James Dyet

Super-Bowl-Bound Broncos

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 17:21:00 +0000

I have been a Broncos fan since 1971, when I moved our family to Denver from West Terre Haute, Indiana. Like all Broncos fans. I have experienced disappointment and delight. Yesterday, was one of those delightful experiences. The "good guys" beat the Patriots handily and will face off against the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. I expect the Broncos to win, although I like the Seahawks.

I won't travel to NJ for the big game. Frankly, I can't afford the trip and a Super Bowl ticket.

A Super Bowl ticket will certainly cost more than a ticket for yesterday's AFC Championship game, which was about $900. So I will simply get comfy in my recliner and watch the game on TV. Besides, at-home snacks are much cheaper than stadium snacks, and there's never a line at the restroom.

I find it mystifying that fans pay big money to attend sporting events but avoid church services that allow anyone to attend free and even sit down front, where the choice of seats is usually wide open. Furthermore, even if the home team wins a sporting event, the euphoria lasts only a brief time, whereas the joy that results from attending church and applying a good biblical message lasts beyond a lifetime.

All of that having been said, "Go, Broncos!"

Facing 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 19:45:00 +0000

Joshua faced a new chapter in his life. He would lead the Hebrews into Canaan, a bountiful land, but it was also a land full of fierce, well-armed, intimidating enemies. Having scouted Canaan almost 40 years earlier, Joshua knew his mission was extremely challenging. If his knees shook a little, we can understand. However, God commanded him to “be strong and of good courage” (Joshua 1:6).

Easier said than done? Yes, if Joshua had to face the future on his own, his knees would truly shake. But God promised to be with him and make him successful (verses 3-9). With mind and heart focused on the Word of God and the God of the Word, Joshua would be invincible (verses 8, 9).

Like Joshua, we face a new chapter of life. What will 2014 bring us? And what will we bring to 2014? Fear of terrorism, a final paycheck, ill health, economic disaster, or some other calamity may send shockwaves to our knees unless we rely on God and His promises and obey Him daily. Of course, we may not acquire land, wealth, or perfect health, but we will enjoy God’s peace and His approval (see Philippians 4:6, 7 and 2 Timothy 4:7, 8).

We cannot predict what 2014 will bring, but by faith we can say, “Bring it on!”

Christmas Mysteries

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 16:06:00 +0000

An angel told some shepherds they would find Baby Jesus “wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Who provided the swaddling cloths? Perhaps Joseph and Mary had carried them to Bethlehem in case Mary would give birth there. Perhaps the innkeeper provided them. In that case, he may not have been as mean as we have been led to believe. What is truly significant is the fact that cloths covered Jesus’ body when He was born and also when He died (John 19:40).

The Incarnation is a far greater mystery. Jesus’ life did not begin with His birth at Bethlehem. He is eternal. He always lived in face-to-face fellowship with God the Father. John began his Gospel by asserting that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). He described the Word as the One through whom everything was made (v. 3). This eternal Creator, the Word, John wrote, “became flesh and dwelt among us” (v. 14). Those few words describe the Incarnation. How could God the Creator become a human being like us in every respect except one? He did not have a sin nature, because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin.

Of course, Jesus became human and led a sinless life so He could die as our perfect sacrificial Substitute. First Corinthians 15:3 and 4 tell us plainly that “Christ died for our sins . . . was buried . . . and rose again.” His resurrection proved that God accepted His sacrifice for our sins (Romans 4:25). But why did He love us so sacrificially? That’s an unsolvable mystery. We didn’t deserve such love. Romans 5:8 states that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Another Christmas mystery: Why do so many people celebrate Christmas but reject the Christ of Christmas? John 1:11 conveys the astonishing, sad news that Jesus, the Word, “came to His own [His own creation and His own people], and His own did not receive Him. If you haven’t received Jesus by faith as your personal Savior, why not receive Him today? The gift of eternal life will be yours (1 John 5:11, 12).

Merry Christmas!

The Best Gift Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 15:42:00 +0000

Yesterday a friend gave me a Scottish Black Watch wool tam that he had purchased in Scotland. As a Scottish-born admirer of the Black Watch, I will wear the tam proudly.

My friend paid for the gift, and I received it without having to contribute anything to the purchase price. He had paid for it in full.

