Last week I prayed about my kids finding a parking place at the long-term lot at the airport since they are often full to overflowing during the holiday travel rush. This morning I prayed for several people who are going through tough times in their marriages. I prayed for wisdom to lead the church that God has entrusted to my pastoral care. I prayed praise-filled prayers about the myriad joys of my life. Sometimes I pray while playing the piano and singing ‘made up’ songs to God. Sometimes I pray in the Spirit as I drive to share the goodness of the Lord with someone in sad circumstances.
Here’s the thing some might find strange; I seldom pray by getting down on my knees, clasping my hands, and turning my head towards the sky in prayer! I never put together long monologues addressed to the “One who filleth our lives with blessed beneficence, Whose Majesty we implore to rest mightily upon us.” I don’t agonize about finding the right words, posture, or time. I just talk with One Who loves me! I pray about most everything, just about all the time.
Our Father invites us to a continual conversation with Him. My adult kids were around for a few days and just listening to their discussions brought me such joy. Hearing them talk about their lives, their dreams, their disappointments, their successes and having the occasion opportunity to offer some advice made me happy. When they were in my care, they took my love for them and the fact that I would protect them and provide for them for granted, rightly so. They did not need to plead, bargain, or manipulate – though they sometimes did! They just had to demonstrate a real need and it was met!
In His sermon that is recorded in Matthew, Jesus spoke much of prayer. He did not create formulas that ‘guarantee results’ as I’ve heard some preachers do. He did not teach a method to ‘get what you want from God.’ He urged a lifestyle that included real relationship with the Father that sets us up to enjoy constant communication (prayer!) with Dad. He specifically warned about making prayer into a show. “And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?" (Matthew 6:5, The Message) He warned about turning prayer into a rote recitation or empty ritual. “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again." (Matthew 6:7, NLT) He also connected our relationship with people with our ability to speak to God. If we are hateful or unforgiving, we sever the connection that lets us pray from our hearts. Two times in those short chapters he tells of the importance of letting go of the offenses of others which frees us to approach God without the weight of hate!
In words that are misunderstood too literally as a legal contract, He taught us to expect God to answer in the same way a beloved child expects the care of a parent. "For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." (Matthew 7:8-11, NLT) He doesn’t promise that we get everything we want. That would be a disaster, given our short-sightedness, selfishness, and frequently foolish prayers! He invites us to be aligned with our Heavenly Dad’s heart, to ask freely and accept faithfully all that He provides.
Do I understand everything about prayer? No, and that is as it should be. God is God, I am not. He is infinite, I am not. He is all-wise, I am not. He asks only that I stay in right relationship with Him by being obedient to His Word and Spirit. He asks for a profound faith that trusts Him without question.
As we begin a New Year, my desire is that we learn to pray better prayers – not longer, not more eloquent, but truer to our heart, and consistent with what is happening in our lives. I hope that we will really converse with the Lord – crying with Him when our hearts are broken, pouring out our praise to Him when life is working for us, presenting our needs and requests to Him at His invitation, and most of all; resting in His promise to love us through it all!
"I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. (Ephesians 1:16-19, NLT)
"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)
"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:16-21, NLT)
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
May you be greatly disturbed!
Following the lead of angels who announced the birth of Jesus with well-known words about “peace to men on whom God’s favor rests,” there will be many Christmas messages built around the theme. The preachers proclaim, “Peace with God.” Singers laud “Peace on Earth.” I am grateful, deeply so, that Christ brought us reconciliation with our Father. But, His birth also caused consternation! When the Magi showed up at the royal palace asking about a new-born King, Matthew tells us that "King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem." (Matthew 2:3, NLT)
The most natural thing in the world for us humans is to settle into ruts of routine that keep us snug our comfortable cubbies of complacency. The troubles of the world are shut out, needs ignored, responsibility shunted aside. And this, we call ‘peace.’ Like Herod of old, preserving our position can become our paramount priority. This is not the ‘peace’ that Jesus left Heaven to bring to you and me! He did not come to help us be indulged, self-satisfied, or smug. He came to make peace with God, to call us back to our Father and into His mission of the restoration of all Creation.
Yesterday I knocked on the door of a motel room where a young woman, a single mother of two toddlers, has been housed by the local welfare office. She called the church to tell us that she had no gifts for her little ones. Thankful for the generosity of our congregation that provides resources for such situations, I took some things to her including a small Christmas tree, hoping to make the holiday a bit brighter for her. Her face was full of gratitude when I handed the gifts and money to her. Her little girl giggled and offered her little hand to me for a high-five of thanks. But, it wasn’t a Hallmark moment. It was disturbing! As much as I was glad to provide a moment of joy for that little family, she became the symbol of all things broken in this world for me. Driving away, I wept, knowing that her real need is much greater than a few bucks for the holidays. She needs to be loved and helped to find a way out of the cycle of poverty, physical and spiritual, that has become her life. I am greatly disturbed by the brokenness of the world around me!
When shocked out of complacency by some epiphany of human suffering, the knee-jerk reaction of many is simply to throw money at the need and then to go home and to try to forget about it. “I can’t think about it. It’s just so sad. But, what can I do? I’m just one person.” God disturb us!
Keep the living hell of little girls who are sex slaves to men enslaved by their lusts before us.
Keep the hopelessness of those trapped in our inner cities, in endless cycles of bad choices in our minds. Keep the fear of those dying without hope, without knowing God’s promise of eternal life in our consciousness. LORD, DISTURB US in our palaces!
No real change comes to the lives of those most in need unless we get involved, surrender ourselves, share our homes and lives, and let the messes that the unloved and unlovely bring with them into our hearts. We cannot allow ourselves to think that we can turn sinners into saints by singing them a sweet song of salvation. We must be like Jesus. The Bible tells us that "He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion." (Philippians 2:6-8, The Message) That is disturbing!
Disciple, you will not experience the deep peace of God until you are fully aligned with the purposes of God. No amount of festive celebration can replace the high call of love which we hear when we receive the love of the Savior. He reconciles us to our Father and "he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19, NIV) The words of Jim Elliott, a young intelligent man with a promising future, who died a martyr in the jungles of Ecuador in 1956, are my message to you this Christmas.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Read all of the words in this carol. Full of promise, their fulfillment will be disturbing. Merry Christmas!
__________________
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."
Christ, by highest heav'n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail, the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."
Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris'n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Come, Desire of nations, come!
Fix in us Thy humble home.
Rise, the woman's conqu'ring seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head;
Adam's likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place;
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Wesley, Charles / Mendelssohn, Felix
© Public Domain
The most natural thing in the world for us humans is to settle into ruts of routine that keep us snug our comfortable cubbies of complacency. The troubles of the world are shut out, needs ignored, responsibility shunted aside. And this, we call ‘peace.’ Like Herod of old, preserving our position can become our paramount priority. This is not the ‘peace’ that Jesus left Heaven to bring to you and me! He did not come to help us be indulged, self-satisfied, or smug. He came to make peace with God, to call us back to our Father and into His mission of the restoration of all Creation.
Yesterday I knocked on the door of a motel room where a young woman, a single mother of two toddlers, has been housed by the local welfare office. She called the church to tell us that she had no gifts for her little ones. Thankful for the generosity of our congregation that provides resources for such situations, I took some things to her including a small Christmas tree, hoping to make the holiday a bit brighter for her. Her face was full of gratitude when I handed the gifts and money to her. Her little girl giggled and offered her little hand to me for a high-five of thanks. But, it wasn’t a Hallmark moment. It was disturbing! As much as I was glad to provide a moment of joy for that little family, she became the symbol of all things broken in this world for me. Driving away, I wept, knowing that her real need is much greater than a few bucks for the holidays. She needs to be loved and helped to find a way out of the cycle of poverty, physical and spiritual, that has become her life. I am greatly disturbed by the brokenness of the world around me!
When shocked out of complacency by some epiphany of human suffering, the knee-jerk reaction of many is simply to throw money at the need and then to go home and to try to forget about it. “I can’t think about it. It’s just so sad. But, what can I do? I’m just one person.” God disturb us!
Keep the living hell of little girls who are sex slaves to men enslaved by their lusts before us.
Keep the hopelessness of those trapped in our inner cities, in endless cycles of bad choices in our minds. Keep the fear of those dying without hope, without knowing God’s promise of eternal life in our consciousness. LORD, DISTURB US in our palaces!
No real change comes to the lives of those most in need unless we get involved, surrender ourselves, share our homes and lives, and let the messes that the unloved and unlovely bring with them into our hearts. We cannot allow ourselves to think that we can turn sinners into saints by singing them a sweet song of salvation. We must be like Jesus. The Bible tells us that "He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion." (Philippians 2:6-8, The Message) That is disturbing!
Disciple, you will not experience the deep peace of God until you are fully aligned with the purposes of God. No amount of festive celebration can replace the high call of love which we hear when we receive the love of the Savior. He reconciles us to our Father and "he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19, NIV) The words of Jim Elliott, a young intelligent man with a promising future, who died a martyr in the jungles of Ecuador in 1956, are my message to you this Christmas.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Read all of the words in this carol. Full of promise, their fulfillment will be disturbing. Merry Christmas!
__________________
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."
Christ, by highest heav'n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail, the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."
Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris'n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Come, Desire of nations, come!
Fix in us Thy humble home.
Rise, the woman's conqu'ring seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head;
Adam's likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place;
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Wesley, Charles / Mendelssohn, Felix
© Public Domain
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Lord, what will I do?
I was awake for a couple of hours early this morning thinking and praying about a tough decision that is confronting me. It’s time to decide! There’s no easy or right answer for this situation as both options carry both reward and risk. Choices confront us every day. How we make them reveals much about our character, commitment, and core values! The easy ones, for me anyway, are those that are clearly black and white issues, the right and wrong ones starkly defined. Millions of people find an excuse for choosing the wrong one anyway. The choices much more difficult to make are the ones involving equally good outcomes. For example, a person with a good job that adequately meets his needs is offered a new position requiring relocation but with a promise of greater responsibility in the future. Does he stay where he’s happy or make the choice for growth?
Jesus spoke of choices and reminds us that the choice that offers Self the most comfort is also the choice for death. "The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." (Matthew 7:13-14, NLT) Depravity and sin see to it that default settings of this world lead to destruction. If you slip and slide through life, letting decisions be made for you by others or refusing to challenge your impulses, you will not succeed in building a life pleasing to God or that blesses others. That’s a certainty! Right choices usually go against the flow requiring that we resist temptation.
The Bible says, "If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way." (James 4:4, The Message) As we choose, we need to be honest about our true motives. Recently, as I sought the counsel of a trusted friend, I explained the options in front of me. Then, I told him, “Here is a complicating factor that is part of the background. I know I’m emotionally attracted to this idea.” Why did I reveal something that seemingly was unrelated to the decision of the moment? Because I don’t trust myself! I need to be transparent, to give others permission to point out flawed motives that could corrupt my decision making process. Over the course of my pastoral ministry, I have heard people rationalize thousands of wrong and/or sinful choices because they refused to admit that they were flirting with the world or just being selfish! The worst excuse? “God told me I could…” Don’t misuse His Name in this way!
Though we are ultimately responsible to God for our own choices, the truly wise person makes his decisions as he considers the advice of others. Proverbs promises that "Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established." (Proverbs 15:22, NKJV) Even then, there is a choice! What kind of counsel will we seek? Will we look for those we know will agree with us, or will we look for those known for honest, tough counsel? The Word lauds good counsel. "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." (Psalm 1:1-3, NLT)
As we near the end of 2009, there are choices to be made. Choose rightly and wisely. As I thought about my choice today, I was reminded of two promises Jesus made to us. As you meditate on them, give thanks and invite the Lord of life to lead you to the right way.
First is the promise of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us! "When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." (John 16:13, NIV)
Second is the promise of fellowship with Christ Himself! "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20, NIV)
____________
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield;
Be Thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me thro' the swelling current,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs and praises, songs and praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Williams, William / Fosdick, Harry E. / Hughes, John / William, Peter
© Public Domain
Jesus spoke of choices and reminds us that the choice that offers Self the most comfort is also the choice for death. "The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." (Matthew 7:13-14, NLT) Depravity and sin see to it that default settings of this world lead to destruction. If you slip and slide through life, letting decisions be made for you by others or refusing to challenge your impulses, you will not succeed in building a life pleasing to God or that blesses others. That’s a certainty! Right choices usually go against the flow requiring that we resist temptation.
The Bible says, "If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way." (James 4:4, The Message) As we choose, we need to be honest about our true motives. Recently, as I sought the counsel of a trusted friend, I explained the options in front of me. Then, I told him, “Here is a complicating factor that is part of the background. I know I’m emotionally attracted to this idea.” Why did I reveal something that seemingly was unrelated to the decision of the moment? Because I don’t trust myself! I need to be transparent, to give others permission to point out flawed motives that could corrupt my decision making process. Over the course of my pastoral ministry, I have heard people rationalize thousands of wrong and/or sinful choices because they refused to admit that they were flirting with the world or just being selfish! The worst excuse? “God told me I could…” Don’t misuse His Name in this way!
Though we are ultimately responsible to God for our own choices, the truly wise person makes his decisions as he considers the advice of others. Proverbs promises that "Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established." (Proverbs 15:22, NKJV) Even then, there is a choice! What kind of counsel will we seek? Will we look for those we know will agree with us, or will we look for those known for honest, tough counsel? The Word lauds good counsel. "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." (Psalm 1:1-3, NLT)
As we near the end of 2009, there are choices to be made. Choose rightly and wisely. As I thought about my choice today, I was reminded of two promises Jesus made to us. As you meditate on them, give thanks and invite the Lord of life to lead you to the right way.
