"I'm offended!"

Not long ago, I came to a car attempting a left hand turn across a busy highway at an intersection that was marked 'no left turn.' Thinking perhaps the other driver had not seen the sign I sounded the horn, not a blaring blast, just a gentle 'toot!' and pointed to the sign. The other driver abandoned his quest to make an illegal turn and proceeded to chase me for a few miles. I slowed to just let him pass, but he wouldn't. Instead he drove alongside of my car, waving, shouting, and making obscene gestures. I smiled, waved, and continued to drive, commenting to my wife that that man must have been having a bad day! I knocked a chip off of his shoulder, for sure.

Got a 'chip on your shoulder?' Some say this phrase dates back to medieval times when a knight would place a piece of wood on his shoulder and dare anyone brave enough to challenge him, to knock it off! Occasionally, the chip was knocked off accidentally by the jostling of a crowd but the hapless person who knocked it off was faced with the nearly impossible task of trying to explain he did not mean to provoke a fight.

In my role as a Pastor I am called to be a peace-maker. It amazes (even amuses) me, sometimes, how worked up people can get over the most minor of perceived slights. Some of us are so insecure, we walk around seeking offense - daring someone to even appear to 'diss' us (slang term for showing disrespect) so we can work up our hurt feelings and become the center of attention for a few moments, at least. I've had to work with Christians who were offended by situations such as: "He failed to greet me in church!" "She didn't extend a return invitation to dinner after I had her to dinner." "Her son called my son stupid." Yes, these are situations where courtesy failed, where someone was overlooked, but are they really a reason to call attention to yourself?

Things that set us off are often obscure or meaningless to others. When my brother, Andre', was little, about age 6, he hated to be called a 'green pig.' Of course, being 5 years older, I took delight in calling him a 'green pig,' just to hear him wail. Why did he hate that silly phrase? Who knows? I would even imagine he doesn't remember it today, but it was a sure way to offend him in 1966! Call him a 'green pig' today and he'll laugh and wonder if you're crazy. Are you letting obscure things cause offense, even when others have no idea what or why is causing your distress?

I've heard dozens of variations in the complaint over this "offense:" "I was sick and missed church for two weeks and no one called to see how I was doing." A couple of things make that complaint of offense particularly interesting - often it comes from someone who is so marginally involved, who contributes so little to the life of the church that, indeed, their presence was not missed. They could change that by becoming a participant instead of a spectator. The other factor that makes that complaint curious is that these people universally don't call to let anyone know they're in need! It would be funny, if it weren't so pathetic.

But, then, I remember times when I have allowed offense to take root in my heart over equally inconsequential things. Offense is not just a human relationship issue; it is a spiritual issue! I have realized that I am much more likely to be offended when I am not walking in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I am convinced that the Evil One likes nothing better than to stir controversy between people - in marriage, in ministry, in neighborhoods, in churches, even in families. Why? Because an offended person is capable of sowing chaos that can ruin good organizations, that can cause close groups to disintegrate. The Devil spotlights the failure, the lack of simple courtesy, or even the intentional digs that we deal with and we become convinced that our honor and dignity is at stake. Ironically, the more focused we become on preserving our honor, the less honorable we are! There is great dignity displayed by the person who simply refuses to take offense. The Bible says, "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. " (Proverbs 19:11, NKJV)

Secure your heart in the Love of God!
Let His Word convince you how much you matter to Him.
Then, learn to refuse offense. When the Evil One whispers- you're being 'dissed,' - you can silence his chatter in a moment if you know the depth of the Father's love. Learn to forgive readily, as befits one who is forgiven so much by Jesus. In this you please the Lord and become a person who creates harmony, unity, and peace to the glory of God.

And here's a word from the Word to take with you today --
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier.
Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing.
Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:37-38, The Message)

More than anything?

If asked today, 'what is your life about? what do you hope to be accomplished in your living?' could you answer cogently, succinctly, readily? Would you need to scratch your head, think, fumble and perhaps come up with something by tomorrow, or could you say with conviction and certainty - 'this is why I live?' In the 1991 comedy about mid-life crisis starring Billy Crystal- "City Slickers," we met Curly Washington, the gnarly cowboy, who held up his index finger and challenged the city slickers on the cattle drive to know 'the one thing,' that life was about, enigmatically leaving that 'one thing' unspecified. It was part of the humor! We laughed at Jack Palance's portrayal of the wise cowboy who couldn't quite say what he meant.

