What a need!

God has been so good to me. My life has been filled with good people: with abundant love, with light, and with wholeness. And yet, I know that there is a world of need around me. I do not live in a bubble! I've seen desperate poverty, and the suffering it produces, up close and personal in developing nations. I've helped men and women to the light of Christ out of deep pits of darkness. I've comforted those who are dealing with terrors of sickness, the devastation of family disintegration, and the shame of personal failures and sins of all kinds. But still I find myself, from time to time, 'rediscovering' the need of this world from time to time. Yesterday was one of those days. Christianity Today, (July, 06) contained a report on the world's sex trade industry. The World Cup, the championship soccer event being held in Germany this year, is the site of commercial sex on a grand scale. 40,000 legal prostitutes are doing business at the games. Sex huts, complete with condoms and snacks, are provided around the venue! Talk about 'casual' sex! The article told of the sex slavery that young women from poor nations are drawn into, often unwittingly, by those who profit at high rates. Two-thirds of these women suffer from Post Traumatic Stress at levels like those found in veterans of combat or state sponsored torture. What kind of depravity makes a person destroy another's life for a few bucks? It is not a particular kind of evil that does this. It is just another expression of the ordinary evil that is all around us; the sinfulness that is the natural state of every human- the result of the Fall of Adam.

Believer, God sends you and me into the world to confront evil - be it the sex trade, or the more banal evil of an abusive husband in a family we know, or the economic exploitation of person. He calls on us to stand against systems that facilitate abuse of power, to shine the light on cruelty in whatever form it is found among us, to bring hope to the hopeless, healing to the broken, and peace to the troubled soul! The question that I find myself asking is "How can I make any difference?" Can I possibly have any effect on the tide of sin that washes over humanity?' In my own strength, with my own resources, the answer is obviously, "no." Even Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, using their $billions in generous and admirable philanthropy, won't stop the flow of suffering. They might save some, but sin and suffering will exist long after Gate's money is exhausted.

So, am I defeatist? Am I suggesting that we sound retreat and run from the battle with sin and Satan? NO! We run to the battle, equipped with God-given weapons that are sufficient to push back evil and the Evil One. God calls on us to go and love; and with the power of love we break the cycle of sin and suffering. Sound silly? Take a look at what Paul writes -

"The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity." (2 Corinthians 10:3-6, The Message)

What we remember is that engaging with evil is costly. When Jesus left the Throne Room to become a Man, it was a costly choice that took Him all the way to the Cross. Love, alone, compelled Him to suffer and die for the sins of the world. Likewise, the fight for right, our commitment to serve the Kingdom of Heaven, will be costly. The Lord urged us to consider that cost before we enter the battle. He calls us to "Shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your own soul in the process?" (Luke 9:23-25, NLT)

Remember Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush? The Lord spoke to him and called on him to return to Egypt to deliver the people of Israel from slavery to the Promised Land. His initial response was “But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11, The Message) It may sound like an excuse, but I believe it reveals the humility of Moses, which his 40 years in the desert tending sheep had produced. The answer from Heaven that came to Moses echoes down to you and me as we, too, are commissioned to lead people out of slavery to the Promise of knowing God. The Lord answered - "I will be with you!"

On our own, with our meager resources, we can do little against evil. With God, we can move mountains.

So, are you ready to sign up for the cause of Christ? See the need. I hope it makes you feel small and inadequate, so much that you will fall to your knees and say, "Who am I, Lord?" And then to rise, empowered by the Spirit, filled with Heaven's boldness, prepared to 'use powerful God-tools to smash warped philosophies!'

Soli Deo Gloria!
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Feeling Inadequate?

Criticism stings! Those who serve publicly come in for a fair share of it. To be sure, there are those who support and affirm, but the voice of the critics always seems louder. Yesterday after a congregant was particularly critical of my leadership, I found a place of prayer and asked God - "Lord, why did you call me? I feel so inadequate for this work!" The thought that I could stand up in front of people week after week and teach them eternal truths awes me! That He has entrusted me with the soul care of His Bride, the church, weighs heavily on me. I know I am not smart enough, 'Christian' enough, or perfect. (Hey, I heard that amen!) I have to consciously remind myself - time and again - that the strength, the wisdom, the gifts belong to my Master and Lord. I serve at His pleasure! And... He has promised that as long as I keep my eyes on Him, He will equip me to serve skillfully and well.

Do you feel incapable of serving God, of doing effective ministry? Do your short-comings, sins, and failures taunt you from the wings of the stage of your mind whispering to you - "there's no way you're going to pull this off successfully?"

I know those voices, too. They are partially demonic in origin and partially rooted in our own fears. Ever person who responds obediently and purposefully to do God's will - be they a preacher or a plumber- will feel some level of fear. IF they do not, they are not walking in faith. Paul, himself, knew this sense of inadequacy. Of the calling to represent the Kingdom of God, he asks, "Who is equal to such a task?" and a little further on the text, "It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God." (2 Corinthians 3:5, NLT) The taunters lie, if only because they ignore the one thing that is the key to doing spiritual work effectively -- it isn't our own strength, cleverness, or skills that ultimately provide success.

The Bible says, "For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed." (1 Corinthians 1:5-7, NIV) Yes, we must recognize that the 'you' that is the subject of this verse is a collective describing the Church. But, you and I am 'in the Church' and we can claim the promise of His enabling spiritual gifts personally! Do you?

When I am on the edge of being overwhelmed by my fears and my sense of inadequacy, there is but one thing that quiets my mind... knowing that "It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6, NLT) Go back and read that again.

What strengths did God see in us that caused Him to choose us? Nothing!
But He called us, at His own initiative, because of His grace. Then He promised, "I will enrich you in every way!" Claim His strength.

Here's a Word to take with you today...

God "chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.”(1 Corinthians 1:28-31, The Message)
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Constantly Abiding

There's a peace in my heart that the world never gave,
A peace it can not take away;
Tho' the trials of life may surround like a cloud,
I've a peace that has come there to stay!

Constantly abiding, Jesus is mine;
Constantly abiding, rapture divine;
He never leaves me lonely,
Whispers, O, so kind:
"I will never leave Thee," Jesus is mine.

This treasure I have in a temple of clay,
While here on His footstool I roam;
But He's coming to take me some glorious day,
Over there to my heavenly home!

© Public Domain / CCLI License No. 810055

Running in circles?

Americans sometimes say, "I'm running around like a chicken with his head cut off!" The idiom comes from reality. In the farmyard when Farmer Jim chops the head off of a rooster in preparation for dinner, that bird will sometimes run around and flop before finally expiring. Gruesome, isn't it? But true! With so much to do and so little time in which to do it all, we may feel that we are running in circles. In those days, it is important to remember the word - "Choice!"

In the July 3, 2006 issue of U.S.News, the editors focus on taking a break in the Summer. Seems that we Americans are addicted to our work, driven rather than purposeful. A third of us (me, included!) don't take our full vacation time. Even when we do 'take off,' our wired world makes it possible for us to take the job with us via cell phones and laptop computers. Ellen Ostrow believes that many of us are unwilling to take a break because it will "challenge your grandiose notion that you are completely dispensable." Author Carl Honore observes that even when we take breaks many of us 'don't get the full pleasure because we don't take time between activities to decompress, to reflect, and to enjoy what we do." We think that vacation includes the whole city, 30 museums, and 30 monuments in 5 days! What ever happened to a week in a chair in the backyard with a couple of novels to browse between naps?

