Bungee Jumping

I am a Pastor who is praying to know how to lead in faith while being a wise, Spirit-responsive, other-centered person. Knowing where wisdom ends and faith begins is not an easy thing to discern. In coming weeks, it is likely that it will become possible to gather once again for worship. Doing so will involve risk. What is the right thing to do? You have your own decisions to make that will require faith and wisdom. If called back to work, where does faith start and fear end? In entrusting your kids to schooling, when is the appropriate time?

No choice is without cost, as we have seen nationally.  When we prioritize the safety, the economy takes a huge hit, and there is a financial cost to families that may be part of their lives for years to come. If we prioritize ‘normality’ the risk of sickness, and possibly death, increases, though it remains debatable to what degree. Many of us, I think, might feel a little like a bungee jumper who jumps off the bridge over a chasm. Though connected to a strong elastic, he cannot help but wonder, during the free fall, if the cord will hold when he hits the end of it.  

Though we know the promises of God, it is quite human to wonder as we lean on Him: will He catch me?

Everyone who follows Jesus Christ faces the choice of faith; not once, but each day.
Our very Gospel pivots on faith.
Will we trust the promise of God’s grace or continue in our own religious works?
Our security rests on faith.

Will we attempt to create wealth and relationships that make us feel secure or will we live with our hope resting on the Rock, secured by His Word?

True faith is constantly renewed. Grandpa’s faith is insufficient for today’s challenges. Our own faith that kept us a decade ago needs to be bolstered by discovery of faith that is sufficient for today. "The righteousness of God (is) revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17, KJV)  If you don’t understand Paul’s point, let me restate it. Faith for today is laid on the foundation of yesterday’s faith in an ongoing process; faith to faith.

Genuine faith does not exempt one from feeling real fear!  In the book of Daniel, we meet faithful men: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were Jews who had been carried off to serve in Babylon when Assyria conquered Jerusalem, ripped from their homes and transported hundreds of miles into an alien culture. There they faced the challenge of hanging onto their faith in Yahweh or being assimilated into the religion and culture of Assyria.  The safe choice was to ‘go along to get along.’ The faith choice was to trust the Lord. They chose the Lord and He gave them want they needed. (Read the first 6 chapters of Daniel prayerfully and those words will renew you in faith!)  

One day the megalomaniac king decided that he would set up a giant image of himself and require all of his administrators to give worshipful homage to it or face a fiery death. These men could not bow to an idol and keep their faith intact. Did they feel fear? Judge for yourself as you read their response to the king’s demand. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18, NLT) Do not miss that phrase – ‘even if He doesn’t!’ They fully recognized that their choice could bring them death and they were willing to make the faith choice anyway!

Are you facing a choice of faith today?  Don’t confuse the fact that you are experiencing some fear with a conclusion that you must be faithless.  Instead, focus on God.  ‘Fix your eyes on Jesus’ the Scripture counsels us.   I have told myself that a hundred times this week!  “Jerry, keep your eyes on Jesus who instilled faith in you and who keeps faith alive in you.”  And I know, from the Word and my testimony, that HE is faithful even when I am faithless. Praise Him.

Accepting God’s gift of faith will ask you to set out from the known, from what you perceive to be safe, to leave behind the comfortable.  God WILL meet you there. Ponder this word from the Word. "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." (James 2:14-18, NIV)  (If you intrigued by that excerpt, here is a link to the entire chapter which inspires me to greater faith.  James 2)

Let’s grow in faith together, encouraging each other. Lose any critical spirit. Reject any judgment. Quell the emotions. Exercise faith! 

