What Does "Revival" Look Like?

Greetings All!

     Last week I sent out some thoughts on revival.  This morning I gathered with some other gentlemen from my church discussed those thoughts.  In our conversation we talked about what a revival is like and if we had ever witnessed or been part of a reviving move of God.  I will not share things from that discussion, but as a follow-up to it (and last week's thoughts on revival) I did want to share part of a message I once preached on the topic based on the text of Isaiah 57:15: "This is what the high and lofty One says -- He who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."   It contains more thoughts on revival from others (not just mine) and a factual account of the things that actually happened during the First Great Awakening in New England in the 1730's - 40's.  If nothing else, I hope it makes you think.  Better yet, I hope it makes you pray that we might soon see another expression of such divine, holy and reviving grace.  Where water has once flowed, it can flow again.  Enjoy.

What Does "Revival" Look Like?

     “John Babcock, writing of a service in his church during the revival that swept through Virginia in the 19th century could say:  “The death-like awe of silence and solemnity sometimes seemed as if it were the hem of the robe of His glory waxing all but visible in our midst.”  It’s an unfortunate misrepresentation to suggest that all revivals result in outbursts of excited fervor.  They do not.  When the presence of God comes upon a congregation, what often pervades it is a sense of His holiness and majesty.  One feels the eerie sense of a spiritual presence that is so awe-full, so holy, so Other, that a quiet hush comes over that place and people are glued motionless to their seats.  They can hear themselves breathe. They listen to the beating of their hearts.  Even their thoughts seem loud.  Soft weeping throughout the congregation is often the only sound heard.

     When the Spirit comes in power people often begin to weep as the God they have often maligned, taken for granted, and dishonored by their sin, apathy, and unbelief, enters the sanctuary in a tangibly sensed way.  The people feel it.  Many are overcome by a fear of the Lord and a deep conviction of sin as God fills that place with a conscious sense of His holy presence, power, purity, righteousness an soul-exposing light. That’s one of the ways you can tell when “God shows up” and His manifest presence fills a room to convict, convert, comfort, or bring people to earnest life-changing repentance.  It gets really quiet.  Things becomes very still.  Everyone is motionless.  People stop coughing, clearing their throats, and shifting in their seats. Why?  Because they sense the presence of God in a way they don’t (or haven’t) at any other time.

     And don’t get me wrong.  God is always present – at all times, and in all places, whether we sense it or not.  But sometimes, for reasons known only to Him, He chooses on certain occasions, or for certain seasons, to make His presence so tangibly known to us that we actually sense His presence in our midst in an undeniable way.  That’s what revival is.  A powerful visitation of the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity and whose name is Holy (Isaiah 57:15).  God, so to speak, rends the heavens and comes down to visit His people (Isaiah 64:1).

     George Whitefield on one such occasion wrote:  “I was so overpowered with a sense of God’s love, that it almost took away my life.”  The experience of God’s presence - His Holy Love was so powerful it almost killed him.  D. L. Moody testifies of a similar experience.  Jonathan Edwards called them, “special seasons of mercy” or “extraordinary effusions” or “outpourings of the Holy Spirit.”   That is the essence of revival  God comes in a new and fresh visitation of His presence, sometimes in unspeakable holiness resulting in a hushed death-like stillness; other times in love so consuming and overpowering that a person nearly loses consciousness; and still other times in joy so euphoric and captivating that we feel it will carry us up into paradise that very moment (and we wish it would)!  A joy so freeing, peaceful and pleasurable that the soul is enraptured - feeling spiritually ravished by God.

     “When people,” writes Iain Murray, “burdened with a sense of guilt, come to complete deliverance through faith in the atoning work of Christ, and when the love of God fills the hearts of believers, then joy is irresistible.  The greater his knowledge of the benefits purchased by Christ, the greater the degree of joy, liberation, and gratitude to God he receives.”  And what causes it?  The Holy Spirit comes upon a person and convinces them that the Gospel message is really true!  Not that it would simply be nice if it were true, but that it is true!  Christ purchased it all.  He lived the perfect sinless life we could never live, and died in our place as the substitute who took our punishment upon Himself, and on the basis of trusting in that Gospel and that Saving One, we are freely forgiven and put in right standing with God (Isaiah 53 & 55)

