Blessed with a dog

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening." (Psalm 92:1-2, NLT) Today, I give thanks for Sam, the Irish Setter, who came to our home in early April. She has brought me much joy! My brother gave Sam to our Dad for Christmas, bringing great delight to him during his illness. When Dad died in February, Mom came to realize that an energetic setter was too much dog for her to handle. I asked if I could adopt her. I’ve wanted to own a ‘real dog’ for a long time. Now, thanks to the generosity of my Mom and my brother, I do! But, I also believe God blessed me with a dog!

I am convinced that the Lord cares about the longings of our heart, that He is the giver of good gifts. To think that He is only the stern Judge, or the disciplinary Father, is to miss much of Who He is. If we only praise Him for the wonderful Cross, for beautiful sunrises, and for majestic mountains, we will soon lose sight that He is our ‘Abba,’ our Heavenly Daddy who delights in us, who knows us by name. Sam makes me laugh, gets me off of my computer and outside for walks, awakens me at 5 am, and goes with me to my office every day. In terms of world need, those things are trivial. In terms of my needs, God gave me a gift that is making a difference in my quality of life!

As much as I love the Truth of the Gospel, I have a deep need to personally and immediately experience the love of Jesus Christ, to sense the Presence of the God who knows me. One way that happens is when He blesses me in ways that are personal, that fulfill my desires. When He does, it is imperative that I give thanks, that I return to bless Him with my gratitude and praise. One of my earthly Dad’s favorite lines from the Psalms was -"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Psalm 37:4, KJV) I heard him quote a thousand times, as he pointed out blessings – great and small – for which he thanked God.

Do you ask God for only great things?
Are you reluctant to present all of your requests to Him, to share your heart’s desires with Him?

Tim Keller, in The Prodigal God, reminds us that Jesus’ first recorded miracle was turning several jars of water into wine for a wedding! He was enabling a family to celebrate life, giving a gift of love, and making festive joy possible. He goes on to write that “Jesus’ salvation is a feast, and therefore when we believe in and rest in His work for us, through the Holy Spirit, He becomes real to our hearts. His love is like honey, or like wine. Rather than only believing that He is loving, we can come to sense the reality, the beauty, the power of His love. His love can become more real to you than the love of anyone else. It can delight, galvanize, and console you. That will lift you up and free you from fear like nothing else.” (pg.108)

You may disagree, but I believe that if He would make wine for a wedding, He could give a preacher a dog! So, I am giving thanks for being blessed with a dog.

Here’s a word from the Word. Take it to heart and present all your requests to Abba, and receive His good gifts with gratitude.
"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."
(Psalm 37:1-6, NIV)
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Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne.

Let those refuse to sing,
Who never knew our God;
But children of the heavenly King,
May speak their joys abroad.

The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets,
Before we reach the heavenly fields,
Or walk the golden streets.

Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We're marching thru Emmanuel's ground,
To fairer worlds on high.

Come We That Love The Lord
Watts, Isaac / Williams, Aaron© Public Domain

Brain food!

Rick (not his real name) and I enjoyed a picnic with our families yesterday. Conversation drifted into politics. As he expounded on his disdain for the current administration and the policies now shaping the nation, it was obvious he believed America was headed in the wrong direction. His daughter interrupted him to explain, “He watches Fox News all day!” He later added that he thinks Rush Limbaugh is, despite his bombast, (his word, not mine!) a man who speaks truth. He loves Sean Hannity. Rick’s views are totally consistent with his source of information. My point here is not to argue with Rick’s politics (nor yours, thanks!) but rather to observe that what he is choosing as brain food has an obvious effect on his view of the world!

Most of us are aware that diet is a big part of the general health of our body. Constant consumption of foods that are loaded with saturated fats will not only increase our likelihood of becoming overweight, it also increases, exponentially, our risk of heart disease. We know that. We also have been taught that good health requires a balanced diet including carbs, proteins, fruits, and vegetables – and some of us have reached the age where we realize the value of fiber, too.

But, I fear we are much less aware of the quality of food that we feed to our mind and spirit! We are foolish if we believe we can consume a steady diet of ‘junk’ and remain spiritually healthy. Disciple, if you’re spending 3 or 4 a day watching the usual television programming that glorifies casual sex, materialism, and violence – it will affect your life! No question about it. What plays as the background music in your home or office, will most certainly enter your brain and change your thoughts. How many times have you found yourself singing a line from a song almost unconsciously, only to realize it just played on the radio or from your PC?

A basic life principle is this: Right thinking always precedes right living. Jesus alludes to that fact when He observes that “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6: 43, 45-46, NIV) We will think clearly, with a view of life that is godly and true only if we choose the right brain food. And, if we are deceived in our thinking, we will not live in a way that leads to an abundant, Spiritually fruitful life.

Change takes time. If potato chips, hotdogs, fries, and cheeseburgers are a person’s steady diet for 25 years, there will be a discernible effect on their physical health. Turning things around will require re-training their taste to appreciate healthier fare, so they will continue to consume a diet that is balanced and full of healthful foods. A week on a good diet won’t change a thing! Only a real, sustained commitment produces weight loss, lower cholesterol levels, and better energy. Likewise, in our spiritual lives, a burst of concern lasting only a few days or weeks, will not produce the desired effect! A holy life, filled with the fruit of the Spirit, will only emerge as we continue to strengthen our heart and mind with the Truth over time.

Here’s a word from the Word that points the way to peace (that is, soundness and wholeness) with God. "Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."
(Philippians 4:8-9, The Message)
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Fill all my vision, Savior divine.
'Til with Thy glory, my Spirit shall shine.
Fill all my vision that all may see,
Thy holy image reflected in me.

Fill all my vision, Savior I pray.
Let me see only Jesus today,
Though thro' the valley Thou leadest me,
Give me Thy glory and beauty to see.

Fill all my vision,
Every desire keep for Thy glory.
My soul inspire with Thy perfection,
Thy holy love flooding my pathway
With light from above.

Fill all my vision, let naught of sin.
Shadow the brightness, shining within.
Let me see only Thy blessed face,
Feasting my soul on Thy infinite grace.

Fill All My Vision
Christiansen, Avis B. / Hammontree, Homer
© 1940 John T. Benson Publishing Company (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
CCLI License No. 810055

Ducks, Rabbits, Eagles, and me!

There is a fable that goes like this. I first heard it told by Chuck Swindoll.

Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school. They adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all of the subjects.

Now, the duck, she was excellent in swimming. In fact, she was better than her instructor. But she made only passing grades in flying and she flunked running altogether. She was so bad at running, her instructors made her drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused her web feet to be badly worn, so that she became only average in swimming. But average was quite acceptable, so nobody worried about that - except, of course, the duck.

