Whether it is a family, a Boy Scout troop, or a nation, leadership is one of the key's to peace, for unity, and for success. People need to be led. I'm not talking about having or being a boss. There are plenty of people who love to be 'in charge' because they like having power, who are not really leaders. It is easy to confuse holding an office with exercising leadership, but they are not one and the same. Observing any organization or group, we will find that there are bosses who claim to be 'in charge,' and leaders who really make the group function. Often they are not the same person or people. "How can they lead without having authority?" you might ask. Real leaders don't order people around, they spread influence! A leader is one who influences others - for good, perhaps, for bad!
If you're a leader, remember this -- leaders need to be led, too! A rogue leader who lives without a network of accountable relationships, who is not allowing herself to be positively influenced, will almost always eventually self-destruct and/or destroy the organization she leads as she begins to use more and more of its resources for her own purposes.
In the book of Judges, which tells stories from the earliest days of the Israeli nation's formation, two of the final chapters open with this line: "In those days Israel had no king." Both chapters recount events of social and spiritual chaos, of horrific crimes and recrimination. The message is - without leadership the people did not become who God wanted them to be. There was no one inspiring them to reach higher, to live better, to restrain the impulses of sin. To underscore the message, after these stories of spiritual failure, that book closes with this statement: "In those days Israel had no king, so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes." (Judges 21:25, NLT)
In the era of the Church, God calls men and women into leadership, giving them spiritual gifts that enable them to inspire His people with vision, to call His people to purpose. Here's how Ephesians talks about those leaders and their function: "He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-13, NLT)
Do you see anything in that passage about being 'the boss?' Neither do I! Church leadership is about helping others succeed, inspiring people to look past their self interest to see the whole of God's work and to come to a state of unity. Leaders, both those who are 'in office' and those who influence and inspire without an official title, are called to focus on creating an environment where God's people can become giants of faith; deep and mature in spiritual things, Christ-like in character. That's a high calling and it sounds like a lot of hard work, doesn't it? Those called by God to lead His Church, are called to something far more important than managing church work, which is what often passes for church leadership.
Are you called to leadership? Then serve well, humbly, and for eternal purposes, remaining under Christ's authority.
Are you being led? Make the work of those in leadership a joyful task. The Word requires this of each one of us. God says, "Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit." (Hebrews 13:17, NLT)
Let the chaos and misery of the time of the Judges be a lesson of what happens when there are no leaders. Pray that God would call godly men and women to provide visionary leadership to His Church - and if he calls you - respond humbly, "Lord, here I am, use me!"
Friday, February 17, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Hewn and fit in place
Do you 'fit in?'
Have you allowed God to shape you and place you where He wants, contented to be a part of His work, by His design?
Peter uses a rich and wonderful metaphor that captures my imagination: "you, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house." (1 Peter 2:5, NKJV) Reading that, my mind goes to the cathedrals built from common stone - often limestone which can be carved and shaped. Each stone, from the huge foundational ones to the intricately carved ones that decorate the tops of the walls, is carefully fitted into place, together becoming something beautiful. Ordinary blocks of stone, pulled from the quarry, of little worthy or beauty individually, are formed into an awe-inspiring place where God is worshipped.
That's what He wants to do with you and me! In immaturity, most of us seek to be 'known.' We work at differentiating ourselves from the crowd. That teen with the amazing hair-do or with all that hardware in his face is just trying to tell the world - "Hey, look at me. I exist! I am me!" As he matures, he will find his identity, grow comfortable in his own skin, and begin to meld himself into community. With intellectual and emotional maturity, he will realize the importance of being a part of something bigger than himself, of giving up some of his individuality for the sake of society.
Mature Christians realize that God has called them into the Body of Christ, that He wants to fit them into His temple - and it's not a terrible thing, either. God has to do some shaping, knocking off the sharp edges, preparing us for that place in His design. The Believer who's jumping up and down yelling for attention, who needs to be the 'super-star,' just needs to grow up in Christ, to be settled and secure - becoming "a living stone!"
In the same passage, Peter (the nickname that meant 'the rock,' that Jesus gave to the man who was actually named Simon) reminds us of the secure foundation on which those living stones rest. "Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him. ... As the Scriptures express it, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in him will never be disappointed.” " (1 Peter 2:3-6, NLT)
So much of life is marked by change, by shifting priorities, by things temporary and passing.
Meditate today on the solidness of God's work - on the immoveable and unchanging character of Jesus. Praise Him for working to cause you to 'fit in,' and rejoice in the opportunity to be part of a great Temple where His Presence lives and is shown in beauty to the world.
Have you allowed God to shape you and place you where He wants, contented to be a part of His work, by His design?
Peter uses a rich and wonderful metaphor that captures my imagination: "you, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house." (1 Peter 2:5, NKJV) Reading that, my mind goes to the cathedrals built from common stone - often limestone which can be carved and shaped. Each stone, from the huge foundational ones to the intricately carved ones that decorate the tops of the walls, is carefully fitted into place, together becoming something beautiful. Ordinary blocks of stone, pulled from the quarry, of little worthy or beauty individually, are formed into an awe-inspiring place where God is worshipped.
That's what He wants to do with you and me! In immaturity, most of us seek to be 'known.' We work at differentiating ourselves from the crowd. That teen with the amazing hair-do or with all that hardware in his face is just trying to tell the world - "Hey, look at me. I exist! I am me!" As he matures, he will find his identity, grow comfortable in his own skin, and begin to meld himself into community. With intellectual and emotional maturity, he will realize the importance of being a part of something bigger than himself, of giving up some of his individuality for the sake of society.
Mature Christians realize that God has called them into the Body of Christ, that He wants to fit them into His temple - and it's not a terrible thing, either. God has to do some shaping, knocking off the sharp edges, preparing us for that place in His design. The Believer who's jumping up and down yelling for attention, who needs to be the 'super-star,' just needs to grow up in Christ, to be settled and secure - becoming "a living stone!"
In the same passage, Peter (the nickname that meant 'the rock,' that Jesus gave to the man who was actually named Simon) reminds us of the secure foundation on which those living stones rest. "Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him. ... As the Scriptures express it, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in him will never be disappointed.” " (1 Peter 2:3-6, NLT)
So much of life is marked by change, by shifting priorities, by things temporary and passing.
Meditate today on the solidness of God's work - on the immoveable and unchanging character of Jesus. Praise Him for working to cause you to 'fit in,' and rejoice in the opportunity to be part of a great Temple where His Presence lives and is shown in beauty to the world.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
His hair grew back!
Guilty! With that verdict comes shame, a sentence, and a mark for life. "Convicted felon" is a line no one wants to put in his resume. As a rule, our failures will be remembered far longer than our successes. Mention the name - Jimmy Swaggart - and see what people say. Will they speak of his gospel music, the Bible college he founded, the evangelistic efforts he carried out around the world, or the millions of dollars he gave to missionary work? Not likely. It will be his failures, his descent into lust and greed, that will fill most conversations about him.
God is different! Time and again, He promises redemption and restoration!
“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. .... I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”" (Jeremiah 31:33-34, NIV)
"Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live ... full of sin, obeying Satan... 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. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead ... And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus. God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God." (Ephesians 2:1-8, NLT)
Yesterday, I wrote of the sad saga of a man named Samson, who became first the captive of his lust, and then the slave of his enemies. When the Spirit of God lifted from him, his strength was gone. The Philistines blinded him and made him turn the grinding wheel in the granary. What a picture of the Believer who lives in sinful disobedience! When we reject the leading of the Holy Spirit and grieve our God, our true strength is gone for the fellowship with the Spirit who gives us life is broken.
But, Samson's story doesn't end in the prison granary! There is a line that makes me smile in the symbolism it contains, "But before long his hair began to grow back." (Judges 16:22, NLT) Samson's long hair was a outward sign of his vows to God. As his hair grew over time, his heart turned back to God and he discovered the miracle of restoration and redemption that is available to us all - because of the Lord's mercy! Between the lines of the story, we can see the man broken in body, becoming strong in spirit. As he strained to turn the grinding wheel, though his eyes were gone - he began to really see. No longer could he gaze on the beauty of the women that once captured his attention, but he could 'see' the beauty of the Lord. And with the growth of his hair, his return to devotion to God returned, and with that came renewal of his strength. In the end, this hero of Israel, triumphed in death.
What a price his sin exacted from him! That is the tragic part of willful disobedience to God, Believer. He is rich in mercy, a Redeemer who 'raises us from the dead,' but the scars of sin are never erased. Yesterday's sin can be forgiven, the guilt removed by Christ Jesus forever, but the consequences... ah, those residual effects, they remain part of our lives until we enter into Eternity.
So, if you've fallen - listen for the Spirit's invitation. Receive God's grace and mercy and be restored! "Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7, NLT)
If you're being tempted - run, don't walk, to the Presence of God where there is strength. Don't abuse His grace. "Keep step with the Spirit," and avoid the regret, the pain, the shame that can mark the rest of your life.
________________________
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
Title: Great Is Thy FaithfulnessAuthor: Chisholm, Thomas O. / Runyan, William M.Copyright: 1923. Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company
God is different! Time and again, He promises redemption and restoration!
“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. .... I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”" (Jeremiah 31:33-34, NIV)
"Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live ... full of sin, obeying Satan... 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. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead ... And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus. God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God." (Ephesians 2:1-8, NLT)
Yesterday, I wrote of the sad saga of a man named Samson, who became first the captive of his lust, and then the slave of his enemies. When the Spirit of God lifted from him, his strength was gone. The Philistines blinded him and made him turn the grinding wheel in the granary. What a picture of the Believer who lives in sinful disobedience! When we reject the leading of the Holy Spirit and grieve our God, our true strength is gone for the fellowship with the Spirit who gives us life is broken.
But, Samson's story doesn't end in the prison granary! There is a line that makes me smile in the symbolism it contains, "But before long his hair began to grow back." (Judges 16:22, NLT) Samson's long hair was a outward sign of his vows to God. As his hair grew over time, his heart turned back to God and he discovered the miracle of restoration and redemption that is available to us all - because of the Lord's mercy! Between the lines of the story, we can see the man broken in body, becoming strong in spirit. As he strained to turn the grinding wheel, though his eyes were gone - he began to really see. No longer could he gaze on the beauty of the women that once captured his attention, but he could 'see' the beauty of the Lord. And with the growth of his hair, his return to devotion to God returned, and with that came renewal of his strength. In the end, this hero of Israel, triumphed in death.
What a price his sin exacted from him! That is the tragic part of willful disobedience to God, Believer. He is rich in mercy, a Redeemer who 'raises us from the dead,' but the scars of sin are never erased. Yesterday's sin can be forgiven, the guilt removed by Christ Jesus forever, but the consequences... ah, those residual effects, they remain part of our lives until we enter into Eternity.
So, if you've fallen - listen for the Spirit's invitation. Receive God's grace and mercy and be restored! "Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7, NLT)
If you're being tempted - run, don't walk, to the Presence of God where there is strength. Don't abuse His grace. "Keep step with the Spirit," and avoid the regret, the pain, the shame that can mark the rest of your life.
________________________
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
Title: Great Is Thy FaithfulnessAuthor: Chisholm, Thomas O. / Runyan, William M.Copyright: 1923. Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
What's it really cost?
The true cost of an item is often obscured. We 'forget' to factor in things like taxes, depreciation, and maintenance costs.
The true cost of sin is often hidden as well. Sin is so attractive - on the surface - isn't it?
Drinking looks so sophisticated in the movies. The very cool frat boys throw parties; everybody gets smashed, and hilarity results. But many of those same frat boys turn into alcoholics that can't function without a stiff drink. Then, too, the stories of the girls who are date-raped while they are too drunk to know what they doing or what's being done to them are seldom told.
Wayne McLaren, if you're over 35 you'll remember him as the Marlboro Man, was the epitome of cool! His rugged good looks and ever present cigarette lured millions to start smoking cigarettes. He died of lung cancer at age 51, but not before appearing at a stockholders meeting of Philip Morris, the tobacco company, with a plea for them to change the way cigarettes were advertised!
I read a tongue-in-cheek treatment of the cost of a 4 month long affair recently. (This is not intended to minimize the pain associated with infidelity, so please do not read it that way.) The author went through a long list of costs including motel rooms, gifts, phone cards, loss of promotion for lack of focus on the job, legal fees for the divorce, etc. Total cost for the affair = $25,664.00 After the long list, he concluded - "Hardly seems worth it, does it?" And he didn't factor in the loss of self-respect, the loss of relationship with children and family, and the offense to God - which is most significant!
Revenge tastes so sweet when we're angry, doesn't it? We are capable of plotting another's destruction with scarcely a thought for the pain our words and actions will cause.
Indolence is so inviting. "Take it easy. There's always tomorrow. Put it off, play! Go, ahead, goof off- let the mess alone." But do we count the compounding costs of neglect - how hard it will be to do today's work and tomorrow's work when the crunch time arrives?
