I believe.

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:24

I’m the son of two southerners. My father was raised on a sharecropping farm which my grandfather later managed to purchase. My mother was raised in “the projects” of Orlando, Florida. Seeing the election through the eyes of Southern blacks was a lesson in the tension between belief and unbelief. There was a great desire to see Barack Obama win. But having lived and witnessed the unrelenting obstacles of discrimination and racism, pragmatism kept taking over and covering optimism with doubt. African Americans, particularly those who came of age during the Civil Rights Movement wrestled with their emotions until the final results were tallied; both believing and not daring to believe that Mr. Obama would prevail. As Christians, we also struggle to put our faith to work when the situation that confronts us dwarfs our ability to rationally believe it can work out in our favor.

Mark’s account of the healing of the sick young man is a vivid portrait. The child would convulse, fall to the ground and foam at the mouth before becoming rigid. His father tells Jesus that his son has been this way since childhood and had often fallen into the water and fire and almost been killed. His desire to help his son is well illustrated in the story as he asks Jesus to have compassion and help them. Jesus tells him that all things are possible to him who believes. Immediately the man begins to cry professing his belief and asking for help to believe at the same time. What a perfect mirror for us as we confront illness, financial difficulties, disagreements with loved ones and co-workers and even our own destructive character traits. We stand before God proclaiming our trust in Him while at the same time asking for the faith to trust Him more. Jesus heals the boy and later tells his Disciples that situations like that one require prayer and fasting.

My prayer for you today is that you take on the volume of prayer commitment needed to access the power through faith to overcome your obstacles.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Fully Prepared.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11

I watched Tiger Woods win his 66th professional golf tournament yesterday. Even though it was a nail-biter and went down to the final putt on the 18th hole; I had the feeling while riveted to the television screen for more than 4 hours, that he would win. Tiger enters tournaments prepared. You can tell by the muscles that ripple beneath his golf shirt and are on display in his biceps and forearms. His deliberate manner and intensity attacks the psyche of his opponents like he attacks the golf course with his masterful shots. As Christians, we must never forget that our power and success also comes from preparation.

The 6th Chapter of Ephesians describes in great detail the preparation necessary for the Christian. To be strong in the Lord, writes Paul, we must put on the whole armor of God. He describes the enemy as being not flesh and blood but spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore, he writes, we need to put on truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the word of God. Finally, he writes, we must pray always. Even in our crass, pessimistic and skeptical world, a strong, committed, prayed-up Christian will stand out.

My prayer for you today is that you start today and everyday prepared to win the days battles.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Potholes.

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:3

In late March, the signs of spring are everywhere. The weather warms, the grass begins to green, the first shoots of green plants break through the soil and roads everywhere begin to break out in potholes. New York City fixes about 125,000 potholes a year. Before they do, these holes catch thousands of drivers unawares, causing millions of dollars of damage to tires, rims and undercarriages as well as numerous accidents. As Christians, we must be prepared for many unexpected tests of our faith as we journey through life.

In the book of James, the writer begins as honestly and abruptly as a gust of cold, bracing wind. “greetings,” he writes. “Count it all joy when you fall in to various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Like a trainer in the corner of a boxing ring telling his fighter that he is about to get hit in the face. Like a beekeeper being told she’s going to get stung. We are going to hit potholes in life. Even today, some of you will be cruising through your day unawares when all of a sudden –Bam! The writer goes on to give the Christian context and encouragement. The product of successfully confronting trials with patience is the creation of a stable, humble, beautiful, Christ-centered human being. And that’s what we are all striving to become. So brace yourself…here comes another hole in the road!

My prayer for you today is that God will give you the ability to confront your obstacles with the assurance the obstacle will pass and you will be stronger and better for having encountered it.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Going Nowhere

Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—Revelation 3:17

During the 2008 Presidential campaign a transportation project in Alaska became a front page news story. The project is a 375 million dollar transportation venture that is designed to connect Juneau, the state capital to the towns of Haines and Skagway. Haines and Skagway combined have a population of just 3,000 and the terrain between them is steep and treacherous. The project has already received more than 100 million in federal aid and has been dubbed the Road to Nowhere. As Christians, if we are not careful, we can find ourselves in the worthless pursuit of things that simply do not matter.

The description in the third chapter of Revelation of the church of the Laodicean’s is both shocking and frightening. Laodicea was a wealthy city and by all accounts, the Church at Laodicea had let the attitude of the city affect its witness and worship. They had become lukewarm –neither hot or cold. They were confusing material wealth with spiritual well-being. We too often confuse our comfort, our bank accounts, our business prospects and our physical comfort with our spiritual health. God called on the Revelation church to recognize their state and to refocus their attention on the true riches only found in the things of God, which last forever. In times like these as we are tempted to chase financial security, let’s meditate on Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness and these things shall be added to you.”

