December through March is my favorite time to pastor in Florida. Music is the primary reason. We begin the first weekend in December with our annual Christmas Keyboard Festival. Next year will mark the 20th year in a row for this four night event. The platform is filled with four concert grand pianos, the orchestra, the 100-voice choir and guest artists. Our 2,000 seat sanctuary is packed for each presentation. On New Year’s Eve we open our annual Winter Concert Series. So far this year we have enjoyed Dennis Swanberg (The Swan!) and Janet Pascal. On January 17th, our guest will be Lulu Roman of Hee Haw fame. Yes, Virginia, I loved that show. Anything with Buck Owens on it had to be enjoyable! On January 24th, for the 12th year in a row, our guests will be the incredible Ralph Carmichael and his big band. This is not some “pick-me-up” group, good friend. No, no – these are 16 of the best players in the world! In fact, last year, one of the players left here the following day to fly to L.A. to Capital Records to back up Barbra Steisand. That’s pretty tall cotton! On Sunday, January 31, we will again host the Annie Moses Band, maybe the most prolifically-talented family I have ever heard. This will be their third visit with us. On Sunday night, February 14th, it will be Larry Ford and Friends. Larry, a Grammy-award winner, and his wife are members of our church. You see and hear Larry on over 80 of the Bill Gaither videos. On Sunday night, February 21st, our guest will be Florida’s most beloved musician, Paul Todd. On Sunday night, February 28th, Dino makes a return engagement here, his fifth, I believe. And we close the concert series on Sunday night, March 17th, with America’s favorite Gospel Quartet for the past 60 years, the Blackwood Brothers. All of the concerts begin at 7 o’clock and we never make an admission charge. I don’t believe churches should charge admission. We do receive offerings, however.

Music fills the scriptures, and it ought to fill the churches as well. Good music! The best that we can do. Only our best is ever good enough for our Lord.

Love to see you at any or all of these concerts. If you would like group reservations, call the church: 239 936-4420 and ask for the music department.

See you at the concert!

Dan Betzer

Acts 11:23
“…he … had seen the grace of God, (and) was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”

Do you recall the classic hymn from the heart and pen of Fanny Crosby, Rescue the Perishing?@ One of the stanzas has this remarkable observation on the grace of God:
Down in the human heart / Crushed by the tempter / Feelings lie buried that grace can restore. Is there a point beyond which the most degenerate human monster can no longer be reached? Is there some invisible line drawn in the sand of a person’s life which, if crossed, is irrevocable? Beyond which reason, love and redemption are impossible?

This very page could be read at this moment by someone whom society has written off completely. This person is (what’s the word we use here?) “untouchable.” Society shakes an accusing finger at such a person when his or her vitriolic behavior reaches a new depth or depravity and we all recoil at such behavior. As a pastor, I know the feeling when confronted by someone altogether unlovable. I almost walk away and then – then I see tears slip down the cheek and hear the voice tremble. I catch the desperate look in that person’s eyes searching for help, for understanding and just a little compassion. Society says, “Forget that person. He or she is beyond any human sympathy whatsoever.” Humanly speaking, society may well be right. But redemption through the marvelous grace of our loving Lord comes into play.

Was Fanny Crosby prophetic that grace can restore those buried hopes and dreams? Oh, let’s hang on tightly to that probability. None of us are appointed judges, are we? No, we are merely the messengers of God’s grace. We are to take the “good news” to the hopeless, the dying, the graceless. That’s the Gospel, bringing hope to those who are simply hopeless. Yes, that’s hard work, isn’t it? But through the power of God’s very Spirit, lives touched by Him are changed so magnificently!

Prayer: O God, I don’t want to be a condemner. I want to be a lifter of people’s hopes and dreams. Through Your Spirit, may I show someone Your grace today. Amen.

Judges 19:6 … let thine heart be merry.

Do you like to laugh? I love it! Yes, I know there are those who protest, “We see no place in scripture where Jesus ever laughed.” Perhaps. But we know Jesus was present at creation out of which we got such creatures as chimpanzees. How could the creator of chimps not have a sense of humor? If God created everything, which He most certainly did, then humor is one of His gifts to mankind. Let=s use it.

