I am not the man today I was 25 years ago and I am thankful for that fact! I am no longer ruled by my temper, full of self-righteousness, quick to judge others, and proud of my puny achievements. I don’t hate those who wrong me, fear those who attack me, or seek to destroy my enemies. I regularly experience the Holy Spirit’s " love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT) Please don’t read this as prideful. Only God could do what is being done in me! And, don’t think I am deceived about having attained goodness by my own efforts!
I am a long, long way from perfect, but I am growing in grace. Temptation stills worms its way into my heart and mind. Too often I allow ungodly thoughts, words, and actions to be my choice but I rejoice in the process described in the Word as being " transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory!" (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV) Praise God I am not who I was and I look forward to who I will be under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit! Religion didn’t do this for me! Immersing myself in church culture and work did not change my heart. The transformation is gradual, the Truth of God replacing the deceptions of evil, the Spirit working to bring understanding, and repentance bringing change. I am unwilling to resign to life and say, “I am what I am.” To do so, would be to get stuck in a rut!
One of the more pathetic sights in this world is a person who has stopped developing emotionally and spiritually. That 45 year old man who is still trying to wear his high school football jacket, who is trying to make what hair he has left look cool, and who is still working to impress ‘chicks,’ is a joke to everyone but himself. Being a teenager is fun, but unless we grow out of that stage we look and act increasingly foolish! Same principle applies to a Christian who refuses to grow in Christ, to develop character, deal with his hang-ups, and move forward. Disciple, if you’re making the same arguments and fighting the same battles today that you fought 20 years ago, I urge you to go to your knees and ask God to rock your world! Engage in a fast, dig into the Scripture, find a spiritual director and; for God’s sake – grow up!
Perhaps all this sounds like too much emphasis on ‘works religion’ and not enough reliance on God’s grace. Let’s be clear. This is not about perfecting one’s self with guilt, psychological tricks, or thumb screws! This is about pursuing God whole-heartedly. Genuine spiritual depth is not about superficially looking better, nor is it about mastery of Scripture trivia! It is about walking with God, being more and more His intimate friend, giving larger and larger chunks of Self over to His mastery. He leads, we follow! To be sure, such intimacy will not just happen to us. He will bring us into situations where we come face to face with some part of ourselves and give us the choice – live to Me or choose to live for Self. By the Power of the Spirit we say, “Yes,” and grow on… to the next challenge point. And so it goes. The Light of Christ shines into the dark places of our lives and we discover the pain of our sinfulness. But, with genuine repentance, we also find the incredible joy of forgiveness and serenity of walking with God. The result is a beautiful holiness that others sense is heart deep, not just a pious affectation that we adopt for certain situations.
Here’s how Paul described the process of spiritual maturation. Ask God to help you to choose this Way and together, let’s make His Name glorious. Take a few moments to soak in his testimony and be challenged by it.
"Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.
I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection (read – completeness or maturity) for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. (Simply put – I am growing up!)
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting
the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:8-14, NLT)
___________
He gave me beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise
For the spirit of heaviness,
That we might be trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord,
That He might be glorified.
Beauty for Ashes
Robert Manzano © 1976, 1979, 1983 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
It just isn’t natural!
“Nobody ever comes through for me. I am so lonely. My only friend isn’t even human.” The words were sad, pathetic even. While I understood the person’s genuine emotional pain, after just a few minutes of conversation it was clear that he had wrapped himself so tightly in self-pity that no one could get through to him. Even sincere offers friendship were seen through a distorted lens that caused him to sabotage relationships. “Nobody will ever love me,” was an accurate, self-fulfilling prophecy!
John Maxwell writes that ‘a major cause of poor mental health is self-absorption. Selfishness ultimately hurts not only the people around a self-focused person, but also the selfish person himself. … That is the reason that Dr. Karl Menninger (renowned psychiatrist) responded the way he did when someone asked, ‘What would advise a person to do if he felt a nervous breakdown coming on?’ Most people expected him reply, ‘consult a psychiatrist.’ To their astonishment, he said, ‘Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need, and do something to help that person.’” - Failing Forward, Nelson, 2000
A young husband wept as he talked with me. “How could I have been so dumb?” In counseling, a year ago, his wife had begged him for attention, asked him to be tender, and to take an interest in her. Stupidly, he responded ‘just deal with life. I am who I am and don’t plan to change.’ Months later, with a broken heart, she walked out on their marriage. Only then, did he realize how selfish he was; too late! If he had been willing to learn to give, to forget his need to ‘hang out’ with his friends, his wife would surely have met him half-way. But, he wanted to live on his own terms and now he could, alone.
The wisest Counselor said - "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" (Luke 9:24-25, NLT)
Gain by giving. Win by losing. Forget yourself, find yourself!
It just isn’t natural!
Perhaps not, but, it’s the truth!
In these troubled times, most of us will struggle with the instinct to protect ourselves, to hoard our resources, to feed Self first. Take the way of Jesus Christ Who said, "Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:38, The Message)
___________
There are two kind of folks,
There's takers and givers.
There's gripers and complainers
and big-hearted liv'rs.
It depends on how we choose
to spend our days.
'Cause we can hoard up all we´ve got
or give it all away!
If you want more happy
than your heart will hold,
If you want to stand taller,
if the truth were told,
take whatever you have
and give it away.
If you want less lonely
and lot more fun
and deep satisfaction
when the day is done,
throw your heart wide open
and give it away
Copyright – Bill Gaither
John Maxwell writes that ‘a major cause of poor mental health is self-absorption. Selfishness ultimately hurts not only the people around a self-focused person, but also the selfish person himself. … That is the reason that Dr. Karl Menninger (renowned psychiatrist) responded the way he did when someone asked, ‘What would advise a person to do if he felt a nervous breakdown coming on?’ Most people expected him reply, ‘consult a psychiatrist.’ To their astonishment, he said, ‘Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need, and do something to help that person.’” - Failing Forward, Nelson, 2000
A young husband wept as he talked with me. “How could I have been so dumb?” In counseling, a year ago, his wife had begged him for attention, asked him to be tender, and to take an interest in her. Stupidly, he responded ‘just deal with life. I am who I am and don’t plan to change.’ Months later, with a broken heart, she walked out on their marriage. Only then, did he realize how selfish he was; too late! If he had been willing to learn to give, to forget his need to ‘hang out’ with his friends, his wife would surely have met him half-way. But, he wanted to live on his own terms and now he could, alone.
The wisest Counselor said - "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" (Luke 9:24-25, NLT)
Gain by giving. Win by losing. Forget yourself, find yourself!
It just isn’t natural!
Perhaps not, but, it’s the truth!
In these troubled times, most of us will struggle with the instinct to protect ourselves, to hoard our resources, to feed Self first. Take the way of Jesus Christ Who said, "Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:38, The Message)
___________
There are two kind of folks,
There's takers and givers.
There's gripers and complainers
and big-hearted liv'rs.
It depends on how we choose
to spend our days.
'Cause we can hoard up all we´ve got
or give it all away!
If you want more happy
than your heart will hold,
If you want to stand taller,
if the truth were told,
take whatever you have
and give it away.
If you want less lonely
and lot more fun
and deep satisfaction
when the day is done,
throw your heart wide open
and give it away
Copyright – Bill Gaither
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
I’ll take one portion of ‘Jesus’
Americans are consumers! We buy stuff to make ourselves feel better, to enhance our status, to make life easier, and just because everybody else is buying it! We are self-centered, our selfishness fed by a whole economic system that depends on creating a sense of entitlement and want so we will spend more to get the things that somebody else says we must have in order to be happy. That’s an issue bigger than I want to tackle today. What’s bugging me is that we bring our consumerism to our spirituality. The practice of Christianity has been hugely changed by responding to consumer demands. “Give me a Jesus Who works for me, makes my life better right now, and promises me customer satisfaction.” While few actually say these words, aren’t they usually just below the surface of our conscious thoughts?
In an article “Jesus Is Not a Brand” published in Christianity Today, January 2009, Tyler Wigg-Stephenson responds to that idea. He writes, “This attitude inhibits the disciple’s growth into living God-centered, neighbor-focused life. Yes, the Christian life brings fulfillment beyond imagination, but such fulfillment is strangely elusive if it is your main priority as a Christian. Indeed it only comes when we seek God instead of ourselves. Those who come to the Church expecting to find brand satisfaction or seeking to save their lives will find neither. … How do we convince people who are dedicated to self-creation that life is really about the grace and power of God?”
It requires a major overall of perspective that can only be accomplished by the Spirit. The Bible calls it conversion and I am convinced that few of us have experienced that in fullness! We love Jesus, but more for the practical things we believe He can do for us (think – “Does it work for me?”); than for the simple delight of knowing Him! Perhaps the current economic crisis in America may prove a boon for disciples by breaking us from our love of stuff and self and driving us into the arms of Jesus.
Then, too, Christianity cannot be all God wants it to be for us, if we are unwilling to radically love others! Over this past year, my travels to central Pennsylvania to care for my Dad, brings me into contact with a culture that rejects consumerism, that is committed to communal living, and that uses material goods less to pursue illusory happiness, than to simply live. Who are these people? The Amish! They have no need for dozens of shoes or outfits. They dress the same- for market, for church, and at home! Nobody impresses their neighbor with a designer name brand. They have no need to buy a new something because it’s fashionable, for fashion is a meaningless concept to them.
Meaning in life for the Amish is not about ‘things’ at all! It is about people. If their neighbor’s barn burns down (as one did recently) the whole community gathers resources, comes together, and rebuilds the barn in days, making a celebration of getting their brother back in business. In Amish culture (admittedly I have a limited understanding) it’s seldom about ‘me’ and always about ‘we.’
We cannot take just enough “Jesus” to make life work! We cannot hold onto our selves and cling to Him at the same time. Ponder these words of Jesus, familiar though they are. Really think about them. They will rock your world.
“You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference?
Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."
(Matthew 6:24-33, The Message)
In an article “Jesus Is Not a Brand” published in Christianity Today, January 2009, Tyler Wigg-Stephenson responds to that idea. He writes, “This attitude inhibits the disciple’s growth into living God-centered, neighbor-focused life. Yes, the Christian life brings fulfillment beyond imagination, but such fulfillment is strangely elusive if it is your main priority as a Christian. Indeed it only comes when we seek God instead of ourselves. Those who come to the Church expecting to find brand satisfaction or seeking to save their lives will find neither. … How do we convince people who are dedicated to self-creation that life is really about the grace and power of God?”
It requires a major overall of perspective that can only be accomplished by the Spirit. The Bible calls it conversion and I am convinced that few of us have experienced that in fullness! We love Jesus, but more for the practical things we believe He can do for us (think – “Does it work for me?”); than for the simple delight of knowing Him! Perhaps the current economic crisis in America may prove a boon for disciples by breaking us from our love of stuff and self and driving us into the arms of Jesus.