Christmas is a celebration of the most costly and most cherished gift God has given to us. The angel who announced the arrival of the Gift, said: “Today . . . a Savior has been born to you.”

Don’t miss the importance of the Christmas message. The virgin-born Son of God came to Earth to save you and me, and He accomplished His mission on the cross. There, He announced, “It is finished,” which is the equivalent of saying, “Paid in full.”

Salvation—forgiveness and eternal life—is a gift that demands nothing from us (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9). Indeed, we can contribute nothing to its purchase. Although church-going, good citizenship, generosity, and kindness are commendable, they cannot pay for even a small part of salvation.

So what should we do? Just as I received the Black Watch tam joyfully and thankfully, so each of us must accept God’s gift of salvation by receiving Jesus as our Savior. The apostle John wrote that “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God” (John 1:12).

May you rejoice this Christmas in the wonderful, priceless gift of salvation!

Another School Shooting!

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 16:03:00 +0000

Another school shooting—this time in Arapahoe High School! Armed with a shotgun, an angry young man, a senior at the school, intended to shoot the teacher who had dismissed him from the debate team, but upon learning he was targeted, the teacher safely exited the building. In his rage, the shooter critically wounded a 15-year-old female student before taking his own life.

I have always had a high regard for Arapahoe High School. Our family’s first home in Colorado was only a few miles from Arapahoe High. My roommate at Moody Bible Institute spent his entire teaching career there. Also, our son-in-law Jim’s brother teaches and coaches at Arapahoe. Education is serious business there.

In an effort to protect faculty, staff, and students, Arapahoe went on lockdown, and so did many other schools.

How can we prevent future school shootings? That’s a big question that defies simple answers. Nevertheless, it might help to restore the right to acknowledge and honor God in the classroom. Doesn’t it seem to you that school lockdowns have increased since God has been “locked out”?

It might also help if parents would train their children to reverence and obey God. A proper relationship with God fosters a respectful relationship with others. Yes, what the world needs now is love—love for God and love for others.

Take time to pray for the critically wounded 15-year-old Arapahoe student and for all the students, faculty, and staff. Also, pray for our nation. We have hurts that only God can heal.

Imitate God!

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 15:52:00 +0000

If imitation is a form of flattery, are we Christians flattering the culture or the Creator? Ephesians 5:1 instructs us to “be imitators of God.” So let’s examine our lives to see whether our words and actions resemble God’s character and ways or the character and ways of an antichristian culture!

What drives our actions? Are we obsessed with wealth and possessions? Do we neglect what is eternal in a relentless pursuit of what will soon pass away? The culture tells us to put ourselves first and obtain what we “deserve.” God commands: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard 0ne another as more important than himself” (Philippians 2:3).

What characterizes our vocabulary? Have crude, vulgar words seeped into what we say and write? If so, we have flattered the culture instead of God. Either by osmosis or deliberate choice some Christians have copied the language of their pagan contemporaries. If we want to flatter God, we will abhor ungodly words and, instead, pray as the psalmist did, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Let’s imitate God at home, in the workplace, in the neighborhood, and even in Facebook!

Cellophane Golf Ball Wrappers

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 15:21:00 +0000

Here is an excerpt from my book, Straight Down the Middle.

"As a teen working in a golf course’s pro shop, I was impressed with the colorful appearance of the golf balls in our glass showcase. Penfolds, Titleists, Spaldings, U.S. Royals, and Dunlops came colorfully wrapped in cellophane, and each one sold for less than a dollar. Today, the price might be $25, $30, or more. Even an empty box that once held a dozen cellophane-wrapped golf balls may fetch nearly $100 today.

"The bright wrapping certainly enhanced a golf ball’s appearance, but it added nothing to its performance. Each ball’s true value was determined by what it was after the wrapping came off.

"God’s Word instructs us not to judge a person’s worth by outward appearance. When Israel demanded her first king, the people selected Saul strictly on the basis of his good looks. He was tall and handsome. If they had selected their first king on the basis of how he looked to God, they would have selected David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 8:19-20; 13:13-14; 16:6-13).

"James 2:1-5 rebukes those who judge others by their outward appearance, and insists God places the highest value on faith and faithfulness—spiritual qualities.

