Kirk Cameron

In ancient days, slaves were bought and sold in the marketplace. A slave had no rights. He or she was auctioned, purchased, and owned by the highest bidder. We, in our unregenerate state, were slaves to sin, captive to the cravings of our flesh, rebels, and deserving of death. God in His kindness, saw our pitiful condition, had mercy on us, bought us with His own precious blood, and adopted us into His own family. "... knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct... but with the precious blood of Christ..." (1 Peter 1:18-19) When I think of the cross, the love demonstrated to me, a sinner, I am overwhelmed at the kindness of God and am renewed in my desire to live wholly for Him.
~ Kirk

The ocean of God's forgiveness must be so vast that our minds cannot fathom its height, its depth, or its width. The worldwide flood in the days of Noah must be only as a drop of water when compared to the deluge of the mercy of God toward repentant sinners. It is true that while no sin is so small that God does not see it, it is also true that there is no sin so great that God's mercy can not wash it away.
~ Kirk

Spurgeon also said, "Take the velvet out of your mouths, Gentlemen, and speak the truth!" How good it is to understand simple truths from God's Word without a preacher trying to impress his audience with his long-winded, big-worded sentences. My favorite sermons are not difficult to understand. They are clear, simple, and hit the bulls-eye in content. We should have the same mindset when we speak to others about the things of God.
~ Kirk

I have a wallet with a New Testament tucked inside of it. One day I opened it to take out a gospel tract, and a Jewish girl commented, "Hey, that's the New Testament." She was a bit offended that the Hebrew Scriptures were not part of my Bible. I explained that the full Bible (Old and New Testaments) would make my wallet too big to fit into my pocket, but that she was absolutely correct that they are both crucial to a proper understanding of God. The Old Testament tells the stories of how God created the world and revealed Himself to His creation, and gave us a preview of the greatest act of 100% pure, unselfish love the world has ever seen. The New Testament records that historic event in high definition detail. God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to solve man's greatest problem. We cannot understand Jesus' global mission in it's fullness if we are ignorant of His Jewish roots. The Old Testament is the foundation on which the New Testament is built. Jesus is the glorious fulfillment of all Old Testament truths. The Old and the New go hand in hand and together make the complete Word of God.
~ Kirk

When I understand, by the grace of God, that nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away my sin- not my prayers, nor my good works, no, not even my repentance and faith- it sends me into worship. I've learned God moves in mercy toward us not because of anything we have done, but only because He is full of compassion toward helpless sinners who have nothing acceptable to offer to save themselves. Since God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, a sinner's only hope for happiness in this life and the next, is to abandon all confidence in his own merits and accomplishments, and trust entirely in the power and kindness of His Savior, Jesus Christ.
~ Kirk

Wow! How convicting is that to those of us who are not giving as freely as we know we should? Why do we hesitate to give away more of the riches we have to help those less fortunate than ourselves? Is it because we find it hard to trust our Father in Heaven to really provide for us if we do? Or is it because we fear that we won't be happy if we don't consume, spend, and indulge ourselves with every form of pleasure we can buy? Jesus said, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." It seems that following Jesus must be accompanied by a humble, generous spirit. How ironic that those who hoard their wealth will die and lose it all, but those who give it away in this life for the sake of following Jesus, will gain it back a hundredfold in the next.
~ Kirk

I find it profoundly interesting that Jesus' mission to rescue sinners was not motivated by something "worthy" or "valuable" in us, but rather his mercy is magnified by the fact that He saved us even while we had nothing to offer Him but our sin and shame. To think that Jesus didn't come to rescue friends, but to love his enemies, serve them unto death, adopt them as His children, and allow them to rein with Him forever... God's grace is amazing!
~ Kirk

It's a great comfort to me and proof positive of the regenerating power of Holy Spirit that while some people find the commands of God in Scripture to be offensive, unreasonable, and oppressive; Christians discover them to be rich, robust, invigorating, and true. Only when the gospel invades and subdues our hearts, do we see God and His decrees as they really are. This is what allows the Christian to say, "I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man," and "I esteem Your words more than my necessary food." For the Christian, there is also the gift of childlike trust that allows us to embrace God's commands even when we don't yet see the inherent value in them. We embrace God's commands, even the difficult ones, simply because we trust God. He is faithful and we have chosen to live by faith and not by sight. We reject the flesh and live by the Spirit.
~ Kirk

Some like to ask the question, "Is there anything God can NOT do?" The answer is "Yes." God cannot do anything that violates His perfect character. Since God is love, He does nothing that compromises His love. Since He is holy and just, he always upholds those attributes in every one of His actions. Even when God sends trials, for the child of God, they are designed to develop our faith, stretch our character, and increase our love for Him and our fellow man. If God has granted you faith in Jesus, then He has adopted you into His family and you are His precious child. Enjoy the comfort of that and think of the blessings you have as a co-heir with Christ.
~ Kirk

I had the privilege of having dinner with Dr. Charles Stanley recently. As my wife Chelsea and I prepare to begin a new marriage and family ministry, I asked him if he would be kind enough to share with us his wisdom from over 40 years of ministry on how to lay a godly foundation for a fledgling ministry. His words were packed with the same wisdom that Charles Spurgeon found in the Scriptures. He said, "Seek the Lord in prayer for guidance and direction. Don't force anything. Allow God to open and shut the doors of opportunity. Your part is simply to obey. If He has planted this idea in your heart and is behind what you're doing, He is obligated by his own character to see it through." And then he said, "Remember this: God is responsible for all the consequences of your obedience. You are responsible for all the consequences of your disobedience."
~ Kirk

A sure way to lose your trust in God is to assume that He always acts in a certain way in every case. This is not true. God is a judge and often deals justly with humanity (think of the worldwide flood), but has also swallowed up justice by His mercy as a wonderful Savior (think of the fact that we are guilty criminals who have been saved by the cross). God is also both a King and a humble servant (Jesus, the King of Kings, came not to be served, but to serve) and sovereignly chooses when to demonstrate each of His individual attributes. The key to understanding God's mysterious ways is to trust His character. His actions are always right because His wisdom is perfect, His love is pure, and His power is unstoppable.
~ Kirk

God's religion never leads us to trust in ourselves, but to trust in Jesus Christ. I know many who find it hard to believe that simple, child like faith in Jesus is enough to make them clean and right with God. Man's religion has done so much evil in training people to think that they, by their own hard work and religious service, may attempt to earn God's favor, erase their own sins, and find peace with the Judge of the Universe. Every false religion is based on this erroneous thinking. Thank God for the Bible! Only God's religion (as He has clearly written in the Scriptures) can correct this problem. Since the Savior himself said that failure to believe in Jesus leaves the sinner in his sins and on his way to Hell, there is therefore no other hope for salvation than to believe and trust in Christ. Every sinner, no matter how weak or powerful, no matter how vile or moral, not only may believe in Jesus, but must believe in Jesus! "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
~ Kirk

When babies are murdered in their mother's wombs, when children are abandoned and neglected by their parents, and when husbands and wives abuse one another physically and verbally, it is right to be angry at such evils. To not be angry when evil is present is to say something horrible about your character. In fact, the Bible says "God is angry with the wicked every day". Obviously God does not sin in his righteous anger, and neither do we when something hot rises up within us due to injustice and abuse. But the motive of our anger and how we deal with it is the issue. The great danger sons and daughters of Adam have (and Jesus didn't), is that we often get angry because the world doesn't work the way we want it to or people don't treat us the way we think they should, and end up sinning with our foolish reactions. In fact, to my shame, I just did that this morning with a loved one. This lead to hurt feelings, more anger, and needing to confess my sin and reconcile with my friend and God. The questions I must ask myself in moments of my anger are, "Why am I angry?" and "What would Jesus do?"
~ Kirk