I hope to ‘see’ you online this Sunday, 10 am, for virtual worship. (Faith Discovery Church)

________

Even If

(Mercy Me sings a song built around the story in Daniel I shared above)

They say sometimes you win some

Sometimes you lose some

And right now right now I'm losing bad

I've stood on this stage night after night

Reminding the broken it'll be alright

But right now oh right now I just can't

It's easy to sing

When there's nothing to bring me down

But what will I say

When I'm held to the flame like I am right now

I know You're able and I know You can

Save through the fire with Your mighty hand

But even if You don't

My hope is You alone

They say it only takes a little faith

To move a mountain

Well good thing

A little faith is all I have right now

But God when You choose

To leave mountains unmovable

Oh give me the strength to be able to sing

It is well with my soul

I know the sorrow and I know the hurt

Would all go away if You just say the word

But even if You don't

My hope is You alone

You've been faithful

You've been good all of my days

Jesus I will cling to You

Come what may

'Cause I know You're able

I know You care

I hope in You alone ooh

It is well with my soul

It is well it is well with my soul

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Fears, Facts, and Faith

The leadership team of our church met (online!) to discuss what kinds of policies we will have in place when FDC starts to gather for worship again. At least that hope is now on the horizon! Our conversation was complicated by the differing ideas about best ways to deal with the virus.   

Hard facts are hard to come by in a world of contradictory information provided by the ‘experts’ who cannot or will not admit that they are often learning as they go.  The politics that are wrapped up in this terrible crisis makes it even harder to get to the truth. Do you find it confusing to sort through it all?  I surely do. Fear can grow when facts are in short supply.

Each day I remind myself of ONE thing that I KNOW, an anchor point for me.  My foundation is expressed in the words of Paul, written to his younger pastor friend who was a timid man. "It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began—to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the coming of Christ Jesus, our Savior, who broke the power of death and showed us the way to everlasting life through the Good News. And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News. And that is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return." (2 Timothy 1:9-12, NLT)

If anyone could be excused for being fearful, Paul could. His life which was dedicated to the Gospel of Christ was hard. As he penned those hopeful words, he was on death row in a miserable Roman prison. Yet, he is confident- not in himself but in Christ Jesus, his Lord.  “God saved us … God chose us … His plan was to show love … suffering is real but I am not ashamed, for I KNOW the ONE IN WHOM I TRUST.”

At the core of my being there is a simple faith – I am God’s child, saved by His grace.  Do I still wrestle with questions about life? Well, of course.  Suffering remains a thorny issue.  Evil in all its expressions roars in my face, challenging my faith.  But, I choose to rest on His declaration and to say “I know in Whom I have believed and that He is able to keep me!”  From that solid foundation I find the footing to deal with life, to remain hopeful, to endure trials, to experience joy.  Ah, friend, will you trust Him?

Give up all attempts to play ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ with God. We cannot impress Him. We cannot wring favor from Him with songs, prayers, or rigid religiosity. The moment we shift our hope from His grace given freely to us in love, we lose our assurance.  But, if we ‘fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith’  we defeat fear and live with wisdom.  We are not foolish to choose to be confident in this - nothing that comes our way is too big for Him, will surprise Him, or can overcome His gracious love.

Does that mean we become simpletons who deny the realities of pain or disappointment that exist all around us? Not at all.  We are still very much part of this world which is, 'with devils filled and threatens to undo us!' (Martin Luther)  But, a GREATER truth secures us: that we are in the hands of the King whose power has triumphed over sin, Hell, and death. So, we trust - in Christ Jesus of whom we say - "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." (2 Timothy 1:12-14, NIV)

Choose simple faith. From the Word, understand the core Truth of God's eternal nature, of the triumph of Christ, and of the Spirit's power - and place those things at the center of your life. Ask the Lord to teach you to respond in faith to the issues of your life, choosing the way of the faithful consistently. And, you will find rock-like stability in a confusing world!

In our word from the Word, James reminds us of the importance of simple faith. Read it carefully and prayerfully.  "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:5-8, NKJV)

If you are not a Christian, receiving God’s gift through faith, do it now.

When we know Who holds tomorrow, who holds our hand, we are able to be at rest.

Do you know Him? Is He really Lord? Then, trust Him!

