When I was very young and full of idealism, I found myself in a tough place, far from home and family. Money was in short supply, our baby son was desperately ill, and nothing was going as I had hoped. God brought a man named Tom Johnson, who was not rich nor in the best of circumstances himself, into my life. He consistently poured out encouraging words, matched with sincere concern. God used that man to keep me from giving up on ministry!
There was a conversation with a veteran pastor on a cold November, 1987, morning in a coffee shop in Lancaster, PA that stands as a pivotal moment in my memory. My confidence and faith were shattered by disappointing developments in life. This man offered to listen without criticizing me, prayed with me, and restored my faith in the One who is our Hope and Confidence.
While I was pastoring a church in Massachusetts, a woman named Sherry Mallory was a gift from God whose notes of affirmation seemed to show up on the most difficult days when I was fighting through a bout of depression. She never knew what lifeline she was in that time. How I thank God for the words, gifts, and prayers that have offered to me bringing encouragement at just the right moments!
The Scripture urges us to adopt the work of encouragement as a calling of God. Take a look. "Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:23-25, NLT)
Though we see the same word "encourage" used twice in that passage, the Greek text (original language of the New Testament) uses differing verbs.
In the first instance, "think of ways to encourage one another" the word is one that has a rather negative implication. One translation says, "provoke" instead of encourage! Another says, "Spur one another on!" Sometimes we need somebody to give us a kick in the seat of the pants, a wake up call. We need to be encouraged not with comfort but with confrontation. Getting in someone's face when they are failing to live up to God's purposes or when they are headed for disaster is a loving act of encouragement that just might irritate them to faithfulness!
In the second instance, the word has more positive implications. In other translations we read it translated as "exhort." We must take note of the needs of those around us and offer words of comfort and consolation, affirmation and hope, like my illustrations above. With genuine empathy, we come alongside of the struggling one to give them our help, infusing them with strength. In so doing, we will help them to remain steady, to stay in the Way with Jesus.
You want to be blessed today? Look for opportunities to encourage. Let others be the critic, you be the one who leads the cheers!
Be sincere in your concern, allowing the Spirit to work through you and watch how others respond. At first they may regard your encouragement with some skepticism because it is such a rare gift. They may think you're trying to manipulate them or use them for your own purposes. But encourage anyway - with honest words, with simple prayers, with affirmation.
Reflect on this passage as you go through this day.
"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, The Message)
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Revealed!
Got any secrets tucked away? Have you done anything that you hope no one knows about, that you hope no one EVER discovers? A woman I know well discovered that her grandfather was married to a woman other than her grandmother when he was a young man. She never knew it until he died! How about something good, some act of beneficence or kindness for which you do not wish any recognition? My own grandfather provided large sums of money to his relatives for higher education, a fact that was only discovered when the family went through his papers after his death.
The media establishment was full of excitement yesterday as a 30 years-old secret finally was revealed. Amazingly, in Washington, DC, a city known for its 'leaks,' the identity of the man whose stories brought down the Nixon administration in 1974 was closely guarded until W. Mark Felt, now 91, decided to tell the world that he was the source of the information about the Watergate cover-up; a high level conspiracy cooked up in the White House to conceal a third-rate crime. No one knows exactly why he chose to tell his story now. Was it to relieve a guilty conscience for betraying the trust of many who called him a friend? Was it to revel in the national media attention he will receive for a few days? Was it to sell a book? Perhaps that's one secret he won't reveal! This much is sure, Mr. Felt actions are being examined with responses that range from outrage to applause.
Many people whose lives were changed by Felt's actions said that he took the coward's way, giving information he had as the Deputy Director of the FBI to reporters. If he knew the law was being broken, he should have stood up and took the information to a grand jury. I don't know or understand the power politics that shaped that by-gone era, but I know this-- the best way to live is transparently! A person with integrity keeps no secrets. He admits to his failures openly and accepts praise humbly. He chooses to live his life as an open book, accountable for all of his actions. All kinds of sin flourishes where there is a double life. Hidden sins are full of emotional poison like a festering boil.
The Bible promises a moment of revelation! What an experience that will be, when we see ourselves and others for who we really are; when carefully constructed public images are torn away, when privates thoughts and actions are revealed.
Paul explains- "It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don’t even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless. I’m not aware of anything that would disqualify me from being a good guide for you, but that doesn’t mean much.
The Master makes that judgment. So don’t get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in.
When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of—inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the “Well done!” of God." (1 Corinthians 4:3-5, The Message)
How does that passage make you feel today? Is it a source of terror or comfort? That will depend on the choices we are making right now. None of us will live perfectly. There will be regrettable decisions, moments when ignoble passions take precedence over high aspiration. So does this mean that we will inevitably stand in shame at the final accounting before our Lord? Not necessarily! Here's the good news. If we choose to live with integrity, owning our failures with the same enthusiasm as our successes, admitting our sins as readily as we trumpet our victories, we are forgiven! John tells us that "If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, NIV) Rob those secrets of their power to keep you enslaved or in fear! Tell God, then find a trustworthy confessor friend and get that secret sin out in the open, forgiven, and robbed of its ability to torment you any longer.
Here's a wonderful passage to take with you today:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;" (Psalm 103:8-13, NIV)
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
The media establishment was full of excitement yesterday as a 30 years-old secret finally was revealed. Amazingly, in Washington, DC, a city known for its 'leaks,' the identity of the man whose stories brought down the Nixon administration in 1974 was closely guarded until W. Mark Felt, now 91, decided to tell the world that he was the source of the information about the Watergate cover-up; a high level conspiracy cooked up in the White House to conceal a third-rate crime. No one knows exactly why he chose to tell his story now. Was it to relieve a guilty conscience for betraying the trust of many who called him a friend? Was it to revel in the national media attention he will receive for a few days? Was it to sell a book? Perhaps that's one secret he won't reveal! This much is sure, Mr. Felt actions are being examined with responses that range from outrage to applause.
Many people whose lives were changed by Felt's actions said that he took the coward's way, giving information he had as the Deputy Director of the FBI to reporters. If he knew the law was being broken, he should have stood up and took the information to a grand jury. I don't know or understand the power politics that shaped that by-gone era, but I know this-- the best way to live is transparently! A person with integrity keeps no secrets. He admits to his failures openly and accepts praise humbly. He chooses to live his life as an open book, accountable for all of his actions. All kinds of sin flourishes where there is a double life. Hidden sins are full of emotional poison like a festering boil.
The Bible promises a moment of revelation! What an experience that will be, when we see ourselves and others for who we really are; when carefully constructed public images are torn away, when privates thoughts and actions are revealed.
Paul explains- "It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don’t even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless. I’m not aware of anything that would disqualify me from being a good guide for you, but that doesn’t mean much.
The Master makes that judgment. So don’t get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in.
When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of—inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the “Well done!” of God." (1 Corinthians 4:3-5, The Message)
How does that passage make you feel today? Is it a source of terror or comfort? That will depend on the choices we are making right now. None of us will live perfectly. There will be regrettable decisions, moments when ignoble passions take precedence over high aspiration. So does this mean that we will inevitably stand in shame at the final accounting before our Lord? Not necessarily! Here's the good news. If we choose to live with integrity, owning our failures with the same enthusiasm as our successes, admitting our sins as readily as we trumpet our victories, we are forgiven! John tells us that "If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, NIV) Rob those secrets of their power to keep you enslaved or in fear! Tell God, then find a trustworthy confessor friend and get that secret sin out in the open, forgiven, and robbed of its ability to torment you any longer.
Here's a wonderful passage to take with you today:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;" (Psalm 103:8-13, NIV)
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Playing to win?
Many of us live as though life is a contest-a competition to win. As we race through our days, we're looking around; measuring, checking, determining if we are out in front. One definition of success is simply having more- money, power, respect. I watched some little children at a picnic yesterday and was amused at the evidence of this trait even in those 6 or 7 years of age. Though they were not hungry in the least, each wanted to make sure he got the same amount (or more when it came to the ice cream!) than the others! It's not just kids or people in need who compete, either. One of the Rockefellers (one of America's wealthiest families) was asked how much money he wanted to to make. He said, "One more dollar!" His millions were not enough as long as there was more to own.
A generous spirit and a competitive heart cannot co-exist. As Believers we are commanded by our Lord to be giving, generously sharing our love, our resources, our encouragement, our hope with a world in need; but giving away our resources runs counter-intuitive to the natural desire to acquire. In the Scripture there is stern warning about the consequences of allowing a spirit of competition to rule your life. "... if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." (James 3:14-16, NIV)
Let me take something as simple as driving your car as an illustration. Do you drive across town like you're in the Indy 500, tailing the car in front of you, pushing through yellow lights, dodging down side streets looking to find a quicker way? How do you feel when you arrive at your destination? Tired, often irritated, right? It's because you've have turned the experience into a competition, measuring yourself by 'winning' a speedier trip. Will you arrive any more quickly at your destination? Perhaps, by a few moments, but what has that 'win' cost you emotionally?
When we are pushing to win, we always pay a high price, alienating others and even hurting those we say that we love. Again the Scripture's wisdom challenges us-"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want." (James 4:1-2, NIV)
The way to break this need to succeed, this desire to acquire, is to realize that God has all that you need available to you! In the follow-up line to the verse quoted above we read this -"You do not have, because you do not ask God." God is our True Source and He has promised to supply all that we need, if only we ask. Stephen Covey, one of my favorite writers, calls this having an "abundance mentality." He says that we can break out of the competitive life by learning that life is a 'cornucopia of ever enlarging opportunity, resources, and wealth. You don't compare yourself to others and are genuinely happy for their successes.' (The 8th Habit, page 150) If God is our Source, then we don't have to grab our slice of an ever diminishing pie. Instead, we accept according to our need even as we witness God doing the miracle of multiplication, enlarging the pie to meet the need of all who ask!
If you doubt Covey's insight, then take a lesson from Jesus Christ! "If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you." (Luke 6:38, NLT) Don't misunderstand the lesson there. Many twist the principle into a selfish thing -- "I give so I can get!" Wrong conclusion! Generosity results when we learn that life is not a competition, that we are not measured by what we own, the title on our door, or the size of our front yard. We give ourselves away and discover that God provides all we need. Paradoxically, the less we 'need' to own the love of others, the more is given to us.
Let's live generously as we look to God for what we need, accepting what He provides as sufficient for every need of our lives. Then, let's share the wealth- giving away. There is joy waiting to be found when we quit playing the 'success' game!
A generous spirit and a competitive heart cannot co-exist. As Believers we are commanded by our Lord to be giving, generously sharing our love, our resources, our encouragement, our hope with a world in need; but giving away our resources runs counter-intuitive to the natural desire to acquire. In the Scripture there is stern warning about the consequences of allowing a spirit of competition to rule your life. "... if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." (James 3:14-16, NIV)
Let me take something as simple as driving your car as an illustration. Do you drive across town like you're in the Indy 500, tailing the car in front of you, pushing through yellow lights, dodging down side streets looking to find a quicker way? How do you feel when you arrive at your destination? Tired, often irritated, right? It's because you've have turned the experience into a competition, measuring yourself by 'winning' a speedier trip. Will you arrive any more quickly at your destination? Perhaps, by a few moments, but what has that 'win' cost you emotionally?
When we are pushing to win, we always pay a high price, alienating others and even hurting those we say that we love. Again the Scripture's wisdom challenges us-"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want." (James 4:1-2, NIV)
The way to break this need to succeed, this desire to acquire, is to realize that God has all that you need available to you! In the follow-up line to the verse quoted above we read this -"You do not have, because you do not ask God." God is our True Source and He has promised to supply all that we need, if only we ask. Stephen Covey, one of my favorite writers, calls this having an "abundance mentality." He says that we can break out of the competitive life by learning that life is a 'cornucopia of ever enlarging opportunity, resources, and wealth. You don't compare yourself to others and are genuinely happy for their successes.' (The 8th Habit, page 150) If God is our Source, then we don't have to grab our slice of an ever diminishing pie. Instead, we accept according to our need even as we witness God doing the miracle of multiplication, enlarging the pie to meet the need of all who ask!
If you doubt Covey's insight, then take a lesson from Jesus Christ! "If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you." (Luke 6:38, NLT) Don't misunderstand the lesson there. Many twist the principle into a selfish thing -- "I give so I can get!" Wrong conclusion! Generosity results when we learn that life is not a competition, that we are not measured by what we own, the title on our door, or the size of our front yard. We give ourselves away and discover that God provides all we need. Paradoxically, the less we 'need' to own the love of others, the more is given to us.
Let's live generously as we look to God for what we need, accepting what He provides as sufficient for every need of our lives. Then, let's share the wealth- giving away. There is joy waiting to be found when we quit playing the 'success' game!
Monday, May 30, 2005
Memorials for a greater purpose
Today, we remember - lives, mostly of those far too young, taken by bullets and bombs on battlefields around the globe. And we should remember in graphic detail, so that the cost of war is never a light consideration as we allow our political leaders to undertake military missions in the name of 'the people.' In a CNN Presents program aired last night (5/29/05), the first President George Bush mused that his conduct of the Gulf War was affected by his memories of his own war experiences in the Pacific during WW2. He said he could never forget the high cost in suffering to the soldiers and sailors as he ordered our armed services to begin waging war.
Andy Rooney, commentator and curmudgeon, who saw WW2 up close as a war correspondent, observed so wisely on 60 Minutes last night- There is more bravery at war than in peace, and it seems wrong that we have so often saved this virtue to use for our least noble activity - war. The goal of war is to cause death to other people. He went on to say that we speak of our warriors giving their lives when, in reality, their lives are taken from them! So, he concluded, we must never forget - more for our own sake, than for the sake of the dead. We must remember, with honor, those who have died in wars - and we must let their lost lives and their sorrowing kin cause us to seek new ways of resolving human conflict!