"If people could gain God’s approval by outward appearance, the Pharisees would have earned a triple-A rating in His sight. But God’s gaze penetrated the Pharisees’ robes and phylacteries and revealed their corrupt hearts. He accepted only those who believed on His Son—even beggars in tattered garments and lepers with ugly sores.

"When God measures a person’s worth, He puts His measuring tape around the heart and not around a designer dress or tailored suit.

"Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13."

Indestructible JOY

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 15:47:00 +0000

Gloria and I lost some of our JOY! Specifically, we lost the Y from the lighted JOY sign we place on our front lawn every Christmas season. Perhaps, the Y lost its lights because a strong wind struck the sign. I tried to restore the lights by tightening each bulb, but the Y remained dark. Let’s face it, a lighted JO does nothing to brighten the Christmas spirit, so I unplugged the sign. We still have joy in our hearts, though, not only at Christmastime, but always.

Indestructible, permanent joy comes from knowing the real meaning of Christmas and responding appropriately by trusting in Jesus as the Savior. The angel who announced the Savior’s birth told the shepherds, “I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10, 11).

Even severe trials cannot steal joy from those who live by faith. While incarcerated, under guard 24-7 and facing the possibility of execution, the apostle Paul wrote Philippians, “the epistle of joy.” You can’t read that New Testament letter without seeing Paul’s joy spill from its pages.

Furthermore, the apostle James taught believers to “consider it all joy” when we “encounter various trials” (James 1:2). Neither ill-health, nor unemployment, nor a wrecked car, nor an empty pocketbook, nor frozen water pipes, nor any other trial can rip real joy from our hearts.

Let’s rejoice in Jesus and the abundant life He gives to all who receive Him. Lights may fail to shine from a Christmas decoration, but the joy in us can reflect the Light of the World and perhaps attract others to Him.

Thankfulness

noreply@blogger.com (Sherrie_USA) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 16:52:00 +0000

In the Anglo-Saxon language "thankfulness" means "thinkfulness." At 78 I am thinking with thankfulness of the many opportunities God has given me to proclaim His Word. My first pastorate was in New York State, when I was a student at Houghton College. I opened a closed church, Rawson Valley Baptist Church, and ministered there until I graduated and had to return to Canada in 1958. My most recent pastorate ended a couple of weeks ago. It was Faith Evangelical Free Church, Louviers, Colorado. Between those two ministries, I have preached in every part of the United States and in Canada, too. I am thankful that God gave me the privilege of doing so.

In my "thinkfulness" today, several highlights of ministry stand out, for which I am thankful:
• I preached at Chicago's Pacific Garden Mission every Sunday morning during my final two years at Moody Bible Institute ('56, '57).
• I preached at First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, in 1977. Dr. Criswell was the pastor then.
• In 1998 I shared God's Word at the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the golf course, where I had caddied as a boy. The planning committee of St, Catharines Golf and Country Club had read my golf book, Out of the Rough, and had invited me to be the club's featured guest.
• I spoke at the 2001 Michigan State Governor's Prayer Breakfast in Lansing, Michigan. This annual event is well attended by elected officials and representatives of businesses throughout the state.
My desire is to keep preaching whenever and wherever the Lord leads me. Sharing His Word is a privilege for which I can never be too thankful.

--Jim Dyet

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50th Anniversary of the Assassination of John F. Kennedy

noreply@blogger.com (Sherrie_USA) — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 23:28:00 +0000

The 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of John F. Kennedy touched off many memories shared by the media. I was working part time at a hamburger restaurant in Rochester, New York, to supplement my pastoral salary when the news broke. A profound silence gripped the restaurant. The next evening, our church in Williamson, New York, held a prayer service for the Kennedy family and our stunned nation.

I suppose everyone about my age remembers clearly where he or she was when news of the assassination interrupted the regularly scheduled broadcasting. Undoubtedly, my generation’s memory reaches back even farther—to the difficult years of WWII. Those were years of sacrifice, patriotism, and self-discipline.

They were also years of shortages. Gas, certain materials, and some food commodities and household items were rationed. It was nearly impossible to buy butter, but margarine was available. It came packaged in a clear bag with a quarter-size button of dye attached. If a customer squeezed the button long enough, the dye would spread until the contents of the bag looked like butter. Of course, anyone who had tasted real butter knew the difference. Lookalikes are not necessarily the same.