While it is true that Hell will be filled with countless souls that hate God and sin against him without ceasing, many can be saved, changed, and become blessed children of our Heavenly Father. And the only means I know of that God has provided for the salvation of souls is the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul said that the Holy Spirit had told him, "I have many men in this city," and I know from experience that there are many men and women who will gladly embrace the good news of the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life if only they will hear it. Charles Spurgeon laments the vast number of sinners to those who will be converted to God, but he allowed this very concern to motivate him to passionately share the gospel with everyone he could. How do you cope with knowing that millions face eternity in either Heaven or Hell today? Do you let it depress you or drive you to greater faithfulness to reach out to the lost?
~ Kirk

I used to think that mountains of evidence from science and history, logically presented, was all that was necessary for men to see and understand the truth about God. Then I read my Bible. The Spirit alone gives life to spiritually dead people. While all the evidence does support the Scripture (and none contradicts it), it is the Spirit of God that overwhelms the soul with the truth of the Bible's words and opens the door to the world of the Spirit. And when that happens, blind men see things that sighted men cannot. With the eyes of faith, we can see Heaven and it's glories, Hell and it's horrors, and behold our wonderful Savior, exalted and seated on the throne, ruling, reigning, and worthy to receive all blessing, honor and glory forever. I thank God for my friends who remind me to look with my "spiritual eyes" as much as my natural ones.
~ Kirk

Some like to ask the question, "Is there anything God can NOT do?" The answer is "Yes." God cannot do anything that violates His perfect character. Since God is love, He does nothing that compromises His love. Since He is holy and just, he always upholds those attributes in every one of His actions. Even when God sends trials, for the child of God, they are designed to develop our faith, stretch our character, and increase our love for Him and our fellow man. If God has granted you faith in Jesus, then He has adopted you into His family and you are His precious child. Enjoy the comfort of that and think of the blessings you have as a co-heir with Christ.
~ Kirk

When I think of all that begs to be done in my life as a husband, father, protector, provider, and servant of God, it's easy for me to wonder where to find abundant time to pray like Jesus did. I recently read a story about a very successful executive who was heard answering the question of how he finds time to pray. He said, "I don't have time NOT to pray." Without prayer, he had found that he simply didn't have enough hours in the day to accomplish all that he needed to do. When he began to pray regularly, he was amazed that the demands of time actually diminished! Somehow phone calls were answered more promptly, appointments went more smoothly and his prayerful recollection of God throughout his daily activities kept him at peace even when things did go wrong. I believe the principal at work here is that God supernaturally rewards those whose hearts are fully surrendered to Him as evidenced by regular, heartfelt prayer.
~ Kirk

The powerful preaching of Jesus is piercing precisely because everything He says is not only true, but comes from a heart of love. Jesus first of all, loves His Father in Heaven and would never compromise the message that sinners must be delivered or be damned. That is the reason Jesus came to earth--to save sinners. It's true. Jesus loved you and I too much to not speak plainly of our greatest problem (sin and the wrath of God) and the glorious solution (the good news of the gospel). I recently watched a clip of a missionary named Paul Washer who tells the story of of how a doctor ruined his mother's day by telling her she had cancer. The news ruined her whole weekend and made her cry. But, obviously, the doctor was doing the most compassionate thing he could by telling her the truth and offering her an opportunity to do something about her problem before it was too late. If the doctor had avoided the dreadful subject of cancer, he would have acted immorally, unethically, and should have had his license taken away. Likewise, Washer states, there are many pastors today who need to have their licenses taken away due to their lack of courage to speak of that which is most vital to the sinner- his need to recognize his own sin, turn from that sin (along with it's eternal penalty) and turn to the Savior, resulting in pardon, peace, and paradise. I agree with Paul Washer and pray that God gives me courage to speak the truth in love like Jesus did.
~ Kirk

The Word of God is so powerful that even the vilest sinner can be converted by it. Jesus' teaching of the rich man in Hell (Luke 16:19-31) similarly teaches us that even if someone were to return from the dead and warn a sinner of the flames of Hell, they still would not believe, if the Scriptures were not enough to convince them. While signs, wonders, dreams, and angels are spectacular means God has used to communicate His will, the Bible is now His preeminent method of bringing the divine will to the minds of men. And how blessed we are to have it! God has said that it is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true and righteous. As for effectiveness, it converts the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, and endures forever (Psalm 19:7-9). With all that in one book, what else do we need to be sure of God's will for our lives? Surely God knows our needs and knows how to meet them. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
~ Kirk

I used to be confused about how I was "saved". Was I saved by a belief I mustered up within my own heart, or was I saved by something God did in the purpose of His own heart? Spurgeon shed more light on this crucial subject of who does the saving, when he said, "...even our repentance needs to be repented of." The point is that no earthly faith, repentance, good works, or belief that I have ever mustered from what exists in my own natural heart has ever saved me. The Bible is clear: My faith doesn't save me, Jesus does (Ephesians 2:8-9). A believer's faith in Jesus is a gift from God. My faith is the connecting channel through which God saved me by His own love and grace. So if you ever wonder if "your faith has saved you," you may find this question helpful: "Is my trust in my own ability to hold on to Jesus, or is my trust in Jesus' ability to hold on to me?" If you have received that humble, repentant faith that causes you to love God and trust in Jesus and Lord and Savior, then I would be very confident in echoing Jesus' words, "Your faith has saved you."
~ Kirk

Only our God, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, manifests His great love and power by giving to undeserving criminals far more than what they deserve. Think of the injustice of it. Peter, like a coward, denied his Lord three times and even acted on behalf of Satan to thwart the plans of God, and instead of giving Peter what he justly deserved, Jesus forgave him and restored him to a place of prominence and power in the Church. Likewise, the thief on the cross was guilty of violating the laws of man and of God, deserving death and damnation, but Jesus pays the penalty for his sins, and lifts him by His grace, to the land of forgiveness, redemption, and glory. No other god knows such mercy upon undeserving rebels. No man-made idol knows the kind of self-sacrificing love that suffers and dies so that his enemies might be redeemed and live. The redeemed and glorified sinner is one of the most illustrious glories of the grace of our God.
~ Kirk

I am seeing more and more, as I study God's Word and His world, that all of life should direct our eyes to the Lord of all Creation. This morning's walk through a corn field reminded me of God's creative genius. The massive thunderclouds and bolts of lightning ripping through the sky reveal a tiny glimpse of his storehouses of violent power and my relative weakness. Even my ability to walk and think these thoughts, ponder the next movie I may act in, string another worm on my son's fishing hook, serve or share the gospel with another person... all these things are reminders to me of the God who has saved, redeemed, and blessed me through His Son Jesus. My personal goal is to pursue all the aspects of my life- work, play, ministry- with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. I must not neglect any important aspect of my life, but rather devote myself to each for the ultimate purpose of honoring God and lifting Jesus higher.
~ Kirk