Life is about focus, about bringing all the various parts of ourselves in line with the one thing! Too many of us live scattered or fragmented lives and, as a result, have little real impact on the world. Lacking a unifying purpose, we serve many masters and, in the process of trying to pleasing each one, satisfy none! Kierkegaard, the philosopher, observed that "to will one thing" produces purity of heart. What does he mean? We must live with the desire to love God as THE one thing that over-rides all others in our minds and hearts.

The Scripture says, "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8, NIV) A contemporary translation amplifies the meaning for us: "Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field." (James 4:8, The Message)

God wants to the One Love of our life, the One that we are focused on, and 'round Whom all other things are oriented. Jesus said it profoundly - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and heart." The love of which He spoke is not the sentiment of the greeting card or the warm fuzzy feeling provoked by some family picture. It is the choice to submit and serve.

At the beginning of this week, I encourage you to spend time prayerfully, thoughtfully, inviting the Holy Spirit's aid to evaluate your life in light of God's love. Be scrupulous, tough on yourself!

As you look through your daily planner, ask - does the way that I organize my time reflect that I love God more than anyone or anything else?

As you review your financial choices, look for evidence that you are demonstrating your love for God with your spending.

Sort through the attitudes of your heart and honestly review them to see if they are submitted to your love of God.

Jesus promised that God's holy commandments would be fulfilled in us completely, IF we commit ourselves to loving God as THE priority choice in life. Does the Lord sense that you are torn between two loves, that you are fragmented because you love yourself more than Him, or that you love pleasure more than Him, or that you love ___________ (what idol seduces you?) more than Him?

Fads, fashions, and trends will come and go. If we are slaves to those things, our lives will be full of instability as we shift our compass to point to the 'new true North' dictated by society. However, God's purpose never changes. His high calling is constant, steady, and consistent. Those who are oriented to His Truth, are drawn on steadily, with a course that is trued and straight.
____________________

"Father, many voices call to us from the periphery of our lives.
Many who would be our masters, ask for our loyalties.Good things and people ask us to fulfill their agendas.We need your wisdom to find the one thing that is necessary.
Speak to us clearly, patiently, yes, Lord- persistently.

And, help us, oh, help us to focus on loving You,
more than anything or anyone else.
As we live with competing demands of
home, family, church, and business;
become the One Unifying focus for us and in us.
Be the Lord of Life,
not merely in the words of our worship songs,
but in the work of our hands.
in the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen."

Identified with the Poor

Who is my neighbor? What responsibility do I have, if any, for people who are on the other side of town, or in a ghetto across the state, or locked into poverty in some developing nation? The issue it addresses isn't one we can settle in a moment. It goes to the very core of our lifestyle and daily choices. To be honest, it's an issue I do not like to think about because I know there is much to change in me! I pray as you read this today, it will get under your skin and drive you to thoughtful prayer- and real action.

(The next three paragraphs were inspired by a message written by Leonard Sweet. I have edited the content for space and clarity.)

• Living High and Letting Die: Our Illusion of Innocence (Peter Unger, Oxford UP, 1997) has been called the state-of-the-art treatment of "how much the well off should sacrifice for the world's most needy" by one reviewer. Unger argues that the world's most serious moral problem is poverty. He claims that in our world 20 million people starve to death each year and one billion live in impoverished conditions where hunger, sickness, and early death are daily companions. And, he says, we (who have more) are morally obligated to work to help those in desperate situations.
  
  Most of us have received those envelopes in the mail that appeal to us to give to an aid agency. With a contribution equivalent to the cost of one meal at an expensive restaurant ($100), the agency will buy vaccines, food or oral hydration therapy which will save the lives of many children. Unger says that getting that envelope is much like driving along the road and seeing a child drowning in a shallow pond. At that moment, you have two options -- drive on, or wade in to save the child. However, if you go in after the child, you ruin the clothes you're wearing. But, what good person would even think about the cost of a set of clothes when a child's life is at stake? Most of us would give up a meal at our favorite restaurant, or even two, to please God by saving a child's life, wouldn't we? And yet, we casually toss the appeal into the trash- 'driving by' the dying children, in essence.
  