I read the story of one of the 'cool' characters of the Bible this morning. He became a national leader of Israel. From his childhood everyone knew he was uniquely blessed. In fact the Bible says, that while he was still very young "The Spirit of God began working in him." (Judges 13:25, The Message) He was witty, could really tell a story, and was amazingly strong - especially when the Spirit of God rested on him. But, he had a longing for women that he never really conquered. For 20 years he managed to balance his lust and his anointing. Don't ask me to explain that! It's what the Bible tells me. Yes, his name is Samson. One day he was down in Gaza where he saw a woman well versed in seduction, she was a prostitute, named Delilah. He was captivated by her sensuality and slept with her. He wasn't worried. After all, he had 'managed' his lust and remained in power for all these years, what's the problem with one more sin? But, Delilah wasn't just any woman. She was greedy and a collaborator with those who wanted Samson's destruction. She whined and pled with him while he played the fool, gazing at her with love-sick eyes. After he finally revealed that it was his relationship with God that gave him his amazing abilities, she was quick to tell his enemies. One of the saddest verses in the Bible is: "Delilah cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him." (Judges 16:20, NLT)
Believer, temptation is common to us all! You're not a bad person because you feel the magnetism of disobedience to God. We all do at one time or another. "Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience." Don't be amazed that those desires arise in you. Just remember the rest of that passage. "God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT)
Ask the Holy Spirit to be your accountant, to help you factor in all the costs of sinful disobedience; then, serve God with faithfulness. Factor in the rewards for the righteous, too. They are rich and plentiful, though not always immediate.
"Throw out anything tainted with evil.
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole,
put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.
The One who called you is completely dependable.
If he said it, he’ll do it!" (1 Thessalonians 5:22-24, The Message)
The true cost of sin is often hidden as well. Sin is so attractive - on the surface - isn't it?
Drinking looks so sophisticated in the movies. The very cool frat boys throw parties; everybody gets smashed, and hilarity results. But many of those same frat boys turn into alcoholics that can't function without a stiff drink. Then, too, the stories of the girls who are date-raped while they are too drunk to know what they doing or what's being done to them are seldom told.
Wayne McLaren, if you're over 35 you'll remember him as the Marlboro Man, was the epitome of cool! His rugged good looks and ever present cigarette lured millions to start smoking cigarettes. He died of lung cancer at age 51, but not before appearing at a stockholders meeting of Philip Morris, the tobacco company, with a plea for them to change the way cigarettes were advertised!
I read a tongue-in-cheek treatment of the cost of a 4 month long affair recently. (This is not intended to minimize the pain associated with infidelity, so please do not read it that way.) The author went through a long list of costs including motel rooms, gifts, phone cards, loss of promotion for lack of focus on the job, legal fees for the divorce, etc. Total cost for the affair = $25,664.00 After the long list, he concluded - "Hardly seems worth it, does it?" And he didn't factor in the loss of self-respect, the loss of relationship with children and family, and the offense to God - which is most significant!
Revenge tastes so sweet when we're angry, doesn't it? We are capable of plotting another's destruction with scarcely a thought for the pain our words and actions will cause.
Indolence is so inviting. "Take it easy. There's always tomorrow. Put it off, play! Go, ahead, goof off- let the mess alone." But do we count the compounding costs of neglect - how hard it will be to do today's work and tomorrow's work when the crunch time arrives?
I read the story of one of the 'cool' characters of the Bible this morning. He became a national leader of Israel. From his childhood everyone knew he was uniquely blessed. In fact the Bible says, that while he was still very young "The Spirit of God began working in him." (Judges 13:25, The Message) He was witty, could really tell a story, and was amazingly strong - especially when the Spirit of God rested on him. But, he had a longing for women that he never really conquered. For 20 years he managed to balance his lust and his anointing. Don't ask me to explain that! It's what the Bible tells me. Yes, his name is Samson. One day he was down in Gaza where he saw a woman well versed in seduction, she was a prostitute, named Delilah. He was captivated by her sensuality and slept with her. He wasn't worried. After all, he had 'managed' his lust and remained in power for all these years, what's the problem with one more sin? But, Delilah wasn't just any woman. She was greedy and a collaborator with those who wanted Samson's destruction. She whined and pled with him while he played the fool, gazing at her with love-sick eyes. After he finally revealed that it was his relationship with God that gave him his amazing abilities, she was quick to tell his enemies. One of the saddest verses in the Bible is: "Delilah cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him." (Judges 16:20, NLT)
Believer, temptation is common to us all! You're not a bad person because you feel the magnetism of disobedience to God. We all do at one time or another. "Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience." Don't be amazed that those desires arise in you. Just remember the rest of that passage. "God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT)
Ask the Holy Spirit to be your accountant, to help you factor in all the costs of sinful disobedience; then, serve God with faithfulness. Factor in the rewards for the righteous, too. They are rich and plentiful, though not always immediate.
"Throw out anything tainted with evil.
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole,
put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.
The One who called you is completely dependable.
If he said it, he’ll do it!" (1 Thessalonians 5:22-24, The Message)
Monday, February 13, 2006
Show a little kindness
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. If you had forgotten, there's still time to get a gift or card. To be sure, the day is exploited by those who print cards, arrange flowers, or manufacture jewelry. According to Hallmark Cards, about 190 million cards will be sent on Valentine's Day, second only to Christmas in numbers. That doesn't include the little packaged cards that school kids pass around, either. At an average cost of $3 per card, that a staggering sum of money. Add in chocolate, flowers, and diamonds and it is obvious why a segment of the retail world loves St. Valentine.
As with every gift-giving occasion, there will be multiple motivating factors for the exchange of cards or flowers. There will be 'pay-offs,' the 'gifts' presented in the hope of settling some old emotional debt. There will be manipulative presentations, something given in the hope of gaining advantage. A lot of roses will be sent by dutiful husbands just because 'it's the right thing to do.' And, there will be cards exchanged that were lovingly chosen for the message they carry; gifts given to delight the recipient.
I am glad for the reminder to love. Last time I checked, love was in short supply in a world full of criticism, impatience, war, greed, and power struggles! Don't you agree? So, it's great to celebrate caring. Valentine's Day is not just for romance! The origins of the celebration are murky but most sources agree that they were about a priest who resisted injustice and raised awareness of the importance of caring for each other. Whether you're romantically 'in love' or not, you can celebrate Valentine's Day, showing concern for others.
Take the opportunity to write a note of appreciation for that person who has served you faithfully this year - your child's teacher, a coach, a good friend whose been there when you needed her. Tip the wait staff extra and express your appreciation for the way they make your life a bit more pleasant. Expressions of caring don't always have to be grand or cost $100! Back in 2000, Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt acted in a movie that told a story about caring, Pay It Forward. A boy's Social Studies teacher encourages his students to search for a project to make their world a better place. The boy decides to do three acts of kindness with the only payment being that the person do three acts of kindness for others. Sounds sappy, right? It's much better than I describe it! It's worth the rental cost.
Christ Jesus invests Himself in us, and asks us to 'pay it forward.' He says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." (John 15:9-14, NIV)
At the risk of stating the obvious, let me remind us that Christian love is much, much more than sending a card or buying some flowers.
It is a deeply other-focused way of life that actively attempts to serve, to care, to be involved. It is costly! Jesus died for us for love's sake. So, here's a suggestion. Sharpen your human caring skills this week. Let all the Valentine's stuff be a prompt that causes you to ask, "How would Jesus want me to react, to respond, in this situation? How can I show real love?" As you do this in a Spirit-inspired way, people will take note and Jesus said the quality of our love will be THE mark that we belong to Him.
Meditate on this today ---
"This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” (John 13:35, The Message)
______________
Father, I sing about your love, receive the benefit of your love, and
often am almost completely unaware of how blessed I am to be loved so wonderfully.
I worship You for the gift of Jesus Christ, a gift of love that changed me forever.
Spirit of God, work in me today - deeply, profoundly,
causing me to love others, the unlovely as well as those who love me.
Lead me to people who need to know of their worth in Your sight and
teach me how to pour out what You have poured into me.
In this, may Jesus Christ be honored, glorified, and receive all the praise.
Amen."
As with every gift-giving occasion, there will be multiple motivating factors for the exchange of cards or flowers. There will be 'pay-offs,' the 'gifts' presented in the hope of settling some old emotional debt. There will be manipulative presentations, something given in the hope of gaining advantage. A lot of roses will be sent by dutiful husbands just because 'it's the right thing to do.' And, there will be cards exchanged that were lovingly chosen for the message they carry; gifts given to delight the recipient.
I am glad for the reminder to love. Last time I checked, love was in short supply in a world full of criticism, impatience, war, greed, and power struggles! Don't you agree? So, it's great to celebrate caring. Valentine's Day is not just for romance! The origins of the celebration are murky but most sources agree that they were about a priest who resisted injustice and raised awareness of the importance of caring for each other. Whether you're romantically 'in love' or not, you can celebrate Valentine's Day, showing concern for others.
Take the opportunity to write a note of appreciation for that person who has served you faithfully this year - your child's teacher, a coach, a good friend whose been there when you needed her. Tip the wait staff extra and express your appreciation for the way they make your life a bit more pleasant. Expressions of caring don't always have to be grand or cost $100! Back in 2000, Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt acted in a movie that told a story about caring, Pay It Forward. A boy's Social Studies teacher encourages his students to search for a project to make their world a better place. The boy decides to do three acts of kindness with the only payment being that the person do three acts of kindness for others. Sounds sappy, right? It's much better than I describe it! It's worth the rental cost.
Christ Jesus invests Himself in us, and asks us to 'pay it forward.' He says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." (John 15:9-14, NIV)
At the risk of stating the obvious, let me remind us that Christian love is much, much more than sending a card or buying some flowers.
It is a deeply other-focused way of life that actively attempts to serve, to care, to be involved. It is costly! Jesus died for us for love's sake. So, here's a suggestion. Sharpen your human caring skills this week. Let all the Valentine's stuff be a prompt that causes you to ask, "How would Jesus want me to react, to respond, in this situation? How can I show real love?" As you do this in a Spirit-inspired way, people will take note and Jesus said the quality of our love will be THE mark that we belong to Him.
Meditate on this today ---
"This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” (John 13:35, The Message)
______________
Father, I sing about your love, receive the benefit of your love, and
often am almost completely unaware of how blessed I am to be loved so wonderfully.
I worship You for the gift of Jesus Christ, a gift of love that changed me forever.
Spirit of God, work in me today - deeply, profoundly,
causing me to love others, the unlovely as well as those who love me.
Lead me to people who need to know of their worth in Your sight and
teach me how to pour out what You have poured into me.
In this, may Jesus Christ be honored, glorified, and receive all the praise.
Amen."
Friday, February 10, 2006
Are you connected?
- net·work n.
A structure in which cords, threads, or wires cross at regular intervals.
Something resembling an openwork fabric or structure in form or concept.
v. intr. To interact or engage in informal communication with others for mutual assistance or support.
When we learn to form and maintain strong connections with others, we not only enjoy the friendship of many people; we become many times more effective in our work than we could possibly be alone. We do not always believe that! Sometimes getting connected and staying connected requires so much work that we are tempted to cut the ties. In a recent discussion about getting a task accomplished, I volunteered to 'just do it.' That is consistent with my personality which enjoys the results much more than the process! A friend reminded me that it was important to give others the opportunity to 'buy in' and become a part of the effort, even though that would slow down the process. And he is right! I might be able to get the job done efficiently alone, but no one would have an investment in it and the outcome would just belong to Jerry. But, when people are encouraged to tie in to the network,to take a meaningful place in the process, the end result will be enjoy wider support and decisions will find broader acceptance. That is true no matter what social structure we are thinking of - family, neighborhood, church, corporation, or government.
Solomon observes that "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NLT)
So, if the advantages of being networked are so obvious, why don't more of us get connected in more of them? By definition, networks limit our autonomy! When we become part of a network, we give up some of our rights to just be ourselves. We have to start to think 'we' as a higher value than 'me.' The old sinful human nature resists that concept because of a sin as old as Eden - selfishness. The devil's lie is - "Express yourself. Do your own thing. It's the only way to be happy." God's truth is - "Give yourself away. Serve and love, and you will discover joy!"
Here's a word from the Word to keep in your mind today. "Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose." (Philippians 2:2, NLT) "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,... taking the nature of a servant." (Philippians 2:3-7, NIV)_____________________________
You're invited to the Assembly for worship on Sundays at 10:15 AM.
On Sunday, I'll be starting a series of messages about 'networking,' discovering truths about the way that God wants His church connected and functioning around the gifts of the Spirit that He invests in each of us. See you then!
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Ready to take a risk?