An old Christian phrase I've heard so many times is - "I want to burn out for God!" I wonder about that idea. Is that really a good goal? Did Jesus 'burn out' as He ran from appointment to appointment, pushing people to higher levels of performance, over 'take out' lunches? He was moved as He saw a world filled with people who were 'harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.' He encouraged His disciples to “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat. So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. (Mark 6:31-33, The Message)

There are high output times in life, weeks when deadlines converge and unplanned emergencies arise. In the crunch times we must respond with everything we have, with our full energies, and focused efforts. But, we cannot sustain that pace of life indefinitely without terrible consequences- emotionally, physically, and spiritually! The stories of people who burnt out, slid into depression, and then destroyed their lives with dumb choices are all around us. The truth is that God designed us for work and rest. In the Creation He made the pattern - 6 days to work, 1 to rest! In the Law of Moses, He set times for rest and renewal, regular festivals and Holy Days that broke up the work and gave His people time to refocus on Him.

Perhaps you are thinking, "I'd like to live more purposefully, but my life drives me!" I, too, know how difficult it can be to escape the demands of life. Mine is a 'people' calling. I cannot turn off the 'machine' of people's needs at 5 PM. I cannot ignore the calls for prayer, for counsel, that come my way at all hours of the day and sometimes, the night. But, I can choose to lean on the Lord and to share the load of ministry where it is appropriate to do so. I can, and do, practice the disciplines of prayer and meditation that create spaces of renewal in the middle of busy weeks. I prioritize worship, both private and with the church gathered, because I know that without worship, I will lose my focus on Him and start to 'run around like a chicken with his cut off!'

If you have not yet scheduled some vacation (from a Latin root word meaning - to empty!) - do it today. Get out the calendar, consult with those with whom you work, and put some time aside to take a break. Take care not to over-schedule the break! Too many of will let our addiction to stimulation think that we have to be going somewhere, doing something, in order to be having fun. Think again.

Here's a word to ponder today. What is Jesus saying to you?

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-31, The Message)

Giving is an act of worship

Yesterday I received an appeal letter from a Christian organization that our church supports. Attached to that letter was a list of donors, with their contributions listed in order from most to least. What do you think I did? Probably, I did what most people would do. I looked for the church's name on the list. I wanted to see where we were on the list! The focus of our donation was no longer the work of Jesus Christ. Instead, I was concerned about the opinion of others. Had we given enough that no one would think poorly of us? How did we compare with others? Then it became perfectly clear what was going on. I quickly put the list down and asked God for forgiveness!

The appeal to human pride, both negatively with shame and positively with recognition, can be a powerful tool in the hands of those who raise funds for charitable work. However, such tactics are wrong because they completely miss the point of true giving which is as an act of worship, as a decision that flows from devotion and love. Jesus wisely taught us, "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. But when you give to someone, don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you." (Matthew 6:2-4, NLT)

Jesus knew our human nature, marred by depravity, would, if given the chance, twist giving into a means of gratifying our ego needs. He knew even use our 'gifts to God' to manipulate others into empowering us to fulfill our own agenda. He also knew that the moment our gifts became public we would concerned about appearances. We would no longer be guided by His will in our expressions of worship in giving. Instead, we would be concerned about giving enough to maintain our dignity! No wonder His disciples were so amazed by His observation about the two penny donation of a poverty stricken widow. They were accustomed to the 'normal' ways of giving, where the rich made large contributions and everyone oohed and ahhed about the $million they gave to the temple fund when it was announced from the pulpit. Jesus put a whole new perspective on giving when He said of that widow's tiny offering - “I assure you this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Luke 21:3-4, NLT)

Giving is a privilege, an act of worship, and a spiritual discipline. The Bible teaches us to tithe, which the Old Testament explains is 10% of our increase. We don't give our tithe because God needs it. After all, He owns the world. In the poetic words of the Psalm we are told that He 'owns the cattle on a thousand hills!' We don't tithe as a form of taxation, because we are not really giving to human organizations, though they may be the means of getting God's work done. And we don't tithe to get praise for ourselves. We give of our time and our resources because it honors the God we profess to love. In our tithing, we tell Him, in a very tangible way, "Lord, you are first priority, my love, my life." When our giving has this focus, we give generously and sacrificially and we feel joy in our gift. We aren't looking around wondering who's noticed, or how we compare on a list. We are looking UP and receiving His loving acceptance. The amount of our offering is unimportant to God, for He sees whether our gift comes from the heart and whether it is, in fact, proportional to the store of goods with which we are blessed.

Believer, I hope that you do give to your church, to charitable organizations, and to those in need. Giving, especially that which is done intentionally, regularly, and sacrificially, breaks the grip of greed from you. The person who gives worshipfully trains his eyes to look away from himself. Are you a giver? Meditate on this word from the Word today. May the Spirit inspire you to greater giving of yourself, not for earthly honors, but for the love of God!

"Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten.” For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you."
(2 Corinthians 9:6-10, NLT)

Amply supplied!

Yesterday, the lunch that was served to me by our local diner (Ah, you gotta love those NJ diners) was good, but it was too much! After the soup, salad, and warm soft dinner roll, I was already full and my main meal was not even served yet. I ate the main course and then, there was dessert. Yes, that's all in the price of the meal. Patting my stomach I concluded that the large slice of cake needed to be boxed and taken home. My eyes said, 'eat it all!' But my better sense said, "Jerry, if you do, you'll regret it." American consumers demand these large meal portions because they perceive it as a 'value' issue, 'getting their money's worth.' So, even though it is more food than we need, or that most of us can even consume in one meal, the restaurants must serve in this way to keep us coming back.

It's hard to know what is 'enough' isn't it? How much food should we eat? How much money do we really need? How big does our house need to be? If we consume too much food from our abundant supply, we grow fat. If we spend too much money, we go broke. 'More is good' and 'bigger is better' are concepts woven into our American lifestyle, but are they really true? The Bible calls us to 'contentment.' Paul instructs us that "godliness with contentment is great gain." In The Message we read: "A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough." (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

When God birthed the nation of Israel, calling them out of Egypt and leading them to the Promised Land, along the way He was their complete resource. When they had a need, they asked. For their daily food He gave them "manna" - which was literally bread from His hand. Every morning He provided and they found white flakes on the ground, which they prepared as their food. The name, "manna" meant 'what is it?' They were told only to gather what they needed, not more. But were those people content? No! Some wanted MORE. The Bible says - “Do not keep any of it overnight.” But, of course, some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. By then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. And Moses was very angry with them. The people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need." (Exodus 16:19-21, NLT) Later on in the story of Exodus, they grumbled that manna was boring, that they wanted more and different food. "... the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt, and the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. “We remember all the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic that we wanted. But now our appetites are gone, and day after day we have nothing to eat but this manna!”" (Numbers 11:4-6, NLT) It was never enough!

Believer, He has promised to meet all of our needs and even to satisfy our desires if we are walking with Him and those desires come from a heart that is full of the Spirit. What we really need is a to have our 'want-er' made holy! Instead of constantly telling ourselves, "I need that; I want this." - we learn to say, "Yes, Lord, I joyfully receive what You've provided."

Friend, have you found the joy of contentment?
Are you willing to let God satisfy your desires, to accept what He provides each day as 'enough?'
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"At the moment I have all I need—more than I need!
I am generously supplied ....
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Now glory be to God our Father forever and ever. Amen." (Philippians 4:18-20, NLT)

A closed mind?