  But Unger pushes the case farther: You're driving along a deserted country road in a vintage car that you have lovingly and painstakingly restored. Suddenly you come upon a man who has ripped open his leg on a rusty barbed wire fence and is bleeding profusely. If you do not stop, the likelihood is that he will die. What do you do? Do you pick him up in your mint-condition, restored beauty, put him on those leather seats, knowing that they will now be ruined? Or do you go on hoping someone else will rescue him because 'it is not your problem.' The morality of the case is clear to all but the most calloused. If morality requires us to ruin our suit or the interior of our car to aid someone in distress who is immediate to us, why don't most of us feel similarly morally obliged to aid starving people who live far from us?

There are a host of reasons that we use to excuse our lack of concern for the poor, especially the poor far from us.

There are so many of them that we begin to think that helping a few makes no difference. The nameless, faceless masses are less compelling to us emotionally than one child. Is saving one really less important if we cannot save a million?

Then, too, if we cannot see our funds being used, and we know of corruption and greed in so many places, we decide that we will not get involved. Does the real fact that some resources will be mis-appropriated, wasted, or stolen let us off the hook so we can keep them in our own savings account?

We have learned to reason (wrongly, I should add) that the poor somehow 'deserve' their fate, either because of irresponsibility or immorality or perhaps even, God's judgment. Such ideas are seldom voiced because they sound so much worse when we actually say them, than they do when we think them! But, there are people who believe that their wealth, status, or privilege is a sign of God's approval/blessing and thus, need not be shared!

In the context of spiritual knowledge Jesus said, “Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given." (Luke 12:48, NLT) We do not wrongly mis-use the Word by applying this principle to our wealth or privilege. The more that is entrusted to us, the more accountable we to God for the way in which we dispose of it.

Years ago, at Creation Festival, I heard Tony Campolo speak. He told of a young man who was in a couple of his classes who was brilliant and gifted. He planned to become a medical doctor so he could use the skills to heal the sick in some poor country. As Campolo tracked the young man's progress, he watched him reach the goal of getting his medical degree, then complete his residency; but curiously this bright doctor lost sight of serving and was trained in a lucrative practice of plastic surgery, doing body enhancements! He used the brilliance, the skills, the education to produce wealth for himself by making wealthy people more beautiful. In the way that only Tony Campolo can do it, he summed up his story by asking a question that was both humorous and yet so provoking that it has lingered in my mind all these years....

" Can you imagine being that man standing before Christ someday to give account for the way he used what God gave to him in the way of advantages, skills, and talents and having to say, 'Well, Lord, I used the gifts you gave me to give rich women bigger breasts!'?"

When I stand before Jesus, I want to hold my head up because I have used the gifts He gave to me, to lift up another. I leave you with this word from the Word today.
May it pierce our minds and hearts and become the catalysts for revolutionary compassion....
__________________________

Matthew 25:33-40 (The Message)-

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father!
Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom.
It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation.

And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say,

‘Master, what are you talking about?
When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink?
And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’

Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth:
Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
___________________________

Want some additional food for thought? See www.one.org for an interesting initiative.

The Mark

During a conversation yesterday a mature Believer and I were musing about the general levels of commitment within the Church. A widely accepted statistic is that about a third of Americans claim to be disciples of Jesus who believe the Bible is the Truth. That stat has to wrong! I am convinced that if 33% of Americans were serious about their faith and communing with the Spirit of God on a daily basis, most of our national problems would have disappeared. My assumption is that there is too much 'head' faith and not nearly enough 'heart' faith. As our talk continued, the man asked, "How many in our congregation would you say are really walking with Jesus?" I couldn't get away from the question for the rest of the afternoon. Because the next logical one, at least for me, is - "How do you measure that? How do you quantify 'good Christian?'"

The easy way is to take the road of the Pharisees, who earned scathing rebukes from Jesus for their faith practices. They measured another's spirituality by how well they kept the Law of Moses (or at least the Law as they interpreted it). If you attended synagogue, gave your tithe, were faithful in your marriage, observed the Sabbath rules, etc. - you were 'good.' Hey, that works for me, too. What's not to like about a person who goes to church, gives in the offering, and goes home to their wife every night?