Some people that I know live fearfully and cautiously. Their primary life endeavor appears to me to be risk avoidance. They monitor their diet with scrupulous care. They are vigilant to lock doors and check security. If their children develop a low-grade fever, they whisk them off to the doctor. They actually have a family lawyer. $Billions worth of insurance are sold primarily as a means of risk avoidance. Some might call me reckless. I don't go looking for danger, but my first thought is seldom, 'is it safe?' My attitude is usually, 'let's give it a try!' I usually forget to lock my car unless Bev reminds to do it, which she always does. I've been told that I'm naive when it comes to other people, trusting others too much, and becoming disappointed when a person doesn't turn out to be who I assumed they were.
So what makes some of us risk-takers and some of us cautious? There are many factors. How we were trained to see the world by our parents is a big one. Some us were raised by parents who taught us that it was important to minimize risk, to choose the safest course. Others of us were encouraged to try new things, to reach out and stretch ourselves. Of course, if we manage to hurt ourselves, that experience can make us less prone to take risks in the future. Some of it is innate- just part of our wiring.
Believer, if you want to grow in your knowledge of Christ, if you want to become an effective ambassador of the Kingdom of God, you'll have to overcome aversion to risk; you'll have to give up control of circumstances. How do we do that? We ask God to give us something called - FAITH! Jesus' disciples were so challenged by His teaching, they realized the futility of trying to follow Him apart from a supernatural intervention and they said, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5, NIV) Is that a prayer that you're praying often?
Are you asking God to help you to branch out in His work with holy boldness, to blaze new paths into the lives of people that have not yet been touched by the good news of the Kingdom's coming? Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in defense of his ministry. He reminds them, even as he is reminding himself, that the key factor is not the approval of others, but rather the commendation of God! Then he writes this: We hope that your faith will grow and that our work among you will be greatly enlarged. Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places that are far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question about being in someone else’s territory. As the Scriptures say, “The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done.” When people boast about themselves, it doesn’t count for much. But when the Lord commends someone, that’s different!" (2 Corinthians 10:15-18, NLT)
When faith-filled people join together, God's work gets done in amazing ways! Instead of doing the 'safe things' that someone has already done, people of faith let the Spirit of God take them into new territory, but not so they can brag about how wonderful they are! No, they establish new ministries and build the Kingdom for the joy of saying, "look what the Lord has done!"
The Church needs men and women of holy boldness that comes, not from ego expression nor from arrogance, but from deep faith in God! These people live on the edge for they see the 'possible' not just the 'probable.' They ask God for great things and through them God does great things.
Here's a word from the Word to take with you today - “Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name): ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’" (Jeremiah 33:2-3, NKJV)
So what makes some of us risk-takers and some of us cautious? There are many factors. How we were trained to see the world by our parents is a big one. Some us were raised by parents who taught us that it was important to minimize risk, to choose the safest course. Others of us were encouraged to try new things, to reach out and stretch ourselves. Of course, if we manage to hurt ourselves, that experience can make us less prone to take risks in the future. Some of it is innate- just part of our wiring.
Believer, if you want to grow in your knowledge of Christ, if you want to become an effective ambassador of the Kingdom of God, you'll have to overcome aversion to risk; you'll have to give up control of circumstances. How do we do that? We ask God to give us something called - FAITH! Jesus' disciples were so challenged by His teaching, they realized the futility of trying to follow Him apart from a supernatural intervention and they said, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5, NIV) Is that a prayer that you're praying often?
Are you asking God to help you to branch out in His work with holy boldness, to blaze new paths into the lives of people that have not yet been touched by the good news of the Kingdom's coming? Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in defense of his ministry. He reminds them, even as he is reminding himself, that the key factor is not the approval of others, but rather the commendation of God! Then he writes this: We hope that your faith will grow and that our work among you will be greatly enlarged. Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places that are far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question about being in someone else’s territory. As the Scriptures say, “The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done.” When people boast about themselves, it doesn’t count for much. But when the Lord commends someone, that’s different!" (2 Corinthians 10:15-18, NLT)
When faith-filled people join together, God's work gets done in amazing ways! Instead of doing the 'safe things' that someone has already done, people of faith let the Spirit of God take them into new territory, but not so they can brag about how wonderful they are! No, they establish new ministries and build the Kingdom for the joy of saying, "look what the Lord has done!"
The Church needs men and women of holy boldness that comes, not from ego expression nor from arrogance, but from deep faith in God! These people live on the edge for they see the 'possible' not just the 'probable.' They ask God for great things and through them God does great things.
Here's a word from the Word to take with you today - “Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name): ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’" (Jeremiah 33:2-3, NKJV)
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
"Content to do God's will."
Success is usually has something to do with BIG, more, attention, influence... am I right? If we adopt big, powerful, or rich as our standard, we become very hard to be around because we're always pushing our agenda, trying to hit the mark. It's hard to sincerely love people in the ordinary situations of life while looking for the big moment, the chance for success. This is true whether we are talking about pastors, real estate agents, or plumbers! If the focus is on 'success,' serving people will become a casualty.
The Bible lauds faithfulness in life and contentment in service, not power and influence as marks of success! Eugene Peterson, best known as the translator of The Message, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible, has served the church as a pastor, teacher, and author for nearly a half century. He writes that his work as a pastor is a lot like farm work. He ought to know for he was raised rurally in Montana, where he has now returned in retirement. Anyway, he says, "Pastoral work consists of modest, daily, assigned work... routines similar to cleaning out the barn, mucking out the stalls, spreading manure, and pulling weeds. This is not bad work in itself, but if we expected to ride out on a glistening black stallion, in daily parades... we will be severely disappointed." That isn't just true for professional ministers. It is true about the Christian life. God does call us to ride in parades. He calls us to service, to faithfully taking on the opportunities that He gives us each day to make a small difference, to care for another, to love Him humbly. Peterson observes this: "Spirituality is not about ends or benefits or things; it's about means. It's about how you do this. How do you live in reality? So, how do you help all these people? The needs are huge. Well, you do it the way Jesus did it. You do it one at a time. You can't do gospel work, kingdom work in an impersonal way." (Full text of the interview - http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/003/26.42.html )
During a discussion about His return and the subsequent judgment, Jesus was asked about preparedness for that awesome moment. Take a look at His reply- “I’m talking to any faithful, sensible servant to whom the master gives the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns." (Luke 12:42-44, NLT) In other of his teaching stories, Jesus explained that God expects us to use the abilities and spiritual gifts given to us faithfully and diligently. Some of us are multi-talented, some are singularly gifted, but we can all be faithful!
What is of greatest importance is God-focus over self-focus. Much success literature explains how to reach one's highest potential, to achieve peak performance. The techniques and methods work - to make us all we can become on our own. But that's not the goal of the Believer! We are called to become all that God wants us to be and that we cannot accomplish without getting to know Him and living in His will - today. Perhaps you need to lower your sights! Strange suggestion, isn't it? What I'm trying to say is that if you're looking too far to the horizon, waiting for 'the dream,' you will miss out on the opportunities that exist right in front of you to serve God.
So, be faithful and leave 'success' to God.
Right now, would you take a moment and consciously place yourself at His call?
"I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.
We look to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal." (Psalm 123:1-2, NLT)
The Bible lauds faithfulness in life and contentment in service, not power and influence as marks of success! Eugene Peterson, best known as the translator of The Message, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible, has served the church as a pastor, teacher, and author for nearly a half century. He writes that his work as a pastor is a lot like farm work. He ought to know for he was raised rurally in Montana, where he has now returned in retirement. Anyway, he says, "Pastoral work consists of modest, daily, assigned work... routines similar to cleaning out the barn, mucking out the stalls, spreading manure, and pulling weeds. This is not bad work in itself, but if we expected to ride out on a glistening black stallion, in daily parades... we will be severely disappointed." That isn't just true for professional ministers. It is true about the Christian life. God does call us to ride in parades. He calls us to service, to faithfully taking on the opportunities that He gives us each day to make a small difference, to care for another, to love Him humbly. Peterson observes this: "Spirituality is not about ends or benefits or things; it's about means. It's about how you do this. How do you live in reality? So, how do you help all these people? The needs are huge. Well, you do it the way Jesus did it. You do it one at a time. You can't do gospel work, kingdom work in an impersonal way." (Full text of the interview - http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/003/26.42.html )
During a discussion about His return and the subsequent judgment, Jesus was asked about preparedness for that awesome moment. Take a look at His reply- “I’m talking to any faithful, sensible servant to whom the master gives the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns." (Luke 12:42-44, NLT) In other of his teaching stories, Jesus explained that God expects us to use the abilities and spiritual gifts given to us faithfully and diligently. Some of us are multi-talented, some are singularly gifted, but we can all be faithful!
What is of greatest importance is God-focus over self-focus. Much success literature explains how to reach one's highest potential, to achieve peak performance. The techniques and methods work - to make us all we can become on our own. But that's not the goal of the Believer! We are called to become all that God wants us to be and that we cannot accomplish without getting to know Him and living in His will - today. Perhaps you need to lower your sights! Strange suggestion, isn't it? What I'm trying to say is that if you're looking too far to the horizon, waiting for 'the dream,' you will miss out on the opportunities that exist right in front of you to serve God.
So, be faithful and leave 'success' to God.
Right now, would you take a moment and consciously place yourself at His call?
"I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.
We look to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal." (Psalm 123:1-2, NLT)
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
"Oh, Jesus."
There was time in my life when I worried a lot about the structure of my prayers. I read many books on praying looking for a method that 'worked.' Note that word for it was the operative one about prayer in my understanding. Prayer was less a talk with a friend and more a kind of business transaction, a negotiation with Heaven, that - if done right - would produce the desired result. What an inadequate, immature concept. As I grew in Christ, I began to simply talk with Jesus - much as I would talk with any friend. Now, some of my prayers are long earnest conversations, and some are more like short 'emails' of the moment. Paradoxically, the less obsessed I am about 'making something happen,' the more I see God at work in my life and in the world around me!
Now I have some of my best talks with Jesus at 3 am! They aren't coherent, neatly formed, and logically presented prayers. When I awaken at that hour with my head full of concerns for the people I lead and love and questions about how to lead the church to be the Body He desires- "How should I address that situation? What can I do for that one in need? Which way should we go?" - in the darkness, I just begin to talk with Jesus. The conversation meanders along the stream of consciousness in my mind, much like a chat with a friend over a cup of coffee. And, I've got to tell you that I find such rest in those early morning conversations.
Yesterday, as I drove to the hospital to visit a friend in the ER who was waiting for a diagnosis that included some serious possibilities, I just kept repeating, "Oh, Jesus!" It was a sigh from my soul, a nearly wordless expression of my need, my longing for His touch! I knew that I didn't have to prepare a news release for Heaven, nor did I have to argue with Him all the reasons He needed to do this or that. I just wanted my Friend in Heaven to be near to my friend on earth, to hold her hand, just like He holds mine. "Oh, Jesus," seemed a fittingly simple expression from my heart!
When Jesus taught about prayer, He was so direct, so clear, about the need to keep it simple. I wonder why I fell into the foolishness of formulaic prayer for so long? Why didn't I accept His invitation to a living conversation? Maybe it was just being steeped in the religion of Christianity that made me ignorant to the mystical relationship to which He invited me. Take a look at His words.
“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God.
Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.
Like this:
Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are.
Set the world right; Do what’s best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge! You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes." (Matthew 6:7-13, The Message)
The way that I prayed began to change right around the time that I had a grace awakening, when I came to the end of myself, and through the revelation of the Spirit came to know that God really did love me - warts and all! For a long time, He was my Savior and even my Lord, but not my Friend. I just couldn't grasp that!
Have you had a grace awakening? Do you know that He loves you? He does!! And it's not a dutiful love, nor is it just a generalized love. He knows your name, your heart; yes even 'the very number of the hairs on your head.' He wants to walk and talk with you. When you accept Him as a your Friend, your prayers will change - I guarantee it!
____________________________
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.
Copyright: Public Domain
Now I have some of my best talks with Jesus at 3 am! They aren't coherent, neatly formed, and logically presented prayers. When I awaken at that hour with my head full of concerns for the people I lead and love and questions about how to lead the church to be the Body He desires- "How should I address that situation? What can I do for that one in need? Which way should we go?" - in the darkness, I just begin to talk with Jesus. The conversation meanders along the stream of consciousness in my mind, much like a chat with a friend over a cup of coffee. And, I've got to tell you that I find such rest in those early morning conversations.
Yesterday, as I drove to the hospital to visit a friend in the ER who was waiting for a diagnosis that included some serious possibilities, I just kept repeating, "Oh, Jesus!" It was a sigh from my soul, a nearly wordless expression of my need, my longing for His touch! I knew that I didn't have to prepare a news release for Heaven, nor did I have to argue with Him all the reasons He needed to do this or that. I just wanted my Friend in Heaven to be near to my friend on earth, to hold her hand, just like He holds mine. "Oh, Jesus," seemed a fittingly simple expression from my heart!