Then, too, Christianity cannot be all God wants it to be for us, if we are unwilling to radically love others! Over this past year, my travels to central Pennsylvania to care for my Dad, brings me into contact with a culture that rejects consumerism, that is committed to communal living, and that uses material goods less to pursue illusory happiness, than to simply live. Who are these people? The Amish! They have no need for dozens of shoes or outfits. They dress the same- for market, for church, and at home! Nobody impresses their neighbor with a designer name brand. They have no need to buy a new something because it’s fashionable, for fashion is a meaningless concept to them.
Meaning in life for the Amish is not about ‘things’ at all! It is about people. If their neighbor’s barn burns down (as one did recently) the whole community gathers resources, comes together, and rebuilds the barn in days, making a celebration of getting their brother back in business. In Amish culture (admittedly I have a limited understanding) it’s seldom about ‘me’ and always about ‘we.’
We cannot take just enough “Jesus” to make life work! We cannot hold onto our selves and cling to Him at the same time. Ponder these words of Jesus, familiar though they are. Really think about them. They will rock your world.
“You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference?
Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."
(Matthew 6:24-33, The Message)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Do Only Perfect People Go to Heaven?
The answer to the question in the title is ‘yes!’ Our Holy God will not tolerate sin, will not let Heaven be tainted with the anything short of His perfection. I do not know anybody that is perfect, do you? We both have known a few who thought they were perfect or that worked hard to create the impression of being 'perfect' but once we really get to know them, there are no illusions, are there? Each of us is sadly aware of our sins and failures. We readily identify with David who mourned his sinfulness saying, "I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down. … I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born." (Psalm 51:2,5 The Message) Our own life story has more than a few blots on the pages, doesn't it? Depravity is the universal condition of humanity. Scriptures inescapable indictment is brief and clear: "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard." (Romans 3:23)
So, is Heaven a place we dream of, but where only God and the angels dwell?
Can we, should we, hope for a home with the Lord, or is that just a dream, beyond our reach?
Only those who are perfect live with God, but reaching that blessed state is not the result of our effort! "God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ." (Romans 3:24, The Message) In the opening of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes of the amazingly stupendous love of God for you and me. Then in chapter 2, he seems to abruptly change tone. "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins… All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3, NIV)
Then, he writes, "But, God..." There is the Divine Exception, the Immanuel Intervention, that makes our hope of a home in Heaven (and a life in His Presence right here, right now) possible! "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. ... God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." --Ephesians 2:3-10 NLT
The Perfect God did not take the “Grandpa” route in dealing with our sins. When my grandsons disobey I’m a marshmallow – “Ah, come on. Let it go,” I tell their dad. I’m not charged with forming their character, with helping them become better. I just get to love on them! God is our Father, not our Grandpa. He cannot look at our sinfulness and brush it off, overlook it, or excuse it. But, He can offer a sacrifice that forgives us, an atonement for our guilt debt, and the power of the Spirit that changes us from sinner to saint. That is exactly what He’s done for us.
Disciple, do not abuse His grace. Do not mistake His mercy for approval of sin. Rather, let Him lead you through the tests and trials that perfect your faith, that bring you to maturity in the Way. Invite the Spirit to work deeply in you to produce the ‘beauty of holiness in you’ which will honor your Savior. This ‘perfection’ thing is a process – a work of our Deliverer and the disciplines of the Spirit.
Take this thought as your statement of purpose-- "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But 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." -- Phil. 3:12-14
____________
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed,
He'll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory.
While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we'll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open,
We shall tread the streets of gold.
When We All Get To Heaven
Hewitt, Eliza E. / Wilson, Emily D.© Public Domain
So, is Heaven a place we dream of, but where only God and the angels dwell?
Can we, should we, hope for a home with the Lord, or is that just a dream, beyond our reach?
Only those who are perfect live with God, but reaching that blessed state is not the result of our effort! "God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ." (Romans 3:24, The Message) In the opening of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes of the amazingly stupendous love of God for you and me. Then in chapter 2, he seems to abruptly change tone. "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins… All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3, NIV)
Then, he writes, "But, God..." There is the Divine Exception, the Immanuel Intervention, that makes our hope of a home in Heaven (and a life in His Presence right here, right now) possible! "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. ... God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." --Ephesians 2:3-10 NLT
The Perfect God did not take the “Grandpa” route in dealing with our sins. When my grandsons disobey I’m a marshmallow – “Ah, come on. Let it go,” I tell their dad. I’m not charged with forming their character, with helping them become better. I just get to love on them! God is our Father, not our Grandpa. He cannot look at our sinfulness and brush it off, overlook it, or excuse it. But, He can offer a sacrifice that forgives us, an atonement for our guilt debt, and the power of the Spirit that changes us from sinner to saint. That is exactly what He’s done for us.
Disciple, do not abuse His grace. Do not mistake His mercy for approval of sin. Rather, let Him lead you through the tests and trials that perfect your faith, that bring you to maturity in the Way. Invite the Spirit to work deeply in you to produce the ‘beauty of holiness in you’ which will honor your Savior. This ‘perfection’ thing is a process – a work of our Deliverer and the disciplines of the Spirit.
Take this thought as your statement of purpose-- "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But 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." -- Phil. 3:12-14
____________
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed,
He'll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory.
While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we'll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open,
We shall tread the streets of gold.
When We All Get To Heaven
Hewitt, Eliza E. / Wilson, Emily D.© Public Domain
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Last Enemy
For just over one year, mortality has met me just about every Monday when I visit Dad’s sick room! On January 10, 2008 my Dad went through surgery for a blocked intestine, which revealed a mesenteric carcinoma that was well advanced. And, in the year that passed, he has gone from thin, to weak, and for the last several months to confinement in his bed. His dignity and independence has been taken away, little by little; and now he requires ‘round the clock care like an infant, dependent on others to meet even his most basic needs. Even as I write this, I am sitting at his side, getting sips of water, replacing the comforter that he keeps pulling off. This experience, though new to me, is a common road for as the Bible says, “man is destined to die.”
In many funerals, while standing next to a casket holding a lifeless body, I have observed that death leaves us with an abandoned house. I point out that an empty house quickly loses its glory, that it falls to ruin, leaving us to wonder what it was like when it was a home to a family that tended the lawn, planted flowers, and fixed the fence! At death, the spirit leaves the body, and we are left with a shell, nothing more! Death is ugly- both in the process and its apparent finality. And yet… Oh, how thankful I am that death is not the End!
The Bible says, "So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. … And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. … It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 26, 42-44, NLT) This is the wonder of our Christian faith. My Dad’s body is broken, his physical life ebbing away. But, our hope is strong, for we see Jesus Christ once dead, now alive. He is our Prototype, His experience promised to be our experience.
Again from the Bible: “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. … Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man. What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever." (1 Corinthians 15: 45, 49-50, NLT)
Do I understand how all this happens? No! It is faith-based. How can such an ugly process lead to such a glorious triumph? Only God knows. "But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57, NLT) My hope today is not shaped by science, though I value the knowledge it brings me. My hope does not grow from philosophical systems that explain mysteries to me, though I appreciate the importance of wisdom! I trust in God!
Here’s a word from the Word. It gives me courage to face this last enemy – death – and I pray it will encourage you, too. Jesus gave this Promise to His disciples the night before He went to the Cross. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." (John 14:1-3, NLT)
_____________
The kingdom of our God is here,
Heaven is in my heart.
The presence of His majesty,
Heaven is in my heart.
And in His presence joy abounds,
Heaven is in my heart.
The light of holiness surrounds,
Heaven is in my heart.
His precious life on me He spent,
Heaven is in my heart.
To give me life without an end,
Heaven is in my heart.
In Christ is all my confidence,
Heaven is in my heart.
The hope of my inheritance,
Heaven is in my heart.
We are a temple for His throne,
Heaven is in my heart.
And Christ is the foundation stone,
Heaven is in my heart.
He will return to take us home,
Heaven is in my heart.
The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!"
Heaven is in my heart.
Heaven Is In My Heart
Kendrick, Graham© 1991 Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, January 23, 2009
America’s most common gathering
Gallup reports that around 40% of Americans surveyed reported attending a house of worship in the previous seven days. Barna Research studies in 2005 reported that 45% of adults said they attended worship in the previous week. Many feel that figure is inflated, the more accurate number being closer to 25%. Using that range, we know that at least 75 millions and perhaps as many as 120 million Americans attend worship each week, more than the total combined annual attendance at sports events!
Mega-churches get most of the TV exposure, leading us to believe that people go to church for big, expensive programs, great preaching, and concert quality music. Wrong! The large majority of those millions of worshippers are attending neighborhood churches with an average attendance less than 100 people where the preaching is often mediocre and the music something less than superb! And yet we go – again and again – week after week!
While people think they go to church for a program, in actuality they go for a Person!
Eugene Peterson points out three factors that pull people to worship.
1. Worship gives life a working structure.
2. Worship nurtures our need for a relationship with God.
3. Worship centers our attention on the wisdom of God. – Life at Its Best, Zondervan, 2006
When we pause from the commerce of daily life, we have the opportunity to regain a sense of what/who we were created to be. Regardless of the style of our church’s liturgy – from rigidly formal to charismatically chaotic – behind it all is the Spirit reminding us that we are small and He is big! Worship gives us a language for loving God. When we worship our heart expresses our sometimes unconscious longing to know Him. The very act of gathering with others for the purpose of worship says, “I’m reaching out to You.” Worship includes hearing the Word of God. The Bible is read, the preacher opens the Text and speaks from it. That very Word shapes us – from the inside out – and comforts us too.
If a church abandons the pursuit of God and becomes a gathering focused on anything or anyone other than the Lord, it will die for the real, if unconscious, needs of the worshippers will not be nurtured. If the Word is stripped from worship, replaced by poetry or prose of man, the worshippers will starve and that church will die. The upward focus on the Eternal, Unfathomable, Transcendent God is what sets worship gatherings apart from all other human events!
Make gathering for worship a consistent part of each week! The very act will improve your life, perhaps not the first week, but most certainly over time. Deal with the consumer expectations that can poison your worship experience. Instead of focusing on how you feel, what you think you need, or who spoke kindly to you – just go to present yourself to God! Show up a few minutes early and let your soul catch up with your body so you can fully worship. Attend with your heart and mind as well as your body! In other words, pay attention and participate. Sing! Pray! Listen! Respond!
And like the Psalmist, you too will sing, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord." (Psalm 122:1, NIV)
______________
Light of the world You stepped down into darkness,
opened my eyes, let me see;
Beauty that made this heart adore You,
Hope of a life spent with You.
King of all days, oh so highly exalted.
glorious in Heaven above!
Humbly You came to earth You created,
All for love's sake became poor.
Here I am to worship! Here I am to bow down!
Here I am to say that You're my God.
You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me.