Don't misunderstand, Jesus didn't condemn those things! What He pointed out - time after time - was that a person could live a moral, scrupulously outwardly respectable life and still be full of self, ignoring both God and other people! He said, "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." Matthew 23:24-26 NIV

Oh, that hurts! Looking good on the outside, while still filthy on the inside. Saying all the right words, but not really doing the work of letting those words do the spiritual work of transforming our hearts and renewing our minds is a first level grievance to God. If I may extrapolate a lesson from what Jesus says, one might this-- "It's none of my business to judge who is a 'good' Christian because I can't see the heart which is what matters most."

But Jesus did say that there would be a mark that is visible! Yes, it is true. So, what visibly marks a 'good' Christian if not the religious works that are so commonly accepted as indicators of spiritual transformation? Jesus said it was love.

A good Christian loves God more than anything in the world -- more than his wealth, more than his reputation, more than his family, more than himself! "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."

And, a good Christian loves people as deeply as he loves himself. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"

Truely right living will take care of itself IF we let God's Spirit work out the demands of these loves in our lives. What may seem a simple directive becomes a powerful life guide when we think through its implications. In fact the whole of God's demands on us will be satisfied, Jesus said, if we love God and others genuinely. -- All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” -Matthew 22:37-40 "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35 NLT)

I'm going to leave the question hanging today - "Are you a good Christian?" Make sure you use Jesus' evaluation standard when you start to answer. Your temptation will be to point out your goodness, your morality, your faithfulness -- and to ignore your failures, your sins, and the disappointments. If you do that, you may well polish the outside of the cup to a gleaming brilliance, but the inside will still be "maggoty with your greed and gluttony. ... Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something." MSG
______________________
Power Of Your Love- Bullock, Geoff

Lord, I come to You,
Let my heart be changed, renewed;
Flowing from the grace
That I've found in You;
And Lord, I've come to know,
The weaknesses I see in me,
Will be stripped away
By the pow'r of Your love.
Lord, unveil my eyes,
Let me see You face to face,
The knowledge of Your love
As You live in me.

Lord, renew my mind,
As Your will unfolds in my life,
In living ev'ry day
In the pow'r of Your love.

Hold me close,
Let Your love surround me;
Bring me near,
Draw me to Your side;
And as I wait,
I'll rise up like the eagle,
And I will soar with You,
Your Spirit leads me on
In the pow'r of Your love.

© 1992 Word Music, Inc.
(Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Maranatha! Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) CCLI License No. 810055

Zonked?

"Doonesbury" is one of my daily stops along the way through the newspaper. One of the inhabitants of the comic strip is Zonker Harris, who once described college as 'nine of the best years of my life.' Ironically, he does his best to be the proto-typical loser, resisting the challenge of being a productive member of the human race, focusing all of his skills on 'important' things like getting the most uniform suntan in Malibu. In a recent series, Zonker attempted to hold a real job but found the challenge of busing tables at a restaurant beyond his stamina.

I am the anti-Zonker! It is tough for me to take a whole day off, never mind focusing on something as trivial as shooting in the low-80's on the golf course! My work-aholism is not necessarily admirable; but I am glad that my life has a higher purpose. I am engaged in a life and death struggle to build the kingdom of God. Sounds dramatic, doesn't it? It isn't! It is very pedestrian, a war that is primarily waged in my choices to do the right thing, moment by moment, in my heart, my home, my marriage, my ministry. Most of the time, this isn't about epic battles and headline grabbing moments that change the course of world history. Truthfully, in my quest to do God's will, on some days I am more successful than others. I am determined, however, to live for the ultimate win, by God's grace.

Paul urges all of us to get a grasp of the eternal issues that are involved in 'ordinary' daily decisions, to see our lives as the field where God meets evil, and to choose to be a winner for Him. Read his words slowly, with understanding.... "Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." He asks the Corinthians, "Have you been down to the stadium and watched the athletes there?" Drawing on that metaphor, he states, "They put themselves through all kinds of rigorous exercise to win a prize that last just a season. We are pursuing a prize that will last into Eternity."

That means getting serious about life. And how does Paul do that? Take a look... "Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1 Corinthians 9:23-27, NIV) What a phrase! "I beat my body!" Sounds a little twisted, doesn't it? No, not really. He acknowledges that to push for the eternal win, the appetites of the body will have to be subjugated to the work of the Spirit. Our bodies whine and whimper, demanding that we coddle and comfort them, that we indulge their desires for food, sex, pleasure, and sleep.