One of the leading magazines read by charismatic Christians has the following article title prominently displayed on this month's cover - "Keep your mind closed!" What a terrible exhortation. Sadly, many Believers will follow that advice to the letter, closing their minds and thus missing the many opportunities to learn the truth, to grow in the knowledge of Christ, and to be effective ambassadors of the Kingdom of God here on earth. The writer was predictable in the development of the article including such zingers as "once Jesus says it, that settles it." He asserts, "concerning spiritual issues, you'd better have a closed mind; you want to have rigidly fixed perceptions."

Obviously the author believes sincerely in what he writes, but he is a poor student of Christianity and history. What if Martin Luther had closed his mind in the 16th century? After all, the Church had a fixed doctrine about what the Bible said about being a Christian; a well established tradition, supported by legions of churchmen in Rome. But Luther was willing to question, to reason - to listen to God and heard the whisper of the Spirit bringing him understanding about the the work and message of Christ's Gospel. From his inspired mind came the ringing affirmation of the ancient truth - "The just will live by faith." He gave us the Reformation which is a cornerstone of the philosophy that shaped our modern Western world.

To be sure, there are ideas that come and go that we eventually reject, but not because we have walled off our minds to ALL thought! The Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit should have a keen and questioning mind that is full of the wisdom of God. That mind is capable of hearing ideas, evaluating them, processing them with the Word's wisdom and the Spirit's discernment, and answering error with truth! Where do we get the thought that Christians should be frightened of inquiry or of reason? Is not God the Source of Knowledge? Is not Christ, Truth personified?

From the days of the Revolution, American Christianity has had a broad streak of anti-intellectualism. This development reached new heights near the end of the 19th century, as revivalism swept the country and Pentecostal fervor broke out in cities around the nation. In reaction to churches and pastors that were ready to discard the Scripture and be swept up by the new religion of science, lay preachers with a new Spirit experience, went out to convince millions that they should open their hearts and close their minds. Their sermons were white-hot with the Spirit's fiery emotion, but often barren of deep thought and careful reflection. The result was that cults grew like weeds and heresies sprang up everywhere, like the tares among the wheat.

The truth is that God has given us both a heart and a mind! We need to be capable of great passion, of being swept up by the Spirit into times of joy and moved by the Spirit to weep over our sins that break the heart of the Father. And, we must be capable of thinking, knowing what we believe, and why we believe it!

Peter exhorted the Believers - "...in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15, NIV) That word, "heart" is not used just as we might use it, as denoting the center of emotion. Rather he uses the word in the sense that from the core, the very center of our being - emotionally and intellectually - Christ must be Lord, so that we are not deceived by other gods. Don't be taken in by those who foolishly set aside the gift of thought and reason. Don't join the gullible millions whose hearts are full but whose minds are empty.

Instead, take up the challenge of the Scripture to think clearly, with a mind that is disciplined in the things of God, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, and instructed by the revelation of Holy Scripture. Meditate on this call to intellectual engagement with the lies of this world.

"We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:4-5, NLT)

Abuse of power

When we read a line like the title of this TFTD, most of us probably think about corrupt cops or someone like Saddam Hussein. But, think again! Power over another person, be it as a parent, as a pastor, as a supervisor - is a dangerous thing. Because of the sinful nature that you and I inherited from Adam, power is corrosive to character. In too many situations to enumerate, we see how quickly influence is turned to serve ego and to enrich the powerful at the expense of those over whom they wield influence. Lord Acton, a British historian of a century ago observed : Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely!

God is deeply concerned with the abuse of power and His Word is clear about the immorality of using the trust of leadership and/or influence for selfish gain! Amos, the shepherd from Tekoa, thundered against ancient Israel for her sins. Primary among them? Abuse of Power! He roared: "The Lord said: I will punish Israel for countless crimes, and I won’t change my mind. They sell honest people for money, and the needy are sold for the price of sandals. They smear the poor in the dirt and push aside those who are helpless. .... They lie down beside altars on clothes taken as security for loans. And they drink wine in my temple, wine bought with the money they received from fines. " (Amos 2:6-8, CEV)

Ah, friend, as I read those lines they make me want to weep. This is the description of our time! The 'have's' of our nation are too often forgetful of the responsibilities that come with their privileges. Those in power, though perhaps not on the 'take' as we might think of corruption - too often readily use their position to enrich the rich and to give favor to those who can return favor. The poor and the powerless are forgotten, or thought to be simply the victims of their own stupidity and deserving of their fate!

Pride says, "I climbed to the top of the heap, so let me enjoy the benefits that come with this position." As Amos continues in his sermon, he reminds the corrupt leaders of Israel that they had once been slaves, people without a country or power. They were not rich and powerful because they were smarter or deserving. They had experienced the grace of God! "And yes, I’m the One who delivered you from Egypt, led you safely through the wilderness for forty years And then handed you the country of the Amorites like a piece of cake on a platter." (Amos 2:10, The Message) The reasoning is: If you are who you are because of grace, then you have an obligation to use your advantages to serve those who are without.

Last week the news media reported that Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, would be stepping down from the head of Microsoft, the company he founded in his garage 30 or so years ago. What was he going to do? Build a villa in the Caribbean and take life easy? No. Find another venture to increase his store of wealth? No, again. Gates is going to devote his life to his foundation, to finding ways to improve the lives of the poorest people in Africa! His plan is to give away his $billions over the next two decades! What a beautiful thing it is to see that kind of compassionate care. When a powerful person remains filled with humility, he blesses his world by using his position to ennoble others.

Are you a 'giver' or a 'taker?'
In positions of influence and/or power, is your aim to attract praise and benefits, to bless others in the Name of Jesus Christ?

We need not be the President or a billionaire to bless others. Here's what Jesus said about it. Meditate on His words.

“... the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’

“Then those.... are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’

Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’"
(Matthew 25:34-40, The Message)

Empathy - treating others like you want to be treated

The air in the room was thick with tension. Each side had their defense up, ready to take the advantage at any sign of weakness. And there I sat, in the middle! The issues were real; there was no doubt about that in my mind, but much of the division came from an inability and/or unwillingness of the 'combatants' to see the other guy's point of view. I'm not so naive as to believe that all conflict results from failure to see the other guy's point of view. I think I understand something of the point of view of the militant members of Islam who seek to destroy America, but I don't extend them any comfort in their hatred of the West. They are wrong and misguided in their belief that the best way to advance Islam is through terrorism! I know that many family feuds, many marriage break-ups, many church splits are completely unnecessary; resulting from people shouting so loudly at each other, that they cannot hear what the other side is saying!

Have you ever become so convinced that you know what the other person's position is you just stopping communicating? Yep! I've done it, too. Too quickly we jump to the conclusion without finishing the conversation. As the other person realizes that we are no longer listening, they become more defensive, more insistent. Do we re-connect? Not usually. The increased intensity only causes us to tighten the hatches of our mind and emotions. And, a simple misunderstanding becomes a big fight!

Jesus gives us this wisdom about human relationships -
“Do for others what you would like them to do for you." (Matthew 7:12, NLT)
The Message translation reads - "Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them."