I am old enough to remember when pastors fed congregations genuine life-related Biblical messages. Those were the days! Perhaps your pastor preaches in that historic tradition, but many others simply squeeze the dye button, so to speak, and serve a poor substitute for the real thing. So expository preaching is becoming scarce.

In the Times of the Judges, society cared little about moral absolutes. Consequently, “every man did what was right in his own eyes”(Judges 17:6). Today we call that practice “situational ethics.” Not surprisingly, a scarcity of God’s Word marked the Times of the Judges. First Samuel 3:1 reports that “the word of the LORD was rare in those days.”

We often hear believers lament the deteriorating moral conditions of modern times. “We need a revival,” they say. Who wouldn’t welcome a national revival? But before we can have a revival, we need a reBible. It’s time to open the Bible in the pulpit and in the pews and taste the pure Word of God. Haven’t we had enough of a tasteless substitute?

--James Dyet

Unashamed at the Big Game

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:04:00 +0000

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes . . . “ (Romans 1:16).

Gloria and I are Broncos fans. Our Bronco flag is waving outside in a cold wind, and we will be cheering for the Broncos this afternoon. But we will be cheering from the comfort of our family room, unlike thousands of fans that have chosen to brave bone-chilling temperatures at Sports Authority Field.

If you watch the game, you will see a flood of Bronco orange cover the stadium, and you can expect to see some outlandish outfits and homemade orange-lettered signs in support of the home team. Some displays of loyalty may lead you to conclude insanity has invaded the stadium. However, you will not see a paper sack draped over any fan’s head. Not a single Bronco fan will be ashamed to declare his or her loyalty.

Christians ought to be unashamed of the gospel. Whereas the Broncos win some games and lose others, the gospel declares the good news that Jesus is victorious over sin, Satan, and the grave. He is omnipotent and invincible. He saves all who believe on Him and makes us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Now, that’s something to cheer about.

May our loyalty to Him increase, and may we unashamedly say—and show—that we are on the Lord’s side.

Examining 2 Chronicles 7:14

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 23:08:00 +0000

Hardly a day passes that I don’t receive a call to pray for our nation based on 2 Chronicles 7:14. I appreciate the concern and the call to pray, but the people this verse addressed, the situation it described, and the promise it offered do not apply to Christians.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God addressed the Israelites who joined King Solomon in the dedication of the temple. In the extended context He promised to bless His people, the Israelites, if they obeyed His commandments and observed His statutes and judgments (verses 17-18). But He also issued a warning. If His people, the Israelites, turned away from Him, failed to keep His statutes and commandments, and became idolatrous, He would devastate their land (Israel). Drought, an infestation of locusts, and pestilence would be His messengers of judgment (verse 13). Also, according to verse 20, He would uproot His people, the Israelites, from the land (Israel).

Furthermore, the promise we find in 2 Chronicles 7:14 was conditional. God would restore His people, the Israelites, and their land, Israel, if they would do three things: (1) pray; (2) seek His face; and (3) turn from their wicked ways.

Clearly, 2 Chronicles 7:14 was not addressed to Christians in the United States, and the situation calling for an appropriate response was a physical devastation of the land.

I find it disappointing that Christians fail to interpret 2 Chronicles 7:14 in context when they call for prayer on behalf of the United States. I also find it interesting that they focus on the need to pray but fail to mention the need to “turn from their wicked ways.” Carving up Scripture by taking only what one wants is really an act of butchering Scripture, isn’t it?

Please don’t get me wrong. We Christians should pray for our nation. It needs a spiritual overhaul, but let’s base our reason to pray on instructions given to Christians in the New Testament. Here is one of those instructions: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1, 2a). It must not have been easy to pray for hostile, ungodly first-century Roman political rulers, but the reason to pray was clear: “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (v. 2b).

So, let us pray!

Where Should We Look for Hope and Change?

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 23:28:00 +0000

Conditions in Judah had reached an all-time low when Isaiah entered the temple in Jerusalem. The hostile Assyrians were eyeing Judah as a vulture eyes a dying animal. To make matters worse, Judah’s moral and spiritual strength had dissipated. Isaiah depicted the nation as corrupt, hypocritical, rebellious, and ignorant. It resembled a diseased body covered from head to heels with festering wounds, welts, and open sores.