The rabbit started at the top of his running class, but he developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because of so much make-up work in swimming. The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but she encountered constant frustration in flying class because her teacher made her start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. She developed charley horses from overexertion, and so she only got a C in climbing and a D in running. Now the eagle was a real problem child. He was constantly being disciplined for being a nonconformist. In climbing class, he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but he insisted on using his own way to get there.

Are you living outside of the purpose for your life that God intends? Are you trying to find fulfillment or even attempting to live for God in ways that only serve to deepen your frustration and sense of meaningless?

Many of us are doing what we do not so much ‘on purpose,’ but because our parents pressured us into a career, or necessity demanded we take a job we hate, or even because we somehow came to the conclusion that God wanted us there! All kinds of things - peer pressure, expectations, fear, and even pride - keep us from living as God intends. One of Satan's effective conspiracies to keep us from joy is to keep us from living on purpose!

• Has God called you to a quiet life of prayer? Then you will be miserable and ineffective if you attempt to become a director of a large ministry.
• Has God gifted you with compassion, causing you to desire to serve those who are needy and the oppressed? Then why are you trying to lead a Bible class?
• Has the Spirit given you insight into the Word so that you can help others understand His will? Then why are you focusing your time and energy on a ministry focused on raising funds for a missions outreach?

ALL of the ways of serving God just mentioned are good and worthy. But we are not all called to serve in each one of those good and worthy ministries! God has shaped you and me for a service where we will 'fit' and where we can find deep satisfaction in serving Him obediently. One of the reasons there are so many unhappy, unfulfilled, critical, and ineffective disciples is that they are serving in places to which they are not called, for which they are not equipped, while wearing a yoke that chafes and binds them. It takes a lot of courage to admit that to ourselves and others. If we begin to extricate ourselves from some service because we have come to realize that God has not called us to it, we will be judged!

Let me be clear about one thing! Even if we are in the center of God’s will, doing exactly what God has called us to be; we will work, sweat, feel fatigue, and get discouraged. Ministry is demanding. Just consider Paul’s life! Despite being at the center of the will of God, he went through hard times! He says, "I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches." (2 Corinthians 11:23-28, NLT)

So much for confusing ‘easy,’ with ‘called.’ There is a reason that Jesus invites us to put on the yoke! There is work to be done and a devil who does his best to frustrate God’s purposes being worked out in my life and yours. However, we can be sure of this: We will be renewed when we do what He is calling us and gifting us to do. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be right there alongside of us. He promised us that He would resource us, answer our prayers, and never leave us orphaned in this world.

Are you a duck trying to climb trees, or a rabbit trying to swim?
OR, are you right where God wants you to be, but attempting to live without relying on Him and the empowering Spirit?

Living 'on purpose' requires that we know the calling of God and that we remain reliant on Him.

Take this word from Jesus with you today and meditate on it:
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life.
I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill- fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Matthew 11:28-30 The Message
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Jesus shall reign wherever the sun
Does its successive journeys run;
His kingdom spread from shore to shore,
'Til moons shall wax and wane no more.

Blessings abound wherever He reigns,
The prisoner leaps to loose His chains;
The weary come home and find their rest,
And all the sons of want are blessed.

People and realms from every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
Voices of children shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His name.

Let every creature rise and bring
Honor and praises to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeats a loud "Amen."

Jesus Shall Reign
Isaac Watts – public domain

The Elder Brother Syndrome

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, wrote a masterful little book, The Prodigal God, about one of the most famous stories that Jesus told. Chapter 4 in the book, which he titles, “Redefining Lostness” is an arresting essay. As we say, “It hit me right between the eyes!” Keller reminds us that there are two sinners in the story!

Jesus story is recorded in Luke 15. It is about 2 sons and their father. The younger son arrogantly tells his dad, in so many words, to drop dead and give him his inheritance money. Dad liquidates some of his assets and hands a fortune over to this son, who promptly heads off for the city where he wastes it all on ‘riotous living!’ In short order, he is destitute, broken, and in despair. Meanwhile, the older son stays home and keeps working, an admirable person of morality and devotion. Dad defies common expectations and continues to love his lost younger son, looking and hoping for the day when he might return home. Over time, the elder brother grows contemptuous of his father in his own way, each day feeding his pride about what a good son he is compared to that worthless piece of humanity who caused Dad so much pain. He hopes that his father will forget about his brother and reward him for all of his goodness! What he increasingly fails to understand is the meaning of love!

When the younger brother finally shows up, his Dad throws a grand welcome party. The elder brother goes crazy with rage. “He stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’ " (Luke 15:28-30, The Message) In that moment, his own alienation from his father, carefully concealed for years, becomes evident.

Keller points out several traits of elder brother syndrome.

First is entitlement. “I deserve to be blessed,” they think. “Elders brothers expect their goodness to pay off, and if it doesn’t, there is confusion and rage.”

Second is superiority. Keller observes, “Elder brothers base their self-image on being hard working, or moral, or extremely smart and savvy. … they fall into a self-salvation project … and believe that God favors them because of their doctrine, ethical behavior, or ways of worship.”

Third is a joyless, fear-based compliance. They are obedient, but not for delight. The ‘slavish, joyless drudgery’ becomes a fastidious commitment to the letter of the law. Keller writes: “Elders brothers do good to others but not out of delight in the deeds themselves or for the love of people or the pleasure of God. They are not really feeding the hungry and clothing the poor, they are feeding and clothing themselves.”

Fourth is lack of assurance. Keller points out that, “There is no dancing or festiveness about the elder brother’s relationship to his father.” Applying the truth to us, he goes on to say: “As long as you are trying to earn your salvation by controlling God through goodness, you will never be sure you have been good enough for Him. You simply aren’t sure God loves and delights in you.”

The Elder Brother Syndrome is a hazard of religiosity! The devil cares little whether our self-love is expressed through contempt for God’s will that leads us to wild living in the world or through carefully controlled lives in which we take great pride, creating a self-salvation that eliminate our appreciation of our Father’s love and grace. Either way, the Deceiver has achieved his desire of cutting us off from our Father’s outrageous love!

Are you afflicted with the sin of the elder brother?
Do you recognize the lostness of the prodigal son but fail to see the lostness of the ‘good son’ whose pride is equally sinful?