One of the Devil's great deceptions is the way he deceives humanity to glorify war! The 'great heroes' in our history books are too often warriors whose greatness is written in blood, ruthless men who were willing to send millions of young soldiers to kill and destroy to advance their agenda of power and conquest. War is never glorious. It is a terrible business with awful goals. I cannot, in this short thought, speak to the issues of the morality of war, or whether war is sometimes a justified response to evil. Greater minds than mine have explored that subject in depth. But I can say, with great conviction, that the Christian should always be prejudiced to peace!
Jesus commended those who seek peace, calling them 'children of God.'
Peter urges us to 'seek peace and pursue it.'
Hebrews, recognizing the limits of peace-making in a world filled with evil, never the less, calls on us to 'make every effort to live in peace with all men.'
In one of his most compelling statement, Jesus says, 'Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ... If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:39-44, NIV)
We do not dishonor those who have fallen in war by using their deaths as an appeal to peace-making. Those who seek peace whole-heartedly will be mocked as weak or cowardly, but truthfully - who is more brave than the one who stands facing another with a gun and prays for him? What is more courageous than offering forgiveness and absorbing the cost of loss for the sake of destroying hatred?
Today - remember and honor, and pray for peace. Ultimately, peace will come with a new King, who Kingdom is one of perfect justice, equity, and love. How I long for His kingdom, and so I pray, often and with tears - "May your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."
Andy Rooney, commentator and curmudgeon, who saw WW2 up close as a war correspondent, observed so wisely on 60 Minutes last night- There is more bravery at war than in peace, and it seems wrong that we have so often saved this virtue to use for our least noble activity - war. The goal of war is to cause death to other people. He went on to say that we speak of our warriors giving their lives when, in reality, their lives are taken from them! So, he concluded, we must never forget - more for our own sake, than for the sake of the dead. We must remember, with honor, those who have died in wars - and we must let their lost lives and their sorrowing kin cause us to seek new ways of resolving human conflict!
One of the Devil's great deceptions is the way he deceives humanity to glorify war! The 'great heroes' in our history books are too often warriors whose greatness is written in blood, ruthless men who were willing to send millions of young soldiers to kill and destroy to advance their agenda of power and conquest. War is never glorious. It is a terrible business with awful goals. I cannot, in this short thought, speak to the issues of the morality of war, or whether war is sometimes a justified response to evil. Greater minds than mine have explored that subject in depth. But I can say, with great conviction, that the Christian should always be prejudiced to peace!
Jesus commended those who seek peace, calling them 'children of God.'
Peter urges us to 'seek peace and pursue it.'
Hebrews, recognizing the limits of peace-making in a world filled with evil, never the less, calls on us to 'make every effort to live in peace with all men.'
In one of his most compelling statement, Jesus says, 'Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ... If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:39-44, NIV)
We do not dishonor those who have fallen in war by using their deaths as an appeal to peace-making. Those who seek peace whole-heartedly will be mocked as weak or cowardly, but truthfully - who is more brave than the one who stands facing another with a gun and prays for him? What is more courageous than offering forgiveness and absorbing the cost of loss for the sake of destroying hatred?
Today - remember and honor, and pray for peace. Ultimately, peace will come with a new King, who Kingdom is one of perfect justice, equity, and love. How I long for His kingdom, and so I pray, often and with tears - "May your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."
Friday, May 27, 2005
Broken hearts
The Lord saw fit to lead me to several people with broken hearts this week. Brave smiles hid great sorrow. When I expressed compassion, the smiles disappeared and tears slid down their faces in silent testimony to the inner pain. The sources of their sorrow were greatly varied - but each had to do, in one way or another, with disappointment with God or others! Time was that I would have felt compelled to manage their pain, to try to 'fix' them up quickly. But no longer. "But, Jerry, isn't it your job to help people feel better?" I once thought so. Now I realize that if I attempt to make people feel better, I will almost certainly short-circuit God's holy work in their life, or I will insult them by trivializing their pain and/or problems with solutions that miss the need or for which they are not prepared.
Compassion does not always mean that we relieve people of their pain. It means that we come along side of them to help them carry the burden, offering our love, praying with them, encouraging them to do the hard work of seeing beyond the presenting symptoms to the source of the pain, and pointing them to Christ Jesus- the Healer of Broken Hearts. At the inauguration of His ministry, He quoted Isaiah's prophecy as the explanation of His mission. "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come." Isaiah 61:1-2 (NLT)
God's prescription for broken hearts is not just relieving the ache, but working a genuine healing of the person! Tragically we are tempted deal with the pain of the soul in the same way we deal with our headaches! Got a headache? Take an aspirin! Never mind that the headache could be the signal of fatigue, allergies, or something serious. Just get rid of the pain. Similarly, there are many temporary pain-relievers for our aching hearts- diversions in pleasure, fanatical religious experiences, sex, drugs, alcohol, buying things.... but none of these really heal. God does heal us. Sometimes He does that by removing the source of the pain, but more often He does an even greater work, changing the one who hurts. C.S. Lewis in his essay, The Problem of Pain, includes this wonderfully provocative thought: Pain insists upon being attended to, God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
Got a broken heart this morning?
Does it hurt really badly, so terribly that you think you cannot stand another day?
Know this - God cares! Oh, I know - that makes you want to scream, doesn't it? You want to say, "If God cares, then why does He allow me to feel such an ache in my soul?" Trust me when I say that He is a good God, that your pain has not escaped His attention. The Word tells us that "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all." (Psalm 34:18-19, NIV)
Let me encourage you to two things today -
first, ask God to bring a friend, wise and compassionate, to your side to help bear the burden; and
second, weep hopefully and faithfully, asking Him for the grace to work with Him towards the healing of the whole person.
Meditate on this passage today -
"I said to myself, “This is it. I’m finished. God is a lost cause.”
I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember— the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning.How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left. God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God." (Lamentations 3:18-26, The Message)
Compassion does not always mean that we relieve people of their pain. It means that we come along side of them to help them carry the burden, offering our love, praying with them, encouraging them to do the hard work of seeing beyond the presenting symptoms to the source of the pain, and pointing them to Christ Jesus- the Healer of Broken Hearts. At the inauguration of His ministry, He quoted Isaiah's prophecy as the explanation of His mission. "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come." Isaiah 61:1-2 (NLT)
God's prescription for broken hearts is not just relieving the ache, but working a genuine healing of the person! Tragically we are tempted deal with the pain of the soul in the same way we deal with our headaches! Got a headache? Take an aspirin! Never mind that the headache could be the signal of fatigue, allergies, or something serious. Just get rid of the pain. Similarly, there are many temporary pain-relievers for our aching hearts- diversions in pleasure, fanatical religious experiences, sex, drugs, alcohol, buying things.... but none of these really heal. God does heal us. Sometimes He does that by removing the source of the pain, but more often He does an even greater work, changing the one who hurts. C.S. Lewis in his essay, The Problem of Pain, includes this wonderfully provocative thought: Pain insists upon being attended to, God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
Got a broken heart this morning?
Does it hurt really badly, so terribly that you think you cannot stand another day?
Know this - God cares! Oh, I know - that makes you want to scream, doesn't it? You want to say, "If God cares, then why does He allow me to feel such an ache in my soul?" Trust me when I say that He is a good God, that your pain has not escaped His attention. The Word tells us that "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all." (Psalm 34:18-19, NIV)
Let me encourage you to two things today -
first, ask God to bring a friend, wise and compassionate, to your side to help bear the burden; and
second, weep hopefully and faithfully, asking Him for the grace to work with Him towards the healing of the whole person.
Meditate on this passage today -
"I said to myself, “This is it. I’m finished. God is a lost cause.”
I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember— the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning.How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left. God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God." (Lamentations 3:18-26, The Message)
Thursday, May 26, 2005
"Bible speak"
Do you ever take note of how Christian friends so easily fall into "Bible speak?" We sometimes avoid dealing with hard stuff, sidestep being authentic. It is a real problem among all Believers.
Often it is spiritual pride that causes us to say the right things even when our lives are a mess. Who among us wants to admit that he isn't really feeling all that loving today, or that the God he is trying to serve seems a million miles away, or that he is clueless about the will of God for his life? We would much rather just say, "Praise the Lord, I'm trusting Jesus, holding onto His Word" which may be true enough, but when used as "Bible speak" to hide fear, doubt, or confusion, it is almost like profanity!
Sometimes it is a mistaken idea about faith that causes people to cover up their real feelings or disappointments by quoting Scripture. They have been taught, wrongly, that admission of fear, doubt, or uncertainty is 'not of faith.' Yes, it is true that we gain strength by reminding ourselves of the eternal Truth of God's Word, but we don't have to lie to ourselves or others in the process! Owning up to who we are is the first step to real change.
Then, too - sometimes we just say the right things because we know, deep down inside, that those in our circle of Believing friends don't want to be troubled with our fears, doubts, or problems; preferring the bland company of the comfortable, to the messy fellowship of the committed! The superficial, light-hearted conversation that skims life surface keeps the ugly stuff from seeing the light of day. So, many of us are desperate, walking alone in the dark, wondering if we are just really bad Christians since no one else appears to be struggling with the same kind of stuff.
None other than Paul, the apostle, illustrates the kind of honesty to which we should aspire. In a letter to a church he once led as a pastor, he wrote about a terrible time in his life and said, "I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:8-9, NLT)
Where did we ever come up with the idea that real Christians always have 'happily ever after' endings to all their life-stories? Paul thought he was as good as dead- not a very positive note of faith, was it? Truth is, his life was very tragic. After spending long hard years on the road, being criticized, imprisoned, and rejected - he died a martyr's death in Rome! What sustained him? I can assure you it wasn't "Bible speak." His faith went deeper than a verse he learned at camp. His life was oriented to Truth - and by the Spirit - he transcended the emotions that might have derailed him, setting his sights on serving God - come Hell or high water.
And he was transparent in the process! Look at some of the phrases he uses to describe himself or his experience:
"chief among sinners,"
"out of my mind to talk this way,"
"weak,"
"wretched man that I am!"
And, through all the trials, troubles and triumphs -- Paul realized it wasn't about him, but about Christ Jesus, his Lord! "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ" (Philippians 3:8, NLT) That was no idle statement, but a testimony of the way he lived. Reputation, comfort, religious heritage, wealth, home -- all worthless by comparison to the treasure of knowing Christ authentically, deeply.
I am not suggesting that the only way to authentic Christianity is to wallow in our individual or collective misery! Let's be honest - rejoicing together in our victories, weeping in our failures - leaving the world of "Bible speak" behind us. And, in this kind of real fellowship, love will flourish that is unmistakably a supernatural work of God's Spirit who lives in us! To the glory of God!
Often it is spiritual pride that causes us to say the right things even when our lives are a mess. Who among us wants to admit that he isn't really feeling all that loving today, or that the God he is trying to serve seems a million miles away, or that he is clueless about the will of God for his life? We would much rather just say, "Praise the Lord, I'm trusting Jesus, holding onto His Word" which may be true enough, but when used as "Bible speak" to hide fear, doubt, or confusion, it is almost like profanity!
Sometimes it is a mistaken idea about faith that causes people to cover up their real feelings or disappointments by quoting Scripture. They have been taught, wrongly, that admission of fear, doubt, or uncertainty is 'not of faith.' Yes, it is true that we gain strength by reminding ourselves of the eternal Truth of God's Word, but we don't have to lie to ourselves or others in the process! Owning up to who we are is the first step to real change.
Then, too - sometimes we just say the right things because we know, deep down inside, that those in our circle of Believing friends don't want to be troubled with our fears, doubts, or problems; preferring the bland company of the comfortable, to the messy fellowship of the committed! The superficial, light-hearted conversation that skims life surface keeps the ugly stuff from seeing the light of day. So, many of us are desperate, walking alone in the dark, wondering if we are just really bad Christians since no one else appears to be struggling with the same kind of stuff.
None other than Paul, the apostle, illustrates the kind of honesty to which we should aspire. In a letter to a church he once led as a pastor, he wrote about a terrible time in his life and said, "I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:8-9, NLT)
Where did we ever come up with the idea that real Christians always have 'happily ever after' endings to all their life-stories? Paul thought he was as good as dead- not a very positive note of faith, was it? Truth is, his life was very tragic. After spending long hard years on the road, being criticized, imprisoned, and rejected - he died a martyr's death in Rome! What sustained him? I can assure you it wasn't "Bible speak." His faith went deeper than a verse he learned at camp. His life was oriented to Truth - and by the Spirit - he transcended the emotions that might have derailed him, setting his sights on serving God - come Hell or high water.
And he was transparent in the process! Look at some of the phrases he uses to describe himself or his experience:
"chief among sinners,"
"out of my mind to talk this way,"
"weak,"
"wretched man that I am!"
And, through all the trials, troubles and triumphs -- Paul realized it wasn't about him, but about Christ Jesus, his Lord! "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ" (Philippians 3:8, NLT) That was no idle statement, but a testimony of the way he lived. Reputation, comfort, religious heritage, wealth, home -- all worthless by comparison to the treasure of knowing Christ authentically, deeply.
I am not suggesting that the only way to authentic Christianity is to wallow in our individual or collective misery! Let's be honest - rejoicing together in our victories, weeping in our failures - leaving the world of "Bible speak" behind us. And, in this kind of real fellowship, love will flourish that is unmistakably a supernatural work of God's Spirit who lives in us! To the glory of God!
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
As appetizing as a cup of lukewarm coffee!
I visited with a pastor from a church in Belgium over lunch yesterday. As we talked about the challenges of ministry in Europe, Jerry observed that generally Europeans think they are too intellectual to really need God. Though the country is nominally Catholic and observes Christian holidays, very few show any regard for the Bible or for church teaching. A person who lives with an active faith in God who attempts to integrate that faith into daily life, he said, is regarded as intellectually inferior or weak.