     Jonathan Edwards recorded this account of the revival that swept through Northampton, MA, at the start of the first great awakening in America in 1734.  He writes: “The Spirit of God began to set in in an extraordinary way... The news of it seemed to be almost like a flash of lightning upon the hearts of young people all over town... In time, a great and earnest concern about the great things of religion and the eternal world became universal among persons of all ages and degrees.  The noise among the dry bones waxed louder and louder.  All other talk but about spiritual things and eternal things was soon thrown by.  All the conversation, in all companies, and upon all occasions, was upon these things only, except for what was necessary to carry on ordinary secular business.  People’s only concern was to get into the Kingdom of God, and everyone appeared to be pressing into it. The work of conversion was carried on in a most astonishing manner, and... souls did, as it were, come by flocks to Jesus Christ...  In 1735 the town seemed full of the presence of God - never was it so full of love, nor of joy, and yet so full of distress (in the unbelievers) as it was then.   There were remarkable tokens of God’s presence in almost every house...  The Lord’s day was a delight.  Worship services were beautiful.   The congregation was alive... and every hearer was eager to drink in the words of the minister.  From time to time people were in tears as God’s Word was preached; some weeping with sorrow and distress, others with joy and love; and others out of concern for the souls of their neighbors.”

     It was a move of God’s Spirit so powerful it spread from Massachusetts to Connecticut and then clear down the east coast - all the way to Georgia.  Everyone sensed the presence of God as the High and Lofty and Holy One who inhabits eternity broke in upon the consciousness of people in a way so real and tangible that even unbelievers felt His presence in their midst.”

     I would love to share more historical accounts of revival. Like the Moravian revival of 1727, the Wesleyan revival in England around the same time, the revival among the Indians through David Brainerd, the 2nd Great Awakening in America, and many others, including the Azusa Street Revival and two others in more recent years at Asbury and Wheaton colleges. But time and space do not permit it.  That will be up to you to research n your own!

With continued prayers for you all, Pastor Jeff

Not a Fan

Greetings All!

     I hope you enjoyed the holidays and got a chance to spend some quality time with family and friends -- and some earnest time in prayer, worship, service, thanks and praise. After all, that is what holy-days are supposed to offer us time to do -- stop, pause, reflect, thank and praise.
My first selection for the new year is taken from Kyle Idleman's book, "Not a Fan."   A fan, of course, is one who stands on the sidelines cheering, but never really gets into the game. They watch others play and cheer or critique their performance, but they do it as an observer and not an active participant. This, as he points out, is the habit of many in the church. Instead of being involved, they stand on the sidelines watching from a distance and critiquing those who are. And and as you might guess, the purpose of his book is to encourage people to stop being fans, get in the game, and start being earnest, involved, and completely committed followers of Jesus.
     The following excerpts are from friends or people in his congregation who were fans, but through some life experiences (often difficult ones), were led to become wholehearted followers of Christ.  I have included just two of their stories. Enjoy.

Not a Fan Story - by Dr. Rich Edwards

     "On February 10, 2006 I was in control of my life. I had a thriving chiropractic practice, two sons, and a devoted wife. On February 11, everything changed. I was heading out to my hunting cabin to hunt wild boar with friends. As I drove along I could see the effects from the severe drought we had been experiencing. Everything seemed to have dried up and died. By the time I reached the road heading to the cabin it was dark. As I turned, I missed the road and ended up in five feet of thick brush.  I tried to free my truck by putting it in forward, and then reverse, repeatedly. The friction from that somehow ignited the brush. Within seconds the truck was a large torch. I reached for the door handle to escape but the electrical system burned out and I was locked inside. Seconds later the windows exploded. 

       I don't know what happened after that, and I have no idea how I got out of the truck. The next thing I remember is walking down the road to the cabin telling myself over and over, "Don't stop. Keep going." When I reached the cabin my friends thought I was wearing some kind of three-dimensional leafy hunting outfit, but it wasn't camouflage. It was shredded, charred skin. A medical helicopter took me to a burn unit where I was told I wouldn't have much of a face left, and I would probably lose my sight as well as the use of my hands.  God put an absolute halt on my life. I was so busy being so successful; I was on such a fast track, that God was a part of my life, but he was not the most important part. He was not on the throne of my heart or at the center of my universe. I was at the center.

     I don't believe God caused the fire, but I do believe God allowed it because he wanted to get my attention. Like a parent who tries to get through to a child, God grabbed me by the shoulders, sat me down, and said, "I want you to listen to me." That was the beginning of a spiritual awakening in my life. Over the next four years doctors amputated seven fingers. I couldn't use what was left of my hands for even the simplest of tasks. But the doctors said there was nothing more they could do. That's when my wife, Cindy, asked about the possibility of a hand transplant. That began a time of waiting, testing, and prayer.  We spent countless hours reading the Bible and praying together. Finally the day for my double hand transplant arrived. Twenty surgeons and three anesthesiologists took 17 and 1/2 hours to attach my new hands.