First is the promise of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us! "When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." (John 16:13, NIV)
Second is the promise of fellowship with Christ Himself! "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20, NIV)
____________
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield;
Be Thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me thro' the swelling current,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs and praises, songs and praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Williams, William / Fosdick, Harry E. / Hughes, John / William, Peter
© Public Domain
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Life at the beach
Many years ago, I was at the Jersey shore, enjoying a day at the ocean. I was 11 or 12 years of age and carefree as kids are. Playing in water that was about waist deep, I suddenly found myself in the grip of a hidden force that pulled me off my feet. Frantically, I watched the safety of the sandy beach grow further away. Coughing and choking, it seemed like I would drown until the father of the family I was with appeared next to me and told me to hang onto him. 20 seconds of sheer terror is how I remember that day. Later I learned it was called a ‘riptide.’ It’s like a river in the ocean that causes a strong, narrow current that flows directly away from the shoreline. Most ocean drowning deaths are caused by rip currents, hidden and very dangerous.
We all get caught in rip currents that drag us into deep water from time to time, don’t we? A phone call announces a crisis, the boss hands us a lay-off notice, a child becomes ill, war breaks out, the economy fails, emotions go haywire, faith disappears into the fog of doubt – that list goes on and on! People ‘die’ in those kinds of situations; perhaps not physically, but some just give up hope and become the living dead. Some decide to hid in a some substance that lets them escape, if only for a few hours at a time. Some make self-destructive choices, losing integrity in the process.
Rip currents are one of the reasons why I am so thankful for the Church, the Body of Christ! IF she is functioning as she is designed, a lifeguard will appear offering the one in the rip current a rescue, pulling him to safety, or at least helping him stay afloat until the current gives out. Disciple, that is why you need to be networked into a local church, building and protecting strong ties to others who will see your distress and come alongside of you with more than platitudes or condemnation. An authentic church is not a place where neatly dressed people with beautifully ordered lives show up for a couple of hours a week to boast about their accomplishments or to sneer at people whose lives are ‘such a mess.’ It’s a place where real people celebrate God’s goodness and hang onto each other for dear life. It’s a ‘family’ where hurting people are re-connected to the healing Presence of the Spirit. It’s a spiritual hospital where sinful people find a Savior who restores them to the wholeness that God created them to enjoy.
Have we forgotten what the announcement of Jesus’ birth was about? It was not about a coronation! "An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21, NIV)
If you’re enjoying a sunny day at the beach in your life right now (figuratively speaking), give thanks! If you’re caught in a rip current that is dragging you down, YELL- to God, to a trusted disciple. A simple prayer will suffice – “Lord, help me!” There’s hope in Him. The teenage girl who became the mother of Jesus, found her life turned upside by a divine visitation that seemed more like a riptide than a blessing, at first. Tucked into the story of her encounter is a phrase I want to leave with you today. "Mary said to the angel, “But how? … His reply, “Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:34, 37, The Message)
Hang on to hope today! A Savior has been born. He is Christ, the Lord!
_______________
Jesus! What a friend for sinners!
Jesus lover of my soul!
Friends may fail me, foes assail me;
He, my Savior, makes me whole.
Jesus! What a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
Tempted tried and sometimes failing,
He, my strength my victory wins.
Hallelujah what a Savior.
Hallelujah what a Friend.
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Jesus! I do now receive Him;
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness;
I am His and He is mine.
Our Great Savior
Chapman, J. Wilbur / Prichard, Rowland H.
© Public Domain
We all get caught in rip currents that drag us into deep water from time to time, don’t we? A phone call announces a crisis, the boss hands us a lay-off notice, a child becomes ill, war breaks out, the economy fails, emotions go haywire, faith disappears into the fog of doubt – that list goes on and on! People ‘die’ in those kinds of situations; perhaps not physically, but some just give up hope and become the living dead. Some decide to hid in a some substance that lets them escape, if only for a few hours at a time. Some make self-destructive choices, losing integrity in the process.
Rip currents are one of the reasons why I am so thankful for the Church, the Body of Christ! IF she is functioning as she is designed, a lifeguard will appear offering the one in the rip current a rescue, pulling him to safety, or at least helping him stay afloat until the current gives out. Disciple, that is why you need to be networked into a local church, building and protecting strong ties to others who will see your distress and come alongside of you with more than platitudes or condemnation. An authentic church is not a place where neatly dressed people with beautifully ordered lives show up for a couple of hours a week to boast about their accomplishments or to sneer at people whose lives are ‘such a mess.’ It’s a place where real people celebrate God’s goodness and hang onto each other for dear life. It’s a ‘family’ where hurting people are re-connected to the healing Presence of the Spirit. It’s a spiritual hospital where sinful people find a Savior who restores them to the wholeness that God created them to enjoy.
Have we forgotten what the announcement of Jesus’ birth was about? It was not about a coronation! "An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21, NIV)
If you’re enjoying a sunny day at the beach in your life right now (figuratively speaking), give thanks! If you’re caught in a rip current that is dragging you down, YELL- to God, to a trusted disciple. A simple prayer will suffice – “Lord, help me!” There’s hope in Him. The teenage girl who became the mother of Jesus, found her life turned upside by a divine visitation that seemed more like a riptide than a blessing, at first. Tucked into the story of her encounter is a phrase I want to leave with you today. "Mary said to the angel, “But how? … His reply, “Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:34, 37, The Message)
Hang on to hope today! A Savior has been born. He is Christ, the Lord!
_______________
Jesus! What a friend for sinners!
Jesus lover of my soul!
Friends may fail me, foes assail me;
He, my Savior, makes me whole.
Jesus! What a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
Tempted tried and sometimes failing,
He, my strength my victory wins.
Hallelujah what a Savior.
Hallelujah what a Friend.
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Jesus! I do now receive Him;
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness;
I am His and He is mine.
Our Great Savior
Chapman, J. Wilbur / Prichard, Rowland H.
© Public Domain
Monday, December 21, 2009
Going “Primal”
The word means ‘of first importance, original.’ In a book simply titled Primal, (Multnomah, 2009) Mark Batterson leads his readers to reconsider the basics of being a disciple of Christ. On page 2, we learn about his tour of the Church of San Clemente in Rome, where he descends below the existing church to the catacombs that lay beneath several layers of civilizations. There Christians worshipped during Roman persecutions. “I was overcome by the fact that I was standing in a place where my spiritual ancestors risked everything, even their lives, to worship God. … I couldn’t help but wonder if we have diluted the truths of Christianity and settled for superficialities.”
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30, NIV) The author breaks down his call to basic faith by using that primal call of Jesus. We can load up our walk of faith with bells and whistles of our preferences, add our trinkets of religious traditions, but if we are serious disciples nothing replaces loving God first and others second. Batterson reminded me, with his stories, that love is an action verb, engaged with the real world where each one of us live. He reminds me that “God loves the smell of your sweat. Your sweat is sacred incense God loves it when we break a sweat serving His purposes.”
I urge you to think long and hard about what you’re pouring yourself into, to whom you’re giving the rapidly disappearing days of your life. If the foundation from which you build is solid, the structure will be too. If you want a book to help you start 2010 with some fresh thoughts about getting back to basics, Primal, would be good choice. Buy it at: http://www.amazon.com/Primal-Quest-Lost-Soul-Christianity/dp/1601421311/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261396677&sr=1-1
Mark Batterson is the lead Pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife and three children.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30, NIV) The author breaks down his call to basic faith by using that primal call of Jesus. We can load up our walk of faith with bells and whistles of our preferences, add our trinkets of religious traditions, but if we are serious disciples nothing replaces loving God first and others second. Batterson reminded me, with his stories, that love is an action verb, engaged with the real world where each one of us live. He reminds me that “God loves the smell of your sweat. Your sweat is sacred incense God loves it when we break a sweat serving His purposes.”
I urge you to think long and hard about what you’re pouring yourself into, to whom you’re giving the rapidly disappearing days of your life. If the foundation from which you build is solid, the structure will be too. If you want a book to help you start 2010 with some fresh thoughts about getting back to basics, Primal, would be good choice. Buy it at: http://www.amazon.com/Primal-Quest-Lost-Soul-Christianity/dp/1601421311/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261396677&sr=1-1
Mark Batterson is the lead Pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife and three children.
Friday, December 18, 2009
You can do it!
Some days I wake up thinking, “can I do this another day?” I think most of us do. We tire of the constant struggle to make life work, to overcome sin, to get relationships right, to do our job well, to steer our kids away from delinquency, to …. Well, I think you’re getting my drift. We live against the flow, resisting the tendency to decay that is part of this world. It’s everywhere! Our houses don’t clean themselves. Our cars require constant maintenance. Keeping our marriage healthy demands our daily attention. Even our spiritual life goes cold as a cup of coffee left on the countertop without continual refreshing in worship and wonder!
Sound like a lot of work? It is!
A life of peace, beauty, and holiness does not just happen. We must do spiritual disciplines, resist the Devil’s work, and return often to God. And we know this: we are not in the struggle all by ourselves. The Spirit of God is our Ally, our Source, our Strength! At the end of Romans 11 and into chapter 12, the Word exults about God’s work. Take a look at the passage from The Message –
"Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice?
Everything comes from him;
Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him.
Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes.
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you:
Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans 11:33-12:2)
There is no reason for sin to run rampant in our lives any longer. The depravity that once held us captive has been replaced with a new nature, one alive to the will of God, one that rejoices in truth and love. Feed that nature today with worship, with the Word, with cultivated awareness of the Spirit's Presence. And may the beauty of Jesus been seen in you!
Dear Father, please "let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, all His wonderful passion and purity; O, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine, 'til the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
In the name of my Savior I pray. Amen. (from the song by Albert W.T. Orsbom)
Sound like a lot of work? It is!
A life of peace, beauty, and holiness does not just happen. We must do spiritual disciplines, resist the Devil’s work, and return often to God. And we know this: we are not in the struggle all by ourselves. The Spirit of God is our Ally, our Source, our Strength! At the end of Romans 11 and into chapter 12, the Word exults about God’s work. Take a look at the passage from The Message –
"Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice?
Everything comes from him;
Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him.
Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes.
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you:
Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans 11:33-12:2)
There is no reason for sin to run rampant in our lives any longer. The depravity that once held us captive has been replaced with a new nature, one alive to the will of God, one that rejoices in truth and love. Feed that nature today with worship, with the Word, with cultivated awareness of the Spirit's Presence. And may the beauty of Jesus been seen in you!
Dear Father, please "let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, all His wonderful passion and purity; O, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine, 'til the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
In the name of my Savior I pray. Amen. (from the song by Albert W.T. Orsbom)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
An Enormous Red Dragon
Somebody hates you! Isn’t that a warm, fuzzy thought? It isn’t and yet, it’s true! In the 12th chapter of the Revelation, John uses ‘sign language’ to tell his readers about God’s plan to save His Creation from an evil one who is determined to oppose and destroy all that is good and godly. Many refuse to take John’s vision seriously, dismissing the story as a superstitious tale of a man steeped in the myths of his time. I don’t. John’s words help me to understand the way the world works and to see what’s really going on in the invisible realm that is as real as the one I perceive with my five senses.
John saw an ‘enormous red dragon’ (a picture language symbol) who was poised to destroy the Messiah at his birth, who rebelled against the order of Heaven and was defeated by Michael, the archangel, who was kicked out of the Presence of God, and who now has "had a great fall; He’s wild and raging with anger; he hasn’t much time and he knows it." (Revelation 12:12, The Message) Evil has a name and a personality! "This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels." (Revelation 12:9, NLT)
If you think that all the suffering in this world results just from ignorance or human pride, think again. Evil is an organized conspiracy, orchestrated by the Devil, who works through the demon spirits, whose ultimate goal is death and destruction. The Hitlers, Pol Pots, wife-beating husbands, and rebellious teens who hate their parents share a common inspiration – the Devil! When Tiger Woods cheated on his wife, he wasn’t just led astray by an excess of testosterone; he was deceived by lying spirits whose cackles are now heard as his life is in ashes. If we fail to understand this, we risk fighting the wrong battles, trying to solve problems by focusing only on symptoms rather than the real disease. As important as education, eradication of poverty, and behavior modification are in making the world a better place in which to live; they can only accomplish so much. Only Christ Jesus can set us free from slavery to Satan and depravity. Only the Holy Spirit can transform our minds and hearts so that we are able to live whole and holy lives.
While I do not fear Satan or his demons, I have great respect for their power, and so should you. I know that I am safe only because of the sacrifice of Christ that erases my sinfulness and lets the Spirit of God live in me. John says of Believers, "they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony." (Revelation 12:11, NLT) He alludes to the Exodus story, where the Israeli people who obediently responded in faith by putting the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts escaped the death angel’s judgment. We receive Christ, by faith, and His sacrifice covers us.
Even then, we face the attacks of evil that comes at us through ‘the world, the flesh, and the Devil.’ But, we have a promise of victory! Though we walk in a world ‘with devils filled,’ that ‘threatens to undo us, we will not fear for God has willed His truth to triumph through us.’ (Martin Luther) Here’s a word from the Word. Meditate on it. Let the Truth give you insight into your own behavior and that of those who are around you, then pray to be holy and to be part of the Divine Conspiracy to save Creation!
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.
This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
(1 John 4:4-8, NIV)
_______________
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."
Come, Desire of nations, come!
Fix in us Thy humble home.
