When the laugh track in life rings hollow

Are you sad today? I am not talking about the kind of sad you feel when your burn your toast or when your favorite sports team loses. The sad that to which I refer is that deep sorrow of loss or disappointment that sets in like a persistent fog. In a conversation yesterday, a man shared the sadness he felt for his 37 year-old son who is an addict slowly killing himself by inches. His sorrow went deep! When I think about Bev, my late wife, there is a persistent sadness. It colors just about everything in my life, even after 3 years.

If we talked today, would you tell me of sorrow, too? Perhaps it is your own - or maybe it is that of those with whom you walk in this world. Frequently the response to the sorrowful is a good ole’ pat on the back and a jolly, “Cheer up!”  The Proverb reminds us just how unhelpful that can be. "Singing cheerful songs to a person whose heart is heavy is as bad as stealing someone’s jacket in cold weather or rubbing salt in a wound." (Proverbs 25:20, NLT)

Our world is a broken place.  I hasten to acknowledge that there are many blessings, too. If you are living in a season of joy and abundance, then sing your praise and joyfully thank God. But, let’s always remember those who suffer. Compassion is a gift – both to the one who is sad and to the giver. When we willingly enter into the experience of another, sharing their sorrow, we are like Jesus.  Our Savior, sent with a message hope and healing to those who are captives of the Evil One, let Himself be moved, felt deeply, and sacrificed to make life better for the broken. "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. ... Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows." (Isaiah 53:3-4, NIV)  His work is our work. Like Him, I want to let my heart be broken by the human need that is real.

Whether it is our own sorrow or that of another, we must meet it with faith. We are reminded that God knows and cares. He is not far removed, a cruel Being without heart. When he was a refugee, pursued by a murderous king, David sang this - "My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. … Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. … The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, NIV)  It was not just poetry. He was filled with hopeful faith!

When Peter failed Jesus miserably on the night of His trial, he wept bitterly. Later, he went back to Galilee to fish, a broken man filled with regret and sorrow. God did not abandon him there. John records a beautiful scene in which the Resurrected Lord found Peter, served him breakfast on the beach, and spoke words of forgiveness and restoration.  He broke Peter’s despair and commissioned him to a life of service in God’s kingdom!  Later on, Peter wrote to us "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you. … And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:10-11, NIV)

We need never deny the reality of our sorrow. But, we are not engulfed hopelessly in it, either. Let’s engage ourselves with suffering while we do the work of Jesus. All the while, we can be sustained by this wonderful promise, our word from the Word  - ". . . they stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7:15-17, NLT)  Oh, Happy Day!

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Jesus! What a friend for sinners!

Jesus lover of my soul!

Friends may fail me, foes assail me;

He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Hallelujah what a Savior.

Hallelujah what a Friend.

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

He is with me to the end.

Jesus! What a strength in weakness!

Let me hide myself in Him;

Tempted tried and sometimes failing,

He, my strength my victory wins.

Jesus! What a help in sorrow!

While the billows o'er me roll,

Even when my heart is breaking,

He, my Comfort helps my soul.

Hallelujah what a Savior.

Hallelujah what a Friend.

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

He is with me to the end.

Our Great Savior- J. Wilbur Chapman © Public Domain

Creating a culture of healing

When Bev was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March, 2014, it broke our hearts. I researched every bit of information I could find and quickly realized that the prognosis was not good. Because of the advanced state of her cancer, I knew she would die unless there was a miracle of healing.  We prayed earnestly for that, while engaging in the best medical practices available to us.  She did recover her health for a time, but a year after her original diagnosis and treatment, the cancer recurred. Her life on this earth ended 8 months later. That experience made the debates about divine healing more than theory to me. 

How do faith and prayer work together? 

Why are some healed and some apparently do not recover?

My understanding of the Scripture and other experiences convinces me that part of the work that Jesus did for us in His incarnation, death, and resurrection involves healing. Christians believe that He died to restore us to our Father, to provide a final sacrifice for sins, once for all people and all time.  That sacrifice is complete on our behalf, received by faith, and we have the assurance of eternal life because of Him.  I also believe that He made healing possible through His atoning work.

Both Peter and James were inspired to tell us that healing is both for our spirit and our body. "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:23-24, NIV)  "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven." (James 5:14-15, NIV)

I have been healed by the Lord numerous times in my life and have witnessed indisputable miraculous healing in others.  But, there are also many occasions on which prayers for healing have gone unanswered, if one understands an answer as being only the recovery of physical health, which I do not believe.  Parallel to the promise of healing the Bible includes many passages about suffering, about trusting God in sickness, and allowing Him to do His work in our weakness.

We have much too limited view, in my opinion, of the healing work of the Church.  We should not just pray for symptoms, we should always seek wholeness, leading others to live in ways that honor God with the body. God can heal people as we pray over them, following James’ instructions to anoint with oil.  Our Lord will lead us to create 12 step groups to help people recover sobriety, to encourage godly discipline about diet and exercise so that chronic health issues do not development. Strong Christians will be encouraged to avoid addictions – a source of many illnesses.  The Church brings healing by teaching discipleship, helping people to avoid debilitating stress by developing comprehensive faith that builds strong loving families where emotional health is nurtured. As we lead people to forgiveness through Christ, finding that He loves them and thus frees them to radically love others, there is a kind of healing available to them that is truly miraculous!

