Articles by Joe Bagby at Heartlight

Arriving Home

bagman1947@yahoo.com (Joe Bagby) — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600

The living of life poses so many questions there just isn't enough time to reflect upon them all. Such as ...

"Why is Starbuck's coffee so expensive?”
"Why can't they make a car that runs on solar energy?”
"Why are so many politicians so crooked?”
"Why is the liberal media so afraid of conservative morality?”
"What is the big deal about American Idol?”
"Does Desperate Housewives really depict what goes on in middle America?”
"What really is it about an i-Pod that makes it different than all the other cheaper MP3 players?”

Then there's the question we get from our kids after driving in the car for more than an hour, "How much farther?” It doesn't matter what you say because they just don't understand time and distance! "In a minute” means about as much as "just another 325 miles.” You've been there, haven't you?

When the apostles asked Jesus where he was going and why they couldn't go with him, I suspect his answer posed more of a question than it answered theirs! "Where I am going you cannot follow now, but you will follow later” (John 13:36).

It's like that perplexing question we get, "How much farther?” We know our kids are tired and want to get to Granny's house just as bad as we do, but nothing we say will ease the anxiety and distress of sitting in those uncomfortable car seats! We just hope that our answer will help them hang on just a little bit longer without throwing a temper tantrum and tearing up the back seat! Then finally, after what seems to be an eternity, we arrive, and they run into the arms of Granny and the distress of the trip is wiped away by the reality of the destination! All that special "granny love” makes the trip worthwhile ... until we get in the car and have to go home!

As a spokesman for Jesus I am asked from time to time, "What happens to us when we die? Do we remain in a sleepless state, or do we immediately go to heaven or, God forbid, hell?”

I feel somewhat like a father who tries to explain to his child how much farther it is! Just like a child who has no concept of time and distance, so are we adults in matters concerning eternity and "other worlds.” I can answer my child with "325 miles” and know what I'm talking about because I know how far 325 miles is -- I've traveled 325 miles before. However, I have never traveled beyond the grave, nor have I ever heard from anyone who has, except Jesus.

It is difficult to answer their question -- until I ask Jesus. For Jesus has made the trip and knows how far it is and has come back to tell us not to be troubled, anxious, or distressed in the back seat. We will arrive soon and the special "God love” on the other end will be worth it all! And until we safely arrive, we are promised that we will never be separated from that love or that Lord! Hallelujah.

The thing I want and hope for is that I will not fail Christ in anything. I hope that I will have the courage now, like always, to show the greatness of Christ in my life here on earth. I want to do that if I die or if I live. I mean that to me the only important thing about living is Christ. And even death would be profit for me. If I continue living in the body, then I will be able to work for the Lord. But what would I choose -- living or dying? I don’t know. It is hard to choose between living or dying. I want to leave this life and be with Christ. That is much better. (Philippians 1:20-23 ERV)

Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love -- not death, not life, not angels or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us -- nothing in the whole created world -- will ever be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Joe Bagby has been preaching for thirty years. He and his wife Paula were missionaries to Thailand in the 80's for eight years where they adopted twin girls, Hope and Joy. Joe receive his masters degree in Congregational Ministry from Abilene Christian University with a BS in Education from University of North Texas. He is now serving as Pulpit Minister for the 4th and Elm Church of Christ in Sweetwater, Texas.

People of Truth

bagman1947@yahoo.com (Joe Bagby) — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Christians can fall into a number of satanic traps. Some of us may be deceived into thinking that "intending" to obey Jesus is the same as actually doing what Jesus says. Some of us seek great knowledge about God and his will and are satisfied with this, rather than trusting God and acting on that knowledge. Others of us are busily involved doing religious things based upon human traditions, rather than seeking to live each day in the power of the Lord through his Holy Spirit. Others seek a mystical experience without changing their lifestyles to reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus distinguishes between knowing God's will and doing it! Jesus repeatedly reminded his followers that they would be blessed by "doing" God's will, not just believing in it. (Matthew 7:13-27; John 13:15-17)

Why is it that we are so adamant about hearing what Jesus says, and so slack in doing it -- always learning, but never acting? Knowledge is wonderful, but Paul says, "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." (1 Corinthians 8:1 NRS)

The only way knowledge about things can become knowledge possessed by a person is for that person to act on that factual knowledge and thereby discover for himself if it is true! Theoretical knowledge becomes experiential -- or real knowledge -- only through obedience. Faith is the link between the two! For example, from information about the construction of a bridge across a river, one may come to believe intellectually that it will hold his weight. However, only when one walks across the bridge, trusting himself to the bridge, will he truly know it is reliable.