When Jesus taught about prayer, He was so direct, so clear, about the need to keep it simple. I wonder why I fell into the foolishness of formulaic prayer for so long? Why didn't I accept His invitation to a living conversation? Maybe it was just being steeped in the religion of Christianity that made me ignorant to the mystical relationship to which He invited me. Take a look at His words.
“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God.
Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.
Like this:
Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are.
Set the world right; Do what’s best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge! You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes." (Matthew 6:7-13, The Message)
The way that I prayed began to change right around the time that I had a grace awakening, when I came to the end of myself, and through the revelation of the Spirit came to know that God really did love me - warts and all! For a long time, He was my Savior and even my Lord, but not my Friend. I just couldn't grasp that!
Have you had a grace awakening? Do you know that He loves you? He does!! And it's not a dutiful love, nor is it just a generalized love. He knows your name, your heart; yes even 'the very number of the hairs on your head.' He wants to walk and talk with you. When you accept Him as a your Friend, your prayers will change - I guarantee it!
____________________________
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.
Copyright: Public Domain
Monday, February 06, 2006
"Looking Good!"
Yes, I watched the Super Bowl and I paid attention to the commercials. I laughed at the funny ones, but the one that stayed with me was one produced by Dove, the cosmetics corporation. (see it at http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/commercial.asp?src=homecommerciallink ) It featured a series of pictures of girls and young women who, when they measure themselves by contemporary standards, consider themselves unattractive. They focus on what they see as flaws - too many freckles, wrong color hair, not a perfectly shaped body, etc. According to this company, 92% of American girls think they are flawed, and many of those suffer from low self-esteem. That leads, in many cases, to self-destructive behavior - cutting, eating disorders, promiscuity, etc. It is rather ironic that a cosmetics company is taking the lead in this campaign to recognize real beauty. The cynic in me wonders why, but never the less, I applaud the initiative!
More than a few Christians suffer a similar issue in their spirituality. Our Christian world is filled with celebrities and super-stars whose real humanity is invisible as we see them only 'on stage' or through their books. From that distance their fears, doubts, sins, and inconsistencies cannot be detected. They look so beautiful- their lives so utterly wonderful. And by comparison, we are so human. They change the world, we just try to keep from being mean to our spouse. Their prayers reflect an enviable friendship with God, ours are filled with fumbling, uncertainty - is He really listening? They seem never to be touched by temptations, we feel the magnetic pull of greed, lust, indolence, sensuality - from the first moments of the day. Of course, at some level, we know that these celebrity Christians are really human, but we want the 'image' to be real so badly. If one of them sins publicly, we are shocked and grow angry. Then, we throw away all their books as though what they wrote is somehow less true because we learn they are struggling, imperfect Christians - just like us!
Living authentically as a Christ-follower is a soul-deep thing that isn't always pretty. Living honestly, confessionally -without pretense- will cause many to turn away from us, disgusted by what they perceive as a flawed soul! Thus, many of us will learn that when we around other Believers we should pray only positive prayers, only smile, always be 'up,' and say the right words that impress. The issues of sin, the angst of doubts, the issues of our lives will be covered over with the cosmetics of religion, leaving us with no depth of spirit. Spiritual superficiality is a curse that Jesus Himself addresses. In the 6th chapter of Matthew, he reminds us to go beyond just 'looking good,' which is hypocrisy, to really be good. “Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to someone in need, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get." Matthew 6:1-2, NLT
Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthian church, was confronted with the challenge of preaching the Truth - which sometimes is not so attractive- to people who had been dazzled by 'super apostles' who had come through town with their magic show religion, their puffy words, and with their empty promises. He reminds the Believers that the Treasure is not us. It is the Spirit IN us! For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:6-10, NLT
I love that passage! "Pressed... perplexed... hunted down... but not crushed, never quitting, not abandoned!"
Are you ready to wash off the make-up, admit the flaws are there, and let the real beauty of Jesus be created in your soul?
Yes, there is a real beauty and it comes from a genuine, ongoing intimacy with the Spirit of God that transforms our hearts.
____________
Change my heart, oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God, may I be like You.
You are the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
Change my heart, oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God, may I be like You!
--Espinosa, Eddie Copyright: 1982 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
More than a few Christians suffer a similar issue in their spirituality. Our Christian world is filled with celebrities and super-stars whose real humanity is invisible as we see them only 'on stage' or through their books. From that distance their fears, doubts, sins, and inconsistencies cannot be detected. They look so beautiful- their lives so utterly wonderful. And by comparison, we are so human. They change the world, we just try to keep from being mean to our spouse. Their prayers reflect an enviable friendship with God, ours are filled with fumbling, uncertainty - is He really listening? They seem never to be touched by temptations, we feel the magnetic pull of greed, lust, indolence, sensuality - from the first moments of the day. Of course, at some level, we know that these celebrity Christians are really human, but we want the 'image' to be real so badly. If one of them sins publicly, we are shocked and grow angry. Then, we throw away all their books as though what they wrote is somehow less true because we learn they are struggling, imperfect Christians - just like us!
Living authentically as a Christ-follower is a soul-deep thing that isn't always pretty. Living honestly, confessionally -without pretense- will cause many to turn away from us, disgusted by what they perceive as a flawed soul! Thus, many of us will learn that when we around other Believers we should pray only positive prayers, only smile, always be 'up,' and say the right words that impress. The issues of sin, the angst of doubts, the issues of our lives will be covered over with the cosmetics of religion, leaving us with no depth of spirit. Spiritual superficiality is a curse that Jesus Himself addresses. In the 6th chapter of Matthew, he reminds us to go beyond just 'looking good,' which is hypocrisy, to really be good. “Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to someone in need, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get." Matthew 6:1-2, NLT
Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthian church, was confronted with the challenge of preaching the Truth - which sometimes is not so attractive- to people who had been dazzled by 'super apostles' who had come through town with their magic show religion, their puffy words, and with their empty promises. He reminds the Believers that the Treasure is not us. It is the Spirit IN us! For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:6-10, NLT
I love that passage! "Pressed... perplexed... hunted down... but not crushed, never quitting, not abandoned!"
Are you ready to wash off the make-up, admit the flaws are there, and let the real beauty of Jesus be created in your soul?
Yes, there is a real beauty and it comes from a genuine, ongoing intimacy with the Spirit of God that transforms our hearts.
____________
Change my heart, oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God, may I be like You.
You are the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
Change my heart, oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God, may I be like You!
--Espinosa, Eddie Copyright: 1982 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
Friday, February 03, 2006
Together Everyone Accomplishes More.
This Sunday evening, America's sports event - Super Bowl XL - will be played in Detroit. The Steelers meet the Seahawks for the world championship. It's a contest of TEAMS, not individuals. The game is not just a match up of Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Hasselbeck, though these men in the quarterback position attract a lot of attention. The efforts of hundreds of people in each organization will be focused on gaining the Lombardi trophy. Coaches, trainers, linemen, receivers, kickers, special teams - will each fulfill their role with the hope of getting the win for the TEAM.
We describe team effort in many ways - network, organization, community, company, squad, troop, band, body, club, church, crew, army - to mention a few. Why so many words to describe our relationships? Because relationships are what makes life happen. Think about that. How much does anyone accomplish on his own? It is as we form the webs of inter-connected relationships that we find a meaningful, purposeful, and effective life.
.
I am part of the Scott family, connected to dozens of people through my parents, my siblings, my children. This past summer I saw how far reaching that web is as I had the privilege of meeting my Danish cousins at a reunion of the Skjodt family at Dad's farm!
I am part of Washington Assembly of God, a body of Believers that works together to educate children, to care for the needy, to provide a place of worship, to strengthen people's commitment to Christ. We pool our resources and share our spiritual gifts. Some amazing things result, things that I could never do alone!
I am part of the Assemblies of God, the body that ordained me to Christian ministry 26 years ago. That world-wide organization connects me to a network of churches and missionaries numbering in the tens of thousands.
I am part of PIP - Pastors In Prayer - a small fellowship of local pastors whose love and support is an invaluable resource to me. Through that little group, numbering less than a dozen, I find friendship and I am able to offer my support to those working locally in God's field alongside of me.
I am an American citizen, a defining description, that is often taken for granted, but as tax-paying citizen of this great nation, I have great privilege and responsibility.
I could go on, but you're hopefully getting the picture. Relationships are built, they do not spring from nowhere! They require hard, and sometimes expensive, work of maintenance. The more we expect from a connection, the more time we must spend on it, weaving the web of inter-connectedness. There are the costs of giving our time, our money, and even some of our autonomy for the sake of the group. Why? Because the best relationships are mutually beneficial - involving give and take. Each of us has had the unfortunate experience of getting into a relationship with a parasite from time to time! Those are life-draining connections where someone who is dysfunctional makes the relationship all about their needs, never returning anything of value.
Jesus said that God's desire for us is summed in just two commands: "Love God wholeheartedly, and love others!" There is a big lie about happiness is that tells you and me that we need to be independent, free from expectations and connections, able to 'do our own thing' in life. Don't buy it. The most miserable people in the world are those without a web of connections that enrich them emotionally, that provide them with opportunities to care for others and to be cared for, that give a setting for the expression of their unique gifts and abilities as part of an organized effort to make a difference!
Are you inter-connected? Are you valuing those ties to others, strengthening them with investment of yourself?
Are you choosing what connections and to whom you are connected with wisdom? The Bible reminds us that we must not be drawn into intimate partnership with those who reject God. "Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians 6:14-15, NLT)
We're out to win the world for Christ; not in the sense of conquest, but rather as agents of transformation. The work is obviously beyond anyone of our abilities. But Together we can do it, as the Spirit of God makes us one!
Are you on the TEAM?
We describe team effort in many ways - network, organization, community, company, squad, troop, band, body, club, church, crew, army - to mention a few. Why so many words to describe our relationships? Because relationships are what makes life happen. Think about that. How much does anyone accomplish on his own? It is as we form the webs of inter-connected relationships that we find a meaningful, purposeful, and effective life.
.
I am part of the Scott family, connected to dozens of people through my parents, my siblings, my children. This past summer I saw how far reaching that web is as I had the privilege of meeting my Danish cousins at a reunion of the Skjodt family at Dad's farm!
I am part of Washington Assembly of God, a body of Believers that works together to educate children, to care for the needy, to provide a place of worship, to strengthen people's commitment to Christ. We pool our resources and share our spiritual gifts. Some amazing things result, things that I could never do alone!
I am part of the Assemblies of God, the body that ordained me to Christian ministry 26 years ago. That world-wide organization connects me to a network of churches and missionaries numbering in the tens of thousands.
I am part of PIP - Pastors In Prayer - a small fellowship of local pastors whose love and support is an invaluable resource to me. Through that little group, numbering less than a dozen, I find friendship and I am able to offer my support to those working locally in God's field alongside of me.
I am an American citizen, a defining description, that is often taken for granted, but as tax-paying citizen of this great nation, I have great privilege and responsibility.
I could go on, but you're hopefully getting the picture. Relationships are built, they do not spring from nowhere! They require hard, and sometimes expensive, work of maintenance. The more we expect from a connection, the more time we must spend on it, weaving the web of inter-connectedness. There are the costs of giving our time, our money, and even some of our autonomy for the sake of the group. Why? Because the best relationships are mutually beneficial - involving give and take. Each of us has had the unfortunate experience of getting into a relationship with a parasite from time to time! Those are life-draining connections where someone who is dysfunctional makes the relationship all about their needs, never returning anything of value.
Jesus said that God's desire for us is summed in just two commands: "Love God wholeheartedly, and love others!" There is a big lie about happiness is that tells you and me that we need to be independent, free from expectations and connections, able to 'do our own thing' in life. Don't buy it. The most miserable people in the world are those without a web of connections that enrich them emotionally, that provide them with opportunities to care for others and to be cared for, that give a setting for the expression of their unique gifts and abilities as part of an organized effort to make a difference!
Are you inter-connected? Are you valuing those ties to others, strengthening them with investment of yourself?
Are you choosing what connections and to whom you are connected with wisdom? The Bible reminds us that we must not be drawn into intimate partnership with those who reject God. "Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians 6:14-15, NLT)
We're out to win the world for Christ; not in the sense of conquest, but rather as agents of transformation. The work is obviously beyond anyone of our abilities. But Together we can do it, as the Spirit of God makes us one!
Are you on the TEAM?
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Power Encounters
Miracles! They excite us, fascinate us, don't they? The record of the Church's first decades, written down for us by Luke in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, is compelling reading! The world was changed by a few people who were full of the Spirit of God, who occasionally raised the dead and often healed the sick. These intrepid men and women constantly preached the Good News of Jesus, finding both acceptance and rejection. In between the miracles and conversions, there are stories of conflicts, the stuff of humanity. Christians who were of differing ethnicity -Jews and Greeks- fought over fair distribution of food to their needy people. There were intense struggles over doctrines of grace and the role of the Jewish Law in the Believers' lives which led to a major church council and a compromise. (Acts 15) Paul and his friend, Barnabas, had a fight over a kid named Mark, about whether he was trustworthy enough to take along on a missions trip and it became so sharp, they parted company. I write of these things because we have the tendency to romanticize Acts, thinking that the Church in that era was a kind of heaven on earth with miracles happening everyday. Not so, however....
