Networking

I remember building my first computer network back in the early 1990’s. Tim brought the hardware and we spent the day in the little church office area - connecting my computer, the secretary's computer, and a laser printer. Sending a job ‘across the network’ to print was amazing to me. It was actually primitive. My office computer is now networked to millions of computers on the Internet. With little effort I connect with thousands of people.

Networking is for more than computers. Last night, I sat with our local church leadership team and we networked; exchanging ideas, offering solutions. We all went home enriched in our thoughts!  Are you networking? Solomon did not use the word, but he knew the concept. He says that "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." (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NLT) A web of friends and partners does not just create itself. We have to work to form and maintain connections with others. The return makes the time invested well spent.

Some of us are not naturally given to building networks. We are focused on the outcome or reluctant to grant access to our thoughts to other people. Or, maybe we are too proud to share our accomplishments?  God knows we need each other!  He created us to network!  Why not just do it alone? Because we can never reach the same level of productivity alone that we can discover when we are networked.  When people network, when they are involved meaningfully in sharing life, the end result will be richer in creativity, will enjoy greater longevity, and will make a bigger impact on the world. That is true no matter what social structure we are thinking of - family, neighborhood, church, corporation, or government.

Paul does not call it networking in the Church. He calls it being ‘in the Body.’ He compares our connectedness to the way the eye, the head, and the hand work together to allow us to live. Then he says, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27, NIV)

Why don’t some people network?

Networks limit our autonomy! When we become part of a network, we give up some of our rights to just be ourselves. We have to start to think 'we' as a higher value than 'me.'  Selfishness is sin as old as Eden. The devil's lie is - " Do your own thing. It's the only way to be happy." God's truth is - "Give yourself away. Serve and love, and you will discover joy!"

Networks increase risk! Every computer owner knows the risk of being hacked or getting a virus. If you connect, no matter how protected you are, there is always some level of risk. For me the reward far outweighs the risk. When you connect with others, you can get hurt, or used, or misunderstood. Human relationships are never perfect. Some of the worst pain in our lives come as a result of opening our heart to someone who turns against us or takes advantage of us. But, the rewards of loving relationships far outweigh those risks!

Here's a word from the Word about becoming part of the Spirit's network. "Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. 
So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 
If your gift is serving others, serve them well. 
If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. 
If it is giving, give generously. 
If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. 
And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." (Romans 12:4-10, NLT)

Now, that's REAL networking.
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The Church's One Foundation (Aurelia)

The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord.
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heav'n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride,
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.

Elect from every nation
Yet one o'er all the earth.
Her charter of salvation-
One Lord! One faith! One birth!
One holy name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

Samuel John Stone | Samuel Sebastian Wesley
© Words: Public Domain

Just grow up!

When a silly mood strikes me it often ends with my wife’s irritation because I act like a teenager – making dumb faces, talking in silly voices, teasing her. Her face gets tense and she says, “Just grow up!”   “What’d ah do?” I ask, eyes wide with fake innocence, in my best Bill Clintonesque voice. For all my stupid antics, I am mature.  It’s not because I am 59 years old.  Maturity means that I know the difference between “what I need” and “what I want.”   I know how to govern my emotions and do what needs to be done. I make hard choices even when emotion says, “let it go!”

Are you a maturing saint?

God, a good Father, trains us for maturity. God’s power is actively leading us towards transformation. He has broken the grip that the sinful nature held over us. He has opened our eyes to the truth about right and wrong. These are gifts of grace we could not earn, that are ours to receive. Then He says, “Grow up!”  We don’t need to keep going back to the starting line of faith – repeatedly. We must move on.  The Word urges us to "stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God." (Hebrews 6:1, NLT)

There is a passage from Peter’s second letter that I read often.  Remember Peter’s struggle to grow up? As a disciple, he made mistakes, blundered into stupid situations, and failed at the critical moment. But, the Lord saw his potential and called him a rock.  “You were known as Simon, but I’m calling you Peter (meaning, rock),” Jesus said.  Peter grew up when he received the Spirit of God and moved forward in obedience.  The unreliable, impulsive, immature man became the leader of the church and died a martyr’s death with great courage.  He explains what changes us.  God’s "divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.(You can GROW UP!) 

Then, Peter reminds us that there is a part for us to play, too.  “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall." (2 Peter 1:3-10, NIV)

Disciple, has the grace of God led you to become a productive mature person who makes a noticeable difference in the world for the Kingdom of God? (Go back and re-read that question, please.) Or, are you one of those Christians playing the game of ‘cheap grace,’ comforting yourself in your immaturity by focusing only on the love of God and ignoring the inevitability of accountability to Him?    Is the Lord looking on your life and saying, “Oh, come on. Grow up!”

·         Make the choices that lead mature faith.
Develop your mind so you can see what’s really going on around you.
Know your real motives, be honest – with yourself!
Hang in there when the going gets rough.
Be kind, even to those who do the dumb stuff that drive you to distraction.
Live in love. And… keep growing deeper in these things.

The word from the Word says, "The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:8, NLT)

Come on now, grow up, for God’s sake!
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I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day.
Still praying as I'm onward bound.
"Lord plant my feet on higher ground!"