     Many people have pointed out that it was a miracle that I didn't die in the fire that day. That's true, but in a very real way I did die in that fire. That man I was died that day and God gave me a new life where I'm not in control but have turned the controls over to him. I'm not in charge of my life anymore, I have submitted everything to Jesus. These days my wife and I constantly pray to be used by God in any way he wants to bring him glory. It may sound crazy, but I would rather have gone through all the pain and suffering and all of these challenges and have the relationship with Jesus I now have, than continued down the path I was on before the accident without that relationship. My name is Rich Edwards, and I am not a fan."

Not a Fan Story - by Carolyn Day

     "I grew up in North Carolina, and though I believed in God, I didn't really have any kind of relationship with Jesus. As a student, I quickly became interested in the medical field and started working toward the goal of becoming a medical doctor. In the year 2000, I was studying to become a surgeon when things in my world began to fall apart. My husband at the time asked for a divorce, and two days later my mother committed suicide. The next year I led a double life. I was a surgical resident at work, but the rest of the time I was drinking heavily and contemplating my own suicide. I had no idea what to do or who to turn to. What soon became clear was that I couldn't bear these burdens alone.  I had only visited church occasionally when I was growing up, but I found myself praying.  I said, "God, if you're there, please take some of this off of me." I felt like I had lost everything. God was all that was left, but I wasn't sure that was enough.

     After finishing my residency and getting married, my husband and I moved to the Louisville area to begin my career as a surgeon. Some friends invited us to come to church, and we accepted. Through coming to church every weekend, I found myself praying more and more. I started praying about whether or not I would give my all to God. Five days after I started praying, Kyle invited anyone who was ready to surrender everything to Jesus and follow him.

     The next week I was baptized. It was uncomfortable, but it was a clear sign of the obedience God was calling me to.  To be honest, I didn't expect to feel as different as I do. I never understood it when people would say they were born again or saved. I guess it's not something you can really understand until you've experienced it yourself. The healing I've felt since giving my life to Christ is incredible. I think that's because only the Great Physician could heal the wounds of this surgeon. And he has. My name is Carolyn Day and I am not a fan." 

     Maybe today you can ask yourself: Are you a fan looking on at the players and cheering or critiquing those involved in serving Jesus from the stands, or are you and active, committed, participating follower of Jesus? 

     To tweak the words of James just a little: Are you a doer of the Word, or just an onlooker?  Are you still standing on the fringes looking in from the outside, or are you all in?  Do you still run your life, or does Jesus?

Living in the Grace of Jesus, Pastor Jeff

Grace Works

Greetings All,

     This week's 'thought' comes to you from a book entitled: "True Faced -- Trusting God and Others With Who You Really Are."  It is co-authored by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and John Lynch.
     The book is written to help Christians move into the experience of God's grace in such a way that they can take off the masks they often put on to hide what's really going on inside them.  The comments on the book's cover say it well: "I am so tired of faking it.  Can others see behind my mask?  Do I dare let you in?  What if I told you who I am?  I long to be real..."  This selection is taken from the chapter entitled: Grace Works!  Enjoy.

    "God hath given you one face, and you make for yourselves another."

William Shakespeare

     "Striving leaves us dysfunctional and immature because it creates hiddenness. Masks abound in 'The Room of Good Intentions.' It is the world of false appearances. Hiddenness makes us vulnerable to sin and thwarts maturity.  It breeds compulsive sinning.

     In contrast, an environment of grace creates authenticity. Why is that important? Because authenticity melts masks and reveals our true face. The community of grace begins to break the cycle of sin issues that have kept us bound...

     How can we explain an environment of grace? It's like cool water gushing from an over-sized garden hose on a hot summer day. It just keeps making us laugh with delight as it knocks us over, again and again.

     Many of us understand grace as a theological position. And it is delightfully that. Undeserved, unending, unearned, unwavering, grace is God's inexhaustible love and absolute acceptance of us, coupled with His unabashed delight in us. Grace brings us adoption into God's family, a new identity, a new life, new power, new capacity, and God's full protection -- with absolutely no strings attached!

     But grace is more than a theological position. Equally and simultaneously, grace is an actual environment, a realm, a present tense reality that weaves around and through every moment of even our worst day...