Rise, the woman's conqu'ring seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head;
Adam's likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place;
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Wesley, Charles © Public Domain
John saw an ‘enormous red dragon’ (a picture language symbol) who was poised to destroy the Messiah at his birth, who rebelled against the order of Heaven and was defeated by Michael, the archangel, who was kicked out of the Presence of God, and who now has "had a great fall; He’s wild and raging with anger; he hasn’t much time and he knows it." (Revelation 12:12, The Message) Evil has a name and a personality! "This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels." (Revelation 12:9, NLT)
If you think that all the suffering in this world results just from ignorance or human pride, think again. Evil is an organized conspiracy, orchestrated by the Devil, who works through the demon spirits, whose ultimate goal is death and destruction. The Hitlers, Pol Pots, wife-beating husbands, and rebellious teens who hate their parents share a common inspiration – the Devil! When Tiger Woods cheated on his wife, he wasn’t just led astray by an excess of testosterone; he was deceived by lying spirits whose cackles are now heard as his life is in ashes. If we fail to understand this, we risk fighting the wrong battles, trying to solve problems by focusing only on symptoms rather than the real disease. As important as education, eradication of poverty, and behavior modification are in making the world a better place in which to live; they can only accomplish so much. Only Christ Jesus can set us free from slavery to Satan and depravity. Only the Holy Spirit can transform our minds and hearts so that we are able to live whole and holy lives.
While I do not fear Satan or his demons, I have great respect for their power, and so should you. I know that I am safe only because of the sacrifice of Christ that erases my sinfulness and lets the Spirit of God live in me. John says of Believers, "they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony." (Revelation 12:11, NLT) He alludes to the Exodus story, where the Israeli people who obediently responded in faith by putting the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts escaped the death angel’s judgment. We receive Christ, by faith, and His sacrifice covers us.
Even then, we face the attacks of evil that comes at us through ‘the world, the flesh, and the Devil.’ But, we have a promise of victory! Though we walk in a world ‘with devils filled,’ that ‘threatens to undo us, we will not fear for God has willed His truth to triumph through us.’ (Martin Luther) Here’s a word from the Word. Meditate on it. Let the Truth give you insight into your own behavior and that of those who are around you, then pray to be holy and to be part of the Divine Conspiracy to save Creation!
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.
This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
(1 John 4:4-8, NIV)
_______________
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."
Come, Desire of nations, come!
Fix in us Thy humble home.
Rise, the woman's conqu'ring seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head;
Adam's likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place;
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King."
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Wesley, Charles © Public Domain
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Who's Leading You?
Before he entered vocational ministry at the age of 30, my father had a livestock company. Each summer, he traveled to Wyoming to buy lambs for resale to East coast markets. When I was about 6 years old, he took me with him to Wyoming, to a remote area, where we visited shepherds tending huge flocks of sheep! Yes, it's true. There in the mountains near Buffalo, WY, were men who lived alone in little houses on wheels, caring for their sheep 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They were Basque immigrants, from an ancient culture in the Pyrenees Mountains on the border of Spain and France. Their people had a long tradition of being outstanding shepherds. These men, helped only by their amazing dogs, made certain that the sheep in their care were kept safe and provided with pasture. Their constant presence caused those sheep to respond even to their voice! I watched as a single shepherd called his flock, sent his dog to round up stragglers, and moved hundreds of sheep from place to place in open range. It is an amazing memory still vivid in my mind a half century later!
Perhaps you do not know that sheep if left alone on the open range without a shepherd will come to a terrible end! Predators will kill them off, one by one. They will stay in one area, over-grazing the land, until they have exhausted their food supply. Only a well-shepherded flock thrives. People are much like those sheep. We need to be led! Without care, we die. Even if we have all we need right now, without guidance we will get stuck and fail to move ahead in life. Jesus saw the need of the people that he lived with observed, "they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36, NIV) Perhaps that is how you feel today.
Our world is full of people who would ‘shepherd’ us. They call to us, inviting us to follow them.
There are dictators that demand much of us, but return nothing, wanting only to selfishly take from us.
There are deceivers that want to mislead us into destruction, their plans shaped by twisted purposes of evil.
There are those who just yell at us, issuing a confusing lot of directions, noises that leaves us in a whirl of confusion if we try to follow them.
And, there is One Voice that invites us to - "Come, follow me. ... I am the Good Shepherd."
Jesus says, "I am the Gate for the sheep. ... Anyone who goes through me will be cared for-will freely go in and out, and find pasture. ... I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary." (John 10:7-11, The Message) Go back and read that passage again.
"Come, follow me." Will you take Jesus up on His invitation? It's an invitation to adventure, to life that is purposeful and meaningful, and - best of all - to a relationship! He promises that if we follow Him, He will never leave us. He does not promise that we will never be attacked by wolves, go through violent storms, or experience difficult days! But, He promises we won't face those challenges alone. "I'll be there," He says, "caring for you."
Follow the Good Shepherd. Serve Him. Worship Him. Listen to Him. And, you will 'have real and eternal life, more and better life than you ever dreamed.' That's the truth.
Here’s a familiar word from the Word. Don’t rush through it! Savor the promise.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23, NIV)
_____________________
Savior, like a Shepherd lead us;
Much we need Thy tender care.
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us;
For our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us; Thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
We are Thine; do Thou befriend us;
Be the Guardian of our way.
Keep Thy flock; from sin defend us;
Seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear thy children when they pray;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear Thy children when they pray.
Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us
Thrupp, Dorothy A. / Bradbury, William B.
© Public Domain
Perhaps you do not know that sheep if left alone on the open range without a shepherd will come to a terrible end! Predators will kill them off, one by one. They will stay in one area, over-grazing the land, until they have exhausted their food supply. Only a well-shepherded flock thrives. People are much like those sheep. We need to be led! Without care, we die. Even if we have all we need right now, without guidance we will get stuck and fail to move ahead in life. Jesus saw the need of the people that he lived with observed, "they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36, NIV) Perhaps that is how you feel today.
Our world is full of people who would ‘shepherd’ us. They call to us, inviting us to follow them.
There are dictators that demand much of us, but return nothing, wanting only to selfishly take from us.
There are deceivers that want to mislead us into destruction, their plans shaped by twisted purposes of evil.
There are those who just yell at us, issuing a confusing lot of directions, noises that leaves us in a whirl of confusion if we try to follow them.
And, there is One Voice that invites us to - "Come, follow me. ... I am the Good Shepherd."
Jesus says, "I am the Gate for the sheep. ... Anyone who goes through me will be cared for-will freely go in and out, and find pasture. ... I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary." (John 10:7-11, The Message) Go back and read that passage again.
"Come, follow me." Will you take Jesus up on His invitation? It's an invitation to adventure, to life that is purposeful and meaningful, and - best of all - to a relationship! He promises that if we follow Him, He will never leave us. He does not promise that we will never be attacked by wolves, go through violent storms, or experience difficult days! But, He promises we won't face those challenges alone. "I'll be there," He says, "caring for you."
Follow the Good Shepherd. Serve Him. Worship Him. Listen to Him. And, you will 'have real and eternal life, more and better life than you ever dreamed.' That's the truth.
Here’s a familiar word from the Word. Don’t rush through it! Savor the promise.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23, NIV)
_____________________
Savior, like a Shepherd lead us;
Much we need Thy tender care.
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us;
For our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us; Thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
We are Thine; do Thou befriend us;
Be the Guardian of our way.
Keep Thy flock; from sin defend us;
Seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear thy children when they pray;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear Thy children when they pray.
Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us
Thrupp, Dorothy A. / Bradbury, William B.
© Public Domain
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Needed – a Prince of Peace
Conflict never really stops, does it? With age, my tolerance for conflict has diminished. In the past, I was ready to argue my point strenuously when I thought it necessary. Today, not so much. My inner voice says so often, “Can’t we just get along?” Apparently, we (all human beings) cannot! After 35 years of marriage, Bev and I still occasionally have disagreements over the silliest stuff, though neither of us is willing to fight the way we did 20 years ago! Within the church that I serve there are always simmering issues to be dealt with, some important, some insignificant, but all loaded with the potential to explode into destructive words and actions if not properly resolved and/or managed.
Our American politics are so loaded with conflict, the major parties so polarized that the idea of building consensus is abandoned in favor of raw power plays. Our President, in his speech at the acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize last week, acknowledged his resignation to the concept of the necessity of ‘just’ war, saying that “the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace. And yet this truth must coexist with another - that no matter how justified, war promises human tragedy.”
Christmas renews our longing for peace and the promise that there will come a day when wars will cease, when hate-filled words will no longer fill the air, when cooperation will emerge from the perfect justice of a righteous King. Isaiah said that One will come who will be called the “Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace.” (9.6)
Conflict among us, be it personal or international, is commonly resolved with power; the one with the most money, soldiers, or leverage, applies pressure and forces compliance to his will. Resolved is not the best word to use. Suppressed would be better. When the vanquished have had time to heal their wounds and gather new allies, conflict resurfaces.
Christ Jesus calls us to peace and to actively work for peace. Are we naïve to hope for it, pray for it, long for it? No! Jesus taught us to pray, "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10, NIV) His kingdom is one of peace announced by angels who said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14, NIV) Jesus’ mission was one of peace; first reconciling us to God through the offering of Himself, and then calling us to be reconciled to one another through death to Self!
What we fail to understand is that peace is costly. It is purchased with sacrifice, not in battle, but in surrender of Self! That is not the peace message most want to hear. They want a peace with preferential treatment. We all want a peace; be it at home, at work, or for our nation, that protects our privilege and/or our point of view. But, godly peace, true peace is not about winning our way, but gaining the heart and love of another. This is a hard word, isn’t it? We cannot aspire to real peace without a deep assurance that we are held in the hands of a God who is perfectly just, who will bring us into His home where there is peace forevermore.
So, let’s pray for peace and let it begin in me, today.
____________________
O come, O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go.
O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home.
The captives from their prison free,
And conquer death's deep misery.
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thy justice here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Neale, John M. / Coffin, Henry S. / Helmore, Thomas
© Public Domain
Our American politics are so loaded with conflict, the major parties so polarized that the idea of building consensus is abandoned in favor of raw power plays. Our President, in his speech at the acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize last week, acknowledged his resignation to the concept of the necessity of ‘just’ war, saying that “the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace. And yet this truth must coexist with another - that no matter how justified, war promises human tragedy.”
Christmas renews our longing for peace and the promise that there will come a day when wars will cease, when hate-filled words will no longer fill the air, when cooperation will emerge from the perfect justice of a righteous King. Isaiah said that One will come who will be called the “Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace.” (9.6)
Conflict among us, be it personal or international, is commonly resolved with power; the one with the most money, soldiers, or leverage, applies pressure and forces compliance to his will. Resolved is not the best word to use. Suppressed would be better. When the vanquished have had time to heal their wounds and gather new allies, conflict resurfaces.
Christ Jesus calls us to peace and to actively work for peace. Are we naïve to hope for it, pray for it, long for it? No! Jesus taught us to pray, "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10, NIV) His kingdom is one of peace announced by angels who said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14, NIV) Jesus’ mission was one of peace; first reconciling us to God through the offering of Himself, and then calling us to be reconciled to one another through death to Self!
What we fail to understand is that peace is costly. It is purchased with sacrifice, not in battle, but in surrender of Self! That is not the peace message most want to hear. They want a peace with preferential treatment. We all want a peace; be it at home, at work, or for our nation, that protects our privilege and/or our point of view. But, godly peace, true peace is not about winning our way, but gaining the heart and love of another. This is a hard word, isn’t it? We cannot aspire to real peace without a deep assurance that we are held in the hands of a God who is perfectly just, who will bring us into His home where there is peace forevermore.
So, let’s pray for peace and let it begin in me, today.
____________________
O come, O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go.
O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home.
The captives from their prison free,
And conquer death's deep misery.
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thy justice here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Neale, John M. / Coffin, Henry S. / Helmore, Thomas
© Public Domain
Monday, December 14, 2009
Did you hear the one about two ministers and a rabbi?
On Saturday, I enjoyed the opportunity, a first in my life, to join with a Methodist pastor and a Jewish Rabbi to conduct a wedding! Rabbi Josh is an amazing man, reaching far out the norm and beyond his comfort zone to help a Jewish dad and mom deal with the emotions surrounding their daughter’s choices; first to be baptized as a Christian and them, to marry a Christian man. At their wedding which we celebrated on Saturday, peace and joy reigned during the God-honoring ceremony. And, best of all, I am certain I sensed the smile of my Heavenly Father!
In earlier communications, Rabbi Josh mentioned that many within his tradition are very disparaging of his willingness to reach out in this way. I’m certain that not a few of my own colleagues may consider me misguided in my willingness to do this wedding, too. But, integrity was paramount on Saturday. Instead of each of us diluting his own tradition to try to find some ‘common’ ground, as is so often done in well-intentioned searches for unity; we each held our faith high. I prayed in Jesus’ Name, not be to insensitive, but to remain true to my convictions. Rabbi Josh prayed in Hebrew and read from the Song of Songs, as he wore his prayer shawl. And, yes, I am certain that the Lord smiled!
Might we have found a little way to practice what God speaks of in Psalm 133? There we read,
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." (Psalm 133, NIV)
The key is peace – be it in religion or family – is ACCEPTANCE, which is not the same as APPROVAL! Do I approve of every tradition of Judaism? Of course not, for I am a Christian. Does Rabbi Josh approve of everything that I believe? Of course not, for he is Jewish. But, we share a common love of humanity and a desire for peace, which allows us to be different and yet to work together to bring joy to a family that is wrestling with change. I don’t have all the answers to the questions raised by this effort, but I know what I felt in that Methodist church was the work of the Spirit of the Lord!
Jesus said that peace-makers would be blessed for they would be called the children of God! (Matthew 5:9) In The Message it reads: “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family."
Mark Batterson, in his new book, Primal, Multnomah, 2009, writes that “Christianity has a perception problem. … The simple fact is that Christians are more known for what we’re against than what we are for. … We’re quick to point out what’s wrong with our culture.” If we are constantly in a combative position, we will find ourselves walled in, unable to reach out to our friends and family with the Great News about the love of Jesus Christ. Are you building walls or bridges?