Don't go off the deep end yet. There's nothing wrong with keeping well-fed, making love to your spouse, or getting a good night's rest. I don't think that the medieval ascetics who lived in bug-infested, cold rooms without bathing were on the right track towards spiritual victory, either! But, creature comforts aren't the highest goals in life. In Zonker's world, which is where a lot of people live, they are the meaning of life. For the Believer, they are secondary to doing God's will so that the Kingdom of God prevails.

Are living for the real win or are you Zonked, avoiding the hard issues by losing yourself in trivial pursuits?

"Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.
I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line.
I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me!
I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. "(1 Corinthians 9:24-27, The Message)

Learning to say, "No!"

Tell a toddler firmly, "no!" and watch the tears flow. Is he sad? Probably not, just frustrated. By age 2, self-will has taken root deep in his heart so that he wants to do what he wants! I raised 4 children and I loved being able to say, "yes," to their desires, however, as one charged with looking out for their best interests, from time to time, I had to say, "No." That was fun (not!) when they were 16 and determined to have their way. Living with pouting, sulking, and/or silence isn't very enjoyable. Sometimes I knew they understood the need for a 'no' but they lacked the resolve and/or maturity to make the right decision on their own, so I had to help them say it.

Americans are deeply in debt and a large of percentage of us are overweight. Why? Because we can't say no effectively to ourselves. There are certainly exceptions in both cases, but mostly we are what we are because we consume too much- financially and physically. (Please keep reading.) This has a spiritual effect in our lives. Because we are so accustomed to saying, "yes" to ourselves, because have so confused our true needs with our wants; we have little tolerance for inconvenience or difficulty that often accompanies knowing and doing God's will. In order to please God by saying, "yes" to Him, we will have to learn to say, "no" to our self will and our craving for pleasure. We cannot have it all; choices must be made.

We say, "I can't afford to tithe, to care for the poor, or support world missions. I have no extra money." (Please don't stop reading yet.) Most of the time what that really means is, "I've already committed my finances to my own needs and I won't say, 'No' to myself so I can say, 'Yes' to God." Bev and I learned the joy of tithing when we were poor. We gave God the first 10% of our income from the beginning of our marriage, committing to tithe first, and then to live on what was left. There were times when we wanted a new car, a vacation, or a college fund for the kids that simply was out of reach in our budget. The commitment of a substantial part of income stream to the Lord was a tempting place to do a reallocation, but that option was quickly rejected with "no" because we had already said a prior, "yes" that was inviolable.

We say, "I can't take on responsibility for some work of service or ministry, my schedule is simply too full." Again, that is usually translated, "I've already filled up my leisure time with things I want to do and I won't say 'no' to any of those things so I can use the spiritual gifts I have to glorify God." It's easy to insist that nearly everyday is full, but the people I talk to have time to watch TV, engage in sports activities, etc. There's nothing wrong with either of those things, but IF a Believer says, "I can't serve," and yet has time to watch TV several hours a week or play sports for hours each week, he's simply not being honest with himself about his true priorities. (Please keep reading.)

Modern Christians have mostly discarded a spiritual discipline - Fasting. We say that fasting is too legalistic, too rule-bound, too focused on religious acts. It can be. Like any good discipline, fasting can be turned into a show of 'spirituality' to earn the ooh's and aah's of others. Some people crave this kind of comment- "Look at how thin, he is. He is on day 30 of a 40 day fast. Wow, he's so spiritual." Others think that fasting a day a week proves to God how much they love Him or gives them some kind of leverage in their prayers. "Look, God, I go hungry for a full 24 hours every week, just for you." He doesn't care!

Fasting isn't for others and it's not for God, it's for us. When we fast, we teach ourselves that we won't die because we deprive ourselves of some food, some pleasure, or some creature comfort. Fasting helps us to say 'no' more effectively to ourselves so we are more readily able to say a joyful 'yes' to God! Because fasting a discipline that is primarily for ourselves, Jesus told us to keep it private! He said, “when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you." (Matthew 6:16-18, NLT) Note, His words were not, "If you fast," but rather, "when you fast." We desperately need this discipline today.