What incredible thoughts Spurgeon brings to mind here! To think that even the poorest Christian on earth is heir of all that God has been preparing in Heaven for those who love Him! The Bible says we are co-heirs with Christ. To be an "heir" means that some good things are coming to you if you are one of God's children. God's treasures are priceless and unfathomable and He will lavish them upon every person who enters His family by faith. There is no social or economic threshold we must meet here on earth to gain these treasures in Heaven. There is nothing we can do to earn them; there is nothing we can give to deserve them. They are simply gifts with your name written on them the moment you enter God's family. Just as you and I do, God also loves to bless His children with more than they deserve.
~ Kirk

Jesus said He would prepare a place for us called Heaven (John 14: 2-3). He also says that He prepares us for Heaven. He sets His love upon us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), He draws us to Himself (John 6:44), He makes us new creatures with new hearts and new desires (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 36:26), washes us (Ephesians 5:26), sets us apart for His own purposes (Ephesians 5:27), and then works in and through us to produce what is good and pleasing in His sight (Philippians 1:6). God graciously does all this to prepare His people for His prepared palace! What is our part? We must also heed the wise words of the prophet Samuel- "Return unto the LORD with all your hearts... put away the strange gods among you... and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve Him only..." (1 Samuel 7:3)
~ Kirk

The Pharisees loved the sound of their own voices, and many of today's preachers enjoy the admiration of their fellow seminarians and astute theological contemporaries, not realizing the ineffectiveness of their techniques. In an effort to impress their hearers with eloquence, their words often miss the mark completely, flying right over the heads of those who are most eager to learn from them. We must remember that it is not the wise, the mighty, and the noble that God has called, but rather the foolish, weak, and the base, so "that no flesh should glory in His presence." So if you feel called to speak the oracles of God to men with a view to leading them to salvation, then do what Jesus did. Speak the truth in love, and keep it simple (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
~ Kirk

. . .awaken their conscience and prepare the soil of their hearts for the life-giving seed of the gospel.
Kirk Cameron
American Actor
Born 1970
Panorama City, California

I've heard atheists say that they'd gladly go to Hell rather than spend eternity with the God of the Bible! Many unconverted sinners so love their sin that they hate anyone or anything that stand between them and their various forms of Turkish Delight. With Heaven's "No Tolerance Policy" for sin, lust, greed, ego, and selfish ambition, the unregenerate man or woman would find eternity there intolerable! As unbelievable as that sounds, I've actually heard people speak with loathing about Heaven and longing about Hell ("where all my friends will be!"). As I understand the nature of Hell, it is a place where all of God's restraining grace is removed, allowing man's hatred and rebellion against God and all that is good to reach it's apex. But rather than the sinner loving Hell (where iniquity abounds), he or she will actually be in perpetual torment, grief, and regret. So, for the wicked, Heaven would be Hell, and Hell will be Hell -- a lose/lose situation. But for the sinner saved by God's grace, the victory, the gratitude, and the blessing of Paradise is both sweet and never-ending.
~ Kirk

This wonderful encouragement to stay on the narrow road to Heaven reminds me of my engagement to my wife, Chelsea. From the moment I laid eyes on her at 19 years old, I knew she was worth fighting for. I knew it would be a war in which I'd have to defeat every other suitor (there were many), capture her tender heart, and take her hand down the isle if I wanted to have her for the rest of my life. Nothing could get in my way or I'd lose her to a more worthy man. Many days, I could think of nothing else but my love for her and all the joys, pleasures, and treasures of being married. Likewise, in our Christian race to being face to face with Jesus, how much more enthusiastically should we be disciplining ourselves, removing every obstacle, and looking forward with sheer excitement and joyful expectations of the inheritance of "all things" that God has promised to those who love Him? It is surely worth the fight and the wait!
~ Kirk

There's a song by Keb Mo, called "Victim of Comfort," in which he sings, "I'm just a victim of comfort... I've got no one else to blame..." It seems to be human nature to want a life that is easy and where problems, pain, and struggles are nowhere to be found. But we know that if our sinful hearts are left to snuggle with the comforts of the flesh, our souls would rot. God, in love, sends His children troubles, trials, and afflictions to move us off our branches of comfort and promote our growth in faith and love. If only we would remember this truth and believe it, we would find divine comfort and joy in our troubles, knowing that they come from our heavenly Father's hand.
~ Kirk

Repentance is such an interesting word. It tends to bring a feeling of disgust from those need it most. The theologians, it is a subject of debate. For the saved Christian, it is a sweet gift from God that brings supernatural freedom from shame and guilt. It is a change of mind that results in a whole new way of looking at God, yourself, and others. It turns the whole man away from sin, unbelief, and all forms of wickedness. It turns him- mind, body, and soul- to the true and living God. The narrow path that leads to everlasting life is surely too narrow for me to walk it successfully on my own. Spurgeon used to say, "Even our repentance needs to be repented of!" I need a supernatural helper. Oh, how comforting to know that God, in Jesus Christ, who gave his life so that I could live, also gives me the necessary repentance and faith I need to persevere to the end, to keep me from falling, and enter into His "haven of glory". From beginning to end, we are debtors to God's amazing grace!
~ Kirk

I found this quote interesting because it deals with the secret seat of deceit- the human heart. While you and I can fake our faith to the world (act religiously), to our fellow man (act kindly), and even to our own family (pray before meals and read the Bible), we cannot pull the wool over the all-seeing eyes of Almighty God. He sees the heart. Nothing is hidden from his sight, but all things are opened and bare before the eyes of the creator of the universe. If we want our Christianity to be authentic, attractive, and acceptable to Jesus, it must be lived out first in our own hearts. Think about that. It must be authentic first in your own heart. If your heart is not true; if you do not truly count Jesus precious and sin odious, you will never know what it is to be a genuine Christian. There are religious phonies all over the place. If you want a genuine love for Christ to grow in you, it will not happen by keeping any outward form of religion, it will happen in the secret place- the heart. If you want to be effective in advancing God's kingdom, first see to it that your heart is filled with true love and appreciation for Jesus. Fear nothing but God and sin. Lasting change in the world will not come about by persuasive words, trickery, or force. God's kingdom begins internally, in the heart, and then moves out into the world to bring about his purposes. So see to it that your chief study is about your heart.
~ Kirk [Look up the Qoute by ~ Jonathan Edwards "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life!" Proverbs 4:23]

Do you read the above quote without a sinking feeling that you somehow fall short of a full understanding of the depth of the love Jesus has shown to us? Read it again. Slowly. Are you consciously aware of your personal sinfulness and unworthiness of such acts of divine love? "Yes," you say. "I am a sinner and Jesus loves me." But it is at this point that we reveal our understanding of the gospel. When you think of how Jesus suffered and died for you, does this lead you to conclude that you must be so very special (for Christ to give His life for you) or that Jesus must be so very special that He would sacrifice Himself for a such a very terrible sinner as you? Who is the real treasure- you or Jesus? And what is love- dying for a treasure, or a treasure dying for a wretch? Chewing on these things humbles me.
~ Kirk

Faith is often used synonomously with the word "trust". In my own experience, I've learned that trust is a very delicate thing. It's like a crystal vase- easily shattered, and once broken, very difficult to restore. I've learned to guard my wife's trust. If I am to know the full measure of Chelsea's love, I must keep my word to her, be faithful and loyal to the very end, and treasure her above every other woman on earth. When pride, ego, or unfaithfulness creeps in (in any form), trust is damaged and the relationship is in danger. Trust thrives when love is pure, but dies in unfaithfulness. Even so, faith flourishes in a pure heart alone. If you are a Christian, examine your heart today and see if there be any wicked way in you. Expel the foreign objects of sin through godly sorrow and restore your pure eye of faith.
~ Kirk