We learned that Golden Rule in Sunday School and forgot it by Monday! Use your imagination for a moment. When you're full of anger - what do you want most from people? Understanding, tolerance, patience... are a few words that come to my mind! The last thing an angry man needs or wants is someone saying, "Calm down! Sit down! Shut up!" That only fuels the fire, doesn't it? Now imagine saying to that angry person, "Tell me about that. What's the problem?" A different outcome becomes possible, doesn't it? Some of you are reading that and thinking - "Pastor, you've lost touch with the real world. That's not how people react." Oh, I know that! I fail to extend that kind of acceptance to others all too frequently myself. But, if we are filled with the Spirit of God, we can change and become catalysts of change! Don't you believe that?

The ability to empathize, to decentralize 'self' in a way that allows for us to step into the other guy's shoes, comes from the Spirit's work. Challenged by the truth, we need FAITH to own it. If we are faithless, we will think - "I've never done that before. I cannot change, for I am who I am." Faith will lead us to pray something like this - "God, I believe that is Your way, that the Word is true. And, Lord I see that my life doesn't align to that truth. I believe You can change me. Work deeply in me." If you really want to be like Jesus, hang on 'cause the ride will be bumpy, often unpleasant, as He prunes away those characteristics of your life that resist His will.

I challenge you to make this truth practical.

• Think of a specific person whose ways you simply do not understand, with whom you consistently differ. Now, pray that Christ will teach you (no, don't pray that they are changed!) to love them, to show genuine empathy. Invite the Spirit to bring about transformation, even at the cost of dying to self.

Peter came up to the Lord and asked, "How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?” Jesus answered: "Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! " (Matthew 18:21-22, CEV)

The world changes - we respond

Occasionally, perhaps I should write, frequently, the pace of change in my life nearly overwhelms me. I'm not talking about the normal stuff that everybody deals with in the process of growing older. We call have to deal with aching joints, a little more difficulty getting a good night's sleep, and other physical ailments not suitable for discussion in this TFTD. (smile!) The changes to which I refer are the changes in the world around us. Jerry and Karen are missionaries that spent the last four years in ministry on a remote island in the Pacific. It's not like they lived completely out of touch. They had email and they made trips to Australia. But when they settled back here in the States for this year of deputational work with their supporting churches, they were astonished at the amount of change - social and technological - that had occurred just since 2002! Those of us who live with it, don't really notice it because it happens all around us.

While I'm happy about the amazing amount of information available at the click of a button on the Internet, at the ease with which I can pay my bills online, and my TIVO; I'm trying to come to grips with things like - new attitudes towards venerable institutions like the Church, with philosophical shifts that regard 'truth' as a construct of one's experience rather than a revelation from God, with growing contempt for social responsibility and the rule of law. Perhaps I am just becoming an old geezer in love with yesterday, but I openly admit that because of these changes, I do not believe my grandchildren will live in a safer, better, or more prosperous world than the one in which I live. This isn't just about a new form of music or a different style of hair - the things that differentiated my generation. My children have grown up in a new world!

For example, a high value of our American society is autonomy. We've always valued our personal freedom, but in the past, we recognized that freedom is not limitless. Our freedom was expressed within boundaries - marriage, the rule of laws, the need for self-sacrifice for the greater good. The young adult who has grown up into the world of 2006, believes that he should be free to choose his own road without those boundaries. He believes he should be able to have sex with whomever he chooses, that he should enjoy nearly limitless civil rights, that the law should adapt to his needs, that he has the right to create 'god' in his own image! The results of this radical shift in values is becoming evident in things like a soaring birthrate of children born outside of a stable home, children who are much more likely to live in poverty and to engage in criminal behavior as they mature. Our schools are finding their task more difficult, in part, because of lack of discipline that comes with disrespect for rules and authority. That disrespect is fueled by the radical ideas of freedom held by the parents of today's students.

Sharing the gospel of Christ is more and more challenging. Where once I could make a reasonable case for the truth of Christ and His message, today that approach is seen by many as quaint. People don't think that they need to trust Jesus as Lord because He is the Truth. The bottom line for many is instead, 'how does He make me feel?' Doctrine, even for many Christians, is irrelevant. What is important is being happy, feeling comforted, 'good vibrations.'

So, how do we respond to these kinds of change?
Some retreat into yesterday's traditions. They form little communities of like-minded people who enshrine the rites and rituals that bring them comfort. They increasingly lose touch with the world, but they are comforted.
Others become militant, angry at the world. They choose a cause and focus on it as a way of protesting change and blocking out their own sense of displacement. Still others join the party! They see the changes as inevitable and irresistible.

I believe we must see ourselves as those who are commissioned by Christ to 'go into all the world and preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God.' This demands that we work to understand that world, that we are engaged with it, while not becoming compromised by it. Our hearts must be full of passion for God, fired by the Spirit. Our minds must be sharp, honed by the Word of God, with the insight given by the Spirit. Jesus said of His followers - "You are the light of the world... let your light shine...so others will praise your Father in heaven."

Building up, tearing down?

Words are a gift. I received cards from my kids for Father's Day and in them they jotted words that filled my heart with joy because they were affirming words of thanks and appreciation. Yesterday, during worship, we poured out words of praise to God in our songs and prayers. Our words blessed Heaven and brought us together in spiritual worship. The words that expressed the intent of our heart and mind became words of life! In my pastoral work, I use words to encourage and instruct in both private conversations and public preaching. You're reading along today in this TFTD, my thoughts flowing into your mind by means of words - which hopefully are edifying.

Then, there are words that carry a curse! This morning, in my email, I learned of an occasion of slanderous gossip that had caused some dear friends to be distressed, embarrassed, and faced with the need to explain and defend themselves unnecessarily. Those were destructive words. I've heard parents use words that destroy. I cringe when I hear a parent label their child as stupid, or bad, or with similar pejorative labels. On school playgrounds kids chant, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me!" But that isn't not true. Words can hurt, badly. You know that, and so do I.

What kinds of words flow from your lips? Proverbs contains some great lines about gossip. Take a look.
Proverbs 16:28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.
Proverbs 18:8 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly?
Proverbs 26:20 When you run out of wood, the fire goes out; when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down.

Paul sets a goal for each one of us in the use of our words. Romans 14:19 So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words.

How do we go from idle, death dealing gossip to encouraging words that bring life? With a genuine change of heart!

Jesus reminds us that our words don't spring from nowhere! They flow up from our inner most person, and are the revelation of the content of our heart, our thought life. A person who is mean, who spreads slanderous gossip, tells the world- "I have a heart that is empty of positive, Spirit-inspired life." This is my own experience. When I am depleted in spirit and have not renewed my strength in prayerful conversation with the Holy Spirit, I become a critical, difficult man. The overflow of my lips becomes ugly, negative, and demeaning to others. When I am filled with the Spirit, in the same situation, I am capable of encouraging, of speaking honestly, yet lovingly and with the goal of edifying others.

The answer to gossip and critical speech is not a padlock on the lips; it is confession of sin which allows the Holy Spirit to transform our mind.

Have you fallen into a pattern of gossip that destroys, that relates the worst, but seldom the best about others? Repent! Yes, friend, it's not just 'human' or 'normal,' it is a sin against God and others. Treat it as such. Pray instead that God will transform your words. Pray that it will be life, not death, that results from your conversations.

Let me leave you with a lengthy passage today for your meditation. It's packed with pithy wisdom! May God use it to challenge each one of us about the power of our words so that we will use them to build up the Kingdom.

"We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way. We can make a large horse turn around and go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong. So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do.

A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?" (James 3:2-11, NLT)

We're just mud!