Here I Am To WorshipTim Hughes © 2000 Kingsway Music
CCLI License No. 810055
Mega-churches get most of the TV exposure, leading us to believe that people go to church for big, expensive programs, great preaching, and concert quality music. Wrong! The large majority of those millions of worshippers are attending neighborhood churches with an average attendance less than 100 people where the preaching is often mediocre and the music something less than superb! And yet we go – again and again – week after week!
While people think they go to church for a program, in actuality they go for a Person!
Eugene Peterson points out three factors that pull people to worship.
1. Worship gives life a working structure.
2. Worship nurtures our need for a relationship with God.
3. Worship centers our attention on the wisdom of God. – Life at Its Best, Zondervan, 2006
When we pause from the commerce of daily life, we have the opportunity to regain a sense of what/who we were created to be. Regardless of the style of our church’s liturgy – from rigidly formal to charismatically chaotic – behind it all is the Spirit reminding us that we are small and He is big! Worship gives us a language for loving God. When we worship our heart expresses our sometimes unconscious longing to know Him. The very act of gathering with others for the purpose of worship says, “I’m reaching out to You.” Worship includes hearing the Word of God. The Bible is read, the preacher opens the Text and speaks from it. That very Word shapes us – from the inside out – and comforts us too.
If a church abandons the pursuit of God and becomes a gathering focused on anything or anyone other than the Lord, it will die for the real, if unconscious, needs of the worshippers will not be nurtured. If the Word is stripped from worship, replaced by poetry or prose of man, the worshippers will starve and that church will die. The upward focus on the Eternal, Unfathomable, Transcendent God is what sets worship gatherings apart from all other human events!
Make gathering for worship a consistent part of each week! The very act will improve your life, perhaps not the first week, but most certainly over time. Deal with the consumer expectations that can poison your worship experience. Instead of focusing on how you feel, what you think you need, or who spoke kindly to you – just go to present yourself to God! Show up a few minutes early and let your soul catch up with your body so you can fully worship. Attend with your heart and mind as well as your body! In other words, pay attention and participate. Sing! Pray! Listen! Respond!
And like the Psalmist, you too will sing, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord." (Psalm 122:1, NIV)
______________
Light of the world You stepped down into darkness,
opened my eyes, let me see;
Beauty that made this heart adore You,
Hope of a life spent with You.
King of all days, oh so highly exalted.
glorious in Heaven above!
Humbly You came to earth You created,
All for love's sake became poor.
Here I am to worship! Here I am to bow down!
Here I am to say that You're my God.
You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me.
Here I Am To WorshipTim Hughes © 2000 Kingsway Music
CCLI License No. 810055
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Driving forward looking in the rearview mirror?
The tearful woman on my phone was mourning the loss of a familiar life. Her husband retired and they moved to a new community. After years of long days of work, community involvement, and activities she found herself depressed because she had nothing to do! “My life is over,” she said; and she was serious. I encouraged her to take advantage of her new circumstances. “You can’t go forward staring in the rear view mirror,” I reminded her. “Yesterday might have been wonderful, but it’s history. Learn from the mistakes, celebrate the successes but, always, keep living in the present.”
People who spend too much time in either yesterday or tomorrow will lose today. The consequence is a wasted life, doing nothing of meaning! Productive or not, yesterday's gone! Got plans for tomorrow? Good. Planning is important, but tomorrow may never arrive for some of us.
Today is God's gift to you. Make it count.
Moses prayed, "... teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, NKJV) "Number?" Interesting way to put it. He was asking God to impress on us the need to keep our days ordered so that our lives do not descend into confusion and chaos. Ever notice how things go to ruin, how messes develop, so quickly? In just a few days my office collects clutter, the back seat of my car fills up with 'stuff.' I’m forever picking up the stuff that accumulates in the hallways of the church! Where does that stuff come from? Unless I take steps to impose order today, I will find chaos has developed by next week!
Many years ago, in a management training session, I learned a valuable little lesson – “Whenever possible, finish the task you’ve started.” The man leading the course said, “Handle paper once!” He was teaching us to be decisive, to make a decision, if possible, and finish the job.
Unproductive people live in the middle of unfinished tasks that they sincerely plan to finish but never do - because they are paralyzed by the chaos their disorganization has created. I know that I must set aside blocks of time that are dedicated to specific tasks and work at them until they’re done. It works! A job as simple as paying bills or sorting mail becomes much easier if I focus on it, don't do anything else, until I finish. That way there is no leftover clutter laying around adding to the mess.
People live in amazing messes-- unfinished business, undone laundry, unpaid bills, emotional debts, half-done projects, unfulfilled dreams, unmet expectations -- in large part because they don't just do something today. Today's tasks, half done, get added to the pile of yesterday's regrets. Very quickly the whole thing becomes an unmanageable collection of chaotic confusion.
I can hear some of you commenting: "Jerry, you don't understand. I'm just not an organized person. I hate planning, prioritizing, and order." That, my friend, is an excuse. If you will not discipline yourself to finish a task today, even a simple one, then prepare for chaos tomorrow! And, please, don't complain about how others enjoy a productive life or a well-developed character because "they're so lucky."
One guy wryly observed, "The harder I work, the luckier I get." That could be prideful. We must not ignore the blessings of God. But, there is an element of truth in that comment. Ever since the curse of sin fell on Creation, both a Deliverer and diligence are always required to bring beauty out of the chaos of life. Jesus Christ is our Deliverer, but the diligence is left to us- today!
Want a sculpted body? Exercise!
Want a beautiful garden? Weed it regularly.
Want to enjoy friendships? Invest in others regularly.
Want to live intimately with God? Practice the spiritual disciplines!
Great work start with today's work!
Peter points out the blessings of God's gift of grace and reminds us that God has provided ALL we need to live productive lives today. Then, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he tells us that we have to make a decision NOW, to do something NOW, to work at ordering our lives NOW.
“So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus.
Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.
So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing.” --- (2 Peter 1:5-10, The Message) ___________________________
Hold tight to the sound of the music of living,
Happy songs from the laughter of children at play;
Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows,
Making memories of what was today.
Tender words, gentle touch, and a good cup of coffee,
And someone that loves me and wants me to stay;
Hold them near while they're here, and don't wait for tomorrow
To look back and wish for today.
We have this moment to hold in our hands,
And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone, and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.
We Have This Moment Today
Bill and Gloria Gaither ©1975 by William J. Gaither
Authentic, Accepting, Accelerating <http://www.WashingtonAG.com>
People who spend too much time in either yesterday or tomorrow will lose today. The consequence is a wasted life, doing nothing of meaning! Productive or not, yesterday's gone! Got plans for tomorrow? Good. Planning is important, but tomorrow may never arrive for some of us.
Today is God's gift to you. Make it count.
Moses prayed, "... teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, NKJV) "Number?" Interesting way to put it. He was asking God to impress on us the need to keep our days ordered so that our lives do not descend into confusion and chaos. Ever notice how things go to ruin, how messes develop, so quickly? In just a few days my office collects clutter, the back seat of my car fills up with 'stuff.' I’m forever picking up the stuff that accumulates in the hallways of the church! Where does that stuff come from? Unless I take steps to impose order today, I will find chaos has developed by next week!
Many years ago, in a management training session, I learned a valuable little lesson – “Whenever possible, finish the task you’ve started.” The man leading the course said, “Handle paper once!” He was teaching us to be decisive, to make a decision, if possible, and finish the job.
Unproductive people live in the middle of unfinished tasks that they sincerely plan to finish but never do - because they are paralyzed by the chaos their disorganization has created. I know that I must set aside blocks of time that are dedicated to specific tasks and work at them until they’re done. It works! A job as simple as paying bills or sorting mail becomes much easier if I focus on it, don't do anything else, until I finish. That way there is no leftover clutter laying around adding to the mess.
People live in amazing messes-- unfinished business, undone laundry, unpaid bills, emotional debts, half-done projects, unfulfilled dreams, unmet expectations -- in large part because they don't just do something today. Today's tasks, half done, get added to the pile of yesterday's regrets. Very quickly the whole thing becomes an unmanageable collection of chaotic confusion.
I can hear some of you commenting: "Jerry, you don't understand. I'm just not an organized person. I hate planning, prioritizing, and order." That, my friend, is an excuse. If you will not discipline yourself to finish a task today, even a simple one, then prepare for chaos tomorrow! And, please, don't complain about how others enjoy a productive life or a well-developed character because "they're so lucky."
One guy wryly observed, "The harder I work, the luckier I get." That could be prideful. We must not ignore the blessings of God. But, there is an element of truth in that comment. Ever since the curse of sin fell on Creation, both a Deliverer and diligence are always required to bring beauty out of the chaos of life. Jesus Christ is our Deliverer, but the diligence is left to us- today!
Want a sculpted body? Exercise!
Want a beautiful garden? Weed it regularly.
Want to enjoy friendships? Invest in others regularly.
Want to live intimately with God? Practice the spiritual disciplines!
Great work start with today's work!
Peter points out the blessings of God's gift of grace and reminds us that God has provided ALL we need to live productive lives today. Then, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he tells us that we have to make a decision NOW, to do something NOW, to work at ordering our lives NOW.
“So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus.
Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.
So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing.” --- (2 Peter 1:5-10, The Message) ___________________________
Hold tight to the sound of the music of living,
Happy songs from the laughter of children at play;
Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows,
Making memories of what was today.
Tender words, gentle touch, and a good cup of coffee,
And someone that loves me and wants me to stay;
Hold them near while they're here, and don't wait for tomorrow
To look back and wish for today.
We have this moment to hold in our hands,
And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone, and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.
We Have This Moment Today
Bill and Gloria Gaither ©1975 by William J. Gaither
Authentic, Accepting, Accelerating <http://www.WashingtonAG.com>
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Rick Warren’s Prayer
As our new President sits down in the Oval Office today, he will tackle a mountain of challenges. The expectations that are heaped on his shoulders are more than any mere man could ever fulfill. Believer, regardless of how you feel about his positions and politics, it is God’s will that we pray for him. The Bible says: "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way (re-read the previous phrase!!) for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity." (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NLT)
If you want a great model for your prayers for President Obama, take Pastor Rick Warren’s prayer at the inaugural ceremony yesterday. It was not a speech! It is a real prayer, addressed to God, and it is full of meaning. Make it yours. Remember, God’s blessings on this man become beneficial to the whole nation. The text of that prayer follows.
"Almighty God, our Father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of You alone. It all comes from You, it all belongs to You, it all exists for Your glory. History is your story. The Scripture tells us, 'Hear, oh Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one' and You are the compassionate and merciful one and You are loving to everyone You have made. Now today we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 43rd time, we celebrate a hinge-point of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity,
the compassion to lead us with generosity.
Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, oh God, to remember that we are Americans. United not by race or religion or by blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget You, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us. And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches and civility in our attitudes -- even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all. May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day, all nations, all people will stand accountable before You. We now commit our new president and his wife Michelle and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life -- Yeshua, Esa, Jesus, Jesus -- who taught us to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
________
God of our fathers, whose Almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.