You are doubtless aware of a growing number of men and women who call themselves “Christian comedians.” While I am not a member of that troop, I do appreciate what they are attempting to do, which is to lighten the load from the saints. Someone taught me decades ago to take God’s work seriously but to never, never take myself seriously. It was good advice then and now. It has probably saved me ulcers. We need to learn how to enjoy life.

I have spent a lot of time over the years with “The Swan,” Dennis Swanberg. I have appeared on some of his television shows and he has been in our church on a number of New Year=s Eves. This man with an earned doctorate in theology is just simply funny. His impressions are “dead-on.” His Billy Graham impression is shockingly accurate – and very amusing. He once introduced me in his Billy Graham voice and I almost had to leave the platform from laughing.

Honestly, sometimes we believers need to just lighten up. I know I am very intense in my work and I truly do take it seriously. But there come times when it’s just good to let your hair down (or take it off, as the case may be) and just laugh. God gave us that ability, so why do we think He’s uncomfortable when we use it? Earlier in this column I wrote I don’t take myself very seriously. I can’t afford to. Too many people are laughing at me. So I might as well laugh with them.

Prayer: O God, I believe that Heaven is going to be a place of joy and liberty of spirit. Even now, on this earth, we can begin to practice the atmosphere of your celestial city. Teach me, Lord, to continue to be earnest in my zeal for you, but also to recognize that at times life is just – just plain funny. Thank you for the gift of laughter. Amen.

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

The Bible teaches that it’s more blessed to give than to receive.  That would be a great verse for a prize fighter, wouldn’t it?  But seriously, the way to gain is to give.  However, here’s the hitch:  we don’t give just to get.  In all my years of pastoring I can make an air-tight case for the joy of giving, both scripturally and in actual life occurrences.  Giving churches are invariably receiving churches.  Giving individuals are invariably those who receive bountifully.  Jesus taught it.  Look at the scripture above.  Our Lord promised, “Give, and it shall be given unto you!”

I often tell young pastors and church leaders, “If you want your church to be blessed, you must be a blessing yourself.”  I love Proverbs 11:24 that promises, “It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything.”  (New Living Translation)  The wealth spoken of here is not necessarily money (although God certainly blesses in that area as well).  The receiving is primarily the bounty of God’s provision in your life in basically every area of existence.  Church leader, if you want more people in your church, be willing to give or send some of the people you do have to work in other vineyards.    If you want financial strength, undergird missions around the world.  Scripture emphasizes:  “Give!  Don’t hoard!”

It truly is more blessed to give than to receive.  Try it!  Yes, this goes against the teachings and understandings of the world system, but we’re not in that system anyway.

Be a giver today!  And everyday!

O God, You loved me so much that you gave.   You freely gave Jesus to us so that we could have eternal life.   You have taught us that loving leads to giving.   May we, as your servants, learn that lesson well and, having learned it, practice it in every day life.

Amen.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

A friend up north just called me to report brutal weather, including ice and snow.  I live in the tropics so I just patiently smiled and said somewhat sardonically, “Oh, really….”  He snapped back, “Yeah, well, you have to deal with humidity!”  I retorted, “Yes, but in 21 years of living here I’ve never had to scrape humidity off my windshield.”  He hung up on me.

But, you know, our daily attitude is not dependent upon weather.  Honestly, it’s not!  We can have spring in our hearts 12 months each year.  The other day I was in the airport in Little Rock, Arkansas.  It was about six a.m.  I was preparing to go through security.  I approached the lady at the entry point and said, “Good morning, ma’am.  Are you having a good day?”  She looked me straight in the eyes, grinned and responded, “Sir, this is going to be the best day of my entire life!”  I thought to myself, “Hey, it probably will be.”  She had already pre-determined that in her mind.

The Bible itself teaches us that as a person thinks, so is he.  “Her,” too.  God’s promises are generic, you know.  You cannot always control your circumstances; but, by an act of your will you can usually determine how you are going to react to them.  If you woke up this morning determined to somehow grouse your way through the day, it’s probably not going to be too scintillating for you or those around you.  If, on the other hand, you woke up knowing this is the day the Lord made and you’re going to rejoice and be glad in it, you’re probably going to have a wonderful day.  Look at the opportunities for real living extant all around you, thank the Lord, breathe in deeply and say, “Yes, Lord, it’s gonna be a great day!”