Sunday we mark Father's Day. For some, it will be a joyful day to celebrate a loving relationship. For others, it will be a day of sadness, recalling failure or abuse. No matter what kind of earthly father you were or what kind of father you had - you can put a different spin on the day by celebrating the Fatherhood of One who never fails! If you think you failed in the mission of fathering, remember that God gives new hearts, fresh starts, to those who ask for His renewal. If your father was absent, cruel, or abusive - you can begin the process of forgiveness with the help of God, our true Father.

The Bible says, "As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we’re made of mud." (Psalm 103:13-14, The Message) That's rich, isn't it? He knows that you and I are just clay pots, rather fragile, easily broken. But here's another thought from the Word - "We carry this precious Message (of Christ's love and eternal life) around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us." (2 Corinthians 4:6-7, The Message) God is investing Himself in people who are just mud, made from the same elements as the dirt! His Presence in us makes us noble, transforms us from ordinary clay pots into vessels of honor, into men and women of great value, uniquely belonging to Him, members of His great family.

One of my favorite passages in the entire Bible is the story found in the 15th chapter of Luke. It is that familiar story of a son, head-strong and rebellious, who takes advantage of his father's love, leaves home, lives wildly, and comes to the end of his resources. He is broken and alone. In his desperation, he hatches a plan. "I'll go home and ask Dad if I can just work on the farm. I know I'm not his son any longer, that he could not possibly love me after all I've done to him." So he goes home. As he comes down the road toward home, he sees a familiar figure coming to him. It's his Dad! He braces for the blast of anger -- but instead finds himself embraced, wrapped in arms of love. "And that," Jesus said, "is the true nature of our Father." He is a compassionate Father who remembers that we are just mud!

Dad - maybe you're dealing with a difficult child this year, one who is resisting your efforts at guidance, who is rebelling. I encourage you to remember he or she is just a sinner, a person made of mud; then remember compassion, a love like that love which your Father has given to you.

This Sunday, in addition to remembering your dad, celebrate the Father!
______________________________

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.

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.

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!

© 1923. Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company CCLI License No. 810055

God cares about people!

There's a lot of rhetoric out there about compassion and caring, but how much is genuine? Even among 'church people' who hear so much about loving others like God loves us, how deep does the love really go? That's a question worth asking! I recently talked with a woman whose life had slid into reverse a few years ago. Her health failed, her financial situation deteriorated, her family relationships broke down - and she ended up in desperate straits. Her last resort for housing was a shelter which she described as 'hell on earth!' The government provided the dollars but the 'service' provided by government employees was not from the heart. It was just a job to them! The people being served experienced little in the way of genuine compassion. Then she was directed to a group of people with a ministry to homeless families. There she found genuine compassion, real and deep love; that came from people who were willing to get involved in a way that is costly both in terms of money and time. Their love has put her back on her feet.

Are you serving others - even those who are ungodly or unlovely - with Christ-like love?
Do you see people as persons or objects, as real sons and daughters of God or as pieces on the chess board of life to be pushed around to fit your plays?

Yesterday I was studying the prophet Amos. He opens his sermons with this startling phrase - "The LORD roars... and thunders." In the first two chapters of his book, he tells the pagan nations surrounding Israel of their impending doom, of God's imminent judgment. Here's the really interesting part. He doesn't say God's wrath is coming because they were idol-worshippers or sexually immoral or even because they were Israel's enemies! He speaks time and again (albeit in poetic symbols that are difficult for a layman to decipher) to the cruelty that these nations visited on the people around them. He speaks to their slave trading, to war atrocities, to conquest of nations for economic benefit, and to their general inhumanity. The summary of the passage is that "God cares about people, all people!" He demands that we treat others with dignity, with compassion, and respect. It's not just good social practice to do so; it is God's holy demand of us.

Didn't Jesus say the same thing? A man asked him about pleasing God -
“Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”
Jesus said, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’
This is the most important, the first on any list.

But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’
These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” " (Matthew 22:36-40, The Message)

The love of which He speaks is not expressed with words of syrupy sentiment, or a handshake at church, or even a $100 donation to the Salvation Army. It is a love that gives dignity to the poor person, that does not allow slurs to be spoken against those of another race, that does not demean the weak, or the sinful, or the broken. Our personal piety is a hollow expression of godliness without costly involvement with the world around that works to defeat evil, eliminate suffering, and establish the Kingdom of God.

Here's a thought from Amos. Ponder it! Meditate on it!

"Away with your hymns of praise!
They are only noise to my ears.
I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is.

Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry." (Amos 5:23-24, NLT)

Fearing God

We sing, "I stand in awe of You," but do we really know what that means? Back in 1989, in addition to pastoring a small church in Massachusetts, I worked a few hours each day selling office supplies. It was just a job, not bad, not exciting - just a place to sell pens, paper, poster board, etc. One Summer day a famous face walked through the doors of that little store. Meryl Streep walked up to the counter and asked for refills for her Mont Blanc pen. I was, much to my embarrassment, star-struck! I felt a kind of awe that I was meeting a woman who was, at that time, known all over the world for her work in major movies. Don't get the wrong idea. She didn't come into the store escorted by a big entourage or dressed in diamonds. She had her little kids with her and looked like she had just come in from working the yard. It was simply her presence that created the awe in me.

I don't find awe all that common in our worship of the Living Lord. Often I rush into His presence, whether privately or in corporate gatherings, noisily and often, with a list of demands. I attend to Him half-heartedly while thinking about the deadlines that are pressing in on me. A low view of God has robbed us of our awe, turning the Lord of Glory into the Divine Buddy, the Dispenser of the Doodads! When was the last time you sat in the Presence of the Lord with a crushing sense of His awesomeness? When was the last time that instead of turning up the volume of the music, you felt only like contemplating His Person in silence?

Ponder these words -
"Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
He is to be revered above all the gods.
The gods of other nations are merely idols,
but the Lord made the heavens!
Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. ...
Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before him."
(Psalm 96:4-6, 9 NLT)

It is important to know that Jesus Christ loves us, that He walks with us, that the Holy Spirit comforts us. I make no case for turning God into a remote, unapproachable Person. And yet, we must balance our familiarity with the Lord with a Biblical awe - which Proverbs reminds us is the fountainhead of wisdom! (1.7) The same Jesus who held children in his arms, who extended forgiveness to an adulterous woman, and who fed hungry crowds; is also the Lord of the Revelation - whom John says appeared to him "in a robe and gold breastplate, hair a blizzard of white, Eyes pouring fire-blaze, both feet furnace-fired bronze, His voice a cataract, right hand holding the Seven Stars, His mouth a sharp-biting sword, his face a perigee sun." (Revelation 1:13-16, The Message) And how did John respond to that appearance? "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead." (Revelation 1:17, NLT) Jesus touched John and told him not to be overcome with terror! But there was real awe!

Don't lose your awe of God! Don't make Him too small. Yes, love Him as your Friend. Yes, come near to Him in full confidence of faith, but remember He is the Lord of Glory.
At your entrance into eternity, He will be your Judge, the One who, with perfect justice and complete insight, evaluates every thought, every action, every motive. He is All-Knowing, All-powerful, Present Everywhere, King and Lord above all gods!
________________

You are beautiful beyond description,
Too marvelous for words,
Too wonderful for comprehension,
Like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom,
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description,
Majesty enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You.
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God, to whom all praise is due,
I stand in awe of You.