The elder brother refused his Dad’s invitation to the party, preferring to sulk outside the house, nursing his offended sense of propriety. “It just isn’t fair,” he whined. And, so he missed the opportunity to experience his father’s love. Will you… will I prefer to sit in the darkness of our own religiosity while the son we judge enjoy Dad’s wonderful love? That is a question worth pondering! True grace is scandalous. God reserves the right to love as He chooses, not as we expect Him to.

Here’s a passage to take with you through this day. Let the truth of this word from the Word sink deep, washing out both the sin of rebellion and the sin of religious pride, drawing you near to the Father’s heart where there is love, joy, and peace in amazing measure.
“Immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.
Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving.
He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing " (Ephesians 2:4-10, The Message)
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How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure!
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything;
No gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ;
His death and resurrection!
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom!

How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Stuart Townsend Copyright 1995 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Loving Just One

Little Danielle spent the first seven years of her life alone on a filthy mattress in a hot Florida room, surviving on milk, dressed only in a filthy diaper, surrounded by roaches and maggots. She had never seen the sun, never had a lullaby sung to her, never been hugged nor held! Medical tests of her hearing, vision, and brain functions revealed nothing wrong, yet the little girl could not walk, talk, or communicate. When she looked at you, it wasn't really to connect; she just looked through you. Experts said she had been deprived of basic love for so long, her brain had not developed during the critical first five years of her life. They held little hope that Danielle would ever progress or learn, at all.

Enter Bernie and Diane, a couple in their late 40's, he a carpenter, she a house cleaner. They had grown children and one son at home and hearts full of the love of God. And, despite the warnings of the difficulties, they took Danielle into their home, adopting her as their daughter on Easter weekend in 2007. It's been difficult beyond description! Tears and fatigue are part of this love story in huge measures. And yet, the love of God is there and where He is invited, there is "life abundant!" Today Dani eats by herself, responds to words, goes to church, and knows what love is. Is she whole? Not by a long way, but she is loved and despite the dire predictions is making progress.

See a gallery of photos of Dani and her new family by clicking on this line.

Disciple, do you understand the power of love- given and received? Are you ready to love radically, to give away the safety and comfort of your life to embrace others, to care enough to go beyond polite exchanges of pleasantries?

Here's a word from the Word. Ponder it in the light of Dani's story. Then ask, "Lord, love through me - specifically, deeply, freely, sacrificially!" Such love will change everything.

"If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. "Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.

And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded."(Matthew 10:37-42, NLT)

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Cussin’ Christians?

I’m not talking about disciples who drop the F__ bomb! Foul language is not my focus today. There is another way to misuse the gift of words, turning the blessings into a curse. I call it – “Bible speak.” Do you ever indulge in "Bible speak?" We sometimes avoid dealing with hard stuff, sidestep being authentic by using the Bible as a kind anesthetic drug! It is a real problem among all Believers. More than once I have been drawn into the weirdness of it in conversations that go a little like this:

“How are you, John?”
“Praise God, ‘I can do all things through Christ!’”
“Well, that’s true, but how are you?”
“Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, bless the Name.”
“Yes, of course He is, and how are you today?”
“The Lord is my Shepherd and He leads me to green pastures.”

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 woke up on the wrong side of the bed and mad at the world? Who likes admitting that it feels like God is a million miles away and that he feels like his prayers are bouncing off the ceiling? It’s just easier to 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, a terrible misuse of the gift of speech and the Word of God!

Sometimes it is mistaken concepts about faith that causes people to cover up their doubts or disappointments by mindlessly quoting Scripture. They have been taught, wrongly, that admission of troubles is 'not of faith.' We can and we should strengthen ourselves by reminding ourselves of the promises we find in the Bible, but we don't have to lie to ourselves or others in the process! Getting real about life, about fears, our sins and failures is always the very 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 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 an authenticity in life that is my model. 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) How unlike the happy cussin’ that is featured in so many ministry reports!

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, there were long stretches of terrible suffering for the cause of Christ that made his life 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!" Through all the trials, troubles and triumphs -- Paul realized it wasn't about him, but about the Kingdom of God and about belonging to 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. Paul already had set his heart on the promise of Eternal Life. He was able to look life in the eye – pain and all – because he could see past the ‘light and momentary troubles,” to the glory that was waiting for him.

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 cussin’ Christians who engage in the vanity of "Bible speak" behind us. In this kind of real fellowship, love will flourish. Instead of a phony triumphalism, we will experience intimate community that keeps us whole in a broken world. We will free the Spirit who lives in us to transform us as we really deal with sin – in us and in our world! To the glory of God!

Bitter and cynical?

People will disappoint you, accept it! Friends will prove fickle. Partners will sometimes turn out to be parasites. Many leaders will be short-sighted, self-centered fools. Yes, you discovered at age 10, more or less, that Santa Claus was a fraud. Now get over it and get on with life. If we will not forgive others and ourselves our failures and short-comings, if we will not accept that no one can perfectly meet our expectations, we will grow bitter and cynical, as we age. Henry Ward Beecher, a well known pastor of the 19th century, said, “The cynic is one who never sees a good quality in a man and never fails to see a bad one. He is the human owl, vigilant in darkness and blind to light, mousing for vermin, and never seeing noble game. The cynic puts all human actions into two classes — openly bad and secretly bad.”

Some people use the failures of others as an excuse for cynicism and bitterness, even hatred. For others failure of their fellows becomes a reason to love!

Disciples of Christ are called to the latter response following in the footsteps of their Lord who "came to seek and to save those who are lost!” (Luke 19:10) That summation closes a story of a little man named Zacchaeus. Zee was a Jewish man who turned on his own people and worked for the Romans as a tax collector. He wasn’t above adding more than his legal commission to the bill and his dishonesty had made him wealthy. And, for all his wealth, he was an outcast in his town. When he heard that the traveling rabbi named Jesus was coming to Jericho, he wanted to see him. Of course, due to his lack of social stature, he had no hope that a respected man would entertain an offer of hospitality at his house. Because of his literal lack of stature, he couldn’t see over the crowd, so Zee decided to climb a tree to get a glimpse of the Man. Jesus saw him on that branch and said, “Let’s do lunch together, at your place!” The cynics went crazy! “He’s going to be the guest of a sinner!” What a conversation they enjoyed. Jesus offered him acceptance he had not felt lin years. He pointed him to the real purpose of his existence and this little man returned to the God of his fathers, getting his life right in the process.

What if Jesus had joined the cynics in the belief that Zee could not or would not change? What if He had stopped under that tree and bitterly railed on the little man’s sins and failures? The crowd would have been pleased, but the redemptive work of God would have gone undone!

Disciple, let the love of God wash bitterness and cynicism from your life. Confess it as the sin it is! Let the Lord of Love make you tender, forgiving, and full of hope. A cynic may appear to be sophisticated, but he will never accomplish the work of God in this world.

