Rescue 911

It was nearly 4:30 a.m. our mission team just completed a ten day preaching and teaching work in one of the cities in Mexico. We are now headed home! No one but our caravan of cars was on the road; so we thought!

As we were driving out of town, a police car passes us with his siren lights on. We didn’t pay much attention to it because most of the police keep their siren lights on as they drive around town. All of a sudden, the police car turns his car to block the road. We slam on our brakes. When we stop, about five black trucks pull up beside us blaring music and out comes about twenty-five masked gunmen screaming to get out of the car, while pointing their AK-47’s at our heads.

Not knowing how to speak Spanish, I was totally reliant on our Mexican preacher to help me. But, the gunmen separated us. My friend Barbara was following behind us and they pulled her over, too. I couldn’t see what they were doing to her.

Is this the way my life is going to end? Are we going to die at the hands of someone who may think we have invaded their territory or have drugs? I’ve heard all the stories of the Mexican drug cartel and now we are experiencing it first hand. He asked for my I.D and Passport. Finally, there was an English speaking person, however, he wasn’t interested in chitchatting, but rather, interrogating me as to why I am in Mexico and why am I leaving so early in the morning.

I wondered, “How will they kill me?” “Will it be a bullet in the back of the head or a machete to take off my head?” I prayed, “Surely God, this isn’t the place where my life will end, is it?” I thought about my wife, Sondra and my two children, Roman and Tessa. I thought about where I put my life insurance policy. I thought about Barbara. I thought about my dad and my siblings.

As I stood there surrounded by masked gunmen, with their weapons pointed at my head, I was scared. I didn’t want to leave my family, however, I knew that if this was the place God allowed me to stand for the last time on earth, I will thank Him for the gift of life, but mostly, for the gift of rescuing me from sin and the home He will give me in heaven eternally.

The drug cartel let us go after nearly an hour of interrogating Barbara, our Mexican preacher, and me. I am grateful and give God all the glory for our rescue.

God is in the rescuing business. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 5:8 says that “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God’s love is deep. His forgiveness is limitless. His grace is abundant. His mercy is relentless. His salvation is free. God doesn’t make us accept his gifts, but when we do, it changes our destination for all of eternity!

Life is uncertain, but God isn’t. He is with us every step of our journey. No matter if it’s the drug cartel or hundreds of Christians surrounding us, God is present. It is by faith that we accept God and Jesus as Lord and Savior. Once we have accepted Christ as Lord, we see the value in:

Acknowledging our sin and our need for God’s gifts - A sinner is one who goes against God’s plan for their lives. Habakkuk 1:13 says that God “cannot tolerate wrong.” A person sins in many different ways: - I.e. Lying; telling dirty jokes or saying bad words; talking about others in a negative way. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Even though we try to do things God’s way, there is no way we can ever be perfect and sinless.

Making changes by repenting - When a person repents, they make a change in their daily lives by living God’s way. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out….”

Connecting with God by being baptized - Baptism removes the dirtiness of our sinful life and makes us clean into a spiritual life. We are washed clean of our sins and raised to a new life in Christ Jesus. Peter said in Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” It is the baptism that connects us with God, Jesus, and Spirit according Romans 6:1-11.

Baptism is our response to God for all he has done for us. Baptism is not a work to earn salvation as Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been save through faith—and this is not from yourself, it is the gift of God.” but our connection into His glorious family! What a God rescue plan!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

15 Items or Less Lane

The sign clearly says, 15 items or less. Not, 16, 22 or 30! I get all worked up over the fact that people in the “speedy” checkout lane can’t count! Can they read? Just because you have 24 of the same item doesn’t count as 1!