Later in the day, I pulled the most recent issue of US News from my mailbox (5/30/2005) and found it contained an article headlined: European, not Christian. That article confirmed Jerry Foster's analysis. I quote: "An aggressive form of secularism- what the British religion writer Karen Armstrong calls 'secular fundamentalism'- is afoot in Europe. Numerous analysts suggest that the spreading 'Christianophobia' is tied to a Europe-wide spiritual malaise that is pushing the Continent towards broad cultural and economic decline." The article asserts that Christianity failed toward the end of the 19th century as it was reduced from a robust faith that gave guidance to make moral decisions that stood in judgment of the modern world, to become a bland, tepid spirituality without an appeal to Truth. The resulting "humanism lay behind the rise of the worst ideologies of the 20th century, fascism and communism. All were testimony to a failure of moral reason in the very culture that gave the world the very concept of moral reason." The author writes that "there is an inadequacy in tepid, comfortable religiosity."
Christianity robbed of Truth is disgusting, like a cup of lukewarm coffee!
What do I mean -robbed of Truth?
Let's start at the beginning.
If we reject the Bible's opening premise that the world is God's creation, believing instead that the universe sprang out of nothing, we lose any sense of accountability to the Creator. The 'rest of the story' is just myth and legend.
If there is no First Cause, no Intelligent Person giving our lives purpose, then we become gods in charge of our lives as much as anyone else. The meaning of life is not attached to pleasing God through love; rather it becomes to survive, to gain power, to satiate our appetites.
If Jesus is made to be just a teacher of morality, we may well aspire to live nobly in his way, but we will generally fail, because of the broad streak of selfishness that we cannot defeat on our own. Christianity without the Cross is nothing more than a romantic ideal.
If the Holy Spirit is rejected as a Presence that is immediate, available to us now, then we have no sense of God apart from some vague emotional stirring we may feel in fleeting moments when the mood, music, and lighting are right!
The things I have just described is what happened to Christianity at the end of the 19th century especially in Europe. Darwin 'explained' the earth's origins in a way that seemed to dismiss the Creator! Enlightenment argued away divine love as a romantic notion, substituting the ideal of the 'will to power' of Nietzsche who needed no god to find meaning or purpose. The divinity of Christ Jesus was ridiculed as so much superstitious nonsense and the Cross turned into the tragic result of the political mistakes of a itinerant rabbi who offended those in power. The Resurrection was, at best, made into an idea that the 'spirit of Jesus' survived his death, in the hearts of his followers.
The result is starkly clear. 'Christianity' without a powerful God, a Savior. and a Present Holy Spirit is nothing. It is discarded as the worthless cultural relic that it is. We need a robust faith, one that informs us about life, teaches us how to live, and calls us to accountability.
Meditate on this passage today -- asking yourself, "am I drifting from the Truth into a tepid, powerless religion?"
"So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. The message God delivered through angels has always proved true, and the people were punished for every violation of the law and every act of disobedience. What makes us think that we can escape if we are indifferent to this great salvation that was announced by the Lord Jesus himself? It was passed on to us by those who heard him speak, and God verified the message by signs and wonders and various miracles and by giving gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose to do so." (Hebrews 2:1-4, NLT)
_______________________
The Love Of God-Lehman, Frederick M.
The love of God is greater far,
Than tongue or pen can ever tell,
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure,
The saints' and angels' song.
When years of time shall pass away
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God's love so sure shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race
The saints' and angels' song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were ev'ry stalk on earth a quill
And ev'ry man a scribe by trade.
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Tho stretched from sky to sky.
© Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055
Jerry D. Scott, Pastor
http://www.washingtonag.net/
908-689-7777
33 Brass Castle Road
Washington, NJ 07882
Later in the day, I pulled the most recent issue of US News from my mailbox (5/30/2005) and found it contained an article headlined: European, not Christian. That article confirmed Jerry Foster's analysis. I quote: "An aggressive form of secularism- what the British religion writer Karen Armstrong calls 'secular fundamentalism'- is afoot in Europe. Numerous analysts suggest that the spreading 'Christianophobia' is tied to a Europe-wide spiritual malaise that is pushing the Continent towards broad cultural and economic decline." The article asserts that Christianity failed toward the end of the 19th century as it was reduced from a robust faith that gave guidance to make moral decisions that stood in judgment of the modern world, to become a bland, tepid spirituality without an appeal to Truth. The resulting "humanism lay behind the rise of the worst ideologies of the 20th century, fascism and communism. All were testimony to a failure of moral reason in the very culture that gave the world the very concept of moral reason." The author writes that "there is an inadequacy in tepid, comfortable religiosity."
Christianity robbed of Truth is disgusting, like a cup of lukewarm coffee!
What do I mean -robbed of Truth?
Let's start at the beginning.
If we reject the Bible's opening premise that the world is God's creation, believing instead that the universe sprang out of nothing, we lose any sense of accountability to the Creator. The 'rest of the story' is just myth and legend.
If there is no First Cause, no Intelligent Person giving our lives purpose, then we become gods in charge of our lives as much as anyone else. The meaning of life is not attached to pleasing God through love; rather it becomes to survive, to gain power, to satiate our appetites.
If Jesus is made to be just a teacher of morality, we may well aspire to live nobly in his way, but we will generally fail, because of the broad streak of selfishness that we cannot defeat on our own. Christianity without the Cross is nothing more than a romantic ideal.
If the Holy Spirit is rejected as a Presence that is immediate, available to us now, then we have no sense of God apart from some vague emotional stirring we may feel in fleeting moments when the mood, music, and lighting are right!
The things I have just described is what happened to Christianity at the end of the 19th century especially in Europe. Darwin 'explained' the earth's origins in a way that seemed to dismiss the Creator! Enlightenment argued away divine love as a romantic notion, substituting the ideal of the 'will to power' of Nietzsche who needed no god to find meaning or purpose. The divinity of Christ Jesus was ridiculed as so much superstitious nonsense and the Cross turned into the tragic result of the political mistakes of a itinerant rabbi who offended those in power. The Resurrection was, at best, made into an idea that the 'spirit of Jesus' survived his death, in the hearts of his followers.
The result is starkly clear. 'Christianity' without a powerful God, a Savior. and a Present Holy Spirit is nothing. It is discarded as the worthless cultural relic that it is. We need a robust faith, one that informs us about life, teaches us how to live, and calls us to accountability.
Meditate on this passage today -- asking yourself, "am I drifting from the Truth into a tepid, powerless religion?"
"So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. The message God delivered through angels has always proved true, and the people were punished for every violation of the law and every act of disobedience. What makes us think that we can escape if we are indifferent to this great salvation that was announced by the Lord Jesus himself? It was passed on to us by those who heard him speak, and God verified the message by signs and wonders and various miracles and by giving gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose to do so." (Hebrews 2:1-4, NLT)
_______________________
The Love Of God-Lehman, Frederick M.
The love of God is greater far,
Than tongue or pen can ever tell,
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure,
The saints' and angels' song.
When years of time shall pass away
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God's love so sure shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race
The saints' and angels' song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were ev'ry stalk on earth a quill
And ev'ry man a scribe by trade.
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Tho stretched from sky to sky.
© Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055
Jerry D. Scott, Pastor
http://www.washingtonag.net/
908-689-7777
33 Brass Castle Road
Washington, NJ 07882
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Get real!
wan·na·be Informal
One who aspires to a role or position.
One who imitates the behavior, customs, or dress of an admired person or group.
Sometimes they're funny, sometimes pathetic, and sometimes down-right annoying. Wannabe's, at first glance, are often indistinguishable from the authentic. The difference quickly becomes obvious when the wannabe has to actually produce like the real person. The wannabe, because he hasn't put in the time learning the skills, getting the education, and developing the art, is unable to come through in the crunch.
I understand when a teenager is a wannabe! In fact, being a teen-age wannabe is often the first step to becoming the authentic article. One little guy in the congregation I lead is a pastor wannabe. He carefully watches my mannerisms and even how I dress because I'm his model. (That is a sobering thought.) This little guy may well discover that God has given him the vocation of being a church's pastor as he matures. If He has, then he will need to go to school, learn the necessary skills, become an intern - and eventually - he will no longer be a wannabe, he will be a real servant of the Lord in the church. The pathetic thing is a middle aged guy who thinks that mimicking the mannerisms of some pastor, saying the same kind of phrases, in the same tone of voice, while wearing the same kind of clothing, really makes him a pastor. That is beyond sad!
Being a wannabe is frustrating because, essentially, it is a fraudulent life. The lack of substance and/or accomplishment causes the pretender to live a lie, which erodes any real sense of integrity. The wannabe knows another tragic result - he never finds out who he really is or what he is really capable of doing. By focusing on trying to be somebody else, he misses the joy of being who God created him to be, joyfully filling the place in this world his gifts, experiences, and opportunities create for him.
Here's the direct question - are you a 'for real' Christian or a 'wannabe?'
Have you submitted your life to Christ in full surrender, allowing for a complete transformation of heart and mind OR are you just trying to imitate the lifestyle of a Believer you admire?
The Bible says - "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. As God’s messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you." (Romans 12:2-3, NLT)
God loves YOU, friend. Yes, it is absolutely true. He won't love you more if you learn to imitate Mother Theresa or Billy Graham. Truth is, if you take that route, you will offend Him! He wants you to be you, a unique person with unique preparations to fill a unique place in this world.
Self-acceptance can be difficult. Looking in the mirror- physically and spiritually - reveals reality which isn't always pretty. But, we are worthless to God and ourselves until we face the facts. That doesn't mean we are stuck with what we see! We can take the imperfections and sins to God and He will work on us, transforming us by giving us the Holy Spirit to work in us. God doesn't do 'make-overs.' He does transformations. That's right - you can be an authentic saint! God can take the raw material that is you and do amazing things to create a person full of love, of the beauty of Jesus Christ. Why not start the transformation process right now?
In your own words admit to the embarrassment of being a fraud, a pretender. Tell God that you regret mistaking imitation for the real thing. Give him yourself- body and spirit - and ask Him to forgive you for the mistakes, the wrongs that have marred your life and displeased Him. Then, accept His transformational power. The change will begin in that moment!
Remember, there is a process. This transformational process is called sanctification. That just a big word for 'becoming Christ-like.' There are spiritual disciplines to learn that help the process along. There are mentors and teachers that help us in our understanding. There will be blunders along the way, but - if we are committed to Him and to being authentic- we can be sure that His promise - "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)- will be true!
Live authentically today!
Monday, May 23, 2005
Trusting Pharaoh!
Sleep didn't come readily to me last night. My mind would not stop working; racing from subject to subject, reviewing yesterday's conversations, making plans for this week, reaching for solutions to challenges at the church, praying for needs that came to my attention, etc. After too long, I finally said, "Lord, help me to trust You. Give me the courage to keep on doing what needs to done and the faith to trust You to give me resources and wisdom that are required." That simple prayer was the last conscious thought before I heard the radio click on in the morning!
Life challenges everyone. That's the way of this world since sin destroyed the perfect equilibrium in which the Creator made it. Thanks to Adam's rebellion our efforts at life are complicated by weeds in the garden! Genesis explains the problems of life this way -- 3:17-19 (NLT) God said, “I have placed a curse on the ground. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your dying day." Paradise lost!
To whom will we turn for help in overcoming the challenges that sin and Satan introduce to our existence? That is the question that I answer again and again! My constant temptation, and I'm not alone in this, is to turn to self-sufficiency, to attempt to live on my own terms. No, it's not that I become a total rebel, resisting God at every turn. It is much more subtle than that. When it appears that God isn't moving quickly enough or that He isn't paying attention, I take responsibility for the work - worrying, reaching for answers, seeking resources beyond those He's provided. The people of God have always struggled with this. Remember Abraham, the father of faith? He decided that God needed help giving him the son of promise, so he had a child with his wife's servant, Hagar. If even Abe concluded 'God needs help,' I guess it's a fairly normal thing to do.
Reading the history of Israel and Judah, we find that time and again, they made alliances with pagan kings rather than trusting God to defend them. Isaiah, who saw the king's response to the threat of the northern armies, wrote these words: 30:2-3 (NLT) For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt to find help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh for his protection. But in trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated and disgraced. Trusting Pharaoh! It was a natural, even reasonable thing to do. The threat of the powerful armies from the north would be offset with a treaty of mutual support from the powerful Pharaoh to the south: good reasoning, but not God's plan. And Isaiah's godly insight was true. Pharaoh didn't lift a finger to defend God's people. He took their treaty money and then abandoned them in their time of need. They were doubly deceived!
Are you trying to serve God by your own resources? It will lead only to frustration, sleepless nights, and fatigue! The Bible reminds us that... "The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name (who really understand who You are!) trust in you, for you, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you." (Psalm 9:9-10, NLT)
What's your challenge today?
Marriage in trouble? God can change you and her, if you'll trust Him.
Financial troubles? God is your Source, the One who can provide all you need, including the wisdom to know what you need and what you want.
Tempted by sin? God is greater than the world, the sinful nature, and the demon hordes of Hell and will help you overcome.
Filled with fear? God is peace, and provides peace that 'passes human understanding' to those who fully trust in Him.Begin, don't end, with prayer.
Make faith your first resource, not your last resort!
"Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last.Keep company with God, get in on the best.
Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done:
He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon." (Psalm 37:3-6, The Message)
Life challenges everyone. That's the way of this world since sin destroyed the perfect equilibrium in which the Creator made it. Thanks to Adam's rebellion our efforts at life are complicated by weeds in the garden! Genesis explains the problems of life this way -- 3:17-19 (NLT) God said, “I have placed a curse on the ground. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your dying day." Paradise lost!
