Hupomone

I just get a kick out of saying that word -- hupomone (hoop·om·on·ay). Go ahead, say it again! Hupomone! I've taken leave of my senses, maybe writing in tongues (a new gift?) you think? Actually, I just got you to say a word of Greek from the New Testament. It's a compound word of a prefix meaning 'under' and a root meaning 'remain.' OK, here's the context... since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance (hupomone) the race that is set before us," (Hebrews 12:1, NKJV) The writer of Hebrews calls for us to take a look at the distance runner as an example of how to live as a Christian. Unlike a sprinter who explodes from the starting block, pouring everything he has into a 100 meter dash, we are called to set a pace that we can maintain, steadily and consistently, living for Jesus-- with patience, with endurance, with hupomone! The idea wrapped in the word is holding steady even under intense pressure!

All around us we can find examples of people who start something with gusto- only to collapse in the backstretch! Marriages begin with great romance and fireworks, but too often, fizzle under the strain of kids and bills. People head into new jobs with the intent of being the 'next best' only to become a place holder, a burnt out functionary, instead of an inspiring performer. Students go off to college intending to make the Dean's list and too easily get sidetracked into the three day weekend party life style.

And.... yes, people invite Jesus Christ to become Lord and begin their Believer's journey with enthusiasm (interesting word, by the way, that comes from a compound word meaning to be full of God). When Believers gather, they are there in church or Bible class. They are discovering God's will and purpose and cheerfully becoming conformed to Christ Jesus. When they pray, it is with childlike simplicity and earnest faith. Then, again too often, over time the joy evaporates under the heat of temptation and pressure and they turn into pew warmers, preacher critics, with a 'form of godliness that denies the real Power.' Their Christianity becomes more of a habit than a source of joyful life.

Hupomone is not about a BIG start, it's about a faithful finish! I admire 'finishers,' people who keep their word, who fulfill their calling, who maintain their Christian witness through joy and sorrow, Summer and Winter, sunshine and rain. One of my favorite pages in the newspaper is the one where they print the pictures of couples celebrating 50, 60, even 70 years of marriage. I used to think they were old people, but now they just look older. Reading their names, I inevitably think about the patience that they showed in living through separations of wartime, difficulties of sickness, joys of raising a family, building a life together. In the denomination that ordained me, 25 year ordination pins are headed out at the Annual conference. Often the contrast in numbers of newly minted preachers and seasoned 25 year veterans is startling, maybe a third or so. Somewhere along the way, many gave up, dropped out.

Are you a finisher?
Do you take time to think about commitments, praying for guidance - and only embracing those that you will see through to completion?

Jesus told a little teaching story about this. Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’
Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce? (Luke 14:28-32, The Message) The implied conclusion is - FINISH what you start! That means - hupomone!

Remember that it isn't "all guts, no glory." Finishers enjoy what mere starters never find:
the satisfaction of a job well done,
a life well lived,
a victor's crown!

Need a boost to stay in the race today? Here's the way, the follow up verse to the one where we started today--

• Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever.
  And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.
  (Hebrews 12:2, The Message)

HUPOMONE! Say through the day.

People will think you're nuts. If they ask, just tell'em you're speaking Greek. Have fun.
_______________________________

He already knows!

“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will point out to you.” (Genesis 22:2, NLT) Faith and dread must have shared the space in Abraham's mind as he started out on the journey to his encounter with God. Each step had to get more difficult. It is beyond me to even try to imagine the horror of building a pile of stones for an altar, knowing that I would lay my son on that altar to offer him up to God! But Abraham did what God told him to do! I can easily imagine the tears streaming down Abraham's face as he attempted to explain to his beloved Isaac that he was only doing Yahweh's will. He might have said something like, "Son, I do not know why either. I know for sure I heard Him, as I have so many times over my lifetime. This makes no sense, but He directs. I love you so, Son, but I love Him even more."

Abraham obeyed 'in faith' and went to the very moment of offering up his son. Only then did the voice of God ring out. “Lay down the knife,” the angel said. “Do not hurt the boy in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld even your beloved son from me.” (Genesis 22:12, NLT) Only then did this great man of faith find a deeper revelation of God's nature. In a moment of drama obscured by the plainness of the text, he saw that God had provided a substitutionary sacrifice. Abraham looked up. He saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Abraham named that place Yahweh Yireh (God-Sees-to-It). That’s where we get the saying, “On the mountain of God, he sees to it." (Genesis 22:13-14, The Message)

Sometimes God asks us to walk through days or months through trials so intense that each step feels like it may be our last! He makes His will known and then falls silent, leaving us without explanation, with only two choices: obey or turn away from Him! In our Wednesday School of the Bible we discussed the story of Genesis 22 last night. In just that little group of Believers there were heart-wrenching stories of times when God pointed the way up Mt. Moriah and waited for obedience so I know it's a relatively common experience.

