What's Going On?

Regardless of your political preferences, it's quite obvious that there's a lot going on in the world today. Whether it's about the unborn, marriage, race relations, or the economy, this world as we know it is changing before our eyes. While presidential candidates position themselves for next year's general election, our current leaders flail in their own strength, against unending crises. What's going on? Are we out of control? Is there an end in sight to all this? To repeat the title of an early '70s song, What's going on?

This much I know: Things are going to get worse for those who have put their trust in people, politics, and power. Those who are looking for natural answers will be, once again, disappointed by yet another promiser of better things to come.

Dream on.

It's time for those who claim to believe the Bible start acting like it. Preaching what you practice makes for a better audience than failing to practice what you preach. It's time for the Church-those who have believed on the Name of Jesus-to buckle down, remember who they are, in Christ, and live in such a way that gives a reason for the lost to want Who and what we have.

Only those whose lives are founded on doing what the New Testament says are going to make it. Sobering thought, but true. Like the song of old says, it's time for the Church to be the Church. While the world system gets darker, the light of the glorious Gospel shines brighter and brighter, through us. We can't stop some things from taking place, but we don't have to allow them in our homes, schools, churches, and individual lives.

What's going on? Will this be us asking this out of fear, or the world asking this of what God is doing through and for His people?

What's going on in your own life? Fear? Disappointment? Uncertainty? Or a life worth introducing to others?

Whose Life Are You Imitating?

A few years ago I was at a dinner with numerous other guests. The evening's entertainment was provided by someone imitating a former president. His looks, mannerisms, and speech were amazingly accurate. When I first saw him the thought occurred to me that this was the actual president-the person this person was accurately imitating. Years ago I heard a person tell a group of students how, when he went to seminary, he was told to pick someone out from church history, to imitate. This person certainly had a long list of person to choose from. He chose Jesus.

We all, at one time or another, have tried to imitate someone else. Good or bad, real or imaginary, as a child or even now-we've all had those those moments of trying to be someone else. For some, those moments became much longer, becoming a lifetime pursuit. Elvis Presley attended one church my family attended. Okay, it wasn't really Elvis-just someone who made money impersonating Elvis in Las Vegas.

Not looking like Elvis or any president, I've chosen to be myself, while still striving to imitate one person's life. That person is God. In the Book of Ephesians, Chapter 5, verse 1 we are to follow God. Some translations read "imitate" in place of "follow." We are to imitate God. How? By acting like Jesus did, when He was here on Earth. The way to imitate Jesus is to find out in God's Word how Jesus acted and act like He did. In time we'll take on those characteristics of love, patience, and faithfulness-among others-which Jesus demonstrated in His earth walk.

Whose life are you imitating? A fictional character? A president or other public figure? Or God, through being like Jesus?

What Difference Does it Make?

"What difference does it make" has become a well known question in recent months. Depending on your viewpoint it can either ask us to be focused on right now or, for some, be viewed as an attempt to miniaturize an issue, belief, or question. On this question you be the judge and jury of what the right answer is. It used to matter what Christians believed, how they lived, and how they were viewed. The effects of Judeo-Christian beliefs were seen and felt in schools, the workplace, and in Hollywood. In view of prominent government officials, media moguls, and corporate denizens advancing their collective platforms of change, what has happened to the Christian message? Where are the Christian values once espoused in days gone by by our schools and media, and practiced in the market place? More importantly, what difference does it make?

Does it make a difference when religious tolerance ends with Christians and Jews? Does it make a difference when the egg of a bald eagle, our nation's symbol, has more rights than those of an unborn child? Does it make a difference when the color of man's skin matters more than the content of his character? Does it make a difference when a handout is viewed as an entitlement? Does it make a difference when churches compromise their message, rather then change their methods to keep the next generation?

I believe that the answer to each of these questions is a resounding "Yes!" "Yes" is the easy part. The hard part is what are we, as followers of Jesus Christ,  doing about it? What are we doing to make a difference in and to a dying, decaying world we live in? If nothing, then why? If not now, then when? I'm going to share some answers on my next post. In the meantime I'd like to hear from you, to hear what you have to say about us making a difference.

What are some ways you can make-or are making-a difference? Your sharing may make a difference in someone else also becoming a difference.

What's Your Standard?