To whom will we turn for help in overcoming the challenges that sin and Satan introduce to our existence? That is the question that I answer again and again! My constant temptation, and I'm not alone in this, is to turn to self-sufficiency, to attempt to live on my own terms. No, it's not that I become a total rebel, resisting God at every turn. It is much more subtle than that. When it appears that God isn't moving quickly enough or that He isn't paying attention, I take responsibility for the work - worrying, reaching for answers, seeking resources beyond those He's provided. The people of God have always struggled with this. Remember Abraham, the father of faith? He decided that God needed help giving him the son of promise, so he had a child with his wife's servant, Hagar. If even Abe concluded 'God needs help,' I guess it's a fairly normal thing to do.
Reading the history of Israel and Judah, we find that time and again, they made alliances with pagan kings rather than trusting God to defend them. Isaiah, who saw the king's response to the threat of the northern armies, wrote these words: 30:2-3 (NLT) For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt to find help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh for his protection. But in trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated and disgraced. Trusting Pharaoh! It was a natural, even reasonable thing to do. The threat of the powerful armies from the north would be offset with a treaty of mutual support from the powerful Pharaoh to the south: good reasoning, but not God's plan. And Isaiah's godly insight was true. Pharaoh didn't lift a finger to defend God's people. He took their treaty money and then abandoned them in their time of need. They were doubly deceived!
Are you trying to serve God by your own resources? It will lead only to frustration, sleepless nights, and fatigue! The Bible reminds us that... "The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name (who really understand who You are!) trust in you, for you, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you." (Psalm 9:9-10, NLT)
What's your challenge today?
Marriage in trouble? God can change you and her, if you'll trust Him.
Financial troubles? God is your Source, the One who can provide all you need, including the wisdom to know what you need and what you want.
Tempted by sin? God is greater than the world, the sinful nature, and the demon hordes of Hell and will help you overcome.
Filled with fear? God is peace, and provides peace that 'passes human understanding' to those who fully trust in Him.Begin, don't end, with prayer.
Make faith your first resource, not your last resort!
"Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last.Keep company with God, get in on the best.
Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done:
He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon." (Psalm 37:3-6, The Message)
Friday, May 20, 2005
Accountable- we all are!
"I'll hold you accountable for this decision." How do you feel when you know that your actions are going to be evaluated? When the day for your annual review approaches, do you feel anxious about a failure to follow through or confident that you've done your best?
On the final episode of The Apprentice the final two applicants for a place in the Trump organization were subjected to an accountability session on national live television last night. The words and actions of one of the applicants in her final task during the show were criticized and dissected! Trump was honest and even attempted to be congratulatory, yet it was still painful to have to see Tana squirm as her failings were put on display for all to see. Conversely, it was great to see Kendra beam as her exemplary performance was recognized and rewarded.
The Bible reveals a fact that should make us think about the way we speak, act, and invest our resources. Here it is. Read it carefully. “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:11-12, NKJV) Do not misunderstand this. No one who trusts in Christ Jesus as Savior will find himself unable to enter into Heaven because of a lack of 'good works.' We have been judged with regard to sin already in Him and have been given the gift of righteousness before God. Right standing with God comes by faith alone! However, how we live will be evaluated by the Lord! We will be held accountable by the One who eyes see the hidden things, who knows our truest motives.
Paul describes this accountability session as a 'trial by fire.' Read it thoughtfully today-
"I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.
But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames." (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, NLT)
For some, that will be an awful moment of terrible loss; but for others it will be a wonderful day when the service they have offered to the Lord and others will finally be given the recognition and reward that faithfulness deserves!
Christians who served God in obscurity, unthanked and uncelebrated, will be lauded by the Lord of Heaven and Earth. There is no greater reward than to receive His commendation! This day of accounting will not just celebrate those of 'great' accomplishments, those who left institutions, big buildings, and/or masses of people with improved lives. It is not the quantity of the work that receives the reward. It is the quality! Those with few gifts and little opportunity will receive the same word of praise as those who were multi-talented and access to wide influence. What will matter before the Judgment Seat of Jesus will be faithfulness and motive, more than anything. All the rights things done for all the wrong reasons will disappear under his fiery gaze.
An old chorus we sang was a prayer that had the day of accounting in sight. In its simplicity it reveals how we can have confidence as we think of our eternal review. It goes like this:
With eternity's values in view, Lord,
with eternity's values in view.
May I do each day's work for Jesus,
with eternity's values in view.
Are you living for the moment or for eternity, choosing short term happiness or eternal joy?
When you make those big choices, keep in mind that before the Bema (the judgment seat of Christ Jesus) He will ask for an accounting. Then, live so that you will stand before Him joyfully and confident that you've done your best as you were guided by the Spirit of God- faithful day by day to the end.
__________________________________
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth, through all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
and make me love Thee as I ought to love.
Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own - soul, heart, and strength and mind!
I see the Cross, there teach my heart to cling,
O let me seek Thee and O let me find.
Teach me to love Thee, as Thine angels love;
one holy passion filling all my frame.
The baptism of the Heaven descended Dove,
my heart an altar and Thy love the flame.
On the final episode of The Apprentice the final two applicants for a place in the Trump organization were subjected to an accountability session on national live television last night. The words and actions of one of the applicants in her final task during the show were criticized and dissected! Trump was honest and even attempted to be congratulatory, yet it was still painful to have to see Tana squirm as her failings were put on display for all to see. Conversely, it was great to see Kendra beam as her exemplary performance was recognized and rewarded.
The Bible reveals a fact that should make us think about the way we speak, act, and invest our resources. Here it is. Read it carefully. “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:11-12, NKJV) Do not misunderstand this. No one who trusts in Christ Jesus as Savior will find himself unable to enter into Heaven because of a lack of 'good works.' We have been judged with regard to sin already in Him and have been given the gift of righteousness before God. Right standing with God comes by faith alone! However, how we live will be evaluated by the Lord! We will be held accountable by the One who eyes see the hidden things, who knows our truest motives.
Paul describes this accountability session as a 'trial by fire.' Read it thoughtfully today-
"I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.
But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames." (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, NLT)
For some, that will be an awful moment of terrible loss; but for others it will be a wonderful day when the service they have offered to the Lord and others will finally be given the recognition and reward that faithfulness deserves!
Christians who served God in obscurity, unthanked and uncelebrated, will be lauded by the Lord of Heaven and Earth. There is no greater reward than to receive His commendation! This day of accounting will not just celebrate those of 'great' accomplishments, those who left institutions, big buildings, and/or masses of people with improved lives. It is not the quantity of the work that receives the reward. It is the quality! Those with few gifts and little opportunity will receive the same word of praise as those who were multi-talented and access to wide influence. What will matter before the Judgment Seat of Jesus will be faithfulness and motive, more than anything. All the rights things done for all the wrong reasons will disappear under his fiery gaze.
An old chorus we sang was a prayer that had the day of accounting in sight. In its simplicity it reveals how we can have confidence as we think of our eternal review. It goes like this:
With eternity's values in view, Lord,
with eternity's values in view.
May I do each day's work for Jesus,
with eternity's values in view.
Are you living for the moment or for eternity, choosing short term happiness or eternal joy?
When you make those big choices, keep in mind that before the Bema (the judgment seat of Christ Jesus) He will ask for an accounting. Then, live so that you will stand before Him joyfully and confident that you've done your best as you were guided by the Spirit of God- faithful day by day to the end.
__________________________________
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth, through all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
and make me love Thee as I ought to love.
Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own - soul, heart, and strength and mind!
I see the Cross, there teach my heart to cling,
O let me seek Thee and O let me find.
Teach me to love Thee, as Thine angels love;
one holy passion filling all my frame.
The baptism of the Heaven descended Dove,
my heart an altar and Thy love the flame.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
God's Open Letter
Every morning as I look through the Easton Express-Times, one stop I make is on the editorial page. In addition to the syndicated columnists, I read the letters to the editor sent by local people. There I find some fascinating glimpses into the minds of other people- open letters that reveal both brilliance and stupidity, insight and ignorance! Some are angry diatribes, others laud some person or program. Some rail on religion. Some are written just to make a point that somebody feels isn't being made in the press. Perhaps I read them with such interest because, for years, I was a regular 'letter to the editor' writer!
The Bible says that our lives, Believer, are an open letter to the world! The Living God writes His message on our hearts and sends us out before an unbelieving world where His message can be read. Isn't that just amazing? God, the Omnipotent Creator, chooses to make Himself known through the lives of common folk, ordinary flawed people.
Here's the way it reads: "Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts. We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God. He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life." [2 Cor. 3:3-6 NLT] Paul weaves several thoughts into that paragraph but the one on which I am focused today is the one about the Spirit's writing the Message on our hearts!
What does this really mean? It means that as the Holy Spirit of God works a transformational process in us, the results are visible.
By way of example, we see the Spirit changes a selfish man into a loving one, a greedy person into a generous one, a fearful woman into a faith-filled one. In my work as a Pastor, there is nothing that gives me more joy than seeing a person begin to respond to God's work in their mind and heart. Last week, a woman who has just been through a divorce wrote to me about her fear as the breakup developed. At the time she was just beginning to open her life to God's work in new ways. (I have her permission to share this!) She said, "So, I did all I could do - I prayed. I told God that I didn't understand why this was happening but to please give me the strength to do all the right things. I told Him that I am just lying in His arms. Soon thereafter I had the overwhelming feeling that I should just forgive F. (her former husband) and let it go. I understood that he was a lost soul with nothing that really mattered. My anger and resentment just went away. With that came a peace and comfort that I never experienced before." Later in that note, she relates the way that he saw God's work in her. "He told me that he really sees how Jesus has effected my life, how peaceful I seem."
There it is! An open letter read clearly and proclaiming to all who read her life that God is a Living God, active in this world. I know some would argue that if God were really present, there would be no divorce, no suffering. Ah, that ignores the very real fact that He allows us to choose our own way! Even those of us in whom the Spirit is living and active have a responsibility to cooperate with His work. Sometimes God's letter gets garbled by our willful disobedience! That is why we read this entreaty - {Eph 4:1 NLT} "I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God."
Our high calling is to live as an open letter, written by Christ by the transformational power of the Spirit. We cannot live this way by sheer will, by high aspiration, by training, or self-discipline. Those things certainly play a part, but the 'writing' is done by the finger of God in our heart! Let Him write large, bold letters on you today, won't you? Let the Message be read by everyone who looks at you, so that they say - God lives!
The Bible says that our lives, Believer, are an open letter to the world! The Living God writes His message on our hearts and sends us out before an unbelieving world where His message can be read. Isn't that just amazing? God, the Omnipotent Creator, chooses to make Himself known through the lives of common folk, ordinary flawed people.
Here's the way it reads: "Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts. We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God. He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life." [2 Cor. 3:3-6 NLT] Paul weaves several thoughts into that paragraph but the one on which I am focused today is the one about the Spirit's writing the Message on our hearts!
What does this really mean? It means that as the Holy Spirit of God works a transformational process in us, the results are visible.
By way of example, we see the Spirit changes a selfish man into a loving one, a greedy person into a generous one, a fearful woman into a faith-filled one. In my work as a Pastor, there is nothing that gives me more joy than seeing a person begin to respond to God's work in their mind and heart. Last week, a woman who has just been through a divorce wrote to me about her fear as the breakup developed. At the time she was just beginning to open her life to God's work in new ways. (I have her permission to share this!) She said, "So, I did all I could do - I prayed. I told God that I didn't understand why this was happening but to please give me the strength to do all the right things. I told Him that I am just lying in His arms. Soon thereafter I had the overwhelming feeling that I should just forgive F. (her former husband) and let it go. I understood that he was a lost soul with nothing that really mattered. My anger and resentment just went away. With that came a peace and comfort that I never experienced before." Later in that note, she relates the way that he saw God's work in her. "He told me that he really sees how Jesus has effected my life, how peaceful I seem."
There it is! An open letter read clearly and proclaiming to all who read her life that God is a Living God, active in this world. I know some would argue that if God were really present, there would be no divorce, no suffering. Ah, that ignores the very real fact that He allows us to choose our own way! Even those of us in whom the Spirit is living and active have a responsibility to cooperate with His work. Sometimes God's letter gets garbled by our willful disobedience! That is why we read this entreaty - {Eph 4:1 NLT} "I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God."
Our high calling is to live as an open letter, written by Christ by the transformational power of the Spirit. We cannot live this way by sheer will, by high aspiration, by training, or self-discipline. Those things certainly play a part, but the 'writing' is done by the finger of God in our heart! Let Him write large, bold letters on you today, won't you? Let the Message be read by everyone who looks at you, so that they say - God lives!
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Keep hope.
Ever been disappointed by another person's actions? Who hasn't?
A man visited with me a few days ago and talked bitterly about his pending divorce. "It's that d___ computer," he spat out the words. "We got it 3 years ago and she started spending time on it well into the night. Then, she claimed she fell in love with a guy; after 20 years of marriage." He was clearly angry, puzzled, and sad in equal measures.
I remember when the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke over the Clinton presidency years ago. My mind knew that the President was human, but I was still shocked and disappointed that the man would abuse the trust of a young intern, his wife, and the nation. It was hard to watch him speak and not think about his lack of self-control.
A man that I loved as a brother, who served along side of me as an Elder of a church where I pastored, confessed that he was an adulterer, shattering my trust and destroying his marriage. After all these years I still can't think of that day without feeling a deep sense of sadness and wondering what I might have done to help him resist the temptations that he allowed to ruin his life.
There are chapters in my life when I disappointed myself! Selfishness, rage, lack of empathy, laziness ... they are part of my biography, too! I try to live in a better way and too often, I fail.
