What do you do when you run out of steam?

Dear Friends,

There’s not a preacher alive that has not gone through periods of dryness. Further, there is not one that does not dread such times. The heaven above seems to turn to brass. God seems nowhere around. Sunday is coming. It’s Saturday night. The urge to pull an old sermon out of the file is irresistible. So, come Sunday the congregation gets leftovers. No one enjoys tepid stale old leftovers. Yet, until the spiritual impulse returns the folks in the pew must put up with canned sermons, rituals are substituted for a real move of the Spirit, and, furthermore, the undernourished are left to famish. Need I remind you that this is a common occurrence? It’s human nature to go through periods of uncertainty. Spiritual doldrums are common to us all. It is at times like these, however, that we must remind ourselves that, as Paul reminds us, “we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).”

What is this faith that we must live by? The quick answer is it is sound doctrine. True. But head knowledge that never reaches the heart is most often where the dryness comes in. Wesley faced such periods. He writes in his journal on Saturday, March 4. 1735—

I found my brother at Oxford, recovering from his pleurisy; and with him Peter Bohler; by whom, in the hand of the great God, I was, on Sunday, the fifth, clearly convinced of unbelief, of the want of that faith whereby alone we are saved.

Immediately it struck into my mind, “Leave off preaching. How can you preach to others, who have not faith yourself?” I asked Bohler whether he thought I should leave it off or not. He answered, “By no means.” I asked, “But what can I preach?” He said, “Preach faith till you have it; and then because you have it, you will preach faith.”

Perseverance was the answer then and it is now as well.

This goes for any relationship. Marriage is no exception. I don’t think the human body could tolerate or sustain the gushy feeling that one felt when they first fell head over heels in love with their spouse. That comes and goes. Further, it cannot be depended on to sustain any marriage, or for that matter any relationship. A resolute commitment can, however, get us through the tough spots in any relationship, even with God.

Keep in mind that faith is a fact, not a feeling.

Stay Safe, and remember God loves you and so do I,

Take care, and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/

Take care, stay safe and remember He cares for you!

In moments of crisis, the best and the worst comes out of people. It has been said, and rightly so, I think, that the Second World War defined Churchill. Under different circumstances he would have remained just another faceless British politician, bickering over partisan issues. The same can be said of Roosevelt, and, yes, even great religious leaders like Wesley or Moody. Christ who came in the “fulness of time (Galatians 4:4)” was evidently no exception.

At Christ's first coming, the whole universe was in alignment with that announcement. It is not by accident that the star navigated the Magi to Bethlehem, to a crib with humble surroundings, so that they, too, could partake of this marvelous gift to humankind. God’s timing is not always ours, but it is always precise and “on time.” He is, indeed, a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1);” He is the God of the “now,” yesterday’s circumstances are only a shadow of memory in His Kingdom, each and every day is a time of opportunity for change, healing and greatness. When He abides in us and we in Him there are no mountains too tall for us to climb, no road too rugged for us to walk, no challenge which we may not overcome. For with Him, even death is only an opportunity in which to show His great power and His great love.

For the weary, He is a source of strength. For the faint of heart, He whispers encouragement. For those who do not feel good enough, in their contriteness He blesses them. He is the God of all seasons, all circumstances, the God of yesterday, today, and forever. He is the mighty Jehovah, the I AM, without beginning or end. We need not fear. He is always near. Closer than a whisper and no shout can outdistance Him.

So, take courage during these dark days of isolation. The sun will rise. The spring will come. Help is not even a heartbeat away. Trust and he will sustain you, guide you through the dark places; take you down familiar paths that the saints have trod before. Nothing, absolutely nothing baffles or bothers Him. In Him and with Him nothing can destroy His great purpose for you (Romans 8:28-29). He is the Christ of each circumstance.

May God give each of us the understanding, wisdom, and courage to take these words and live by them. If we do there shall be no regrets.

Take care, stay safe and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/

The Aliens Among Us . . .

More Questions

Answers

Question:  Dear Dr. Roane, the stupid governor of California is working up a plan to give aid to the illegals who do not qualify for the stimulus package because of the coronavirus situation. What do you think?