© 1987 People Of Destiny International (Admin. by PDI Ministries) CCLI License No. 810055

What's under the surface?

When I toured Israel I noted rounded hills in many places. They were usually covered with vegetation, like an ordinary hill, yet often were out of place, rising up from a plain incongruously. Our guide told us that these were 'tells.' A tell is a hill or mound created by human beings who lived on the site. They are like a layer cake. When one civilization was wiped out, usually by war, but sometimes by natural disaster; the next settlers on the site would level the rubble, use what they could, and build a new village on the site. Some of the tells have 20 or more layers! We visited one site where the tell had been dug into leaving a sheer face, so that visitors could see the various layers, the earliest of which dated back thousands of years. It was fascinating to think that I was looking at the work of people who lived hundreds or thousands of years before Jesus walked the pathways of Israel.

You and I live on tells, not physically, but emotionally! Under the surface of my life there is an accumulation of ideas, concepts, and values that were put there by previous generations. The way that I see life, the way that I think, didn't begin new with me, nor with my father, nor even with his father! My life is built on a foundation laid down layer by layer by those who lived before me. That's not always a bad thing! For example, I am very thankful for the Western values of self-determination and freedom that date back hundreds of years to the Reformation of Martin Luther. I am even more thankful for the ancient wisdom of Christianity that I now own which teaches me of love, compassion, and about knowing a personal God, who cares for me. But, under the surface of my life, there are also some not so good ideas, some parts of the foundation, that need to be dug out and discarded.

Part of becoming a person who lives wholly involves coming to understand what's in the rubble of the emotional tell on which life is built! Yeah, I know-- Psychologists work the whole 'parent' thing to death, so much that it is a kind of standing joke. "It's not my fault. I just needed better parents." Jokes aside, we are a product of our parents and our culture. The emotional and intellectual foundations that they passed along to us do effect the way that we think and therefore, the way that we live.

Here's the good news! The Divine Archaeologist knows what's under the surface and He knows how to make us into new creations that are built on the best foundations and rid of the worst parts of the rubble of the past. He promises - "Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 The Message

We must not mistakenly think that this is a magical process that happens without our participation. When you and I receive Christ as Savior, as Lord, as Master - He begins the work in us through the Holy Spirit that makes us alive to God. But spiritual formation is a continuing process, a kind of archaeological dig in our psyche, through the stuff of memory, through the cultural assumptions, that lie beneath the surface. He helps us to properly understand those things, to give them their right value. For Christ Jesus, by the Presence of the Spirit, wants us whole and holy, marked with the likeness of our Savior.

Do you have any idea why you do the things you do, why you think the way that you think?
Have you ever started to sift through the 'stuff' that is just below the surface?
It can be fascinating and frightening at the same time. There will be "aha" moments when you realize, "so that's why I believe that," or "that's where that comes from."
As we go under the surface with the help of the Spirit, remember this - we are not looking for excuses to continue to sin, but rather cooperating with God in the process of becoming whole for the glory of God.

Here's a word from the Word to ponder today. Take it, not as a threat, but a promise of healing!God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. -- Hebrews 4:12 The Message
_________________________

Are you puzzled by the way that you're behavin'?
Do you wonder why you do the things you do?
Are you troubled by your lack of resistance?
Do you feel that something's got a hold on you?

Are you livin' in an old man's rubble?
Are you listenin' to the Father of lies?
If you are, then you're headed for trouble,
If you listen too long you'll eventually die.

If you're livin' as a new creation,
If you're listenin' to the Father of light.
Then you're livin' in a mighty fortress,
And you're gonna be clothed in power and might.

Well deep within you there's a spiritual battle,
There's a voice of the darkness and a voice of the light.
And just by list'ning you've made a decision,
'Cause the voice you hear is gonna win the fight.

© 1977 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) CCLI License No. 810055

Great worship?

Every Sunday afternoon I reflect on the worship experience that I lead in the morning. I ask myself, "Was it a 'good' service?" I tend to think about questions like - did the people seem to enjoy being there? Did the sound system work properly, the PowerPoint connect with audience, the music flow well? Did the congregation laugh at the right spots and stay interested in the sermon? All those questions are focused on the audience. How easily I allow myself to get caught up in the mechanics of church, becoming a paid performer on a stage. When I do this I am inevitably dissatisfied with the experience of worship. When I remember that worship is about pleasing an "Audience of One," - offering my songs, words, and prayers to Him, the entire way in which I evaluate a 'good' worship experience changes. The single question that becomes important in evaluating worship is this one - Was God pleased?

How do you evaluate 'church?'
What expectations shape your evaluation?
Is it about the preacher's delivery of the sermons, the singers' songs, the temperature of the A/C, the friendliness of those in the sanctuary?

Or is it about connecting with God along with His people, offering yourself to Him, listening to Him, renewing your devotion to Him?

Of course, the mechanics of a service can be a distraction. If the sound system screeches, or if the music is terrible, or if the preaching is disjointed, it's only human to start to think more about those things than about the Lord God we came to meet.
And yet.... we can meet Him anywhere, if we turn our attention to Him. This came to me so clearly yesterday as I conducted a service in a home for the aged yesterday in the afternoon. The room was not attractive. Some of the congregants dozed in wheelchairs. One dear soul knew enough to realize it was a 'church' gathering, but she wasn't going with the flow. She repeated "Hail Mary" in a drone that went on and on through prayer, through songs, and well into my talk from the Bible. Another lady 'sang' her way from page to page in the hymnal in a loud monotone. She wasn't singing the same verses, often not even the same hymn! But I sensed the Presence of God and I turned my eyes and heart toward Heaven to offer myself to Him. I sang "What a Friend We have in Jesus," with a depth of emotion I have not felt in some time! I came home filled with a peaceful sense that He had met the 30 or so of us in that basement room and that He was pleased by our offering of ourselves in worship. That experience reminded me of the importance of making worship about Him, rather than about Me.

As you begin this new week, let me encourage you to consider your life as an extension of worship. We do not just worship Him in our church buildings.
We are to proclaim His worth (worship defined!) everywhere, everyday. If we are worshippers who know how to focus on Him, how to 'connect' with His Presence during our commute, in our living rooms, at the lunch room table - we will be better worshippers during the worship service!

Here's a prayer - pray it often - as you worship.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. - Psalm 19:14

Can you 'see' it?

I met a special lady last night. 20 years ago, in the middle of a regular business day in NYC, she had a vision with her eyes wide open; it changed her life! Karen Olson was on her way to work when she saw a woman who was living on the street, I mean really saw her. She realized that buying that woman a sandwich was a great gesture, but did nothing to actually help her out of her poverty. Over the next year, Karen and her friends developed a new strategy to help homeless families that involved volunteers from congregations linking up to provide services of compassion, care, and hope. Family Promise, now a national organization, helps to organize the efforts of more than 4100 local congregations into Interfaith Hospitality Networks that serve thousands of families each year - giving them a safe place to get their financial lives back in order and to regain housing while keeping their family intact.

I admire people like Karen, who are willing to think out of the box, who can see past the obvious, and create new solutions. We so often are content to do what always been done, to take the 'tried and true' road, to parrot the party line, aren't we? There is so little risk in doing that. People and organizations fall into the ruts of the familiar, doing what's safe over engaging the ever changing challenges of the world with new responses. The result is always stagnation, ineffectiveness, and then slow death. Someone smarter than I has said, "The system you are a part of is perfectly designed to produce the results you are seeing." Think about that!