My prayer for you today is for God to add to your faith so you can put your whole trust in Him.

Deacon Larry Woodard

More Power.

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

In the popular TV series Star Trek, which originally aired from 1964 to 1969, Captain Kirk was a commander of the starship Enterprise. The mission of the Enterprise was to explore the galaxy. As the ship encountered hostile beings in space or on other planets, the crew would fight to survive and protect the ship from destruction. Always cool under pressure, Captain Kirk would tell his Chief Engineer Scotty: “We need more power!” Scotty would invariably announce: “Captain, I’m giving her all she’s got!” As Christians, we are familiar with this situation. In the midst of our storms, we look to God for help us persevere and overcome.

Much of the New Testament can be viewed as an exploration of our weaknesses as human beings and our need to find power greater than our own. Jesus heals people of their afflictions, feeds them and comforts them in their anguish over death… even raising people from the dead. The Apostle Paul and James write extensively of our inability to overcome our tendencies and our war with the flesh. As we go about our daily lives we witness firsthand the struggles of this world: We wrestle with our finances, our diets, our relationships and more. The pull to be selfish or to yield to temptation is always present. Yet Jesus tells his disciples about the power of faith and assures them that if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. None of us has arrived to the point where we have the faith to take care of whatever we need through prayer but there is a great lesson in the words of Jesus that we should not fail to learn. Jesus was single-mindedly about his Father’s business. When our focus is on God and He is the center of attention and will be glorified by any benefit we gain; our prayer for more power will surely be heard.

My prayer for you today is that you have the power you need and some left over to share.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Close Call.

Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. Jonah 3:10

The International Space Station is a research facility in Low Earth Orbit. It is about 190 miles above the earth. It is moving at roughly 17,000 per hour and orbits the earth approximately 16 times a day. It is a joint venture between the United States, Japan, Russia and 10 European countries. It is the biggest facility ever built in space. Construction began in 1998 and expected to continue until 2015. Recently, the space station had a close encounter with a piece of space junk. All space debris travels at about 5 miles a second and so a one-half inch piece of aluminum would pack the same punch as a 400 pound safe traveling at 60 miles per hour. If the debris hit the space station it could cause a catastrophic loss of air pressure. The space debris missed the station by about three miles while the astronauts huddled in a Russian space capsule aboard. As Christians, we witness God’s mercy as he gives us many chances to seek salvation.

Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian empire. It was in what is now northern Iraq. It was thought to be a thoroughly modern city. People came from far and wide to experience the healing powers of the statue to the goddess Ishtar and there was a library with an extensive collection of scholarly and literary works on magic. Even as God speaks about Nineveh, he describes it as both great and evil. Like Paul who, before his conversion, persecuted Christians, talented people and great institutions can still be evil. As I read about the broad boulevards and wide squares and parks of ancient Nineveh I was reminded of Matthew 7:13 which states the gate to destruction is wide and the path is broad. As Christians, we need to frequently examine ourselves and make sure we are aligned with the word of God and the straightforward and simple good news of salvation. No matter how successful we appear to be, God searches our hearts and knows our thoughts. We must seek him while he mercifully waits for us.

My prayer for you today is that you look for signs around you that you are on the right pathway.

Deacon Larry Woodard

It's There.

Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." Acts 14:17

In the mid 19th Century, scientist knew about the planet Uranus. They had been watching it since its discovery by Sir William Herschel in 1781. But in 1846, scientists realized by mapping its orbit that something was causing it to move strangely. It was deduced that it must be the result of a nearby planet. The plotted it mathematically and found Neptune within one degree of the position their mathematical equation predicted. As Christians, the evidence of God is clear by the power of His activity here on earth.

Paul and Barnabas had fled to Lystra and healed a crippled man in front of the temple to the Greek god Zeus. The people seeing the miracle believed Paul and Barnabas to be hermes and zeus; Greek gods come down in the guise of men. The priest of that temple decided to make an offering with the people as a result of the miracle. Paul and Barnabas pleaded with the people to understand that they were men, not gods. In our daily walk we find people who put their trust in many things other than God almighty. They trust their jobs, money, horoscopes, institutions, our leaders and even each other. God’s power is evident in our world. He alone created the heavens and the earth and created us in His image to worship him. Only God has the power to draw men to him in a way that causes our lives to have greater meaning.

My prayer for you today is that you seek God in all you do. As you do this you will feel the unmistakable pull of His power in your life.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Hear Hear.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19

In the British Parliament, known for its loud and vigorous debates, some members began in the late 1500’s to shout “Hear him, hear him” attempting to draw attention and provide support to a speaker. By the 1700’s it had been shortened to “Hear Hear”. Today it is widely used in English speaking countries to show support for the speaker or the views expressed. As Christians, we are required to spread the good news of the Gospel and by our words and deeds allow those who do not yet believe to “hear” the redeeming message of Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist cried out to all who would hear him that Jesus was coming. The disciples, those Jesus healed and those he encountered witnessed his power and authority. Even nature by yielding to His will bore witness to His identity. As we go about our organized religion: church on Sundays and trying our best to live the Golden Rule; it is important to understand that Jesus also instructed us to spread the Gospel. This only happens when we by our actions or our words actually tell someone else the salvation story and invite them to experience it.