This Christmas Season, as your extended family gathers, when the goofy uncle shows up, or the parent who stresses you calls to announce her arrival, pray for the gift of making peace, the ability to get past your personal desires, to be a builder of bridges between people. When you feel the urge to criticize or correct, think twice; pray three times, before opening your mouth once! It may be what is needed is a great deal of ACCEPTANCE, that affirms the worth of the person before you attempt to correct what you believe is wrong about them.
Make peace-making a priority: and, if you do this, I believe you will sense the smile of God! Here’s a word from the Word that is our holy calling.
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
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. (made us peace-makers!)
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:16-20, NIV)
In earlier communications, Rabbi Josh mentioned that many within his tradition are very disparaging of his willingness to reach out in this way. I’m certain that not a few of my own colleagues may consider me misguided in my willingness to do this wedding, too. But, integrity was paramount on Saturday. Instead of each of us diluting his own tradition to try to find some ‘common’ ground, as is so often done in well-intentioned searches for unity; we each held our faith high. I prayed in Jesus’ Name, not be to insensitive, but to remain true to my convictions. Rabbi Josh prayed in Hebrew and read from the Song of Songs, as he wore his prayer shawl. And, yes, I am certain that the Lord smiled!
Might we have found a little way to practice what God speaks of in Psalm 133? There we read,
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." (Psalm 133, NIV)
The key is peace – be it in religion or family – is ACCEPTANCE, which is not the same as APPROVAL! Do I approve of every tradition of Judaism? Of course not, for I am a Christian. Does Rabbi Josh approve of everything that I believe? Of course not, for he is Jewish. But, we share a common love of humanity and a desire for peace, which allows us to be different and yet to work together to bring joy to a family that is wrestling with change. I don’t have all the answers to the questions raised by this effort, but I know what I felt in that Methodist church was the work of the Spirit of the Lord!
Jesus said that peace-makers would be blessed for they would be called the children of God! (Matthew 5:9) In The Message it reads: “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family."
Mark Batterson, in his new book, Primal, Multnomah, 2009, writes that “Christianity has a perception problem. … The simple fact is that Christians are more known for what we’re against than what we are for. … We’re quick to point out what’s wrong with our culture.” If we are constantly in a combative position, we will find ourselves walled in, unable to reach out to our friends and family with the Great News about the love of Jesus Christ. Are you building walls or bridges?
This Christmas Season, as your extended family gathers, when the goofy uncle shows up, or the parent who stresses you calls to announce her arrival, pray for the gift of making peace, the ability to get past your personal desires, to be a builder of bridges between people. When you feel the urge to criticize or correct, think twice; pray three times, before opening your mouth once! It may be what is needed is a great deal of ACCEPTANCE, that affirms the worth of the person before you attempt to correct what you believe is wrong about them.
Make peace-making a priority: and, if you do this, I believe you will sense the smile of God! Here’s a word from the Word that is our holy calling.
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
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. (made us peace-makers!)
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:16-20, NIV)
Friday, December 11, 2009
Do your ears itch?
As noted in CoffeeBreak yesterday, many Christians are ready to dilute the true Gospel of Jesus Christ with silly superstitions, angel stories, and bizarre worship practices. A lifetime of ministry has allowed me to see fads come and go in the church. I've seen many doctrinal aberrations that time has corrected. The current issue of syncretism (mixing religions) is the most serious problem I have seen. Even so-called “Spirit-filled” disciples are turning to strange doctrine and weird practices because many no longer trust the absolute sufficiency of the Scripture for life and godliness.
Part of this grows out of our celebrity culture. The fact that someone can sing or dance or act does not mean they have anything authoritative to say about politics, climate science, or religious truth. Yet, we are regularly exposed to the pontifications of those like Kanye West, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen. Are they experts? On their art, yes! On other issues? Not in my understanding. The same celebrity worship happens in the Church. An athlete who comes to faith in Christ from a life full of dysfunction is put on the stage in front of thousands of teens within months of his conversion, held up as a role model before the water of his baptism has dried.
There many Christian musicians whose passion for worship is unquestioned but whose Scriptural depth and understanding are frequently slim to non-existent. But, because they enjoy celebrity status in church circles, they have a more profound influence than pastors who carefully study the Word and teach from long hours of preparation. The result is shallow Christians with faith built on experience alone, their focus shifted from the Awesomeness of a Holy God to subjective feelings celebrated by the song writer. That is not to say that all musicians are shallow! Some write and lead out of a life dedicated equally to study of truth and excellence of their craft. Then, too, we cannot ignore the huge influence of media speakers whose words fill up books, who take the stage at conferences, using human interest stories and Oprah-like psycho-babble to explain life to us. Frequently their message is without much Bible content or any theological anchors.
Then, too, some are ‘bored’ by steady, solid, life-changing Truth of the Word, and become fascinated by demons, angels, and psychic phenomena rather than the Word of God. Deep reverence for the Presence of Yahweh is insufficient and all manner of hype is invited into the Church to replace the genuine move of the Spirit. This is not new, but it is a growing trend with nothing but terrible consequences for the health of the Church. The Word speaks of this: "The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4, NIV)
Disciple, love the Truth!
Seek out leaders whose lives show integrity.
Commit yourself to a church that is more than a ‘show,’ that is Word-centered even as it is innovative, looking for ways to bring the unchanging Truth to the culture in which we live.
As we celebrate Advent, I urge you to go back to the Gospels.
Read the “Jesus story” told in Matthew and Luke and let the amazing facts of God’s intervention in history wash over you.
Read from John 1 and begin to understand the amazing fact that God became a Man! It’s called ‘the Incarnation!’ God, the Creator, mysteriously and wondrously, moved by love entered this world and was born a baby, lived among us teaching us, died to save us from our sins, and rose again to declare His triumph over sin, death, and Hell.
Hallelujah, what a Savior.
"I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
it is enough that Jesus died,
and that He died for me."
"My heart is leaning on the Word,
the written Word of God.
Salvation by my Savior's name,
salvation through His blood."
Part of this grows out of our celebrity culture. The fact that someone can sing or dance or act does not mean they have anything authoritative to say about politics, climate science, or religious truth. Yet, we are regularly exposed to the pontifications of those like Kanye West, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen. Are they experts? On their art, yes! On other issues? Not in my understanding. The same celebrity worship happens in the Church. An athlete who comes to faith in Christ from a life full of dysfunction is put on the stage in front of thousands of teens within months of his conversion, held up as a role model before the water of his baptism has dried.
There many Christian musicians whose passion for worship is unquestioned but whose Scriptural depth and understanding are frequently slim to non-existent. But, because they enjoy celebrity status in church circles, they have a more profound influence than pastors who carefully study the Word and teach from long hours of preparation. The result is shallow Christians with faith built on experience alone, their focus shifted from the Awesomeness of a Holy God to subjective feelings celebrated by the song writer. That is not to say that all musicians are shallow! Some write and lead out of a life dedicated equally to study of truth and excellence of their craft. Then, too, we cannot ignore the huge influence of media speakers whose words fill up books, who take the stage at conferences, using human interest stories and Oprah-like psycho-babble to explain life to us. Frequently their message is without much Bible content or any theological anchors.
Then, too, some are ‘bored’ by steady, solid, life-changing Truth of the Word, and become fascinated by demons, angels, and psychic phenomena rather than the Word of God. Deep reverence for the Presence of Yahweh is insufficient and all manner of hype is invited into the Church to replace the genuine move of the Spirit. This is not new, but it is a growing trend with nothing but terrible consequences for the health of the Church. The Word speaks of this: "The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4, NIV)
Disciple, love the Truth!
Seek out leaders whose lives show integrity.
Commit yourself to a church that is more than a ‘show,’ that is Word-centered even as it is innovative, looking for ways to bring the unchanging Truth to the culture in which we live.
As we celebrate Advent, I urge you to go back to the Gospels.
Read the “Jesus story” told in Matthew and Luke and let the amazing facts of God’s intervention in history wash over you.
Read from John 1 and begin to understand the amazing fact that God became a Man! It’s called ‘the Incarnation!’ God, the Creator, mysteriously and wondrously, moved by love entered this world and was born a baby, lived among us teaching us, died to save us from our sins, and rose again to declare His triumph over sin, death, and Hell.
Hallelujah, what a Savior.
"I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
it is enough that Jesus died,
and that He died for me."
"My heart is leaning on the Word,
the written Word of God.
Salvation by my Savior's name,
salvation through His blood."
Thursday, December 10, 2009
I’ll take mine, Jesus Lite, with a splash of Buddha
The Associated Press started an article today with this line: “When it comes to religion, many Americans like the mix-and-match, build-your-own approach.” This is the finding of a report issued on 12/9/09 by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. This ‘pick and choose’ method of constructing personal faith doesn’t just mean that Christians decide to blend some Presbyterian and Episcopalian traditions. A quarter of those who are traditionally Christian claim to believe in reincarnation, a belief adopted from Eastern religions. One in five American Christians also delve into alternative spirituality. They practice yoga, look for energy from crystals, or blend aspects of nature worship into their lives. About a third say they have communicated with someone who has died and half of us claim to have had a religious or mystical experience, a sharp increase from the previous generation. So, is this good news or bad news?
The good news is that life without God was tried and found wanting. Spirituality is back. The bad news is that Christianity, as practiced in America, was found so anemic, so incapable of addressing the deepest longings of our hearts, that people decided to look elsewhere for meaning in life. Most of those who have an eclectic faith are ignorant of Christian doctrine and without understanding of the incoherent inconsistency of their beliefs. Several trends contributed to the present state; a rejection of dogma by free-thinking people, a low view of Scriptural authority among members of the clergy, and exposure to many cultures and religions as the world grew smaller in the 20th century. The same article includes this observation: "Pop culture and the Internet are probably more powerful teachers than Sunday school teachers." Scott Thumma is a sociologist at the Hartford Institute of Religion Research.
I find it amazing that faith and religion which profoundly shape who we are, what we hope for, and how we live should be so casually approached by otherwise intelligent, educated people. Imagine if we trained our children at school in the same way that we do in religion, encouraging them to adopt as true whatever was most appealing at the moment. The facts of science and math that lead to understanding the way that our world operates, that allow us to create machines, medicine, and live more safely and longer are taught with insistence on mastery of that which is true and tested. Yet, in matters of faith, we say, “Find your own way.” No wonder we live in such a muddled mess – morally and ethically! In the Proverbs we read that "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." (Proverbs 14:12, NLT) Jesus, who claimed to the Truth, said that “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, NLT)
Are you tempted by a spirituality that is Jesus Lite, with a splash of Buddha?
Do you reject the mind only to follow emotion in matters of faith?
If so, then prepare to wander, to drift from point in life, and to come to a place without hope.
Discipleship is about knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and includes a healthy component of experience of the love of God. It also requires study and understanding that leads to mature faith that encompasses all of this life and points the way to our eternal home with the Father.
Here’s a word from Scripture for your meditation today. I pray that it will be true in your pursuit of God. "You have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:15-20, NIV)
___________________
O Lord our Lord,
How majestic is Your name.
Your words are true,
Your mercy does not change.
All Your promises are precious,
Reviving our faith.
Every one of them
Will be fulfilled one day.
Oh all Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" in Jesus.
Your promises are true.
All Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" Lord Jesus,
We'll keep running after You.
We will run,
We'll run and not grow weary.
We will rise upon the eagle's wings.
In the presence of the Lord,
Our spirits will soar,
Till we one day gaze upon our King.
But my foot had almost slipped,
O Lord, I'd almost lost my way,
'Til I entered the house of the Lord
And heard Your sweet Spirit say,
Oh all Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" in Jesus.
Your promises are true.
All Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" Lord Jesus,
We'll keep running after You.
All Your Promises
Smith, Andrew © 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055
The good news is that life without God was tried and found wanting. Spirituality is back. The bad news is that Christianity, as practiced in America, was found so anemic, so incapable of addressing the deepest longings of our hearts, that people decided to look elsewhere for meaning in life. Most of those who have an eclectic faith are ignorant of Christian doctrine and without understanding of the incoherent inconsistency of their beliefs. Several trends contributed to the present state; a rejection of dogma by free-thinking people, a low view of Scriptural authority among members of the clergy, and exposure to many cultures and religions as the world grew smaller in the 20th century. The same article includes this observation: "Pop culture and the Internet are probably more powerful teachers than Sunday school teachers." Scott Thumma is a sociologist at the Hartford Institute of Religion Research.
I find it amazing that faith and religion which profoundly shape who we are, what we hope for, and how we live should be so casually approached by otherwise intelligent, educated people. Imagine if we trained our children at school in the same way that we do in religion, encouraging them to adopt as true whatever was most appealing at the moment. The facts of science and math that lead to understanding the way that our world operates, that allow us to create machines, medicine, and live more safely and longer are taught with insistence on mastery of that which is true and tested. Yet, in matters of faith, we say, “Find your own way.” No wonder we live in such a muddled mess – morally and ethically! In the Proverbs we read that "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." (Proverbs 14:12, NLT) Jesus, who claimed to the Truth, said that “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, NLT)
Are you tempted by a spirituality that is Jesus Lite, with a splash of Buddha?
Do you reject the mind only to follow emotion in matters of faith?
If so, then prepare to wander, to drift from point in life, and to come to a place without hope.
Discipleship is about knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and includes a healthy component of experience of the love of God. It also requires study and understanding that leads to mature faith that encompasses all of this life and points the way to our eternal home with the Father.
Here’s a word from Scripture for your meditation today. I pray that it will be true in your pursuit of God. "You have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:15-20, NIV)
___________________
O Lord our Lord,
How majestic is Your name.
Your words are true,
Your mercy does not change.
All Your promises are precious,
Reviving our faith.
Every one of them
Will be fulfilled one day.
Oh all Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" in Jesus.
Your promises are true.
All Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" Lord Jesus,
We'll keep running after You.