Want a better marriage? Then change is required.
Want a better church, school, neighborhood, nation?

VISION is the starting point! We have to 'see' the new, grab hold of the possibilities and create new strategies that allow different results. Believer, here's the best part of this for you and me. God, the Holy Spirit, lives in us. He will inspire us, breathing new vision into our hearts and minds IF we have the courage to accept it. That's the real challenge. Accepting a vision demands action. Action earns enemies. Visionaries are attacked, demeaned, and criticized those who do not understand the vision or who are threatened by change to the status quo.

So, what are you complaining about today? Where do you perceive real need, or see a challenge that is going unmet, or know of a mission unfulfilled?
Are you ready to become part of God's solution? Define the problem in conversation with God. Listen carefully to what you believe the Spirit is whispering to you. Gather trusted friends and advisors and share the vision that you think is emerging. And - then go make a change!

Read this story of a teenager who heard from God, who did what others did not think he could or should do. Let it inspire you today. Yes, it's a familiar story, but don't rush through it. OK?
____________________

"Enter David. He was the son of Jesse the Ephrathite from Bethlehem ... While his three oldest brothers went to war with Saul, David went back and forth from attending to Saul to tending his father’s sheep in Bethlehem. Each morning and evening for forty days, Goliath took his stand and made his speech.

One day, Jesse told David his son, “Take this sack of cracked wheat and these ten loaves of bread and run them down to your brothers in the camp. And take these ten wedges of cheese to the captain of their division. Check in on your brothers to see whether they are getting along all right, and let me know how they’re doing —Saul and your brothers, and all the Israelites in their war with the Philistines in the Oak Valley.”

David was up at the crack of dawn and, having arranged for someone to tend his flock, took the food and was on his way just as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the army was moving into battle formation, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines moved into position, facing each other, battle-ready. David left his bundles of food in the care of a sentry, ran to the troops who were deployed, and greeted his brothers.

While they were talking together, the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, stepped out from the front lines of the Philistines, and gave his usual challenge. David heard him. The Israelites, to a man, fell back the moment they saw the giant—totally frightened. ... David, who was talking to the men standing around him, asked, “What’s in it for the man who kills that Philistine and gets rid of this ugly blot on Israel’s honor? Who does he think he is, anyway, this uncircumcised Philistine, taunting the armies of God-Alive?” ...

The things David was saying were picked up and reported to Saul. Saul sent for him. “Master,” said David, “don’t give up hope. I’m ready to go and fight this Philistine.” Saul answered David, “You can’t go and fight this Philistine. You’re too young and inexperienced—and he’s been at this fighting business since before you were born.” David said, “I’ve been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I’d go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I’d grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no difference—I killed it. And I’ll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. God, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine.” Saul said, “Go. And God help you!”

Then Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. (the usual, the customary, the familiar!) He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge. David told Saul, “I can’t even move with all this stuff on me. I’m not used to this.” And he took it all off. Then David took his shepherd’s staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath. (God's plan, a new way!)

As the Philistine paced back and forth, his shield bearer in front of him, he noticed David. He took one look down on him and sneered—a mere youngster, apple-cheeked and peach-fuzzed. The Philistine ridiculed David. “Am I a dog that you come after me with a stick?” And he cursed him by his gods. “Come on,” said the Philistine. “I’ll make roadkill of you for the buzzards. I’ll turn you into a tasty morsel for the field mice.”

David answered, “You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there’s an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn’t save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he’s handing you to us on a platter!” That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt. That’s how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. No sword for David! Then David ran up to the Philistine and stood over him, pulled the giant’s sword from its sheath, and finished the job by cutting off his head. When the Philistines saw that their great champion was dead, they scattered, running for their lives." (1 Samuel 17:12-51, The Message)
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So, what's God saying to you about that Goliath in your life?

New challenges, new strength

With a smile, I remarked to a friend - "When you solve one set of problems, a whole new set appears requiring attention." She laughed, a knowing chuckle, for she knew exactly what I was talking about. Is that your experience, too? Remember the angst of the teen years, the struggle with a sense of identity, the work at finding your place in this world. Then came college and calling. Along with getting established in the working world, most of were working at building a good marriage. Oh, yes, let's not forget the job changes, the financial decisions made along the way. For a few years, when in my mid-40's, I was certain that once our kids were on their own and I was approaching 50, life would settle down. I was wrong! The challenges are still there, just different. But, there is coming a day when all will change, really!

I found myself humming an old spiritual this morning. It says,
I got a crown up in'a that Kingdom, Ain'ta that'a good news?
I got a crown up in'a that Kingdom, Ain'ta that'a good news?
I'm gonna lay down this world- Gonna shoulder up my Cross -
Gonna take it home to my Jesus, Ain'ta that'a good news?

As he came to the end of his life, waiting execution at the hands of the Roman Emperor, Paul sent these words to his protégé, Timothy. They are not the words of a man broken by his life, despite the challenges he dealt with day after day for decades! They are the sounds of man who is about to realize his dream. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return." (2 Timothy 4:7-8, NLT) Ain'ta that good news? We really will find rest beyond the river!

Heaven is not a 'pie the sky, by and by' doctrine. It is our hope, that which keeps us faithful as those multiple challenges come our way. After teaching about the certainty of the Resurrection of Christ and therefore the certainty of our own eternal life, Paul concludes - "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV) We need to think about Heaven often, not in an escapist way, but in a hopeful way. We need to let the promise of a crown in that Kingdom cause us to press on when we are so tired that we just want to lay down and sleep for days.

The truth is, it won't be so long until we are home! Does that frighten you? It should not, IF you're living with Christ as Savior and Lord today. I realized just how quickly life moves along when I received an email from a person that was part of a church I pastored back in 1991. She had found my email address and wrote to express her appreciation for the teaching and counsel I provided for her during a time of difficult transitions. As I read her words, the years fell away and I was there, in that little church in New England again, just for a few moments. Her affirmation of God's work being done through me was a pleasant reminder that being faithful to wrestle with the challenges creates a reward. Then, in my reverie, I faced the other direction, and wondered what kind of email I might be reading in 2021! If the next 15 years pass as quickly as the previous ones did, it will happen in a flash. May I be faithful, drawn on by the promise of a 'crown up in'a that Kingdom!'

Here's wisdom to take with you today -
"So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom...
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands." (Psalm 90:12, 17, NKJV)

Blessed assurance!

Don't you love the sense of confidence that comes from being 'well-connected' - that is resourced and protected by another person? For example, think of a little child who has a sense of security in her home, whose father is strong and present in her life. she will likely deal with the taunts on the playground much more easily than the child without the same resource. A person who is having a rough go in life at work, who has a supportive spouse that provides affirmation in the home, will have a much easier time navigating the rapids! A person starting up a new business with a partner who has deep pockets will sleep better.

Believer, have you realized that you have a rich, strong Father? Did you know that you have a Partner in Christ that is your best Friend? I believe that one of more debilitating experiences for the Christian is to lose his sense of God's Presence, to lose the assurance that he is under the care of a benevolent God who cares about the needs, the trials, the successes of his life.

Sometimes by our own willful disobedience we break the fellowship with the Father that provides us with security, don't we? Ephesians 4 warns us not to 'grieve the Holy Spirit.' The Word teaches - "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." (Psalm 66:18, NIV) We cannot dismiss the Spirit's appeal to us to change our ways and expect to enjoy the intimate fellowship of God's presence in our lives.