Answer: First of all we must show respect; although, we may not agree with their decisions. Personal politics is simply not Christian. We need to stick with the principles. So, in regards to that, I must say that for most of us, this coronavirus pandemic should trigger a spiritual inventory. Are we the Christians we say we are? Do we smart off and wisecrack about the Chinese just because the first known cases happen to come from the Yunnan Province in China? Do we nitpick and criticize almost every move the present administration takes? What do we do about the poor illegal alien among us with a house full of children, particularly since the stimulus package completely overlooked them? Forget the wall for a moment. Mercy is bigger than any wall. Yes, our borders should be protected, but so must also those indigent aliens among us. Now’s not the time for revenge. Let the law, the government, and others work through that, but during the meantime, each of us is called to be the Good Samaritan, not just in talk but in action.

It's Biblical, like it or not. More specifically according to these verses, and more:

Leviticus 19:34

But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Exodus 23:9

Also, thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 10:18,19

He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

See also: Numbers 35:11-12; Exodus 22:21; Deuteronomy 24:14.

So, the principle is certainly established in the text as well as the admonition that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. In this regard, we are to love them as Jesus does. They are precious souls for whom He gave His life as well as for ours.

Now, as far as government policy is, and how this is instituted, it is beyond my scope of comprehension, except to say that it must be done lovingly. A loving response would not rule out helping them to improve their living conditions in their country of origin as long as it is reasonably safe and practical. In no way, however, should children be separated from their parents, especially their mothers and left destitute and without hope.

This does not mean, however, that we should allow jihadists, drug dealers, or felonious criminals to enter to work havoc in our country. These kinds must be vetted out of the system.

Remember, that “the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17).” So, in essence, since what you are asking for is wisdom in a situation like this, keep this verse fully in focus.

Stay safe, and remember that love knows no boundaries.

 JimR_/

Yes, no, but never maybe so . . .

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than to give a helping hand to someone in the dark." Helen Keller

Nothing surprises our Master. Nothing, absolutely nothing! He is the Master of every circumstance. His strength and power never fail. He is indeed the Great I Am, the eternally self-sufficient, powerful, and ever-present One. He is always there in every need (Deut. 31:6; Matt. 28:20; Rom. 8:38-39). We need not fear (John 16:33) for He is willing and able to give us peace in each and every situation (John 14:27). His word to us remains the same,

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom (Luke 12:32)

Having said all of that, it is a good time to remind us that Christ is Lord of every circumstance, there are no coincidences with Him. He knows the end from the beginning and He and He alone will make the final decision (Isaiah 46:10).

The Good Samaritan was good, but only in the providence of God, for scripture tells us that it was by a divinely ordained coincidence (by chance) that the priest and the Levite and he came upon the bruised and wounded man lying in the ditch on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. The good Samaritan, however, was the only one who compassionately responded to the poor man. You know the story. The story, however, doesn’t end there. We, too, are good Samaritans as we respond to the needs of others in need (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1; Philippians 4:6). As Christians, our motto is first and foremost “Others.” For if we do not love the brother or our neighbor whom we have seen, how can we love God whom we have not seen (1 John 4:20)?

For most of us, this coronavirus pandemic should trigger a spiritual inventory. Are we the Christians we say we are? Do we smart off and wisecrack about the Chinese just because the first known cases happen to come from the Yunnan Province in China? Do we nitpick and criticize almost every move the present administration takes? What do we do about the poor illegal alien among us with a house full of children, particularly since the stimulus package completely overlooked them? Forget the wall for a moment. Mercy is bigger than any wall. Yes, our borders should be protected, but so must also those indigent aliens among us. Now’s not the time for revenge. Let the law, the government, and others work through that, but during the meantime, each of us is called to be the Good Samaritan, not just in talk but in action.

So, reach out in kindness to the “Others” among us. It is not just a chance of circumstance that God has allowed these particular cases to materialize in plain view in our neighborhoods. Opportunities are there. Just look. You’ll never regret that you did.

Blessings now. Take care, the life you save may just be yours.

 JimR_/