O God, this day let every thought that goes through my brain and every word that comes from my mouth be worthy of you and pleasing in your sight and hearing!   You truly did make this day so let me make the very best of it, by your grace.   Amen.

Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

According to a recent poll, the church in America is growing rapidly and thoughts of a “post-Christian” America are just not true.  People who never went to church or went only occasionally are now signing up as official members in growing numbers across the nation.  Well over half of Americans are connected to the church in one way or another.  My friend, that’s a clear majority!

In my own part of the world, southwest Florida, churches that fervently declare the old-fashioned Gospel of the Bible are the ones that are flourishing.  Those congregations that entangle themselves in politics or even social issues alone (good though they may be) are declining.  Jesus promised us His power to fulfill His divine redemptive mission on this earth; therefore, the mission is possible by His Spirit.

Church growth is not rocket science.  Decades ago, I heard Dr. Robert Schuller teach three principles I have never forgotten.  He claimed that every pastor and church leader needs to be able to answer these questions:  1) What in the world am I trying to do here?  (A recent poll indicated that 90% of church leaders cannot clearly articulate the vision of their church.)  2)  How in the world do I plan to do it?  3) Why in the world do I do the work?  Decades ago, in this church we clearly concluded and stated what our church goals were.  Then we prayerfully and painstakingly laid out the plan of how we believed Jesus wanted it done.  Through very hard work, fervent prayer and vision we have seen miracles of every kind.  Post-modern, indeed!  This is the day of the Holy Ghost!

Prayer:  O God, may our church faithfully reflect Thy majesty, compassion and wisdom.  Empower us by Thy precious Holy Spirit to do your work on earth, occupying until you return.    Amen.

Leviticus 20:24  “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Israel has been my “home away from home” since 1971.  The first trip there was still two years away from the infamous Munich Olympics massacre, offering entre to the shadowy and bloody world of terrorism.  I am often asked if I worry about safety in the Holy Land. Frankly, no.  We are all well cognizant of the dangers that face the world today; however, I refuse to cower in the corner when there is so much living to do.

Some of my life’s greatest adventures have come in Israel.  I think of climbing into the ancient guard tower in the Jericho ruins, believed to be the oldest man-made structure on earth, even predating the pyramids by thousands of years.  I remember that tiny open-sided helicopter that whisked me from one end of Israel to the other, our feet hanging out as we swept over Nazareth, Haifa, the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem.  I often reminisce about the prayer meeting with the Greek Orthodox priests early one morning in the cave of the nativity in Bethlehem.  I can still hear the laughter ringing from my friends on Yehuda’s wooden boat as we filmed a documentary in the middle of the Sea of Galilee.  And I positively drool when I remember a tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Jerusalem where I was taken late one night by my friend David Assael, where the bread is “to die for.”  I think often of the late night dinners with Palestinian friends overlooking the Herodian and the tiny village of Tekoaha.

Life is so fulfilling and rich!  But not if one shrinks into the shadows of presumed safety. Yes, life can offer danger in many cloaks.  But somehow it’s realized more often by the fearful.  God’s love casts out all fear, my friend!  So enjoy living.

Prayer:   O God, by the word of Thy mouth, strike all fear from my life.   May I walk in joy and the security of knowing you.   You promised life abundant!   And you have delivered it to those of us willing to reach for it.   Thank you.   Amen.

Philip. 4:21?22
Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus.  All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

When our Lord was born, Augustus was the Caesar of Rome.  He was followed by Tiberias (about whom it was said that he liked not one single human being and that not one single human being liked him).  Tiberius was followed by the depraved Gaius Caesar, better known as Caligula – Little Boots.  He ruled for 4 years and was a monster of cruelty and vice.  He was finally assassinated in the year A.D. 41.  The Praetorian Guard, fearful of a return to a republic, forcibly made Claudius (officially Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus) the emperor.  And for the next 13 years this strange man of handicapped body and slow speech was the monarch of the Roman world.  Claudius was followed, in turn, by Nero who ruled for 14 years until his suicide in A.D. 68.  All these decades were splotched with immorality, depravity and insanity such as the world has rarely witnessed.