     Like any atmosphere, an environment of grace contains intangible, yet detectable, qualities... You may not be able to see them -- but you sure can feel them, just as you can detect whether you are breathing the air of a pine-filled forest, or a smog-filled city. What a difference grace makes!...

     When someone shows grace to us, that person begins cultivating an environment that reflects God's grace. It is an authentic, unhidden place, where our masks start melting, our sin can be known -- and, therefore, addressed with the power of grace.

     Such places can liberate the soul and change people, like our friend Graeme:

     'By my early thirties,' he says, 'the thorns Christ talks about in the parable of the sower (the worries and pleasures and riches of this life) had reduced my hearts desire for Christ to a dim flicker. What caused my spiritual anesthesia? I had discovered it was easy to play the fool.

     Without the principles of truth and grace, practiced in relationship, the only guide I had to putting my life together was to mimic a pattern or a format or a style -- somebody else's program for a successful journey with God. It got me performing my way to God, and he wasn't impressed.

     Then I encountered some people who showed me grace. Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun, but an environment of grace was new to me. The truths about how God sees me and who I am in Christ came roaring into my life.  I discovered that if these truths are trusted, they infect everything. They're the foundation for my marriage, how I deal with my kids, how I do ministry, live life, and how I work as a lawyer.

     After a life-altering experience with God Blaise Pascal sewed into his coat a piece of paper with these words on it:  "Fire. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not the God of philosophers and scholars. Certainty. Heartfelt joy. Peace. God of Jesus Christ. Joy, joy, joy, oceans of joy."  Ten years ago I would have envied him. Today I join him.'"

     As many can attest, there is just something about an atmosphere of grace that allows us to stop pretending and get real with God, ourselves, and others.  In fact, until one is freed by a true experience of God's grace to see what Christianity was truly meant to be, they will inadvertently struggle to earnestly believe the Gospel is true or the spiritual realities of joy and peace it speaks about.

     Yet where God's grace is present in great measure, people will struggle to deny its truthfulness and reality.  They will be forced to realize that more than mere human factors are at work. Truth will become tangible.  Acting the part will seem shallow and irreverent.  And the desire to know in greater degree, the God whose presence is tangibly sensed through though the expressions and experience of grace, will become nearly irrepressible.  Because a desire for divine grace (like the God who bestows it) has an addictive quality to it -- in the best sense imaginable.

     Once our soul has tasted of the spirit-awakening delicacy we call true grace, we lose all desire for that which is less than authentic. The masks come off, sin is exposed, and true godliness can be pursued. The sin-hiding-heart, or the legally-restrained-heart, becomes the sin-despising and grace-changed heart. And our two faces (of which Shakespeare speaks -- "the face God has given us, and the other one we make for ourselves") start to move toward looking more and more like one!

In the Grip of His Grace, Pastor Jeff

Be Filled With the Spirit

Greetings All,

     This week's "thought" comes to you from J. D. Watson's book, "A Word for the Day - Key Words from the New Testament."
     Today's selection is actually a short phrase Paul uses in Eph. 5:18 comprised of three Greek words: "plerousthe en pneumatic" (or in English, "Be Filled With the Spirit." )  It's a phrase frequently used in the Church and yet often misunderstood. His explanation is helpful in guiding us in this regard. I hope you find it helpful. Enjoy.

"plerousthe en pneumati"

Be filled in (or with) the Spirit

     "The word plerousthe (from pleroo) speaks of filling a container and means, "to influence fully, to control." As one authority adds, "To fill up, to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally, to flood, to diffuse throughout." It is used, for example, in Matthew 13:48, to refer to a full fishing net. The chief idea then, is that we are to be permeated with, and therefore controlled by, the Spirit.

     All of that, of course, is fine in theory, but what does it mean in practice? Preachers often say that "filling" means "control," but what exactly does that mean? As theologian Louis Sperry Chafer puts it: "It is not a matter of acquiring more of the Spirit, but rather of the Spirit of God acquiring all of the individual."  It means that we are influenced by Him and nothing else. To put it succinctly: To be filled with the Spirit is to have our thoughts, desires, values, motives, goals, priorities, and all else, set on spiritual things and spiritual growth...

     It is interesting that since some NT Christians are referred to as being "full of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:3), there must have been something about them that was recognizable as evidence.  What did people see? Can there be any doubt that it was Christlikeness of character?  [In terms of Acts 6:3 - wisdom, compassion and graciousness.] That's the point of Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control, against which there is no law."