Thy love divine hath led us in the past.
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast.
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide, and Stay,
Thy word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.
From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense.
Thy true religion in our hearts increase;
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way.
Lead us from night to never ending day.
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine;
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.
God Of Our Fathers
Roberts, Daniel C. / Warren, George© Public Domain
If you want a great model for your prayers for President Obama, take Pastor Rick Warren’s prayer at the inaugural ceremony yesterday. It was not a speech! It is a real prayer, addressed to God, and it is full of meaning. Make it yours. Remember, God’s blessings on this man become beneficial to the whole nation. The text of that prayer follows.
"Almighty God, our Father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of You alone. It all comes from You, it all belongs to You, it all exists for Your glory. History is your story. The Scripture tells us, 'Hear, oh Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one' and You are the compassionate and merciful one and You are loving to everyone You have made. Now today we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 43rd time, we celebrate a hinge-point of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity,
the compassion to lead us with generosity.
Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, oh God, to remember that we are Americans. United not by race or religion or by blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget You, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us. And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches and civility in our attitudes -- even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all. May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day, all nations, all people will stand accountable before You. We now commit our new president and his wife Michelle and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life -- Yeshua, Esa, Jesus, Jesus -- who taught us to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
________
God of our fathers, whose Almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.
Thy love divine hath led us in the past.
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast.
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide, and Stay,
Thy word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.
From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense.
Thy true religion in our hearts increase;
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way.
Lead us from night to never ending day.
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine;
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.
God Of Our Fathers
Roberts, Daniel C. / Warren, George© Public Domain
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Help from the hills
Undoubtedly, our lives are more complex these days despite technology and multiple 'labor saving' devices that are supposed to make it all easier to manage! We have more things to keep in working order, a wider circle of relationships to tend, and multiple demands on our time. In this busy world, I'll be first to admit that it takes a lot of effort to keep our hearts in tune with God, to nurture our marriages, to raise our kids to revere the things of God- in short, to order our lives in a God-pleasing way that really works.
Life doesn't always 'work' the way we think it should, does it? The more desperate we become, the more we search for sources of solace. But, where will we turn? We love our self-help sources! Prevention magazine promises us that we can live forever if we follow the advice of the various gurus. The church of Oprah meets daily and from her pulpit she dispenses wisdom to millions who are ready to drink up her advice about everything from politics to sex. WebMD allows us to doctor ourselves.
Many people turn to faith in God in times of crisis. She walks out the door and suddenly he wants to go to church. The teenage daughter announces she is pregnant and her parents decide that it's time to reorder weekend priorities to include worship. The mistaken idea is that with faith comes magic answers, instant solutions, and a return to happy land. That's all fine, but it doesn't work! God is the God of miracles but He's not our Magician, nor is He our household Butler who shows up after our party to clean up the messes!
One of my favorite Psalms is also one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible. Here's the song:
"I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Those who first sang this song in Israel understood the opening line better than we do. We think the Psalmist is rhapsodizing about the glory of the hills that turns our thoughts to God! No, that's not it, at all. The hilltops of ancient Israel were places of idolatry, where shrines stood to the various gods. Want to assure a better crop in the Springtime? Go to the fertility shrine on the hilltop. Need protection from drought? Go to the hilltop where the sun-god could be appeased. The gods (Baals - literally "lords") were notoriously fickle. They were thought to fall asleep on the job! The priests claimed they could awaken them if the right offerings were presented. They forgot to send rain, make the fields grow, and to protect from evil demons.
Only if a person went to the hills regularly to offer their sacrifices, could they hope to keep things in order. The gods needed the people they supposedly cared for. But, it didn't work! The priests were frauds, the orgies in worship of the fertility gods just a distraction from the grim realities of daily life!
Thus, the followers of the One True God, Yahweh, did not look for help from the gods worshipped at the hilltop shrines. They looked to the Maker of the hills. How was He different from the Baals?
The promises that follow make it plain.
"He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you-
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
(Psalm 121, NIV)
Does this mean that faithful Christians will never turn their ankles, never get cancer, never find their marriages troubled? Can we expect that He will exempt us from the up's and down's of the economy? No, and if we read it that way, we may eventually lose faith, concluding that God is fraud, or at least, ignoring us. Or, we may think that we need to dance faster, give more, or raise the volume of our prayers to attract His attention.
What God promises in this Psalm is that even in our times of distress we can count on His Presence, lean on His wisdom, and expect His purposes to prevail! Unlike the fickle gods, He is an ever-watching, always active, and all Powerful Lord for all those who trust with their lives.
Don't turn aside to the gods of the hills. No, of course, we don't worship the Baals any longer, but we do worship Money, Government, Education, and many other gods who prove incapable of seeing us safely home. Look, instead, to the Creator, who is never caught napping. Trust Him now, even in the good times, so that you will know how to walk with Him when the storms come- and they will.
__________________
The beasts of the field,
The birds of the air
Are silent to call out Your name.
The earth has no voice
And I have no choice;
But to magnify God unashamed.
Let the rocks be kept silent
For one more day.
Let the whole world sing out.
Let the people say,
"Almighty, most Holy God;
Faithful through the ages.
Almighty, most Holy Lord;
Glorious, Almighty God."
Well, time marches on
With innocence gone,
And a darkness has covered the earth;
But His Spirit still dwells;
He speaks, "It is well,"
And the hopeless still
Offered new birth.
He will break the leash of death;
It will have no sting.
Let the prisoner go free.
Join the dance and sing,
"Almighty, most Holy God;
Faithful through the ages.
Almighty, most Holy Lord;
Glorious, Almighty God."
Almighty
Watson, Wayne© 1990 Material Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)CCLI License No. 810055
Life doesn't always 'work' the way we think it should, does it? The more desperate we become, the more we search for sources of solace. But, where will we turn? We love our self-help sources! Prevention magazine promises us that we can live forever if we follow the advice of the various gurus. The church of Oprah meets daily and from her pulpit she dispenses wisdom to millions who are ready to drink up her advice about everything from politics to sex. WebMD allows us to doctor ourselves.
Many people turn to faith in God in times of crisis. She walks out the door and suddenly he wants to go to church. The teenage daughter announces she is pregnant and her parents decide that it's time to reorder weekend priorities to include worship. The mistaken idea is that with faith comes magic answers, instant solutions, and a return to happy land. That's all fine, but it doesn't work! God is the God of miracles but He's not our Magician, nor is He our household Butler who shows up after our party to clean up the messes!
One of my favorite Psalms is also one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible. Here's the song:
"I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Those who first sang this song in Israel understood the opening line better than we do. We think the Psalmist is rhapsodizing about the glory of the hills that turns our thoughts to God! No, that's not it, at all. The hilltops of ancient Israel were places of idolatry, where shrines stood to the various gods. Want to assure a better crop in the Springtime? Go to the fertility shrine on the hilltop. Need protection from drought? Go to the hilltop where the sun-god could be appeased. The gods (Baals - literally "lords") were notoriously fickle. They were thought to fall asleep on the job! The priests claimed they could awaken them if the right offerings were presented. They forgot to send rain, make the fields grow, and to protect from evil demons.
Only if a person went to the hills regularly to offer their sacrifices, could they hope to keep things in order. The gods needed the people they supposedly cared for. But, it didn't work! The priests were frauds, the orgies in worship of the fertility gods just a distraction from the grim realities of daily life!
Thus, the followers of the One True God, Yahweh, did not look for help from the gods worshipped at the hilltop shrines. They looked to the Maker of the hills. How was He different from the Baals?
The promises that follow make it plain.
"He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you-
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
(Psalm 121, NIV)
Does this mean that faithful Christians will never turn their ankles, never get cancer, never find their marriages troubled? Can we expect that He will exempt us from the up's and down's of the economy? No, and if we read it that way, we may eventually lose faith, concluding that God is fraud, or at least, ignoring us. Or, we may think that we need to dance faster, give more, or raise the volume of our prayers to attract His attention.
What God promises in this Psalm is that even in our times of distress we can count on His Presence, lean on His wisdom, and expect His purposes to prevail! Unlike the fickle gods, He is an ever-watching, always active, and all Powerful Lord for all those who trust with their lives.
Don't turn aside to the gods of the hills. No, of course, we don't worship the Baals any longer, but we do worship Money, Government, Education, and many other gods who prove incapable of seeing us safely home. Look, instead, to the Creator, who is never caught napping. Trust Him now, even in the good times, so that you will know how to walk with Him when the storms come- and they will.
__________________
The beasts of the field,
The birds of the air
Are silent to call out Your name.
The earth has no voice
And I have no choice;
But to magnify God unashamed.
Let the rocks be kept silent
For one more day.
Let the whole world sing out.
Let the people say,
"Almighty, most Holy God;
Faithful through the ages.
Almighty, most Holy Lord;
Glorious, Almighty God."
Well, time marches on
With innocence gone,
And a darkness has covered the earth;
But His Spirit still dwells;
He speaks, "It is well,"
And the hopeless still
Offered new birth.
He will break the leash of death;
It will have no sting.
Let the prisoner go free.
Join the dance and sing,
"Almighty, most Holy God;
Faithful through the ages.
Almighty, most Holy Lord;
Glorious, Almighty God."
Almighty
Watson, Wayne© 1990 Material Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, January 19, 2009
Something to celebrate!
Many Americans will have a holiday from work today. It is a day set aside to honor the work and memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. who stirred the nation’s conscience and led African Americans in peaceful protest to gain the rights promised to all of our citizens. This year, with the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency, the day takes on even more meaning. The fruit of Dr. King’s labors is readily evident as an African American prepares to take the oath of office. Regardless of our personal politics, this is something we can all celebrate, a watershed day in our national story. Does Obama’s election mean that racial divisions are gone? Of course not. Bigotry stills has a grip on millions in ways both conscious and unconscious!
Disciple, you and I are called by Christ Jesus to live without hatred, to let the Spirit root out the mistrust of those different from us. What did He say were the two basic demands of God for all of us: to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Those words roll so easily from our tongue. They just must be true, right, and compelling- and they are! Yet, the history of the Church has too many tragic chapters where hate was given the sanction of her leaders. The Scripture were and are abused to support suppression of human rights and dignity. Frequently ‘the way things have always been’ was confused with ‘the way things ought to be.’
We still have issues with which we wrestle. A couple of examples would be –
· How do we understand what the Bible says about homosexual behavior and apply that within the teaching of Jesus about the worth and dignity of every person? No simple answer there!
· How do we remain faithful to the basic teaching of the Scripture about the difference between male and female roles in the family and yet honor the New Testament reminder that "all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:27-28, NIV)? Not a simple answer there either!