Outside of Washington, DC sits the National Institute of Science and Technology, better known as NIST. Here numerous calibration devices are housed, including one particular atomic clock. This clock serves as America's source of time. Originally known as the National Bureau of Standards, the agency is the source for lengths, weights, and many other calibrations. Our lives also need standards to live by. A life devoid of standards is a life tossed to and fro at the whim of circumstances.  This kind of life has no purpose to fulfill.  Purposes without standards cannot thrive in any country, culture, or community.

Lots of standards vie for our attention. From "Do your own thing" to "My way, or the highway", standards of varying degrees of commitment are there for the taking, With one exception standards change depending on situations, social demands, and past experience (s). That one exception is the Bible, God's written Word. The B-I-B-L-E.

What's your standard? What is the measuring stick for your life? By what standard is your time, work, socializing, and spending calibrated? Is it what feels good, what worked yesterday, or is your personal standard a work in progress? If not already, have you examined God's Word to see how it can be the standard for your life? For your today, tomorrow, and forever.

God's Word works in every country, culture, and circumstance. It doesn't matter what your background or present circumstances are-God's Word works. God's Word is the one standard everyone can truly live by. In any neighborhood, village, shelter, and locality. On both sides of the tracks, God's Word works. All the time. Every inch along God's path for you.

Our job is to find out what God is saying to us now, then see His Word working in us. A good way to find is by starting with the basics.

For those interested in learning the basics of the Christian life I have written Born To Win: A Study Course for the New Believer. This easy-to-read book is for first-time Christians, as well as those who would like to "brush up" on the basics. No matter how long you've been a believer, the basics will never get old. Timeless standards.

This book retails for $9.99, plus shipping. For a limited time you can purchase as many copies of this helpful book for just $ 5.00, including shipping, while supplies last. Orders must be prepaid by check or money order. Mail orders to: Hubert Gardner Ministries; P.O. Box 35373; Tulsa, OK 74153.  Offer good in U.S. only. Those outside the U.S. are encouraged to purchase the digital version on either Kindle or iBooks.

How would you define your standard? How long have you had it? How well is it working for you, at this time of your life? Discuss.

Where Are Your Roots?

Tree roots provide a tentacled anchor, enabling trees to withstand winds, adverse conditions, and seasonal changes. Having a healthy root system provides the basis for mature growth and development of trees. A tree's very life originates within its unseen roots.

Like trees, our lives need roots. We need roots to ensure our personal growth and development has something to draw from. Our roots are critical to succes in our lives-even life itself. The quality of our lives can be traced to the quality of our unseen anchor-our roots if you will.

Where are your roots? Who or what is your life's root system? When the storms of life come what anchors your life? What sees you through? What sustains you? Again, where are your roots? Your answer may reveal who/what you have chosen to draw your very existence from.

The Bible has already given us an answer that will work everywhere, all the time, in every situation. In Colossians 2:6,7 God instructs us to be rooted in Christ. This includes being rooted in the knowledge of who and what we are as Christians, as children of God. This is a truth no crisis can prevail against. Acting on the knowledge of who and what we are, in Christ, is part of the unseen root system God designed and made available for each of our lives. The length and breadth of that system is limited only by our willing obedience to God's Word in our own lives.

So, where are your roots? In yourself, the hope of having someone else's experience to draw from, or in the Word of God-especially the Epistles (letters written to Christians)? There are a lot of root systems around, however only one system works. Which root system are you relying on for life, strength, and health? Where are your roots?

God’s root system begins with His written Word. God’s written word is His will to us through, primarily, the letters written to the churches, Romans through Revelation. I’m not saying neglect the Old Testament. A former businessman said that we could run a business using the book of Proverbs. The 23rd Psalm is so beautifully written, for our benefit. The book of Isaiah has much we Christians can learn from. And the book of beginnings, Genesis, tells us what took place before and after Adam sinned, clueing us that the Messiah (Jesus) would come and defeat the devil (Genesis 3:15).

Hebrews 8:6 says that, as Christians, we have a better covenant, established upon better promises. Therefore, spend most of your time in the new covenant, written to us Christians. New is better than old, for sure. The Old Testament (covenant) has much to say about curses. In the New Testament we are told, in Galatians 3:13, that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law.

That’s one reason why the New Testament is much better than the Old. Plus, the Old Testament was written to spiritually dead people, because Jesus hadn’t yet come to redeem us. The letters written to us Christians tell what happened when Jesus went to the Cross for all mankind. The Old Testament proclaims the fact of Jesus’s coming. The Gospels tell us what happened, but only in the letters written to Christians do we find out why Jesus did what He did, for all mankind.