Realize that fasting touches many areas of life beyond food. (Hey, I see you're still reading. Thanks.) We can apply fasting to our entertainment. For example, we can commit to turning off our TV for day a week. We can commit to a week without sugary desserts. We can make a choice not to buy something we can afford, just for the sake of discipline, choosing instead to give that money to God's work. Real maturity is shown in the ability to delay gratification. I knew my children were ready to take on more responsibility for their own choices when I saw them able to make choices that involved a long-term goal. And that maturity gained them new freedom!

IF you and I learn to say 'no' to ourselves, it may look like a terrible thing, but actually we are gaining freedom! A person who has figured out that he will live without that fat treat, is free to live in a more healthy way. A person who has learned to say 'no' to his cravings and lusts, has gained the freedom to embrace the will of God joyfully. Here's a word from the Word to take with you today -- "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ," (Titus 2:11-13, NIV)

Bursting into flame

Fire may smolder, hidden away, with just barely enough heat to cause a few fibers to burn in a slow, smoky, almost imperceptible way. But when the glowing embers burn to the surface, uncovering a source of oxygen, a spectacular burst of fire springs up almost instantaneously! Anger hidden the human heart is just like that.

Recently I spoke with a man whose heart smolders with resentment against his wife. She, likewise, carries deep-seated anger that is just below the surface even admitting to me that she 'hates' him, but at the same time she says, "I'm not really angry. I'm just hurt." They occupy the same house, but speak only in curt tones, cutting each other down when given the opportunity. The slow burn of resentment grows a little every day, assuring that there will almost certainly be be a 'fire' that destroys their lives. When the conflagration comes, they'll will say, "It just burst over us, coming from nowhere!" The truth is that the embers are growing hotter right now, but they will not admit they are angry! If they did, they would be compelled to follow through and seek a solution, which neither is ready to do -yet. Tragically, the fire could be quenched now, but once it rages out of control, their marriage and lives will likely be consumed.

Anger is one of the emotions that people deny most often. We relabel it, refer it, excuse it ... anything but face it. "I'm not angry, just upset," one woman told me during a counseling session in which she alternated between tears of frustration and rage so intense it made her incoherent! "I'm indignant," another person told me when describing how their adult son repeatedly took advantage of his mother. Both people were angry, deeply so, but because anger is a frightening emotion, and usually regarded as 'bad,' these people would not admit to the obvious.

Anger is a legitimate human emotion. A person who is incapable of anger is pathetic, a victim for everybody that comes along life's road. Anger helps us gather the courage to make change, to right wrongs, to seek justice. Anger is an emotion that is close to love. Surprised? We get angry only about situations that involve things or people we care about. Apathy literally means without feelings and leaves us half-dead! Ungodly anger is destructive exactly because it is selfish, a twisted expression of self-love that explodes when we feel inconvenienced or when our will is frustrated. Last Saturday I grew angry because my expensive eyeglasses were missing. My anger reflected the fact that I valued the item, but it was totally misfocused because I was ready to blame anyone but myself for misplacing the object!!

Deeply godly men and women will become passionately angry when the weak are abused, when others are oppressed or robbed of their dignity. Actions that diminish God's honor or that potentially harm those He loves will cause His people to rise up with anger to take corrective anger-- and rightly so! However, the Bible warns us of the potential for danger that accompanies anger. The Scripture says, ...“don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry. (Ephesians 4:26, NLT) Two things are emphasized - we must not lose rational control over anger, for then it flows into rage which is always destructive! And anger must have limits. We can't just 'stay mad' for days on end for that kind of unresolved anger eats away at us - body and soul.

Do you love God enough to grow angry at sin- in yourself and in the world - enough to work hard for change, to weep genuine tears of repentance, to humbly seek the powerful Presence of the Spirit for transformation?
Do you love other enough to get involved, to rise above apathy, even to the extent of feeling angry?
That's good! Now, use that anger to motivate you towards good ends.

Got anger smoldering just below the surface of your life? Are you trying to deny it, or call it something other than what it really is?
Get honest, now. Sure it's not easy facing up to the fact that you're angry at God over some situation in your life which you do not like or over which you feel little control. Admitting that you are really angry with that spouse or child isn't much fun either. Once you admit to it, you will have to do something to resolve the conflict or to move to acceptance - which might mean 'dying to self.' Ugh, nobody enjoys that!