Where could Isaiah look for hope and change?

He couldn’t look to King Uzziah. He had recently died.

He couldn’t look to Israel, Judah’s neighbor to the north. She was far down the slippery slope that would lead to destruction at the hands of the Assyrians.

He couldn’t look to the people of Judah. They were helpless.

But he could look to the Lord; and that’s what he did. In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah glimpsed the Lord sitting on a throne, “and the train of His robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). It was a life-altering moment for Isaiah. The lord cleansed him of his sin and commissioned him to carry His message to the nation—a message of hope and change. The Lord promised to pardon and restore all who would turn from their sin and trust in Him. He would not abandon His people. Chapters 40—66 spill over with hope of a new day based on the Messiah’s substitutionary suffering (Isa. 53).

The United States has entered an uncertain period of history. Morally and spiritually we are adrift, and hostile nations would like to see us collapse. So, where should we look for hope and change? If we look only to the man who will occupy the White House for the next four years, we will be disappointed. However, if we look to the Sovereign of heaven and earth, the One to whom Isaiah looked, we will find hope and genuine change.

Soon, we will cast our ballots for the next President of the United States. Let’s choose wisely and put our utmost confidence in the One who holds the future in His hands.

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:58:00 +0000

A Few Words About Words

We can’t avoid hearing cuss words and vulgar language, but we can avoid using them The Bible commands: “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God” (Exodus 20:7a), and teaches us to regard God’s name as hallowed (revered) [Matthew 6:9]. Further, the Bible instructs us to guard our speech (Proverbs 13:3). It should be “always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).

James taught that the sinful use of the tongue “corrupts the whole person” (James 3:6), and he questioned how praise and cursing come out of the same mouth. “My brothers, this should not be,” he wrote (verse 10).

With that brief background, I want to appeal to my Christian friends on Facebook not to use cuss words. Perhaps they have crept into their vocabulary by osmosis. I’m sure the longer a person is exposed to the cussing he hears on TV, in the movies, and in the workplace the easier it is to become immune to it and the more likely he is to let cussing and vulgarity slip into his speech. But we are called not only to a high standard of conduct but also to a high standard of speech. So, let’s honor the Lord in all our social contacts, including those we maintain on Facebook.

Feel free to call me a prude, but please don’t use a descriptive cuss word with the word “prude.”

Devastating Hail

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 20:58:00 +0000

Last night, June 6, hail by the cartload bombarded Colorado Springs. Visibility was nearly zero; creeks and streams overflowed; roads and streets flooded; trees lost many leaves; and flowers forfeited their bloom. This morning, as I walked our dogs in the neighborhood, I lamented the fact that so many beautiful flowers had succumbed to the hail. I can scarcely imagine the devastation enormous hail will cause someday, when God shakes the earth, collapses corrupt economies, and hurls hailstones “about a hundred pounds each” on unbelievers (Rev. 16:21). The devastation then will be far greater than what I witnessed this morning.

You may know I am preaching every Sunday at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Louviers, Colorado. Louviers is a village of 300 between Sedalia and Highlands Ranch, just west of Highway 85. For the next two months, I will be speaking on prophecy at the 10:30 A.M. service. The congregation and I would love to welcome you.

Further, two books bearing my name are available now. A Guide to the Bible has been published by eChristian Books and is available at echristian.com, and Straight Down the Middle: Meditations for Golfers (Circle Books) is available on Amazon.

Prophecy Series

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:04:00 +0000

I consider it a privilege to serve a congregation that is searching for a permanent pastor, but I have to realize I may not conclude a sermon series. At the request of one church, I did continue to preach for a while after a permanent pastor was in place, but that phenomenon occurred only once. So I choose not to preach through a lengthy book of the Bible or embrace a topical series that spans more than twelve weeks. Since September 2011, I have been preaching at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Louviers, and will conclude an exposition of Galatians in a couple of weeks (Lord willing). Because I haven’t heard that the arrival of a permanent pastor is imminent, I expect to begin and conclude a series of prophetic messages as posted below. If you live close to Louviers, a small village just southwest of Highlands Ranch and northwest of Castle Rock, please feel free to visit Faith Evangelical Free Church and listen to one of these messages.