So, how do we deal with disappointment, with failures - our own, and those of others?
Bitterness is the choice of many people. Disappointment with people, circumstances, even God causes some to grow sour in spirit. The Bible says that this becomes a root from which all kinds of evil grows in a person's life. [Hebrews 12:15 (NKJV)] speaks of a "...root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled." We all know people who can't find a nice thing to say about anyone, who are cynical, withdrawn, and poisonous!
Forgiveness is the first part of God's answer to disappointment. Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21 (NKJV) Since the law only required 3 instances of forgiveness thought he was being big-hearted to offer to forgive seven times! But you remember the Lord's response, don't you? Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven."
Forgiveness - does that mean we sweep away the other person's offense as though what was done is without importance? Does that betrayed husband of whom I wrote in the opening paragraph just try to forget the deep wound to his spirit that his wife's infidelity caused? Do I just look at my own sins that disappoint me and shrug, "I'm human"? No! That is not forgiveness as taught by the Scripture. Forgiveness is a choice to hand over the disappointment to God for His justice, to release the debt we feel is owed to us to Him. "Impossible," you say. No, friend, it isn't. Hard, yes - impossible, no.
Acceptance of reality is the second part of the answer to disappointment. We must give up our childish fantasy that life will always work out as planned, that people will always be good, do what we expect, or act in ways that are consistent. None of us is perfect! A measure of our maturity is the ability to deal with people as they are, discerning the good and the bad in others and in ourselves, and acting appropriately. I accept that there is a part of me that is quite capable of sin. I don't deny it. That acceptance does not mean that I indulge my tendency to sin. Instead, I seek the Life of the Holy Spirit to help me to put that part of myself to death - daily! Likewise, accepting the reality that others are not perfect and may well fail- allows me to let the Love of the Spirit love them anyway!
Keep hope! The day of the defeat of evil is coming. Oh, how I look forward to that day, when sin's power over us is completely destroyed, when disappointment is wiped away. Won't it be a great day?
"May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done - on earth, as it is in Heaven!" Amen
A man visited with me a few days ago and talked bitterly about his pending divorce. "It's that d___ computer," he spat out the words. "We got it 3 years ago and she started spending time on it well into the night. Then, she claimed she fell in love with a guy; after 20 years of marriage." He was clearly angry, puzzled, and sad in equal measures.
I remember when the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke over the Clinton presidency years ago. My mind knew that the President was human, but I was still shocked and disappointed that the man would abuse the trust of a young intern, his wife, and the nation. It was hard to watch him speak and not think about his lack of self-control.
A man that I loved as a brother, who served along side of me as an Elder of a church where I pastored, confessed that he was an adulterer, shattering my trust and destroying his marriage. After all these years I still can't think of that day without feeling a deep sense of sadness and wondering what I might have done to help him resist the temptations that he allowed to ruin his life.
There are chapters in my life when I disappointed myself! Selfishness, rage, lack of empathy, laziness ... they are part of my biography, too! I try to live in a better way and too often, I fail.
So, how do we deal with disappointment, with failures - our own, and those of others?
Bitterness is the choice of many people. Disappointment with people, circumstances, even God causes some to grow sour in spirit. The Bible says that this becomes a root from which all kinds of evil grows in a person's life. [Hebrews 12:15 (NKJV)] speaks of a "...root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled." We all know people who can't find a nice thing to say about anyone, who are cynical, withdrawn, and poisonous!
Forgiveness is the first part of God's answer to disappointment. Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21 (NKJV) Since the law only required 3 instances of forgiveness thought he was being big-hearted to offer to forgive seven times! But you remember the Lord's response, don't you? Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven."
Forgiveness - does that mean we sweep away the other person's offense as though what was done is without importance? Does that betrayed husband of whom I wrote in the opening paragraph just try to forget the deep wound to his spirit that his wife's infidelity caused? Do I just look at my own sins that disappoint me and shrug, "I'm human"? No! That is not forgiveness as taught by the Scripture. Forgiveness is a choice to hand over the disappointment to God for His justice, to release the debt we feel is owed to us to Him. "Impossible," you say. No, friend, it isn't. Hard, yes - impossible, no.
Acceptance of reality is the second part of the answer to disappointment. We must give up our childish fantasy that life will always work out as planned, that people will always be good, do what we expect, or act in ways that are consistent. None of us is perfect! A measure of our maturity is the ability to deal with people as they are, discerning the good and the bad in others and in ourselves, and acting appropriately. I accept that there is a part of me that is quite capable of sin. I don't deny it. That acceptance does not mean that I indulge my tendency to sin. Instead, I seek the Life of the Holy Spirit to help me to put that part of myself to death - daily! Likewise, accepting the reality that others are not perfect and may well fail- allows me to let the Love of the Spirit love them anyway!
Keep hope! The day of the defeat of evil is coming. Oh, how I look forward to that day, when sin's power over us is completely destroyed, when disappointment is wiped away. Won't it be a great day?
"May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done - on earth, as it is in Heaven!" Amen
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Wonder
Saturday evening we had a concert at the Assembly that featured the artistry of Phil Keaggy. When the idea of having Keaggy for a concert was presented to me, I wasn't really all that excited. I was puzzled why anyone would want to hear a guy play a guitar for two hours. Obviously, I'm not a guitarist! But my friend Jake, who is a Keaggy fan, was enthused about the possibilities. I allowed his enthusiasm to become mine. Saturday, when I experienced what Jake had tried to describe, the artist was all he was promised to be, and more. His passion, talent, and skills came together in a program that made me feel something I cannot describe adequately. He was wonder-full. During the concert, I was lifted above the ordinary for a while, carried along by the art of a little man who was passionate about creating beauty with his guitar.
I am learning to experience 'wonder' more often than I formerly did. I have lived my life as a practical man, valuing getting the job done. I feel best about myself and life when a task is completed. It's not a bad trait and helps me to plow through a lot of work, but I am realizing that being so focused on 'work' can keep me from experiencing another dimension of life. I have spent many days of my 50 years on this globe so focused on planning the next meeting, solving the current problem, writing Sunday's sermon, making sure my family was fed, clothed, and housed -- that I missed much of the beauty of being 'in the moment.' Is that a common trait of younger men? Perhaps. Now I am realizing that art exists for the purpose of delighting us and that art is found in many places - a guitar concert, a baby's smile, a painting, a photograph, a tiny bugleweed flower (my brother showed me this exquisite little 'weed' in my lawn last week), a poem, and a million other places. Last night I read Shakespeare's 29th Sonnet and found tears in my eyes! The artistry of his language captured a mood with such amazing skill, I read and re-read the passage, even calling my wife to listen to it. I don't think she felt the wonder! (smile)
Worship and wonder are closely related. We will sense God's Presence more readily if and when we learn to 'wonder.' The dryness of much in the practice of Christianity is the result of reducing worship to theological concepts and empty liturgy, hurrying through the forms without allowing for the Spirit to touch us, trying to make the 'wonder-full' truths that the Bible tells us in the stories of the works of God into neat packages of doctrine. Christians do not have much time for mystery these days. We want explanations! We want proofs! We want to know how it works and what the benefits are! "Preacher," we demand, "get me saved. Make me good. Give me three steps to being better at ...." But life isn't that simple. There is an awesome mystery that God allows to exist around us which we can only appreciate if we will allow ourselves to wonder.
Recover the wonder! It will cause you to serve God with more passion, to love Him more deeply.
Ponder this passage as you move through this day.
Isaiah 29:13-14 (NKJV)
Therefore the Lord said:
“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”
_________________________
Lord of all creation
Of water, earth, and sky,
Heavens are your tabernacle,
Glory to the Lord on high!
Early in the morning,
I will celebrate the Light.
When I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your name by night.
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy.
The universe declares your majesty.
You are holy, holy!
Lord of heaven and earth!
Lord of heaven and earth!
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth!
© New Spring Publishing© 2000 CCLI License No. 810055
I am learning to experience 'wonder' more often than I formerly did. I have lived my life as a practical man, valuing getting the job done. I feel best about myself and life when a task is completed. It's not a bad trait and helps me to plow through a lot of work, but I am realizing that being so focused on 'work' can keep me from experiencing another dimension of life. I have spent many days of my 50 years on this globe so focused on planning the next meeting, solving the current problem, writing Sunday's sermon, making sure my family was fed, clothed, and housed -- that I missed much of the beauty of being 'in the moment.' Is that a common trait of younger men? Perhaps. Now I am realizing that art exists for the purpose of delighting us and that art is found in many places - a guitar concert, a baby's smile, a painting, a photograph, a tiny bugleweed flower (my brother showed me this exquisite little 'weed' in my lawn last week), a poem, and a million other places. Last night I read Shakespeare's 29th Sonnet and found tears in my eyes! The artistry of his language captured a mood with such amazing skill, I read and re-read the passage, even calling my wife to listen to it. I don't think she felt the wonder! (smile)
Worship and wonder are closely related. We will sense God's Presence more readily if and when we learn to 'wonder.' The dryness of much in the practice of Christianity is the result of reducing worship to theological concepts and empty liturgy, hurrying through the forms without allowing for the Spirit to touch us, trying to make the 'wonder-full' truths that the Bible tells us in the stories of the works of God into neat packages of doctrine. Christians do not have much time for mystery these days. We want explanations! We want proofs! We want to know how it works and what the benefits are! "Preacher," we demand, "get me saved. Make me good. Give me three steps to being better at ...." But life isn't that simple. There is an awesome mystery that God allows to exist around us which we can only appreciate if we will allow ourselves to wonder.
Recover the wonder! It will cause you to serve God with more passion, to love Him more deeply.
Ponder this passage as you move through this day.
Isaiah 29:13-14 (NKJV)
Therefore the Lord said:
“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”
_________________________
Lord of all creation
Of water, earth, and sky,
Heavens are your tabernacle,
Glory to the Lord on high!
Early in the morning,
I will celebrate the Light.
When I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your name by night.
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy.
The universe declares your majesty.
You are holy, holy!
Lord of heaven and earth!
Lord of heaven and earth!
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth!
© New Spring Publishing© 2000 CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, May 16, 2005
Just say, "thanks!"
A word of appreciation can be as refreshing as a rain shower. Sunday evening, after a busy weekend of church related activities I was tired, really tired! As I was walking to my car about 8, Bob came over and, with just a few sincere words, told me that he was appreciative of a ministry effort that Bev and I spearheaded. I could not believe how much those couple of sentences meant to me. His gratitude affirmed the work I do letting me know that there is a positive benefit which isn't always easily discerned in the calling of a Pastor. I appreciated his appreciation!
It caused me to review what God was doing in my life and I spent a few moments pouring out my praise to Him. I thanked Him for a beautiful day on Saturday that I spent in the company of my wife, working in our yard together. I thanked Him for the skill and artistry of Phil Keaggy which I was privileged to enjoy that evening. I thanked Him for the joy of worshipping with other Believers and for the people He is bringing together at the Assembly to build His kingdom in our corner of the world. I thanked Him for the awesome privilege of preaching the Word. I thanked Him for friendships renewed yesterday with people from a congregation I served years ago. And, as I offered up my thanks, I felt the release of the Spirit's renewing Presence in my own heart. Such is the power of praise.
Once I started to praise, the gratitude in my heart became like a snowball rolling down a hill, growing and picking up speed. Even now, as I write about those moments, I want to break out in song -
"...and when I think of His love for me,
my heart fills with praise and I feel like dancing;
for in His heart there is room for me;
so I run with my arms open wide!
God is good, we sing and shout it;
God is good, we celebrate!"
Praise is pleasing to God, not the forced kind, not the insincere kind - the real recognition of Who He is and what He's doing. At the start of this new week, let me encourage you toward thankfulness. Express your appreciation to someone today - a simple 'thank you' may be just what they need. Thank God for ... well, make it your praise! You will find that the sun seems to shine a bit brighter as the Spirit of God flows into your life and lifts you up.
___________________________________
Psalm 100 (The Message)
1 On your feet now—applaud God!
2 Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.
He made us; we didn’t make him.
We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.
4 Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.
5 For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
It caused me to review what God was doing in my life and I spent a few moments pouring out my praise to Him. I thanked Him for a beautiful day on Saturday that I spent in the company of my wife, working in our yard together. I thanked Him for the skill and artistry of Phil Keaggy which I was privileged to enjoy that evening. I thanked Him for the joy of worshipping with other Believers and for the people He is bringing together at the Assembly to build His kingdom in our corner of the world. I thanked Him for the awesome privilege of preaching the Word. I thanked Him for friendships renewed yesterday with people from a congregation I served years ago. And, as I offered up my thanks, I felt the release of the Spirit's renewing Presence in my own heart. Such is the power of praise.
Once I started to praise, the gratitude in my heart became like a snowball rolling down a hill, growing and picking up speed. Even now, as I write about those moments, I want to break out in song -
"...and when I think of His love for me,
my heart fills with praise and I feel like dancing;
for in His heart there is room for me;
so I run with my arms open wide!
God is good, we sing and shout it;
God is good, we celebrate!"
Praise is pleasing to God, not the forced kind, not the insincere kind - the real recognition of Who He is and what He's doing. At the start of this new week, let me encourage you toward thankfulness. Express your appreciation to someone today - a simple 'thank you' may be just what they need. Thank God for ... well, make it your praise! You will find that the sun seems to shine a bit brighter as the Spirit of God flows into your life and lifts you up.
___________________________________
Psalm 100 (The Message)
1 On your feet now—applaud God!
2 Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.
He made us; we didn’t make him.
We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.
4 Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.