Here's a word to think on today: "Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity."
(Proverbs 14:29, The Message)

You want the keys to my life?

When our kids were still home, going through that awfully wonderful time we label 'the teenage years,' halfway 'tween being a child and an adult, I reminded them repeatedly - "Trust is built over time, destroyed in a moment." I didn't expect them to be perfect, knowing full well they were human beings and thus, prone to failure, liable to make some stupid choices, and likely to succumb to peer pressure at least occasionally. (Just like me!) But I did expect them to be honest with me about the good, the bad, and the ugly - so I could trust them. There are some interesting stories about the deposits and withdrawals we all made in the 'trust' account along the way!

Every relationship in our life depends on trust, even more than love! As we interact with others - be they family members, co-workers, or business partners - we are measuring trustworthiness. Even though we love somebody, love alone is not enough to create a climate of cooperation and collaboration. Sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously, we are deciding if we can lower the gate and grant them greater access to our lives. We are making the choice, all the time, determining are they proving themselves worthy of our confidence? There are people in my life that I love wholeheartedly that I would not even let drive my car!

How do we build trust?

1. - We live with integrity.
We don't have hidden agendas or motives. We don't shade the truth to favor ourselves. We admit to our mistakes. Being around people who are deceptive and manipulative is exhausting because we always have to wonder, "What their angle? What are they really trying to do here?" Integrity - that is, being the same inside and out, in reality and appearance, is basic to gaining and keeping the trust of others.
2. - We are humble.
No, not a self-hating worm, but a person who is in touch with his/her strengths and weaknesses, who knows when he needs help and is willing to ask for it. I've occasionally tried to do something that is beyond my training or capability and failed! That failure erodes trust and when I offer to do something the next time, the question hangs in the air - "Can he, or will he mess this task up, too?"
3. - We keep our promises. It is so easy to make a promise. When somebody presses us to do something, even relatively simple, the best way to make them happy is to say, "Oh, sure, I'll do it." So, we are often likely to over-promise and under-deliver. My experience has taught me to generally expect much less from people than they say. It's not because they are morally deficient! It is because in their eagerness to please they over-promise. It is far better to say up-front, "I would like to help you with that, but I don't have the interest to follow through." We trust people who, in Jesus' words, "Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ (Matthew 5:37, NLT)
4. - We are 'other-centered.'
Nobody should trust a person who is selfish. The moment we sense that another is out for his own reputation, serving his own interest, or feathering her own nest- we withdraw our confidence and start to build walls to protect. Only the person who shows real empathy and the capacity to transcend her own interests is trustworthy.

As I told my teenage children years ago, no one lives this way ALL of the time! We fail because we're human. But, if we hope to retain the trust of others, we must own our mistakes. When we realize we have been selfish, dishonest, or egotistical - we must admit it and seek to make it right. If others fail us and we want to be able to trust them - we must speak truthfully to them, despite the possible pain involved!

One of the side-splitting scenes in the film, Meet the Parents, was when the father character, a retired CIA agent, played by Robert DeNiro is explaining the concept of the 'circle of trust' to his future son-in-law, played by Ben Stiller. As we laughed, we also sensed the truth of the concept. What made the movie a comedy was the paranoia of the father who tried to create trust with constant surveillance of the poor guy who was joining his family. Yes, we must, in the immortal words of former President Reagan, "trust and verify," but ultimately trust comes from character, not from enforcement!

I urge you to take a look at your own 'circle of trust' today. See if you're trusting people who are trustworthy. Determine if you are proving yourself a person who is able to be trusted.

And remember, God is seeking faithful people in whom He can invest eternal riches. How does He know those He can trust?
"Anyone who can be trusted in little matters can also be trusted in important matters. But anyone who is dishonest in little matters will be dishonest in important matters. If you cannot be trusted with this wicked wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?And if you cannot be trusted with what belongs to someone else, who will give you something that will be your own? You cannot be the slave of two masters. You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than to the other. You cannot serve God and money." (Luke 16:10-13, CEV)
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The Gift of Encouragement

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)

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!

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!

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."

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)

"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!

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)
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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

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!

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)

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.

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!

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

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

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.
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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.