We must not settle for just tolerance. That word annoys me! I have not honored Christ by just tolerating a person who is of a different race, religion, or color! I honor Him only if I genuinely love that person as I love myself. That, dear friend, requires more than I can muster up in myself. John says that “we love others because God loved us first!” The love of God for us should produce a profound sense of humility and obligation: humility that wonders ‘why me, Lord?’ and obligation that says I must share the love I have been given with those who need Him!
Today, I encourage you to take a few moments to pray for racial reconciliation here in these United States. Ask God to bring Light to the darkness of ignorance and hatred. Ask His blessing and protection for our President-elect for these are difficult times and if he is successful in office, he will need the wisdom of the Lord. Thank God for what has been accomplished and invite Him to make you a part of what remains to be done – for the praise of the Name of Jesus.
Disciple, you and I are called by Christ Jesus to live without hatred, to let the Spirit root out the mistrust of those different from us. What did He say were the two basic demands of God for all of us: to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Those words roll so easily from our tongue. They just must be true, right, and compelling- and they are! Yet, the history of the Church has too many tragic chapters where hate was given the sanction of her leaders. The Scripture were and are abused to support suppression of human rights and dignity. Frequently ‘the way things have always been’ was confused with ‘the way things ought to be.’
We still have issues with which we wrestle. A couple of examples would be –
· How do we understand what the Bible says about homosexual behavior and apply that within the teaching of Jesus about the worth and dignity of every person? No simple answer there!
· How do we remain faithful to the basic teaching of the Scripture about the difference between male and female roles in the family and yet honor the New Testament reminder that "all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:27-28, NIV)? Not a simple answer there either!
We must not settle for just tolerance. That word annoys me! I have not honored Christ by just tolerating a person who is of a different race, religion, or color! I honor Him only if I genuinely love that person as I love myself. That, dear friend, requires more than I can muster up in myself. John says that “we love others because God loved us first!” The love of God for us should produce a profound sense of humility and obligation: humility that wonders ‘why me, Lord?’ and obligation that says I must share the love I have been given with those who need Him!
Today, I encourage you to take a few moments to pray for racial reconciliation here in these United States. Ask God to bring Light to the darkness of ignorance and hatred. Ask His blessing and protection for our President-elect for these are difficult times and if he is successful in office, he will need the wisdom of the Lord. Thank God for what has been accomplished and invite Him to make you a part of what remains to be done – for the praise of the Name of Jesus.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Thank God for your pain- then do something about it!
The man talking to me was hurting- obviously. He wasn’t sobbing, but his voice would catch in his throat and his eyes would fill up and spill over, again and again. “What’s with this place?” he asked. “I come here and I start crying! It’s not what I want to do.” To me, his tears showed two things: that God’s Presence that he sensed in the church made him feel safe enough to cry and that he was in terrible pain inside, a pain he usually could not or would not let himself acknowledge.
Do you know that pain is a gift? It is a signal that something is wrong, that corrective action is necessary. Touch a hot surface and instantly you hand pulls away as nerves flash a pain signal to your brain that causes you to react. Without the pain, your hand would be severely damaged, wouldn’t it? The ache of the soul is a signal, too. What does it mean? It might be God calling us to return to Him. It might be signaling guilt. It might be signaling longing for purpose and/or meaning. It might be telling us that we are not living for the right things, wasting precious days. It could be signaling depression that needs to be treated, or unresolved conflicts from long ago!
Too often we treat the pain symptom instead of the cause of it. Our medicine cabinets are full of chemicals that mask our pain – Advil, Bayer, Aleve. None of these are healers! They just temporarily turn off the pain signal. That’s not all bad if we take steps to deal with the issue that causes us pain at the same time. Tragically there are things that many use to mask the pain in their hearts, too. Alcohol, pleasure, sex, pornography, buying things, anger – the list is long.
Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29, NLT) Don’t be too quick to dismiss that prescription! Regular times of corporate worship with God’s people, quiet times of reflective prayer, and daily handing over of our cares and concerns really is amazingly healing. The Spirit of God will lead us to forgive, will call us to repentance, will help us sort out the junk from the treasure – but only IF we are in a place where we can hear Him speak.
As with most healing, the pain of our soul is seldom relieved in an instant. Rather, God heals us from the inside out as we learn to live in ways that are spiritually healthy. Here’s a word from the Word. Read it thoughtfully, prayerfully today. There’s a lot of soul food in it!
"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.
Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
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." -1 Peter 5:6-10, NIV
____
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry,
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Scriven, Joseph M. / Converse, Charles C.
© Public Domain
Do you know that pain is a gift? It is a signal that something is wrong, that corrective action is necessary. Touch a hot surface and instantly you hand pulls away as nerves flash a pain signal to your brain that causes you to react. Without the pain, your hand would be severely damaged, wouldn’t it? The ache of the soul is a signal, too. What does it mean? It might be God calling us to return to Him. It might be signaling guilt. It might be signaling longing for purpose and/or meaning. It might be telling us that we are not living for the right things, wasting precious days. It could be signaling depression that needs to be treated, or unresolved conflicts from long ago!
Too often we treat the pain symptom instead of the cause of it. Our medicine cabinets are full of chemicals that mask our pain – Advil, Bayer, Aleve. None of these are healers! They just temporarily turn off the pain signal. That’s not all bad if we take steps to deal with the issue that causes us pain at the same time. Tragically there are things that many use to mask the pain in their hearts, too. Alcohol, pleasure, sex, pornography, buying things, anger – the list is long.
Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29, NLT) Don’t be too quick to dismiss that prescription! Regular times of corporate worship with God’s people, quiet times of reflective prayer, and daily handing over of our cares and concerns really is amazingly healing. The Spirit of God will lead us to forgive, will call us to repentance, will help us sort out the junk from the treasure – but only IF we are in a place where we can hear Him speak.
As with most healing, the pain of our soul is seldom relieved in an instant. Rather, God heals us from the inside out as we learn to live in ways that are spiritually healthy. Here’s a word from the Word. Read it thoughtfully, prayerfully today. There’s a lot of soul food in it!
"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.
Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
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." -1 Peter 5:6-10, NIV
____
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry,
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Scriven, Joseph M. / Converse, Charles C.
© Public Domain
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Steady hands
One of the character traits I highly value is steadiness. I want to be the kind of man who does what he does with quality and in a consistent manner. No one should have to question, ‘can we rely on Jerry today?’ The Bible calls this trait faithfulness and God desires to see it in us. He entrusts us with the treasure of Christ and says " it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2, NIV) Few things bring more disgrace to Christ than those who claim to be passionately committed to Him one day and apathetic towards Him the next! "Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it?” (James 3:10-11, The Message)
Faithfulness grows out of disciplined decisions. One does not live recklessly for years and suddenly become the model of steadiness! Faithfulness grows out of making the choice, again and again, to do the right thing- not the easy thing, not the convenient thing, not the fun thing – but the right thing. A child who is taught to do the little things on time and with quality will most likely grow into an adult who is capable of pushing through tough days faithfully! Jesus told a story about three men given a trust, each according to his abilities. The master inspected their work and commended two who were faithful by saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" (Matthew 25:20-21, NIV)
However, faithfulness is not just a matter of discipline. There is a little story in Exodus that reminds us of the importance of companions who keep us steady when Life gets rough. Take a look. "While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset." (Exodus 17:8-12, NLT) How did Moses keep steady hands? Only with the help of two great friends!
I promise you that days will come when you want to turn from the hard stuff and run away! Some of those days will stretch into months when every morning dawns demanding that you get up and do the right thing. It might be dealing with chronic pain, loving a difficult person, working for an idiot boss, or wrestling with some inner temptation. Stay steady. Don’t quit. When you think you’re on the edge of collapse, call for support.
Watch out for pride when you’re doing well. One of the larger hazards is blindness to our weakness that overtakes us when we’re on a long run of success. Here’s a warning and promise. May the wisdom of these words keep us faithful.
"Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence. 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 " (1 Corinthians 10:12-13, The Message)
Faithfulness grows out of disciplined decisions. One does not live recklessly for years and suddenly become the model of steadiness! Faithfulness grows out of making the choice, again and again, to do the right thing- not the easy thing, not the convenient thing, not the fun thing – but the right thing. A child who is taught to do the little things on time and with quality will most likely grow into an adult who is capable of pushing through tough days faithfully! Jesus told a story about three men given a trust, each according to his abilities. The master inspected their work and commended two who were faithful by saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" (Matthew 25:20-21, NIV)
However, faithfulness is not just a matter of discipline. There is a little story in Exodus that reminds us of the importance of companions who keep us steady when Life gets rough. Take a look. "While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset." (Exodus 17:8-12, NLT) How did Moses keep steady hands? Only with the help of two great friends!
I promise you that days will come when you want to turn from the hard stuff and run away! Some of those days will stretch into months when every morning dawns demanding that you get up and do the right thing. It might be dealing with chronic pain, loving a difficult person, working for an idiot boss, or wrestling with some inner temptation. Stay steady. Don’t quit. When you think you’re on the edge of collapse, call for support.
Watch out for pride when you’re doing well. One of the larger hazards is blindness to our weakness that overtakes us when we’re on a long run of success. Here’s a warning and promise. May the wisdom of these words keep us faithful.
"Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence. 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 " (1 Corinthians 10:12-13, The Message)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Blaze bright, God's Light.
Two men who were in their middle 40’s died, both unexpectedly, just two weeks apart. I was asked to conduct their funeral services. The two lives were a study in contrast! One man wasted his life; burning through relationships, drinking heavily, living in a drug-induced fog much of the time, often in jail for petty crimes. The other man invested his life in adventure; created beautiful award winning photographs, gave himself to generously helping others, and loved the Lord Jesus Christ. One lived in darkness, the other in the Light! Only God can judge the eternal destination of each man, but a detective’s skill is not required to discern which one leaves a greater legacy. At one service, the mood was sorrowful regret, an acknowledgment of emptiness. At the other, the sorrow was lightened with hope, the many pleasant memories deeply comforting.
The Bible says "The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:4-5, NLT) There is a great darkness in the world that reaches out to engulf each one. There are thrills that exist in the obscurity of that dark. They seduce those who turn from the Light.
Cheap sex provides temporary pleasure, but those who indulge give away their dignity.
Various chemicals create a trip into a phony bliss only to show themselves thieves that steals health and vitality.
Wealth rewards to those who work to gain it but soon it owns those who think they possess it and they become slaves of their stuff – guarding it, fixing it, trying desperately to keep it.
Hatred temporarily blocks the sense of loneliness but quickly it turns on the hater and makes him even more alone!
There is a Great Light that shines brightly! He offers real life, genuine hope, lasting joy, and a purposeful existence that never ends. He shows us how to really love, makes forgiveness a reality, and builds a bridge that carries us over the river of death from life to life! John says, "God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” (John 3:19-21, NLT)
The Scripture urges us to make a choice to live in the Light. When we are wrapped in the Light, He becomes a kind of armor that defends us against the Evil one. Interesting thought, isn’t it? "The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:12-14, NKJV)
Disciple, pray for the Light to blaze brightly before you; yes even within you. Meditate on this passage and may it’s challenge turn you to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
"Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! " (Ephesians 5:11-16, The Message)
_______
One sat alone beside the highway begging,
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see.