How many days do we ponder the Lord's will for our lives? "Should I do this, or pursue that?" we ask. "Do I invest my time here or is it better spent there?" How free we would be from these questions of purpose and endeavor if we could see our lives as simply as the apostle Paul saw his? Knowing that God's plans are better than ours, Paul submitted himself to the Lord's agenda for his life and focused the scope of his efforts to serving Christ alone. He became convinced that life equaled knowing Jesus and loving Jesus. When service to the Lord was no longer possible for him on earth, Paul desired to be with the Lord in Heaven, so that he could love and serve Him face to face! In the final analysis, when the points are tallied, and the scores are posted, what else will matter in life and death but Jesus?
~ Kirk

When I read this quote, I am reminded of a song by Casting Crowns that contain the lyrics, "Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done... not because of what I've done, but because of who You are." [italics mine] My hope and my joy in life comes from looking to Jesus rather than myself. I gave up seeking for self-confidence a long time ago, once I realized that I could put my confidence in Christ instead. I think Christ-confidence is a far better investment than self-confidence. "Christ in me" is a much more promising proposition than "me in me." I realize that my personal bank account of talent, treasure, and self-righteousness won't buy me one thing that will last beyond the grave, but Christ's power and perfection will purchase for me not only peace in this life, but eternal life and joy in the next!
~ Kirk

The ocean of God's forgiveness must be so vast that our minds cannot fathom its height, its depth, or its width. The worldwide flood in the days of Noah must be only as a drop of water when compared to the deluge of the mercy of God toward repentant sinners. It is true that while no sin is so small that God does not see it, it is also true that there is no sin so great that God's mercy can not wash it away.
~ Kirk

A sure way to lose your trust in God is to assume that He always acts in a certain way in every case. This is not true. God is a judge and often deals justly with humanity (think of the worldwide flood), but has also swallowed up justice by His mercy as a wonderful Savior (think of the fact that we are guilty criminals who have been saved by the cross). God is also both a King and a humble servant (Jesus, the King of Kings, came not to be served, but to serve) and sovereignly chooses when to demonstrate each of His individual attributes. The key to understanding God's mysterious ways is to trust His character. His actions are always right because His wisdom is perfect, His love is pure, and His power is unstoppable.
~ Kirk

When I understand, by the grace of God, that nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away my sin- not my prayers, nor my good works, no, not even my repentance and faith- it sends me into worship. I've learned God moves in mercy toward us not because of anything we have done, but only because He is full of compassion toward helpless sinners who have nothing acceptable to offer to save themselves. Since God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, a sinner's only hope for happiness in this life and the next, is to abandon all confidence in his own merits and accomplishments, and trust entirely in the power and kindness of His Savior, Jesus Christ.
~ Kirk

I was recently having breakfast with a lawyer friend who told me, "Christian distributors are the slimiest crooks in the business." As a professional businessman, he had been burned by so-called Christians who loved money more than honesty. You know something is wrong when Hollywood takes the moral high road over professing believers. How devastating it is to the church and to the watching world when your beloved pastor is caught with another woman's heart in his hand, or when your mentor of faith looses his passion for the things of God and returns to a life of self-centeredness, indifference, and immorality. If the world looks at the church and suggests we raise the moral bar, how much more should we who are spiritual, raise up, esteem, and hold our leaders to the high standard of an "example to the flock"? One of my new favorite books is, Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. Young men learning to be faithful examples to the flock is a "hard thing," but worth every ounce of effort and will produce an eternal reward in Heaven.
~ Kirk

I was recently speaking with a Christian brother who also happens to be in a respected branch of the military. I'll admit, I was impressed with his job title and began feeling self-conscious at the inferior size of my biceps. I soon developed even more respect for this man of strength. As a few friends and I ate lunch around a table, he recounted the terrifying story of how he once came close to death. I was surprised that his attackers were an unlikely group of terrorists. The episode happened one night while he was out for some recreation with his fellow soldiers. He found himself running away, threats coming from his own men when he refused to join them in some debauched, alcohol induced fun. Because of his personal convictions, he woke up to being punched in the stomach, beat in the face, and held in ice water for over an hour. To top it off, he was accused by his own team of making the whole story up and was released from his team for being a "trouble maker." How easy it would have been for this young man to have a few drinks and join the rest of the guys in some liquored up licentiousness in order to keep his good standing with his pals. But the disciple of Christ knows that while the pain of fists in his face is bad, and swollen joints don't feel good, a clean conscience before God is worth the fight and the applause of Heaven is the reward.
~ Kirk

This sentiment of Jesus being worth far more than all treasures on Earth and in Heaven is astounding to me. Look again at what the great reformer, Martin Luther, had to say about his Savior. Read the last sentence again. Would you be able to say and truly mean those words? Could you really say you'd rather forfeit all of Heaven and suffer in a literal Hell if Jesus was there with you? How did Luther and other spiritual giants down through the ages acquire such extreme, other worldly devotion to their Savior? I believe it must come through a deep understanding of what Jesus did for them at the cross. When you understand who Jesus is (pause...) and what He did for you (pause...), the only suitable response for a redeemed human being is to live in complete devotion and unreserved allegiance to his Master, even if it costs him every last drop of comfort or pleasure. Why? Because Christ deserves it. Luther's secret was to not think of what he wanted for himself after he died, but to think about what his Savior deserved from him both in this life, and the next. Let these thoughts challenge you this week to live in such a way that your life declares, "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!"
~ Kirk

Is your general attitude in life one of joy and sweet gratitude or of bitterness and frustration? I know a pastor who is a great inspiration to me. He says that the reason Christians get cancer, get laid off work, and loose loved ones, is to show the superiority of a life lived in Christ. It is precisely because of these outside darkenesses that our inward light has an opportunity to shine so brightly! Remember the grief and anguish and crushing weight of injustice and suffering that brought Jesus to sweat great drops of blood in the garden? Outwardly our Savior was broken and bruised by his circumstances, but inwardly He was hopeful and strong. He knew who was in control. And he knew why He was being treated this way- because His Father had a plan. Despising the shame, our Savior drank the bitter cup of horrendous circumstances His Father had appointed for Him, and boldly took hold of eternal life and glory for those His Father had given Him. Don't let your circumstances get you down. Take hold of the opportunity to show the superiority of a life lived in and for Christ.
~ Kirk

Of all the people who have befriended me, no one has loved me like Jesus. He thought of me when I gave no thought to Him. I was an atheist, lumping Jesus in with another trinity- Santa, the Easter Bunny, and Jesus. Despite my mockery, He saw my need and showed me kindness and good will. Without me asking, he led me to a church, brought me to my senses, opened my eyes to the enormity of my sin (which crushed me under it's load), and then thrilled me with the gift of mercy, love, and forgiveness. He saw my need, and met it by dying on the cross. He offered me comfort at just the right time, and continues to do so to this very day. "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:34)
~ Kirk