There is one constant throughout the story. It is the Spirit-inspired faith that these Believers had in God's ability to work in their world! They believed He is a God of power and that He is presently active! Do we?
There is a humorous story found in Acts 12 about people who prayed somewhat faithlessly. Peter was imprisoned, scheduled for trial for preaching about Jesus. Believers gathered at the home of Mary, Mark's mother, to pray. While they prayed, an angel appeared in the prison and led Peter out to the street, through locked gates and past watching guards. Knowing that Believers gathered there, Peter went to that house. The Bible says, "When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was. But when she recognized his voice—Peter’s voice!—she was so excited and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him standing in the street. But they wouldn’t believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. “You’re crazy,” they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn’t believe her and said, “It must be his angel.” All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away. Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild!" (Acts 12:13-16, The Message)
Do you ever pray that way - your mouth saying one thing, but your mind thinking another? Take heart! Jesus says we don't need perfect faith to see the release of God's power. But, faith is important. Without it, we don't 'see' what God is doing, nor what He wants to do. If we desire to see power encounters where sin and evil are defeated and the goodness of God is released through Jesus Christ, we must let the Word lay a foundation of faith that asks boldly!
Miracles happen everyday, all around us. Do we see them? Do we have 'spiritual eyes' that perceive God at work?
Believer, pray confidently! Yes, let God be God. Ask great things of Him. Pray for people you know to enter the Kingdom. Pray for those who struggle with sin to become holy. Pray for God's will to be done, for His kingdom to come. Listen to your prayers and learn to pray 'deeply' moving past the "Lord, bless me, my wife, my kids, my friends - Amen" kind of prayers. Watch too for prayers that are focused exclusively on 'creature comforts.' Yes, we are taught to pray for our 'daily bread,' but let's also ask for spiritual food, for transformation of hearts - ours and others.
And -"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, NIV)
There is one constant throughout the story. It is the Spirit-inspired faith that these Believers had in God's ability to work in their world! They believed He is a God of power and that He is presently active! Do we?
There is a humorous story found in Acts 12 about people who prayed somewhat faithlessly. Peter was imprisoned, scheduled for trial for preaching about Jesus. Believers gathered at the home of Mary, Mark's mother, to pray. While they prayed, an angel appeared in the prison and led Peter out to the street, through locked gates and past watching guards. Knowing that Believers gathered there, Peter went to that house. The Bible says, "When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was. But when she recognized his voice—Peter’s voice!—she was so excited and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him standing in the street. But they wouldn’t believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. “You’re crazy,” they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn’t believe her and said, “It must be his angel.” All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away. Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild!" (Acts 12:13-16, The Message)
Do you ever pray that way - your mouth saying one thing, but your mind thinking another? Take heart! Jesus says we don't need perfect faith to see the release of God's power. But, faith is important. Without it, we don't 'see' what God is doing, nor what He wants to do. If we desire to see power encounters where sin and evil are defeated and the goodness of God is released through Jesus Christ, we must let the Word lay a foundation of faith that asks boldly!
Miracles happen everyday, all around us. Do we see them? Do we have 'spiritual eyes' that perceive God at work?
Believer, pray confidently! Yes, let God be God. Ask great things of Him. Pray for people you know to enter the Kingdom. Pray for those who struggle with sin to become holy. Pray for God's will to be done, for His kingdom to come. Listen to your prayers and learn to pray 'deeply' moving past the "Lord, bless me, my wife, my kids, my friends - Amen" kind of prayers. Watch too for prayers that are focused exclusively on 'creature comforts.' Yes, we are taught to pray for our 'daily bread,' but let's also ask for spiritual food, for transformation of hearts - ours and others.
And -"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, NIV)
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
"Lord, give them wisdom!"
Last night, I watched the President's State of the Union address. As the camera swept the room, packed with Senators, Representatives, Supreme Court Judges, Cabinet officers, military brass, and various dignitaries, gathered to hear the President; two thoughts came to mind - the challenges of leadership are great and these are not supermen! President Bush pointed to the threats of war in places like Iran and N. Korea. He spoke of the need to finish the job of defeating the radical Islamic factions that want to destroy America. He urged action on issues involving the continuing cost of care of the elderly and the escalating cost of medical care in our country. He pointedly addressed the nation's "addiction to oil" and the priority of developing other energy sources. One thing is clear - this is a tough time to be a political leader.
The Bible tells Believers to "Plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. ... for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity." (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NLT)
Praying for someone is a gift! Last Sunday night in a prayer meeting, as I was praying, I became aware of a person calling out to God for me, her Pastor. I stopped praying for a moment to listen. Her words asking God to keep me strong and to use me in teaching His Word were so encouraging and humbling. What a gift. Then, too, I love to pray for people, speaking to God on behalf of someone who is broken, sick, confused, or in need of forgiveness. The Bible reminds us that "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results." (James 5:16, NLT)
That gift of prayer should be offered to those who are in authority. While you and I may not have much political clout, we have God's ear. He listens to us and His Spirit is not restrained by security or scheduling coordinators. As we pray, we can have a powerful effect on public policy makers. The Bible says - "The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he turns it wherever he pleases." (Proverbs 21:1, NLT) Isn't that wonderful? We can help our leaders by praying for God's powerful Presence to lead them, to guide their decisions. Let us pray with more specificity than "Lord, bless the President!" How about praying for courage, for insight, for wisdom, for humility? Then too, how about praying for ALL of those who lead? Learn the names of policy makers and those who represent you in Congress, in the State House, at the local level and pray for them by name.
As we pray for those who lead, let us pray for more than greater prosperity. Let us go beyond "America First" prayers. Let us pray as citizens of Heaven who "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." As we pray for those entrusted with power to become good and godly, to be sensitive to the voice of the Spirit, and to be true servants - we lay the foundation for positive results that go beyond serving our self-interest. In prayer we become partners with God influencing our leaders to use their office in the cause of justice and peace.
And, "When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan." (Proverbs 29:2, NLT)
The Bible tells Believers to "Plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. ... for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity." (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NLT)
Praying for someone is a gift! Last Sunday night in a prayer meeting, as I was praying, I became aware of a person calling out to God for me, her Pastor. I stopped praying for a moment to listen. Her words asking God to keep me strong and to use me in teaching His Word were so encouraging and humbling. What a gift. Then, too, I love to pray for people, speaking to God on behalf of someone who is broken, sick, confused, or in need of forgiveness. The Bible reminds us that "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results." (James 5:16, NLT)
That gift of prayer should be offered to those who are in authority. While you and I may not have much political clout, we have God's ear. He listens to us and His Spirit is not restrained by security or scheduling coordinators. As we pray, we can have a powerful effect on public policy makers. The Bible says - "The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he turns it wherever he pleases." (Proverbs 21:1, NLT) Isn't that wonderful? We can help our leaders by praying for God's powerful Presence to lead them, to guide their decisions. Let us pray with more specificity than "Lord, bless the President!" How about praying for courage, for insight, for wisdom, for humility? Then too, how about praying for ALL of those who lead? Learn the names of policy makers and those who represent you in Congress, in the State House, at the local level and pray for them by name.
As we pray for those who lead, let us pray for more than greater prosperity. Let us go beyond "America First" prayers. Let us pray as citizens of Heaven who "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." As we pray for those entrusted with power to become good and godly, to be sensitive to the voice of the Spirit, and to be true servants - we lay the foundation for positive results that go beyond serving our self-interest. In prayer we become partners with God influencing our leaders to use their office in the cause of justice and peace.
And, "When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan." (Proverbs 29:2, NLT)
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
All stressed out and a heart attack to go
Dr. Mimi Guarneri, cardiologist, writes that stress is a factor in heart disease equal to hypertension (high blood pressure). She also reports that at least 3/4ths of visits to health care providers are triggered by stress related issues! Living under constant psychological stress is a strong predictor of future cardiac events. (Reader's Digest, Feb. '06) Reading that, and knowing the levels of stress that accompanies my life work, I wondered if this might be the time for a change in career? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that no matter what a person does in life, stress can be present.
Stress results at least as much, and probably more, from how we react to life as it does from what is happening to us!
The life of Jesus points the way to lower stress levels and thus, to better health. How so? Consider these things.
First, He was not hurried. Think of how much stress we create by hurrying. When the line slows down at the bank 'cause the Grandma at the teller window decides to have a chat, we fret and fume over the minute or two that we are delayed. When our kids aren't ready to go when we are, we feel the tension rising. Many of us (yes, me included!) awaken and mentally program our day or week, creating checkpoints and deadlines that raise stress levels as the schedule is messed up by unforeseen events. Jesus was commissioned by His Father with the work of saving the world and He had to get it done in three years, but He didn't rush or hurry or fret! He even stopped to play with kids which drove his disciples a little crazy! I wonder if all our rushing and multi-tasking really makes us any more effective in our work?
Second, He regularly prayed. Early in the morning, late at night, the Gospels record Jesus going off by Himself to commune with His Father. From the model prayer He gave us (see Matthew 6) we can conclude that He prayed more than 'grocery list' or 'gimme this, gimme that' prayers. He communed with God when He prayed! He says, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.. . . You have so little faith! “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans (those who don't know God) who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs." (Matt. 6:27-32 NLT) Put a couple of 15 minute prayer and meditation breaks in your day. Don't program those moments with endless babble! Just go and commune with God like a friend. Bill Hybels reminds us that we are too busy not to pray! (No, that's not a typo!) Read it again.
Third, He lived in community. Jesus took time to be alone, but He did not live alone, nor did He act like the Lone Ranger! He involved Himself with people and even when His friends disappointed Him, He didn't write them off or leave them behind. So how does that lower our stress? You might be thinking, "Jerry, it's people that stress me more than anything!" Might that be because you are not really relating, seeing the people in your life more like chess pieces to be moved around in your game plan? Real community means that we cultivate deep relationships with people that goes beyond their 'functionality' in our strategy and plans. After a couple of Simon Peter's dumb moves, why didn't Jesus fire him and call somebody else? Because He loved him, impulses and all! Real love for others, deep community, enriches our lives and helps stress to dissipate. Ask anybody who has ever been a part of a support group that functions well how much it means to go and talk through some issue of life with a group of real friends.
Fourth, He lived humbly with God and others. We joke about having a "Messiah" complex, but the true Messiah lacked one! The Savior of the world washed feet, served lunch, and played with kids! He didn't seek recognition, climb the social ladder, or position Himself for promotion. He took each day as it came, loved people, and trusted God. Don't tell me that it was easy for Him, or that He just loved everything that came His way. From time to time he grew frustrated. Remember the anger that flowed from him as he saw the religious abuse that was allowed in the temple for the sake of greed? Remember the passionate prayer that poured from him in Gethsemane? Jesus was an emotional man who lived with a sense of His mission, but He was also a humble man who trusted God. His humility is never more clearly seen than in His acceptance of the will of God on the night before the Crucifixion - “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.” (Luke 22:42, NLT)
So, when you think you need to find a new job, or change your neighborhood, or ... something to relieve the stress of life; think again.
Change your response to life.
-Eliminate the inner pressure to hurry, take deep breaths and pace yourself.
-Pray often, and connect with the Spirit of God.
-Strengthen your ties to those in your family, your church, and your workplace, accepting them as the flawed people that we all are!
-And, work on humility that allows you to accept the fact that life cannot be lived on your terms!
You'll live longer and everyone will be glad you did!
Stress results at least as much, and probably more, from how we react to life as it does from what is happening to us!
The life of Jesus points the way to lower stress levels and thus, to better health. How so? Consider these things.
First, He was not hurried. Think of how much stress we create by hurrying. When the line slows down at the bank 'cause the Grandma at the teller window decides to have a chat, we fret and fume over the minute or two that we are delayed. When our kids aren't ready to go when we are, we feel the tension rising. Many of us (yes, me included!) awaken and mentally program our day or week, creating checkpoints and deadlines that raise stress levels as the schedule is messed up by unforeseen events. Jesus was commissioned by His Father with the work of saving the world and He had to get it done in three years, but He didn't rush or hurry or fret! He even stopped to play with kids which drove his disciples a little crazy! I wonder if all our rushing and multi-tasking really makes us any more effective in our work?
Second, He regularly prayed. Early in the morning, late at night, the Gospels record Jesus going off by Himself to commune with His Father. From the model prayer He gave us (see Matthew 6) we can conclude that He prayed more than 'grocery list' or 'gimme this, gimme that' prayers. He communed with God when He prayed! He says, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.. . . You have so little faith! “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans (those who don't know God) who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs." (Matt. 6:27-32 NLT) Put a couple of 15 minute prayer and meditation breaks in your day. Don't program those moments with endless babble! Just go and commune with God like a friend. Bill Hybels reminds us that we are too busy not to pray! (No, that's not a typo!) Read it again.