     When such character is present in our lives people will see Holy Spirit control [or filling] in us. They won't have to see some emotional outburst or ecstatic experience; rather, they will see Christlike behavior.

     The construction of the Greek verb for "filled" (plerousthe) is all-important. One of the most prominent misconceptions about Spirit-filling is that it involves some "crisis experience," some "dramatic event," some so-called second blessing, which comes only because we "agonize over it in prayer" for a period of time.  But Scripture says none of that. On the contrary, we need not struggle for it, we simply claim it.

     FIRST, the verb plerousthe is in the present tense, which shows a continuing action. In other words, Spirit-filling is designed to be a continuing reality. A literal translation of the Greek is, "Be being filled." We are to be in the state of constantly being filled with the Spirit [constantly surrendering to His control].

     SECOND, the verb is in the imperative mood, which indicates a military type command and something we control. Spirit-filling is not optional, but rather mandatory. As Ephesians 5:17 declares, this is the will of God. God, therefore, would not give us a command unless we were being put in charge of carrying out the command. So it's up to us to obey.  While "sealing" and "baptism" [regeneration or the initial reception of the Spirit] are done by God, and are therefore in the aorist tense, "filling" is up to us to allow. It has to do with a yieldedness whereby we allow the Holy Spirit to take control.

     THIRD, this is further indicated by the verb being in the passive voice, the subject being acted upon. We allow the Holy Spirit to act upon us and control us. Let us each day renew our yielding to Holy Spirit control.

     And LAST, we come to another question concerning Spirit-filling: "What exactly is the purpose?" All one need do to find the answer is open the book of Acts. There are at least six instances in Acts where people are "filled with the Spirit" (2:4, 4:8 and 31, 7:55, 9:17 and 13:9). In every instance, the purpose of Spirit-filling was an empowering for service, more specifically, an empowering to proclaim the truth of God.

      That is the power spoken of in Acts 1:8: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."

     Helpful I hope!  As he makes clear, the "filling with the Spirit" enhances the ripening or maturing of the "Fruit of the Spirit." It equips us for service while also serving to sanctify us. It all goes together and must never be separated, lest the "experience" be sought apart from the purpose for which it is given.

In His Service, Pastor Jeff

Glorifying God

Greetings All,

     Today's 'thoughts' come to you from Thomas Watson (1620-1686), and are found in a recent devotional book containing various selections from his writings. The book is entitled "Glorifying God - A Year Long Collection of Classic Devotional Writings by Thomas Watson."  It was complied and adapted by Patti M. Hummel.
     Watson was an English Puritan who was widely read in days past, and both inspired and mentored (through his many books) the great Charles Spurgeon.  In fact, what Spurgeon says of one of his books could summarize most every one he wrote: "This is a happy union of sound doctrine, heart-searching experience, and practical wisdom."  Today's selections have to do with glorifying God by being cheerful and delighting in Him.  Enjoy. 

"Serve the Lord with gladness."  (Psalm 100:2)

     "It brings glory to God when the world sees a Christian who is cheerful in the worst times; who, with the nightingale, can sing in the dark of night as well as the light of day.  The people of God have many reasons to be cheerful. They are justified and adopted, and this creates inward peace, and makes music in their hearts, whatever outer storms may be buffeting them. If we consider what Christ has done for us by His blood, and wrought in us by His Spirit, it is a reason for great cheerfulness, and this cheerfulness glorifies God.

     It reflects upon a master when the servant is always drooping and sad. It speaks of his life being hard because his master does not give him what is fitting. When God's people hang their heads, it looks as if they do not serve a good master, or have fallen from their choice to follow Him, which reflects dishonor upon God.

     As the gross sins of those who claim to be believers bring scandal on the gospel, so do the uncheerful lives of the godly.  Our service to God does not glorify Him unless we do so with gladness. A Christians cheerful looks glorify God.  Our Christian faith does not take away our joy, it refines it.  It does not break our violin, but tunes it and makes the music produced by it even sweeter."  

"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him..."  (I Peter 1:8)

"God is a delicious good. That which is the chief good must ravish the soul with pleasure. There must be in it a rapturous delight and quintessence of joy. There is certain sweetness about God's person which delights, even ravishes, the soul. God's love drops such infinite sweetness into the soul that is unspeakable and full of glory.

     When we delight in God even though we see Him only by faith, what will our joy be when we see Him face to face? If the saints found so much delight in God while they are suffering, oh what joy and delight will they have when they are being crowned!

