POLITICS!

The policies and choices of nations have real consequences! Today’s vote can have repercussions felt a generation later. Who governs does matter.  I hear some say naively say, “Oh, they’re all the same. Will it make any difference if we elect Trump or Clinton?”  Yes, it will. Can I predict exactly how they will govern, what they will do, the policies they will put in place? Of course not. However, it is possible to take a look at the person and discern how they view the world, the way they see people, and from that to generally predict their governance. 

I, like many Americans today, am tempted to disengage from the process. Neither of the present candidates for the Presidency give me any sense of confidence about the future. Given the rise of nationalism and fear in our turbulent world, we need a person of wisdom and character to lead courageously. Yesterday, with the vote in Britain to leave the EU, a whole new set of issues were introduced to world politics. That stunning vote by the people in our sister nation reveals just how things like economic stagnation and inequality, continuing conflicts in Syria and Iraq, increasing war talk from Russia and North Korea, and a hundred other concerns can provoke huge shifts in public opinion.

Can a Christian be political?

Yes, but the politics of disciples of Christ must not be formed by self-interest or fear! We must bring the values of our Lord to our discussions and our votes. “Love your neighbor” does not stop when it comes to government. The best government is shaped by compassion, justice, and concern for all persons. That may sound idealistic to some, but it is a clear and consistent call of God in Scripture. The OT prophets warned that God had not turned a blind eye to the oppressive politics of the powerful. 

God spoke through Isaiah to His people – “Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:16 NIV) 

Micah pled for change. "No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8, NLT)   

Jesus tells us that our love for God and love for others are the two GREAT commands!

Solutions for social challenges are never simple nor singular. Politicians often resort to slogans and single issues to garner votes, implying that changing this or that will save us. We must be wiser. When violence erupts like it did in Orlando, we must not be duped by those who suggest that a vote for some law will eliminate future murderous rampages. But, we cannot apathetically sit on our hands and do nothing.  Our call, my friends, must be for real dialogue not grandstanding. Our demands of our leaders must be for commitment to justice. And, we must patiently and persistently work together to shape a future that honors God and forms a foundation for prosperity for the future.

As you ponder politics, dear Christian, steady yourself in God’s promise. Whatever your political persuasions, let the wisdom of Heaven be your guide. Here is a word from the Word. May it make us good citizens of this temporal realm even as we live as subjects of the Eternal King.

"Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.

Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms.

God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live. That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders." (Romans 13:1-7, The Message)

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On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking stand!

All that Stuff

During a visit to a place that recreated the life of ordinary people in America’s colonial era, I realized how much more ‘stuff’ we have today compared to then. I am no romantic, longing for that time! Give me central air, running water, hot showers, and the internet. What is an issue for me as a Christian is whether I define the meaning of life by the things I own, the car I drive, or the house I live in. Do I think I am a better person if I wear famous label clothes or drive a shiny, new car? Is my happiness wrapped up in getting something new, going somewhere exciting, or finding culinary delight?

Jesus said “No one can serve two masters!”  The word for master is not ‘boss.’ He is not talking about having two jobs. His language is about being a servant, a slave without rights. We tend to avoid that imagery because it is ugly to us, but He said it.  No matter how hard we try to convince ourselves that we are free to choose our own way, that we can master life and make things work in our favor; ultimately it is an an illusion. We all serve something or someone. Many of us have chosen, unconsciously perhaps, to make Stuff our god!  We worship our money, work with an intensity akin to fanaticism, and cling to our things with a religious fervor.  Even if we can repeat an orthodox creed and sing the right kind of song on Sunday, our true master is known in what we treasure, where we focus our vision.  Jesus confronts us and declares the impossibility of being God’s servant and a slave to stuff! “Either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (money)” (Matthew 6:24, NKJV)

Deep inside we know that our stuff is an insufficient god. We see things decay, experience loss, and see storms sweep everything away from desperate souls in a moment. But, too many of us make the wrong choice when that fact settles on us. We redouble our efforts to control and own, instead of giving ourselves away to our Father with a radical trust in His Providence. Anxiety rises in direct proportion to our attempts to find security in stuff, in larger bank account balances, in ‘ownership.’  Who can rest if his ‘god’ can be destroyed by a hurricane, a fire, or be stolen by a thief?