We will run,
We'll run and not grow weary.
We will rise upon the eagle's wings.
In the presence of the Lord,
Our spirits will soar,
Till we one day gaze upon our King.
But my foot had almost slipped,
O Lord, I'd almost lost my way,
'Til I entered the house of the Lord
And heard Your sweet Spirit say,
Oh all Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" in Jesus.
Your promises are true.
All Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" Lord Jesus,
We'll keep running after You.
All Your Promises
Smith, Andrew © 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Burnt plows!
In June, 1974, I first saw the girl who would become my wife. After a fun Summer of dating, we were engaged, and married in January, 1975. Recently I found an old cassette tape that contained an audio recording of our wedding. I was reminded that the covenant we made before the Lord that day had no escape hatches. We did not create a prenuptial agreement, ‘just in case.’ (Not that either of us had any assets to protect. We were poorer than poor, but did not know it.) For us, the part about being faithful 'til death do us part, so help me God' was more than words. Some days I am a better husband than others, but the feelings of the moment do not change the covenant made on January 10, 1975.
I've only made one other promise like that, my commitment to Jesus Christ. He is my Lord. I must admit that some days I am a better disciple than others. My commitment to Him is not always as obvious as it could be, but even when I am faithless He is faithful. My up’s and down’s don't change the fact of His Lordship of my life.
Statements of irrevocable commitment are sobering, aren't they? A commitment can be comforting and it can be suffocating. Commitment ends selfishness. When we make a covenant, we surrender our autonomy. On the positive side, remember that commitment makes great things possible!
-A bank will loan us money for a major purchase if our credit score indicates we have regularly met our financial responsibilities.
-A well tended marriage brings tremendous stability and support to a couple’s shared lives.
-Serving Christ faithfully gives life a meaning and purpose that cannot be found IN ANY OTHER choice.
-Forming strong, deep partnerships with others at work or in ministry, creates the possibilities of amazing results. The Bible says, "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Eccl. 4.12)
A story of radical commitment found in 1 Kings 19:19-21. Elijah, the old prophet, is nearing the end of his leadership in Israel. God tells him it is time to recruit the man who will succeed him in the prophetic office. “So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.
Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.”
He slaughtered his oxen and burned his plow! What a way to make a commitment. Elisha destroyed the tools of his former life in a sacrificial offering. There was NO going back when that was done, no 'I think I changed my mind' was possible.
When it comes to serving the Lord, are you hanging onto a contingency plan that will allow you to escape if you change your mind? What, if anything, have you held in reserve from His mastery? Only those who are irrevocably committed to Christ and His kingdom, only those with ‘burnt plows,’ know and enjoy the greatest blessings of a life of faith. Disciple, make the choice to give yourself – wholeheartedly and without reserve- to the Lord Jesus Christ. Give Him your past and leave it. Commit your future to Him to be guided into it. One of the best examples of commitment in the Bible is Joshua, the man who followed Moses in leading Israel. As he came to the end of his life, he called the nation’s leaders together and challenged them to burn their plows, so to speak. Take a look.
"So honor the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. . . .But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:14-15
___________________
This is the air I breathe!
This is the air I breathe!
Your holy presence living in me,
And I I'm desperate for You,
And I I'm lost without You!
This is my daily bread!
This is my daily bread!
Your very word spoken to me,
And I I'm desperate for You,
And I I'm lost without You!
Breathe © 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
Marie Barnett
CCLI License No. 810055
I've only made one other promise like that, my commitment to Jesus Christ. He is my Lord. I must admit that some days I am a better disciple than others. My commitment to Him is not always as obvious as it could be, but even when I am faithless He is faithful. My up’s and down’s don't change the fact of His Lordship of my life.
Statements of irrevocable commitment are sobering, aren't they? A commitment can be comforting and it can be suffocating. Commitment ends selfishness. When we make a covenant, we surrender our autonomy. On the positive side, remember that commitment makes great things possible!
-A bank will loan us money for a major purchase if our credit score indicates we have regularly met our financial responsibilities.
-A well tended marriage brings tremendous stability and support to a couple’s shared lives.
-Serving Christ faithfully gives life a meaning and purpose that cannot be found IN ANY OTHER choice.
-Forming strong, deep partnerships with others at work or in ministry, creates the possibilities of amazing results. The Bible says, "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Eccl. 4.12)
A story of radical commitment found in 1 Kings 19:19-21. Elijah, the old prophet, is nearing the end of his leadership in Israel. God tells him it is time to recruit the man who will succeed him in the prophetic office. “So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.
Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.”
He slaughtered his oxen and burned his plow! What a way to make a commitment. Elisha destroyed the tools of his former life in a sacrificial offering. There was NO going back when that was done, no 'I think I changed my mind' was possible.
When it comes to serving the Lord, are you hanging onto a contingency plan that will allow you to escape if you change your mind? What, if anything, have you held in reserve from His mastery? Only those who are irrevocably committed to Christ and His kingdom, only those with ‘burnt plows,’ know and enjoy the greatest blessings of a life of faith. Disciple, make the choice to give yourself – wholeheartedly and without reserve- to the Lord Jesus Christ. Give Him your past and leave it. Commit your future to Him to be guided into it. One of the best examples of commitment in the Bible is Joshua, the man who followed Moses in leading Israel. As he came to the end of his life, he called the nation’s leaders together and challenged them to burn their plows, so to speak. Take a look.
"So honor the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. . . .But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:14-15
___________________
This is the air I breathe!
This is the air I breathe!
Your holy presence living in me,
And I I'm desperate for You,
And I I'm lost without You!
This is my daily bread!
This is my daily bread!
Your very word spoken to me,
And I I'm desperate for You,
And I I'm lost without You!
Breathe © 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
Marie Barnett
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Pleasure, God’s gift
Many Christians almost instinctively recoil from the word, “pleasure,” as though anything enjoyable or fun must be sinful, too. Then, too, many equate pleasure with drunkenness or immorality forgetting the pure pleasure that can be found in a well prepared meal, an exquisite cup of coffee, a tender touch, or a well-told story. Gary Thomas has written a book that addresses our pleasure phobia, titled, Pure Pleasure. (Zondervan, 2009) He challenges disciples of Christ to rethink their prejudice against pleasure. The foundation of his argument is not new. He reminds us that trying to scare ourselves holy is impossible! Only a deep love for God, a soul-satisfying passion for Who He is and what He calls us to, can keep us from wandering into the pits of decadence. He writes, “We can build lives of true, lasting pleasure and so fortify ourselves against evil because evil has lost much of its allure — or we can try, with an iron will, to “scare” ourselves away from evil while still, deep in our hearts, truly longing for it.”
The allure of asceticism (rejection of pleasure) is that it feeds our pride! When we fast, there is a strong temptation to feel vastly superior to those who are unable to resist the need for food and drink. When we manage to corral our sexual urges and keep them hidden behind our foreheads, we can express our spiritual contempt for those who embrace another lover. A thousand years ago, the idea that rejecting all creature comforts and pleasure was the path to spiritual maturity took hold. Monks rejected marriage, wore rough clothing, ate only simple fare, did not bathe, and slept in cold cells in pursuit of spiritual depth. Mostly, they created misery for themselves with little to gain in mastery of sin! An idea persists that the pathway to spirituality lies through agonizingly long prayer meetings and endless hours of perusal of holy Scripture. Really?
Thomas pokes at our religious pretensions by reminding us that “prohibitionist Christians squeeze all the joy out of life — an obscene effect, because when you squeeze the joy out of life, you also end up squeezing part of God out of life. You close yourself off to a glorious, beautiful, and all-inviting side of Him.”
Thomas suggests that God must love pleasure. He equipped us with rich senses, created a world full of color, texture, and smells; made us with sensory receptors that cause us to enjoy the touch of another. Why would He make us with the ability to enjoy the world in which He placed us and then forbid us from taking pleasure from it? Jesus assures us that God, like a good father, delights in giving us good gifts! Indeed, the Savior was mocked for His ability to enjoy a good meal and hearty laughter by the Pharisees who thought such things beneath their spirituality. Jesus explained: "A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. " (John 10:10, The Message)
Thomas recognizes the danger in lauding the benefit of pleasure. He writes, “As Christians, we have an awful tendency to “overcorrect.” We see our error (“Oh, so maybe I can legitimately accept and even cultivate pleasure. I see how I’ve endangered myself and dishonored God with a prohibitionist mind-set”) and then rush to the other extreme to get away from that error, only to create a new one (“I want to ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ for the rest of my life!”). Writing or reading a book like this presents exactly that grave danger.
Today’s church, frankly, has not earned a reputation for intellectual sophistication. Instead of holding things in a healthy balance, we tend to bounce back and forth between dangerous extremes.” Ain’t that the truth!? And yet, we cannot shrink from telling the truth just because some foolishly abuse the freedom found in it.
We enjoy pleasure, but we don’t worship it.
We take pleasure from the places where God creates opportunities for it, but we know that there are times when His call will trump our desire and we will forego pleasure to do His will.
We rejoice in the things He provides even as we hope for Eternity where we know "You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11, NIV)
Here’s a passage for your thoughts today. May He fill you up with His joy as you remember the richness of His mercy shown us in the coming of Jesus, the Savior.
"Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song.
Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.
O Israel, rejoice in your Maker.
O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.
Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.
For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.
Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them.
Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds." (Psalm 149:1-5, NLT)
The allure of asceticism (rejection of pleasure) is that it feeds our pride! When we fast, there is a strong temptation to feel vastly superior to those who are unable to resist the need for food and drink. When we manage to corral our sexual urges and keep them hidden behind our foreheads, we can express our spiritual contempt for those who embrace another lover. A thousand years ago, the idea that rejecting all creature comforts and pleasure was the path to spiritual maturity took hold. Monks rejected marriage, wore rough clothing, ate only simple fare, did not bathe, and slept in cold cells in pursuit of spiritual depth. Mostly, they created misery for themselves with little to gain in mastery of sin! An idea persists that the pathway to spirituality lies through agonizingly long prayer meetings and endless hours of perusal of holy Scripture. Really?
Thomas pokes at our religious pretensions by reminding us that “prohibitionist Christians squeeze all the joy out of life — an obscene effect, because when you squeeze the joy out of life, you also end up squeezing part of God out of life. You close yourself off to a glorious, beautiful, and all-inviting side of Him.”
Thomas suggests that God must love pleasure. He equipped us with rich senses, created a world full of color, texture, and smells; made us with sensory receptors that cause us to enjoy the touch of another. Why would He make us with the ability to enjoy the world in which He placed us and then forbid us from taking pleasure from it? Jesus assures us that God, like a good father, delights in giving us good gifts! Indeed, the Savior was mocked for His ability to enjoy a good meal and hearty laughter by the Pharisees who thought such things beneath their spirituality. Jesus explained: "A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. " (John 10:10, The Message)
Thomas recognizes the danger in lauding the benefit of pleasure. He writes, “As Christians, we have an awful tendency to “overcorrect.” We see our error (“Oh, so maybe I can legitimately accept and even cultivate pleasure. I see how I’ve endangered myself and dishonored God with a prohibitionist mind-set”) and then rush to the other extreme to get away from that error, only to create a new one (“I want to ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ for the rest of my life!”). Writing or reading a book like this presents exactly that grave danger.
Today’s church, frankly, has not earned a reputation for intellectual sophistication. Instead of holding things in a healthy balance, we tend to bounce back and forth between dangerous extremes.” Ain’t that the truth!? And yet, we cannot shrink from telling the truth just because some foolishly abuse the freedom found in it.
We enjoy pleasure, but we don’t worship it.
We take pleasure from the places where God creates opportunities for it, but we know that there are times when His call will trump our desire and we will forego pleasure to do His will.
We rejoice in the things He provides even as we hope for Eternity where we know "You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11, NIV)
Here’s a passage for your thoughts today. May He fill you up with His joy as you remember the richness of His mercy shown us in the coming of Jesus, the Savior.
"Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song.
Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.
O Israel, rejoice in your Maker.
O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.
Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.
For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.
Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them.
Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds." (Psalm 149:1-5, NLT)
Monday, December 07, 2009
Stains, Schedules, and Sin
Just as I was ready to slip into a dress shirt from my closet I noticed a couple of stains on it. About 99.5% of the shirt was clean and free of wrinkles, but the two spots smaller than a penny stood out, grabbing my attention. Blemishes are like that, aren’t they?
A well-known pastor who is a successful author of several popular Christian books, who leads a growing, innovative church in Washington, DC, reported on his blog that he was ‘mortified,’ by his failure to remember a scheduled wedding this weekend. Only after a phone call did he realize and then showed up more than 2 hours late! His reaction? I quote- “The ceremony was actually a beautiful ceremony. But my ego is fractured, bruised and black and blue. Still kicking myself. Still can't believe it.” (http://evotional.com/2009/12/mortified.html) One moment of failure eclipsed his successes. Mark will recover but the memory, I’m sure, will always make him feel regret.
When someone falls flat on his face, what shows up first in his obituary? His failure, of course. The years of success, the thousands of acts of kindness, the hard work of their lives always follows the lead which is about their sinful moment! Mention the famed preachers - Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, or Ted Haggard - and see what people remember first. It won’t be the best things these fallen men have done; the ministries and churches they built, the books they wrote, or the lives their messages changed. Their moment of moral collapse will be the one thing that eclipses everything else about them. The stain screams for our attention, rivets our eyes.
Today I am not trying to convince us that stains, forgotten appointments, or sins don’t matter. They do! I didn’t put on that stained shirt. I took it down to the laundry pile and applied some stain lifter to the spots. Mark, the pastor who forgot the wedding, acknowledged his forgetfulness and will most certainly be doubly diligent about checking his schedule. It isn’t just the famous ‘sinners’ who need redemption, is it? There are a few chapters in my life story that I’m glad have not been reported on “60 Minutes.” If you’re honest, you have made some decisions that you would not reported either.