Third, He lived in community. Jesus took time to be alone, but He did not live alone, nor did He act like the Lone Ranger! He involved Himself with people and even when His friends disappointed Him, He didn't write them off or leave them behind. So how does that lower our stress? You might be thinking, "Jerry, it's people that stress me more than anything!" Might that be because you are not really relating, seeing the people in your life more like chess pieces to be moved around in your game plan? Real community means that we cultivate deep relationships with people that goes beyond their 'functionality' in our strategy and plans. After a couple of Simon Peter's dumb moves, why didn't Jesus fire him and call somebody else? Because He loved him, impulses and all! Real love for others, deep community, enriches our lives and helps stress to dissipate. Ask anybody who has ever been a part of a support group that functions well how much it means to go and talk through some issue of life with a group of real friends.
Fourth, He lived humbly with God and others. We joke about having a "Messiah" complex, but the true Messiah lacked one! The Savior of the world washed feet, served lunch, and played with kids! He didn't seek recognition, climb the social ladder, or position Himself for promotion. He took each day as it came, loved people, and trusted God. Don't tell me that it was easy for Him, or that He just loved everything that came His way. From time to time he grew frustrated. Remember the anger that flowed from him as he saw the religious abuse that was allowed in the temple for the sake of greed? Remember the passionate prayer that poured from him in Gethsemane? Jesus was an emotional man who lived with a sense of His mission, but He was also a humble man who trusted God. His humility is never more clearly seen than in His acceptance of the will of God on the night before the Crucifixion - “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.” (Luke 22:42, NLT)
So, when you think you need to find a new job, or change your neighborhood, or ... something to relieve the stress of life; think again.
Change your response to life.
-Eliminate the inner pressure to hurry, take deep breaths and pace yourself.
-Pray often, and connect with the Spirit of God.
-Strengthen your ties to those in your family, your church, and your workplace, accepting them as the flawed people that we all are!
-And, work on humility that allows you to accept the fact that life cannot be lived on your terms!
You'll live longer and everyone will be glad you did!
Monday, January 30, 2006
My tomorrow's are all known to Him
I'm a news buff; reading the newspaper everyday, watching TV almost every evening, and keeping my eye on headline development with pop-ups on my PC screen at the office. These are the headlines that I've read in the last few days...
Iran ready to produce nuclear weapons with aim of Israel's destruction!
Bird Flu reaches to Turkey. (Really, that was a headline. I'll bet the editor thought it was 'catchy.')
Tragic wreck ends life of husband and father!
Hamas takes power in Palestinian world!
ABC News Anchor, critically injured in Iraq by bomb!
There are those things that don't make headlines, but that are real threats to personal security all the same - things like viruses and layoffs. On one hand, my life seems as predictable as the sunrise. I awaken each day to a peaceful neighborhood, and move through familiar rituals. I have no sense of doom or danger, occasionally even joking with my wife about how 'boring' we are, two middle-aged people who just do what needs to be done without much fanfare or excitement. Boring, in the 'no crisis' sense, is good!
But, I am also aware that life can change in a moment! One visit to the doctor's office; a patch of ice on a country road, as I was reminded again last week, can rewrite the script for family's future in 2 seconds. Just over four years ago, on 9/11/01, our national illusion of invincibility was erased by 19 terrorists with murderous intentions. An ordinary Tuesday morning, turned into a national month of mourning and literally changed the course of history.
So, how do we live in a world that is so full of potential threats and danger?
1. We acknowledge our vulnerability! But doesn't that make us insecure? Doesn't that fill us with anxiety? Not necessarily, but it does make us act more wisely. When I climb into my Mountaineer with its heavy frame and air bags for safety, I 'feel' secure; so secure that I'm tempted to ignore the seatbelts. But it's a false sense of security! The activity that exposes me to the greatest risk of injury or death everyday is driving my car! So, if I recognize that danger and put on my seatbelt, I reduce the risk by a huge margin!
Spiritually, we risk falling into terribly destructive behaviors when we think we're too good, or too smart, to be tempted, to make foolish or sinful choices. That is why the Word reminds us (1 Cor. 10:12 The Message) "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."
2. We keep our hope secure in Christ, our Lord. Watch out for 'magical' kind of thinking that corrupts authentic faith! I know a man who is a modern Job! If it could go wrong for him, it has. He has lost nearly everything he held dear and is on the edge of even throwing away his faith. I have no clue why the Lord has allowed him to taste such a bitter cup, nor would it be proper for me to make a judgment. But, I think I know why he has come to such bitterness in his soul. He was taught, wrongly, that if he did the 'right things' and said the 'right prayers,' that he could exempt himself from the suffering that is common to the human race. His Christianity was tinged with religious magic. So, when life fell apart, he could only conclude one of two things - "God lied!" or "I failed." Either one of those is a pretty devastating conclusion. The first is impossible, the second possibly not true! Jesus reminds us that bad things happen even to good people. (see John 9)
So what does it mean to hope in Christ? We raise our sights to eternity, trusting His promise to 'never leave us, nor forsake us' in this world and to bring us home to the Father's house when our life is complete! (Col 3:1-3 NLT) "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God." That is an amazingly wonderful way to live.
3. We pray with a child-like faith! Yes, I believe in angels, for the Bible tells me that "they are ministering spirits sent to serve" Believers, so I ask for God to send His angels to watch over those I love. And, too, even as I trust in God's ability to rule all of the matters of life, I recognize that He has given me the privilege of praying for change, so I do. And as someone has said, "the more I pray, the more amazing 'coincidences' happen around me." The prayers of God's people change the course of history. So, I pray - with humility, yet boldly, coming into the very Presence of God to present my petitions, to ask for Him to keep me in His hands, to present myself to the Spirit for guidance and change.
Feeling a little anxious today? Me, too. So, I'll pray. Join me.
_______________
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, help me stand!
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night;
Lead me on to the light.
Take my hand, Precious Lord, Lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near.
When my life is almost gone;
Hear my cry, hear my call,Hold my hand lest I fall.
Take my hand, Precious Lord, Lead me home.
When the darkness appears,
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone.
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand.
Take my hand, Precious Lord, Lead me home.
Precious Lord (Take My Hand) Tommy Dorsey
Iran ready to produce nuclear weapons with aim of Israel's destruction!
Bird Flu reaches to Turkey. (Really, that was a headline. I'll bet the editor thought it was 'catchy.')
Tragic wreck ends life of husband and father!
Hamas takes power in Palestinian world!
ABC News Anchor, critically injured in Iraq by bomb!
There are those things that don't make headlines, but that are real threats to personal security all the same - things like viruses and layoffs. On one hand, my life seems as predictable as the sunrise. I awaken each day to a peaceful neighborhood, and move through familiar rituals. I have no sense of doom or danger, occasionally even joking with my wife about how 'boring' we are, two middle-aged people who just do what needs to be done without much fanfare or excitement. Boring, in the 'no crisis' sense, is good!
But, I am also aware that life can change in a moment! One visit to the doctor's office; a patch of ice on a country road, as I was reminded again last week, can rewrite the script for family's future in 2 seconds. Just over four years ago, on 9/11/01, our national illusion of invincibility was erased by 19 terrorists with murderous intentions. An ordinary Tuesday morning, turned into a national month of mourning and literally changed the course of history.
So, how do we live in a world that is so full of potential threats and danger?
1. We acknowledge our vulnerability! But doesn't that make us insecure? Doesn't that fill us with anxiety? Not necessarily, but it does make us act more wisely. When I climb into my Mountaineer with its heavy frame and air bags for safety, I 'feel' secure; so secure that I'm tempted to ignore the seatbelts. But it's a false sense of security! The activity that exposes me to the greatest risk of injury or death everyday is driving my car! So, if I recognize that danger and put on my seatbelt, I reduce the risk by a huge margin!
Spiritually, we risk falling into terribly destructive behaviors when we think we're too good, or too smart, to be tempted, to make foolish or sinful choices. That is why the Word reminds us (1 Cor. 10:12 The Message) "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."
2. We keep our hope secure in Christ, our Lord. Watch out for 'magical' kind of thinking that corrupts authentic faith! I know a man who is a modern Job! If it could go wrong for him, it has. He has lost nearly everything he held dear and is on the edge of even throwing away his faith. I have no clue why the Lord has allowed him to taste such a bitter cup, nor would it be proper for me to make a judgment. But, I think I know why he has come to such bitterness in his soul. He was taught, wrongly, that if he did the 'right things' and said the 'right prayers,' that he could exempt himself from the suffering that is common to the human race. His Christianity was tinged with religious magic. So, when life fell apart, he could only conclude one of two things - "God lied!" or "I failed." Either one of those is a pretty devastating conclusion. The first is impossible, the second possibly not true! Jesus reminds us that bad things happen even to good people. (see John 9)
So what does it mean to hope in Christ? We raise our sights to eternity, trusting His promise to 'never leave us, nor forsake us' in this world and to bring us home to the Father's house when our life is complete! (Col 3:1-3 NLT) "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God." That is an amazingly wonderful way to live.
3. We pray with a child-like faith! Yes, I believe in angels, for the Bible tells me that "they are ministering spirits sent to serve" Believers, so I ask for God to send His angels to watch over those I love. And, too, even as I trust in God's ability to rule all of the matters of life, I recognize that He has given me the privilege of praying for change, so I do. And as someone has said, "the more I pray, the more amazing 'coincidences' happen around me." The prayers of God's people change the course of history. So, I pray - with humility, yet boldly, coming into the very Presence of God to present my petitions, to ask for Him to keep me in His hands, to present myself to the Spirit for guidance and change.
Feeling a little anxious today? Me, too. So, I'll pray. Join me.
_______________
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, help me stand!
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night;
Lead me on to the light.
Take my hand, Precious Lord, Lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near.
When my life is almost gone;
Hear my cry, hear my call,Hold my hand lest I fall.
Take my hand, Precious Lord, Lead me home.
When the darkness appears,
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone.
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand.
Take my hand, Precious Lord, Lead me home.
Precious Lord (Take My Hand) Tommy Dorsey
Friday, January 27, 2006
Led by the Spirit
A few years ago the idea of learning to dance with my wife formed in my head. I thought it would be romantic and fun to be able to move together to the rhythms of a waltz. Really, I did! So we joined about 10 other couples in a class at the local fitness center. Our teachers opened the first session by putting on a song and showing us the end result they hoped to teach us to achieve.; two people, moving as one, gracefully across the floor. I'm not exactly sure why that appealed to me but it did and it does! I still don't know how to dance with my wife! After two frustrating hours, I gave up and became a swing dance class drop-out.
The idea died until a couple of years ago when Bev and I were at MusicFest and listening to one of the big bands. A couple we were sitting with there got up and started to dance together... and wow; could they dance! Terry and Lisa became like one person, beautiful to watch, and having a great time together, moving under the influence of the music coming from the stage.
There are two primary reasons I still can't dance. First, I am too self-conscious and won't just 'let myself go.' Second, I am too analytic, trying to break down each movement into tiny parts rather than just moving into the music. To become a dancer, I have to give up control and come under the influence of the music as well as becoming more responsive to the movement of my partner. It isn't happening, yet!
Living as a Spirit-filled Christian has more than a few parallels to the idea of a couple in a beautiful dance! The Bible says, {Galatians 5:25} Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Some Believers struggle and fight, moving through life in fits and starts, with great effort. Others move gracefully, led by the Spirit's music. Both types of Believers live in the same broken world and deal with the same tough stuff - disappointment, difficult bosses, financial challenges, hurricanes and snow storms, traffic jams, temptation, and all those kinds of things. Yet, some are full of grace while others are a frightful mess.
There is an explanation illustrated by the life of Simon Peter who was called by Jesus to become a disciple. For three years, he didn't get it right, time after time. Oh, he tried, mightily! But most of the time it came out wrong, turned out badly. The low point was the night of Jesus' arrest and trial. First when warned of impending failure by the Lord, Peter insisted that even if the other disciples failed, "I never will!" "Ah," Jesus said sadly, "but you will, Peter. Before the rooster announces the dawn, you will deny me three times." Then, a few hours later as Jesus was being arrested, Peter pulled out his sword and made an attempt at defending his Friend, succeeding only in cutting off a man's ear, which Jesus promptly healed, as He told Peter, "Put that thing away!" And, a little later, in the grip of panic, we can over hear Peter cursing and swearing as he says, "I tell you, I never knew him!"
Flip the calendar ahead 50 days to the opening chapters of the book of Acts. A man with the same name but a new manner of living appears. Peter leads the disciples, teaches them the Scripture, preaches on the street, and boldly stands up to those who are trying to crush the Jesus movement. With grace and beauty he moves through those chapters. How does the Bible account for the difference? Acts 4:8 sums it up, saying "Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, . . ."