Jesus invites us to learn to rest in the all-sufficiency of the Father’s care.  Most of you will know this passage familiarly and will be tempted to rush through it. Don’t! Soak in the truth. This wisdom is as transforming as it is counter-cultural. “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.” (Matthew 6:26-29, NLT) “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”(Matthew 6:33, NLT)

If you read that and are thinking that practicing wise management of resources is unnecessary, you still do not understand. If you read that God has written you a blank check to fulfill your every whim, you are wrong. Jesus invites us to find God as our center, our hope, our meaning. When we are living a Kingdom-centered life, we can enjoy what we have without worshipping it. And, the corollary is that we will also be freed from the devaluing, destructive emotion of worry. We will pray and mean these words- “Give us today, our daily bread!”

The word from the Word repeats a passage quoted a moment ago. Lord, speak to us. Draw us to love You and to understand the best use of the ‘stuff’ You allow to pass through our hands. Amen

“You can’t worship two gods at once.
Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other.
Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other.
You can’t worship God and Money both.”
(Matthew 6:24, The Message)

The Struggle is Real!

“I’ll listen,” I told the other person who was near tears. “I understand what it means to hurt, to struggle, to feel that kind of disappointment.”  And, I did. The story that poured out was one of missed expectations, broken dreams, and poor choices. My calling as a pastor (the word means ‘shepherd’) is a lot more than standing in front of a congregation preaching a sermon. Far more of my time is spent as an encourager, helping people see past the moment, to find hope and a reason to go ‘steady on.’  

We all struggle.  And, most of us tend to have an idealized perception of somebody’s life that makes our struggle even more difficult. “Why are they so lucky?” we wonder.  It’s a dangerous place in which to linger for long. Envy creeps in and bitterness follows soon after. Paul writes of the “temptation that is common” to the human experience. Evil is real and resists the goodness of God. The sinful nature works against the spiritual creating conflict inside of us that is sometimes feels almost overwhelming. The God-created systems that should help and support us are compromised by sin and often end up oppressing the very ones they should help! The result is that sometimes the struggle grows so intense we almost despair of life itself.  Have you ever said, “I am just so done, so over it all!”?  I am only half-joking on those kind of days when I suggest that I’m going to run away and join the circus. So what can we do? Let’s start with Paul’s inspired words. "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, The Message)  We must not escape into some fantasy about finding heaven on earth! There is no magical solution that takes away the frustrations forever, but there is Power to endure and defeat evil. 

First, we understand that our experience is NOT unique. Others struggle, too!

Second, we bring an important fact to the forefront. God will not abandon us, nor is He unaware of our struggle.

Third, He is invested in our ultimate overcoming.

Why sin and evil are allowed to test us is a question that above my pay grade. Oh, yes, I know many of the arguments, but in the end we simply do not have the capacity to know the mysteries of God’s mind that gave us victory by sending His Son to die and to be raised with assurance of eternal life for all who believe. Why didn’t He just finish off the Devil and establish the Kingdom that we anticipate? Honestly, the question is bigger than me. By faith, I grab hold of the promise of the Cross and the Resurrection and find HOPE that steadies me. And, you can do that, too.

We can spend time whining that ‘life is not fair’ and compare our lot with that of someone else. Or, we can understand that we all face testing and temptation, though in differing ways.  We can, and we must, bring ourselves to a place before Him where we declare His truth – that He is near and that He is here now.  In the middle of it all, we let the Truth inform us so that we always know that He is a good Father who is working to keep us, to help us, to display His eternal power in us and through us. The lie that is as old as human history is that God is just looking for a reason to condemn us. The Truth is that He loves us ‘even while we are sinning.’