     God is a superlative good. He is better than anything you can compare with Him. He is better than health, riches, and honor. Other things maintain life, He gives life. Who would weigh anything on a scale opposite the Deity? Who would weigh a feather against a mountain of gold? God excels all things more infinitely than the sun outshines the light of a candle.

     God is an eternal good. He is the Ancient of Days, yet never decays nor grows old (Daniel 7:9). The joy He gives is eternal, the crown does not fade way. The glorified soul shall forever comfort itself in God, feasting on His love, and sunning itself in the light of His countenance. God is the chief good, and the enjoyment of God is the highest contentment any soul is able to know."

     The first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, along with its answer, are well-known to many. Question: "What is the chief end of man?  Answer: "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

     Yet John Piper is well-known for changing two words in that answer and suggesting it should instead be: "To glorify God by enjoying Him forever."  In fact Piper goes on to suggest: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." Who could disagree? It fits perfectly with Watson's thoughts.

     We glorify God most fully when we show the onlooking world that God fully satisfies our soul. And in keeping with that, what better visible expression is there of that satisfaction of soul than a cheerfulness that radiates from our countenance?

     Of course, we are not to fake smiles, or pretend to be cheerful when we are not -- for that would dishonor God as well.  Likewise, Watson and Piper are not suggesting we will never have down days where we must work through sorrow or disappointment. But I believe they are suggesting we should not get stuck there.

     In fact, when we find ourselves there, our aim should be to seek His face with all our hearts, reflect on all He has done for us, bask in His comforting presence, call to mind all His infinite perfections, and feast on the Gospel truth of His incomprehensible and irrevocable love for us in Jesus. We are to let the remembrance of His great grace toward us warm our hearts, stir our souls, and dispel the gloom that can overtake us when we focus on our circumstances, instead of our merciful and wise Father in heaven who loves us and grows us through them.

Blessings on your day, Pastor Jeff

God's Little Lessons on Life for Dad

Greetings All,

     This weeks "thought" comes to you from a book I picked up at a yard sale a few weeks back. It's called, "God's Little Lessons on Life for Dad."  No author is mentioned, just the publisher - Honor Books, Tulsa Oklahoma.
     It is filled with encouraging thoughts for dads. This one has to do with restoration. It has to do with learning lessons the hard way, needing to be brought low to be lifted up, and realizing its never too late to change.  "As long as there's breath," as the old saying goes, "there's hope."  Enjoy.

"Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored;

renew our days as of old." Lamentations 5:21

     "J. C. Penny (James Cash Penny, son of a Baptist minister and founder of the chain of stores that bear his name) worked many years to become a financial success before a crisis changed his life. "When I worked for six dollars a week at Joslin's Dry Goods Store back in Denver," he recalled, "it was my ambition to be worth one hundred thousand dollars. When I reached that goal (by 1913) I felt a certain temporary satisfaction, but it soon wore off and my sights were set on becoming worth a million dollars (a goal he achieved in 1924)."

     Penny and his wife worked hard to expand the business -- so hard that one day Mrs. Penny became ill and developed pneumonia, which claimed her life. "When she died," he said, "my world crashed about me. What had money meant to my wife? I felt mocked by life, even by God Himself."

     Several more fiery trials ensued (including the Great Depression), and soon J. C. Penny was financially ruined and in deep emotional distress. At this point, he began to acknowledge his self-centered nature and his idolatry of money, and he experienced a spiritual conversion.

     "When I was brought to humility and the knowledge of dependence on God, it was forthcoming and a light illumined my being."

     $100,000.  $1,000,000.  The death of a loved one.  Sometimes it takes tragedy, not success, to restore us to the divine image in which we were created."

     Penny's conversion surrounded the loss of all his personal wealth due to the stock market crash of 1929. When the financial setbacks took a toll on his health, he checked himself into the Battle Creek Sanitarium for treatment.

     There in the hospital's chapel he heard someone sing the hymn, "God Will Take Care of You."  He repented, turned in faith to Christ, and became a professedly "born-again" Christian.

     He lived to be 95 years old, dying in February of 1971. He was involved with the founding of the University of Miami (being on its board from 1926-1930), started a group called 40Plus which helped unemployed managers and executives, and in 1954 started the James C. Penny Foundation for charitable giving.

     It was crisis, struggle, emotional pain, and the loss of nearly everything which God used to turn his life around. As many can testify, the Lord's gifts often come in the most unusual and unexpected of packages.

Blessings on your day, Pastor Jeff