Am I overboard? Almost every time I go to the “speedy” (and I use the word “speedy” very loosely) I count the number of items that the people have who are in front of me. If they are over, I pitch a hissy fit. I sigh…loudly. I make comments to my daughter, “can’t people count?” To which my daughter, Tessa will say, “dad, do you remember that sermon you preached about patients?” Then I will say, “You pick a fine time to quote me.” Then she will say, “See, I told you I listen to your sermons!” Then I will say, “it’s not about patience, it’s about respecting the rules.” Tessa’s comeback is: “Well, who made the rules?” I say to her, “WALmarttttttttttttttttttttttttt!” In my very irritated tone!

Respecting rules are important. Someone says, “Rules are made to be broken.” Really? At what cost? Throughout the Scriptures, there are numerous times in which God deals with those who break the “rules.”

- Moses – Numbers 20:1-13 (Struck the rock, instead of speaking to the rock)
- Ananias and Sappphira – Acts 5 (Not telling the truth about some property)
- Lot’s Wife – Genesis 19:12-26 (Looked to see Sodom & Gomorrah destroyed)

What’s the big deal anyway? So what that Moses struck the rock or Ananias told a little fib or Lots wife wanted to take a peek behind her. So what that the “speedy” checkout lane says 15 items or less?

I am as much about grace as anyone. I also understand that we are not under law and can never earn our salvation. It is fully God’s gift to all of us. However, Romans 6:1 clearly states that we can’t go around breaking God’s biblical truths and turn right around and say, “I’m covered by the grace of God!”

We must respect God’s Word as truth and live according to its teachings. The Apostle Paul states in Galatians 5:19-22 that there are consequences for totally disregarding God’s instructions for our life.

When we respect the Word of God, the way we conduct our lives will be godly and honorable. When we respect something as simple as the 15 items or less lane, not only will those around you be less irritable (including me!) it fully demonstrates that the indwelled Spirit of God is leading every aspect of your life.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Lost and Found

I’ve looked everywhere! It’s not here! I’ve looked in my closet, the dirty cloths hamper, under the bed, even in the trash. I cannot find it! Why would someone be so cruel as to take it? Why? I loved it! It was mine. Now it’s gone. I want to put up posters around the neighborhood to see if anyone has seen it. I want to take an ad out in the local newspaper with a picture…it might be that someone has a tip that will lead to me finding it.

Where are you my favorite green pullover jacket? I know you had stains and holes and rips. But, you were mine. All mine! You went everywhere with me. I wore you with pride. And, when people made fun of me for wearing you so much, I just clung on to you a little tighter. You were my favorite! There is no jacket that will ever replace you. Until we meet again!

Silly? Probably!

Sin. Guilt. Stain. Lies. What have I done? God said (Isaiah 59:2-3) that our sins have hidden his face from us. He doesn’t hear me. My sins, guilt, stain, and lies have separated me with God.

This is not good! Help! Somebody…anybody! Help! I’m lost. I need help! Please help me! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, God. I love you! I need you! Please, save me…I’m lost and afraid.

Wait. I see something! It’s a poster! “Call to me and I will answer you….” Call to me? It says that the number is: JER333…Jeremiah 33:3. It says, “No dialing required, just speak to me and I will answer you.”

As much as I miss my green pullover, I miss God even more when I go against God’s best for me and it causes Him to turn away from me. There are consequences to a blatant disregard for God’s Word. However, there are great rewards for those who turn away from a sinful life and renew their relationship with Him. In 1 John 1:9 John says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

Stained? Yes! Guilty? Yes! Sinner? Yes! Separated from God? Not anymore! Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were STILL (stained and guilty) sinners, Christ died for us!” Acts 22:16 declares that baptism washes away our sins.
Isaiah 43:25 says that God will blot out our sins and remember them no more! When I totally give my life to God and do what His word says, then I am no longer separated from Him!

Stained? Not anymore! Guilty? Absolutely not! Forgiven? Yes, Indeed! I may never find my green pullover, but as long as I have God, Jesus, and Spirit, I will be just fine! Actually, I will be eternally fine!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

My Shoe is Broke and My Sock is Wet!