I want to live above the world
Though Satan's darts at me are hurled.
For faith has caught the joyful sound
The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright.
But still I'll pray 'til heaven I've found
"Lord lead me on to higher ground!"

Lord lift me up and let me stand
By faith on heaven's tableland.
A higher plain than I have found
Lord plant my feet on higher ground!

Higher Ground
© Public Domain
Charles Hutchison Gabriel

A Lesson in my Garage

Shuffling things around in my garage yesterday I realized how much stuff I have accumulated.  The generator (we do have power failures here in the country) had to be moved out the way to put the wood chipper (not needed until Spring) in the back, alongside of the pressure washer, next to the snow blower! The pond vacuum (love that little koi pond!) was stored on the shelf …  you get it, right? Each of those things is useful but what owns who?  Am I owner of my things or do they own me? In a sense, I am a servant to my stuff, storing it, maintaining it.  Further reflection made me prayerfully ask the Lord to help to find the right balance in my life, to not let my store of things become a measure of happiness.

God’s people had returned to Judah after 70 years of servitude in Babylon. Nehemiah’s courageous leadership stirred the sons and daughters of those who were carried off from their homes to go back and rebuild. The city walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt and life became normal.  But, a decade later, the Temple of the Lord was still a ruin. Why?  The people were satisfied with their stuff and saw no need to sacrifice to build a place of worship. God called them on their misplaced priorities. “The people procrastinate. They say this isn’t the right time to rebuild my Temple, the Temple of God.” Shortly after that, God said more and Haggai spoke it: “How is it that it’s the ‘right time’ for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, God’s Temple, is in ruins?”  (Haggai 1:2-4, The Message)

In our time, God is not ‘housed’ in buildings.  We, Christians, are His temples. That is an indisputable fact. The question is – in what state is that temple? Am I making my life a place that welcomes the Spirit of God and displays the beauty of His Presence? Or, does the clutter of my life obscure or even block the indwelling of His Spirit?

Haggai went on to challenge the people of Judah to re-evaluate their lives. "You have spent a lot of money, but you haven’t much to show for it. You keep filling your plates, but you never get filled up. You keep drinking and drinking and drinking, but you’re always thirsty. You put on layer after layer of clothes, but you can’t get warm. And the people who work for you, what are they getting out of it? Not much— a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that’s what. That’s why God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over.” (Haggai 1:6-7, The Message)  Their refusal to put God first left them changing a mirage of happiness in their stuff. They never could get enough.

Though 3 millennia have passed since God spoke those words, they are as true now as they were then. Jesus restated the principle. “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:15, NKJV)  The real substance of a rich life is not discovered in a garage full of stuff or a bank account overflowing with money. He completes the thought with this challenging wisdom. "For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing." (Luke 12:23, NLT)  “Don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need." (Luke 12:29-31, NLT)

The ancient people of Judah responded with obedience. They heard the Word and got to work. "‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” (Haggai 2:9 NIV)

That’s why God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over!”

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Take My Life And Let It Be (Hendon)

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated Lord to Thee

Take my moments and my days

Let them flow in ceaseless praise

Let them flow in ceaseless praise

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee

Swift and beautiful for Thee

Take my voice and let me sing

Always only for my King

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee

Filled with messages from Thee

Take my silver and my gold

Not a mite would I withhold

Take my intellect and use

Ev’ry pow’r as Thou shalt choose

Ev’ry pow’r as Thou shalt choose

Take my will and make it Thine

It shall be no longer mine

Take my heart it is Thine own

It shall be Thy royal throne

It shall be Thy royal throne

Take my love my Lord I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store

Take myself and I will be

Ever only all for Thee

Ever only all for Thee

Frances Ridley Havergal | Henri Abraham Cesar Malan

© Words: Public Domain

Leaving the church ... not Jesus

Too many people I know are walking away from the church... no, not giving up on Jesus, or losing faith in God; but leaving His Body.

Barnabas Piper, son of famed pastor, John Piper, penned the following in Relevant.

Read it, pray about what he says. 

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"I grew up in the church. No really, I grew up in the church. I am a PK and spent countless hours in church and doing church activities. I am a church native and familiar with all its quirks and cultural oddities, with all its strengths, and with all its failings. As the son of prominent evangelical pastor John Piper, I not only saw the inner workings of my own church, I was exposed to church leaders from around the world and saw the good and the bad from their churches too.

Many people like me, who grew up immersed in church, have given up on it. Church is archaic, domineering, impersonal, hypocritical, irrelevant, contentious, petty, boring and stale. It's institutional instead of authentic and religious but not relational, they say. I have seen all this in church and can agree that each accusation is true in instances. A PK sees all this up close and far too personally and feels each fault even more intensely. It really is enough to make one want to bail on church.

And I had my chance. Despite growing up steeped in sound Bible teaching and a loving context, I grew up empty in my soul. I believed but didn't fully believe. I obeyed but kept parts of my life for myself, bits of dishonesty and secrecy. I knew Jesus and knew He was the only way to be saved from my sin, but I didn't give my life to Him. In the end, it blew up in my face and I was faced with the decision: stay in church and work through my mess or leave and be free. I stayed.