Are you trudging up Mount Moriah today, filled with dread, yet pursuing God with all the faith your heart can find? He will be Yahweh Yireh for you. He knows exactly what you need (not what you think you need) and, in His foresight, He has already prepared provisions for you. Walk on! Weep, if you must, but obey. In this time when self-love is so powerful, a lauded characteristic by our culture, we are tempted to try to play "Let's Make A Deal" with the Lord! We devise alternatives, argue, and even try to manipulate God. But only two stark options - obey or turn away.

The path of obedience to the will of God, despite often leading us to an altar of costly sacrifice, always ends in His blessings - for He is Yahweh Yireh and He cannot abrogate His unchanging nature. Will you trust Him today?
_________________________
Be Thou My Vision-- Hull, Eleanor / Byrne, Mary E.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Nought be all else to me, Save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, By day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, And Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee And Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, And I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, Nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, Now and always:
Thou and Thou only, First in my heart,
High King of heaven, My Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, My victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, Whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Be Thou my shield And my sword for the fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Be Thou my might.
Thou my soul's shelter And Thou my high tow'r,
Raise Thou me heav'nward O Pow'r of my pow'r.

© Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055

Choices and Values

We act out of what we really believe, not what we think we believe! Yesterday I prayed with a woman of astonishingly deep (for this age, anyway) commitment to her marriage. Her husband has failed her in just about every way that a man can fail a woman, yet she still cares for him and not just with a card on his birthday. Despite a separation that was necessary because of his irresponsibility; she pays his bills, shops for his groceries, and prays for him! When she says the word, 'covenant,' she means it. How do I know? I only have to look at her choices to understand her real values.

In the most recent issue of Christianity Today (Feb.,2005) two separate articles were written about choices that revealed how people value Christian love. Two groups in different parts of the country professed love for the members of their group. In one case, it was true; in the other it was not. Gary Parrett, a professor at Gordon Conwell Seminary, S. Hamilton, MA, described how his home church divided over the issue of the conduct of public worship services, i.e, the music style. The disagreement became so intense that the church dissolved. He writes of the final service, "We were asked to form a circle around the sanctuary and to join hands. Together we sang, 'We are one in the bond of love...' then the service closed with many hugs and tears followed. It was very emotional and very hypocritical." Christians who really valued love, modeled on the self-sacrifice of Christ, could never tear apart a congregation over a style of music. They would give up their personal comfort before they allowed such violence in the Body of Christ. You see, no matter their rhetoric and emotions, they didn't really love much.

By contrast, Roger Dixon, wrote about a community in Texas called Homestead Heritage. Several hundred people, deeply committed to Christ and others, live in close relationship with each other. It isn't a true commune in that they maintain their own homes and finances. But it is a powerful illustration of deep love. Dixon writes, "Many Christians talk about overcoming American individualism, but the residents of Homestead Heritage go beyond talk... What makes this community tick? .. . Decisions are made by consensus. Individuals are accountable to the group, but the group exists to serve each individual... They view themselves as an extended family and call each other 'brother' and 'sister' regardless of blood relations." These Believers value Jesus' call to love above personal convenience and comfort- and it shows in their choices.

Jesus said it like this, “You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds." (Luke 6:43-45, The Message)

A well known pollster who studies trends and practices of people in these United States, spoke recently to Southern Baptist leaders. George Gallup said, "We find there is very little difference in ethical behavior between churchgoers and those who are not active religiously...The levels of lying, cheating, and stealing are remarkable similar in both groups." What is apparent in that discovery is that for a significant number of professed Believers, the core truth of the transforming Gospel of Christ is not really owned in their hearts and minds. They do not possess the truth they profess!

What do your choices reveal about your heart's real values?
Ask a few trusted friends if they consistently see evidence of Christian values in your words and actions. Ask them to think about the unguarded moments!

Don't be discouraged if you are not yet all that you want to be! This process of sanctification (becoming a godly person whose life serves God's purposes) is life-long and involves daily decisions. Don't attempt to effect the changes you desire solely with discipline or rigid rules of control. That will only work until you blow up in anger or are crushed by some life altering event that shatters your dreams and hopes.

Our hearts are changed by cultivating intimacy with God - in meditation, prayer, and worship. His character 'rubs off' on us when we're with Him!

Our minds are changed by the wisdom of His Word as we study it and interact with it. That's right. Just reading the Bible doesn't change our values. We must wrestle with it, chew on it, and discuss the implications of what we find in those pages with other Believers. As we do, the seed of the Word germinates, take root, and grows to produce fruit- visible evidence that we are the people of God.

God promises us that IF we choose Him, He will work deeply in us. Take this promise with you today even as you pray, "Change my heart, O God!"

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we.... are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)

Choices & Priorities

"Aim for nothing. You will hit it everytime!"
Without constant monitoring of goals and mission, I will most likely wander, spending entire days doing things that are not of primary importance. This will illustrate my point. Technology is useful and, as most of you know, I enjoy finding ways to apply technology to ministry purposes; a worthy effort, but not a primary purpose of my life. My mission as a local church pastor is not to tinker endlessly with computers, trying to coax the latest application to peak performance.

