My computer was sick.  It had a malware that I couldn't find.  It had pop-ups that kept me from several interactive sites, including the ability to update this one.  It came on suddenly, and no amount of virus checks, pop-up blockers or other solutions could remedy the situation.

So I spent some time praying this morning.  I asked God to clean my computer, but to clean my heart first.  I was at my wit's end where my computer was concerned.  And then I realized that I hadn't spent nearly enough time in prayer and meditation lately.

This is the point where some of you will say, "Can't be.  He's the pastor."  Let me answer simply and clearly.  "Can be.  He's a human."  

As a fellow human, let me ask you a question.  Have you asked God to check your life and heart for viruses?  For the hidden sin that you have tried to eliminate, but you just can't succeed?  He knows you better than you do.  He will succeed where you can not.

By the way, I was able to end my computer problem.  Somehow the malware had hidden in the programs menu.  The virus scans couldn't touch it, because it had set itself up as a legitimate program.

Sometimes we justify our sin by saying that it is a legitimate part of our lives.  As the alcoholic needs the next drink, or the nicotine addict sees cigarettes as a normal part of his life, we are in danger of seeing sin as simply something that is there, that doesn't go away.  It pops up, obscuring our view of Jesus, and we try to work around it, but we can't.  It blocks our view of our Savior.  It steals the Lordship of Christ from our lives, because He stops being our Lord when we look away from Him.  We are blind, and we don't even realize it anymore.

Today, come into His presence.  Ask Him to find that sin that you can't seem to defeat.  Pray that He will let you see what is blocking you from Him.  Then every time it "pops up", give it to Him.  Ask Jesus to take it away.  Simply pray, "Here, Jesus.  You died to take this away from me.  My life is yours.  I not only give my life to you, but I give my sin to you."

The temptations don't end.  But sin doesn't have to be the result.  The whole point of Jesus' death was to save you FROM your sin.  In fact, He already took your sin on Himself when He was on the cross.  Your part is to accept that gift, thank Him for it, and keep letting Him take care of it for you.

Do that, and you will be healthy spiritually.  Even more than that, you will be free. 


       "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."                                     -  Jesus, in John 8:36

Yesterday I beat the rain.  I didn't think I would, but I quickly mowed the entire lawn just before the rain came.  It made me think back to a summer at camp when it just wouldn't stop raining.  I wrote the following originally as an annual report, and then turned it into a Christian Camping article.  Every word is true, with the exception of the boy's name.  By the way, the message is the same in church ministry, and in our daily lives.

SUMMER OF RAIN

As I watch the rain streaming down my window, I am reminded of the gifts of our Father.  As He gives us life, He nourishes us with His blessings and allows us to grow.  He tends each one of us as we develop, bloom and eventually bear fruit for Him.  And as we sow His seeds He is faithful to send the sun and the rain, and to cause new growth.  He gives what we need – and that is enough.

That, in an acorn-shell, is the camping ministry.  It is a seed sowing service.  And God produces the harvest in the lives of the campers.

Summer is an exciting time of year in Christian Camping, and despite the constant rain, this year was no exception.  We all know the joy on the face of a returning camper who finds a friend that he hasn’t seen for a year.  And we have seen fear in the eyes of a camper coming to camp for the first time, alone and anxious.

Then there are the Troublemakers.  Everyone knows these campers by name, but for all the wrong reasons.  The other campers avoid them, and the staff watch them constantly.  You know that by the end of the week they will be in the director’s office for discipline.  At our camp, “Blessed are the Troublemakers, for they shall see Tim.”  Let me tell you about one so blessed.

Bobby was thirteen years old.  He had been in trouble all of his life.  He lived with his dad, who was usually not around.  Bobby was on probation for stealing.  It seemed he would do or say almost anything for attention.  He informed me matter-of-factly that his dad was an alien astronaut from Mars.  If any campers dared to call Bobby a liar, he would threaten to beat them up.

It was Friday night.  Bobby had been on the edge of trouble all week, teasing and picking on the other campers.  Tonight he hit another boy in his cabin, splitting his lip and knocking him to the cement floor.  So here he was, blessed again to see Tim.  Everything inside of me, every book I’ve read and all my experience agreed that it was time to send Bobby home.

But home to what?

I was surprised to find myself telling Bobby that I wanted him to stay at camp.  I told him how Jesus Christ could make a difference in his life.  Bobby sat on a stump, listening intently as I shared the love of God with him.  Then, as it started to rain, that thirteen year old Troublemaker told me, with tears streaming down his face, that he had “done too much.  I’m too set in my ways to turn to God.  He could never love someone like me.”  As the raindrops fell around us, I told him again how much God loves him and wants to forgive him.

Bobby left camp on Saturday without knowing Jesus as his savior.  But a seed was planted.

So often we get to the end of a summer and we ask about the harvest.  God allows us to lead many campers to Him at camp, and for that we are thankful.  But this is primarily a seed sowing service.

And we pray for rain…