5 For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
Friday, May 13, 2005
The Boomerang Effect
When I was a kid, Uncle Keith, who traveled a lot because he was in the US Air Force, brought me a crazy gift - a curved piece of wood which he called a 'boomerang.' He took me out to our yard and showed something that made my mouth fall open in amazement. He took that curved thing, threw it, and - low and behold!! - it ended up nearly hitting me in the head as it made a big loop and came right back to us!
Last night, while watching The Apprentice, (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_3/) a reality show that is essentially a 16 week long job interview in which a candidate is weeded out each week, I saw the boomerang effect in play. Two candidates are left vying for the job with Donald Trump's organization. As a final qualifying project, Tana and and Kendra were given an event to produce and run. They were each given 3 people who had already been 'fired' from the program to be their assistants and the ones brought back were those who were most difficult to manage! Tana quickly established a hostile atmosphere by referring to her team as 'the 3 stooges' and observing a 'boss and employee' protocol. Kendra, did exactly the opposite. Despite her personal misgivings, she reached out to bring her team members onboard, giving them meaningful jobs and inviting their assistance. Tana's hostility quickly boomeranged back to her only making the job harder. Kendra's team served her with their whole hearts and at the conclusion of their successful event, embraced her with joy, sharing the win!
I thought about that and wondered, 'what am I throwing out there that will come back at me?'
The Bible doesn't speak of boomerang effects, but the wisdom of the Word reminds us that 'what a man sows, he will reap.' If we plant kindness, love, gentleness, and respect; these blessings will come back to us.
Here's the kicker for the Believer, we are to break the cycle when others hurl insults and hatred our way. With the help of the Spirit, here's the challenge for us.
Last night, while watching The Apprentice, (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_3/) a reality show that is essentially a 16 week long job interview in which a candidate is weeded out each week, I saw the boomerang effect in play. Two candidates are left vying for the job with Donald Trump's organization. As a final qualifying project, Tana and and Kendra were given an event to produce and run. They were each given 3 people who had already been 'fired' from the program to be their assistants and the ones brought back were those who were most difficult to manage! Tana quickly established a hostile atmosphere by referring to her team as 'the 3 stooges' and observing a 'boss and employee' protocol. Kendra, did exactly the opposite. Despite her personal misgivings, she reached out to bring her team members onboard, giving them meaningful jobs and inviting their assistance. Tana's hostility quickly boomeranged back to her only making the job harder. Kendra's team served her with their whole hearts and at the conclusion of their successful event, embraced her with joy, sharing the win!
I thought about that and wondered, 'what am I throwing out there that will come back at me?'
The Bible doesn't speak of boomerang effects, but the wisdom of the Word reminds us that 'what a man sows, he will reap.' If we plant kindness, love, gentleness, and respect; these blessings will come back to us.
Here's the kicker for the Believer, we are to break the cycle when others hurl insults and hatred our way. With the help of the Spirit, here's the challenge for us.
- "Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it." (1 Peter 3:8-11, NIV)
Today -- as you interact with others remember the boomerang effect. Throw out the kind of words and actions that you want to receive in return. ... and God will bless you!
_____________________________
Phil Keaggy will be in concert at Washington Assembly this Saturday evening at 7:30 PM.
Tickets are still available. Inquire about purchase by calling 908 689 6727
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Hotel Rwanda and being a neighbor
If you have not yet viewed the film, Hotel Rwanda, get it this weekend and view it. If you have children who are older than 12, have them watch it with you. The film recounts the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who works for a Belgian firm in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. It tells us of his heroic and ultimately futile attempts to save lives during that nation’s 1994 civil war and large-scale massacre. Without being overly sensational or splashing blood in your face, the film's producers manage to disturb you and if you have a conscience, they compel you ask - "who is my neighbor?" If you're looking for easy answers, this is not the film to watch!
As the world looked on, the Hutu people of that nation slaughtered about 1 million Tutsis, another ethnic group. In one of the film's most compelling moments, Paul urges a reporter to put some graphic footage of the killing on air to rally support for military intervention. He is told by the Western reporter, "People will be eating their dinner in the West when this footage airs. They will pause for a moment and say, 'isn't that awful?' and then go back to their meal." And that is exactly what happened. What makes the war even more tragic is that the divisions in that African nation were exacerbated, if not caused, by European colonialism, yet neither Europe nor the U.S. felt any need to try to stop the massacre! This TFTD does not intend to suggest that the United States, Britain, France, and/or Germany should be the developing world's policeman. Those are global issues that demand a great deal of information that I am not privileged to know.
What I am trying to do today is to cause you to think about how you are connected to other people - whether they live across the street or on the other side of the world. Jesus told a story, compelling in its simplicity. When you start to read it, I'm sure it will be familiar. Read it anyway, slowly, like you're discovering it for the first time....
The man said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied with an illustration: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a Jewish priest came along; but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and told him to take care of the man. ‘If his bill runs higher than that,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.’
'Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?' Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”" (Luke 10:27-37, NLT)
We separate ourselves - by political party, by religion, by economics, by ethnic distinction, by race, even by sex. Somehow we convince ourselves that the 'others' - however we are divided- do not demand the same compassionate concern as those who are inside of our circle. Unless we have a compelling self-interest we shrug off the needs of those who are left bleeding by the road as being of no personal concern. "Let someone else care for them." Even worse, we invent reasons not to become involved, saying things like- "they deserve their plight, just look at the decisions they made." Or, "it's always been that way, I can't change anything." Or, "I've got my own problems and nobody's helping me!"
When you read those lines in print, they don't stand up as well as when we think them, do they? Jesus Christ taught that the world is our neighbor. If we have experienced His love, we have an obligation to actively love others. How we do that is beyond the scope of this short TFTD, but a good way to start the dialogue is to watch Hotel Rwanda with some friends and spend some time talking it over.
"If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see?" (1 John 4:20, The Message)
As the world looked on, the Hutu people of that nation slaughtered about 1 million Tutsis, another ethnic group. In one of the film's most compelling moments, Paul urges a reporter to put some graphic footage of the killing on air to rally support for military intervention. He is told by the Western reporter, "People will be eating their dinner in the West when this footage airs. They will pause for a moment and say, 'isn't that awful?' and then go back to their meal." And that is exactly what happened. What makes the war even more tragic is that the divisions in that African nation were exacerbated, if not caused, by European colonialism, yet neither Europe nor the U.S. felt any need to try to stop the massacre! This TFTD does not intend to suggest that the United States, Britain, France, and/or Germany should be the developing world's policeman. Those are global issues that demand a great deal of information that I am not privileged to know.
What I am trying to do today is to cause you to think about how you are connected to other people - whether they live across the street or on the other side of the world. Jesus told a story, compelling in its simplicity. When you start to read it, I'm sure it will be familiar. Read it anyway, slowly, like you're discovering it for the first time....
The man said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied with an illustration: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a Jewish priest came along; but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and told him to take care of the man. ‘If his bill runs higher than that,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.’
'Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?' Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”" (Luke 10:27-37, NLT)
We separate ourselves - by political party, by religion, by economics, by ethnic distinction, by race, even by sex. Somehow we convince ourselves that the 'others' - however we are divided- do not demand the same compassionate concern as those who are inside of our circle. Unless we have a compelling self-interest we shrug off the needs of those who are left bleeding by the road as being of no personal concern. "Let someone else care for them." Even worse, we invent reasons not to become involved, saying things like- "they deserve their plight, just look at the decisions they made." Or, "it's always been that way, I can't change anything." Or, "I've got my own problems and nobody's helping me!"
When you read those lines in print, they don't stand up as well as when we think them, do they? Jesus Christ taught that the world is our neighbor. If we have experienced His love, we have an obligation to actively love others. How we do that is beyond the scope of this short TFTD, but a good way to start the dialogue is to watch Hotel Rwanda with some friends and spend some time talking it over.
"If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see?" (1 John 4:20, The Message)
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Big ears, little mouth!
As I headed off to a meeting with the Deacons, I asked my wife to pray for me - a simple prayer but an important one: "Lord, give Jerry big ears and a little mouth!" Perhaps it strikes you as a strange construction but I was acknowledging that I needed God's help to listen closely to the conversational flow. I knew that in our meeting we would be talking about some issues on which some of us seemed to have differing ideas. The key to avoiding conflict was to understand the positions of those who share responsibility for leading this Assembly with me. So I wanted to listen -something it is quite easy not to do especially when we feel we need to make our point!
Listening to others is the #1 way we show that we love them. "Being listened to is so close to being loved that most people cannot tell the difference." - David Oxberg. A very real curse of our busy, highly mobile society is a feeling that millions of people have today - 'I don't matter. My ideas are ignored."
That sense of being marginalized or alone is all too often real particularly for those who hold service positions, who have some kind of physical disability, or who are very young or elderly. Counter clerks in retail establishments tell awful stories about how people treat them as though they were simply an extension of the cash register, not a real person. Disabled persons recount how many speak past them like they are invisible, even talking about them like they can't hear! Little children respond with delight when we bend down to look directly into their face and listen intently to their stories. Why? Because often adults just don't pay much attention to them.
Did you know that the way to find happiness in your marriage is communication? Many couples point to sex, money, or the kids as the challenge in their relationship, but actually it is a failure to understand each other's needs and expectations. A torrent of words is not the same as communication. Genuine communication is a two-way transaction- listening and speaking. A good listener offers a gift that affirms the worth and personhood to the other. Dean Rusk, former U.S. Secretary of State and a Washington, DC power broker, observes - "One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears- by listening to them."
Listening demands our full engagement. Bev, my wife, sometimes says, "Look at me!" during our conversations. She doesn't like talking to the top of my head while I continue to read. Even though I can repeat her words back to her, she wants eye contact, my full attention. Is she just insecure? Of course not. My body language, if I continue to read or work at my computer while she's talking, says - "I'm not really interested in this conversation." I may well be hearing her, but unless I give my full attention to her, I am not actually listening!
Paul directs us to selfless lives, to actively seeking the good of others, and I am convinced that includes learning to have big ears and little mouths!
He writes
"... we cannot just go ahead and ...please ourselves.
We must be considerate of the doubts and fears of those who think these things are wrong.
We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord.
For even Christ didn’t please himself. " (Romans 15:1-3, NLT)
Today, let's make it a goal to actively engage with the people around us. Take note of the bent shoulders that might reveal a burdened heart. Look around for the person who has withdrawn to the safety of silence and invite them back into the conversation. When you ask, "how are you?" really pay attention to the person you're speaking to and they might just tell you instead of politely saying, "fine."
And in a real way, if we do this, we will be fulfilling Jesus' command to love others!
"Lord, give us big ears and little mouths.
Help us to learn to love in more than words, with our whole person.
Give us your gentleness, your kindness, your patience so that we will
have many opportunities to share life - even for a few moments-
with those who are alone, afraid, or powerless.
Help us, Jesus, I pray in Your name. Amen."
PS- God answered that prayer and we had a great Deacons' Meeting, filled with good decisions.
We left encouraged and together as a leadership team. Praise God!
Jerry D. Scott, Pastor
www.WashingtonAG.net
908-689-7777
33 Brass Castle Road
Washington, NJ 07882
Listening to others is the #1 way we show that we love them. "Being listened to is so close to being loved that most people cannot tell the difference." - David Oxberg. A very real curse of our busy, highly mobile society is a feeling that millions of people have today - 'I don't matter. My ideas are ignored."
That sense of being marginalized or alone is all too often real particularly for those who hold service positions, who have some kind of physical disability, or who are very young or elderly. Counter clerks in retail establishments tell awful stories about how people treat them as though they were simply an extension of the cash register, not a real person. Disabled persons recount how many speak past them like they are invisible, even talking about them like they can't hear! Little children respond with delight when we bend down to look directly into their face and listen intently to their stories. Why? Because often adults just don't pay much attention to them.
Did you know that the way to find happiness in your marriage is communication? Many couples point to sex, money, or the kids as the challenge in their relationship, but actually it is a failure to understand each other's needs and expectations. A torrent of words is not the same as communication. Genuine communication is a two-way transaction- listening and speaking. A good listener offers a gift that affirms the worth and personhood to the other. Dean Rusk, former U.S. Secretary of State and a Washington, DC power broker, observes - "One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears- by listening to them."
Listening demands our full engagement. Bev, my wife, sometimes says, "Look at me!" during our conversations. She doesn't like talking to the top of my head while I continue to read. Even though I can repeat her words back to her, she wants eye contact, my full attention. Is she just insecure? Of course not. My body language, if I continue to read or work at my computer while she's talking, says - "I'm not really interested in this conversation." I may well be hearing her, but unless I give my full attention to her, I am not actually listening!
Paul directs us to selfless lives, to actively seeking the good of others, and I am convinced that includes learning to have big ears and little mouths!
He writes
"... we cannot just go ahead and ...please ourselves.
We must be considerate of the doubts and fears of those who think these things are wrong.
We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord.
For even Christ didn’t please himself. " (Romans 15:1-3, NLT)
Today, let's make it a goal to actively engage with the people around us. Take note of the bent shoulders that might reveal a burdened heart. Look around for the person who has withdrawn to the safety of silence and invite them back into the conversation. When you ask, "how are you?" really pay attention to the person you're speaking to and they might just tell you instead of politely saying, "fine."
And in a real way, if we do this, we will be fulfilling Jesus' command to love others!
"Lord, give us big ears and little mouths.
Help us to learn to love in more than words, with our whole person.
Give us your gentleness, your kindness, your patience so that we will
have many opportunities to share life - even for a few moments-
with those who are alone, afraid, or powerless.
Help us, Jesus, I pray in Your name. Amen."
PS- God answered that prayer and we had a great Deacons' Meeting, filled with good decisions.
We left encouraged and together as a leadership team. Praise God!
Jerry D. Scott, Pastor
www.WashingtonAG.net
908-689-7777
33 Brass Castle Road
Washington, NJ 07882
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Keep it pure and clean...