The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!” The Message says it this way: "We’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us." (Romans 3:23, The Message)
Perhaps your failure isn’t as spectacular as that of another, but it’s still a stain. At least two know about it- God and you! All sin separates us from God; dramatic and public, ordinary and secret – alike! But that does not need to be the end of the story. Let me put that damning passage I just quoted into context where we learn of new possibilities. "Now a righteousness from God, apart from law, … (comes) from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26, NIV)
Jesus Christ came into this world, John tells us, not to trumpet our sins, nor to point out our predicament. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…” "God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again." (John 3:17, The Message)
Stained by sin? Shamed by failure? Guilty and afraid? Don’t run and hide. Look up and acknowledge what’s been done. Here’s the promise. Believe it, receive it, and live it.
"If we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin. … If we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing." (1 John 1:7,9, The Message)
________________
I was once a sinner, but I came
Pardon to receive from my Lord.
This was freely given, and I found
That He always kept His word.
There's a new name written down in glory,
And it's mine. O yes, it's mine!
And the white-robed angels sing the story,
"A sinner has come home."
For there's a new name written down in glory,
And it's mine, O yes it's mine.
With my sins forgiven I am bound for heaven,
Nevermore to roam.
In the Book 'tis written
"Saved by grace."
O the joy that came to my soul!
Now I am forgiven and I know,
By the blood I am made whole.
A New Name In Glory
Miles, C. Austin
© Public Domain
A well-known pastor who is a successful author of several popular Christian books, who leads a growing, innovative church in Washington, DC, reported on his blog that he was ‘mortified,’ by his failure to remember a scheduled wedding this weekend. Only after a phone call did he realize and then showed up more than 2 hours late! His reaction? I quote- “The ceremony was actually a beautiful ceremony. But my ego is fractured, bruised and black and blue. Still kicking myself. Still can't believe it.” (http://evotional.com/2009/12/mortified.html) One moment of failure eclipsed his successes. Mark will recover but the memory, I’m sure, will always make him feel regret.
When someone falls flat on his face, what shows up first in his obituary? His failure, of course. The years of success, the thousands of acts of kindness, the hard work of their lives always follows the lead which is about their sinful moment! Mention the famed preachers - Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, or Ted Haggard - and see what people remember first. It won’t be the best things these fallen men have done; the ministries and churches they built, the books they wrote, or the lives their messages changed. Their moment of moral collapse will be the one thing that eclipses everything else about them. The stain screams for our attention, rivets our eyes.
Today I am not trying to convince us that stains, forgotten appointments, or sins don’t matter. They do! I didn’t put on that stained shirt. I took it down to the laundry pile and applied some stain lifter to the spots. Mark, the pastor who forgot the wedding, acknowledged his forgetfulness and will most certainly be doubly diligent about checking his schedule. It isn’t just the famous ‘sinners’ who need redemption, is it? There are a few chapters in my life story that I’m glad have not been reported on “60 Minutes.” If you’re honest, you have made some decisions that you would not reported either.
The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!” The Message says it this way: "We’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us." (Romans 3:23, The Message)
Perhaps your failure isn’t as spectacular as that of another, but it’s still a stain. At least two know about it- God and you! All sin separates us from God; dramatic and public, ordinary and secret – alike! But that does not need to be the end of the story. Let me put that damning passage I just quoted into context where we learn of new possibilities. "Now a righteousness from God, apart from law, … (comes) from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26, NIV)
Jesus Christ came into this world, John tells us, not to trumpet our sins, nor to point out our predicament. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…” "God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again." (John 3:17, The Message)
Stained by sin? Shamed by failure? Guilty and afraid? Don’t run and hide. Look up and acknowledge what’s been done. Here’s the promise. Believe it, receive it, and live it.
"If we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin. … If we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing." (1 John 1:7,9, The Message)
________________
I was once a sinner, but I came
Pardon to receive from my Lord.
This was freely given, and I found
That He always kept His word.
There's a new name written down in glory,
And it's mine. O yes, it's mine!
And the white-robed angels sing the story,
"A sinner has come home."
For there's a new name written down in glory,
And it's mine, O yes it's mine.
With my sins forgiven I am bound for heaven,
Nevermore to roam.
In the Book 'tis written
"Saved by grace."
O the joy that came to my soul!
Now I am forgiven and I know,
By the blood I am made whole.
A New Name In Glory
Miles, C. Austin
© Public Domain
Friday, December 04, 2009
And you thought you knew about Christmas....
Compiled from excerpts from
Stories Behind The Great Traditions of Christmas (Zondervan).
Up until about 350 years ago, the only universally celebrated Christian holiday was Easter. Christ's birth was an important part in the Bible but since no date is given, Christians chose different days to remember, with early January being the most common. Ultimately the Roman Catholic Church settled on December 25 in an attempt to erase Saturnalia, a Roman celebration centered on worship of Saturn and involving a lot of drinking, partying and sexual immorality. Church leaders felt that if Christmas were celebrated at that time, the depraved behavior would change. They were partially right. People forgot the Roman holiday, but continued the same kinds of partying on Christmas.
For centuries the time of Christ's Mass was a season of drinking and violence so many smaller holiness sects of Christianity stopped celebrating Christmas entirely. Believe it or not, for Americans, the national holiday of Christmas, the joyful day of Peace on Earth, is only about 160 years old. The Puritans who settled New England banned Christmas by law in 1659! The prohibition was repealed after a couple of decades, but Christmas celebrations continued to be frowned on in New England until the middle of the 1800's. That was true of much of the United States. Even Congress met on Christmas Day until the mid-1800's.
A Christian, an educator and a father named W. Clement Moore, first published, "T'was The Night Before Christmas." This poem established Santa Claus as an important part of the American Christmas, making the date much more secular. His poem opened the door that brought about the beginnings of the kind of celebrations we practice. The popularity of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," one of his works written to protest the brutality visited on the poor in 18th century England, and the introduction of the Christmas tree tradition brought to England and America by Prince Albert from Germany, made the the holiday we know.
Moore's poem made gifting giving a much more important part of Christmas. For English and American Christians, who for centuries had little positive to embrace at Christmas, it was Santa Claus who saved the holiday and brought Jesus back into the spotlight.
Santa Claus? Two wonderful Christian men really began the Santa Claus legend through their selfless actions and their faith. The first was Nicholas, a priest who gave presents to poor peasant children in the third century, even before the church actually recognized the holiday. The second was a devout duke in Borivoy,
who became the leader of Bohemia at a very early age. Each Christmas Eve, Wenceslaus would go through the snow giving out gifts to his poorest subjects. We now remember him through the old carol he inspired, "Good King Wenceslaus." From those roots we have Saint 'Claus, or Santa Claus!
Christmas 'colors' - The gold is easy; this is the color of royalty and the most precious metal on earth. It was also one of the gifts to Jesus from the wise men. The red and green can really be traced to several different important traditions. Did you know that holly and ivy, wreaths, Christmas trees, and mistletoe, were all pagan symbols used in various nature rites during the long European winters? The green was a reminder that new life would return. It represented life that went on through the difficult times of winter, just like faith that could not die in the difficult times of life. Gradually Christians adopted these symbols as part of their celebrations. The red reminded Christians that Christ's blood was shed on the cross for sins, the real reason for His coming to earth in the first place.
X in Xmas? Few know that using X as a sign for Christ predates even our initial celebrations of Christmas. X or "Chi" is the first letter of Christ's name in Greek. Many early followers of Christ were Greek and would place an X over their doors or wear something on their persons with this letter to reflect their faith as a disciple of Christ. For more than 1,000 years, the church spelled out Christmas with just an X. It was not done to take Christ out of Christmas, but to put Him there where everyone, even those who could not read, could understand that this day of worship was for the Son of God.
____________________________________
Have you joined the Advent Conspiracy?
Change your tradition to include -Worshiping fully, Spending Less, Giving More, and Loving All!
Learn more about it by clicking here - Advent Conspiracy
While the Bible says nothing about December 25, blinking lights, decorated trees, or a rotund jolly man dressed in a red suit - it does tell us about God's Gift - 'wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.' Angels announced the birth as a reason for great praise and as a sign of peace and the arrival of God's favor for all of humanity. A world without Jesus Christ is beyond imagination. His birth and life changed history, and His death and resurrection changes our destiny, promising us eternal life.
Here's a word from the Word on which to meditate today--
"...Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! . . . that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
(Philippians 2:5-8, 10-11, NIV)
"Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Stories Behind The Great Traditions of Christmas (Zondervan).
Up until about 350 years ago, the only universally celebrated Christian holiday was Easter. Christ's birth was an important part in the Bible but since no date is given, Christians chose different days to remember, with early January being the most common. Ultimately the Roman Catholic Church settled on December 25 in an attempt to erase Saturnalia, a Roman celebration centered on worship of Saturn and involving a lot of drinking, partying and sexual immorality. Church leaders felt that if Christmas were celebrated at that time, the depraved behavior would change. They were partially right. People forgot the Roman holiday, but continued the same kinds of partying on Christmas.
For centuries the time of Christ's Mass was a season of drinking and violence so many smaller holiness sects of Christianity stopped celebrating Christmas entirely. Believe it or not, for Americans, the national holiday of Christmas, the joyful day of Peace on Earth, is only about 160 years old. The Puritans who settled New England banned Christmas by law in 1659! The prohibition was repealed after a couple of decades, but Christmas celebrations continued to be frowned on in New England until the middle of the 1800's. That was true of much of the United States. Even Congress met on Christmas Day until the mid-1800's.
A Christian, an educator and a father named W. Clement Moore, first published, "T'was The Night Before Christmas." This poem established Santa Claus as an important part of the American Christmas, making the date much more secular. His poem opened the door that brought about the beginnings of the kind of celebrations we practice. The popularity of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," one of his works written to protest the brutality visited on the poor in 18th century England, and the introduction of the Christmas tree tradition brought to England and America by Prince Albert from Germany, made the the holiday we know.
Moore's poem made gifting giving a much more important part of Christmas. For English and American Christians, who for centuries had little positive to embrace at Christmas, it was Santa Claus who saved the holiday and brought Jesus back into the spotlight.
Santa Claus? Two wonderful Christian men really began the Santa Claus legend through their selfless actions and their faith. The first was Nicholas, a priest who gave presents to poor peasant children in the third century, even before the church actually recognized the holiday. The second was a devout duke in Borivoy,
who became the leader of Bohemia at a very early age. Each Christmas Eve, Wenceslaus would go through the snow giving out gifts to his poorest subjects. We now remember him through the old carol he inspired, "Good King Wenceslaus." From those roots we have Saint 'Claus, or Santa Claus!
Christmas 'colors' - The gold is easy; this is the color of royalty and the most precious metal on earth. It was also one of the gifts to Jesus from the wise men. The red and green can really be traced to several different important traditions. Did you know that holly and ivy, wreaths, Christmas trees, and mistletoe, were all pagan symbols used in various nature rites during the long European winters? The green was a reminder that new life would return. It represented life that went on through the difficult times of winter, just like faith that could not die in the difficult times of life. Gradually Christians adopted these symbols as part of their celebrations. The red reminded Christians that Christ's blood was shed on the cross for sins, the real reason for His coming to earth in the first place.
X in Xmas? Few know that using X as a sign for Christ predates even our initial celebrations of Christmas. X or "Chi" is the first letter of Christ's name in Greek. Many early followers of Christ were Greek and would place an X over their doors or wear something on their persons with this letter to reflect their faith as a disciple of Christ. For more than 1,000 years, the church spelled out Christmas with just an X. It was not done to take Christ out of Christmas, but to put Him there where everyone, even those who could not read, could understand that this day of worship was for the Son of God.
____________________________________
Have you joined the Advent Conspiracy?
Change your tradition to include -Worshiping fully, Spending Less, Giving More, and Loving All!
Learn more about it by clicking here - Advent Conspiracy
While the Bible says nothing about December 25, blinking lights, decorated trees, or a rotund jolly man dressed in a red suit - it does tell us about God's Gift - 'wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.' Angels announced the birth as a reason for great praise and as a sign of peace and the arrival of God's favor for all of humanity. A world without Jesus Christ is beyond imagination. His birth and life changed history, and His death and resurrection changes our destiny, promising us eternal life.
Here's a word from the Word on which to meditate today--
"...Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! . . . that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
(Philippians 2:5-8, 10-11, NIV)
"Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
A Dark and Stormy Night
Standing in the backyard with Sam, the setter, in the darkness just before the dawn was an awesome experience today. High winds roared in the trees, bending even the thick branches. It was as though an unseen hand shook each limb. Clouds raced by the bright moon, driven by powerful currents of air. The sounds were amazing; rushing air, snapping branches, huge drops of rain smacking my face! It was a grand display of power which brought to mind the description of the birth of the Church.
"Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability." (Acts 2:2-4, NLT) Because this stunning event happened on the Jewish feast of Pentecost, we still refer to that initial experience of the Spirit as making one a "Pentecostal" Christian.
With that experience of empowering Person, that little band of men and women went out to every corner of their world. They preached the Good News of a Savior, fought with evil where they found it, loved the broken and outcast, gave their lives in pursuit of the purposes of God. And, by that amazing Power working in them, they changed the brutal world in which they lived! The prayer of my heart is borrowed from Habakkuk who said, "Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." (3:2, NIV) This world needs a new Pentecost! My church needs a new Pentecost. I need a new Pentecost! I can no more make that happen than I can cause the mighty winds to blow through the trees of my backyard. However, I can pray to the Lord of Heaven, the Mighty Maker of the Winds, and ask Him to make the Wind of the Spirit blow anew.