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee. (Mark 10:46-48)
When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken;
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away,
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.
So men today have found the Savior able,
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.
When Jesus Comes
Homer Rodehaver
The Bible says "The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:4-5, NLT) There is a great darkness in the world that reaches out to engulf each one. There are thrills that exist in the obscurity of that dark. They seduce those who turn from the Light.
Cheap sex provides temporary pleasure, but those who indulge give away their dignity.
Various chemicals create a trip into a phony bliss only to show themselves thieves that steals health and vitality.
Wealth rewards to those who work to gain it but soon it owns those who think they possess it and they become slaves of their stuff – guarding it, fixing it, trying desperately to keep it.
Hatred temporarily blocks the sense of loneliness but quickly it turns on the hater and makes him even more alone!
There is a Great Light that shines brightly! He offers real life, genuine hope, lasting joy, and a purposeful existence that never ends. He shows us how to really love, makes forgiveness a reality, and builds a bridge that carries us over the river of death from life to life! John says, "God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” (John 3:19-21, NLT)
The Scripture urges us to make a choice to live in the Light. When we are wrapped in the Light, He becomes a kind of armor that defends us against the Evil one. Interesting thought, isn’t it? "The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:12-14, NKJV)
Disciple, pray for the Light to blaze brightly before you; yes even within you. Meditate on this passage and may it’s challenge turn you to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
"Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! " (Ephesians 5:11-16, The Message)
_______
One sat alone beside the highway begging,
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see.
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee. (Mark 10:46-48)
When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken;
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away,
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.
So men today have found the Savior able,
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.
When Jesus Comes
Homer Rodehaver
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Abba’s Wonderful Gifts
A father I knew adopted the drill sergeant as his ideal! His kids addressed him as ‘sir.’ Orders came down that were not to be questioned. In many ways, he was a good father and provider except in the most important way; genuine affection. As much as a person might have admired the efficiency of the household, there also was a chilly sense that nobody was too happy to be there. I often wondered if those kids would exit their Dad’s life when they became adults! My tribe experienced discipline, too. I had no reservations about calling them to account, setting standards, and asking for respect. The core of our home, however, was and is love. Obedience of my children was gained not so much through punishment as it was by setting an example and persuading them to follow. Today, though they range in age from 27 to 32, we are friends and love each other deeply!
Our Heavenly Father is a loving Dad!
Jesus Christ came into this world to show us just how deep the Father’s love really is.
John says, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known." (John 1:14-18, NIV)
Abba’s gifts are grace and truth!
Grace is a rich Biblical word that fills the New Testament. It refers to the kindness of our Father that is shown to us when we are disobedient, rebellious, and resistant to His will. His grace exerts a powerful influence on us, drawing us into His love and causing a transformation of heart and character. Yes, He is a holy God who cannot and will not simply ignore our sins. He has no reluctance to act to discipline us, but He does so for our ultimate good, not our destruction; out of His desire to fill our lives with ‘one blessing after another.’
Truth is also amazing. Our Father refuses to let us remain in the deceptions of the Devil. In the beginning that Liar promised what he could not deliver. Jesus Christ came and demonstrated what life could be when the Truth was loved. He refused the foolish pretensions of superficial religion. He would not play the games that others played to gain wealth, power, or prominence. He was ‘full of truth!’ If we choose to live in the Truth, we will know peace and joy, too.
Receive Abba’s gifts offered in Christ. Here’s a word from the Word for your meditation today.
"This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. …
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.
May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins." (Colossians 1:6-14, NLT)
____________
Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty,
Teach me faith and duty:
Christ, the blessed one,
Gives to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life;
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven:
Sweetly echo the gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
Sanctify forever,
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of Life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of Life.
Wonderful Words of LifePhilip Bliss © Public Domain
Our Heavenly Father is a loving Dad!
Jesus Christ came into this world to show us just how deep the Father’s love really is.
John says, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known." (John 1:14-18, NIV)
Abba’s gifts are grace and truth!
Grace is a rich Biblical word that fills the New Testament. It refers to the kindness of our Father that is shown to us when we are disobedient, rebellious, and resistant to His will. His grace exerts a powerful influence on us, drawing us into His love and causing a transformation of heart and character. Yes, He is a holy God who cannot and will not simply ignore our sins. He has no reluctance to act to discipline us, but He does so for our ultimate good, not our destruction; out of His desire to fill our lives with ‘one blessing after another.’
Truth is also amazing. Our Father refuses to let us remain in the deceptions of the Devil. In the beginning that Liar promised what he could not deliver. Jesus Christ came and demonstrated what life could be when the Truth was loved. He refused the foolish pretensions of superficial religion. He would not play the games that others played to gain wealth, power, or prominence. He was ‘full of truth!’ If we choose to live in the Truth, we will know peace and joy, too.
Receive Abba’s gifts offered in Christ. Here’s a word from the Word for your meditation today.
"This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. …
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.
May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins." (Colossians 1:6-14, NLT)
____________
Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty,
Teach me faith and duty:
Christ, the blessed one,
Gives to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life;
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven:
Sweetly echo the gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
Sanctify forever,
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of Life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of Life.
Wonderful Words of LifePhilip Bliss © Public Domain
Monday, January 12, 2009
Living With Abba
What must it be like to be fatherless? I cannot imagine for from the dawn of my memories, there are father images in my mind. "My Dad..." is a phrase that comes so naturally to me. My earliest recollections are of a big man who took me with him in his car, showing me adventures galore in his work world. When I was about five he seemed like a god, unafraid and powerful. Over time, Dad became more human to me, a real man. Throughout my adult life, I often called him sometimes to ask, "Hi, Dad, what do you think I should do about this?" and other times to seek his affirmation! I am tremendously thankful for the heritage I have from my Dad- setting an example for me about the importance of loving God, the privilege of serving others, and the necessity of living with discipline.
I have a second Father to Whom I was introduced by my Dad! I cannot imagine living without His love, either. My Heavenly Father is a constant Presence, the Source to Whom I turn for daily needs, a Friend for all times, and the One who gives me identity and purpose. He is God and time has only enhanced my love for and reverence of Him. While I enjoy an exclusive relationship with my Dad, the family of God is open. The Scripture says the core reason Jesus Christ came was to bring us home to our Father. "To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13, NIV) Later John wrote "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1, NIV) Take a few moments to think that over!
Don't live as an orphan. Take your inheritance! "...you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory." (Romans 8:15-17, NLT) That passage reminds us that the relationship that we are privileged to know is full of love, that God is not just Father to us. He is also "Abba" which is an Aramaic expression of familiarity. He is our Papa, our Daddy!
Are you facing a tough week? Don't go it alone. Reach out to your Daddy!
Not sure what to do? Ask your Daddy to give you His wisdom!
Celebrating a success? Share it with your Daddy!
A loving earthly father enjoys his children. (I know that well, for my Dad loves when I spend time with him and I love those all too few days in the year when my own children come home.) The Father loves us to worship and adore Him. I urge you not to let the pressures of the day, the many responsibilities of your life, draw you away from time with your Dad!
Take this passage with you today. Meditate on it and live in the great Truth declared by it. "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith." (1 John 5:1-4, NLT)
____________
Children of the heavenly Father,
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e'er was given.
God His own doth tend and nourish,
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them,
In His mighty arms He bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever,
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.
Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne'er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
Children Of The Heavenly Father
Sandell-Berg, Caroline / Olson, Ernest W. / Ahnfelt, Oscar© Public Domain
I have a second Father to Whom I was introduced by my Dad! I cannot imagine living without His love, either. My Heavenly Father is a constant Presence, the Source to Whom I turn for daily needs, a Friend for all times, and the One who gives me identity and purpose. He is God and time has only enhanced my love for and reverence of Him. While I enjoy an exclusive relationship with my Dad, the family of God is open. The Scripture says the core reason Jesus Christ came was to bring us home to our Father. "To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13, NIV) Later John wrote "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1, NIV) Take a few moments to think that over!
Don't live as an orphan. Take your inheritance! "...you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory." (Romans 8:15-17, NLT) That passage reminds us that the relationship that we are privileged to know is full of love, that God is not just Father to us. He is also "Abba" which is an Aramaic expression of familiarity. He is our Papa, our Daddy!
Are you facing a tough week? Don't go it alone. Reach out to your Daddy!
Not sure what to do? Ask your Daddy to give you His wisdom!
Celebrating a success? Share it with your Daddy!
A loving earthly father enjoys his children. (I know that well, for my Dad loves when I spend time with him and I love those all too few days in the year when my own children come home.) The Father loves us to worship and adore Him. I urge you not to let the pressures of the day, the many responsibilities of your life, draw you away from time with your Dad!
Take this passage with you today. Meditate on it and live in the great Truth declared by it. "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith." (1 John 5:1-4, NLT)
____________
Children of the heavenly Father,
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e'er was given.
God His own doth tend and nourish,
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them,
In His mighty arms He bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever,
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.
Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne'er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
Children Of The Heavenly Father
Sandell-Berg, Caroline / Olson, Ernest W. / Ahnfelt, Oscar© Public Domain
Friday, January 09, 2009
The Good and the ‘Good-er!’
In some choices I make as a disciple of Christ there really is no choice. There is no need to sit around pondering, “should I steal that beautiful car?” It’s no-brainer that I won’t be getting drunk this weekend! If Bev and I have a disagreement, I won’t be using profane and/or filthy language. When the Lord’s Day rolls around, I will be among Believers in church. I will write my tithe check with joy. In these choices, and so many more, the Scripture tells me the will of God for my life. My only choice? Obedience!
Then, there are those choices between the good and the ‘good-er’ that are difficult. If we are a serious disciple, if it is our goal to please God and make His Presence known in our world, if we desire to be a ‘good and faithful servant’ in His kingdom; we will seek to conform our lives to His will in all things. Here’s a dramatic illustration of my point. In Philippians, Paul was describing a time of real trial in his life. He talked about not really knowing how to pray – for deliverance from his troubles or for death! He faced two goods! "Life versus even more life! I can’t lose. As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I’d choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better . But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it’s better for me to stick it out here." (Philippians 1:21-24, The Message)
About ten years ago, I was serving a great church as their Pastor. I loved the people, the town, the opportunities that God gave me to minister. But, a part of me was restless, feeling that it was time to be open to moving to a new ministry in another church. No one was dangling any positions in front of me at the time, so I knew I was not being tempted by more money or the prestige of a larger church. I spent months praying and meditating asking the Lord to help me to know whether it was time to go or time to stay.