Then, there are those times when the pressures and problems that come our way are like the black clouds that block the bright rays of the sun. I sometimes fall into that place from which I just cannot reach God! A combination of fatigue and fear come over me and I begin to wonder, "does God really care about me?" He is patient with me in those moments. I've learned to turn to other Believers when my faith is weak, or my strength is gone. The prayers of the saints become the support that I lean on, letting them surround me. I don't mean any disrespect for the things of the Lord, but sometimes I need "Jesus with skin on!"

His loving care is shown to me by people who are filled with the Spirit. An actual touch, an expression of concern, goes a long, long way in reminding me that God is still there - though hidden for the moment in behind the clouds. This is, my good friend, one of the best arguments for building close relationship with other Believers within the context of the Church! A Christian who is attempting a solo journey to Heaven is foolishly abandoning one of his most important sources of encouragement. The Word urges us to "keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer." (Hebrews 10:24-25, CEV)

Here's a word from the Word. Meditate on it for a while.
Let the powerful promise soak your soul with the peace of God.

"I will proclaim the name of the LORD.
Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." (Deuteronomy 32:3-4, NIV)

"For the people of Israel belong to the Lord;
Jacob is his special possession.
"He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland.
He surrounded them and watched over them;
he guarded them as his most precious possession.
Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young,
so he spread his wings to take them in and carried them aloft on his pinions." (Deuteronomy 32:9-11, NLT)
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Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Tho the night deepens and tempest are wild;
Still I can trust Him, I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me and I am His child.

Under His wings, Under His wings
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.

Under His wings, What a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort and there I am blest.

Under His wings, O what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide 'til life's trials are o'er!
Sheltered, protected!
No evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus; I'm safe evermore.

© Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055

It's not the numbers

Today is 6-6-06 and, for some, it is a feared day when evil lurks! Revelation 13 makes a reference to the 'the number of the beast, the number of a man, 666.' In the popular scenarios of the "End Times," that passage and the number refers symbolically to an evil world ruler, the Anti-Christ, who is a figure of awesome evil powers, under who power and influence millions suffer and die during the Great Tribulation at the end of the age. Historic Christianity interpreted John's symbolism as a reference to Nero Caesar, the persecutor of the Church, a terrible and cruel figure. Thus, under both interpretative systems the number is a potent emblem of evil.

Nearly every American, whether Christian or not, whether Bible believing or not, knows about 666 and the suggestions of evil and malevolence associated with it. The number is thought to be 'unlucky.' It is adopted by Satanists in their rituals. It shows up in the tattoos on the arms of rebellious teenagers attempting to shock their elders by declaring how 'bad' they are. People are continually reacting with fear to 666 when it shows up on credit cards, in addresses, and in other computer generated sequences of numbers.

Believer, we don't need to fear numbers! Superstition creates needless fear and causes us to work at eradicating evil all the wrong places. There is an Evil One, the Devil, about whom Jesus warns us. His work to resist and destroy God's work is real and demands our best efforts, as we empowered by the Holy Spirit, to establish the Kingdom of God as Jesus commissioned us to do. The father of evil delights in our readiness to caricature him with silly superstitions about numbers! When we worry about things like 666 showing up on a ticket, or in a credit card number, we do not see his real acts of evil. He is at work in this world today. That isn't superstition!

When I see the stories about young children who lives are terribly effected when they are molested by selfish men in the grip of lust fed by child pornography, I see the handiwork of the Devil!

When I see millions of refugees living in terrible fear of brutal rapes and murders in the Darfur region of the Sudan; that is Satan is at work.

When I see greedy drug dealers willing to traffic in substances that will addict and ruin lives, I see the Devil's presence.

When I see Christians in the grip of vehement hatred for people of another race or religion or sexual orientation, I see a diabolic deception from the master of lies!

Wherever I see a person giving all of his strength to acquiring wealth, or to chasing after sensual pleasure as the meaning of life, I see the shadowy leer of the Devil as he exults over another deceived soul.

Let's grow up in our understanding of evil. No more childish and reactive superstitions. Instead, let's take evil seriously and take up the Scripture's charge to us:

"Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation." (1 Peter 5:8-10, NLT)
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A mighty Fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our Ancient Foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;Lord Sabaoth, (Sabaoth - "the Lord of the Heavenly Armies") His name,
From age to age the same,
and He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed, His will to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure, For, lo, his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours, through Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also.
The body they may kill; God's truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever.
_______________________

Title: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Author: Luther, Martin
Copyright: Public Domain

No contradiction

I'm trying to work out a riddle in my Christian life! How much, and in what ways, should I be involved with the world around me? I read two concepts in the Scripture that seem, at first glance anyway, to be contradictory. In the separatist ideal of the Jewish people, the covenant people who had many laws designed to make them a distinct and holy people of God in their world, Paul urges Christ-followers to holiness, reminding us that "God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from them and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you." (2 Corinthians 6:16-17, NLT) That passage was a kind of mantra in the church of my childhood. It was used to justify not having anything to do with politics, or culture, or even pop culture.

I grew up without a TV in our house because it was considered a source of 'worldly' contagion. With the benefit of reflection, that was a good idea as I learned to love books inside of rotting my brain on sit-coms! But was living without a TV really an expression of true holiness? I sneaked into my room to listen to the Beatles on my transistor radio, because listening to non-Christian music was a 'sin.' Wanting to grow my hair a inch over my ears and down on my collar was just opening the door of my life to the devil, or so I concluded. In my early adulthood, American Believers decided to abandon their separation from the politics of the nation and almost overnight, evangelical Christians turned into the Falwellian "Moral Majority." I think most of us would agree that flexing our muscle in Washington has not been the best thing for the Church of Jesus Christ, now that we are better know for our opposition to homosexual rights and abortion than we are for being a source of compassion and care given in the name of the Savior.

In the Gospels, I see Jesus mocked for His involvement with 'undesirables.' He gathered the 'sinners' of his world around Him and ate with them, talked with them, and brought God's loving grace to them. His parting words to those of us who follow Him are - “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all." (Mark 16:15, The Message) He calls us 'salt and light' and in that passage tells us that we must not hide ourselves from the WORLD, but that we should shine brightly in it. In the spirit of those commands, Christians have rolled up their sleeves and gone into the saddest, sorriest hell-holes in the world over the centuries and brought transformation. Human rights, and the ideals of individual dignity and worth, have been championed by Christians precisely because they believe that Jesus has commissioned them to care for the weakest, to take up the case of those who are being exploited by both the world systems and the Devil!

So the riddle, for me anyway, is - how do I function as the salt of the earth, flavoring and preserving my world, without losing the distinctive of being a holy person belonging exclusively to God?
The answer isn't an easy one. I am fairly certain the answer can't be a law for all people either, for we all have different callings, spiritual giftings, and weaknesses that will effect how and where we serve God.

I have worked out the extremes and rejected those as options! I not going to lock myself in a monastery, isolated from my world completely. That might be safe for me, but by doing it I am abandoning much of the world and letting it go to Hell while I rejoice in my own security. At the other extreme, I will not throw away God's call to a distinctively different life, one that seeks His purity, His love, in every expression of life. That leaves me with a wide middle - where I'm still working out the demands that seem to contradict.

"God guide me.
God keep me, in your Spirit,
in the ways that honor you,
yet allow me to reach out
with your love
to those who are living in the darkness.
For Jesus' sake. Amen."