Imagine being parched, terribly thirsty, after some hard work on a hot day. An old fashioned well nearby invites you to be refreshed. Picking up the bucket next to the well's head, you drop it into the shaft to pull up a cool drink. The water that you draw from the well sparkles in the sunlight, is cool, and as you drink it; you can feel its reviving effect immediately. Contrast that beautiful picture with another scenario. As you pull the bucket back to the top of the well, instead of the sparkling fresh water you expected, what pours from the bucket is is filthy and stinking! You discover the well has been polluted with the carcass of a dead animal. A revolting scene, isn't it?
Now move that image into the spiritual. You are in great need of compassion, seeking for answers to the thirst of your soul. There is a person in your circle of acquaintances whose life appears to be together. He seems to live a purposeful, whole, and godly life. So, you approach him to develop a friendship in which you hope to find refreshing.... only to discover that he is a shallow, sensual man who offers nothing of any value for his heart is a fouled well! OR, as you spend time with another, you find that she leaves you feeling joyful, hopeful, and challenged to seek for the God that pours from her like a drink of fresh water.
Which kind of well are YOU?
The Bible says, "guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23, NIV) What a challenge for those of us who would live in a way that is Christ-honoring! Watch what you put in your heart, and what you allow to stay in your heart, for what is hidden away there will either be refreshing or polluting, life giving or death dealing.
Let me state the obvious; we need to take care about the kind of information and entertainment that we put in our hearts! "Oh, come on, Jerry, I'm an adult. I can handle that stuff." A steady diet of godless, sexually immoral, profane, or self-oriented material will have a deleterious effect on a person, no matter how mature or resilient they believe themselves to be. We are only fooling ourselves if we think we can consume great quantities of what flows out of our current culture and escape the pollution's effects.
Then, too, we need to work on cleaning out the pollution that is thrown onto us from other sources. Harmful words that are spoken to us in unguarded moments, or even when we are children, can turn our heart into a source of bitter water, brackish with self-pity, sour with cynicism. We can rob those words and actions of their destructive powers IF we are willing to clean them out of our heart. It may require a counselor/friend to help us. It will certainly involve forgiveness and the healing that comes with a deep experience of God's great love.
The, there are the demons that surround us will do their best to plant their poison in us! We must resist their efforts with the weapons of the Spirit. For example, yesterday as I worked in my yard on my day off, seemingly from nowhere came thoughts of resentment and anger. I found myself agitated, then feeling an 'oh, what's the use of trying to go on?' emotion that was more than a passing mood. When I realized what was happening, I began to pray for the Spirit to rise up in me. I offered thanks to God for the situations and people that had come to mind. It was a struggle, but after a time the attack failed and my heart was at peace again.
Here's a word from the Word to take with you today -- "Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within.” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him....)" (John 7:37-39, NLT)
_____________________________
May the Spirit of God
prime the well of my heart
with living water.
And, may I 'guard the well' so that
what overflows from my life
is a refreshing drink to those who thirst.
In Jesus' name, I pray.
Amen
img src=http://img.heartlight.org/cards/g/1thessalonians4_3.jpg
Now move that image into the spiritual. You are in great need of compassion, seeking for answers to the thirst of your soul. There is a person in your circle of acquaintances whose life appears to be together. He seems to live a purposeful, whole, and godly life. So, you approach him to develop a friendship in which you hope to find refreshing.... only to discover that he is a shallow, sensual man who offers nothing of any value for his heart is a fouled well! OR, as you spend time with another, you find that she leaves you feeling joyful, hopeful, and challenged to seek for the God that pours from her like a drink of fresh water.
Which kind of well are YOU?
The Bible says, "guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23, NIV) What a challenge for those of us who would live in a way that is Christ-honoring! Watch what you put in your heart, and what you allow to stay in your heart, for what is hidden away there will either be refreshing or polluting, life giving or death dealing.
Let me state the obvious; we need to take care about the kind of information and entertainment that we put in our hearts! "Oh, come on, Jerry, I'm an adult. I can handle that stuff." A steady diet of godless, sexually immoral, profane, or self-oriented material will have a deleterious effect on a person, no matter how mature or resilient they believe themselves to be. We are only fooling ourselves if we think we can consume great quantities of what flows out of our current culture and escape the pollution's effects.
Then, too, we need to work on cleaning out the pollution that is thrown onto us from other sources. Harmful words that are spoken to us in unguarded moments, or even when we are children, can turn our heart into a source of bitter water, brackish with self-pity, sour with cynicism. We can rob those words and actions of their destructive powers IF we are willing to clean them out of our heart. It may require a counselor/friend to help us. It will certainly involve forgiveness and the healing that comes with a deep experience of God's great love.
The, there are the demons that surround us will do their best to plant their poison in us! We must resist their efforts with the weapons of the Spirit. For example, yesterday as I worked in my yard on my day off, seemingly from nowhere came thoughts of resentment and anger. I found myself agitated, then feeling an 'oh, what's the use of trying to go on?' emotion that was more than a passing mood. When I realized what was happening, I began to pray for the Spirit to rise up in me. I offered thanks to God for the situations and people that had come to mind. It was a struggle, but after a time the attack failed and my heart was at peace again.
Here's a word from the Word to take with you today -- "Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within.” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him....)" (John 7:37-39, NLT)
_____________________________
May the Spirit of God
prime the well of my heart
with living water.
And, may I 'guard the well' so that
what overflows from my life
is a refreshing drink to those who thirst.
In Jesus' name, I pray.
Amen
img src=http://img.heartlight.org/cards/g/1thessalonians4_3.jpg
Monday, May 09, 2005
The Heart - Who Can Know It?
Human beings are wicked and wonderful creatures! (Just for the record, what follows in this TFTD isn't just about 'others' for I most certainly share this trait of duplicity, too.) People confound me, in ways good and bad. Over and over, just when I thought I knew who someone was, they did something that amazed or disappointed me - acting in a way that was totally out of sync with who I thought they were. For example, the most loving individual, who gives of herself unselfishly, will make a most hurtful statement revealing a deep streak of selfishness. A person who appears to be completely self-absorbed and incapable of caring for someone else, will make a costly and generous gift of himself.
I will confess to a certain level of credulity in this area of life. I want to believe that the people I meet are who they appear to be! I want so badly to think that everyone who claims to love Jesus is really intent on following His ways. I want to think that all Believers live in a way that puts the work of God and the good of the Church over their own agenda. And... time and again, I am disappointed by people whose actions, despite the profession of best intents, reveal that they are guided by baser motives. Lest I seem overly negative, let me note that I've been equally amazed by the discovery of a genuine heart that hungers for God hidden under layers of habits of what I would consider 'sinful' behavior!
How do we account for this? Jeremiah wasn't very complimentary about human nature. He observed, [17:9 MSG] “The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out." Paul admits that he was a person torn between righteousness and wickedness! Who among us cannot identify with the angst in his words? He admits, "It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me." {Romans 7:21-23 NLT}
We cannot trust our hearts! We are fools to put much stock in all of our best intentions. "But, Jerry" you may object, "that is such a terrible view of human nature!" The inescapable conclusion I draw from the Scripture is that in every saint, there is a sinner that is struggling to express dominance. It helps to account for the lapses into sin that we observe in the lives of Believers. The most loving husband may fall prey to a wandering eye. The most devoted mother can become a cruel antagonist to one of her children. The most selfless Pastor may become a self-serving manipulator of those who trust him as their shepherd!
-- IF they look to their own inner strength to protect them from the temptations of the world, the flesh (sinful nature), and the Devil.
Paul, after spilling out the ugly confession of the duplicity of his heart, goes on to tell what makes a holy life of integrity possible -- the intervention of the Savior and a life intimately lived in the Spirit's power. He writes, "Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death." [Romans 7:25-8:2 NLT]
This is the miracle of the Christian life! Spiritual transformation is not the result of religious acts or harsh and punitive deprivations. We are changed by entering the Presence of the Holy One, allowing Him to change us from the inside out. To be sure, we are cooperative in the process. By faith, we practice the spiritual disciplines that are a part of the Christian life, not because they earn us the approval of God, but rather that they create conduits for the Spirit's life to course through our lives. Regular intake of Bible truth, consistent times of meditation and worship, faithfully gathering with other Believers for corporate worship, giving of our time and resources, and confession are among those choices we make that allows the work of the renovation of the heart to proceed. (thanks to Dallas Willard for that great phrase!)
Are you disappointed in yourself or another today? Are you ready to condemn that person as inferior or terrible? Are you ready to crawl into a place of personal shame, feeling the awful ache of condemnation? Don't! There is no solution in that response to your sin or the sins of others. Instead, look to the Spirit, invite Him into the situation. Let Him reveal the sin that is causing the dysfunction. And pray earnestly that Jesus Christ will come with the power to defeat the world systems, the seductions of the sinful nature, and the deceptions of the Devil. Rest, don't wrestle!
For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Life and Light. Only God can grant us the life of His Holy Spirit that consistently defeats sin that seeks to dominate us. So, since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25 NIV)
_____________________________
Change my heart, oh God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God,
May I be like You.
You are the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.
Change my heart, oh God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God,
May I be like You.
© 1982 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services) CCLI License No. 810055
I will confess to a certain level of credulity in this area of life. I want to believe that the people I meet are who they appear to be! I want so badly to think that everyone who claims to love Jesus is really intent on following His ways. I want to think that all Believers live in a way that puts the work of God and the good of the Church over their own agenda. And... time and again, I am disappointed by people whose actions, despite the profession of best intents, reveal that they are guided by baser motives. Lest I seem overly negative, let me note that I've been equally amazed by the discovery of a genuine heart that hungers for God hidden under layers of habits of what I would consider 'sinful' behavior!
How do we account for this? Jeremiah wasn't very complimentary about human nature. He observed, [17:9 MSG] “The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out." Paul admits that he was a person torn between righteousness and wickedness! Who among us cannot identify with the angst in his words? He admits, "It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me." {Romans 7:21-23 NLT}
We cannot trust our hearts! We are fools to put much stock in all of our best intentions. "But, Jerry" you may object, "that is such a terrible view of human nature!" The inescapable conclusion I draw from the Scripture is that in every saint, there is a sinner that is struggling to express dominance. It helps to account for the lapses into sin that we observe in the lives of Believers. The most loving husband may fall prey to a wandering eye. The most devoted mother can become a cruel antagonist to one of her children. The most selfless Pastor may become a self-serving manipulator of those who trust him as their shepherd!
-- IF they look to their own inner strength to protect them from the temptations of the world, the flesh (sinful nature), and the Devil.
Paul, after spilling out the ugly confession of the duplicity of his heart, goes on to tell what makes a holy life of integrity possible -- the intervention of the Savior and a life intimately lived in the Spirit's power. He writes, "Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death." [Romans 7:25-8:2 NLT]
This is the miracle of the Christian life! Spiritual transformation is not the result of religious acts or harsh and punitive deprivations. We are changed by entering the Presence of the Holy One, allowing Him to change us from the inside out. To be sure, we are cooperative in the process. By faith, we practice the spiritual disciplines that are a part of the Christian life, not because they earn us the approval of God, but rather that they create conduits for the Spirit's life to course through our lives. Regular intake of Bible truth, consistent times of meditation and worship, faithfully gathering with other Believers for corporate worship, giving of our time and resources, and confession are among those choices we make that allows the work of the renovation of the heart to proceed. (thanks to Dallas Willard for that great phrase!)
Are you disappointed in yourself or another today? Are you ready to condemn that person as inferior or terrible? Are you ready to crawl into a place of personal shame, feeling the awful ache of condemnation? Don't! There is no solution in that response to your sin or the sins of others. Instead, look to the Spirit, invite Him into the situation. Let Him reveal the sin that is causing the dysfunction. And pray earnestly that Jesus Christ will come with the power to defeat the world systems, the seductions of the sinful nature, and the deceptions of the Devil. Rest, don't wrestle!
For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Life and Light. Only God can grant us the life of His Holy Spirit that consistently defeats sin that seeks to dominate us. So, since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25 NIV)
_____________________________
Change my heart, oh God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God,
May I be like You.
You are the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.
Change my heart, oh God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God,
May I be like You.
© 1982 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services) CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, May 06, 2005
For Real!
Years ago, I bought a gold ring that was inset with diamonds for $19. No, it wasn't 'hot.' (stolen) You guessed it. It isn't real gold and they aren't real diamonds, but hey -- from 6 or 8 feet away, who could tell? It looks like the real thing, until you take a close look. Then, the fact that it is an imitation is obvious even to the untrained eye. There are plenty of imitations in our world. You can buy a pint of imitation vanillin flavor for the same price as a couple of ounces of real vanilla extract- but there is no comparing the flavor difference. You can buy an imitation Rolex watch on the streets of New York City for a few dollars, but a real one will cost several thousands.
I love real people. OK, you're scratching your head wondering, "What other kind are there? Robots? Fake people?" Yes, the world is filled with people who are just shells, images without substance, pretenders who work at hiding their true selves behind titles and tales; suits and surgeries. My heart breaks for these sad souls who have to work so hard to be somebody they are not, in vain attempts to gain the approval of people they don't even like.
Real people have learned to be 'at home' in their own skin. They don't have to prove anything, play a role, or have rhinoplasty. (Look it up and smile!) Real people know that they are more than the kind of car they drive and the job that they hold. Real people can be difficult because they are so resistant to the games too many of us play. You can't manipulate a real person because she is not responsive to peer pressure. Then, too, real people live and tell the truth which makes some of us very uncomfortable. They don't pretend to see the Emperor's new clothes, they just acknowledge that he's naked!