Here’s a word from the Word. Invite the Holy Spirit to seed it deep into your heart and mind, today!
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NLT)
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O Master, let me walk with Thee
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret;
Help me bear the strain of toil,
The fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.

Teach me Thy patience still with Thee
In closer, dearer company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.

O Master Let Me Walk With Thee
Gladden, Smith © Public Domain

wan·na·be

I watch "Survivor" the CBS TV ‘reality’ show and this season features a true ‘wannabe!’ A 37 year old man who goes by the name of ‘Coach’ has told wild tales of his supposed exploits in the Amazon, claimed to have esoteric spiritual knowledge, and uses the moniker - "DragonSlayer." He’s a hoot, an obvious ‘wannabe.’ He desperately wants to be somebody, but he is ‘all hat and no cattle,’ as they say in Texas.

The dictionary says that a ‘wannabe’ is "a person who aspires to a role or position, who imitates the behavior, customs, or dress of an admired person or group." Sometimes they're funny, sometimes pathetic, and sometimes down- right annoying. Usually 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.

During teenage years being a wannabe is common! It is often the first step to becoming the
authentic article. One boy 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 lad may discover God’s calling to vocational ministry 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. A pathetic sight 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 essentially a fraudulent life. The lack of substance and/or accomplishment causes the pretender to live a lie, which erodes his integrity and steals his credibility. The wannabe knows another tragic result - he never finds out who he really is or what he is really capable of doing. Focused 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 that God, through spiritual gifts, experiences, and opportunities, creates just 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. We can take the imperfections and sins to God and He will transform 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!

This transformational process is called sanctification. That just a big word for 'becoming like Christ' through the school of the Spirit! 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!

Looking for the limits

Could I actually claim to love my wife if I were constantly looking for the limits of her patience? “What is the minimal amount I have to do to stay married? How many nights can I stay out with friends before she objects? How little can I spend on gifts for her? How much attention can I give to other women without getting her angry enough to leave me?” Unless you’re clueless about love, you see the folly in that kind of thinking. Love isn’t about minimums! And yet, that line of thinking is quite common among those who say that they love the Lord.

People ask me questions like:
“Pastor, can I go hang out with old friends in bars and be a Christian?”
“Do I tithe on my net income?”
“Can I watch movies full of profanity, violence, or sex and be a Christian?”
“How often do I have to go to church?” Such questions miss the point of loving Christ entirely! They reveal a misunderstanding of what it means to know the Lord. A person who is looking for the edge cannot seriously claim to be passionately in love with Christ any more than I could honestly claim to love Bev while spending day after day doing what I wanted to do and ignoring her. Questions about minimally acceptable holiness reflect a religious spirit, rather than a love relationship! When questioning Christian behavior, the ‘why’ is equally important to the ‘what’ and that cannot be answered apart from love which is always to be our core motive that shapes every decision!

The prophet Hosea was given a most difficult assignment by the Lord. His life was to be an object lesson of love as a verb, an action word! Take a look. "The first time God spoke to Hosea he said: “Find a whore and marry her. Make this whore the mother of your children. And here’s why: This whole country has become a whorehouse, unfaithful to me, God.” Hosea did it. He picked Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She got pregnant and gave him a son." (Hosea 1:2-3, The Message) Even after he loved her, Gomer ran off from Hosea to seek other lovers! The prophet, however, did not turn against her. Instead, he went and found her and brought her home again.

Later in his prophecy, Hosea records God’s word about His people who look for the limits, who love other gods. God’s anger, like that of any husband, is real and deep over the unfaithfulness of those who wandered from Him. But, He was also incredibly loving! "I will punish (Israel) for all those times when she burned incense to her images of Baal, when she put on her earrings and jewels and went out to look for her lovers but forgot all about me,” says the Lord.
“But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt. When that day comes,” says the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master.’" (Hosea 2:13-16, NLT)

Disciple, Jesus spent very little time defining the edges of acceptable behavior for those who follow Him. Instead He called us to something better. " ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NLT) To understand this as a permissive love is to misunderstand the basics of God and His nature. Loving Him and being loved by Him is an all encompassing love that draws us into a holy life, dedicated to Him.

What must never be forgotten is that love only flourishes when it is freely received and freely given! Any lesser motive quickly reduces love to a duty, turns the covenant into a contract. Hear the Savior’s words and let them guide you to greater intimacy with Him, starting today.
"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." (Revelation 2:2-5, NIV)
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Lord, the light of Your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness shining;
Jesus, Light of the World, shine upon us;
Set us free by the truth You now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine.
Fill this land
With the Father's glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze.
Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow.
Flood the nations
With grace and mercy;
Send forth Your Word,
Lord, and let there be light.

Lord, I come to Your awesome presence.
From the shadows into Your radiance;
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me.

As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,
So our faces display Your likeness;
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirror'd here, may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me, shine on me.

Lord The Light Of Your Love

Kendrick, Graham© 1987 Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services)CCLI License No. 810055

The hard edge of God’s Discipline

When God says, "No!" and crosses our desire, it is not pleasant. In fact, the deeper the issue, the more it hurts. What am I talking about? Take this example. A young woman who is a Believer allows herself to become attached to a guy who is not a follower of Jesus. Then, there is that moment when her conscience is stirred by the Spirit who says, "No." The truth of the Scripture that forbids the intermarriage of Christian and non-believer confronts her. It’s a heart-breaking moment. The temptation is to choose what feels good and shrug off possible consequences.

Every Believer has these moments of decision in which they must decide if they trust God to lead them to the best life or if they will assume ‘lordship’ and do what they want to do. I can tell you from experience that sometimes doing His will feels like dying! We are wise children of the Father if we obey Him, but there will be tears when we meet the hard edge of God’s discipline.

The true test of a parent’s love is his willingness to endure the anger of his child when he tells the child he must do something he does not want to do. When I had teenagers I loved them so much. It was great to be able to give them the things they wanted, to share the happy moments of life with them. But there were darker moments, too! My love for them caused me to enforce curfew to keep them out of trouble, to tell them to get their priorities in order by getting their work done first before hanging out with friends. It wasn’t much fun for me to feel their displeasure and I knew it wasn’t much fun for them to have to obey! But my aim was not just to exercise my authority. I was trying to provide training and discipline to benefit them later in life.

