’re 70, it is 11:00 p.m.

Look at the clock and live each day to the fullest! Maybe its time that you recognize just how precious life is and give your life to those things that matter most. Don’t let life pass you by, treat life as the most precious gift you could receive.

 

I had the unique privilege of sharing with a young man who claimed to be a “White Magic – Calvinist – Jew.” To say that it was an interesting conversation would be a gross understatement. The good news is that I was able to lead this young man to Christ and get him plugged into the local church.  Other recent conversations seem to have some of the same undertones; people who have formulated their own definition of God and views about eternity.

Welcome to the twenty-first century!  The breakdown of absolute truth coupled with the erosion of Christian influence has paved the way to a new melting pot of religious views that have greatly impacted society, and our ability to reach those that need Christ. As a church leader, I am acutely aware of the fact that my approach to sharing the truth must radically change while still adhering to the timeless truth of the gospel; easier said than done.

Regardless of a person’s belief system or worldview, there are ten main pillars that we must continue to emphasize in our gospel approach.

 These are: (FREE TEACHING NOTES on this topic available on my Resource Page).

Pillar #1: Every person has a perception of Eternity

Regardless of religious persuasion, or lack thereof, every person has a perception of what Eternity might be. Those views may consist of; heaven, hell, reincarnation, a distant galaxy, or cease to exist.

Pillar #2: Absolute truth is the foundation to life itself

To a generation that believes that truth is relative, the need for establishing the foundation is the beginning point of sharing the gospel.

Pillar #3: The Bible is the foundation for all Truth

There is only one book that has ever stood the test of time as being 100% infallible. Establishing the Bible as the sole source of your message is vital to the presenting of any future principles.

Pillar #4: The nature and characteristics of God can be defined

God must be redefined back to His original description. Without elevating God to His rightful place in the minds of man, it is impossible to present the gospel with any sense of need or urgency.

Pillar #5: Sin is an absolute problem not a relative, narrow-minded concept

People must understand sin as “rebellion against God” and it’s affect on humanity in order to understand the immeasurable gap between themselves and God due to their own personal sin.

Pillar #6: Hope and unconditional love are available to those who seek God

Even in the midst of judgement, God provides a way of escape and the opportunity for a new life. This is key to reaching a generation without hope.

Pillar #7: The Cross remains as the central message of the Gospel

1. The message of the cross is the power of God unto salvation. The price that Christ paid for the sin of mankind must be clearly understood to make activate its power in a person’s life.
2. We need to not only give attention to the cross, but also his resurrection power, that he conquered death and hell.
3. There must also be the realization that Jesus is the only way, and no salvation is found in no other name.

Pillar #8: The only One who can truly fill needs and voids is God Himself

Society continues to look to everything but God to fill the immense holes in their life. The need for love, hope, peace, joy, purpose, acceptance and identity will only be found in God. This can only happen when people enter into a personal relationship with Christ. This too, is an important part of the gospel.

Pillar #9: Commitment to Christ is a life-long decision

People must understand the commitment of a life-long relationship before praying a prayer. Just as in a marriage, a couple must understand the cost before entering into a covenant relationship.

Pillar #10: Becoming a Fully Devoted Follower of Christ is the Goal

God desires disciples, not just decisions. The point of salvation marks the beginning of the journey, not the end. A key part of sharing the gospel is to assist people into understand the new life that has begun.

 

If there was ever a time where we need clear and concise guidelines for counseling those in need, it is now. There are a variety of societal factors that have greatly increased the number of those in need  and having some guidelines for godly counsel is a must. Yet many attempt to direct people with the best intention, but lead  them toward a distorted solution which only further complicates their situation rather than helping them toward the road to victory.

There are simple, but important principles that every leader should understand and embrace when involved in giving others counsel of any sort. We have been given the incredible privilege and responsibility to direct people toward the ‘God solution’ for their situation, and using proven Biblical guidelines will greatly increase the effectiveness of your counsel. 

I have been often asked, “What do you do with your leaders and your church to help them in counseling?” I put together a document for your review and use on my resource page. It is called, “Counseling Guidelines for the Local Church.” Take a look at it and pass it on to your leaders!