Jesus said to those who began to believe on him intellectually, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32) Holding to one truth allows you to reach for another truth. Growing in grace and knowledge is based on trust and obedience to the knowledge of the truth that is confronting us at the time. To fail to act on one aspect of truth about God keeps us from progressing to another aspect.

For too long, the church has been held guilty of Paul's indictment of "always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth." (2 Timothy 3:7 NIV) It is imperative that we never stop learning, but it is only when we use what we learn that we will we be people of truth.

Resolved Today

bagman1947@yahoo.com (Joe Bagby) — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Do you ever get inspirational thoughts in the middle of the night? Do you ever wake up and hear a "silent voice" whispering in your ear? This happens to me quite often, so much so, I have placed a notepad and pen near my bedside -- just in case.

The other morning, I couldn't sleep as I was anticipating the explosion of the alarm clock at 4:30. Our granddaughters were going to have minor surgery and we had to get up very early to get them to the hospital by 6:30. It was then that I had a brain storm -- my mind was flooded with words and thoughts concerning this New Year.

If you are like me, you've probably come up with a "resolution" or two for 2006. The little voice in my ear didn't inspire me to think about that as much as how I should approach the fulfillment of that resolution. Let me be candid and ask you a question. Over all the years of making New Year's resolutions, how many have you actually kept? And if you have a history of breaking all those resolutions, why does it matter that you make a new one? Perhaps your resolution should be that you are going to keep your resolutions instead of just making them!

Listen to what that "little voice" echoed to me:

Do what you need to do TODAY! For if you don't do what you say you need to do TODAY, you will begin talking about doing them TOMORROW! And before you know it, TOMORROW will become ONE DAY! And as the days go by, that ONE DAY will be SOMEDAY, and before too long, you'll say WHENEVER which will then turn into WHATEVER! It is at that time that all your well laid plans and resolutions find the land of waste called "NEVER" which is on the border of FOREVER!

Have you experienced what that "little voice" whispered in my ear that early morning?

Now if your resolution concerns weight loss or spending less, I suppose entering the land of NEVER and FOREVER won't be the end of you. But, if your resolution concerns spiritual matters of the heart and drawing closer to Jesus -- please, don't put off to TOMORROW what you know you need to do TODAY! If you do, you just might find yourself among those who end up in the wasteland of NEVER and FOREVER! And believe me, Jesus Christ will not be found there!

Have a blessed today!

Never forget the warning: "Today you must listen to his [God's] voice. Don't harden your hearts against him ..." (Hebrews 3:15 NLT)

Christmas Clause

bagman1947@yahoo.com (Joe Bagby) — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0600

This is how Jesus Christ was born. A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David's family. But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God's Holy Spirit. Joseph was a good man and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding.
While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, "Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:18-21 CEV)

Well, here it is Christmas again, and this year it falls on a Sunday. I have been following with great interest the battle that rages among the media liberal and conservatives as to the promotion of Christmas as a "holiday" or an actual "Christmas" event.

Should we promote Santa Claus and be politically and socially sensitive to the feelings of all, or should we promote Christ and offend numerous people who don't believe in him? After all, 3% of Americans don't celebrate Christmas, so the rest of us, all 97% of us, ought to be willing to take Christ out of the picture and accommodate our sensitive culture. After all, we certainly don't want to offend anyone, do we?

It was fifteen years ago this month that I preached a Christmas sermon and actually talked about Bethlehem and the manger, then paid the price for doing so. I was told emphatically that folks in our church heritage don't believe that December 25 was the day Jesus was born and it wasn't proper to preach sermons that promote things we don't believe! I suppose I was naïve, but I thought preaching Christ at all seasons was proper! This is the only time of the year that people actually spend time thinking about God, even if it is the God of the Manger.

I told my friends fifteen years ago that a time would come when the word Christmas would be stripped from our vocabulary and our children would no longer hold this time as sacred as in days gone by, but it would become just another holiday and the only thing important to them would be the presents under the tree, rather that the Present we all received in a Manger! Has that time arrived, and have I become a prophet? You decide, as you consider the new words to "Silent Night" as presented at the Ridgeway Elementary School in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. The school's "Winter Program" features, to the tune of "Silent Night." a new secularized version whose lyrics go something like this:

Cold in the night, no one in sight;
Winter winds whirl and bite.
How I wish I were happy and warm,
Safe with my family out of the storm.