The Scripture teaches us that our Heavenly Father also sometimes says, "No" to us for our own good, because He really loves us. "So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?
My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children.
Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them.
But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God." – (Hebrews 12:5-11, The Message)

Have you encountered the hard edge of God’s discipline, disciple?
Have you found yourself confronted with a clear choice - to do what you want or to submit to Him?
Don’t excuse, rationalize, or delay! Cry if you must, but pray for strength to die to Self and to make the choice for obedience. Though you may not see it then, the time will come when you will see that He always had your best in His heart, that He is a loving Father.
_____________________

Lord, my sole desire is to serve You,
To honor You in everything I do;
I surrender and lay down my life to You,
Holy Spirit, come now and break through.

Break through the chains in my life,
Tear down the strongholds and the walls;
Deliver me from all bondage and strife,
That I may hear when You call
And give You my all, O Lord, my all.
I give You my all, O Lord, my all,
I give You my all, O Lord, my all,
I give You my all.

Break Through The Chains
McDonald, Gary / Walker, Tommy
© 1995 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.) / Integrity's Praise! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.) CCLI License No. 810055

GODISNOWHERE!

GODISNOWHERE!

The billboard caught my attention. "Wow," I thought in the first moment, "are atheists starting to advertise?" My brain decoded the letters as the phrase, "God is no where!" Then I saw the sponsor of the message was a church and my brain re-read, "God is now here!" The context changed the message. When I had the opportunity I googled the phrase and found a website urging followers of Christ to take up His call to "go and teach all nations, making disciples!"

So, where are you today? Are you thinking, "God is no where" because you’re discouraged by what you see happening in our world, or because you have been deceived by what you hear about the absence of Truth? Or are you thanking Him, letting your life make the statement, "God is now here!" as you commit yourself to living in the Spirit?

The world we live in is rapidly changing, values and ideas we hold true and foundational are being challenged. Religions other than Christianity are making their influence felt because the world is so much smaller than it was just a generation ago. Tolerance is in full bloom making it unpopular to hold to a claim of exclusive Truth in Christ.

But, He is here and He does not change! We must choose to "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere."
(Ephesians 6:10-18, NLT)

Disciple, I urge you to carefully choose your battles! I am distressed that the Church is too often drawn from her primary mission of proclaiming the Good News about Christ into lesser skirmishes. We cannot expect those who do not know Jesus, who are not alive in the Spirit, to think and act as children of God! To spend great amounts of energy fighting sins is a mistake, in my opinion. Christ’s Kingdom does not advance on words of condemnation. Our ministry is one of reconciliation! "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19, NIV)

Our mission is to proclaim in both our words and our actions that "God is now here!" Let’s be so full of the Love of God that the rich abundance Jesus promised makes the Gospel the thing of beauty that it is. I do not want to known as the man who is against this or that, though I have strong and firm convictions. Much more I want to known as a man who belongs to Jesus, who is full of His grace and goodness, who loves God and others deeply. Don’t you?
____________

Click here to listen to a song of reconciliation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_4g8_e16dc

Who owns you?

"Nobody tells me what to do! I’m my own person." Independence and self-reliance are much admired by us, aren’t they? But we are not really as ‘free’ as we might imagine. In my life, there are various overlapping responsibilities to people, organizations, and principles. I belong to God. Bev, my wife, has a claim on my life that is exclusive. The church I pastor has a right to a big chunk of my life. The government takes a bite out of my income. The list continues.. but, you get the point. You know how these demands compete, even conflict, with each other. We need to make a living and our family needs us. Where’s the balance? It’s not always simple to discern the line between the demands of being a disciple of Christ and a citizen of some earthly realm!

In the sermon I preached yesterday, one point touched on the word, ‘consecration.’ Drawing on a lesson learned from a king of ancient Judah, I noted the most important decision facing us today: giving ourselves, without reservation, to the Lord Jesus Christ! Upon becoming king in Jerusalem at age 25, Hezekiah took note of that the once holy ground of the Temple was now a warehouse, full of junk! He brought the priests together and demanded: "Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary." Consecrate? Other translations say, "purify or sanctify."

Hezekiah’s reforms and call for renewed dedication was met by a huge house-cleaning effort. The Bible says that "they went in to purify the temple of the LORD, as the king had ordered, following the word of the LORD. The priests went into the sanctuary of the LORD to purify it. They brought out to the courtyard of the LORD's temple everything unclean that they found in the temple of the LORD. The Levites took it and carried it out to the Kidron Valley."

This is an apt metaphor for us personally. God is no longer housed in temples of stone. He lives, by His Spirit, in us! 1 Corinthians 3:16 says, "Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" The competing demands of life begin to find order when we make the priority choice to give ourselves first and entirely to God! All other claims - family, spouse, job, personal desire - fall secondary to His ownership. Order flows that the decision to consecrate ourselves to Him!

If you continue to read the story of Hezekiah’s re-dedication of the priests and the Temple, you will find that two things happened in Judah - the nation rejoiced and she recovered her identity. Consecration will bring joy, though at first, it may cause pain as the Spirit cleans out the sin that clutters the hallways of our hearts! Consecration will also restore our identity, allowing us to be the people of the Lord who live for the honor of His Name.

"Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NLT)
______________

Take time to be holy.
Speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His Word.
Make friends with God's children;
Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy.
The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret
With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus,
Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct
His likeness shall see.
　
Take Time To Be Holy
Longstaff, William D. / Stebbins, George C.
© Public Domain

Contented with Today’s Bread

My oldest son, Jay, is a partner in a high end art gallery in Tyson’s Corner, VA. Business has been slow. Yesterday, he called me to share his joy. Just after he was asking the Lord about providing for his needs, a man walked into the gallery and bought a piece for Mother’s Day. Jay was so thankful for such an immediate answer to prayer, but I really liked what he said next. "Dad, God gave me enough for today." No, his bank account isn’t overflowing, but he was blessed with what was needed for that day.

The world we are a part of conspires to get us to spend tomorrow’s resources by using credit and
tells us we must anticipate life’s ‘needs’ so that we will pile up more in reserve. Advertising seduces us and works hard to convince us that a better life could be ours if only we owned ....

Living with contentment in what God gives for today is a challenge.

A key to knowing the joy of the Lord is learning to accept today’s bread and to be thankful for what God puts on our table. In that collection of wisdom, we find this odd prayer. "O Lord; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." (Proverbs 30:7-9, NIV) What insight into human nature! When our lives are overflowing with resources, we tend to ignore God and live as though we are masters of our fate! When we are in need, we also try to take control and may become desperate enough to sin! So, "give us today our daily bread," Jesus taught us to pray.