The day started off with me walking right smack into the edge of my bedroom door. My head bounced off and my mouth said a few ungraceful words (no bad words, of course) to the door as I gave it a punch. Why did I punch the door? I still don’t know. I guess it made me feel a little better…well, until I looked down and saw a little blood and then felt the pain. Stupid me!

The day was cloudy and rainy. It was one of those days that I would have preferred to sit in my favorite chair, read a book, while listening to the crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace.

I left the house at 7:15 a.m. to go to my office. I arrive in less than ten minutes. I’m alone! Ahhh. I open the window blinds, turn on my computer, and begin my day’s work. I write. I read. I watched a video for a class I teach. I gave a presentation at one of the assisted living facilities. I made several phone calls, answered calls. And, replied to e-mails. I was feeling good. Progress, I thought. It is now about 4:15 and I was making last minute preparations for a meeting I had at 7:00 p.m. My wife calls and asked me to pick up some items at the grocery store before coming home. So, I did.

It has rained all day. I drive to the store, step out of the car and make my way inside. As I was walking, I noticed that my foot was feeling wet. That’s weird, I thought. I walked over to the canopy to get out of the rain. I lifted up my foot to check the bottom of my shoe. To my surprise, the sole of my shoe had a crack all the way across.

My sock is wet and I could hear the irritating sound of a squeaky shoe as I walked through the store! I walked as quickly as possible and with the least amount of squeakiness I could possibly make. However, I felt uneasy, embarrassed, and vulnerable. I also thought about the Scripture where Paul talks about having our “feet fitted with readiness…” (Ephesians 6:15)

I didn’t feel ready. Sure, it was my shoe. But, the shoe I was wearing was not going to protect me from the rainy weather. At this point in my day, the stuff I accomplished after hitting my head and punching the door did not seem as significant as the shoe I was wearing in the rain.

Spiritually speaking, our shoes are vitally important. For anyone fighting in a war, his shoes were of utmost importance. If he lost his footing, he lost the fight. Paul says in Romans 1:16 that our footing is the gospel, the good news by which we were saved.

As you get dressed for work or the day, check the bottom of your shoes (also, watch out for the door!). Mostly, pray that God will equip you with the right shoes so that you can keep your faith firmly planted when your are tested and as you battle Satan. Without the proper shoes, we become vulnerable and we will not be able to keep our footing when there are tests, temptations, and trials.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Role Model? Me? YES!

During the “what we call the invitation song,” a little girl named Emily handed me a note. It was folded three times. On the very front it said, “Open!!” So, I did. The next fold said, “Keep going” So, I did, The next fold said, “One more” And, I did. Inside the note she wrote:

Dear Mr. Brian,
The lesson today was great! When you said “I can speak
for myself,” I thought, “Yep! Your Brian McCutchen!
Hero and preacher!!” I think of you as my role model in Christ terms!
Thanks Mr. Brian!

Sincerely,

Emily B.

Role model? Me? According to Emily, Yes! But, how? She said, “In Christ terms.”

How is one a role model in “Christ terms”? Jesus said, “For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. "But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't. You'd be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don't have to make it worse—and it's doomsday to you if you do.”
Matthew 18:3-6 (The Message)

Role Model? All of us? YES! How? Jesus said, “Be like a child” A child has an innocence about them that is pure and vulnerable. They are accepting. Loving. Forgiving. Trusting. Jesus said we need to be just like a child…pure and vulnerable; no hidden motives. Masks. Facade.

Role Model? All of us? YES! We have a responsibility to demonstrate spiritual truths that will keep our kids from sinning and seeing corruption that will destroy their faith. Our words and actions do matter! Our children are watching and listening.

Role Model? Yes! We are role models that will help our children see God. Jesus. Spirit. The way we live life will tell our kids how important our spiritual walk with God really is.

Role Model? Yes!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Why We Celebrate Thanksgiving Day!