Obviously, viewpoints on future events vary widely, so I want you to know I respect your right to hold a different one from mine. However, I will try to explain clearly from Scripture why I believe what I believe, and in the process you won’t encounter wild speculations and date setting.

Here are the topics and dates:

Planet Earth’s Future and Yours

May 20 Are We Living in the Last Days?

May 27 What’s the Rapture All About?

June 3 Will Christians Experience the Future Seven-Year Holocaust?

June 10 Picking the Antichrist out of the Lineup

June 17 Israel in the Crosshairs

June 24 When God Displays His Wrath

July 1 The King Is Coming

July 8 Who Will See Earth’s Golden Age?

July 15 Conditions on Earth When Jesus Reigns

July 22 The Devil’s Final Gasp

July 29 Where Will You Spend Eternity?

Back to the Past

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:14:00 +0000

Sixty years ago I obtained my chauffeur’s license so I could drive bread trucks in the summer, a job I held until I graduated from college. One truck was an electric stand-up-and-drive vehicle. It ran quietly, economically, and efficiently as long as I charged it overnight. Now that gas at the pump costs about $4 per gallon, talk about electric vehicles is common. I can only wonder why technology didn’t move forward 60 years ago so our cars today could whirr and click on electricity instead of guzzle expensive gas.

And wouldn’t our churches be better off if Christians recovered what was good about the past? First-century Christians were taught the importance of relying on the power of the Holy Spirit for effective living and witnessing (Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:16, 22, 23; Ephesians 5:18). In our quest for cultural relevance, have we abandoned the power of the Spirit that is available to convict sinners and to draw them to the Savior? Are we relying on entertainment instead of biblical preaching to accomplish what only divine power can accomplish? If so, let’s recapture what was good about the past. If we don’t, by comparison the cost of driving a thoroughly modern church may make $4 per gallon gas look like a bargain.

The Cross and the Resurrection

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:47:00 +0000

The cross on which Jesus died had been prepared for Barabbas, a criminal. Like the other two criminals nailed to the crosses beside Jesus’ cross, he deserved to be punished. However, Pilate set Barabbas free and sentenced Jesus to die on Barabbas’s cross. Yet, Pilate could find no fault in Jesus. So Jesus, who was innocent, died in the place of Barabbas, who was guilty.

That substitution extended far beyond Jesus’ dying in Barabbas’s place. Because the name Barabbas means “the father’s son,” we see that our Savior, another Father’s Son, died in the place of all the sons (descendants) of Adam, our first father. As the apostle John pointed out in 1 John 2:2, Jesus was the sin offering for the whole world. He died not only in Barabbas’s place but also in your place and mine.

Further, Jesus voluntarily died for us. No one took His life; He freely laid it down for us, according to Galatians 1:4. Although His subsequent resurrection was supernatural, so was His death. He did what no one else can do: He dismissed His spirit (Matthew 27:50).

The hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross,” communicates wonderful truths, but perhaps we should rethink one of its statements: “And I love that old cross.” Our love should not be directed to the cross but to the One who died on the cross. John proclaimed, “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

Three days after dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus arose bodily from the tomb, proving that God accepted His shed blood as full payment for our redemption and justification. Consequently, all who trust in Jesus as their personal Savior enjoy forgiveness, peace with God, and the assurance of eternal life. Because He lives, we too shall live.

May the wonder and hope of Jesus’ death and resurrection fill your heart with joy this Easter.

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:47:00 +0000

TV Commercial

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:26:00 +0000

In case I am asked to do a TV commercial . . .

In 1939, at the beginning of WW2, my parents brought me from Scotland to North America. I became a United States citizen in 1966, and consider myself a patriot. I hold four academic degrees, and I have spoken to congregations in Canada and throughout the United States. I have authored 19 books, more than 50 curriculum courses, and hundreds of articles. When friends tell me I should retire and take life easy, I tell them I am still too young to retire. I enjoy playing golf and taking long walks. I am a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a best friend to three little dogs. My name is Jim Dyet. I am 76 years old, and I am a Christian.

Golf at Fort Carson Army Post

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:02:00 +0000

When asked where I play golf in Colorado Springs, I respond, “Cheyenne Shadows.” Actually, I play wherever I am invited to play, but Cheyenne Shadows seems to top the invitation list.

Located on the Fort Carson Army Post, near the base of Cheyenne Mountain, Cheyenne Shadows Golf Course is accessible only to those who pass through security at Gate 5. Presenting my driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance is a required procedure, as is the ritual of popping the hood of my car, opening the doors, and lifting trunk lid.

After clearing security, I pay a modest green fee at the clubhouse, meet my buddy, and together we load our clubs onto a golf cart and fall into a line at the first tee, where we are often paired with young soldiers. Before long, we tee off, and the adventure begins.

Although Cheyenne Shadows is a military course, we don’t hit our golf balls left, right, left, right, left, right—at least we try not to.

One day, two young soldiers—one from Pennsylvania and the other from West Virginia—joined my buddy and me. They had recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq and will return to Iraq in six months. Neither soldier complained about having to serve in Iraq, and neither soldier said he wished for an easier life.

Just a gentle reminder—Christians are soldiers—soldiers of the cross—yet many of us want to serve God only as advisers. A far-too-prevalent attitude seems to be, “I’m not available for any ministry that involves personal hardship or takes too much of my time or runs the risk of being unappreciated and unrewarded.” Such soldiers are what C. T. Studd called, “chocolate soldiers.” They melt when the heat rises.

One soldier’s golf game fell apart at the fifth hole, and he became so frustrated and discouraged he retreated to his golf cart and pouted. Only the tactful encouragement of his soldier buddy persuaded him to resume play at the eighth hole. I’m happy to report the despondent soldier played well once again.

Another gentle reminder—soldiers of the cross can become frustrated and discouraged. Some may become so discouraged they drop out of Christian service. However, we can encourage them to “get back into the game.” A pat on the back works far better than a callous rebuke.

“Let us encourage one another,” Hebrews 10:25 admonishes. Let’s spread encouragement around wherever we Christians interact with one another. As soldiers of the cross, we need to buddy up in our constant conflict with evil.

Straight Down the Middle is available at Amazon.com or you may obtain an autographed copy from the author at Write2jtd@aol.com.

Can Anything Good Come Out of the Broncos' Loss to Buffalo?

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:52:00 +0000

The Broncos’ performance in Buffalo on Christmas Eve was ugly. Interceptions, sacks, turnovers, missed tackles, “bad” calls,” and a final score too painful to glance at left Bronco fans eating glum pudding. What can we deduce from such a loss? Perhaps God isn’t as big a Bronco fan as many of would like to think. But judging by Buffalo’s win/loss record, He must not be a big Bills fan either. Maybe He doesn’t have a favorite NFL team. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes might remind us there are Christian players on every NFL team.

But isn’t Tim Tebow an outstanding Christian as well as an excellent football player? Yes, but he isn’t perfect in either respect. He is still developing as an NFL QB, and God is still developing him as a Christian. I am sure Tim Tebow knows what every Christian knows: spiritual growth is far more important than acclaim. The true measure of a person’s success is not determined by athletic prowess or fame or fortune. It is determined by character and commitment to God’s will.

A fruit grower in Michigan seemed devastated when a late frost doomed his peach production. “Why did God let this happen?” he asked his pastor.

“Perhaps,” the pastor replied, “to show He is far more interested in growing you than He is in growing peaches.”

Likely, Tim Tebow believes God is more interested in growing him than He is in growing a string of football victories, and he accepts losses as part of the process.

What are we learning that helps us grow in and through losses and setbacks? Can we look beyond disappointments and see His appointments?

Go, Broncos!

Te-Bow Or Not Te-Bow, That Is the Question

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:33:00 +0000

Te-bow or not te-bow, that is the question.

Tim Tebow has injected excitement into Denver Bronco football, the likes of which Bronco fans have not experienced since 1977, when the team rocked the NFL, won the AFC championship, and played Dallas in Super Bowl XII. During that memorable season, Bronco running back John Keyworth recorded a song that thrilled Bronco fans. His “Make Those Miracles Happen” captured the spirit of 1977 Bronco football. Each win truly seemed miraculous.

Now, the Broncos are winning games in what some might call miraculous ways. They are come-from-behind 4^th Quarter and Overtime wins. Fans have seen Quarterback Tim Tebow bowing on one knee and praying. His prayer posture has been called “Tebowing,” and many have imitated it. Some “Tebow” respectfully; others do so mockingly. A recent letter to the editor criticized the young quarterback for praying in public. The writer compared it to the Pharisees’ praying in public to be ”seen by men” (Matthew 6:5). But if it were not for the focus of TV cameras on the praying QB, how many would see him pray? I believe the praying is sincere and unpretentious.

I suppose it is easy to assume Tim Tebow prays for a Bronco victory, but I have no proof of that. Further, praying for one’s team to win equates to praying for the other team to lose. That’s kind of selfish, isn’t it? And surely, Christians may be found on both teams.

Perhaps Tim Tebow prays that he and his teammates will do their best to win. Maybe he prays that the game’s outcome will glorify God. I simply do not know what he prays for, but I do know he prays, and I applaud that practice. It is good to see a Christian role model in professional sports who is unashamed to pray openly and to thank our Lord and Savior for the ability to play football,

Tim is dedicated to Christ and a hard-working, disciplined athlete. The other day, a local sports writer called him “the biggest square in the NFL.” I prefer to say he is squarely on God’s side, and I am glad he wears a Bronco uniform, #15.

Rex and Rudy

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:27:00 +0000

When I caddied in the late 1940s and early 1950s at the St. Catharines Golf Course, St. Catharines, Ontario, I most enjoyed caddying for Rex Stimers, who usually played with Rudy Pilous. In those days caddies sat in the caddy shack until the caddy master assigned them randomly to golfers. But a golfer could request a caddie by name, and Rex often requested me in spite of the fact that I was one of the youngest caddies. I was about 13 or 14 when I caddied for Rex most often.

Rex was a popular sports announcer for our city’s radio station, CKTB. He was best known for his animated broadcasting of Junior OHL (Ontario Hockey League) games. Our home team was the St. Catharines Teepees. Some of the Teepees advanced to the National Hockey League.

Rudy coached the Teepees, and then became the coach who led the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Championship in 1961. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985. A lefty on the golf course, Rudy matched up against Rex quite well, and both had a terrific sense of humor that took the drudgery out of caddying.

Both men treated me well and introduced me to hockey players who joined them on the course. Rex even treated me to rounds of golf at courses near Toronto and Niagara Falls, New York. It was not unusual to hear him mention my name, Jimmy Dyet, on his nightly sports broadcast.

Both men departed this life a long time ago, but I cherish good memories of them.

Men can have a lasting influence on kids for good or bad. Christian men can choose to mold kids into young men and women who will impact their culture for God. We don’t have to be preachers to teach the younger generation to do right and to honor God. We can demonstrate righteousness on the golf course, on a hockey rink, on a baseball diamond, on a basketball court, or in a classroom—wherever kids need role models. Proverbs 22:6 counsels, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Impacting Or Imbibing the Culture?

noreply@blogger.com (Preacher Teacher) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:42:00 +0000

Someone asked me recently what I meant when I said in a sermon that the Church is supposed to impact, not imbibe, the culture. I meant the Church should adhere to a high standard of righteousness in order to have a solid platform from which to evangelize. If the Church’s standard of righteousness is almost low as the culture’s, why will unbelievers be attracted to the gospel? If they are not convinced the gospel has not made much, if any, difference in our lives, why should they embrace it?

Also, the Church must present the truth that God sees everyone as a sinner destitute of innate spiritual merit. Romans 3:23 hands down this indictment: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But the culture rejects God’s analysis of human nature, preferring to see every human being as special and deserving of the best life has to offer. Consequently, more than a few smooth-talking pastors preach only a positive message that positively affirms in the minds of those who listen that they are positively fine individuals whom God positively loves just as they are. The same positive message fails to mention personal sin, guilt, judgment, and the need to repent and believe on the Savior who shed His blood for sinners.

Further, the culture seeks entertainment as obsessively as bees seek pollen. Celebrities dazzle their fans, especially those celebrities who “rock the house.” Is the Church copying the culture by entertaining congregations? Are we at risk of abandoning corporate worship of the Rock of Ages by letting on-stage performers “rock the house”?

The apostle Paul urged the believers at Rome to resist the pressure of pagan culture to fit into its mold (Romans 12:2). The culture’s mold produces carnal Christians; God’s mold produces Christlike Christians (Roman 8:29). Christlike Christians impact the culture; carnal Christians imbibe it.