Lyrics like these don't show up every Sunday in our contemporary Christian worship songs. Why? Because they make people feel bad. "Me... vile, unclean and wretched? (gasp!) But that hurts my self-esteem and makes me feel, well... not good. and God doesn't want that for me." And so we sing, week after week, songs that fail to truly change us. The gospel is the power of God to save and to change. And the heart of the gospel is the truth that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) The higher view you have of yourself, the less you see your true state before God and the less you will appreciate the cross. The lower you get before Almighty God, the clearer you see, and the better view you have of the cross, it's beauty, and the depth of God's love for you. There is a new worship album out that I was asked to be a part of that captures the essence of these powerful lyrics by combining 14th century puritan hymns with puritan prayers such as these. In this album, I recite the prayers, Scott Krippayne sings the songs, and John MacArthur gives the introduction. Check it out if you want a new and moving worship experience. It's called "Exalted Worship" and is now available on iTunes and AmazonMP3.
~ Kirk

I was recently cleaning out my old barn and found a photo album that showed me what I looked like twenty years ago. Young, strong, no wrinkles, hairless shoulders, and six-pack abs. Then I looked into the mirror and pondered the reality that I am getting older. So, I'm off to the gym today, eating more brussel sprouts, and watching my egg yolks. While I know I can beat the "mid-life crisis" mentality with an enthusiastic thankfulness for all the treasures I have in Christ, to be honest, the thought of my nearing appointment with death sometimes gets me down. I don't want to stop hugging and kissing my children, loving my wife, eating good food, breathing the ocean air, and preaching the gospel. I love it all. But the lesson of the photo album is teaching me not to hold onto this world. God is King and He has a plan that is perfect. If to live is "Christ" and if dying is truly gain, than the best day of my life will be the day of my heart attack and every wrinkle is a reminder that my Redeemer's face is almost in view! Oh Lord, help me to keep this perspective and teach it to my precious children as we move through the pages of the calendar in 2010. ~ Kirk

There is an Eye that sees deeper into who we really are than our own. The Bible says, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but God sees the heart." My experience as an actor in Hollywood has shown me that people are willing- even eager- to be fooled by outward appearance. Everyone loves to believe what they see. Few fans consider the heart of their hero. Not so with God. Celebrities are made when people idolize outward appearance. God is not impressed because He sees through the facade and knows the heart of man. When I think of God's penetrating view of my secrets, and how that exposes me to His perfect judgments, I thank God that He is merciful and kind and has chosen to save me and patiently change me. As a son of my Father in Heaven, I can trust Him and His perfect wisdom to chasten, rebuke, correct, guide, and encourage me to become all He created me to be for my good and His glory. In other words, by God's grace, I'm learning to ignore the crowds and live for an audience of One.
~ Kirk

This morning my bride and I watched our six year old son recite his lines in his first grade chapel service. Oh, how we smiled with pride and joy and thankfulness! Walking with our children and a good friend along the bluffs overlooking the shoreline, we breathed deeply the salty air and smiled with wonder at all God had made. The Bible says, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22) and "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4) It's not spiritual to have a long face. It's very odd to me that so many religious people never smile. If ever a people had reasons to rejoice, it's Christians! I do picture Jesus smiling, laughing, and rejoicing with his friends and family. To be sure, there is much to be sober-minded about, in light of eternity, but to limit your smiles is to quench the Holy Spirit who produces joy in the heart of those who are His! A wise man once said, "You can never be a better parent than you are a smiler! If the joy of the Lord is your strength, then the joy of the parent is the child's strength." Gloom and doom is for the demons. Seize the day! Smile. Rejoice in the fact that your name is written in Heaven and that the Lord is for you.
~ Kirk

Wow... there must not have been anything in those days like a good old book burning! While the thought of this kind thing happening today may invoke feelings of religious fanaticism, I ask the question, "Why should we do any less with anything, including books, magazines, and other publications that poison our children, demoralize our marriages, and compromise our souls?" My sister recently found dangerous black mold in her house. It was hurting her children's health, so she promptly had it professionally eradicated. Her family rejoiced when it was safe to return to their home. Once, I found a rattlesnake in my back yard. It was only a small one, but small ones are the most potent to kill. So I chopped it's head off, skinned it, and had a celebration of victory over the serpent. Understandably, drastic measures ought to be taken when deadly danger is near. With all the filth and poison slithering under our fences and into our homes through television, music, books, and computers, don't you think some things need to be relegated to the Burn List? If not a bonfire, how about a trash bin?
~ Kirk

Just the other day, I sat with a man who was grumbling about a personal problem, family issues, and a lack of direction in his life. How ungrateful. Just last year, I was grumbling about the same things. Funny, when I hear my children complain about "injustices" over toys, food, or "who had it first", it's so easy to see that a lack of gratitude clouds their vision and blinds them to the tremendous blessings they do have. "You have been so blessed!" I remind them, pointing to their health, loving family, and relative lack of problems. How much more should we as Christians be filled to overflowing with thanksgiving when we look at all that God has given us in Jesus Christ! The cross. No Hell. Heaven. Power to defeat sin. Peace. Friendship with God. Eternal love. Blessing Forever. Today, I'm going to whisper different words under my breath; words of praise, honor, and thankfulness to God for all He is, has done, and is yet to do. May you and I be marked as "holy grumblers," always muttering phrases that speak of the greatness, kindness, and love of Jesus Christ. And may we not only murmur them, but speak them openly with our friends, family, and even strangers.
~ Kirk

Sadly, there are many good books I have started, but never finished. Embarrassingly, I have even made promises I haven't kept. But one work I cannot afford to abandon, and dare not even think of neglecting, is the honor, duty, and privilege of being the Prophet, Priest, Provider, and Protector of my family. It is the work God himself has given me to do... and it's not easy. I've stayed up nights, lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering how to make all the pieces of my family puzzle fit together. I pray, I read God's Word, and I seek wise counsel. I fight, I win, I stumble, I get back in the fight and win again. Building a godly family can leave you bruised, wounded, and exhausted. Marriage isn't for wimps; it's for warriors. But the glorious structure of a home that is full of love and the glory of God has a beauty and value that cannot be compared to any man-made building. I cannot fail at family. I must finish the good that God has begun in my home. And I have confidence that my family will not only survive, but thrive. That assurance comes through trusting in the integrity and faithfulness of my Heavenly Father. He keeps his promises and I stand on them. "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you, will be complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" and "...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
~ Kirk

I have a friend named Landon who has been living with my family for the last couple of weeks. He is a college student and loves Jesus. What I love best about Landon is the "shadow" he casts on me, my wife, and kids. We've found ourselves laughing more, loving more, caring more, and thinking about God in different ways while we've been together. Do you know someone like that? Someone who always draws a smile out of you when you're feeling blue? Someone who's very presence makes you feel safe and loved? Someone who makes the party more fun, the conversation easier, and the general mood of the day brighter just by walking into the room? I imagine being near Jesus was the most life-changing experience anyone ever had. Jesus cast a shadow of love, life, laughter, and truth- even without saying a word. He was powerfully changing the world around Him by his personal influence. How are others affected by the way you live your life? What would your spouse and children say? Would they say they feel closer to God, safer, more loved, and cared about because of you, or that life is easier and less stressful when you're not around? Be aware of this strange power that continually exudes from you and affects all who know you.
~ Kirk