The Dallas Cowboys. Turkey. Stuffing. The busiest travel day of the year. Parades. Grandma’s house. Cranberry sauce. Pumpkin pie. All of these listed and more have become synonymous with Thanksgiving. However, Thanksgiving did not start with the idea that we can watch parades, football or prepare for the Christmas shopping the next day. Thanksgiving started because of the generosity of the pilgrim’s neighbors.

The story is told that the first Thanksgiving Day was in 1621 when the Native Americans had a great farming season and the pilgrims were running out of food. The Native Americans had compassion on the pilgrims, so they invited them to a great feast. In this great feast they ate turkey, pumpkin, cranberries, corn, and other foods. The great feast was about sharing the blessings they had received and preventing their neighbors from starving.

In the late 1700's, George Washington declared that the third Thursday of November would be Thanksgiving; a day to celebrate the generosity that the pilgrims had received from the Native Americans. However, Thanksgiving started taking on a new meaning when in 1939, President Roosevelt set Thanksgiving Day one week earlier so that merchants could have a longer shopping season before Christmas. Trying to get back to the real reason of Thanksgiving, Congress ruled in 1941 that Thanksgiving would be the 4th Thursday in November and become a Federal holiday proclaimed by the President each year.

We all have our reasons why we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. To the Native Americans, it was about being thankful for the abundance of the crops and generosity. For the Christian, it can be about not only being generous with the blessings we have received from God, but also about how we can demonstrate our thankfulness. I suggest three ways to demonstrate your thankfulness this year:

#1. By singing: Psalm 147:7 says "Sing out your thanks to Him, sing praises to God." Nothing makes you more aware of God's presence faster than praising God.

#2. By serving: The Bible says to: “Serve the Lord with gladness.” When we serve, it puts God on display for others to see how wonderful, gentle, and caring He is

#3. By sharing: Sharing the gospel shows our gratefulness toward God for what He has done in our lives. Isaiah 12:4 says, Thank the LORD! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done….”

This year, find ways to be generous and at the same time, demonstrate your thankfulness for what God has done in your life!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Spiritual Connectedness

I want you to know that our life does not consist of working our way to heaven, but rather being invited in because of the grace of God.

I bear fruit in my life because I love God. I do not do “works” in my Christian life because I am afraid that God will send me to hell. I do “works” in my Christian life because I am grateful for the grace, mercy, and forgiveness He has “freely” given me!!!! God will not keep the doors of heaven shut and prevent anyone from coming in if we do not keep a 40 hour spiritual work week. Those who “love” God will always be a light. Forgive often. Tell the Good News! Be commited to discipleship. Love unconditionally. Accept people for who they are. Heavens doors are wide open for anyone who accepts the gifts God has freely given.

It is not our job to be the keeper of the gate and determine who is faithful and who will get heaven. It is our priveldege to tell the powerful news of Jesus and share our testimony of what He has done in our lives.

Chuck Swindoll is a premier religious writer and an excellent speaker. Chuck gives some very good principles on bearing fruit when he/she is connected to God. The following is an article from Chuck Swindoll:

Just before His death and resurrection, Jesus revealed that the secret of growing God's fruit is in being at home with Him. That's the true definition of the familiar word abide. This is how Jesus describes what that means in John 15:5: "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

Spiritual fruit is not the result of self-effort. You grow more of God's fruit not when you try harder, but when you stay connected to the Source. When you abide in Christ, you invite Him to live with you each day and reproduce His character in you. God's character at work in you looks like:

LOVE: This is God's agape, love that selflessly seeks the highest good of the other person.

JOY: Joy as a fruit of the Spirit is a settled confidence because God controls the details of your life, you can trust Him in any circumstance

PEACE: The unshakable, inner calm you experience when your mind and heart are at rest because you are trusting fully in Christ.

PATIENCE: A fruit of the Spirit that means to be "long-tempered," the opposite of short-fused irritability.

KINDNESS: The Spirit's fruit that braids mercy and grace, humility and gentleness all together.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian