How to Get a Better Pastor

Sometimes I feel a little like the Wizard of Oz, a man who lives behind a curtain of misperceptions. One little girl saw me in the grocery store and said, “Mommy, God left the church.” That’s not good! Yet, even many adults do not really understand the reality of the daily life of ministers. Many perceive that pastors enjoy a relaxed lifestyle. In fact, a pastor is always a pastor wherever he goes. It’s not a job, it’s a way of life.

He (Could well be a ‘she’ too, but I’m writing from my point of view.) awakens in the middle of the night with people’s hurts on his mind, and lifts them to God in prayer. He must negotiate rapid shifts from emotional highs to lows; visiting a nursery and a funeral home on the same day, congratulating someone’s achievement and sharing another grief on the same Sunday morning. Pastors provide the equivalent of spiritual and emotional Emergency Room care for their congregants. He must remain a student of Scripture and his world throughout his lifetime so that when he stands before the congregation to preach he is able to provide spiritual nourishment that connects with the people of God. And, he must deliver a message every Sunday - regardless of his personal state of mind or circumstances. And, he loves every minute of this life to which God has called him!


Yet, he is susceptible to becoming ineffective for many and various reasons.

So, how can you help to make your Pastor's better in his work?

1. Pray for him, everyday. - Spiritual leaders are front-line targets in the battle with evil, as they encourage people to stand with God. If a pastor falls, there is devastating fall-out suffered in many lives. Some even lose faith. Others conclude that Christianity is a fraud. Many lose their trust in pastors because they think all preachers are like the one whose sin was exposed. And even where there is no moral compromise, pastors know the attack of the Enemy through discouragement. So, pray for your Pastor – not for an easy life, but rather that God will keep and protect him, that he will be disciplined and courageous, and that he will finish the race well.

2. Readily accept his ministry with the spiritual gifts God has given to him. - Pastors are not equally adept at all kinds of ministry service. You bless your pastor if you appreciate and encourage him in his unique strengths. Understand that God has equipped him to minister in a way that will not be exactly like the ministry of your favorite preacher or that father-figure pastor who introduced you to Christ. He knows the gaps in his skills and gifts better than you do, but it will be a waste of his strengths if he is constantly pressed to 'fix' his perceived deficits rather than being encouraged in what he does best in God's service.

3. If you must criticize him, and no pastor is above correction or criticism, do it honestly, directly, and person to person. - Every pastor deals with “Mr. They Say” in his church. This mystery man whom few know, but everyone quotes, is ubiquitous! A good pastor will never respond to anonymous criticism because he has no context for it. Still, he wonders, "Does it mean that a majority feels this way, or is this just the opinion of the same two people who are never satisfied with anything I attempt?"

If you have an issue with your pastor, be mature about it. Don't play games, hinting at the difficulty. Know what you really want and be courageous to state it. If you think he's missed the mark, tell him first; not after you have told a dozen of your best friends. If he's wise, he'll listen and evaluate. He may have an explanation for the decision with which you disagree or he may have a higher priority than making you happy due to his principles, convictions, or demands of leadership of Christ’s church.

Many people get angry with the pastor and fail to understand that they are actually angry at God! If you’re mad at the Lord and admit it, your pastor can help you with your doubt or confusion but it will be doubly difficult for you both, if you're misdirecting your anger at him.

4. Don't idolize or idealize him. - Pastors are disciples of Christ, who are human. They are raising kids who don't always do what they're taught, just like you. Their marriage hit rough spots, just like yours. They have real emotions and fight temptation - just like you. Yes, you should expect him to live what he teaches, but not flawlessly because, like you, he’s a sinner who is working out the implications of God’s grace each day. If you make him into idol, you sin because only God is worthy of your worship and devotion. If you idealize him, thinking he's more or better than he is really is, you set yourself up for disappointment. You may then mistakenly transfer your disappointment to Christ which would be doubly tragic. When you put a minister on a pedestal, remember that you make his ability to serve you faithfully all the more difficult. He teaches you best, not from some lofty place far removed from your life, but as he is allowed to demonstrate, in ordinary circumstances, a living faith in a loving Lord.

Here’s a word from the Word. "Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all.... Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?" (Hebrews 13:7, 17 The Message)
"Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him." (1 Timothy 5:17-19, NLT)



(Some of these thoughts are original, some borrowed from authors and speakers I’ve long forgotten.)

______________________

Dangerous Blessings

My life has been filled with good things - a rich spiritual heritage, food, health care, shelter, and creature comforts more than I need, a wonderful wife, and great children. I get to go to work everyday in a profession I love. I know peace with God and, because of His grace, I am assured of eternal life in the Presence of Jesus. What more could a person desire? Sad to say - Plenty! Contentment eludes me too often.

How easily we are convinced that the good things that bless us are a reward for our goodness, that we have earned them, and even that we deserve more! Even McDonald's played to our sense of entitlement with a wildly successful advertising campaign built on the slogan - "You deserve a break today!"

It is easy to begin to believe that God owes us more and when He does not give us what we want, we start to complain, often bitterly. Ancient Israel is an example for the modern Church. After their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt, God provided for their every need. Most amazingly, every morning they went out of their tents and found manna on the ground, angel food that the Lord gave them to sustain them in the wilderness. Did they appreciate it? For a few weeks, then they started to feel entitled to more. The Bible says, "The riff-raff among the people had a craving and soon they had the People of Israel whining, "Why can't we have meat? We ate fish in Egypt-and got it free!-to say nothing of the cucumbers and melons, the leeks and onions and garlic. But nothing tastes good out here; all we get is manna, manna, manna." (Numbers 11:4-6, The Message) Time and again, when God gave them something, they tired of it and wanted more.


Have you failed the gratitude test, believing that you deserve more?

Here are some suggestions for recovery of thankfulness as a way of life.
First, practice the discipline of giving, generously and sacrificially!
I am convinced that tithing (giving 10% of our earnings) is a God- directed discipline that opens our lives to greater blessings. We need to go beyond giving as a emotional response to sad stories, or because we feel pressure from a preacher. Never buy into the 'seed faith' nonsense which is self-centered, a 'give to get' scheme that prosperity teachers use to manipulate us. Disciples give of resources – time, money, love - purposefully, like an investor uses his money. We please God when we invest ourselves in worthy ministries, well run charities, and individual people that we can help onto their feet. Sacrificial giving helps us to grasp that what we have is not because we are more deserving than someone else, but because we are God-blessed.

Second, worship deeply, regularly, and from the heart!
True worship restores proper perspective. Taking a significant amount of time each day and on a special day each week to give adoration to God keeps us focused on eternal matters! Worship teaches us to listen more intently to His instructions. Worship is not about ME, but about Him; not about getting anything, but giving everything.

Third, we need to express our gratitude!
Cultivating a habit of thankfulness helps us to avoid a 'me centered' life. We keep in sight the ways that God has blessed us. We realize how much those around contribute to our well-being. Thanksgiving should not be just a day on the calendar for Christ’s followers. It should be a way of life.

Here's a word from the Word. It is an excerpt from the 'song of Moses,' which he recited for the people of Israel when he was advanced in age and near the end of his time of service. In this passage he warns them of the danger of blessings. He warned that as they ‘grew fat’ they would be tempted to forget the true Source of their blessings. I pray that these ancient words of warning will find a place in our hearts and minds today, so that we will give glory to God.

"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.
The Lord alone guided them; they lived without any foreign gods. He made them ride over the highlands; he let them feast on the crops of the fields. He nourished them with honey from the cliffs, with olive oil from the hard rock. He fed them curds from the herd and milk from the flock, together with the fat of lambs and goats. He gave them choice rams and goats from Bashan, together with the choicest wheat. You drank the finest wine, made from the juice of grapes.

But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation." -(Deuteronomy 32:9-15, NLT)
Happy Thanksgiving!
As God blesses you, I pray it will make you rich in good deeds, full of gratefulness, and a reason for others to say – “What a God he serves; a good, loving, and wonderful Lord.”

_______________

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and dreary fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!


Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!


Thanks To God For My Redeemer

Storm, August Ludvig / Hultman, John A.
© Public Domain

I deserve better

One of America’s great struggles over the next five years will be with government’s so-called ‘entitlement’ programs. With spending out of control and mountains of debt threatening to break our national economy, courageous politicians will have to make hard choices about raising the age of when a person can take a Social Security pension, about spending on education and health care, and about how much we will support various special interest groups. There will be much hand-wringing and screaming!

Entitlement is not just a government thing, either. I do not like to admit it, but there are moments when I allow myself to feel entitled! Thoughts form around this idea - “I’m a good guy. They owe me.” Isn’t that ugly? It sure is. When I fall into that dark hole, the results are not good, with depression and anger soon to follow. Why? Because, in that moment, life becomes a very small bundle of ME. Gratitude becomes impossible.


Entitlement is really ugly when it enters our relationship with God. When we begin to love Self so much that we allow ourselves to say or think, “He owes me,” things have gone seriously awry. He is God, I am not. I owe Him my life and love, for "who has given Him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen." (Romans 11:35-37, NLT) Cultivating a true attitude of gratitude lays a foundation for faith and worship. Consistently offering thanks to God, not in a perfunctory way, but from the heart, breaks the mesmerizing hold of Self. This births a new humility in which we willingly trust and obey the Lord.

From the opening pages of Scripture, disobedience was fed by the root of ‘me-ism,’ the insistence that Self must be served above all things - the welfare of others and even God Himself.

• Eve sinned because she wanted to indulge her desire.
• Moses sinned when he allowed himself to be fed up with serving the ever-demanding Israelites.
• David sinned when he thought he just had to have Bathsheba, and his lust fed an escalating series of sins that led to proxy murder!
• God, through the prophets, sharply rebuked those who fed Self by oppressing the poor and the weak. "Here it is, bluntly spoken: Because you run roughshod over the poor and take the bread right out of their mouths, You’re never going to move into the luxury homes you have built ... You bully right-living people, taking bribes right and left and kicking the poor when they’re down. Justice is a lost cause. Evil is epidemic. Decent people throw up their hands. Protest and rebuke are useless, a waste of breath. " (Amos 5:11-13, The Message)

This Thanksgiving, will you choose gratitude?

Perhaps you are in a hard place; struggling to make it in our tough economy, dealing with disappointment in a broken relationship, or facing a crisis in your body’s health. It might be that as you see things right now, life is not fair. Choose to thank God for His goodness anyway. Tear down the throne of Self, and invite Christ to be Lord of your life, even your very attitudes. The Bible calls this a "sacrifice of praise to God,” and urges us to offer this sacrifice “continually, ... the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15, KJV)

God will not bless those who think of themselves as entitled! But, to the humble, who are full of gratitude, He shows abundant mercies.
_________________

Give thanks
With a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ, His Son.

And now let the weak say,
"I am strong."
Let the poor say,
"I am rich"
Because of what
The Lord has done for us.
And now let the weak say,
"I am strong."
Let the poor say,
"I am rich"
Because of what
The Lord has done for us.
Give thanks.

Give Thanks
Smith, Henry
© 1978 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055

Not quite dead . . .

Last week, headlines of reports implied that “marriage is dying in America.” Well, not quite. Despite the best efforts to convince us otherwise, most Americans still believe in the institution as a man and woman and the they hold onto the ideal of life-long commitment. Many things around the house have changed. In just 50 years, women have reached a place of making nearly as much money as men, and are surpassing men in gaining formal education. This has led to redefined roles within households. Men are much more likely to take a more active role in child care and household chores. Still, 2/3rds of Americans say that the number one qualification for male marriage readiness is ‘being able to provide for his family.’

Marriage has come under severe attack in recent decades. Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, observes “even the most casual observer or critic of marriage would acknowledge that the institution is too often held in very low cultural esteem. From television to movies to music, the bonds of matrimony are often lampooned as chains that bind and confine as opposed to the great anchor of stability God intended them to be.” (Christianity Today, Nov. 2010) As a pastor, I find that many times even Christians adopt this line of thinking. They allow the dysfunctional relationships that they see causing so much pain to define their perception of marriage instead of extolling the joys that a long-term, stable, loving marriage brings. The Bible tells that we should "Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery." (Hebrews 13:4, NLT)

Before He brought government into being, before there were social organizations, God made man and woman to be one. The family is His plan. Marriage is a laboratory in which the Lord brings us to maturity in character and spiritual development. If we unwilling to do the work of loving our spouse wholly and without reserve, we will not love our God well, either. If we are self-serving, petty, or incapable of reaching for real intimacy (more than sex!) with our spouse; we will almost assuredly be deficient in our love of the Lord, too. "It’s the person who loves brother and sister (We can add, spouse, here, can’t we?) who dwells in God’s light." (1 John 2:10-11, The Message)

The American family is experiencing terrific stress at the present. Changing roles and expectations, cultural ideals about personal happiness, lives that separate partners for days at a time, and less support from extended family are but a few of those stressors. A misunderstanding of the purpose and meaning of marriage causes many to choose their partner unwisely, as well. Sexual attractiveness is a poor substitute for emotional and spiritual compatibility. But, since marriage is of God’s design, we can pray for the Spirit to help us to stand up to these stresses wisely. We make even need to make radical decisions about the ways we live in order to preserve our homes.

Disciple, are you married?
Are you tending your marriage, serving and loving your partner in a way that honors the Lord?
Are you working to grow stronger together adapting to the new demands of each season of life?
Not only does a strong marriage bring joy and health to the husband and wife who share in it, it also blesses and strengthens the world of which they are part.

Here’s the word from the Word. Though it is familiar, invite the Holy Spirit to make it soul food for you today.

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." (Ephesians 5:21-33, NLT)

Does God care about what I eat?

“Would Jesus eat cheese doodles and lime jello at the church potluck dinner?” was the question posed by Leslie Fields in a provocative article in Christianity Today magazine, November, 2010. (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/november/9.22.html)

It was enough to get my attention. Initially, I was ready to dismiss her as another tree-hugging, nut-eating goof who is completely out of touch with the real world, but her thoughts made a lot of sense! While we don’t worship our food, nor do we think that we can somehow become more acceptable to God by keeping dietary laws, how and what we eat is connected to our stewardship of the earth and our bodies. Both of those issues are of real concern to the Lord as a part of our discipleship!

Many Christians are very sensitive about using alcohol and tobacco, as we should be, yet they think eating a ton of sugary, fatty foods is of no consequence to the Lord. If the true issue is maintaining our bodies as ‘temples of the Holy Spirit’ then eating ourselves to death ought to concern us as much as drink or smokes. Then yesterday, my assistant pastor sent along a article with the title – Pastor, you’re probably fat. 6 things to do about it. (http://theresurgence.com/2010/04/16/pastor-youre-probably-fat-6-things-to-do-about-it)
After reading that, I realized that the Lord was trying to get my attention. (Did I tell you that I am one of His slower children?) Isn’t it amazing that we can be so blind in certain areas of our lives?

As Fields points out with clarity, Christians must not fall into the ‘food as righteousness’ cult that has become the obsession of many Americans. She writes, “We have become mindful and puritanical about food, and mindless and licentious about sex.” In another insight, she says, “Perhaps in no other time has our culture so widely absorbed the largely Eastern concept that physical, mental, and spiritual purity can be derived from food—and that we earn our virtue through vigilance over fork and plate … this approach can lead to myopic self-absorption and legalism.”

Paul’s instructions need to be taken more seriously by those who be Christ’s disciples. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. … So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:26, 31, NIV) We eat the way we do, in part, because our schedules are so over-full that we grab fast food on the run, allowing little time to prepare or consume healthful foods and to enjoy the relationships that are built by humans over shared bread! Ask my adult children about their best memories, about the altar at which they received holy instruction. They won’t talk about church. They will tell you about our family table and dinner time.

Might we start to recover spiritual health by weaning ourselves from the quick, easy to eat, empty diets that also rob us of time to appreciate all that the Lord has given us? Jesus never wanted us to fall into the trap of thinking we could make ourselves acceptable to God by what we eat. The kingdom of heaven is not a matter of eating and drinking. Yet, like so many parts of our lives, the Lordship of Christ will extend to our consumption habits, both to what we eat, how we eat it, and how much we eat.

Now, what are we going to do about it?

Taken off the farm

Self-anointed, self appointed prophets are annoying and bring disgrace on the name of Christ Jesus. Remember the crank in Florida a couple of months ago whose cockeyed scheme to burn the Quran caused such a tempest? It’s since been reported that this wasn’t his first publicity stunt. Seems that he enjoys the spotlight a little too much. Amos, the prophet to Israel, whose sermons form a small book of the Bible, got under the skin of the priest in Bethel. Amaziah told him to shut up and go home. “Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there! Don’t bother us with your prophecies here in Bethel. This is the king’s sanctuary and the national place of worship!” (Amos 7:12-13, NLT) Amaziah concluded that Amos was a nobody, from nowhere, who had appointed himself a gadfly in Israel.

But, the humble prophet offers this defense for his messages that stabbed the conscience of that nation.
“I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’" (Amos 7:14-15, NIV) The Lord took me off the farm! Amos had not chosen the job, nor was it a family thing. The Spirit of the Lord seized him and sent him to a job he would rather have left to another – bringing a word of warning of God’s impending judgment to Israel.

If you’re a genuine Christian, you have been called off the farm and sent with a message! “Who me?” you ask? “But I’m just a project manager, a teacher, a mom, a sales representative …. ! How could I possibly have anything to say to anyone about God’s work?” When God calls us, He equips us with abilities that come from the Spirit. It is a mistaken notion that only the pastors can represent Jesus Christ before the world. In fact, you have a unique audience that no preacher will ever get in his church. Disciple, your life is a sermon. What does it say about the Lord to those among whom you work and live?

The Spirit of God lives in you if you belong to Christ. He will use you if you’re willing, if you’re devoted. The key is not to become a grandstanding publicity hound, a person who enjoys attracting attention. When we do that, the issue becomes us, not God’s Word! Jesus calls us ‘salt and light,’ our lives serving as a preservative in a corrupt society, with a radiance that shows others the Way to go in a very dark world! Find that calling daunting? Me, too! Here’s the promise. This word from the Word is lengthy, but take the time to read it, believe it, and thank God for the privilege of being called off of the farm and into His world.

"He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us." (2 Corinthians 2:14-17, NLT)

"We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:4-6, NLT)

_________________

Father, thank you for calling me off of the farm.
Though I may feel unqualified by human standards
to do holy work, You have promised to equip me
with the powerful gifts of Your Holy Spirit.

I humbly present myself for holy work.
Eclipse my personality with Your radiance.
Clean me up, washing away my sins,
and make my life a quiet and convincing sermon,
an illustration of God’s grace that is offered
to those who are hungry for Him.

Fill me, Lord, with holy boldness that lets me
live fearlessly, relentlessly pursuing Your purpose.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

Knock me off my feet!

My life is devoted to serving the Lord. His wisdom guides my life but I would be lying if I told you that He appears to me every day to chat about life. Do I know Him? Yes; yet He is not my Buddy and there is much about Him I cannot understand, even as what I know of Him gives me great comfort. Have you ever had to deal with a Christian who talks of God in overly familiar terms? “God told me to buy this car. God told me to wear this shirt.” Makes you wonder if your spirituality is deficient, doesn’t it? Could God tell them such things? Of course He could. Did He? Maybe He did, maybe they just had a feeling! We can sense the personal leading of the Holy Spirit, but we should be cautious about declaring that “God told me,” because our perception of His voice is sometimes flawed, especially when we go beyond what He has revealed in the Scripture as His will.

Reverence demands great humility from us when we lay claim to hearing God’s voice. Speaking for Him orclaiming His authority for what we say is so serious that the Decalogue addresses the issue: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (Exodus 20:7, NIV)

I am very skeptical of the veracity of claims many make to have ‘met God’ if they show no radical transformation of heart and/or character. In the Bible we learn that people who met the Lord, face to face, were left permanently changed by the encounter. Often they were literally knocked off their feet! Saul, later called Paul, met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. He was knocked down and was left speechless and blind for days! God’s glory was so intense that Moses was not allowed to gaze directly on Him, seeing only His ‘back parts.’ (Exodus 33:23) No passage describes the awesomeness of a Divine Encounter better than this one from Isaiah. "Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:2-5, NIV) His vision did not cause his to run out with happy chatter! He was shaken to the core of his being by a new sense of his sinfulness, which was only remedied by a gracious cleansing offered by the Lord.

Disciple, my prayer is “Lord, knock me off my feet!” I do not think I am praying that because I am looking for a thrill or for an experience to talk about to impress my friends. I desire a holy encounter that restores my perspective of Who He is, that causes me to serve Him faithfully and with fewer questions. I do not desire to tame Him, but I want to be transformed by the weight of His Majesty. Yes, true intimacy with God, our Father, will humble us and make us holy. False intimacy will only deepen self-deception.

Have you grown too familiar with the Lord of Glory?
Are you prone to speak as though He is your Buddy, not thinking much of the awesomeness of His Name? It is true that Jesus Christ is our Friend, that the Incarnate God showed us that He is approachable and loving. Yet, we must never forget that He is God, and we are not.

Here’s the word from the Word.
"I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2, NLT)
"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)" (Habakkuk 3:17-19, NLT)

__________

Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God, Almighty!
All thy works
Shall praise Thy Name
In earth and sky and sea.
Holy, Holy, Holy,
Merciful and Mighty.
God in three Persons,
Blessed Trinity!
- Dykes and Heber, Public Domain

Too much, too soon?

China, home to a fifth of the earth’s human population, is an economic powerhouse. While it still is not even close to the USA in gross domestic product, it is coming on strong and fast! In a news report last night, the discipline of the people was noted as remarkable. Employees work long hours at high levels of production without complaint. Parents sacrifice hugely to help their children get an education. Hunger and want is a first-hand experience that fuels the drive to succeed. I believe that one of the reasons America is quickly slipping to second-rate status is that most have too much, too soon. Most of us have never experienced the kind of desperation that creates a ‘never again’ kind of mentality that makes us hard-working, productive, and thrifty citizens.

Let’s turn our thoughts to things spiritual.
Disciple, do we know a desperate hunger for the things of God, or have we created a little heaven right here on earth that keeps us satisfied?
Are we content to amuse ourselves with trinkets and games instead of pressing in with earnest desire to know the Lord of Glory?
Have we so tamed our faith that it is but a weekend diversion, a momentary pause in our Self serving ways?

The Scripture says "…it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline: Let them sit alone in silence beneath the Lord’s demands." (Lamentations 3:26-28, NLT) Before you nod in agreement, think about that. Who really wants to wait for anything? Who chooses to submit without complaining about the violation of his rights? Are we taught by our pastors to ask the Lord for His discipline? Do we teach those who we lead to Christ to willingly surrender their expectations of an easy road in this life?

Our right standing with God is a gift, given by Christ to all those who call on His Name. A holy life emerges from a disciplined pursuit of the Lord, from our choices of priorities that make Him first, above all things. Jesus challenges those of us who have had a life where we gain too much, too soon. He asks us to think again about how we are spending our days. "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:35-36, NIV)

Today, I am asking myself, “Jerry, what do you really want from your life? What are your best efforts being expended to gain: the kingdom of God or the success of this world?” I pray that I have not taken too much, too soon. I pray that I will know the true hunger that turns my heart to the One who satisfies the best and deepest longings.

________________


All my lifelong I had panted,
For a draught from some cool spring
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.
Poor I was and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy;
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul's sad cry.

Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings;
Thro' His blood I now am saved.

Satisfied
Williams, Clara Teare / Hudson, Ralph E.
© Public Domain

In love with a feeling?

Are you emotional? We all are. Some of us are more prone to display our emotions than others, but emotions are present in every man, woman, and child. God made us with the ability to know joy, to be able to feel afraid, to become anxious or to settle into a state of serenity. A person who has learned how to ‘deal with his emotions’ is richer for them. If feelings are put in charge that person is in at great risk. Where emotions rule, you find a person who is unstable and unproductive; yes, childish. We expect a toddler to plummet from giddy heights of laughter to stormy tumult of tears within 5 minutes. That same emotional roller coaster in an adult is cause for concern! At the opposite extreme, the person who represses emotions, who refuses to experience them, is bereft of true humanity.

Recently, as I prayed, I realized that I was chasing a feeling, that I was trying to find God through a certain state of mind. It became clear to me that I am much more likely to praise Him when I feel peace, when my emotions are running in a specific direction. Sensing the Presence of the Lord through our emotions is clearly a good thing. There are moments when I find myself so full of emotion that it spills over in tears or bursts out in a rolling laugh. But, Jesus taught us to love God more deeply than that. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’" (Mark 12:30, NIV) Our walk with the Lord is a combination of emotion and truth, of passion and discipline, of feeling and fact.

God’s love for us is not at the mercy of our emotions. He does not only love us when we feel all warm and fuzzy inside when they sing our favorite worship song in church! He is not just present when tears spill over in a particularly touching time of prayer. He is equally God on the bad days as He is in the good ones. He is still Lord when exhaustion steals our passion. He is Lord when anxiety about the future produces a temporary soul paralysis. Disciple, don’t fall in love with a feeling. Choose to love the Truth! If we build our salvation on a special state of mind, on emotional well-being, we are resting on a foundation of sand. Yes, we will find ourselves then chasing a feeling, looking for a religious high, running here and there wanting somebody to renew the excitement.

Zephaniah reminds the people of the Lord to trust the Truth! "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV) Jeremiah, a man who knew God through much suffering, urges us to be steady. "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV) Do you see the focus of that faith? It is not on the person, on finding a state of mind, even on doing something to provoke a response from the Lord. That person who would stay consistent in devotion focuses on God’s faithfulness!

______________________

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible
Hid from our eyes;
Most blessed, most glorious,
The Ancient of Days;
Almighty, victorious,
Thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting
And silent as light;
Nor wanting, nor wasting,
Thou rulest in might.
Thy justice, like mountains,
High soaring above;
Thy clouds, which are fountains
Of goodness and love.

To all, life Thou givest,
To both great and small;
In all, life Thou livest,
The true life of all;
We blossom and flourish
As leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish
But naught changeth Thee.

Great Father of glory,
Pure Father of light;
Thine angels adore Thee
All veiling their sight.
All praise we would render,
O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor
Of light hideth Thee.

Immortal Invisible
Smith, Walter Chalmers / Robert, John

© Public Domain

Is God going the way of the buggy whip?

When the automobile replaced the horse drawn wagon, the buggy whip became a curiosity. A hundred years ago, anyone who hitched a horse to a cart knew what one was. Now, most people couldn’t even describe one! A growing number of Americans believe they have no more need for God since the faith once explained the mysteries of the world for us has been replaced by science to tell us how the universe works. This is not a new idea. Friedrich Nietzsche, in 1882, wrote about the death of God in Europe, that the belief in the Christian God that had shaped the culture of that continent was dying. The violent spasms that shook the world in the 20th century and the bleak secularism that grips Europe now can be traced to the death of vital faith in a living God. I fear that America is treading the same path, replacing God with Self.

Science may explain the ‘how’ of the world, but our discovery processes cannot explain the ‘why.’ I understand the mechanism of conception that brought me to life, but that tells me nothing about why I am here, or why I even ask the question – ‘Why?’ Is it enough to simply say that we exist? Shakespeare’s Macbeth said, “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Is this the truth about us? If God is dead, then that is truth. Our lives can achieve a sort of frail nobility only by tasting the delights of our senses and preparing the world for the next generation.

An honest inquiry into this world will not lead us to superstition, but it will humble us enough to consider that Someone bigger than us exists. The wonder of the cell, billions of them form our bodies, are stupendous! The beauty of the Universe, vast and as yet unexplained by the most brilliant minds among us, is stunning. To me, it requires greater faith to believe that such amazing things emerged by chance from chaos that it does to accept that there is a Designer of it all. To acknowledge that there is an Intelligence making the universe exist as we know it does not automatically make a person a Christian, of course. But, if one accepts that there is a God, then it would follow that we should want to know Who God is.

And for me, the story unfolded in the Bible reveals Him, Lord of the Universe who further revealed Himself as my Savior in the coming of Jesus Christ. Far from diminishing our lives, this story gives meaning and purpose to us. Like all good things, the Story can be misused to oppress and misunderstood in ways that darken understanding. But, where the Spirit is allowed to make the Story live, humanity is richer.

\God is not dead. He lives. And I, for one, love Him and I am thankful that He has chosen to make Himself known to me.

Here’s a word from the Word. My prayer for my world…

"I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, …

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in.

And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God."
(Ephesians 1:17-18, 3:14-19, The Message)

____________

“Then sings my soul,
My Father God, to Thee.
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!” Amen.

Proud and grandiose fool

He introduced himself as the “Rev. Dr.” The way he said it made me know he wanted me to inquire about his degree, so I did. When he told me where he had attended and the degree he held from that institution, I knew he was a fraud. That particular school did not even have a degree program in that field of study! Later I learned that this man had left a pastorate when his fraudulent claims were uncovered. I have never claimed a degree I did not earn, but I find myself acting the part of a proud fool occasionally. I hear words designed to impress coming from my mouth, or present myself as a hero in my own story.

What makes us do such things? That ancient sin called Pride! We all want to be voted ‘most liked,’ or ‘most successful,’ or ‘coolest guy’ don’t we? From the moment we become aware of ourselves as toddlers, we play the ‘look at me’ game, first with Mommy and Daddy, then with friends, and then for the world around us. It’s been said often that ‘we buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like.’ Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, makes this wry observation: “I'm not against people having new cars. I'm against them having you. We spend a tremendous amount impressing somebody at the stoplight who we'll never meet. It makes you broke and keeps you broke.”

Pride robs us of ourselves. It makes us frauds, pretenders, wanna-be’s who are incapable of living contentedly right where we are. It sabotages our ability to experience joy today by convincing us that we need to be someone else to really be ‘it’ – whatever we think that may be. The Bible tells me that Jesus was a person not known for His ‘cool’ factor! "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:2-3, NIV) He was born a nobody, came from nowhere, had no degrees. Yet, God lifted Him up. Jesus was "in very nature God, (but, He) did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2:6-7, NIV) "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name!" (Philippians 2:9, NIV)

Disciple, find joy in being yourself. If God makes you a king, then be a good one. If He makes you a servant, then do it well. Those who are richest in joy are those who know who they are and who have learned to ‘live in their own skin.’ Contentment is a choice we can make, by letting go of pride. It’s not the same as complacency. Many people have given up on life and settled for mediocrity, calling that contentment. We press on to become all that Christ has called us to be, but not to earn applause of those around us. Our focus always must be to please the One who knows us best and loves us most!

Choose humility as your way of life. Humility is not to be confused with being a doormat, nor is it refusing excellence! We are not being humble when we will not accept legitimate affirmation or appreciation. Humility is simply being content to belong to God while being confident in His promise and the strength of the Spirit.

Here’s a word from the Word for those who would turn their back on pride and take up humility.
"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." (1 John 2:15-17, NLT)

Leaves in the Gutter

The rain gutters on my house were overflowing ... with leaves! The big old oak tree is doing its Fall thing and I think every tenth leaf managed to land in the rain gutter. So, I got out my ladder, cleaned the leaves out of the gutters, and flushed out the downspouts. What's the deal? Why bother cleaning the gutters anyway? They’re just going to get full again. IF I just left the leaves in those gutters, the water would not drain away. Come winter, the standing water would freeze into large blocks of ice extending onto the roof. The winter rain then would not be able to run off and the moisture would work its way under the shingles, eventually rotting the roof boards. A little exertion prevents major damage.

So many things are like that. Regular oil changes can easily be overlooked and the engine won’t stop immediately, but the increased wear of dirty oil will definitely cause a shorter service life. Preventative maintenance is easy to overlook. Given time; there is a price to pay.

The principle holds when it comes to our spiritual health, too. For example, take attendance at church. You can be a Christian without regularly going to church. You won’t be as effective but you can have saving faith, apart from being in your local church. (Amazing statement from a veteran Pastor, eh?) You can read your Bible, pray, trust Christ, and make Sunday a play day: golfing, fishing, and picnicking with family. Short term you won't see much impact on your life. You might even feel some relief about getting rid of the need to be up and out on Sunday AM. A subtle erosion of spiritual health will begin that will not be noticeable for quite some time. Gradually, the edge will go out of your faith. Without teaching that helps you to apply the unchanging Word to an ever-changing world your spiritual understanding will stagnate. From your example, your kids will conclude that church is just one of life’s options, and as young adults, they will all most certainly discard church attendance all together, along with saving faith.

Neglecting to read the Scripture on a daily basis won't cause you to immediately descend into gross immorality.
Failure to engage in generous giving won't make you into Ebenezer Scrooge in a year's time.
Failure to pray won't turn you into an atheist overnight!
But... long term a failure to practice these things will bring on spiritual flab. Your spiritual ears will miss the 'still, small voice of God.' Your spiritual eyes will not perceive His hand at work. Your short prayers will turn into childish whimpers and whines... 'bless me, give me, help me.'

Here is wisdom from the Word.
"Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber." (Proverbs 6:6-11, NLT)

Clean out the gutters today!
Make an investment in doing the small things. Amazingly- the big stuff will take care of itself!

_______________

My eyes are dry,
my faith is old.
My heart is hard
my prayers are cold.
And I know how
I ought to be,
Alive in You, and
dead to me!

Oh, what can be done
For an old heart like mine?
Soften it up with oil and wine.
The oil is You,
Your Spirit of love;
Please wash me anew
In the wine of Your blood.

My Eyes Are Dry
© 1978 Birdwing Music
Ears To Hear
BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)ü(Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
(Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)ü(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)ü(Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)

Keith Green

CCLI License No. 810055

Leaning toward the Son

A birch tree that grows in my backyard has a curious curve to it, somewhat like this- ). A large maple tree blocks the sunlight on one side, so the birch has grown toward the sun. It does so because the sun is its source of energy and life. That tree reminds me to face the Son! In the face of Jesus Christ, I find my life, my strength. Do you? Does your life lean towards the Son?

The direction that we face in our attitude has consequence. It’s not ‘just a look.’ If we gaze longingly at the forbidden fruit that promises to satisfy our hunger, we will inevitably drift in the direction of disobedience, into sin. If we cast our glance, again and again, to some past failure, regret will overtake us and bring despair. But, if we build the habit of turning to the Lord in worship, like the birch tree bent towards the sun, our lives will lean towards Him. From Him we will find health – emotional and spiritual. Scripture says "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance (face).” (Psalm 42:11, KJV) Turn to the Lord and let Him put a healthy glow on your face! Another of the holy songs says, "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. (face)" (Psalm 89:15, KJV) Worship turns us towards the Lord and there, face to face, we are brightened!

How much ‘facetime’ do you invest with the Lord each day?

Facetime are those moments spent face to face, connecting and communicating. There is a real difference between just being around someone and really seeing them face to face! We do not thrive spiritually just because we have some passing awareness of Jesus’ Presence. We need to make time for facetime with Him, time when we are doing nothing other than worshipping Him, meditating on His Words, listening for the whisper of the Spirit in our soul.

Here’s a word from the Word, full of promise, an amazing statement. "God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:6-7, NIV) When we turn to let the brilliance of the light of Jesus’ face shine on us, He creates treasure from our daily lives! It’s not our radiance that shines, for we are just ordinary people. It is His reflected glory that makes us someone special.

Are you leaning toward the Son?
_____________

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Lemmel, Helen H.
© Public Domain

What do you expect?

An experiment was conducted in which people were put into a stereo-optic device that displayed two distinct images, one in the left eye and one in the right eye. After the images flashed the subject reported seeing what he was culturally conditioned to see. The expectation played heavily into the perception!

Do you realize how much your expectations shape your experience? If you go into any situation today expecting misery, you will find it. If you complain about Monday from the start, you will find the week a long slog to Friday. I do not want to become overly simplistic, falling into a life that refuses reality. There are those who become adept at pretending all is well, working hard to maintain the illusion that life is always good. That only leads to foolishness. There is, however, a decision to meet each and every situation trusting in the Lord’s goodness and ability to provide all that you need. The Psalm teaches us to pray, "Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the Lord. These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there … This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:19-20, 24, NLT)

I do not believe that every experience I have comes from the hand of God! The choices that I make and those of people who live alongside of me in this world make have consequences both intended and unforeseen. But, I am convinced by Scripture that everything that happens to me as His child passes through His hand. He will provide us the grace and strength to stand, if we will trust Him. When dire troubles come my way (and they do) I do not think, “Oh God, did this somehow escape Your notice? Were You surprised by this report?” I know that He knows all things! On those days, I pray, “Father, I am confused, but You are not. Show me the way through, around, over, or under this circumstance which I trust that You will ultimately use to accomplish Your purposes in me and the world in which I live. ‘This is the day that You have made!’ ”

If faith in the loving care of my Father forms my expectation, I will see Him working "for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV) When we trust Him and live that faith in daily obedience, we are spared planting the seeds of many tribulations and enduring the harvest of sorrow. Instead, He leads us through the gates of the righteous that lead to His joyful Presence, which sustains us in every circumstance, sows the seeds of rich reward.

Right now, would you take a moment to reset your expectations?

If you’re having a great day, praise Him for allowing you to enjoy it, for letting you have life and breath to see the sunrise, delight in love, and do His will. If you’re in a tough moment, ask for faith to find His provision that will let you meet the challenge with grace, for eyes that can see the opportunities to do good in the middle of it all.

Here’s a word from the Word. Make it yours.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:4-6, NIV)
________________________

Be still, my soul;
The Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross
Of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God
To order and provide.
In ev'ry change
He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul;
Thy best, Thy heavenly Friend
Thro' thorny ways
Leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul;
Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future
As He has the past.

Thy hope, Thy confidence
Let nothing shake;
All now mysterious
Shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul;
The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them
While He dwelt below.

Be Still My Soul
Von Schlegal, Katharina / Borthwick, Jane L. / Sibelius, Jean



© Public Domain

Tough choices, great grace

Jim Swilley is probably a good and likeable guy. He started a church in Georgia 25 years ago that has become a mega-church. Jim divorced his wife recently and announced his homosexuality. He said he had to do it be ‘authentic.’ He also said that his sexual orientation was not chosen, but something that been a part of him since early childhood. And, he says he will remain the pastor of his church living as an openly gay man. I was with him up to that last point. I applaud his honesty though I do wonder why he’s lived a lie for 3 decades while preaching ‘authenticity?’ I even accept his statement that some people seem to be born with a sexual preference for people of the same sex. But, if Jim Swilley wants to be actively sexual with a man, the Scripture disqualifies him from being a Christian pastor.


This man illustrates the extreme self -aborption that afflicts way too many people in this day and shows up as a la carte’ Christian discipleship. With our exaggerated sense of Self, we slide so easily into the conviction expressed by Tom T. Hall in a country song that goes like this:“Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'. Me and Jesus, got it all worked out. Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'. We don't need anybody to tell us what it's all about.”

It might make a good song, but it’s just not true! Actually, me and Jesus don’t have our own thing going and neither you nor I can cut and paste the Bible to fit our preferences. We are part of a great Body of Believers, responsible to the community to which we belong, where all of us are called to live under the Lordship of Christ. The Word says, "Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." (Hebrews 12:1, NLT)

The Lord Jesus warns that many who thought they had their own private deal with God will be shocked on Judgment Day. "On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand." (Matthew 7:22-26, NLT)
Living as an authentic Christian is neither simple nor easy. Choices must be made. Why? Because Christ is either Lord of all, or He’s not Lord at all. We cannot claim to be a disciple while holding back some part of ourselves from Him. Are any of us sinless? Of course not! However, real holiness is progressive, as we grow in grace. But, we don’t grow when we say we are without a need for grace because “God will understand that’s just who I am.”

Want to be a Christian who knows the greatest joy, the deepest intimacy, who lives with rock solid assurance, whose life will enjoy a beautiful legacy, and who will be welcomed into the Father’s Presence with a rich reward? Then, surrender it all and let Him lead. Work out your salvation with proper reverence for the majesty and wisdom of God.

Here’s the word from the Word -
"Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness." (Psalm 29:2, NLT)
___________

All to Jesus, I surrender
All to Him, I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him
in His Presence daily live.

I surrender all,
I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

Van Deventer
-Public Domain

The Rest of the Gospel

Last night in our Bible study, we were talking about involvement with issues of justice. The question came up as to why the evangelical churches were all but invisible in the civil rights movement in America in the mid-20th century. Primarily it was because they avoided the ‘social gospel.’ The focus was on getting people to heaven by bringing them a message of conversion. But it was only half of the Gospel. True Christianity has both vertical (God-ward) and a horizontal (People focused) expressions! There is a judgment to come and it is important that we tell others of Christ’s power to forgive. And, it is important to care about how they will live right here, right now.

God saves us today from our sins, not just in eternity. The message entrusted to the disciples was about the coming of God’s Kingdom, now. Jesus reminds us of our worth to the Omnipotent God of the Universe this way: "What's the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail-even numbering the hairs on your head!" (Matthew 10:29-30, The Message) Isn't that mind-boggling?

God loves you and me specifically, not generally! He cares about the ‘stuff’ of our lives. We are to be like Him. We are called to love not just with sweeping rhetoric but with concern for all – the lovely and the unlovely. Recently I have been reading in the Minor Prophets. It is of note that often God expressed His disapproval of His people, not just for the 'biggie' sins like worshipping false gods or gross sexual immorality; but for their disregard of the poor, their oppression of the weak, depriving the 'little guys' of justice in the courts. Take a look at this passage from Amos. "You trample the poor and steal what little they have through taxes and unfair rent. Therefore, you will never live in the beautiful stone houses you are building. You will never drink wine from the lush vineyards you are planting. For I know the vast number of your sins and rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts." (Amos 5:10-12, NLT)

Disciple does your Christianity only focus on impeccable morality and things like going to church or paying your tithes? Those are good choices when they are an expression of our love for God. But Jesus reminds that there is a second great commandment, too. It is "love your neighbor as yourself!"

Here's a word from the Word. It’s the rest of the Gospel. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence." (1 John 3:16-19, NIV)

Let’s live our faith in both dimensions – with God-ward devotion and with deep concern for the way that the people around us live.

______________________

Jesus You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go
Live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward
Keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

God of justice Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

To act justly every day
Loving mercy in every way
Walking humbly before You God
You have shown us what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord

God of Justice
© 2004 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Tim Hughes

CCLI License No. 810055

O.D.D. - or strong-willed in need of correction?

There is a new explanation for why some of us are stubborn, have temper tantrums, resist direction, and bully others. It’s called ODD – Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Psychologists estimate that about 20% of us have this problem and that it shows up generally around 2 or 3 years of age. If you think I am joking, go ahead and Google it! What once was treated with firm discipline is now treated with medication “to help ease the tension introduced into the family unit and/or classroom” by those who have this diagnosis. I am not a psychologist but I wonder if what is now labeled as a disorder is the same thing we used to call being ‘strong-willed?’ Why do we medicate a child instead of persevering with the hard work of providing consistent, firm training?

Frequently I experience moments when a part of me wants to say, “no” to my Heavenly Father. The temptation to be selfish, to indulge myself, to be lazy, to say or do something cruel shows up in my mind. Do you think I might have spiritual ODD? Now, I am joking! What I have is a sinful nature that responds to the world systems, to the cravings of my body, and even to the seduction of the Devil! My earthly father took steps to point me in the right direction and to curb my impulses to do wrong unafraid of warping my personality with the application of discipline, even punishment! My Heavenly Father likewise acts to transform my character, though not always in ways that I find pleasant. Though many reject the this truth, the Bible even tells us that He will punish those who do wrong with the goal of making us like Jesus. The Bible reminds us that "We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God." (Hebrews 12:9-12, The Message)

Discipline seems to be a dirty word in America today. Some parents are nearly incapable of saying no to their children, conducting endless negotiations with toddlers instead providing firm, fair guidance. Might this reflect a lack of discipline in their own lives? Many of us resist direction from our boss, refuse responsibility at home, and argue with God’s commands – in the firm but foolish conviction that ultimate happiness is found in unfettered self-expression. “Me-ism” is rampant and is perhaps the most destructive idea in our culture.

Are you resisting the Lord today, disciple?
Are the “world, the flesh, and the Devil” working to seduce you with their lies about the joy found in doing your own thing?

The Scripture speaks of ‘the pleasures of sin for a season.’ (Hebrews 11:25) Rebellion feels great, for a while, but gradually the rebel cuts himself off from others who tire of the superficiality of his indulgences. The wise child of God responds to His correction and he then enjoys "a harvest of righteousness and peace." (Hebrews 12:11, NIV) My wife, a teacher of first-graders, drills a concept into the children in her classroom that says, “Obedience equals fun!” When they learn that she is the one in charge of the room they get their work finished and are able to take real joy in their accomplishments as well as experience more freedom of choice that grows out of their developing self-discipline. Bev’s first grade maxim is a good one for all God’s children- “Obedience equals fun!” Are you ready to submit to Him and live?
________________

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will
Trust and obey.

But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows
And the joy He bestows
Are for them who will
Trust and obey.

Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

Trust And Obey
Sammis, Rev. John H. / Towner, Daniel B.

© Public Domain

Can we be a Blessed Nation? Here's how!

In about an hour, I will visit my polling station and cast my votes in this Fall election along with millions of other Americans today. In that simple act, I help to make the laws under which we live. This election is so burdened with hope for change, isn’t it? We’re fed up with policies that serve special interest groups, done with politicians who seem to have forgotten who they represent. Many think that prosperity will return with transfer of power to a new party. I can say with assurance, Republicans and Tea Party activists are not America’s messiah! That is not an argument for the status quo. It is a recognition that America’s greater bankruptcy is spiritual!

Proudly we claim to be ‘one nation under God’ but we are not. God is not the center of life for the average American and despite our civic religion, He is not visible in our national policies. Let me ask you – how central to your life is He? Will the choices you make today, even the most mundane ones, be shaped by a desire to know and do the will of the Lord? Will Jesus’ prime commands: “Love God with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself” be the guides for what you think and do? Is Christ really “Lord of all”? If we cannot or will not live individually as people who walk humbly before God, how can we think that our nation will be godly?

America is a nation where cities are full of filthiness, where people are possessed by selfishness, whose systems are corrupt with injustice, whose policies exploit the poor and oppress the weak in this world. As you reflect on this disciple, can I ask that you go beyond the issues of gay rights or abortion on demand? It’s so easy to forget our own sins of greed and discrimination if we focus only on ‘them,’ whoever they are.

An oft-quoted passage of Scripture, a word of the Lord given to Solomon as he prayed for the nation of Israel, could not be more clear about the way to becoming a blessed nation. "If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health." (2 Chronicles 7:13-14, The Message) The way to blessings is humility, knowing that there is one God, and neither I nor you are Him!

So, I will vote today but my hope for tomorrow will be grounded in my prayer- first a prayer of humble repentance for myself, then a prayer for my nation. This CoffeeBreak is not the most eloquent I have written. It is a headline of the anguish I feel for my country. These words are choked out today from a heart that broken. I am hungry for spiritual renewal. Lord, let it begin with me!

_____________

You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You are
You're the light in this darkness
You're the hope to the hopeless
You're the peace to the restless
You are
There is no one like our God
There is no one like You God
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things have still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things have still to be done here

You're the Lord of creation
The Creator of all things
You're the King above all kings
You are
You're the strength in the weakness
You're the love to the broken
You're the joy in the sadness
You are

Greater things have yet to come
And greater things have still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for You and love for You
In this city
Great things have yet to come
And greater things have still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things have still to be done here

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God
There is no one like You God
There is no one like You God

God of This City

© 2006 worshiptogether.com songs
sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Aaron Boyd
Andrew McCann
Ian Jordan
Peter Comfort
Peter Kernaghan
Richard Bleakley

CCLI License No. 810055

He’s still there!

Ever played peek-a-boo with an infant? A 3 month old will show some delight each time he sees your face after you pull your hands away from in front of it. Around 6 months, that delight starts to fade because his brain develops something called ‘object permanence.’ He starts to understand that things exist even though he cannot see them. Before that, when your face disappears into your hands, you ‘go away’ in his understanding. When your face reappears, it’s as though you have returned to him, which produces that response of surprise and/or joy.

The Bible urges us to grow up. Paul chides the Corinthian Christian for their prolonged spiritual infancy. "I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready." (1 Corinthians 3:1-2, NIV) One of the ways we demonstrate immaturity is by falling into despair when we cannot see the face of Jesus! For reasons too numerous to list, there are seasons in life when it seems that He has left us alone. Our prayers lack passion. Our worship produces no joy. Troubles and trials surround us. What then?

Will we wail like a baby or will we stay steady? Will we despair, noisily complaining to anyone within earshot that God has forsaken us? Maturity leads us trust what He has said – "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, NLT) Just like a baby learns that Mommy is still around even if he cannot see her, faith teaches us that God is always there. It may be that our disobedience has brought distance from Him. It may fatigue that causes us to feel alone. It may be that He is allowing us to walk through a testing time. Though we cannot see His face, He has not left us alone.

Every follower of Christ goes through what St. John of the Cross (a 16th century Spanish priest and poet) called ‘the dark night of the soul.’ Even Jesus, as He felt the weight of our sins while He was dying on the Cross, cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” Such times of intense doubt or fear are difficult and unpleasant. We need not pretend to enjoy them, but we must persevere; waiting out the circumstances, letting faith inform our daily choices even when our senses scream for soothing and temptation rises on every side.

Here’s a word from the Word - "We live by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV) He is there. Trust and obey!

________________

Often you've wondered why
Tears come into your eyes,
And burdens seem to be
Much more than you can stand.
But God is standing near
He sees your falling tears.
Tears are a language God understands.

God sees the tears
Of a broken hearted soul.
He sees your tears
And hears them when they fall.
God weeps along with man
And takes Him by the hand,
Tears are a language
God understands.

When grief has left you low
It causes tears to flow,
Things have not turned out
The way that you had planned,
But God won't forget you,
His promises are true,
Tears are a language God understands.

Tears Are A Language
Jensen, Gordon
© 1971 Jensen Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)

CCLI License No. 810055

You'll Never Figure Him Out!

People tell me I am a complex person. I think that’s just a nice way to say, “hard to get along with.” I can be brusque and yet I find my heart broken over the pain others feel. I like plain authenticity, yet I insist on excellence almost to perfectionism. I value high level performance but despise any effort that appears to be overdone for the purpose of impressing others. I’m told that I appear confident to the point of arrogance, yet I often feel insecure. Did I say I am complex? Bev, my wife, after 35 years of dealing with me, understands me (and loves me, anyway)! How did she get to know me in this way? We have lived together, wept together, laughed together, worshipped together, raised 4 kids together, argued, loved, and endured. Her knowledge of me came with a price tag – time and intimacy!

I am frequently asked, “Pastor, how can really know Jesus Christ?” In many cases, I discern that the inquirer is looking for a way to figure Him out! They want to define Him, reduce Him to their level of understanding, and learn how to use Him. It’s impossible! He’s knowable, yet mysterious. Our finite minds can never expand enough to understand Him, and yet He invites us to know Him. Such knowledge, however, comes with the same cost as any deep relationship- time and intimacy. We cannot know even the smallest part of Who He is if the only time we are truly aware of His Presence is in church or in the occasional moment of inspiration.

Paul challenges us with his penned words of aspiration. At one time, he was climbing to the heights of his religion, working hard to gain the awards that come from piety and good works. He says, "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!" (Philippians 3:7-11, NLT)

Do you want to know Christ, and in that revelation discover life that is without end? Then, give yourself to Him, without reservation. Invite Him to become Master of each moment, and walk with Him. Let Him lead you through sunshine and rain, glad days and sad ones, too. Trust Him when all is well and equally when nothing makes sense. The Holy Spirit will reveal more and more our Lord of Glory to you, though you’ll never figure Him out. He will become the dearest Friend to you.

S.M. Lockridge delivered a tribute to the King he knew. If you have a few moments, I invite you to watch it.
May his words inspire you to know Him better.

S.M. Lockridge – That’s My King http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z15FlTONVo