Several years ago, Dr. Ruth Berenda and a group of fellow psychologists rediscovered the dramatic power of societal pressure. In an experiment they invited ten teenagers into a room where three charts were displayed. Each chart had three lines of different lengths. The group members were asked to raise their hands when the teacher pointed to the longest line on each chart. One teen in each group did not know that the other nine teens had been instructed to raise their hands when the teacher pointed to the second longest line. The lone teen frequently looked somewhat confused but cast a wrong vote with the other nine students. Dr. Berenda’s data revealed that 75 percent of the teens allowed peer pressure to override their own better judgment.

We all need the affirmation to choose what is right rather than what is popular, which is much easier said than done. I am firmly convinced that the reason so many are persuaded by their surroundings, is their lack of identity in who Christ intended them to be. Many today allow the voice of society to define their value and worth, which always ends in disappointment. It is amazing to see what people are willing to risk losing for the sake of gaining the ‘approval’ of others.

Yet God’s view of you will allow you to be a persuader, not persuaded. We are first and foremost to be God pleaser, not a man pleaser (Eph. 6:6).  If we focus on what pleases God and how He values us, we have a great chance of not being persuaded and manipulated by the world and it’s opinion of us. Here are my top ten faith-builders which describes what God says about me!

1. I am God’s child.
2. I am God’s friend.
3. I am adopted into His family.
4. I am complete in Christ.
5. I have a future and hope.
6. I am part owner of God’s Kingdom.
7. I am a citizen of heaven.
8. I am significant.
9. I am special.
10. I have a purpose.

The next time that you are tempted to do something to impress someone else, ask yourself the question, “Am I being persuaded or am I persuading.” You might even print out this little list and  put it in your wallet or purse. It just might save your bacon one of these days!

Growing up, I remember driving down the road in my parent’s 1968 dark green Ford station wagon listening to them sing a popular song by Simon and Garfunkel, “Feeling Groovy (59th St. Bridge Song).” One phrase that still rings in my ears is, “Slow down you move to fast, you got to make the morning last, just kickin’ down the cobblestones, looking for fun and feeling groovy!”

This Utopian idea of life seems so distant from reality. Life is moving at a rapid pace and there never seems to be enough time to give attention to those things that are most important. The tyranny of the urgent robs us of giving our lives to what matters most. Maybe we should start a, “Feeling Groovy” campaign and live life on purpose!

I just received an email from a good friend, Carl Probyn, which reminded me again to, “slow down, because I live to fast!” Here it is for your pleasure.

“Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven’t thought about it, don’t have it on their schedule, didn’t know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one day about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back.  From then on, I’ve tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn’t suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed?  Does the word ‘refrigeration’ mean nothing to you? How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched ‘Jeopardy’ on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said , ‘How about going to lunch in a half hour?’ She would gas up and stammer, ‘I can’t.  I have clothes on the line.  My hair is dirty.  I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain’  And my personal favorite:  ‘It’s Monday.’ She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches..  We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We’ll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained.  We’ll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet.  We’ll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older.  The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer.  One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of ‘I’m going to,’ ‘I plan on,’ and ‘Someday, when things are settled down a bit.’

When anyone calls my ’seize the moment’ friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips.  She keeps an open mind on new ideas.  Her enthusiasm for life is contagious.  You talk with her for five minutes, and you’re ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years..  I love ice cream.  It’s just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process.  The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker.  If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now..go on and have a nice day.  Do something you WANT to…not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say?   And why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground?  Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night?  Do you run through each day on the fly?  When you ask ‘How are you?’  Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?  Ever told your child, ‘We’ll do it tomorrow.’ And in your haste, not see his sorrow?  Ever lost touch?  Let a good friendship die?  Just call to say ‘Hi’?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift….Thrown away… Life is not a race. Take it slower.  Hear the music before the song is over.. (added mine) ‘Life is fun and I’m feeling groovy!’”

PLEASE click below on “SHARE THIS” and pass it on to some friends.