The way that God provided food for the Israelites during the Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land ought to instruct us. Each morning the miracle of manna was renewed. This ‘angel food’ was delivered just for the day. If they gathered more than they needed and tried to hoard it, it spoiled and stank, except on the day before the Sabbath! On that day, they could gather enough for two days, and it did not spoil. God’s message in this was, "Depend on Me!" And, every morning, God gave them fresh food, for forty years! (Exodus 16)

Read these familiar excerpts from the letter to the Philippians. And, then, disciple - choose contentment and thankfulness for today’s bread!

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!"
"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."
"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little."
"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:4, 6, 11-12, 19, NLT)
_____________

Heavenly Father, help me to be content, not complacent.
Give me eyes to see Your provisions and a grateful heart that accepts today’s bread.
Teach me the joy of child-like trust and help me to learn to lean on You.
When I am tempted to try to seize control and ‘make something happen,’
remind me to wait patiently and walk only where You lead.

Be honored by my thoughts, words, and actions today,
as I live a holy, joyful life in Your Peace.

Lord Jesus, I pray this in Your Name. Amen!

Those Smelly Feet!

How good is your serve? I'm not talking about tennis. Do you have a true servant's heart?

I realized recently that I needed to let the Spirit work on mine again. I was sitting at the drive-up at the bank. One minute, two minutes, three minutes..... a car that had pulled into the next lane after me left before me, indicating that her documents were processed before mine. Four minutes... yes, I sat for just short of ten minutes before my simple deposit was processed. (I think the teller got distracted and forgot it.) I started to steam, but heard the Spirit whisper, "Practice patience and give up your desire to be served." I did, and instead of irritation, experienced peace.

On the night of His betrayal, the most stressful night of Jesus' earthly life, He was not pre-occupied with His own needs. Isn't that amazing? John tells us that 'He knew His hour had come.' Naturally, we might expect Him to say, "Gather 'round me, guys, and pray for me. Give me support here for this is a terrible test." Indeed, later at the Garden of Gethsemane He would ask for that kind of support. But at dinner, while they bickered about their importance, He got up, took a towel and basin, and began to wash their feet!

Footwashing was the role of the lowest and the least in the household. It was a demeaning, nasty, but necessary job in a day when there were no sidewalks, lots of livestock, and little in the way of modern sanitation, if you get my drift! Feet were in the 'stuff' and you didn't want it dragged into your house, so washing the feet of your guests was customary. However, it was a job for slaves; unless you really loved somebody- then you might choose to wash their feet.

Jesus washed the feet of the men who walked and talked with Him because He loved them! He wasn't shaming them for their fighting about self-importance. He wasn't looking for their admiration. He was just doing what needed to be done!

He made it a teachable moment and left this challenge for us. "After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do."
(John 13:12-15, The Message)

He wasn't just talking about having footwashing services, either! He was talking about a way of life that is given to service offered out of a heart of love. We wash someone's feet when we absorb their anger without retaliation. We wash someone's feet when we offer them affirmation when we are crumbling inside. We wash feet when we forgive another's selfishness, letting go of our rights. There are a lot of ways to take up the towel and the basin, disciple.

Are you feeling 'entitled' today? That shows up in this line of thinking.
- "I've worked hard, who's going to thank me?"
- "If somebody doesn't show some appreciation 'round here, I'm going to start doing the minimum required of me."
- "Doesn't anybody realize how important I am?"
- "Back off, man, this is my territory."

Jesus leads us into a different kind of life. Here's the principle we learn in John 13.
Greatness in Christ's eyes does not come from having many servants but from being the servant of many.

Take this word from the Word into your heart today and let it marinade in your mind. It will produce amazing transformation.
"Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28, NKJV)

The Seduction of Things Novel

I enjoy getting a new car! In July, 2006 after weeks of shopping, I bought my current ride: a candy apple red Mercury Milan. The leather upholstery had that great ‘new car’ aroma! The red paint sparkled. But, it took only weeks for the ‘newness’ to wear off, with a ding here, a chip there! A new shirt, a new hairdo, a new car, new living room furniture, new ideas... all make life interesting. Yet, we know that all too soon, fashion changes, today’s color replaced by a new hue, the latest and greatest idea eclipsed by a new discovery.

While we are aware of that worshiping tradition more than loving God will bring on spiritual death, we tend to minimize the dangers that accompany the seduction of things novel. In a bow to our culture that loves new, rad, (is that word still used?), hip, and hype - Church is being re-invented, in the name of being ‘relevant.’ About 10 years ago, a group emerged in the American Christian church that caught my attention with their ‘new’ language, their emphasis being culturally ‘sensitive’ and responsive to current sociological trends, and their inclusiveness. Even their name, "Emergent," was catchy. But ... the shine wore off as unintended consequences of the ‘emergent’ Church novelties became more evident.

One of the first casualties was the commitment to Truth. Truth is unyielding. It refuses to be molded to contemporary sensibilities. But, some Emergent prophets insisted that our personal stories stood alongside of the Scripture in our quest for God; sometimes even more important than His-story! Others insisted that ‘sin’ have a new definition, and some even questioned the necessity of the Cross of Christ! A new interpretation of Humanity’s unique place as the crown of God’s Creation, bearing His image in the world, has allowed good and God-honoring reverence for Creation to be replaced in many churches with near pagan worship of creation. The anti-authoritarian streak that is common to human nature was fed by emergent ideas that diminished or even erased a role for spiritual leadership in the Church.

Jeremiah, under the inspiration of the Spirit, cries:
"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But you said, ‘We will not listen.’
Therefore hear, O nations; observe, O witnesses, what will happen to them.
Hear, O earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law." (Jeremiah 6:16-19, NIV)

Adopting methodology that meets the needs of the times is a wise way to bring the Good News of God’s kingdom to people who share our space on this planet. I’m not making a case for living like the Amish, trying to reproduce the methods, music, or message of the evangelical churches of the 1950's, or of some other imagined utopian era! I am saying that traditions help to anchor us and serve to guide us. We discard the wisdom of those who lived before us, the accumulated study of the sages to our detriment! Newness simply for the sake of novelty is a path to faddishness and foolishness, not spiritual freshness or maturity.

A curious trend is re-appearing in Christian churches which I believe is a reaction to the folly of trying to make eternal truth and faith easy, accessible, and contemporary. Many, particularly the youngest, are looking again to the beauty and stability of ancient rituals that stood through centuries as expressions of worship and faith. Christian liturgy is making a comeback as is architecture that helps define ‘sacred’ space much to the amazement of those who thought those things dead and gone.

May we not abandon the Truth of our glorious Gospel, allowing ourselves to be seduced by all things novel. Instead, let us love the Lord of Life. The Word reminds us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace." (Hebrews 13:8-9, NIV) And, as we love Him and His Word, let us be always ready to make the most of the opportunities that the Spirit brings our way to share Him with those who need a Rock on Whom they can anchor their souls.