David’s prayer shapes a good frame of mind for those of us who struggle. Take this word from the Word and make it your prayer today.

"To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long." (Psalm 25:1-5, NIV)  Amen

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Where I Belong

Sometimes it feels like I'm watching

From the outside

Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing

But am I alive

I won't keep searching for answers

That aren't here to find

All I know is I'm not home yet

This is not where I belong

Take this world and give me Jesus

This is not where I belong

So when the walls come falling

Down on me

And when I'm lost in the current

Of a raging sea

I have this blessed assurance

Holding me

When the earth shakes

I want to be found in You

When the lights fade

I want to be found in You

Where I belong

Jason Ingram | Jason Roy

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The BEST story ever!

When I sat down in seat 7D, I looked forward to a quiet flight home. It was late in the day and I was worn out after a weekend full of activity and emotion. But, God had different plans. The lady next to me was friendly and engaged me in conversation.  In a few moments she started to talk about the hurt in her heart, a loss that was breaking her, and filling her with anger. She wondered if a person could change, if God cared, how she could move forward with her life. When someone asks me questions like I know that the Lord has created another opportunity for me to do what I love best – to talk about the amazing love of my Abba, the grace of Jesus.

I told her the story from Luke's Gospel, chapter 15, Jesus’ parables about lost things! The best of those 'lost' stories is that one that we often refer to as the story of the Prodigal Son. The young man lost his sense, lost his way, lost his fortune, and lost his love for family! He was in terrible shape, to all appearance beyond hope.  But, there was a Waiting Father at home whose love remained strong.  When the son hit bottom, a good Jewish boy taking care of pigs, the memory of the Father's house pulled at his heart until he said, "I will go home to my father!"  Jesus tells us that this man thought he was unloved but hoped to make a deal just to be near the old home place. “Dad, I’ve been a real fool, unworthy. Can I just work for you?”   

When I told my new friend the rest of the story, my voice was filled with emotion. I am always moved when I say these words because they are an expression of a love so rare, but so longed for. “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him." (Luke 15:20, NLT)  There it is – the story of every person. We took the life God invested in us, went off to do our own thing, then hoped that we could make a deal with God to regain His favor. But, He will not play that game. Instead, “immense in mercy” He reaches out to us, fully forgiving, loving, and brings us back into His family.  The Enemy of God whispers the Lie to lost ones - "God does not care for you.  He's abandoned the search.   You're abandoned, alone - and you're so lost, you can never go home!"  Don't believe it!  The Waiting Father and the Searching Spirit are looking for the lost.   The love of heaven beckons us to turn toward home and guides us back to the Way.  John overflows with amazement when he explains- “This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.” (1 John 4:9-10, MSG)

Christian, have you wandered or wavered again?  Maybe worse than that, you have willfully chosen to break away from the way you know God has for you? 

"Go home today!"    Tell Him you're sorry, own the failure without excuse and He'll embrace you again.

Friend, maybe you're reading this from a place of loneliness or even despair, feeling very lost!   You don't have to live that way.  Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you, to guide you home, and let God love you

to wholeness.    Here's a word from the Word -  Read it prayerfully, carefully. Rejoice in the wonder of the amazing grace that found you!

"It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin.

You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live.

You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.

We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat.

It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us.

Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us.

He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!" (Ephesians 2:1-5, The Message)

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This Is Amazing Grace

Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?

Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?

The King of Glory, the King above all kings.

Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder?

Who leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?

The King of Glory, the King above all kings.

(Yeah) (Oh) This is amazing grace.

This is unfailing love,

That You would take my place,

That You would bear my cross.

You laid down Your life

That I would be set free.

Oh Jesus, I sing for all that You've done for me.

Who brings our chaos back into order?

Who makes the orphan a son and daughter?

The King of Glory, the King of Glory.

Who rules the nations with truth and justice?

Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance?

The King of Glory, the King above all kings.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.

Worthy is the King who conquered the grave.

Jeremy Riddle | Josh Farro | Phil Wickham

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