But think of it!  In those years between A.D. 40 and 60, there were men and women who were followers of Jesus Christ who managed to thrive while working in the very palace of Caligula, Claudius and Nero!  Paul, who was under house arrest in Rome, testified of this reality in the letter he sent to the church at Philippi, “Those precious saints of God who reside in Caesar’s household send their greetings….”

Today we sometimes find professing saints who complain about the pressures of serving God in the free world.  How do they think they would have fared in ancient Rome where their witness for Christ could have made them fodder for the lions?  But on the other hand, some of the most courageous saints ever are serving God this very day.  Are you one of them?

Prayer:  O God, let me by Thy Spirit serve Thee well this day!   May there be no pressure or circumstance that would cause me to grieve Thee.  Let my thoughts, words and actions please Thee!  Amen.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  (NIV)
I Corinthians 13:13 

Recently a 40 year-old Pakistani man decided that his 25 year-old stepdaughter had committed an immoral act.  She hadn’t, but he thought otherwise and killed her in cold blood.  Then he killed his three young daughters.

According to the Independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, hundreds of girls and women are murdered by male relatives each year in this conservative Islamic nation.  Speaking to the Associated Press in the back of a police truck, the man showed no contrition, only dismay that he didn’t murder the stepdaughter’s alleged lover as well.  He added, “I thought my younger daughters would do what the older girl did, so they should be eliminated.”

Authorities report the murdered woman actually did nothing, except flee her brutal husband who had forced her to work in a brick-making factory.  To get even with her for running away, the husband accused her falsely of adultery.  A human rights worker said, “Women are treated here as property.”  Here we find another major difference between Islam and Christianity.  Throughout history, Christianity has elevated the status of women – and rightly so!  Human rights in general are honored by followers of Christ and the dignity of the individual is upheld.  Jesus called upon His followers to “follow peace with all men, without which no man shall see God” (2 Tim. 2:2).  That is often not the case in religions where there is blind hatred, often fomented by so-called clerics who call for their congregations to kill and destroy.  The equipment of the follower of Christ is love.  Unfortunately, equipment for some other faiths is often a sword.

Prayer:  O God, help me to ever remember that the uniform of a Christ-follower is love. May I always react to those around me, drawing from the very love of Jesus Who dwells within me.   May I never give reason for reproach upon the lovely Name of my Lord Jesus.   Amen.

Luke 12:37       Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Jesus was a willing servant.  He expects you and me to be servants as well.  Recently my wife and I had lunch at a local restaurant.  It was certainly not a fancy eating establishment; in fact, it was a franchise place.  But the food was acceptable and the building was clean.  What I remember about this restaurant was the waitress, a middle-aged lady of quiet but efficient manner.  Her concept of service was remarkable.  She knew when to approach the table to help and she knew when to stay away.  It was if she could sense when we needed something and she anticipated us every time.  When we asked for something, she smiled and reacted as if filling our need was her greatest pleasure for the day.  She didn’t make us wait for the check either, drumming our fingers on the table.  She watched us carefully and knew exactly when to present the bill.  I said to her, “Ma’am, I must tell you that you are an incredible waitress!  Thank you!”  And I reinforced my comments with a more than ample tip.

Service is so vital in any enterprise.  I have eaten at fancy places where the food was good but the service was awful.  I won=t return to those places.  But I will return to the restaurant just described again and again – IF we can have that lady as our waitress.  I don’t remember the food so much or even the decor, but I remember the service!

How important it is for a church to give good service!  I have often visited one of the largest churches on the west coast.  I enjoy going there for many reasons, chiefest of which is that before I ever get to the door I am made to feel as if I belong there.  On the other hand I have visited churches where it was made obvious they could not possibly care if I was there or not.  How about help from the parking attendants?  Helpful ushers?  Clean restrooms?  Service!  This is not rocket science.  It’s just plain common sense, not to mention scriptural.

Prayer:  O God, help me to remember that Jesus came to serve, not to be served.  As a follower of our blessed Lord, may I be of service to all those around me.  May others see Jesus in the way I address myself to their burdens of life.   Amen.