Here’s a word from the Word. As you meditate on it, note the interplay between the solid Truth and the fresh application of it that keeps us alive in Christ. "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 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 learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2, NLT)
____________

My hope is built on nothing less,
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand. - public domain

Are you spiritual?

I don't speak in deep reverential tones in my sermons, nor do I pray to a two syllable "Gaa-awd!" I love to laugh, wear blue jeans, and eat bean burritos with all the consequences that go with them. I confess that I don't spend hours each day on my knees in the church's sanctuary. I like country music and enjoy a good action flick. Does that mean I am not spiritual? To some, perhaps.

Spirituality gets confused with quietness, introspection, and piety, by some. True spirituality is just doing what God wants done, being responsive to the Holy Spirit moment by moment. Eugene Peterson, best know for his work in bringing us the paraphrase of the Bible called The Message, was a pastor of a small church for many years. In an article published in Christianity Today, March, 2005, he observed, "The people who give me the most distress are those who come asking, "Pastor, how can I be spiritual?" Forget about being spiritual. How about loving your husband? Now that's a good place to start. But that's not what they're interested in. How about learning to love your kids, accept them the way they are?"

The disciples in the Church in the city of Corinth got all excited about being 'spiritual,' and they thought they were quite impressive because they spoke at length in tongues, prophesied, and had meeting that were chock full of Holy Spirit manifestations. Paul wrote a long corrective letter them that all those who aspire to spirituality need to read. Imagine the shock they felt when they heard his letter and he said, "Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life." (1 Corinthians 3:1, NLT)

He went on to point out that despite their all their spiritual gifts, their lives were a mess! They fought with each other. They lacked love. They would not serve each other. They sued each in court. They could not deal with sin in their own congregation. They were proud of their knowledge of spiritual freedom and cared little if their actions caused someone less mature in faith to be offended. So Paul says, "You think you're so spiritual, but you're really not very deep in God, at all! You have not even grasped the basics!" Throughout his letter, he reminds them that true spirituality will produce a transformation of character, that being spiritual is always show by a deep and consistent love for God and others. Note the underlying attitude of loving service that informs his instruction about their 'spiritual' worship. "What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church." (1 Corinthians 14:26, NIV)

True spirituality has nothing to do with one's mastery of Biblical Greek, ability to speak in tongues, pray in 16th century Elizabethan language, or follow forced practices of external piety. Genuine spirituality is:about repentance when we sin against God, about choosing daily to die to our need to be first or to be recognized, and about submission to God for love's sake. It is expressed, not our church behavior, but in how we live at home and in the street.

When others judge our spirituality, we need to remember that we have one Master and "If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help." (Romans 14:4, The Message) It is important to remember that if we try to make others think of us as 'spiritual,' we will become actors and before long, looking good will take precedence over being good! That said, I sincerely hope that you see Jesus in me, that there is a consistent bent to loving care, a concern for the world around me, and a desire to do His will - living so as to honor the One Whom I call, "Lord" with a life of integrity.

Here's a word from the Word. I pray it will lead us to truer spirituality today!
"So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.' " Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall." ...
"So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up."
(Romans 14:10-13, 19, NLT

Lord, Make Me A Better Lover!

One of the best books I have ever read on the complicated subject of human relationships is titled, Bold Love, NavPress, 1993, written by Dr. Dan Allender. One of his assertions is that 'love is not natural.' I don't like that! We like to think that we are loving, generous, unselfish beings, but a closer look at our lives shows something else to be true. We 'love' easily only when another pleases us, complies with our desires, or makes us happy. When they disappoint or fail us, most of the time we quickly resort to cruel tactics to make them play the game our way, and should that not happen, the relationship dissolves. So much for loving deeply!

Everyone has known the pain of a failed friendship. An angry word is spoken, a misunderstanding blows in like a summer thunderstorm, offense takes hold and becomes a fortress wall. A friend becomes an enemy and the wound goes deep! The love once enjoyed mysteriously turns into a bitter hatred.

Even familial love fails! Sons and mothers do not speak over some relatively insignificant slight. Lovers who once could not stand to be apart for a moment become enemies who actively desire the destruction of each other.

Christians, who follow the Lord of Love, who are taught that love is the mark of a genuine disciple, are capable of ripping each other to shreds over when their traditions are threatened, their comfort impeded, or their beliefs challenged.

Why do we do this?
What makes love so hard?

Allender writes, "There is an enormous drive in the fallen human personality that impedes the process of learning to love and an equally powerful force outside of every person that labors to destroy every effort to love. ... Complacency and presumption work hand-in-hand to blind even Christians to the importance of love and inherent battle involved in learning to love. IF we are to learn to love, we must begin with an acknowledgment that love is not natural and that love's failure is not easy to admit."

Let me rephrase that paragraph! Sin and selfishness work inside of us and the Devil works outside of us- conspiring against love's birth and/or survival. Then, too, there is the false belief that love does not need daily care. Neglect allows it to cool until it dies, all the while we live in denial of the truth!

The only way we learn to love and remain loving is to be renewed constantly in the love of Christ! "We love each other because he loved us first." (1 John 4:19, NLT) Ardent love requires dying to Self. Jesus insists that "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other." (Matthew 6:24, NLT) We cannot love God and ourselves at the same time. We cannot love others deeply while selfishly serving our own needs, either!

Is love challenged in your life?

Before you form a fist and attempt to force a change, go to your knees! Let the Lord of Love, love you!
Before you pray, "God make them change!" give the Holy Spirit full access to your heart and mind and let Him change you!
Before you walk away, expressing hatred through cool contempt, ask God to help you love others - the same way that He loves you.

Love is a force for change that is more powerful than any weapon ever devised by human beings.

Here's a word from the Word. Meditate on it today.
"My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love-so you can't know him if you don't love.
This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about-not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.
My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other." (1 John 4:7-11, The Message)

God’s Elite Strike Force!

Jimmy was most probably either headed for prison or a shooting on the street. He was failing in school, hanging out with a crowd of losers, going nowhere. Then, he met a Marine recruiter who took him in tow and sold him on becoming a United States Marine! When I saw Jim after he finished basic training, it was hard to recognize him. He stood erect. He had pride in the corp. He was disciplined. The Marines boasts that they can take a young man without purpose and/or direction and make him into a warrior worthy of the greatest nation on earth. It must be true, for I have witnessed the transformation, more than once!