My friend lives next door to a pig farm. He didn't notice anything foul until the winds shifted the opposite direction and for the first time since he moved there, he found his family downwind from hog-ville. Suddenly, he was offended by the aroma. We often don't notice our own sinful nature until we get downwind from ourselves. We can perceive our words, intentions, and actions differently than God does. As an actor, there's one thing I've learned -- perception is not reality. Getting downwind of ourselves as humans is a good idea in light of the fact that God has sent a Savior for sinners who need supernatural cleansing. Is that you? Open up the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 6 for a reality check. Let the winds of the Spirit blow across your soul. Take a deep breath and savor the aroma. Is it sweet or putrid and sour? Do you turn your nose at what you smell? Thank God for His Word that clues us into the truth so that we can turn to the one who can wash us clean and make us, "...the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)
~ Kirk

This morning, I found it difficult to show love to a family member. I experienced feelings of hurt, frustration, and a wounded ego. In response, I failed to love as I ought to love. In stark contrast, God has so patiently loved me. In spite of the countless times I've offended Him, denied Him with my actions, and rebelled in my thought life, He has never failed to show me love. He has never shut His great gates and stopped the flow of His forgiveness, mercy, and care toward me. God can do this because He is not only loving, but He is love. If you are His child, then you too can rest in the fact that God will never stop loving you. You belong to Him and He belongs to you. There are no limits to his love and he could not love you any more, because His heart belongs to you.
~ Kirk

Do you find that the name "Christian" is used as a derogatory term when describing you? Or do you live in a culture that esteems the word "Christian" as a term of honor? I'm not sure where it is more difficult to be salt and light; in Hollywood or the Bible Belt. One loves the darkness and hates the light, the other has a form of light, but often denies it with darkness cloaked in "Southern hospitality" and old time religion. Of course, true Christians are everywhere and God has placed them there to effectively impact people with the life changing gospel - proclaimed and lived out. Christian, if you are a follower, a disciple, or a believer, prepare for and expect to live the abundant life, full of persecution, mockery, sacrifice, and joy in the Holy Ghost because you are called by His name.
~ Kirk

I find it profoundly interesting that Jesus' mission to rescue sinners was not motivated by something "worthy" or "valuable" in us, but rather his mercy is magnified by the fact that He saved us even while we had nothing to offer Him but our sin and shame. To think that Jesus didn't come to rescue friends, but to love his enemies, serve them unto death, adopt them as His children, and allow them to rein with Him forever... God's grace is amazing!
~ Kirk

Recently, I was doing an interview for a marriage conference called "Love Worth Fighting For" and was asked what I thought of "gay marriage". I later thought more deeply about the subject. That phrase doesn't even make sense and confuses terms. Marriage is defined by God. He defines it in His Word as a covenant union between one man and one woman, for life. There is no other kind. To say "straight marriage" would be redundancy. Anything else is not marriage, it's... well, something else. I know a man who struggled with homosexual thoughts, became a Christian, and waged war against his sin. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, guided by the light of Scripture, he "put to death the deeds of the flesh" and was "transformed by the renewing of [his] mind," and "washed by the water of the Word". While some cry for the "right" to redefine holy institutions, those who have Christ living within them grow increasingly away from deformities, faults, and error, into loveliness, honor, and spiritual beauty. Notice this is a process. A walk, Paul says. Step by step, growing over time, into the perfect likeness of Jesus himself. God's solution to homosexual desires is not to change the definition of marriage, but to change the desires of the man by making him more like Jesus.
~ Kirk

I watched a short film today about Lucifer's fall to Hell and a man's rising to Heaven. What striking contrast there is between the two poles; all joy and no joy, singing and howling, perpetual merriment and eternal madness! It is by the providence of God that our time here on earth is now mingled with both joy and sadness, singing and crying, victory and defeat. Perhaps by divine design, this mingling of both good and bad are to help conform us into the likeness of Christ on our difficult journey to the grave. Earthly sorrows seem to make me look forward to Heaven and daily mercies remind me of what I've been saved from. Both serve to loosen my Kung-Fu grip on this temporary Earthly life. One day, the mixed drink of joy and sorrow will no longer be offered to us. We will either consume the pure tonic of Heavenly joy or choke down the bitter dregs of a hopeless Hell.
~ Kirk

Experience tells us that trials and difficulties are not a matter of "if" but "when." I've been fortunate thus far to have lived a life of relative comfort and pleasure. I have brothers and sisters in the world who "...were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." (Hebrews 11:37-38) But I know that when the growing pains come, each trial is measured out and delivered by the hand of Providence, designed to produce in me patience, character, faith, and love. If I try to avoid afflictions, I will certainly be ruled by the tyrant of fear, cowardly retreating to "safer" options, rather than faithfully running to kill Goliath. At the end of the day, I must meet every battle head on and welcome every affliction as I trust in the wisdom and faithfulness of my Father in Heaven.
~ Kirk



Sitting next to me on a flight from Indiana, was a religious psychologist who worked at a State hospital. His specialty was helping religious patients with mental disorders distinguish spiritual reality from psychotic imagination. "Some of my patients believe in God, but also that He is outside their bedroom window, trying to help them escape each morning!" he said. "Or that Satan is hiding under their bed."
"How fascinating!" I told him, recounting the times when atheists have told me that all people who believe in God suffer from mental delusions and should therefore be locked up as phychotic. "Seeing is believing" seems to be the party line for materialists" I told him. "They insist on "seeing evidence" for the supernatural. I asked my plane partner if he ever uses the "I won't believe it till I see it" line of reasoning with his patients. He replied, "No. I'm blind. One of my eyes is fake (which I then tried not to stare at... which was impossible) and the other is damaged to the point of barely being able to use it." I found it amazing that this sightless visionary was helping others to see the reality of the invisible, reminding me that vision can be a source of blindness, and that only God can give spiritual light to those in darkness. "Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see." (Luke 10:23)
~ Kirk



I received a heart-breaking phone call at Los Angeles airport while I was entering the security area. It was the daughter of my 95 year old friend, Ted Bennett. Ted has been preaching for 80 years and his mind is still as sharp as a tack. He was rushed to the hospital and given only 2 hours to live. I could do nothing but pray because I was about to board a plane to Wichita. He couldn't talk, but he could listen as I spoke to him over the phone. To my joy, I returned to visit him two days later in ICU. I brought my wife and children from school to say goodbye as Tedd lay there with tubes and wires entering and exiting his frail body. We prayed, read scripture, and even joked with one another before we said our farewells. Two days later, I got another call that the miraculous had happened. Tedd had recovered, was no longer in ICU, and could talk freely without the respirator in his mouth! I rushed to see my friend and ask him what he was thinking as he lay so close to the edge of eternity. He said to me, "Kirk, If the Lord has more for me to do here, then so be it, but if it is time to go, then I'm ready." He then quoted Charles Spurgeon (as he so often does) and reminded us both that "Not a single shaft can hit, till the God of love sees fit." Ted is a man doing battle in bed, knowing that his time on earth may be very short. Never have I seen someone so brave as my friend Ted, waring against fear and a broken body at death's door, trusting in the faithfulness of his Savior.
~ Kirk

I've recently had an interesting discussion with a friend about the definition of a "Christian". Is he simply a "believer" or a "follower" of Christ? Or is he someone who has been baptized in the name of the Triune God? Or is the term "Christian" referring only to those who have been born again? What we can be sure of is what the Bible says about those who "name the name of Christ". They are to "depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19). For a subject to be loyal, he must lay down his arms against the King. A scholar must discard his ignorance or he cannot rightly be called a scholar. A drunkard must lose his sobriety or he is not a drunk. A miser can not have charity or he is not a miser. A thief is not a thief if he continues to be honest. And a Christian must turn from sin and war against iniquity or he is a walking contradiction and an offense to the one whose name he bears.
~ Kirk


This Week from Ray

Free Stuff!

