Category: Thursday Thought

Do you like to fish?

About 60 million Americans do—women and men. And we shell out a collective total of 115 billion dollars annually on fishing lures, fishing boats, and fishing trips.

I've been on four unforgettable half-day fishing charters. But could I be frank with you? I know very little about fishing—almost nothing!

However, I've observed that invariably, the captain knows the right place, the right time, the right bait, and the right technique! The captain scans for fish, baits the hooks, sets the downriggers—he does it all.

With a typical half-day morning charter, you get up at 4:00 am to drive to the marina, so you're already tired. Then you take some Dramamine to prevent motion sickness, and now you're trashed!

I’ve been so sleepy that I’ve dozed off standing on my feet, and the captain has had to yell out, “You’ve got a fish! Crank it in!” So, I wake up, haul in the fish, and feel like a hero for reeling in the “big one.”

But it really isn't me doing the work! I merely wind in the fish for which someone else did the prep work. The captain just lets me be part of the adventure.

That’s a pretty good picture of what God has in mind for you and me regarding making disciples. We can't save a single soul. But He knows the right place, the right time, the right bait, and the right technique. Better yet, He longs to have us join Him in His mission of fishing for souls.

On a fishing charter, the captain never uses just one pole. There are ten or more! Why? Obviously, you significantly increase your odds of catching a fish when you're casting for more than one.

Translation: If all you have is one unsaved friend, neighbor, or coworker, your world is too small! Let's build lots of friendships with lots of unsaved people. By all means, hang on to your Christian buddies—you need them to help anchor you to Christ. But your ocean must include unsaved folks, too.

Jesus called us to be fishers of souls. Who are you fishing for?

You don’t need to be great at it. But you do have to get at it!

Your Captain—and your adventure—are waiting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What does heaven sound like? This week, I think I heard an excerpt.

The Bible offers a surprising amount of detail about what heaven will look like: Streets of gold. Gates of pearl. Walls of precious stones. The River of Life.

But what about the acoustic side of things—the sound? Revelation talks about saints singing Hallelujah. And Christians through the centuries have been convinced there'll be harp music. Revelation mentions seven trumpets played by seven angels, along with loud peals of thunder that help us imagine the voice of God.

But last weekend, on a beach in Jacksonville, Florida, I was given a preview of another sound that will be heard in heaven. More than ten thousand people from the Church of Eleven 22 gathered to witness and celebrate the baptism of 1,958 believers.

There were many columns of hundreds of people—and getting them all baptized took the entire afternoon. But as we celebrated this step of obedience with my niece, you could not escape the sound: clapping, cheering, rejoicing, praising.

Every single person was celebrated by a cluster of folks surrounding them in the waves. This choice to stand with Jesus, be identified with Jesus, and follow Jesus—was enthusiastically (loudly) affirmed.

I can’t help but think this, too, is an audio snapshot of heaven. A soundscape of eternal applause, endless cheering, unflagging rejoicing. That’s what heaven will sound like.

What a fabulous (non-ending) day that will be!

And I heard a sound from heaven, like the roar of rushing waters, and like a loud peal of thunder.

—Revelation 14:2

 

The attacker stealthily inched his way forward. Finally, in range, he bashed Max on the back of the head—a blow sufficient to give him a concussion. When Max's friend Michael attempted to help him up, attackers broke Michael's wrist, requiring surgery.

It all happened on November 6, 2024, on a public plaza at one of Chicago’s most respected campuses, DePaul University. Though police know there were two attackers, only one has been arrested, while the other is still at large. The attacker they did arrest wasn’t even a student.

So, what was it that fueled this assault? What was there to hate about Max Long and Michael Kaminsky?

They are Jewish students, one of whom has served his time in the Israel Defense Forces (ironically defending his nation after the October 7 attack in Israel).

While Max and Michael have always been willing to engage in respectful dialogue, their attackers wanted to silence them. But the story gets uglier. In speaking with the two of them, I learned that there were other students on that plaza when the assault took place. And what did those students do? They fled. No help. No rescue.

Worse, a lawsuit claims that a DePaul public safety officer stationed just a few feet away at the time did not intervene when Long and Kaminsky were attacked. At that point, a different Public Safety Officer stopped one of the assailants but then inexplicably let him go, the lawsuit claims.

And the harassment has not ended. Long's face has since appeared on flyers around the campus, calling him an "IDF Butcher who got what he deserved."

Ironically, this attack occurred within inches of a statue adorned with a caption asking, "What are you doing for justice?"

Since when is cowardice justice? How can we call ourselves followers of Jesus and not be outraged by this attack? If our society continues to tolerate this sort of thuggery, you can be sure that Bible-believing Christians are next in line.

Enough is enough. It’s time to speak up and stand up. Our Jewish friends and neighbors deserve nothing less.

He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dark side of repetition is numbness. When we hear things often enough, we cease to hear them. What should be foreground becomes background. Given time, even the profound becomes mundane.

Perhaps that’s why I was taken aback by the simple declaration eight-year-old Ava wrote recently. Scrawled on a scrap of paper were these words: “I Love Jesus—and He Loves Me.”