Becoming one of Christ’s Own, a genuine experience of the Spirit’s renewal will produce a transformation that is even more dramatic! Does joining a church do that? No! Some who just ‘get religion’ find an experience like wearing a suit that is too tight, binding and uncomfortable. They serve with a sense of duty, but with little joy. But, those who are truly ‘in Christ’ are infused with power and purpose. Yes, yes ... of course, pride is incompatible with Christian humility. We cannot sound our own trumpets and strut in the streets. Yet... we need to reconsider our hang-dog attitude about being a Believer, one of the elect (chosen) of God!

Peter exults about the power of God to take 'nothings' and make them into 'somethings.' Read this passage. This is God’s description of those He calls into His "Ekklesia," His, Church, the called out ones!
"Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." - 1 Peter 2:9-10 NASV

Elect, royal, holy, God's treasure!
If we wear those titles and let them define how we see ourselves, they will ennoble our lives and call us to a higher plane of service. We could slide into the sin of elitism, except that we know it is His work of Grace, not our merit that brings us to this glorious destiny.

Are you living in your God-granted privileges today?
Are you holding up your head and rejoicing that He has called you out of the dark and into His wonderful light?

Zechariah urges us to take our place, to live in His promise, and to know our destiny. The pictures painted in my mind by his words are startling, yet compelling. Take a look....

"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey... Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south, and the LORD Almighty will shield them. They will destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar as with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling the corners of the altar. The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How attractive and beautiful they will be!"
Zechariah 9:9,14-17 NIV

What are the words used to describe the people of God?

• Protected.
  Powerful.
• Celebrating their victories with the abandon of those who areintoxicated!
• Precious as jewels and as beautiful, too!

Friend, IF you are Christ's then you can live that description. Shake off that 'I'm nothing, unworthy; don't look at me' attitude. You're one of the Chosen. God has set His favor on you. Live in it today with thanksgiving, humbled by His grace, and fed by His goodness!
_________________

Do you hear them coming brother,
Thronging up the steeps of light,
Clad in glorious shining garments,
Blood washed garments pure and white?

Do you hear the stirring anthems
Filling all the earth and sky?
'Tis a grand, victorious army,
Lift its banner up on high!

'Tis a glorious church,
Without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb;
'Tis a glorious church,
Without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Wave the banner, shout His praises,
For our victory is nigh!
We shall join our conqu'ring Savior,
We shall reign with Him on high!

A Glorious Church
Hudson, Ralph E. © Public Domain

Rethinking Extravagance!

Perhaps it is a reflection of my Midwest roots but I am deeply suspicious of things extravagant! Anything that even appears to be an attempt to draw attention to one's self turns me off cold! It is not for me to spend much on clothing. I certainly am uncomfortable, to say the least, with emotional displays. While I can express affection, my family would not likely call me effusive in that area. This reserve carries into my devotion to Christ Jesus. Loud or emotional displays in worship, especially public worship, cause me to shut down, to become self-conscious, even to withdraw. And I must ask, why?

Both Mark and John tell the story of one woman's love for Jesus that led her to an amazingly scandalous display! (John 12, Mark 14) At dinner one evening, while He was among men as was the custom, a woman entered the room. Mary was a respectable, upright lady but she loved Him deeply, not romantically, but with her whole being. Breaking all the rules of her society, she broke open a jar of perfumed ointment worth a full year's wage and poured it on Jesus, head to toe! The fragrance filled the room and, most likely stopped conversation. What she did next was even more shocking. She undid her hair and used it to wipe His feet. Yes, there are no two ways to see this. It is over the top extravagant expression of love and devotion!

Mary risked reputation, spent a fortune, ignored the opinions of others - not because she was arrogant, nor because she wanted to gain attention, but because she loved! And, Jesus did nothing to stop her extravagance. In fact, He praised her for her love and said she was preparing His body for burial, a recognition of His death, just days or weeks away.

Disciple, how much do you love Him?
Are you willing to be extravagant in your expressions of that devotion?
Does your love for Him blind you to the opinions of others, make you forgetful of cost or effort?Or is your religion a carefully calculated cost/benefit exchange, an investment of the minimum required to gain the assurance of God's favor?

With Mary's act forming the backdrop, meditate on these passages. Ask the Spirit of God to draw you to love Him - intensely, sacrificially; yes, extravagantly.

"Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.'" (Mark 12:29-30, NLT)

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" (Revelation 3:15-16, NLT)

"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. ... You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." (Revelation 2:2-5, NIV)

___________________

Click here to listen to a song by CeCe Winans about Mary's devotion.
It is titled, "Alabaster Box." I pray it will move you to return to your first love!

Drinking the cup we brew!

Everyday the man pours a cup of coffee in his kitchen and then complains that it is terrible. Kind of dumb, right? If it is not good, it would be up to him to change his method or his brand! Failing that, he has no complaint.

Many Americans, including me, are complaining about the state of things in our nation. The cup we have brewed for ourselves has turned out to be awfully bitter! For a long time now, we have asked the government to do what we should be doing for ourselves. Over the last 50 years, many of our churches were turned into museums of tradition or self-help centers that promised us our best life now- both equally devoid of the sacred Word! We laughed at self-restraint and adopted the motto- ‘if it feels good, do it!’ with gusto. Deferred gratification? Why, as long as you can borrow more, spend it!

Now we are drinking the bitter tea we brewed for ourselves. 2009 has brought us religion that cannot speak to our deepest spiritual needs, all of the perversions that accompany unbridled self-indulgence, and debt piled so high our economy is wrecked for the next decade. Some are wondering; "Why God is judging us?" The truth is that He is simply letting us drink the cup we brewed for ourselves. The Scripture says, "You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too." - 1 Corinthians 10:21, NLT

The metaphor in this passage is changed; the message is the same.
"Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest.
The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds!
But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit."
– Galatians 6:7-9, The Message

There is Good News in that passage for us, for now! What is it?
God will bless our efforts to plant a new crop. He will produce a rich harvest for us if we remain faithful to do what He has called us to do. Disciple, go deep with God! Make Him your complete priority. Move worship to first place each day. Pray about everything before you start, not when you have found yourself in a jam!

Here’s a passage to take with you through this day. May the Truth found here change the taste of the cup from which you drink!

"Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. ....
Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 5:1-2, 18-20, The Message
______________
　
Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy.
And then I heard my Savior speaking,
"Draw from my well that never shall run dry."

So, my brother, if the things this world gave you
Leave hungers that won't pass away.
My blessed Lord will come and save you,
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray,

Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
　
Fill My Cup Lord
Blanchard, Richard © 1959 Richard Blanchard.
Assigned 1964 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055