(If you don't know that story you can read it at http://hca.gilead.org.il/emperor.html)
Being authentic is important for Believers! The opposite is hypocrisy, which Jesus condemned more harshly than any other sin! When He met the Pharisees who were expert religious fakes, He was not gentle. In The Message, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible, Jesus' outrage at these pious frauds comes through. Take a look.
I love real people. OK, you're scratching your head wondering, "What other kind are there? Robots? Fake people?" Yes, the world is filled with people who are just shells, images without substance, pretenders who work at hiding their true selves behind titles and tales; suits and surgeries. My heart breaks for these sad souls who have to work so hard to be somebody they are not, in vain attempts to gain the approval of people they don't even like.
Real people have learned to be 'at home' in their own skin. They don't have to prove anything, play a role, or have rhinoplasty. (Look it up and smile!) Real people know that they are more than the kind of car they drive and the job that they hold. Real people can be difficult because they are so resistant to the games too many of us play. You can't manipulate a real person because she is not responsive to peer pressure. Then, too, real people live and tell the truth which makes some of us very uncomfortable. They don't pretend to see the Emperor's new clothes, they just acknowledge that he's naked!
(If you don't know that story you can read it at http://hca.gilead.org.il/emperor.html)
Being authentic is important for Believers! The opposite is hypocrisy, which Jesus condemned more harshly than any other sin! When He met the Pharisees who were expert religious fakes, He was not gentle. In The Message, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible, Jesus' outrage at these pious frauds comes through. Take a look.
- “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that’s wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?
- “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.
- “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh." Matthew 23:23-27
Wow! What would Jesus say to some of us who are so skilled at putting on the religious show on Sunday? Just reading those words makes me shudder!
Here's the great truth. Though being honest with ourselves and others about who we are and what we've done is very hard, it is the first step to change. The Bible calls it 'confession.' John wrote about 'confessing our sins,' (1 John 1.9) and in the Greek text which is the New Testament's original language, he uses the word 'homologeo.' which means 'same word.' How does that connect? God wants us to 'say the same word' as He does about who we are and what we have done. He knows us - inside and out - beyond our pretending and our image. He says, "Agree with Me about your true self, and then, I can start the work of restoring you to a state of being genuine, of bearing my image as I intended!"
The #1 objection to authenticity is this - 'but if people really know me, they won't like me.' Mostly that's because we do not like ourselves! We think we are too fat, too thin, too dumb, too ugly, too shy, too tall, too short, too.... I've heard it all. Hidden inside of us, is a person God made to fill a specific place in this world. We sin against Him when we try to become somebody else. Yes, who He made us to be is damaged by sin, our own and who sin against us. The thing with sin is not to pretend or cover it up, but rather to own it and let the Son shine in. He will bring us His hope, His healing, and His restoration of the image of God that we were meant to bear, forgiving us and loving us, so we can liberally love and forgive others.
Are you a fake? Let God love you to reality.He knows the 'real' you so why not admit who you are to Him, and then to yourself?
Real is a beautiful thing - truly!
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Idolatry of perfection
"Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly."- G. K. Chesterton The phrase arrested me!
Everywhere I turn I am challenged to excellence, urged to compete, compared to the best, inspected, poked, prodded.... and that's not all bad. But, there is a place for doing what we do, being who we are, without comparing, without measuring. Years ago, I stopped playing golf. There were many reasons but the primary one was that I did not play well enough. I knew I didn't have the time or money to invest in developing the skills that would allow me to be a good (by prevailing standards) golfer. I loved spending three hours puttering around the course, and I really did not give a care if I shot a 9 on a par 5! But, not many of my follow golfers wanted a guy along on the course who was just out hitting the ball and soaking up sunshine. I wasn't a 'serious' golfer. I let the pressure of competition steal a simple pleasure from me.
My wife teaches 1st grade. She feels constant pressure to make each of the little ones learn all their subjects to the same high degree of proficiency. Never mind that tiny Sally is an artist for whom math is an exercise in torture. Mark's passion is reading but he must draw! They must all get good grades in all subjects regardless of natural interests or abilities. The joy of learning and collaboration is lost to little marks on a paper that determines if Sally and Mark are 'good' students. This is the tragedy of modern education.
A small church of a 100 or so enthusiastic Christians may be a wonderfully healthy Body nurturing people into a relationship with God that is deep and authentic, but that little congregation will often destroy the joy and health of who they are by trying to become the next mega-church-- going into debt, taking on ministries -- because that what 'churches of excellence' do. Instead of being the church that God ordained them to be, they feel they must be the church that Christianity Today magazine lauds in the lead article of the most recent issue.
The idolatry of perfection creeps into everything, turning our focus onto ourselves away from the service of God. The result is that fewer of us live joyful, committed, and fulfilled lives. Instead we are perpetually desperate, anxious, and cranky!
Are you starting to get my point today?
Everywhere I turn I am challenged to excellence, urged to compete, compared to the best, inspected, poked, prodded.... and that's not all bad. But, there is a place for doing what we do, being who we are, without comparing, without measuring. Years ago, I stopped playing golf. There were many reasons but the primary one was that I did not play well enough. I knew I didn't have the time or money to invest in developing the skills that would allow me to be a good (by prevailing standards) golfer. I loved spending three hours puttering around the course, and I really did not give a care if I shot a 9 on a par 5! But, not many of my follow golfers wanted a guy along on the course who was just out hitting the ball and soaking up sunshine. I wasn't a 'serious' golfer. I let the pressure of competition steal a simple pleasure from me.
My wife teaches 1st grade. She feels constant pressure to make each of the little ones learn all their subjects to the same high degree of proficiency. Never mind that tiny Sally is an artist for whom math is an exercise in torture. Mark's passion is reading but he must draw! They must all get good grades in all subjects regardless of natural interests or abilities. The joy of learning and collaboration is lost to little marks on a paper that determines if Sally and Mark are 'good' students. This is the tragedy of modern education.
A small church of a 100 or so enthusiastic Christians may be a wonderfully healthy Body nurturing people into a relationship with God that is deep and authentic, but that little congregation will often destroy the joy and health of who they are by trying to become the next mega-church-- going into debt, taking on ministries -- because that what 'churches of excellence' do. Instead of being the church that God ordained them to be, they feel they must be the church that Christianity Today magazine lauds in the lead article of the most recent issue.
The idolatry of perfection creeps into everything, turning our focus onto ourselves away from the service of God. The result is that fewer of us live joyful, committed, and fulfilled lives. Instead we are perpetually desperate, anxious, and cranky!
Are you starting to get my point today?
- We don't age with grace because baldness, thick waist lines, and wrinkles are not acceptable in the modern standard of perfection of perpetual youthfulness. Says who? It's the way of life that youth gives way to age and God's plan is that the deficits that come with aging are offset by the strength of wisdom! Proverbs observes- 16:31 "Gray hair is a mark of distinction, the award for a God-loyal life."
- We can't let our kids be ordinary (almost a curse word to some!) because to do so is to fail to push them to their potential. So, conforming to the ways of the world, we make them neurotic performers who don't know the joy of doing anything just 'for the fun of it;' who spend the rest of their lives competing and living on the edge of mental breakdown. Imagine saying, "Just play baseball and enjoy it, son." Oh no, we have to ruin Little League for him, making a 9 year old kid play the game like the destiny of the universe rides on whether his team wins!
- We can't rejoice in who we are because we're always focused on what we could be... if only!
- Our spouses suffer under the strain of being compared to that one that is 'so perfect' and we destroy what could be a great relationship trying to make our wife realize that she 'needs' to be thinner, neater, .... etc. We miss the treasure we have, because we are comparing.
- Our Christian lives are full of stress and strain as we measure and compare ourselves to others. God's will is that we surrender to the Spirit's call and allow Him to use us - just as we are, right where we are- for His purposes.
"Jerry," you say, "I am shocked that you would applaud mediocrity." If that what you're thinking, I've communicated poorly or you've jumped to the wrong conclusion. It's not mediocrity that I'm urging on us today. It is acceptance of who we are and contentment in the situations in which we find ourselves at this moment. God has a plan for each one of us, and we can't all be the President of the United States or evangelist Billy Graham!
The Bible reminds us that "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ’s body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?" (1 Cor. 12:12-16 NLT )
If we attempt, in the name of excellence, to be someone that we are not called or equipped to be, we will miss out on the great joy that comes to those who are humble - that is, no more and no less than God calls them to be.
Let me urge you today to ask God who He is asking you to be, without comparison to some external standard of 'excellence.' Rejoice in the spiritual gifts and opportunities He has presented to you and be the person He wants, not the person others are demanding you become. Give up the need to be recognized, to 'win' the award, to earn applause - except the applause of Heaven earned as we perform for the Audience of One.
In this humility and contentment we will find that life is much more pleasant for us and for all those around us. AND, I am absolutely convinced, that in the end, we will accomplish more, and what we do, because it is done for God, will be of lasting value!
Are you worshipping the idol of perfectionism?
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Love's strength
Telemachus, a monk who lived in the 5th century, journeyed to Rome. He went to the Coliseum where the bloody gladiatorial contests were waged, killing for public entertainment. The sight so deeply offended him that he jumped into the arena. There are several variations in the story of what happened next. In some tellings, he put himself between two gladiators shouting that the contest must stop in the name of Christ, and was run through with their swords. In other tellings he implored the crowds to go home and never return to the games. Their bloodlust was so great that they stoned the monk to death. Whatever account is true, the end result was that Honorius, the Emperor, was so moved by this display of sacrificial love that he put an end to the murderous games forever.
Such is the transforming power of real love! Jesus said that it would be the quality of our love that would be the undeniable distinguishing mark that we were His followers. In the first three centuries of the Christian church this was certainly true. Believers had no worldly power structure, no cathedrals in which to worship, no wealth with which to fund armies or professionals, no official hierarchy to promulgate the faith. Christianity thrived because those who put their faith in Jesus were radically changed by His love and went into a cruel and violent world armed with nothing but love. Followers of Jesus rejected any solution to evil that required power or violence. Instead they looked for the places where need existed and served sacrifically. The sick found compassionate care in the homes of Believers. The outcasts were welcomed. Abandoned children were adopted. Love was more than a feeling! Love was a verb that worked hard, at great personal cost. The world was changed by the power of love.
This quality is beyond the sentimental impulse so often confused with genuine love. It comes from a place much deeper than the warm fuzzy feelings produced by a greeting card poem. Transforming love is borne of an encounter with God. It is sustained by ongoing intimacy with God's Spirit where our heart is made tender by the application of His grace. "We love," John says, "because He first loved us." If this kind of love is cultivated and allowed to flourish in our lives, we will be transformed and we will become world-changers! Our children will not abandon our faith as so much silly and/or superficial ritual aimed at getting into Heaven, someday when we die, by and by.
Love will give our lives depth and texture that is so compelling that others will long to live with the same intensity. Was it her beauty, wealth, or political power that made Mother Teresa universally admired in the last two decades of the 20th century? Of course not! Her life was lived completely in the two loves that Jesus said were at the heart of a life rightly lived- love for God and love for others. Love compelled that little woman to serve the least, the low, the loveless and love gave her access to kings and Presidents whose power was eclipsed by that of a diminutive nun from Calcutta. Once when she was asked about her hard work, she said, I pray that you will understand the words of Jesus, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Ask yourself “How has he loved me? Do I really love others in the same way?” Unless this love is among us, we can kill ourselves with work and it will only be work, not love. Work without love is slavery.
I have much to learn about love! But I rejoice that I am not who I was, and that I am not yet all I will be! Thanks be to God who loves me with transforming love. He loves you, too. Are you letting that love change your heart?
________________________________________________
1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete.
But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
Such is the transforming power of real love! Jesus said that it would be the quality of our love that would be the undeniable distinguishing mark that we were His followers. In the first three centuries of the Christian church this was certainly true. Believers had no worldly power structure, no cathedrals in which to worship, no wealth with which to fund armies or professionals, no official hierarchy to promulgate the faith. Christianity thrived because those who put their faith in Jesus were radically changed by His love and went into a cruel and violent world armed with nothing but love. Followers of Jesus rejected any solution to evil that required power or violence. Instead they looked for the places where need existed and served sacrifically. The sick found compassionate care in the homes of Believers. The outcasts were welcomed. Abandoned children were adopted. Love was more than a feeling! Love was a verb that worked hard, at great personal cost. The world was changed by the power of love.
This quality is beyond the sentimental impulse so often confused with genuine love. It comes from a place much deeper than the warm fuzzy feelings produced by a greeting card poem. Transforming love is borne of an encounter with God. It is sustained by ongoing intimacy with God's Spirit where our heart is made tender by the application of His grace. "We love," John says, "because He first loved us." If this kind of love is cultivated and allowed to flourish in our lives, we will be transformed and we will become world-changers! Our children will not abandon our faith as so much silly and/or superficial ritual aimed at getting into Heaven, someday when we die, by and by.
Love will give our lives depth and texture that is so compelling that others will long to live with the same intensity. Was it her beauty, wealth, or political power that made Mother Teresa universally admired in the last two decades of the 20th century? Of course not! Her life was lived completely in the two loves that Jesus said were at the heart of a life rightly lived- love for God and love for others. Love compelled that little woman to serve the least, the low, the loveless and love gave her access to kings and Presidents whose power was eclipsed by that of a diminutive nun from Calcutta. Once when she was asked about her hard work, she said, I pray that you will understand the words of Jesus, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Ask yourself “How has he loved me? Do I really love others in the same way?” Unless this love is among us, we can kill ourselves with work and it will only be work, not love. Work without love is slavery.
I have much to learn about love! But I rejoice that I am not who I was, and that I am not yet all I will be! Thanks be to God who loves me with transforming love. He loves you, too. Are you letting that love change your heart?
________________________________________________
1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete.
But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
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