It is not simply an experience for which I long, nor is it for chills or thrills of emotion. It is for a new power, a fire to be lit once again, that burns brightly in this darkened world where in a time of such prosperity and blessing the love of many Christians for their God is lukewarm, at best. Many want the gentle breeze to blow to remind them of the Spirit's Presence, but they fear the Mighty gust of His power that turns life upside down! Many want God tamed, on a leash, unthreatening but comforting. I want Him to own me! Come, Holy Spirit, blow like a Mighty Wind.
blow through my life,
Sweeping away apathy.
By the storm create a new climate
In which Your Son can shine brightly.
Spirit, blow through my heart,
Awesome and powerful,
Irresistibly drawing me to the
Purposes for which I was made.
Jesus, make all things new,
In me, in my church, in my world.
Amen
________________
There's a wind a-blowin'
All across the land
A fragrant breeze of heaven
Blowin' once again
Don't know where it comes from
Don't know where it goes
But let it blow over me
Oh Sweet Wind
Come and blow over me
There's a rain a-pourin'
Showers from above
Mercy drops are comin'
Mercy drops of love
Turn your face to heaven
Let the water pour
Well let it pour over me
Oh Sweet Rain
Come and pour over me
There's a fire burnin'
Fallin' from the sky
Awesome tongues of fire
Consuming you and I
Can you feel it burnin'
Burn the sacrifice
Well let it burn over me
Oh Sweet Fire
Come and burn over me
Sweet Wind
© 1994 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
Vineyard Songs Canada
ION Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
(Admin. by Music Services)
(Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)
David Ruis
CCLI License No. 810055
"Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability." (Acts 2:2-4, NLT) Because this stunning event happened on the Jewish feast of Pentecost, we still refer to that initial experience of the Spirit as making one a "Pentecostal" Christian.
With that experience of empowering Person, that little band of men and women went out to every corner of their world. They preached the Good News of a Savior, fought with evil where they found it, loved the broken and outcast, gave their lives in pursuit of the purposes of God. And, by that amazing Power working in them, they changed the brutal world in which they lived! The prayer of my heart is borrowed from Habakkuk who said, "Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." (3:2, NIV) This world needs a new Pentecost! My church needs a new Pentecost. I need a new Pentecost! I can no more make that happen than I can cause the mighty winds to blow through the trees of my backyard. However, I can pray to the Lord of Heaven, the Mighty Maker of the Winds, and ask Him to make the Wind of the Spirit blow anew.
It is not simply an experience for which I long, nor is it for chills or thrills of emotion. It is for a new power, a fire to be lit once again, that burns brightly in this darkened world where in a time of such prosperity and blessing the love of many Christians for their God is lukewarm, at best. Many want the gentle breeze to blow to remind them of the Spirit's Presence, but they fear the Mighty gust of His power that turns life upside down! Many want God tamed, on a leash, unthreatening but comforting. I want Him to own me! Come, Holy Spirit, blow like a Mighty Wind.
- What sins have you learned to tolerate in your life that obscure the brightness of His glory in you?
- What suffering have you learned to ignore that the Spirit would compel you to alleviate with love?
- Do you think of millions who are dead while they live, ignorant of the God who loves them, and go to tell the story of Savior born to save the world?
- Is your life passionately dedicated to the work of God, or carefully lived to avoid difficulties, draining people, and dark circumstances in desperate need of the Light?
blow through my life,
Sweeping away apathy.
By the storm create a new climate
In which Your Son can shine brightly.
Spirit, blow through my heart,
Awesome and powerful,
Irresistibly drawing me to the
Purposes for which I was made.
Jesus, make all things new,
In me, in my church, in my world.
Amen
________________
There's a wind a-blowin'
All across the land
A fragrant breeze of heaven
Blowin' once again
Don't know where it comes from
Don't know where it goes
But let it blow over me
Oh Sweet Wind
Come and blow over me
There's a rain a-pourin'
Showers from above
Mercy drops are comin'
Mercy drops of love
Turn your face to heaven
Let the water pour
Well let it pour over me
Oh Sweet Rain
Come and pour over me
There's a fire burnin'
Fallin' from the sky
Awesome tongues of fire
Consuming you and I
Can you feel it burnin'
Burn the sacrifice
Well let it burn over me
Oh Sweet Fire
Come and burn over me
Sweet Wind
© 1994 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
Vineyard Songs Canada
ION Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
(Admin. by Music Services)
(Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)
David Ruis
CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
The cure for burn-out
I am in danger of ‘burn out.’ Three decades of preaching and pastoral care has left me a little frayed at the edges! Any work that includes ongoing care for people’s needs can eat away at the core of the caregiver. Pastors are not exempt from the exhaustion that can come when they must help people work through emotional and spiritual needs that never end. I have seen more than a few pastors reach my age and let it all get to them. Some quit and find another way to pay their bills. Others become ineffective and detached. A few fall into sinful behavior. As I prayed about staying in the race, the Spirit reminded me that avoiding burn out is less about taking a vacation than it is about renewal of vision!
The power of vision is simply amazing. When a person says, ‘life must be different,' and then begins to think about HOW to achieve that difference, he is vision-eering! (Thank you, Andy Stanley!) Some visions are worthy, others are not; but all are powerful! The most mundane work takes new meaning if the worker knows why he does it. IF can see HOW the little things we do fit into some grander plan, steady progress is made. We are guided by something or Someone bigger than ourselves.
Education is an example. A young woman who has a vision to serve her world effectively endures 6 years of reading text after text, writing paper after paper, and sitting through boring lectures because she knows that the knowledge acquired and the degrees she earns are the foundation needed for her calling. The endless days as a student become meaningful ONLY in light of the goal for life. That's vision-- and the power of that vision will set our course and keep us steady on!
But, not all visions are true or worthy. Visions must be tested, measured by a standard to see if they are worthy of our investment. How can we be sure that we are giving ourselves to a goal that is worth living for?
First, vision must be shaped by the will of God. A vision that disregards God's will is worse than unworthy. It is sinful. In Luke 12, Jesus told a story about a man whose hard work paid off richly. The man’s vision was clear. “Take life easy. Eat. Drink. Be merry.” Jesus did not condemn the man's work nor his wealth. He challenged the man's vision which was selfish. It was an unworthy vision! Jesus concludes his story saying, "A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (Luke 12:21, NLT)
Second, vision must be anchored. While vision must be fresh, it need not be novel! A keen visionary is inspired by those who lived worthy lives before him. The best visionaries have a working knowledge of the past from which they courageously launch into the future. Paul tells us that we all build on a common foundation, Christ Jesus. Our vision is best when it includes a rich appreciation of those who have laid the foundation on which we now build. But visionaries cannot be captive of either the successes or failures of the past. Paul says that "One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3.13-14 Paul did not intend us to understand that he was throwing away all the lessons he had learned. He is urging us to lay down the weight of yesterday's sins and to stop trying to relive yesterday's glories, so that we can discover the wonderful Will of God for life TODAY!
Third, vision must be bigger than what we can accomplish by ourselves or with our own resources. If our vision is too small, we will out-grow it, out-live it, or come early to a sense of futility.
So…. What do you see?
… about the core purpose of your life?
… for your children's future?
… about finding a way to honor God in what you do as your daily work?
… about bringing Jesus and His Kingdom into your sphere of influence?
Jesus, as He stood on a road in Samaria, challenged his disciples to re-consider their assumptions about life and possibilities. He said, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true." (John 4:34-37, NLT)
OPEN YOUR EYES and LOOK at the fields! Becoming visionary is hard work. Implementing and maintaining vision is harder still. However, without vision we quickly become mired in mediocrity, become a burnt-out shell, and the work of God goes undone.
_______________
O Lord our Lord,
How majestic is Your name.
Your words are true,
Your mercy does not change.
All Your promises are precious,
Reviving our faith.
Every one of them
Will be fulfilled one day.
We will run,
We'll run and not grow weary.
We will rise upon the eagle's wings.
In the presence of the Lord,
Our spirits will soar,
Till we one day gaze upon our King.
Oh all Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" in Jesus.
Your promises are true.
All Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" Lord Jesus,
We'll keep running after You.
All Your Promises
Smith, Andrew
© 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055
The power of vision is simply amazing. When a person says, ‘life must be different,' and then begins to think about HOW to achieve that difference, he is vision-eering! (Thank you, Andy Stanley!) Some visions are worthy, others are not; but all are powerful! The most mundane work takes new meaning if the worker knows why he does it. IF can see HOW the little things we do fit into some grander plan, steady progress is made. We are guided by something or Someone bigger than ourselves.
Education is an example. A young woman who has a vision to serve her world effectively endures 6 years of reading text after text, writing paper after paper, and sitting through boring lectures because she knows that the knowledge acquired and the degrees she earns are the foundation needed for her calling. The endless days as a student become meaningful ONLY in light of the goal for life. That's vision-- and the power of that vision will set our course and keep us steady on!
But, not all visions are true or worthy. Visions must be tested, measured by a standard to see if they are worthy of our investment. How can we be sure that we are giving ourselves to a goal that is worth living for?
First, vision must be shaped by the will of God. A vision that disregards God's will is worse than unworthy. It is sinful. In Luke 12, Jesus told a story about a man whose hard work paid off richly. The man’s vision was clear. “Take life easy. Eat. Drink. Be merry.” Jesus did not condemn the man's work nor his wealth. He challenged the man's vision which was selfish. It was an unworthy vision! Jesus concludes his story saying, "A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (Luke 12:21, NLT)
Second, vision must be anchored. While vision must be fresh, it need not be novel! A keen visionary is inspired by those who lived worthy lives before him. The best visionaries have a working knowledge of the past from which they courageously launch into the future. Paul tells us that we all build on a common foundation, Christ Jesus. Our vision is best when it includes a rich appreciation of those who have laid the foundation on which we now build. But visionaries cannot be captive of either the successes or failures of the past. Paul says that "One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3.13-14 Paul did not intend us to understand that he was throwing away all the lessons he had learned. He is urging us to lay down the weight of yesterday's sins and to stop trying to relive yesterday's glories, so that we can discover the wonderful Will of God for life TODAY!
Third, vision must be bigger than what we can accomplish by ourselves or with our own resources. If our vision is too small, we will out-grow it, out-live it, or come early to a sense of futility.
So…. What do you see?
… about the core purpose of your life?
… for your children's future?
… about finding a way to honor God in what you do as your daily work?
… about bringing Jesus and His Kingdom into your sphere of influence?
Jesus, as He stood on a road in Samaria, challenged his disciples to re-consider their assumptions about life and possibilities. He said, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true." (John 4:34-37, NLT)
OPEN YOUR EYES and LOOK at the fields! Becoming visionary is hard work. Implementing and maintaining vision is harder still. However, without vision we quickly become mired in mediocrity, become a burnt-out shell, and the work of God goes undone.
_______________
O Lord our Lord,
How majestic is Your name.
Your words are true,
Your mercy does not change.
All Your promises are precious,
Reviving our faith.
Every one of them
Will be fulfilled one day.
We will run,
We'll run and not grow weary.
We will rise upon the eagle's wings.
In the presence of the Lord,
Our spirits will soar,
Till we one day gaze upon our King.
Oh all Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" in Jesus.
Your promises are true.
All Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" Lord Jesus,
We'll keep running after You.
All Your Promises
Smith, Andrew
© 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Saints and Sinners, wins and loses
The Saints defeated the Pats soundly last night; outplayed them in every way. From 2001 to the last season, fans of the New England team got used to their Pats win; almost assuming they would find a way, even when they were behind, to come back in the 4th quarter and put the necessary points on the board. This season is different! Every game is a challenge. Wins are truly celebrated, never taken for granted. Perhaps this ‘humbling’ is good for those of us who liked to taunt fans of teams made up of mere mortals.
Some people get used to winning at life, too! Year after year, they enjoy good health, steady employment, a solid marriage; a good life. Quite easily, and often unconsciously, some allow a kind of arrogance to creep in, a feeling that others must be ‘losing’ because they are weaker, less intelligent, or doing something to deserve their difficulties. This state is particularly tragic when found among those who are supposedly walking with God, who develop a severe case of Pharisaical superiority. Blessings are a gift of grace, given so that we might bless others, not so we can hoard them or worse, assume they are some kind of badge signifying Divine Approval!
Jesus told a story about two men, one of whom had become accustomed to his ‘superior’ position in the world, who assumed his blessings resulted from his own goodness. Take a look.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”" (Luke 18:10-14, NIV)
Truthfully, we need to know that eventually trouble finds us all! We age. Tragedy strikes. Disappointment knocks on our door. For reasons we cannot always comprehend, losing seasons arrive! This is a serious crisis for every Pharisee who takes his ‘wins’ as God’s sign of special favor. If he has believed he ‘earned’ the favor of God, then logic says he must now accept responsibility for his losses! Guilt sets in, stoked by the demons that rejoice. Fear becomes his companion. Doubt about God’s goodness is not far behind, as he searches his heart and mind for failures that must have ‘caused’ God to judge him.
Disciple, do you humbly take the blessings and the hard days with equal faith and thankful acknowledgement of God’s wisdom? Some of you are objecting, “But, Pastor, are you saying we have no effect on our lives? Are you putting us in the hand of fate?” No, of course, choices have consequences. There are decisions we make that lead to better results than others. But, the wisest of men suffer loss and fools sometime succeed! The story of Job starkly reminds all of us that God operates beyond our finite limits of understanding, sometimes allowing even those who are righteous and mature to go through long and dark nights.
Dig the root of pride out of your heart! Love those who suffer, not with pity, but as one who shares life with them in a world where seasons change, where tragedy and triumph are often next door neighbors. The one constant that we cling to is this: "Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” (Lamentations 3:23-24, NLT)
____________
You can have a song
In your heart in the night,
After every trial
After every mile.
Anyone can sing
When the sun's shining bright,
But you need a song
In your heart at night.