Would you like to be able to witness to people of other nationalities in their own language, without having to learn them? You can. If you care about the lost, you will love this new iPhone app...and it's free. This is the spiritual equivalent of the discovery of the lightbulb--because it has the potential to bring the light of the gospel to millions. Go to www.theGM28.com and watch a brief video clip (less than two minutes long).

Additionally, "The Life of Darwin" is now available as a free app. Go to your App Store, type in "The Life of Darwin," and download it free of charge.

And if you'd like to help us provide the Christian community
with more free resources, we invite you to partner with us.

Weekly Wild and Wonderful World

Please watch this two-minute clip (it's fascinating and funny). It would greatly help our ministry if you would pass this on to your friends: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTDS1sBguW4

Wild and Wonderful World

Behind the Scenes

A short weekly video clip to keep you up-to-date
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Ray

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Great Quotes with Kirk

Like crazy people, we immaturely run around until we are old, chasing after money, power, affection, and pleasure. And while these things are sometimes given as gifts from God's good hands, I've found that trying to chase them down and capture them (as prized game to hang on a shelf) is a silly thing to do. Many men learn this hard lesson on their deathbed, when money can no longer help them, and all their worldly accomplishments and accouterments no longer serve them. When death looms large, nothing else matters except what really matters-- LIFE. "He who dies with the most toys...dies" is a good bumper sticker. I'm asking God to give me wisdom to know how to spend my remaining days working hard, fighting sloth and indifference, building some things, burning others, and enjoying life...all for the greater cause of expanding His kingdom. I want to find a way to turn the "toys of buffoons" into "tools for the King."
~ Kirk

This quote really gave me the shakes! If you enjoy fine literature, read this quote again. But this time, pause with each phrase and visualize the serpent, his den, and his behavior. See the fire and feel its heat. Consider its dreadful source and its inexhaustible supply of fuel. Imagine its effectiveness to thaw and bring the hungry serpent to life!
~ Kirk

When I read Genesis, my mind fills with the images of God's planning sessions before time began. If God is all-knowing, surely He foresaw the choices Adam and Eve would make, and knew the tremendous cost of redeeming the human race. I wonder if the Father asked Jesus if He would be willing to endure the cross or if He commanded Him to go. Did the Father or the Holy Spirit offer to bear eternal wrath, or was Jesus always the man for the job? God's wisdom is perfect, and although I do not understand the details, I certainly trust Him. There are some things, however, that I do know: There is no one like my God. He generously gives sinners new hearts and new desires. He sets prisoners free. He transforms sinners into saints. He graciously pardons criminals and pays their debt out of His own account. His kindness is limitless and His mercy lasts forever. He is a shelter from every storm. He is my God, and He is like none other!
~ Kirk

As a popular Hollywood teenage actor, I was very proud of myself. I was smart, worldly-wise, and successful--or so I thought. I proudly boasted of my lack of belief in God, professing to be wise in a world of freethinking and reality, as opposed to wishful thinking and fairy tales. I fought for my atheism and laughed at my friends who believed in Jesus. They tried to persuade me, but I was too strong for them. "Sinner doesn't describe me," I told myself. "Everyone likes me and I'm a good guy!" I was just like the guy in our new YouTube video "Mr. Nice Guy" (YouTube.com/watch?v=TCSUKIhjevo) "Grace may be amazing to people who go to church," I thought, "but it's not for me. I don't need a crutch." Little did I know that I would soon be singing that old hymn as loudly as I could, thanking God for the sweet sound that saved a wretch like me.
~ Kirk

One of my sons and I took a trip to "The Lost Sea" in Sweetwater, Tennessee, the Nation's largest underground lake. Five-hundred-fifty feet below the Earth's surface inside a very large cave in the Smokey Mountains lies an amazing underground world. We floated in a boat over four acres of water teaming with blind albino fish that never see the sun. On our adventure, we finally reached "The Bottomless Pit". There we stood, trying to catch our breath from the hike, when our guide turned out the lights and we experienced "total darkness"- literally. He told us that there are only two places in the world this occurs naturally- at the bottom of the ocean and in a cave. It was so dark I could not see my hand in front of my face. The lack of light paralyzed me. Apparently, groups camp overnight in this cave (we saw some of these crazy people in sleeping bags!) and a common problem is when the lights go out, the adults freeze while little kids start running around! Small children will actually run in the dark, not realizing they could fall past the point of no return. While it sounds crazy, Scripture says that before we come to Jesus, we are much like that. Blinded by our own sinful desires, we shut out the light of God's Word and consider it fun to run headlong into danger, not knowing that we are jeopardizing our eternal souls. I thanked God for the light and stayed close to our guide. Spiritually, we need to do the same.
~ Kirk

E'er long, a heavenly voice I heard,
And Mercy's angel soon appeared;
He led me on with gentle pace,
To Jesus as my hiding place!
~ James Smith

This is the sixth stanza in a poem by James Smith. If you like, get a running start by reviewing the first five from past newsletters. When I was first attracted to spiritual things, I dabbled in New Age nonsense. I even talked to my own imaginary god, "Mark." Sounds silly because it was! I knew I was making my god up in my mind, but I thought everyone else was doing the same thing too! My fairy-tale god was a dumb figment of my imagination, unable to help me, heal me, or humble me, leaving me stuck in my sin. The genuine God however, Jesus Christ, spoke to me at last, in that still, small voice and led me to a church where I heard the gospel truth. "Mark," Mohamed, and Mother Theresa cannot forgive my sin. I cannot blot out my transgressions. But Jesus can. Jesus hides me and old Grandfather Adam under His blood, and raises me a son of the Most High King.
~ Kirk

I have a friend who is turning 40 this year. I sent him a funny note that Ray Comfort sent me when I turned 35. It read:

Happy birthday. I'm honored to have you as my friend, and wish you the best as your hair and teeth fall out and your muscles disappear. Life is like a roller-coaster. You begin with anticipation and excitement, go up, over the hill, and come down screaming, "I wanna get off!"

It's true that over time, God mercifully strips us of earthly and fleshly strength in order to grow our spiritual muscles and lift our focus to Heaven. The Bible says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD." I'll admit it. I'm fighting the aging process like the Karate Kid, but am also learning to lean on the strong arm of God who has already won the battle over sin, decay, and death. When I am weak, then I am strong. His strength is made perfect in my weakness.
~ Kirk

This amazing quote is from Bradford's personal journal, "Of Plymouth Plantation". As I've been learning about America's godly heritage, and filming a new documentary called "Monumental" (www.MonumentalMovie.com), I've been astounded by the distinctly Christian worldview that our forefathers used to build our nation! Contrary to the way some history books portray them, the Pilgrims were not a dopey band of Englishmen who wore big black hats, belt buckles on their shoes, and didn't know how to plant corn. Historical revisionists have painted our forefathers as bad guys who abused the Indians and stole their land. This couldn't be farther from the truth! While other settlers certainly did those things, Bradford and his men, together with their wives, had a deep, rich, robust faith in God. They honored their fellow man, including the Indians; helped them, and established a 50 year peace treaty with the natives soon after they arrived. And they risked their lives by coming to an unknown wilderness for the express purpose of advancing "the gospel of the kingdom of Christ to the remote parts of the world..." I can't wait for Thanksgiving so I can tell my children the story of the Pilgrims and remind them of our country's great Christian heritage.
~ Kirk