Yes, I believe that Jesus’ work of salvation and healing should cause us to work at creating a culture for health and wholeness to be nurtured and fostered  by positive, Christ-honoring choices about food, money, relationships;  all of life!  Healing is more than crisis intervention by a team of elders when sickness arises. Healing is at the very heart of God. "I am the Lord, who heals you" (Ex. 15:26). The healing theme woven throughout the story of the Bible from.  I believe in the healing, restoration, reconciliation, and transformation of God's people in spirit, soul (mind, will, emotion), and body through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The question remains about the timing and completion of healing. Bev died. Does this mean she was not healed? In one sense, the honest answer must be yes. Her life ended prematurely (by human estimation) because of disease. There is no way to avoid the fact. A monument in a cemetery is mute testimony to that. And yet … she did know a healing that is larger than this temporal life. She knew her Savior, trusted in His grace, and entered into eternal life.  It is a glorious healing, though not the one I would have preferred.  I have many friends who are Christians of solid faith, who continue to wrestle with implications of chronic illness, with bodies that are imperfectly made, who suffer. Is their sickness indicative of a lack of faith in God?  Not at all and anyone who says that is misreading the whole of the Bible.  Our experience of the Kingdom of God is incomplete this side of Heaven and until Christ returns for the Second Time. So, until then, I will pray actively for healing – body and spirit; I will trust when I cannot understand.  I will follow Him radically, and by His grace – healing will come, now or in Heaven.

Receive the word from the Word with faith and obedience. "Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out. Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." (James 5:13-16, The Message)

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Lord, put me into the game!

About 10 adults gathered around a table at the church where I serve as pastor last night.  They are people who  are on the team.  How I appreciate their efforts, their friendship. Yesterday had brought some the normal stresses that come to any organization; the challenges that demand solutions, that cannot be ignored.  Driving from one location to the other, I prayed for wisdom, for insight, for resources. The Spirit reminded me of the people who are doing life and who share my love for His Kingdom and people. Then, listening to their triumphs and trials in ministry at our meeting, I heard the Spirit say, “I am at work.”

Jesus invites you, me, to be part of His team - the Church. Without any hesitation, I will affirm that Christians who want to be effective for God, who want to enjoy the best that the Church offers, will be those who serve. The call into Christ’s Body runs head-long into our treasured independence, our belief that we must be free to "do my own thing."  Serving is the antidote for the poison of consumerism that causes thousands to drift from church to church in search of a new experience, a message that entertains and/or comforts, a place to get ‘lost in the sauce’ so that there is little accountability. The happiest Christians I know are those who have learned to serve as part of His team.

God asks us to commit to His team, to adopt the goal of building up God's kingdom, discovering our calling, to mature in the Spiritual gifts He gives to all, and to celebrate the success of the church.

Faith Discovery Church, where I have served for 18 years, is a place of multiple serving teams.  At Good Shepherd Christian Academy, (http://www.gscacademy.com/) our Christian school, there is a genuine team in place. The goal of creating a school where children can learn life skills while being discipled in Christ’s ways, where they can see the Lordship of Jesus modeled in everyday life, brings together a group of people who give of themselves. I am amazed at the diversity of our team there, people for whom ministry supersedes the need to be a star, to earn a big salary, or to enjoy individual recognition. Go team!  One of our newest team members told me yesterday, “I’m home here!”

Our small church has so many other teams- men who care for the grounds, women who organize a pantry to feed those in need, musicians who offer up their skills for worship, those who love and teach our children, those who wrestle with budgets and dollars, people who give, those who pray … it’s a long list … as it should be in a healthy church.

Are YOU a serving Christian?

Do you faithfully and regularly give of yourself, your resources, asking the Lord to use you in a way that demands a renewal of the Spirit day by day?

The Word says, "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV) There are key truths wrapped up in those few words.

First is this - "Consider!" The word is about taking time to think it through. Team unity and effort must be intentional.  We have to purposefully seek to build a team.

Second is "Spur one another on." We are not in a mutual admiration society where we only say nice things that cover mediocrity! Those who are on a team give each other a 'kick in the behind' when necessary, not because of selfishness, but to urge the highest level of participation!  Healthy teams constantly challenge each other to higher levels of achievement.

Third is "Meet together." We give priority to the group and to coming together to strengthen our ties to one another.

Fourth is "Encourage one another!"  We for one another what God, Holy Spirit, our 'Advocate, Comforter' does for us. We affirm, support, and love to each other with the purpose of urging a maximum effort in the work of God.

And why do we do this? It is not for a trophy, not for a certificate of recognition, not to satisfy our ego. Peter says we do it to win an eternal "crown of glory that fadeth not away." The Kingdom of God, when built on His Lordship, shaped by the Gifts of the Spirit, and oiled by generous amounts of bold love, brings amazing blessings to humanity

Here's a word from the Word. Think deeply on it today. "If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead." (Philippians 2:1-3, The Message)
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Abba, I am grateful for the privilege of being ‘in the Body,’ Your church.

Raise my eyes, often, to appreciate those who serve alongside of me.

Free me from pride that wants to be first, to be recognized, to be coddled.

Help me to humbly, faithfully, and joyfully take the place for which

You have prepared me – by experience and Gifts of Your Spirit.

When I am tired, grant me strength to remain faithful.

When I have lost sight of the ‘why’ of service, renew my vision.

When others seem only to criticize, let me hear Your affirmation.

May I seek to honor Jesus only,

To be a servant, not of human approval, but of You.

In Jesus’ Name, I pray.

Amen