You can have a melody
Down in your heart,
When it's aching, almost breaking,
Even though the sorrow
Makes the teardrop start,
You can have a melody
Down in your heart.
Do not let your worries
Drive your song away,
Though tomorrow bring its sorrow.
Just remember after night time
Comes the day,
Do not let your worries
Drive your song away.
You Can Have A Song In Your Heart
Stanphill, Ira / Slavens, E.L.
© 1946 Singspiration Music
(Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
CCLI License No. 810055
Some people get used to winning at life, too! Year after year, they enjoy good health, steady employment, a solid marriage; a good life. Quite easily, and often unconsciously, some allow a kind of arrogance to creep in, a feeling that others must be ‘losing’ because they are weaker, less intelligent, or doing something to deserve their difficulties. This state is particularly tragic when found among those who are supposedly walking with God, who develop a severe case of Pharisaical superiority. Blessings are a gift of grace, given so that we might bless others, not so we can hoard them or worse, assume they are some kind of badge signifying Divine Approval!
Jesus told a story about two men, one of whom had become accustomed to his ‘superior’ position in the world, who assumed his blessings resulted from his own goodness. Take a look.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”" (Luke 18:10-14, NIV)
Truthfully, we need to know that eventually trouble finds us all! We age. Tragedy strikes. Disappointment knocks on our door. For reasons we cannot always comprehend, losing seasons arrive! This is a serious crisis for every Pharisee who takes his ‘wins’ as God’s sign of special favor. If he has believed he ‘earned’ the favor of God, then logic says he must now accept responsibility for his losses! Guilt sets in, stoked by the demons that rejoice. Fear becomes his companion. Doubt about God’s goodness is not far behind, as he searches his heart and mind for failures that must have ‘caused’ God to judge him.
Disciple, do you humbly take the blessings and the hard days with equal faith and thankful acknowledgement of God’s wisdom? Some of you are objecting, “But, Pastor, are you saying we have no effect on our lives? Are you putting us in the hand of fate?” No, of course, choices have consequences. There are decisions we make that lead to better results than others. But, the wisest of men suffer loss and fools sometime succeed! The story of Job starkly reminds all of us that God operates beyond our finite limits of understanding, sometimes allowing even those who are righteous and mature to go through long and dark nights.
Dig the root of pride out of your heart! Love those who suffer, not with pity, but as one who shares life with them in a world where seasons change, where tragedy and triumph are often next door neighbors. The one constant that we cling to is this: "Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” (Lamentations 3:23-24, NLT)
____________
You can have a song
In your heart in the night,
After every trial
After every mile.
Anyone can sing
When the sun's shining bright,
But you need a song
In your heart at night.
You can have a melody
Down in your heart,
When it's aching, almost breaking,
Even though the sorrow
Makes the teardrop start,
You can have a melody
Down in your heart.
Do not let your worries
Drive your song away,
Though tomorrow bring its sorrow.
Just remember after night time
Comes the day,
Do not let your worries
Drive your song away.
You Can Have A Song In Your Heart
Stanphill, Ira / Slavens, E.L.
© 1946 Singspiration Music
(Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, November 30, 2009
A Baby and A King!
During the 1970's, the Second Coming dominated life in evangelical and Pentecostal churches. "Rapture" fever infected most of the Believers I knew. Remember those awful movies - "Thief in the Night" and "Distant Thunder"? They scared the sin out of Christians for at least a week every time we saw one of them! We didn't want to be left behind to face the horrors of the Anti-Christ. Prophecy preachers saw signs of the Return of Christ in every newspaper article and painted fantastic pictures of a world in flames which awaited anyone not 'ready for the coming of the Lord!'
The book of the Revelation became a kind of horror movie, mesmerizing but awful, at the same time. I still am not certain if it was my twisted perception or generally skewed presentations- but the "Blessed Hope," was anything but blessed or hopeful for most of us. The mentality was escapist and a ‘get those sinners, God!’ race to judgement. It should not be so!
The season of Advent is our annual reminder that Jesus Christ came into the world as its Savior and that He will come again as its King! The story of a baby born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, the incarnate Deity, is like a brilliant flash of lightning whose rolling thunder still echoes through time two millennia after the Event. This season is full of the songs that declare that we are not alone, scrabbling to make a life on this planet by our own wits. God stepped over the threshold of eternity and into time, humbling Himself to become a man. The Christmas story is a declaration to us that our purpose here goes beyond the propagation of our DNA.
Advent’s most wonderful message is the Blessed Hope. In your prayers and ponderings today think on this:
"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen." (Revelation 1:7, NIV)
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"
Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son." (Revelation 21:4-7, NIV)
Join the conspiracy that changes not only perspective but life! This Advent worship the King! Connect the Incarnation and the Revelation; the Baby and the King of Glory. Advent will take on new meaning - not only of remembering a baby’s birth, but of hope of the King's coronation.
_______
Joy to the world,
the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
and Heav'n and nature sing,
and Heav'n and nature sing,
and Heav'n and Heav'n and nature sing!
Isaac Watts, public domain
The book of the Revelation became a kind of horror movie, mesmerizing but awful, at the same time. I still am not certain if it was my twisted perception or generally skewed presentations- but the "Blessed Hope," was anything but blessed or hopeful for most of us. The mentality was escapist and a ‘get those sinners, God!’ race to judgement. It should not be so!
The season of Advent is our annual reminder that Jesus Christ came into the world as its Savior and that He will come again as its King! The story of a baby born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, the incarnate Deity, is like a brilliant flash of lightning whose rolling thunder still echoes through time two millennia after the Event. This season is full of the songs that declare that we are not alone, scrabbling to make a life on this planet by our own wits. God stepped over the threshold of eternity and into time, humbling Himself to become a man. The Christmas story is a declaration to us that our purpose here goes beyond the propagation of our DNA.
Advent’s most wonderful message is the Blessed Hope. In your prayers and ponderings today think on this:
"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen." (Revelation 1:7, NIV)
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"
Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son." (Revelation 21:4-7, NIV)
Join the conspiracy that changes not only perspective but life! This Advent worship the King! Connect the Incarnation and the Revelation; the Baby and the King of Glory. Advent will take on new meaning - not only of remembering a baby’s birth, but of hope of the King's coronation.
_______
Joy to the world,
the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
and Heav'n and nature sing,
and Heav'n and nature sing,
and Heav'n and Heav'n and nature sing!
Isaac Watts, public domain
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A strange kind of relief
About 6 weeks ago, I learned that there was some abnormality in my body that needed further exploration. Yesterday the doctor told me that my biopsy results were all good, no cancer. I am deeply grateful, praising God. I should be elated, and in a sense I am. But in another part of my mind, I am dealing with a new sense of the inevitability of aging and illness, with this episode being a clear reminder that no day of the rest of my life should be wasted. Is it fear that is creating this urgency? Is it a normal reaction to what I perceive as a kind of ‘near miss’ with serious illness? I don’t really know.
Like many of us who have to keep up with life and responsibilities while we deal with our personal crises, I shelved my emotions. After learning the good news, I thought I could just go merrily on my way. An hour after hearing the doctor’s verdict, an emotional tidal wave hit, from which I am still trying to recover. Have you ever had a nightmare in which tragedy overtakes you, your family perishes or something equally horrible happens? Then, you wake up, and shaking off sleep, you feel a mixture of lingering fear and tremendous relief that it was only a dream! That is my state of mind today.
Why did the Lord allow me to walk this road? To claim to know all of His mind would be wrong, but I know this: He is reminding me to be about the business of the Kingdom of Heaven now. This is not the time to slack off, to get distracted with the temporal things of life. This is His Word to me and my prayer is that it will be renewed to you as well. “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." (Ephesians 5:14-17, NIV)
Thank you for praying for me in this time. CoffeeBreak will be back next Monday.
________________
May the Lord’s Presence be part of your Thanksgiving.
"Hallelujah!
Praise God in his holy house of worship,
praise him under the open skies;
Praise him for his acts of power,
praise him for his magnificent greatness;
Praise with a blast on the trumpet,
praise by strumming soft strings;
Praise him with castanets and dance,
praise him with banjo and flute;
Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,
praise him with fiddles and mandolin.
Let every living, breathing creature praise God!
Hallelujah!"
(Psalm 150, The Message)
Like many of us who have to keep up with life and responsibilities while we deal with our personal crises, I shelved my emotions. After learning the good news, I thought I could just go merrily on my way. An hour after hearing the doctor’s verdict, an emotional tidal wave hit, from which I am still trying to recover. Have you ever had a nightmare in which tragedy overtakes you, your family perishes or something equally horrible happens? Then, you wake up, and shaking off sleep, you feel a mixture of lingering fear and tremendous relief that it was only a dream! That is my state of mind today.
Why did the Lord allow me to walk this road? To claim to know all of His mind would be wrong, but I know this: He is reminding me to be about the business of the Kingdom of Heaven now. This is not the time to slack off, to get distracted with the temporal things of life. This is His Word to me and my prayer is that it will be renewed to you as well. “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." (Ephesians 5:14-17, NIV)
Thank you for praying for me in this time. CoffeeBreak will be back next Monday.
________________
May the Lord’s Presence be part of your Thanksgiving.
"Hallelujah!
Praise God in his holy house of worship,
praise him under the open skies;
Praise him for his acts of power,
praise him for his magnificent greatness;
Praise with a blast on the trumpet,
praise by strumming soft strings;
Praise him with castanets and dance,
praise him with banjo and flute;
Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,
praise him with fiddles and mandolin.
Let every living, breathing creature praise God!
Hallelujah!"
(Psalm 150, The Message)
Monday, November 23, 2009
God on the margins
Connie Schultz writes a column that appears in my local newspaper. She is a persuasive and provocative feminist. Today, she loosed her verbs on members of Congress who wish to restrict the use tax dollars to fund abortion. Schultz adopts the argument that respect for life is rooted in religion and therefore has no place in public policy. In so many words she says that God is irrelevant to the world in which we live, that belief is a hobby for fools and the self-deluded. We are a nation now governed by an elite that sides with the likes of Schultz. Most of our legislators, judges, and intellectuals continue to profess religious belief. They do so, however, as a sentimental custom, not as a life-shaping commitment. God, if He exists at all, is relegated to the margins of life. Of course, that kind of God is no god at all!
I cannot do much about Connie Schultz’s opinions, but I can examine my own life for the same kind of thinking.
Am I pushing God to the edges of my life, refusing His will or wisdom in favor of my own convenience?
Am I living on my own terms even though they contradict what the Scripture reveals to be the mind of God in the matter?
How can we claim to love and serve God if we try to wall off parts of our lives from Him? Jesus confronts us with this question: "Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46, NIV) Perfectly aligning life with God’s will is the true disciple’s desire. Yes, I have inconsistencies in my life that anyone will find should they delve into my actions. I do not perfectly practice what I preach. I confess that with sorrow and with the hope that I am not a rebel, just ignorant! It is one thing to not know the will of God and thus to fail to do it. It is quite another to know what He commands and yet to ignore Him. The Bible reminds us that we sin as much by omission as we do by commission. "You are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil." (James 4:16-17, The Message)
Ms. Schultz probably does not realize that when she shakes her fist at moral absolutes, she is breaking the first of the Ten Commandments: "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3, NIV) That does not simply prohibit worshipping a small clay idol, or adopting the gods of a foreign religion! It is a call to humility of Self, to submission of our minds and hearts to the One True God. The stark and simple fact is that unless one has settled the issue of the primacy of God in all things, life will be disordered and increasing chaos will result. “Lord, you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee.” - St. Augustine
Disciple, I urge you to place yourself – every attitude, every assumption, every value – at the Throne of God. Invite the Holy Spirit to make known to you any part of you that is not yielded to His mastery. Pray that prayer which David prayed in humble confession; "What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. … Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you." (Psalm 51:6, 16, The Message)
___________
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me Jesus take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me Savior wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord I give myself to Thee.
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessings fall on me.
I surrender all,
I surrender all.
All to Thee my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
I Surrender All
Van De Venter, Judson / Weeden, Winfield S.
© Public Domain
I cannot do much about Connie Schultz’s opinions, but I can examine my own life for the same kind of thinking.
Am I pushing God to the edges of my life, refusing His will or wisdom in favor of my own convenience?
Am I living on my own terms even though they contradict what the Scripture reveals to be the mind of God in the matter?
How can we claim to love and serve God if we try to wall off parts of our lives from Him? Jesus confronts us with this question: "Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46, NIV) Perfectly aligning life with God’s will is the true disciple’s desire. Yes, I have inconsistencies in my life that anyone will find should they delve into my actions. I do not perfectly practice what I preach. I confess that with sorrow and with the hope that I am not a rebel, just ignorant! It is one thing to not know the will of God and thus to fail to do it. It is quite another to know what He commands and yet to ignore Him. The Bible reminds us that we sin as much by omission as we do by commission. "You are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil." (James 4:16-17, The Message)
Ms. Schultz probably does not realize that when she shakes her fist at moral absolutes, she is breaking the first of the Ten Commandments: "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3, NIV) That does not simply prohibit worshipping a small clay idol, or adopting the gods of a foreign religion! It is a call to humility of Self, to submission of our minds and hearts to the One True God. The stark and simple fact is that unless one has settled the issue of the primacy of God in all things, life will be disordered and increasing chaos will result. “Lord, you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee.” - St. Augustine
Disciple, I urge you to place yourself – every attitude, every assumption, every value – at the Throne of God. Invite the Holy Spirit to make known to you any part of you that is not yielded to His mastery. Pray that prayer which David prayed in humble confession; "What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. … Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you." (Psalm 51:6, 16, The Message)
___________
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me Jesus take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me Savior wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord I give myself to Thee.
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessings fall on me.
I surrender all,
I surrender all.
All to Thee my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
I Surrender All
Van De Venter, Judson / Weeden, Winfield S.
© Public Domain
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