We pepper our prayers and praise music with the first half of Ava's message, "I love Jesus." But how often do we ponder—really contemplate—the second half of her message, "And He loves me.”

I suspect that many of us know this is “supposed” to be true, that it is biblically and theologically accurate. We believe all this in our heads. Yet, we struggle to feel it in our hearts.

If you were raised in a "performance-based" home, where doing and achieving opened the doors to acceptance and love, you might well struggle to believe, "And He loves me."

Be at rest! Christ really does love you. He says it over and over again. Remember that God chose to demonstrate or prove His love dramatically: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). What's more, 2 Timothy 2:13 assures us, "If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful." In going to the cross, He loved you with everything He had!

But back to the first half of Ava's declaration, "I love Jesus." How do we know that we DO love Jesus? Is it the words we say, or the feelings we feel?

Jesus Himself gave us the litmus test in John 14:15, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” Which means, it’s not about the words we write or the songs we sing. Jesus spells love O-B-E-Y. Much obedience equals much love.

Do you love Jesus? How much?

Recently, I picked up a copy of The Hypochondriac’s Guide to Horrible Diseases You Probably Already Have. It is equal parts informative and hilarious. From the back cover:

Do you suffer from insomnia?

Not good…soon your whole body might attack your brain.

Are you bothered by a persistent fever and swelling?

Beware…maggots are likely crawling beneath your skin.

Have you noticed skin tenderness and discoloration?

Yikes…a small horn is probably going to sprout from your head.

 

Funny—for sure. But there’s nothing humorous about the sickness afflicting many Christ followers today. Let me explain.

We've just experienced the Easter season. As believers, we did our best to focus on Christ's sufferings when we…

• Winced at His beatings
• Flinched at His whipping
• Cringed at His crown of thorns
• Grieved at the nails bashed through His hands and feet

But when this same Jesus asks us to make disciples by telling others about Him and all He did on the cross, we often respond with:

• “That’s not really my spiritual gift.”
• “It just makes me uncomfortable.”
• “Others should do this—but not me.”

Talk about sick!

Whether by words or inaction, we tell Jesus, “No thanks,” we are stomping on His highest hope for us—and His world. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” is the Great Commission, not the Great Suggestion.

What if we dropped the excuses and chose one friend or neighbor—just one—that we committed to praying for (asking for their salvation) every day for a month? And what if we asked God to show us simple ways to connect with them and show them some love?

You don’t have to preach a sermon or blast your Bible at ‘em. Just share a snippet of what God has done for you, or something from His Word.

It’s spring! So, plant a seed and pray a prayer. Then watch the adventure unfold!

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

-Jesus, John 14:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How many times a day do you reach for your phone?

Surveys suggest we grab our phones between 144 and 205 times every day.

• In one study, 57%—more than half of all Americans—admitted they were addicted to their phones.

• While 54% of smartphone users report feeling more informed, 54% also report a sense of eye strain from all that screen time.

• 50% concede that checking in with their phones makes them less productive.

• Another 43% admit their phones cause them to struggle to pay attention.

• 30% say their phone use leads to anxiety. And 21% report all that phone time contributes to a sense of depression.

The problem is not just that we check our phones too often—but that we gawk at them too long. In fact, the average person spends 4 hours and 37 minutes on their phone every day. That's the equivalent of more than 1 day per week or 6 days per month. Across a year, that's approximately 70 days spent looking at a phone.

https://explodingtopics.com/blog/smartphone-usage-stats

Sadly, most of us sneak a peek at our phones while eating with our spouse, playing with our kids, or talking with our friends. And every time we do that, we communicate something we never intended to say: “My phone is more important than you. Any ping, ding, or chime is ahead of you in line.”

I'm as guilty as the next person. If an in-person conversation is running "slow," or I'm wondering if Amazon has finally delivered my package, you might catch me looking at my phone.

How could a hunk of plastic and glass hold such sway? Why can’t we/won’t we give people the thing they need the most: our undivided attention?

Lord, deliver us from being phone-wise and soul-foolish. Because when it takes away from real connection with real people, there’s nothing smart about a smartphone.

 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."     -Matthew 7:12

 

Americans are starving—not so much for food, but for fame. Driven by fads and fueled by social media, we are desperately trying to “be somebody.”

The Inaugural Success Index study found that 92% of respondents believed fame and fortune come closer to society's definition of success.

In a Pew Research survey, analysts discovered that among 18–25-year-olds, even getting rich is less important than becoming famous.

After surveying a group of 1,032 sixteen-year-olds, a team of UK researchers determined that more than half had no desire to go into professions that didn’t involve being a celebrity.

But believers are different. Way different!

In Christ—and because of Christ—you are already all the somebody anybody could hope to be! If Christ is your Savior, that’s a verifiable fact.

• Ephesians 1:4 says, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love.”

• 2 Corinthians 1:21,22 declares, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”

• 2 Timothy 1:9 speaks of God “who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.”