Then, there are those choices between the good and the ‘good-er’ that are difficult. If we are a serious disciple, if it is our goal to please God and make His Presence known in our world, if we desire to be a ‘good and faithful servant’ in His kingdom; we will seek to conform our lives to His will in all things. Here’s a dramatic illustration of my point. In Philippians, Paul was describing a time of real trial in his life. He talked about not really knowing how to pray – for deliverance from his troubles or for death! He faced two goods! "Life versus even more life! I can’t lose. As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I’d choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better . But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it’s better for me to stick it out here." (Philippians 1:21-24, The Message)
About ten years ago, I was serving a great church as their Pastor. I loved the people, the town, the opportunities that God gave me to minister. But, a part of me was restless, feeling that it was time to be open to moving to a new ministry in another church. No one was dangling any positions in front of me at the time, so I knew I was not being tempted by more money or the prestige of a larger church. I spent months praying and meditating asking the Lord to help me to know whether it was time to go or time to stay.
Then, in the Summer of 2000, events unfolded that made it clear to me that He was sending me to a new ministry. Could I have stayed where I was? Yes, and it would have been good! However, in the will of God, there was something better that I had to receive by faith. By many measures it would have been better to stay where I was than to move to a new set of challenges! But it was my desire not simply to live acceptably before God, but to be right in the center of His will for my life at that time.
Disciple, the choice between good and ‘good-er’ requires more than adding up the pluses and minuses! We cannot always choose the easier way, the more lucrative way, or the way that will make us most comfortable. We are His, awaiting His dispatch, so we must listen carefully, eliminating sin from our lives that would hinder us. “Here I am, Lord. Send me. Use me. Let me choose to live wisely and for your Glory today,” should be our daily prayer.
"So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. … When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce.
Think it over. God will make it all plain." (2 Timothy 2:1-7, The Message)
__________
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
Disciple, the choice between good and ‘good-er’ requires more than adding up the pluses and minuses! We cannot always choose the easier way, the more lucrative way, or the way that will make us most comfortable. We are His, awaiting His dispatch, so we must listen carefully, eliminating sin from our lives that would hinder us. “Here I am, Lord. Send me. Use me. Let me choose to live wisely and for your Glory today,” should be our daily prayer.
"So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. … When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce.
Think it over. God will make it all plain." (2 Timothy 2:1-7, The Message)
__________
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
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow - What then?
Between Young and Old
Last night, I had this strange moment when I felt suspended between two generations. On my left was my father, on his 75th birthday, very ill with cancer, in a hospital bed in the living room of his home. On my right was one of my adopted sisters, age 17, reading a fashion magazine and texting a friend with constant tapping on her cell. I felt old and young at the same time! I remember 17, the eagerness to tackle life that was so much a part of me then. At 17, I thought that life would stretch on endlessly, with opportunities boundless and energy inexhaustible. It didn’t! Now, at age 53 I am close enough to ‘old’ to know the irritant of memory gaps and the limits of lesser physical endurance. Each year I grow less employable for I am on the cusp of growing irrelevance despite accumulated knowledge and expertise. What I know is less and less valuable to those who are a full generation (40 years) behind me for whom knowledge doubles every 7 years!
But, 53 isn’t all bad! I welcome the wisdom that I enjoy today. With maturity, comes the ability to weather the storms of life with steadiness. This is borne of experiencing God’s grace through the years as well as the realization that the sun will, in fact, come up tomorrow after going through quite a few ‘end of life’ moments that weren’t! I have lived long enough that I can cry without self-consciousness. I understand, with much more clarity, the difference between what is merely urgent and what demands my full attention. It’s a relief to have outlived the need to ‘succeed’ by building something bigger than what somebody else has built. My goal now is to successfully hand off the baton of faith and ministry to the next generation, to finish honorably and well for Christ’s sake, and to enjoy simple things like the spontaneity of child’s laughter and the colors of a sunrise!
I am not quite ready to ride off into the sunset to drive a school bus, play golf, or buy a condo in Florida! There are plenty of challenges yet to be met in my life – the Lord-willing. My prayer is that I will be much wiser in choosing the things to which I commit myself in the next 20 years. I pray that the experience of mortality and aging will remind me to lean more heavily on the Spirit, to listen more, and urge on those who are overtaking me on the road! What a tragedy it would be to become a grumpy old man who is a constant critic of all things novel and all persons younger than himself. Those tendencies reside in me (and most of us, I think.) God make me an encourager who is excited to participate in the adventure of life and faith even though it is more and more from the sidelines!
If you’re a 30-something or younger you probably have no clue what I am musing about!
If you’re 40-ish, you probably understand me a little, but hope I get over it!
If you’re my age or older, you probably are smiling and wondering what took me so long to get here!
Let me close with the words of another Preacher. May his inspired wisdom keep you steady in your pursuit of God and things eternal, no matter where you are on the road of life.
"Honor and enjoy your Creator while you’re still young, Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes, Before your vision dims and the world blurs And the winter years keep you close to the fire." "The words of the wise prod us to live well. They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you’re no good for anything else.
The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:1-2, 11-17, The Message)
Last night, I had this strange moment when I felt suspended between two generations. On my left was my father, on his 75th birthday, very ill with cancer, in a hospital bed in the living room of his home. On my right was one of my adopted sisters, age 17, reading a fashion magazine and texting a friend with constant tapping on her cell. I felt old and young at the same time! I remember 17, the eagerness to tackle life that was so much a part of me then. At 17, I thought that life would stretch on endlessly, with opportunities boundless and energy inexhaustible. It didn’t! Now, at age 53 I am close enough to ‘old’ to know the irritant of memory gaps and the limits of lesser physical endurance. Each year I grow less employable for I am on the cusp of growing irrelevance despite accumulated knowledge and expertise. What I know is less and less valuable to those who are a full generation (40 years) behind me for whom knowledge doubles every 7 years!
But, 53 isn’t all bad! I welcome the wisdom that I enjoy today. With maturity, comes the ability to weather the storms of life with steadiness. This is borne of experiencing God’s grace through the years as well as the realization that the sun will, in fact, come up tomorrow after going through quite a few ‘end of life’ moments that weren’t! I have lived long enough that I can cry without self-consciousness. I understand, with much more clarity, the difference between what is merely urgent and what demands my full attention. It’s a relief to have outlived the need to ‘succeed’ by building something bigger than what somebody else has built. My goal now is to successfully hand off the baton of faith and ministry to the next generation, to finish honorably and well for Christ’s sake, and to enjoy simple things like the spontaneity of child’s laughter and the colors of a sunrise!
I am not quite ready to ride off into the sunset to drive a school bus, play golf, or buy a condo in Florida! There are plenty of challenges yet to be met in my life – the Lord-willing. My prayer is that I will be much wiser in choosing the things to which I commit myself in the next 20 years. I pray that the experience of mortality and aging will remind me to lean more heavily on the Spirit, to listen more, and urge on those who are overtaking me on the road! What a tragedy it would be to become a grumpy old man who is a constant critic of all things novel and all persons younger than himself. Those tendencies reside in me (and most of us, I think.) God make me an encourager who is excited to participate in the adventure of life and faith even though it is more and more from the sidelines!
If you’re a 30-something or younger you probably have no clue what I am musing about!
If you’re 40-ish, you probably understand me a little, but hope I get over it!
If you’re my age or older, you probably are smiling and wondering what took me so long to get here!
Let me close with the words of another Preacher. May his inspired wisdom keep you steady in your pursuit of God and things eternal, no matter where you are on the road of life.
"Honor and enjoy your Creator while you’re still young, Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes, Before your vision dims and the world blurs And the winter years keep you close to the fire." "The words of the wise prod us to live well. They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you’re no good for anything else.
The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:1-2, 11-17, The Message)
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Merely Smart or Truly Wise?
Gaining Wisdom
After a meeting on Monday evening, Don and I were talking about a man whose opinions have been trumpeted across America for 20 years on talk radio. This man is often correct in his insight, but he is so obnoxious and confrontational, he ends up talking only to people who already agree with him. Even allowing for the fact that radio is ‘show business’ his presentation is arrogant. In those two decades, this man has been through some rough times personally and still he maintains the bluff and bluster. I think he is smart, but not wise. Because of his attitude, frequently the issue to which he speaks is obscured by his personality.
When I look back two decades in my own life, I see so many moments when I was ‘correct’ but not wise. I knew the Bible’s truth but I lacked the wisdom to know how to gently bring it to bear in my world. One example is how, when my now adult kids were in public schools, I was too ready to spar with teachers or administrators that failed, in my opinion, to give proper respect to our Christian convictions. I was often so right, I was wrong! I consider it tragic that I often allowed my Self to get in the way of the love and truth of Jesus Christ.
Believer, we need wisdom so that we will know how to ‘correctly handle the Word of Truth.’ The Bible urges us to humility and further says "Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." (Colossians 3:16, NLT)
The wisdom of Daniel is an inspiration. He was incredibly smart! He survived being carried off by an invading empire and went on to serve four kings in Babylon as a counselor. And, he was wise! He knew the Source of his strength, his insight, and his influence.
Meditate on Daniel’s thankful prayer today. He offered it up after God allowed him to show the king what to do by interpreting a dream. Pray with me for a heart of humility like that of Daniel and for the wisdom that will allow us to bring God’s message to our world in a way that will lead them to Jesus!
“Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” (Daniel 2:20-23, NIV)
________________
After a meeting on Monday evening, Don and I were talking about a man whose opinions have been trumpeted across America for 20 years on talk radio. This man is often correct in his insight, but he is so obnoxious and confrontational, he ends up talking only to people who already agree with him. Even allowing for the fact that radio is ‘show business’ his presentation is arrogant. In those two decades, this man has been through some rough times personally and still he maintains the bluff and bluster. I think he is smart, but not wise. Because of his attitude, frequently the issue to which he speaks is obscured by his personality.
When I look back two decades in my own life, I see so many moments when I was ‘correct’ but not wise. I knew the Bible’s truth but I lacked the wisdom to know how to gently bring it to bear in my world. One example is how, when my now adult kids were in public schools, I was too ready to spar with teachers or administrators that failed, in my opinion, to give proper respect to our Christian convictions. I was often so right, I was wrong! I consider it tragic that I often allowed my Self to get in the way of the love and truth of Jesus Christ.
Believer, we need wisdom so that we will know how to ‘correctly handle the Word of Truth.’ The Bible urges us to humility and further says "Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." (Colossians 3:16, NLT)
The wisdom of Daniel is an inspiration. He was incredibly smart! He survived being carried off by an invading empire and went on to serve four kings in Babylon as a counselor. And, he was wise! He knew the Source of his strength, his insight, and his influence.
Meditate on Daniel’s thankful prayer today. He offered it up after God allowed him to show the king what to do by interpreting a dream. Pray with me for a heart of humility like that of Daniel and for the wisdom that will allow us to bring God’s message to our world in a way that will lead them to Jesus!
“Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” (Daniel 2:20-23, NIV)
________________
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
It just breaks my heart
Debra (not her real name) came by my office yesterday. When my secretary brought her in, it was obvious this was no 'stop by and chat with the Pastor about the weather' visit. When she started to talk, the grief that spilled over was so awful that she nearly collapsed. Sobs wracked her body for a long time. "Where is God? Does He exist?" Her questions were not born of self-pity. Her life has been sucked into a whirlwind of events that she cannot control, with problems so big that she cannot see a way to even start to work her way out of them. She cried, "I tried to do all the right things in my life. How did it come to this?" I prayed earnestly for her in that moment. No platitudes could soothe her broken heart. There was only our cry for the comfort of the Spirit.
Debra is living through a year of terrible injustice, where she has been subjected to people with power who are only concerned with protecting themselves and/or avoiding consequences, no matter the cost to those who stand in their way. Her ordeal appears to be long from over. The reality that an evil: a destructive, cruel, selfish evil- has seized this woman and it will not let her go. Only the power of God can overcome and restore her life, but the process may be brutal and bloody! It just breaks my heart!
Evil is everywhere, disciple.
· I have seen evil take over a once loving couple and they lock themselves into power plays which destroy their marriage and sometimes even their lives.
· Good people rise to places of authority and then are seduced by evil and begin to use their power to secure more perks or money for themselves. In the process, they wreck lives and often ruin a company, an organization, even a church!
· Benevolent nations enjoy prosperity and gain strength, only to become imperialistic bent on conquering the world and horrible suffering results.
· Sex, a gift of God designed to create life and bond a man and woman intimately for life, becomes lust and consumes men and women with perversion as they chase pleasure endlessly driven by an insatiable need.
· ... and the list goes on and on.
Jesus describes says that there is Evil that exists only to "kill and destroy!" The Bible speaks of the Devil repeatedly as the 'enemy.' Peter compares Satan to a 'roaring lion seeking for someone to devour.' The book of the Revelation speaks of the reality of Evil in powerful images "the Dragon, that old Snake-the very Devil, Satan himself!" (Revelation 20:2, The Message) In our sophistication, some of us have rejected the idea of evil as just superstition. 'Evil is not real,' we say. 'It is just an illusion, the result of lack of opportunity, misunderstanding, or ignorance!' Rightly discarding the silliness of a horned devil in a red suit carrying a pitchfork, some Christians also throw away the truth that evil is real, personified in a fallen spiritual being named Lucifer, and bent on destroying all that God has made and loves!
If we accept that there is a real Devil and that there are truly evil people and situations, what are we to do?
Some choose to pretend evil is not real, closing their eyes, shutting their ears, blissfully apathetic- until evil finds them!
Some 'make nice' somehow thinking that only saying positive words and being kind is the answer, until they are stabbed by someone they thought they could change with their niceness.
God calls us to War! But, the war is not one of fists, guns, or swords; nor even of words! It is a strange war waged with two primary 'weapons,' love and truth. We learn the truth from the Word and the living Christ- a truth that condemns us as sinners, then frees us from our sinfulness when we confess our utter depravity and grab hold, in faith, of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Seeing His love which brought Him from Heaven's perfection to the sewers of sin, and experiencing that love firsthand, we learn to love. And love conquers! Yes, it is a bold love that costs us our life, which we trade for that life in the Kingdom that never ends.
In a passage that is both full of promise and yet terrifying in the probability of the disturbance of our comfort, the Bible says: "It has come at last- salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth- the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time."
(Revelation 12:10-12, NLT) ______________
Lord, let your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Fill us with Power, not like that of this world, but of the Spirit.
Teach us to live in Truth and Love, able to see evil where it exists,
willing to challenge it, even die to our comfort in dealing with it.
May we love the hateful, absorbing their poison.
May we bring Light to dark places, full of holiness that is bold, yet humble.
Keep us in Your grace, and bring us to Your side,
rejoicing that you counted us worthy of serving You.
In Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.
____________________________
A mighty Fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world,
With devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear,
For God hath willed,
His will to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
For, lo, his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours,
Through Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also.
The body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever.
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Martin Luther © Public Domain
Debra is living through a year of terrible injustice, where she has been subjected to people with power who are only concerned with protecting themselves and/or avoiding consequences, no matter the cost to those who stand in their way. Her ordeal appears to be long from over. The reality that an evil: a destructive, cruel, selfish evil- has seized this woman and it will not let her go. Only the power of God can overcome and restore her life, but the process may be brutal and bloody! It just breaks my heart!
Evil is everywhere, disciple.
· I have seen evil take over a once loving couple and they lock themselves into power plays which destroy their marriage and sometimes even their lives.
· Good people rise to places of authority and then are seduced by evil and begin to use their power to secure more perks or money for themselves. In the process, they wreck lives and often ruin a company, an organization, even a church!
· Benevolent nations enjoy prosperity and gain strength, only to become imperialistic bent on conquering the world and horrible suffering results.
· Sex, a gift of God designed to create life and bond a man and woman intimately for life, becomes lust and consumes men and women with perversion as they chase pleasure endlessly driven by an insatiable need.
· ... and the list goes on and on.
Jesus describes says that there is Evil that exists only to "kill and destroy!" The Bible speaks of the Devil repeatedly as the 'enemy.' Peter compares Satan to a 'roaring lion seeking for someone to devour.' The book of the Revelation speaks of the reality of Evil in powerful images "the Dragon, that old Snake-the very Devil, Satan himself!" (Revelation 20:2, The Message) In our sophistication, some of us have rejected the idea of evil as just superstition. 'Evil is not real,' we say. 'It is just an illusion, the result of lack of opportunity, misunderstanding, or ignorance!' Rightly discarding the silliness of a horned devil in a red suit carrying a pitchfork, some Christians also throw away the truth that evil is real, personified in a fallen spiritual being named Lucifer, and bent on destroying all that God has made and loves!
If we accept that there is a real Devil and that there are truly evil people and situations, what are we to do?
Some choose to pretend evil is not real, closing their eyes, shutting their ears, blissfully apathetic- until evil finds them!
Some 'make nice' somehow thinking that only saying positive words and being kind is the answer, until they are stabbed by someone they thought they could change with their niceness.
God calls us to War! But, the war is not one of fists, guns, or swords; nor even of words! It is a strange war waged with two primary 'weapons,' love and truth. We learn the truth from the Word and the living Christ- a truth that condemns us as sinners, then frees us from our sinfulness when we confess our utter depravity and grab hold, in faith, of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Seeing His love which brought Him from Heaven's perfection to the sewers of sin, and experiencing that love firsthand, we learn to love. And love conquers! Yes, it is a bold love that costs us our life, which we trade for that life in the Kingdom that never ends.
In a passage that is both full of promise and yet terrifying in the probability of the disturbance of our comfort, the Bible says: "It has come at last- salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth- the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time."
(Revelation 12:10-12, NLT) ______________
Lord, let your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Fill us with Power, not like that of this world, but of the Spirit.
Teach us to live in Truth and Love, able to see evil where it exists,
willing to challenge it, even die to our comfort in dealing with it.
May we love the hateful, absorbing their poison.
May we bring Light to dark places, full of holiness that is bold, yet humble.
Keep us in Your grace, and bring us to Your side,
rejoicing that you counted us worthy of serving You.
In Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.
____________________________
A mighty Fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world,
With devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear,
For God hath willed,
His will to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
For, lo, his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours,
Through Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also.
The body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever.
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Martin Luther © Public Domain
Monday, January 05, 2009
A Rich Man!
Occasionally I allow myself to dream about what I would do if I were a rich man. My thoughts usually run along the lines of philanthropy: I could help that person, pay for some project, fund a scholarship, etc. Sunday evening, at a prayer meeting with a couple of dozen people, I was reminded that I am a rich man with many opportunities to do good! In quiet prayer, the Holy Spirit led me through a time of reflection in which He reminded me of the wealth God has placed under my management:
a rich heritage of faith,
an experience of His grace,
healing of soul, mind, and body,
gifts of the Spirit that equip me for my vocation,
a wide network of friends,
the privilege of service in His Church.
Then, He placed this challenge in my heart; “Jerry, what are you going to do with your wealth?”
We can easily miss the resources that are available to us by looking at the resources that another possesses! God only asks us to use what we have, where we have it, in the opportunities presented to us!
In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus gave His disciples an ‘impossible’ task of feeding a huge crowd! Evening was approaching and the disciples took the common sense route of suggesting that Jesus send the people home. Instead, He said, “That isn’t necessary-you feed them.” I would have loved these guys! They added up their resources and told him; “Impossible!” . . . We have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” But they were about to learn about what God can do with what’s available!
“Bring them here,” he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. And he took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God’s blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave some of the bread and fish to each disciple, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves, in addition to all the women and children!"(Matthew 14:16-21, NLT)
Bring what you have to Jesus Christ today, disciple. It might seem to you to be nearly worthless, too little to be of much value to Him, like a small lunch of five pieces of flat bread and two dried fish when you need dinner for a few thousand! What God can do with your gift only He knows. All He asks is that you faithfully present yourself to Him. The results are up to Him.
Remember, wealth in God’s eyes is counted much differently than wealth as we commonly consider it!_____________________
Does the place you're called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He'll not forget His own.
Little is much when God is in it.
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There's a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus' name.
When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
"Welcome home, my child, well done."
Kittie Suffield
Public Domain
a rich heritage of faith,
an experience of His grace,
healing of soul, mind, and body,
gifts of the Spirit that equip me for my vocation,
a wide network of friends,
the privilege of service in His Church.
Then, He placed this challenge in my heart; “Jerry, what are you going to do with your wealth?”
We can easily miss the resources that are available to us by looking at the resources that another possesses! God only asks us to use what we have, where we have it, in the opportunities presented to us!
In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus gave His disciples an ‘impossible’ task of feeding a huge crowd! Evening was approaching and the disciples took the common sense route of suggesting that Jesus send the people home. Instead, He said, “That isn’t necessary-you feed them.” I would have loved these guys! They added up their resources and told him; “Impossible!” . . . We have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” But they were about to learn about what God can do with what’s available!
“Bring them here,” he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. And he took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God’s blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave some of the bread and fish to each disciple, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves, in addition to all the women and children!"(Matthew 14:16-21, NLT)
Bring what you have to Jesus Christ today, disciple. It might seem to you to be nearly worthless, too little to be of much value to Him, like a small lunch of five pieces of flat bread and two dried fish when you need dinner for a few thousand! What God can do with your gift only He knows. All He asks is that you faithfully present yourself to Him. The results are up to Him.
Remember, wealth in God’s eyes is counted much differently than wealth as we commonly consider it!_____________________
Does the place you're called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He'll not forget His own.
Little is much when God is in it.
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There's a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus' name.
When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
"Welcome home, my child, well done."
Kittie Suffield
Public Domain
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