 

 

I was greatly moved by this video and the evidence of God moving upon the country of Haiti in their darkest hour. This is one video that didn’t make it to the top of the evening news, but has made it to the top of my blog for sure. With over 1,000,000 people praying and fasting for three days, 3,000 confirmed salvations of which 101 voodoo priests were saved, is worth passing this move of God on to those that doubt that God can work “ALL THINGS for his good.”  Please click below and pass this post on and let the nations see our God moving in Haiti!

 

If you have ever led someone to Christ, you know the importance of follow up.  Leading someone to Christ just starts the process and having an effective strategy is important. A few years ago, I wrote a simple follow-up booklet that can be handed to someone after praying to receive Christ.

I thought you might enjoy this booklet and wanted to offer it to you to use in your church, ministry or personal experiences. You can download this on my Resource Page.  The file is called “The Road Ahead – Follow Up Booklet.”  Let me know if this works for you.

 Working with a new convert is much more than a mechanical process. It isn’t the downloading of information, but modeling what a real Christian is to become. Here are eleven qualities of an effective discipler. Hope they help!

1. Integrity

Building a trust relationship with your new disciple is vital. You are asking this person to trust you to lay a spiritual foundation of truth in his or her life. Make sure to saturate your example with integrity. In every aspect of your life, be sure that you are as good as your word. You are representing your church, your brothers and sisters and the name of Christ!

2. Humility

It is necessary, while building trust, to show humility. Humility allows others to receive what you say. Realize that without Jesus you could not have made it as far as you have. There is no difference between us and the prostitute. We are just beggars leading another beggar to bread. Serve them, lift them up… be interested and impressed, not interesting and impressing!

3. Sensitivity

Maintain a high level of sensitivity. Most people come to Christ because of a significant need in their life. Discerning their needs and being sensitive to them will help you offer comfort and counsel in the appropriate areas. Discern the need and minister through it, don’t be ignorant to it.

4. Patience

Working with new converts requires great patience. They do things they shouldn’t do, say things they shouldn’t say, and think things that are not Christ- like. Remember, they are newborn babes and require special attention. Be patient and loving at all times. Don’t rush people: The Holy Spirit brings the change, you bring the love and the understanding.

5. Persistence

It is difficult for most new believers to talk freely about God, to pray, or to worship. Because of this, you must be persistent, but not obnoxious. Allow the Holy Spirit to show you the proper level of persistence needed, while being careful not to turn your new convert away from you, the church, or God.

6. Respect

One of the quickest ways to repel people is to be condescending. In doing this, you create a teacher/student relationship. You should instead create a friend/ friend relationship. Talk about areas that interest them and that they are good at. Be interested and build them up. Introduce them to others, don’t be embarrassed to have them hanging around you. Show them you respect them.

7. Listening

It has been said, “Gain permission to speak by first listening.” Once you begin a conversation with someone, ask him or her open-ended questions about job, family, or social life. Try to find common ground and allow the person to speak. You were given two ears and one mouth for a reason. The best way to get to know someone and understand them is to just sit and listen. Don’t monopolize time. Ask many questions, and let them talk. It helps build relationship as well.

8. Graciousness and Understanding

There will be times when people will reject what you say. Often Christians react negatively in these situations. Getting upset can cause confusion and bitterness in a new convert and make it difficult to move forward in the follow-up process. When someone is unwilling to listen to you, smile, love them, leave them with a positive, caring perception, and wait for the proper time to share your concerns. The harvest is messed up with mulitple, very complex problems. It took years to get into the mess they are in, and it will take years to get out.

9. Exhorting in Love

As your relationship deepens, you may feel led to confront an area in this person’s life. Be sure to combine your exhortation with love. People need more strokes than pokes. Often, the person already knows that the area of sin is wrong. Exhortation without love is hard-handed judgment. Exhortation with love is compassion.

10. Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is contagious! Successful companies have enthusiastic employees because enthusiasm attracts people. No one wants to listen to dull, uninteresting people. Effective disciplers have enthusiasm as well. Allow God’s light to shine through you. Use expression when you speak about Jesus. Let the person see that Christianity is not just a religion, but a relationship.

11. Friendliness

Eighty-six percent of people who come to Christ are influenced through friends, neighbors, relatives, or co-workers. If a relationship does not already exist, your goal should be to build a relationship with your new convert as quickly as possible. Don’t disciple out of obligation.