There's much more! God is actively at work—on your behalf—now! Consider…

• Romans 8:26, "Now, in the same way, the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;"

• Psalms 103:3-5, “Who pardons all your guilt, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with favor and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”

Are you tracking all this? God says of us who know Christ that He…

• Chose us

• Establishes us

• Anointed us

• Sealed us

• Saved us

• Called us

 

And if that’s not enough, He…

• Intercedes

• Pardons

• Heals

• Redeems

• Satisfies

• Renews

Bottom line: In Christ, you are all the somebody ANYBODY could hope to be! (Can I get an Amen!). So, stop trying to be a somebody, because God already made you one!

 

P.S. Shoot me an email, and I'll send you a PDF of the graphic seen below that you can use as a wallet card, bookmark, or fridge favorite. Just say, “I need the reminder!” when you email Jon.gauger@moody.edu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s big. There’s huge. Then there’s ridiculously massive. I refer to the teddy bear Tim bought for his two girls, Ava and Emma.

Once home, the bear was an immediate hit: a friend at play, a guest at dinner, and a comfort at bedtime. It was also too big for their home, and just couldn't stay. But how to break the news to the girls?

Tim took a wise approach and assured the girls that the bear was simply relocating to his office. Better yet, they could stop by to visit whenever they wanted to. With a reluctance recalling the father in the biblical account of the prodigal, Ava and Emma watched that bear slip away from their home.

Months passed, and Tim and his wife moved to a house in the country. The girls soon begged for the bear's return, and after downsizing a few toys as a family, Mom and Dad agreed.

Not long after, Tim strapped the bear into his car's front passenger seat (it's that big) and drove home. Squealing at the sight, the girls whipped off their socks, ran outside onto the cold driveway, and grabbed that bear. They hugged him and kissed him, and brought him inside.

Ava then dressed the bear in her dad's old Brian Urlacher Jersey, a shirt she regards as a treasure. At bedtime, they got the bear a fine pillow and a fine blanket. The prodigal had returned at last (the photo shows what most regard as a smile on his face).  

You probably don’t have a prodigal bear in your life. But maybe there’s a prodigal boy. Or girl. Or grandchild. I’m not suggesting that every one of these stories has a happy ending. Nor would I minimize your agony in the story of a stuffed animal.

But with certainty, we know our Good Shepherd has never lost His fixation on lost sheep. He who declared He came “to seek and to save the lost” is still seeking and saving.

He’s still on the job. So, keep on praying—and keep on believing.

Your prodigal is on God’s heart. Still.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sliver of trees. Barely enough to be called a forest preserve. But big enough that it stands out from the cement and asphalt landscape you see peering out the windows of your train chugging toward Chicago.

Because God has wired me to worship Him through His creation, I raise a hand and praise Him silently for the trees every time we roll by the splendor of this green scene. God must like it because He seems to jog my attention whenever I'm on the train and about to miss His handiwork.

On a recent ride, I gazed into that familiar forest, lifted my hand in praise—and saw something I didn’t think you would ever see in a copse of trees just a few miles from Chicago. One deer and then another emerged from the gray grime of not-yet-spring. The pair strutted about as if they were in a country field.

My jaw dropped—but I was alone. To my knowledge, I was the only person in the train car who saw that sight. Magic came near, but most missed it.

One passenger was sleeping, while another tried to snooze. One stared ahead sightlessly. Another buried himself in a book. An overwhelming majority were held hostage by their phones. Sadly, magic unfolded—but most missed it, seeing only the mundane.

Here’s the thing. God’s world—and yours—are drenched and dripping with His magnificent magic. It’s everywhere! The only question is, do we see these things and praise God for them? Or are they just part of the scenery we don’t see?

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

-Ecclesiastes 3:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do not know whether this is a great or grim day for you. Either way, I invite you to ponder with me three things for which every believer can be thankful:

#1 You have breath to praise.

Not to be a downer, but the day is coming when you and I won't be able to praise because we will have taken our last breath. Psalm 115:17,18 soberly reminds us, "The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. But as for us, we will bless the LORD from this time and forever. Praise the LORD!"

Thankfully, the option to lift your voice, lift your hands, and praise God is entirely ours for now! You have today. You have this moment. Why not give God some praise?

 

#2 You have clothes to wear.

Etched forever in my mind is a cluster of shabbily dressed kids outside of Kathmandu in Nepal. They were seven or eight years old, squatting in the dirt, playing with not much. Because in their neighborhood, "not much" was the only thing in plentiful supply. I snapped a photo of them as we drove by. Only upon zooming in later did I notice that one kid didn't even have a pair of pants. Sadness turns two shades darker when kids—or grown kids—can't afford clothes. That's not you, is it—no clothes to wear? I didn't think so. Which means you have a great reason to give thanks.

1 Timothy 6:8 offers this perspective: “If we have food and clothing, we should be satisfied with it.”

 

#3 You have Christ to come.

They say that everyone’s going through something. And those “somethings” are often not fun. But ponder this. Even if every day of every week of every month stinks—for the rest of your life—if you know Jesus, you have a massive reason for joy. Christ is coming! Titus 2:13 says we should be “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” Heaven is your home. God is your hope. Jesus is coming!

There you have it—three thankful thoughts. Park your mind here!