The life and music of the Spirit filled him up and he began to dance gracefully under the Spirit's influence, moving to the rhythms of Heaven. When he came to the end of himself, when he was crushed beyond hope by his failure, God came with the outpouring of His Spirit. And Peter was never again a bumbling goof-up. Yes, he made mistakes now and again, but he was a man of grace and power, who spread the message of Jesus and life across the world!
Are you 'keeping step with the Spirit,' or are you stumbling and bumbling, from fall to failure?
Listen to the music of the Spirit. Give yourself over to His lead. Be filled! And start to dance!
________________________
Lord-willing, this Sunday, I will continue the theme, "Living a Break Through Life" at the Assembly.
I'll be exploring this concept of keeping step with the Spirit. Come and worship with us at 10:15 AM!
The idea died until a couple of years ago when Bev and I were at MusicFest and listening to one of the big bands. A couple we were sitting with there got up and started to dance together... and wow; could they dance! Terry and Lisa became like one person, beautiful to watch, and having a great time together, moving under the influence of the music coming from the stage.
There are two primary reasons I still can't dance. First, I am too self-conscious and won't just 'let myself go.' Second, I am too analytic, trying to break down each movement into tiny parts rather than just moving into the music. To become a dancer, I have to give up control and come under the influence of the music as well as becoming more responsive to the movement of my partner. It isn't happening, yet!
Living as a Spirit-filled Christian has more than a few parallels to the idea of a couple in a beautiful dance! The Bible says, {Galatians 5:25} Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Some Believers struggle and fight, moving through life in fits and starts, with great effort. Others move gracefully, led by the Spirit's music. Both types of Believers live in the same broken world and deal with the same tough stuff - disappointment, difficult bosses, financial challenges, hurricanes and snow storms, traffic jams, temptation, and all those kinds of things. Yet, some are full of grace while others are a frightful mess.
There is an explanation illustrated by the life of Simon Peter who was called by Jesus to become a disciple. For three years, he didn't get it right, time after time. Oh, he tried, mightily! But most of the time it came out wrong, turned out badly. The low point was the night of Jesus' arrest and trial. First when warned of impending failure by the Lord, Peter insisted that even if the other disciples failed, "I never will!" "Ah," Jesus said sadly, "but you will, Peter. Before the rooster announces the dawn, you will deny me three times." Then, a few hours later as Jesus was being arrested, Peter pulled out his sword and made an attempt at defending his Friend, succeeding only in cutting off a man's ear, which Jesus promptly healed, as He told Peter, "Put that thing away!" And, a little later, in the grip of panic, we can over hear Peter cursing and swearing as he says, "I tell you, I never knew him!"
Flip the calendar ahead 50 days to the opening chapters of the book of Acts. A man with the same name but a new manner of living appears. Peter leads the disciples, teaches them the Scripture, preaches on the street, and boldly stands up to those who are trying to crush the Jesus movement. With grace and beauty he moves through those chapters. How does the Bible account for the difference? Acts 4:8 sums it up, saying "Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, . . ."
The life and music of the Spirit filled him up and he began to dance gracefully under the Spirit's influence, moving to the rhythms of Heaven. When he came to the end of himself, when he was crushed beyond hope by his failure, God came with the outpouring of His Spirit. And Peter was never again a bumbling goof-up. Yes, he made mistakes now and again, but he was a man of grace and power, who spread the message of Jesus and life across the world!
Are you 'keeping step with the Spirit,' or are you stumbling and bumbling, from fall to failure?
Listen to the music of the Spirit. Give yourself over to His lead. Be filled! And start to dance!
________________________
Lord-willing, this Sunday, I will continue the theme, "Living a Break Through Life" at the Assembly.
I'll be exploring this concept of keeping step with the Spirit. Come and worship with us at 10:15 AM!
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Privileged and Responsible
"I'm an American citizen." As such, I enjoy the protection of the Constitution of these United States and the Bill of Rights. I have a right to the benefits provided by our government- justice under law and basic political freedoms. Yes, then too, I have a responsibility to obey the laws of the governmental authority - local, state, and Federal. I spent time on Monday fulfilling a basic obligation of a citizen of this country; doing an annual tax return. Being a citizen is not just a legal definition. Both privilege and responsibility are part of my citizenship.
"I am a citizen of the Kingdom of Christ." This is not a statement of some future reality or a figurative expression without present implications. This is statement of a fact that carries, like my American citizenship, both privilege and responsibility. No one is a citizen of Christ's kingdom by natural birth. We are invited by the King and accept His invitation through faith! In Ephesians 2:12-13 Paul explains this saying, "remember that at that time (that is, before you received Christ Jesus as Savior and King) you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." What then? We begin to live, really live! Or so we should.
In Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7, Jesus explains the ways of the Kingdom. He speaks of love, a real and practical love, as a basic principle that should guide us in our daily interactions. He teaches us of trust in God that privileges us with a life without anxiety lived among circumstances that cause 'non-citizens' great worry and fear. He tells us of a profound change in our relationship with God, our Father, that comes from a heart deep desire to please Him. The God we once feared from a distance, we now love and serve with joy. Once early in these chapters and again near the end, Jesus reminds us that entering into the Kingdom, that is, living under the protection of the King and enjoying the privileges of His kingdom, is connected to our choices. "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." {Matthew 5:20} And again, “Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven." {Matthew 7:21} True kingdom citizens live profoundly changed lives, from the very core of their beings.
Is Jesus talking about 'getting to go to Heaven when we die' when he speaks of 'entering the Kingdom?' No, He is telling us about getting to bring Heaven to earth while we live! In a discussion about how we live - whether simply to satisfy our basic physical desires and needs, or for something more lasting - Paul says, {Phil. 3:18-20} "I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives."
Are you 'in the Kingdom?' Are you embracing the privileges and the responsibilities?
_________________
Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
”‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed (holy, reverenced) be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
"I am a citizen of the Kingdom of Christ." This is not a statement of some future reality or a figurative expression without present implications. This is statement of a fact that carries, like my American citizenship, both privilege and responsibility. No one is a citizen of Christ's kingdom by natural birth. We are invited by the King and accept His invitation through faith! In Ephesians 2:12-13 Paul explains this saying, "remember that at that time (that is, before you received Christ Jesus as Savior and King) you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." What then? We begin to live, really live! Or so we should.
In Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7, Jesus explains the ways of the Kingdom. He speaks of love, a real and practical love, as a basic principle that should guide us in our daily interactions. He teaches us of trust in God that privileges us with a life without anxiety lived among circumstances that cause 'non-citizens' great worry and fear. He tells us of a profound change in our relationship with God, our Father, that comes from a heart deep desire to please Him. The God we once feared from a distance, we now love and serve with joy. Once early in these chapters and again near the end, Jesus reminds us that entering into the Kingdom, that is, living under the protection of the King and enjoying the privileges of His kingdom, is connected to our choices. "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." {Matthew 5:20} And again, “Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven." {Matthew 7:21} True kingdom citizens live profoundly changed lives, from the very core of their beings.
Is Jesus talking about 'getting to go to Heaven when we die' when he speaks of 'entering the Kingdom?' No, He is telling us about getting to bring Heaven to earth while we live! In a discussion about how we live - whether simply to satisfy our basic physical desires and needs, or for something more lasting - Paul says, {Phil. 3:18-20} "I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives."
Are you 'in the Kingdom?' Are you embracing the privileges and the responsibilities?
_________________
Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
”‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed (holy, reverenced) be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Am I a good Christian?
OK, just writing that question makes me shudder because the whole quest to be a 'good' Christian has, in many places and times, quickly become an exercise in rule-making, judging, and finger-pointing, and descend into legalism, that is, thinking salvation is earned by keeping religious rules! And yet, as James asks, "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" (James 2:14, NIV) Paul, too, pleads with us to "live a life worthy of the calling you have received." (Eph. 4.1, NIV)
What we believe about God, about Jesus Christ's death and Resurrection, about the life of the Holy Spirit must show a a clear connection to our decisions made in the day to day world. If our faith in Jesus Christ is not showing in obvious ways, then we must conclude that our experience with God is flawed. We must go back to study the Scripture to learn of His commands, and fall down on our knees to ask Him to make us who we ought to be. Just be wise about the 'transformational' markers you choose to look for in yourself as a gauge of spiritual growth. In my youth, many of the markers that came to me were not particularly Biblical. I was taught that a 'good' Christian didn't use tobacco products, did not drink alcohol, did not go to the movies, did not use vulgar words. Those rules may have some merit for clean living - but they do not have much to do with being a 'good' Christian. Why? Because they weren't really about loving God and/or loving other people.
Jesus spoke frequently about caring for the poor and the weak. Naturally, people don't care about the poor. The privileged ignore the poor, or worse, abuse and exploit them. So a question about being a good Christian would involve ways in which we really show a concern for the poor. Caution! Don't just write a check to the Red Cross and then put a little mark in the column under - Compassion shown. That's religion! Instead, ask yourself, "Am I engaged with those who are in need, those that are invisible or neglected by the privileged? Do I really love them or just pity them? What am I doing to ease their suffering in the name of Jesus?"
Jesus was very direct about the importance of loving those who mistreat us. His instructions are unmistakable. "Turn the other cheek! If they grab for your shirt off your back, hand them your coat, too!" Naturally, if someone starts stepping on our toes, we quickly rise to defend ourselves, our reputation, our position, our stuff. "Hey, Jerry, come on now. Ease up. I haven't killed anybody!" Great! What about your words that 'kill?' What about that concealed hatred that makes you think, "I wish he'd move to Seattle so I never had to see him again?" So a question to ask, if we're serious about being a good Christian is, "Am I loving those people who are not loving towards me? What is my first inclination: to get even, or to reach out in gentleness?" Start at home! If you're not willing to let God teach you to love your spouse, with whom you have a 'one-ness' covenant, what makes you think you're ready to love anybody else?
Jesus was painfully to the point about the meaning of life, too. He said, “No one can serve two masters. ... You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24, NLT) Americans define life in terms of having stuff. We are a 'consumer' culture. We work, we earn, we buy! If we're serious about being a good Christian, we must be willing to let God re-shape our value system so that love people, not things. Naturally, we crave more. If we're growing in Christ, we will find that the new cars, the fashionable clothes, the trinkets that help us to announce, "I've made it" to our friends and family, mean less and less to us in terms of life's meaning. Careful here, too. It's too easy of an answer to jump onto a sliding scale that says, "Well, I don't spend $'s on ......, therefore I am a good Christian." Or we might point to the fact that we give a tithe to the church (10% of our income) as evidence of our devotion to God. That's all good, but Jesus' true standard about materialism is that we love Him with everything we own and put it all at His disposal! (And don't judge somebody for what they buy! Tend to your own checkbook!)
Are you starting to feel like a really bad Christian? Me, too! If we're real honest, we realize that there's no way any of us will consistently meet His mark --- on our own or by our own determination. That's why a moral reformation is not what we seek. Instead, we seek a Spiritual transformation. He promises that if I confess my sinfulness: "Lord, I don't want to love the poor. I want to be cool, hip, and hang out with those who are upscale. Jesus, I see how I am quick to defend myself, and I admit that thoughts about my reputation and pride are never far from my conscious mind. I covet the stuff that I see on the billboards, crave the easy life of the rich, and seek to give the minimal gift too readily." - He will forgive me and He will work to defeat the power of the sinful nature in me! Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Our world needs to see some good Christians. Let Jesus Christ turn you into one, so that "your unbelieving neighbors... will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world." (1 Peter 2:12, NLT)
_________________
Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message)
What we believe about God, about Jesus Christ's death and Resurrection, about the life of the Holy Spirit must show a a clear connection to our decisions made in the day to day world. If our faith in Jesus Christ is not showing in obvious ways, then we must conclude that our experience with God is flawed. We must go back to study the Scripture to learn of His commands, and fall down on our knees to ask Him to make us who we ought to be. Just be wise about the 'transformational' markers you choose to look for in yourself as a gauge of spiritual growth. In my youth, many of the markers that came to me were not particularly Biblical. I was taught that a 'good' Christian didn't use tobacco products, did not drink alcohol, did not go to the movies, did not use vulgar words. Those rules may have some merit for clean living - but they do not have much to do with being a 'good' Christian. Why? Because they weren't really about loving God and/or loving other people.
Jesus spoke frequently about caring for the poor and the weak. Naturally, people don't care about the poor. The privileged ignore the poor, or worse, abuse and exploit them. So a question about being a good Christian would involve ways in which we really show a concern for the poor. Caution! Don't just write a check to the Red Cross and then put a little mark in the column under - Compassion shown. That's religion! Instead, ask yourself, "Am I engaged with those who are in need, those that are invisible or neglected by the privileged? Do I really love them or just pity them? What am I doing to ease their suffering in the name of Jesus?"