• What are first importance issues for you? Do you know?

Defining a mission, setting goals, and committing ourselves to regular evaluations; are the only ways to avoid drifting along, hit or miss, doing what we enjoy instead of what is important! I know that God has given me responsibility to lead in a local church: caring for His people, teaching the Word, and encouraging others to serve Him faithfully. I must spend time in study - everyday! Whether I'm in the mood to read or not, I must, for reading feeds my mind so that I can teach. Caring and encouraging requires being involved with people. I cannot have an unlisted phone number or disappear from contact with the congregation for days at a time, because being 'in touch' is of first line importance.

Individuals, churches, committees, and corporations will not function effectively without a clear statement of mission and the discipline to do the first things first! Asking the question, 'why am I doing this?' is an important exercise that keeps us focused! Stephen Covey, in his great book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, points out that many of us don't get to the important because we feel that we must respond to the urgent. Ever been talking to someone about something really important only to have the phone ring? What is your first inclination? That's right, almost everyone of us breaks our train of thought to answer the phone! Covey says, "Urgent matters are often visible. They press on us, they insist on action. They're often popular with others... pleasant, fun to do... and unimportant!" Urgent matters require that we react. Important matters demand that we plan, purpose, and act to do the first things, first.

Believe it or not, one of the keys to getting the most accomplished, is the willingness to leave some things undone!

Jesus lays down this marker about priorities for all of us. Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33, NIV) What are the 'all things' He refers to? Food, drink, and clothing. That's right, even our daily provisions are not first line issues. Now there's a real challenge for us. We spend a lot of time focusing on acquiring and guarding resources to assure that we have enough 'stuff.' And yet, Jesus promises, if we put God first, God will see to it that we are clothed and fed! Living that way demands a whole different set of values. Jesus told us “Don’t be greedy! Owning a lot of things won’t make your life safe.” (Luke 12:15, CEV) Do we believe that, I mean, really believe it? If so, it will change our priorities significantly. Much of what our society presses on us as urgent, will no longer be an issue of importance for a disciple of Christ.

For what has God made you responsible? Are you treating His gifts and callings as a matter of first importance?

"So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants." (Ephesians 5:15-17, The Message)

Choices

What are you going to do with your freedom of choice today? Even recognizing that you can choose is a choice! Some of us will stumble into this day grumbling about going to work, about having to finish some project, about facing a deadline. Others will take on the challenges of this new week with joy, thankful that we are alive and participating at some level in this thing called, 'life!' Some of us will growl, others will smile - and many of us will assume that it is our situation in life that shapes our mood. Not true! Joy comes from inside, from what fills up our heart. Where will you focus - on the limitations or the possibilities?

God impressed on me as I awakened this morning that He has provided me with the freedom to choose how I will live today. One of the most self-defeating phrases is: "I just can't help it!" If, by that you mean you can't control your world, you're right. But if you mean, you have no ability to exercise self-control, you are wrong! We can't make our spouse be kind to us. We can't make our boss be appreciative of our efforts. We can't even be certain that our physical body won't betray us with heart attack or a bad knee! But we can choose our response to the world and to the circumstances of life.

The Bible says that God broke the hold that sin had over us. Once we could not help but be selfish, lustful, in the grip of ego-driven appetites. But something happened that proclaimed our emancipation from spiritual slavery --

Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God.

So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.
Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. (Romans 6:6-12, NLT)

Just for today- choose! Don't say, "I can't help arguing with my wife." You can, if you will, today. Don't say, "I can't discipline my kids." You can, if you will, today. Don't say, "I can't stop eating too much." You can, if you will, today.

Here's something that I've read again and again, in my life, called Just for Today. I hope you will recognize the wisdom in these words and determine, with the help of God's Spirit in you, to make a choice - Just for today:

• I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.
  
• Just for today: I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."
  
• Just for today: I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don't want to do, just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.
  
• Just for today: I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, talk low, act courteously, criticize not one bit, not find fault with anything, and not try to improve or regulate anybody except myself.
  
• Just for today: I will have a program. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision. -- Ruth Carter-Bourdon

So now: Fear God. Worship him in total commitment.
Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped on the far side of The River (the Euphrates) and in Egypt. You, worship God.
If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living.
As for me and my family, we’ll worship God. (Joshua 24:14-15, The Message)
_________________________

Father, I come to you today, with profound thankfulness that
You have stepped into my life and set me free to choose -
to love, not hate; to experience joy even in sad circumstances;
to silence my clamoring selfishness that I might serve selflessly.


I pray that Your Spirit in me will lead me to opportunities
where I can share the love of Christ, extend a word of encouragement,
lift up a person who is crushed by despair... and help me
to have the courage to choose to become involved.


Forgive me, Lord, for lazy passivity that causes me to sometimes to drift along,
rather than taking up the oars and paddling my canoe towards your
high and holy callings!

May Jesus be honored by my choices today, I pray in His Holy Name.
Amen.