I'm amazed at how quickly time flies by. My baby boy is now a 14-year-old young man. My friend is in the hospital fighting for his life and another friend recently ran out of time. Even now as I write this note after reading Packer's comment on the internet, I want to get off this computer and build something that will last for eternity. Visit a friend, share the gospel, love my wife, teach my children, storm the gates of Hell through prayer- something that will stand the test of time because it mattered for eternity. There goes another minute. Go do something that has "staying power" while you still have time.
~ Kirk

With so many self-proclaimed teachers speaking for God, it's no wonder the average person has no idea what He's saying. What a great comfort it is to me to know that God speaks for Himself and instructs us personally through His Word. Read this wonderful quote again and meditate on its practicality. This life is a school, you are the student, the Bible is your lesson book, and your teacher is the Spirit of God! While I appreciate the gifting of great human teachers, I am also aware that I can be deceived by scholars gone bad. Therefore, I must trust implicitly in the One who promises to lead me into all truth and teach me the mind of Christ: the Spirit; teaching me the Word, helping me live it out in real life, and producing a Heavenly education for my benefit and God's glory. What an honor to be taught by the instructor of angels and architect of the universe!
~ Kirk

Pride and conceit are sneaky devils. In the movie "Snow White" the wicked queen asks her trusted mirror the question: "Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" I have seven mirrors in my home. Everyday I look into at least one of them, remind myself what I look like, and try to repair the damage that was done through the night. While I'm thankful for these reflectors, Jesus calls me to deny the man in the mirror, take up my cross, and follow Him. While mirrors can help us clean up and slim down, they can also harm us by telling us we're the center of our own universe. Self-focus and self-awareness plague millions, driving them to spend billions on creams, lotions, make-ups, sprays, dyes, surgeries, and special foods- all in the name of loving self. I once heard someone else say, "It is best to think of yourself as a very small thing. Even better to not think of yourself at all." How do you keep yourself from vanity while not failing to take care of the physical body God has given you?
~ Kirk

I once found a snake in my backyard, coiled behind a bush, ready to strike and release its dangerous poison into one of my children. Actually, my son James discovered it and ran to me for protection. My neighbor killed 23 of them in his yard this past year. As I snuck up on the legless beast, I drew back my shovel, knowing that I had one good shot at a quick, clean kill. After that, if I had only wounded it, I'd be in for a nasty fight. No responsible father would deal gently and sensitively with a poisonous viper roaming a backyard full of children. A real man would pursue the creature until he saw its death and then put up barricades to prevent future intruders. Sin is a real viper, often curled up in the heart of your chest, waiting to release its venom into your marriage, your children, and your soul. Deal violently with it. Cut its head off and rejoice in victory over it. Then barricade your family against future sin by cultivating a deep love for God, His people, and His kingdom.
~ Kirk

There has been quite a firestorm lately among pastors over the nature of God's love. Some would have us believe that a loving God would never send anyone to Hell. "That's not loving," they say. But the same people who say that don't have a problem with God sending Satan to the Lake of Fire, exterminating evil, or wiping out wickedness for the good of people. "That's very loving!" they might rightly reason. God certainly loves people (as demonstrated at the cross where Jesus died to save us). But He also loves justice, righteousness, and the glory of His great name. Is a judge not "loving" if he rightly puts a guilty serial killer under the sentence of the law? Is a good judge not "loving" if he correctly punishes a pedophile for his acts of violence and cruelty? So I don't buy the line that if God is love and love always wins, then nobody goes to the Hell that Jesus so clearly warned about. I believe love does win—every time. But not by removing its backbone and compromising the justice of the Almighty. My Savior vanquishes evil, redeems the world, and defeats His enemies by giving rebels justice and making repentant sinners His friends.
~ Kirk

There are few things worse than to be a religious hypocrite. Atheists love them, Jesus condemned them, and the Bible says Hell is full of them. Loose lips, wild words, and an untamed tongue are sure signs that something in wrong in the heart.
"The Man upstairs," "the Big Guy in the clouds," and other titles for the King of Glory rarely come from one who knows Jesus Christ as his great God and Savior. "I've got a heart of gold," "I'm not perfect, but better than most," and similar phrases hardly proceed from the lips of the man who has looked into the mirror of God's Law and seen his wretched self in truth. "You're an idiot!" "I'll can forgive, but I'll never forget!" and other prideful outbursts betray the lack of humility produced by the Holy Spirit in the heart of a true Christian. Remember, it wasn't Jesus who said, "You can't judge a book by its cover." He said you will know a tree by its fruit. Words are the fruit and the overflow of our heart. If we want to know the health of our hearts and the worth of our religion, God says we are wise to do a word check.
~ Kirk

While it is true that Hell will be filled with countless souls that hate God and sin against him without ceasing, many can be saved, changed, and become blessed children of our Heavenly Father. And the only means I know of that God has provided for the salvation of souls is the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul said that the Holy Spirit had told him, "I have many men in this city," and I know from experience that there are many men and women who will gladly embrace the good news of the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life if only they will hear it. Charles Spurgeon laments the vast number of sinners to those who will be converted to God, but he allowed this very concern to motivate him to passionately share the gospel with everyone he could. How do you cope with knowing that millions face eternity in either Heaven or Hell today? Do you let it depress you or drive you to greater faithfulness to reach out to the lost?
~ Kirk

God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in increasingly glorious and heavenly degrees. He made the universe and pronounced it "good." Next He created a garden marriage between a man and a woman, saying it was "very good." Then God gave His Law through Moses and revealed grace as the heavenly answer to its demands. The crowning glory of God's goodness was the Creator of all things fashioning for Himself a body made of dirt, pure as living water, and through Christ, brought us the way, the truth, and eternal life. All things created by God are good, but the Creator of all things is best of all.
~ Kirk

Does death scare you? Can you say that you actually look forward to death with joy as an undergraduate looks forward to the great graduation day or as a fiancé awaiting her wedding day? In the world, death is always painted with dark colors, but in Jesus' portrait, He exchanges "dying" for "falling asleep." My babies never look so content as when they are sleeping in their beds at night. There is sweetness in sleep for those children who know their father loves them. One Christian author described the grave as "simply doorways cut in sod." If we truly believe that all things (even our own death) work together for good for those who belong to God, then we may truly look forward to our "sleep day" as the most glorious moment of our earthly lives--for it is the moment we will see the One who died for us so that we would never die.
~ Kirk

Think of our eternal home in Heaven. The most dazzling feature of Heaven will not be the streets of gold or the pearly gates. It will not be the absence of sin or the reign of righteousness (though those will be heavenly features for sure). What makes Heaven heavenly is the close and physical presence of Jesus. Paul said he wanted to depart from this Earth and be with Him. Jesus said He went to prepare a place for us so that we could be with Him forever. Just as the little girl's home was not a home without her mamma, Heaven would lose its greatest attraction without our Savior. Is Jesus precious to you? Do you think of being with Him often? Meditate on this.
~ Kirk

Jesus said that the world will know we are His disciples by our love. The Bible says that God is love. Paul reminded us that love is the greatest thing on earth. Jesus told us that the whole law is summed up by loving God and others. The abundant life that Jesus came to bring is not the life of money, fame, or accomplishments, but the life of love. Love takes risks. Love is not safe. But love is the only way to live the Jesus life.
~ Kirk