Jesus was very direct about the importance of loving those who mistreat us. His instructions are unmistakable. "Turn the other cheek! If they grab for your shirt off your back, hand them your coat, too!" Naturally, if someone starts stepping on our toes, we quickly rise to defend ourselves, our reputation, our position, our stuff. "Hey, Jerry, come on now. Ease up. I haven't killed anybody!" Great! What about your words that 'kill?' What about that concealed hatred that makes you think, "I wish he'd move to Seattle so I never had to see him again?" So a question to ask, if we're serious about being a good Christian is, "Am I loving those people who are not loving towards me? What is my first inclination: to get even, or to reach out in gentleness?" Start at home! If you're not willing to let God teach you to love your spouse, with whom you have a 'one-ness' covenant, what makes you think you're ready to love anybody else?
Jesus was painfully to the point about the meaning of life, too. He said, “No one can serve two masters. ... You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24, NLT) Americans define life in terms of having stuff. We are a 'consumer' culture. We work, we earn, we buy! If we're serious about being a good Christian, we must be willing to let God re-shape our value system so that love people, not things. Naturally, we crave more. If we're growing in Christ, we will find that the new cars, the fashionable clothes, the trinkets that help us to announce, "I've made it" to our friends and family, mean less and less to us in terms of life's meaning. Careful here, too. It's too easy of an answer to jump onto a sliding scale that says, "Well, I don't spend $'s on ......, therefore I am a good Christian." Or we might point to the fact that we give a tithe to the church (10% of our income) as evidence of our devotion to God. That's all good, but Jesus' true standard about materialism is that we love Him with everything we own and put it all at His disposal! (And don't judge somebody for what they buy! Tend to your own checkbook!)
Are you starting to feel like a really bad Christian? Me, too! If we're real honest, we realize that there's no way any of us will consistently meet His mark --- on our own or by our own determination. That's why a moral reformation is not what we seek. Instead, we seek a Spiritual transformation. He promises that if I confess my sinfulness: "Lord, I don't want to love the poor. I want to be cool, hip, and hang out with those who are upscale. Jesus, I see how I am quick to defend myself, and I admit that thoughts about my reputation and pride are never far from my conscious mind. I covet the stuff that I see on the billboards, crave the easy life of the rich, and seek to give the minimal gift too readily." - He will forgive me and He will work to defeat the power of the sinful nature in me! Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Our world needs to see some good Christians. Let Jesus Christ turn you into one, so that "your unbelieving neighbors... will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world." (1 Peter 2:12, NLT)
_________________
Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message)
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Eyes on the prize?
Christianity Today (Feb., 2006) reports a story about Bruce Wilkinson's departure from Africa. The well-known author of The Prayer of Jabez, suddenly left the ministry, Dream For Africa, that he founded with great public fanfare two years ago. According to the article, his designs to create a home in Swaziland for 10,000 AIDS orphans were frustrated by local government inaction. In addition, he was severely criticized by African press, accused of being more interested in controlling land than helping orphans, a baseless charge. After 18 months, Wilkinson, despite having American support and plentiful resources, quit Africa to return to his home in Georgia. A source is quoted as saying, "Bruce was broken at this time. Dream for Africa had physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially taken a serious toll."
Days come to us all when we've 'had enough!' We quit; or, at least, we think we want to. We are tempted to just get in our car and drive away, leaving 'the problem' in our rearview mirror. The reason I was so interested in the Wilkinson story is that I could identify with the kinds of emotions that he must have felt when he was accused of ulterior motives and frustrated by inaction. When I've experienced those things, I have thought that it was just because I didn't have enough money, or staff, or time ... or something ... to implement my dreams. Yet, here is a man with all those things- money, staff, resources- who, to all reports, got fed up and went home! I am sad for him and sad for those in Africa with such huge needs that he left behind. (Please read what follows as personal, not as relating to Wilkinson, since I don't know his heart.)
When I am tempted to quit my calling, to look for an easier place to serve, the one important thing I know is this - "Do nothing!"
The worst time to make a decision for the future is when I am discouraged, frustrated, or angry! The pithy wisdom of Proverbs reminds me, "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." (Proverbs 16:25, NLT) The course of action that 'makes so much sense' now, may look quite foolish a month from now when the pressure has let up. I have lived long enough to be very thankful that I didn't resign or move under pressure on more than one occasion. To be sure, there are times when a strategic retreat is in order. When we're up against an unyielding foe, when nothing is going right, when everything thing we try to do meets with opposition- there's not a thing wrong with saying, "I need to take a break!" We step away, for a day or take a week's vacation, and try to regain perspective. A prayer retreat, where we get alone with our thoughts and God, letting it all out with a flood of words (and maybe some tears, too), can help to restore us to effectiveness. God has taught me this, too - at the end of myself, He's able to step in and do amazingly wonderful things. It's true! When I give up, when I throw my hands up in frustration saying, "I don't know what to do," God finds an opening!
Don't misunderstand what that means. When "God steps in" that doesn't mean we get to feel better, that we enjoy vindication, or that everyone around falls in line with our program. It means that we give away the need to be right, the desire to have it done our way, and/or the need for recognition. Ego must die (again and again!) so that the Spirit-life can emerge. Letting God take over is a costly, deathly choice, that provides a way for His plan to take root and grow bringing new life. Often those who have opposed us even rejoice thinking that they have prevailed against us! "God knows!" is what I tell myself in those moments. He knows what I've done, why I've done it, and His approval is what matters most!
Are you ready to quit today? Can you find a way to do a strategic retreat? Is there an honest counselor (no, not someone who will just tell you that you're right!) who will help you unravel the knots? James teaches us - "let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:4, KJV)
Here's the complete thought. Take this word from the Word with you today. "So let endurance grow, for when it is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:4-6, NLT)
Steady on - for God's glory.
Days come to us all when we've 'had enough!' We quit; or, at least, we think we want to. We are tempted to just get in our car and drive away, leaving 'the problem' in our rearview mirror. The reason I was so interested in the Wilkinson story is that I could identify with the kinds of emotions that he must have felt when he was accused of ulterior motives and frustrated by inaction. When I've experienced those things, I have thought that it was just because I didn't have enough money, or staff, or time ... or something ... to implement my dreams. Yet, here is a man with all those things- money, staff, resources- who, to all reports, got fed up and went home! I am sad for him and sad for those in Africa with such huge needs that he left behind. (Please read what follows as personal, not as relating to Wilkinson, since I don't know his heart.)
When I am tempted to quit my calling, to look for an easier place to serve, the one important thing I know is this - "Do nothing!"
The worst time to make a decision for the future is when I am discouraged, frustrated, or angry! The pithy wisdom of Proverbs reminds me, "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." (Proverbs 16:25, NLT) The course of action that 'makes so much sense' now, may look quite foolish a month from now when the pressure has let up. I have lived long enough to be very thankful that I didn't resign or move under pressure on more than one occasion. To be sure, there are times when a strategic retreat is in order. When we're up against an unyielding foe, when nothing is going right, when everything thing we try to do meets with opposition- there's not a thing wrong with saying, "I need to take a break!" We step away, for a day or take a week's vacation, and try to regain perspective. A prayer retreat, where we get alone with our thoughts and God, letting it all out with a flood of words (and maybe some tears, too), can help to restore us to effectiveness. God has taught me this, too - at the end of myself, He's able to step in and do amazingly wonderful things. It's true! When I give up, when I throw my hands up in frustration saying, "I don't know what to do," God finds an opening!
Don't misunderstand what that means. When "God steps in" that doesn't mean we get to feel better, that we enjoy vindication, or that everyone around falls in line with our program. It means that we give away the need to be right, the desire to have it done our way, and/or the need for recognition. Ego must die (again and again!) so that the Spirit-life can emerge. Letting God take over is a costly, deathly choice, that provides a way for His plan to take root and grow bringing new life. Often those who have opposed us even rejoice thinking that they have prevailed against us! "God knows!" is what I tell myself in those moments. He knows what I've done, why I've done it, and His approval is what matters most!
Are you ready to quit today? Can you find a way to do a strategic retreat? Is there an honest counselor (no, not someone who will just tell you that you're right!) who will help you unravel the knots? James teaches us - "let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:4, KJV)
Here's the complete thought. Take this word from the Word with you today. "So let endurance grow, for when it is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:4-6, NLT)
Steady on - for God's glory.
Monday, January 23, 2006
A sure thing?
When the NFL play-offs started, the guys in the box were talking about the destiny of the Patriots, about Brady's mystique in winning post-season games. Despite a disappointing season, as it looked like NE was ' a sure thing' until they met the Broncos in Mile High Stadium a week ago. With that loss, the Pats dropped off the radar. (For all you Steeler fans, I've got to admit that they looked great yesterday against those same Broncos. What an offense!) Life is full of 'sure things' that don't turn out to be so sure, isn't it? Enron was a the company of the future, a sure place to put your money, in 2001. Today, the stock certificates are worthless, except as souvenirs! Remember the Democratic primary a couple of years ago? Howard Dean looked like the sure thing to take the nomination until the wheels fell off his campaign bus in Iowa! Who can forget the 'Dean scream' that filled the news for 24 hours in January, 2004?
Sports, politics, investments... there are no sure things, no inevitable results. Ben Franklin advised that there were only two things in this life we can count on; death and taxes! True enough. Had he read what God promises about one of those certainties? The Bible says, "Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences." Grim news? Could be, but there is an additional promise attached to that line: "Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation." (Hebrews 9:27-28, The Message)
Barbara Walters spoke with Ted Haggard, Pastor of New Life Church and President of the National Association of Evangelicals, on a special aired recently called, "Heaven." She pressed him about whether a person had to be a Christian to go to Heaven. I loved his response. "If you want a sure reservation; if you want to know that you know, then the way is Christ!" She tried to get him to say that adherents of other religions were not going to be in heaven, but he stuck with that declaration. Do you want to know that you know that you will spend Eternity with God? Then, trust Christ, love Him, and begin to live eternally - NOW! It's the one sure thing in a world marked by uncertainties.
The hope of Heaven is not just 'pie in the sky, by and by,' nor it is an escapist fantasy for dealing with life's disappointment. Having Heaven as our eternal home will powerfully effect the way we live right now. John says, "Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure." (1 John 3:2-3, NLT)
Thank God for the sure thing of your home in Heaven, through Christ Jesus. Let that promise soak into your mind and heart, changing your perspective on life today. And, live through the disappointments of life, steady in faith, full of hope, and consequently - filled with the character and courage of Jesus Christ who because He "never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God— could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God." (Hebrews 12:2, The Message)
___________________
"Father God, I am looking over the week that lies ahead,
planning, scheduling.
Fix in my mind and my heart that promise of Heaven.
Help me to live, today, as a citizen of your forever Kingdom!
Keep me from pettiness, from short-sighted choices that are not worthy of your high calling.
When the disappointments of a uncertain world threaten to make me depressed,
or to turn me into a cynic, let me see Heaven that waits.
Jesus, let us keep company with You today,
so that when our appointment with You comes, be it sooner or later,
we can walk confidently from time into eternity.
Amen."
Sports, politics, investments... there are no sure things, no inevitable results. Ben Franklin advised that there were only two things in this life we can count on; death and taxes! True enough. Had he read what God promises about one of those certainties? The Bible says, "Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences." Grim news? Could be, but there is an additional promise attached to that line: "Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation." (Hebrews 9:27-28, The Message)
Barbara Walters spoke with Ted Haggard, Pastor of New Life Church and President of the National Association of Evangelicals, on a special aired recently called, "Heaven." She pressed him about whether a person had to be a Christian to go to Heaven. I loved his response. "If you want a sure reservation; if you want to know that you know, then the way is Christ!" She tried to get him to say that adherents of other religions were not going to be in heaven, but he stuck with that declaration. Do you want to know that you know that you will spend Eternity with God? Then, trust Christ, love Him, and begin to live eternally - NOW! It's the one sure thing in a world marked by uncertainties.
The hope of Heaven is not just 'pie in the sky, by and by,' nor it is an escapist fantasy for dealing with life's disappointment. Having Heaven as our eternal home will powerfully effect the way we live right now. John says, "Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure." (1 John 3:2-3, NLT)
Thank God for the sure thing of your home in Heaven, through Christ Jesus. Let that promise soak into your mind and heart, changing your perspective on life today. And, live through the disappointments of life, steady in faith, full of hope, and consequently - filled with the character and courage of Jesus Christ who because He "never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God— could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God." (Hebrews 12:2, The Message)
___________________
"Father God, I am looking over the week that lies ahead,
planning, scheduling.
Fix in my mind and my heart that promise of Heaven.
Help me to live, today, as a citizen of your forever Kingdom!
Keep me from pettiness, from short-sighted choices that are not worthy of your high calling.
When the disappointments of a uncertain world threaten to make me depressed,
or to turn me into a cynic, let me see Heaven that waits.
Jesus, let us keep company with You today,
so that when our appointment with You comes, be it sooner or later,
we can walk confidently from time into eternity.
Amen."
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