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2014-2024

Things to Know (Part 1)

Success, whether in the classroom, workplace, or life in general, depends on knowing some things. Knowing these things spells the difference between success and failure, victory and defeat. As Christians, we need to know some things about who and whose we are, what belongs to us, and what we can do in this life. What are some of those things we need to know?

1. God is your Heavenly Father; you belong to Him, not the devil. You have a new Lord, a new master. His name is Jesus.

2. Through the Holy Spirit, God is now living in you. Not just with you-in you. Having your physical organs in you is more personal and beneficial than just with you. The same is true concerning God.

3. What Jesus accomplished in His death, burial, and resurrection He did for you. You are now a part of God's army, helping to enforce Satan's defeat. Whether you feel that way right now or not, it's still true. Christians need to know this truth and act like it. That's not being arrogant or bragging on what you've done. That's bragging on Jesus; that's enforcing Satan's defeat.

These 3 things are of utmost importance to know, in order to live the life God has already planned for you.

My next post will cover a few more things to know. Perhaps they will agree with things you’ve already found and are living out in your own life.

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2014-2024

Will the Real Church Please Stand Up?

The Church needs fixing. As a whole we're too comfortable, being either unaware of the need to change or unwilling to do so. Like it or not the times they are a changing, just as they were a generation ago. I see the Church desperately needing to do two things-and do them quickly-to regain the influence it once had (and should have) in our homes, schools, communities, and nations. The first is a return to who we really are. A return to what and who God created us, the Church, to be, nearly 2000 years ago.

The book of Acts is the pattern for the Church today. Read the book of Acts. With no internet, printing presses, or mechanized transportation, the early Church turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). This included signs, wonders, and miracles, resulting from the preaching of the Word of God. That same power belongs to us today. Signs, wonders, and miracles haven't passed away anymore than faith, hope, or love have. It's a matter of taking God at His Word, doing our part in proclaiming the truth, and expecting God to accompany His Word with signs following.

It worked for those in the early days of the Church; it'll work for us in these days, as well. Let's be the Church the world despises, yet so desperately needs.

The second thing the Church, as a whole, needs to do is change. Without changing core beliefs, change our methods to reach an ever-changing world, replete with tech-savvy young people who shun the very methods whereby those of the 60s, 70s, and 80s came to Christ. Folks, let's have as much sense as an experienced fisherman: if the fish ain't biting, don't blame the fish.

Change the bait.

Let's embrace the power, determination, and persistence of the early believers. At the same time, let's also embrace new ways-particularly technologically creative ones-to reach our world for Christ.

What are some ways you can think of to reach those around you-particularly young people between 13-25? What have you done or are planning to do to accomplish your ways?

Thermometer or Thermostat?

Many homes have thermometers, both inside and out.  Outside thermometers are usually in the shade, whereas  central heat/air conditioning units have an indoor thermometers with their thermostats.  Both indoor and outdoor thermometers serve the same function: to measure actual temperature at any given moment.  Thermostats, however, allow occupants to change the surrounding temperature from what is to what is desired-either higher or lower. I have never seen an outside thermostat. If it's 90 degrees in the shade where you live it will remain that way, until weather changes raise or lower the temperature.  As I write this, the outside temperature is 69 degrees at noon, which is great for the middle of May.  For an Oklahoma July or August? Just wishful thinking.

Inside, however, we can change the existing temperature to be either warmer or cooler, depending upon personal preference. We do this by setting our thermostat to the desired temperature, up or down. Thermostats direct the air conditioner or heater to come on, thereby producing a change in temperature-either warmer or cooler. Thank God for working thermostats!

Our tongues can be either a thermometer or a thermostat, telling the way things are (thermometer) or declaring the desired result (thermostat). Telling things the way they are results in things remaining the same, or changing without your permission. Calling for change in your situation demands making a change in your words. From what is to what you desire. From the way things are to the way you want them to be based, of course, on the promises of God's Word.

Perhaps  you're in a situation that needs changing. Whether it's your health, finances, job situation, relationships, or your walk with God, it can change. But as long as you talk about just what is things won't change. Like that thermometer, your words will be an indicator of what is. On the other hand, beginning to speak what God's Word says about your situation will initiate change in your life. Your tongue will be like that thermostat, demanding your circumstances change from what is to what's promised to you by God, in His Word.

Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? Are your words declaring what is or what's desired? What are you doing to see your circumstance change? How has reading this post helped? Who can you share this post with, to see change in someone else's life?