Yes, I know, I'm just overreacting! Everything is going to be okay. Who needs Christmas anyway? Today it's Christmas, but tomorrow what will it be? Let's all wise up -- the world doesn't like us or our Master. If they get rid of the Manger, think of what they will do to the Cross! I hope I'm not a prophet!

But anyway, Merry Christmas one and all!

Ice Cold Morning, Life-changing Memory

bagman1947@yahoo.com (Joe Bagby) — Wed, 10 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Do you have recollections of particular events in your life that helped shape your character and direction?

Perhaps it was the day you got married or the day the doctor told you the cancer you always feared was now a reality?
Maybe it was the morning you looked into the face of your first son or daughter?
Was it the day you buried your mom or dad?
Could it have been the day you walked your daughter down the aisle only to give her to someone else?
Or for you, was it the day your degree was placed in your hand and you felt you had the world by the tail?

There are so many moments in life that shape us, but we only enjoy a few of those rare moments that end up shaping us eternally -- and those we never forget!

For me, my moment came in a small, red-brick church building on Sunset Street in Round Rock, Texas, in 1976. It was a cold morning -- especially at 3:00. When I awoke in a sweat, I knew that the moment I had been fighting had finally come. The Holy Spirit had been pulling at the strings of my heart for more than a year. I knew I needed to get my life together and take the "plunge" and commit to a life of discipleship ... but I was afraid.

Was I really ready to leave the old life -- including those friends and acquaintances who would never understand?

Was I ready to take up a new life -- which meant I would be called to sacrifice more than I might be willing to sacrifice?

What if God wants me to do something I can't do?

What if God asked me to do something I might be unwilling to do?

Was I really ready?

If someone would have told me then the direction my life was about to take, I probably would have gone back to sleep and forgotten the whole thing. But thank God, I had a mom and dad who had taught me that listening and trusting the voice of God was more important than listening to my own fears!

When I was a little boy, I had "asked Jesus to come into my heart" and received baptism several weeks later. But that became a part of my struggle. If Jesus was in my heart, why was I acting like a heathen? I knew the world had me around the throat and something had to be done. It was then that the clarity of Romans 6 answered my fears! You must die, Joe! Your must be buried, Joe! You must be resurrected, Joe!

On that cold morning, in that cold water, I did just that. Nothing has been the same since. Thank God, I have never looked back, not for long anyway. But when I do, that cold early morning moment from long ago ushers me back to the reality of who I now am in Jesus. Praise God for His matchless grace -- and praise God for memory and praise God for grace!

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God's grace. (Romans 6:12-14 NLT)

Is It Your Time?

bagman1947@yahoo.com (Joe Bagby) — Sat, 21 May 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Have you ever wondered what was going through the minds of the disciples during Christ's last hours with them? Can you imagine the spiritual high they must have felt as he broke bread with them and then shared the cup of blessing? Upon hearing Jesus' words, "I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom," (Matthew 26:29) they must have been exhilarated to know that at last the kingdom was coming and that they had a reserved seat at the head table! Wouldn't you have felt that way?

Can you imagine then how they must have felt when Jesus told them that they would be "scandalized" and "scattered like sheep without a shepherd"? He even told them that they all would leave him behind and one of them would deny that he even knew him. Talk about a roller coaster ride!

So here we sit nearly two thousand years later trying to make some sense out of the happenings of those last few hours. I have heard some pretty preposterous things said in an endeavor to sort all this out. I myself have been guilty of the same. For instance, it's been said, "If the disciples had just listened better or been more spiritually in tune with the Spirit's voice ... if they would have prayed or meditated more ... if they had been less selfish ... if they had eyes to see or ears to hear ... then they wouldn't have deserted Jesus at the hour he most needed them."

All this is said to infer that if we had been there, we would have done better.

No, I don't think so!

You see, much of what was happening was beyond their ability to understand. The eternal purpose God was fulfilling in Jesus was a mystery that no one could comprehend until the Cross, Resurrection, and Pentecost! Jesus knew that. That's why he told the soldiers in the garden to let his disciples leave. That's right -- he told them to leave. He had promised God that he would protect them; and that's just what he did. You see they couldn't "drink his cup" -- only he could. Their "cup" would come later, but not during Jesus' suffering.