While leaving was an option, it was one that I looked at and saw emptiness. Sure, the church can cause a lot of pain and annoyance, but it's where Jesus' people are connected. And really, that's what it is about-Jesus. That's what made it so clear to me that staying was best.

The church is a messy place by nature. That's what happens when a bunch of sinners come together anywhere. But it is a messy place designed by God to be his face to the World, and all those sinners reflect Him in unique ways. Nothing reflects God to the world like the church does. No, we don't "do" church 100 percent correctly, and we never will. No, church is not a perfect place. Yes, church displays the sins of all its people very publicly. But none of that changes what it is or can be.

To leave the church is to hurt yourself and to hurt others. I don't mean hurt like a slap in the face (though in some cases it's a bit like that). I mean hurt like 'malnourishment.' We were created by God to connect with others and, in that connection, reveal more of Him to each other and to the world. When we depart, we deprive ourselves of those aspects of God others reflect and we deprive them of those aspects we reflect. Leaving is starving our souls and others'.

Solitude is wonderful. But many things in life, maybe most things, are better enjoyed with others. Including God. That's why we're called to worship with others, to study with others, to pray with others. And church is the outlet for that, an imperfect outlet, but the outlet nonetheless. God wants us to experience Him to the fullest and that is done with others in song, in study, in reflection, in prayer, in tears, in confession in celebration-with others, doing church.

Leaving the church is escapism. You may find stresses relieved and conflicts avoided. It may feel like a breath of fresh air to leave behind traditional stuffiness and legalistic hypocrisy. Even now, I often want to slap the stupid out of the church. It can be such a maddening collection of people. (And I suspect I contribute to the stupid that needs slapping just as often.) 

But none of that changes what it is: the organism of God's presence and kingdom in the world. It is His means of connecting people to the gospel, to hope, to life. No matter your frustrations and hurts, it cannot be abandoned. You need it now whether or not you know it, and someday you will have a need nothing and no one else can meet. And the church will be where Jesus shows himself to you."

Barnabas works in social media and content marketing for Lifeway Christian Resources. He is the author of The Pastor's Kid: Finding Your Own Faith and Identity (David C. Cook, July 2014). Barnabas and his wife live in the Nashville area with their two daughters. Follow him on Twitter @BarnabasPiper.

More from Barnabas Piper or visit Barnabas at www.barnabaspiper.com/

When God Corrects

Every good parent knows that teaching children obedience requires reward and punishment. Good behavior must be reinforced with praise; an exemption from some household chore, or a movie before bedtime. That same child must realize that disobedience brings consequence.  When big tears are spilling down the face of your beloved little princess, her heart apparently broken by stern words of correction and a time-out in her room, even the most committed Mom is tempted to let it go.  Do that too many times and that amazing little person will soon understand, “She’s not really serious. I can do whatever I want and she will not bring correction because she cannot stand my tears or anger.”

My Mom’s famous dictum still echoes inside my head – “If you won’t obey me, you will never obey God.” And, she meant to make me mind her words! She was not afraid of my protests nor was she intimidated by my anger.  She corrected lovingly and firmly.

God, our Father, desires our obedience – for our own good!  He is willing to correct us, even at the expense of our comfort. "My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12, NLT)  There are many Christians today who will not accept the correction of their Father.  Grace and mercy are taught with such fervor that there is little room in our understanding that God is a loving Father but unafraid of causing us pain if we rebel against Him.  Is He petty? Not at all.  Is He mean? Never.  But, His love includes judgment. He will not ignore our sin and allow us to plunge into ruin without standing in our way with correction.

Zephaniah (When was the last time you read that short book in the Bible?) thundered at the rebellious people of God about their sins. They mixed worship of false gods with their Temple rituals. The priests were part of the conspiracy. Nobody thought Yahweh (the God of Judah) would act to correct them. They thought that their special status as ‘the people of the Lord’ would exempt them from His judgment. They thought their wealth would allow them to buy favor.  But, in terrible terms, He warned that He was going to let terrible consequences bring awful suffering to Jerusalem.  And, He did!

Good parents know that misbehavior must be corrected and they know that relationship must be maintained, that even a flicker of obedient response must be met with profuse expressions of love.  This is how our Father acts towards us.  He takes no joy in our pain because, yes, He is a God of grace and mercy.  After three chapters of angry condemnation, there are these wonderful words of promise and restoration.  "On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the LORD. The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.” Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!" (Zephaniah 3:11-14, NIV)

The word from the Word calls us know the goodness of the Lord.  Read His promise and choose to love Him sincerely. 

"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord.

Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?

Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.  The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." (Psalm 34:8-18, NLT)

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When We Walk With The Lord (Trust And Obey)

When we walk with the Lord,

In the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way.

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

But we never can prove

The delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay.

For the favor He shows,

And the joy He bestows,

Are for those who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet,

We will sit at His feet,

Or we'll walk by His side in the way.

What He says we will do,

Where He sends we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey,

For there's no other way,

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey!

Daniel Brink Towner | John Henry Sammis

© Words: Public Domain