My prayer for you today is for the opportunity and the courage to be a witness.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Choose Wisely.

And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Daniel 1:5

I travel a lot and often find myself in hotel rooms. I’ve stayed in almost every brand but I’m most often in Westins, Renaissance Inns, Hiltons, Ritz Carltons, Radisson and Hyatts. They are frighteningly similar. They try to cater to the things they believe customers want and need during their brief stays. In addition to room service for meals, there is usually a bedroom with a chair and/or couch, a bathroom and a closet, an ironing board and iron, a TV, a desk, nightstands and a bureau. In most of these hotels the TV has movie channels that include adult entertainment stations and a small refrigerator filled with high calorie snacks, soda, beer, wine and liquor. For the vacationing couple or the weary businessman; these rooms contain everything needed, from the perspective of the world, to relax and unwind. From a Christian perspective, the most important item in the room is the Gideon Bible found in the drawer of the nightstand. As Christians, we must be careful to choose wisely what we will consume. Just because everything is available does not make it appropriate or edifying.

Daniel and his friends had “lucked out”. Captured by the Babylonians and enslaved, they wind up in the palace having been chosen to learn the language and the ways of their Chaldean captors. They would receive instruction and get all of the benefits of being in the palace including the same food as the King. What an opportunity! Many of us would relish the chance to live “high on the hog”, to get special treatment and be treated like royalty. We would easily forget our humble beginnings and those we left behind and quickly grow accustomed to having plenty. Daniel, full of the spirit, chooses wisely. He asks to be given simple vegetables to eat. God causes Daniel to be healthier and stronger than those who ate the king’s food. Daniel’s success in the land of the Chaldeans came from his focus on God and his ability to make wise choices based on keeping his focus on God.

My prayer for you is the ability to choose between the things that are available and the things that are beneficial.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Character Building.

David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.1 Samuel 22:1

The great college basketball coach John Wooden said: “Be more concerned about your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” Character building experiences are those experiences that build up our worthwhile characteristics. Honesty, faithfulness, integrity, caring, empathy. Many times they are not pleasant. In fact, they often times hurt and are difficult to endure. Christians come to realize that building character is part of the experience of growing a deeper relationship with God.

The story of David is perhaps one of the most incredible and powerful stories in all of the written word. God declares David the next king in his youth. David is forced to flee as Saul tries to kill him seven times. David is forced to beg for the bread from the altar when he is hungry, act like he is crazy to escape the King of Gath and hide in the cave of Adullam. If God sent us word we would be the next president, wouldn’t we step forward and begin to make our way to Washington? Often as Christians we leave out the part where God has to prepare us for the role we will assume. We have to be refined and tried in the fire like silver so that there will be no doubt we can face the obstacles, resist the temptations, make the difficult decisions and keep the faith when we arrive at our destination. Don’t be discouraged when you meet life’s challenges. Accept the opportunity to grow stronger.

My prayer for you today is that God give you the discernment to know when your tough time is for your own good.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Disaster Recovery

23So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe--the richly ornamented robe he was wearing--24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it. Genesis 27:23,24

The Great Lisbon earthquake of 1755 is estimated to have been about a 9 on the Richter magnitude scale. (The biggest earthquake actually ever recorded was a 9.5). The earthquake took place in the capital city of Portugal at 9:40 in the morning and triggered a tsunami and fires. It was one of the most destructive earthquakes in history. More than two thirds of the buildings in Lisbon were destroyed as were many lives, important historical texts and works of art. This single earthquake however was responsible for the birth of modern seismology and earthquake engineering; it raised the wages of construction workers and led to the abandonment of Portugal’s colonial ambitions and significant theological advancements in the concept of Theodicy. As Christians, we know that God is able to create good out of circumstances that appear bad.

The story of Joseph is an almost mathematical diagram of an equation that would be expressed as T + AD =OGDP2 or Trouble + Apparent Disaster equals the opportunity for God to Demonstrate his Power. Joseph goes from the pit to the prison, suffering a series of trials which on the surface might indicate God’s displeasure. However, ultimately God’s purpose is revealed when Joseph goes in front of the Pharaoh and interprets his dreams. Pharaoh puts him second in command of all of Egypt and Joseph becomes the agent by which God saves his family from famine. As believers, we waste our time trying to figure out the nature of our trials. Simply put, God can take any circumstance and turn it into a blessing greater than we could have imagined possible.

My prayer for you today is that you continue to put your whole trust in God, whose purpose for you emanates out of his love.

Deacon Larry Woodard