_________

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow

I just live from day to day

I don't borrow from its sunshine

For its skies may turn to gray

I don't worry o'er the future

For I know what Jesus said

And today I'll walk beside Him

For He knows what is ahead

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand

Ev'ry step is getting brighter

As the golden stairs I climb

Ev'ry burden's getting lighter

Ev'ry cloud is silver-lined

There the sun is always shining

There no tear will dim the eye

At the ending of the rainbow

Where the mountains touch the sky

I don't know about tomorrow

It may bring me poverty

But the One who feeds the sparrow

Is the One who stands by me

And the path that is my portion

May be through the flame or flood

But His presence goes before me

And I'm covered with His blood

Ira Stanphill © 1950 New Spring (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

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Taking the heat

Fire is a great blessing and a terrible curse. Fire can purify as well as destroy.  Ore containing gold is subjected to intense heat and when it liquefies the precious metal locked in the rock can be drawn off. The process is hard but the result is something of value and beauty.   

Are you feeling the heat these days? Is the uncertainty testing your faith, making you feel like you want to give up?  If so, you are not alone. Whatever novelty might have been part of the first couple of weeks of quarantine is long gone. We are seeing the results of slamming on the brakes of the economy as businesses are closing, for good. In many homes, tensions are rising. Christians are experiencing temptation more than ever. Yes, we are in the fire!

Peter, a man who knew about being in tough times, writes to encourage us.  "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6-7, NIV)  

 In short, he reminds us that trauma can produce transformation IF we endure it while steadied by faith.  The ancient preacher spoke truth for today when he said that God is our Refiner.  He allows us to feel the heat, not to destroy us but to make us holy. "Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness." (Malachi 3:2-3, NIV)

When a person goes to serve in the Marines the first 13 weeks are tough!  Boot camp is designed to shock a young recruit out of his assumptions about life and to mold him into a disciplined soldier. In basic training they are scared silly, intimidated, yelled at, awakened in the middle of the night, have their head shaved, are pushed to physical limits of endurance. To civilians, basic training looks cruelly sadistic. But if you ask the soldier about it when he’s under fire in combat he will tell you that the trauma transformed a bunch of kids into a disciplined, military unit, making him tough enough to stand up under fire.

Wise parents let their offspring appropriately experience difficulties, too. They let them work through conflict, understand disappointment, feel some level of stress all the while standing in the background to keep them from destruction. The wisdom of the Word speaks to us as we go through the fire. “Don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children.”  (Hebrews 12:5-8)

James 1 is familiar. "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides." (The Message) One might ask, "Is God serious? Why would I welcome tough times as a gift, or as an "opportunity for joy?" (NLT) The short answer is that trauma produces transformation.  It is hard not to complain when you’re getting melted in the fire, but pray for the ability to faithfully welcome the challenge as an opportunity to grow.  

Will you accept this truth for times of trial? God says that “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.” (I Cor. 10:13 The Message)

Keep these truths in mind when things get tough, when the fire heats up.

First – God is present! We are not alone.

Second – We are called into community! We are part of the Body of Christ. Let’s act like it.

Third – Greater glory awaits! This (what we see today) is not all there is.)

By the way, don’t blame all of your trauma on the Lord. Sometimes we stupidly, sinfully, or shortsightedly invite the fire right into our own heart! Peter wisely says "Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!" (1 Peter 3:17, NLT) "So if you are suffering according to God’s will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you." (1 Peter 4:19, NLT)

Here’s a word from the Word for this day:  "God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12, NLT)
_________

Blessings

We pray for blessings,

We pray for peace comfort for family

Protection while we sleep

We pray for healing for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand

To ease our suffering

And all the while You hear each spoken need

Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near

And what if trials of this life

Are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness

We doubt Your love

As if ev'ry promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desp'rate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not this is not our home

It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is a revealing of a greater thirst

This world can't satisfy

And what if trials of this life

The rain the storms the hardest nights

Are Your mercies in disguise

Laura Story

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