My point? Today Jesus doesn't expect his disciples to do what they cannot possibly know to do -- not until it's made clear. Like the early disciples, he will protect us until the time comes for us to respond ... like they did! But believe me friends, your time and my time will come, and respond we must!

So has your time come?

What do you understand -- what has Jesus made clear -- that you are not doing that you need to do?

Let's quit worrying so much about what we don't completely understand and let's get busy doing what we clearly know is true!

The Fire

bagman1947@yahoo.com (Joe Bagby) — Thu, 12 May 2005 00:00:00 -0500

I have to pinch myself from time to time to believe the events of September 20, 1998. It appeared to be a Sunday morning like any other. As I drove to the building, I was in deep thought about the morning sermon on forgiveness. The church was in spiritual decline and there were several people at odds with each other -- which affected all of us. You could feel the tension when you walked into the building and I knew something had to change.

My bulletin article that week said, "There is a warmth that comes even during the most bitter cold, but only Jesus Christ can provide that fire. Look inside yourself and see if that fire is burning - if not, you too may be in danger of succumbing to the cold within. There is a way to rekindle that fire and Sunday I want to talk to you about it." I asked our Shepherds a few days before that Sunday morning if they would pray that this sermon would touch people in such a way that the "demons of the past" could finally be exorcised, or at least take a step in that direction.

During the invitation, eighteen people responded! You could almost feel the presence of God as we hugged and loved on each other. During a baptism that morning, I knew God had done something remarkable, but I had no idea what He was about to do! The last words that were spoken that morning before we went to our homes were, "Today will be a day the 4th and Elm Church of Christ will never forget!"

Two hours later, that grand old building of fifty years caught fire and burned to the ground -- right in front of our eyes! I saw people, who just a few hours before the fire were at odds with each other, hug and cry and talk about their children who were baptized there, or their mother whose funeral was there, or their daughter who was married there. God was using a fire, actively or passively, to change us -- and change us He did.

Two years later, we were in a brand new building that is beyond what any of us ever believed we could build. One year after that, these good people had that 2.5 million dollar building paid for -- and all of that during a seven-year drought, which saw this community decline at an incredible rate! That's the power of God's fire!

It's been almost seven years since the fire. I'm still amazed at what has happened here. You can't walk into this building without feeling the presence of God radiating in the lives of the people of 4th and Elm. Those old "demons of the past" have been exorcised and the peace of God rules. Now if God is able to do that for 300 people, don't you think He is able to do that in your life? Ephesians 3:20 says God is able to do just that! But you must believe and pray for the fire -- and be ready, for it will come you know!

Developing Trust

bagman1947@yahoo.com (Joe Bagby) — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0500

We preachers are always on the lookout for good stories that illustrate a point we're trying to make. In preparing for a series of sermons on "Waiting on God," I researched my file index where I keep sermon illustrations and life stories. I went to the "T" file, and began thumbing my way through it. I was in search of something good that would help illustrate trust, for trust is an essential ingredient in learning to wait on God. What I found was amazing! Illustration after illustration was highlighted either with trial, trouble, temptation, or testing. However, right there in the middle of these illustrations, was one of my own stories I had long since forgotten ... it was highlighted -- Trust. I would like to share it with you, in hopes that it will put trust into its proper perspective -- right in the middle of trial, trouble, temptation, and testing!

Years ago when I believed God was moving me toward a life in ministry, I talked to every preacher and missionary I could find. I wanted them to tell me what it was like to preach and what I needed to do to prepare myself for this challenge. I went to every workshop and seminar available, and one day I heard one of my favorite preachers talk about commitment with no holds barred! I approached him and asked if I could visit with him for just a moment. I had never met him, so I didn't know how he would respond, but he was loving and kind.

I told this preacher that I wanted to be a preacher, and I wanted to be "just like him"! He shocked me with his response! He told me to be careful about what I wanted, because I had no idea of what it would take to get it. He then explained to me that his life had been full of tragedy. He buried a child on the mission field and lost a wife to cancer. He struggled with his own health and had children who had walked away from the Lord and were now in the "far country." He told me that every-once-in-a-while he expressed views on Scripture that did not "set well" with some brethren, and he had been labeled a liberal and church splitter! He asked me then if I wanted to hear more. I told him that I thought I had heard enough.

You see, this preacher opened my eyes to what I now know, because I have experienced it myself: learning to trust God does not happen in a vacuum, but in the arena of trial, trouble, temptation and testing! You don't trust someone unless you have been forced to do so. Just as the file on Trust is right in the middle of Trial, Trouble, Temptation, and Testing -- so is it in real life.

Don't run away from Trial, Trouble, Temptation, and Testing, or ask God to spare you from all your pain, because right in the middle of them all, God is helping to create in you the greatest grace of all -- absolute trust. We may have trouble living that way now, but believe me, when we're in heaven, we'll be glad we did.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us — they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:3-5 NLT)

Hope and Joy!

bagman1947@yahoo.com (Joe Bagby) — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Last week, I was meticulously putting together a slide presentation for my daughter's wedding. I had 165 pictures before me and a mountain of a project to scan the pictures, edit them, place them into PowerPoint, and ensure that every picture was flawless and the best quality possible.

As you might expect, I ran into some difficulties. Some of our pictures were from twenty years ago and ten thousand miles away. They had been carted all over the world and it seems a million miles had been traveled since we arrived at this place in our lives. I was doing well until I began to look into the faces of my little darlings when they were two and three years old. As the process of putting the pictures into some order developed -- and as I watched the girls grow older before my eyes -- I could see the remarkable change God had brought into their lives.

You see, Hope and Joy's life did not begin like most children. They didn't have a mother or father to cuddle them and sing songs to them in the night. They didn't have anyone to whisper "sweet nothings" in their ears and mention the name of Jesus to them through the stories of Abraham, Moses, David, and Paul. No, they were abandoned to a small crib for one year with no one to care for them! That is, until one day God directed a missionary wife to visit an abandoned baby ward at Children's Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. That's when it all began -- that's when Naree and Nittiya became Hope and Joy.

My wife, Paula, gave them those names because she believed that that's what they needed the most. Nittiya wasn't as desperately sick as Naree, but she never smiled or laughed -- so Paula named her Joy! Naree was desperately ill -- one year old and weighing 6 pounds -- and wasn't supposed to live. So Paula gave her the name of Hope! Nothing has been the same in our lives since that day 22 years ago. Joy and Hope have become just that for Paula and me. Isn't it amazing how God works?

But that's not the end of the story. Something came over me last week as I reflected on Hope and Joy, and I just started crying. I picked up the phone and called them and in tears I told them how much I loved them -- and would always love them! My hope for them is they will soar on eagle's wings ... but if not, at least run and not grow weary ... but if not, walk and not be faint. Because you see, they have the hope and joy of Almighty God. Who could ask for more? I know we couldn't, because of the Hope and Joy that the Father in heaven has brought to our lives!

Be Still

bagman1947@yahoo.com (Joe Bagby) — Sat, 09 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0500

How did the teacher know that Wednesday evening that I was preparing to preach a sermon on "Waiting on God"? He spoke about our society being an instant gratification cult. He noted that we are living "helter-skelter" lives, burning our candles at both ends. He stressed that we don't seem to find the time to stop and listen to God. I was pleased to discover that I wasn't the only one who felt that way.

While many of us share similar feelings, not many of us know how to get out of the rat race -- our incessant whirlpool we call the daily grind. How do we bring some semblance of order to our lives that makes sense?

Even more tragically, many of us are perfectly content with living this "out of control" way! We continue this pace even though we are in danger of becoming disconnected from God and the things of God. Many of us inhabit lives that are going a million different directions at once, with no clear destination. We are committed to so many "good things" that we don't seem to have the time for the truly meaningful things.

The psalmist, in a few simple words, has charted out the path to a rewarding life when he said, "Be still and know that I am the Lord." (Psalm 46:10) The problem with us is that we don't want to be still long enough to know that He really is the Lord. He is the Lord of all our existence -- not just our church activity, but our marriage and family, our business and friends, our money and health, and anything else we wish to add to that list.

God is doing his best to help us learn to wait on Him. Why? Because God knows that what he wants to do in us while we wait is as important as what we are waiting to receive!

Do you want your kids to be successful? Do you want peace and joy? Do you want to love more and hate less? Then commit it to God and wait, because the end product can't come until you are changed in the process of waiting!

If what you want is what God wants for you, then you can be assured that you will receive it ... if you are willing to be still and wait as the Lord works in you in order to prepare you to receive what he wants to give you.

This means that many of us need to make changes in our lives. We must learn to slow down and be quiet! If not, you just might miss the wonderful things you are feverishly seeking in all of your activity!

Don't deny yourself the blessing of waiting on God. He longs to give you what only He can give. Don't miss it in your frantic busy-ness. Be still and discover that he is good!